Page 13 of Claim the Twilight
In the cell, Orina stops growling and slowly stands, her demeanor calming, and then her lips curl in a wicked smile.
“Fuck,” Hemlock says. “Get back in there, dammit. You have to get Orina out.”
Shit. I lie back down and close my eyes, calling to the woman I love, to the thread that connects us and leads to our vista. I find it and tug, expecting to be sucked into our dreamscape as usual, but the thread that normally glows invitingly goes dark. I can sense Orina’s turmoil and fear, and in that moment, I’m certain that she isn’t the one who expelled me from our vista.
The vampire did.
If we don’t find a way to reach Orina soon, then the vampire will win, and Orina will be lost to us.
Hemlock pacesparallel to the long dining table, silver coin dancing along his knuckles so fast it’s a blur.
I need a drink. Not blood but whiskey, and that hasn’t happened in a long time. Several attempts to reach Orina have been futile. We need help. Maybe the mageri Holly can assist us when she returns.
“How much longer do you think Orina has before she’s trapped for good and that thing takes over?” Hemlock asks.
“Thatthingis her vampiric nature, and it’s part of her now, but something is broken. The connection, the line of communication that allows the natures to meld…I don’t know.”
“You should have told her. Explained what happened and?—”
“Risk fracturing her mind further? If I told her that she died, then she would recall that moment of death. That awful moment…” I swallow the lump in my throat. “She needs toallowherself to recall what happened. The memory is there. She’s blocking it, just like she’s refusing to acknowledge that there’s something in the vista with her. Something that isn’t me. Something that I cannot see.”
“What if it hurts her?”
I can’t help but scoff at that. “It needs her to survive, just as she needs it. Her safety isn’t an issue. The issue is her lack of control. She’s fractured, and only she can heal that rift. She must assimilate with her new nature to surface and be whole.”
“We can ask Holly to help when they return from searching for Jacqueline. Heck, if they find that bitch, we can force her to help too. She’s a witch.”
And Hemlock is a sorcerer. One of the most powerful magical beings in existence. I drain my glass and set it on the table. “What about you?”
His jaw flexes. “Don’t.”
“You might be our only hope.”
“You know I can’t risk it. Now more than ever I need to keep a lid on the power.”
“You’d risk losing her?”
“If I don’t take that risk, then we might all be dead anyway.” He exhales raggedly. “Look, if I force myself into her mind, there’s a high chance that I’ll do more damage than good. I could cause her to retreat deeper to protect herself. We need her to let us in. To let her guard down.”
“Maybe I can help,” Ingrid says from the doorway. She glides into the room, hands clasped in front of her. “Orina has the soul of my child. We have a connection, and I…I care deeply for her. I believe she cares for me too. Will you allow me to try and reach her?”
It’s worth a try. “Yes. Do it.”
Hemlock and I hurry back to the safe room where Ingrid is already waiting for us, her attention on the cell where Orina lies on her side facing us, her expression serene and untroubled in sleep.
“I’ll need to touch her,” Ingrid says, gliding toward the cell and stopping just outside the wards designed to keep threats contained.
“Do you need me to drop the wards?” Hemlock asks her.
“No, that won’t be necessary.” Ingrid passes through the bars and crouches beside Orina’s cot. “I’m not sure this will work, but I’m going to try my best.” She smiles softly down at Orina. “Allright, let’s see what we can do.” She places a hand on Orina’s forehead, then closes her eyes.
There’s nothing more to do now but wait.
Chapter 6
LORENZO
The vampire Kaster Black is a white wing.
