things religious and political, but just as Rome fell, so can we if we aren't swift to take those who would question us to justice … if we don't firmly establish our dominance in this world."
"Why didn't you tell me any of this?"
"You weren't ready to hear it."
My skin tingles … those were Jacelynd's exact words when I questioned his identity.
"Jessica, you're one of the best assassins I've ever known. You kill cleanly and without conscience. In the last ten years, you've never once questioned your role in any of this … if anything, you've thrived under our guidance. You've never doubted High Coven or its purpose. This is your reward for such loyalty. You've seen my power, the things I can do that no other Kindred can do. You've asked for years about obtaining those powers. Today, I grant you that gift."
A door opens behind us and two men in black emerge. One of them carries a silver tray with two goblets on it, the other an ornate knife.
"I saw the fear in your eyes when we stood on that shoreline. I don't ever want to see it again. I openly confess my love for you and my want to spend … to give you the gifts that only I can give you. Do now as I ask and you will share those powers." The men stand on either side of me as Trinity speaks. "Don't deny me, Jessica. Don't deny yourself what you desire." He takes the dagger and slices open his hand. "Drink my blood now, as it is dedicated to you and you will know what it's like to truly be alive."
He takes my hand and does the same, spilling my blood into the second goblet. He closes his eyes and says, "As it is within, let it be without. Eternal thirst begotten of eternal love. As one tethered to another, forever seal these souls." He hands me the first goblet, with his blood, to drink, then mirrors my actions with the other.
The blood changes as it reaches my throat—it grows sweeter, warmer.
Trinity says, "Repeat these words in your mind as I say them,
Fortai dunam eirtha tulet.
"
I hesitate for a fraction of a second, something welling in my gut, before the blood rushes to my head.
Fortai dunam eirtha tulet.
No!
Jacelynd screams,
Jessica!
I lie awake at Trinity's side the next morning and wonder,
What have I done?
There is no voice to answer my questioning. Only a void that feels like a portion of my heart has been cut away. Trinity opens his eyes and wraps his arm around my waist. I glance down, noting the rays of light as they stream through the window and paint our skin with gold ribbons.
And with that, I find a whole new understanding of the word "swiftly." It's like I am instantly on the floor in the corner of the room farthest from the window, my breath coming in frightened gasps. I rake my hands over my body, searching for anywhere that feels tender.
"It's all right," Trinity says sleepily. He comes to me and offers his hand. "Stand up."
I hesitate, but after he gives me a stern look, I let him pull me to my feet. "The dosing sph … "
He cuts me off by affectionately guiding me to the sunlight.
"How … " I don't even know what to ask.
"Just as my identity was kept secret, so is the real purpose of Icarus. The myth of sunlight came around ages ago and it has served as an easy cover for the real purpose of Icarus. Icarus is way to keep track of all Kindred. It also regulates procreation, among other things. You're high enough in the ranks now to finally know the truth."
Vicious burns mar my back and if I close my eyes, I can still feel the pain, which means I was conscious when I suffered the trauma. "My burns … from ten years ago. I was told it was an accident, after I was turned, before I was brought here. That had to be a lie. You knew," I murmur. "You knew what they were going to do and you sanctioned it. And I'm not the only one who has burns that are supposedly from sunlight. Why would you let this happen?"
Because our blood combined is unlike anything in this world, Jess.
Trinity's voice shakes me to my core as I hear him as I
"Why didn't you tell me any of this?"
"You weren't ready to hear it."
My skin tingles … those were Jacelynd's exact words when I questioned his identity.
"Jessica, you're one of the best assassins I've ever known. You kill cleanly and without conscience. In the last ten years, you've never once questioned your role in any of this … if anything, you've thrived under our guidance. You've never doubted High Coven or its purpose. This is your reward for such loyalty. You've seen my power, the things I can do that no other Kindred can do. You've asked for years about obtaining those powers. Today, I grant you that gift."
A door opens behind us and two men in black emerge. One of them carries a silver tray with two goblets on it, the other an ornate knife.
"I saw the fear in your eyes when we stood on that shoreline. I don't ever want to see it again. I openly confess my love for you and my want to spend … to give you the gifts that only I can give you. Do now as I ask and you will share those powers." The men stand on either side of me as Trinity speaks. "Don't deny me, Jessica. Don't deny yourself what you desire." He takes the dagger and slices open his hand. "Drink my blood now, as it is dedicated to you and you will know what it's like to truly be alive."
He takes my hand and does the same, spilling my blood into the second goblet. He closes his eyes and says, "As it is within, let it be without. Eternal thirst begotten of eternal love. As one tethered to another, forever seal these souls." He hands me the first goblet, with his blood, to drink, then mirrors my actions with the other.
The blood changes as it reaches my throat—it grows sweeter, warmer.
Trinity says, "Repeat these words in your mind as I say them,
Fortai dunam eirtha tulet.
"
I hesitate for a fraction of a second, something welling in my gut, before the blood rushes to my head.
Fortai dunam eirtha tulet.
No!
Jacelynd screams,
Jessica!
I lie awake at Trinity's side the next morning and wonder,
What have I done?
There is no voice to answer my questioning. Only a void that feels like a portion of my heart has been cut away. Trinity opens his eyes and wraps his arm around my waist. I glance down, noting the rays of light as they stream through the window and paint our skin with gold ribbons.
And with that, I find a whole new understanding of the word "swiftly." It's like I am instantly on the floor in the corner of the room farthest from the window, my breath coming in frightened gasps. I rake my hands over my body, searching for anywhere that feels tender.
"It's all right," Trinity says sleepily. He comes to me and offers his hand. "Stand up."
I hesitate, but after he gives me a stern look, I let him pull me to my feet. "The dosing sph … "
He cuts me off by affectionately guiding me to the sunlight.
"How … " I don't even know what to ask.
"Just as my identity was kept secret, so is the real purpose of Icarus. The myth of sunlight came around ages ago and it has served as an easy cover for the real purpose of Icarus. Icarus is way to keep track of all Kindred. It also regulates procreation, among other things. You're high enough in the ranks now to finally know the truth."
Vicious burns mar my back and if I close my eyes, I can still feel the pain, which means I was conscious when I suffered the trauma. "My burns … from ten years ago. I was told it was an accident, after I was turned, before I was brought here. That had to be a lie. You knew," I murmur. "You knew what they were going to do and you sanctioned it. And I'm not the only one who has burns that are supposedly from sunlight. Why would you let this happen?"
Because our blood combined is unlike anything in this world, Jess.
Trinity's voice shakes me to my core as I hear him as I
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