Page 32 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 3

On The Dance Floor

G rayson allowed the not-Ryder to lead him towards the dance floor.

The basement was far more packed then it had been just moments before.

It seemed as if everyone in the party was headed here.

Perhaps because they’d been lubricated enough with alcohol and drugs to want to dance.

But he had a feeling that something else was behind it.

You’re right, Balthazar gritted. There’s a Hum.

A what? Grayson asked, hearing the capitalization of Hum in the mind thought.

A Syrin is doing this, Balthazar explained.

They are able to create low level sounds that have commands in them.

It’s barely perceptible even to Vampire hearing, but it’s like a worm, digging inside one’s brain.

Slowly, but surely the command makes it way inside and the victim is doing the thing before they are even aware of it.

And this Hum is telling people to come to the basement? Grayson clarified as he avoided a kissing couple.

To watch you get murdered, I’m guessing, Balthazar responded dryly.

That makes a terrible kind of sense, Grayson responded feeling his stomach flip end over end.

The basement was so crowded that not-Ryder was pushing people out of the way.

Grayson sped up his steps so that he was ahead of the Sect Vampire and asked people to move, which they did.

Mostly. Those got Not-Ryder’s glare and a thrust of his hand.

Grayson could see anger flaring in many eyes, but when they realized who it was, they backed down.

The Vampires especially. They believed this was Weryn.

No one was going to fuck with him. Grayson clenched his teeth.

Ryder would never do this. Weryn would never do this.

He wasn’t a bully. But this Sect Vampire was.

Can you stop the Hum, Balthazar?

The more people down here, the harder it would be to deal with the Sect Vampire without people realizing what was going on.

If I was able to use my gift on the person creating it, yes, I could easily–

Grayson interrupted, alarm filling him, Balthazar, that’s not a good idea–

I know. So you’ve said. Every Sect mind is a mousetrap. I am dampening the Hum, Balthazar said. Sending out the opposite suggestion, but I need to be careful because I may scramble their brains. Two opposite ideas can exist together sort of, but not comfortably for most people.

Let’s not make the students into vegetables, Grayson agreed.

In the end, I can only slow down the tide of people, not stop it, Balthazar qualified. That may give us more time as the Sect won’t have the audience they want for your murder.

The not-Ryder had put an arm around Grayson’s waist. His fingers tightened on Grayson’s side. Grayson forced himself to appear to love the touch and leaned into the Mirryr Vampire even as he wanted to crush the Vampire’s head like a grape.

Now, now, that would spoil the plan, Balthazar said.

He thinks I’m a victim. A helpless human who he can just break, Grayson growled. He thinks to hurt Daemon and, more importantly, Ryder with this act.

Legion wouldn’t want Weryn to be happy. They must have heard the rumor that you are Weryn’s chosen fledgling. At least people believe our lie, Balthazar murmured. Killing you does double duty in Legion’s mind. Destroy the school and strike at Weryn’s heart.

It’s clever really. And obvious, but I didn’t even see it, Grayson admitted with a grimace.

Because you know that you’re not some innocent-eyed boy in love with the great Weryn. You’re our General, Balthazar reminded him. And that, of course, is also why I’m not demanding that Fiona get you out of there and for Ryder to rip his doppelganger apart. Only you can make this plan work.

You have a plan? Because this changes everything, Grayson pointed out.

Actually, you have a plan. It’s all there in your head, Ashyr, but I’ll take credit. Balthazar’s mental grin was clear.

Yeah, it is. And he did know exactly how it had to go. Tell the others.

I already have. Now just get that piece of garbage to the dance floor, Balthazar said.

At that moment, Mairead and Eiji appeared before him and not-Ryder like magic.

There were suds on both their heads. Eiji’s was shaped into what looked like a hat while Mairead’s formed a triangle, almost like a dunce-cap.

He was pretty sure she didn’t realize it or she didn’t care.

She had one arm around Eiji’s slender shoulders and threw the other around Grayson’s.

“You’re back!” she enthused. “And I see you’ve found Ryder and brought him along! Handsome vampire in leather and silk! Sexy!”

“I–I did,” Grayson answered.

Alarm flashed inside of Grayson. He didn’t want his friends anywhere near this creep.

Humans without powers were fragile as it was.

But both Eiji and Mairead were drunk on alcohol and fun, making them more vulnerable.

Both their faces were glowing with a sheen of sweat and bubbles.

Their outfits were mussed from how they had looked earlier that evening.

They clearly were having the time of their lives.

And it might be the end of their lives if this not-Ryder decided that three deaths were better than one.

“Hello, Ryder,” Eiji said with a faint bow.

“Hey,” not-Ryder greeted with that empty, wolfish smile.

“Doesn’t Grayson look amazing?” Mairead dipped her head towards Grayson. “That outfit is to die for, isn’t it?”

Not-Ryder’s head swung over to Grayson and looked him up and down as if he hadn’t noticed what Grayson was wearing before. He leered. Grayson had to swallow bile as he smiled back in response, acting as if this behavior was pleasing to him. He wanted to scrub his skin with soap and very hot water.

No, actually, I’d rather pick him up with my gift and smash him against the ground a few times, Grayson thought. He wouldn’t be smiling then.

And I thought that Weryn’s temper was to be feared, Balthazar said, but there was amusement in his voice despite his words.

They wish to harm us. They do so because they think they have the right to interfere with our king’s desires. I will make them regret every thought they’ve had, let alone every action they’ve taken, Grayson growled.

Ah, you really are terrifying, aren’t you? Balthazar’s tone was light, but there was a slight surprise in this.

I know how I look, Balthazar. Maybe how I even was.

A wounded, young man who wanted to find his place.

His people. A victim of all that had happened in his life, Grayson answered.

But I know my place. You are my people. And I am no victim.

The Sect thinks it can take all of that from me. I will disabuse them of that notion.

I believe you and am very glad you’re on our side, Balthazar said.

As I am glad you are, Grayson sent.

“So are you here to dance or just making your way through? Oh, what am I saying?! I’m not letting you just pass through without dancing.” Mairead extended her hands up into the air and shimmied her body provocatively.

“Mairead is a good dancer,” Eiji said.

“Oh, you’re such a flatterer, Eiji-sama!” Mairead beamed.

“We wish to dance. We will dance,” not-Ryder stated flatly.

Grayson must have momentarily shown a look of dismay as Eiji asked, “If you do not wish to dance, Grayson, Mairead would take your place on the dance floor.”

“No!” Grayson forced a smile. “No, I want to dance.” He hooded his eyes at Ryder. “I’ve been dying to dance with you all night.”

“And so you shall.” Not-Ryder caressed Grayson’s chin almost roughly.

Eiji’s pink cheeks and sparkling eyes showed how much he must have drunk that night, but, for a moment, he didn’t seem so drunk after all. He almost seemed like he knew that this was not Ryder.

He does. He’s figured it out. At least, he knew that this was a Mirryr pretending to be Ryder. I’ve filled him in on the rest, Balthazar said with a grimace.

You told him everything? Grayson was surprised by this.

He’s rather special at recognizing enemies, our Eiji-sama. He’s been the Oyabun of a Yakuza crime family for nearly sixty years after all.

Wait, you brought in a crime boss as one of the students of your first class? Grayson asked, stunned.

He’s old. He’s going to die. His children are not fit inheritors of his empire so it will fall to pieces without him, Balthazar explained. So why not save him and get the empire too?

Clever, Eyros, Grayson said.

Yes, I almost sound like you. In any case, I’ve told Eiji what the game is so he won’t get in the way trying to save you, Balthazar said.

He’s not showing he knows anything at all!

Grayson was rather awed by this as Eiji smiled benevolently and swayed slightly on his feet as if more drunk. There was not a trace of suspicion or knowledge on the old man’s face. Grayson would have never guessed that he was aware that anything was amiss.

Man’s a genius. He’ll keep it together. But I cannot trust Mairead not to react. I could mind control her but there’s a slight lag, Balthazar explained. So Eiji is going to help with the plan.

“So how did you crash the Mirryr’s party, huh?” Mairead asked Ryder with a playful push on his large chest.

The Mirryr Vampire stared at her hand and then back up at her face.

His silver eyes shimmered and there was a tightening of the skin around his eyes and mouth.

His lips parted and his fangs were out. Grayson watched as not-Ryder physically swallowed the rage he was feeling.

He was having trouble not reacting violently, Grayson realized.

“I just walked in. What are the Mirryr going to do against Weryn reborn after all?” Not-Ryder asked and gave one of those unsettling smiles.

Even Mairead in her drunken state was starting to think this was off. She blinked and gave an uncertain smile. “Y-yeah, I guess.”