Chapter 6: Derek
Natalie pulled her dark hair up in a messy bun. Wearing a gray university hoodie and black leggings, she looked a lot more casual at home than she normally did wearing her usual, classy and stylish get-ups.
As she ran through the plans for my journey from her safe house to The Shade, I couldn’t help but appreciate her as a friend. We had some history between us—Natalie and I—history that very few people knew about, history that played a huge part in making us who we were. The centuries changed us both, but she would remain one of my dearest friends, even in spite of the fact that I knew that I could never fully trust her.
“So I’ve arranged transport for you to be brought from here to a nearby shore,” Natalie explained. “You’ll be leaving by jet at midnight. One of The Shade’s subs should be waiting on the beach to take you to The Shade.”
“How on earth were you able to communicate with anyone back at The Shade?” I asked.
She smiled. “I can’t tell you my trade’s secrets. Even you don’t have that much of an influence on me, Novak.”
Faded images of her as that beautiful young woman, who fascinated me from the moment I first laid eyes on her, flashed through my mind. I met her right after I escaped from our village—not long after my father turned Lucas, Vivienne and me into vampires. I hated being the creature I’d become and the reality of the hunter now being the hunted had just begun to sink into me. It was one of those nights when my craving for human blood was especially hard to suppress. Vivienne and I had gotten separated from Gregor and Lucas after a run-in with the hunters. I knew Vivienne was starving, because so was I, but she hadn’t spoken for almost a year by then, so I wasn’t expecting any complaints from her.
Natalie somehow found us as we trekked along the city walls, not daring to enter the city in case we couldn’t stop killing the people we met. She took us in and fed us. She was so tender, so kind, so lovely, I could barely believe that she was a vampire. That night was the first time I allowed myself to entertain the idea that goodness could still be found in creatures such as us. I had Natalie to thank for that. It was decades later before I saw her again—both of us bloodthirsty and losing touch with our humanity. Remembering her kindness and who she was greatly influenced my decision to escape it all and convince Cora to put me to sleep. After reminding her of whom she was before and the impact she had on me, I liked to think that I had a part in making her what she was now.
“Thank you for all your help, Natalie.”
She shrugged. “It’s the least I can do.” She grinned. “For old times’ sake.”
I heaved a sigh. “Did you ever think we’d end up this way? Vampires living centuries past our time?”
Natalie’s face softened and for a moment, I thought she was going to cry, but she just laughed dryly. “That’s just life, Novak. We are what we are. There’s no escaping it.”
No escape. The thought made me feel so hopeless. I was surprised by the strength of emotion that surged within me—something almost visceral fighting against that idea that our kind had no escape. How could that be our fate? That can’t be it, not when there’s hope for true sanctuary.
Sofia’s face flashed through my mind. I knew her role in the prophecy, the part she had to play. The distance we had between us was so keenly felt. She’s my hope. That’s when I realized that there was no possible way I could survive what was to come unless I made a conscious effort to connect to the light she had sparked in me.
I shook my head at Natalie. “I’d readily accept in a split second that I deserve this fate, but not you, Natalie.”
“Of all the vampires I’ve had the pleasure, or displeasure, of knowing, you’ve always been my favorite, Novak.” She playfully placed a finger beneath my chin and lifted my head upwards. “Do you have any questions about later?”
I shook my head. “I trust you.”
She rolled her eyes. “I warn you, Novak, trusting me could be your undoing.”
I chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
We shared a glass of blood before retreating to our own bedrooms to prepare for my departure. I was mostly thinking about what I was going to end up seeing upon my return to The Shade and how Sofia was doing. I hope she understands why I left. I found myself drifting off into a short nap. I was awakened by a thud outside the bedroom. Someone was with Natalie. I took great care not to make any noise as I peeked outside my bedroom door, which was slightly ajar.
“Where is Derek Novak?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about…” Natalie hissed.
I swallowed hard, panic overtaking me. At first, I thought that the hunters had somehow found the safe house, but I quickly realized—based on the fact that they made no move to hurt Natalie, nor were they equipped with the hunters’ advanced weaponry—that these were fellow vampires.
“We know you helped him, Natalie. You’re a diplomat. You’re not supposed to take sides. You shouldn’t have helped him, knowing that he is wanted by practically every vampire coven in existence—even his own.”
“You have nothing to prove that I helped Derek.”
“Who else would’ve helped him, but you?”
I knew then that I had to get out of the house immediately or I would risk destroying Natalie’s good standing with all the other covens. I couldn’t do that to her—not after everything she had done for me, not after everything she had risked.
I sneaked out of the bedroom window, still careful not to make even the smallest sound and headed off by foot to the location of the jet Natalie had arranged for me. I looked back and whispered a thank you to Natalie, praying that no harm would come to her because of me. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything bad happened to you because of me, Natalie. Stay safe.
A few hours later, just before the sun was about to rise, I was sitting in the submarine that would take me back to The Shade. I wanted to feel excitement about my return to the island that had been my home for centuries, but all I felt was dread. Somehow, I already knew that what I would come upon wouldn’t be a warm and happy welcome, but instead, complete and utter chaos.
I was right.