Page 59 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
Here we are acting at least like the first of those two things, Ryder finished for him. His eyes scanned the moving bodies. For a human, the rooms were dimly lit, but for him, he could see everything. The amount of Vampire nightshine all around him told him he was not alone. Maybe this is just a battle you can’t win, Balthazar. Vampires are associated with sex, sensuality and indulgence. Let’s be that.
But this is a school! Balthazar bleated. Clearly, he knew that this argument was ridiculous, but was still clinging to it nonetheless.
Not for children, remember? These are all adults even if they seem like children to us, Balthazar reminded him. Besides, we shouldn’t sanitize the experience for them. They need to know what Vampires are actually like and what they will be like too. Feeding and sex go together hand in hand.
The humans are asking us to care for their kind. We have to show we are worthy of that trust, Balthazar said with a sigh.
Ryder felt Weryn perk up a little bit of this. He got a sense from his other self that this was unexpected talk coming from the Eyros Vampire. But it wasn’t unexpected from Ryder’s point of view. From what he could tell, Balthazar was making himself sick trying to keep everyone safe and entertained while fending off the press and those who would see evil in everything they did. He was impressed.
Not the same, Weryn mused. He is not the same as before.
Ryder thought of his conversation with Caemorn outside of the Eyros Palace. The Kaly Vampire had been telling him as much. They all wanted to be someone different than who they had been while Grayson was going full steam ahead back to who he was, erasing Grayson from his consciousness as quickly as possible.
You think you can get public acceptance of us by pretending we’re kittens when we’re lions, Balthazar? Ryder asked.
Another sigh was his response. Humans don’t need to know everything. They just need to see certain things. This party is…
Ryder stepped over a writhing couple and started down the stairs to the second floor. Well on its way to being the most memorable thing that these students have ever done. It’s definitely a Mirryr party.
Yes, it is. I wish we could have some fun instead of looking for a potential murderer. Why couldn’t they have planned their kill for something boring? Balthazar sighed again. I’m sure the Kaly gathering will be absolutely deadly dull unless Caemorn lets me plan it. So far no dice on that front.
No dice, indeed.
And really, that was it. They were forced to be the sober ones, to not indulge and find their partners. To not drink or dance or fuck. They had to simply walk past it all and keep a clear eye out. He was distracted by a flicker of eyeshine appearing ahead of him in the hallway. But they had a purple tint.
“Julian,” Ryder said as the Vampire Prince hove into view.
Julian was like a sleek panther, all in black. Black dress pants and shirt. Hands loosely slid into his pants. Dark hair gelled back from a thoughtful forehead. He smiled at Ryder widely.
Hello, Ryder, Julian sent and Ryder remembered that Julian could communicate mind to mind as well. How’s your evening been?
Not as good as theirs.
Ryder gestured towards an ever-shifting Mirryr Vampire who kissed along a student’s throat. She arched back, revealing a beautiful, long, swan-like neck. Her eyes were closed in ecstasy. He swallowed as he suddenly felt very hungry. He’d drunk from a willing Acolyte neck and also filled up with bagged blood, but he was hungry again with the scent of all this willing flesh.
Yeah, it’s been a little distracting, Julian admitted, bumping shoulders with him.
How does Daemon feel about you being here on a stakeout? Ryder asked.
You’re thinking he would be keeping me in a box of cotton-wool considering I’m so new? Julian’s eyebrows lifted.
Well… yeah.
Yeah. Julian laughed. He might, but then he says something about not breaking my spirit after I just stare at him until he gives in.
Ryder shook his head. You have the most powerful being wrapped around your little finger.
Julian ducked his head and ran a hand through his hair. Ah, don’t say that. I’m not wise enough to have that much control over anyone.
He adores you. Been waiting for you so long, Ryder said and felt a pang of memory.
For a moment, he saw Daemon hunched over the body of a dead fledgling, holding the young woman to his chest, rocking and sobbing silently. He swallowed hard against the memory.
And you’ve been waiting for Ashyr to come back too, Julian pointed out.
I suppose you could say I was sleeping before he returned as well, Ryder agreed. I’m so glad you’re here, Julian. Not here in this space, but, you know, here in this existence. We needed Daemon back and he needs you.
Julian’s purple eyes fixed on his face. And he’s glad to have you back as well, Ryder. You share a lot of the same traits, you know? He understands.
