DOFAB#3

Chapter Twenty-Four

💜 In loving memory of Gemma 💜

~ KINLEY ~

A heavy sigh leaves my lips as water with floating flower petals runs down my face and into the porcelain bowl from which it came. No matter how often I cleanse with the anti-oxidant-rich waters, my skin appears dull with dark circles under my eyes that won't disappear. The radiance a temple priestess should exhibit has been stripped away, the reason underhand. I glance over at the note left on my pillow this morning. In elegant penmanship, it reads East courtyard. Eleven. The Spring Awaits.

As if spending the day at a spring where I almost let that stupid beast claim me when he infiltrated my dream weren't enough, a summoning also arrived with breakfast. Queen Rakasha requests your presence at dinner. I set the summoning down next to Tristan's. I'll be dining with the Queen, who thinks me the same weak-stemmed flower as my sister.

I pick up my phone one of the vamperial guards found among the wreckage on the beach. The screen's cracked, but after twenty-four hours of being nestled in a bed of rice, the light turns on. My hands work quickly, opening the messaging app before it has time for any messages I've missed to load. Neziri, I'm sorry for what I said. I have arrived safely in Valderanna. It's strange here. I miss you and hope to see you again one day. I love you, dear—no signal pops up on the alerts. The plexiglass screen flickers a few times before it goes dark. Unlike the crystal cup of purple yam pudding, the broken phone hits its intended target. I leave the shattered pieces in the bathroom, heading to answer the knock at my door.

"Your trunk has arrived." The vamperial guard's gaze lingers too long on my bare legs, my scourge souvenirs freshly laundered for me.

"This was supposed to arrive yesterday."

At least I won't have to wear this stupid t-shirt around all day.

"The last helicopter got held up by VCS."

"You can put it over here."

"I'm not permitted to enter."

Of course. I grab the handle on the end. The leech stands there, his grin growing more devilish with each jerk of my body as I struggle to move the darn thing. I muster another few inches, the trunk still not past the threshold.

"Nice socks," the vamperial guard remarks as I fall onto my butt, having heaved too hard.

"Good day to you, corpse." I shut the door, wishing I could stuff these skull socks down his gloating throat.

Rummaging through my belongings, I try to find something suitable to wear, though a parka is the only outfit that seems safe enough. I know what I'm not wearing to the spring—mint green. On second thought, any shade of green is out.

Ca-clunk, a small glass vial rolls out from a folded-up sweater. I set aside the nude slip that is the closest thing I have to a swimsuit and pick up the vial with a cork top. Where did this come from? I lift the vial. The contents inside are clear and there's a brukha shop stamp on the bottom. I check the sweater it came from and find the heavy object that made the sound when it hit the floor. Carefully, I unwrap the item. A wooden stake comes into sight, the color white ash like a birch tree. Something about the jagged craftsmanship seems familiar, but I can't place it.

My attention moves to the small black gift bag the vial must have rolled from. I pluck the folded-up paper in the bag's bottom. Tired of being at the bottom of the food chain? Want to know what it's like to be a "god of the night"? This strength elixir is guaranteed to supe you up to SN levels. So, whether you want revenge, plan to go out hunting, or simply want to know what it's like to crush skulls with your bare hands and run faster than the speed of light, this magical elixir will provide you with the best night of your life. So why wait? Drink up and become invincible.