Chapter 3
Kaly’s Childe
Grayson kept his shoulders rounded forward and his head downcast. He looked up through his eyelashes as if afraid to catch anyone’s attention.
He made himself small, delicate, and unsure.
Contrasted with Julian who stood almost carelessly with his hands in his pockets and his face smooth of all emotion.
Grayson was a “human” who had suddenly been placed into the high stakes, dangerous world of Vampires.
In contrast, Julian was the Vampire Prince with no concerns about anything that might happen in that room.
Christian showed the same lack of emotion, though this seemed more natural on him as if he was used to hiding all he felt.
He stood between Caemorn and Balthazar. His silver eyes flickered over everything, taking it all in and memorizing it.
Incisive, would be the word that Grayson would use to describe him.
While he was not a prince, he was the first fledgling of Eyros reborn.
But he knew that Julian and Christian, no matter how impressive they appeared, were very much still the young men they had been before being turned less than half a year ago.
Julian and Christian were incredibly human still.
They were brave, thoughtful, and kind. What he had to do tonight to get information was nothing he wanted them to see, but he wasn’t sure if he could or should make Julian or Christian leave.
They are stronger than you think, Balthazar said.
They are not like us, Grayson said firmly. And I would not have them be. Tell them to claim they have to go. Another appointment. An errand to do for Daemon–
I’ve already tried and both of them said ‘no’. Quite firmly, too. Balthazar sounded amused by this.
Grayson gritted his teeth as he carefully looked up at the handsome Vampire Prince’s face.
Unlike most Vampires, Julian’s eyes were purple, a cross between the red of Daemon’s and the silver of all other Vampire’s and Immortals.
They appeared cool and disinterested, but that was only on the surface.
He didn’t need the Eyros’ gift to see the tightening in Julian’s jaw or the way he lifted his chin too stiffly.
Christian hid his emotions more carefully, but he was certain that being between his Master and his teacher helped him feel secure.
Plus, there was something of the Kaly detachment in Christian, which was fascinating to see mixed with the Eyros interest.
They shouldn’t see this, Grayson said with a sigh. I take it that neither of them becomes aroused by blood or pain?
No, not in the least. And you’re not worried about that, Balthazar pointed. Both boys want to be here for the very reason you don’t want them to be: they can’t have others doing things that they would not do themselves to keep us safe.
We are older–
And wiser? We’ve seen more, yes. And we’ve done more. But Julian is the Vampire Prince and my ability to order him about ends when he doesn’t wish to accept my orders, Balthazar pointed out.
What about Daemon? Surely, he can’t want Julian to be involved in this! Grayson objected.
He doesn’t order Julian about either as far as I can tell. He lets Julian make his own decisions, Balthazar shrugged mentally.
And mistakes? Yes, of course, that’s exactly what he’d do. Grayson really gritted his teeth this time and tossed his head.
Your Ashyr is showing, Balthazar reminded him.
Immediately, Grayson made himself small again, tucking himself against the cold wall as if he wished he could scratch his way through it.
What about Christian? Surely, you can command him to go. He is your fledgling! Grayson insisted.
Another mental chuckle followed, You don’t know Christian very well if you think that would work. Or maybe you’ve forgotten how willful fledglings can be when they want to help their Masters.
I do remember and I was never as indulgent as you, Grayson pointed out. But I understand. They’re both precious. That’s why I don’t want them here.
They’re too important and powerful in their own right to be sent away, Balthazar said quietly. Whether we like it or not, both these young men are targets for the Sect, too. You were chosen because of your relationship with Ryder, but they also have targets on their backs.
I know. All right. I understand.
If Julian and Christian were not going to leave then he had to get on with it. He couldn’t spare the two Sect members in order to spare the boys pain or emotional discomfort. So it would have to be what it was.
Have Ryder start with the Mirryr Vampire. He’s all bluster. It’s the Syrin I'm worried about, Balthazar, Grayson sent finally. Have him ask what the plan was.
Righty ho! Balthazar sounded way too chipper for an interrogation, but Grayson realized finding out secrets was an Eyros’ mission.
It must be killing you that you can’t simply dive into their minds. I’m sorry, but it’s just too dangerous, Grayson said to Balthazar.
It’s rather exciting actually. Not being able to peek, Balthazar confessed.
It’s time consuming, Grayson replied. I miss being able to simply leave these things in your hands.
You’re enjoying yourself, Grayson. All sweet and innocent over there! Balthazar chuckled.
The Eyros Vampire actually did laugh out loud, which made him seem a little fey. Was he listening to something someone said telepathically or was he simply amused at the death and destruction that Weryn was going to unleash? The Syrin Vampire narrowed her eyes slightly.
“What was the plan for tonight?” Ryder asked the Mirryr Vampire.
Ryder stood at the man’s feet, which since the Mirryr Vampire was tied down to the sarcophagus he couldn’t look at Ryder easily without lifting his head up.
Cords of muscle stood out on the Mirryr’s neck as he craned his neck to track Ryder.
While he might truly believe in his “cause” that didn’t mean he wasn’t afraid of what paying the price to keep it secret would be.
“Why are you asking me? You know I’ll never tell!” The Mirryr Vampire spit at Ryder.
Grayson “caught” the spit in mid-air with his mind. It glistened there, turning slightly before he sent it flying back at the Mirryr Vampire’s face where it splattered against his left cheek with a satisfying wet sound.
“Good show, Dani!” Balthazar lied, knowing it was him.
That was quite impressive, Grayson, Balthazar sent.
“That? That is nothing,” Dani laughed, her eyes not flickering to him once.
“We Ashyr are able to pull people apart at a molecular level.” She drifted over towards the sarcophagus with the Mirryr Vampire on it.
She stared down at him with cold eyes. “Can you imagine what that’s like?
I’ve only ever done it to kill. But I think I could prolong the process. I could start with a hand…”
The Mirryr Vampire jerked when she drew two fingers down the top of his right bound hand.
For a moment, Grayson remembered doing just that to an enemy.
Shredding them at the molecular level. They turned into goo and splashed onto the ground.
His stomach curdled as he thought of it.
But, at the time, he had no problem with sending waves of that power out ahead of him and watching their enemies become a sea of blood.
“I’m not going to tell you anything no matter what you do!” The Mirryr Vampire hissed. “So if you’re going to take my hand, get on with it!”
Dani lifted her eyebrows. “So eager for pain? Maybe you think it will mean you’ll be destroyed quicker. But you will not. We will have our answers. And I will have my revenge.”
Balthazar, I want you to just touch the Mirryr’s mind, Grayson said. The barest of brushes. On my mark. Be prepared to get out of there immediately. I want to see what happens to the structure in his head when you do.
You’re sure about this? Balthazar asked.
No, but we have to understand how this thing works, Grayson admitted. Torturing and interrogating every single Sect member is too time consuming. I need my Spy back.
Spy? Oooh, that sounds so neat! Balthazar chuckled.
I’m the General, Weryn is the Soldier, Wyvern is the Scout, and you are the Spy, Grayson explained.
That sounds even more exciting now! Like we’re superheroes! Balthazar said. I’m ready when you are.
Tell Dani what we’re doing just in case we need to pretend it's her doing it, Grayson said.
“That boy over there,” the Mirryr Vampire said, indicating Grayson.
Grayson immediately widened his eyes as if scared at being noticed and looked to Ryder for comfort. His lips parted. He made them wet and sweet as if to say, “Please, Ryder, protect me!”
The look worked. It worked too well. He saw Ryder replaced with Weryn. It was half a moment. Half a second. Those silver eyes changed. Ryder’s smile changed. From a sardonic one to one made of knives.
“Don’t look at him.” Ryder snapped the Mirryr Vampire’s right ankle. Just broke the bones as easily as breathing. “Don’t even think about him.”
The Mirryr Vampire howled. Vampire bones were hard to break. And he would already be healing, but the pain could not be denied.
Good lord! Balthazar breathed. Ryder is…
Weryn. Be careful, Balthazar. We need to be careful with him, Grayson said.
You don’t mean the Mirryr Vampire, do you?
No, I mean Weryn.
“You–you’re going to turn him? Him?” the Mirryr Vampire gasped out, still looking at Grayson with eyes huge with pain and sweat pouring down his face.
He still wore Ryder’s form, but he looked more like a Ryder mannequin than the real thing.
“He’s like a fucking l-lamb. We’ll feast on him–AHHHHHHHHHHHH! ”
Ryder broke the other ankle. It reminded Grayson of Misery, the Stephen King story where the fan broke the author’s ankles to keep him there to write a novel “correctly”.
His gorge rose again. He felt a hand curl around his right wrist. It was Julian’s hand.
The Vampire Prince’s face was devoid of emotion.
But Grayson could feel the fine tremors running through him.