Page 6 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 3

“We don’t even know what the Sect stands for. It can’t be anti-Vampire with Vampires in it,” Grayson pointed out. “And since we don’t know what it’s offering, we can’t know who will be tempted by it.”

“I see your point.” Dani looked disturbed. “We need to question Jill more.”

“We do. Add that to the list of things we need to do today,” Grayson said.

“What could they want?” Demos asked, his forehead bunching up.

“My understanding of the Sect was that it was a myth, designed to keep young Vampires from going too far off the reservation. Fuck up too much and the Sect will get you. That sort of thing. Though the whole idea of Vampire hunters seemed a little bit of bullshit to me. Especially if they were just humans.”

“Overconfidence can make one weak,” Grayson said. “I’ve found that you don’t have to be the strongest in a fight. You just have to take advantage of the other side’s mistakes.”

Demos nodded. “I see your point. But still. What could the Sect possibly offer Vampires like Jill? She’s not self-hating so she can’t want to eliminate Vampires like you said.”

“She seemed arrogant as all get out,” Dani said. “She appeared to me like she believed she was better than everyone, especially humans.”

“It’s probably something to do with the War,” Ryder found himself muttering. “Everything always goes back to that.”

“But there’s also Daemon’s return. Those in power aren’t any longer.

That never goes down well. And there’s also the return of the Immortals in general.

We're not that popular in many minds,” Grayson said.

“Yet Daemon has welcomed us back with open arms and not punishment. Some may have an issue with that.”

Ryder reached out and brushed his fingers over Grayson’s nearest hand. “You had nothing to do with the War, War Children or what happened after. So you shouldn’t put yourself in that group.”

Grayson looked up at him. Those green eyes should have been silver, but Ryder could still recognize that soul. His heart ached with love and loss though Grayson was right in front of him.

“Some might blame me most of all. My death was first. My death… started things, didn’t it?” Grayson’s gaze was gentle, but also asking.

Weryn, who had been silent up to that point, murmured in a broken voice, Ashyr…

Weryn had gone to war. Not just against Kaly, but all of the other Immortals. He didn’t understand why. The stories he’d been taught likely were not true. He could ask Weryn, but there were so many strong emotions attached to the War that if he did so, he could very well see himself losing control.

“My choices were my own, Grayson,” Ryder said firmly. “You are to blame for none of it. No right thinking person would even consider it.”

Grayson turned his hand over and they linked fingers. “Right thinking and people sometimes don’t mix.”

“So how are we going to tell whether someone is a Sect of Dawn member or not, if like with Jill there are traps for Eyros Vampires in their minds?” Dani asked.

“Those constructs that I felt. I think those may be the key. But I need to actually envelop someone with my power to feel them,” Grayson explained.

“Can you do that to everyone you meet?” Demos looked doubtful.

“Not if I want to do anything else.” Grayson grimaced.

“Plus it will exhaust you. King Daemon was clear that you shouldn’t be overdoing it,” Ryder reminded him.

Grayson grunted, not looking pleased about that. Ryder stopped himself from adding that if Grayson were a Vampire then this wouldn’t be a problem. But that required Grayson to be turned. And who would turn him… No, he could not talk about that.

“King Daemon was here?” Demos asked.

“He brought me dinner.” Grayson grinned. “It was a really good dinner.”

“What did he say?” Dani asked.

“A lot of things.” But Grayson didn’t elaborate on any of those. Instead, he stated, “Besides what Ryder mentioned, using my powers all over the place would definitely reveal that I’m not a normal human.”

“If I am with you when you use them, they can think it's me operating and not you at all,” Dani suggested.

Grayson nodded. “That could work.”

“And perhaps, you could teach me to do it? To find these constructs, I mean, so that you don’t have to exhaust yourself?” Dani asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe. We should try it on Jill.

But, regardless, we’re not going to be able to test everyone before the first event for the students,” Grayson pointed out.

“We need to talk to the other Immortals. I’m sure they have a plan to keep the students safe.

We need to coordinate.” Grayson closed his eyes for a moment then let out a laugh.

When he opened them he was smiling. “Balthazar will arrange a meeting in two hours at the Eyros Palace. All Immortals will be present.”

“What did he say to make you laugh?” Ryder asked.

“Oh, he was being cheeky,” Grayson said.

“So typical Balthazar,” Ryder groaned.

“Typical Balthazar,” Grayson agreed.

Ryder was glad of the hard cutoff with his Bloodline.

He was already feeling like his skin was too tight on his body.

His temper was flaring for no good reason at the thought of the Weryn all, looking at him with their big cow eyes, wanting to be led like calves to the slaughter, wanting to be safe when there was no safety!

And… He stopped himself. These were Weryn’s thoughts.

Not his. He drew in a deep, steadying breath.

Both Siban and Demos were regarding him carefully.

“What is this first event exactly?” Ryder asked, trying to change the subject and draw attention away from himself.

“It’s a special Mirryr Bloodline event,” Siban said. “A masked ball.”

Dani groaned. “Of course. A masked ball so we can add that level of complexity in keeping track of people.”

“We can use our noses.” Siban touched the side of theirs. “Smell is always better anyways, especially at a Mirryr party. We need to know these students’ scents.”

“One hundred students. It can be done.” Demos nodded.

“I’d like to test your people, Ryder, at some point,” Grayson said, his gaze intense. “For the constructs.”

“You needn’t worry about me, Grayson.” Ryder cupped Grayson’s face. “The one thing I am very good at is taking care of myself.”

“Grayson did save our asses before though,” Demos said with a chuckle.

“He did indeed. But now that Weryn is back… Well, things are different,” Ryder said.

He could feel the surges of power along with the temper flares. It was incredible really. The power that he’d never truly known he’d had.

“I just… don’t want anything to happen to you,” Grayson admitted.

He ran his thumbs along Grayson’s cheeks. “The feeling is mutual. But both of us can take care of ourselves. From most things anyways.”

Grayson nodded. “So I guess we should go our separate ways then until we meet up at the Eyros Palace?”

He could hear the reluctance in Grayson’s voice and in the way the young man leaned forward, towards him.

Ryder felt the desire to simply pick Grayson up and carry him off someplace where they could be alone.

But there was so much they had to do and safety could not be found in running away right now.

“I was thinking that the best place to meet the Weryn is… in my Palace,” Ryder said with a small grin. “And I thought you’d like to see that.”

Grayson’s eyes widened. “Most definitely! And that will definitely set the tone for when you meet them!”

Demos and Siban were all wide-eyed and eager, too.

It was good to see. He still felt a little guilty that he hadn’t opened it earlier for them.

But he hadn’t been in the right headspace last night, not with Grayson so sick.

But it felt right now. He wanted to see it himself.

He wanted to experience it. Maybe once he was there, he could get a sense of how who he had been was connected to who he was now.

Or am I like Balthazar and Caemorn: unrecognizable from Weryn? Maybe that’s why they’ve both decided to not remember. Maybe I should make that decision too.

But he could feel Weryn roiling inside of him and he thought of the line of animals. No, that wasn’t an option. The only way he’d have Weryn’s full powers--which would aid in keeping Grayson and the others safe--is if he had Weryn’s full memories, but his own conscience.

Is that even possible?

Ashyr…

Grayson was smiling at him, but there was a concerned look in his eyes. Ryder forced a grin on his face.

“I didn’t get a chance to see the other palaces open, I’m pretty curious what it will be like,” Ryder said. “So let’s do it, shall we?”

Grayson nodded eagerly. He turned to Dani. “I’m sure you want to be in on this, too, but I need you to tell the Ashyr Vampires to pull back for now. I’ll talk to them after in some secluded spot.”

“What about outside the Ashyr Palace? It’s near the Weryn Palace,” she suggested. “And there are plenty of secluded places there.”

“Sounds perfect, Dani,” Grayson said. He hopped off of the chair. “Okay, let’s open a palace!”