Vampire Lessons
“You’ll be expected to dress and act as an extension of His Majesty.” Gorvin’s long robes swooshed the ornate golden pattern at his ankles with each balanced stride.
Dommik followed behind us wearing his typical leathers. No wonder his musk reeked of it; it was all he seemed to wear.
“If another vampire comes into contact with you, it must be within the presence of and with the explicit permission of the regent. Understood?” Gorvin gave a sharp side eye to the Commander.
I had only just arrived at the Hive the night prior and was already expected to have adopted the customs of a vampire court.
I’d often felt like an imposter amongst high-born nobles of the Illica court.
I would do now what I’d done then—observe, adapt, and hope I don’t break any unforgivable rules.
The Hive couldn't be that different, could it?
I was teeming with unanswered questions. But between what I could only assume was a blood-hangover and the adjustment to a nocturnal lifestyle, I wasn’t operating with my normal faculties.
“What if…” My question trailed—he probably wasn’t the person to ask.
Gorvin stilled and faced me. “My lady?”
I kneaded my clammy hands together. “What if someone doesn’t have permission?”
I didn’t want my question to insult Dommik. He apologized, said he should have acted sooner to prevent Vaspar’s attack, but it happened all the same. And I feared it would happen again.
Dommik cracked his knuckles. The bones adjusting echoed off the wide hallways.
Gorvin pressed his thin lips together. “There are severe consequences and we don’t want that.”
“For me?” I asked.
“For anyone involved, yes.”
My heart sank to the pit of my belly. For anyone involved.
Of course I’d already misstepped. After narrowly avoiding the axe, I had no interest in being on the receiving end of a vampiric punishment.
I swallowed the knot in my throat, straightened and said, “I’m to be punished then? For what happened in the Eckwood?”
“Oh. Right.” Gorvin released a heavy exhale like he’d finally realized why I’d ask these questions. “Don’t fret. That was unfortunate business. That will not happen again.”
He said it so matter-of-factly, like any other truth couldn’t or shouldn’t be considered.
“But what if—”
“It. Will not. Happen,” Dommik interjected, accentuating the words in a way that made me feel reassured rather than scolded. We nodded at each other in silent understanding.
It will not happen again.
I wanted to believe them. To believe that another violent encounter could be avoided.
That the protection of the regent and his guards would deter anyone brave, cunning, or stupid enough to try.
Doubt nested in my marrow. They can have all the intentions in the world, but they could never offer a stone-clad guarantee.
The dutiful steward turned quickly and we resumed our march.
“Lord Wrymark has been our Master of Archives for over a century. He is exceptional at his craft. He’ll see that you’re brought up to speed on our history and political relations to prevent any avoidable missteps in future summits.
Vampire history is vast. I highly recommend you give him the entirety of your focus. ”
I’ve got nothing else to do, I thought.
Dommik cleared his throat and Gorvin rolled his eyes. The two of them bickered like siblings. A small pinch pricked in my chest as I thought of the relationship Cova and I once had.
Gorvin continued his brief as we turned another corner, “There is one last item. Your training.”
We reached a set of expansive double doors. Sweat broke on my brow from the brisk walk yet there were no signs of exertion on Gorvin’s bald head.
“My training?” I arched my brow.
“Yes, training.” The steward ran a finger over a display next to the doors and rubbed the collected residue with a grunt. “For…your gifts.”
I went still, my conditioned response when magic was mentioned so openly.
“Oh, my dear, don’t worry.” Gorvin keyed into my change in demeanor. “It’s not widely known.”
I let out my held breath. “I appreciate your discretion. It’s not something I’ve ever spoken about publicly.”
“Of course. Of course.” He nodded to the ground. “Well, that won’t take place for a few days. There are other, more pressing matters that must be attended to.”
Dommik grumbled something about how we should start training right away, but the steward waved a dismissive, manicured hand.
I still didn’t know what Rhazien wanted me to find for him. I filed the question away with the myriad of others I harbored. Gorvin rattled off the daily itinerary once again before setting himself upon the ornate double doors.
“Lady Bergmont, welcome to the Sanctum of Knowledge.”
Rows upon rows of towering shelves held pristinely organized books.
I craned my neck, trying to take in their obscure titles as Gorvin and I walked to the center of the library.
A young man, who couldn’t have been more than twenty, sat at the round desk.
His pristine white robes contrasted his sun-kissed skin.
He stood as our echoing footsteps approached and a warm smile stretched across the soft edges of his face.
“Ah, Gorvin. Punctual as always.”
“I am loyal to my reputation,” Gorvin said, the ghost of a smirk pulled at the corner of his lips. And, was that a hint of pink I detected swelling in his cheeks? “May I present, Lady Reyva Bergmont—”
“The regent’s guest. Yes, the Hive is buzzing about you.
And I despise puns, but there’s simply no better way to describe the stir you’re causing.
” He set down a thick-spined, emerald tome on the desk and folded his hands together.
“I’m Oddo Wrymark and I insist, no matter what code of behavior Gorvin is impressing upon you, that you please call me Oddo. ”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Oddo.” I curtsied to the abnormally young master.
“The honor is mine. Come.” Oddo gestured for me to follow him.
When I turned back, expecting to find the leather-clad Commander, Dommik had found himself otherwise preoccupied with a bookshelf. He tipped his head to me as if to say he wouldn’t go far.
The library was filled with long, broad tables, some empty, some occupied with scholars wearing white robes similar to Oddo’s. The golden embroidery of their uniform differed as only some featured a small, threaded vine while others were adorned with a shining thicket.
“You’ll find we have tomes and articles split into two main sections, The Sanctum of Truths—containing our history, scrolls, articles, and the like—and The Sanctum of Lore, which, I’m sure, speaks for itself.”
We paused at the split between halls.
“And all of this?” I gestured to the stacks in the main conservatory.
Oddo’s umber eyes glittered as he explained, “The duplicate copies for the citizens to borrow. Our scholars work tirelessly to create and maintain copies of the original texts so all citizens of the Hive have access.”
“Wow,” I said in breathless astonishment.
I’d never seen so many books in one place and to imagine there were more down each hallway was hard to grasp.
Makeshift libraries may have popped up here and there around the human settlements of Atoris, but the Crown certainly did nothing to help the public gain entertainment or knowledge.
We’d had a few shelves of books at the estate but our meager collection was pitiful in comparison to the knowledge surrounding me.
“I don’t want to offend, but I never want to assume. So, I have to ask, can you read, Lady Reyva?”
“Yes. Although, I’ve never been in a room with so many texts.” I assessed Oddo, trying to determine if he was a vampire or not. Best to assume he was. “It’s a good thing you’re immortal because I can only venture to guess it would take many lifetimes to read all of this.”
“That is one perk to our condition. There’s always more to read. There’s always more to know.” He stroked the spine of a cobalt book in quiet admiration. “I just want to give everyone the chance to know the world as well as I do.”
“Even with all its horrors?”
He chuckled and shook his head gently. “Without atrocities we cannot illuminate and appreciate the beauty in life, Lady Reyva.”
“His hunger for knowledge knows no bounds!” Rhazien’s pride for his Master of Archives echoed over the tiles of the vast library.
“Majesty.” We greeted the regent in harmony.
His black cape billowed behind his broad frame with his hasty gait.
The lantern lights glimmered off of his modest crown and wide smile, hitching my breath.
He was as handsome as I’d remembered from the night before, but his presence didn’t send me into a heated passion the way it had during our prior meeting.
Had the blood left my system? I’d be thankful if it had.
I didn’t need another embarrassing display, especially considering our audience.
“Lady Reyva, a jewel amongst a jewel. The Sanctum of Knowledge is my crowning accomplishment as regent.”
He found pride in knowledge, not killing or conquering. I turned the information over in my mind, filing it away in the mass of what I will learn about him. It was admirable.
“It’s breathtaking.” I blinked away from his piercing stare, my cheeks heating under his attention.
“I’m pleased you like it. I expect you and Oddo will be fast friends.” He patted his Master of Archives on the back with a resounding thud.
Oddo beamed at his regent. From his pointed nose to thin lips, Oddo’s features were Rhazien’s perfect opposite. I tried to imagine the face he could have grown into had he lived as a human a bit longer.
“You’re too kind, Majesty.” Oddo smiled. “You’ve appointed me to a place of service that I would have chosen on my own and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”
“If I didn’t have a kingdom to run, I would be right here with you.” The green in Rhazien’s eyes twinkled amongst the limitless papers and mahogany shelves.