Page 17 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 7

“There is so much wrong in what you just said!” Fiona was trembling. “Not the least of which is your description of yourself! Balthazar is the only one who can do what is needed for this future to come about. I know what you go through is hard. We all went through hard things, but it's those things that have changed and shaped us–”

“You hated Balthazar! You didn’t lift a finger when he was exiled! But now he’s the end-all, be-all? Please, Wyvern! It’s pathetic for you to say that–”

“I didn’t hate him. I was jealous.” She touched her chest. “By Arcius’ love for him and willingness to go against his principles. At least, that’s what I thought, but later I realized that helping Balthazar, standing by his side when things were so dire, was exactly Arcius holding onto his principles. The experiences you go through as Balthazar will shape you in ways you cannot understand right now–”

Eyros’ eyes blazed as he growled, “You say that just because your future can’t be salvaged–”

“And whose fault is that, Eyros?” she snapped.

Eyros paled as if he realized then what he likely shouldn’t have long ago. He could read minds after all. “I…”

He didn’t wish to know. He hoped for it to be otherwise. But now… now he knows that she knows.

“Whose fault is that?” Her voice dropped low. “You think I don’t know? You think I don’t know what you did? What role you played in my Second Death, Eyros?”

Eyros took a step back, retreating from her. She didn’t seem angry exactly. More like Eyros was behaving exactly as she had always thought he would. And likely it confirmed what she already knew about Balthazar too: that Balthazar was the better Immortal.

“You think I need to read your mind to see the guilt written so large there that it could be seen from space?” Fiona shook her head

“You don’t remember–”

“I don’t have to remember! I know!” She let out a bitter laugh. “I know you did it. I know you killed me. I know it.”

Eyros looked like he was going to faint.

“And the thing is, that I would spare Balthazar this knowledge. I don’t want him to know what you did,” Fiona let out a watery laugh and shook her head. “Because it would break his heart. But yours? Yours… I don’t know.”

“Everyone…” Eyros began then stopped and swallowed. “Everyone did bad things, Fiona. Things that they regret. Things…”

“Now, you call me Fiona,” she let out another watery laugh and wiped tears away. “Now you do.”

“What do you want from me?” Eyros asked her. “An apology? An explanation? A–”

“Nothing.” She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “You’re still playing games. You’re still thinking only of yourself. Oh, yes, Elgar is in there somewhere, but it is a far second to what is going to happen to the great Eyros in all that concern about the future! It’s funny, but it’s what I used to think about Balthazar. But when he was exiled after enduring the gods know what from Roan, he did everything to keep his people safe.”

“I’m doing that now!” Eyros pounded his chest with one hand. “I cannot keep my people safe if I am dead!”

“Your people survive without you. The War is over once the Immortals are all gone, hidden or imprisoned. Kaly forges the Vampire world anew until Daemon returns,” she reminded him. “You’re the only one left they need to deal with, Eyros. You’re the last Immortal standing.”

Path Chosen

“You don’t have to go, Eyros. But we do.” Wyvern–or Fiona–gestured between herself and Mirryr–or Charlie. “Hide here.”

“Hide? You make it sound like I’m being unreasonable in not wanting to be killed,” Eyros laughed.

“Killed?” Elgar’s voice was but a whisper, but they all heard him.

Three heads whipped towards him. Three sets of silver eyes glowing. Three sets of fangs exposed. Until they realized it was him and then there was no anger, only regret and great sadness.

“Elgar, how did you–why did you–what did you hear?” Eyros insisted.

“Too much and not enough,” Elgar said as he stepped up beside them.

The three of them were standing at the base of the gate to Nightvallen. He hadn’t exactly announced himself. He had been going quietly as was his wont. But he hadn’t announced himself either. The truth was that if all things had been equal, the three Immortals would have definitely known of his approach. But all things had not been equal. All three of them were in the midst of a heated discussion. Voices had been raised. Emotions were so heightened that they had almost solidified in the air. So he’d been able to walk right up to them and hear many things that Eyros had certainly not wanted him to hear.

“You knew I didn’t want you out here!” Eyros shouted.

“Forgive me, Master, but I knew no such thing,” Elgar said quietly. “You wished me to assist Wyvern with the gate.”