Page 24 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 7

“I don’t think so,” Charlie said quietly. “If I recall correctly, there was a long time when Kaly never set foot in Lasting. Artemis only returned there relatively recently after turning Caemorn. It was almost as if he were avoiding the place.”

“But wouldn’t they think they could change the future?” Grayson asked.

“Exactly,” Eyros muttered.

“Maybe. Maybe not. But there was never any sense from the old Artemis or old Roan that they knew anything about the future. Otherwise they surely wouldn’t have turned Balthazar or Caemorn,” Fiona pointed out.

Grayson shook his head. “It’s a muddle to be sure. Lasting felt like a pocket to me. As if it were disconnected from everything. I don’t know why I say that but there was a sense of–”

“Time disconnection,” Fiona murmured. When they all looked at her, she lifted her shoulders. “There was a strange moment when we were flying into Lasting when I thought I saw two cities. One overlaying the other. Then the illusion or whatever it was went away. Maybe one is slightly shifted out of time from the other.”

“That would be a frightening thing if Kaly could do that,” Grayson remarked. “But, then again, he’s figured out how to hide in time as it is.”

“Too bad the old bloke is in here.” Charlie held up the soul gem that glittered evilly as if Artemis were attempting to get free. “I bet he would know.”

“Yeah, well, he’s locked away. Thankfully,” Grayson added the last bit.

He still couldn’t shake the repulsive sexuality of the child-Vampire that had taken him as easily as if he were the true child. Ryder squeezed his shoulder, sensing his discomfort.

“The glow must mean something,” Ryder said, referring to the glowing Solace gate. “Trust Seeyr to leave us a flashing sign.”

“Right?” Fiona laughed. “She really outdid herself.”

“So it’s settled then? We’re all going to Solace?” Grayson asked.

“Not all,” Eyros said. “Elgar and I will not be going. And I will be locking this gate after you. If you’re running from a mob of Kaly I may not be able to open it again. As my first duty is to my people.” Elgar’s head snapped to Eyros and he opened his lips, likely to make some objection, but Eyros held up a silencing hand. “I’m sorry, Elgar, but my help only goes so far. While there may be some pressing reason we need to go to Solace in the future, it is not now.”

Grayson saw the stiff and rigid affect Eyros was presenting and understood how unhappy the other Immortal was. And could he blame him? While it was true that he’d looked into their minds by his own volition and discovered something unfortunate, Grayson could only imagine the pressure he was under knowing what was coming.

This is what mortals feel like as they near the end of their lives and watch as their friends and family members die off one by one. Pieces of their lives floating away like embers on a breeze. While they can remember them, they can never reclaim them, never have that same life again. Change is hard. Loss is harder for it is change made permanent.

“We understand, Eyros,” Grayson said, stepping forward and offering his hand to the other Immortal. The others stirred, surprised by the warmth in his voice and the face that Grayson was simply accepting Eyros’ limitations. “We appreciate all you have done. But this is our task after all. We will take it from here.”

Eyros stared at his outstretched hand for a moment. “You’re not going to try to convince me to come with you?”

“No, I would rather you stay here. As safe as you can be,” Grayson said. “The future is good.”

“So Fiona keeps telling me,” Eyros remarked dryly.

“But we don’t want anyone to be sacrificed to get it. That things will happen–have happened–is a dreadful price. But we don’t want to add to that,” Grayson assured him, still keeping that hand outstretched.

Finally, Eyros took it. His hand was warm and dry. He shook it slowly. “You’ve changed, Ashyr. Before you would have ordered me to help you to secure the future no matter what the cost to myself or my people.”

“Yes,” Grayson agreed.

“After what I saw during the War, I understand why,” Eyros said with soft, bitter laugh. “Being ruthless is sometimes the only way to survive, but…” His eyes fluttered to Fiona and away. “But it chisels away pieces of us. Every single act of self-preservation is like splashing acid on ourselves and expecting the same in the mirror afterwards. It simply doesn’t work that way.”

“No,” Grayson said simply. He squeezed Eyros’ hand a final time and released it. Eyros’ hand stayed extended a moment longer as if he wished to keep Grayson there for a moment more. Grayson turned back to the group. “I think we should leave now. We’re fed, rested and as ready to go as ever. Agreed?”

Everyone nodded.

“The plan should be similar to the one you made during the time in Lasting. Charlie, we’ll need you to glamorize us to look like Kaly Vampires,” Grayson said.

Charlie nodded. “I won’t have any of the powers though, I’m afraid. That only really works the first time I touch someone. I’ll have to touch another Kaly to have them again.”

“I think we keep our distance from everyone. At least as much as we can,” Grayson said. “We head to the Spire as quickly and quietly as possible. We change appearances if we need to based on who is allowed down to see Seeyr. So there will be some reconnaissance.”

Fiona nodded. “My powers are, at least, useful to go short distances again. Anything else, I wouldn’t trust, but I can move in and out quickly. I’m very familiar with teleporting in the Spire.”