The Vampire's Reflection (41 page)
Valek’s gaze touched Charlotte’s face as he cradled her, his hard expression going soft again. “Will they be able to cure Charlotte’s ailment? Once and for all?”
Francis sucked in a quick breath of air. “Oh, no, no, no. She cannot come with. Sorry, Valek, but I’ve helped her the best I could, and the Parliament has given me strict orders to fetch you and you alone. The girl is to stay here for now. At least her fate has been prolonged. She won’t falter quite yet to this odd disease you’ve cast upon her. She’ll survive a bit longer. She’ll have to do it without you.”
“But you said ‘for now’. Surely you won’t keep me away forever? I can return to her.” Valek’s voice turned back into adamant desperation.
“Perhaps, but that is not for me to decide. You’ll have to see what the others say.” Francis’ gaze flicked to Mr. Třínožka and Edwin and back to Valek. “I do believe she’ll be safe in the care of her…
friends
. Sarah will stay with her, too.”
“Absolutely!” Sarah chimed in. Francis mashed his lips into a thin line. Maybe she should not have responded quite so exuberantly.
Francis sighed, clearly fatigued of the conversation. “Okay, well, let’s not have these goodbyes become dramatic. Say them quickly and let’s be off.”
“She’ll wonder what happened to me when she wakes and I am gone,” Valek murmured.
“If I remember correctly, Charlotte didn’t want to stay with you, anyway.” The crowd gasped quietly at Nikolai, who had spoken up for the first time that evening.
Valek’s jaw tightened a fraction as he absorbed the blow of the boy’s words. He straightened up, his shoulders stiffening slightly as the muscles in his face tensed. “You’re right. She did decide that, didn’t she? So it seems this is all for the best.” Valek turned his attention to Mr. Třínožka who walked gracefully over to him. Sarah watched, Valek’s broken heart tangible to her, as he handed Charlotte over to the giant Spider.
“Look after her in my absence. Whatever questions she has, answer them honestly. Most importantly, tell her how much I love her, and how much I am sorry.”
Grasping Charlotte in his two front hands, Mr. Třínožka gave one silent nod in response before Valek turned back to Francis.
“It is for her betterment that you are leaving, Valek,” Francis said matter-of-factly. “From a loftier position, you will be able to protect her. There is much in store for you in the Dark City. I’m sure, in time, Charlotte will come seeking you again.”
Valek inhaled slowly. “I’m ready.”
Without so much as a glance over his shoulder, Valek silently followed Francis into the dark carriage, closing the door behind him. Sarah could understand why Valek didn’t regard them one last time. Maybe it was just too painful for him. Maybe he just wasn’t good at saying goodbye. Tears brimmed in the corners of her eyes as she watched the one called Milo beat the reins, prompting the horses to begin their long journey to the city of Abelim. The wheels left no tracks in the snow as the carriage rounded and retreated back in the direction from which it came, a dark and ghostly fog eclipsing the sight of it from her. She watched, fresh tears rolling down her frosted cheeks, wondering what would become of him, as their fallen hero retreated to where he was needed. She wondered what would become of them, as well.
Epilogue
Valek
The massive castle square was completely abandoned in the midnight hour, the gates locked shut from all of the daytime tourists and onlookers. I was painstakingly aware of the castle guards as Francis and I swept through the center of the main square. I was positive they were privy to us being there, though strangely, these mortals didn’t move. They didn’t even stir, with their strict gazes facing forward.
Do they not see us
, I thought in Francis’ direction. I didn’t want to speak for fear it might attract more attention to us.
They do
. I heard his mind respond to mine.
They are sworn to secrecy. They know of magic and of our existence. They know they inadvertently guard Abelim as well, and not to bother us
.
Interesting, I thought, though not at Francis in particular. Curious, I focused in on one of the guards. I could see now, even from this distance, his pupils were wavering. I could hear in his mind the shock and the desperate want to look at me—to see me. He was newly assigned to the castle guard staff, that I could tell. This was his first sighting of a nightwalker. The word rang from his mind. I snorted. Was that their name for us?
Nightwalker?
He made them sound like a professional escort.
The platoon officer barked an order, and in complete synchronized choreography, each of the guards standing before the various castle entrances turned on their black, polished heels and retreated to some unbeknownst place. A new set of guards formed up, ready to take their place. The sound of their marching echoed off the massive cathedral buttresses of the ancient St. Vitus, which stood ominously in the center of the open, castle square. Depictions of Jesus and his disciples were etched with the most intricate detail along the cold, gray cathedral face. My gaze flicked intently over the thousands of impossibly tiny sculptures along the walls and doors. I tried my best to focus in on every detail, perfecting the visual memory in my mind. The busier I kept my mind, the better. I could not bear to imagine her face. The way she looked at me before—
“How do you suppose humanity achieved this?” I interrupted my own thought, asking Francis the question so my mind wouldn’t spiral any further to that painful memory. Distantly, though, I wondered if her eyes had opened yet.
“Whatever do you mean?” Francis’ tone was incredulous and bored.
“It is so intricate. St. Vitus is. I’m just wondering how it’s possible that
human
fingers constructed this. The job just seems to me too overwhelming.” I shook my head, marveling at the gloriousness of it.
Francis cast me a quick look and walked forward a few more steps. “
Please
, Valek. Do you actually believe
humans
did this?”
“Didn’t they?”
Francis snorted.
We continued to the entrance of the St. Vitus Cathedral. The doors looked bolted shut. I was curious because this didn’t seem like we were on our way to any city. I wondered slightly if we’d taken a detour—if Francis needed something from this place, or if we were visiting someone on our way. I watched him press his hand against the ornate façade of the double door.
The zillions of colors from the moonlight through dozens of stained glass windows washed the marble floors around me in glorious pools of lavender, cobalt, scarlet, and emerald. They reflected off the pews and down the long hall where several marble tombs slept silently in the chilled night.
“Francis, I’m afraid I do not understand. Why are we here?” I asked, marveling. I remembered visiting this place once a long time ago in my distant past. The past that included my wife and all of my human experiences and memories. My eyes pricked instantly with the thought, and quickly I blinked it away, but not before seeing Nikolai glare at me in my memory.
How can that be?
Everything Aiden said—it was all impossible. There was no way I could possess…a
lineage
. I shuddered and pushed the thought back again.
“We’ve arrived at the gates of Abelim, dear Valek.”
Francis batted his long, glittering eyelashes at me, and I stifled a barking laugh. I had no idea where Milo had escaped to. He was quiet and seemed pretty safe. The last I saw of him was when he drove the carriage up to the entrance of the Prague Castle and dropped us off. Perhaps there was some back entrance to this strange city? I looked around the cathedral hall questioningly until Francis continued.
“The city lies underground, Valek,” Francis said exasperatedly as if I were missing something obvious. “Abelim is literally old Prague—the very foundation Prague now sits atop of.” Francis waved his hand vaguely in the direction of the marble tomb that was constructed dead center from the others. “The entrance is there. The tomb of Charles IV. We’ve got quite a walk ahead of us,” he sighed, “so let us begin.”
I didn’t make a step forward. I barely moved. Something gripped me tightly, holding me back from journeying below to the bowels of the city. It was her. It was knowing she was waking up somewhere without me. And despite our hurt and angry exchange in the forest, I longed to be at her side, whether she wanted me to be there or not.
“Valek.” Francis spoke again hearing the apprehension in my thoughts. “She’s the protected one. Guarded by magic, and watched over by creatures of the night.” Abruptly, he pulled at my hand, reminding me of the deep line of fate chiseled across my palm. “Do not worry, dear friend. Your paths will certainly cross again.”
I relaxed a little. Perhaps he was right.
“Whether she’s friend or foe when that happens, I don’t know. But we’ll be ready for anything, won’t we?”
I frowned at that. Was he right? Could Charlotte possibly hate me now? To my discontent, it was not such an improbable thought. Finally acquiescing, I followed my mentor—my liege—down the hall and imminently, down into the depths of the Dark City. I would watch her from afar. I would wait for her, trusting that she would eventually come looking for me. And most importantly…I would not let the monsters get her.
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
In Shayne's first year out of high school she penned, co-directed, and starred in the feature film 'The Incubus', a paranormal romance, which obtained distribution and screened in over fifteen theaters across South Florida among major theater chains such as Regal, AMC, and Cinemark. 'The Incubus' has also obtained a passionate fanbase of over 100,000 girls online and has garnered the attention of reporters from the Miami Herald, CBS News, and NPR Radio.
Leighton also starred alongside Scream Queen, Tara Cardinal, in the film 'Legend of the Red Reaper' which made its world debut at the 2012 AFM in Los Angeles.
Twenty-Two-year-old Leighton is excited to release her debut young adult novel series, 'Of Light and Darkness', set in contemporary Prague, as well as developing the film adaptation of the novel series.
Recently released songs can now be heard on ReverbNation.com with a full-length album in the works. Leighton is currently named #35 on the pop charts in Miami, FL.
Named #26 in Boca Magazine's "Top 100 'It' People" for 2011.
Shayne Leighton lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband and key inspiration, Frank and travels back and forth to the Czech Republic often.
Find out more about Shayne at
www.ShayneLeighton.com
Of Light and Darkness by Shayne Leighton
When one human stands before an army of impossible obstacles, the likelihood of overcoming them in this coming-of-age modern fairytale may result in war between light and darkness.
Abandoned as an infant in Prague, naive and strong-willed Charlotte Ruzikova was raised by one of the last Vampires left alive. As a human, she knows no other home than the one nestled deep in the woods of Eastern Europe, where Witches drew spells of enchantment, Phasers threw tea parties, and Elves are the closest in kin. Charlotte has lived her life in the dark with her Guardian, content to having him to herself and reveling in his attention, until she's realizes she wants more...
Resident medical doctor and Vampire, Valek Ruzik fears the day his ward would come of age and blossom into a fine woman, and he is forced to confront his own motives as time is of the essence once his past catches up to him, and their lives become endangered...
As genocide and war threatens their secret society, the dictator in power is ready to wipe out Valek's race, but Charlotte will not allow that to happen. Fighting for the only one she's ever loved and truly believed in, she will do whatever it takes to save their love...before the sun comes up and light takes over.
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