A Shade of Kiev (A Shade of Vampire #8)(23)
Author: Bella Forrest

“Why did you just do that?”

“That should be obvious.”

“Well, it’s not,” I said, widening my eyes at him.

“Witch, you were utterly clueless. If I hadn’t interfered, you’d be in that vampire’s bedroom right now. I’ll accompany you back home too.”

I didn’t know what had possessed me, but for a moment I had been expecting him to tell me that he had done it to apologize for his behavior the other night.

“You pompous ass,” I muttered.

I threw my unfinished skewer into the fire and stalked off.

Chapter 23: Kiev

Damn it.

Ungrateful witch.

My first attempt had backfired. It was disappointing, but my failure only served to fuel the fire to conquer the challenge that was Mona.

And the sooner I win at this, the sooner this nonsense is over.

The next evening, as soon as the sun set, I rushed through the forest to the bank of the lake and, discarding my shirt, jumped in. The clear water was cool and pleasant to swim in, and it wasn’t long before I had reached her cabin.

I gripped hold of the edge of the wooden platform that led to her front door and hoisted myself up. Dripping wet, I knocked three times. When she didn’t open the door after more than five seconds, I knocked again, more impatiently this time.

“Who is it?” the witch’s voice called.

“Kiev.”

“Go away.”

“I have something for you.”

“I don’t want it.”

I crept around to the large glass doors that opened onto the verandah. No sooner had I reached them than she ran around the cabin drawing all the curtains.

“Go away,” she called again.

I walked back round to the entrance and entertained the idea of just breaking down the door. But I paused as my hand wrapped around the doorknob.

Wait. I can’t do that. It will make her more hostile.

I continued to prowl around the cabin, looking through the windows for any gaps she might have left in the curtains. But she had done a thorough job at blocking me out.

In a last-ditch attempt, I degraded myself to begging.

“Please?”

Silence.

Angered that even this had been in vain, I brought my fist down hard against a small wooden table in the corner. Too hard. A crack filled the air. To my horror, the table gave way and fell to pieces.

No. No. Now she’s going to hate me more.

I scrambled around on the deck looking for… God knew what. I didn’t know what the hell I expected to find on that narrow porch. Glue?

The front door opened and Mona stormed out, wearing a short black nightdress.

“What the hell, vampire?”

Her eyes blazed when she saw what I had done. She ran at me, and although she wasn’t heavy, the unexpected force knocked me back into the water.

“Go. Away.”

The foundations of her cabin shuddered as she slammed the door shut.

Disheartened but still in no way defeated, I swam back to the mainland.

The first thing I did was seek out the ogre, Brett, whom she had appeared to be friends with. I passed a werewolf in the woods who informed me of the location of his home.

It turned out that Brett lived in a cave at the base of the same mountain I’d met Matteo at the other night. Mossy rocks surrounded the cave’s damp entrance.

“Brett?” I called, my voice echoing off the walls.

A loud snore emanated from the back of the cave. I took the liberty of climbing through the entrance and saw the ogre lying in a heap on top of a bed of straw.

“Brett,” I repeated.

He continued to snore louder than ever.

I nudged his back with my foot. When he still didn’t budge, I grabbed his shoulders and rolled him over.

“Wh-what?” he spluttered, rubbing sticky eyes.

“I… I’m sorry to wake you,” I said. “But I have a question.”

He sat up, frowning, his yellow eyes still bleary. “Who are you?”

“Kiev. “

When he still looked at me with a blank expression, I said impatiently, “I met you the other night, remember? You came to my room.”

“Ah, yeah. Remember now,” he mumbled, leaning his wide back against the damp wall of the cave. “What do you want?”

“You’re Mona’s friend, right?”

“Mona? Erm… I wouldn’t go so far as to say she’s my friend.” He paused for a deep yawn. “I’d like to consider her that, for sure. But she probably thinks of me more as her well-wisher than friend—”

“All right,” I said, cutting through his rambling. “I’m sure you can still answer my question. When does Mona visit the mainland?”

“Once a day, usually. To visit the well.”

“What time?”

“Erm… in the evening.”

“And where is this well?”

“It’s near the foot of the hill I took you to. Walk around that area and you’ll find it soon enough.”

“Okay.” I left his side and retreated out of the cave. But before heading off, I remembered to turn back and say, “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” he grunted and slumped back down on the straw.

***

Early the next evening, I made sure to be near the well. I crouched down in the shadows of the trees surrounding it and waited. Brett had been right. Soon after sunset, I spotted the witch approaching, a wooden bucket in one arm.

As soon as she reached the well and lowered her vessel, I crept out from my hiding place. A twig snapped beneath my feet as I neared her. She whirled around and let out a small scream when she caught sight of me through the darkness.

“You!”

“Yes.” I approached the well and leaned against it, trying to act casually.

“What are you doing here?”

“It’s a pleasant night.”

“What is this stupid game you’re playing?” She paused, her blue eyes darkening. “Did Saira put you up to this?”

My throat went dry. Every part of me wanted to say yes.

But I couldn’t.

“No.”

“Then why are you stalking me? Is your life really so pathetic?”

“No,” I said, my voice rising. “If you’d have just spoken to me the other night I wouldn’t have had to do this.” I paused, breathing in deeply to reel myself in and prepare my ego for what I knew I had to say next. “I just wanted to say… I’m sorry.”

“Oh?” She cocked her head to one side. “For what?”