Page 41 of Dark Reckoning
I seriously doubted any vampire could be contained there since I knew about their abilities to turn into mist. One of their best-kept secrets, and one Sage had yet to figure out how to do. I wondered if he could since he was a hybrid. In any case, if those bars were that strong, maybe they'd be able to keep Daniel trapped.
“Continue to record everything and don't leave him alone, call for assistance,” Damon ordered.
The griezel bowed his head. “Yes, my Liege.”
Damon turned to us. “So, do you think you can save him?” He held his hand up when Sage opened his mouth to speak. “I know that you told me that curing them isn't your priority. But I just want to know if it could be possible. I'd hate to kill him if there is a way.”
I looked back at the—whatever it was—in the cell and shrugged. “I don't know. We'd have to look into our grimoire. Like you said, griezels don't get sick, so I'm not even sure there's a spell that can cure him. And Sage... well... all of his spells are rooted into pretty much fucking people up.” When I said that, Sage chuckled.
“If there is a cure, it would be either Adrian or both of us to do it,” Sage said. “But I wouldn't get your hopes up. For all intent and purposes, that thing in there is dead. I don't even think it has a soul anymore. If it's like that corpse, its insides are already rotting away, which would explain the smell. Killing him may be the more merciful option.”
Damon sighed. “Thank you for your honesty. I agree, I don't think he can be saved, but I will keep him here all the same. You never know.”
Sage was blunt, but he wasn't wrong. I didn't know of any spell that could bring back the dead. At least, not yet. And still, we had bigger worries than just saving Daniel.
“If you do happen to find something, what would you need?” Damon asked.
I shrugged. “Could be blood, flesh, something personal, or nothing at all. We won't know anything until we study our book. And that can't happen until we get back to it after we're done putting up all of these barriers.”
Damon frowned but nodded. “I understand. Very well, let's get it over with. I can't risk my griezels being attacked.”
“None of us can,” I agreed.
“We need to draw a sigil on the floor, so do you have an open space,” Sage told him.
“Will the underground garage do?” Damon asked.
I shook my head, then explained to him how the barrier worked. Of course, he had all the same questions Salino had and once Sage and I answered them, he was good to go.
Damon nodded and motioned for us to follow him to a room that was his gym. Mats were on the floor, workout and fighting equipment was all around, as well as a ring where I was sure plenty of sparring happened. “You can do it here, lift up that mat,” he said and pointed to a large mat.
We did tell him the sigil would disappear, but it really was his decision where he wanted the sigil to be. Sage and I began the barrier. Damon gave us his blood, Sage and I added our own, did the chant, and Damon watched as we worked the spell. Once complete, the magic washed over us and I saw Damon shiver from the sensation.
“Is it done?” he asked.
“Yes, it's in place now. Do you have my protection guard available, because we have to go,” I asked. I thought about just how much more we had to do tonight. Sage still had to protect Salino's other safe houses, just like I was doing for Damon, then we both had to get back to Salino's main home to meet up with Kakashi and apparently plan to kill every vampire emperor alive save Salino. On top of that, find a way to defeat a fucking Dark God.
“I've texted my people and they are awaiting your arrival. They also have everything you requested for the spells,” Damon said.
“Good. The Council is having mages safeguard the homes of supernals the world over. That's how serious this is,” I said.
“Getting back to what Adrian asked. What about his protection detail?” Sage asked.
Damon held up a finger. “I have two of my griezel who will accompany him.”
“Four,” Sage countered, his gaze never leaving me.
Damon sighed and nodded. “Four it is.”
“I don't want you to go anywhere without them, do you hear me?” Sage asked me.
I nodded. “Don't forget, I am not helpless.”
He scoffed. “And neither am I, and yet you still insisted on making sure I had backup. Turnabout is fair play.”
“I won't argue with you,” I said.
“Damn right, you won't.” Sage winked.
