17. CONFIDENCE

CONFIDENCE

O ne week later…

"Tell me that this is going to work, Seeyr," Balthazar asked the other Immortal.

"It will work," Seeyr answered with the same grace she had the past dozen times he'd asked.

Julian smiled at the patient tone she took with Balthazar. He understood how much was riding on Balthazar's shoulders that night. Others might argue that Daemon was there, too, if things got out of hand so there was nothing truly to fear. Hell, they all were ready to pitch in against the Kaly slices. But the instructions-- the plan --that had been left behind by Kaly and Eyros was clear that the two of them had to make this work on their own.

"You don't see any deviations? You don't see any forks in the road? There's not a chance that it could all go sideways?" Balthazar asked Seeyr.

"It will work," she repeated.

Balthazar rolled his shoulders and shook out his arms before continuing to move restlessly around the throne room, naturally giving a bouncing bow every time his orbit brought him within a foot or two of the dais where Julian and Daemon sat on their thrones.

When Balthazar passed by Seeyr--Seeyr sat on a smaller, but lovely chair with a carved back and red velvet seat to his and Daemon's right and Sophia was, of course, by her Mistress' side--he would ask her that same question with the same caveats and her answer was always the same. The throne room, other than that, was mostly empty and quiet.

While the streets outside were thronged with Vampires as more and more came to Nightvallen, there were few inside the throne room itself. Just himself, Daemon, Christian, Balthazar, Caemorn, Seeyr, Sophia, Arcius, Lisette, Julian's parents, and Christian's parents. Fiona was not there as she was playing the role of catching Kaly slices with the other most powerful Wyvern.

Balthazar had wanted no one else present, because he needed to concentrate and, in case, he failed , despite all of Seeyr's far-seeing. Caemorn had not disagreed with the plan, but he had hardly said a word since the evening began. Truly though, the fewer people who knew about their plan the better.

Meffy let out a small mew that reminded Julian he had not counted the kitten as one of the attendees. Sophia had Meffy on her shoulder. Balthazar couldn't hold the beloved cat and concentrate, but couldn't bear to be away from the black kitten either. Meffy watched Balthazar pace before he yawned and then fell asleep in Sophia's arms.

Meffy is not concerned, Julian said to Daemon.

Meffy is right not to be, Daemon answered.

He took up Julian's nearest hand and laced their fingers together. He slowly rubbed an infinity symbol on the back of Julian's hand that mirrored the one on his wrist.

I heard it from Caemorn's own mouth in Moonfall that everything was going to be all right, but I'm still nervous! Julian admitted.

Understandable. Daemon nodded briefly. If someone had told you that you would become a Vampire Prince before it happened and you would like it--

More than like it!

Daemon smiled. More than like it, a week before it happened, would you believe it fully? Let alone that your parents would also be returned to you?

No, definitely not, Julian agreed, smiling so hard his cheeks hurt just thinking about his parents. It still hadn't quite sunk in yet that they were back, even though they were but a foot away from him.

The more we want something, the harder it is to believe we will get it, Daemon answered.

Christian followed Balthazar with his eyes for a moment before hopping down from the dais, looping his arm through his Master's, and pacing alongside him though now it looked more like a stroll. Except it was in a circle or, more like, a tight oval. Immediately at Christian's touch, Balthazar smiled and he calmed down. A little.

A very little, Julian thought and a wash of sympathy ran through him again.

His mother stirred beside him, leaning down and murmuring in his ear, "Those two are a study in contrasts."

She was referring to Balthazar and Caemorn.

"Aren't they though," his father said with a grunt of amusement.

In contrast to Balthazar's pacing and jerky movements, Caemorn kept himself icily still in the center of the throne room. Julian was pretty sure that he wasn't even breathing. He understood why Caemorn was acting as he was as well. Caemorn, or Kaly, was about to become whole once more. Whether he was crazy and homicidal or himself would be determined by whether Balthazar could mentally control the Kaly slices.

"Explain the plan again please, son?" his father asked.

Julian looked up at his parent's handsome faces. His father was in a tailored suit, looking a bit like Daniel Craig's version of James Bond with his muscled, compact form, chiseled jawline and steely blue eyes. His mother wore a black silk top and matching flowing pants.

Julian couldn't help but be absurdly proud at the figures they cut. They were already being courted by every Vampire Bloodline since neither Daemon nor Julian could turn them. Unlike the Thornes--who were seated by Arcius to their left and speaking comfortably to the new Preceptor--his parents had no doubts that they wanted to be turned. They were determined never to leave him again. Julian sometimes worried that they were choosing eternity in this life because of the damage losing them the first time had caused him. But they assured him it wasn't so.

Daemon hadn't even had to tell his parents that who they chose--the same or different Vampires as their Masters or Mistresses, Bloodlines and Houses--would all be very political . His parents had already figured that out from the get go.

"If we play king-maker," his mother had said a few nights after they had been brought back, "we should--"

"I am king There is no other," Daemon had muttered quietly from the couch where he was sprawled out like a sleeping leopard.

The four of them had had dinner in the palace and now were just relaxing. His parents had dined royally Daemon had taken a few bites, but Julian had been unable to stomach anything but wine.

Julian had chuckled and kissed Daemon's nose. "I knew you were going to say that."

"Your Seeyr gift?" Daemon asked, scrunching his nose.

"Ah, no, you are just a tad predictable about king-stuff," Julian told him.

Daemon pouted, which got him another kiss, but this one was on the lips.

His mother smiled affectionately at them both. "I didn't mean that literally, Daemon. We know you rule absolutely. But that also means that whatever Jack and I do will have a huge impact on the power and prestige of whichever Bloodlines we choose."

"Bloodlines?" His father quirked his right eyebrow upwards. "You're thinking that we should have different Bloodlines? I was thinking we should have the same Master--"

"Or Mistress?" His mother grinned. "We really need to think about that, too."

"We do?" His father asked.

"Yes, we do."

His mother seated herself in one of the overly large chairs, curling one leg beneath her. She and his father were in their "adventure clothes": khakis with many pockets and long-sleeved shirts that wicked away sweat. Every moment they hadn't been eating and sleeping, they'd spent with Julian and Christian investigating the city. Julian knew she still wanted to check out some of the Kaly catacombs that night.

"I would hope you guys would be choosing someone or someones you care about. That fits you. Because you are going to be with them for a long time and it's…" Julian grimaced. He still had trouble sometimes speaking to his parents as an adult . "Well, it's intimate! There I said it and I feel my cheeks burning!"

"You're adorable when you blush!" His mother beamed at him. Sometimes she forgot he was an adult too. But that was okay. He didn't mind.

"So there's always sex between the Master and Mistress and the Childe?" His father looked a little uneasy at this.

Julian glanced at Daemon. He couldn't imagine not having sex with Daemon. But, then again, even if he didn't need the Vampire King's blood he would want to sleep with him. Hearing that thought, Daemon smiled at him, a smile that promised much sex later.

"Does it always involve sex?" his mother repeated the question as the silence stretched.

"I'm guessing that's a yes ." His father's mouth twisted as if he tasted something bitter.

Julian knew that his parents were completely faithful to one another, not that they didn't understand others who could have polyamorous relationships, but they had always found completeness in one another. A rare and wonderful thing. It was something he found with Daemon.

"There can be a more paternal or maternal love in the relationship," Daemon finally answered. "But desire is part of what a Vampire is."

"I don't want to cheat on my husband," his mother said flatly.

"I'm the same," his father answered and took his mother's hand in his.

"Then the choices you make about who will turn you become that much more delicate ," Daemon answered. "But it is possible. It can be done."

"I must be done." His father stared at Daemon. "I know our marriage must seem so inconsequential to you after living so long, but--"

"Not at all." Daemon slid an arm around Julian's back. "I went into a deep sleep because I could not bear to be without Julian, remember?"

His parents gazed at Julian with such love that he blushed some more, squirmed and lowered his head.

"Yes, how could we forget that?" his mother murmured.

"Whoever you guys pick, you should love," Julian said. "We'll love them, too, because they're worthy of it if they've gained your trust. The politics will take care of itself."

Daemon kissed his shoulder.

"I think Balthazar would choose us all. He would accept our desire to keep monogamous," his mother said.

His father though made a face. "I don't know if I want to know what everyone is thinking. Imagine being able to shift into an animal form like those Weryn!"

His mother lifted her eyebrows. "I wouldn't mind controlling the weather or using telekinesis or raising the dead."

"Kaly?!" Julian was shocked. Considering everything that had happened to them at the hands of Kaly, he wouldn't have thought they would consider that Bloodline at all.

"Caemorn actually said that your father and I have a natural affinity for it since we've gone over and come back," his mother said with a shrug.

"You guys are talking to Caemorn? I thought maybe…" Julian broke off.

"That we would stay way clear of the man who took our first lives?" His father gave him a crooked smile.

"But he gave us our second," his mother pointed out.

"And he's in your debt enough to give you a third and not demand anything in return," Julian said with an understanding nod.

"I… I feel connected to him. I don't know." His mother scrubbed her face with both hands. "I truly don't know."

"Do you, Dad?" Julian asked curiously.

"Yeah, in a way. I don't know either. It feels complicated," his father admitted. "But… I just don't know."

"You do not need to make the decision now," Daemon said. "There is plenty of time."

"I wish we could turn you ourselves," Julian said.

"We know, kiddo," his mother said fondly. She reached over and touched his knee. "But we need to be grateful for what we do have together, which is eternity. It's an amazing thing."

It was an amazing thing.

Again, Julian felt a sense of unreality go through him as he spoke to them now, "So, you know that Caemorn was able to track down all of the slices of himself this week?"

"Right, and he tagged them somehow?" his mother clarified.

"Yeah, don't ask me how he did that. Christian understands as they did that together somehow. It's the equivalent of spraying someone's soul with neon paint that also glows in the dark. Anyways, they've found where they all are," Julian explained.

"And then Fiona and her gang are going to phase to those locations?" his father asked.

"Right," Julian said with a nod. "Daemon will open all the Ever Dark gates then Fiona and the other Wyvern will phase in, grab each Kaly slice, and phase here to this room."

"What about the slice that inhabited Roan Tithe?" his mother asked. His parents had already gotten all the information they hadn't been privy to as prisoners of Artemis-Kaly from their talks with Caemorn, evidently. "Where is that part of Kaly?"

Julian knew that this had worried Balthazar a lot. "It returned to one of the others and was reincorporated. He was the last one that Caemorn located. Because two of them had combined, he was more powerful and harder to find than the others."

"I see." His mother's expression hardened. "Artemis-Kaly was powerful enough on his own."

"And insane." His father's jaw was set. "This Roan Tithe tortured Balthazar and everyone else in his House, I heard from Christian. I can't believe he won't go down without a fight"

"Yeah, it was pretty bad and I'm sure you're right," Julian agreed.

"How will Balthazar be able to handle all of them at once?" his mother asked.

"In a way, he will not be," Daemon answered. "Caemorn is Kaly's core. The others are like shadows of him. Eyros was always Kaly's equal when Kaly was whole. Without being whole, Eyros will be able to handle the slices."

"But he had trouble with Artemis-Kaly and the other slice," Julian pointed out slowly.

Daemon squeezed his hand. "Only because he has not quite yet accepted who he is."

"Really?" His father cracked a smile. "Balthazar seems quite comfortable with his palace and his people--"

"Yes, yes," Daemon acquiesced with a smile. "He does love his luxuries. But Roan… Kaly has made him doubt himself."

"Taking in Balthazar's pacing, I fear that is still the case." His mother frowned.

"It will work," Seeyr's voice rose up, answering Balthazar's repeated question, bringing him back to the present moment.

"So when the Kaly slices are here, what then, exactly?" his father asked.

"Balthazar will literally change their minds. Basically, he will make the slices' minds mirror Caemorn's. They will all be in agreement," Julian finished. "That will allow Caemorn to integrate them seamlessly."

"It's a clever plan," his father said.

"But not an easy one," his mother pointed out.

"Nothing worthwhile ever is," Daemon said.

Seeyr stiffened slightly and suddenly turned towards them. "King Daemon… it is time ."

Balthazar froze. Christian kissed him and took a few steps away to stand by Arcius and his parents. Christian met Julian's gaze. He felt the touch of his best friend's mind.

Moonfall. Remember Moonfall , Christian sent. Caemorn was fully Kaly then. This will work.

Yes, it will work. It will, Julian agreed even as he tightened his grip on Daemon's hand.

Julian's gaze slid to Caemorn. He had turned towards them. His silver eyes were fixed on Daemon.

Daemon nodded. His red eyes went unfocused as he stared straight ahead. "It is done. All gates into the Ever Dark are open. Fiona… it is time."

That last was sent mentally to Fiona who, along with her people, were already on Earth.

We are linked. My power linked to theirs will get them all through… now, Fiona answered.

"Incoming," Caemorn murmured as the first Wyvern Vampire phased the first Kaly slice into the room.

The Kaly slice was a Weryn Vampire who immediately burst into a cauldron of bats that proceeded to fly in every direction. Balthazar let out a laugh.

"Oh, c'mon, this just makes you easier to control," Balthazar snorted.

"Eyros," Caemorn stated dryly.

Balthazar lifted up his hands. "Sorry. Sorry. I've just worked myself up into a lather here and it's bats ." With a snap of his fingers, all the bats fell to the ground as if a gigantic hand had slapped them out of the air. "Now. Back to one form." The female Weryn Vampire appeared. "And now you're happy to be here. This is what you've planned all along."

The female Weryn's eyes were unfocused, but then her gaze snapped to Caemorn. She smiled broadly.

"We've done it. Home," she said as she scrambled to her feet.

She reached for Caemorn. A small, sad smile graced Caemorn's handsome visage.

"Yes," Caemorn said. "Home."

And she collapsed again. Julian leaned forward. He had not exactly seen the transfer of the soul from her body to Caemorn's, but maybe he had.

"Amazing," his mother said.

"And terrible," his father added in a whisper.

More Kaly slices appeared then. Fast and thick. The skies above Nightvallen crackled with terrible storms as several Horys Vampires were teleported in. Lightning ripped the skies apart. Thunder boomed. But the clouds hardly had time to form before Balthazar had them down on the ground then back up again with bright, smiling faces before they collapsed once more.

Mirryr Vampires tried to fade into the crowd, taking on the faces of their Weryn captors or Balthazar or Caemorn. And it was when they did this last one that Balthazar would freeze them. Somehow, wearing Caemorn's face as they willingly gave themselves over to Caemorn seemed appropriate.

The Syrin Vampires screeched, which had Julian grimacing and covering his ears, but their voices were cut off in mid-cry. One reached up to his throat as he realized he had lost his weapon and glared at Balthazar. Balthazar actually laughed.

"This is rather fun!" Balthazar swelled with pride.

"Do not become cocky, Eyros," Caemorn reminded him. "Even a slice of me is dangerous."

"Yes, yes, I know! But it is fun!" Balthazar insisted.

The Ashyr Vampires tried to toss around people to use as missiles. Arcius was lifted from his feet. He called out to Balthazar for "a little help".

"Oh, you big baby, you're always wanted to fly!' Balthazar laughed, but Arcius was gently placed back upon his feet.

The Helm Vampires tried to play hide and seek by turning invisible. But while humans might not be able to see them, other Vampires easily could simply by listening for heart, breath and the faintest scrape of feet.

The Wyvern Vampire Kaly slices appeared to be the hardest as they teleported away as soon as they were teleported in. The Wyvern Vampires on their side went after them and brought them back again. They popped in and out of existence. It took Balthazar a bunch of times before he could grab them mentally and keep them pinned in Nightvallen like butterflies to a board.

With every transfer, Caemorn's sadness seemed to drop away. Julian could feel what he felt. He leaned forward on the throne as if getting physically closer to Caemorn would give him more insight.

The Kaly slices were happy to return to their core. Caemorn felt that happiness. It did not feel fake, but true . They had been living terrible existences, plagued by madness, anguished by insane thoughts, overwhelmed by out of control emotions. Balthazar freed them of such pains and he brought them peace.

Finally, there were no more Kaly slices being brought in. Instead, the throne room was littered with empty Vampires.

"Something's wrong," Julian realized before Caemorn spoke, confirming it.

"We are missing one," Caemorn stated.

"Fiona is not here," Arcius stated. "She was going after--"

" Roan ." Balthazar's hands fisted at his sides. "Roan has her."

Everyone looked at Seeyr. She didn't look alarmed. "It will all work out."

But she didn't say how it would, Julian realized.