Page 25 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 7

Grayson nodded. “That’s as much of a plan as I’m willing to make right now without more intel. We stay fluid and change as needed on the ground.”

More nods all around.

Grayson spoke to Eyros again, “We’re ready. Please open the gate, Eyros.”

“All of this and we have no idea if the Solace gate will even be unlocked,” Eyros chuckled dryly as Elgar came to his Master’s side and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“It will be,” Fiona said with certainty.

Eyros bit his own skin and then sent his blood flying at the stone disk. It formed the pattern of his Bloodline and then a field of stars was revealed. The gate was unlocked. One simple step and they would be in Solace.

“Goodbye, Eyros,” Grayson said as he took Ryder’s hand. “May you stay safe and prosper for as long as time allows.”

Eyros did not say anything. Elgar lifted a hand to tell them goodbye. Closing his hand over Ryder’s, the four of them all walked into the gate together.

Infiltrate

It was lucky that Khos was the first one to go through the gate. Ryder had thought the Dire Wolf wouldn’t be keen to travel that way, but Khoshad bounded ahead of them. So Khos alerted them with a sudden growl that they were not alone. Charlie managed to glamourize them the moment that they stepped out of the gate, because of this audible warning. Ryder knew this only because when he looked at Grayson he saw a platinum-haired woman with high-cheekbones and softly parted lips instead of his beloved’s familiar visage.

There were two Kaly Vampires walking up the path to the gate. One man and one woman dressed in what appeared to him to be proto-Confessor garments.

Kaly is already putting together the Order. Did they always have this planned even before they struck the first blow?

Both Kaly Vampires froze at their unexpected appearance as did their party. The hope had been that no one would be monitoring the Destiny gate as Eyros was clearly hunkered down and not coming out was dashed. Yet even as Ryder thought on this, he realized what a tactical error that would have been. Eyros could have come through as this gate was unlocked. Maybe purposefully unlocked to tempt him or unlocked, because it was jammed open by Seeyr. Either way, guards were necessary and they’d run smack into them. Still, everyone was surprised to see the other there. Khos’ lips writhed back from his teeth, growling softly, eyes narrowed.

“Artemis?!” The woman gasped and dropped to her knees. “Master, what are you–I thought you were back at the Spire!”

Artemis?!

Ryder’s head snapped to Charlie, except, of course, he didn’t look like Charlie anymore, but Artemis Alucius. Ryder fought the smile followed by a grimace that wanted to cross his likely own unfamiliar features. Transforming himself to look like the Kaly’s glorious leader had its benefits, but if either of the Kaly Vampires really thought about it they’d realize Artemis couldn’t be in the Spire and coming out of the Destiny gate at the same time.

“How did you get into Destiny?” The one to the right–a bald man of undetermined age and ebony skin asked–who didn’t drop to his knees.

“Rakash!” the woman hissed and gestured for him to kneel, evidently assuming they’d both be sucked into soul gems simply for asking the question. Knowing Artemis, that likely would be true.

Charlie adopted a bored expression that was all Artemis and in a voice that said butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth responded, “And who are you to question me?”

Charlie plucked the soul gem that actually held Artemis out of his pocket and allowed it to play over his fingers. The unsaid threat was made however.

The Kaly Vampire flinched but held his ground. “You did not alert us that you were going through the gate. Or that you anticipated it being open, Master Alucius.”

Some more good points.

“Rakash, the Master does not tell us everything!” the female Vampire practically wailed.

Such was the power and fear that Artemis elicited in his followers was causing her to not think clearly and making the other Kaly Vampire hesitate. Both were mistakes.

“Cirillen, when did you see Master Alucius at the Spire?” Rakash asked.

Cirillen, the female Kaly Vampire, answered with uncertainty, “I’m not sure. It was before my shift.”

“So only twenty minutes ago?” Rakash got up onto the balls of his feet. “And we have not seen him pass by in that time so he cannot be who he–”

SNAP!

Fiona had teleported behind Rakash, grasped the Kaly Vampire’s head between both of her hands and snapped his neck. It would not give Rakash his Second Death, but only incapacitate him for a short time before his bones knitted themselves together.

Cirillen had jumped to her feet. Her fangs were bared and her fingers were curled into claws. Ryder commanded the Dire Wolf to attack. Khos leaped on Cirillen who opened her mouth to shout. The two of them went down with a whump. Cirillen’s scream was cut off just as it began as the Dire Wolf ripped out her throat. Blood–rich and dark red–fountained into the sky. Ryder closed his eyes as its heady metallic tang filled the air. The urge to fight, to kill, licked at him. He could taste the hot blood and flesh on Khos’ tongue. Feel the give of skin, tissue and bone give way beneath Khos’ powerful jaws. It was only a slight sense of wildness emanating from Grayson that snapped him back to himself.