Page 21 of Ever Dark Academy: Volume 6

“Ah, I’m sorry,” Ryder said.

“As am I. He would have been a brilliant Mirryr,” Charlie sighed.

“So if not to see the Kaly, why are you heading this way?” Ryder asked, drawing the conversation back to what he had wanted to know.

“Same reason you are, dear Ryder! To assist in retrieving Grayson’s mother. I am actually to play her on Earth while she is here so no one realizes she’s left.” Charlie put a hand flat against his chest as if he were a great auteur and this was the role of a lifetime.

“Smart,” Ryder said.

“It was Grayson’s idea,” Charlie said. “The boy has some very advanced ideas! For one so young, he seems… well, you must know better than anyone as he is to be your Childe.”

Charlie’s almost child-like statement and evident delight in that thought made it harder for Ryder to hide his own pain as he answered, “That hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Really?” Charlie blinked. “But why on Earth not? Surely he has no objections!”

Charlie did not know who Grayson really was and they were still keeping that close to the vest. This meant that he couldn’t explain why Grayson might pick someone else even if both their hearts desired one thing.

“Yes, well, it just hasn’t been decided.”

Ryder couldn’t quite meet Charlie’s eyes, which were on his face. He was surprised when the Mirryr Vampire patted his arm.

“You mustn’t worry, Ryder. Things will work out as they are supposed to,” Charlie assured him.

Ryder smiled. “You’re sounding more like a Seeyr than a Mirryr!”

“Oh, well, when you get a chance to be anyone, you see the warp and weft of the universe,” Charlie explained with an airy wave.

“You do?” Ryder lifted an eyebrow.

“Yes, you do.” Charlie nodded sagely. “Ah, it looks like we’re here and your young man is coming right towards us.”

Ryder barely had a chance to turn his head before Grayson was in his arms. He buried his face in Grayson’s hair. The young man squeezed him tightly.

“You’re here,” Grayson breathed against his chest.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t with you before,” Ryder answered as he kissed Grayson’s head.

“No, no, if not for this… I’m glad you were with your Bloodline.” Grayson reluctantly pulled back so that they could see one another.

Ryder gently ran a thumb underneath Grayson’s right eye. Dark circles. He was exhausted. But there was that fierce intelligence and determination in his eyes, too.

“Hey, Charlie, I’m glad you came,” Grayson said.

“Of course! I’m always up for a performance,” the Mirryr Vampire said as he rocked back and forth in his dress shoes.

“I’m sure.” Almost shyly, Grayson added, “Ryder, Charlie, I want you to meet my dad.”

Ryder opened his mouth in surprise. Surely, Grayson’s father was dead, but when he saw the softly glowing figure, he understood. This was the Kaly party after all. Bringing the dead to meet the living was exactly what it was all about. The man–who looked so like Grayson in his jaw and form–came over, but kept a few cautious feet away. The wave of cold that preceded him explained why he kept his distance.

“Ryder,” the ghost said.

“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Ryder said, feeling oddly shy himself right then.

“Sir? No, no, please, my name’s Ryan. Ryan Duke,” he said. “I want to tell you how glad I am that you and my son found one another again.”

Ryder blinked. “Ah, you know who we are?”

Ryan nodded. “I’ve been with Grayson since I died. So I’ve seen and heard everything, I’m afraid. But I couldn’t leave Grayson, even to give him privacy, or… well, I am glad I got to see my son’s life.”