Page 55 of Ever Dark Academy: Volume 6

“With a name like Wyvern, I shouldn’t be surprised that you like to fly,” Charlie said even as he cast a nervous look down at the ground, which wasn’t that far away yet.

Ask them if they’re ready, Eyros, Ryder requested.

Eyros did and they were so Ryder flapped his massive 747-sized wings and lifted off of the ground. Khos was dancing down below him, head lifted, not wanting to be forgotten.

I’ve got you. Don't worry, Ryder assured him.

He lightly plucked the Dire Wolf from the ground in his claws. He looked over his shoulder at the two Vampires on his back, but while he could feel them there, he could no longer see them. They were disguised as feathers. Charlie had done such a good job that there didn’t even appear to be extra feathers there and everything lay smooth and flat like it should.

He’s quite skilled, Ryder murmured.

Of course, he is. I mean… Well, he’s quite skilled, Eyros said.

I know he’s Mirryr, Ryder said quietly.

Eyros didn’t say anything.

It’s all right. I won’t ask you to rat him out and I won’t say anything. When he feels ready to tell everyone, I imagine he will, Ryder said.

It’s strange to talk to you like this, Weryn, Eyros said suddenly as he flapped his wings harder and rose up into the air.

Like what?

Like… friends. Even before you went crazy we weren’t exactly on good terms, you know, Eyros said.

I know.

You seem upset about that. Sad about it, Eyros sounded surprised.

It was a mistake to let past grievances drive us apart. Kaly’s sickness, the War, and my… my insanity only happened because we were all at odds with one another, Ryder said, realizing it to be true as he said it. It wasn’t Daemon leaving us. It was that we’d burned the bridges between all of us. He was the only bridge left so when he went to sleep…

That bridge was gone too? Yes, I suppose. But even though you are back to yourself mostly, you don’t remember all the wrongs we did to one another over the millennia, Eyros pointed out.

I’m glad I don’t, Ryder said. And I don’t intend to dredge them up unless it is to apologize for what I have done to others.

He was now flying them over the undead army that marched ceaselessly around Lasting. He wondered if it was really a defense mechanism or just a show of power or what. The creatures of the Ever Dark were revolted by this place. He sensed Khos’ intense hatred for it. Not because these were Kalys, but because they were these particular Kalys. They were wrong. This place was all wrong. Ryder agreed with Khos about this. It all felt like a blemish on a beautiful face.

Do you really think we can be friends and just ignore the past? Eyros didn’t sound like he believed they could.

If we want to then yes. Daemon has revealed our existence to humanity, Eyros. We have plenty of people outside of our ranks who will be our enemies, Ryder informed him.

Oh, lord, he didn’t! What am I saying? Of course, he did! He’s tried this before, you know? Eyros pointed out. It hasn’t worked in our favor.

But he’s chosen to again. This time is different, Ryder insisted.

It’s always different, Weryn. Always. But at least it will be merry this time around! Eyros chuckled in an almost Balthazarian way.

They’d passed over the circle of undead. The Stormbird’s black and silver feathers made it nearly invisible against the sky. Its keen eyes allowed him to see if there were any Vampires outside the main body of the city. Lasting was set on an island among a sea of trees. There was nowhere large enough for him to land so he would have to shift as they were landing. He told Khos to be prepared for a slight fall. Eyros told the other Vampires what to expect too.

They aren’t paying attention to you. The Kaly Vampires in the city, Eyros told him. They seem excited about something, but it has nothing to do with you.

Ryder tried not to imagine what would get the Kaly Vampires excited when Grayson was trapped there. It had to be something to do with him. His heart was still sickly beating, which told him that Grayson remained in danger, but he was not as afraid as he had been. But he was weak. Ryder could feel that, too. Weak and failing.

The Ever Dark is draining him and his human form cannot take the power that it offers so the circuit is incomplete. He’s being sucked dry, Ryder realized. Even if one of the Kaly slices do not kill him, he is dying anyway.

How had things gotten so dire? Maybe they had been for some time. Grayson was like a cat that hid his weakness. But Ryder should have seen it. Should have insisted on… what? He couldn’t insist on anything.

Grayson was his equal and had a very firm idea of what he was going to do and when. Especially when it came to being turned. While he wanted nothing more than to shepherd his beloved back into the night, he had no right to insist upon it. But perhaps he should have been more generous about telling Grayson it was all right if he chose someone else to turn him.