“We’re still the most wanted people on the continent, withverygenerous sums for our capture,” I hissed under my breath.
“You see a problem with that?”
“We’ll barely get five minutes, never mind an hour, if chaos erupts when we’re spotted.”
“Or we could have peace and quiet when I kill every person who even looked to be contemplating approaching us.”
My frown deepened. Nightsdeath glanced away as if gathering patience.
“Then what do you suggest?”
That was a good question. Even if Nightsdeath had a cloak and face covering like I did, the animated darkness that was ever present around him was enough to draw fear and suspicion. I often found myself mesmerized by the shadows snaking around him, wanting to reach out and touch them, but I had a feeling Nightsdeath would highly disapprove of my curiosity.
“We could find a merchant selling starlight matter.” As I suggested it, I wondered if a vial enchanted to change his appearance would work on him.
“No,” he said flatly; then he slipped from my fingers. Literally. It was like he could make any part of himself become pure smoke as he drifted away, boldly rounding the corner into the main room.
I didn’t even catch up to see before I heard the commotion he was causing just by his presence. As I bustled after him, it was like he didn’t even notice the scared people, some vacating their seats as if his shadows were snakes priming to strike them. Nightsdeath wandered over to the bar where a man dropped his tankard, sloshing wine or ale over the edge of the wood and backing away wearily.
“We may as well have left Auster a parting note and directions to find us,” I hissed when I came to Nightsdeath’s side.
He surveyed his surroundings over his shoulder, taking in the disruption for the first time.
“I haven’t even given them a reason to be afraid, and yet their fear is a thick aroma tempting my palate. Their blood tastes far sweeter heated and rushing with terror in their veins,” he said, eyes roving over the crowd for selection.
My body tensed and I stepped closer to him with a sharp look he ignored.
“You will not harm anyone in here.”
“You must eat to survive. So must I.”
I realized what he meant then. Nightsdeath needed blood, and with how he observed the people now like they were on a menu, those with the most fear or pain or suffering were what gave him the most sustenance.
“You don’t have to kill anyone,” I amended. I wouldn’t be able to stop him from taking what he needed, but I could try to reason with him.
“Must you take away my fun?”
Someone interrupted us from my other side. “This place has the best starlight mineras. Your favorite, if I recall.”
The feminine voice struck a chord of familiarity. I turned and spied the two-toned hair of black and white;, the impact of who I was looking at stole the air from me.
“Laviana?” I choked, wondering for a second if she could be an illusion.
“I’ve been looking for you, Maiden. At times it’s been easy to get a mark on you but impossible to get you alone.”
My brow creased but my body fixed in place, conflicted when it had been so long, another lifetime ago, since I’d last seen the daughter of my shadowless and celestial guardians.
She leaned with her forearms on the bar and gave the barkeep a firm order to snap him out of his scared stillness since Nightsdeath had approached. Then she glanced over my shoulder, studying Nightsdeath with curious wariness.
“Are the shadows a new effect to ward off company? I don’t think the extra measure is necessary,” she said casually.
They knew each other in the past. Laviana was an elder blood vampire. A leader of the vampire resistance. I wasn’t sure if the resistance from long ago still existed.
I didn’t know how to explain that who accompanied me was only… half of Nyte, in a sense.
“Something like that,” he said, playing along, though there was a note of irritation in his tone because we were no longer alone. I relaxed a fraction. “Though I guess they’re not as efficient as I’d hoped they would be.”
Laviana huffed a laugh as the barkeep came over, placing down one tankard of wine and two drinks in clear glasses. Starlight minera had been my drink of choice wherever I could find it. It wasn’t common in most inns and taverns since it came with a high price tag because of the dustings of starlight matter infused in the liquor, which gave it quicker effects, and, no matter how much you consumed, you would never wake up with any sickness or headache. I’d completely forgotten my sweet craving until now.
