The Gates

5

RUSSIAN ROULETTE

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Samira finally stood, adjusted her gown’s train and floated down the steps to meet Gavin face-to-face. My palms were sweating, my heart pounded, yet, as her exquisite face grew closer, I was drawn to her aura, mesmerized by her movements: Her deep satin corset swayed against her svelte waist as she walked; those dagger nails danced through the air, as if playing with some unseen toy. I looked into her hypnotic, ice-blue eyes and couldn’t picture her as a grief-stricken mother—Arianna’s mother—no matter how hard I tried.

“I apologize for … the wall.” Gavin cleared his throat, slightly bowed his head as she stationed herself in front of him. “But I’m a man of my word. I will honor our agreement, and my servitude. I simply couldn’t let you harm Camille, as I’m sure you understand. I didn’t intend to flee like that.”

“I don’t believe that was your decision to make, Mr. Devereux.” Her eyes narrowed but her smile remained smug. “Camille and I also had an agreement.” She shifted arctic eyes to mine momentarily and I stopped breathing, my throat tight. “And I was under the impression you were through with her. Is that not what you told me when you were here last? I thought you were a man of your word.”

I didn’t move, afraid to look over my shoulder, at the others. From the silence behind me, no one else was moving either. The tension in the air felt thick, torturing. Wasn’t she going to mention the magic? Wasn’t she surprised at all by our protection spell? My mind raced with endless questions and I squirmed under my skin, despite knowing the same force that surrounded my friends also protected me.

“A man of his word can change his mind.” Gavin answered, gripping the tips of my fingers as he spoke. “So I’m here to renegotiate. On my terms.”

“Careful, Mr. Devereux,” she scolded, surveyed the vampires behind us. “Lest you forget who you are speaking to.”

“The magic we’ve used to protect ourselves and the size of our group is in no way meant to disrespect you, Your Majesty. It is simply insurance.”

“Bold like your father, I see.” Samira inhaled, extended her nails to find the edge of the invisible hedge that protected us. Her hand jumped when she felt the jolt, her eyes narrowed as she recoiled her fingers. “You never cease to surprise me. What are these terms of yours, my pet?”

“I vow to honor our agreement, to serve you as discussed. But Camille and my friends here accompany me through the gates … where we will be left unharmed, and unchanged.”

Samira’s eyebrows jumped. “Well this is certainly a turn of events.” She returned to her throne, circled the altar while she alternated her attention between the fireplace and Dali and Akim, her nails gently skimming the cobalt glass bottles above the fireplace. “I doubt I need to question your motivations, Mr. Devereux. I am certain you will reveal this mystery to me in due time.” She swung her crimson lace train behind her and retreated to her throne chair. “Although I must admit, I am fascinated by your decision to bring dear Camille all this way, considering you went through such trouble to remove her from this place.”

“Surely you know she’s vulnerable without my protection, Your Highness,” Gavin replied matter-of-fact. “She stays with me.”

Her eyes burned. “Vulnerable indeed.” She took a seat in her throne chair, placed her chin on her hand. “Well Mr. Devereux, whatever you and your friends have planned, just see to it that you make haste. I’m certain you have quite an agenda, and I do enjoy a good challenge. Let’s get on with it, shall we?”

She gave him a menacing smile, raised an eyebrow. She was no fool. She was instigating, encouraging Gavin to challenge her. She still had the advantage, and she knew it.

“No agenda, Your Majesty. But yes, we will gladly be on our way,” Gavin answered her, his tone less authoritative than it was a second ago. Still he kept his gaze locked on hers.

She finally broke the stare-down. “I will see to it that Victor escorts you all to the gates. If you would be so kind, my pet, refrain from leaving any more trails of my guards around the city. I’ve enough mess to clean up around the moat, from what I’ve been told.” She sneered at him as she said this, then made eye contact with Dali and Akim, gave them some sort of silent directive.

“I’ll do my best, Samira,” Gavin said.

With one snap of her fingers, Samira summoned her servant Victor. In moments, he’d led us out of the lofty throne room and toward tall, golden gates that sat high on a hill behind the castle. The walk up the hill was exhausting—well, for me at least—as we all trudged forward toward the heavenly bars that displayed the word “Amaranth” across the front. The gates were attached to stone walls that outlined the city, stretching for as far as I could see, miles perhaps. Rows of guards, clad in titanium-colored armor, lined either side of the gate walls, standing shoulder to shoulder.

“She seemed awfully easy on us,” I whispered to Gavin.

“Later, love,” he whispered back, squeezing my hand.

A seductive haze of clouds surrounded the gates, weaving in and around their golden bars, and I couldn’t see clearly past them, even when I squinted and tried to focus. I felt I’d entered a hidden city on a cloud, and looking behind me from where we’d come from, Samira’s cathedral looked much smaller now in the distance. My pulse raced, wondering if we’d see Audrey and Gabe. Please, please, please let them be alive! We’d had no choice but to leave our best friends when we last escaped, when we stepped through to the other side.

The other side. The thought intrigued me. Gavin had told me this is where the transubstantiation process took place for reformed vampires. Once you requested admittance to exile and your wish was granted, Samira’s magic automatically lifted the curse as you passed through the gates.

“So none of you will change when we enter?” I chanced another whisper. He nodded his head no, giving Victor his full attention.

“You’ll be staying in the East Village, sir,” Victor said. “I trust you’ll find accommodations for everyone there.” His thin, frail face indifferent, he pulled a long skeleton key from his pocket that matched the gates’ golden color. The exchange with our guide felt strange. Sinister and polite at the same time.

“Thank you, Victor,” Gavin said, then leaned toward him, asking quietly, “Can you tell me if our friends are still alive?” I strained to listen, desperate for information.

“They were admitted with curses lifted as requested, sir. Although I’m unsure of their status since their entrance.”

They’re alive! My heart leaped, and I couldn’t contain myself. “So you don’t know where they are?”

Gavin’s head jerked toward me, warning in his eyes.

“No, I do not. Last I heard, they were seen near the windmill in the East Village,” Victor murmured, taken back by my outburst.

“Thank you, Victor.” Gavin shushed me, shooting me another look.

With one quick slip of Victor’s key, the gigantic golden gates began to ease open, pushing through the cloudy haze, beckoning our entry.

“I do wish you all … luck,” Victor mumbled, looking down, before he scurried off.

Gavin signaled our flock to move forward, and as we ascended farther up a short incline, the clouds began to dissipate, revealing a wondrous sight. I blinked, stunned to find a sprawling, bustling village nestled in a deep valley, with medieval architecture and rustic sheds and barns. A mixture of Gothic arches and Renaissance-style columns lined small wood churches or chapels, and men herded cattle in the distance and through the cobblestone streets. The city didn’t look much like a city at all, but instead, enchanting arrangements of villages surrounding a main village, scattered to the east and the west, where rolling hills painted the horizon.

“This way.” Gavin pointed toward the eerie windmill that sat at the peak of the village’s hill, straight ahead, toward what seemed to be Main Street. Smells of wheat and farm animals seized my senses, and I gasped at the modest peasant clothing the villagers wore, in awe that such a place existed outside my favorite fairytale worlds.

“Everything is handmade here,” Gavin said when he saw my expression. “Culture shock, I know.” He smiled warmly, gripping me around the waist, securing me to his side.

“More like time warp.…” I continued to scan our surroundings. My perceptions quickly went from enchanting, to bleak, and then to depressing. Guards shouted commands at villagers, using whips to direct their orders. Some of them plucked fruit and goods straight from the marketplace stalls, squashing and destroying them as they strolled by just for fun, disgusting, smug looks on their faces as they delighted at the terror they inflicted. Gavin had told me the exile was guarded, briefed me on life in Amaranth, but this was not what I’d pictured.

“Gav …”

“They don’t hurt them, Cam,” he whispered in a hushed breath. “But they have control here, and sometimes it’s … abused. It’s okay, baby.” He pulled me closer and ushered me along.

“You sure you know where you’re going, man?” Josh came to walk beside Gavin and me, looking as uneasy as I felt. “These people don’t look too thrilled to see us.”

He was right. People stared at us, the intruders, eyes wide as they moved away, cautious in their paths.

“They’re just intimidated. I can sense their fear. We’re strangers, not guards.” Gavin lifted his arm slightly to give the passersby a friendly wave.

What were we supposed to say? We come in peace? Take us to your leader? This was all so strange. I started to feel even further removed from my element.

We reached the East Village and Gavin led us toward a tall, lanky house with a roof made of wood pilings and straw, adjacent to the hill where the windmill stood. “I think this is it,” he whispered, approaching the house’s doorway.

“Gavin!” The door sprang open and out came Gabe, astonished, and though thin, glowing from head to toe. He looked relieved, thrilled to see his best friend. Gavin dropped his bag and tackled him. They embraced and patted each other on the back. Gavin held Gabe’s shoulders to stare at him, his expression ecstatic.

“Man, I wasn’t sure …”

“I know, Gav. I know, man. When I heard you escaped, I thought for sure—”

“Human looks good on you.”

I smiled at their reunion, wanting to rush up and squeeze Gabe myself. But I didn’t want to interrupt their moment. And I was too distracted, my eyes searching for her.

“And Camille!” Gabe turned to me beaming, scooped me up and spun me around in his arms, his now-human eyes full of life. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you!”

I hugged him back, squealing. “Me, too, Gabe. I—I don’t know what to say…” I started crying, the joyful tears flowing uncontrollably, barely aware of the others, who stood behind Gavin and me, glancing at one another.

“Oh, my—” A voice gasped from behind them. “Camille!”

Audrey. She was really here. She dropped a bucket of water she’d been lugging to run toward me, pushed through the other vampires and smacked into me full speed, smothering me in her arms, hugging me tighter than she’d ever hugged me before. Shrieking, I squeezed her back, tears blinding me, my insides bursting with glee. I didn’t realize just how much I’d missed her until I saw her beautiful face and grabbed the side of her head, feeling her dirty-blonde hair between my fingers. It’s real! She’s really alive!

“You guys are human!” I shouted, nearly knocking her over when I tightened my hug.

“We thought you two were dead, Camille Hart. What the hell were you thinking, pulling a stunt like that!”

“I—I’m so sorry, Aud. I never meant …”

“Water under the bridge, damn it. Just keep hugging me! And don’t ever, ever scare me like that, ever again. I could’ve strangled you!”

Thoughts of her abrupt decision to become immortal without telling me rang in my head, but I decided to hold my tongue. I squeezed her tighter until I felt Gavin caress my elbow.

“I know we’re excited to see each other, but we need to take this inside, love.” He whispered this into my ear, letting Gabe lead the way inside. We all piled into the house, Audrey and I hand-in-hand.

“There are some more bunks upstairs,” Gabe announced to the other vampires, pointed to the wooden ladders. “Everyone will have to double up. This is the best we could do. We weren’t sure how much room we’d need. I thought for sure you’d be …” His eyes teared up. He cleared his throat and averted his gaze.

Everyone began talking among themselves, wandering about to claim sleeping quarters. The house, a large cottage really, was hot and stuffy and smelled like sweet hay, complete with a little kitchen area lined with pots and kettles for cooking. Gabe and Gavin immediately started opening bags and passing around blood while Audrey whisked me to the cooking area. Soon, we each held a chalice of rum.

“Cheers to … everything!” She squealed again, slung an arm around my shoulder.

“There’s so much to say, I don’t even know where to begin …” I coughed as I took a swallow of my drink. Music suddenly filled the house and I looked to see Gavin and Gabe, sitting on hollowed-out logs in the main gathering area, playing strange-looking guitars.

“Well, start with telling me who that is.” Audrey cocked an eyebrow as she motioned to Scarlet, who was dancing in the middle of the room, everyone crowding around to join her.

“Oh, Aud. You never could resist salacious gossip.”

“Nope. Spill.”

“I think she’ll be happy to enlighten you,” I choked out, and took another swig of my liquid bravery. Scarlet stopped dancing and headed our way.

“Hey ladies,” she cooed as she sidled up. I tucked my green-eyed monster away and took a deep breath. We hadn’t even begun our mission yet. If I didn’t get this jealousy issue under control soon, we’d have even greater problems to contend with. And I wasn’t about to let Scarlet’s swaying hips be the cause of our demise.