Page 43 of Forty Deaths Till Us Part
Cass moved to the small hole. “No man could get their hand in there. We may have to take the wall down.”
I moved toward the wall. And placed my hand against the rock. “No need. I can separate the sand and rock and retrieve the scroll, provided it is only an inch or two from the surface.”
Cass motioned for me to try, and I placed my hand inside the hole.
My fingers sunk into the top layer of sand, but I felt nothing resembling a pipe before my power snaked out from my fingers, searching with tiny tendrils of magic beneath my hand. The ping was instant, and I wrapped my power around the object before lifting it from its shallow grave. It levitated as it exited the hole and dropped into my other hand.
Constantine shifted slightly, and I passed him the metal tube that matched the one from the forge.
He didn’t use the etching compound on this one as it was less rusty than the first one, because of the dark, dry conditions, but it made the same wrenching noise as he squeezed just beneath the cap and broke the seal. He passed the pipe to Rene once he took off the lid.
Rene removed the page and scanned its contents. “This goes on where the other page ends. It says the Blood Witch will have the ability to share her magic with her king once she matures. That the king will be able to do the same. This has...” he trailed off as we stared at him.
I touched his shoulder. “What is it?”
“This warns of the king, but not the one bonded to the Blood Witch. This explains that only the true overseer must survive and only if he has the faith of his bride. Only he can protect the human realm from the usurper.”
“The usurper?” I asked.
Rene’s eyes continued to roam over the script. “There are a few symbols I don’t recognize. Manu will need to do more research, but I believe he is a king.”
“A vampire king?” I asked.
Cass froze. “Are you insinuating that a vampire overseer is still alive somewhere?”
Rene frowned. “I don’t know. I can’t confirm the death of any overseer except Siam.”
Manu flashed his light on Rene. “How could a previous overseer take leadership without killing the current overseer?”
Rene shook his head. “Perhaps some kind of spell. If the clans believed the overseer was dead, they would select another. My power comes from age and experience, not because I have a title. I can call on my people as their designated overseer, though. If there were suddenly two of us, I fear for the repercussions.”
Cass growled. “Since he would be older than you by thousands of years, he would be stronger.”
Rene rubbed his chin. “Theoretically, yes, but he would not be accustomed to modern times, and he would not have a bride to stabilize him. Madness does not diminish his power, but his reasoning would continue to degrade.”
Constantine turned to Manu. “You will begin investigating this possibility immediately. Look for any information that suggests a prior overseer was... imprisoned or put in some form of stasis instead of murdered. We must confirm this prophecy is false before the clans find out about it.”
Manu nodded. “Of course, but I will need access to all scrolls and prophecies concerning the ancient king.”
“You will have it. We should return to the mansion before dawn.” We all followed Rene when he led us from the caves.
I leaned toward Rene. “How can we claim this new information is false when it’s attached to the Blood Witch prophecy? Obviously, I am very real.”
Rene’s hand squeezed mine. “I am aware.”
The opulent foyer was completely empty when we arrived back at the mansion and Cass glanced at Rene. “That is a first.”
Rene nodded. “They are mourning the loss of our members. I sense a couple have returned, but most have chosen to stay with Dimitri. He has brainwashed his followers into believing the time of madness is upon me.”
Constantine growled low. It was a terrifying sound. “Then declare them traitors. Why wait if you already have your answers? It is time to declare war on this dark faction and any who follow them.”
Rene sighed. “Cass, call everyone to the foyer. We will have a clan meeting.”
Cass went to an intercom on the wall by the front door. “Everyone in the mansion to the foyer now. This is a direct order.”
The sound of doors opening and closing precluded the rush of well-dressed vampires entering the foyer. After a few minutes, several members arrived in sleep attire and had simply thrown on a robe to attend the meeting.
Rene moved to the front of the door, so he was standing before the throng of Shadow Bone members. “Has every deserter been contacted? And given the chance to return? If you have not heard back from your fellow clan members, please speak up.”