Chapter 2
Playing Roles
Caemorn led them deeper into the Kaly Palace.
The first room they entered reminded Ryder of the nave of a church.
It was a long, rectangular room with nearly floor to ceiling stained glass windows.
Also, like in a church, the windows appeared to tell a story, but not the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
In the first window, it showed the Immortals with Daemon behind them greeting humans.
The humans looked entranced, likely thinking the Immortals to be godlike beings.
The story continued to show the Immortals turning these humans into Vampires as Daemon watched on, eager and excited.
Then it was Daemon’s time to turn a human into a Vampire. His first fledgling.
Ryder paused at this next window, feeling his body grow tense. The human gazed up at Daemon with love and trust and worship. Daemon held the human in his arms with that beatific smile on his lips that were stained red.
“Ryder, is something wrong?” Grayson asked, then made a sound as he saw the window too.
Silently, the two of them went to the next window.
The human had died, but had not resurrected.
Daemon was prostrate. One of the Immortals–Eyros, he thought–held him in his arms, but he could not be soothed.
The next window showed this human joining countless others who were entombed in sarcophagi.
Too many to count. Daemon stood, head bowed, shoulder slumped, expression deadened.
“He was devastated. He watched all of us make our Children and he was barren,” Grayson murmured. “It was torture for him and us. He sank into a depression that it seemed he might never emerge from until…”
The next showed Seeyr–her silver eyes revealed–speaking to Daemon and the others. There was something in her eyes that told him she was speaking of a vision of the future. Daemon no longer appeared listless or apathetic but brittlely hopeful.
“This is when Seeyr told Daemon that if he should go to sleep when he woke his true fledgling would be alive,” Caemorn murmured.
“I remember. You objected,” Grayson said. “But you had to have known that Daemon could not go on.”
“I selfishly wished him to be satisfied with us,” Caemorn answered.
“Were you satisfied?” Ryder asked him.
“Yes, I only made Children because you all did. I would have been just as content–perhaps more so–if there had only ever been the 11 of us,” Caemorn answered.
Ryder couldn’t imagine that. While he was finding friendships with the Immortals that looked to be capable of being long and deep, he wanted more people to be part of their pack.
There was safety in numbers and also joy.
But he knew the Kaly Vampires rarely interacted with each other.
They had loose Houses, but even Masters and Children parted from one another as soon as possible.
It was the complete opposite of what Ryder wanted and Weryn remembered.
Yet the Weryn now are a group of strangers pretending to be pack. Isn’t it better to be honest that there is no real connection between people than to lie about it?
“Where are the other Kaly? I know you don’t stay here often, as Balthazar needs you but–”
“Balthazar needs me,” Caemorn repeated that sentence as if he were trying it on for size. “Yes, Balthazar needs me. The others are here.”
“Aren’t they at least interested in what you’re up to?” Ryder asked.
“They are, undoubtedly, scrying on us right now,” Caemorn answered, seemingly not aggravated that his people were spying on them.
Ryder felt a flare of annoyance at this. Hiding in shadows, looking through stones, whispering. He did not like that at all. They should have the balls to show their interest and themselves.
“This is not their business so they stay away. They merely care if it would have some effect on them or they could use the information in some way,” Caemorn responded to the emotions he must have seen on Ryder’s face. “That is what I expect of them.”
“Is that why you stay at the Eyros Palace more often?” Grayson asked gently.
“As Ryder said, Balthazar needs me. So I am there,” Caemorn answered.
“Maybe you should check the Kaly here for structures, Grayson,” Ryder suggested softly.
“Kaly are not joiners. I doubt you will find any in the Sect,” Caemorn answered. “But you may, of course, test them as you see fit.”
“I need all of my strength for what comes next tonight,” Grayson answered with a shake of his head though he did look pleased about that.
Ryder thought of how like a limp rag Grayson had become the other night. He’d already done much today with his powers. He was likely closer to burnout than he wanted to admit.
Grayson pointed to an Immortal with white hair, mostly shrouded in a cloak who showed up in the background of every window. They were always apart from the others. Watching on, but not with anyone.
“That’s you,” Grayson whispered.
“Yes,” Caemorn answered simply.
“Do you still see yourself as an outsider, Caemorn?” Grayson asked, his voice filled with sadness and frustration.
“No, none of you will let me.” Caemorn had a small smile on his lips with that.
When he said no more, they went to the next window.
Here, Daemon was lying down on a sarcophagus, a strange metal rose in his hands.
His feet were turning to stone though he did not appear concerned.
He looked almost eager. The Immortals were arrayed out around him, kneeling, making their promises to feed him while he waited.
A promise that wasn’t kept from what Ryder knew.
Daemon had starved in Nightvalled until Julian found him and woke him with his blood.
And that was what the huge window at the end of the room, standing two stories tall, and over thirty feet wide, showed.
A montage of Julian and Christian finding Nightvallen, exploring its vastness, then being chased by two young Vampires.
Christian was caught while Julian had managed to find shelter in the tomb.
Then the offer of blood to Daemon. The offer to die for his best friend.
The offer of blood in return. And then the glorious central image of Daemon and Julian together, their arms around one another.
Their gazes facing forward. Triumphant. Facing a future that was theirs.
“You had these created after everything that happened clearly,” Ryder said as he took in Julian and Christian’s picture perfect features in the glass.
Caemorn nodded. “It was as Seeyr foresaw, but I didn’t know Julian’s face. Now I do.”
“And you like Julian?” Grayson asked, but it sounded more like a statement.
“He would call me… his friend. He is very easy to like and get along with,” Caemorn answered. “He sees me as similar to Christian in many ways.”
“And Christian has Kaly gifts just like Balthazar does, right?” Grayson sounded intent as he asked this. He was staring at Caemorn intently.
Caemorn slowly regarded him and nodded. “You are wondering if you have someone outside of the Ashyr Bloodline turn you if you will have both sets of powers, yes?”
“You hardly make that sound like a question!” Grayson gave a brief grin.
“It hardly is, because you are the General and you want as many options at your fingertips as possible,” Caemorn answered.
“I do. But it is my understand that your soul inhabited the body of Roan Tithe, Balthazar’s Master, who was an Eyros?” Grayson searched Caemorn’s face.
Another inclination of his head. “Yes, he was. So I cannot give you the certainty you seek. Did Balthazar obtain the Eyros’ gift because he was turned by an Eyros or because he was Eyros already?”
Grayson grimaced. “That’s true. If he had been turned by you as a Kaly Vampire, he would be a Kaly–”
“I think he would have the Eyros gift as well. But that is speculation,” Caemorn said.
“It is something to consider in your decision as to who should turn you. An interesting one. For are you still Ashyr if you do not have the Ashyr Bloodline gift? But this is an opportunity for you to gain another gift as well.”
Ryder realized then the risk that Grayson would be taking if he allowed him or anyone other than an Ashyr Vampire to turn him. He might lose his Bloodline and the Ashyr would lose their Immortal in some way. Who knew if the gift would eventually lose its potency altogether.
“Some might call that greedy,” Grayson admitted with a grimace.
“Or tactical. You aren’t doing it for yourself, but for our king,” Caemorn remarked dryly.
“True.” Grayson seemed to relax after Caemorn’s words.
“The other wall of windows shows the War,” Caemorn said and gestured to another set of stained glass panels.
“Unless it shows Legion’s face in those, I don’t care to be reminded,” Ryder gritted.
“Then we should continue on our way to the others,” Caemorn said simply.
The Kaly Vampire took them past the crossing–also just like in a church–and up to the window that showed the triumphant Julian and Daemon. A section of the stone floor slid back and a set of stairs appeared, winding downwards.
“The Kaly Palace has extensive catacombs beneath it,” Caemorn explained. “I keep finding secrets that I left there for myself. But it is also a useful place to keep more secrets like the Sect members. Please stay close to me. There are traps. Everywhere.”
Grayson lifted his eyebrows, but both of them kept close to Caemorn as they descended the winding stair.
They went further down into the earth then Ryder expected they would.
He felt the weight of the dirt above them, pressing down, and the farness of the sky.
His shoulders were tense. He rolled them back to ease some of the tension away.
He was only partially successful. Grayson sent a few uneasy looks back as well.