19. Connection
Connection
Earlier…
We have to go get them, Ryder, Grayson’s voice sounded exhausted and distant as sleep tugged at him. Fiona and Charlie need us.
They’d made it halfway to the gate to Nightvallen. Ryder could see it at the top of a massive cliff ahead of them. A simple arch of white stone, the same as all of the other gates, which were wonders in their own right, but still every gate to Nightvallen felt special.
Daemon sleeps just on the other side of it. Does he dream, I wonder? When he wakes, his life will seem like a dream–a good one–with Julian.
But while the Vampire King had once always meant safety, he did not now.
Asleep and far away, Daemon could not help them.
He would not wake until Julian came and tugged him from his deathless slumber.
So though the gate glimmered with hope and welcome, it was just the reflection of what would be, not what was.
There was no safety in Nightvallen’s empty streets or closed buildings.
Not until Fiona gets us back to our time.
Ryder could almost envision their welcome. Balthazar, Caemorn, Elgar and others would be waiting for them. They’d know that something terrible had happened, but not what. Unless Caemorn remembered this. Or Elgar. His past self seemed to think he did.
Balthazar will have us tell him everything twice over even though he could get it all from our heads. I will require him to agree to go camping with the pack in order to hear the story a third time, Ryder thought with a smile.
But then his head turned from the gate to the city and back again.
Khos whined and danced on its paws. They were so close!
But, again, the gate wasn’t an escape without their friends.
Hell, even if he hadn’t been absurdly fond of Fiona and Charlie, there was no way to get home without Fiona, at least.
I’m sure they’ve kicked the hornet’s nest, Ryder, Grayson said, still sounding so incredibly exhausted.
And why shouldn’t he? His beloved had done the seemingly impossible.
He’d raised a whole dragon from the dead!
It was definitely a story that needed to be memorialized in one of the Siryn’s songs.
Ashyr had always been powerful, but now?
Even as the newest of the new fledglings, he was stunningly brilliant.
What would he be able to do as the years flowed by like water?
But that time was not now. And Grayson had used much of his strength to do this.
You’re in no shape to go anywhere, Grayson. I think revitalizing that dragon took it all the way out of you, Ryder cautioned him.
I know, but the others should be here by now, Grayson protested.
And that had Ryder clenching his jaw. Grayson was right.
They’d led Legion, Lawson and Natasha on a merry chase for some time, not to mention the time with the Mers and the dragon fight.
But there was no sign of the other two Immortals.
Under other circumstances, he would have gone off after them with half this threat. But Grayson was so weak and so young.
It was dangerous for him to have used so much power and every Master instinct that Ryder had was screaming at him to find somewhere safe to hole up and feed his fledgling.
He shifted one arm and grimaced. He needed blood himself.
He was still recovering from that Mer weapon.
The truth was that neither of them was in all that good of shape to rescue anyone.
And, besides, Fiona and Charlie might already be on their way.
We should give Charlie and Fiona a chance to make it here, Ryder advised. They’re both incredibly clever and have never kept down long.
Can’t you feel the violence coming from the Spire? Grayson asked.
The fur between Ryder’s shoulders twitched. He could. And if he took in a deep breath, he could smell it too. The Vampires’ blood was up. They were on a hunt. Worry ate at him.
If they don’t come soon, I will go after them, Ryder promised.
We will go after them.
No, Grayson. You will stay with Khos by the gate, Ryder insisted. He would brook no argument on this. You’ve done enough. More than enough. I’m worried what will happen to you if you keep going. Let alone, if that dragon senses you again.
You’re still injured from that Mer weapon! Grayson protested. I can tell you’re in pain though you’re trying to hide it from me.
That was true. He was hiding it. But obviously not very well.
Ashyr, Ryder called him by his Immortal name, you must think like the General now. Should I run after Fiona and Charlie now?
A few beats. No, your plan to wait is the right one.
And if someone has to go, who do you think is better suited to go look for Fiona and Charlie between the two of us? Ryder asked.
Grayson sighed. Fine, you win. It’s you. You’re better suited. I admit I’m a bit of a mess.
A bit? Ryder chuckled.
I’m still connected to the dragon. It’s not draining me any longer, but… Here Grayson tilted his bird head to the side. I can feel it. I wonder if I always will. Though I imagine if there was a dragon by the spire, we’d have heard about it.
Lawson claimed he “killed” a dragon, but can something already dead be killed? Ryder had always thought the story was made up. It wasn’t, but Lawson had, undoubtedly, been exaggerating something and “killing” a dead dragon would be it.
No, they can’t kill it. Grayson hopped a bit in his fur. It’s not like anything else out there.
It’s a dragon, Grayson. Of course, it isn’t. I wasn’t even aware that they actually existed, Ryder admitted. None have ever come to my call. I’m a little miffed about that.
Grayson twittered his laughter. Yes, well, I don’t think dragons bend the knee. Not even to the great Weryn.
I don’t ask them to bow. Well, not always, Ryder said with a laugh. But, still, I have never felt one before, I don’t think.
Can you feel it now?
Ryder searched with his senses back out towards the lake.
And he did feel something. Well, he felt Legion, Lawson and Natasha.
They were his Bloodline after all, but there was a bigger force there, something completely alien, that lingered.
He quickly drew his senses back in when he felt blue-white eyes searching for him.
It knows we’re together, Ryder said. It nearly had me there.
What do you mean?
It senses like we do. Has its own gifts evidently, he explained. Frowning slightly, he added, First, the Mer are aggravated with us and now a dragon. Both are fearsome enemies, I think.
It’s not an enemy, Grayson objected, but then added, Well, not exactly anyways. I brought it back so it should have some loyalty to me.
But it doesn’t? Ryder guessed.
It wants more than I can give it right now, Grayson finally admitted. If the dragon is still around in the future, I’m really going to need Caemorn’s help with it.
Ryder smiled. I can see him pinching the top of his nose now as you tell him you managed on your first few days of your Second Life to bring back a dragon!
Grayson hopped happily for a few moments on his little bird feet before falling into his fur in exhaustion. Yeah, I totally can too. I can’t wait to see that. Oh, Ryder, I want to go home!
I do as well, Ryder agreed. Though we are in the Ever Dark it is not our Ever Dark. We are men out of time and do not belong here any more.
Yes. Grayson fussed with his feathers for a moment before saying, I wonder though if your power and Caemorn’s together are what let me bring the dragon back so fully. I know that Caemorn can create bodies and populate them with souls, but this felt… different.
Everything about you is different. Daemon and Julian are the only ones who have as many powers as you do, Ryder reminded him.
More powers than me by far. This gives me just a touch of what Daemon must feel like all the time. He is far more powerful than we know, Grayson admitted. It’s strange to say that after knowing him so long and yet realizing that he is a mystery to me.
First Among Equals?
I don’t think we’re his equals at all, Ryder.
No, we’re not. We’re lucky that Julian is the type of person he is so that Daemon’s power will be used for good, Ryder remarked.
Yes, you’re right. Julian will keep him on the straight and narrow. In the light, if you will.
Light of the moon and the stars.
Exactly. I just realized I won’t see another sunrise again, Grayson sighed.
Ah, yes. I would have given you the time to truly enjoy that last one before I turned you, Ryder said and felt the unfairness of how Grayson had been turned. It had given his beloved far greater powers, but at what cost? He already knew that Grayson would be willing to pay it.
You would have and will give me everything, my love, Grayson assured him.
You know, I worked night shifts almost exclusively when I was at the convenience store?
I barely noticed the sun unless it was streaming through the cracks in my window shades and waking me up.
Even back then, I knew the world of sunlight was not for me.
Still, there is something right about what we do now with the Academy. We let humans truly understand what they are getting into, Ryder said. They can make the transition so much better than before.
Indeed.
Ryder offered his right paw for the bird to hop down onto. Grayson did, settling into his large palm with a contented sigh. A feeling of warmth, love and the desire to protect flowed through Ryder.
You’re looking at me like a proud Papa, Grayson teased.
I am proud. Immeasurably. Though I had little to do with it, Ryder said.
The faint roaring of the dragon in the background was evidence of that, if nothing else.
The bird form is quite comfortable and useful. No one notices me, but I can see everything and move fast, Grayson told him, his little black eyes closing with the need for sleep.