Chapter 6 Truth-Telling #2
“He is precious.” Balthazar hugged himself.
“He is not some interesting passing fancy. He is brittle and brilliant. Demos, you can have most anyone, but Elgar… Elgar has been so hurt. You are the first person he has shown an interest in. And while I don’t think you’re a cad, I know that you are not certain of your own intentions towards him. ”
“He is precious. And I don’t intend to treat him as anything less.
But I don’t think ending whatever this could be between him and I is fair to him either,” Demos argued, feeling a tightening in his chest at the thought.
“He reached out. He wants to do this. He knows what he’s risking.
Are you going to shove him back into his hole because you’re afraid for him? ”
Balthazar took a deep, steadying breath. “He is ill-suited to parties and other large gatherings. Weryn Vampires seem to need such things just as much as we all need blood. He will never fit in with the rest of your kind. Are you willing to be separated from them to keep him happy?”
“You’ve got a point there, but I trust Elgar to make up his mind to know whether or not he wants to risk being with somebody who has other interests that might not always align with his own,” Demos said.
“But the truth is that we don’t know what Elgar really likes.
We only know what Elgar can tolerate right now when he’s still not quite himself.
Do you remember him? How he was before? He could have been the life of the party.
He could have had a million friends. Eyros are normally not known to be loners.
If a Weryn throws a party, an Eyros is sure to come over with a bottle of blood wine and an easy smile. ”
Balthazar lowered his head. “I don’t remember him. Not because he is not memorable, but because–”
“You don’t want to remember everything else. I got that. Ryder is the same way as you know.” Demos grimaced.
“He will likely never be who he once was, Demos. You have to accept him as he is now. Not as you hope he might be in the future,” Balthazar said.
“I know. But I think that even if this is only a passing friendship between him and I that Elgar will gain something from it,” Demos told him with more passion than he realized. “He has to be given a chance to come back. And he can’t do that by not taking risks or being packed in cotton wool.”
They hadn’t gotten to speak more as Elgar had arrived soon after.
Neither he nor Balthazar pretended they hadn’t been having an intense conversation, but neither of them had told Elgar what it had been about despite Demos saying he would.
Balthazar had smoothed his hands over Elgar’s overly large hoodie, straightening the collar on it before stepping back and smiling at his Childe.
“Off to the bookstore?” Balthazar had asked.
“Yes, Master,” Elgar had answered softly, clutching his skull.
“Good. Have a lovely evening, won’t you? And if you need me–”
“You are a call away. Yes, Master, I know. But I do not think I shall need you this evening. Demos will be there and I can take care of myself,” Elgar had responded.
And now, here they were, going to someplace far more dangerous than the bookstore or a party. Elgar’s head was up. His shoulders were back. His gaze was serene. Demos could see the Vampire he had once been. Still was.
“Forsworn is a wild place. One with nature. It is not as civilized as the other cities. There is no us and them in Forsworn,” Weryn explained. “There is only us.”
“Sounds amazing,” Demos said. “I cannot wait.”
“Though you say that it has been cut off since–since the War… there will be members of my Bloodline there. Never shall the woods of the Forsworn go silent,” Weryn said.
Demos opened his mouth to say something, but Elgar put a mental hand upon him.
He must see for himself, Demos. This will be difficult for him. Be prepared, Elgar sent.
And Balthazar thinks that you don’t know what’s what, Demos said.
Master cannot separate his guilt from my pain. But it is born from love, Elgar answered. That is why I cannot be angry at him even when he interferes.
Demos grimaced. So you knew what he was on about that night?
Of course. Master is very protective, Elgar answered. I expected nothing less from him.
I should have said something, Demos told him. I should have told you, but I…
Why hadn’t he?
There was no need. And you feared I might agree with him if you brought up all his objections, Elgar said.
Demos’ head snapped towards him. I…
Elgar was smiling softly. I know we are very different. That intrigues me as much as it does you. I am not afraid that you challenge my comfort zone. I want you to.
So I’m the risky side piece then? Demos chuckled.
You are my friend.
I am, Elgar. I truly am.
Then that is all that matters.
Weryn then pricked his finger with one fang and wrote a symbol in blood upon the wall.
The wall shimmered and then disappeared into a shower of sparks.
Demos felt himself pulled through a molecule at a time into the gate and beyond.
When he could see again, they were standing on a hill above a rolling forest that abutted a series of massive mountains.
At first, Demos did not see any evidence of buildings at all.
Every other Ever Dark city had their glorious white stone buildings from the Spire to the palaces of Nightvallen, but here there appeared to be only wilderness until he realized that the city was incorporated into the landscape very cleverly.
Trees were not fenced out of the city by high walls, but were a part of it.
Paths wandered through the massive trees that clustered around a large cliff-face.
Rather like the cities in Petra, Jordan, Forsworn was carved into the very mountains themselves.
His heart caught in his throat and he took a step forward.
“It is beautiful,” Elgar whispered. “You will love it more when it is lit up and rings with the sound of Weryn laughter.”
The wind blew and there was a lonely howl on it. There was none of that laughter now. It was desolate.
“There is no one here,” Weryn said quietly. “No one. An abandoned city. A dead city…”
Demos grasped Weryn’s shoulder as the big Vampire stumbled backwards. Finding Forsworn like this had shaken him more than all the rest had. It was as if he had come upon Daemon face to face.
“Ryder!” Demos gasped. “I mean… Weryn! Are you all right?”
Weryn’s fangs were out though not in anger, but almost as if in defense, protection. He quickly straightened and pushed Demos away. Not roughly, but with determination. Demos knew it wasn’t personal, but it hurt. Ryder would never have done that.
What if Ryder is gone and Weryn is all that’s left?
It was a thought that he hadn’t meant to have. He had longed for Weryn’s return. But he had always just assumed that it would be Ryder as Weryn. Ryder as he was in this life. Not… not this stranger who growled and was touchy and particular.
Do not despair, Elgar said. He is not gone.
“We are not alone, Weryn, I sense three minds,” Elgar said.
“Where?” Sana asked, stepping forward. “If you can send me the image, Elgar, I can get us there.”
“I need Weryn’s help,” Elgar told her and he stood in front of Weryn.
The big Immortal’s eyes flickered to Elgar who looked so slender and slight in comparison. He was swallowed by his oversized clothes. Yet despite Elgar wearing a hooded sweatshirt and baggy sweatpants, there was something noble about him.
“Where are they?” Weryn growled. “What part of my home are they defiling?”
“You will show me,” Elgar said. “While Roan cannot fully hide them from me, he obscures their location. But you are Legion’s Master. A Childe is always connected to a Master no matter the distance of their hearts.”
“Hearts?” Weryn growled. “They were never in my heart.”
“You feel the same way about Siban?” Demos couldn’t help snapping.
Weryn turned towards him and there was a wounded look on his face. Demos gritted his teeth. For a moment, all he could see was Ryder.
“You changed your mind about them,” Demos continued.
“Legion is not like Siban.” Weryn turned away.
“Good. Then this is just another War Childe hunt for us,” Demos pronounced.
“We’ve done this before?” Weryn asked.
“So many times. You and me, we hunt all of your War Children down. The ones that cannot keep to the path,” Demos answered.
Weryn’s forehead bunched as if he was trying to remember. “There are many then?”
“You made a lot of really bad people into Vampires,” Demos pointed out. “A lot.”
Weryn lowered his head. “I needed soldiers.”
“You needed killers. It’s different. You know it is,” Demos pushed.
“You are bold to speak your mind to me so freely.” Weryn lifted an eyebrow.
Crossing his arms over his chest. “Ryder always wanted the truth. No matter what it cost him. How inconvenient it was. Especially if he was the cause of things going wrong. I’m giving you the honor of speaking to you as I would to him.”
Weryn’s eyebrows kept lifting with every word. But he actually smiled at the end and clapped Demos’ back. “Bold! Brave! We shall see if your actions can live up to those words.”
“I’ve got your back. I always have. We’ll take them down,” Demos said with certainty.
“If you approve, I will touch your mind and we will find Legion’s location,” Elgar said.
“Do it,” Weryn grunted. “Let’s start this hunt.”