Page 22 of Ever Dark Academy: Volume 6

Ryder’s eyes widened and he glanced over at Grayson’s face. His beloved looked both touched and incredibly sad.

“He was keeping me safe,” Grayson said. “My stepfather was hanging around too. But Caemorn took care of that.” Grayson dipped his head towards the Kaly Vampire who was standing with Balthazar, Christian and Fiona a few feet away. “Oh, and he wasn’t the only one. Sam, come over here and say hello.”

Charlie looked rather agog as the other spirit approached. Grayson recalled then the homeless man who was Grayson’s friend and who had been murdered by the Sect member “Jill”. He waved at Ryder awkwardly.

“It’s nice to meet you, Sam,” Ryder said.

“Anyone named Sam is a good egg. I’ve met many!” Charlie said.

“I’m all right!” Sam chuckled.

“C’mon, we need to go get Mom,” Grayson said as he tugged Ryder’s hand in order to lead him to the others.

“I thought you were staying here,” Ryder said with a lifted eyebrow.

“I did too. But the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced the only way Mom will come willingly is if I’m there. We need her to come with us quickly,” Grayson said.

Caemorn, Balthazar, Christian and Fiona broke apart their little circle so that the rest of them could join them.

“Oh, good, Charlie, you’re here and ready to go,” Balthazar said, pleased.

“I look forward to meeting Grayson’s mother. I hope I’ll do him proud,” Charlie said.

“I haven’t seen her in awhile.” Grayson ducked his head. “But I’m sure you’ll capture her personality and looks.”

Ryder wondered if Grayson was thinking about how much his mother had aged in the near 15 years he had been gone. His mother would have gone from a younger woman to someone middle aged. It would be a shock for Grayson to see her, a reminder of the time he’d been on his own.

“Charlie, Ryder, take my hands and we’ll go get Grayson’s mother,” Fiona said.

“I’m coming too,” Grayson spoke up.

She turned her head towards him. “I thought we all agreed–”

“Mom really won’t come if it's you guys. She’ll be afraid and won’t trust you,” Grayson insisted. “Even if that’s temporary, I don’t want her to be frightened. With you, Ryder and Charlie, we should be fine even if something goes wrong.”

“I’ll get us the hell out if something goes wrong,” Fiona said. “It took two of those Kaly slices to hold me. That won’t happen again.”

“I’m sure it won’t,” Grayson agreed.

Christian picked up a large soul gem that had been resting on a nearby boulder. “As you’re going to Earth and to see your mother, I’ll discontinue the power boost. I imagine that seeing you and the others will be enough of a shock for her without adding in your father.”

“Right. Definitely,” Grayson nodded.

“I’ll reconnect it when you’re back,” Christian promised.

“How long does one gem last to do stuff like this?” Balthazar asked, seemingly genuinely curious.

“It will last over a 1000 years,” Caemorn remarked.

“That long?” Balthazar’s eyes widened. “I dare say, how exciting. I can think of bunches of things to do with something that powerful.”

“I’m sure you can. But later,” Caemorn remarked. “Let us not waste more time in getting Grayson’s mother here. We must see if she will agree to help.”

“I’m sure she will.” Grayson tipped his head up. “All the more reason not to scare her when she meets you all. Fiona? Shall we go?”

She nodded. Ryder, Grayson, and Charlie all linked hands. That sickening feeling of teleportation rushed through him as he felt his body seemingly stretched and then snapping back like a rubber band. They’d come from a forest glade to now a middle class living room in a two story colonial home in America.

“What a pleasant room! Such Americana!” Charlie enthused softly as he immediately began to wander around and pick up random things here and there as if to get a flavor of the place.