Candescent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1) (10 page)

“That was good. You did very well.” He flinched from the pain.

“Are you sure you’re ok?”

“Well, this wound is going to take some time to heal on its own. It might be best if I find Caspian and get a few stitches…after we’re done.”      

He smiled and I smiled back at him, noticing that his fangs had returned. “Half-blood,” I joked.

“Good. Now all I have to do is find a vampire that will spare me a little bit of poison and I’ll be back to my old self…well, almost.” He drew me close and kissed my cheek. “You did good, but now it’s my turn. Let’s finish what we started. Are you ready?”

W
hen Fitzray woke up, he suspected nothing and went through his phases as though I’d actually carried through with the Ceremony, so he was convinced I did. I quickly told him that I’d found out that Raven was the one who’d leaked the information. Fitzray immediately became curious of how I’d found out and by whom. He also added that I was with him performing the Ceremony. And then, with growing suspicion, he asked me if I’d left the house during the Ceremony. I held my tongue and he pressed his question on me.

“Where did you go?”

“I just left. My instinct took me to a house in the woods.”

“Then who told you about the leaking information?” I swallowed hard. “You can tell me.”

“It was Pete.”

              He licked his lips patiently, listening. He wasn’t angry. “What did he tell you?”

“He told me what Raven did. And he told me what happened to him…what his punishment was.”

              He sat forward, now interested. “What was it?”

“They…they turned him into a mortal by giving him a half-mortal’s heart. I saw him, his weakness, and his pulse. It was horrible.”

“Whose heart was it? Do you know?”

              I looked down calmly, not wanting to meet his gaze. “The only donor compatible was Lucian. He has Lucian’s heart.”

              He stood up alarmed, straightening his cape as though he was about to leave. “Where is he?”

“He said he was going to Earth.”

              He grabbed a bag from the closet and stuffed some things into it. He mumbled to himself, grabbed another cape, and paused to look at me. “He’s planned a lot of things in the past, but I don’t know how he could have been so manipulative to plan this. That heart could make him into a monster and he knows it. He knows being a mortal or even a half-mortal is a devastating thing, but if he thinks he can just become a vampire again, he has another thing coming.”

“What could happen to him?”

“He might think he’ll just become a vampire again by getting bit by one, but he’s wrong. If a vampire bites him, he’ll become twice as strong and can be dangerous to everything around him. I can stop that. If a vampire of similar blood bites him, he will just turn into a regular vampire. I have to find him and stop him myself.”

“You’re sure that will work?”

“Yes,” he hissed throwing the bag over his shoulder, “but I can’t waste any more time here. I have to go. Take care of things here while I’m gone.”

“When should I expect you back?”

“I don’t know how long it will take for me to find him, but I’m sure I’ll be back by the full moon. If I’m not back by then, send someone for me.”

              He said his goodbyes to me and he was gone before sunset. In the days that followed, there was talk throughout the City of our return. To my surprise, not one person or creature came to the door to welcome us and even when I dare roam the streets in luxurious silks and satin, not even the once-envious peasants looked in my direction to acknowledge my return. My friends had not shown their faces to me. I didn’t hear from Taj’ or Pearl, Amelia or Caspian. The only familiars to me were Minx and Versailles, but to anyone else they were considered as my
pets
. If Fitzray were beside me I wouldn’t be shunned. Why was I being shunned? One day I dared to ask one of the fellow townspeople and she didn’t even respond. I hadn’t gotten the chance since then to find out why and I mused the thought over in my mind, being that today was particularly boring despite the perfect autumn weather. I found myself concealed behind the stone walls of my palace before the hearth in the living room. There I sat mindlessly staring into the flames.

              One of our many maids happened to be cleaning in my presence and I caught her attention. She stopped dusting to gaze at me and paused to curtsey. Though there were many maids in the palace, I knew this one very well in particular. She had always been attentive in my room and tended to many of my personal needs in the past. If her title wasn’t a maid I was sure I could consider her a friend because I was quite comfortable speaking to her. I knew her attitude changed toward me and this only baffled me more. I had never done
anything
to her. With this in mind, I knew I could ask her my question and receive an honest answer.

“Lulu,” I said, “the creatures around me all seem distant, even you. Is that any way to welcome back a reincarnated queen?”

“Well,” the girl sat down, placed her duster on the coffee table, “people feel that since it was your fault that you were killed by Pete, it was because of you that he ruled over us again. We never liked his rule, but he changed things, many things. These things changed our alliances, our ways of life.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Some creatures aren’t susceptible to change, and to be honest, none of us trusted him.”

“But why be mad at me?”

“Everyone blames this on you, all of this change. If you hadn’t gone to Sebastian’s Ball, Pete wouldn’t have killed you.”

“No, it would have been something else. Pete has changed for the better, but now because of his mistakes and ruling he did in the past he has been exiled. Is this what you wanted?”

Lulu looked down. “It’s not what
I
wanted. I just wanted you to come back. Many creatures wanted you to come back. It’s just…everyone is still a bit uneasy regarding the Trial. Keep in mind some creatures do like Pete. Some people have been rude toward you because he
has
been exiled.”

I nodded my head and dismissed her back to her cleaning. I proceeded to my retreat, to the library, to find comfort being surrounded by books. It seemed strangely empty since Pete’s books were stripped from the shelves and shipped away. The only book I had begged to keep in my own possession was his black book. I sat back admiring the great painted dome ceiling. Constellations seen by both Catastrophe and Earth were painted delicately across the glass in an array of artistic colors.

Upon my arrival, I picked up a book at random and brought it back to my seat in the center of the room. I flipped through the pages, disregarded the title, and skimmed the words only to find the pictures appealing.

My stomach turned, a lump formed in my throat only to be considered nausea. I ignored my imprudent symptoms for as long as I could before they overwhelmed me. I sent my book to the floor to scurry through the library only to reach the bathroom in anxiety instead of actually being sick. Though I thought I was quiet and I hadn’t uttered a sound other than my exasperated breathing, one of my servants heard me rushing around. She found me slightly bent over the bathroom sink, staring at my own deathly pale reflection. She immediately escorted me to my room and demanded bed rest. I would never take a demand from anyone other than a vampire or someone I knew, but I couldn’t argue with this servant and risk confronting a healer. I couldn’t be bothered with a healer.

Defeated, I warmed myself beneath the covers and slept, hoping that was all I needed, but I was mistaken. When I woke, it was late and I felt even worse. It took me a couple of hours to fall asleep again. Only the morning could tell if I was sick and if I would get any sicker.

T
he rest of the week was accompanied by getting even worse before I started to get better. By the middle of the following week, I regained my appetite and I assured my servants that a healer was not necessary.

              They respected my wishes, waiting for there to be serious enough symptoms to send for a healer. Even the slightest glance hinting distaste toward my food would have convinced them, but now with my appetite back I was sure I was getting better.

              My only slip up was leaving the bathroom door open, allowing a servant to catch a glance at my pale, miserable face while attempting to cool my burning head. My fever was immediately reported and I knew a healer was coming.

              I waited in my room alone feeling sicker still. Feeling worse now made me grateful for knowing a healer was coming. Maybe medicine could help me. I let my head fall back on the pillows and tried to sleep, to rest, but as I started to doze off, I heard a knock at the door.

“Chenille?” My eyes flew open and I stared at the healer. For a moment, I felt lost in his gaze and then sank back content.

“Caspian?” He smiled, walked over to me to place his medical bag on the bed.

“I was wondering when someone would call me to let me know you were conscious, but I can see you’re all right now.”

“I’m not fully well, other than being conscious.”

“I wish I saw you sooner. Every time I tried to see you, you were never home.”

I smiled. “I’ve been traveling.”

“Yes,” he paused to open up his bag, “and I’ve been told you’ve been doing other things.”

“What other things?”

“Word on the street is you’ve performed the Ceremony with Fitzray.”

I looked away from his gaze. “You can’t keep a secret in this place can you?” I mumbled.

At the sight of my discomfort on the subject, he turned his face away, pretending to be searching for something in his bag. “On another note, the servants told me that you have been sick for almost two weeks now.”

“Yes, just feverish and nauseous. I just got my appetite back.”

              He studied me, performing his regular check and when he was finished, he put his stethoscope back around his neck. “It seems like just a bad virus to me. When a vampire gets a cold it’s usually a lot worse and a lot longer than what the average cold is to a mortal.”

              With a sigh of relief, I sat up to fix my pillows and Caspian caught sight of me scratching at the irritable wound on my neck. I tried to hide my scratching as I manipulated the pillows, but Caspian knew exactly what I was doing.

              He caught my hand and carefully pulled it away. “Can I examine your bite? It will only take a moment.”

              I nodded my head slowly and anxiously clenched my jaw. He pressed his fingers against my healing skin and ran them slowly down the bite marks. The wound had started to bleed again from my persistent scratching. His eyebrows narrowed, puzzled as he continued to examine me.

“This should be nearly healed by now,” I heard him mumble to himself. His hand slowly moved to my face and he held my chin, reading my subtle expressions. I felt embarrassed, and struggled to look away from his sapphire eyes.

“Tell me, have you performed the Ceremony more than once?”

              I looked back at him. “No.”

“Well. Your eyes tell me otherwise. Care to explain?”

“Why do you care?”

“It will give me a better understanding of why you’re sick.” He released my chin and my eyes flew from his.

“There were…complications during the Ceremony and I returned to Pete. I didn’t complete the Ceremony with Fitzray.”

“Did you complete it with Pete?”

“Yes, but Fitzray only believes I carried through.”

“You should have told him the truth.”

“How could I? After all that has happened, how could I tell him? After all that’s happened to Pete, he wouldn’t be after him to save him, but to have him dead.”

“I don’t understand how he could have missed this. How could he have believed you?”

“He would have made sure Pete stayed on Earth and would have made sure he couldn’t get back to Catastrophe.”

“And you honestly think that would have stopped Pete from coming back? Pete will find you since he is your Eternal Mate. All he has to do is follow your scent. Now nothing will prevent him from getting to you, especially now.” Slowly he put a hand to my stomach. “You need protection from him now. If there is life inside of you that bears the blood of your Eternal Mate, he will come back no matter if he is a half-mortal or a vampire and he will destroy everything in his path to get to you.”

“But he has Lucian’s heart. Fitzray told me that if a vampire bit him, he would turn into a monster with Lucian’s power and his own, but if a vampire of similar blood bit him, he would be a normal vampire. How do I even know if he’ll come back to me as something entirely different than the half-mortal I performed the Ceremony with?”

“It doesn’t matter what vampire he gets bit by, but whatever bites him will be affected and killed. If only you told Fitzray the truth, that wouldn’t have been his fate.”

“What?”

“A few vampires found him on the Bridge and brought him to me. I couldn’t save him.”

“But he’ll come back, won’t he?” I asked, shocked.

“If you had performed the Ceremony with him he would have. Every time a Ceremony is performed with a vampire it is guaranteed that he will come back reincarnated. If a vampire is reincarnated after a Ceremony was performed, the Ceremony must be performed again to assure another reincarnation. But because you failed to perform the Ceremony this time…he won’t be coming back.”

“He came back last time.”

“Then you must have done something right.”

“What about Pete? He’s come back without a Ceremony.”

“He’s different. If a vampire bites a mortal, he becomes immortal and once he chooses an Eternal Mate, they rely on each other for a Ceremony to reincarnate themselves for them to come back after a tragic event like being stabbed in the chest or being thrown over the Bridge. You relied on the Ceremony you had with Fitzray to be reincarnated. Sometimes it may only take one Ceremony to keep a couple of Eternal Mates together for years before something happens to one and the Ceremony has to be renewed. Pete, on the other hand, was born a vampire and was born completely immortal. That means he doesn’t need a Ceremony to be reincarnated. Pete is a very rare breed of vampire and he is one of only few in existence. He will live forever, as some vampires, such as in Fitzray’s case, will not return.”

“I could have prevented it all. I tried to prevent it. I tried to perform the Ceremony and I even went through the Trial in hopes for it to never happen.” I felt Caspian gently touch my shoulder.

“I’m very sorry Chenille. Fitzray was my best friend for many years.”

“What’s going to happen to me now Caspian? What has Pete become? What will he do with me now that his brother is dead?”

“He’s going to come for you, but he will protect you. He has changed his ways. He’ll have a different attitude now that you’re his Eternal Mate again. You don’t know all that he has endured while you’ve been away. I know he’s longed for you. I know he begged forgiveness from Taj’ and has begged Taj’ to forgive you from going to Sebastian’s Ball. He has put up with the revolts from the peasants and he has fought the wolves. He made the wolves plea in your name when he was done with them. The wolves are never to bother us, nor ever bother you.”

“What about Prusaious and Calvin?”

“He doesn’t trust them both after he’d sided with them and realized they’d influenced his behavior.”

“Not Calvin,” I said quietly.

“He’s done all of it for you, whether you want to believe it or not.”

“I just hope for my sake that you’re right.”

He cracked a smile. “I wish Amelia was here to convince you more.”

“Where is she?”

He looked down. “She died in childbirth six months ago. I lost the two of them. I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for reincarnation though. It may take a couple of years.”

“I’m so sorry Caspian.”

“You shouldn’t be sorry for me. You should be happy you have an Eternal Mate that’s coming back for you.”

“Why should I be happy? I know Pete killed Fitzray
again.
”

“It wasn’t intentional. Fitzray bit him and when Pete’s power returned, it turned his blood toxic. Just one drop is enough to make the victim go insane. It’s so lethal to the brain that the body becomes erratic, overcome by a sense of shock, in attempt to stop the toxin from completely taking over. Fitzray tried to stab himself first and when he didn’t succeed, he went to the Bridge. The stab hadn’t killed him instantly, but eventually caught up with him. There was nothing I could do and I couldn’t stop the toxin from causing him to do what he did.”

I rested my head against him, defeated. “There was something I was given by one of the vampires who found him. He told me Fitzray dropped it on the Bridge.” He reached into his lab coat and held out his hand. I didn’t lift my head but simply accepted my Ceremonial Ring and put it on the chain where my Dragon’s Soul hung.

“If there’s anything I can do for you Chenille-,”

“Please leave Caspian. Thank you for all you’ve done.”

He stood up, got his bag and looked down at me. “I want you to get out and get some fresh air. I want you to go see Taj’ and let him know you’re all right. It’s no use to be cooped up in bed all day.” I nodded slowly to show my agreement. “Keep your energy up and don’t turn down hunger, you need to eat for two now. Don’t stress yourself Chenille, everything will be all right.”

I gave him a weak smile and he left. When I was sure he was gone, I took the Ceremonial Ring off the chain on my neck and held it in my hand. I turned it over in my hands and felt the icy metal on my skin. Then it hit me- Fitzray had never left Catastrophe to begin with and neither had Pete. In order to have found the Ceremonial Ring he must have found it in Pete’s house and must have bit him there. Pete was probably too weak to leave for Earth anyway. Fitzray must have spotted the ring and held onto it probably even before he bit Pete. I shook my head and put the ring back on its chain beside my Dragon’s Soul. It was still early and I decided it would be best to go out while there was still daylight and while I was feeling up to it.

It was bitter outside and the cold gave no mercy to my sore throat. I dressed in heavy robes, looking forward to seeing Taj’, Pearl and their children for the first time since I’d disobeyed them and went to Sebastian’s Ball. I could not imagine what they would say to me. I could only hope they welcomed me.

As I neared the Frozen Waterfalls, I caught a glimpse of the back of a large black snake. I called him Taj’ but he did not respond. When I finally reached him, he turned to face me.

“Taj’? You mean my father?” He bent his head to my level to stare at me with his green-yellow eyes.

“You’re not Taj’. Who are you then?”

“I am Magnificent, his eldest son. Do you need to speak with him?”

I nodded my head. As he turned I saw him gather himself up into a marvelous stance and held his head high, to which bore his name, magnificent. At the sound of his voice, a snake slithered from behind the waterfall and stopped when he saw me. This wasn’t Taj’ either.

The snake bent his head down and he flicked his tongue at me. He made a large circle around me, his body high enough to prevent escape, but he appeared curious and took a liking to me. I became infatuated with his scales, from a distance appearing gray, but close up each scale refracted light and made it seem like thousands of mirrors surrounded me. He bent his sparkling head down to me again to speak.

“I am Sylvarian, Taj’s younger son. Who are you?”

“I am Chenille.”

The two snakes exchanged glances and at once, they both simultaneously called for their father.

“What is the matter my boys?” Taj’ slithered from behind the waterfall and stared in my direction, but did not move.   “Chenille?”

A sudden grief filled his face and he hung his head as though he remembered something. I knew Caspian had already told him about Fitzray. He came closer and then suddenly stopped, still looking at me. “Chenille, Chenille come to me.”

I walked over to the snake and he gently coiled his tail around me, his jaw resting lightly against the top of my head, and I felt as though he would have wept, but he did not. “Chenille I didn’t think you’d come back to us. I didn’t think so many bad things would happen when you came back.” He paused to gather his thoughts. “I knew Fitzray’s fate. I saw it in the pool. Pearl told me herself, but I didn’t think it would happen so soon.” He was silent and thinking, as though he wanted to tell me something as his sons listened intently. “Pearl also told me what happened between you and Pete. I wish I could congratulate you but,” he lifted his head, looking down at me now, “what you did was a horrible mistake.”

“I don’t understand Taj’.”

“Pete loves you, he loves you,” I watched as his eyes became glassy and he had to look away, “but now not everyone can agree to that. Many creatures don’t accept that. I wish I could do something for you…I wish I could help you.”