Page 53 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
“The more the merrier,” Amara said.
“He’s not more, Amara. He’s already taken and so he’s accounted for. He’s even opened up spaces in another Bloodline too! You, my friend, are all good in my book,” Mairead enthused. “So shall we get this party started?”
They all clinked their glasses together in agreement even as Grayson thought, And please let it not end with one of you dead.
Party
The bass from the music pumped up Grayson’s legs through his boots. They were still a few houses away from the Mirryr party. Mairead was already doing a little dance as they walked to the catchy beat.
“It’s so bright!” Amara breathed. “It looks like daytime!”
“If day were all the colors of a hot club and swirled a lot,” Grayson laughed.
She wasn’t wrong though. The three-storey structure was emitting enough light to illuminate every blade of grass and make all the usual shadowy places exposed to every eye, not just Vampire ones. No longer were there just the sedate blue-white lamps to light the street and leave plenty to the imagination. Spotlights in white, blue, green, red, purple and more speared out from the Mirryr party house. If there had been planes in the Ever Dark, these lights would have been bright enough to allow them to land.
Human students were streaming towards the house. Tinkling laughter and bright conversation punctuated the night. Everyone’s eyes were bright with excitement. From what Grayson understood from the others of things so far, the classes had been interesting but sedate.
They’d gone through all the Vampire Bloodlines, even though the students had likely already memorized them, but had added more information than had been known before. Special things about the Immortals or exhibitions of power that had only been on mild display at the parade. They’d taken them to the palaces, too.
“Did you know that the Weryn palace is now lit up? That means the Immortal Weryn has returned!” Mairead asked him. “I mean since Ryder’s a Weryn and all, he must know his Immortal is here, right? Have you met him? Weryn, I mean? He’s supposed to be a scary dude. But I suppose all the Vampires are really scary though they’re trying not to show it to us.”
“While there’s been an antiseptic take during the classes, the Vampires are quite open to their true natures if you meet them one on one,” Amara contradicted.
Mairead pouted. “I haven’t had the pleasure. Some of us weren’t so lucky as to snag early invitations or know Vampires before we got here. Eiji-sama and I have had to figure out things without such insider information.”
Grayson glanced towards Eiji. Now that he knew the man was far more than he seemed, he wondered if he minded Mairead lumping them together like that. But Eiji had his hands crossed at the wrists behind his lower back and was gazing with a peaceful expression on his face at the Mirryr party house.
Amara cast a worried glance at Eiji. “Eiji-sama, if this party is not to your taste and you want to leave early, please let me know. I will be happy to accompany you.”
“We haven’t even got there, Amara! How do you know you’re not going to like it?” Mairead gave the doctor a disgusted shake of her head.
“Not all of us enjoy going to–to–whatever this is,” Amara gave up trying to find the right word as she gestured to the house that was practically throbbing with music, color and lights.
“I enjoy parties. Or did in my youth. It’s been some time since I’ve gotten to indulge,” Eiji said generously.
Grayson was certain that the parties in Eiji’s youth were nothing like the Mirryr party. The Mirryr were the one type of Vampire that had no trouble changing with the ages. They embraced what was next and new. They always wanted to be on the cusp of something fresh. Change was what they were all about. So he wasn’t surprised that this party looked like the best modern rave.
He saw Mirryr Vampires stream out of the house, holding silver trays filled with small cups filled partway with vibrant colors. He knew they were Mirryr because their outfits and bodies–rather like Charlie’s had earlier–kept shifting and morphing into something new. The outfits stayed a vibrant orange no matter what shape they took, likely to differentiate them from everyone else who had been sent black and silver outfits.
“Ooooh! Jello shots! I’ll get us some!” Mairead ran ahead and commandeered a platter full of the colorful alcoholic drinks. She returned to them and started handing them out. “I know you like cherry, Eiji-sama. I think that’s what this is. Ooooh, I’m giving you lime, Amara, because you’re so tart. And you can have a lemon one, Grayson, because just looking at you… well, anyways, bottom’s up!”
She tossed a cherry one back herself. The Jello shot slid out of the cup and into her mouth with a squishing sound. She chewed and swallowed, closing her eyes in appreciation as she did.
“Sweet!” she enthused and grabbed a second. When she saw that none of them had drunk–or eaten–their shots, she said, “C’mon, guys, we need to loosen up! Look, I know that this isn’t everyone’s bag, yeah? But the Mirryr Vampires clearly took a lot of time putting this together. Let’s at least try and have fun.”
Grayson found himself smiling at her and nodding. “You’re right. I’m sure they did. Maybe some alcohol will help get us in the right mood.”
He knew his tolerance was pretty high and jello shots normally had little alcohol in them, but still he tried to only take a couple, but Mairead kept giving him another and another until the whole tray was empty. A Mirryr Vampire who changed from a blonde to a red-head to mirror Mairead to a dark haired woman rather like Amara before going shocking white like Eiji, took the tray with the empty cups from Mairead. Surprisingly, it was Eiji who had drunk the most. His cheeks were a cheery red and he was swaying a little bit.
“I wish to dance,” Eiji pronounced.
“Your wish is my command! We need to take this handsome man to the dance floor!” Mairead laughed.
The Mirryr Vampire helpfully said, “There’s a dance floor filled with bubbles. Perhaps that would suit your moods.”
“Bubbles!” Eiji laughed delightedly.
“Oh, yes, lead the way!” Mairead agreed as they looped arms together and followed the Mirryr into the house.
