Chapter 15 Childe Of His Heart #2
You are one that doesn’t understand! You are responsible for what you’ve created, Weryn. You don’t get to get out of it so easily! Ashyr hardly sounded like himself anymore.
Legion shifted from foot to foot. “Because the first Kaly Vampire I killed wasn’t a Kaly.”
“What?” Weryn snapped.
His mind was focused on this moment rather than an argument with a ghost.
Legion’s long snout bunched. “The Eyros Vampires I knew believed that Kaly had sliced their soul into pieces and hid them in other Bloodlines’ bodies, in other Kaly Vampire bodies, too. Dozens of them. Maybe hundreds. Hard to know. I did not believe it until I met one.”
“The one with this jewel?” Weryn held up the jewel between them.
Legion nodded. Its raw-fleshed ears flickered. “Yes, and then I met another.”
“Another Kaly slice?”
Legion nodded once more.
Weryn tilted his head to the side. The truth was that this did make sense.
How many battles had he gone into believing that Kaly was on the battlefield, that he’d killed them, only to have the bastard reappear in another body once more.
He’d thought that it was simply Kaly’s ability to leap from body to body, but whenever they’d done that–in the past–that body had ceased to function before being killed.
Kaly always wanted to get away before the pain started and the shutdown of organs.
But that hadn’t happened on those battlefields yet Kaly had always escaped him.
If there was more than one out there then… that made all the sense in the world.
But it also means I have a lot more of them to kill.
“And that Kaly slice just told you everything you needed to know about this jewel and how to use it?” Weryn couldn’t hide his disbelief.
This had to be a trap if that was how this had gone down. But Legion shook his head.
“I showed it to the Kaly slice, but it would tell me nothing. It was only because Elgar was there that I learned what it was. He heard the Kaly slice’s final thoughts,” Legion answered.
“Elgar? Isn’t that one of Eyros’ Children?”
Another nod. “They are gone now. In the dirt with Eyros. Worms eat them both.”
Weryn had this wild desire to shriek his dismay at Eyros’ demise. But why? Hadn’t he always despised the man? Well, perhaps not. But he had tried to take over his mind so dying in a field at Kaly’s hand was exactly what he deserved.
Wasn’t it?
So why did it feel like he couldn’t breathe when he thought of Eyros gone? Of Wyvern missing? Of Mirryr’s shattering? Of Seeyr’s capture?
I want them back, he realized. I want them all back. I want this to end. Oh, Ashyr, what has happened to all of us?
“And Elgar just told you this?” Weryn forced the questioning to continue.
“Yes, it was when Elgar still thought we were friends,” Legion explained. “He thought that I could take this jewel and use it some time. He could not leave his Master’s side.”
Elgar the Whisperer. That’s what he had been called. He had been capable of making entire armies set down their weapons and weep. He had been helping Eyros try to calm everyone, even him, but that had not worked. Nothing had worked.
And what did Legion say of him? The worms have him and Eyros both… I am alone.
He shook himself. “It must have been when we were still allies. Elgar would have ripped through your mind like wet paper, Legion!”
Legion cringed. “I’m not–not sure of the timing, Master! I–”
“You know the exact timing of when you obtained this, Legion! You didn’t tell me about this, because you wanted to be the hero!
” Weryn hissed as he stuffed the gem under Legion’s snout.
A trickle of shame coursed through them as they continued to back away from him.
This huge thing cowering to him. “I could have used this before! I could have set up a trap for them, but now this is likely one for us!”
His voice echoed under the trees. Birds burst out from under the trees because of his loud voice. He could end Legion now. He should. The fool had kept this from him. This incredibly important piece of intel that if he’d had before he could have ended this whole goddamned war.
Possibly.
Maybe.
But no.
There was more than one Kaly.
His anger though still seethed and coiled in on itself like a serpent. But Legion must have seen that there was some lessening of it, because they move towards him, almost as if to nuzzle him. He drew back and they stopped moving.
“It is still our trap, Master! Kaly does not know we are coming!” Legion argued.
“I thought this was a fool’s errand!” Weryn growled. “Why do you think I came here with just you?”
Legion’s silver eyes slowly blinked again. “Because I–I am the Childe of your Heart, Master. You wished for us to spend time together. Alone. To do this great thing just the two of us.”
Weryn nearly laughed out loud at that. It would have been so cruel. Even in the state he was in now managed to pull it back. That hopeful, horrid look on Legion’s hideous face continued on even in light of his silence.
“We can do this, Master. We can take down this very important Kaly slice together,” Legion urged and gestured for him to go down the steps.
“Why is this a very important Kaly slice?” Weryn asked, eyes narrowing again.
“From what I have observed, not all of them are capable of strategizing as well as they were when they were one soul. But this one is. I believe if we take this one down that it will have an almost domino-effect on the others,” Legion said with disturbing glee.
But why was it disturbing? The thought of going after Kaly–even an unimportant slice–was cause for rejoicing.
In a way, Weryn was thrilled that Kaly had sliced their soul into countless pieces, because his grief and rage over Ashyr’s loss could never be quelled at killing one Kaly.
No, he needed to kill them again and again.
And this way, he could use one of them to revive Ashyr and kill the others to stem his rage.
“Won’t Kaly sense us coming?” Ryder asked. “Using their own tunnel and all?”
But Legion shook their head. “Daemon’s presence obscures us.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I am not. Kaly was,” Legion answered with a shrug. “That is why we are entering the city this way rather than over the wall or through one of the gates. Daemon’s presence is more concentrated here.”
“That was quite a bit of information that Elgar got from the slice before it was killed,” Weryn remarked.
“Elgar is strong like his Master. Second to him in power some say,” Legion answered.
“Hmmm, well, even if this is a trap, we will be able to deal with it, yes, Legion?” Weryn asked.
An eager nod. “Yes, Master! Together we are unstoppable!”
Was that true? Legion was strong, but young. Kaly was unpredictable. So unpredictable. At least, Legion was sure to not hold back if they were to be attacked. That was one benefit of their unique and troubling nature.
“Then let us go,” Weryn said.
Weryn started down first, but Legion waved him back.
“No, Master, if there is a trap then it is best if I take the brunt of it,” Legion said almost primly.
But a Master should protect his fledgling at all costs. Especially one so young…
“If you wish, Legion. Go ahead,” Weryn found himself saying instead.
Legion eagerly headed down the spiral staircase that just barely accommodated their bulk, Weryn followed after them more slowly.
He stuffed the soul gem into an inner pocket of his coat.
There would have to be discussions about this with Legion later.
But if it worked… Well, the punishment would not be too bad.
He hated being underground. He wasn’t even fond of being in buildings. His palace did not count, because he had brought the outside in. But it had been so long since he’d been back there. He missed his palace too. So much.
The passage was not bare, packed earth with dirt and rocks sifting down on their heads, but it might have been for all the comfort it offered him.
No, the white stone walls and generous arched ceiling of the passage that was lit by soul gems felt like it was crushing him on all sides.
Considering there was plenty of space for Legion in its shifted form, there was more than enough for him in his human one.
His ears were pricked for any sound other than his and Legion’s mostly silent movements. His nostrils flared as he filtered in every scent. But it was not very good, because the thing–no, person–he most smelled? Daemon.
Daemon’s scent was all around them. Woodsy and spicy with that faint metallic tang.
It was the scent of comfort and safety and devotion and love.
His chest felt tight as he breathed in his beloved king’s scent.
If Kaly had passed this way, he couldn’t smell them, but he could not even smell Legion over Daemon’s cologne.
And it wasn’t just Daemon’s scent, but his presence. Legion–or Kaly–had been right that Daemon blocked everything else out. It was as if his king were physically and psychically reaching out to him.
Is Daemon hungry? Starving? Is he glad I’m back because he needs blood? How long has it been? Oh, gods, too long. What have I done? Why haven’t I come back here to take care of him?
He found himself trying to pass Legion. He had to get to Daemon. He had to see if the king was alright. He needed to get him blood supplies immediately. Perhaps he should bleed himself to feed his king.
“Master, slow down! We must be careful,” Legion warned. “Kaly could be anywhere ahead of us!”
Weryn’s steps slowed slightly, but the need to get to Daemon was overwhelming.
As much as he loathed Kaly, he hoped that Kaly had been feeding Daemon.
Surely, Kaly had been. They were nearly as obsessed with their king as Legion was with him!
He almost laughed at that comparison, but it gave him a little comfort.
Perhaps Daemon hadn’t been starving and waiting not for his fledgling but for them to return.
For Weryn, Kaly, Ashyr, Eyros, all of them to return.
“We are almost there, Master. Just a little farther and we will be at the tomb,” Legion cautioned. The passage ended at a set of stone steps that would upwards. “Master, use the jewel to open the entrance above.”
They pointed at a stone plate at the base of the steps that had an indentation that fit exactly the soul gem.
Weryn expected Legion to try and take it and use it themselves, but they only pointed and stepped back.
Weryn fit the stone neatly into its assigned spot.
There was the faintest amount of grinding noise and then moonlight began to flood the stairs.
Daemon’s presence was like a bright lure.
His king was up there. His king needed him!
Weryn took the stairs two at a time recklessly and without thought to Kaly’s potential masked presence. He just couldn’t care about any of that. Ashyr was right. He needed to wake Daemon. He’d confess everything and Daemon would fix it. He might not forgive Weryn, but he would fix it.
He’ll make Kaly bring Ashyr and all the others back. The War will end and things will be as they should be, Weryn thought with an almost child’s longing. Is my mind truly broken now? Am I out of control as Eyros said? Or am I finally coming back to myself and seeing clearly?
The stairs opened up inside of the golden dome. Daemon’s body–shrouded in stone–was lying on top of the sarcophagus just like Weryn remembered. The glittering golden flower that was to be used to slice the hands of willing victims glittered at him almost accusingly.
“My king,” Weryn breathed. “I am so sorry. I am so sorry.”
He staggered towards the sarcophagus when an elegant figure in all back stood up to face him.
It was not Kaly. It was an Eyros Vampire.
One of the War Children that Eyros had created before abandoning the whole idea to fill his ranks.
He had dark hair that fell in a mass of waves to his shoulders.
He was lithe and tightly muscled on a lean frame.
His olive-toned skin spoke of the Mediterranean or perhaps nearer Africa.
Full lips, noble nose, broad forehead and wide, silver eyes.
Beautiful. Eyros did not limit himself to those physically pleasing, looking for something deeper in his Children, but this one was truly lovely.
Lovely and useless. This Childe was hardly older than Legion. Nothing to worry about.
But still, Weryn’s fangs were out and his lips were pulled back from them. He hadn’t even noticed them until he was practically on top of them. Young Vampire or not, threat or not, it was sloppy of him.
“What are you doing here? This is the tomb of the king! Not for the likes of you!” Weryn hissed.
Legion had just come out of the secret passage. Weryn expected them to hiss and spit at this Eyros Vampire, but they did not.
Instead, Legion said, “I brought him. Just as I promised. Now you need to do as you promised. Make him mine.”
Weryn’s mind had a hard time interpreting the words. Was Legion betraying him? Legion?! The Childe of his Heart? But, of course, they were. They knew he hated them. They knew he hardly tolerated them. They knew he thought about killing them.
“Yes, of course, Legion,” the Eyros Vampire spoke, but Weryn heard Kaly’s voice in those cadences.
“Kaly!”
Weryn lunged.
Or he made to lunge.
He didn’t move.
Not an inch.
Not a millimeter.
He was still standing exactly as he had been before he realized the betrayal and who the Eyros Vampire was.
No, no, no, no, he has me. Somehow he has me. I should have been more careful! I should have listened to my heart. I should have–
The Eyros Vampire stepped close to him and patted his cheek. “Don’t feel badly, Weryn. I had you the moment you touched my soul gem. Your desire to make up for the wrongs you’ve done Daemon didn’t have any effect at all.”
Weryn wanted to glare daggers at him. But he could not. He could do nothing.
“Yes, I am Kaly. The closest to the original you’ll find anyways,” the Eyros Vampire chuckled. “But when I wear this form, I go by the name Roan Tithe.”