11. This Time
This Time
Being marched into a city full of Kaly Vampires was not something that Grayson had ever put on his bucket list. And now, experiencing it, he had a feeling he would not want to repeat it. Not with these versions of Kaly in charge. He doubted that Caemorn would be comfortable here either.
If only Caemorn were here.
Silver eyes observed him coolly on every side.
There were as many dead things walking about as Vampires.
Skeletal warriors with bows and swords tracked his every move.
Cadaverous beasts with claws and fangs sniffed the air and turned their heads towards him, eye sockets full of fire.
The only reason he was not attacked was because their Kaly Masters held their invisible chains.
But some of the chains could be seen. For example, there were humans also in the crowd.
All wore white toga-like apparel and had slender silver chains around their throats, wrists and ankles.
They scurried while the Kaly Vampires were still.
They kept their eyes cast down while the Kaly Vampires stared.
Grayson lifted his chin and met each gaze evenly and without fear.
He would not be cowed. Human or not, he was an Immortal. He would never scurry.
You’re wishing that I would have chosen to remember the past right about now, aren’t you? I don’t even need to read your mind to know that, Eyros said.
It would have been useful. But it shouldn’t matter. Caemorn absorbed all his other slices. He should remember this himself.
But he did not mention it? That he saw you in Lasting being herded like a particularly tasty prey?
No, clearly if he had I would have been more prepared.
And you call him “friend,” Eyros scoffed, that unattractive bitterness rising up.
He is my friend. My brother. If he remembered any of this, he would have told me, Grayson argued.
Fine. He didn’t lie to you. He didn’t hide the truth. He was simply… mistaken, Eyros laughed sourly.
Caemorn doesn’t lie, Grayson said.
Everyone lies, Ashyr.
He didn’t lie about this. He didn’t hide this from me, Grayson said, certain of it. He didn’t know this happened.
Then how could he have absorbed all the slices of himself like he claimed to?
Perhaps he didn’t and only thought he did. Or perhaps the memories don’t separate out as cleanly. I can’t imagine trying to parse all of this. Hundreds of lives over tens of thousands of years. It would be impossible to do, Grayson pointed out.
Eyros was silent then. Grayson wondered if the other Immortal agreed with him or thought it pointless to argue if he was so intent on being foolish. But he wasn’t being foolish. He understood Eyros’ disbelief. They had fallen so far from one another in this time. But in the future they were united.
Have you ever been to Lasting? I don’t think I have, Eyros suddenly said. Unsurprisingly, the place looks like a giant graveyard.
Eyros was not wrong about that. Lasting was made of the same pale, white stone as all the Ever Dark cities, but it had its unique aspects just like they all did.
While Solace had the single Spire with lower buildings all around it and Nightvallen had the sumptuous palaces and Foresworn was built practically in the forest, Lasting was a city of pyramids, obelisks and ziggurats.
It was, indeed, a city of tombs. A graveyard.
Tell me you have a plan to get out of this, Ashyr, Eyros said for the umpteenth time.
I do not have a plan. Yet, Grayson said.
Still holding onto that blind faith you have in Seeyr?
Whatever is to happen will happen.
That doesn’t mean it won’t be bad, Eyros pointed out. Or painful. Or both.
Roan walked behind Grayson. He didn’t hold onto him or restrain Grayson in any way.
There was no need. Grayson’s human strength was less than a child’s in comparison to a Vampire’s.
His power was also at a low ebb. A very low ebb.
In fact, he feared if he used too much of it, the slender cord that kept him in this body might snap.
So though he could have used it back in the forest to save himself from Roan, it would have been an only temporary reprieve.
Even killing Roan wasn’t going to save himself from the Immortal slice, because he would simply go to another body to inhabit or meld with another one of his counterparts and they would know he was here anyways.
And, besides, he wanted to get into the city.
That was where the gates were. And the gates were his only chance to get back to his own time.
“You’re being so compliant! That makes me uneasy, Ashyr,” Roan mused in an almost musical voice.
He knew that Grayson was Ashyr. That meant he must be connected with the Roan that existed in the future.
Perhaps he was the Roan–or a Roan–that existed in the future, able to time travel.
He thought of that first gate Ryder and Demos had tried to take him through.
It had been blocked. Kaly’s understanding of how the gates worked and what they could do was clearly beyond most.
The gates must be the key to traveling back and forth in time. Fiona likely is the only Wyvern able to do it independently, but it took whatever the structure did to trigger it, Grayson thought. But they didn’t realize that this would be the result.
Roan had been clearly surprised at his presence here. Grayson even hoped he might feel uneasy. Eyros was able to shield his mind from Roan so that Grayson didn’t tire himself trying to do the same thing.
Every time he looks into your head, he’ll only see past battles, Eyros had said. Despite being a sadistic bastard, I don’t think he’ll like to see you winning over and over again.
It might unnerve him more. I need all the help that I can get, Grayson had said with approval.
Still it was an interesting choice for Roan to have picked the tail end of the War rather than when it was completely over and the other Immortals dead or scattered.
He found his steps slowing as he carefully searched for gates.
Nightvallen had dozens. Solace at least six.
There would, undoubtedly, be that many here.
But maybe only one or two open so that they can control who can get through, Grayson thought.
The Kaly Vampires feared more than just people getting through the gates, but from the Ever Dark itself.
They had a veritable army of the undead marching around the city in a massive circle.
And it wasn’t just the dead that were the danger, but treacherous soul gems that studded the earth like bombs ready to go off.
There had been a narrow and difficult path to pick through to get to the other side of the army of the dead and that had exhausted Grayson more than he’d like to admit.
“Stop dwaddling, Ashyr.” A poke to his back that had Grayson grimacing. “There’s no way out of here for you, weak and pathetically mortal as you are.”
“I’m tired and muddy,” Grayson said quietly. “I’d like to sit down.”
“Oh? Would you like something to eat and drink? I could draw you a bath? Rub your feet?”
“You hate me that much, do you?” Grayson asked. “That you won’t even let me sit?”
“No, not at all. I rather admire you. Compared to so many of the other Immortals, you’re rather good at your job,” Roan admitted. “I just wanted to remind you that we aren’t friends like you are with Caemorn.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m quite well aware that you are nothing like Caemorn,” Grayson said wearily.
He felt pressure against his mind and grimaced. Annoying Roan was never a good idea. Eyros’ protection held, but he had to be careful.
I can protect you. But if I do too much he’ll realize I’m here and… I worry what they will do to you, Eyros said.
Can’t you do something to him? Grayson asked.
They’re like a hive mind, Eyros explained. Touch one of them and you touch them all.
Really? Grayson was shocked. He hadn’t gotten that impression before.
Yes, I can see they don’t act that way in the future world, but here they do, Eyros said. Probably because whoever is pulling their strings here isn’t in that future.
Why not? Killed off or–ah. Daemon. They want to avoid Daemon being awake, Grayson realized. So they’re hiding in the past.
Exactly. The one place where Daemon cannot get them, Eyros answered. How–how is Daemon, by the way?
I don’t know if now is the best time for me to fill you in on everyone’s situation, Grayson pointed out. Feeling Eyros’ hunger and slight hurt, he said, Daemon is wonderful and his fledgling is amazing.
So that all worked out, did it? That’s something, Eyros said.
Christian is Julian’s best friend, Grayson said. Julian is our prince.
Best friends? There was a slightly lasciviously lilt to Eyros’ tone. Really?
Not in that way, Grayson said with a faint smile. He had a feeling that Eyros was actually trying to amuse him a little bit. Probably because he thought Grayson was going to die a second time. But they’re thick as thieves and always out front. You and Daemon have your hands full.
That sounds so much more pleasant than the current moment, Eyros admitted.
Yes, for you and me both. Where is he taking me? Who do you think is in charge? Grayson asked. I mean I know it is Kaly, but which version? It’s probably just another Roan. Roan Prime or something.
I believe you are being taken to that central ziggurat, Eyros said.
The other Immortal directed Grayson’s attention to a central step pyramid that was twice the size as anything else in the city. It reminded Grayson of an evil layer cake. The doors and windows–not something usual in such a creation on Earth–all glowed orange.
This is Halloween, Grayson sing-songed.
What are you doing?
It’s a song… forget it. I think you’re right. That’s our destination, Grayson said.
Of course, I’m right! Eyros scoffed. When have I been wrong?
Grayson rolled his eyes.