Emrys’s private meeting room was luxurious; rich tapestries hung from the walls, a dark oak table at the center of the room with a map of the city sealed under heavy glass. The chairs gathered around it were of the same ebony wood, carved with elegant scrollwork and cushioned in plush black velvet. Emrys took a seat in his chair at the head of the table- a twisted creation of dark metal which emulated his skeletal throne. 

Cass shuddered as there was a flutter of wings, a raven perching atop the splayed metal of Emrys’s chair. Though it was common for vampires to bond to an avian companion, most were well-kept, beautiful birds. Emrys’s raven was decrepit and rotting; her wings had lost more than half their feathers, bare patches showing mottled skin, chunks of missing flesh revealing thin bones. One eye had fallen out long ago, the other misted white and ominous over a chipped, bloodstained beak.

The raven’s soft, warbling cry for attention sent cold shivers of dread and grief down his spine. Cass couldn’t bear to look at her, dragging his eyes away from the constant reminder of his past- the reason why he had been taken under Emrys’s care.

“Sit,” Emrys’s cool voice made Cass flinch, looking up to see the vampire gesturing to the chair at his right.

Swallowing against the burn of bile at the back of his throat, Cass forced down his repulsion and took the chair at Emrys’s side; that close, he could smell the scent of rotting flesh from the raven, his heart heavy as he focused his gaze on the map of Kamai. Syrus sat quietly in the chair at the end of the table, his gaze politely lowered as Emrys shifted toward Cass.

“Tell me what you see,” he said, gesturing to the table- his dark gaze fixed on Cass with ominous expectation.

He took a slow breath before focusing his attention on the map built into the table. It was more than a piece of paper- a mesh of magic and technology, it showed the moving population of the city, occasional spots of light blinking when the cameras picked up an abnormality. Cass’s gaze raked over the thick borders between the city’s eight districts- divided between Emrys’s progeny to share the burden of protecting their human population.

Cass blinked at the shifting dots, a frown crossing his face as he found the discrepancy that was likely what had alarmed Emrys. “Did you authorize a transfer of citizens to Section 8?” he questioned, eyeing the heavy areas of dense population- much thicker than the other sections, unusual in a city that Emrys kept delicately balanced under his control.

The vampire’s lips slowly curled into a calculating smile as he looked at Cass’s thoughtful expression. “I did not,” he purred the words, instilled with a sense of pride in his thrall. “Do you recall the rumors of Sector 8 which have spread of late?”

Stiffening, Cass tried to look confident as his mind scrambled through foggy memories of sitting at Emrys’s feet while he spoke to the leaders of other sectors, half delusional from alcohol and magic. He could feel his master’s growing impatience as he struggled to put the pieces together- and was relieved when he connected the blurry recollections. “There have been vague stirrings of rebellion. The leader of Section 8…”

“Raielle Ascelin,” Syrus supplied, his tone bitter with distaste- quickly closing his mouth and looking down when Emrys shot him a dark glare.

“The human king who once ruled Kamai,” Cass said with a relieved realization, “They say he is mad, my lord. He allows the humans to step out of line, and has killed his own kin. There are rumors he is no longer grateful for the gift you bestowed on him.”

Emrys’s dark gaze was solemn as he nodded. “That is the suspicion spreading among the lords of the sectors. Raielle was the first to stand at my side, when I offered him salvation from the Blight. To think he would work against me… it pains me.”

Cass stared at the map, his mouth thinning into a frown; though he struggled to believe Emrys would be hurt, he knew it was an inconceivable offense to raise a hand against the lord of Kamai. Especially as one given not only salvation from the Blight, but eternal life. “You want to bring him back into line?”

“You always were a clever one,” Emrys said, his tone glowing with pride.

Pulling in a sharp breath to hide his flicker of shame at the patronizing words, Cass looked at his master. “What would you like me to do?”

“Raielle has done well at keeping his population infection free- but his people are beginning to lose their fear of the Blight. The simplest way to reduce population in an area is to remind them of that terror.”

Cass’s fingers dug into the fabric of his pants as his stomach gave a sharp twist. He knew what Emrys asked of him… what would happen to the people of Sector 8. But he had no right to refuse the mission. “I understand. Where is the planned origin point?”

Emrys crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned back, his dark gaze on the blinking lights of the electronic map. “Where do you judge it to have the most potential?”

Flinching, Cass glanced at his master, silently wondering why Emrys was so intent on testing him. Had the threat of Raielle’s rebellion shaken him so much? Or was Emrys finally considering granting him a small amount of freedom? Cass stiffened, quickly smothering the tiny flicker of hope; it would only make it more unbearable when he was dismissed again. 

Leaning forward, Cass looked over the map. There were several areas where the population was denser: residential areas, businesses, places where humans were bound to gather. If Emrys desired a heavy impact, Cass would have to choose a place that was not only well populated- but also well guarded, where the humans would have no reason to fear the infected.

“Here,” Cass said, trying to instill confidence in his voice as he pointed to one of the largest buildings in Sector 8- a health center. “The high security at the entrances would be a double-edged sword; it makes them complacent, with too much faith in the machines. There are fewer cameras inside the building, and any spikes in temperature would be assumed as a mild illness. If an infection started on the lowest floor, it would spread like wildfire.”

“They don’t monitor the exits, so there is no measure to contain the infected. The Blight would run rampant,” Emrys said smugly.

Nodding, Cass continued, “Those few who are caught before leaving the building would only serve to shake the population’s faith in the security of Sector 8. With no explanation, they would assume that the security was lacking- and they would learn to fear the Blight again.”

Emrys grinned at him, and Cass bit his lip against the shiver of cold dread that crawled down his spine. “I agree, Cassius.” He stood, stretching with the grace of a lazy cat- a sleek, elegant predator watching Cass with a sharp gaze. “I’m entrusting you with the safety of Kamai. Don’t disappoint me.”

Cass nodded, wordless, as the pressure of the threat tightened his throat. Bowing his head, he held his breath until he no longer felt the weight of Emrys’s gaze. Glancing up, he saw his master pinning Syrus with his ebony glare. “Handle it- make sure he comes back intact, and his mission is a success,” Emrys barked the words.

Syrus lowered his head, unflinching despite the harsh tone- an overwhelming threat Cass was grateful he never experienced. “Yes, my lord. We will bring back news of our success,” Syrus muttered.

“I expect no less. Now leave me- you have much to do,” Emrys said, and Cass was relieved to get to his feet. 

Heading quickly for the door, Syrus was right on his heels, the warmth of his hand against Cass’s back as they left Emrys’s private meeting room. The gaze of his shadows were heavy on them, Cass shuddering as he was herded out of the throne room. His pulse began to race as Syrus guided him down large, elegant halls to another pair of large doors.

They paused for a moment, the cameras over the door blinking yellow for a moment before the lights turned green- and machinery whirred, the massive doors opening on their own. Cass stepped out, breathing in deeply; his chest tight as he inhaled clean, fresh air, smelling lightly of rain. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself a brief moment to marvel at being allowed outside.

Then Syrus was guiding him forward again, and the moment of soft exhilaration was smothered by the weight of their errand… and the lives of those who would die for his actions.