A Gate of Night (A Shade of Vampire #6)(33)
Author: Bella Forrest

“May I ask why?” The words came out low and clipped, escaping through gritted teeth.

“Just do it. All you need to know is that this time tomorrow, the real vampires take over.” Fear flashed in her expression. “They will want food and drinks. Or their version of it. And, of course, plenty of entertainment.”

My heart fell. All hope I had of creating a new vision for our home melted away. Her words were clear enough.

The Elders were coming to take over The Shade and the horrifying reality sank into me, as well as my companions.

We were their food.

We were their drinks.

We were their entertainment.

Chapter 23: Sofia

I lay flat on my back on the queen-sized bed. It was late into the night, as evidenced by the chimes of the antique clock on one wall of my room. I fluffed up the pillows in order to prop myself up on the bed. I stared at the pendulum swinging from left to right. Almost hypnotic.

Twins. I smiled. A bittersweet one. A son and a daughter. I couldn’t wait to hold them in my arms and be to them the mother I’d never had. I stroked my tummy gently, trying to hold back my own tears.

An image of my children crossed my mind. Wishful and almost nostalgic. I could almost hear their laughter. For some reason, I saw them building sandcastles on a beach, the sunlight kissing their skins, their bright eyes hopeful and trusting. I imagined Derek’s hand on mine, squeezing so tightly, I could practically feel it.

Dreams of the future, of what could be, were the only hope I could cling to.

“We’re going to be all right. We’re going to be with your father someday. A family.” I said the words hoping that I would believe them.

I longed so much for the images to be true. I thought back to the house Derek had wanted to purchase in California and suddenly, the thought of being a family with him and our children—away from The Shade, away from The Blood Keep, away from this—became the most enticing thing my mind had ever dared entertain.

They had come unexpectedly, but I wanted my children and I knew Derek did too. We’d dreamed of this. Yet, despite my anticipation, their arrival was also met with dread.

I have to figure out a way to get out of here before I give birth. My children cannot be born at The Blood Keep. Thoughts whirled over what the Elder could have planned for my children. Kiev’s words still echoed in my mind.

“Your children… they’re important to us.”

I dared not imagine why, but I knew that whatever they had in store for the twins was something neither Derek nor I could ever wish for our children. I wondered what made them so important. The answer came from the part of me that had a firm grip on uncomfortable truths.

They’re the children of an immune and an ex-vampire. That makes them special enough to poke and prod and test. I didn’t want to think about what they could be capable of. I didn’t even know if I wanted to find out.

Eli’s plan of escape was pure insanity, but we’d been working on it for the past few months. We both knew that we only had one shot at an escape so we couldn’t risk being haphazard about our strategy.

According to Eli, the beasts were a product of the vampire coven in The Underground—the same one Natalie had reported that the Elder had annihilated because of their loyalty to Derek.

“We had close ties with The Underground,” Eli explained. “Vivienne once sent me there in order to help them stabilize their community. One of the projects I helped them with was the creation of the beasts. Stray dogs that they took from the streets. We turned them into vampires. We didn’t think it would work at first, but… here we go. Fierce creatures they are, and only trainable by a vampire.”

Eli knew how to train them, and so he began to secretly train Shadow during the few times that Kiev allowed Eli and I to enjoy each other’s company. Kiev reasoned that the only reason he’d allowed Eli to join me was because of the babies. I didn’t care why he allowed it as long as he did, because apart from our need to discuss our plans for escape, I found Eli quite an engaging conversationalist.

Still, our conversations were few and short, since he had to put his focus on gaining Shadow’s loyalty. “They’re wildly unpredictable creatures when they’re not loyal to you, but once you gain their loyalty…”

After two months, Eli was able to control Shadow.

And thus, our crazy idea was for both of us to go into The Blood Keep’s boundaries at a time when it was day on the other side and ride Shadow out of The Blood Keep.

“Do you think it will work?” I asked Eli.

He nodded. “I’m hoping it will. It’s all we can really do.” He must’ve noticed the expression on my face, because he asked, “What’s the matter? You’re scared?”

“I’m afraid of what Kiev might do to Olga. He warned me that should I try to escape, he will kill her.”

“Do you think he’d do it?”

Yes, my mind said, but I responded with what I wanted to believe in. “No, she seems precious to him.” I justified my willingness to put her neck on the line with my desperation to escape. I was doing it for my children. For Eli. For Derek. For The Shade.

Maybe Olga is the necessary sacrifice, I told myself, hating that I would even consider sacrificing another person in order to save myself or even the ones I loved.

I lay there, mulling over the decision I’d made, telling myself that I had no other choice. Eli and I were going to escape in a week. I was already in my third trimester. We both knew that I could give birth any time, but I’d insisted that we go through with it. As far as I was concerned, the fact that I was going to give birth soon was the primary reason we had to get out of there.

I had no idea that coupled with my growing hatred toward everything going on around me, everything beyond my control, my willingness to put Olga’s life on the line to save my children was enough of an opening to allow the darkness a foothold in my life.

Olga’s face was still etched in my mind when a cold wind began to sweep through the bedroom. The dim lighting allowed me to see everything in the room. Shadow began to cower and back away into a corner, fright traced in his bright yellow eyes. I scanned my surroundings. I couldn’t see anyone there, but I wasn’t alone. A thick, dark presence was with me, drawing near me.

Touching me.

I screamed when pain unlike anything I’d ever known coursed from the tips of my fingers to the nape of my neck. It only lasted a couple of seconds, but the torment felt like it lasted an eternity. Tears were rushing down my cheeks as I tried to catch my breath. My first instinct was to clutch my belly, fearing that whatever just happened could have somehow hurt my children.