SIDIA'S POVSeveral things happened at once. Marcus screamed at Severus, causing Severus to lose his rage for a moment and stare in disbelief at his brother."How?" Severus screeched.The entire throne room erupted in cries, the shock wearing off as they realized Marcus was free and they fully processed Julia's death. Catarina pushed through to the front, stopping just in front of the square of sunlight, crying out in grief as she stared at the dust that was once Julia.Sidia wanted to run to Marcus, throw herself in between the brothers even though it would mean death. She didn't want any harm to come to Marcus. They glared at each other, the column of sunlight between them. Sidia could see where this was going, and she didn't want Marcus to end up the same as his mother.However, the entire throne room was shaking with anger and grief. To Sidia's surprise, they didn't rush to Severus or try to take down Marcus. Instead, all of them were shaking, their eyes widening and bodies re
The cracking sound was the wooden stake piercing Severus' skin. Sidia watched in a mix of relief and horror as fissures formed in his skin, little lines breaking apart. Severus let out one final scream as he literally fell apart, disintegrating.The room fell silent once more, everyone staring at the two piles of dust on the throne room floor. Helena dropped the stake and sank to her knees, sobbing."After all these years," she cried. "I'm finally free of him.""We're all free," Catarina left Julia's corpse to sit beside Helena, wrapping her arms around her. The two women held each other and softly wept.Sidia looked up at Marcus, trying her best to wipe the tears from his face, but the blood only streaked. "I'm so sorry I kissed him. I was just trying to get out of the chains. I wanted to do something, anything to stop him," Sidia heard the breaking of her voice, felt her own tears. All the stress and adrenaline left her body, and she was weak and exhausted."Hush, my love," Ma
The next few days sped past Sidia. There was so much to do. After destroying the throne, the coven gathered the remains of Julia and Severus and held a ceremony for them. Marcus grieved his mother, and even though he was overwhelmed with love and happiness for his freedom, he had lost something so precious. Sidia spent many moments holding him while he sobbed, so utterly saddened by his loss. He would be okay, and he would pull through. Sidia knew he just needed time.As the coven found its new rhythm and settled into a new way of life, Sidia was finally able to speak with Helena openly and freely. Helena explained that Severus obtained her Oath because she didn't want him to hurt the true love of her life, Francesco. She pledged her loyalty and became a vampire to save their village and make sure Francesco had a good life. Now that she was free of her oath, Helena wanted to find out if Francesco was still alive and if he had lived the life she wanted for him. Sidia also met with th
CESARE'S POV, 150 YEARS LATERThe ocean waves crashed against Cesare, flooding his mouth with tangy salt water. He didn't mind the taste so much. He loved swimming through the vast depths far from the coast. He had spent most of the day underwater. The ocean water filling his lungs was a strange sensation that he would never quite get used to, but the wonder of exploring the seas made up for it. So many whales, sharks, jellyfish, and strange creatures dazzled him. There was never a dull day in the ocean.He let the tide wash him ashore, the sun almost completely set behind the peak of the mountains. Cesare coughed hard, expelling the last of the ocean from his lungs before stretching and looking around the coast. It was exceedingly difficult to find quiet and empty places along the shore. So many people had left the cities of Italy for the peace and beauty of the coastal towns. Monterosso had done fairly well over the decades. Without the protection of the vampire coven, there had
Tears slid down Sidia's cheeks and over her hands as she covered her mouth in shock. An intense wave of anxiety spread from the crown of her silky black hair to her heaving chest. She could hardly believe what her parents had just told her. Everything she had ever thought real and possible had been shattered in just a short conversation."You can't be serious!" Sidia finally spoke, her voice trembling behind her shaking fingers.Her mother looked away, preferring to hide her emotions as always. Sophia Amato had never been able to fully express any kind of feeling, positive or negative. This made her the perfect matriarch, of course. But not much of a good mother."I am deadly serious. This is why you have never met my older sister Helena. She didn't just cross the mountains and become a famous Parisian artist, Sidia. Every woman in your position has had to face this. I expect you to handle it just as my sister did, just as so many before you have." Enzo Amato always spoke with a ste
Sidia spent the next few days in a hazy state of mind. She went through the motions of her daily life, but she refused to look at her home any differently. Part of her wanted to memorize every detail. She wanted to watch a little more closely as Rosa brought her breakfast, the old woman opening the door with the same greeting she had used for as long as Sidia could remember. Sidia wanted to find all the things she took for granted about her home and fully appreciate them. No matter how hard she tried to pull herself out of her fear and dark thoughts about the night to come, she just couldn't. On the morning of her birthday, her mother replaced Rosa, silently carrying the silver platter. She placed the tray down on the small table by the window and set out the coffee. She poured herself a small cup and sipped it quietly while standing, looking out at the ocean with a distant look in her golden eyes. "I have dreaded this day for so long, my love." Sophia put down her coffee and final
The vampire had lowered himself to Sidia's current eye level, and he tilted his head as he waited for her to speak. He raised his eyebrows as he made a questioning expression, silently asking her to respond. Still in shock and much too distracted by the way his eyes glowed in the light of . . . Wait, where were they?Sidia reluctantly looked away and gasped as she finally noticed the carvings and etchings curling along the stone walls. Torches blazed at regular intervals, lighting up the entire space. They were in some kind of windowless room, clearly a cave based on the fact that every surface was stone and the air smelled damp and felt so cold. Behind the vampire, a long hallway stretched out into the distance. She glanced behind her, but there was only a smooth rock wall, the only surface without some kind of artwork. She couldn't bear to study anything in more detail, though. She was far more concerned with the vampire in front of her. Those enchanting and penetrating eyes belon
Mortal terror surged through Sidia's veins. She didn't scream, but she was unable to move. She knew there was a coven, but so many? There had to be at least a hundred just in this cavern! Her chest heaved with panic. She blinked, and suddenly the vampire on the throne was standing right in front of her, every perfect detail of his face blocking everything else out. How did he move so fast?"Do not worry, Sidia. My name is Severus, and I have waited centuries for you. None of us will harm you." He raised one of his impossibly perfect hands and took the liberty of brushing aside a tangled curl from her face. She froze at his touch, self-conscious once more as she realized how underdressed she was. Severus's sumptuous silk robes draped him perfectly, and his golden head had a crown of silver laurels. She was mesmerized by the way his lips formed the most glorious smile she had ever seen. His teeth practically glowed from their white perfection, the points of his fangs beautiful in a te