A Shade of Blood (A Shade of Vampire #2)(39)
Author: Bella Forrest

Where are they taking her? I wanted to ask, but realized that Lyle was moving his lips and I couldn’t hear what he was saying. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. Then my vision began to betray me, blurring before everything around me faded into black.

CHAPTER 28: DEREK

What the hell am I doing here?

The Black Heights was the last place I would expect to find myself. I hated the mountain caves and its complex network of dark tunnels. They brought about too many memories of more desperate times.

Still, despite the adverse reaction I had to the caves, I found myself inside them, following a guard, who guided me through well-lit stone corridors leading to the cell where Claudia was being held prisoner. The Cells had changed drastically since the last time I visited. Much had been done to develop the caves. Flat, concrete flooring, electricity, doors… those were just some of the modifications that made the place feel more like the interior of an actual building instead of what it used to be – dark, dank caves, void of life and light.

The guard stopped in front of a gate – or at least what looked like one – light white-blue rays formed the bars keeping Claudia prisoner.

“What are those?” I asked, pointing at the bars.

“UV rays, your highness,” the guard responded.

“How many of these types of cells do we have?” I was curious.

“Three. We rarely ever have vampire prisoners.”

Of course. The Cells are mainly for humans after all. He pressed a button and the rays retracted. I entered the cell and found Claudia sitting cross-legged on top of the small cot she was given for a bed. Her blonde mane made her round face look small. Her blue eyes were set on me. She was wearing a simple white smock – a contrast to the garish outfits I was used to seeing her in. The simple get up and the lack of makeup made her look like a regular teenager. A seventeen-year-old with old eyes, eyes that have seen too much…

I could hear the rays close in behind me, imprisoning me with her.

“Just call when you wish to leave, prince.”

I nodded and waved him off. I focused on the beautiful blonde I had before me.

“The almighty prince pays me a visit. What did I do to deserve such an honor?” If she was resentful of me, she was hiding it. Her golden lashes fluttered at me, a playful grin forming on her lips.

“I wanted to ask you a question.”

“Oh?” Her head tilted quizzically to the side. “Ask away then.”

I hesitated. Why am I here?

She stood up and moved toward me, studying me. “You’re always so tense, Prince Derek. That’s your problem. You don’t know how to loosen up like your older brother does.” She brushed her fingers over my cheek.

I stepped away from her, revolted by her touch.

“When was the last time you laid with a woman?”

Every night since Sofia left. I had Vivienne send me a girl or two to keep me company in my bedroom. Without them, my chambers reeked too much of Sofia and her scent. Even with other women to distract me, she was still on my mind.

“I could help loosen you up…” Claudia offered.

I pushed her away before she could lay a hand on me. “That’s not why I’m here. Sit down, Claudia. I wish to discuss something private with you.”

Her brows rose. “Something private.” The idea obviously delighted her. “This ought to be interesting.” She turned her back on me to return to her cot.

I was surprised to find the back of her smock lined with blood stains.

I grabbed her arm to stop her. “The wounds from the lashes… they haven’t yet healed? It’s been days since…”

She shrugged my hand away from her arm and sat back on the cot. “My dear prince…” she hissed. “You really should find out what the extents of your punishments are before you dole them out. I was injected with a serum to delay the healing before the lashes were inflicted on me. As long as the serum is in my system, I will not heal.”

I swallowed hard.

“Oh, don’t worry yourself too much about this,” she smiled bitterly. “Someone has been coming to treat the wounds.”

“Who?” I raised a brow. I didn’t know why I even asked. I already knew the answer before she gave it to me.

“Yuri,” she responded. A sudden spark of delight appeared in her big brown eyes. “Are you going to punish him for helping me? You really should… his ‘treatments’ hurt like hell. I’m starting to think he just enjoys hearing me scream with pain.”

I had half the mind to ask her about the younger Lazaroff, but decided not to. The thought of exploring Claudia’s twisted mind wasn’t all that inviting and it wasn’t why I came.

“Anyway, do tell me why you’re here, Prince Derek. I’m dying to know.”

“Ben…”

Her eyes flickered with recognition at the mention of the name.

“You remember him?”

“Of course. He was special… that one… hard to forget. I regret ever taking him with me when I visited you, but how could I have known that your fiery little pet once knew him? How is she anyway?”

Ignoring her, I got straight to my point. “I’m assuming that you already had a taste of his blood from the first night you had him with you. Am I correct?”

She confirmed my suspicions with a nod.

“How did you manage to drink of him for so long without ending his life? How did you have that kind of control?”

She grew pensive, as if she too were surprised by what she was able to accomplish. “Why do you ask?” She stalled answering my question.

“I crave a girl. I’ve tasted her blood and now I’m desperate to finish the kill.”

“Your lovely redhead? Such a beautiful thing to waste on one kill…”

“Answer my question.” First, Vivienne. Now, Claudia. The constant mention of Sofia was grating on my nerves.

“Always so feisty.” She pouted, and then gave my question thought before responding, “I was never able to control myself from finishing a human off for more than a week or two.”

“But he was with you for many weeks… He was brought to The Shade not long after Sofia was…” Her name left a bitter taste on my mouth.

“He reminded me of someone. Someone from the past.” Something dark and wicked marred Claudia’s countenance. “As I said, he was special… I wanted to keep him for as long as I was able.” She shrugged. “Perhaps rage toward a human gives us some form of control.”