A Dawn of Strength

I climbed back down and turned to face the other three once I’d finished.

“As for weapons,” I said, “first and foremost, everyone should be equipped with a gun. Anything that can’t be used long distance won’t be of much use.”

We entered the Armory with the rest of the witches accompanying us and began gathering together every gun in the building. To my dismay, most turned out to be UV guns.

“These only work on vampires, right?” I asked, picking one up and examining its barrel.

Eli shook his head. “The type we have will cause damage to anything you shoot at.”

Mona levitated the huge pile of guns along with several crates of ammunition out into the center of the training fields.

“Arm yourselves, everyone,” Aiden shouted.

“Hey, Caleb.”

I spun around to see who had called my name. It was Micah. He ran up to me and gripped my hand.

“What happened to you?” I asked.

“Long story, my friend,” he muttered darkly. “I’m glad you and Rose made it back here safely.”

“How are the wounds healing, Micah?” Lucinda, one of the witches, asked.

“They’re healing well, thanks. I’m strong enough to help fight.”

Lucinda frowned. “I wouldn’t recommend that just yet…”

Micah grimaced and waited for the witch to pass by before clutching my shoulder. “I’m going to help fight these bastards if it’s the last thing I do.”

With that, he stepped back and walked toward the pile of weapons, which was rapidly diminishing as everyone hurried forward to collect theirs.

“It looks like we’re ready for armor now,” Eli said, looking around the crowd.

I turned around toward the entrance of the Armory in time to see Mona and three other witches walking out from it, this time with a huge pile of steel armor. Again, it was placed on the field.

Mona addressed the entire group of witches who hurried toward her. “Every single person joining in this battle must have their armor checked by us. Not all the pieces will end up fitting everyone, so we have to make adjustments quickly.”

Corrine breathed out, rubbing her forehead with her palm. “There are so many of us here. Let’s hurry.”

I watched as the witches began mingling with the crowd, tugging on helmets and chest pieces to check their fit. Of course, I doubted this armor would do much to protect against a curse from one of these black witches, but I guessed it was better than nothing—especially if the witches brought their vampires in along with them.

“What about you?” Aiden walked toward me from my right. He was already dressed in armor—his helmet tipped back as he loaded up a heavy gun.

“Right,” I said. I’d been focusing so much on others, I’d forgotten about myself. I was about to go fetch a gun when a thought struck me. “The ogres. Are they still in their caves?”

“I assume so,” Aiden replied.

“Then we ought to send someone to bring them further inland. They shouldn’t be so close to the ocean.”

“I’ll ask Saira,” Aiden said and hurried away.

“No, Kiev!” Mona’s voice rang through the field, drawing my attention toward her. I stared at her in the heat of an argument with a one-armed vampire. “Not like this.”

Kiev scowled. “Then give me the prosthetic.”

“There’s no time for that now. Just go lock yourself in the mountain with the others.”

Kiev looked as though he’d rather lose his other arm than do that. “There’s no way you can stop me from fighting, Mona. Hurry up with the prosthetic, or I will fight without it.”

She gaped at him in exasperation, then, heaving a sigh, gripped hold of his shoulder and vanished from the spot with him.

Approaching the now-small pile of guns, I picked up one of the last and began loading it. As I looked round at the inhabitants of The Shade helping each other with their armor—some clearly couples, others just friends—I couldn’t help but be struck by how different this island was to the one I’d once referred to as my own. I wasn’t used to such… unity. Camaraderie. Back on my frozen shores, relationships barely existed. Everything was clinical—even when vampires went out on missions together, we cooperated only to get the job done. I’d almost forgotten what it was like to experience fellowship. The last time had been, I supposed, when I’d been part of the crew on one of my father’s ships.

I still wasn’t sure I’d ever stop feeling like the black sheep on this island, but at that moment, something stirred within me that I hadn’t felt in a long time. And I realized there wasn’t anyone I’d rather die alongside than the lionhearted people of The Shade.

Chapter 18: Sofia

When Derek went quiet after less than an hour, my heart leapt into my throat.

I thought at first that perhaps I’d just lost track of time, but when I checked my watch, I realized that wasn’t the case.

I jumped up and pressed my ear against the gate. “Derek?” I called.

No answer.

This was far too soon for the cure to have worked. Of all the vampire-human turnings I’d witnessed, the fastest had been four hours. He should have still been groaning.

Pulling down the handle, I swung the gate open.

“Derek!” I gasped.

He was lying on his stomach, motionless on the ground. He’d removed his shirt, and his back looked like something out of a horror movie. Every part that I could see was red raw and his flesh was hissing and bubbling, as though he were being fried by the sun.