19. INTO THE UNKNOWN

INTO THE UNKNOWN

"H ow do we get to Moonfall?" Julian asked firmly.

His gaze went around the room, but no one would look at him except Christian. His best friend tilted his head meaningfully towards Daemon. Julian gritted his teeth. He was going. It didn't matter what Daemon said. He loved Daemon. He was Daemon's Childe. Daemon was his Master. Daemon was his king. But he was going. He had to go get his parents. He couldn't sit back and wait .

But Daemon could not go with him. Moonfall was out of bounds for the Vampire King for some reason. He thought it likely a reason that Daemon could not--or would not--explain.

Julian lifted his eyes to the Vampire King's, knowing that no one would be able to gain say Daemon, but him. Daemon's expression was curiously blank. His mind was also smooth like the surface of a glassy sea where everything was happening under the surface.

I'm going, Julian said over their bond. Say something! Tell me you understand! Tell me you don't!

Artemis-Kaly let out a cackling laugh.

"Of course, he would want to go, Daemon!" Artemis-Kaly sneered.

"And you knew that," Daemon stated without looking over at Artemis-Kaly. "You knew he would wish to go so you put the soul gems in the depths of Moonfall."

Artemis-Kaly sauntered up to the front of his cage. "Of course! Everything he's done in his very short life told me he'd insist on going. Are you going to let him?"

I'm going , Julian repeated.

"Are you going to risk losing him after everything you've given up to have him?" Artemis-Kaly wheedled.

I'll be careful. I'll take with me whoever you want, Julian said. I faced Kaly's dead on my own. I can do this.

Moonfall is… different , Daemon said. I ccould see what would happen on the museum grounds, but I cannot see there. I cannot see anything beyond you going there.

Julian's eyes widened. So I do go and--

I do not see you return, Julian, Daemon's mind voice was ragged.

Artemis-Kaly continued in a sing-song voice of a demented child, "Julian doesn't even care about all that, does he? No, he just wants his parents and--"

"SHUT UP!" Julian's voice rang out.

But he hadn't just yelled. He had Artemis-Kaly by the throat, even though his hand was three-feet distant from the other vampire. It was the power of the Ashyr Bloodline. It had come to him as easily as breathing. But, a part of him, shrewd and cool, reminded him that anything accessed and used in anger often backfired. Anger gave strength, but it also led to many bad decisions. Yet Artemis-Kaly's silver eyes bulged as he clawed at his throat and Julian couldn't help but be glad. There was shock in those eyes as well. Artemis-Kaly hadn't expected Julian to do this. Maybe he hadn't thought that Julian could.

"I am not the little boy whose parents you stole," Julian hissed at Artemis-Kaly. "I am not the young man who you sought to kill. I am the Vampire Prince and you will be silent!"

"One doesn't mess with the Vampire Prince," Balthazar laughed softly. "Go you, Julian."

"We have all we need from them," Daemon stated. "Let us be done here."

Clearly, the Vampire King had looked into Artemis-Kaly's mind and gotten what he wanted and needed about the location of his parents' soul gems. Julian tossed Artemis-Kaly against the back of the back of the cell, not enough to break his back, but hard enough that he let out an oomph and a hiss as, like a cat, he landed on his feet.

Julian continued to stare at him. He knew that his eyes were burning red like Daemon's as everything had a crimson tint. Artemis-Kaly looked back at him balefully, but was the first to drop his eyes and said nothing. Julian bared his fangs. Fine tremors were running through him. Rage and grief and, strangely, hope filled him and made him want to smash Artemis-Kaly into a fine paste.

Julian? Daemon's mind-voice was soothing, like cool water on overheated skin.

They took my parents from me! I lived every day since then with the need for revenge , Julian told him, blinking back angry tears. And that is the LEAST of what they've done wrong! They cannot get away with this, Daemon! That smirk needs to be wiped off their face and--

You have, Daemon stated. They're afraid of you. Despite what Kaly says about being fine about being here, being abandoned by their other selves, they aren't. They are playing their last card. And you didn't play back.

This isn't enough! I want--I want--

Julian's hands curled into fists. Daemon curled one of his hands over Julian's right fist. Julian found himself releasing those fingers as Daemon rubbed his thumb in a circle over the back of his hand. He let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding.

Letting Kaly live in your head is exactly what they want. It's all that they have left. We must be smarter than them, Daemon stated simply.

How can you be so calm?!

Because they only got this far because I let them get this far, Daemon said and he sounded so sad. Everything they did was because I was not here. And that includes your parents' deaths and imprisonment.

But you didn't--

I wouldn't change it, Julian , Daemon stated simply.

Julian's head jerked up and his eyes widened. What? Why--

Because it was the only way I would get to have you, Daemon explained.

But we would have met--

Your former mortal life was but a flicker of time, Daemon told him. You must understand that such a flicker is there and over and… gone.

Julian wanted to argue that his parents would have filled him in on the secret of Nightvallen, that he would have gone with them, that he would have found Daemon's tomb, but… but he stopped with that line of thought.

Daemon had only drunk from him because Julian offered his life up for Christian's. Julian had only drunk Daemon's blood, because Daemon had failed to protect Christian and it was the only way to save his best friend. Would there have been a moment when either of them would have taken the risks they had? Daemon was saying no .

No rose cutting into his skin.

No lips at his throat.

No Immortal blood flowing over his tongue.

Only desperation and the driving force of his parents' deaths and Christian's near one would have pushed him to that moment. It had happened the only way it could have happened.

They had to die so we would find one another? Julian confirmed softly.

This was the only way. Seeyr… Seeyr saw it, even if I did not, Daemon answered.

Julian couldn't imagine not being with Daemon. He couldn't imagine not being his Childe. He couldn't imagine them not having an eternity together. But their lives could have easily been like two ships passing in the night.

So my anger with Kaly is great, but… I chose this fate for both of us, Julian , Daemon told him as his thumb ran over the infinity tattoo on his wrist.

I understand. Julian lifted his head so that his eyes were fixed on Daemon's. Can we get my parents back though? Is it too much to ask that I have you and them? Is fate going to say no?

Seeyr awaits us upstairs. She will have the answers, even if she can only tell us so much, Daemon said.

"Perhaps we should speak elsewhere?" Fiona suggested as if she had heard Daemon's last words.

Somehow it felt like fate.

Daemon gave a nod.

Arcius said, "Elgar and I will remain on guard here."

"Good, though we will need you both later," Balthazar said.

"I'll arrange guards," Arcius answered with a nod.

Fiona teleported them all upstairs to the dining room. Balthazar sat down in a chair heavily. He looked exhausted and worn. Meffy mewed piteously and bunted Balthazar's cheek with his head. Julian frowned. The Eyros Vampire needed to rest and recover. He was not up for a mission right now, but Julian couldn't imagine going to Moonfall without Christian, but Balthazar would balk at Christian going without him.

Caemorn sat down in the center of the table, fingers laced together before him. He looked unruffled and totally calm, which told Julian--even without dipping himself into Caemorn's thoughts--that the Kaly Vampire was anything but . There was no anger in Julian any longer at Caemorn. Kaly was the puppetmaster. And if Caemorn could truly bring Julian's parents back… well, like Daemon had said, it would be good for Julian to have such a resourceful Vampire in his corner.

Fiona paced around the table. Her arms were crossed loosely over her chest. Her expression was grim and she nibbled her lower lip. Her far away gaze had Julian guessing that she was thinking about a plan for Moonfall.

Finally, Christian moved to Balthazar's side and rested a gentle hand on his Master's shoulder. But his eyes never left Julian. They had worked so long together, been friends so long, that they could read each other's minds without the Eyros Bloodline gift. Christian knew Julian wanted him to come to Moonfall and Christian wanted that, too.

Julian could not sit. Tension had him standing rigid. Energy thrummed through him. Daemon still held his hand. Still traced that symbol of eternity on it.

"So what's our plan?" Balthazar asked, looking gray and ill.

There was a soft knock on the door. Daemon called, "Come in, Seeyr."

Julian swallowed. But only his eyes flickered to the door. He was holding himself so rigidly that it felt like he might break into pieces if he attempted to move. Seeyr would determine whether he went to get his parents or not. But he sensed that maybe she might be determining whether his parents were gotten at all.

Sophia preceded her Mistress. Seeyr had a hand on Sophia's right shoulders. Julian suddenly worried that her health had taken a turn for the worse. Her ability to see the future normally allowed her to know where the obstacles were before her! But she was very much using Sophia's eyes.

She smiled at Julian then, picking him out in the room. "Do not worry, Prince Julian. Sometimes when one is looking farther ahead one does not see the obstacles directly in one's path."

"How far are you looking ahead, Seeyr?" Fiona had stopped her pacing.

"Very far and very near. This is a crucial moment, I'm afraid. One of those points that changes everything," Seeyr explained as Sophia led her to a seat.

Daemon pulled the seat out for her and slid it back in place beneath her. She thanked him.

"It's about my parents, isn't it?" Julian rushed out. "Kaly left the soul gems in Moonfall and--"

"And you wish to go retrieve them, of course," she finished for him with a smile.

"Yes, but…" Julian licked his lips. "Daemon doesn't see me leaving that place. If I go in, he doesn't see me come out."

"Ah, correction, he doesn't see anything at all once you go there," she stated.

"That--that sounds worse."

Julian's shoulders stiffened. He had a momentary qualm then about going after his parents. He hated himself for it. If they were dead and truly could not be brought back he could accept that. But they were trapped in the soul gems. They would be there forever unless retrieved.

"No, it is an important distinction. Daemon has told you before that he cannot see his own future," Seeyr said gently. Her elegant, long fingers played over the highly polished tabletop. She looked to be making a symbol but he couldn't tell what it was at first. "So he cannot see what happens beyond that point in time, because what happens after that is… well, I don't want to say it is his story, because it is all of ours. But he is king."

Those words that had always brought a smile to Julian's face or sometimes a roll of his eyes now seemed… Well, he was starting to understand what they meant.

"Julian does not have to go there at all," Balthazar said stoutly. "I will go with a few others. Fiona, you have no objection to going, do you? We could bring Arcius, Elgar, and--and even Caemorn."

Caemorn lifted his head. He had been studying his interlaced fingers. He gave a graceful nod at Balthazar. He would go. Julian gritted his teeth. He wanted desperately to get to his parents, but if so much was at risk if it was him to do it then--

"Julian must go," Seeyr said softly.

Sophia lightly petted her shoulder. She looked up at Julian sadly. What did that mean?

"Why?" Daemon asked.

"Indeed, why? I've been to Moonfall!" Balthazar frowned. "Between Caemorn and I we can find where that little shit left the soul gems and--"

"No," Seeyr said just as softly and she, too, looked sad.

Balthazar banged the table with one hand. "Why the hell not?! Julian was just turned. He's strong. He's got balls. But sending him into Moonfall on his own when--"

"Not alone, Eyros. With one other person," Seeyr interrupted, her voice still so terribly soft.

"With me," Christian stated more than questioned as he straightened.

"Good grief, no!" Balthazar was sitting rigid in his chair. "Absolutely not! The two of you are not yet ready to do something like this on your own and--"

"We've been training for this all our lives," Julian found himself saying. He and Christian smiled at one another. "We've risked our lives countless times when we were mortal. We've even fought monsters from the Ever Dark, though we didn't know it at the time. But we did it and made it back. We can do this."

"We can do this," Christian agreed with a nod.

"No, no, no! This is insane!" Balthazar glared at Seeyr. "Are you honestly telling me that these two very young Vampires need to go to the most dangerous place in the Ever Dark on their own in order to do what? What exactly will happen if they don't go?"

"No one else can retrieve the soul gems," Seeyr said and hesitated as if she would say more but stopped herself.

Balthazar winced. He looked up at Julian and down. "Julian, I know that you want your parents returned to you, but--"

"It's not just them! I wouldn't risk Christian's life again! Not even to save my parents!" Julian told him with suddenly dry lips. He could feel something momentous about all of this. "But my parents would be stuck forever in that prison if we don't find those soul gems. Not moving on. Just stuck."

"Not stuck! Not forever! because you forget about the Vampire's gift of immortality, Julian," Balthazar said, looking grayer still. "You and Christian can get stronger and really train for this and then go into Moonfall when you're ready. Your parents would rather you took the time to be safe than coming in for them half-cocked! Daemon won't say that, but I will! You aren't ready!"

"They have to go now ," Seeyr said in that calm, sure tone. "It must just be the two of them."

"Goddamnit, Seeyr!" Balthazar hissed as he hit the table once again. "Stop with this! They don't have to go! The Harrows wouldn't want the boys to die for them! They wouldn't want it!"

"It is not just that, Eyros," she said. "Certain things must happen for this all to work."

"And I'm telling you." Balthazar pointed at her sightless face. "That Daemon did not go to sleep, that I didn't die , that you weren't tortured , that all of this crap didn't happen just so we could lose everything now! Daemon will not survive losing Julian and I sure as damn won't losing Christian! So--"

"There's something more at stake," she persisted. "Perhaps everything more--"

"I don't believe that, Seeyr!" Balthazar snarled. "We make our own destiny and I--"

The fighting dimmed in Julian's ears. He heard something else. It was Caemorn. Caemorn was telling him something. Julian found himself using the Eyros Bloodline gift.

Here. Go here. A picture of a map appeared in Julian's mind. He recognized the old church on Fallow Street. On the side. That's the gate for Moonfall , Caemorn was thinking. This is the symbol you need to draw to get in.

Julian glanced at Daemon. But the Vampire King was looking at Balthazar and Seeyr battle it out.

Why are you doing this? Helping like this? Julian asked. You adore Daemon. He won't forgive you for this!

Perhaps he won't . There was endless grief there, but Caemorn controlled it, shoving it away from view. But Seeyr wouldn't risk the two of you unless it meant the alternative is much, much worse, Caemorn did not look at him as he said this.

It's something to do with Daemon's rule, I think. Something about how it will go and whether things with Kaly can be fixed. Julian's forehead furrowed and his head throbbed.

There was a flash and he saw cities burning. People screaming. Running. Terror.

There was another flash and he saw Daemon, smiling and happy, speaking to reporters.

Two futures.

And everything would depend on this.

But why? How?

Julian couldn't see those answers. Maybe it was the Butterfly Effect. A butterfly flapped its wings and an empire toppled or was raised. This was the Seeyr Bloodline gift, he realized.

Caemorn's voice was insistent as he said, You cannot ask Daemon and Balthazar to let you go. They won't. Not even for the world's sake. That's why you must do it on your own.

You think we can succeed? Julian lifted an eyebrow. Or are you hoping to take my place?

We both know that would never happen. The only question is whether you can take this chance for him, Caemorn answered calmly.

It's not a question.

Daemon was still loosely holding his hand. His head was still turned towards Balthazar and Seeyr. It was a momentary inattention. Daemon couldn't see his own future and because of that, he couldn't see Julian's either. It was something he would likely curse himself for later. But it was what Julian needed. If he could do it.

Two teleportation jumps… yeah, sure, this will work, Julian told himself. Oh, my God, this is insane!

"I refuse to believe in fate!" Balthazar yelled. "Not if fate takes Christian away from me! Seeyr, you--"

Julian teleported across the room to his best friend. He grabbed Christian--who was already anticipating him--and teleported again. His eyelids flew open. He hadn't thought it would work. But it had and they had seconds. Less than seconds.

"C'mon!" Julian cried as he raced towards the side of the church where Caemorn indicated that the gate was.

It looked like a decorated symbol on the side of the church of the moon falling towards the ocean. It wasn't that old of a church, but the stones that made up this side had been taken from somewhere else and made a part of it. These were ancient.

"Julian, here! To cut yourself!" Christian tossed him a broken bottle.

Julian slashed his finger and painted the symbol that would open the gate. There was a whooshing sound and the stone became opaque then the tunnel was there. Just like it had been for them under the library when they had gone to Nightvallen.

At that moment, Daemon called his name, "JULIAN!"

Julian half turned even as he grasped Christian's hand. I have to do this. It's not just about my parents. It's about you. I can't have that bad future for you.

Julian, no!

Daemon… Julian met his beloved's eyes. Trust me.

Daemon stared at him with such anguish that it felt like the skin was being flayed from Julian's body just looking at him.

I will come back to you, Julian sent. I swear it. Trust me.

You must… Daemon's voice was so bleak. Or I… you must.

I will, Julian vowed. I promise.

He and Christian then leaped through the gate.