The Venantium Auallonia Trilogy: Summer Tide

Chapter 12: In Line (Emery)

         I stood there for endless hours; biting my bottom lip and letting silent tears fall in my fruitless effort of simply watching my exquisite morning light pacing her bedroom window, and I, anguished from my own thoughts, holding onto myself on the street walk. I was far too ashamed of myself to even attempt throwing a rock at her window, or merely sending a brisk knock on her front door. My poor star; I could hear and feel her cries from where I was, no matter how far. Its heart-wrenching vibrations rippled through my very being. Oh how I pitched to hold that ivory soft skin in my arms, her blood singing the original sick and fathomless song that sang so sweet. Roses worth dying for, I would rather waste it on her life. A poisoned fruit with commendable reason to be spared.

Not only am I ashamed for what I had done, but also...for what I am about to do. Leaving...the art of walking away from tragedy. The last thing I had ever optioned on, or had even wanted on the face of this prejudice world. Why it came to mind, I am without a hint or clue. I do not believe there was one. This thought of such came to me amongst all of the searing pain, I faced it as the best choice with a catastrophic mind, empty of charismatic and useful options, and I tucked it away for future application into my back pocket.

Maybe that is why I never noticed I was crying when Dawn's despair slapped me across the face once I reached her ungrateful home. All through that, it did no effect or falter to my chosen plan. The sacrifice proves itself harder when you unwillingly spare the life of something far more sacred than your own daylight wakening. I never knew the strength. Dawn; the only one to execute the uncoiled walls of steel that guarded my very fragile soul. Even if I wasn't a vampire, that never would have made an admirable difference to how I feel about her. If I were human, I wouldn't have had to make a choice that would crush her internally.

Charlotte, and her hasty guarantees, wanted complete revenge for taking what she believed was hers. In other useless words, me. By knocking out Maverick unconscious in the middle of the gothic streets of Venice she, successfully, was able to drag an also unconscious Dawn to La Fenice, "the phoenix", Theatre. Somehow, she was able to include Amber in her plans as well; my guess is that Cadagan and Ariadne were accomplices.

I had no idea what she did to the others, but I knew she had plans for me when I received a visit from Cadagan, which also awarded me the gift of unconsciousness. I had awoken to the grand stage of La Fenice, and my memory was quite vague to what truly happened except for the intense pain cutting my chest. My eyes were blurry to the actual sight, but I was able to see that I had no shirt on and bore multiple lacerations that patterned on my pale chest. Along with the pain, there was warmth. Not only in my mouth, but dripping down to the ground. I could hear its tapping.

My thoughts were completely foggy, though I could have swore that Dawn was screaming at me. She repeated my name over and over until I fully opened my eyes. Her tear stained face stayed embedded in my mind. I remembered everything in increments after that. Charlotte's bragging of how her plans assembled so easily; frequently pointing to Amber's body trembling on the floor. I remember her eyes fluttering in fear as she had her blindfold taken off. She sounded so innocent when she questioned Dawn's stricken face. Charlotte grabbed her by the hair, and Amber screamed as she told her in the cruelest way that she was going to die.

I felt the cool metal cutting into my wrists while my body hung limply from bindings. Dawn screamed my name again, and I almost cried out to her; begging desperately in my head to get my thoughts of comfort to her weakening support. I wanted so badly to comfort her, to tell her I was all right. Instead, as if he read my thoughts, Maverick held her back and reassured her. Charlotte's words echoed through my mind, "That's right, angel," her heavy British accent sounding through, "try to soothe her while she loses half her soul."