In Darkness We Must Abide Read Online Free

born.”
    “I’m confused,” Alisha wailed, feeling close to tears all at once.
    “Your sister is the fulfillment of prophecy. Thousands of years ago, the spells were cast to create her.”
    “She’s just my little Snow Pea,” Alisha protested.
    “No, she’s not.” Dexios joined her on the bench, stretching out his long legs and folding his arms. “Your sister was created for Aeron the White and Terrible, the vampire who is now purging the world of all the creatures he considers undesirable in preparation for his reign.”
    “The albino warrior…” Alisha whispered, remembering the painting that had disturbed her so much.
    “He murdered your mother to prevent her from intruding on his plans to take Vanora when the time was right.”
    Vision blurring from tears, Alisha nodded. “He killed her with a dagger. I painted it. But why does he want my sister?”
    “Long, long ago, an oracle foretold your sister’s birth and her role in Aeron’s destiny. He believes that she is the future mother of a new race of vampires.” Dexios' words sounded preposterous, yet his expression was dour.
    “That’s ridiculous.”
    “Perhaps, but that is what he believes.”
    “So why is your mother-”
    “Leto,” Dexios interjected.
    “Why is Leto helping me?”
    “Because she needs Vanora just as much as Aeron. She believes that saving you will soften your sister’s anger and heart in regards to Leto.”
    “I’m a pawn.” The thought was almost insulting, but she could see the logic behind it. “So Leto saves me and Vanora does what? Side with her against Aeron?”
    “Then Vanora helps Leto realize her destiny while fulfilling her own.”
    “By becoming the mother of a new vampire race?” Alisha twisted about on the bench to stare at Dexios in horror.
    Shaking his head, Dexios said, “No, in destroying Aeron. None can kill him. Not even Leto. She suspects that Vanora is the only one who actually can.”
    A bit woozy, Alisha gripped her head with her hands. “I don’t understand any of this.”
    “You’re still recovering and the sun will rise soon. Lay down. Sleep. Tomorrow night we’ll seek out Vanora.”
    “But…how can I trust you?” Alisha protested as Dexios pulled her upright and guided her to the beds.
    With shrug, Dexios answered, “How can you not?”
    “Easily,” Alisha assured him.
    “If we wanted you dead, you would be, Alisha. We need you to find Vanora so Leto can persuade her to help her defeat Aeron.”
    “Vanora will not need persuading. Trust me.” Despite the touch of belligerence in her tone, Alisha allowed Dexios to help her into the bed he’d created for her. It was not very comfortable, but it was better than a coffin. Even though she was a vampire, sleeping in a mausoleum was not an experience she welcomed.
    Dexios lay on top of the covers of his bed and pulled a bottle of water out of the bag at his side. “No, that’s where you are wrong. The magic that set this in motion is strong. Vanora was created for Aeron. She is meant to be his. Everything within her will want him.”
    “She loves someone else. That’s not going to happen.”
    “It doesn’t matter. A bit of Aeron’s very soul was used in the spell.” Dexios took a long swallow of water, then sighed. “What you don’t understand is that bonds of love, friendship, and family pale in comparison to what she will feel when she’s near Aeron. That’s what you will need to help Leto fight against.”
    Alisha curled beneath the soft covers and reflected on his words. “My paintings were trying to tell me this, weren’t they? My magic was trying to warn me, and I couldn’t decipher the message.”
    “Even the most powerful oracles can be confounded by their visions.”
    Pressing her wet face into the pillow, misery engulfed Alisha. If only she hadn’t failed to understand what her powers had been attempting to tell her. The image of Vanora as the Queen of the Night haunted her. Her sister’s face had been so