14. Glamour
Glamour
Earlier…
Ryder shifted into the Stormbird. He felt himself grow, expand, become paradoxically lighter and heavier all at once, and then he flapped his wings. Charlie was pushed back a few feet. Fiona had to cover her face with her forearm and squint. Khos huddled down on the ground.
“Goodness, old man, you’re quite the big bird, aren’t you?” Charlie laughed, clearly delighted.
Are you really going to let them ride on top of you? Eyros sounded both amused and a little aghast as if he were worried for Ryder’s dignity.
Just you wait until the future when you’ll be asking to pet one of my forms. I’ll remind you of this moment, Ryder said.
Pet? Pet you? I don’t–
And you love cats, Ryder cut in.
No! That’s impossible! They’re creepy little things that steal one’s breath and fur your pillows! I would never–
Oh, but you would. And you’re animating a dead bear that loves you so much that it naps in your bed, Ryder said.
That’s… that’s uhm, hmmmm. Well, I… really?! Eyros laughed a little.
Really. And you love it all, Ryder said. Every single silly, wonderful moment of it while you get to say droll things and dress like a dandy.
Eyros went silent at this. Ryder knew he was trying to imagine himself that way. He was likely sifting through Ryder’s memories of his times with Balthazar and the others, too. He’d find that his new life was complex, but joyous. Far from what he’d ever had.
Ryder dug his claws into the earth as he shifted his body and lowered himself so that both Fiona and Charlie could get on. Fiona went first. Charlie gestured for her to do so like a gentleman, but they all knew he wanted to see how she approached riding the Stormbird before he attempted it.
Fiona showed no fear, but a striking excitement as she lightly approached him and leaped up onto his back. She ran her hands through his feathers, making an appreciative sound.
“Oh, you’re so soft!” she laughed. “I have to admit I’ve always wanted to touch the Weryn when shifted, but it’s like a thing one doesn’t do.”
“So this is a treat then, yes? Yes,” Charlie answered his own question as he more tentatively approached Ryder.
Ryder turned his large eye onto the Mirryr Vampire, his head tilting in that bird-like way.
He let out a soft hoot, but it sounded more like a shout.
Charlie drew his arms over his chest as if he feared that Ryder was going to start pecking at him.
But then he made it to Ryder’s side and climbed up behind Fiona. She gave him a hand.
“Hold tight to me if you’re too worried about gripping Ryder’s feathers,” she suggested.
“With a name like Wyvern, I shouldn’t be surprised that you like to fly,” Charlie said even as he cast a nervous look down at the ground, which wasn’t that far away yet.
Ask them if they’re ready, Eyros, Ryder requested.
Eyros did and they were so Ryder flapped his massive 747-sized wings and lifted off of the ground. Khos was dancing down below him, head lifted, not wanting to be forgotten.
I’ve got you. Don't worry, Ryder assured him.
He lightly plucked the Dire Wolf from the ground in his claws.
He looked over his shoulder at the two Vampires on his back, but while he could feel them there, he could no longer see them.
They were disguised as feathers. Charlie had done such a good job that there didn’t even appear to be extra feathers there and everything lay smooth and flat like it should.
He’s quite skilled, Ryder murmured.
Of course, he is. I mean… Well, he’s quite skilled, Eyros said.
I know he’s Mirryr, Ryder said quietly.
Eyros didn’t say anything.
It’s all right. I won’t ask you to rat him out and I won’t say anything. When he feels ready to tell everyone, I imagine he will, Ryder said.
It’s strange to talk to you like this, Weryn, Eyros said suddenly as he flapped his wings harder and rose up into the air.
Like what?
Like… friends. Even before you went crazy we weren’t exactly on good terms, you know, Eyros said.
I know.
You seem upset about that. Sad about it, Eyros sounded surprised.
It was a mistake to let past grievances drive us apart.
Kaly’s sickness, the War, and my… my insanity only happened because we were all at odds with one another, Ryder said, realizing it to be true as he said it.
It wasn’t Daemon leaving us. It was that we’d burned the bridges between all of us.
He was the only bridge left so when he went to sleep…
That bridge was gone too? Yes, I suppose. But even though you are back to yourself mostly, you don’t remember all the wrongs we did to one another over the millennia, Eyros pointed out.
I’m glad I don’t, Ryder said. And I don’t intend to dredge them up unless it is to apologize for what I have done to others.
He was now flying them over the undead army that marched ceaselessly around Lasting.
He wondered if it was really a defense mechanism or just a show of power or what.
The creatures of the Ever Dark were revolted by this place.
He sensed Khos’ intense hatred for it. Not because these were Kalys, but because they were these particular Kalys.
They were wrong. This place was all wrong.
Ryder agreed with Khos about this. It all felt like a blemish on a beautiful face.
Do you really think we can be friends and just ignore the past? Eyros didn’t sound like he believed they could.
If we want to then yes. Daemon has revealed our existence to humanity, Eyros. We have plenty of people outside of our ranks who will be our enemies, Ryder informed him.
Oh, lord, he didn’t! What am I saying? Of course, he did! He’s tried this before, you know? Eyros pointed out. It hasn’t worked in our favor.
But he’s chosen to again. This time is different, Ryder insisted.
It’s always different, Weryn. Always. But at least it will be merry this time around! Eyros chuckled in an almost Balthazarian way.
They’d passed over the circle of undead.
The Stormbird’s black and silver feathers made it nearly invisible against the sky.
Its keen eyes allowed him to see if there were any Vampires outside the main body of the city.
Lasting was set on an island among a sea of trees.
There was nowhere large enough for him to land so he would have to shift as they were landing.
He told Khos to be prepared for a slight fall.
Eyros told the other Vampires what to expect too.
They aren’t paying attention to you. The Kaly Vampires in the city, Eyros told him. They seem excited about something, but it has nothing to do with you.
Ryder tried not to imagine what would get the Kaly Vampires excited when Grayson was trapped there.
It had to be something to do with him. His heart was still sickly beating, which told him that Grayson remained in danger, but he was not as afraid as he had been.
But he was weak. Ryder could feel that, too. Weak and failing.
The Ever Dark is draining him and his human form cannot take the power that it offers so the circuit is incomplete. He’s being sucked dry, Ryder realized. Even if one of the Kaly slices do not kill him, he is dying anyway.
How had things gotten so dire? Maybe they had been for some time. Grayson was like a cat that hid his weakness. But Ryder should have seen it. Should have insisted on… what? He couldn’t insist on anything.
Grayson was his equal and had a very firm idea of what he was going to do and when.
Especially when it came to being turned.
While he wanted nothing more than to shepherd his beloved back into the night, he had no right to insist upon it.
But perhaps he should have been more generous about telling Grayson it was all right if he chose someone else to turn him.
Maybe if he had tried harder to be okay with the idea of Grayson being turned by another then Grayson wouldn’t have delayed as long as he had.
But even as he thought it, he realized that it was a vain hope.
Grayson would never have believed him and it would have made any decision more painful for him.
Yet now they were in the distant past and separated. Grayson was in the hands of their enemy and weak as a kitten. The Kaly slices had already killed him once, seeing him so weak, they could do anything now.
We’re coming, Grayson. Just hold on! Ryder pleaded.
Eyros must have heard this, because he said, I think I should tell you something.
Now, Eyros? I have to concentrate on landing, Ryder said.
Yes, because I don’t know what those bastard Kaly slices are doing to Ashyr–Grayson–right now. But I know what I would do if I were them, Eyros said quietly.
What would you do?
Knowing what I do now about how we can combine powers and how the Master-Childe bond creates a great deal of sympathy and loyalty between them–no matter how unearned–I would turn Grayson, Eyros said.
Ryder’s wings beat ragged for a moment. What?!
He heard a muffled, “Hey, old boy, do be careful! Don’t dump us off.”
He gained control of himself. That’s not… you can’t be serious?!
What other play do they have? They can’t go up against Daemon directly, Eyros pointed out.
Grayson would never be against Daemon! No matter who turned him! Ryder growled.
No, he wouldn’t. I don’t think they intend to use Grayson as the general of their army against Daemon. I think they’ll use him as a shield, Eyros explained. If one of them turns him, there will always be something between them.
Then Daemon will use Armageddon to turn him back to humanity so he can choose who he truly wants to be with! Ryder snarled.
That is Daemon’s prerogative, but it is not some kind of gift without cost. Turning a newly made Vampire back would cause damage, Eyros pointed out. He’d have to wait and so that bond would grow.
Need I remind you of the memories you’ve already dug out of my mind, Fiona and Charlie’s? Every Immortal has killed the one that made them. You and Caemorn did it. Fiona did it. I did it, Ryder explained.