Page 17 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 3

Step Into The Future

R yder stood outside of the Eyros Palace. It was beautiful with all its glass and wood sitting amongst roses and deep trees. It reminded him of a jewel-like drop of water on a tree limb. More of the mind than matter. This, of course, was fitting for Eyros.

He was alone as he had ended his interview with Amaris and Kayne with instructions for Demos and Siban to accompany them to their new quarters and see they had everything they needed.

“Find out more about them,” Ryder had also commanded Siban and Demos. “I want to know what is in the hearts and minds of these Weryn. I will count on you both to help me pick the worthy to be our trusted family.”

Both of them nodded smartly.

“Are you certain you want to go to a party with only Immortals?” Demos let out a soft guffaw as he asked it.

“I think I have to at some point. Besides, Grayson will be there, and I hunger to see him,” Ryder admitted.

He more than hungered. It was like a constant ache. And it had propelled him to leave his newly reclaimed palace–even as desired to stay and explore it–to be with his lover.

On the way over from the Weryn Palace, he’d truly looked at the city again.

Not as he had when he first came here, to map it and plot quick escapes.

But to feel it, to know it, to embrace it.

Nightvallen was Daemon’s city, but it belonged to all of them in a way.

It was the heart of the Vampire World. And what a heart it was with its graceful curving streets and elegant white stone buildings.

He’d glimpsed Christian and Julian giving guided tours to the press.

The beautiful boys–Julian with his winsome smile and Christian with his dry patience for in depth questions–easily strolled amongst the slowly opening city.

Several of the palaces, the school, some of the larger buildings and, of course, shops for the students had been opened, but there were still so many buildings that had remained shut and dark or with only softly glowing lights as if waiting for their owners to return.

Outside of the palaces, Vampires of great age and importance must have lived here.

Many were likely long gone now. Given their Second Deaths in the War.

Or disappeared into the dirt like Elgar had and had not yet re-emerged.

Maybe some were like his own Bloodline who remained out there, somewhere, not quite sure if it was safe to come back or if they wanted to.

Some buildings were being repurposed as embassies for every country on Earth.

Corporations were clamoring to be allowed in to study the Ever Dark and pillage its resources.

Not that Daemon would allow the second. Not that the Ever Dark itself would either.

But humans were industrious, curious beings that always needed to further progress even if it wasn’t good for them.

With this first year of students, most of the city was purposefully being kept empty. There were too many internal politics that they couldn’t allow the humans to see. But, at the same time, the humans wanted to be assured about what they were doing. They were supposed to be full partners in this.

Julian and Christian had stopped in front of the burbling fountain where the parade had gone past not that long ago. That smile that caused hearts to beat harder appeared on the Vampire Prince’s beautiful face.

“This is the Avenue of the Immortals. Each Immortal has their own palace. Those who have returned to us and taken up residence have flames above their palaces. King Daemon’s main palace is at the end,” Julian explained and gestured around them.

A reporter that Ryder vaguely knew from television frantically waved a hand in the air like a very eager student. Julian called upon her though from the slight dry look from Christian it was obvious to Ryder that questions were to wait until after the tour.

“We all noticed a new flame,” the reporter said and she’d gestured quite clearly at the Weryn Palace.

Ryder slid behind a bush as the cameras were all of the sudden moving and lifting towards his palace and him. Neither Julian nor Christian even turned around to look.

“Yes, we are very excited to welcome the Immortal Weryn back to Nightvallen,” Christian said calmly.

“Weryn? Weryn? Which one are they?” He heard one of the reporters say as he checked his list. “Ah, the shapeshifters!”

The shapeshifters? Weryn growled, but with a touch of amused disgust. They make shifting sound like a party trick.

Another hand was waving frantically. “Will we be able to speak to Weryn? We’ve had sit downs with all the Immortals, except Seeyr, of course.” There was a slight bitter note at that. “At least not yet. ”

And not ever if Seeyr has anything to say about it.

The questions were now sprouting up from every reporter.

“Is Weryn at their palace now?”

He was near enough that they could spot him.

“Can we go see them?”

He imagined a group of reporters rather than the Weryn Vampires sitting at the edge of his property and he wasn’t sure which he was more leery of.

“Will they give an interview?”

About what? Do they know about the War or would it be some general questions?

“What animals can he shift into? More than one kind?”

Fluffy bunny rabbits and cuddly kittens on demand!

“Can we see them shift and record?”

Oh, by the gods, no…

Though, again, neither Christian nor Julian turned towards him, he knew they were aware he was nearby. So they could bring the horde of reporters right to him and he would have to answer those questions for real this time.

Not now, he thought very distinctly, hoping that Christian would pick up his thoughts. Later. When I am in a better mood.

He had not meant to add that last part. He had a meeting to go to, but the truth was that he was feeling strange and territorial at the moment.

Speaking to those of his old Blood and opening the palace had stirred things within him and, unfortunately, they were not all good.

Yet he knew that he needed to be more than pleasant in front of the cameras.

He would shame Daemon otherwise and he’d already accomplished enough of that already.

It was Julian who spoke with that winsome smile back in place, “Weryn is very busy, but he may agree to meet and speak at a later time. We will inform you of when that will be. So please do not attempt to wander off and find him yourselves.”

Good show! And better advice! He must have heard me. Julian has all the gifts, of course, Ryder realized.

I’m getting slightly better at this, Julian sent back with a laugh. But you were practically shouting your request not to speak to them. The reporters aren’t that bad.

I am not so sociable as you, Prince Julian, or as patient as Christian, Ryder admitted.

Please, just Julian. I’m used to dealing with the press because of Mom and Dad’s early work then Christian and my show, and now, of course, as ambassadors of Vampire-dom to humanity, Julian answered modestly.

You’re doing quite well. Back in the day, Children such as yourselves would not be without their Masters, Ryder said.

Daemon reminds me of this whenever I have a wild hair about taking off into the Ever Dark wilderness with camera and Christian to check things out, Julian laughed again. I use that as leverage to make wandering around the city and dealing with reporters seem mild in comparison.

It’s dangerous outside these walls, Julian , Ryder found himself advising. Please do not go out alone. If you really must and Daemon cannot come, I will accompany you.

He felt Julian’s surprise and pleasure at that. Was it so surprising that he would offer his protection to the Vampire Prince? But then he considered how insular he had behaved since arriving here. So maybe he’d earned that reaction.

You have a lot on your plate, Julian sent kindly. And I don’t expect anyone to simply drop what they’re doing for me, especially for a lark.

You’re our prince. We would do anything for you, but allow you to go into danger. At least not alone. And I share your desire to know this place beyond the cities myself, Ryder admitted. I yearn to shift and hunt.

He felt Julian’s growing excitement. Really?! If you go, will you let me go with you? I… I haven’t been able to shift yet and I really want to learn how. Daemon can turn into an army of wolves, ravens, lions, tigers, bears and I can’t even become a house cat!

Ryder found himself grinning and a warmth formed inside of him. Julian wasn’t just his prince or the fledgling of the man he’d agreed to give all he had for. Julian was able to shift . So Julian was pack.

Of course, I’ll help you! Ryder enthused.

You will? YES! Julian did a mental fist pump, but from what Ryder could tell of his continued answering of questions, he appeared quite calm and unruffled in front of the reporters.

All right then, before we meet up and do this, I want you to try and sit quietly with your eyes closed–

That sounds suspiciously like meditating, Julian said.

And for an active young Vampire that probably sounds like hell! Ryder laughed. But don’t think of it like that. Imagine that you are in the presence of a wild animal and you are trying to lure it to you.

And am I? Julian’s mental laughter was almost contagious.

In a way, Ryder said, thinking of the line of his own animals and wondering if he shouldn’t be sitting quietly to greet new and old alike. What you’re doing is trying to find yours and coax it to you.

Julian’s mind lit up as if Ryder had said something that clicked for him. I know what you mean! There’s been a moment or two just before I’ve fallen asleep when I thought I saw some glowing eyes in the dark on the edge of my vision, but then when I’ve focused on them–

They’ve disappeared? Yes, your spirit is trying to come to you, but they need the stillness and quiet for that first approach. We’ll work on this together, Ryder assured him.