Page 86 of The Vampire's Mercy

“Show me,” I pleaded with the tiny Paris.

The melody swirled around me, showing me the moonlight and the endless expanse of forest around me. Home. Home. Home. What was its name?

“Please show me.”

But Paris melted into a white puddle, oozing off my hand as the petals withered. The melody dropped, reality knitting back together as the magic collapsed.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. “Goodness.”

“What happened?”

I looked up at Paris, who stood a few feet away, his hands in his pockets.

“I saw my brother,” I answered.

“Oh.”

A stab of grief pierced my core. “He’s dead. I know he’s dead. But not how. Not when.” Pain scratched through my skull.

“Shall I sing some more?”

“No. Let’s wait for a while.” I got to my feet. “Have you always had this power?”

He shook his head. “No. My voice has never done anything like this before.” He sighed, massaging his temples. “What if it’s connected to the blade? It has to be, right? This all happened after I woke up on the ice, and it’s pointing to something big. But what does it mean?” I almost heard his mind ticking with thoughts.

“May I see it?” I asked. “The blade?”

Paris licked his lips. “Erm, it’s always weird near you. And I can’t summon it at will. It only appears when I’m feeling threatened or whatever. At least, I think so.”

He sat down on the floor, leaning against my bed. “Shit,” he breathed.

I crouched before him. “What is it?”

He lifted his head, the blue of his eyes drawing a gasp from my throat. Those lashes of his were delicate obsidian frames around two works of art.

He released a shivery breath, gaze locked to mine. “I… I…” He got to his feet. “It’s like it doesn’t want to hurt you.”

I stayed crouched, pressing a hand into the floor. “Interesting.”

“Annoying.”

“Why would it kill Layla but not me?”

“For starters, you’re like a walking diamond,” he said. “Nothing cuts you.”

Only if I’m weakened.

“As for why it doesn’t want to,” he added. “I have no idea.”

More to ponder, more nonsensical revelations. But at least I knew Lucius now, along with the grief over losing him.

King of where?

Where is our home?

My head throbbed, in need of respite.

“We have business to attend to,” I said, standing up.