Revolution (Risen Series Bk2)

Slowly, I pushed myself to my feet, keeping my glare pinned on Una. My veins felt like they were on fire and my skin rose in goosebumps as something almost electrical seemed to fill the air. I rubbed my head, squeezing my eyes shut as a throbbing headache started up. Everything from the way air felt against my skin to the sound of electricity buzzing through wires was too much for my senses that were on overdrive.

"You shouldn't have trapped her in that cell, Una. What the fuck were you thinking?" Atanas yelled, his eyes dark and dangerous.

"It was the only-"

"Don't give me that," he interrupted lowly, taking a step towards her.

Una back away and it was the first time I could see that she was scared. Reaching out for my mate's hand, I shuddered when a spark flew between us. Atanas turned to face me, forgetting about Una when he finally saw how much I was struggling. I didn't think he would really hurt her but watching a fight break out was the last thing I needed right now.

He tugged me closer, taking my weight against him as his eyes raked over me. "Shylah, what's wrong?"

"It's all too much," I whispered, pressing my face against his chest and covering my ears with my hands.

Even with my eyes closed, I could feel the glare he threw at Una. He held me tighter and the closer I was to him, the more he seemed to block everything out. It felt like my first night as a vampire all over again. New vampires were sensitive to everything and it took time to get used to the way things were louder, brighter, stronger.

"Do you know what's wrong with her?" he asked, picking me up and carefully carrying me to bed.

I could sense Una following us in but not with any vampire senses. In the quiet of the bedroom, I could tell where the hum of energy was coming from now. It was Una. I could feel her magic as if it was a living, breathing entity rubbing against my skin and curling around her body. How could I never have felt that before? How could anyone not feel that? My head began to pound again, my heart hammering against my chest and static made my hair stand on end. Was that my magic causing the feel of ants crawling over my skin?

"I regret the way we did this but it worked. She's overwhelmed because it worked. Once she learns to control it, she could be one of the most powerful beings on the earth. I've never felt anything so strong in my life. Even now, when she's not even aware of how to control it, it's all around us," Una rushed, coming closer.

It was only then that I realised Atanas' arms has stiffened around me. I wanted to know what was going through his head, especially as the bond between us felt fuzzy as if someone had put it on mute. Pressing closer, all I wanted to do was pull a blanket over my head.

"I think you should leave, Una," Atanas said2 quietly. "Now's not the time."

"This is the only time we're going to get. I regret the way I went about it," she replied stiffly, her gaze meeting mine for a second. "But now we can get on track with teaching her."

I didn't see any regret in her eyes though. I saw excitement and smugness. Atanas stood, his power suffocating the room and Una backed away. "Whatever you did is causing her pain. She can barely keep herself upright, Una! What if unleashing so much power had killed her? You don't care. Leave before I decide to lock you up as you did her."

Betrayal took over her features then, alongside fear and it was my time to feel smug. Una had went too far and she'd broken Atanas' trust. He'd trusted her to look after me, to be a mentor. I watched as Una bowed her head and hoped she could feel my anger follow her as she left. When the door shut, Atanas came back to me. He crouched before me, his eyes studying every inch of me.

"How do you feel? What can I do?"

I laughed weakly, hating the way my vision swirled and my skin felt as though an electric current was going over it. "Like I've been supercharged."

He didn't find it funny. Gently, he pushed me back on the bed, tugging a blanket over me. I settled down. With Una gone, there was no strange crawling feeling anymore and I felt more like I could breathe.

"I'm going to get you a glass of water. You should feed as well when you feel better. I'll be right back," he said, standing to leave.

Panic raged through me at the prospect of being left alone as aimages of the dungeon came flooding back. Had my mind really been so broken that I'd been able to feel the fingers of the ghosts of my past. I grabbed his arm, nails digging into his skin. "Don't. Please."

His expression was pained as he looked back at me and he gently pulled my hand from him, squeezing it before placing it on the bed. I bit back the whimper that almost slipped past my lips but I didn't have the strength to pull him back to me again. Giving him a slow nod, I pulled the covers up over my head as if that would protect me while he was gone. It was warm and dark and I found that it did actually provide some comfort. My heart skipped a beat when he shut the door behind him.

Out of curiosity, I clung onto the buzzing feeling and let it break free. My hands lit up quickly and I gasped in amazement. It really had worked. I'd gained just a little bit of control. I wondered what the glowing meant, if it was simply a manifestation of the magic in me or something else entirely. I curled my hands into fists, releasing the odd energy and watched as the light slowly faded back into my skin. It was an intoxicating feeling, knowing that I had such power. Was Una right, would I be one of the most powerful beings in the world? I shook my head, how could that possibly be true. I pondered over the implications of that until I heard footsteps in the hall. The click of the door opening had me sitting up, heart hammering but it was only Atanas returning with Anna in tow.

"I thought you'd like a friend," he said with a smile before passing me a freezing glass of water.

I smiled as Anna sat next to me and squeezed my hand. I'd worried that she wouldn't want to see me now I had the only thing she wanted. But she was here and I could tell she was worried.

"I'm okay," I told her quietly. "I feel weird but I'm okay."

"You don't look okay. You look like you're going to throw up. . .or pass out," she replied, motioning for me to drink more water.

She wasn't wrong. I did feel like doing both but I wasn't sure in what order. The water was helping a little, even if I could feel it settle in my stomach which made me shudder.

Atanas kept pacing the room, making me feel like I was on a rocking ship as I tried to sort through my swimming thoughts. I took another sip of water and closed my eyes but it did little to help. I wasn't sure why Atanas was freaking out when our plan was based around me being able to control my magic that was now free. I'd be able to help more, I'd be able to protect us. I only had to learn to use it.

"Atanas, sit down please. I don't know why you're acting so worked up," I grumbled. I was the one this had happened to after all.

The look he gave me made me frown and I studied him more closely, sure something had happened that he'd neglected to tell me.

"Atanas?"

He sighed, running his fingers through his dark hair before he braced himself on my chair by the dressing table. "I don't think it'll be just us that know you've unlocked your magic as you have. The amount of power Una says you have, the whole house felt it. . .Every witch and being able to sense magic will have felt it too, I've no doubt about that. More than Airell will want to try and use you. We've painted a target on your back."

"We'll deal with that when it happens," I said quietly. "There's no use in worrying over things that may or may not happen."

He smiled at me then, a reaction I wasn't expecting. Anna looked uncomfortable as he came towards me, his fingers sliding into my hair. I looked up at him, exhilaration filling me as his grip tightened in my hair to make sure I could only look at him.

"When did you get so wise, Libertas Mea?" he asked, his voice low.

All I could do was watch him. I wasn't sure I'd call myself wise but I didn't voice that. I simply knew that it was better to deal with what was inevitable than worry about the might happens.

"I should go. . ." Anna mumbled and my skin heated as I realised how intimate Atanas and I were acting.

He released my hair and a heavy breath left my chest, my body almost slumping.

"No, you stay, Anna. I have to go find out if there's any word from Gideon and Erik. Then I have to decide what to do with Una. What she did was careless and dangerous. Look after my mate while I'm gone," Atanas said to Anna before he leaned down to kiss me.

I kissed him back, hungry and wanting as my fingers curled into his shirt. He groaned and the sound vibrated right through me until I wished he could stay and take me until I couldn't remember what there was to be scared of. But I was desperate for news from Gideon and I needed to know he was safe. I'd leave Una to him too. I wanted to see her hurt as I had but I understood her motivations. Though I would never had done what she had if I'd been in her position.

"I'll look after her," Anna agreed, her eyes darting anywhere but towards us.

Another quick kiss and Atanas hurried off to do his job, casting one last look back at me. He was still worried but I felt better now, stronger and less dizzy. I gave him a smile, hoping he could sense that I was alright with him going through the bond. He had a job to do.

My nails clicked against the glass as I tried to find something to say to Anna, finding myself oddly nervous now we were alone. She stood to go look at the makeup covered table, lifting up a metal device that I had no clue what it was for at first until Zena had told me it was an eyelash curler. I'd just stared at her. Why would someone want to curl their eyelashes with something that looked like a torture device?

"Zena stocked it up. Apparently a Queen needs to have makeup and dresses and hair accessories and other useless stuff," I said.

Anna laughed, pointing the curlers at me. "Do you ever use even half of it?"

I shook my head. I knew it was expensive, designer stuff but I couldn't care less about most of it. Mascara was about all I cared for, the rest I'd happily toss out.

"You can take whatever you like, if you want. There's perfume in the drawers but I find it burns my nose. Who wants to smell like chemicals?" My nose scrunched in distaste but Anna was quick to open the drawers and take some out, smelling and trying on some.

After a while of her testing makeup, checking which dresses fit her and tossing a shoe at me when I laughed as she attempted to squish her boobs into one of my tops, I felt much more relaxed. Things were okay between us. I wondered if this is what I would have been doing if I'd been a normal human in this day and age, doing mundane things with friends, none the wiser about the horrors of the world.

"I thought you would hate me," I said suddenly.

Anna's eyes widened in shock, her voice high, "Hate you? Why on earth would you think that?"

"Because of. . .what I have now," I answered, shrugging.

Anna's features softened and she put down the perfume bottle she was going to take to sit next to me again. I felt silly now as she nudged my shoulder and gave me a cheeky smile.

"I could never hate you, Shylah. You're my friend, one of my only friends. I might have been jealous at first," she admitted guiltily, looking away. "But I never for a second hated you."

I patted her hand and smiled sadly. "You know you won't get your magic back don't you."

Her eyes began to shimmer with unshed tears as she nodded and swallowed. My hand gripped hers tight, scared that if I let go she'd disappear. I knew eventually she'd realise the truth and I was still terrified of the fallout from that.

"I think I always knew really. I was too scared to admit it," she whispered.

I could understand that.

She looked up at me, chewing on her lip before saying, "I know I said that I wanted to meet the sun but I don't. I don't want to die, Shylah. Even though I'm faster and stronger than ever before I feel so vulnerable and weak without my magic. I was never a fighter, not like you or Atanas. What happened in the dungeon with Airell. . .Gods I'd never felt so helpless before, so terrified. I never want to feel like that again."

"I know that feeling well," I told her. "You're safe here. Hopefully you won't need to fight. Unfortunately, I don't think it's something I can avoid. I've been fighting all my life, I imagine I'll probably fight till the day I die."

Even if we killed Airell, there was always another monster lurking in the shadows. Maybe thinking that was pessimistic but I'd never claimed to be any different.

Anna sat up straighter, drawing my gaze back to her. "If you fight, I fight."

I nearly choked at her words and the fierceness behind them, the determination in her brown her eyes. Would it come to that? A full out war? I hoped not. I didn't want to think about that right now, I was tired and my very soul ached. After having fun watching Anna put on a mini fashion show, I wanted to keep things lighthearted.

"Maybe you're lucky you have Padraig to watch your back then," I teased, laughing loudly as she shoved me with a playful glare.

"I'm trying to be serious!" she complained even as she too tried not to smile.

I grinned and shrugged. "I've always had trouble with being serious."

And that was the truth. It was a defence mechanism I'd taught myself over the years but I'd much rather have Anna laughing than declaring that she'd put her life in the line. At least she'd stopped talking about killing herself. . .

"Maybe you're lucky you have Atanas then," she retorted with a smirk. "Although I find sometimes he can be too serious."

She was right there but I wouldn't have him any other way. Still laughing, I pushed the blanket off my lap. "How about we go have that drink now?"

"Are you sure you should be drinking?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I shrugged. Probably not but I was sure after a little blood, my strength would grow and I'd begin to feel a little better. I wanted to track down Atanas too and find out if Gideon and Erik had managed to send word. They'd barely been gone a day but vampires travelled fast when they wanted to. I frowned. A day was long enough was long enough to be caught and captured.

"Shylah?"

I jerked, forcing a tight smile. "Sorry, I got lost in thought."

She didn't look too convinced but she stood and pulled me up, linking her arm through mine as we made our way to the bar. Vampires watched us as we past, heads bowing in respect and Anna seemed to glow under their reverence. Perhaps she'd have made a better Queen than I. I smiled and nodded at them even as I felt my confidence waver. Every one of them would have heard my screams from the dungeon but none seemed to let on. Yet I could feel their curiosity burning into me and it put me on edge. I was glad that the bar was empty and we were hidden from prying eyes now. Though the early hours of the morning often brought a few in to have a drink before they headed to bed. By then, I'd hopefully be too drunk to care about their presence.

"That was intense," Anna mumbled, walking behind the bar to get glasses and a bottle of vodka.

"Tell me about it. I feel like I'm on show whenever I leave my room," I replied, slipping onto a bar stool.

Anna nodded and went to the fridge to grab a bottle of blood that she then tossed at me. "You'll get used to it. Atanas did."

I laughed at that. I didn't think I'd every get used to it and I was sure Atanas was born used to people bowing down at his feet. He'd said himself that even as a human, he'd been privy to the high life, mixing with Kings and princesses, emperors and war chiefs. The only time I had mixed with high lords as a human had been when they'd paid to have me warm their beds. The bottle crinkled under my grip and Anna cast a concerned glance at me.

"I'm going to make you do a shot every time you frown," she joked.

I chuckled and took the cap off the bottle, taking a hearty swig of cold blood. She laughed as I gagged at the taste and I quickly put the cap back on and shoved it away from me. How any vampire happily drank bottled blood was beyond me. It didn't taste right. Putting the fact it was cold to one side, it tasted dead, more metalic.

"How do you prefer this?" I choked, offering her the bottle.

She took it happily and swigged from it before smirking at me. I took a gulp from the bottle of vodka in an attempt to get the taste off my tongue.

"Padraig says it's because I'm new. I haven't built up a taste for the real thing yet," she answered, frowning.

I pointed a finger at her. "Shot."

"What?"

"You frowned," I explained. "You have to take a shot, I thought those were the rules."

Rolling her eyes, she poured some vodka into two shot glasses and offered me one. I picked it up and grinned as we clinked them together before downing them. The drink burned down the back of my throat but already I was feeling more at ease. I had a bad relationship with booze, I decided as we refilled the glasses. Or was it a really good relationship? I chuckled too myself.

"How are you and Padraig doing?" I asked, watching her face closely.

Her nose scrunched and she seemed more interested in the bottom of the empty shot glass than me. I knew they'd made up again but I also knew she still held resentment for him making her feed properly now. My gaze flicked to her shoulder but there was no marks and I couldn't smell Padraig on her skin so I knew they hadn't taken each other as mate's. Not yet at least.

"He's a little over protective but we're okay. When he's not doing whatever it is he does for Atanas, he hovers. It's like he's scared he'll find me holding a stake to my chest or something," she grumbled.

I knew it wasn't something to laugh at but I couldn't help it and Anna gave me a disgruntled look. I held my hands up in apology. "Sorry, it's not funny but can you blame him? For a while I think he was more worried he'd wake up to you holding a stake to his chest."

"I would never had done that!" She laughed when I gave her a look and before I could say anything, she poured yet another round of shots. And that was how we spent the rest of the night, drinking and talking, pretending neither of us was waiting on words from our friend who'd left to face the devil himself.