A Shade of Vampire 81 A Bringer of Night - Bella Forrest Page 0,18
numerous logistical challenges. From what Acheron and Danika had explained, the entire event served not only to celebrate autumn, but also to feed the less fortunate among the Rimians and the Naloreans who’d made Visio their home. Most of them made a basic income from selling their blood, but that process had some biological limits, as the empire had strict rules for how much blood they could give on a weekly or monthly basis. Many of these poorer creatures had families and rough housing conditions. A drought or an overly cold season could be enough to make an entire year more difficult for them.
So the Rain Festival became a massive feast, designed to offer meals from the new harvest to all the non-Aeternae of Visio. Thousands came to visit from Rimia and Nalore. Aside from the actual food-fest, the Rain Festival offered musical and theatrical performances, street dancing, and a plethora of stalls, each filled with ethnic jewelry and silks and all kinds of wondrous things. Naturally, it required most of the Lady Supreme’s attention. Sofia didn’t mind spending time with her, mainly because it also meant spending time with Thayen.
Acheron and I could see them from below as we walked through the sprawling palace gardens. Some of the blossoms were beginning to wither, and the caretakers had brought in new green plants—tall, palm-like shrubs that added an extra dimension to the entire ensemble. It was beautiful, but I had a feeling this wasn’t why Acheron had wanted us to take this walk.
“Is there something on your mind?” He’d been quiet for ten minutes, which wasn’t at all like Acheron. He gave me a weak smile, and I could see the pained look in his eyes, if only for a fleeting second.
“There’s a lot on my mind right now, Derek. Though there is one thing that bothers me more than anything else,” he replied, hands behind his back. His black tunic was covered in an intricate artwork of gold-thread embroidery—it created a tree with many branches, gemstones embedded along each of its arms as they stretched outward and down his sleeves. Each precious crystal reflected the soft light of day, casting shards of pure color all around him. It made it hard for me to look away. The craftsmanship that had gone into this piece was exquisite. The tunic also played against Acheron’s frown, lessening the intended dramatic effect of his statement.
“Can I help you with anything?” I asked, eyeing him intently.
He cleared his throat, his voice lower than usual as we walked farther away from the palace toward the southern fence of the garden. “You might, actually. Here’s the thing, Derek. I’ve had time to think since this whole Darkling mess exploded and made a mockery of us all,” he muttered. “I’ve had enough of them. For thousands of years, they’ve been the bane of my existence and a threat to my reign. I’ve suffered through many Black Fever outbreaks. I’ve lost good people to that wretched disease. It’s bad enough we have to deal with that, and I no longer have the will or the patience to struggle with these maniacs, as well.”
“What are you trying to say, Your Grace?”
Acheron gave me a brief sideways glance before he looked around, making sure no one was listening. “I want to eradicate them. Once and for all, so they may never rise again to hurt anyone. I’m worried the Darklings haven’t fully left the imperial city. I’m worried they’re still among us—at least some of their leaders are.”
“Do you have any intel on that matter?”
He sighed deeply. “My sources aren’t giving me much, but I know the reward I’ve put on Zoltan’s head has caused quite a stir among members of our upper class. Perhaps a greater stir than expected. Some are rather unhappy, I’m told, with how I’m treating Zoltan. They voice opinions against you, the so-called foreigners, and against me for taking your side.”
“That’s ridiculous. The only side one needs to take here is the side of justice,” I said.
“And I agree. I fear that the Darkling lieutenants and higher-ranked agents are part of the nobility, and that they’re still pulling strings, organizing something. They’re up to… I don’t know what, exactly, but I’m concerned I can’t really trust anyone around me.”
“The master commander is hunting Zoltan down,” I replied. “Surely, he can be trusted?”
“Think about it. These Darklings have been engaged in their nefarious and secret wars for ages,” Acheron said. “To this day, we’ve been unable