Page 68 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
I know how I look, Balthazar. Maybe how I even was. A wounded, young man who wanted to find his place. His people. A victim of all that had happened in his life, Grayson answered. But I know my place. You are my people. And I am no victim. The Sect thinks it can take all of that from me. I will disabuse them of that notion.
I believe you and am very glad you’re on our side, Balthazar said.
As I am glad you are, Grayson sent.
“So are you here to dance or just making your way through? Oh, what am I saying?! I’m not letting you just pass through without dancing.” Mairead extended her hands up into the air and shimmied her body provocatively.
“Mairead is a good dancer,” Eiji said.
“Oh, you’re such a flatterer, Eiji-sama!” Mairead beamed.
“We wish to dance. We will dance,” not-Ryder stated flatly.
Grayson must have momentarily shown a look of dismay as Eiji asked, “If you do not wish to dance, Grayson, Mairead would take your place on the dance floor.”
“No!” Grayson forced a smile. “No, I want to dance.” He hooded his eyes at Ryder. “I’ve been dying to dance with you all night.”
“And so you shall.” Not-Ryder caressed Grayson’s chin almost roughly.
Eiji’s pink cheeks and sparkling eyes showed how much he must have drunk that night, but, for a moment, he didn’t seem so drunk after all. He almost seemed like he knew that this was not Ryder.
He does. He’s figured it out. At least, he knew that this was a Mirryr pretending to be Ryder. I’ve filled him in on the rest, Balthazar said with a grimace.
You told him everything? Grayson was surprised by this.
He’s rather special at recognizing enemies, our Eiji-sama. He’s been the Oyabun of a Yakuza crime family for nearly sixty years after all.
Wait, you brought in a crime boss as one of the students of your first class? Grayson asked, stunned.
He’s old. He’s going to die. His children are not fit inheritors of his empire so it will fall to pieces without him, Balthazar explained. So why not save him and get the empire too?
Clever, Eyros, Grayson said.
Yes, I almost sound like you. In any case, I’ve told Eiji what the game is so he won’t get in the way trying to save you, Balthazar said.
He’s not showing he knows anything at all!
Grayson was rather awed by this as Eiji smiled benevolently and swayed slightly on his feet as if more drunk. There was not a trace of suspicion or knowledge on the old man’s face. Grayson would have never guessed that he was aware that anything was amiss.
Man’s a genius. He’ll keep it together. But I cannot trust Mairead not to react. I could mind control her but there’s a slight lag, Balthazar explained. So Eiji is going to help with the plan.
“So how did you crash the Mirryr’s party, huh?” Mairead asked Ryder with a playful push on his large chest.
The Mirryr Vampire stared at her hand and then back up at her face. His silver eyes shimmered and there was a tightening of the skin around his eyes and mouth. His lips parted and his fangs were out. Grayson watched as not-Ryder physically swallowed the rage he was feeling. He was having trouble not reacting violently, Grayson realized.
“I just walked in. What are the Mirryr going to do against Weryn reborn after all?” Not-Ryder asked and gave one of those unsettling smiles.
Even Mairead in her drunken state was starting to think this was off. She blinked and gave an uncertain smile. “Y-yeah, I guess.”
“You’re so funny, Ryder!” Grayson gave a laugh he hoped didn’t sound as brittle as he felt hearing this. “He’s actually a good friend of Charlie’s. Charlie is the Mirryr that organized this party. He asked you to come, didn’t he, Ryder?”
Not-Ryder, obviously having no idea if this was true or not, just nodded and flashed his teeth in another smile. “Yeah, right, Charlie’s the best.”
“He definitely throws the best parties,” Mairead brightened again.
“The one will definitely be memorable,” not-Ryder said, but for all the worst reasons.
Balthazar, I think this Vampire is a War Childe, Grayson said.
