A Shade of Vampire 39: A Rip of Realms(42)

I could only nod, not wanting to breathe.

As we traveled along the hallway, the smell started to fade, to be replaced by the much more palatable stench of burnt fabric.

As I climbed over a pile of broken rocks, I heard a faint yowl. Pausing, I looked back in the direction of the sound.

“Guys — I hear something.” I waved for them to come back, and made my way to where a half-burnt doorframe had fallen against an old chest. Hazel and Ruby followed, and the sound grew louder and more insistent.

Was it… a cat?

I lifted the wood, sending debris scattering off its surface and clattering to the ground. A dark shape leapt out from the gap I’d uncovered, knocking me sideways.

“Lucifer!” Hazel gasped, running toward the creature – which I now recognized as a lynx. It started to hiss around her legs, covering her in black soot.

“You poor thing.” Hazel picked up the animal and cradled it, while its yellow eyes gleamed at me with undeniable malevolence. It looked like it would claw us to shreds given half the chance. I also remembered where I’d seen it — the lynx belonged to Tejus.

Ruby glanced at it with misgiving.

“Are you sure it’s…domesticated?” she asked warily, taking a step back.

“He’s all right,” Hazel replied, cooing at the devil-cat, “he’s never been this friendly to me before, though…I guess I must smell like Tejus. We’ll get you home, buddy.” She returned her attentions to the lynx, while I motioned to Ruby that we should get going.

“Come on,” Ruby announced, “you think it will follow us?”

Hazel placed it gently on the ground. It moved away gracefully – not bothering to glance back in our direction as we started to climb back the way we’d just come.

“I’m sure he’ll find Tejus now that he’s not trapped,” Hazel declared, watching him saunter off.

Great.

Another welcome addition to the palace.

We continued our way along the hallway, clambering over more broken rock till we came to what would have been the Emperor’s room – the recognizable gilded gold wallpaper still hanging in some places – though ripped and burnt.

“Here,” announced Hazel, coming to a half-broken wall. I looked up to see the rest of the sentries peering down from above.

“Hazel, be careful,” Tejus shouted down. I rolled my eyes at Ruby, but she didn’t share in the joke. Maybe she was starting to dig overly protective men?

Whatever.

We started exploring the room, being directed by the guard who shouted down instructions.

“It’s under here,” Ruby muttered, shifting a large stone away from the headboard. Hazel and I joined her, moving the debris until we uncovered a heavy metal box. Ruby picked it up with difficulty, and then gave it a shake. It sounded hollow, with a single, heavy object hitting the sides.

“How do we open it?” Hazel asked.

There was no lock—the box appeared to be completely smooth, without any kinks in the metalwork that would suggest an opening.

“We could just try chucking it on the floor?” I suggested.

Both of them turned to look at me as if I was stupid. I shrugged. “It’s worth a try… anyone got any better ideas?”

“I guess not,” Ruby admitted. She slammed the box down as hard as she could. It made an awful sound, high and screeching, but the lid popped open.

“Told you,” I said, feeling more than a little bit smug.

Both of them ignored me, staring down at the large, gold-plated book that had been contained within the box. Hazel bent down and picked it up, holding it aloft for the others above to see.

“It’s so cold,” she whispered. “And it weighs a ton.”

“Well, what does it say? Is it the right one?” I asked impatiently.

There was nothing written on the cover, just a blank sheen of gold, with an equally plain spine. It looked old though—and like it hadn’t been removed from the box in over a millennium.

Unable to wait another moment, I took the book from Hazel, opening it to the first page. My heart sank. I flicked through quickly, looking at more pages, my hands starting to grow clammy as I reached the end of the book.

Every single page was the same.

Completely blank.





Jenus





The power is yours…

Yours alone, son of Hellswan…

Release me.

Release me.

The voices came, over and over again—tantalizing, calling to me, whispering the deepest desires of my heart. Offering me all the power and the glory I had ever dreamed of. Not just the kingdoms of Nevertide, but realms far out in the ether, humans, supernaturals, all kneeling down to me. All quaking with fear at my name. I was a god, an omnipotent thing, beyond the body of man or sentry, beyond all…