Page 30 of Ever Dark Academy: Volume 6

His mind stilled as he saw something glinting beneath him. Just under his nose actually. With a shaking hand, he touched it. Metal. Glittering despite the mud. Magical. It was a magical item.

Contacting Wyvern will be a little bit of a problem, Eyros chuckled weakly.

Grayson cleaned more mud off the item. He grasped hold of it with both hands and pulled. The mud held it firmly.

You see, even if she were reachable, ah, she’s not my biggest fan at the moment and–

Grayson pulled harder. The object popped out with a sucking sound. He stared at it. It was a helm. A held with a bird-like beak. It was his helm. It was… He saw that something was hanging out of the bottom. A few vertebrae were still attached together. A spine. Part of a spine.

My spine.

Grayson dropped the helm and crawled backwards as if he could escape it, but then stopped. His breathing was strangled. His heart–gods, his heart–was in his throat and in his feet.

Wyvern, you see, Ashyr, is–

Dead, Grayson finished for Eyros. How many of our brothers and sisters are still alive?

Well, there’s me, Eyros laughed softly. Seeyr and maybe Mirryr. They took off at the beginning, almost as if they knew what was coming. Slinky bastard. I don’t think Weryn or Kaly found them. Ah, Weryn is–

I know. Trapped in a soul gem after he went crazy and killed… I know, Grayson said. He’s back to himself. So are you and Kaly and–

Seeyr showed me something. Kaly and I… Is that real? Eyros asked.

You’re a better person in the future, Eyros, Grayson said and meant it. Happier. All of it.

Well, I must be weaker if I let you be taken by some Kaly-slice. A slice of a slice of slice–

It was my fault. I was upset. Emotionally compromised, Grayson said with a shake of his head. He started moving back towards the helm–and his body–as he spoke. I have parents in the future. A mom and dad.

Good grief! How droll!

I didn’t get to spend much time with them. And, in the end, I had to choose duty over them, Grayson said.

Well, that’s you all over. Duty before everything!

Except with Weryn.

Yes, you missed Kaly’s growing insanity. We all did, Eyros said bitterly. Daemon most of all.

Yes, Grayson agreed.

And yet you claim there is this better future!

There is, Grayson pressed. You know I’m not lying.

He touched the helm. The magic sizzled against his fingertips, but he didn’t let go. He lifted up the bird-beak visor and his stomach roiled. His skull. A large worm was sinking into the eye socket. He closed his eyes. What was he doing? Was he going to be like Elgar and hold his own skull in his arms?

But you’re here. So how’s that going to work? Eyros asked. I can’t teleport in and get you even if I could locate a Wyvern Vampire to charm, because I don’t know where you are.

I’m where I died, Grayson said. Do you know where that happened?

Oh, dear! Eyros chuckled dryly. You really are in a bit of a mess!

What are you talking about? Grayson frowned.

You don’t remember everything, I see! Eyros laughed some more, bitter, sourly. You’re in Lasting, dear Ashyr. Kaly’s home.

Grayson swallowed and closed his eyes. Of course, he was in Lasting. Kaly had contacted him, asked to speak with him. He had gone because he had sensed Kaly coming apart. He should have told Weryn, but he’d already known what his lover would say: ignore Kaly! Or better yet, imprison him! Don’t go to Lasting! But he had. And now he was back again.