Page 20 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
“The way you say it seems so possible. Like we can just forgive and forget,” Ryder said.
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I'm saying, because we have bigger problems to deal with now,” Grayson said.
“Do you believe the Sect of Dawn is that powerful?” Ryder lifted a disbelieving eyebrow.
“Maybe. Maybe not. But I think humans are definitely a problem,” Grayson told him.
Ryder slowly nodded his head. “Yeah. Yeah, I believe that.”
“So we can’t be distracted by the past,” Grayson said. “We can’t get embroiled in old arguments. We need to be our best.”
Hence why you want to dump your Grayson persona in the trash, because you felt like a victim. And you can’t be that and keep all of us safe. Oh, Ashyr, that’s not what this life was about.
Before Ryder had a chance to answer, he felt visitors. His head snapped towards the front doors. Demos and Siban were already looking there. At the end of the avenue Vampires were gathering. Some were pointing up at the red-gold flames that now burned merrily above the Weryn Palace. Others were staring down the avenue at the open front doors. At him. They couldn’t enter onto his land unless he let them. And he was keeping them there. For now.
Siban’s lips writhed back from their teeth and they took a menacing step towards the doors.
“It’s all right, Siban. I should have expected visitors after that light show outside,” Ryder told her. “Why don’t you and Demos go look for your rooms?”
“You honestly think we’re going to leave you to face all of them?” Demos was giving him his “get out of town” look.
Grayson patted his shoulder. “Yeah, Demos is right. I mean he’s almost always right. But he’s definitely right this time.”
“Thank you! It’s good to have someone around who understands,” Demos chuckled.
“I know you’re right, too, Demos. I just sometimes like doing the wrong thing,” Ryder admitted.
Demos let out a grunt of agreement and shook his head.
“You can’t face whoever these people are alone. And who are they? The other Weryn?” Grayson asked, not able to see or sense who the Vampires were in his human form.
“Definitely them, but not just them. Other Vampires, too. Not Members of the Bloodlines with Immortals though,” Siban answered. They were up on the balls of their feet, almost as if expecting to get into a fight.
“They know another Immortal has arrived,” Demos said, his expression somewhere between annoyed and alarmed. “As if what happened in the Ring wasn’t clear enough.”
“Yeah, but opening a palace is really official,” Grayson said as he, too, gazed down the avenue to the clustering Vampires.
Ryder turned and cupped Grayson’s face. “I appreciate that you don’t wish me to meet these people alone, but you cannot be with me regardless.”
Grayson’s eyes widened and his lips parted, clearly about to argue, but then he grimaced. “You’re right. I can’t. I’m supposed to be just a student. Damnit.” Ryder gave out an unexpected chuckle, which had Grayson looking up at him. “What?”
“I keep expecting you to act like a young man ready for a fight. But then you are so reasonable. So Ashyr-like,” Ryder admitted.
Grayson gave him a lopsided smile. “I admit when I came here I very much wanted to use my powers to take some people out. I still rather do. But we have a plan. I intend to stick with it. Besides, you are perfectly capable of taking care of yourself.”
“I am?” Ryder lifted an eyebrow, even though he knew he was.
“Yes, you are. I know this. But you’ll also have Demos and Siban with you,” Grayson admitted.
“I will. But I can handle this. I must handle it. Can’t hide in here forever,” Ryder reminded him.
Grayson glanced down the avenue again. “True and we don’t know that they’re unfriendly. They could be here to welcome you back.”
“Some of them are,” Demos said. “But I’m betting some of them aren’t. Weryn is not popular.”
“Kaly has not been ostracized and they are far more responsible for what happened then Weryn for the War,” Siban objected.
“How many of these people were around during the War, Siban? You, Dani, Elgar and maybe a handful of others?” Demos shook his head. “All these people know is what the Order told them, and of the Immortals, Weryn was Satan incarnate. You know that.”
