Dark Awakening by S. K. Ryder

Author:S. K. Ryder [Ryder, S. K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Paranormal Fantasy
Publisher: S.K. Ryder
Published: 2019-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

6

The Easy Way

A week passed. Dominic emulated the ways of his sinister companions by staying shrouded in darkness and keeping his own counsel. He spent most of every night alone at the front of the yacht, staring into the kaleidoscope canopy of sky. Only when the thumping hearts of the human crew grew too loud in his ears did he silently stir, merged his shadow with that of Kambyses, and went ashore.

Kambyses was diligent now about preventing Dominic from taking more lives. But Dominic suspected this had less to do with any moral leanings and more with not wanting to be bothered with disposing of any more corpses—the way he had so grotesquely proven with Ana’s bloodless remains.

They were anchored off another island—Dominic hardly cared which one, as long as there was a blood supply available—and dawn was still several hours away, when he caught the distinctive smoky scent swirl in the restless air. On a whisper he said, “Leave me alone.”

Kambyses settled onto a section of the cushioned seats circling the yacht’s helipad and spread his arms across the seat backs to either side. He faced Dominic, who lay stretched out opposite him. “I would be a poor mentor if I did that.”

It was the first time Dominic had heard his voice since the unspeakable night of Ana’s death, and the memory of what it had instructed him to do made Dominic close his eyes and shudder.

Kambyses sighed, a sound so human it was startling coming from him. “Ah, Nico. You are meant for greater things than squandering eternity lamenting the”—the slightest of hesitations—“things that cannot be undone.”

“I will undo this. I will find a way or die trying.” It was a promise to himself as well as to his tormentor. Anything to stop the madness that threatened to consume him.

“Will you?”

The soft humor made Dominic open his eyes and sit up. “Do I amuse you?”

“Endlessly.”

“Is that why you’ve done this then? For your entertainment?”

“Just what do you believe I have done?”

“You turned me into a monster,” Dominic said, his dazed calm fraying around the edges.

“I enjoyed your blood for a while. That is all.”

Dominic locked his gaze with Kambyses, whose eyes were deep, dark pools with no bottom. “Really? Is that how this is done then? You feed?”

“No. It is her blood that perfected you.”

“Perfected,” Dominic murmured, a new emotion welling in his chest. Outrage. Seizing on it, he let it catapult him to his feet. Leaning over Kambyses, he hissed, “Is that how you justify these horrors? Have you no compassion for any living thing? Is everything mortal just blood to you? For how long have you been like this? How many have you killed? Do you even remember what the sun feels like?”

The corner of Kambyses’s mouth tilted up, but he did not otherwise move. “I often see what the sun feels like. That is all I need to know.”

“Stop talking in fucking riddles!”

“There is so much you must learn for yourself. But I will tell you this.

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