A Violet Fire (Vampires in Avignon #1) - Kelsey Quick Page 0,87

in France.

“It’s a half mile walk to get into the Basilica, where thousands of vampires have gathered to watch the five leaders enter. We will line up and wait for Lord Zein to pass through and once he does, we are to follow closely behind him.”

We all nod with understanding.

Anaya turns to the huddled group of vampire advisors. “Master Gemini, Narref, and Ceti, we are all present and ready at your convenience.”

“Good, let’s go then.” Narref takes the lead.

The walk through the tunnel is tiresome but filled with refreshing social interaction. Over the last month I have really started enjoying being around these select people. Well, Savvy, Katarii, Glera, and Emi, that is. Anaya has purposely placed distance between herself and us—even Emi—staying close to Ceti and the other vampires.

“Are you all right?” Glera asks me from my left, her voice muffled by her veil.

“I don’t know,” I say, “but I will figure it out.”

She blinks quizzically at me as I trot ahead until I’m walking next to Anaya.

“Can we—” is all I can manage before she interrupts.

“Don’t waste your time.”

“Just listen?” I retort, expecting her to go off but she keeps walking, her focus straight ahead. It’s obvious that she doesn’t want to cause a scene in front of Zein’s advisors. However, I couldn’t care less if I do.

“I know we have our differences. You don’t like me and I don’t like you,” I say, surveying her body language which hasn’t altered one bit. “But can we at least acknowledge that we are in the same situation? That we both are here to serve Lord Zein and that’s it?”

She raises her eyebrows. Then she chuckles and shakes her head. “It must be nice to be the favorite, and to have not a care in the world. Like making your peace with me here is all that it’ll take for you to be able to sleep again.”

Anaya turns her blazing oceanic eyes to me, “Soon I will be sent to the breeding houses. It’s a duty that I will welcome if it is my honorable Lord Zein’s wish. I don’t expect you, someone so young and full of ideals, to understand why I hate you for things that we cannot control.”

“Who says we can’t?” I reply, trying not to dwell on the despair in her voice.

Maybe Zein wouldn’t send Anaya to the breeding houses, either and just suffer the penalties. Then again… she was most likely purchased from Saya.

“I never wanted to come here or be summoned. Isn’t there some way for us to find common ground?” I ask.

She lowers her face to mine, wearing a hateful smile. “Oh, really? How about now? Do you still lack the desire to be Lord Zein’s supply unit?”

Her question sparks a level of fright within me.

“…If it were up to me, I wouldn’t be anyone’s anything,” I finally say, but it’s not quick enough, and Anaya laughs.

“Being human is a pain, isn’t it? Emotions and all,” she murmurs. “We never know what we truly want until we are stripped of everything that made us who we are.”

I wonder for a second if she was ever brainwashed by Saya, saying such profound things. Or maybe, it’s because of her age. Her tone becomes more serious again. “I hate you because of circumstances out of my control. It’s nothing personal. But unfortunately, I don’t have the ability to turn it off.”

I nod, licking my lips, suddenly consumed by rejection.

“I understand,” I lie.

“We will find common ground once we are both burned and strewn upon the dirt of the Norse Wood in Saya… after we’ve had many years of bearing children that we will never meet, sired by fathers of whom we will never know. But until that final day, stay away from me.”

Now I know, and it hurts me to acknowledge it… that Anaya is as smart as she is beautiful, and as beautiful as she is doomed.

✽✽✽

My fingers grow numb as they curl into themselves, seeking warmth. The summer air leaves fast in Cain, signaling the transition to fall. A third wave of soldiers finish their passing, raising their spears overhead to signify their allegiance to the five council members, the rulers of the Stratocracy of Cain: Reginald Amaorin, Marina Schovir, Trovier Tsala, Hox Giomar, and Anton Zein.

Half of the crowd outside the electric gates of the castle’s Basilica is shouting whoops of support and patriotism, while the other half is condemning Abethos, encouraging war. Another handful is causing a commotion about the next