Page 57 of The Vampire King's War

They still believe, even though the Order was a complete fabrication by Kaly. Good grief.

These same people started and stared at him. He was like a rock in the river that everyone nervously flowed around. They weren’t sure how to deal with him. Was he on their side? Or still the evil bastard they had known?

Both.

That was when he saw Kurtz. Kurtz was a Wyvern Vampire. He was a stocky man in his mid-fifties. Or that was how he appeared. He was, in truth, over five-hundred-years-old, had bushy eyebrows and still wore his Confessor robes. He had been on a list to be removed from the Order. Caemorn was going to accuse him of sacrilege, because he had known that Kurtz was a true believer, but not a believer in him and, therefore, Kaly. They were not friends.

“Kurtz!” Caemorn called as he jogged over to the Wyvern Vampire. He felt the air stir and guessed Kurtz was about to teleport away from him. “Wait! Balthazar--Eyros--is in danger! I need you to take me to the Well of All Souls!”

Kurtz paused in mid-motion. He narrowed his eyes at Caemorn and snorted. “Are you expecting me to believe that you are helping Balthazar?”

“I am.” Caemorn skidded to a stop in front of him. He wanted to grab the man and--if only he had Eyros’ powers--he could have made Kurtz take him. His vision flickered to the creature’s. Balthazar’s eyes were closing again.

Hang on, Balthazar! Don’t give Kaly the satisfaction of killing you again!

Damn you, Caemorn,Balthazar chuckled feebly. You know just where my soft spots are.

Yes, and I am going to poke the living hell out of them to keep you here!Caemorn told him.

Kurtz’s lips writhed back from his teeth. “You should be in a cage!”

Caemorn narrowed his eyes at him. “I serve King Daemon. Just like you. He trusts me to be here.”

But why is he not here now to save Balthazar? Why did he leave us alone? He must have known this would happen,Caemorn thought.

“You’ve always served whoever you thought could promote you. Our king will not. You were never a believer. You twisted the Order to your own purpose--”

“Fine! Yes! True! All true! And I served Kaly, my Sire!” Caemorn blurted out. “But no longer! And if you do not help me, Balthazar may have his Second Death!”

He had a moment of dizziness as the view from the creature’s eyes subsumed his own. The world kept flickering between the two places. And then he smelled the creature.

Balthazar was right. I smell dead...

Kurtz scowled. “I do not believe you!”

Everything is dim, Caemorn. Is this what death is like? Balthazar asked. I cannot remember the other time this happened.

You are NOT dying! Christian needs you!

My Christian. I love him more than… more than anything, you know?Balthazar said.

Yes, I know. And you will be with him forever. HOLD ON!

“KURTZ! You will do as I say or I will strip your soul from your body and make that body do a jig! I need to save my Blood Brother!” Caemorn snarled.

Kurtz’s eyes went huge. But it wasn’t from the threats, but from the Blood Brother statement. “What do you mean--”

“Please, Kurtz! Please!” That last word was agony to say normally--he had not said it in a long time--but he meant it now.

Please is the magic word, he thought nearly hysterically.

Kurtz slowly nodded. He extended a hand. Caemorn took it. They teleported to Balthazar’s side. Kurtz jerked back when he saw the creature that Caemorn had summoned. It truly was hideous and terrifying.

Definitely museum material!

“You were not lying,” Kurtz sounded almost shocked by the fact.

“No, I was not!” Caemorn gritted his teeth. His lack of truthfulness in the past would cause this to happen again and again. He would have to earn people’s trust from the ground up. “Now, Kurtz, teleport the three of us back to the Spire, directly to where the humans are being kept!”

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