This is just something I noticed and someone pointed it out before but the foreshadowing is getting stronger and I can't take it anymore...
So!
Rheya was actually a good person at some point in her life.
So is MC.
They won't kill someone unless they really think that person is evil and means to harm them or their loved ones.
That changed for Rheya, probably because of the deep loss of her family. I think the start of her bloodlust was to take avenge their death, and now I'm 100% sure she thinks the humans killed them. That was the reason she tapped into her powers and started using them on her enemies.
It may seem at first glance that she has changed but that's not true.
Xenocrates tells her that he heard rumors about her and mass sacrifices below the city and she just tells him not to listen to rumors and right afterwards kills humans saying they must drink "while they're still fresh"... and she kills that poor fisherman at the end of book 2 whose fault was just asking her if she's alright.
She's very manipulative, she's Gaius' teacher after all. And if mc's nightmare is any indication, it's that she was killing people below the city.
What if... and that's a BIG what if...
As Rheya learns more about mc, she comes to the conclusion that her love for her LI is hindering her true potential and that she needs to experience that same loss in order to tap into her own powers. She did just ask her to be her "right hand".
Be it Rheya or not, something is going to happen to our LIs... and the parallels keep getting stronger...
Rheya was sitting on her throne when Amy found her for their meeting. She approached, prepared to kneel before her.
“Don’t even think of it,” said Rheya, looking at Amy with a smile. “Come, sit beside me.”
Amy swallowed hard, moving to sit in the chair beside Rheya’s throne. She was uneasy, but she needed to act as natural as possible. Luckily, this would have made her uneasy regardless of her intentions.
“There’s no need to be nervous,” Rheya soothed her. “I know you’ve spoken with your friends about the kind of work we are doing here. Good things, things that will advance vampire-kind.”
“Yes,” Amy replied carefully. “I am quite impressed with what you’ve managed to achieve in such a short time. It really seems like you were meant to lead our people.”
“I am your mother,” Rheya responded softly. “I simply want what is best for my children.”
“Mm, yes,” said Amy. “We have a phrase, ‘mother knows best.’ It certainly seems to fit.”
“Yes,” purred Rheya. “Mater semper certa est. It’s my version of your phrase, as you say.”
“What does it mean?” Amy asked, playing dumb.
“It is basically the same thing,” Rheya replied. “The mother is always certain, should not be questioned. But, enough about turns of phrase. I want to talk about you.”
“Me?” asked Amy.
“Yes,” Rheya replied. “I want you to find your home here. So, what are you passionate about? Where would you like to be involved with our congregation?”
“C--congregation?” Amy stuttered. “Like a church?”
“That is one meaning,” Rheya replied. “And it is true, some of my children view me as a spiritual leader of sorts. But a congregation can also mean, more simply, just a gathering of people. And, I don’t think you can argue that we’ve certainly gathered. Our numbers are great, as are we.”
Amy nodded. “That’s true,” she replied softly. “Well, what I most want is peace. Peace between vampires and humans, no more Gaius, no more individualistic vampires trying to gain power for themselves.”
Rheya was quiet, watching Amy closely. Her eyes dazzled with words, unsaid. “You see me as one of these individualistic vampires, don’t you?” she asked abruptly.
Amy chewed on the inside of her cheek. She needed to answer this believably, but not too confrontational. “I do,” she finally replied. “It is why I opposed you to begin with. However, I’ve seen the way you enable our kind. I’ve seen how you are working with Adrian, Lily, Jax, the way you are capitalizing on their skills for the greater good. And not only the greater good of vampire-kind, but of humankind as well.”
“So that has convinced you, then? That I am not a threat?”
Amy looked at Rheya, contemplative.
“Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘Acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt’?” Rheya asked her. Amy shook her head. “It means, ‘mortal actions never deceive the gods.’ If you lie to me, Amy, I will know.”
Amy squared her shoulders, facing Rheya. “It has convinced me that we share a mutual goal, for the time-being,” she finally answered. “I am not foolish enough to count out anyone who has amassed great power, and I truly believe you would think less of me if I were to do so.”
Rheya chuckled. “Well, you are right about that,” she replied. “I believe we can work together, Amy. But first, I do need you to swear your loyalty to me, just a pesky formality really. And remember, I’ll know if you lie.”
Rheya’s cheshire-cat smile reminded Amy of Gaius. Her stomach was in knots, and she knew she was in trouble, they all were.
“Of course,” she replied to Rheya. “I will remain loyal to you, Rheya Apostolous, for as long as your actions serve the greater good.”
Rheya smirked, recognizing Amy’s loophole. “I suppose I can accept that,” she replied. “Now, let’s talk business.”
Rheya raised two glasses of blood, handing one to Amy. “To the future of vampires and humans alike,” she toasted. Amy too raised her glass, clinking it against Rheya’s, then pretending to take a drink. She didn’t trust Rheya enough to consume something she’d handed her. Luckily, Rheya trusted her enough not to check.
“I know you spoke with your friends, so I imagine you have some sense of what I’m trying to do,” Rheya began. “But I will enlighten you further.”
Amy leaned in towards Rheya, resting her face on her hand. She was finally going to get the answers she was looking for.
“As you know, vampires have lived in a shadow kingdom, silently controlling aspects of society in limited capacities. What I want to do, what we are going to do, is expand the reach of that kingdom. We will place vampires in stations across the world, obtaining power so that we are on an even playing field with humans.”
“Okay, so we’ll run some vampires for political office...what else did you have in mind?”
“Oh, my sweet,” Rheya replied with a smile. “My plan is far greater than that. At this very moment, and with Raines Corp’s assistance, we are pioneering technology and serums to help vampires take back the world. I’m talking about tools that will allow us -- all of us -- to walk in the daylight once again. Tools that will revive us from the most horrendous deaths we know, technology that will make us virtually indestructible.”
“That’s incredible,” replied Amy. “But what is the use for this technology? We don’t have an enemy that we need to fight. I can certainly see the advantage of walking in the day, but--”
“My darling,” Rheya said, softly, “you are young, newly turned. You do not know the ways of the world, not yet. It is true, what you say. Now is a time of peace and prosperity, and it is good. But we need to prepare for the inevitable, for the moment that someone dares wreck this peace. We need to prepare for war and hope it never comes.”
This talk made Amy uneasy. Yes, she could see the point of having a tactical advantage. Certainly, that made sense. But -- young as she may be -- she had read the history books. And whenever weapons are developed to “keep the peace” they almost certainly ended up being used to destroy the peace.
“I suppose that’s logical,” she acquiesced, trying to give Rheya a modicum of support.
Rheya smiled, leaning towards Amy. “How’s the blood taste, darling?”
Amy was confused, but her vision started to blur. How could this be? She hadn’t had any of the blood.
“Aw,” Rheya said, standing. “You didn’t drink any, did you? And here I thought you trusted me.” She shook her head, tsking Amy.
“The blood had the antidote for this gas that is being pumped into the room,” she explained to Amy, who had collapsed onto the floor. “You really should’ve trusted me, love. After all, I told you I would know if you were lying. Acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt.”
Amy heard the last few words of the Latin phrase as her vision darkened and she passed out.
This short Fan-fiction includes sensitive content and things might hurt someone who has actually been through this and emotional sweet souls. Angsty and sad.
Rose just isn’t the type of a person to stand up and say-
“I was actually the one who did this.”
She is just not able.
Unlike Lily Spencer- The girl who has tattoos all around her shoulder. The girl who smiled at the worst of times. The girl who sent memes to everyone in her group chats. The girl that could’ve won the most unique girl in the world if she had participated.
She is a people pleaser- Unlike Lily.
She never once drank alcohol- Unlike Adrian.
She has never once carried a katana to a shopping mall- Unlike Jax.
She has never once handled her own company- Unlike Kamilah.
She sobbed, playing with her blonde hair as the others laughed.
Rose sat down by the sink. Watching the water flow. Pretending to have been showering instead of crying.
She doesn’t know what to say.
She was the one who did all the work when all Rheya had to do was sit there and command. She was the one who ran in and stopped everyone from getting blasted far away from Earth.
She was the only one who stayed for Lily as she cried- When all Rheya did was give him a smile and walk.
She was the only one who spent the night with Adrian- When all Rheya did was look for a hook up.
She was the only one who fixed Jax’s broken Katana even if it means getting bruises- When all Rheya did was give him a sympathetic smile and leave.
She was the only one who made Kamilah laugh when she was angry- When all Rheya did was leave the scene.
She sobbed again. Clutching onto the paper towel that is wrenched with her tears.
“TO RHEYA WHO SAVED NEW YORK!” She heard it again. From Lily this time.
She is angry.
Why couldn’t people care about her too...?
Does it really have to be Rheya?
She threw the paper at the mirror.
And wore her jacket... Faking a smile as she walked through the door whom screamed- “FINALLY.”
Everyone kept cheering. Adrian... He is looking at Rheya, with a smile she has never seen before.
There was like 1 second where my heart stopped when this showed up lmaoo it's so often that PB writes that someone has gotten hurt or is bloodied etc but shows a perfectly normal photo of them so I wasn't expecting this BUT I LOVE IT
She didn’t have time to wonder what death, true death would be like. There was no rerun of her life, no white light. She felt the sun on her skin, hot and heavy. She heard Rheya scream, and confused shouts behind her. She wondered if she’d succeeded, as she waited for the nothingness that she knew was coming for her.
But she continued to hear the voices of vampires behind her, and she felt the sun licking her face. She dared to open her eyes, seeing spots in the bright light of day. Rheya was collapsed before her, not speaking but still alive. She looked around, meeting the eyes of many confused vampires.
“Amy!” she heard from the crowd. She turned, Kamilah fighting to break free from Adrian’s grip and run to her.
“Kamilah?” she asked, confused. Was it truly her Kamilah? Was she still alive? How was she still alive? She looked down at her hands, bathed in the sun, but still whole.
“I-I’m alive?” she stuttered, running her hands over her body. “I’m alive,” she repeated, breathing a sigh of relief. She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
The shouts of vampires reminded her that her mission was not over, and she stood once again, walking closer to the group.
“Kamilah?” she asked again, looking into her eyes. “Is it you?”
“Oh Amy,” she said, despair in her voice. “I’m so sorry, her control was too much…” she trailed off, eyes falling to the floor as she remembered what she’d done under Rheya’s control.
“Amy,” another voice called. Serafine. “You did it,” she assured her. “Her control is gone.”
Amy breathed a sigh of relief, breaking out in a smile. She walked back into the building, Kamilah wrapping her arms around her and holding her tight.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, over and over again. Amy wept in Kamilah’s arms, finally feeling at home once more. Her friends came up behind them, apologetic.
“You saved us,” said Adrian. “Again.”
“Thank you,” said Jax.
“Bestie,” Lily said softly, hugging her. “I’m so sorry. I tried to fight it.”
“I know,” Amy said, holding her tight. “I know.”
“How did you know that you wouldn’t turn into ash?” Jax asked, pointing outside where Rheya still lie.
“I didn’t,” Amy admitted.
“So you just decided to commit suicide?” asked Kamilah, anger in her voice. “What in the hell were you thinking?”
Amy shrugged. “That I needed to save my friends,” she replied.
Everyone was quiet, considering their part in pushing Amy to such a drastic choice.
“What are we going to do with her?” asked Adrian, motioning to Rheya.
“I’ll get her,” said Amy, turning to walk outside. “Then we’ll lock her up, until we can figure out what happened.”
Amy walked to the door, hesitating before stepping over the threshold and into the sun. Being sunproof was something she would have to get used to. She walked over to Rheya’s body, lifting her upper half and dragging her back to the mansion. She was still breathing, but she was entirely unresponsive.
She handed her off to other vampires, who took her to a cell where she would be contained until she woke. If she woke. Amy had no clue how the stake would affect her. Would everyone be under her control again when she woke up? Did she still have her other powers? Amy had all of the questions, and none of the answers.
“Hey,” she heard, pulling her from her thoughts. Kamilah stood before her, looking...almost shy.
“Hi,” she said, still frowning from her thoughts of Rheya.
“Can we go somewhere private to talk?” asked Kamilah.
“Sure,” said Amy, allowing Kamilah to take her hand. She led her through the halls, into a private room, a bedroom.
“These are -- were -- my quarters,” said Kamilah, looking around the room. Amy sat on the bed, waiting for Kamilah to start the conversation.
“Amy,” she said, her voice breaking. “I’m so sorry.”
She sat beside Amy on the bed, tears in her eyes. Amy could see that she was struggling with Rheya’s control of her.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Amy soothed her, putting her arm around her shoulders.
“It’s like Gaius all over again,” she said, hands trembling. “I don’t know how I could be so weak, how I could turn on you so easily. I wouldn’t blame you if you never trusted me again. I mean, I was seconds away from killing you! If Rheya hadn’t stopped me, just to gloat, you’d be dead. I didn’t even falter, not for a second.”
“Kamilah,” Amy said, pulling her closer. “It’s okay, I’m okay.”
“I don’t know if that’s enough,” she replied, voice shaking. “How am I supposed to live with this, with what I’ve done? So much time, trying to find you, to end you. How could I do that?”
“It wasn’t you,” Amy reassured her, trying to make her see reason. “It was Rheya. I know you would never hurt me.”
“H-h-how can you be so understanding?” she asked, eyes wide. Rheya had shredded her confidence, making her doubt every instinct she has. It killed Amy to see her reeling like this.
“Because I know you,” she finally said. “And you, Kamilah Sayeed, are kind and strong and selfless. You would risk your life for me without thinking twice. That is who you are, not what Rheya made you do.”
Kamilah sighed. Amy could tell she wasn’t quite buying it, but she’d exhausted herself of the argument. She needed to shift her focus.
“I missed you,” Amy said quietly. “I was so lonely without you.”
Kamilah frowned, shifting in the bed and pulling Amy into her arms. “I’m so sorry that I abandoned you, darling,” she whispered.
“I just want to stay in your arms,” Amy said, breathing in Kamilah’s scent. She missed this feeling of safety, of security.
“Of course,” Kamilah murmured, pulling her closer. “Whatever you need.”
Lying there, safe in Kamilah’s arms, Amy finally felt the weight of the past few weeks and everything she’d had to do. The tears came quickly and violently, and Kamilah held her as she sobbed.
“It’s okay baby,” Kamilah said, guilt thick in her voice. “I’m here now, I’ve got you. You can let it all out.”
Kamilah held Amy’s trembling body, thinking about how brave she’d been, how she’d saved them all. She hated that she hadn’t been by her side to help her. She vowed to ensure that that never happened again.
“It’s okay,” she soothed, rocking Amy in her arms. “You’re okay.”
