Alexios

  Year 5

  The target locks mid-motion, muscles fully seized exactly where they are. His breath shudders in useless pulls. My spell is holding, just as Marquis taught me.

  “I’ve got him,” I say confidently.

  Marquis steps around me, studying the paralyzed victim. From where I’m standing, I can’t tell if he’s approving or just… studying.

  “Well done,” he says finally. “Now watch as I demonstrate.”

  He unsheathes his dagger and takes a closer step, careful to keep out of the victim’s eyesight. The blade runs across skin slowly, creating a thin line just below the man’s ear.

  “My preternatural abilities make this next part far easier for me than it will be for you,” he adds. “You must remain focused, do you understand?”

  Marquis lifts a hand as the man gasps. A thin thread of blood lifts from the cut. I can only stare, completely transfixed on Marquis’s skill. The blood flows obediently towards his lifted hand, guiding it into his mouth without ever touching it.

  He swallows and drops his hand. The man slumps back down as the spell holds. Now it’s my turn to try.

  “What is the purpose of this?” I ask curiously.

  “The purpose is to reduce interaction with the victim,” he answers, stepping aside so I can move forward now. “You will try now.”

  I raise my hand, copying the angle I witnessed. I focus on the motion and direction of the spell… but nothing happens.

  Sighing deeply, I adjust, concentrating more carefully, just as I did with the shadow work. To my surprise, the blood listens now. It is a much thinner stream that lifts from the man’s small wound and my hand trembles far more than I’d like. Marquis notices so I try to steady myself again.

  But my concentration splinters. I’m too aware of why I’m doing this now. The small thread practically snaps instead of lifting smoothly.

  “Slow. Remain calm, hmm?”

  I force myself to breathe in and out, then the blood rises once more. It is by no means graceful and trembles just as much as my hands do, but I draw the stream closer, bringing it towards my mouth.

  Gods, this is just as bad as ever.

  There’s something almost bitter in this man’s blood, almost like… ash and maybe rust? I choke it down anyway, forcing myself not to turn away from this. As always, the second swallow is not any better.

  I step back and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, scowling at Marquis the entire time.

  “I’m guessing this is significantly better for you?” I ask.

  Marquis watches me, keeping his posture relaxed.

  “Better,” he agrees. “Though not exactly pleasant in the way you are imagining. More like… necessary.”

  I scoff.

  “I’d just prefer the taste to not be as revolting. Next time, we’re practicing this after dinner.”

  A small laugh slips out of both of us even though my hands are still shaking. Marquis turns away to overlook the scene again.

  “It seems there are a few advantages to immortality then.”

  I grimace and follow. Five years in and this still hasn’t gotten easier.

  Enough.

  Stop talking.

  Finish it.

  My eyes close at the echo of her command. The man is still paralyzed in front of me, tears running helplessly down his face. He knows exactly what’s coming.

  I hate this part.

  My hands rise again.

  Do it, Alexios.

  Do not linger.

  “I know,” I whisper, but I’m not sure if I’m saying that to her… or to myself.

  I stay behind him, but I’m hesitating, acknowledging that this is another life I am ending, and she knows it. Drawing in a deep breath, I tempt the shadows to me. They spring to life happily, pouring in through the trees before tightening around the man’s neck.

  It’s snapped almost instantly with a sharp twist.

  The man’s body violently jerks once, then goes completely still as my stomach twists in on itself. That familiar ache fills my chest once more. It’s no longer shock or even horror. Just… hollowness.

  Very good. Your obedience has been noted.

  I swallow hard, but Marquis stays silent. He only watches to make sure I don’t fall apart anymore.

  “I’m fine,” I say, even though he didn’t ask.

  He sheaths his dagger and steps back, letting the forest around cover us in silence once more.

  The job is done. Five years into this and I can paralyze a man with a single spell and kill when I’m told, but it doesn’t seem to get any easier. I start to wonder if that failure will eventually disappoint the queen.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “Leave the body,” Marquis says. “The creatures here will have a succulent meal waiting for them.”

  The only sounds now are our footsteps and the soft whistle of wind through the trees above. We walk for a while, my eyes glancing over at him occasionally to watch how his red cloak flows with the breeze.

  “Marquis?”

  “Yes?” he responds, slowing down to match my pace.

  “Will I ever see you… feed in front of me?”

  He turns his head slightly, his attention falling on my fully now.

  “You did. When I demonstrated pulling blood from the victim.”

  I shake my head, slowing to a stop along the forest path.

  “No,” my voice comes out a bit more strained than intend. “I mean… will I see you bite and feed from someone?”

  Marquis doesn’t answer right away and suddenly my mouth feels dry. What a childish question.

  “I have not considered it,” he finally answers. “That is not something I take lightly and it is not something I would show without reason.”

  I nod, but I’d be lying if I said I’m not disappointed.

  “I assumed as much.”

  He turns to me fully now, a pale hand reaching out to touch the strands of hair resting against my shoulder.

  “Why do you ask this?”

  Why did I ask that? Is it simply trust? Is it the curiosity of knowing that someone carries a hunger I’ve never witnessed?

  “I don’t think it would scare me,” I say honestly.

  I hear him exhale softly.

  “That is precisely why I hesitate, Alexios. Certain things cannot be unseen.”

  My head nods again, more firmly.

  “I understand.”

  At least, I think I do. Marquis resumes walking and I fall back into step, walking faster to stay beside him.

  --

  “Alexios.”

  My eyes open at once as I’m pulled from my trancing. A little more than 5 years ago, I would have been filled with panic at hearing my name be called in fear of the Matrons. Now there’s just the quiet awareness of Marquis standing at the doorway.

  His hands are clasped loosely beside his back with his posture far too proper for this time of night, signaling that whatever he wishes to discuss is anything but casual. The candlelight coming from the hallway almost makes his blond hair glow.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask, sitting up. “Do we have to leave? Is everything okay?”

  “Nothing is wrong,” he says, holding his hand up. “We need to speak.”

  I swing my legs over the side of my bed.

  “About…?”

  If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I’d never believe it happened but Marquis hesitates for a moment. I can see it in the way his eyes drift to everything in the room besides me.

  “I spoke with Phaedra,” he admits quietly. “About you… and the inquiry you made recently. Do you remember?”

  I nod, giving him the space to let him speak. Marquis moves from the doorway and approaches me quietly.

  “I am not certain this is something I should do or if this truly must be witnessed by you,” he says. “However, I intend to go out tonight and I would prefer not to be alone.”

  My heart starts to pound as I search his now relaxed face.

  “You mean…”

  “I will not ask unless you truly wish to come.”

  “I can come with you?” I ask, surprised.

  “Yes, Alexios. You may leave at any point. If you are to say no, I will never raise this conversation again.”

  This is… different from everything else. There is no her to command this. I don’t have to do anything but witness Marquis in his truest form.

  “You actually talked to Phaedra about this?”

  He nods slowly.

  “She believes you should understand what we are.”

  I take a breath and notice that I’m not actually afraid. Certainly nervous but not frightened of him.

  “If you come, you will see me as I am. That is what you desire, is it not?”

  As I nod, he steps back to offer me space.

  “I want to go with you,” I say almost immediately.

  Marquis closes his eyes for a moment and I realize that maybe my answer pushed him to accept the weight of my decision before he was actually prepared.

  “Very well,” he says softly. “I will allow you time to dress.”

  As he turns to leave, he pauses at the door.

  “You are a rather intriguing one,” he adds, not looking back at me. “Even after five years, I have not been able to map you properly.”

  The door closes softly behind him.

  --

  The lanterns in town burn low, thinning out even more as we walk further. Marquis keeps to the edges as we move away from the shops and taverns. I follow without asking. The houses press close together as roofs sag and windows are shuttered. Even from the narrow street, I can hear an old man’s coughing fit coming from behind a thin wall.

  I realize as we continue walking that this location is intentional.

  “These people won’t be missed, will they?” I ask.

  Marquis stops but doesn’t answer. He simply turns his head to watch a shadowed figure disappear behind a doorway across the street. We move again, feeling the subtle focus he shifts into. He’s listening to the town and the fragile heartbeats of those around us.

  I look at him as the breeze tussles his cloak and hair. He notices.

  “If you wish to turn back… you need only say so, Alexios.”

  Shaking my head, I take a deep breath in.

  “No,” I answer quietly. “No, I just didn’t realize this required so much focus.”

  We stop near a small area without any working lanterns and somewhere nearby, a door opens and closes as footsteps come closer. Judging by the way Marquis’s attention sharpens, the person is alone.

  “I must ask this again,” he whispers. “Are you certain this is what you wish to see, Alexios?”

  My heart is pounding.

  “Yes.”

  He nods and gestures for me to come closer. Ahead of us, a man walks alone, keeping his shoulders hunched and head down. He mutters to himself as he goes, clearly too tired to see two men watching him closely.

  One moment, Marquis is beside me.

  The next…

  He isn’t.

  There’s not even a rush of air when he appears directly behind the man. Marquis doesn’t say a word. He bites. The man gasps intensely, body going rigid as Marquis catches him smoothly. One strong arm steadies him while the other keeps him upright and tucked into the shadows.

  Even from where I stand watching, I can feel how precise Marquis is with his feeding. I force myself to keep watching. Fear almost presses in, but I push it away. At this point, I think I’ve done worse. I’ve ended lives because her voice commanded it. I’m beginning to realize this isn’t so different.

  Marquis is just simply… more involved than I am. In certain ways, of course.

  The man finally slumps down fully as Marquis withdraws effortlessly. To my surprise, he’s kept alive, but his eyes are unfocused and he’s breathing shallowly. Marquis steps away, wiping his mouth with a small cloth before tucking it away in his cloak. His blue eyes… it almost looks like they are glowing the moonlight now.

  It’s enchanting.

  He looks at me now, ensuring that I’m still here.

  “You are afraid,” Marquis says.

  “I…” my voice shakes. “It isn’t that different from what I do for the queen when you really think about it.”

  We move on quietly, leaving the man right where he rests on the cobblestone, dazed and confused.

  “You left him alive?” I ask, surprised.

  “This was purely a demonstration,” he answers. “When a blood-drinker has survived as long as I have, it is not required to feed nearly as often as a fledgling. I could go months, even years, without if it were required of me.”

  “Instead of biting, couldn’t you just pull the blood from them using your gift just as you demonstrated for me?”

  “Perhaps,” he notes. “Thought that is more for little drinks such as those she requests from you. I merely require more than what you do. It is nourishment for me, remember?”

  Marquis steps closer, closing the distance slowly as he lifts one hand to let his long fingers brush through my hair. He tucks a loose strand behind my ear.

  “I do not wish for you to be afraid of me, Alexios.”

  “I’m not,” I say quickly. Is my answer a complete lie? I can’t be sure anymore.

  What if one night… it’s me? Would it be just as quiet and fast? He’s close enough. If he wanted me dead, would I even feel it. If he wanted to…

  “I will not harm you, Alexios.”

  My body stills as his hand remains exactly where it is.

  “I just saw how easily you could though,” I respond, careful to keep my voice low in case anyone could possibly overhear.

  His fingers brush through my hair once more before his hand drops back to his side.

  “You are safe with me, even when you are frightened.”

  I nod, swallowing hard.

  “I understand now.”

  We stand together, letting the night air surround us and this fragile moment before Marquis turns and continues walking. Still entranced by the truth of him, I follow. My fear hasn’t exactly vanished, but I am now understanding the full weight of how much trust I’ve placed in him.