Bindy already waited outside the room standing guard when we got there. Probably making sure he didn’t get out as much as ensuring no one went in. “Some good vampires are here to take him away,” I said. “We want to say goodbye.”
Bindy nodded and opened the door. Aric sat on the bed staring at the floor. He looked up but didn’t budge. “The restraints keep him from being able to move from the shoulders down,” Bindy said.
His nostrils flared when we stepped into the room, a big reminder of what he’d become. I could see in Zyacus’s face that it pained him to even look at Aric. “Go away,” Aric said without any anger.
“Kyan is here with some of his friends. They want to help.”
“I want to die, Zyacus.” Tears welled up. “I don’t want to have to drink blood to survive. I’ve been prepared to die since I realized what this mark on my wrist could be. Please, if you love me—if you care about me at all, cut my head off and tell my mother and father I’m sorry.”
My throat burned and my eyes stung, and damn, this was tearing me up. To hear his plea, to know he’d rather be dead than be what he’d become hurt me more than I thought it would. He was our sweet, fun, caring friend and it took everything in me not to let out the sob aching to escape.
“I can’t,” Zyacus choked out and I had to turn away or a waterfall of tears would burst. “I do love you, cousin and that’s why I can’t. One day you’ll be fine; you’ll be happy to be here even if it’s not how you imagined your life would be. Learn to control it.” Zyacus put a hand on Aric’s shoulder. “You are a warrior, a prince, and a damn good man, and this is not your end.”
Tears ran down my cheeks. Ugh these two, it was worse than if Legacy were here.
Zyacus took my hand and we paused at the door. “I’ll see you as soon as you’re ready.”
“Goodbye, Aric,” I said softly. Nothing I could say would top what Zyacus already had.
“Tell Legacy—” Aric paused. “Tell her to forget about me and move on.”
Zyacus only nodded and when we got to the bottom of the stairs the vampires went up.
Chapter 37
Before we did anything else Zyacus and I went outside to look for the scepter. Something like that was dangerous in the wrong hands, clearly. As the back doors opened and I turned to walk down the steps, a man crouched beside Vyce, holding the golden rod in hand.
His warm brown leathers were different than anything we wore. The golden hair waving down his back was half tied up to reveal pointed ears. I’d never seen the tips of ears like that before and I simply stared at them curiously.
Whipping his head around, he stood and there was something about his presence that made me want to step back. He radiated power.
A spinning, glowing orange ring that reminded me of little crackling fireworks, formed beside him, large enough for him to walk through. When he stepped toward it I held out my hand. “Wait.”
Zyacus, who hadn’t moved since we came out the doors, darted down the steps. “We need that!” he shouted. The man didn’t look at Zyacus but he did stare at me and his face was strangely perfect, almost like he wasn’t real. When Zyacus got closer the man stepped through the ring, disappearing, then it was gone. “Damn it!”
“Have you ever seen someone like that before?” I asked as Zyacus walked toward me.
He shook his head. “With pointy ears? No. I’ve also never seen someone open a portal like that. It’s different than your mother’s.”
I ran my fingers through my disheveled hair. “I have a feeling we’ll see him again.”
∞∞∞
We waited at the academy until a portal opened. Everyone present, tensed. Normally my mother was the only one to open portals. The men holding the two academy students wore expressions of stone. Another man wearing an all-black suit came in behind them. Milky white skin, auburn hair slicked back and crimson eyes. “Good evening,” his voice echoed off the walls.
I wasn’t sure if this was the remaining dark coven leader or a good vampire. My father drew his sword and stepped out from everyone. “Release them.”
“But of course,” the man purred. “I didn’t come to fight.” The male vampires set the unconscious boy and girl on the stone floor. I recognized the boy from one of my classes. Both of them were Delhoon.
My mother joined at my father’s side, sparks crackling from her fingers. “Did you coordinate the attack?”
Lifting his chin, the man said, “Forgive me, I am Demetrius. Greater vampire, leader of the light coven. No, the attack was not my doing. However the return of your children is. I ask that you not retaliate.”
“Why wouldn’t we?” Father asked.
“First of all, you’d be hard-pressed to find my kind. Many of us blend in amongst the humans in Collweya. You even have vampire students attending here who do no harm.” His eyes shifted to my mother. “To retaliate would mean waging war against all of the north.”
Enden stepped forward then. “As king of Hesstia, I will not retaliate. But you need to make certain this does not happen again.” He looked to my mother and father. “I don’t speak for Delhoon, however.”
“We will not wage war on Collweya,” Mother said. She stooped down and touched the unconscious girl they brought back. “Why aren’t they awake?”
Demetrius bent over at the waist in a slight bow. “I am sorry but both of them will wake as vampires.”
Several gasps and cries of anger loosed among the guards. Even my hand covered my mouth before I blurted something out. Zyacus nudged my arm, “At least Aric won’t be the only new vampire since it’s likely Bindy will tell your parents about him. I was worried about that.”
I wanted that to be a positive but I wouldn’t wish this blood curse on anyone.
Demetrius stepped toward the portal. “When we got to them they’d already been fed blood and… died. I don’t recommend sending them home. They’ll need to be controlled.”
“That’s it?” my father growled. “Don’t send them home?”
“I can offer my services to teach them—the way. For a price.”
Greedy bastard.
My mother shot up. “Leave. Before I change my mind about waging war.”
Demetrius stepped through the portal and it closed in seconds.
“Bind them,” Mother ordered to the guards. “We’ll bring them with us and find a way to help them.”
Once Mother sent most of the guards home, along with the two vampire students, the halls of the academy were depressingly quiet.
“We’ll close down for the rest of the academy year,” Mother said and put an arm around me. “You’ll finish out your classes in Delhoon. And in the spring, we’ll reopen and see how many of the students will come back.”
Zyacus and I looked at each other. If I was going back to Delhoon that meant he was going to Hesstia. I desperately wanted him to come train in Delhoon with me. Months apart from him would be absolute torture.
Apparently having the same thoughts, Zyacus turned to his father. “May I have your blessing to finish out the year in Delhoon? They have better magic professors and I want to be with Visteal.”