Page 31 of Eternal Ruin
THE GRADUATE PORTAL
Seek mind above blood, and if you must bleed, use it as ink.
Welcome, Kidan Adane.
She drew in a breath and found herself searching up one name.
Lusidio.
Only one result came up.
Lusidio, leader of the Lusidios, is also known as the Iron Hand and Devil’s Teeth. The locals of northern Ethiopia, from which he first originated, call him Chiraq.
When she tried to click on more, an alert came up.
RESTRICTED ACCESS
“That’s weird,” Kidan said, drawing her friends’ attention.
Slen frowned as well. “The Graduate Portal should give us access to everything. Why hide information on a rogue vampire?”
“Maybe he’s too dangerous to be on there,” Kidan said, staring at the name.
Yusef pulled out his sketchbook and three different charcoal pencils, lining them up on the table like surgery tools. “Maybe let’s not search up dangerous rogues. The last time we did, we ended up having them as our companions.”
His hand was out of its bandages, but his scar remained. It resembled a tiny explosion in the middle of his palm that streaked along his fingers. Kidan’s guttightened as the painful ritual began. He reached for a pencil, but his fingers struggled to close. Forehead pinched in concentration, he pressed the tip to the paper. Tried to draw. His usually perfect strokes wavered as if there were a tremor beneath the earth.
Yusef’s bones had been permanently damaged by fire. Kidan’s blood boiled, remembering Arin’s vicious smile as she poured some perfume and lit his and GK’s hands together. It has been Samson’s sick game, a Nefrasi tradition. A price they paid to resurrect GK. Kidan forced the rest of the memory away. They’d agreed to only talk about GK inside the crypt he died in. He would remain their secret until they could find a way to bring him home.
A violent rip followed, Yusef’s paper scrunched up and tossed aside. The joy leached from his bright eyes; it always surprised her how quickly he changed. Yusef was a different person before and after he picked up a pencil.
“My cousin starts orientation today. Wanted me to sketch for her. But I don’t think I’ll see her like this.” He studied his stiff hand. “I don’t even know what to say. You know, when people ask why I can’t draw anymore. I prefer the bandages.”
A piercing silence swallowed them.
Slen was studying Yusef’s misery with dark eyes. Then she pulled free her fingerless glove and reached for Yusef’s hand. He stilled, brown eyes wide. Kidan blinked in surprise as well. It was rare for Slen to touch anyone.
Slen’s expression betrayed nothing. As if this was the most natural thing. Carefully, she slid her glove onto Yusef’s stiff fingers.
“You don’t have to say anything,” she said simply. “Whatever you tell them, they’ll believe. You decide.”
The surprise washing over Yusef was gentle.
“Like what?” Yusef’s tone was already catching light. “I burned myself roasting pumpkin seeds?”
Slen lifted her lashes. “Sure.”
“No, wait. I saved a child from a burning building. A true hero.”
Slen pulled back, her right palm bare and exposing her own scars. “Heroes die tragically. Be more interesting than that.”
This time, his grin stretched so widely, Kidan couldn’t help but beam at Slen too.
“Stop that,” Slen said, pulling her large jacket higher.
Kidan chuckled, shaking her head. Not for the first time, she was grateful for these two.
Yusef traced the glove, a curve to his lips. “Thank you.”
