We all sprang from the bushes and raced toward the water.

What happened next was a blur. A blast of light overhead blinded me. Something heavy slammed down against my shoulder, making me stumble and lose my footing. Lying on the sand, I looked up to see a giant cage fall around me and several other vampires who hadn’t yet made it to the waves. I scrambled to my feet and gripped the bars, pulling at them with all my strength. They wouldn’t budge. I tried to dig my fingers into the sand and slide them beneath the bars, but as soon as I did, a sharp metal surface shot out from the edges of the cage and closed beneath us above the sand. Had I not leapt up in time, my feet would have been severed.

One vampire wasn’t as fast. A scream erupted behind me. I whirled around to see Frieda lying on the floor, writhing and nursing two oozing stumps where her feet should have been.

The cage jolted and began lifting us into the air.

“No!” I yelled.

I strained my neck upward. A black helicopter hovered above us.

What is this?

I looked back down at the ocean. Our submarine had already disappeared beneath the waves along with the vampires who’d escaped, and all chances of reaching Mona in time.

Chapter 8: Sofia

Once I’d pulled on Ibrahim’s clothes, I left the room. I found Corrine and Ibrahim in the corridor.

“Wish me luck.”

“Good luck.”

I walked to the exit. Again, before darting through the courtyard, I poked my head out and scanned the area. A couple of vampires crossed the clearing and headed back into the woods on the opposite side. Once they had gone, I launched forward and ducked into the bushes. I headed northwest of the island, again careful to travel off the beaten path. Having experienced Kiev’s powerful form, it wasn’t as much of a shock getting used to Derek’s prowess, and I was more graceful as I rushed through the trees.

I reached the beach and ran to the line of townhouses. I singled out Kiev and Mona’s house and, holding my breath, rapped on the door.

I tried to steady my breathing as the door creaked open. Mona stood in the doorway. She gave me a knowing smile and opened the door wider. “Come in… Derek.”

I followed after her cautiously, looking about the hallway as I entered.

“Take a seat in the living room. I’ll get Kiev.”

“Thank you.”

I couldn’t have been more grateful that she was here. If I pushed the wrong buttons and Kiev snapped, she was powerful enough to intervene.

Kiev entered the room, but froze at the doorway as soon as he laid eyes on me.

I stood up and cautiously closed the distance between us.

“Kiev,” I said, holding his gaze even though he intimidated me. “I’ve come to apologize.”

Kiev’s face remained steely, impossible to read. Just as Derek’s had been. It should have been obvious all along that they’re related.

“I’ve allowed memories of the past and my prejudices to blind me from seeing what’s in front of me. I’ve spoken with Matteo and he tells me that you have changed. You saved us from Annora, brought Anna back, and now you and Mona have agreed to stay to protect our island. I’m not sure I can ever forget the pain you caused us, but I want to apologize and at least try to put the past behind us.”

I hoped that I hadn’t made Derek sound too cheesy. But when I reached out a hand, Kiev gripped it.

“Okay, Novak.”

I stepped back and cleared my throat. “Well, I ought to be going now. But I would like to invite you round for late lunch tomorrow, if you’ll accept.”

He nodded slowly. Mona appeared at his side. “We’ll be there, Derek,” she said, grinning and looping an arm though Kiev’s.

“Good. Let’s say, four o’clock?”

“That’s fine,” Mona replied.

The two of them stepped aside as I made my way out. I opened the front door and walked out into the front yard leading up to the sandy beach. I turned back once more to smile at Mona as she closed the door.

Four o’clock tomorrow. I supposed that I could have invited them round much earlier, for dinner this evening. I should have had more than enough time to turn back into myself. But something made me want to play it safe. I scanned the length of the beach for people and, on seeing the coast was clear, hurtled back toward the woods. I hurried as fast as I could off the path and arrived back in the Sanctuary, slamming the oak door shut behind me.

I hurried from chamber to chamber, looking for Corrine. I found her sitting in the kitchen area, at the dining table, deep in conversation with Ibrahim. They both looked up as I entered.

“So?” Corrine said. “How did it go?”

“It went well,” I replied. “Kiev accepted Derek’s apology.” I slumped down in a chair and looked from Corrine to Ibrahim.

“And now what?” Ibrahim asked.

“I invited Kiev and Mona to come to lunch tomorrow, at four o’clock.” I looked anxiously at Corrine. “So I guess now I just have to wait here until I turn back. I hope that Derek and Kiev won’t bump into each other in the meantime. I should be myself again by dinner tonight, right?”

She peeled back her sleeve and looked at her wristwatch.

“Yes, you should be.”

And so I waited there at the table with Corrine and Ibrahim, passing the time in conversation as we waited for me to turn back. We waited one hour. Then two. Then three. Then four.

As time pushed on, even Corrine was no longer able to keep the worried expression from her face. My stomach was in knots.