“You did? That’s amazing!” he answers in awe. “That’s the Lake of Truth.”
“Why are you bringing me here?” I ask, teeth chattering.
“The shed over there is the camera obscura. Only Randolph is able to open it,” Natalie explains, joining us. So that explains why its door was always locked in my dreams. I really hope that’s not a bad omen anyhow. Now Cassius and Natalie lead me over to the shed where the others are already waiting for us.
“Are you ready to look at the shadows now, Livia?” Randolph asks me in a solemn voice. I tear my gaze away from the lake, nodding. All will be well, won’t it? This is really not a nightmare after all.
Randolph looks up at the stars and the moon, then leans against the door which swings open. Inside it’s pitch-black. Will closes the door behind us, and I can’t see a thing anymore. “Now you will encounter our shadows,” Natalie whispers close to me. “I bet yours is very clear now, not hazy anymore, as it was when we started our search.” My heart is beating frantically and I’m barely able to breathe. Suddenly I hear a scratching sound: Randolph is displacing a board and a small hole becomes visible, enabling the moonlight to shine through. The silvery blue shaft of light falls across the room.
“Turn around, Livia,” Randolph orders and when I do so I notice eight shadows on the opposite wall. I immediately recognise Natalie’s and Ruth’s shadows, there on the right side I see Will’s and Rupert’s, in the middle Augustus’, Randolph’s and Cassius’. My breath hitches as I observe the eighth one moving towards the others.
“That’s mine!” I whisper, gazing in wonder at the shadow of a girl with long hair.
“Yes, it’s definitely you!” Randolph declares. “Over the last few weeks it took on its final form.” I close my eyes in relief, but wait? Is that all?
“Am I one of you now?” I ask in a low voice.
“Not yet, but it’ll happen tonight,” Cassius assures me.
“The procedure is as follows,” Randolph begins to explain. “First you have to recognise your shadow, then we have to give our unanimous vote. Every member of the family has to be present. Then it will happen on its own, always under the open sky.” Doesn’t sound too difficult, does it?
“Right, we only have to call Ruth now,” Will suggests. Then Natalie screams loudly.
“Randolph, look, what’s happening?” She points at the wall, where my shadow has fallen down, writhing in pain. In this instant an icy cold pierces my body and takes my breath away, turning my insides to ice.
“Cassius,” I whimper, barely able to form the word with my frozen lips.
“Quick, get her out of the camera,” I hear Randolph shouting.
“Livia’s shadow, it’s fading!” Will’s horrified voice cries. Fuck my shadow, I can’t breathe anymore and fall to my knees, nearly suffocating. A strong hand grabs me, pulling me up and out of the shed. I stumble into the fresh air, but I don’t feel the warm summer night anymore. The ice in my chest is closing around my heart, rendering me helpless and mute. I fall down but don’t feel the ground under me anymore. With blind eyes I stare up to the sky, somehow sensing Cassius beside me. He pulls me into his arms, the fire in him trying to protect me, but my body is already lifeless, my eyes closing.
“Randolph, can’t you help?” I hear Natalie’s shrill voice from very far away.
“I’m afraid it’s too late,” my father answers in a choked voice. “She’s dying.” The last sound I hear is Cassius’ inhuman roar.
Chapter 45
Ruth stares into the darkness, eaten up with jealousy. Everybody fawns over Livia, Cassius loves her, and even Randolph has given his consent. Very quickly too, it obviously has to do with the fact that he knew her before. Livia is just an intruder, intent on ruining Ruth’s life. She knows that tonight is her last chance to change fate or whatever has brought Livia to them. First Ruth considered simply vetoing her, but would Livia ever relent or would she still keep trying to join the family? Given her luck, she would succeed sooner or later. No, there’s only one way to get rid of her and Ruth is more than willing to try it. Ruth’s beautiful face is distorted by hatred. Unthinkable how Livia ignored her this afternoon. Ruth is certainly not ashamed of being a Dark Arash, but it’s only Livia who’s brought her dark side to the surface again, after it was hidden for many decades. She has controlled it so well, Randolph has been so proud of her. With time even Cassius would have fallen in love with her, she was sure of that. But now Livia has destroyed her future, and Ruth’s self-restraint is at an end.
When the others arrive at the lake, Ruth is already waiting, hidden under the trees on the west shore. She watches them enter the camera obscura and cringes. Now Livia will recognise her fucking shadow! To dispel all suspicion Ruth promised Augustus to play along, giving her the chance to destroy Livia once and for all. Nobody will know it was her, nobody will ever learn about the role she played in Rebecca’s death and everything will return to normal. Even better, she will be able to comfort Cassius. Apart from Randolph the others don’t know the extent of her dark forces and she hopes he won’t think her capable of such a deed.
Now she concentrates, convinced of her success. Her black eyes are blazing, glowing with blue light, and her hands ball into fists. She can feel the cold gathering inside her, growing, freezing, like never before. Finally Ruth releases it, sending it to its target, freezing the enemy. Her body relaxes when she hears Natalie’s scream from the camera obscura. Yes, she did it! Everything within Livia will freeze and solidify in the excruciating cold, stopping her breath, the blood in her veins, her heart, her life. Now she sees them stumbling out of the shed, Livia falling to the ground. Ruth hugs herself with glee. Within seconds it will be over.
Suddenly a blood-curdling scream rings through the air, “Ruth, I’ll kill you!” Ruth gasps in pain as the fire hits her. Her mouth opens in a silent scream, panic rendering her mute. The flames are engulfing her now, burning into her, sending sharp pain through her body. She will die, the same way she nearly died as a human, but this time nobody will come to her rescue. Lights explode before her eyes, Cassius’ fire will kill her.
Suddenly Cassius’ gaze is drawn away from Livia’s white, translucent face and with a jolt he sees the girl on the other side of the lake, her blonde hair shining in the moonlight. At once he realises what’s going on and his rage unleashes his dark forces, the fire, with violent power. Not thinking about the consequences if he kills another Arash he directs his fire at Ruth. He couldn’t have controlled it, even if he wanted to, seeing Livia lying lifeless on the ground. Ruth has taken everything away that he has ever loved and she will pay for it. He doesn’t hear the voices around him, nor does he feel the hands that grab him. Ruth will die, he will burn her soul for what she’s done to Livia. Now Rupert tackles him, pinning him to the ground, but the fire keeps bursting out of Cassius. Nothing can reach him, he only wants to destroy in his rage and hurt. Suddenly he feels a cold hand on his face, a voice calling his name. Her voice. “Cassius, stop it, please!” The red fog of his wrath starts to fade and he blinks in confusion. It can’t be her, can it? But he’s breathing in her fragrance, feeling her touch and looking into her amber eyes. Livia’s alive!