Page 2 of Awakened Light

“The real question is, can it kill an immortal vampire?” Pursing my lips, I narrowed my eyes as my flame grew.

“Unless you’ve managed to harness sunlight, I doubt it. Regular fire stings a bit but doesn’t kill original vampires like me. Your ancestors certainly tried to wipe us out with magic, but it didn’t work. But that was then, so maybe it works now. Only one way to find out. If you really want me dead, have at it, Cat.”

I held his gaze while he called my bluff, and with a huff, I clasped my fist and extinguished the flame.

The mischievous twinkle in his eye sparkled brighter. “See. I told you that you liked having me around.”

“No, I don’t. I come here every night for tranquility. Tranquility you continue to steal from me.”

Every evening for years, I’d sneak away from my village and come here to escape the demands of my mother and our tribe.

A tribe that soon I would lead.

Spikes of anxiety poked me whenever I considered taking her place, but sitting in the familiar patch of sand each night helped me chase it away for a few blissful moments of respite. I’d shut out the world behind me, lean back, and stare across the lake separating me from a world I’d never seen. A world I’d only heard about through stories from a few of my fellow Pict tribesmen who’d been allowed to venture across the lake, and now from Thorne. I’d never been allowed to leave my familial island and surrounding magic had kept us hidden from intruders for centuries. Only a few rare outsiders had been allowed entry through the fog that blinded anyone who tried to find us.

Rare outsiders like the vampire staring at me right now.

“If you really wanted me gone, you’d have torched me with a fireball.”

A strange thread of yearning wound through me. “Just because I’m not trying to incinerate you, doesn’t mean I want you around.”

“I’d argue it does.”

We had a stare-off for a few moments before his smile coaxed out my own. “I hate you,” I said with a chuckle.

“More lies,” he teased. “So, what else are you going to show me tonight? I’ll tell you more about the outside world if you show me another cool trick.”

Ever since Thorne had arrived, we’d indulged in a little nightly magic. Since he hadn’t dared head into the village with my mother and my tribe, he’d find me out here and pester me until he wore me down, and I’d show him some of my powers. While I did, he’d tell me about life on the other side of the lake. Hearing stories about all the unfamiliar lands, people, and customs infatuated me, and I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to experience it myself.

My need to hear more about the outside world quieted the dwindling good sense that whispered at me to send him away. “Fine. I’ll show you how I do a locater spell, and you can tell me more about the city.”

“Which one? There are thousands.”

“Thousands?” My eyes widened.

“Thousands. More, actually.” Thorne rubbed a hand across the stubble on his face, and his square jaw tightened. “How about I tell you about New York City. It’s in a place called America.”

“Is that far from here?” I asked while I smoothed the sand with my hand to make a place to perform my spell.

“Yes. It’s across the ocean. And the ocean is like this lake, but so big that it takes months to sail across it.”

“Months?” I choked on the word. “It takes months to cross?”

“Yes. Months. However, we have planes now that can fly you there in less than a day.”

“I’ve seen things passing overhead and was told that people now fly in them.” I gestured to the sky and shook my head. “Only birds belong in the sky.”

His hearty laugh echoed around me and he nodded. “Humans are very driven creatures. They come up with new inventions every day. Planes are one of those inventions. I have a jet that lets me hop around the world after a quick phone call.”

“And phones are the things you use to communicate with people far away?” I asked, still trying to wrap my head around that idea.

“Yep. I can place a call with a phone, and they will gas up my jet and be waiting.”

I blinked as I tried to process it all. “I still can’t comprehend the world you live in.”

“And I can’t comprehend that you can do magic. It’s incredible.”

I shrugged. “I only have some magic. Every member of my family does. The goddess blessed our bloodline with it.”