Chapter 22: Derek
A lockout that eventually morphed into a riot. A siege at the port. A kingdom on the brink of civil war while still facing an ongoing threat of an attack from outside forces.
Fabulous. Just fabulous.
After Natalie so wonderfully summed up the state of The Shade, I really had no idea what to do other than to walk away.
“Where are you going?”
I didn’t even know who among the people behind me asked the question. I didn’t care anymore. I knew that if I handled the situation head-on and tried to either quell the riot or retake the port, I wasn’t going to be able to do it without bloodshed. The darkness was close to ruining me and I was aware of it.
“I am going to take a drive.”
“There’s a riot and a siege going on, Derek.” Xavier stepped forward, attempting to be the voice of reason. “Is this really the time to improve your driving skills?”
I pointed at Sam and Kyle. “You two work with Gavin and Ian to figure out how to quell this stupid riot.” I then pointed at Xavier and Cameron. “Call in all the vampires who are still with us. Those who want to remain neutral have that option. At least we’ll know who is really with us. Come up with a plan of action on what to do about the siege at the port.” I then cast a pleading look at the great witch herself. “Corrine, please escort Natalie to The Sanctuary and treat her as our esteemed guest while she is stuck here at The Shade.”
“What about me?” Ashley pointed at herself.
Of all the people present, she reminded me of Sofia the most and I knew that she was one who would never shy away from speaking her mind. “Would you like to go on a joyride with me?”
A smile lit up the blonde’s beautiful face. “Yes! Let’s escape all this craziness.” She then looked Sam’s way as if to ask his permission. He let her go, more perhaps out of respect for me than trust for either one of us.
“Derek, we need you to be a leader right now…” Cameron said desperately. “This is no time for…”
“Let him go,” Corrine cut him off. “He needs to win the battle inside before he can the war with the outward forces.”
I gave her a grateful look. She understood what the separation from Sofia was doing to me and what I was up against.
Of course, none of them dared to question the witch, knowing how the entire island’s security was on her shoulders. Corrine rarely imposed her opinions on us, but when she did, we dared not cross her.
Ashley and I made our way to a wide open field west of the island where a red convertible was located. We used it for practice drives mostly or whenever we just wanted to feel the night air blowing against our faces. It usually was Sofia seated on the passenger’s seat beside me, screeching her lungs out because of my crazy driving, often reminding me that she wasn’t immortal and that she was likely going to get killed if I didn’t somehow fix my driving. I didn’t really care much about the driving as much as I enjoyed having her react the way she did.
“You miss her, don’t you?” Ashley asked me after we settled into our seats.
I gripped the steering wheel hard as if it would somehow help give me some semblance of control over everything going on around me.
“I’ve had her blood, Ashley,” I admitted. I ignored her gasp and went on. “She made me drink it to heal me quicker after Borys tortured me. I didn’t want to, but… I crave her so much. I could barely think straight, because all I could really think about was how much I want another taste of her blood.”
“I know Sofia…” Ashley spoke softly, carefully weighing her words. “She would most likely let you have all the blood you want. That’s how much she loves you.”
“I know. That’s exactly what she did when she offered her neck up to me back at hawk territory. I knew then that this couldn’t possibly work. Corrine keeps telling me to get Sofia back, but how? What kind of man would I be to prey on her? She doesn’t deserve that.”
“You see…that’s just it.”
I turned my head to the side wondering what Ashley was getting at. “What?”
“You’re not the same person apart from her than when you’re with her. With Sofia, you’re a better man. There was a time when you couldn’t have given a damn if it was wrong or right. As long as a woman gives you her consent—and in your darkest moments, even when she doesn’t—you don’t have any qualms about sucking blood out of a woman. Why then are you so resistant to the idea of having Sofia’s blood when she so willingly offers it to you?”
“Were you not listening to me?” I slammed my palms over the steering wheel in frustration. “I love her! I can’t keep doing that to her!”
Ashley straightened up on her seat and slightly twisted her slim body on the passenger seat so she could face me. “If there’s anyone who’s stood witness to the kind of love you two have for each other, it’s me. Sofia took a wooden stake for you, Derek—one that I tried to stab you with. You went against your own father and took countless lashes on her behalf. It’s hard for me to believe that this is what’s going to tear the two of you apart. It’s just plain insanity. Bring this place back to some semblance of sanity, get back control of the port and find a way to get Sofia back here. I’m sure if we put our heads together, we could somehow narrow down the search and find the hunter territory.”
“She’s not coming back. We should just accept that.” Even as I said the words, I found it hard to swallow. “Besides, what kind of a life would she live if she returned? What if I end up destroying her?”
“What if the love you have for each other is powerful enough to keep that from happening?” Ashley shot right back at me. “Don’t be a fool, Derek. Whether you admit it or not, you can’t really survive without her, so you might as well stop acting like a pathetic sap and get her back.”
I swallowed hard. To that, I didn’t have a response. I knew what Ashley was saying was true.
“Let’s go back.”
“We’re no longer going for a drive?” Ashley asked, tapping her palms over the dashboard.
“No.” I shook my head. “We have a riot to stop and a port to retake. Get ready for a fight, baby vamp.”
Her face lit up in a wide grin. “That’s what I’m talking about!” she exclaimed.
At that very moment, I remembered a promise I gave Sofia not too long ago, the promise that came with the heart-shaped diamond pendant I had given to her as a gift. Take it as a promise from me—a promise that I will find a way to be with you.
I wondered if this really would be a promise I had to break.