“What makes you think that?”
Ugh, answering a question with a question. “This seems vaguely familiar.” I locked eyes with him. “Kyan, are you a vampire?”
My blood roared in my ears waiting for his answer. His black eyes never left mine, his mouth twitched and his throat bobbed. “No.”
My ring glowed and my heart sputtered. I slowly backed away from him which drew a confused expression from him. “Why are you—”
I held up my hand, “This ring glows when someone lies.”
His eyes averted, and he was the one to take a step back now. I think he grew more nervous than me. Did he think I would try to kill him? Perhaps I should, but I didn’t have the urge to hurt him even if I was slightly afraid.
Lifting his gaze, he stood a little taller. “It’s not a simple answer, Princess Visteal.”
His response floored me. “Either you’re one of them or you’re not. And since that was a lie, you are.”
“What if I am but it wasn’t by choice?” His voice wavered and a glimmering line filled his eyes. “What if I was turned against my will? What if I’ve never killed anyone for blood? Will you condemn me? End me?”
In that moment, I couldn’t find words. My mouth went dry and my heart sank, not because he admitted he was one of them but because he didn’t have a choice. If I were turned against my will, would I be killed?
“Is this him?” my Papa asked, suddenly appearing. I turned and stepped in front of Kyan. Papa had his sword drawn, ready to strike.
“He’s not Senica,” I said hastily. “This is Kyan.”
“I know who he is,” Papa said, narrowing his eyes. “He trains with Madison and me after classes. I’m asking if he threatened you.”
“He protected me,” I answered.
Face softening, Papa put his sword away. “Thank you for doing that, Kyan.”
“Of course, Sir,” Kyan said. “And Senica is no longer here. He went home.”
Surprised, I turned to Kyan. In my mind I questioned if by going home, he meant he’d killed him but I didn’t ask aloud.
“That’s a relief,” Papa said. We all three stood in silence for a moment. “Well, I’ll go back inside. I’m going to pay my respects to God.” I’d forgotten it was Sunday. There was a worship room here at the academy that Papa faithfully prayed at every week. Sometimes I went with him.
When he’d gone, Kyan and I resumed walking. I knew his secret and he likely wondered what I would do with it. “So you’re not all blood-crazed monsters then?” I turned to him. “I’m not trying to be offensive, we fought and killed three of them yesterday outside the wall and they were intent on hurting us. They almost killed my friend Freya.”
His eyes shot wide. “You were attacked yesterday?” He then muttered more to himself, “Outside the wall.”
“Yes, on our way back from Henalae.”
“No, not all of us are like that but many are ruled by their inner demons. The blood lust.” The muscles in his jaw tensed. “Especially if they are newly created or those like Senica who weren’t good people before they turned.” He paused for a few breaths. “Are you going to tell the professors what I am?”
“No,” I didn’t even hesitate. “As long as you don’t attack anyone.”
“I won’t,” he said. “At least not to drink their blood. I attack plenty in sparring matches.” His first smile appeared since we left breakfast but I didn’t think this was a time to joke.
“Don’t you have to drink blood to survive?”
His features drew grave once again. “Yes, usually I drink the blood of animals. There are some humans in Collweya who offer their blood freely.”
“Anyone here?” I asked, trying not to sound as ill as I felt.
“Yes,” was his only reply.
I didn’t inquire further. I didn’t want to know. “Is Senica… dead?”
“No, but he’s no longer a problem.”
This felt like an interrogation but I had so many questions that no one else knew. “How many of you are there here?”
He pursed his lips. “Not many but we have a code not to tell on each other. We keep each other in check and no humans die.”
“What about Finnick?” I snapped, unable to keep the anger out of my voice. “He died.”
Kyan seemed genuinely surprised. “I thought he fell out his window... but if he was killed by one of us, it was likely Senica and he’s gone now. Don’t worry.”
“Good.” But I was still worried and would still keep my guard up. The only time my ring glowed was when he said no to being a blood drinker. Everything else he said so far must have been true, at least to his knowledge.
We started back inside. My memory drifted back to the vampire man who tackled me into the mud and how his strength so closely overcame my own. If my magic wasn’t burning his skin, he’d have bitten me, perhaps ripped out my throat. “Given that there are less than friendly vampires outside the wall, we need more protection enchantments so they can’t get in here.”
Kyan shook his head. “It would seem the ones existing have kept them at bay or they likely would be in here already.”
“If that’s the case, how did you and Senica get in if our wards protect against your kind?”
He tugged on the hem of his neckline and revealed a sun-shaped tattoo and surrounding it were seven symbols I didn’t recognize. “My daylight mark, and the symbols allow me to pass through wards that would otherwise keep me out.”
I studied his tattoos until he pulled his shirt back up. “Let’s hope that none of them figure out this magic.”
“Few know it and those that do are careful who they give these protections to.”
