16. IN THE NEWS

IN THE NEWS

T he next night…

Balthazar turned on the television to one of the cable networks. There was a blonde whose perfectly sculpted head of hair was quivering as she continued on with the non-stop coverage of the Incident at the Museum, as the raising of the dead and Daemon's dramatic reveal of Vampires was being called. Not that everyone believed they were Vampires. There were so many conspiracy theories.

"... now some are saying what occurred at the museum was caused by the release of a toxic gas, the same gas said to have killed everyone inside of the museum earlier that evening. I have with me Dr. Pamela Gunn who is going to weigh in on this explanation," the pretty, but very serious looking blonde reporter said. "Dr. Gunn, now is it possible for people to all share the same delusion?"

Dr. Gunn was a woman in tweed in her mid-fifties who wore glasses and looked like she should be in front of a chalkboard. "Well, Samantha, yes, it is . In fact, that is what is thought to have fueled some of--"

Balthazar laughed. "Oh, please! So are we saying that the cameras are delusional too? They recorded what happened!"

He had watched all that footage. Over and over and over again. Daemon really had been magnificent. Balthazar was certain he would have found the Vampire King to have been even more so if he had been there. But no, he had been falling for Kaly's trap, being nearly given his Second Death, being rescued by Caemorn and then convalescing. He'd missed all the fun.

"How can they even be suggesting mass delusion!" Balthazar waved the remote everywhere as if to somehow indicate by gesture how ridiculous that was.

But Christian and Caemorn, who were huddled on the couch together behind him, were deep into discussing ways to track down the various Kalys and the Harrows' soul gems and didn't say a word. They did not even look up at him as they were so focused on their work.

The three of them were in the beautiful front meeting room with the grand fireplace, piano, and two-story tall bookshelves in House Ravenscroft. The television was over the massive fireplace that one could see through to the other side. This was one of his favorite places, but he was not happy because he was the only one at loose ends.

The whole of House Ravenscroft was busy as beavers working on things for House Wynter as they were controlling the city since everyone human in power had been wiped out the night before. Balthazar was not involved in any of it because he was to be resting. But he wasn't going to just lay down in his rooms quietly! Not when so much was at stake and Christian couldn't lay beside him. But despite him being up no one would give him anything to do. He was even barred from entering Artemis-Kaly's mind as he was still considered "too fragile". And he was annoyed.

And hurt.

And… Well, so many things that made him grouchy and unable to sit still even though he was a bit tired.

He glanced back at Christian and Caemorn. They were seated quite close together. Not that he worried there was anything sexual there. That would have been easier to deal with. No, they were friends . No, more than that. Mentor and mentee . They got along well. Which he understood in a strange sort of way. Caemorn was… good to have on one's side in a pinch. Maybe more than that. He and Caemorn were Blood Brothers. So it made quite a bit of sense that Caemorn should be close to Christian.

But Christian was ignoring him! Well, Christian hadn't the first dozen times Balthazar had had an outburst at the television. Christian had simply told him that he shouldn't be either upset with himself about losing to Kaly or about Daemon revealing the existence of Vampires without him.

"He really had no choice," Christian had said, gently patting his shoulder. "Kaly had overrun the city with zombies. It really was too good a chance to pass up. I know he wanted you there. According to Julian, you're the one who is supposed to give the speeches to the humans during the next part."

"When is the next part? And don't we have to deal with Kaly and get Julian's parents back and--"

Christian had placed two fingers over his lips. "Yes, to all of that. But you… you need to rest. Caemorn has told me what you underwent. He can't believe you survived it, let alone are up and about."

Balthazar had grunted in a way that he hoped sounded strong and brave. "Yes, well, I am hard to kill. And Kaly certainly isn't going to kill me."

Not again, anyways.

So no, he was not at all that he was sore that his best friend hadn't let him be a part of the insanity! And left him instead to deal with Kaly.

Unsuccessfully.

Balthazar sighed and moped some more. Their chance to simply infect the Artemis-Kaly with his mind-bug and send him back to the collective-Kaly was likely a bust. Kaly likely knew that they had killed the Moira-Kaly and captured the Artemis-Kaly. They would be suspicious if Artemis-Kaly would now return. And it was all his fault!

If only I hadn't messed up! It would have worked flawlessly! But no... I got cocky.

He turned his head to Meffy, his battle cat, who was perched on his shoulder. Head kisses between those soft ears made him feel better. Not much. But still better.

"Let's find another conspiracy theory, shall we, Meffy? The humans are really scraping the bottom of the barrel with this one," he told his battle cat and changed the channel.

The next cable news network had a panel of guests led by a handsome man with dark skin and darker eyes. He looked solemn and sober and emanated reasonableness.

"Too bad the truth will seem anything but reasonable to people," Balthazar murmured.

The dark eyed man stated to one of his panel of four, a man with a white-beard and penetrating blue eyes, "Now Professor Richard Grove, you are a professor of folklore studies at Miskatonic University. You have studied Vampires for over forty years." The reporter said this respectfully even though some would have wondered at any adult studying Vampires for four decades. "You think that this King Daemon is the real deal, yes? A real Vampire?"

Professor Grove stroked his beard and seemed to hold the viewer's gaze before he spoke, "Yes, I do. I want to put something to you and the audience, Derek. If you were to hear of a concept of, let us say, immortal blood-feeding beings not just from one society on this planet but from every society--and this was before the internet, mind you--would you think it a coincidence?"

"I admit that is strange," Derek said, but his expression--though still somber--looked unbelieving.

"Come now, Derek, think about this! Can you really believe that societies who had never come in contact with one another all had the same idea about a creature and, what, had just all imagined it?" Professor Grove pressed.

"But if Vampires are real wouldn't that mean other fantastical creatures are as well? Like werewolves?" Derek pressed, his lips twitching.

Considering that Caemorn's werewolves, Tarn and Farun, were in his garden tearing up his plants at that moment, Balthazar wished they weren't real.

"Derek, put aside popular culture of Vampires now--put aside your feelings about them--and admit that if we were speaking of anything other than Vampires, you would think that these disparate societies are saying the same or similar things about beings like these, because they are simply reporting what they had seen?" Professor Grove pushed.

"Now that may be a man we'd like as an Eyros, Meffy. He's able to change people's minds," Balthazar said as he kissed Meffy's overlarge ears.

The cat mewed in agreement.

Derek appeared to be considering this. He nodded a few times. "It would seem logical, but… Vampires ?!"

"Yes, I know. They are like a dream and nightmare come true," Professor Grove answered. "Imagine what they must know. Think of the powers they showed us last night. And then consider what they want now that they have revealed themselves."

Derek's eyes widened. "Want? You think they want something?"

Professor Groves' penetrating blue eyes narrowed. "Of course."

"And what is it that you think they want?" Derek asked, looking disturbed.

"What would an immortal race of beings want from their food source? A food source that seems intent on destroying itself and the planet it inhabits?" Professor Grove suggested.

Derek blinked. "By food source , you mean us? Humans?"

Professor Grove let out a mirthless chuckle. "Well, of course, Derek. They are Vampires after all."

Derek, blinking rapidly and looking shaken, then turned to another of his guests, a man with hair shaved on the sides and long on top wearing a faded band t-shirt over a long-sleeved shirt. "Now, Kevin Hearne, you have been in the practical special effects business for over twenty years. What we recorded last night--"

"Next!" Balthazar pronounced loudly as he turned the channel.

Meffy mewed piteously as he had been falling asleep and Balthazar's loud voice had woken him. More head kisses were necessary.

"They can't seriously think this is special effects, Meffy. What Daemon did would take a special effects department an incredible amount of post-production to even come close to what he did," Balthazar soothed the battle cat who gave him a sleepy mew before snuggling his head under Balthazar's chin. "And that feed was live last night! Not to mention that if this were a hoax then multiple televisions stations would all have to be in on it. Do they really think the entire media would conspire to pull off a stunt like this?"

He glanced back at Caemorn and Christian whose heads were still close together as they both were looking into some large crystal. It reminded Balthazar of a crystal ball that a fortune teller would look into at a carnival. But this one glowed blood red and seemed to actually be showing Caemorn and Christian something.

"You know you could come over here and learn something," Caemorn stated, without taking his eyes off of the crystal ball.

"I'm not a Kaly, remember?" Balthazar sniffed.

"Oh, but you are. Christian is proof that you are both Eyros and Kaly Bloodlines," Caemorn countered him calmly. They'd had this argument half a dozen times since the night before. "You should be grateful for having both Bloodlines and both gifts. With Christian being a Speaker to the Dead, that means you must have untapped Kaly gifts."

Balthazar crossed his arms over his chest. Meffy mewed softly as he had jostled the battle cat. He petted the sleeping kitten gently to make up for it. Caemorn was right. He should want to know what else he could do. He was proud as all get out about Christian being gifted in this way. But he wanted to reject it in himself.

"Perhaps another time," Balthazar said.

Christian's mouth pursed. He looked up at his Master. "Maybe you should go lay down. You've been getting all excited over the news. And there's nothing we can do about it. Besides, Meffy looks like he needs a nap too."

"Daemon and Julian are napping together ," Balthazar muttered.

Christian smiled. "I would like to lay down with you, but--"

"You have important things to do! Yes, yes, I know. And Daemon isn't completely just enjoying himself. He's communing or whatever he does," Balthazar sighed.

He wanted to speak with Daemon. He could just reach out and touch the Vampire King's mind, but he knew that Daemon had expended a lot of energy the night before. He needed to recharge himself. He was nowhere near full power, but was already doing god-like things. Balthazar didn't want to disturb him and Julian.

"You know he doesn't blame you about Kaly? He told you that," Christian reminded him, even as his eyes were drifting down to the crystal ball again.

"Yes, I know he doesn't. But if I don't have one of Kaly's forms here within my grasp I can't do what needs doing!" Balthazar threw up his hands in the air.

Meffy dug in his claws as he was nearly forcibly dislodged from his body. He let out a yell and a hiss. It took many kisses and pets to make the kitten calm down again. Caemorn and Christian exchanged knowing looks. He narrowed his eyes.

"I'm not like a cat! All claws and wild hairs! I'm fine!" Balthazar told them forcefully.

He told the whole hall actually. There were Vampires who stopped in their tracks as they were going down the hallways or passing through the great room. He smiled, nodded and gestured for them to move on. They did so, but only after casting suspicious glances at him. They were wondering about his sanity. He was wondering a little about it too, if he were honest. He changed the channel once again.

"Now, I want you to look closely at this footage. This young man. This is Christian Thorn," the reporter, an Asian woman in her thirties with severely bobbed black hair, was saying to her cohost, a brunette with green eyes.

There was an image of Christian from the interview he had given last night. Well, it wasn't exactly an interview, but a few words.

"And here he is again. And once more there. Look how he moves. Look at his eyes. They weren't silver before, yet now they are. Like all the supposed Vampires," the Asian reporter stated.

"Yes, Amy, I see what you're saying. Let's cut to some of his and Julian Harrow's web series," the brunette reporter said.

Behind the two women it showed Julian and Christian both in front of the camera in what looked to be an exotic location with a jungle and a mostly obscured ancient temple. Balthazar remembered that episode. He had greatly enjoyed seeing Christian's white t-shirts cling to his chest as sweat plastered it over his lithe body. He did not have to look over at that lithe form now to know that Christian was at attention.

"I cannot believe I spoke to a reporter that night!" Christian shook his head.

"You were trying to help calm them down," Balthazar reminded him.

"Yes, but… I don't know, I sort of wanted to remain in the background. I always liked being more behind the camera than in front of it," Christian admitted with a shrug.

"But the camera loves you." Balthazar grinned especially when Christian blushed.

"Did you really watch our show?" Christian asked him.

"Every week, dear heart." Balthazar winked. "And I thought of you often."

"Is that supposed to be romantic?" Caemorn asked dryly. "You sound like a stalker."

"I am not a stalker! I mean I may have done things that… well, I watched over you and enjoyed watching you, Christian," Balthazar got out.

Christian smiled. He did though have high color in his cheeks. "I know. I appreciate it. Now. Though really if I were to have known I had a Vampire as a fan…"

The reporters were speaking again.

"Julian Harrow's parents hosted a show called Believe on this network up until their deaths in a car accident, Eve," Amy was saying to the brunette.

"Yes, and it has been rumored that there was something not quite right about their deaths," Eve said with a nod that reminded him more of a bobble doll's reaction.

Christian stiffened and his expression grew grave. "I wonder how Julian will deal with them digging into all of that."

"He did want to expose the existence of Vampires and that his parents were killed by them," Balthazar said, but he put no heat into his words.

Caemorn was rigid and staring down at the crystal ball. His hands were clenched over his thighs. Balthazar would have said that Caemorn was without the ability to feel shame or remorse before all of this had happened. But he knew that was not true now. Though Caemorn still tried to hide any weakness, his feelings about the Harrows were like a raw nerve.

Will Daemon still allow him to be free if he cannot bring the Harrows back? Balthazar wondered. And if he can do it… the world is going to shift on its axis yet again. Strange that a fledgling of Kaly should be able to do this and not Kaly themselves.

Something niggled at the back of Balthazar's mind but he didn't know what it was. He frowned, but he couldn't quite catch hold of what was bothering him.

The reporters were speaking once more.

"There are rumors that Julian Harrow believed that his parents were killed by… well, by Vampires , and that he had a lead on proof of their existence," Amy said to Eve.

"They must have watched the show. The last episode though wasn't shared," Christian said.

"The last episode was deleted," Balthazar admitted.

Christian's head snapped towards him. "What do you mean?"

He grimaced, but explained, "I wasn't just watching the show to catch glimpses of you being manly and beautiful, dear heart, but also to keep track of your investigations into us. If you were to get too close… Well, I have access to your private server. I deleted that last video."

Christian blinked. Balthazar naturally wanted to read his fledgling's mind, but he knew that this was one of the times where, ironically, he should not, even as he desperately wanted to.

"I understand why you did and I'm glad you did," Christian said, passing a hand through his hair. "I'm sure some enterprising hacker would probably have found that and… well, I think that Julian has a very different way that he wants people to learn of the existence of Vampires now."

In fact, they were now showing Daemon and Julian embracing. There was a closeup of Julian's face.

"And here we see, Amy, that Julian Harrow along with Christian Thorn were there last night. Right in the thick of things," Eve said rather breathlessly.

"So does this mean that the two Vampire hunters found what they were looking for and then became that which they sought?" Amy asked the audience. She added, "Or does this mean that some trickery of a massive scale by one of the new media has been wrought?"

"Oh, you must be kidding," Christian breathed. "They would put that in there!"

"Christian!" It was Elizabeth Thorn followed closely after by her husband, Henry.

Henry was spending every moment he could interviewing the Vampires, especially Arcius, about all they had seen, heard, and experienced. He was a scholar in heaven. But both Thorns looked worried and were carrying their phones before them as if they were contaminated.

"Mom! Dad!" Christian leaped up from the couch and kissed his mother while being embraced by his father. "What's wrong?"

"Our phones are blowing up!" Elizabeth said, even as at that moment, her phone began to buzz. "The media! The head of the school! Friends! Relatives! Neighbors!"

"You and Julian are the talk of the town, son," Henry said with a rueful smile.

"Rajani has asked us to hold off on communicating with anyone, but things are getting so out of hand," Elizabeth said. "People are genuinely worried. They're afraid about what's happening and they think we're in danger, injured or even dead!"

"We need to be able to tell them something," Henry stated. "Otherwise, they'll start--or more like continue --making up things. Everyone we know has been contacted by the media and the police!"

"Someone from the FBI and another person from the CIA, not to mention representatives from Homeland Security have reached out and are interviewing everyone who knows us," Elizabeth said.

Christian gave a helpless look at Balthazar. "I should have thought of this. We can't just leave everyone without any information."

Balthazar realized then that while he had been obsessing over his failure with Kaly and watching the news, he hadn't been leading and making that news. He wasn't just the head of House Ravenscroft. He was Eyros. And Eyros was King Daemon's mouthpiece. Rajani shouldn't be coordinating everything. He should be. He rubbed his face and straightened his shoulders.

"No, we can't." Balthazar put his hands on his hips. "I need to start acting like the king's representative. I need to talk to Daemon and start figuring out what's the next step."

Meffy gave a mew of agreement before falling asleep against his chest. And that, along with Christian's relieved expression, was all he needed to know he was finally doing the right thing.