CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I never thought I’d ever get the chance to stand before the portal like I was now.
The center of the portal was an eerie void, though there was a strange texture to it, like rich velvet.
It beckoned me close. My fingers twitched to glide through the silky black.
The void was framed with what appeared like millions upon millions of sparkling rubies.
The rubies crumbled into a brilliant shimmer, only to fuse back together and break apart in a perpetual cycle.
Scarlet diamonds rippled outwards like waves lapping ashore, and the delicate cuts of light writhed together.
There was a hum within the air, the low notes of the portal’s song suspended between worlds.
It was snug between two ancient pines deep within the Lost Woods.
The woods was situated along the furthest outskirts of Kilthorne.
It earned the name because of its knack for disorienting visitors.
The few that had made it out in the past swear that they had seen trees shift, as if their roots untangled from the soil and slithered along the loose earth to root elsewhere.
Any attempt at making paths was quickly concealed by shifting brush and ever-growing brambles.
At a certain point, too many had been lost to the woods that travel was strictly cautioned.
And after the portal appeared, entrance to the woods was now prohibited. Except for Society members, of course.
The portal was guarded at all times by Society members to ensure no vampires could come through to our world.
Though when we arrived, there was no one in sight.
Sebastian said he had cast an illusion that sent them deep into the woods.
When I scolded him for potentially causing them to be lost forever, he very flatly, without any emotion, told me he would get them back.
Because of the confusing nature of the woods, precise maps had been created to ensure Society members could reach the portal and exit the woods safely. The map was crafted using measurements instead of landmarks, since nothing remained stagnant, except for the portal.
We had exhausted our resources here. As far as we knew now, no one else here knew of the portal or how to break the tracking spell.
We had to search another world. Sebastian’s world.
What I had thought was the underworld. A part of me still thought it might be.
It became harder to question myself, my beliefs, what others said.
I didn’t know where I stood anymore, so I drifted along instead.
After the small glimpse Sebastian had shown me, I was intrigued to see this new world.
“You’re sure I can enter?” I eyed Sebastian with raised brows.
According to Father, no human could pass through the portal.
Anyone who entered would immediately disintegrate into dust so fine the faintest breeze would carry them away.
Sebastian said otherwise, and I supposed my father could have said that to dissuade any temptation at going through.
“For the hundredth time,” he spoke slowly, enunciating each word clearly with an edge of obvious annoyance. “Yes.”
“Alright, but one of the times I asked, you said we’ll just have to see what happens, so my concern is only valid.”
“Yes.” His tone still carried that edge. “But then I tested it.”
“You what?” I squawked.
He bent down to my ear. “Tested it.”
I rolled my eyes, ignoring the shiver that washed through me. “What do you mean you tested it?”
“I borrowed a prisoner, pushed him through. He came out on the other side perfectly intact. Then I pushed him through again and locked him back up,” he explained it as if it was the most obvious explanation in the world.
“You could have killed him.”
“He’s already scheduled to be executed.”
“Oh ...” I glanced around, pursing my lips.
“Now.” He gestured toward the portal as if he were inviting me to enter a gilded ballroom. “Shall we?”
I crossed my arms around my chest, looking to the portal, then to him. “I don’t want to go first.”
“That’s fine. I’ll alert my guards of our arrival.”
Just as he was about to turn towards the portal, a twig snapped nearby. He grabbed my arm and yanked me behind him before I could even look towards the disturbance. I peered around him as we waited to see what would emerge through the trees.
My heart nearly fell out of my body it had sunk so fast.
“Father?” I stepped out from Sebastian.
“Charlotte.” He eyed me, then Sebastian. “What are you doing out here?” Two Society members emerged from the shadows and flanked him.
What was I doing out here? This was quite possibly one of the worst outcomes that could have unraveled today. And one I foolishly did not consider. “I ... well, I ...” His blue eyes burned through me, eating up any thought before it could come to fruition.
“I apologize, Sir. She has always been so fascinated with the portal, and I wanted her to be able to see it in person. It was reckless on my behalf.”
My eyes flicked over to Sebastian in surprise.
But I could see Father’s face begin to harden. “Yes,” I rushed to add. “I did really want to see it, and I shouldn’t have agreed for him to take me.”
“I just wanted to make her happy.” I looked back to him. He kept his eyes firmly on my father. A part of me wilted at knowing it was a lie. Why I warmed at the words, I did not want to know. But Father’s face softened.
“Reckless indeed.” His eyes held the warning he didn’t need to convey through words.
“Nevertheless, I am glad I found you two. Charlotte, I need your ... assistance. Willow Park has been overtaken by newborns, and they refuse to come out no matter what measures we take. I cannot send my men in there without proper visuals, so we have had to result to drawing them out.” I knew what that meant.
“Understood, Father.”
I could feel Sebastian’s eyes on me. The side of my face nearly went numb under his gaze. But I didn’t even know how to properly explain this to him. How could I explain that my father used me as bait on occasion?
* * *
We waited until sundown. Willow Park was a sprawling manor surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens and willow trees.
My mouth went dry at the expanse of it all, at all the rooms there had to have been, the many places the newborns could hide.
I didn’t know exactly how many newborns were in there, but if they had overtaken this place, I knew tonight would be a bloodbath.
We stood before the arched entrance draped in trailing ivy, as we waited for each member to get into position around the manor.
Sebastian stared down at me. He had been staring at me the entire carriage ride here and the entire walk up to the manor. His expression blank as usual, but his eyes held a sort of rage he could not conceal. I tried to ignore him, but it was becoming increasingly more difficult by the second.
He finally spoke, “So, your father’s a little fucked up.”
“Very,” Pari interjected as she stood beside me.
I always requested that Pari was allowed to come with me to these sorts of things.
Women weren’t allowed to join the Society.
I grew up spying on the Society’s trainings, and Pari was more skilled with a dagger than anyone I had ever seen.
Though there didn’t seem to be anything that could change Father’s mind.
But I think a part of him was sensible enough to feel guilt at using his daughter as bait, so he allowed me this request.
“Very fucked up,” he clarified.
I could barely meet his eyes. They were so intense. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Yes, well, he believes in the Society’s ability to protect me, so he doesn’t see it as putting me in danger.”
“Nothing could make this okay,” he deadpanned.
I kept my eyes trained straight ahead, shifting awkwardly beside him. Once Father ensured everyone was in position, Pari, Sebastian, and I entered.
As we paused in the grand foyer, I took in the overwhelming corridor beyond.
The floors were made of white marble that was so shiny I could almost see my reflection.
Tiny veins of gold ran through the stone, matching the gilded elements throughout the room.
Golden chandeliers bathed the room in bright candlelight.
Pari and I were well-versed at this point.
She took down any vampire who attempted to get near me as I lured them out.
I held on to my measly dagger that had not been used once, as she was strapped with at least a dozen daggers across her chest. Her cascading black locks were braided into a thick crown around her head, and she wore fitted leather armor, similar to mine.
I never wore pants except on these occasions.
Once, I had tripped over my skirts during one of these missions, and that was the closest a vampire had ever gotten to my throat, apart from recent events.
Sebastian seemed overtaken with my change of dress when he had picked me up. He stared at my legs for a long moment, and I pretended not to notice.
I held out my hand to Pari. I could never do it myself.
As I was painfully reminded the other day, I was terribly squeamish around blood.
She made the small cut along my palm for me, as I turned my head in the opposite direction and squeezed my eyes shut tight.
I didn’t look at the scarlet line I knew was there, but I felt the warmth seep out.
Sebastian looked at me, his face still devoid of expression, but he clenched his jaw and went entirely still. The only subtle indication that my blood was affecting him. And for him to need to rein in his control as he did in the past, my blood had to have been especially tempting.
As the warmth continued to spread across my palm, the halls filled with the familiar guttural growls that forever haunted me. Pounding footsteps scattered about the manor, clashing against the hard stone as they came running.