"Trust me it's just a card, pick one." Freya told Blaise.
Blaise looked around confused. She had no idea where she was. She was seated in a garden with Freya. There were twelve tarot cards set on the table.
She knew this game too well. The last time she picked a card, she ended up dying.
"I won't fall for this Freya. Are not supposed to be in Eldovania?" Blaise asked.
"Are you not glad to see me, cousin?" Freya frowned.
"I am but I…"
Freya suddenly grabbed her left hand.
"Then let's play now!" Freya yelled.
Blaise creased her brows.
"Calm down Fre…"
"This time make sure you pick something different. You picking the same thing makes me sick." Freya yelled.
Blaise pulled away from her grip.
"Freya, what is wrong with you? You know what, I don't even want to be here anymore." Blaise turned away to leave.
"Where do you think you are going, Vivian," Freya asked.
Suddenly the garden disappeared. So did Freya. Blaise found herself on a balcony. Beneath her was a large pool. She looked up to the sky to find the blood moon.
"No, no…this can't be," Blaise muttered.
She looked down to find herself in the same gown she wore that night.
A long bang on the door startled her.
"There's nowhere to run Vivian." A masculine voice yelled.
"Samuel," Blaise whispered.
She stumbled back and her back touched the balustrade. She couldn't believe this was happening.
"It stinks to keep dying the same way, over and over again. Doesn't it?" Blaise turned to find a woman in a black cloak before her. The hood she wore covered her face entirely. A wicked grin crawled on her thin lips.
"Stay back." Blaise raised her hands in defense.
She flipped her hands and nothing happened.
The woman snickered.
"Your powers won't work here Vivian. This is my world." The woman laughed wickedly.
The hood she wore prevented Blaise from seeing her face.
Blaise's heart thudded loudly in her chest.
How did she get here? Who was this woman?
A loud bang on the door disrupted her thoughts.
"Oh looks like Samuel's coming." The woman smirked.
Blaise ignored her. There was no way this was real. Just minutes ago, she was at the Valeria mansion in bed. This was a dream, it wasn't real.
Blaise grabbed her gown and climbed the balustrade.
"What are you doing?" the woman asked.
Blaise looked down and swallowed hard. She was scared of heights, yet here she was planning to jump three stories down.
"It's just a dream, Vivian. It's just a dream." Blaise whispered to herself.
She closed her eyes and leaped off the banister.
For a minute, she thought she'd died. She opened her eyes to find herself hanging midair.
"You are such a brave girl yet that was a stupid idea, Vivian. As I said, this is my world and I make the rules." The woman waved her right hand.
Blaise fell hard to the ground.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?" Blaise yelled.
"One question at time darling. In no time you will get the answer to the first question. For now, I will answer the last question." The woman said.
"Samuel tells me your cry like an angel." She said.
Blaise scrambled to her feet confused.
"What do you…"
"I want what's rightfully mine and to get that you will have to suffer." The woman said spitefully.
Blaise watched as she raised her hands and clenched her fists.
Suddenly, Blaise couldn't feel her legs. Her eyes went wide with terror. She fell to her knees.
The woman clenched her fists again.
Blaise could hear the sound of her bones cracking. She screamed out in pain.
The woman burst into laughter.
Abruptly, the whispers began. Blaise shut her ears and screamed.
Samuel finally broke through the door. He headed towards her with the same dagger in hand.
Blaise closed her eyes and screamed from the excruciating pain.
"Vivian…" a faint voice called her amidst the loud whispers.
A strong hand gripped her neck and raised her.
She opened her eyes to find Samuel.
"See you in your next life, Vivian." The woman said from behind.
Samuel's gripped on her neck tightened. Blaise threw feeble punches at him.
She struggled to get free. She couldn't die again. She didn't want to.
"No firepower now, huh." Samuel laughed viciously.
He drove his dagger into her belly and withdrew it.
Tears fell from Blaise's eyes as he thrust her again and again.
He threw her off the balustrade and watched as she fell to her death.
"Vivian… Vivian…" the distant voice got closer as she fell.
"Vivian." The voice yelled.
Blaise woke up with a start. She looked up to find Keith staring down at her. His eyes were filled with worry.
"Leo…" she hugged him abruptly. Tears fell from her eyes.
Keith pulled her closer in his arms.
He patted her hair and whispered soothing words into her ear.
She still felt terrified.
"I…I…" she pulled back to find the Valerians staring at her.
They wore alarmed expressions as they started.
Blaise looked around the room and gasped.
"She's dangerous," Damien said.
"Of course she is. She shook the bloody manor in her sleep." Heather said.
"I believe you two are driving at something," Klaus said from his seat.
"Perhaps, inculcating a sly plan." Heath said.
The siblings stood in Keith's study arguing. It was already morning but the mansion was unusually silent.
As his siblings argued, Keith stood at the window in deep thought.
"I speak for myself, she's dangerous. Until she's learned to control her power. It's not safe for anyone around her." Damien said.
"She's one of us now, we can not isolate her." Heath said.
"Damien is right. We can not allow her to walk around like a bloody ticking grenade." Heather said.
"Don't tell me the great Heather Valerian, is afraid of a small burn?" Klaus snickered.
"This isn't funny, Klaus. Let me remind you, we may be pure blooded vampires but we can be killed. By a white oak stake or fire sent from the very pits of hell." Heather yelled.
"Urgh…not one of your bloody lectures again." Klaus groaned.
"Stop being dramatic Heather." Heath sighed.
"Are you two nitwits not listening. Vivian bears a power that is believed lost. A power, vampires have a strong enmity for. The very power that can consume any breathing thing to ashes. I would be fine if she could handle it but she has no idea how to control it. Do you have any idea what will happen if news of this gets out?" Heather yelled.
"People will be terrified that could raise chaos." Klaus said.
"She was with the witches and nothing happened." Heath said.
"Don't be naïve Heath, the witches worship her. She bears the mark of the Phoenix. Back in Eldovania, she's a goddess. A sign of hope." Heather said.
"Here in Valeria, she will be seen as a threat." Damien said.
"She's not a threat," Keith said abruptly.
His siblings fell silent immediately.
"Yes, she's dangerous but she's not a threat. What happened earlier was an ugly side of her power. But I don't have to tell you that same power brought my Clarissa back." Keith said.
"What do you propose we do then?" Klaus asked.
"Heather's right, news of this can give rise to turmoil. News of this must remain within these walls." Keith said.
"Apart from Jared, there were about twenty servants left in the manor last night. I made sure no servants from outside entered the gates today." Heather said.
"Without a doubt, they are aware of what happened," Heath said.
"What do you propose we do?" Keith asked.
"Kill them all." Heather let out.
"That is unnecessary. We can just compel them." Heath said.
"Well, my noble brother, you don't need me to tell you, compulsion is a temporary measure. Besides, who knows, some of them may be loaded with vervain. I say we kill them all to avoid any slips." Heather said.
Heather and Heath began arguing.
"I can't believe these two shared a bloody womb," Klaus muttered.
Suddenly, the building trembled.
"There you have it, do you think any amount of compulsion can make you forget that tremor?" Heather barked.
"That's enough you two," Keith ordered.
The study door flung open revealing Jared.
"Master, the Lady is out of control. The lady Clarissa insists on seeing her." Jared announced.
Damien stood up instantly.
"Where do you think you're going?" Heather asked.
"I'm going to get Clarissa away from her," Damien said over his shoulder.
Keith instantly headed for the door.
"Jared line up the servants, Klaus will handle them from there. Heath comes with me and Heather don't let anyone into the manor." Keith headed towards the door.
"Why do I always have to be the bloody killer?" Klaus groaned.
"Because you are the one with the murderous temperament," Heather said.
The building rambled again and this time followed by loud shatters in the manor.
"Ah… we should all get to it then." Klaus stood from his seat.
Keith and Heath rushed towards Blaise's new room.
They walked to a stop at the doorway.
"Bloody…there's no way we can get to her," Heath muttered.
Blaise was curled up in her bed. She was surrounded by a ring of blazing flames.
Her eyes were closed with her hands on her ears.
She screamed and the manor rumbled at each turn.
The ring of fire blazed at every scream but didn't spread further.
"We should find a way to quench the fire." Heath attempted to enter the room.
He was thrown back from a strong force.
He stood up to his feet with a stunned expression.
"Looks like there's not even a chance to repress the fire," Heath said.
"She's scared," Keith muttered.
"She's scared. That's why she's out of control." Keith said.
"That will explain it. But what is she scared of." Heath said.
Keith stood at the spot thinking of what to do. His ears were filled with her cries and screams.
"I'm going in." Keith rolled his sleeves.
Heath grabbed his arm.
"You have to think this through…"
Keith swatted his arm.
"There's no time to think." He told him.
Keith crossed both his arms and run through the flames.
A strong force repelled him making it difficult to get to him.
The fire burnt through his skin as he fought his way through.
He finally stepped through to the other side.
His clothes were half burnt with his skin partly fried.
Keith turned to find Blaise curled up crying.
"No…no…" she kept muttering.
He sat by her side of the bed and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
She instantly turned around with her eyes blazing with fire.
"Vivian." He caressed her cheek.
Suddenly, the flames in her eyes died out. They were replaced with two emerald orbs filled with tears.
"Leo…" she mumbled.
Keith instantly pulled her into his arms.
"I… am scared," Blaise muttered in a shaking tone.
She used to have control of her life but not anymore. This new world was terrifying and out of control. All she felt was pain and fear.
At that instant, Keith realized all he wanted was to take her pain away.
He wrapped his hands around her whispered to her.
"You don't have to be scared anymore, Vi." He told her.
She pulled away to stare up at him.
He held her chin and gently caressed it.
"You have me." He told her.
Blaise's eyes went wide with surprise. They both stared into each other's eyes. Neither of them daring to look away.
As if they both had the same thoughts, their lips crashed in unison.
Suddenly, the ring of fire died and the trembling ceased.
It was followed by a loud gust of wind sweeping through the entire manor.
Heath stood his ground till the wind passed. The wind ceased and everything calmed.
"Finally," Heath said with a sigh.
He stepped in through the doorway and halted.
He stood rooted to the spot in surprise.
"Heath, what happened? What are you looking at?" Heather asked.
She stepped next to him and froze.
Klaus walked behind them with Damien.
"Bloody mother…" Klaus muttered.
Keith and Blaise broke off their kiss. Their lips lingered on each other.
"You have me," Keith whispered again.
Suddenly, he pulled away from her.
He rushed out with his vampire speed leaving behind a stunned Blaise.
Blaise looked up to find the Valerians gapping at her. They all wore the same stunned expressions as she did.
"Today is just full of bloody surprises. Isn't it?" Heather said.