Page 33 of Vampire Kings Box Set

The rest of the journey home was busy. Not for Will, but for Maddox, who was clearly digitally rallying the troops. Will found himself staring into the mid-distance, wondering when he might experience something approximating freedom again. Prison had not been pleasant, of course, but at least he’d shared it with other people, humans who he had something in common with. He’d proved himself among the community there, earned some respect, developed a collection of ramen to rival any other inmate, and walked to the front of every mess hall line. In Maddox’s household, he was nothing and nobody. The bottom of the food chain in every sense. He hated it.

He wondered if Maddox might have some eventual plan to turn him too; clearly, Maddox had the ability to do so, and then he, Will, would be more powerful than ever. And yet, Maddox had specifically sought out a human to act as a hunter to ferals he and Lorien could dispatch in a matter of minutes. It all made less than no sense.

Returned once more to his room, Will limped around, frowning to himself and wishing he hadn’t been dumb enough to break his own leg. He could hear events taking place below, doors opening, voices entering. Being in Maddox’s possession was like being at a party he was never going to be invited to. Will was bored, in short. And frustrated. He was not good at experiencing such emotions. Whenever he felt any feeling strong enough to actually notice it, he usually hit something, or more typically, someone.

He couldn’t stay in the room. He couldn’t go to sleep, not after all he had seen, not when he was still not certain what role he was supposed to play in it all. His own presence was deeply confusing, and he could not forget it.

He went downstairs, and immediately regretted it. Over his short life, Will had developed a sixth sense when it came to law enforcement. The people he could see through the narrow gap between two thick steel beams comprising the upper stair supports were cops. He could tell by the way they stood, the way they talked — even though he couldn’t actually hear a word they were saying. The mere cadence of their utterances filled him with fury.

“What are you doing, welp?”

Maddox was suddenly there, apparently having used his vampiric powers to not only detect Will but come to him on the stairs.

“Nothing,” Will growled. He did not want to invite Maddox’s ire, but he had plenty of his own to deal with and nowhere to disperse it.

Maddox reached out, ran his fingers through Will’s hair gently, then suddenly made a tight fist and pulled his head back. Will found himself stuck looking into his vampire master’s dark gaze. Some of his righteous anger and frustration faded, but not much.

“What is the matter? You have been very quiet. I always find myself concerned when you are quiet, perhaps because it occasionally ends with you leaping out a window.”

Will was shocked. He had not expected to be asked what the matter was. He had expected words of censure and punishment and to be sent back to his room to suffer in solitary annoyance. He was so surprised, he didn't even know what to say at first.

“Well?”

“I…” Will tried to form some coherent words. It was hard when he found himself suddenly receiving the full brunt of Maddox’s attention. It was almost too much, like staring at the sun.

“Why is Lorien always with us? And why is he always so…”

“Obnoxious?”

“Yes.”

“Lorien is a young vampire. He will be obnoxious until he grows out of it.”

“And how long does that take?”

“Vampires are truly mature at around five hundred years. That is the earliest age most are able to tolerate midday sun and to successfully create their own fledglings. Those who attempt either before that age either experience or cause excruciating pain.”

“And how old are you?”

“Older than dirt,” Maddox smiled.

“And Lorien is just a baby?”

“Well, he has learned a thing or two in his ninety years. I wouldn’t call him a baby, but his time under the dark sun is only just beginning.”

“Okay. Well. Why me?”

“Why you?”

“I know you don’t need a human. Even a violent one like me. You can kill ferals much faster than I can. And you have cops on your payroll.”

“Of course I don’t need you, pup. I want you.”

Will basked in the warmth of that statement for all of a second before logic blasted it into cold, rational pieces. “But you didn’t even know me when you came to the prison. What was it, what is it about me that makes me useful?”

“Excellent question. And one that will eventually be answered. But you’re not ready to hear that answer yet.”

“I’m not?”