A Shade of Vampire 84 A Memory of Time - Bella Forrest Page 0,94

figure something out.”

Hope was a dangerous feeling. It circled me like a starving vulture, waiting to swoop down and consume me. I feared it almost as much as I feared losing Kalon, because hope in the face of such adversity was a double-edged blade. And in this case, a single cut could mean the death of the one I loved.

Petra seemed to relax as the golden thread swelled between her and Kalon. The transfer had begun, and my very soul was breaking into pieces. She produced a small glass bauble filled with dark smoke.

“Oh, come on!” Kelara snapped, genuinely annoyed. “Seriously?”

Soul groaned, his frustration obvious. “Ugh, not again.”

“What… what is that?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“This? This is a delightful trinket. Not easy to make or to come by… ouch!” Petra paused, clearly uncomfortable. Her relaxation had only lasted a couple of seconds. The whole transfer process was clearly taking a toll on her body, as she twitched from various physical aches. “But it will let Danika know where I am as soon as I break it,” she continued, getting over her discomfort. “You see, once the shard enters Kalon’s heart, I’ll bring her over. If you thought your Dieffen and Orvis mishaps were bad, wait until the Master comes to Roano’s gates with the wrath of all Darklings by his side. You will regret the day you set your sights on Visio.”

“Whatever happens, Petra, you will not live to see it. We will settle this score,” I replied, shaking in Amane’s firm embrace. “You will not live to see what you’ve been promised.”

“Not even the First Ten can handle what’s coming,” Petra declared. “I’ve come too far to lose it all to a worm like you. You’re insignificant, Esme. I thought you would have learned that by now. You’ve brought this upon yourself, and now you will have to stay there and watch for hours and days on end until Kalon’s heart is Danika’s for the taking.”

I still struggled to fully grasp how a mother could do this to her own son, but there was nothing I could do to stop the transfer. As the minutes ticked by, and we all watched the inevitable unfold before our eyes, a new situation arose. Kalon would have Spirit’s shard. And I would have to protect him at all costs. Kalon would be like Thayen, and that hurt me beyond words.

We’d only just fallen in love. We’d only just bound our souls to one another.

As much as Petra was enjoying herself in this moment, I couldn’t bring myself to grant her this victory. I wasn’t alone up here. I had Reapers—some ancient, some younger. I had my brother, currently holed up in Valaine’s memories, determined to bring the Unending back to the surface. I had Derek and Sofia, Rose and Caleb, Lumi, Kailani… I had friends up here and waiting down below, too. Seniors and Orvisians. A handful of ghouls and Kalon’s brothers. Trev. A dragon.

No, Petra had not won this battle yet. This battle would only end with Petra’s last breath. Everything else? We’d handle it, one way or another. Kalon and I would survive this. I had made him that promise, and I intended to keep it.

Tristan

The next past life that Valaine and I visited wasn’t like all the others.

It felt different. This time, I could see the world of Visio through the eyes of a little Aeternae girl. I took comfort in knowing we wouldn’t witness her death, this time around, since her reincarnation was much too young at this point. It was early in the morning, and the sun was pouring through the large windows of a massive hallway. Outside—beyond the elegant frames and smooth glass—the east wing of a mansion rose proudly, featuring turrets and a reddish brick façade. Below was an interior court with lavish gardens and water fountains. Gardeners worked on the hedges, trimming and cleaning them.

The little girl was at home here, and it felt good to see all this. She looked forward to the first blossoms of spring. Opening one of the large windows, she felt a chill run through her limbs. Mornings were still cold this time of the year, but it would gradually warm up during the day. The land was gradually thawing, and she’d had enough of the snowy winter.

One of the gardeners looked up and saw her. He smiled and waved, and the girl waved back. Her father had taught her to always be respectful toward other people, no