Page 45 of Dark Reckoning
“Glad they’re back so we can get to the bottom of this shit,” Nakago said, then rose.
My sentiments exactly. I shivered as a sensation passed through me, and Nakago arched an eyebrow.
“What's wrong?” he asked me.
“They lowered the barrier so that their helicopters could land. I sense Shi and four other supernals—griezels.”
“The barrier tells you the species of who enters?” Nakago asked.
I nodded. “It does and I like that,” I explained. Not even a minute passed before I felt the sensation again but it wasn't like it was the first time the barrier was put in place. Not as acute and I wondered why. “The griezels are gone now and the barrier is back in place.”
“Do you think any of those things got inside while it was down?”
“No, I would have felt their intrusion.”
“Ahh, I see. Interesting.” Nakago nodded.
Well, yes it was.
About five minutes passed before Sage and Adrian entered, and I realized it was purely Sage's arrogance to refuse to knock before entering my office. I would have to work on that with him.
“I see you have a situation down below. I also received your message about it,” he said. “It's maybe twenty of those things down there... and a couple hundred vampires too.” I could sense that he was very worried, but he didn't show it.
“Most unfortunate, but at least your barrier is doing its job,” I said, then arched an eyebrow. “Twenty? It was at least a hundred before you arrived.”
“Did they try to get in?” Adrian asked and I could hear the how afraid he was.
I nodded. “They tried, but the barrier burned them or pushed them back.”
“Seems like they won't stick around under those circumstances. Not when they can find more food elsewhere,” Sage said.
“Were you able to lower the barrier without fully disarming it?” I asked.
Sage nodded. “Yeah. Just long enough for our helicopters to drop us off. I didn't want to leave the building vulnerable, not even for a second.”
That would explain why the sensation wasn't the same as it was before. I see there was a lot I was going to have to learn about it.
Nakago snorted. “I bet those vampires wished they had stayed their asses at home.”
No doubt. “How is the barrier protecting them, though? Or is it just protecting them because I don't think they're the bigger threat?” I asked, because I still didn't fully understand the functions of the barrier.
“I... I don't think it's our barrier doing that. I mean, at least not all of that l-like protecting the vampires,” Adrian said, his voice had a tremble in it. I could sense the terror that flowed through him. It was delicious on my tongue because I could feed off it, but I didn't.
Sage walked over to him, hugging him. “It's going to be okay, baby.”
Adrian tightened his hold around Sage. “I'm just glad they can't get inside. Those things, even seeing a few, are terrifying. When I first saw them, I froze in fear. Looking at them feels like the end of the world.”
Adrian was definitely someone who didn't hide his true feelings and wasn't afraid to show vulnerability. I may have shared in his concerns, but as emperor, I couldn't indulge. Couldn't allow myself to be that open with my emotion. I had vampires who could taste and feed off fear and they didn't need to feed off me. I had to be a pillar of confidence so that they would always obey me and have faith in me to protect them. I didn't have Adrian's luxury.
“So, if you don't think it's the barrier, what then?” I asked.
Sage shrugged. “Another mage's spell maybe?”
“But whose?” Adrian asked.
Again, Sage shrugged.
I thought about that possibility, then nodded. “In any case, they can't get in and that's all that matters to me.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, hands clasped. “Tell me more about the griezel you saw that had been turned,” I said. Moving the conversation along, I hoped would keep them focused.
