Page 29 of Ever Dark Academy: Volume 6

Grayson rolled his eyes. He was sure that he wouldn’t have liked that. Wait, you said wouldn’t–not won’t so–

You called yourself Grayson, Eyros pointed out, ignoring his thoughts.

Yes, just like you’re Balthazar… or will be… or… look, it doesn’t matter. I am in a spot here and I need you to–

I don’t know you, Eyros interrupted, batting his thoughts away like annoying insects once more. Then with an almost sibilant whisper, he added, But I will.

Grayson felt the other Immortal start to drill into his mind for real this time. He slammed his mental defenses shut. It wouldn’t keep Eyros out forever. And should he want to? If Eyros understood what was happening–

But what has happened?

He slowly turned in a circle. Reeds and grass and mud and mist and nothing else were all around him. There were mountains and forest in the very far distance, but that was it. There was nothing to tell him where he was.

Or maybe it’s when, he realized. This isn’t the future. Eyros would have known he was Balthazar. So it must be… oh, by the gods, it’s the past.

He stared hard at this field and realized that even though it was a relatively nondescript field, he did recognize it. He’d seen it in a vision just recently and before that…

This is where I die. Or did I die already? Is that what Eyros meant by “wouldn’t” instead of “won’t”? Am I dead?

Panic fluttered in his chest like a wild bird, beating its wings. He put a hand over his heart and forced himself to breathe, to just breathe. He thought he saw something moving through the grass about 500-hundred feet away. He dropped down so that he was hidden by the swaying stalks. The wind blew. His heart lodged in his throat. It blew in the opposite direction of the creature. Hopefully, that would keep it from scenting him.

He felt for the flame in his chest. It was there. Just bare embers. He was far weaker than he had realized. He should have insisted on getting turned. But he knew why he hadn’t. At least, partially. Because he’d have to make a decision about who would turn him. His heart wanted Ryder. But he feared that this was a foolish choice made out of emotion and not logic. He’d chosen logic with his mother, despite his father’s anguish.

He likely hates me now. I wonder if he’s still with me. Here. In this empty place.

But it wouldn’t matter. He couldn’t see or hear him. He did not have the Kaly gift. He didn’t feel like he had any gift right then. Not even his own. He felt very human. Fragile. Frail. Mortal.

Death is not the end, but if I die here, Caemorn won’t be able to grab my soul. I’ll be reborn again, unknowing who I am again, delaying my return! No. NO! Grayson shook those defeatist thoughts out of his head. He was not dying. He was not. I need to get out of here.

But there was nowhere to go. Nowhere that his weak legs could take him. He needed help. And there was only one person he could reach. He’d closed his mind to Eyros. He’d half expected Eyros to be in his head already. But maybe Eyros had lost interest. Maybe he’d gone back to scanning the universe’s thoughts. Maybe he’d just let the thought–and Grayson–go. But he needed Eyros’ help.

He cracked his mental shield open, Eyros–

There you are! Eyros laughed with a mixture of delight and almost cruelty as he pounced.

Grayson tried to keep just a chink of light between them, but Eyros was pouring into his head. He fell forward, nearly smashing his face into the mud, only catching himself at the last moment.. His mind was cracking open like an egg. It was being scrambled and then–

No, it cannot be, Eyros whispered. Ashyr. You truly are Ashyr. But mortal and… your mind offers such tantalizing and hideous thoughts… Could any of them be true?

They’re true. All of it. You know it is.

Grayson gasped again. Blood was running out of his nose. He tasted copper on his lips, his tongue, it was running down his chin. He spat and shuddered. Blood in the Ever Dark. Blood on his chin. On him. The wind blew in the direction of the creature he’d half-glimpsed stalking through the long grass.

Damn you, Eyros! He snapped. What the Hell did you do that for?

There was silence and then, What would you do if a person you did not know–did not think you knew–entered your mind uninvited? Would you ask questions first or–

I would attack, Grayson admitted.

Exactly.

Grayson swiped at the blood and grimaced. The smell of blood would definitely bring predators his way. And the wind was coming. He thought he heard grass rustling and froze. But the night insects were churr-churring again. They would stop if a predator was near. Hopefully, whatever had been nearby him had moved on. He let out a breath.

I need you to contact Wyvern to come get me, Grayson said.

Contact Wyvern? Eyros said those two words very slowly.

Yes, I need you to…