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Anxiety took root deep in his stomach, but Sebastian nodded and rose to his feet. “Very well. Thank you for the message.” The girl nodded and disappeared down the passage. “I don’t even want to know what’s happening now,” he grumbled to Josephine, who shrugged.

“You better go, though. It’s definitely important if he used the words ‘right away.’ Hopefully it’s good news?”

Sebastian agreed, but didn’t actually have much hope. “I’ll be back soon,” he said, and exited the room. Once outside, he moved as quickly through the passages as he could, not willing to use his vampiric speed in case his body wasn’t ready to handle it yet.

He barely knocked on Victor’s door before it swung open and the master vampire called him in. Sebastian stepped into the dimly lit room and froze at the sight before him. Remus sat at the table, ashen, but that wasn’t what startled him. No, that was theotherfigure.

Standing in the center of the room was someone Sebastian had only ever seen in paintings or books. He wore a deep crimson robe which pooled on the floor at his feet and held his head high and proud. His features were sharp and his fangs sharper.

Vlad.

Sebastian instantly dropped to one knee and extended his wrist, but Vlad only gestured for him to return to his feet. “Victor, I swear I didn’t-” he started, but Victor cut him off with a hand.

“I am aware you did not break the treaty. The fault for that falls on Remus,” Victor’s eyes flitted to Remus, who refused to make eye contact with anyone else in the room, “and has been ongoing for some time. However, Vlad has come with the knowledge you seek.”

Victor gestured to Vlad, who turned to face Sebastian. The original vampiresmiled,which was unexpected, and said, “Remus informs me that you have broken the laws of your magic and, by so doing, have trapped a human in a cycle of endless torment. Do you now realize why the laws were made such?”

Sebastian nodded wordlessly, starstruck by the fact thattheVlad was here, talking tohim.Vlad continued, “Very good. I have been informed that upon learning of the impact, you have gathered all of the illegal paintings together and will be destroying them by fire as is proper. Because of this, there will be no punishment.

“However, Remus also told me you intend to have Victor bite the human before the burning commences, and I must forbid this.”

“But if she dies and has no venom in her veins, then I’ll lose her forever!” Sebastian interrupted, panic filling his chest and leaking out in his voice. “At least if she’s bitten, there’s the possibility for her to Turn when the curse is broken, instead of dying permanently!”

Vlad held up a hand and Sebastian fell silent. “The girlmustdie, Sebastian. If you break the curse and end her reincarnation cycle, but make her immortal before she dies, then she will permanently be severed from the other portion of her soul. Only by allowing her soul to leave her body entirely can it be knit back together and become whole.”

“And leaving her soul severed would violate the Code,” Sebastian murmured. “Unnecessary human torment.”

“Exactly,” Vlad replied. “If you wish to Turn the girl, you will have to strike in the moments after her heart stops, but before her brain dies. There is a 4-5 minute window where venomshouldbe able to reanimate her body and impart the curse. Too late and it won’t work; too early, and I will be forced to drive a stake through her heart. It would be easier to just let her go.”

Sebastian shook his head violently. “No! I can’t lose her, not after also losing my life’s work as well! My entire existence would be in vain if I lost her.”

“You may feel differently when you release your soul from the paintings as well.”

Confusion clouded Sebastian’s face, and Remus’s as well. “What do you mean?”

“Each painting traps a portion of the artist’s soul as well. The you that currently exists is missing all the parts you have sealed away in your paintings. You might find you are someone entirely different when you unlock those parts of yourself.”

“Every part of me loves her,” Sebastian insisted.

Vlad chuckled, his head shaking slightly from side to side. “Perhaps, perhaps not. You won’t know until you are restored to yourself. And be warned: If you miss any paintings and fail to break the curse, you will have to go through the torture again on her next reincarnation cycle. It would be in your best interest to do it properly the first time.”

Sebastian’s head and heart were spinning with denial, fear, and anger. He knew he could only blame himself for the situation, but that didn’t dampen the flood of emotions. “How do you know all of this?” he asked. “Why wasn’t any of it in Victor’s book of magics?”

“I’m sure you can figure that out on your own,” Vlad replied. He held up his hand and allowed the sleeve to fall back, revealing a small patch of paint on his wrist. Then he winked. Understanding rushed in like the tide and Sebastian felt just the smallest bit better.

“Experience, then.”

The original vampire nodded. But Sebastian had one more question. “She wants to try defeating the shadow within the paintings before we burn them, in some attempt to avoid having to destroy my works. Is that…possible?” His voice carried a hint of hope, but the light went out when Vlad shook his head.

“I cannot say for sure whether simply defeating the malevolent force created by the stolen soul fragments would be enough, as I have never tried. But even if it did,yoursoul would remain trapped inside. I am honestly surprised you are still able touseyour magic after sealing away so much of yourself. There is no shortcut to avoid accepting the consequences of your actions.”

The vampires stared at each other for a long moment until Vlad broke the silence. “Do you have any more questions? No? Be on your way, then. So long as you end the human’s suffering, your life will continue as it always has. Do not delay. Should you choose to selfishly continue her cycles of reincarnation, I will be forced to end both of your lives.”

CHAPTER35

Venice, Italy. 23 June, 2007

The easy part was complete. Isabel stared at the 457 paintings bearing her face and couldn’t help shaking her head. This was beyond ‘borderline obsession.’ This was well into ‘creepy’ territory. “You know, it’s a good thing I got my memories back. Otherwise, I’d probably be calling the police and having you committed to a psych ward for obsessive stalking,” she teased, curling her hand around Sebastian’s arm. “As it stands, I’ll let it pass as flattery.”