Page 132 of The Star's Sword

“Yes!” the vampires cheered. “Vasara! Miracle! Vasara! Miracle!”

“Today, we show who is really strong, and who is weak!” she yelled, and the vampires yipped and squealed.

“Yes!” the Vampires screamed.

“We spill her blood for her lies to the vampires!” Vasara yelled.

“Yes!” the vampires answered.

“For the fake donations!”

“Yes!”

“For stealing my victories!”

“Yes!”

“And worst of all, for killing my friends yesterday!”

“Yes!” the vampires answered.

“Wait, what?” I asked, confused now.

“They’re blaming you for yesterday, too,” Simon said, putting a hand to his forehead outside the arena. He was standing on my side, at least. “They’re saying you used telekinesis to cheat and move Vasara.”

“There’s no excuse they won’t make, is there?” Cayne muttered.

“Go Cleo!” Mor yelled, followed by cheers from Os and Griffin, as the vampires booed.

“Let’s get this going,” Vasara said, smiling cockily at the vampires, clearly hyped up by all their support. “With hundreds of vampires behind me, I’m going to kill you.” She grinned, coming in close so that only I could hear. “There will be no Morningstar.”

My eyes went wide as I tried to process what she was saying. When I got it, my chest felt tight.

I’d wondered, I’d had suspicions, but now I was certain.

She’d never intended to be the Morningstar. So what did she want?

But I didn’t have time to think more about it, because Simon put up a hand, walking into the arena and standing at the center, waiting for everyone to hush, which they did.

“But because the loyalty support here will affect combat significantly, I do want to use my right as officiant to invoke a blood loyalty test.”

“What?” Vasara said.

“Well, Cleo is my friend. As the king of the keep here, who has provided everything for everyone living in the bounds, I have the right at any time to request a blood loyalty test. Keeps us all safe from betrayals. You know.” Simon’s tone was casual but there was a gleam in his eyes of pure glee that I’d never seen before.

Vasara swallowed. “What does it mean?”

“That’s right,” Simon said, snapping his fingers like he’d just remembered something. “You spend so much time with celestials usually and only recently developed a love for vampires. Well, one of the tenets of vampirism is blood loyalty. Meaning a vampire must be loyal to one who gives him blood. If he is found to be betraying it, let’s just say the results are sticky and painful.”

Vasara just stared at him, as if she were too stunned to blink.

“It doesn’t happen usually, but since vampires can become somewhat brainwashed, it’s good to have a backup plan. I’ve been alive a long time, and no vampire who doesn’t understand its own blood loyalty can do much for our society.” He shrugged. “After all, vamps don’t have empathy. They aren’t grateful. They aren’t kind. But they are vicious, and that viciousness needs to be only employed on the enemies of those we feed on. I have everyone sign an agreement that comes to my keep, that I can test blood loyalty at any time. Keeps a coup from happening, you know? I didn’t build this place and let everyone feed here just to see them turn on me and hurt others or my friends. Just a bit of insurance.”

“So all vampires are subject to blood loyalty, or just yours?”

“Well, all,” Simon said. “But you know, other keep masters might not invoke it. Everyone living here does.”

“Invoke it,” a vampire in Vasara’s crowd yelled. “It will prove Cleo’s lies!”

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