Page 17 of The Vampire King's War

He tried to reach their minds. But there was nothing there. The dead had no minds. And Kaly’s seemed like the faintest pinprick of light in the far distance. But he had to get to it.

But hands plunged into his body, breaking the skin, and worming their way inside of him. He felt fingers wiggling against his organs, sliding beneath his ribs. They were pulling out his organs. His guts were like streamers being passed from hand to hand. He screamed but only a gurgle came out. Pain like nothing he’d ever felt corkscrewed through him. Then they gouged out his eyes. He felt them pop and fingers wriggle inside. Complete darkness fell.

Must get to Kaly’s mind! This isn’t happening! This isn’t happening! I make my reality!

He collapsed onto his back and they were ripping his limbs off. First, his right leg. Then his left. Both arms were wrenched from his body. His head would be neck. That was how Elgar got it to hold and caress and love. They’d literally ripped his head from his body. As he felt his skin break and the tendons stretch, he reached out for Kaly’s mind desperately.

That faint flicker in the darkness.

He reached.

It felt like his fingertips were just barely scraping along a wall. He hooked Kaly’s mind. Just the smallest bit. He immediately heard Kaly’s outside most thoughts, which were ones of absolute glee. They were enjoying his agony. Practically orgasming with it.

It was just like Roan.

No, it wasn’t just like him.

It was him.

Kaly was Roan. Roan was Kaly.

House Wynter had revealed that Kaly could inhabit other bodies, other Vampires, other Bloodline Vampires. And Kaly had been in Roan. Using him like a puppet. Torturing Balthazar and all of his House.

So you finally figured it out,Kaly giggled. Did you ever wonder why Roan was so different at times? So loving and then so cold and then so--

NO! That can’t be! Not you! NOT YOU!

Balthazar was screaming, but only inside his head. His vocal chords were broken. He was nearly out of blood. He was reduced to a single point of pain in an endless sea of blackness.

I admit that I didn’t see you killing Roan’s body,Kaly sounded amused. You did surprise me. I suppose I should have looked into you then. Known at that time that you were more than you seemed. Understood why I enjoyed hurting you so much more than the others.

And as Balthazar settled into his icy, unbelievable rage, he realized that he and Caemorn had always had something in common. He could recognize it now. Even as they fought against one another. They’d both been Kaly’s fledglings. And he felt a burst of sympathy for Caemorn.

I should have saved him, too. Balthazar laughed dryly as he realized something else. So this is in my head. Kaly is using the Eyros gift now. They are using another Eyros Vampire to do it… that’s a mistake. There’s no one stronger than me… not in this…

Because this is all in my head…

And I rule my mind…

Along with everyone else’s…

Balthazar had no body. No vocal chords. No eyes. No limbs. No heart. All of it had been ripped apart by the dead. But he had his mind. So he could see as the dead moved away so that Kaly could gaze down upon the ruin of him. He could feel the dead drift off.

Because he wasn’t truly ripped apart.

He hadn’t been given his Second Death.

He was right there and ready to go.

“Eyros, you truly disappoint me. I thought this would be harder somehow,” Kaly sighed.

Balthazar spoke, “I haven’t gotten started yet.”

Kaly spun around to see Balthazar behind them. And then he shoved himself through all of their defenses and nestled deep into their mind. Kaly’s mouth parted and their eyes went huge. Balthazar smiled at them.

The corpses, who had swung around to deal with him, fell to pieces all around them. Like sacks of meat that turned to ash in seconds as Kaly’s control was totally lost. The sun disappeared beyond the horizon. Full night fell. They were standing on a black plane, completely empty of anything. Even the smell of blood was gone. He wanted a fresh slate to work with.

“I didn’t recognize this form, but I do now,” Balthazar said as he started to circle Kaly, arms crossed at the wrists behind his back. “Her name is Moira. She’s an impressive Eyros. But she’s nothing compared to me. You might be able to use other Bloodline’s gifts, but you’re not as powerful as the Immortal who granted them. Seems you forgot that, Kaly.”

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