Page 65 of Crown of Death

Cyrus’ voice cracks slightly. I look up into his face. He stares down at his lap, his eyes unfocused. A mix of emotions holds him in their grasp: grief, anger,bitterness.

“But four days after we buried our son,” Cyrus continues. “He rose from the grave. With glowing red eyes, strength like my own, he clawed his way through the ground and knocked down the doors to ourhome.”

Ill. I feel ill. Shivers work their way down myspine.

“And from there, we lost all control,” Cyrus says. “He went his own way, the first Born vampire. Human at birth, rising from his first death as avampire.”

Cyrus raises his head now, staring out over the dancing crowd. I look out at them aswell.

They have to know this story. It’s a part of theirhistory.

“Years passed, and I knew I must prepare. I bought loyalty and armies over centuries. Because word had been spreading that my son had managed to conceive his own children, with human women, who then died and just like him, rose from the grave. He was creating his own army of immortalheirs.”

I think of the span of time this must have taken place. First, Cyrus’ son had to grow to an eighteen-year-old man. And then go off on his own. Impregnate women. Wait for them to be born and somehow discover that they could Resurrect just likehimself.

Centuries,Cyrus hadsaid.

“We both grew in power,” Cyrus says. “With armies and loyal followers. A division formed, those who wanted to take over the world with my son. And those who knew we had to keep in secret if we did not wish to be eliminated. And eventually, it came towar.”

How many centuries ago was this? How was it kept in the shadows, so secret? How is this not known to theworld?

“My son conceived seven sons, all capable of producing their own immortal Born,” Cyrus says. “He had twelve daughters, as well. In the end, two of his sons turned against him, allying with me, and three of his daughters. The rest stood with theirfather.”

“You won the war,” I breathe, my first words in what feels likecenturies.

Cyrus nods. “It was not short. It was not clean. But in the end, I cleaved my own son’s head from his shoulders, and declared the battlefinished.”

My blood stops in my body, absolutelycold.

“I banished or killed my five grandsons who turned against me. But they went about the world, producing more and more offspring. They were cut off from the family. From power, for after that time, I declared myself King, so nothing like this could ever happenagain.”

He looks down at his hand, and I see scarsthere.

“Those early years were not easy. Bloody, cold wars continued as we sorted through political systems and rules. But you see us now, today.” He looks up, lifting his chin slightly. “We are organized. We operate under a smooth system. The descendants of the Royals rule the Houses, keeping the Born in check. Keeping sure our kind stayhidden.”

I can hardly breathe. It’s all so much. Sobig.

So incredible. Sotragic.

But alsobeautiful.

“What about your wife?” I ask. He stiffens, but doesn’t look toward me. “You said you made her like yourself. What happened toher?”

He pauses. And I can’t pinpoint his reaction. “She died,” he sayssimply.

And suddenly he rises from his throne. He steps forward into the crowd. He extends a hand to a woman, bowing, and then he pulls her into adance.

It’s whiplash. The tale cut too short, too quick. I need a better resolution than the one he justgave.

Slowly, Edmond walks over, pinning me with his dark eyes. He stops just in front of me, and holds out ahand.

“There might not have been only one victor in the end,” he says. “But I will still take that prize and ask for adance.”

I look at him warily. He certainly didn’t look too pleased with me after I stopped the dance, and then again during the gladiator fights. I’m not sure if I can trust him rightnow.

But I’m nocoward.

I take his hand and follow him out onto the floor. He places a hand on my back and leads me into thesteps.