Page 21 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
Siban’s hands curled into fists. “The Order was Kaly propaganda. Do they remember that?”
Ryder put one hand on each of their shoulders. “It wasn’t all propaganda though. They have reason to fear me.”
“Are you going away from the fearing-you thing?” Demos looked dubious about that.
Ryder thought of his idea to seem approachable. Reasonable. The mediator. He threw it away. That wasn’t what he was. Who he was. Maybe inside his own Bloodline, but only after people had proven themselves to him and were worthy of it. This was his palace. His lands. He was the Immortal Weryn, no matter what, no matter who didn’t like it.
“No, Demos, I don’t think so,” Ryder answered, which had Demos’ eyebrows rising, but he smiled nonetheless. He gave Grayson’s cheek a last caress. “Find a bedroom for us.”
Grayson’s lips curled into a genuine smile and some hot spots of color bloomed on his cheeks. “You know we have a lot to do today, right?”
“I know. Just find us someplace nice that we can claim later,” Ryder told him.
“It shall be done.” Grayson saluted and headed towards the stairs.
Ryder knew that Grayson would find a window and be watching things from the shadows in case he was needed. But he was doing a good job of pretending he was perfectly fine letting Ryder go ahead without him. Ryder couldn’t keep the smile off of his face as he turned back to Demos and Siban.
“He hides it well that he will be watching all that is happening and keeping us safe,” Siban said.
“Yes.” Ryder laughed.
“I almost believed him when he said he trusted us to keep you safe.” Demos snorted.
“I know, right? Well, let’s show him there’s nothing to worry about. No matter how many unwelcome guests there are,” Ryder said.
He strode out of the palace. As he did so, he stretched out his hands and touched the statues’ heads that flanked the stairs. The flames burned brighter. Ryder found he had an extra pep in his step as he walked towards the crowd with Siban and Demos flanking him. He stopped at the very edge of the Weryn Palace property and stood there, observing the crowd. Those who had been nearest to where he now stood scattered backwards. Ryder kept an easy smile on his face, showing some fangs.
He recognized only a few of the Vampires there from his old House. They were at the edges of the crowd, which was one hundred strong and going. His sense of smell told him that there were Vampires from many Bloodlines present, though none of the ones from current Immortal Bloodlines like Siban had said.
They all stood there--silver eyes glowing in the moonlight--staring, unblinking, at him. They gave Demos and Siban a good glance too but they knew he was Weryn, even those who had not been present at the Ring the other day.
“The Weryn Palace is not open to visitors at this time,” Ryder said genially even as he cracked his large fingers.
The crowd was silent. Still unblinking.
“Did you not hear him?” Demos asked, arms crossed over his chest. “This is not a tourist destination. There are no tickets. Move it along.”
“Is it true?” A woman asked from the crowd.
“Is what true?” Ryder asked.
“Weryn… Weryn is back?” she asked. She was small, only a smidge above five-feet with straight black hair and almond shaped eyes.
“That’s what the flame says,” Ryder answered her easily. “Doesn’t it?”
“Are you… you Weryn?” A man asked. His voice held hope and fear. He was a slender man with dark skin and a scar down his right cheek.
“I am Weryn,” Ryder answered.
Silence fell again. Those unblinking silver eyes would have been unnerving if not for the fact that he was untouchable on Weryn ground as were Siban and Demos. He felt Grayson’s gaze upon his back. He knew that if he turned and looked back at the palace that Grayson would be in one of those upper storey windows. Watching. Waiting. Guarding him.
“And what about the rest? Is that true too?” A third voice asked. Anger stained with hate and the hint of violence was in that voice.
Demos and Siban surged forward so that they were beside him, but he held up his arms and held them back.
“You are going to have to be more definite. That covers a lot of ground,” Ryder said.
“That you’re crazy. That you kill Vampires for fun. That you drink our blood and not humans.” These things were said by many voices, many throats. “That you killed your whole Bloodline. That you want to kill them. That you’re going to kill us. That you’re dangerous.”
