Page 119 of Dark Embers

My stomach sank like an anchor in the lake. A direct assault on the school was the last thing I wanted to do, but I couldn’t afford to show any reluctance or hesitation.

I bowed my head. “I’m honored to be given a second chance.”

Hadrian jabbed a finger at me. “And this time, you can’t watch from the sidelines. You can’t freeze. If you do, drowning in hallucinogenic water will seem like a mercy.”

I nodded. “Understood.”

“Now go,” Hadrian said, sweeping his hand in the air like a broom. “There is more I wish to discuss with Kendall. But soon enough, you’ll be back here with the team I assemble, and we’ll finalize our plans to destroy the Dome and every shifter inside.”

“I look forward to it,” I lied, getting to my feet.

I looked at Kendall and saw that the eel of a boy was physically shaking, but I couldn’t feel the slightest bit of pity for this betrayer.

Resting a hand on the boy’s muscular shoulder, I said, “Welcome to the winning side.”

I moved to the massive doors, and one of them swung inward as I approached. Instead of heading to the staircase that would take me to my quarters, I took the stairs down a level to where the Initiates were located. The physical world around me was a blur—my mind couldn’t concentrate on anything but what I’d just learned.

Upon reaching the Initiates common room, I yelled, “Piper!”

The exclamation earned me the attention of the other humans in the room.

Glancing around, I couldn’t see her anywhere.

Where is that girl?

“Sir,” one of the human males in the room said. “I believe Piper went to bed for the night. But if you’re needing to feed, I offer my neck to you in her absence.”

I was barely able to hold back the things I wanted to say to the eager Initiate.

I gritted my teeth, baring my fangs as I spoke. “I need Piper. Now. Will you lead me to her quarters?”

The Initiate wilted, turning almost as pale as a vampire. “Of course. This way.”

We walked into the north hallway, which was lined with small LED lights that barely illuminated the way. We came to a fork,and I followed the human to the left. We continued until the hallway right-angled back to the north.

Three doors down and we came to a stop.

“This is it,” the Initiate said, raising a fist to knock on the door.

With superhuman speed, I caught his hand. “I’ll be the one to wake her. You go on back to the common room and…do whatever it was you were doing.”

The Initiate hesitated for a moment, which surprised me. They were always so overeager to obey.

I narrowed my eyes and released the young man’s arm. “What’s your name?”

“Adam,” the Initiate replied.

“Well, Adam, do you have trouble hearing? Or do you really want to try the patience of an upset vampire?”

“S—sorry, sir,” Adam stuttered. “It’s just that vampires usually don’t go to their Initiates’ quarters. Vampires always summon their Initiates up to their quarters.”

I ground my teeth and stared daggers at Adam.Can’t you take a hint?

Seeing my enraged state, the Initiate turned around and sped away.

I sighed heavily. This place drove me so close to losing control. I longed to be back in my apartment, sitting on the Skyes’ chair, sipping at a blood bag while holding Alice’s brooch.

Alice. It felt like an age since I’d thought about her. Her grimoire was being used again after a century, and the witch in question had me crossing boundaries I never thought I’d even toe the line of.

---