A Shade of Vampire 82 A Circle of Nine - Bella Forrest Page 0,38

stop it from happening again. The last thing I want after millions of years bound to Cruor is to end up some Darkling’s ghoul-slave.” That earned him a low growl from Rudolph. “Sorry, just saying it like it is. If you think your current condition is bad, I’ll gladly bind you to a planet like the Spirit Bender did to me.”

“You know, brother, your misery—or mine, for that matter—is not absolute,” Morning said. “Our ordeal is unique, just like Rudolph’s. His isn’t defined by the passage of time but by the irreversible nature of it all. You and I are free, but Rudolph will never be himself again. His only option going forward is fighting to retain what’s left of his consciousness.”

I took out my scythe, momentarily mesmerized by the light dancing along the curved blade. I raised it to my face, almost kissing the timeless steel. Exhaling sharply, I watched the steam briefly settle across the surface before turning my attention back to the others.

“Okay. Nethissis is in there with five stooges and an ancient Bounty-Reaper-turned-ghoul,” I said. “How do we go about saving her?”

“I think we can do more than just rescue a damsel in distress,” Soul replied, smiling devilishly.

Whatever ideas were going through his head, I already approved. Anything we could do to screw with the Darklings, I was up for it. My main objective was still Nethissis’s safety, and I would never forgive myself if I failed to bring her back. However, I was ready to inflict as much damage to the Darklings as possible.

It was finally the Reapers’ hour, and although we were few, we were powerful and experienced enough to tip the scales and restore a smidgen of order to the greater universe. It would all start here, in this small town on Visio, where the people were terrified into submission by creatures Spirit had given too much knowledge.

Never mind that, I thought. Whatever they might throw at us here in Laramis, we could handle it.

Esme

We settled on the inn’s ground floor, where Kalla joined us with more fresh blood. The midday sky was turning red as it waned into the afternoon, and filtered light beamed in through the square windows, splashing across the wooden floor. Everything was better now. The light felt brighter. The air cleaner. My own senses sharper than ever. I had my brother back, and I felt like I could do pretty much anything.

“You’re staring,” Tristan said. I’d been unable to take my eyes off him since we’d rescued him and his group from the sabre tigers.

“Pardon me, brother. It’s just really good to see you.” I giggled.

We all sat around a large table—me, Tristan, Kalon, Valaine, Ansel, and Kalla. The rest of the community went on with their day, and it was going to be a tough one, since they’d lost one of their scouts to the sabre tigers. I could still hear the boy’s mother crying somewhere outside. It was the kind of sound I’d hoped to never hear ever again. Yet death and violence were often inevitable, even in small havens like Orvis.

An awkward silence settled around the table, and I realized all eyes were on Kalon. It dawned on me that I’d been the only one to clear things up with him. Everyone else, particularly my brother, was waiting for him to say something.

I cleared my throat, drawing their attention for a hot second. “First of all, I’m really glad to see you’re okay, Tristan, Ansel… Valaine, most of all,” I said. “It’s been a tough couple of days, but we’re here now, and we can keep working together to defeat the Darklings and stop the madness. Second, I think Kalon here has something to say.”

Kalon nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on me. He’d been quiet after his reunion with Valaine. At the time, the adrenaline had been rushing through us all, since we’d briefly feared we might lose her and our respective brothers to the sabre tigers.

“I think I owe you an apology, Tristan,” Kalon replied, now looking at my brother. “I’ve lied to you and your people. I have kept secrets, and I’m truly sorry for that.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Tristan muttered, giving him a stone-cold scowl.

“I know. And I have to explain a few things to you and to Valaine, as well. If, when I’m done making my case, you still cannot find it in your hearts to forgive me, I will understand.” Kalon went on to clarify everything, rehashing parts of our