A Shade of Vampire 90: A Ruler of Clones - Bella Forrest Page 0,90

us in peace?”

“It’s not my fault Hrista caught on faster than you did regarding my intentions,” Haldor grumbled, slowly raising his hands. “I’m not here to attack anyone. I actually do come in peace.”

Then what Hrista had said earlier was true. Haldor had been stalling and doing things his way, much like Brandon. His threats to destroy Hammer had been empty all along. So much was happening at once, I was struggling to keep up. Everything about Haldor had screamed danger and death, yet now… crickets. Chirping crickets.

“Where is he?” Brandon asked.

Haldor frowned. “He’ll find his way back to you soon. I promise.”

“That doesn’t answer my question!”

“I couldn’t get to him myself! I sent one of the misfits to get him out. Hold your horses, he’ll find you!” Haldor snapped, then looked at us. “As I was saying—replacement. That’s her plan.”

We exchanged glances, but none of us were illuminated. Richard raised a hand. “Excuse me, major noob here, still wrapping my head around this fresh hell. Did you say the misfits went out to get… who?”

“Hammer, my Aesir,” Brandon replied, slightly amused as he gave me a lingering look. “Misfits are clones that didn’t adhere to HQ rules. There aren’t many, maybe one or two small tribes, tops. I think you crossed paths with one of them, if I remember correctly.”

This told me that the clones we’d run from—Ida, Laurel, and Missa among them—were, in fact, more friend than foe. They’d chased us a while back, but they had never followed through. Caleb’s double had belittled them plenty, but I still had a memory of their contempt toward him and the authority of this place. Haldor had clearly gotten further with them without anyone else knowing. I had to admit… Haldor was turning into an admirable surprise-partner-in-crime.

“Hold on, bigger question here,” Thayen interjected. “Replacement?”

Haldor shook his head. “You can’t stop it,” he said. “She’s been at it for months. A certain number of portals had to be opened. A certain temperature must be reached. A certain number of clones… It’s a complicated recipe.”

I’d heard something similar before. “What is this about?” I asked, the blood freezing in my veins. Putting the word “replacement” in the same pot as “clones” spoke easily of body-snatchers lore, of foreign invaders who stole the real us and sent in their mannequins to act like us in order to fool an entire world. Judging by the level of complexity of the doppelgangers’ appearances and abilities and mimicry, it was clear that Hrista had everything she needed to pull off such a feat.

What horrified me were the consequences.

“She means to replace you all,” Haldor finally said, and I heard myself breathe out. It sounded so different when it was said out loud, when it wasn’t just a theory in my head or a crazy thought. It sounded awful as the truth. “And you can’t stop her. It’s too late.”

Brandon scrunched his nose. “Then why are you here?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you here and not licking her boots?”

Haldor narrowed his glowing blue eyes at him. “That’s a dumb question. Why aren’t you with her, licking boots? I played my part from the moment she ordered me to take Hammer from you because it was the only way to keep Hammer safe. My tricks would only have worked for so long.”

“Thank you for that,” Brandon replied, suddenly more relaxed, even smiling.

“It would’ve been a shame. Hammer is a good boy,” Haldor grumbled.

“So, the entire hell you put us through, that was just for show?” Thayen blurted out, irritated and for good reason. Haldor had become the source of many nightmares for us in a short span of time. “Just to make Hrista and your Berserker buddies think you were serious?”

Haldor nodded once. “It’s a complicated situation. If I ever get the chance to explain, I’ll—” he froze as a horn sounded in the distance. It rang across the entire island, making me shiver with its ear-piercing tonality. Three times we heard it, and three times I trembled with dread. “It’s starting.”

The replacement. He’d been right. We were too late. We wouldn’t be able to stop it. Lights burst below and around the Black Heights. Shimmering portals by the dozens. I would’ve bolted toward the nearest one, but Mom caught my wrist and Brandon agreed. “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he muttered. “This is happening for a reason.”

“We could just go through and get back home!” Richard replied, determined to climb down the ridge, but Thayen slipped an arm