Chapter 31
Thirty-One
VAUGHN
Iscrewed up. That much I know. As soon as Sophie realized that Vivi was a Nightingale, something shifted between us. I shouldn’t have kept the truth from her when she shared so many of her secrets with me. I’m a fucking idiot.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I blurt out as soon as we’re in the car.
She looks out the window. “You said it wasn’t your secret to tell.”
“Right, so why are you angry with me?”
“Are you dense?” Tish butts in, and I wish she wasn’t around. I don’t need her unhelpful remarks.
“Why is the fact that Vivi is a Nightingale such a big secret?” Sophie asks.
“Her blood has powers, but she doesn’t have her Nightingale gifts. She can’t protect herself from anyone who’d wish to use her blood for nefarious reasons—like freeing that specter, for instance.”
“I wouldn’t have betrayed your trust.”
I rub my face. “You wouldn’t have even told your father?”
She hesitates, and I peel my eyes off the road for a second to look at her. “Now I wouldn’t, but… I’m not sure if I’d have kept it quiet before my meeting with my mother.”
“So you agree with me that I was right to keep it a secret from you.”
She drops her gaze to her lap. “I suppose.”
“Now that we know Lucca’s girlfriend is a Nightingale, are you going to tell us where they are?” Tish asks.
“Why do you want to know so badly?”
“Just plain curiosity.”
“Don’t you know curiosity killed the cat?” I joke.
“Not killed, but definitely cursed,” she mumbles.
“So you were cursed? That’s why you can’t change into your human form?”
“Yep. But since Nightingale magic created familiars in the first place, maybe Lucca’s girlfriend can unhex me.”
“I told you she doesn’t have her gifts.”
“Right. Balls. What happened to her?”
“Her mother took her powers away, then banished her and her brother to our world before closing the portals to Ellnesari.”
“Wait. There’s another Nightingale on our side of the fence?” Sophie asks.
I grimace. Once again, I said too much. Too late now. “Yeah.”
“Is there anything else you’re keeping from us?” Tish asks.
I hold the steering wheel tighter, turning my knuckles white. Sophie already knows about Vivi and Rikkon; what harm is there in telling her everything?
“Yeah, lots.”
“Oh my God. I can’t believe you confessed just like that,” Tish replies.
“You already know the biggest secret, and I, technically, didn’t reveal that. Sophie guessed. Therefore, Lucca can’t really blame me for blabbering.”
“That’s true.” Sophie turns to me. “So what else is there?”
Here it goes. I might be making the biggest mistake of my life. “Lucca and Vivi are in Ellnesari.”
There’s a moment of silence, which isn’t a surprise. That revelation was a doozy.
“How?” Sophie asks. “The portals have been sealed for centuries.”
“The High Witch and Solomon were able to create one. Lucca, Vivi, and our friends crossed it to rescue Miranda and Rikkon, who were kidnapped by a crazy-ass Nightingale.”
I can sense they have more questions for me, but we’ve arrived at Bloodstone Institute, and it’ll take hours to cover everything that’s happened to my friends.
Isadora drove to the back of the institute, so that means we’re entering the place via the creepy cemetery again. Fantastic.
“I’ll tell you everything later. We shouldn’t keep the High Witch waiting.”
SOPHIE
My mind is reeling as I process all the information Vaughn dumped on us.
No wonder he was tight-lipped. From the discovery that Lucca is dating a Nightingale to them traveling to Ellnesari on a rescue mission, I don’t know what piece of information is bigger.
Probably the latter. If there’s a way to open portals to the land of Nightingales, then maybe we can find a cure for my mother’s disease and stop the rest of the vampire population from needing to hibernate.
I’m sure all those considerations have crossed Lucca’s mind, but until he returns, there’s no way to know what they’re planning to do. But I can’t think about that now. I need to focus on the situation at hand and try to not screw up.
I’m responsible for weakening the wards. I came looking for Madeleine under my father’s orders, not stopping to question if it was a good idea. I realized it was a mistake when I saw the deranged specter in person, but not before she clawed me and broke free.
The High Witch is waiting for us at the entrance of the old cemetery, but she sees Tish in my arms and stiffens. “You can’t bring your familiar.”
“Why not?”
“The spell I must perform will require a lot of from both of us, and I’ll need your undivided attention. You can’t worry about your familiar’s safety.”
“She doesn’t need to worry about me. I can take care of myself,” Tish argues.
“It’s nonnegotiable.”
“What about him?” Tish nods at Vaughn.
“Oh, I’m going.” He stands straighter, glaring at Isadora. “Try to stop me.”
The woman lifts an eyebrow. “Being in love has given you some gumption, boy.”
I watch Vaughn’s face turn a deep shade of red, but he doesn’t deny it. My heart does a somersault inside my chest. The knowledge makes me happy, but how can he be in love with me already? That’s exponentially fast.
Like you aren’t in love with him too, Sophie.
“I’ve always had gumption. You just failed to see.”
She clasps her hands in front of her and sighs. “You can come. Sophie might need to feed.”
Vaughn turns to me, his eyes burning with yearning. “Whatever she needs.”
His words seem to carry an extra meaning, and they make me blush. I focus on petting Tish before setting her on the ground. “We’ll be back soon.”
I hope.
“Don’t worry about me. Be safe in there.”
I lock my eyes with Vaughn’s as I walk past him to follow the High Witch into the cemetery, and a chill of excitement rolls down my back.
His gaze holds a promise of more scorching kisses and intimate caresses.
I just have to perform some unknown spell beforehand, hoping I don’t get hurt in the process. No big deal.
Vaughn walks behind me at first, but I stop and wait for him to catch up, then take his hand. He smiles, and I sense he wants to say something before the crack of a twig breaking makes him jerk and search our surroundings. “What was that?”
“Probably just a rodent.”
“Okay.”
“Vaughn… are you afraid of the dark?”
“What? No. To quote Chunk, ‘I love the dark, but I hate nature.’”
“Who’s Chunk?”
Vaughn seems surprised by my question, then shakes his head, smiling. “It’s a character from a classic eighties movie. I forgot you missed a lot of years.”
I look away lest he see how his comment pains me. I wouldn’t have hibernated for so long if it weren’t for what that asshole did to me.
“Sorry. That was a careless comment.”
“It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Could you please refrain from chitchatting?” Isadora complains ahead. “If I wanted people to know we’re here, I would have used the front door.”
Vaughn blows a raspberry at her back, making me chuckle softly. She looks over her shoulder to glower, and I force my face into a neutral expression. It isn’t smart to antagonize such a powerful witch. There’s a reason King Raphael has always kept a High Witch in his court.
Once we enter the mausoleum and the darkness becomes absolute, she conjures up a light orb with her hand. It’s an easy spell, but I don’t have the same confidence in my powers as she seems to have. I’d better preserve my energy.
The closer we get to the secret chamber where Madeleine and her friends are trapped, the colder the air gets. Vaughn holds my hand tighter. His pulse is beating faster, and it isn’t a leap to conclude this situation is terrifying him. But despite his fear, he didn’t hesitate to volunteer to come.
We turn a corner, and for all intents and purposes, it’s a dead end. A spell has been cast to create the illusion that there’s a wall in front of us. When Isadora disappears from view for a second, Vaughn blurts, “Whatta…”
“It’s okay,” I whisper. His steps falter, but I pull him with me. “There isn’t a wall. Trust me.”
A tingling sensation spreads all over my body when we cross the magical barrier. The High Witch is in front of us again, and now we can see the gated chamber ahead, and the eerie green light glowing from within.
“Spooky,” Vaughn whispers.
“Sophie… you’re back, and you brought snacks,” Madeleine’s voice echoes around us.
Vaughn plants his feet and doesn’t let me go on. “We’re close enough.”
The High Witch turns to us. “Do you have energized crystals with you?”
“Yes, I don’t leave the house without them.” I grab the crystal pendant hanging around my neck.
“That might not be enough.” Isadora reaches inside her jacket and retrieves a crystal the size of an egg. “Here. This should do.”
I take the crystal in my hand, and it glows a faint lavender color.
“It matches your eyes,” Vaughn says.
“True.”
“It’s resonating with your magic,” Isadora adds. “That’s a good sign.” She glances at Vaughn. “You must step back and refrain from touching her. I need to form a power circle around us.”
He does as she asks, and I miss his proximity in an instance.
The High Witch steps in front of me, holding a crystal bigger than mine in her hand. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Whatever you’re doing is not going to work,” Madeleine taunts. “I can feel the change coming. I will be free at last, and you’ll rue the day you trapped me. I will take great pleasure in turning your skin into shreds and watching your blood stain the ground, starting with you, Sophie.”
I shiver, feeling her threats deep in my soul.
“Don’t pay attention to her. Eyes on me,” Isadora says.
I look at her, but all I want to do is close my eyes and pretend I’m not here. But I understand I must keep eye contact with her for the spell to work.
She starts to chant, and immediately, I feel the power surge between us, like a gust of wind that quickly wraps around us.
Without being told, I join her in the chanting.
I don’t know how I know the words of the spell.
They just popped into my brain. I don’t recognize my own voice; it’s like I’m channeling a foreign entity and she’s the one speaking.
The wind picks up speed, spinning around the High Witch and me. My hair flaps around my face, blocking my view, and the crystal in my hand glows brighter and gets hotter.
In the background, I hear Madeleine and the other ghosts shriek. She’s pissed, which means the spell must be working and the wards are getting strong again.
I don’t know how long I chant with Isadora, but when the spell hits its highest note, it drops with a whoosh that sends me flying back. Vaughn catches me before I hit the floor.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“Yeah.” I try to step back, but I feel woozy, so I’m glad he’s still holding me. “Where’s Isadora?”
“I’m here.” A faint light orb appears, allowing me to see the woman leaning against the wall. Her hair is messier than before.
“Did the spell work?” Vaughn asks.
“Yes,” I answer before she can. Then darkness claims me.