Page 56 of The Vampire King's Victory

“Do you?” Caemorn asked.

“No, not really.”

“Nor do I,” Caemorn stated. “But you did take us immediately to the rooms you had in mind for me. Yet you say you don’t remember?”

“It feels more like being on automatic pilot. Not conscious determination at all,” Balthazar admitted with a shrug. “I’ve had a few memories. Most of them are rather terrible, to be honest.”

“Maybe that is why neither of us is recalling our past,” Caemorn remarked and then as if to end the conversation turned away from them. “We don’t want to.”

Caemorn led them into a hallway that ran along the outside of the palace. There were glass doors to their left. Some of them were cracked open. Others were shut. There was a terrace beyond with low, gray wicker furniture, plump oatmeal colored cushions and sleek black stone tables. Narrow fireplaces, filled with glass stones and, apparently, gas jets let out a stream of purple-yellow flames.

The urge to drift outside and simply sit and look up the beauty of Nightvallen spread out before them was almost irresistible. He imagined sitting down on one of the sofas with Christian tucked beside him and just resting. Caemorn though was like a mother goose, keeping her charges in line.

Balthazar was surprised at how endearing--rather than aggravating--he found it when Caemorn would look pointedly over his shoulder at them when they began to stray off his chosen path. They would, evidently, be methodical in how they explore the palace. Balthazar didn’t really mind as he would have plenty of time to bob about.

You’re being very good,Christian complimented him.

I’m always good!Of course, he sent that with a mischievous smile.

Christian shook his head, but goodnaturedly.You’re putting Caemorn first when you would have every right to do only what you wanted to do right now.

Balthazar shrugged.Ah, it matters to him. It’s so hard for him to believe that anyone cares about him, this is a little sacrifice to make to beat back those dark thoughts.

Christian tightened the hold he had on Balthazar’s left arm.I’m proud of you nonetheless. What you’re doing really matters, I think.

Balthazar studied the back of Caemorn’s very erect form. He remembered the panic and desire for Balthazar to lock him up before he hurt anyone. Kaly had come to Eyros. Caemorn had come to Balthazar.

What if I had done this before all of the troubles,Balthazar suddenly said.I knew how fragile Kaly was. I could have done things to make them happy and none of these terrible things would have happened.

Christian was quiet for a moment, thinking about this, and then said,You’ve been there since it counted. Seeyr would have come to you if it could have been changed.

You’re right, but it feels like a cop-out,Balthazar admitted.The truth is that I feel like I might have been a bully.

Christian’s eyebrows rose.What do you mean? You’re not--

I was the popular boy goading the goth kid in class. The one that wrote poetry and thought about death way too much and dressed in black…Balthazar grimaced.The very nature of Kaly makes people reject them. Death for a Vampire? It’s like oil and water. I could have helped others accept and understand them. Or just made Kaly feel not so damned alone. And I didn’t.

Christian considered this too.But they came to you when they needed help. They knew you would help them.

I have to do better this time, Christian,Balthazar said.

Christian just tightened his arm again around Balthazar’s. A wave of love came from his Childe. Balthazar bathed in that warmth, that acceptance, that pride.

Caemorn glanced back at them as if he heard their thoughts, but he didn’t. He just knew them. Balthazar made a face at him. Caemorn rolled his eyes.

The hallwas led to another room that jutted off from the palace. It was two stories tall and was well lit with golden light. It, too, appeared inviting and he found his steps quickening. Caemorn’s eyebrows lifted when he saw how close Balthazar and Christian were.

“It appears like there is a library here.” Caemorn turned and opened a set of mahogany doors with beautiful stained glass insets that showed the twin moons of Ever Dark.

“Why do you sound surprised there is a library?” Christian laughed, never seemingly finding Caemorn’s words insulting.

“Because with your ability to read minds how could books ever be satisfying or useful? Books are a medium to get across ideas. You have access to the unfiltered source material,” Caemorn answered as he swept inside the two-story library.

Caemorn’s answer completely deflated any balloon of outrage that Balthazar was filling with his earlier statement so he could now just appreciate the space. The first floor of the library didn’t just have shelves on the walls, but like a library, there were shelves situated a few feet from one another. There were also sofas, chairs and cozy nooks to sit and read with the obligatory fireplaces.

The second story had shelves lining the walls. A Vampire could have easily jumped up to the second story, but there were narrow brass and wood staircases to the second floor. The bookshelves were also made of mahogany and were polished to a high shine. In between them, were more of the stained glass windows.

“These books are in perfect condition,” Christian said as he took one out of a shelf and paged through it. “No sign of aging at all. And they’re in English. Modern English.”

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