Page 91 of The Vampire King's Victory

“In protest, of course.” Caemorn’s silver eyes narrowed at the shape-shifting Weryn Vampires who held themselves very much apart from the rest of the group.

“Of course. They think the rules shouldn’t apply to them,” Balthazar remarked with a twist of his lips. “That they are special.”

Daemon did not share the anger his fellow Immortals did about the Weryn testing him. It was welcome.

“They are special. As are all our children,” Daemon remarked. “But they will find that does not mean they are exempt from my rule. I am king.”

“Damn right you are,” Balthazar agreed with a grin. “Ah, looks like Christian and Julian are about to start the show. Let’s go over and see what’s what. Shall we?”

DREAM

Christian had the House Wynter Vampires set up the interview area in the corner of the courtyard. The couch and chairs were surrounded by flowers and had a view of the stunning night sky. Christian wanted their viewers to see the beauty of the Ever Dark, to be drawn to it just like he and Julian were, and to be overwhelmed by the thought that there was something more out there.

The Ever Dark was a dream. He wanted every human to have this dream. But he wondered if it was something he could make happen. Was this something he was capable of filming? Could he show humanity what they were missing?

The elder Harrows would sit on the couch while Julian would be seated on one of the two chairs on the couch’s left side to interview them. When they brought on another of the Vampires, they would sit in the other chair. It was an intimate, almost cozy, setup, which was to invite the viewer in, to make them feel as if they were part of a family discussion.

“Aim that light a little lower,” Christian instructed one of the House Wynter Vampires who eagerly complied.

“How is the crew working out?” Rajani asked brightly as she appeared by his side almost as if by magic.

She was dressed in one of her Jedi robes, but this one appeared to be more formal, likely in honor of the occasion. It was a dark blue with dark gray piping and brought out the silver in her eyes.

“They are making me feel a little superfluous,” Christian admitted as he looked through one of the six cameras’ viewfinders.

Six cameras! I remember when we had one shaky cam and that was it.

There were over a dozen Vampires assisting them now from setting up cameras and lights to helping with wardrobe, makeup and hair. Christian couldn’t turn around without one of them smiling at him, asking how they could help.

“On the contrary, this show is nothing without you and Julian. We’re just here to facilitate,” Rajani said easily.

They were doing more than that. Though it wasn’t said, it was clear that Rajani saw their show as a prime PR vehicle to sell humanity on Vampires. Christian agreed with her. He and Julian had a large, loyal audience. Ever since it had come out that Vampires were real and that Julian and Christian had not only discovered them, but become one of them, their old videos had been staggered by comments. Their email boxes were overflowing. Private messages were constant. In addition to those Vampires helping on the production side, Rajani also had a group of House Wynter Vampires working through all of the feedback to see what the public mood was and respond appropriately.

Mostly their audience was excited and curious while only a relative few called them “traitors”, “bloodsuckers” or “demons”. There were worse things as well, but Christian noted that Rajani had her people filter out the most objectionable ones even though both he and Julian had told her that they wanted to know what people were thinking, especially the bad stuff. But,evidently, there was only so much the spymaster was willing to expose Julian and himself to. It was touching in a way and frustrating in others.

“I guess I’m just used to a more stripped down production,” Christian finally said.

“You have more resources now. We want you to focus on the content while we handle all the small details,” Rajani told him.

Christian sighed. Though part of him chafed at this “handling” he knew that it was important. Just before the gala, he and Julian had been watching news reports regarding riots in London, Rome and New York. People were protesting the opening of the academy. There had been suicides and murders. Some poor goth kids had been staked, because the killers had assumed they were Vampires since they wore black and favored dark music. So anything that he and Julian could do to lower the temperature around the world was a good thing.

“Christian, should we sit here?” Joanna asked.

The Harrows had sat down on the couch. Hair and makeup surrounded them, dusting a little light powder on their handsome faces and smoothing back a stray unruly hair or two. They needed little help as both glowed with health and vitality. A sweep of their surface thoughts told Christian that they were far calmer than himself. The Harrows though were used to being on television and their words being… well, controversial. Their desire to support Julian though kept their nerves steady. Making people less afraid of Vampires, more accepting of the Immortals, would make Julian’s life better so that was what they would do.

“That’s perfect,” Christian told him as he adjusted the camera’s angle slightly.

Christian’s mother came up behind the couch and touched Joanna Harrow on the shoulder. A firm squeeze and smile. Though his and Julian’s parents had spent every day together since the Harrows had been brought back to life, his parents stillcouldn’t quite believe their best friends were back. His mother often just touched Joanna to assure herself that the other woman was truly there.

Joanna reached around and covered his mother’s hand with her own. Her athletic form was clothed not in the usual cargo pants and t-shirt that she usually wore but a black, sleeveless dress with a high Chinese collar. Jack was in a tuxedo, looking very much like an elegant, predatory James Bond. Christian’s father looked tweedy and scholarly in comparison. He was behind the couch now, too, speaking to Jack and Joanna.

“Have your parents had any thoughts of, ah, joining us?” Rajani asked carefully.

Christian drew in a steadying breath. “Not yet.”

In fact, his parents had studiously avoided talking or even thinking about it. He found himself listening to the patter of their subconscious now as they spoke to the Harrows. While Jack and Joanna were absolutely certain of their choice to become Vampires, it seemed his own parents were on the opposite end of the spectrum.

“It’s one thing for Jack and Joanna to be turned. They are so athletic and… young,” his mother had confessed with an almost embarrassed shrug.

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