Page 59 of The Vampire King's Gift

“I will go get the others with her,” Caemorn said.

“No need.” Daemon’s mind connected with those in the room below the Spire.

Seeyr’s mind seized onto his. His eyelids closed as he held her close to him. The suffering she had experienced was great. Too great. His fingernails cut into his own palms. He forced himself to release them.

It was the only way to ensure you could come back to us, my king,she said.

I should never have left,he answered her.

You could not stay. Your heart would have turned to dust,she answered.And what you will build now will be greater than anything before. Any amount of suffering is worth what will come.

You intrigue me, Seeyr.A smile crossed his lips.

That is the first true smile you’ve had since you came here. Not that I expect you to be joyous to find those arranged against you, but--ah! You and Eyros! Such a pair!She laughed.

What do you mean?He asked her.

Take your fledgling to the top of my Spire, and ask him the questions you dare not, she told him.

I do not know…

You are both lovesick fools. It is rather adorable. Now, please send me… send me those that you would have gone from this plane,she said.

It shall be done. You shall be restored, Seeyr.Send the others away. It would be disturbing for Christian, especially, to see your thirst,he said.

Of course. I would not have anyone see me like this in any event. I rule the thirst. The thirst does not rule me. Until it does,she answered faintly.

All will be well, he told her, and he hoped it was true. But he had seen Vampires who had been starved too long who could never control themselves again.

Daemon’s mind swept outwards to all of the people in Solace. He identified five former Vampires that his gifts told him would never be on his side. They would actively work against him. They would try to hurt those he cared for and cared for him. He touched their minds, and they became stiff. They all turned as one and headed towards the Spire. He sent a word to all the others to let them go.

“That’s them. The ones you’ve chosen. They’re moving like zombies,” Julian remarked as he took in the five figures that went to the Spire’s doors and passed through them without hesitation.

“Yes, they will feel and know nothing of what comes,” Daemon said.

“You are kinder to them than they would have been to any of us,” Caemorn remarked. Then his eyes narrowed as he took in Julian. “But I understand that you need not lean into our more predatory natures. Not now. Not when… well, I understand.”

You certainly wish me to believe you do,Daemon thought. But you also consider this Julian’s weakness.

“Come, Julian, let us go up to the top of the Spire.” Daemon put a hand on his fledgling’s lower back, and led him towards the stairs.

A MILLION LITTLE PIECES

The elevator in the Spire ran without electricity from what Julian could see. The glass car, silently and swiftly, soared upwards. Julian craned his neck so that he could see where they were going.

The Spire’s interior reminded him of a seashell as it spiraled upwards. The pale white stone was similar to bone so it did seem like they were traveling through some strange beast’s skeleton.

“How many rooms are in this place?” Julian asked.

“Over a thousand. I have not seen all of them. This was Seeyr’s domain, and she kept many wonders here that she found in her explorations of the Ever Dark,” Daemon answered.

“Really? Like what kind of things? Did the Immortals come from the Ever Dark? I mean is this your home planet?” Julian turned around to face the Vampire King.

Daemon was leaning against the far wall of the elevator. He had been quiet as Julian took in the world of Ever Dark. Julian occasionally felt flashes of pleasure and an almost indulgent fondness from the Vampire King, but Daemon’s deeper feelings and thoughts were hidden from him. Yet there were flickers of almost a sense offearcoming from Daemon, and he’d never experienced true fear from the Vampire King.

He wanted to talk to the Daemon about it, but they’d been with people or crazy things had been happening. Now they were alone, but he was finding it hard to begin this. It was easier to ask other questions.

“No, this is not our home planet. This is not even our home plane,” Daemon answered with an almost teasing smile on his lips. “This world’s more intelligent inhabitants were long gone when we got here. We built our cities, and then delved into theirs. Many magic things we found. Many dark things, too.”

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