Free Survive the Dawn by Kate Sweeney Page B

fireplace; thinking of so many things nagged at her. She looked at the opened box on her desk and picked up the ring that Tatiana had given her. Her words resonated in her brain:
    “Take this ring, Sebastian, but never, ever wear it. When the time comes, when it is time to transfer the power to you, we will do it together, my darling. You will be the one, the one to be feared and respected. It is an ancient ceremony. I will lead you into the next thousand years.”
    “The next thousand years,” Sebastian repeated and let out a deep exasperated breath. She held the ring up and examined it again. The intricate pattern was the same as the pendant Tatiana wore around her neck. Sebastian knew there was a connection between them but feared with Tatiana gone, the connection would be forever lost.
    Sebastian! Avenge me! Sebastian heard Tatiana’s desperate plea again and looked at the ring. And again, she knew— Nicolae would never let her rest. He wanted it all; only Sebastian stood in his way. Perhaps the other elders might still believe her, but she couldn’t count on it. Old ways were hard to change and Nicholae embodied the old way: Mortals are used to survive; we do not live among them. To survive, a vampire must destroy the mortals who threaten the vampire’s existence.
    She looked out the window and watched the sun as it slowly descended behind the trees. She had witnessed the sunrise and sunset for the first time in over five hundred years; it would take all of Alex’s resources to reproduce the serum for Sebastian to continue to do so.
    “We do not need to destroy them to survive,” Sebastian whispered as the sun disappeared behind the tree line, giving up its warmth to the dark night.
    “I do so hope you’re right, Sebastian,” Gaylen’s voice called out.
    Sebastian turned back into the room to see her old friend standing there. He wore the same outfit and another one of her silk shirts. “Don’t you have your own clothes?”
    Gaylen laughed as he walked into the room. He spread his arms and turned around. “This is my coat.”
    Sebastian noticed it was a heavy tweed greatcoat. “You look like Sherlock Holmes.”
    Gaylen waved her off. “He was a drug addict.”
    “He wasn’t real, Gaylen —” Sebastian stopped and shook her head. “Why are you here?”
    “I’ve been thinking about your troubles.”
    “Which one?”
    Gaylen chuckled and slipped out of his coat. “The trouble with your adorable mortal and finding a laboratory. I think I have the answer.”
    Sebastian raised an eyebrow and sat in the high-backed chair by the fire. Gaylen sat across from her, placing his booted foot on the hearth. He lazily lounged back, his arms dangling over the arms of the chair.
    “Comfy?”
    “Stop scowling. Yes, I am. You, however, look like a queen on her throne,” he said. “Perhaps a king?”
    “ Gaylen , you are truly testing my patience.” Sebastian put her head back and closed her eyes.
    “Oh, all right.” He waited for a moment before speaking. “Kendra.”
    Sebastian’s head shot up and her eyes flew open. “What did you say?”
    Gaylen offered a smug grin. “You heard me, dear.”
    “What has she to do with this? Is she here?”
    “First off, she’s been trying to do the same thing your adored one has seemingly accomplished. This will not sit well with Kendra, as you may remember. She’s quite the competitor,” he smiled evilly, “as you surely remember.”
    Sebastian grinned. “I remember.”
    “I thought you might, darling. Now the last time you saw her—”
    “Was decades ago,” Sebastian interrupted and stared into the fire.
    “Practically a century,” Gaylen said. “I imagine she’ll be ecstatic when she hears you’re back in town.”
    “I highly doubt that, Gay,” Sebastian said to his sarcasm. “We did not part on the best of terms.”
    “As well I know,” Gaylen agreed wholeheartedly. “You were a very bad vampire back then.”
    “ Gaylen , we’re vampires.