Page 34 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 1

Balthazar frowned. “I did see that.”

“How did Gregory get accepted into the academy? I mean, you read minds as part of the process and look into their future, right?” Grayson asked. He grabbed the coat, gloves and scarf before slowly walking past Balthazar into the hallway. “Surely, you would have figured out that he was part of this Sect. You would have known that he was an enemy. So how could it have ever worked?”

They started walking down the hallway together. It was beautiful with one wall completely made of glass looking out on an interior courtyard garden and the other wall covered in exquisite paintings. The whole space was lit with golden, offset lighting that made Grayson feel incredibly peaceful.

“Well, there are several ways I see it working.” Balthazar crossed his arms behind his back. “One way is that they are idiots and underestimated the power of the Eyros, not to mention Daemon, and thought they could sneak in their little spies.”

“That Horys Vampire didn’t seem like an idiot to me,” Grayson said, remembering the woman’s sadistic glee.

“No, that is the least likely of the possibilities, I admit. But we must always account for stupidity,” Balthazar told him.

“Never assume malice when simple stupidity could explain it? Okay, I guess I can follow that,” Grayson nodded.

They crossed into another hallway larger than the last, more a main thoroughfare. Ahead of them, Grayson could see a marble foyer, a set of grand stairs leading down to a set of brass and glass doors. He was surprised when his heart began to beat harder as he realized he would soon see Ryder again. Now that he wasn’t running for his life, he could admit that the Weryn Vampire was attractive.

Grayson was attracted to big guys. It was a mixture of liking their strength compared to his, but also to knowing that his powers secretly meant that he was stronger. It had been a long while since he’d had sex with anyone and he imagined Ryder would be literally an animal in bed. And since he knew about Grayson’s powers, Grayson wouldn’t have to hide them if he got too excited.

He thought that Ryder was interested in him as well. So maybe they could make a night of it. Except, unlike on Earth, there would be no “one and done” with Ryder. He’d see the Vampire everywhere. The anonymity that Grayson counted on to not get attached wouldn’t be there either.

It’s a bad idea to get involved with him for a lot of reasons, not to mention he is a Vampire, Grayson reminded himself.

Yet he was still curious if Ryder would be shirtless when they met once again.

“My next theory,” Balthazar continued on, “is that they have Eyros Vampires working with them who are clever and powerful enough that whatever mind work he or she did wouldn’t be detected. Alter their memories so they… fit,” Balthazar said.

“That sounds risky,” Grayson said.

“Yes, and arrogant, because they would have to get past me. But that is most likely what they did. Gregory’s mind must have been restored after the interviews but that was foolish. Redoing it would take time and would most likely be noticed, but…” Balthazar chewed on this. “We did try to go back and get his body. Caemorn thought his soul would likely still be attached to it due to the violence of his passing.”

“Caemorn is--”

“Kaly! So he can literally raise the dead, control souls, all of that. So we could have learned much from dear Gregory, but alas… they took the body.” Balthazar’s mouth screwed up in almost distaste.

Grayson’s hands fisted at his sides. “What about Sam’s body? Did they--”

“Both bodies were removed and the shop was set on fire,” Balthazar said.

“Oh, my God.” Grayson let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding.

They were at the doors.

“The police were, of course, looking for you. Whether as a victim or--”

“Or what?” But Grayson already knew. “They think that I did that? That I set fire to the store?”

“It doesn’t matter. We’ll get it all sorted,” Balthazar said as he pushed open the doors. “Besides, that’s your old life. This is your new one.”

Grayson looked out of the doors and saw Ryder standing there between two rose bushes. He wore jeans that hid nothing, a gray t-shirt, and another leather jacket that looked well worn and well loved.

“Aw, he covered up for you,” Balthazar snickered.

Ryder strode over to them. He stopped a foot away and looked Grayson up and down. Grayson shifted uncomfortably. Did he look bad? Like a dork in this outfit? Was his hair all right? Did he have anything between his teeth? Even as he thought these things, he tried to remind himself that he wasn’t getting involved with Ryder so it was probably best that the Weryn Vampire thought he looked bad.

“Everyone really is going to be wearing this uniform, right, Balthazar?” Grayson pressed as the minute examination continued.

“Of course! You are the first student to put it on, but yes, yes, you’re fine. Doesn’t he look fine, Ryder? He’s quite well,” Balthazar stressed.

Ryder grunted. “You look better than you did. You were barely conscious last time I saw you.”

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