The Blood Boss by Davidson King

Chapter Nine

Jayce

In my room, I did exactly what Cain suggested. I took a bath, ate the food someone brought up, and went to bed. But sleep didn’t come. Flashes of the expressions on everyone’s faces appeared over and over. Hearing what Emil, Natalie, and Petru said about my singing shocked me.

Every fiber of my being was urging me to call my parents and Sibell, but something held me back. A little voice telling me to wait…or maybe it was telling me not to tell my parents out of fear they’d reject me. Was I some sort of freak?

I slept here and there through the night but not enough to feel refreshed when morning arrived. While I wanted nothing more than to ensconce myself in the covers, I pulled them off and made my way to the bathroom to get ready for the day. I hoped Sibell had some answers…though I was really trying to figure out why she’d have any at all.

* * *

I was surprised when I came down the stairs and Cain was there. Usually it was Natalie or on occasion Emil…or no one.

“Morning,” he said, and I took a moment to take in his appearance. If he’d slept poorly, it didn’t show. His skin was perpetually flawless, glossy black hair perfectly in place, and he wore a casual suit that looked as if it were designed while on his body.

“Morning, you look well rested.”

He chuckled and began walking, and I followed. “I’m a vampire; I look the same whether I’ve slept or not. I guess you can say that would go into the pro column.”

Was he being humorous? “Uh, yeah. And what else would you have in that column?”

“Hmm.” He paused in front of a large window in the foyer—you could see the whole front of the estate from there, and the view was as pristine as the vampire beside me. “Immortality could be one; it could also be a con. For vampires, there are, in fact, plenty of hours in the day. What doesn’t get done one day will be concluded the next. It’s not like we will wither away.”

This was an odd side of Cain. He was being cordial, making small talk, almost. I’d spent a lot of time alone and teetering on angry over the situation. But since yesterday it was as if I were viewed as a different person.

“I suppose.” I shot him a quick smile. “I’m fond of my mortality. I also like that there are limited hours in the day, because it makes me appreciate what little I have. I want to die with those I love and not continually mourn them. I don’t know how one is supposed to live infinitely…I don’t know if I could stand it.”

I was sure I’d insulted him, but he hummed and when I glanced at him, he wore a small smile. “That is probably the best response I have ever heard in regard to staying as one was born. We often get humans begging to be turned. None understanding what it truly is they are asking. To escape death, they wish to live forever. But in doing so, they often are tortured into madness.”

“Madness?”

“Sadly, many who have been granted the right to be turned have not dealt with it well.”

I knew so little about Cain’s life and the lives of all vampires, and the more I stayed here and read and learned, the more I realized human teachings on other species were massively lacking.

“Listen, Jayce, I wanted to speak with you before Sibell arrives and things get…chaotic.”

“Things already feel that way,” I huffed.

“Yes, well, things can always get worse. Never forget that.”

I snapped my head up to see if he was being serious with his pessimism, and, yup, he sure was. “Wow, you should write Hallmark Cards for a living.”

He furrowed his brow. “I don’t understand; why would I want to write cards for people?”

“Never mind. So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“I’d be remiss in my position if after yesterday I didn’t do some investigating into you, your parents, and how it is your voice made Rogos, one of the most vicious creatures I have ever known, submit to a deal to let my ships pass.”

“And did you find anything?”

Cain’s ruby eyes glittered in the sunlight as he spoke, and in the midst of all this, I wondered why folklore said vampires turned to dust in sunlight when they didn’t.

“It’s a very cold trail when it comes to you, Jayce. Being dropped on someone’s doorstep with no medical information or backstory aside from a letter is like you simply appearing one day from the air.”

“Yeah, I remember when I was seventeen, I had to get my wisdom teeth removed, and it was the only time I ever had any type of surgery at all, and there was no medical history.”

“Right.” Cain quirked a brow. “This is different. I’m not so much interested in your medical history as I am with everything else.”

“Like?”

“When you agreed to be the scapegoat for your father, you sealed that deal with a prick of your finger—you remember?”

I nodded, because of course I did. Who wouldn’t remember that?

“I store all the contracts and the blood that comes with it.” He took a few steps back and continued walking, so I followed.

“It wasn’t a lot of blood.”

“No, but enough for me to usually find out little facets of a person. Like blood type, if they are low on iron, small things.”

“Huh, okay, and I’m assuming you checked out mine?”

“I did…and this is where things get strange.”

I chuckled, because weren’t things already weird?

“How so?”

Cain led us to a sitting room; I’d passed it before but had never been inside. The walls were covered in paintings of the sea, the ceiling appeared to be a sky at sunset…it was such a tranquil space.

“This room…it relaxes you.”

I turned to find Cain scrutinizing me.

“It’s peaceful. I’ve never been inside it.”

He nodded and sat down. “Your blood, it’s, well, I’m not one for mincing words. It’s not human.”

Whatever calm I’d found in this room was swept away by Cain’s words. They made no sense and while I wanted to argue, I was too awestruck to speak.

“I know, it’s confusing. It’s safe to say I, too, am in the dark. There is no telling what sort of species you are, but I have a good idea you’re likely either part Triton or part Siren. It explains your singing, which leans toward Siren, but you’re more than that.”

Thank God there was a chair behind me; otherwise when my legs gave out, I’d be on the floor. “I…what?”

“And this is where Sibell comes in. She knows, and I’m guessing your parents do as well. Your whole life is shrouded in mystery, Jayce, and while that secrecy kept you safe and alive, I’m not sure lack of knowing will keep it that way.”

“How can you…this is my life we’re talking about! What you’re saying, it doesn’t make sense. I was told I was AB Positive by my doctor. I’ve donated blood. Don’t you think if there was some sort of irregularity, it would have shown up, then?”

Up until this moment Cain had been calm, kind even, but something in my question must have irritated him, because he growled.

“Humans know so little of the world today. You’re raised in the times of old and taught folklore. You consume books that tell you fantasies that are half-truths or hyperbole. Humanity knows nothing. You know nothing!” He stood and if thunder had a physical form, it would be The Blood Boss. “You were told what you had to be told. Great and powerful magic is at play here, and you need to realize—the world you thought you knew never existed.”

“Yes, yell at the boy, Cain. That’s sure to ease his mind and make him adjust to the fuckery you thrust him into.” I turned abruptly toward the familiar voice.

Sibell looked like she had every day I’d worked for her. I wasn’t sure why I’d expected to see a different woman today. Seeing her made my heart ache and before I could stop myself, I rushed to her and wrapped my arms around her frail form.

“It’s okay, sweet boy.”

I hoped she was right, but in my heart, I knew she was wrong. Nothing was okay.