Page 51 of Dark Reckoning
“Again, I don't know. But are you willing to see what will happen if we don't perform this spell?” Kakashi asked.
Sage huffed and shook his head.
“That's what I thought.” Kakashi turned from him to look at me. “Do you also have any questions that won't change our predicament if you don't like the answers?”
And I thought Sage was a sarcastic prick. I stood corrected. I decided to ask since I did. “Do you need my blood? These sort of spells usually do.” In my limited experience with magic, every spell that I had cast for my benefit always needed my blood. From the ring on my cock, to the spell that made me emperor, to the barrier guarding my home.
“We will, but not yet. Yours will be the last to go into the spell,” Aldéric answered instead, then he stepped back and Kakashi took over setting up the sigil. He added symbols and words in a language I wasn't familiar with. Aldéric began to undress the human he'd brought, removing only his shirt. The man was innocent and terrified, as he should be. At least, his sacrifice wouldn't be in vain.
I looked at Sage and he was quiet and just watched. My child was a curious one and vicious. I knew he didn't care about the holy man we'd kill on this night. He'd do it because, like me, we knew what would happen if we didn't. Still, it was good that Adrian had removed himself from this process. I did wonder what Adrian would think about everything we’d learned tonight. The part that Kakashi played in their lives long before they'd ever met him.
“If you need my blood, what about the other emperors?” I asked.
“We have theirs,” Aldéric said.
I raised both brows in surprise. “Oh really?”
Aldéric nodded.
“Even Emperor Martin? Because he's under a spell here and trapped in the throne room,” Sage said.
Aldéric nodded. “I got his already.”
Sage frowned. “Wait a minute, how did you get into the room to get it?”
“We didn't,” Aldéric said.
I harumphed. “Care to elaborate?” I asked. The emperors were known to be very cautious and selfish, for lack of a better word, over whom they gave their blood to.
Aldéric smiled. “Told them we were going to kill you because it was your fault the Dark God was released. In order to do so, I needed their blood for a spell that would destroy you and the traitorous vampires of your line.”
“I see lying isn't beneath you.” I cocked an eyebrow.
“Ahhh, you're good. Not many people would have been able to tell if I was lying,” Aldéric admitted.
“There was a certain twinkle in your eye, which told me you were being mischievous.” I shrugged. “Honestly, I just took a wild guess based on that.”
“You're a very shrewd person, Emperor Laurent. I like that,” Aldéric said.
I didn't like being lied to, especially about threats to my life. “So, what did you tell them?”
“Well, after Sage's phone call with Kakashi, we knew what we needed, so we set out to get their blood. They were all too willing to give it in order for us to create barriers on their homes. Of course, we only told them we'd protect their main home from your retribution. They fear the mages you have under your command,” Aldéric said. “That is why they haven't come to attack you in full force. If you were powerful enough to kill Emperor Galen and restore the line, they had no idea what else you could do.”
“So, you scared them into giving you want you needed,” I stated to them.
Aldéric snorted. “Is it really a lie when you're out to get them? Isn't that what we're doing? Making sure you kill them before they can kill you?”
“Touché,” I said.
“They were all too relieved to have a member of the Echelon Imperial on their side,” Aldéric said.
“This better not be some kind of fucking trick you two are up to,” Sage said, his expression hard and full of warning as he glared at Kakashi.
Kakashi rose and stepped away from the design, examining it. “No trick. I want power and immortality. This is the only way I can get that. I've planned and waited too long to pass up this opportunity.”
“Kyla was very curious about gaining immortality. She's a dark mage, why not add her?”
“I told you already. This spell calls for three mages, one of who is already a vampire. That alone excludes Kyla. And furthermore, she isn't my lover,” Kakashi said.
