Daybreak, BK 4 of the Lightwalkers

XXXVII - Seth

Standing next to Remi and Tuari on the front steps of the mansion, I watched Jonathan talk to the vampire that had taken him.

Kain, I reminded myself. That wasn't Jonathan down there. Kain stood differently, he spoke differently.

I'd woken up at the sound of the door closing and I'd panicked to see that it was past sunset. But I didn't have to go far to find everyone.

I wanted to go down there, to give the bitch my opinion, but did I honestly think I could hold my own against Michaela, let alone the other vampire standing next to her? What could I do or say that Nick and Kain couldn't on their own?

So, instead, I stood on the step uselessly and watched as Michaela turned to walk away, only to glance back with such hatred in her glare.

"Kain is going to travel with Nick to Court," Sam said. She stood behind Tuari, watching the vampires with the reset of us. She laughed a little. "Michaela is not very happy with Kain's newfound freedom, but she'll get over it."

"How the hell was she able to get away with treating a Lightwalker like that in the first place?" Tuari asked, sitting on the thick wall that held the railing for the steps.

Sam shrugged. "She's newer. After Nickolas fell into hibernation and the Queen stopped having audiences, the vampires not as connected to the Court lacked the discipline to pass on the traditions and knowledge they were supposed to, especially the one in regards to the Lightwalkers."

"You will return with me. Now!" Michaela shouted, her voice echoing around the front courtyard, all her anger aimed at Kain.

"Complain and demand all you want, but you have no control over me." Kain's voice was sure and stronger than I'd ever heard Jon speak.

Michaela barred her teeth in a sneer. "I am you maker, your sire. All sirelings must obey their sire!"

Kain stepped across the open space she'd created between them, but I couldn't make out his expression as he leaned in and spoke into her ear.

His next movement was a blur as he lashed out, killing the vampire next to her by taking his head right off his shoulders.

"Now, you know I'm serious." He said as the body crumpled to the ground. "Leave and take your wolves with you before I decide to kill you as well." Kain turned his back to her, walking past Nick to head toward us.

"I will speak to the Court's Council about this!" Michaela shouted and disappeared from the gravel drive.

"Goodie, I can't wait," Kain mumbled under his breath as he walked past me and into the house.

Nick paused to speak with Sam on the step, so I followed Kain inside with Remi and Tuari. Kain had stopped in the entryway, by the stairs. He was frowning down at the clothes he wore. They were still the same as the ones Jon had worn when we rescued him.

"Someone please tell me I can get some new clothes, somewhere."

Nick and Sam came through the door then and Bryson came in from the direction of the kitchen. He had a sandwich in his hand.

"What'd I miss?" Bryson asked, coming to stand by me.

"A little stand-off. Michaela showed up and she and Kain had some words."

Bryson went still beside me. "And?"

I watched Remi and Sam lead Kain back upstairs, presumably to find some different clothes, followed by Tuari and Nick. Turning back to Bryson, I shrugged my shoulder.

"And Kain killed the vampire that she brought with her and told her to fuck off. He's going to Court with Nick."

"Isn't that a good thing? You make it sound like that wasn't the plan we were going for all along. " Bryson took a bite of his sandwich, chewing as I thought over what he said.

I shook my head. "I don't know and I think that's the problem. I feel like I don't know my own brother anymore. Or my own life. Do I even know myself?"

Bryson's expression softened, and he reached out to clap a hand on my shoulder. "Take it one day at a time. Or even one hour. You've both been through a lot, and it'll be a while before you find a new balance."

"I guess."

"Go get some sleep. If you're still up for some training, we'll get started first thing tomorrow morning."

I glanced at the top of the stairs. Kain and the others were long gone, leaving the staircase empty. After saying goodnight to Bryson, I went up to find my bed. I thankfully didn't run into anyone in the hallway. I wasn't ready to face Kain just yet. It was too weird and I wasn't sure how I would handle it.

But if we're all going to be traveling to Court together, I guess I had better figure it out soon.