As we took the evening walk to wherever it was that would be considered the Prince’s quarters, I kept my eyes open for a means of escape. We’d just left the Vale and were now being ushered into another dark, murky wood, though I was sure that some other clearing would come to view, showing us another aspect of the Blood Shade that would astound my imagination.

At this point, however, there was nothing to be seen but trees and rocks and bushes. So, my thoughts roamed back to the people I saw back at the Vale. It was easy to tell the difference between the vampires and humans. Vampires wore a variety of outfits in what I was surprised to find were rather modern and stylish designs. The humans, however, all seemed to be wearing clothes made in similar fabric – what I assumed was coarse white cotton and gray wool. I noticed how all humans seemed busy with something. I was fairly certain that we humans were the workforce that was keeping the Blood Shade going. We were the Shade’s blood and sweat. Both literally and figuratively.

I remembered a particular scene I’d witnessed while we were being dragged past the Vale. From a distance, I saw a vampire hit a young man across the face, causing the boy to crash to the ground. I wanted to run there and do something about it. Even in high school, I made it clear to Ben and all of our friends that I would never stand for bullying.

Of course, there was no way for me to do anything about what I saw here. I was chained behind the vampires and guarded like a wild animal. I hated how helpless I felt and found myself squeezing Derek’s hand. It was mostly caused by instinct, like an impulse reaction to the memory, but when I realized what I’d done and looked at Derek for a reaction, I could swear I saw gratefulness in his blue eyes.

“We’re here.” Vivienne announced, stopping at a certain spot in the middle of the woods. “Welcome to the Pavilion, Derek.”

I frowned and looked around. I could only see the dark silhouettes of thick tree trunks.

Derek seemed just as confused as I was.

“I don’t understand…” he said tentatively.

Lucas smirked. “Was it not your bloody suggestion to build the Residences on top of trees?”

Before his comment could even register in my mind, Lucas leaped upwards. I looked up towards the sky. What I saw made my head spin. My mouth dropped open.

Networks of massive and luxurious tree houses were built atop the giant redwoods. How it was possible for them to build those things up there was beyond my comprehension, but there they were – what looked like modern, high-end villas built on trees connected by bridges that were now triggering my non-existent fear of heights.

My amazement was momentarily interrupted when I saw the reaction on Derek’s face. I could swear that his blue eyes were moistening with tears as he gazed up at “The Residences” with unveiled awe.

He then shifted his attention to his sister and with a practically broken voice, he said, “You remembered.”

Vivienne smiled. “How could I forget?”

I stood there, witnessing this trace of affection and humanity between them. For a moment, I actually felt jealous of what Derek and Vivienne had. I could see how much they doted on each other.

No words were uttered next, because no words were necessary. They understood, and in a strange way, so did I.

Vivienne leaped into the air just as Lucas did moments before. That’s when I realized that there were no stairs. Not even a ladder in sight. I opened my mouth, wondering how on earth I was going to get up there, but before words could come out, I saw a glint of amusement spark in the corners of Derek’s eyes.

He didn’t bother to ask my permission. He simply wrapped his strong arms around my waist and pulled me against him. Before I could get to grips with what was about to happen, he took a vertical leap that left my mind whirling as I gasped for breath, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck and clinging to him for support.

When I felt him pull away from me and settle my feet on what felt like hardwood flooring, I dared open my eyes.

I found myself standing on a wide terrace overlooking one of the most magnificent scenes I’d ever laid eyes on. It was more beautiful than a painting.

I walked toward the edge of the terrace and gazed out. Thousands of glittering stars were peppered across the pitch-black canvas that was the sky. These stars and the full moon’s beams were the only light to grace the landscape.

I dared not look directly downward. I preferred not to scare myself by discovering just how high up we were. But I could tell that this was one of the tallest trees on the whole island.

A massive sea of black treetops sprawled out beneath me for miles. And looming far in the distance were mountains. Mountains so high that the tops were capped with white. Snow.

I could only imagine what everything would look like at sunrise. I drew a breath just imagining how stunning it would be.

A cool sea wind whipped across my face. I tasted the salt.

What unsettled me was, despite how high up I was standing, I could not see any end to the forest. No sign of the shore. Not even the faintest clue in which direction I would run even if I managed to get free from Derek’s grasp. I gasped.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Derek thought I was gasping with pleasure. His voice was husky.

I just nodded as I leaned my weight over the wooden banister that lined the terrace, trying to distract my mind from the writhing I now felt within my stomach.

I began wondering about the other girls we’d left behind and figured that the guards would take care of them. I wasn’t sure whether the favor Derek was showing me was to my advantage or not. Somehow, I felt far more secure with the other girls around. Whatever had become of them, I really didn’t have a choice but to move on according to Derek’s pace, because he once again grabbed my hand and pulled me along as Vivienne and Lucas led him to his quarters.

“This is one of four penthouses that comprise The Pavilion, which was built specifically for our family,” Vivienne explained as she unlocked the oak door of the magnificent penthouse with large glass windows. “There’s one for each of us – you, father, Lucas and I.”

Even as we moved toward the tree house, or penthouse as Vivienne called it, I couldn’t help but stare at the windows in wonder. If what I knew about vampires was correct, wouldn’t all the sunlight be streaming right through? I gave the vampires surrounding me wary glances; that I would stand amidst them like it was the most normal thing jolted me to attention. No matter how awed I was by the Blood Shade’s beauty, I had to remember that I was there against my will. I couldn’t trust any of them – not Lucas, not Vivienne, especially not Derek. Where there’s a way in, there simply must be a way out.

I paid close attention to what the home looked like from the inside. Indoors, the penthouse looked even more massive than it looked outside. We were ushered into what I assumed was the living room based on the furniture it sported – a large flat screen TV, a fireplace, abstract art on the cream walls, plush black leather couches. It wasn’t at all how I pictured the home of a vampire would be. My eyes circled the room and noticed that there were three entry-ways surrounding it – aside from the one we entered from. At each entry way were glass doors that led to more glass-covered walkways leading to other rooms of the penthouse.

“And the Elite live where?” Derek asked, seemingly satisfied by what he saw.

I wondered who he meant by the Elite, and realized that even the vampires were classified into some sort of caste system. I made a mental note to find out more about this, although I wasn’t sure why. After all, I had every intention of escaping the first chance I got.

“The other Elites live at the Penthouses – basically tree houses similar to the ones we have, but ours, of course,” Lucas smirked, “are far more luxurious, because let’s face it. A Novak deserves only the best.”

When he said the best, he eyed me pointedly and I found myself backing up a step, but Derek’s firm grip on my hand kept me from going too far. It was almost as if he wanted me anchored to him – and I couldn’t understand why.

I looked at him, wondering what he intended to do to me that night. The thoughts roaming around my head made me to shudder with dread.

“The Pavilion’s penthouses have more rooms than I could keep track of,” Vivienne announced.

“There’s this one, the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, a library, several baths, an indoor pool, an entertainment room, a theater, a master bedroom, several guestrooms and your harem’s quarters. There are several rooms that we left untouched, just in case you think of something you wish to do with them.”

“A music room,” Derek immediately said without even batting an eyelash.

My brows rose at this new piece of information. I never would have expected that he was musically inclined.

Vivienne smiled. “Of course. I’ll see to it that the scouts get everything you need. Do you need me to show you to your bedroom?”

Derek shook his head. “I’ll manage.”

My heart sank. The thought of me being alone with him in that place was unnerving. I tried to pull my hand away from his grasp, but he held tight.