Page 53 of The Vampire King's Victory

The suite had two floors which were connected by a central spiral staircase that looked to be practically floating in place. The steps were held in place by thin metal lines that were almost invisible.

There were no walls except for the outer ones. There was a large bed with no head or footboard. It was larger than a California king. The sheets were a crisp, icy white, but the duvet was a soft, worn purple. There were loads of plump pillows and a gray and white fur throw over one of the edges. The two nightstands held sconces with glowing silvery crystals that provided light. Balthazar had requested more light and the crystals grew brighter. This amused him intensely.

Better than the Clapper,Christian murmured.

I bet there are loads of neat things like this. I mean, this isn’t human technology,Balthazar said.

It’s different from the Spire here,Christian said.

Yes, every city in the Ever Dark has different features. Nightvallen is best of all, I’m guessing,Balthazar said.

Caemorn drifted from the bed and night tables over to a raised section of the room where there was a sumptuous tub made of black stone. Caemorn touched a softly glowing tile and water started to pour from a waterfall-like spout set in the tub’s side. He quickly touched the tile again and it stopped. The water drained. There was also an unenclosed shower.

“This must be where you can store clothes,” Christian called as he pressed a section of one of the walls that was not glass and out popped a very long rack. “Doesn’t look like the person who was here last left anything.”

“It was for special guests. No one lived here,” Balthazar said and blinked. “I’m not sure how I know that.”

“Any clothes and bedding should have long rotted away,” Caemorn murmured as he ran his hands over the luxury bedding. “But it is brand new.”

“That’s true but things last a long time in the Ever Dark,” Balthazar answered.

“Yes, but there’s no dust either. No cobwebs. And this bedding…” Caemorn actually sat down on the bed and bounced a bit.

“You’re caressing those pillows like you want us to leave you alone with them,” Balthazar deadpanned. “Or I should say you, the pillow and the bear.”

Caemorn was squishing one of the pillows in his lap. The bear had hefted itself on the bed and looked ready for hibernation. Caemorn looked up at Balthazar. “Don’t you feel it?”

“Feel what?”

“These things feelnewandparticular,” Caemorn stated.

Balthazar thought of this. Everything was very neat, clean, tidy and more to a modern and, potentially,humanaesthetic. The way he would want thingsnow. Not how he would have wanted things even 200-years ago, let alone the millennia he’d been away from here. Balthazar was frowning as much as Caemorn.

“Yet more evidence that Daemon and the Ever Dark are one somehow?” Christian suggested.

Both Immortals looked up at him. Christian actually colored a little under their intense gazes.

“This place ismodern. I mean it's very you, Balthazar, but you as you arenow,” Christian explained.

“Exactly.” Caemorn nodded.

“I hope that there are old things that might trigger me in a good way,” Balthazar stated as he rubbed his chin.

The other half of this floor had sleek, yet still comfortable sofas and chairs all done in subdued colors. There was a fire pit that was filled with wood, ready to be burned.

Balthazar turned as he heard Caemorn’s footsteps on the stairs. He and Christian followed the Kaly Vampire downstairs. The bear moaned but lifted itself from the comfy bed and followed. Caemorn had stopped at the bottom step and was staring. Christian and Balthazar practically walked into him. The bear did hit Balthazar’s butt.

“Watch it, bear!” Balthazar wagged his finger which just had the bear nudging him some more.

“What’s wrong, Caemorn?” Christian asked.

“Nothing. Nothing at all. It’s quite perfect,” Caemorn answered.

Balthazar looked over Caemorn’s shoulder at the space.

“It looks like a lab. An alchemy lab or something,”

There were broad slate tables and free-hanging shelves. Balthazar blinked when Caemorn picked up a soul gem.

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