What Now?

As we make our way down the cobblestone street cool rain begins to fall, I had completely forgotten it's the rainy season in Katalina. I'm just glad the moment the sun went down the night became cooler. I've never liked humidity or the heat my last assignment before going home was in the Barren Lands there what remains of what was once known as the Land of the Forgotten. There the sun feels like fire its scorching heat is the reason people live underground.

Zheng pulls me to the side keeping me from being run over, "Cora was a bust, what now?"

"Cora's a liar," I say, "she knows more than she's letting on."

"How do you know her?"

"Long story, look," I point at the gray and white manor, "that's Cora's home."

"We're not breaking in."

"No," I say, "I'm breaking in you're keeping watch."

Zheng grunts pulling me into an alley, "I agree she was lying but what do you get by breaking in?"

"Cora's not Maya's godmother," I say, "not only that but she didn't seem bothered by my appearance. Yes, she commented on it but she didn't push. Instead, she wanted to know who you are."

"If that wasn't Cora then who was she?"

"I don't know, what I do know is Maya sits safely on her throne."

"So, the girl on the island's not an impostor."

"Nope," peek down the alley towards Cora's manor, "I made that up on the spot. Cora would have reacted differently."

"You know her so well," Zheng murmurs just as a car drives by he leans his head down so that to passersby we appear to be in an embrace, "it explains why you don't like me."

"Idiot," I push him away and head for the unguarded Manor if only he knew. Cora is one of my siblings she escaped execution by chance. While traveling she encountered a vampire who taught her beauty too good to waist on mortality. After he turned her, he left her to figure it out on her own. Had I not been in the Vampire Realm she would have died. Knowing father would have her head she had me fake her death. She came to the City of Katalina changed her name and started over.

The front door like the gate is unlocked with no sign of servants or guards. At least mortal if she switched to Vampires then the heartbeat, I'm searching for won't be there. Zheng trails behind me eyes searching everywhere as I light a candle. I don't need it but it's a habit of sorts. Besides if I turn on the lights there's a chance someone will see it.

Last time I was here I had helped Cora sun prof her bedroom. She won't burst into flames right away but rather stat to burn slowly. Since the sun is like a lullaby to her species of Vamp, she has no choice but to sleep when it's out. The burning would wake someone older but she's only twenty-eight.

"Have you been here before?" Zheng asks.

"Once," I say, taking the steps that lead to the second floor. The top floor has special blinds made of steel to keep the sun out. The heavy curtains that should cover them are pulled to the side. A painting of Cora with Liuli, Naria and myself is slashed down the middle. Zheng looks at it than me but says nothing. Cora, Liuli, Naria and myself are all that remains of the females. Connor, Julius, Roman, and Astro are all that remains of the males.

Elena believes we're all dead what a surprised she'll get. When she became Queen executed father's twenty concubines and any children that remained within palace walls. Liuli was the only one I was able to save. I never really knew my siblings, in a way I was raised by the Queen of Assassins, and they by their respective Masters. Since Liuli was too young she had yet to be sent away luckily Concubine Xia had been the daughter of a general and taught Liuli what her father taught her. It bought her enough time to escape Elena's huntsmen. I snuck her out of the palace and Connor took her away to the City of Xandria. He wanted to take me with, but I refused, heading back to Master and leaving a double in my place after all Elena had ordered me to wear the veil and at that time, I wore a mask under it as a precaution. The Dark King had broken my curse and I needed to get stronger so he taught me how to use the darkness as a weapon rather than just for cover.

I didn't go back to Master until now. How I managed to steal and kill at such a young age is still beyond me at times. But then again it helps that the wolf was always there to help. Prowling within.

Cora's bedroom door is cover in scratch marks as if something had tried to get in. I give it a light push and it falls off its hinges. Zheng goes in first scouting the bedroom. I do the same until my eyes land on Cora's dormant form. The sun is down why is she sleeping? The moment I pull back the curtains the smell of decay hits me. Cora's been bled out her skin is ashen her cheeks hollow.

"No," the word escapes me as I reach for my sister. Her coral pink hair the only color on her, "Amaranth," the use of her old name would have earned me a snarl but nothing happens.

"Camilla," Zheng places a hand on my shoulder.

How many more will I lose? "What?"

"Whoever did this could come back."

"Let them," I growl digging my nails into my palms an idea hits me. I sink my canines into my wrist and place it against Amaranth's dried lips.

"What are you doing?" Zheng tries to pull me away, "blood exchanges are sacred."

"I don't give a fuck," when nothing happens, I pry her mouth open and press my bloody wrist against her fangs.

"You can find another lover," he whispers.

I let out a manic laugh, "she's my fucken sister you prick!"

Zheng steps back and walks over to the door keeping his back to us, "it's been at least a month you'll die before she can wake up."

"You're so wise," I hiss, "do something."

"There's nothing I can do," he lets out a sigh, "just let her go," he walks out the room leaving us alone.

Amaranth can't be gone, she can't. At some point, I lose consciousness and when I come too, I'm back in my hotel room. Or a replica of it.

"Little red why do you cry?" I look around and find Amaranth standing under sunlight. She smiles at me and pats the ground. We are no longer in my hotel room but a garden of lavender fields and roses the sun is now the moon. I've been here before this is the eight level of the Underworld.

I walk over to her careful not to step on the spider lilies that line the path and take a seat next to her, "You can't be dead."

"Why not?" she asks running a hand down my coal-black hair.

"You were stronger, faster, how could this happen?"

"He found me," she says, "desiccated me as punishment for leaving him."

I let out a growl, "I'll kill him and the impostor."

"Her name is Zinia she's one of his trackers," she tilts her head to the side coral pink hair cascading over, "where's you red cloak?"

"Tucked away."

"You should wear it."

"Amaranth," I bite my lip, "will you tell me his name?"

"You already know it, after all, you've killed many of his men."

"Andreas!"

"You must be careful," she reaches over and carefully cuts a rose, "don't torment that Prince too much he'll be of good use."

"Prince?"

Amaranth places the rose in my hair careful not to prick me with the thorns, "the Dark Prince that follows you around like a lost puppy."

"Zheng, no, he can't be."

"He has another name."

"Fie," I say, as I'm pulled out of the Underworld my wrist is still pressed against Amaranth's mouth but it's no use. Once in the Underworld, you only get out when you're reborn or if the Empress feels pity for you. With a prayer to the goddess, I set my sister on fire. Zheng runs into the room takes one look at the bed then me his eyes shift to my ear. When I reach up the I find the black and red rose Amaranth had placed there.

"Are you alright?"

"You're the real Prince Fie," I watch as his eyes shift from denial to settling.

"And you're Anastasia," his voice has a calmness to it I do not like, "you lied to me."

"You wanted me dead, what was I supposed to do," I call my sword to me, "should I have told you who I truly am. Stand there and let you kill me."

He takes a step towards me then another until my sword is pressed against his chest, "I didn't want you dead, I was there to get you out but when you told me you were there to kill the Princess I improvised."

"Why should I believe you?"

"You don't have much of a choice."

"Actually, I do," I sink my sword in his eyes widen in shock, "this is your first and last warning. Stay out of my way," I pull the blade free before it can puncture his heart. The last thing I need is for the Dark King to come after me.