Page 17 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 1

Ryder lifted that eyebrow again. “Sometimes we switch.”

“He’s got the sunnier disposition! Good cop suits him better,” Demos snorted.

His eyes though weren’t on Grayson or Ryder. They were unfocused as if he weren’t seeing anything at all. Or maybe he was seeing beyond the church’s walls.

“Listen, Grayson, you are going to the Ever Dark.” Ryder’s silver eyes stared into his. “So long as your story checks out, I’m certain they will let you go.”

“But if it doesn’t… let me tell you that even other Vampires don’t like Eyros for a reason,” Demos chuckled darkly.

“I’m not lying!” Grayson hissed.

He wasn’t lying about killing Gregory or Charlie or even who had done it. But if the Eyros really could read minds so well then they’d know about Grayson’s gift. Once he went to the Ever Dark, he doubted he would ever return once they discovered that. Maybe they’d want to drink his blood to see if it transferred the gift to them. Maybe they’d want to take him apart. Would this Vampire with the kind eyes care about either of those possibilities?

Grayson felt the world dim a bit around him. Fear had him in her cold grip. He tried to force it down. He’d been calm at the store. But now, he felt like he was running on the fumes of his self-control. It was all too much. Gregory dead. Sam dead. He’d impaled a woman. And now his whole pitiful life might be over. He must have swayed, because Ryder had a hold of him.

“Whoah, there. It’s okay. You’re okay. Demos and I won’t let anything happen to you,” Ryder promised and his silver eyes burned with truth.

“You don’t understand,” Grayson said weakly.

“What don’t I understand?” Ryder’s deep voice was soft. Appealing.

“Don’t you go falling for a pretty face, Ryder!” Demos warned.

“Demos,” Ryder warned.

But Demos’ words were like cold water thrown over his head. Grayson shook himself. He couldn’t give way! He couldn’t confess anything to this Vampire! He had to take care of himself. Like he always did. There was no one and nothing that would do it better.

“I don’t want to go there! I don’t like Vampires! So I don’t want to go to a world filled with--with you!” Grayson snarled. Why can’t you just get that through your head?”

Ryder’s right eyebrow rose as Grayson then pulled away from him. Grayson firmed his legs beneath him. He had to stand on his own goddamned two feet! But he noted that Ryder wasn’t that offended by what he had said because the Vampire kept watching him to see if he fell. A wail wanted to exit Grayson’s throat. Being weak in front of these predators was so dangerous and he was failing.

“You don’t like us? You’re in a very small minority. The powers that be likely won’t let you stay in the Ever Dark, Grayson, if you’re telling the truth,” Demos stated flatly. “Everyone there is important or is there for a very special reason. You? Doubt you fit either category. So don’t worry, you’ll be coming back here soon enough no matter what you want if you’re being honest.”

“People want power. People don’t want to be prey. Humans have been the rulers of this world for a long time. Suddenly, they find out they’re not. They don’t like you. They simply want to keep being on top.” Grayson glared at Demos, just daring him to say otherwise.

“You’re not lying about that,” Demos admitted and actually smiled genuinely.

Demos’ eyes were focused again. There had been no sounds from the roof in some time. Maybe it was just a false alarm. Or maybe those Vampires were simply keeping out of sight. That didn’t help Grayson’s case. This meant that they would definitely be taking him to the Ever Dark and the Eyros to find out the truth. But even if he could escape these two--and he doubted that--wouldn’t that just leave him exposed to the Sect of Dawn?

What if the female Vampire already called her comrades and told them about me? That means that even if she’s taken care of, others could come after me, Grayson realized with a sickening lurch. But then he thought of her personality. No, she wouldn’t want to admit her failure. She would do everything she could to catch me on her own.

He hoped that wasn’t just his hopes speaking though.

“I think we should go.” Ryder made one more glance at the roof even though there had been no sounds.

“Agreed,” Demos said.

“No, no, please. Let’s stay here a bit more. They’ll come and you’ll see I’m telling the truth!” Grayson begged Ryder.

Ryder’s expression twisted. He clearly saw Grayson’s fear and it affected him in a way that Grayson didn’t think a predator would experience. It was empathy. Sadness for him. But Ryder was not changing his mind.

“We can do that more safely for you in the Ever Dark,” Ryder said.

Demos then strode to the back wall of the church, behind where the altar should have been. Though Grayson was not at all religious, he wondered that the Vampires would use a church as one of their gates, a gate that required the person to write a symbol in blood, it seemed, on the wall. They both watched as Demos then cut his finger and used the blood to write a symbol. The symbol shimmered for a few moments and then went dark.

“What the Hell?” Demos growled.

He wrote the symbol again. This time it didn’t even shimmer. Demos spun around to face them. His expression was a mixture of annoyance and alarm.

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