“I should never have made them.”
“Perhaps not. But you did. And they have had that gift for a very long time,” Daemon told him.
“Meaning?”
“Their life would have ended long ago in brutal circumstances. You gave them so much,” Daemon answered. “Ending them now, when they’ve had more than their fair share of life and death, isn’t actually a punishment.”
“They will see it that way,” Ryder said softly. “If I could have been a different Master to them perhaps…”
But Daemon shook his head. “You didn’t make them into this. You let them go on and gave them greater tools to make others suffer. But they are what… they are.”
“But if I had been…”
Daemon clasped his shoulder. “You are not Roan Tithe. You are not Artemis Alucius. You are not Lawson. You chose Legion, because they were already a monster and there was no undoing that.”
Ryder let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “I know.”
“If I took away the gift of Vampirism, they could be sent back to Earth. Put in a hospital or a jail. We could make sure they would never harm another or be turned–”
“No,” Ryder found himself saying. “No, you are right. They were given a life they should not have had. It’s time to end it. Fully.”
“If you’re sure,” Daemon said. “I will do it for you.”
Ryder rubbed his face. It was still tacky with drying tears. “I’m sure. Thank you, Daemon. For everything.”
Daemon simply nodded. He turned to go, but paused and turned back once again. “You have been waiting for me to punish you. To show you my anger and disappointment.”
Ryder nodded. “I have.”
“Don’t you know, Weryn, that I have been waiting for you to do the same thing to me?” Daemon asked.
Ryder’s lips parted. “But…”
Daemon gave a sad smile. “Both of us were waiting for the other to pronounce our doom.”
“That was never going to happen. I was angry with you. But I’m not anymore. I do understand why you did what you did,” Ryder said. And he felt scraped clean now after this conversation with Daemon. Clearer than he had been ever before.
Daemon nodded. “I feel the same way, Weryn. I am not angry anymore. I do understand. Now both of us need to let go of the past and head into the future together.”
Ryder’s shoulders lifted. He felt light. So much lighter than before. He nodded. “Yes, that’s what we must do.”
Daemon cupped his cheek and smiled at Ryder. “There are so many challenges ahead, my Soldier. I need you by my side.”
“That is where I will be. Focused and loyal,” Ryder promised.
Another nod. “Then I leave you to finish this last bit of old business.”
Ryder felt the warmth from Daemon’s hand on his cheek even as the Vampire King teleported away, likely to wherever his beloved fledgling was. Ryder was alone once more at the top of the stairs to the dungeon. But he felt renewed. He knew what to do.
He lightly padded down the steps and along the corridor until he was outside of Legion’s cage. His Childe had been aware of him probably since he had entered the palace and was practically pressed up against the bars. He felt pity and revulsion, but more pity. He didn’t back away, but reached out and touched Legion’s strange scaly, furry skin. Legion let out a soft sound of surprised pleasure.
“Master,” Legion murmured.
“Legion,” Ryder acknowledged.
“I did not think you would come,” Legion admitted.
“I was not certain if I would. But I am glad I did,” Ryder said.
