Page 51 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 1

“My dear, that is exactly what this all is,” Amara responded coolly. “I will see you all later. Do enjoy the parade.”

She nodded to all of them and headed out of the quad with a waft of her jasmine perfume leaving a trail behind her.

“My, my, she is a person with a plan,” Eiji remarked.

“She claims not to be worried about competition but here she is already networking. Do you suppose she was in contact before or after she came to Nightvallen?” Mairead asked. “If it was before then some rules were broken. Naughty, naughty, Dr. Biswas.”

“I doubt she’s gotten where she is without knowing what she wants and how to get it,” Grayson murmured. “So that’s why there’s no competition for her.”

“You’re probably right. She excels at everything, I’m betting. Good to know I’m among quality company,” Mairead remarked with an almost sheepish grin as if she knew how rude that was to say and was in on the joke of it.

“Though it might be childish, I, however, am looking forward to this parade. Would you care to join me?” Eiji looked at both him and Mairead.

“Absolutely.” Mairead grinned. “I wonder if they sent their best or worst to entertain us tonight.”

“They’ll want to put their best foot forward, I think. But who looks impressive on the outside is not always who truly is,” Eiji said.

Mairead narrowed her eyes at the Japanese businessman speculatively. “Yeah, you’re right at that. Appearances can be deceiving.”

Definitely wants to be an Eyros. Though I don’t know if I’d want her as one.

Grayson hesitated, but then got down from the chair himself. Maybe Amara did have a meeting with a potential Bloodline or maybe she had a meeting with a member of the Sect, getting her orders, or doing something else nefarious while everyone was enjoying the parade. He had to find out. He wasn’t here for parades.

“I’ll catch up with you,” Grayson told them with a wave.

“Hey! You didn’t answer my questions even though I gave you my name!” Mairead cried.

Walking backwards, Grayson gave her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I have to keep you guessing.”

Then he turned and hurried off down the hallway. Luckily, that orange scarf Amara was wearing was easy to spot, which meant she wasn’t going to a secret rendezvous or she was just really bad at blending in. He, on the other hand, could blend in very well.

He hung back about fifteen feet from her as she wove her way through the excited students and Vampires in the dorm’s foyer. No silver eyes flashed their way. He was surprised that all the students didn’t have minders. But this was a school, not a prison. Yet knowing the Sect was trying to infiltrate them and do them harm seemed unwise, but, then again, maybe he just wasn’t seeing all what the Vampires had planned.

Amara went out the back of the dorm, not the front. She passed through a series of rooms before they reached the back doors and another street. There was a group dining room and what looked like several meeting rooms with cozy fireplaces and plenty of seating. They were all darkened though as the activity was in the front of the dorm, the rooms and soon it would be outside.

He caught the back door just as it was closing. Amara had turned right and was headed down the graceful street at speed. She wasn’t looking right nor left, let alone at the gorgeous white stone buildings with their mixture of ancient and modern. Her eyes didn’t even lift to the dual moons. She was, as Eiji had said, a woman with a purpose. She did though bring out a folded sheet of paper from her right pocket and consult it periodically.

A map. I should have grabbed one, too, out of the material packet, Grayson thought.

He’d always had a pretty good head for directions though. He could figure his way back, he was sure. But he should study the map the next time he had a chance and really know the place. If, for no other reason, than to understand where the exits were. Though from what he had read of the Ever Dark, the cities were the only civilized places.

Dangers of an unknown sort surrounded them. And one was only able to get from one Ever Dark city to the next by using gates. One couldn’t walk or fly or sail between them. The forests, oceans and fields were said to go forever. He wasn’t sure if that was true. But it fit with the sense of otherness the Ever Dark presented.

He realized soon enough that Amara was heading towards the Bloodline palaces. They were set out in a semicircle with the main palace at the top and a huge fountain in the exact center. Each palace was different--and magical--and said to reflect its Immortal’s character.

If she’s going to a palace then whatever Bloodline she’s visiting must have their Immortal present, Grayson realized. Doesn’t mean she’s not meeting a member of the Sect though. The Sect has Vampires in it.

Though she had taken a back way to get to the palaces, he found himself having to move closer to her in order to keep her in view. It appeared that this was where the parade was going to take place with Vampires coming out of their Immortals’ palace or, at least, standing in front of it. He wondered which was the Weryn palace. He almost lost sight of her as he found himself looking for the very different figure of Ryder. He wrenched his gaze away as he nearly plowed into some other students. He backed away, nodding his apologies.

Next time we meet I’ll have something to tell him if I keep my eye on the ball.

He was a little surprised at his desire to impress the other man. He normally didn’t care what people thought of him. He’d gotten too many snarls or blank looks when he’d been homeless to think well of people. Acceptance was a fragile thing. Having a dirty face, ripped clothing, being out in the rain and people who would have helped you if those things were different all changed. Yet Ryder claimed to have deeper ties to his Bloodline than that. Maybe it was true. Maybe if Grayson was a Vampire he, too, would have such acceptance.

But I’d have to live off of blood and stay away from the sun. I’d be beholden to a Master. Awful lot to give up for that kind of kinship.

A memory of shivering on a doorstep, knees brought up to his skinny chest, as icy rain pelted him returned to him. Then there had been Sam. He’d been in a nearby alleyway, standing about a fire barrel. He gestured for Grayson to join them. It was Sam and two other rough-looking men who were more interested in the bottles in their hands than him. He’d been so cold that his hands were shaking even though he could barely feel them. He’d learned to avoid people already, especially the ones that offered to help. They were the worst. But he’d been so cold and the fire looked so much warmer.

So he’d gone to the fire.

---