He walked back through the door he’d first entered from and returned a moment later with a two-liter bottle of water. He handed it to me, and then Joseph and I made our way up the staircase.
“You seem to be getting a bit better around humans?” I asked, once we were out of earshot.
“Only because I’m practically smothering you,” he said. “Even with you standing a foot away, I can feel the difference.”
We found our room—small, with twin beds lining opposite walls. It was very basic, but it seemed clean. We locked ourselves inside. After opening the bottle of water and chugging down an entire liter, I offered the bottle to Ben. He declined.
I tore off my niqab and then hurried over to one of the twin beds. I grabbed the blanket, wrapping it around me. It was too thin to provide me much warmth. I was grateful when Joseph reached for the blanket on his own bed, walked over and wrapped that around my shoulders too.
“Thanks,” I said.
He sat down on the bed opposite me and breathed out slowly, rubbing his face with his hands. Then he looked up and stared at me.
“River… there’s something I should probably tell you about myself.”
I raised a brow. “What?”
“My name is not Joseph Brunson.”
I stared at him. “Huh?”
“My name is Benjamin Novak. Or Ben, if you like.”
“Ben-Benjamin Novak… Why would you want to keep your name a secret?”
He leaned back on the bed. “That’s kind of a long story. But I’m prince of an island known as The Shade. It’s an island unknown to mainstream society. My parents rule the place, and it’s a haven for all vampires and other supernaturals.”
My mind was reeling.
Joseph—Ben—is a prince?
The Shade?
“Then… if that’s your home, how on earth did you end up trapped in The Oasis?”
“I left The Shade after my father turned me into a vampire, because I displayed… unusual symptoms. Symptoms that nobody else on the island had displayed in such severity. And I did something bad. Very bad.”
“What?”
“I murdered one of my own people.”
Wow.
“Most vampires are capable of drinking animal blood, however disgusting it is for them. But I was physically incapable of it. I couldn’t risk killing another person, and in my position, leaving was the only right thing to do. I swore that I wouldn’t return until I’d figured out what was wrong with me.”
“But, Ben,” I said, frowning, “you told me before that you know how to cure vampirism. Why don’t you just take that cure and turn back into a human?”
He paused before answering. “There was a reason my father turned me into a vampire. My birth… let’s just say that it was unusual. My blood as a human was deemed valuable by enemies of my parents and made me a target, and so I turned. But even if that threat had passed by now, I’m not sure I could live the rest of my life as a human. Almost everyone I care about—my whole family, except for my sister, and most of my friends—are vampires. I always expected to turn into one as soon as my parents agreed. Growing old and dying while everyone in my life lives on… ” His voice trailed off.
“How old is your sister?”
“She’s my twin,” he replied. “We’re both…” He stopped. “I think our birthday was just recently. I’ve lost track of the date. But I think we’re eighteen by now—although I turned when I was seventeen.”
I was surprised. He seemed older than seventeen.
“I’m seventeen, too,” I said.
I became quiet as I tried to process all that he’d just told me. Then he dropped another brick on me.
“There’s also something else I should tell you, River… as a half blood, you won’t age.”
“What?”
“You’re immortal. Just like vampires. You never age past the age when you were turned. You won’t pass away from this world unless someone manages to kill you.”
“Immortal,” I gasped. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the word.
It was still too much to take in at once. I felt overwhelmed. The implications of such a notion began to flood my brain.
“But… But my family. They are not immortal.”
Ben shook his head.
“I-I can’t be immortal. I can’t remain while everyone I love dies around me.” Just like you can’t die while everyone you love lives.
Ben lowered his eyes to the floor, his face ashen.
“How come you didn’t mention this before?”
“I couldn’t find the right opportunity,” he said.
“There must be a way for me to turn back into a human!” I stood up, the blankets falling to my feet. I looked at Ben in desperation. “There must be some way to cure me.”
He looked doubtful. “It’s possible that there is a cure. But as I mentioned before, it won’t be easy to find, and I have no idea what it might be.” He paused, wetting his lower lip. “But… I do know some people who might be able to help you. Back in The Shade. There are people there more knowledgeable and experienced than me. I’m not sure how to reach there from here, and I wouldn’t set foot with you on the island—”
“Why not?”
“I still have my own mysteries to solve… But I can try to help you get there.”