“In an incident I witnessed myself,” Matteo continued, “Kiev attacked many of our crew members. He was not acting in self-defense. Indeed, nobody in the room had shown any violence toward him. He lashed out at Giles, who now lies severely injured in his room, along with several other vampires who tried to hold him back.” Matteo paused and rubbed a hand against his forehead. “We simply cannot manage this island unless we feel safe in each other’s company. Kiev’s actions violate this fundamental understanding. Though we do not punish as harshly as The Tavern, this infraction calls for banishment from the island.”
Mutterings of approval sounded out around us.
“I can’t deny that I am deeply disappointed. I have come to see Kiev as a friend. An ally. But what has just happened, I cannot overlook.”
I didn’t miss the way Kiev’s whole body flinched at Matteo’s admission.
“However,” Matteo said, “I also can’t deny what Kiev did just hours beforehand. I cannot deny that he singlehandedly saved Mona from the clutches of the ogres.” Matteo began to pace up and down in front of Kiev. “I propose that I give Kiev the benefit of the doubt in this case. The violence he partook in simply doesn’t seem to fit in with the character he has displayed since joining us.”
“I agree!” Saira spoke up beside me, an unmistakable warmth to her voice. “We should give him a punishment that is less severe than banishment.”
Some protests were muttered while a few others made noises of approval. Matteo kept his gaze steady as he surveyed the crowd. It was clear that he had made his decision and nothing anyone could say would change his mind.
I had witnessed enough.
Whatever might happen to Kiev now—whether he ended up staying on the island and accepting a lesser punishment, or was banished after all—wasn’t relevant to me.
Because the vampire with red eyes would soon be only a memory.
Chapter 40: Kiev
I trembled as Matteo spoke, not with fear, but shame.
A part of me would have preferred him to just banish me. I didn’t deserve Matteo’s mercy. I didn’t deserve his hospitality or generosity.
I deserved his wrath.
I wished he’d punish me severely. It would have relieved at least some of the guilt.
The crowds dispersed and I was left alone with Matteo and Saira. I could barely look them in the eye.
Saira looked at Matteo.
“Do you have something in mind?” she asked.
Matteo gazed at me, apparently deep in thought.
“Yes,” he said after a few moments. “Yes, I do.”
“What?” Saira asked, seemingly more interested in my wellbeing than I was.
“Kiev, excuse me while I take a moment to discuss my idea with Saira.”
I watched as they disappeared into the forest. They had to walk a distance away from me due to my acute hearing. It felt like half an hour had passed before they emerged from the woods. Saira cast a worried glance my way, hesitating for a moment before walking away, leaving me alone with Matteo.
“You can come with me now, Kiev. I’ll explain,” he said.
I walked alongside him as we headed toward the direction of the wall.
“I should give you a little background first,” he said, clearing his throat. “As you may have noticed, the living conditions on this island are far from ideal, especially for us vampires.” He paused and cast a glance sideways at me. “You’re originally from the human realm… correct?”
I nodded.
“Then you may have heard of a place called The Shade?”
I gulped, uncomfortable with the memories.
“Yes,” I muttered.
“Good,” Matteo said. “See, I’ve never visited the place myself, but many of us around here know of it as a legend… Anyway, to cut a long story short, we want to make our own island like The Shade. Perhaps not as extravagant. To start with, we would be more than satisfied just having a witch who’s able to cast a protective spell over the island and a spell of night over at least a part of the island.”
We reached the wall, where a vampire opened the gate for us as we stepped out onto the beach.
“The problem is,” Matteo continued, “witches are scarce outside of The Sanctuary. The Aviary has a few, and I believe Cruor does too, but they are hardly willing to share.” He grimaced. “The only witches we could possibly have a fighting chance of getting hold of belong to a group of pirates who sail the ship known as The Black Bell.”
The Black Bell.
I smiled bitterly, remembering the night I’d tried to force information out of Mona about the ship. I reached up to my cheek, recalling the sting of her slap. So much had happened since, I’d forgotten to even attempt to find out more about the ship.
“They’re a fierce bunch,” he said, “and to date we have failed to even come close to plundering their island. Of course, it’s protected by their three witches.”
“So you believe I can help you with this?” I asked.
“It’s a dangerous mission. More dangerous than most of us on the island are comfortable with. I don’t know if you will be successful. But I do know that helping us with this will be a fitting punishment for you. And, of course, regardless of whether or not you are successful, the fact that you agree to help us with this will help you win over those who were against my decision to allow you to stay on the island.”
We reached a small boat bobbing on the waves and Matteo strapped in a dolphin, indicating that I climb in.
“Tonight?”
Matteo shook his head. “Oh, no, this mission will need much more planning than we could possibly do before morning. Tonight I just want to show you the location of their island.”
I sat down on the bench and Matteo took a seat next to me, clutching the dolphins’ reins and urging them forward. Silence fell between us as we gathered speed.
My mind drifted back to the scene in the clearing. All those faces surrounding me, some glaring down at me, others looking on me with pity. And then Mona’s face had appeared through the crowds, barely a few feet away from me.
So close, yet so far.
I hadn’t been sure what to make of her gaze. At first I thought I had seen disappointment. But then she had turned around to leave, and she had just seemed distant. Indifferent to what was to happen to me next. Numb. My actions had just wedged a distance between us. A distance I wasn’t sure could ever be closed again.
To think I came so close to unravelling her, only to have her clam up again. Or perhaps I never did come that close… Then I reminded myself that none of this mattered any more. I should be feeling relieved that she wants nothing more to do with me.