Chapter 6 Shift #2
“True. Your show was already quite successful before all of this, wasn’t it?” Ryder gestured around them even as they passed by the box hedge and were heading towards the path that led into Shadow’s Company. “Now I’m sure it has exploded in popularity.”
Julian nodded. “I’m used to being on camera and having the public feel that they know me because of my parent’s show and my own.
But even I have to admit that this amount of attention can be a little staggering.
Christian and I have had so many offers from media companies to assist us in our endeavors, but we’ve said no to all of them.
Even the Vampire-owned ones. I hope that it gives our show more credibility with the public and it definitely cuts down the red tape for whatever we want to do. ”
“I’ll bet. It just depends if Daemon and Balthazar are in agreement with what you want to do and where you want to go.” Ryder bobbed his head.
“Oh, no, they don’t have a say in it either,” Julian answered with an airy wave of his hand.
“But surely…” Ryder stopped.
While he could not remember it, he knew from the stories alone how much Julian must mean to Daemon.
The stained glass windows of the Kaly Palace told the tale.
He couldn’t believe the king allowed his very young fledgling carte blanche to go where he pleased.
But perhaps Daemon just let Julian think so.
And if that was the case, he would not make trouble for Daemon.
“It’s not like that. Daemon trusts my and Christian’s judgment,” Julian was explaining and then flushed again.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have listened to your thoughts.
I’m still having difficulty with intention.
If someone is thinking very loudly or about me, I tune into it.
Balthazar warns me that those are the thoughts that will really sting. ”
“I did not mean to have my thoughts sting you.” Ryder turned to the young man alarmed.
“No, not in the least. You didn’t either.” Julian waved his hands through the air as if to clear it physically of any such suggestion. “I guess I’m glad I’m not the only one.”
Ryder frowned, feeling he had missed something. “You’re not the only one that what?”
Julian paused, but then flashed him an understanding look as he explained, “Who underestimates his power.”
“Daemon’s? No, I–”
“I know. I know. You would never question the king, but you don’t remember him.
Not how he was. And he’s keeping a low profile right now,” Julian interrupted gently.
It was his turn to gesture around them. “This is the Ever Dark. His domain completely. Do you truly think anything could happen to me here that he could not stop?”
Ryder considered this. “I suppose not. But the Sect has infiltrated our ranks and he did not foresee that.”
Julian gave him a hard look. “Are you sure he didn’t foresee it… and allow it? Or even plan it?”
That last sentence had Ryder’s stride faltering slightly.
“I–I assumed if he had that he would take care of it,” Ryder admitted finally.
“Some might say that he is taking care of it by having you and the others take care of it,” Julian pointed out. Looking thoughtful, Julian added, “There’s more to be gained or lost here than simply a battle with the enemy.”
“I see or… perhaps, I don’t see,” Ryder admitted.
He found he wanted to ask Julian if he had started to use his Seeyr gift to see the future, but something stopped him from asking.
“It got you all working together again, for one. All of the Immortals, that is,” Julian pointed out.
He thought of how pleased Grayson was to have them working together. This was giving them the opportunity to unearth and forgive all past wrongs. To put the past to bed so the future could take seed in clean soil.
“It… did.”
“I suppose he could run around and do everything himself, but that wouldn’t move the needle in other ways, important ways,” Julian explained.
“Getting you all to talk to one another, work together and exorcize your demons is priceless. That isn’t something he can make happen as easily as taking out an enemy.
But he can use that enemy to urge you all to heal some old wounds. ”
Ryder slowly nodded. “Yes, all the Immortals working together was rather thrilling, except for the part when Grayson was taken onto the dance floor by my doppelganger.”
Julian grimaced. “Believe me when I say that doing this Daemon’s way is hard as hell. But it will lead to something good in the end.”
They walked under the archway of trees that would lead them to the clearing.
The sounds of Shadow’s Company filtered in around them.
The faint creak of branches in the wind.
The crack and snap of underbrush as small–or large–creatures moved about.
The scent of green, growing things filled the air.
The night-caressed wind stirred their hair and clothes.
Ryder closed his eyes and stretched out his fingers as if he were connecting physically to the earth like Daemon did when he communed.
“Having my parents back–and I still can’t believe I have them–has helped me accept all of this so much more. To see further than maybe I would have in the past,” Julian said.
Ryder knew the story of how Caemorn had done the seemingly impossible, which was to create new bodies for the long dead out of whole cloth.
Julian’s parents–Jack and Joanna Harrow–were brilliant, beautiful and as beloved as their son.
They had chosen to become Vampires, but had not yet picked their Bloodline or who turn them as far as Ryder knew.
Unlike the students at the academy, it was to be purely the Harrows’ choice as to these things.
It would be the greatest honor for any Vampire and their Bloodline to be chosen.
“Are they taking the classes with the other students?” he asked.
Julian grinned. “They’re giving some of the classes. Balthazar said that all their years of teaching and being on television makes them excellent lecturers. And since they are on the journey like the students are, they’re more approachable.”
“I bet. I look forward to meeting them”
“I’m so glad you said that,” Julian said carefully.
“Oh, why?”
“My dad is really interested in the Weryn Bloodline,” Julian admitted with a shy look up at him.
Ryder blinked. “He is?!”
“Why do you sound so surprised?” Julian laughed. “The Weryn are amazing! To turn into an animal… It’s awesome.”
“Yes, yes, it is.” Ryder rubbed his face with one hand. “It’s just been so long since we… since I even considered the Weryn as anything more than dysfunctional.”
“That was under Lawson, but now they are under your leadership,” Julian stated.
It sounded so simple. He controlled the Weryn Bloodline. He was Weryn. And Jack Harrow wanted to become pack.
“I am–am happy to speak with him at any time,” Ryder got out.
“Good, I’m glad.” And Julian indeed did look very glad.
“What about–about your mother?”
“She is interested in Wyvern,” Julian said. “She and Fiona get along like a house on fire. But neither of them is set on it happening. At least so they claim.”
“Of course, I’m sure your parents will have concerns, because of their relationship with each other and their relationship to you,” Ryder said.
“They are worthy all on their own regardless of me,” Julian said simply.
“I have no doubt of that.”
But they were the parents of the prince. And that could never be forgotten. It would be a huge coup for any Bloodline to have them.
“We are here,” Ryder said as the trees opened up and there was a perfect patch of glass under the moonlight. “Now we should breathe.”
“How beautiful.”
Julian walked on ahead of him. The moonlight silvered and bloodied the Vampire prince’s hair. He was graceful and strong. He was exactly what a young fledgling should be and Ryder was so proud of him on Daemon’s behalf. Julian swung around, arms out, and a smile caused his face to simply light up.
“How do we start?” Julian asked.
“We get naked,” Ryder stated with a shrug. “Clothes will inhibit the shift. Though I know that you may be very aware of your body when you are naked and may be unable to leave it behind.”
Julian nodded. “And then what?”
“Then we sit.”
“We… we sit?” Julian’s eyebrows lifted.
“Yes, we sit. Close our eyes. And meditate. Simply feel the breeze and the woods all around us,” Ryder said as he stripped off his hoodie and then stepped out of his pants.
Julian hesitated a moment, but then did the same. Both of them then sat cross legged, facing one another. Julian’s legs bounced and Ryder reached over and stilled them. Julian let out a huge breath.
“I’m not good at being still,” Julian admitted.
“Don’t think of it as being still, but as conserving energy,” Ryder explained. “You look well-fed.”
“Always.” A dreamy look appeared on Julian’s face.
“That’s good. You’ll have to feed after this, too, but I’m sure Daemon’s prepared for that,” Ryder said.
“Eagerly, though he wouldn’t tell me if I’d shift or not. But regardless, we’re prepared,” Julian told him.
“Excellent. Now close your eyes and breathe, Julian. That’s it. That’s all you have to do.”
He watched as Julian’s eyelids closed and the young man took in deep breaths.
He then allowed his own eyelids to close.
His senses started with the two of them in this clearing.
Two heartbeats. Two beings breathing. Then they spread outwards to encompass the glade with its whirring insects and even the worms that squirmed beneath the soil.
The dew forming on the grass. The rustle of the wind.
They moved further out to the forest itself.
He saw the creatures within it as undefined red glowing figures in darkness.
The beats of their hearts. Their breathing.
He brought his senses back in until it was only the two of them. Julian was a glowing being made of pure light. There were pulses of energy radiating out from him. He had told Julian to expect nothing from this night, but he was suddenly very sure that he knew what to do to help things along.
Ryder looked within Julian. He stared into that glow.
He’d not done this in this life, but he remembered doing it before.
With his fledglings and those within his Bloodline.
To help them find their animal spirit. Within Julian he saw more than one.
And he was not surprised. They were like three planets circling a sun that was the center of Julian.
He reached and urged that nearest planet to break the surface.
“Weryn–”
“Yes, Julian, that’s it. That’s one of your forms. Can you grasp it?” Ryder asked, aware that Julian had called him by his true name.
“I–I think so. Yes, yes, I can–”
There was the sound of wind rushing past. His hair was stirred. Ryder’s eyelids fluttered open. What he saw before him had him gasping. Julian had shifted. He was a magnificent white wolf with purple eyes that were looking at him intently. The wolf’s tail swished.
No, not a wolf. Too big to be a wolf. Way too big.
In fact, when Ryder stood, the top of Julian’s furry head was to his shoulder. Julian’s tail swished again with a little uncertainty this time.
“You’re beautiful, Julian. You’re a–a Winter Wolf,” Ryder said.
Julian’s ears pricked.
“Winter Wolves are wolves found only in the Ever Dark,” Ryder explained, feeling his heart expand two times. “This is is so unusual–”
A very eager tail swish.
“I am certain that…” Ryder froze.
His mind opened to the past even as the words he was about to say escaped him. He suddenly knew. He remembered why Legion’s animal form was useless on Earth. Because, like Julian, Legion’s animal form was one from the Ever Dark, too, but not a magnificent Winter Wolf, but a monster.