“True.”Grayson seemed to relax after Caemorn’s words.
“The other wall of windows shows the War,” Caemorn said and gestured to another set of stained glass panels.
“Unless it shows Legion’s face in those, I don’t care to be reminded,” Ryder gritted.
“Then we should continue on our way to the others,” Caemorn said simply.
The Kaly Vampire took them past the crossing–also just like in a church–and up to the window that showed the triumphant Julian and Daemon.A section of the stone floor slid back and a set of stairs appeared, winding downwards.
“The Kaly Palace has extensive catacombs beneath it,” Caemorn explained.“I keep finding secrets that I left there for myself.But it is also a useful place to keep more secrets like the Sect members.Please stay close to me.There are traps.Everywhere.”
Grayson lifted his eyebrows, but both of them kept close to Caemorn as they descended the winding stair.They went further down into the earth then Ryder expected they would.He felt the weight of the dirt above them, pressing down, and the farness of the sky.His shoulders were tense.He rolled them back to ease some of the tension away.He was only partially successful.Grayson sent a few uneasy looks back as well.
The smell of wet stone and old earth surrounded them with the sweetest hint of decay of corpses.Ryder swallowed.Death was here.It was all around them.He could scent Balthazar, Dani, Fiona and… he smiled.Demos and Siban were here as well.They must have finished their tasks regarding the other Weryn Vampires for now at least.
There was an extra spring in his step even as Caemorn led them from vaulted-ceiling crypt to narrow passage to vaulted-ceiling crypt.Each one was separated from the other by creaky gates at either end of the passages.But Ryder’s senses told them that there was far more here keeping people from out or in than simple metal and stone.
“The things you're able to do with souls are like magic, aren’t they, Caemorn?”Grayson asked.
“Souls are an energy source with unique and often individual properties,” Caemorn answered without turning around to face them.“Some allow us to scry.Others allow us to conjure and control the elements.Others may give us the power of flight.And some have even allowed us to change shape like the Weyrn.”
“Could someone not a Kaly–but with a Kaly’s help–be able to have access to those abilities?”Grayson asked.
“Yes, but you know this,” Caemorn said.This time he did glance back.“In the wars we fought long ago, I fashioned such energy possibilities for you.”
“I don’t remember everything,” Grayson admitted.“Sometimes, I’ll have as clear as crystal memory of something.But most of it is shrouded in shadows.The fact thatyouremember is interesting.”
“The slices of myself that I recombined did not deny their past or their deeds,” Caemorn answered.
“Don’t they remember Legion?”Ryder asked, annoyed that he had not thought of this and that Caemorn had not volunteered it.
“No.By the time that Legion was made, my interest in the War had shifted,” Caemorn answered.
“But surely I sicced Legion on you and your forces,” Ryder insisted.
“No, you didn’t.You were too busy fighting everyone else,” Caemorn answered.“If I ever knew Legion’s face, I do not recall it.I did not see them as a threat.”
Ryder frowned.“Legion hates all Immortals and you were one of the ones that started the War so I cannot believe they posed no threat.”
“My main body–this soul–had already been killed by the Kaly slices by the time that Legion was made.The slices never had stayed in any one body for long.They moved from Bloodline to Bloodline.House to House.”Caemorn shrugged.“Absent Christian’s ability to recognize my soul and Eyros’ ability to control me… Well, Legion, no matter how ferocious a fighter could never have hurt me.Kill me once and I simply arise again in another form.”
“No wonder it took so long to stop you,” Grayson breathed.
Caemorn paused before a final, larger gate before he turned to face Grayson.“You believe if you had but seen my distress and come to me about it earlier that you could have stopped what was to come.My madness.The War.All of it.”
Grayson lowered his head.Guilt was written large on his beautiful face.Ryder put a hand on his shoulder.No matter what he said, Grayson would not believe him that it wasn’t his fault.That he hadn’t let down Daemon.
“You were struggling.I could see that.But I was distracted,” Grayson said.
“Yes, and your love affair with Weryn made the others leery of going to you when they saw such two strong Bloodlines so closely working together,” Caemorn pointed out.
“We were changing the power dynamic, right?”Grayson asked with a wry smile.
Caemorn nodded.“Regardless, it was too late by then.I had been experimenting with slicing my soul into pieces long before Daemon went to sleep.Things just got far more out of hand.”
“You’re just saying that,” Grayson shook his head.
“No, your desire for control is blinding you to the limits of that control,” Caemorn answered.
