I broke eye contact with her and began to try and make sense of my surroundings. We were at the Vale’s town square and a rather large crowd had already gathered—many were vampires sending me hostile glares. I saw Liana whispering something to Cameron, a worried look on her face. I could just about make out what she was saying as she nudged Cameron’s arm: “We have to do something,” she mouthed.
My heart began thumping double its usual pace. What’s going on? I realized then that my wrists were bound together and I was shivering from the cold water that was now beginning to soak my clothes and seep around my skin.
“Did you do this, Sofia?”
I followed the direction of the all-too-familiar voice and saw Gavin glaring at me with suspicion. “No! I don’t even know what’s going on!”
“Someone ratted us out,” Ian hissed as he tried to break free from the ropes binding his hands. “I was certain it was you, Red. I still think it is.”
“If it were me, why on earth would I be here with you?” The look on their faces showed that they were unconvinced. We were lined up in front of a wooden pole—there were five of us, two of the others I recognized from the secret meeting Gavin dragged me to. “I didn’t do this.”
Ian scoffed. “And we’re supposed to just take your word for it?”
“It wasn’t her.”
The murmurs of the crowd grew silent. Heavy footsteps approached. I didn’t really have to look up to know who it was. Gregor Novak. I lifted my head and sure enough, he was standing over me, staring at me the same way he always did—with a strange mixture of hatred and desire.
“My son’s redhead didn’t rat you out,” he clarified. “She’s too intent on destroying The Shade and everything it’s become to do that. I’m no fool. I have my eyes on The Catacombs, humans who do my bidding for certain luxuries and privileges. I’ve had her watched from her first day there. I know what a traitorous snake she is. She might have my son fooled, but not me. I know exactly why you’re here at The Shade, Sofia Claremont.”
I gave him the most defiant glare I could muster. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The back of his hand connected with the side of my face so forcefully, I thought my neck would snap.
“How dare you address me! You little worm!” He grabbed a clump of my hair and yanked me to a standing position. He leaned over my face so closely our noses almost touched. “I know exactly who you are.”
He threw me on the ground toward the direction of the pole. I tried to scramble upwards, but two guards grabbed me by the arms and dragged me toward the pole. All I could do was attempt to steel myself against what I knew was about to happen.
“Fifty lashes for the treasonous little wretch,” Gregor announced.
The guards unbound my hands, which had been tied behind my back, so that they could bind them on ropes that hung over a hook on top of the wooden pole. I was trembling uncontrollably by the time they started ripping the back of my dress in order to expose my bare back.
“That’s right, Sofia.” Gregor had a tone of triumph in his voice. “Tremble.”
I could hear the whip crack over the concrete ground. I shut my eyes, trying to swallow back my fear. Derek, where are you? Do something…
“Stop this! Right now!”
Relief washed over me at the distant, but very much recognizable, voice of Derek as the crowd made way for him.
“Unbind her this instant!” he ordered the guards and they were about to do just that, but Gregor must’ve done something to make them stop.
“So you really are as strong and as powerful as they said you were, taking down five of Felix’s best men all on your own. I’m impressed.” There was a tone of amusement on Gregor’s voice. Not a single ounce of intimidation or defeat could be found in the way he was speaking. I wondered what ace he was hiding up his sleeve.
“I told you not to lay a hand on Sofia. I warned you.” When he saw that the guards weren’t about to do as he told them, Derek approached me and unbound my hands. He cupped my face with his strong hands and winced when he noticed the bump on my head where my captors had knocked me unconscious.
“You care for her like she’s some fragile little doll, when you don’t really even know who she really is. She’s playing you for a fool, Derek, destroying everything you fought hard to build.”
Derek’s chiseled features tensed as he let out a controlled breath, as if trying to reel in his anger. “I warned you, Father. You’ve gone too far.”
“She’s Ingrid Maslen’s daughter, Derek. Did you know that?”
I saw the flash of confusion that crossed Derek’s eyes as he withdrew his hands from my face. I felt the exact same confusion. What is this guy talking about?
“Lies.” Derek shook his head, but for a moment he looked at me as though I might have been a wholly different person. Desperation began eating at me. I knew how much he hated the Maslens.
“My mother’s name is Camilla Claremont,” I told him trying to stay calm. “She’s been in an insane asylum for the majority of the past decade. You know this. Your father’s bluffing, Derek.”
“I’m not bluffing. I can prove everything,” Gregor said confidently. “I have all the background checks to prove it. Ingrid Maslen was once Camilla Claremont, wife of Aiden Claremont. They only have one daughter—your pretty little redhead right there.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s not true. Ingrid Maslen is not my mother.”
“When was the last time you saw Camilla Claremont, Sofia?” Gregor continued to pry. “Did you actually ever even see her in an insane asylum? Or is that just the story you’re weaving to cover up your connection to the Maslens?”
“That’s not…I’m not connected to the Maslens.” My voice was weak, Gregor’s words shaking me up. The idea of my mother being anywhere but inside an asylum was already too much for me to even comprehend. The thought that she was a vampire was something I was certain would drive me insane if I entertained it.
I kept my eyes on Derek’s, wondering what was going through his mind. If Ingrid really was my mother, I wondered if he could ever look at me the same way again. He was slipping away from me and I could feel it and the worst part of it all was that I actually had no clue whether or not Gregor was telling the truth.
Derek gave me a hurt and confused look. “Sofia…is it possible that Ingrid Maslen is your mother?”