A Shade of Vampire 91: A Gate of Light by Forrest Bella

Author:Forrest, Bella
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Nightlight Press
Published: 2020-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Astra

The walk to the White Hall of Truth was painfully long. This place might pride itself on not experiencing the flow of time, but I couldn’t exactly enjoy that particular perk. I belonged to the living, and I got bored fast. Edda led the way, not even bothering to glance over her shoulder at us. Myst had made her angry, I could tell. Edda obviously despised Brandon and the other Berserkers—though I’d noticed a similar attitude from Regine, as well. Myst had been slightly more neutral, but we already knew of the rivalry between these two factions.

It was a feud as old as time, this struggle between light and dark.

The Valkyries flanked us on both sides. Two of them had been tasked with carrying our weapons and bags, but they still had their golden spears pointed at us, the steel tips thirsting for the blood of the living. I didn’t dare provoke them—besides, they were taking us to Order. This wasn’t the right moment to fight back and demand some kind of autonomy. Myst had made it clear. We had to play by their rules if we wanted anything done, and Brandon had begrudgingly agreed.

As we moved through the landscape, I took in more of its amazing features. It was my only way of coping with the sudden tension that had overtaken our group, and I knew it wouldn’t last long. First, the Valkyries took most of my focus. Thayen, Jericho, and Dafne had a hard time looking away, too. Each of these fine creatures seemed to have been poured from a similar mold. Long, golden hair. Furious blue fires in their eyes. Porcelain skin and rose-pink lips. Spectacular armor of gold and steel with precious gemstone and enamel inlays. Long cloaks of white silk and exquisite weapons that fed on the light.

Distracted by everything new, it took me a while to notice how dim Brandon was getting.

Every moment he spent in the presence of these creatures of pure light seemed to weaken him. Even Hammer’s glimmering black coat became dull. Both were affected by the Valkyries, but neither made a sound, accepting this temporary fate. I discreetly took Brandon’s hand in mine, startling him. He gave me a curious look that gradually softened as I smiled. “It’s going to be okay,” I whispered. “We’re going to get through this.”

I had no idea what had come over me, but I decided to just ride this wave and see where it might lead. We were out of better options, anyway. Brandon squeezed my hand before he let go, not wanting any of the Valkyries seeing this brief moment of intimacy between us. “You’re irritatingly optimistic,” he replied with a dry chuckle, choosing to look away. If prior to Purgatory he’d been brazen and unabashed in manifesting his attraction toward me, Brandon had performed a 180-degree turn since Edda had taken us prisoner.

This shift did not require an in-depth study, however. It was obvious he was doing it to protect me. We were about to stand trial before Order, purely for having set foot in this place.

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