Free Blood Ties by Kevin Emerson Page B

every visit. “Aged in deep caverns as only the Underworld can provide. What a treat it must be for Oliver.”
    â€œYes, we’ve heard,” Phlox said tightly.
    Everyone tended to their goblets. The grandparents asked about Oliver’s schooling. The cousins joked with Bane about how little killing he’d done.
    â€œJust take me out there,” Bane said eagerly, “and I’ll make up for my sheltered upbringing.”
    â€œ Neelesthth, ” Dominus agreed in Skrit.
    â€œSo, Sebastian…” It was Uncle Ember. Oliver looked up, realizing that this was the first time anyone had really talked to Sebastian. “Why don’t you tell us about your all-important work at…” He paused and his voice went slightly sour, as if his next words were distasteful: “Half-Light?”
    Silence fell over the table.
    Sebastian glanced briefly at Ember, then took a slow sip from his goblet. “Things are fine,” he replied. “We’ve had a good few years.…”
    Myrandah sniffed with disdain.
    Oliver watched as his father paused and looked around, calmly taking in Ember’s glare and the others’ disapproving gazes. Oliver was surprised that things were getting so tense, so fast. It was almost as if the family had been waiting to pounce on Sebastian. Oliver knew that the Old World vampires disapproved of all the modern ways in the New World—of the medical sciences and philosophy that the New World vampires embraced. Even the idea that you could feed on humans without killing them was offensive in the Old World. But this reaction seemed more intense than during their last visit.
    â€œNow I know,” Sebastian continued, sounding almost defensive, which Oliver couldn’t remember hearing before, “that the Consortium doesn’t have the best reputation in these parts, but it’s important work that we do.”
    Oliver tried to take a quiet bite of cake, but his fork clanged on the plate. Dominus slurped his blood.
    â€œNot everyone shares that opinion.” Ember’s eyes had started to smolder jade green.
    Sebastian nodded slowly. Phlox reached over and rubbed his arm as he continued: “Look, Ember, I’m well aware that some of you—”
    â€œWell that’s the problem right there, isn’t it?” Ember snapped, looking up and down the table for support. “He refers to us as you. We’re all vampires, Sebastian, but you New Worlders seem to consider yourselves superior.”
    â€œHold on, Ember…” Phlox countered.
    â€œNo, it’s fine,” Sebastian said calmly, yet his eyes were glowing as well. “Your brother obviously feels that this needs to be said in front of everyone, and before we’ve even had a chance to settle in. Let him finish his thought.”
    â€œListen to that high and mighty tone,” Ember scoffed. “Vampires have lived a certain way for centuries. Then you come along with your theories and your abominations—”
    â€œYou might want to be careful, brother-in-law,” Sebastian warned.
    â€œBut you’re the ones who should be more careful, don’t you think?” Ember was almost shouting now. “You question things that ought not be questioned.” Ember glanced at Oliver. “Prophecies are meant to be fulfilled in their own time. It is not the way to create an answer.”
    Dominus hissed in approval. It was clear what Ember meant: Oliver had been created to fulfill the Nexia prophecy. Was he the abomination that Ember was referring to? It certainly sounded like it…
    Ember continued, “And how do you even know you’re reading the prophecy correctly? Our scholars find no such simple answer in its meaning. And yet Half-Light foolishly rushes ahead, ignorant of the dangers—”
    â€œThat’s enough!” Phlox slammed her goblet onto the table. “It’s always the same with all of you. How can