Chapter 41

Julian

I'd been summoned to Hadrian's trophy room again, and I found myself stepping slowly down the staircase. I was always grateful to have some time away from Piper again, but meeting with the vampire leader wasn't something I ever looked forward to.

I hadn't even seen Hadrian since we'd returned from Chicago. The attack had taken place two evenings prior, and we'd retreated to Heritage Prep soon after the failed attempt to snatch Arya.

I'd had no choice but to join in the attack. Hadrian had been displeased with my inability to track Arya down, so after the attack on the other mer girl turned out to be misplaced, he'd ordered all his top members to accompany him to Chicago and wait for the real thing.

I'd tried to mislead them, but Marguerite had spotted Arya crossing a street with her friends, foiling my attempts. I'd engaged in battle with her friends, admittedly going easy on them. But I didn't dare interfere. If my treachery had been so much as suspected, Hadrian would have slaughtered me right there.

While I only narrowly escaped the deathly fire of the phoenix girl's inferno, it had been just the saving grace I'd prayed to the heavens for, forcing us to flee.

That whole fiasco could've gone so wrong. While Arya's siren moment had been something to behold, she'd been entirely lackluster the rest of the fight. In fact, if it hadn't been for her friends, Arya would be in Hadrian's custody right now.

I couldn't help but wonder how Caesar would feel if he knew I'd been part of that, and the thought caused guilt to twist in my gut.

I finally reached the Great Hall, and my boots noisily clacked against the polished stone floor.

The tall doors leading into the trophy room were wide open, like the mouth of a great beast waiting to consume me.

At last, I entered, and the doors behind me boomed shut like thunder.

"Welcome, my friend," Hadrian said in his typical cool voice. "Please, have a seat. We have much to discuss."

I walked toward Hadrian's table, trying my best to avoid looking at the mounted shifter body parts plastered against the walls.

I hated these meetings. Hadrian was so casual all the time, I never knew if I was about to be reprimanded or rewarded. Perhaps Hadrian just wanted a status update on Piper as an Initiate. Finally making it to the fine wooden chair beside Hadrian, I slid into it, sitting up straight.

"I know you don't care for blood straight from the person, so I had a cocktail of sorts made up for us to share," Hadrian said, punching a button on the table in front of him.

A circular slat of the wood lowered and slid back into obscurity, and up spun a glass pitcher holding an enticing crimson liquid, along with two empty glasses.

"It's a mix of six different initiates, all different races. Freshly extracted."

"After you," I implored, not trusting what this cocktail contained.

Hadrian smiled a toothy grin, then pointed a finger at me. "Smart boy."

Boy? Hadrian's passive-aggressive insult defined his arrogant elitism. I tried my best to hide my annoyance. I'm far older than you.

Grabbing one of the glasses, Hadrian poured the blood. Raising the glass to his nose, he inhaled deeply, like a professional wine taster sniffing in a competition. At last, he raised his glass and drained it.

"Exquisite," he said, licking his lips. "A good mix. Only the best for the elite, right?"

I didn't want to taste it. I wanted to defy elitism by knocking the glass pitcher to the ground, shattering it into a hundred pieces and spilling its contents. Hadrian was no better than any other vampire. In fact, he was the worst. The only division between vampires in my eyes were the good ones and the bad ones. And I had yet to meet any good vampires.

Not waiting for me to make a move, Hadrian filled my glass and pushed it across the table to me. I caught it with quick reflexes, a bit of the blood splashing out from the sudden stop. Obediently hiding my reluctance, I lifted it to my lips and took a sip.

I couldn't deny the burst of flavor that tickled at my taste buds, and I took my time swallowing. Grateful I hadn't been the one required to extract it, I pretended it was just another bag of blood.

But it was nothing compared to the ecstatic rush of orgasmal bliss that Shea's blood had been. Though I despised myself for giving in to my bloodlust with her—and actual lust—I'd been unable to stop obsessing over that sinful moment, like a teenage boy compulsively masturbating in his locked bedroom.

The warmth of her center as I ground my need into her. The mind-fucking explosion of her blood on my tongue. The vibration of her moans as I sucked on her neck that echoed through my body even now.

Recalling that beautiful depravity made this slosh more tolerable.

"Delicious doesn't begin to describe it," I said, setting the glass down and looking back up at Hadrian.

The vampire leader continued to smile. "Indeed."

I raised the glass again and took another sip. As I brought my arm back down, I circled the rim of the glass with my fingertip. "Something tells me you didn't bring me down here just to share a drink."

Hadrian chuckled. "Intuitive as always, Julian. You see much that many others miss."

I saw past the compliment and heard the caution of his words.

Hadrian gulped down another glass, then leaned forward. "You froze on Thursday evening. During the fight, you barely got involved. I want to know why."

I'd wondered if Hadrian had even noticed. He'd been so wrapped up in the capture of Arya.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "You asked me to watch our backs, just in case the shifter military showed up. And that's precisely what I did."

Hadrian's upper lip raised as he nodded. "Yes, you settled for the bare minimum quite well. Which is quite unlike a vampire of your caliber."

I laughed. "You flatter me, Hadrian. You do realize how long it's been since I've been in battle, right?"

This time, Hadrian laughed. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that you've gotten rusty? You're an eternal being, Julian. You can't lose your touch. And I've seen what you're capable of."

I drank from my glass, trying to appear casual and unfazed. "It's harder than you might think, after stepping away for as long as I have. Sure, my abilities might be as keen as they've always been, but the kind of mission we were on was more of a mental game than anything."

"Mental for you," Hadrian scoffed. "Extremely physical for the rest of us. Did you miss the fact that there were two dragon shifters involved, not to mention a phoenix?"

"They were kids, Hadrian," I replied. "Since when do we go around hunting kids?"

"They killed Theo and Amelia," Hadrian spat, slamming his cup down on the table. "And so many others. And when did you decide we should go easy on younger shifters? Shifters are shifters, no matter their age."

I hated this whole situation. I hated that I was here in this fortress, surrounded by bloodlusting brutalists who couldn't just let life go on.

"Forgive me," I said, bowing my head and trying my best to sound sincere. "I won't let it happen again."

Hadrian wagged a finger at me. "You'd better not, because we have another mission. We're going after the girl again."

I furrowed my brow, feigning stoic curiosity.

"What's so special about her?" I asked, swirling the blood in my glass like I hardly cared. "You said her blood was important to you, but I hardly see why she's worth so much effort."

Sitting back, another grin formed on the vampire leader's face. "The girl is my daughter."

I narrowed my eyes, unable to stifle my surprise. "What?"

Hadrian's smile evaporated. "Did you not hear me? Arya is my daughter. I've been searching for her for many, many years. Months ago I found her, but the shifters got to her first."

This was news Caesar didn't have. What the gryphon would do if he discovered that Arya was Hadrian's actual flesh and blood daughter. There was nobody in the world who hated Hadrian more than Caesar. And that kind of hatred could lead good people to do terrible things. Would he be so keen on the young siren if he knew the relation?

"You want a shifter to join the vampires?" I asked incredulously. "Even if she is your daughter, what makes you think she'd side with us?"

Hadrian bellowed a laugh that boomed around the room. "You of all people should know just how compelling I can make our side seem."

There is nothing compelling about our side .

The torture I'd endured just to rejoin the vampires had been a terrible experience, full of memories mingled with falsities. Hallucinations. Was Hadrian really willing to do such a thing to his own daughter?

"Funny," Hadrian continued. "You've been living in Chicago for the past fifteen years, and that also happens to be where we found Arya."

He's already putting pieces together . I'd have to do a better job covering myself in the future. If Hadrian knew why I really came back…

"A frightening coincidence," I said. "Had I any idea we were in the same city limits, I would have told you."

Hadrian snorted. "I'm sure you would've. Fortunately for you, I've made a new friend from the Dome who has validated never hearing about or seeing you before."

"The Dome?" The nickname just spilled out of my mouth, I was so shocked to hear that Hadrian knew about it. The location of the shifter school was a secret that no vampire knew about—besides me.

Until now.

The vampire leader's eyes shifted to the corner of the room over my right shoulder. Unable to resist following Hadrian's line-of-sight, I turned around.

Standing sheepishly against the wall was a teenage boy with perfectly combed sandy brown hair and ocean-blue eyes.

"Julian Asher, meet Kendall Green," Hadrian said, winding his hand backwards like a fishing reel. "Come here, Kendall, and take a seat."

The young man walked toward us with his chest puffed out, but I could sense the fear veiled by his strong stance.

"Kendall had enough good sense to seek us out," Hadrian said with excessive sweetness. "As you can probably guess, he's a mer, and is quite eager to divulge certain secrets to save his own scales."

"A traitor to his own kind?" I said, gazing at the mer with disgusted surprise.

"Oh, Julian, don't be so dramatic," Hadrian chided. "The boy has been through a lot, and is a very gifted seer. You see, he has seen the outcome of the age-old war between shifters and vampires. He has seen the annihilation of his own kind. And like any survivor would, he has switched to the winning side." He smiled wickedly at Kendall. "Haven't you, my boy?"

Kendall nodded quickly. "Yes, sir."

"Furthermore, his need for self-preservation has loosed his lips. We know that the school resides at the bottom of Lake Michigan."

A holographic display appeared hovering in the center of the table, zeroing in on the structure that I'd been helping to protect, though I'd never actually seen it. The vampire leader moved his hands away from each other on the holograph, zooming in on the structure.

"Within, we have the layout, including entry points that are commonly used, as well as the secret ones. We know where the dormitories are, and we even know where Arya sleeps." He pointed at one particular area where a red light blinked.

The blue lights creating the three-dimensional image reflected in the mad eyes of Hadrian.

I had to alert Caesar about the leak of information, about Kendall's betrayal.

"All this time, the shifters have been so close," I said, masking my true feelings.

The display blinked out as Hadrian swiped his hand from side to side. "Under your very nose, Julian. But do not fear for your own life. Kendall has told me that the school director would never have dealings with vampires. Caesar Rex has too much of a history with us."

With you. You murdered his family in cold blood.

I nodded. "The last of the gryphons."

"His death is inevitable," Hadrian said. "Delayed, perhaps, but his time is running out. I'm assembling a team to strike an attack. And as you're a daywalker, you will be crucial to the success of that team."

My stomach sank like an anchor in the lake. A direct assault on the school was the last thing I wanted to do, but I couldn't afford to show any reluctance or hesitation.

I bowed my head. "I'm honored to be given a second chance."

Hadrian jabbed a finger at me. "And this time, you can't watch from the sidelines. You can't freeze. If you do, drowning in hallucinogenic water will seem like a mercy."

I nodded. "Understood."

"Now go," Hadrian said, sweeping his hand in the air like a broom. "There is more I wish to discuss with Kendall. But soon enough, you'll be back here with the team I assemble, and we'll finalize our plans to destroy the Dome and every shifter inside."

"I look forward to it," I lied, getting to my feet.

I looked at Kendall and saw that the eel of a boy was physically shaking, but I couldn't feel the slightest bit of pity for this betrayer.

Resting a hand on the boy's muscular shoulder, I said, "Welcome to the winning side."

I moved to the massive doors, and one of them swung inward as I approached. Instead of heading to the staircase that would take me to my quarters, I took the stairs down a level to where the Initiates were located. The physical world around me was a blur—my mind couldn't concentrate on anything but what I'd just learned.

Upon reaching the Initiates common room, I yelled, "Piper!"

The exclamation earned me the attention of the other humans in the room.

Glancing around, I couldn't see her anywhere.

Where is that girl?

"Sir," one of the human males in the room said. "I believe Piper went to bed for the night. But if you're needing to feed, I offer my neck to you in her absence."

I was barely able to hold back the things I wanted to say to the eager Initiate.

I gritted my teeth, baring my fangs as I spoke. "I need Piper. Now. Will you lead me to her quarters?"

The Initiate wilted, turning almost as pale as a vampire. "Of course. This way."

We walked into the north hallway, which was lined with small LED lights that barely illuminated the way. We came to a fork, and I followed the human to the left. We continued until the hallway right-angled back to the north.

Three doors down and we came to a stop.

"This is it," the Initiate said, raising a fist to knock on the door.

With superhuman speed, I caught his hand. "I'll be the one to wake her. You go on back to the common room and…do whatever it was you were doing."

The Initiate hesitated for a moment, which surprised me. They were always so overeager to obey.

I narrowed my eyes and released the young man's arm. "What's your name?"

"Adam," the Initiate replied.

"Well, Adam, do you have trouble hearing? Or do you really want to try the patience of an upset vampire?"

"S—sorry, sir," Adam stuttered. "It's just that vampires usually don't go to their Initiates' quarters. Vampires always summon their Initiates up to their quarters."

I ground my teeth and stared daggers at Adam. Can't you take a hint?

Seeing my enraged state, the Initiate turned around and sped away.

I sighed heavily. This place drove me so close to losing control. I longed to be back in my apartment, sitting on the Skyes' chair, sipping at a blood bag while holding Alice's brooch.

Alice. It felt like an age since I'd thought about her. Her grimoire was being used again after a century, and the witch in question had me crossing boundaries I never thought I'd even toe the line of.

She looks so much like Alice.

I withdrew Alice's brooch from my pocket and brought it up to my lips, closing my eyes and kissing it softly.

Did Alice hate me for straying from her? For wanting this young witch so desperately? And what would she think if she knew I'd drank from her?

Putting it back, I grabbed onto Piper's doorknob and pushed the door open. The hinges squealed like a shrieking gryphon, but to my surprise, Piper didn't budge.

She was laying on a bed mounted to the wall by two chains that angled away. There was a bunk above her, also held by chains, and two other empty beds on the opposite wall. They looked far from comfortable. At least she was alone.

"Piper," I whispered as I drew nearer to her.

Again, she didn't stir. I could hear her heavy breathing. I had no idea how long she'd been asleep, but it sounded deep.

Do not wake her. Find her phone. It was Alice's voice, guiding me once more, and my heart squeezed in relief that she hadn't abandoned me.

I looked around the room. Surely it would be close to a power outlet to charge overnight.

A nearby dresser was empty on top, and I wasn't keen on pawing through whatever belongings were in the drawers.

I heard a digital ding chime, and I turned to see Piper stir. Sitting next to her hand on her bed was a screen, lit up from a text message.

Stepping lightly over to Piper, I reached past her slumbering form and grabbed the phone. I couldn't help but read what it said.

Phil: Miss you. Hope your day went well.

Piper had never talked about her relationships during our assignment together, and part of me ached to tell her to step away from the track she was on. If this Phil was her boyfriend… Well, I knew firsthand what it was like to be turned by an old girlfriend.

I stashed her phone into my other pocket and walked as silently from her room as possible, cringing as the door creaked shut behind me.

Sprinting down the hall, I zipped through the common room and up the stairs, stepping out into the Great Hall.

I slowed my pace here, not wanting to draw unwanted attention from any vampires. But luck was not on my side. Marguerite happened to be sitting in one of the luxurious chairs off to the side.

"What's the hurry, Julian?" she asked.

She wasn't in her typical black jeans and hoodie, but in a form-fitting sleeveless dress that ran down to just above her knees. She applied an extra coat of black lipstick to her lips and stood up. She was taller, due to the dark high heels she wore. Her white-blonde hair rolled down on her shoulders, a stark contrast to the rest of her outfit.

I stopped in my tracks. She looked beautiful, and I realized I hadn't thought that about her for a very long time. But just as soon as the thought came, I dashed it away, sticking a hand into my pocket and grasping Alice's brooch again.

"I just need some fresh air," I said, moving for the door again.

Quick as a flash, Marguerite appeared in front of me. The high heels did nothing to slow her down.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked, smiling at me and reaching for my free hand.

"I'm actually going to watch the sunrise," I said, trying to move past her.

She grabbed my arm as I went by, stopping my progression again.

"I can stay with you while it's dark," she offered. "You look like you've got a lot on your mind. I'd love to help you sort it out."

I looked into her icy blue eyes, injecting as much venom into my tone as possible. "No thank you."

Marguerite held on for another moment, as if hoping I'd change my mind. But I stood firm.

At last, she released me, the rejection showing in her countenance.

Finally free, I ran out into the cold, wintry night, sprinting through the snow and whipping past trees. I didn't have anywhere specific I wanted to go. I just needed to get far enough away to make an important phone call.

I ran through the mountains for what seemed like hours, but pulling Piper's phone from my pocket, I saw that it had only been minutes.

Dropping to my knees in a foot of snow, I dialed a number I'd memorized years ago. One that I'd been told to use only in times of emergency. It was late at night, and I hoped Caesar would answer.

I held the phone to my ear, counting the rings.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

"Hello?"

It was the gryphon. He sounded wide awake.

"Caesar, this is Julian."

There was a brief pause on the other end. "Julian, where have you been?"

"Through too much. But that's not why I'm calling. Listen, trouble is coming your way."

"It already has , " Caesar replied. "Four of our students were attacked a few nights ago."

"That's just the beginning," I said, finding no reason to inform him of my involvement. "Listen, I don't have much time. One of your shifter students… He's betrayed the school. He's told Hadrian everything—the location of the Dome, information about Arya."

"Who?" Caesar asked. "Which student?"

"His name is Kendall Green," I replied quickly. "I don't know how long he's been working with Hadrian, but another attack is being organized. You're all in danger."

"We'll call in the military," Caesar said. "They can monitor our borders and protect us."

"That's a start," I said.

"You've fulfilled my request, Julian," Caesar said. "I know going back to Hadrian was not an easy thing. If you need to escape, you should do so."

I shook my head, even though I knew Caesar couldn't see it. "I can't. Not yet. There are too many moving pieces right now, and I think the best way I can help you and the rest of the shifters is by staying here and keeping you apprised."

"If you can continue being our eyes and ears there in the heart of Hadrian's pursuits, that would be extremely helpful," Caesar agreed.

"And that's what I will do, at least for now. But listen. There are a couple of other things you need to know about Hadrian and his plans. When I first arrived back at his fortress, he told me that his intention is to find a way to make vampire-shifter hybrids."

"That's a lost cause," Caesar scoffed. "Our genetic makeup is incompatible with that of vampires."

"He's dangerously close to figuring it out," I countered. "I don't know the exact science, but he's recruited some insanely brilliant geneticists. They're on the verge of solving the puzzle."

I waited for a response from the gryphon, but all I heard was Caesar's heavy breathing.

"Arya," Caesar said softly.

"About her—she's Hadrian's daughter."

"Yes, that much we've discovered," Caesar said. "From what Arya recalls from talking with Kendall, her mother had joined with Hadrian in an attempt to bring peace between vampires and shifters. But Hadrian only used her to give birth to Arya. We thought she was just a mermaid, but she is in fact a chimera."

I gasped, rocked by the implications of this. "She's a hybrid shifter?"

"Yes. And if what you're saying is true, he's wanting to take things a step further with her."

A vampire chimera.

My anxiety levels spiked, giving my ancient immortal heart a run for its money. "Hadrian won't stop until he finds her. He'll tear down the Dome and kill anybody who gets in his way. And if he gets a hold of her, we're all doomed."

~ The End ~