Page 40 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
The Wyvern Vampire moved to get it for herself, but Seeyr was already unerringly pouring the dark red liquid from the decanter into a wine glass even though her eyes were still unhealed and covered with a bandage. Seeyr handed the goblet to Fiona without losing a drop of liquid.
“Thank you, Seeyr, It’s so good to see you,” Fiona said. She crossed her legs. “You’ve been keeping a low profile since the school opened.”
Seeyr smiled and waved a graceful hand through the air. “Daemon has been keeping me quite busy and I am trying to spend as much time with my darling Bloodline as possible. The thought of taking on new fledglings for us is both exciting and frightening.”
“Seeyr’s gift causes many to go mad,” Ryder whispered in his ear. “The terrible irony of her gift is that she cannot see which will make it and which won’t so it is a stressful thing for them.”
“One of my roommates met with some of your people, Seeyr,” Grayson remarked. “Dr. Amara Biswas. Is she a good candidate?”
Seeyr sighed. “Amara is a darling woman. So smart. So driven. She thought that my gift would allow her to see which of her experiments would fail or succeed, but I had to tell her, alas, that my gift does not work that way.”
“So she is intent on continuing to solve the riddle of human disease?” Grayson asked.
“Oh, yes, most definitely. But she has good reason to,” Seeyr said and then paused. Her head swiveled towards Balthazar. “You haven’t shared all of our students’ backstories with Grayson yet, have you?”
“He hasn’t shared them with anyone,” Fiona remarked darkly.
“The packet–”
“I read the packet. There is nothing in there about Dr. Biswas’ personal history,” Ryder said.
“You did read it1 I knew it!” Balthazar thrust a finger at Ryder’s chest.
“Of course, I did. At the time, I thought I was understanding my enemy,” Ryder answered.
“In any event, Dr. Biswas’ family has a terrible genetic disease that has struck down many in her family line, including her niece, Hiral, who is only four, poor thing,” Seeyr answered.
“Are we not concerned that Dr. Biswas will be inclined to experiment with Vampire blood? That is forbidden under the Blood Pact,” Fiona pointed out.
“Well, we’re sort of hoping she will. We want to see what’s possible,” Balthazar admitted.
“Plots within plots,” Fiona said, but she smiled. “I should have expected nothing less from the three of you. But will it work out all right in the end? That is the question.”
“True! But this time we’re hoping it will because we’re all in this together.” Balthazar laced his fingers together as if an exhibit. “But that’s not for me to tell you. That’s for Grayson to do so! I ceded the floor to our General!”
Balthazar made a ridiculous bow, but somehow when all of the Immortals turned their gazes upon him it didn’t seem ridiculous at all. Grayson cleared his throat. He turned from Ryder to face them. Ryder stayed with him, hands on his waist. He was the caller of the meeting. He ought to start.
“So this is all who have returned so far of the Immorals?” Grayson confirmed. “Ashyr, Weryn, Seeyr, Wyvern, Kaly and Eyros?”
“That we know about. Who have revealed themselves to us or Daemon,” Caemorn stated without turning around.
“Fiona and I were just speaking about the fact that there are many pre-War Vampires who are just now making themselves known, but many others are still keeping away,” Ryder said. “I have 100 ancient Weryn Vampires that showed up on my palace’s doorstep not 30 minutes ago. Who knows what the next five minutes will bring.”
“Some would say it was madness to respond to the invitation of old enemies,” Caemorn remarked. “They likely believe that Daemon has been misled and has no idea of some of our crimes.”
“We should talk about that,” Grayson said, taking the bull by the horns.
“Yes, we should, and you need to stop staring moodily out the window like some gothic lord, Caemorn!” Balthazar said with an exasperated shake of his head at Caemorn. “If any of us had a problem with you, you’d already know!”
Caemorn slowly swung around. He did not appear morose, but he rarely showed what he was truly feeling on his face. It was always a mask of perfection, no matter what form he took.
“I am merely saying what I know others are thinking, Balthazar. As much as you would like for me to be forgiven and clasped against the bosom of every Vampire, I am not. Ryder understands my position as he shares it in many ways,” Caemorn stated and tipped his head towards Grayson’s lover.
He felt Ryder shift behind him. “No one has quite accused me of war crimes to my face, but I don’t need to read people’s minds to know that at least some must think it and hate me.”
“That is to be expected and some have good reason not to forgive and forget at this time or maybe ever,” Grayson said gently. He felt the surprise that came from some in the room that he had spoken so plainly. “Caemorn is right that we have to accept this and plan for people’s real reactions. Not what we hope they’ll be.” He turned to Balthazar who looked rather stricken. “I think it’s wonderful that you want to protect him, Balthazar.”
“Protect Caemorn? Ah, he needs no protection! Because, according to him, he feels nothing and needs even less!” Balthazar crossed his arms over his chest and stared moodily into the fire, being the gothic lord that he had accused Caemorn of being.
