Page 27 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 3

I wasn’t able to get any Ashyr into the party. That would have been a line too far for Charlie to cross, but they’re outside, surrounding the place and can be here in moments. Fiona has her people coupled with them so they can teleport in, Balthazar explained.

That wouldn’t quite give Grayson the cover he wanted when he squeezed people, but that just meant he’d have to be quick and careful.

Good. With the Wyvern we might actually be able to capture another Sect member, Grayson said. One we can interrogate and maybe have Dani or another Ashyr try to feel for structures.

So you don’t just squeeze them? Balthazar chuckled.

If I squeezed their brains literally, what do you think would happen? Grayson asked back dryly.

Ah. Squish. I see. Yuck.

Exactly, which is why I can’t just tell Dani and the others what I’m doing, Grayson answered. I’m realizing that it’s more complicated than that. And I’m more worried that them simply being a Vampire and using their gift on a Sect member will trigger a trap anyways.

You really think the Sect is that well prepared, don’t you? Balthazar sounded a little surprised and worried.

They got people past you, Balthazar, so yes, I think they know what they’re doing, Grayson said.

He felt Balthazar’s happy frisking at the compliment. That’s so nice of you to say! I had heard that my former self was a bit… well, careless.

Grayson’s memories shifted and refocused as he said, You were arrogant to be sure. But it was because you were really that good.

I was? Balthazar sounded agog.

You were. And you’re getting back to it, though you have a long way to go, Grayson amended. We all do. But maybe that’s a good thing as this will make us more cautious again. Less certain of ourselves.

You think that’s what caused Kaly to get you last time? Balthazar asked carefully.

I do. I should have never gone after him alone, but I did. If I’d brought others with me like you or Wyvern or Weryn, things might have gone very differently, Grayson admitted. Hopefully, the Sect expects us to behave as we used to and not as we are now.

By the way, you do look smashing in that coat, Balthazar said. Ryder is going to lose his mind when he sees you.

You can see me? Grayson asked.

Up here!

Grayson was at the base of the stairs up to the front door. He looked up at one of the Juliet balconies on the second floor nearest the entrance and there stood Balthazar in all black except for a silver domino mask. He toasted Grayson with a drink before disappearing inside.

Where is Ryder? Grayson asked as he picked his way past couples and groups that were camped out on the graceful front steps, drinking and laughing. The front door had been removed so it was really just an open archway.

Sniffing everyone inside. He’s on the third floor, Balthazar said.

The urge to go find Ryder was almost overwhelming, but Grayson knew that once he did that his concentration would be split. No matter how hard he tried, part of him would be focused exclusively on the Weryn Vampire.

If Ryder and I are going to be together then I have to be very careful we don’t distract each other when it counts like now, he told himself then said to Balthazar, I’m heading to the basement.

You’re really serious about keeping things with him separate, Balthazar remarked, and Grayson wondered if he meant for Grayson to hear this.

I want him more than anything, Balthazar, but that means I have to prove to myself–and Daemon–that I can be his general and not be distracted, Grayson explained.

You’re allowed to love someone or more than one someone, Grayson, Balthazar said sadly. I don’t believe that Daemon wants you to sacrifice everything that matters to you on the altar for him.

Grayson shut his eyes for a moment before answering, He needs us all in different capacities, Balthazar. Some of those capacities have less room to move than others. I’ll contact you if I find anyone with structures in their minds.

He wasn’t sure if he did it or Balthazar did, but he winnowed their connection, or maybe Balthazar merely understood his need to not discuss this any further and went quiet.

It was hard to know. But either way he felt alone in his head and at the party to do what had to be done.

He was surprised by how much he relished the idea of being on a mission again.

He had a keen purpose once more, something far beyond just staying safe and out of sight.

This is so much better .

He spread out his senses towards the people seated on the stairs.

So many of them were already fun-drunk that they didn’t even notice as he squeezed them, very gently and swiftly, looking for just the barest sharp edge of a structure.

Only one guy made a surprised, “What the?!” and turned around as if someone had goosed him, but there was no one there.

The Mirryr Vampire he was talking with put a hand on his cheek to get his attention back to her.

“Mon chérie, do not be angry if someone touches your sweetness. You are irresistible,” she said, appearing like Greta Garbo in color with wide eyes and red lips that barely concealed her fangs.

“I just want you to touch me,” the male student breathed.

“Oh? I was hoping we could go upstairs and a few of us could get to know you better,” she purred.

Her silver eyes were like mirrors and reflected the man’s face that went slack jawed at her suggestion.

“Y-yeah? W-well, that could be fun. I’ve never been with more than one person–and never a Vampire–before,” the man breathed.

The Mirryr Vampire leaned in, resting her cheek against the man’s. “You wouldn’t have known if you had.”

Her silver eyes met Grayson’s at that moment. He realized he had been staring too long. He wasn’t sure why. It was a usual encounter, but he felt a frisson of unease about it all.

I don’t know who the enemies are.

He hadn’t felt any structures from her, but it had been the briefest of touches. The Vampires here were quite a bit more aware than the humans.

“You are the Weryn’s,” she stated.

He blinked. How did she know?

Charlie. Already? Balthazar wasn’t lying that everyone would know once Charlie knew.

“Why have you come? Are you curious about us? The Weryn might be able to change into animals, but we can change into anyone or anything ,” she said and reached for him.

Grayson side-stepped her grasp. “Thanks. But it looks like you have your hands full.”

“Oh, I could always make another hand.” She grinned.

The human male looked over at him dazedly, but there was a slight frown on his face. He clearly didn’t mind being shared among multiple Vampires, but he wanted to be the only human there.

It’s insane really. This could go so very badly if not everyone is in control.

“Have a good night.” Grayson bowed and moved inside.

The foyer was large and circular with a huge chandelier hanging down in the center like an elaborate wedding cake, but the lights inside of it were not the cool blue-white or warm yellow ones used elsewhere, but a myriad of colors.

A rainbow swirled and danced over the party-goers and their Vampire hosts.

It was a bit dizzying as he slipped between people and made his way down the hallway to where Balthazar had indicated the stairs to the basement were.

He let his senses reach out and squeeze those he passed, just lightly.

But when a few Vampires started to frown and sharply look around, he stopped and continued on swiftly.

I’m human, they won’t suspect me, but they will think an Ashyr got in here somehow to take advantage of their fun.

He walked down the hallway towards a wide set of stairs that led into a much darker space.

There were just flashes of color and light interspersed with velvety darkness.

People were streaming in and out of this darkness.

Their pupils were huge as they came upstairs, likely from the change of light, but perhaps also from illicit substances.

He’d passed quite a few people licking each other with utter abandon and they weren’t Vampires.

Grayson knew that Vampires were into every industry, including pharmaceuticals so he guessed the Mirryr weren’t only handing out Jello shots.

It would be so easy to spike someone’s drink with poison or take them into an alcove and throttle them, Grayson realized with pricks of unease peppering him. But I’m betting the Sect wants to do something more spectacular. Something that will draw attention.

There was no filming allowed at the party, but the reporters had been invited to attend, though they were not to mention what went on here.

He was certain that while many of them intended to keep a clear head, the amount of alcohol in bright, almost childlike colors and the pills pressed into different animal shapes were getting consumed just as much by the students as the reporters.

So they were here and the Sect would, undoubtedly, want to shock everyone out of their senses.

As he descended into the basement, he drew his power tightly to him, building that fire inside of his chest, feeding it.

He didn’t need much to check people for structures, but the longer he was in this loud, dark, crowded space, unable to have a wall at his back, his unease was growing.

He would need his full power if one of the Sect members was a Vampire.

He was only human, though strong for one of those, but that was nothing compared to Vampiric strength.

The music rose and fell, swamping the space and then retreating.

In between the epic beats, he heard moans and soft pleas for more and more and more.

The stairs ended in a huge, almost cathedral-like space with soaring arched ceilings and carved pillars holding up the roof.

The center of the room was sunken down about ten steps.

Dozens of disco-ball lights were above it, spinning at different levels, while people frolicked in the suds that drifted down from the ceiling.

The moans came from the many circular beds.

People sat or laid down upon them in some level of dress or undress. There were already people having sex with one, two or many more partners. Some pleasured themselves while watching others. They wouldn’t notice an extra squeeze or two.

And here Charlie told us that this was all going to be about getting to know one another through conversation, Grayson internally chuckled.

He grinned and shook his head. The scent of musk was heavy in the air and he felt his own cock grow hard in his pants as he saw a figure not unlike Ryder’s pounding into a young man’s pliant form.

His mouth went dry. A hand on his arm had his head snapping towards the person.

It was a woman. She was tiny, maybe five-foot, two inches even in heels.

She had on a silvery dress and a black domino mask.

He could tell from her brown eyes that she was human.

The flames of power in his chest surged forward.

“Grayson?” she asked.

He froze. Was she a student that he’d met somewhere? But no, other than his roommates he hadn’t really met any students, not well enough for them to say his name in that familiar, yet hopeful way.

“Grayson? It’s you, isn’t it?” she asked, trying to be heard over the din of the music, but not scream it for everyone to hear.

“Who are you?” he asked.

His gift was ready to crush her if she was something more than what she’d seemed. Dare he squeeze her while looking straight at her?

“I look different too and it’s been so long,” she said with an awkward laugh. He then noticed the red carnation on her dress.

A reporter!

He scowled and stepped away from her as he realized what this must be about. His mother. His stepfather. The murder.

“I’m not giving any interviews,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument.

“What?” She honestly looked confused. “No, no, you don’t… you really don’t recognize me?”

“I have no idea who…” He stopped and really looked at her. The memory rushed back so strongly that he actually swayed as it hit him. “You used to have pigtails and–”

“Rabbit teeth, yeah, I know!” she laughed self-consciously. “I got those fixed and I only wear pigtails on the weekends when I’m off.”

“Rachel. Rachel Willis,” he said. “You were my next door neighbor–”

“And friend? Don’t you remember? Maybe you don’t want to remember that time,” she said awkwardly.

This couldn’t be a coincidence that his childhood friend and neighbor from the last house he’d lived in–where he’d killed his bastard stepfather–was here. In the Ever Dark. He squeezed her. She jumped and spun around looking for whoever had done that. But, of course, there was only them.

No structures.

“What are you doing here, Rachel?” he asked harshly.

She refocused on him. “Your mom…” At his stiffening, she paused but then rushed on, “I’m a reporter on her local station. When it came out that you were here, she contacted me. Wanted to just deal with me.”

Grayson frowned. Even though he had checked her for structures, his gift was still ready to leap out of him.

He felt like a cat that was puffing up to appear bigger.

Anyone who passed him was being squeezed.

His senses extended further outward as his alarm grew.

He felt trapped in this huge room by this very small woman.

“I have nothing to say to you,” Grayson said.

“Wait! Grayson, don’t go!” She stepped towards him.

He had no idea that he’d stepped back.

“I have nothing–”

“I’m not here as a reporter!” she insisted then grimaced. “I mean I am . This would give me the break I’ve… well, even if you won’t be a story, it doesn’t matter. I promised your mom I’d speak to you on her behalf and–and get you to come home.”

His gift swelled to fill the whole room. There were gasps and cries of shock. Everyone was looking around them for a reason. And then, at the very edge of the room, just out of eyeshot, he felt a structure.

A Sect member… They’re here!