The Blood Boss by Davidson King

Chapter Eight

Cain

Iwas sure the second we got back to the vehicle Jayce would shower me with questions about everything, but he didn’t. He stared out the window, a look of utter confusion on his face.

Emil watched Jayce with a skeptical expression, and me? I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I had a feeling I knew who did.

I texted Natalie to tell her to contact Sibell when we returned to the estate. It was time to meet with the witch.

Natalie and Petru’s vehicle went to deliver Reginald to his place while ours went home. As soon as we stopped in front of the house, Emil exited hastily, leaving Jayce and me alone. When I made no move to get out, he looked up at me.

“Am I in trouble?”

Something in his voice angered me. Not toward him, but instead that he’d think what occurred today made him deserving of punishment. There was no question; what had happened with Rogos and Sable was as much of a shock for him as it was for everyone else.

“I don’t see how you singing for Rogos and allowing safe passage for my ships would put you in trouble.”

“But the woman, Sable, she tried to attack me, and you—”

“Did what I had to do.”

I could see Emil only a few feet from the SUV, eying us. Whatever Jayce had done by the bay, he’d felt it, as had Natalie, Reginald, and Petru. It had enraged Sable and intrigued Rogos. Only I’d felt nothing; my shock had come from the others’ reactions.

“My father, he always said my voice was terrible. I mean, he wasn’t mean about it or anything, but he swore I was tone-deaf, horribly off-key, and he valued the dishes and glassware we had and asked me to please not break them.” Jayce spoke with fondness.

“I see.” I wasn’t sure what to say to him. His voice was fine, average to my ears. Nothing like his father had led him to believe.

“But then Rogos gave you what you wanted so I thought, hey, maybe it’s not such a bad voice.”

The other SUV had pulled into the driveway at this point, and Natalie and Petru got out, and I watched as they began speaking with Emil.

“What did I do?” Jayce asked me with glistening eyes.

“Nothing. But Natalie is going to arrange to have Sibell come here. I think she knows more than any of us about what’s going on with you.”

“Sibell, my boss?”

“She’s much more than simply your boss, and I’m assuming she wouldn’t answer your questions as soon as you began prying?” He shook his head. “Not surprising. Come on.” I opened the door and Emil, Natalie, and Petru all turned toward me.

“I contacted Sibell. I told her you needed to see her and that it was an emergency. She will arrive in the morning.”

“Thank you, Natalie.” When no one moved, I realized this wouldn’t do. “Let us all meet in my study. We can discuss what happened.”

With his head down and a dejected stance, Jayce went into the house, following behind Emil and Petru. I held Natalie back.

“Are you afraid of Jayce?”

Her lavender gaze met mine. “I’m afraid of not knowing or understanding him, Sir. What happened at the bay was bizarre but also extremely powerful. Wouldn’t you agree?”

She had no idea I’d felt nothing and that I couldn’t understand what she was talking about. “Let’s see what the others have to say.”

Upon entering my study, I observed Jayce sitting on the chair by my desk, where he often sat when I had business there. Petru and Emil were across the room, keeping an eye on him.

“Everyone sit,” I ordered. “Jayce, come over here.”

Emil and Petru sat on the long couch while Natalie took one of the wingback chairs. With just one other seat left, I gestured for Jayce to take it and I chose to stand.

“I demand honesty between us now and always, so when I ask questions I expect truthful answers, understood?”

Everyone said yes in unison.

“When Jayce sang, what did you hear, see, and feel, Emil?”

“The same as we all did, I assume.”

“And we won’t know if we all felt the same unless you tell us what you experienced,” I countered, not liking his non-answer.

I could visibly see Emil grinding his teeth before he spoke. “I swear, I thought the whole trip was going to be a waste. That Rogos was playing us, especially after he asked Jayce to sing. I thought he was toying with us. I was wound tight, ready to strike if needed.”

“But you never did strike. Why?” I saw how Petru, Jayce, and Natalie were hanging on Emil’s every word, desperate for their own validation.

“Then you sang,” Emil spoke directly to Jayce. “And it was like being injected with a flood of emotions. There was love and sadness. I could smell cookies, and it was like someone was hugging all my anger right out of me.”

“What about you, Natalie?” I looked at her.

“I was scared and annoyed and then…I felt at peace. Like I was standing in a sunbeam and warmth was spreading all through me.”

“Petru?”

“Like home.”

“I don’t understand.” Jayce shook his head. “Was it the song? Did it remind you of something? Because it was one of the lullabies my mom used to sing to me, and she sings for all the kids in the house. When Rogos asked me to sing, I picked the first song I could think of.”

“I don’t think it had anything to do with the song but more to do with the emotion you felt while singing it,” I answered as I kneeled beside Jayce. “There is a story about you, not even you’ve been privy to, and I think it’s time you know it.”

“I don’t…” Jayce looked at everyone. “I’m so confused.”

“I know. Sibell will be here in the morning, and I think if we’re going to find out what’s happening here, it will be she who can tell us.”

I stood and moved over to my desk.

“Sir?”

I turned toward Natalie. “Yes?”

“Can I ask what you felt when he sang?”

I saw the curiosity in her, Emil’s, and Petru’s eyes. But Jayce’s were filled with worry. His world was being turned on its axis, and he didn’t know why.

“Nothing. I felt absolutely nothing. Whatever Jayce’s hold was on any of you, it didn’t affect me.”

“Really?” Emil cocked his head. “How bizarre.”

“I’m not sure it is, but I do know Sibell will have answers.” One look at Jayce and the weariness of the day was evident. “Jayce, I think you could use some rest. I will have dinner sent up to your room; maybe shower or take a bath. It’s been a far too exciting day.”

Without waiting for more questions or comments, I went over to my desk and began pretending to read something there. It was everyone’s cue to leave me. I had serious thinking to do and some digging to begin. I suspected I understood what had happened today, and between what I could find out and what Sibell would tell us, if I were right, it could prove catastrophic.