Chapter 7: Chromatic - Hunger & Harmony

Scars are still scars, even when they come with fanfare.

Fans swarm as Arteria exit the Gravemont venue. I hang in the back, letting the guards do their jobs for the band. Security is tight, and paired with the swell of hysterical enthusiasm surrounding us, the midnight air turns stifling. It was a successful show, and I saw what Ezren meant when he said their most loyal fans were here.

I still can’t ignore it. While most people shouting and reaching for Arteria do so in love, tension remains. Signs sprout from the back, and I don’t miss the blood under our shoes or the venomous threats weaving within the crowd’s screams.

Leeches. Thieves. Monsters.

It echoes in my mind as we load onto the bus. Their shouts reverberate like wrong notes, fractured and jarring, filling the silence the entire way back to the hotel. If this show was a victory, someone forgot to tell us. The procession up to our reserved floor is more like a funeral than anything else.

We’ll hit the road in mere hours. No point in dragging this out, even if that means traveling during daylight. For now, sitting in a daze in my hotel bed seems fitting. The itch to check my personal phone and contact Viola has me reaching for the nightstand.

I haven’t even glanced at that screen since last night. Dread sours my stomach when I remember the texts waiting untouched in my notifications. My outstretched hands curl inwards, and I quickly think better of it.

Instead, I wander out of my room to the common area, finding an alcove near the elevators. The vending machine might have some sour candy or pretzels. A distraction in the form of a snack sounds heavenly right about now.

A familiar blond halo catches my eye as I approach the machine. Beyond the ice dispenser and hovering near a large trash can, Ezren mutters to himself.

“Am I some kind of errand boy?” he asks, clearly unaware of me watching.

I still. He continues his little rant as he tosses something metallic into the trash.

“Not my fault he won’t feed.” He turns with a scoff. “And I have to be the one doing the dirty work?”

Ezren freezes when he spots me. I awkwardly occupy myself with the vending machine. Hopefully, my acting is convincing as I pretend I’ve been contemplating the snack choices this whole time.

“O-Oh, Cadie! Didn’t see you there,” he says.

I try my best to ignore his wild eyes and stiff fidgeting.

“Huh? Ah, Ez, I . . .I was looking for a snack!” I point at the vending machine. “Want anything?”

I internally facepalm when I remember he’s supposed to avoid chips and candy.

“Nope,” he says, giving me a thumbs-up. “I’m good! Carry on, I’ll be going.”

Odd. Ezren avoiding a chance to eat human snacks is unheard of. I can’t help but burn with curiosity as he books it out of the alcove and up the hallway. My attention slides from the vending machine over to the trash. Surely I shouldn’t be snooping? In a communal trash can of all things.

That doesn’t stop my legs from working on their own. Without thinking, I’m suddenly in front of the black bin, peering into the swinging lid. It was a distinctly silver package he threw in here.

Right on top of abandoned coffee cups and snack wrappers is an unopened blister pack. Glancing around to make sure no one is looking, I then snatch it from the trash to glance it over.

The package is nondescript. Just a silver blister pack with peach-colored oval tablets ‌inside. Obviously, these came in a box that would say what these are. My brows furrow together as I glance it over. They’re such a common shape and color that I’d never be able to guess with just this.

I hurry to put it back in the trash. What did Ezren say? Something about not feeding? Dirty work? I wander back to the vending machine, staring long and hard at a can of soda. Who was he talking about?

Without purchasing anything, I head back to my room. The first thing I do is grab my work phone, opening it up to check the notes.

Nothing. Only the normal blood types and feeding protocols are here. Hmm . . .

Checking the ‘recently deleted’ folder, I find only one thing. A note from twenty-three days ago that’s titled Supplements. When I open it, all the contents are missing.

The title alone is still a good lead. Do vampires use supplements? Are they a kind of vitamin or a convenient pick-me-up? I have no clue if it’s something you can just look up. I’m hesitant to leave that in the search history.

One obvious way to figure this out comes to mind. I even have the perfect excuse to be there.

Lorelai gave me one of the three universal card keys for this floor. I hold it tightly between my shaking fingers, easing my hand into my sweatpants pocket to avoid suspicion. If I’m caught out in any of Arteria’s rooms, so what? I’ll just say I’m checking luggage inventory to speed up our Gravemont exit.

It’s not snooping. Ezren himself said that an assistant should know the ins and outs!

Niko’s room is 1001. He’s definitely who Ezren was talking about. Only he or Selene could compel Ezren to run an errand, and he was clearly grumbling about a man.

There’s no time to hesitate when I approach the door. If he’s in here, I need to be confident. With that in mind, I press the card to the lock, turning the handle the instant I hear a click.

Darkness. My eyes have to adjust from the lit hallway to this shadowed room. When I can see more than indistinct shapes, my eyes widen.

Standing in an entryway that puts my measly bed and side table to shame, I gawk at the homage to gothic design and rock music. Not an expense was spared for this “room” that’s bigger than my boarding back in Sunveil.

So far, no Niko. Maybe he’s deeper in this maze of doors and turns. Or somewhere else entirely. I hope for the latter as I begin my search.

The obvious places are quickly checked and dismissed. Even swiping my hands under his pillows or peeking into his closet doesn’t bring me any closer to the truth, though.

I’m not sure why I’m so insistent on knowing. Maybe because I already suspect what’s going on. Maybe I want to be proven wrong. Because there’s no benefit to being right.

“ . . .when you know there’s willing donors.”

My heart leaps into my throat when I hear Selene’s voice from the entrance. I’m standing in his shadowed bedroom when I hear the shuffle of footsteps and the main door slamming in the near distance. In a panic, I fly into the walk-in closet, accidentally leaving the door cracked open as I disappear behind long coats and multiple black shirts. I try, and fail, not to lean in, subtly inhaling the addictive scent on his clothes. Spiced vanilla and bourbon, wow.

“Not now.”

“Then, when?” Selene snaps back at Niko. “There’s no excuse for this. Even a pureblood can only go so far without sustenance.”

My teeth hook into my lip. I can hear them moving around and talking so clearly. There’s no hope they won’t discover me, right?

“You already stepped down your blood intake. If you’re refusing the meager alternative, how do you expect to survive? We’re touring.”

“I’m fine. A couple of hours of performing won’t end me,” he says, even with exhaustion dragging his tone down.

“A couple of hours of singing, plus many more traveling, wading through fans, and having the Court at our throats.”

She lets out a long, frustrated sigh. I’ve never witnessed cracks in her meticulous calm before.

“I know you’re putting on a brave face for everyone. You’re king and have earned your title. But do you think denying yourself will grant you the control you seek?”

Silence follows her loaded question. I will my thundering heart to quit before they sense me.

“I fear it is doing the opposite,” she murmurs.

“You don’t understand,” he says, voice low and bitter.

“I do,” she retorts. “I know what haunts you. Similar ghosts lurk in the chambers of my own heart.”

“It’s different,” he says. Footsteps draw closer to the bedroom. “This time, she⁠—”

I hold my breath. While I can’t be certain, it seems like he’s lingering in the bedroom door. Selene is silent, too, and I fear they’re onto me.

“She . . .” Niko echoes, quieter this time.

“Your Majesty.”

That’s Ryel.

“What?” Selene snaps.

“The Archduchess called. Said she would be stopping in New Lure tomorrow.”

“Of course,” Selene says. “How convenient.”

It’s getting harder to hold my breath. I exhale slowly, hoping and praying they’ll wrap up.

“Let her come,” Niko says after a beat of charged silence. “I’d rather face the Court with her on my side than without.”

“I agree,” Ryel says. “Let’s set a time. That flunky of hers is on hold.”

It’s not until I hear the front door closing and I count up to sixty seconds that I make a move. Tiptoeing my way back, I pause right before freedom when I spot it. A crumpled box on the lounge coffee table.

I shouldn’t. I’m already pushing my luck. Reaching for it anyway, I glance over the medication box.

Simulated iron fortification. That’s what the label says. Not real blood or iron, but pressed tablets with a faint metallic scent. They’re identical to the ones in the trash, except being open and half-crushed. Not everyone is as gluttonous as Ezren, but my work notes clearly state vampires feed at least once a week.

He really is trying to fake being whole.

I slip out of Niko’s room and close the door like I was never there. I can’t relax until I’m back in my room, hiding childishly under the blankets. Even then, my muscles won’t unwind, my stomach churning and shoulders tense.

Because the king of vampires is starving for blood. Because there’s something he’s trying to control, so deeply volatile that not even his right-hand can reach him. Because instead of feeling disconnected, I’m all the more entangled.

All the more on edge, too.

* * *

Dawn burns red and orange across the morning sky. We’re off to a late start, and the sun is already here. It’s harder to load up buses with protestors raging on, so human staff are tying up the loose ends while Arteria waits in seclusion.

I huddle into my coat tighter. The crisp air bites at my freckled nose, and a flush of color brightens my face. I’m not the biggest fan of cold weather, but it’s better than the claustrophobia inside.

“We’re basically done, so let’s get everyone in,” Lorelai tells me.

Doing as I’m told, I round up Arteria. Three out of four are accounted for. With a heavy pit in my stomach, I find the last in the private lounge.

“We’re heading out,” I tell Niko.

He reclines back on a plush chaise, but nothing about him looks relaxed. His eyes are drawn to the open window, watching sunlight spill into the room. Only his seat remains shadowed, like a protective shield. Or a cage.

“You ready?”

Unease clings to my skin. I pat my sweaty palms on my jeans and shuffle in my shoes awkwardly.

“Why were you in my room earlier?”

My blood runs colder than the air outside.

“H-Huh?”

What answer can I even give? I try not to stutter more as I continue.

“What, like . . .when I was packing?”

I laugh nervously. Wow, can I be more obvious?

“Earlier than that.”

His eyes finally move from the sunlit window to me. I actively avoid his piercing gaze.

“What did you hear?” he asks. His voice is calm, but I’m sure that’s false. “What were you looking for?”

“Your Majesty, I . . .”

When he stands, my spine straightens.

“I don’t repeat myself.”

What the fuck do I do? I’m not scared of him. It’s that the possibility of being fired doesn’t seem unlikely. And then what? My breath quickens.

“I . . .well, I . . .just⁠—”

The smallest desire for honesty wavers my resolve to lie. Should I tell him? He always rebuffs my help, but maybe this time . . .Maybe I can get through to him.

“Did you find it?” he asks, taking a step closer. “Was your investigation successful?”

As quickly as it came, my courage withers under his harsh tone. No, the last thing he wants is my meddling, and he’s made that abundantly clear.

When I don’t answer, he starts to close the gap between us. Before he can reach me, I swiftly step back, right into the warmth of the sun.

The tips of my hair glow the color of copper as I stare at him. I don’t want to be cruel. I just have to breathe. His shadow stretches across the floor, but he doesn’t follow.

He can’t.

For the first time, the divide between us feels insurmountable. The mortal in light. The vampire in shadow.

I still don’t see it. As protestors chant just outside these walls, I can’t find a monster. Only a man stands before me, wrapped in shadow and burden. A crown of blood stains his dark hair, but does he want it? What would he do if he had the choice?

Why do I care so much?

I take in a shaky breath. Already, we’ve been here too long. Niko seems to recognize this, as he turns and heads for the door without another word. I’m left in shambles, picking up pieces I shouldn’t even touch.

My personal phone vibrates in my back pocket just as the door clicks shut, and a sad laugh escapes me. The timing of my life is starting to feel like a joke.

While I don’t have any time to spare, I dare to check it. Surprisingly, it’s neither of my parents, but Viola calling.

“Lala?” I answer immediately.

Not even the sun could warm me like her familiar voice.

“Cadie, hi,” she says, tone already strained.

Shit. Did my parents contact her?

“So, your mom called me a bunch of times. Left a few texts, too.”

My stomach can’t form any tighter knots.

“I’m sorry,” I say, eyes stinging with a swift wave of tears. “Wow, today is not my day . . .”

“Are you okay?” she asks, voice dropping to a whisper. “You’re not still in Gravemont, are you?”

“We’re loading up,” I tell her. “I should go, but . . .”

“Before you do, I want to say something.”

She’s not the type to say that lightly. The stale citrus of the hotel’s air refresher is nauseating as I wait with bated breath.

“You need to be careful. I mean it. I’m not trying to be like your parents, either.”

“I know you’re not,” I say, shifting the phone to my other ear. “Honestly, all the protestors and bad energy here have been terrifying. I can’t wait to⁠—”

“Cadence.”

She’s cutting me off with that tone again. The one that halts me in my tracks.

“I said to be careful. Not just with humans,” she says. “But vampires.”

Confusion has me pausing.

“The . . . vampires I work for?”

“Yes.” Her voice is earnest, but stern. “You don’t know them.”

“Well . . .” I’m almost at a loss for words. Isn’t she the one who got me this position under Arteria? “I do, actually. Sure, they’re not all perfect, but Ez is such a great guy, and I admire Selene so much, and the whole band is⁠—”

“Not everyone is who they pretend to be.”

My brows furrow. Suddenly, the sun is too bright against my face, my skin practically itching with overstimulation. I wander back into the shadows as I respond.

“To be fair, I think I know them better than you,” I say, lips downturned.

“Don’t be naïve, Cadence. Vampires . . .” she murmurs. “They’re not human. They’re not like you.”

“But they’re not ‘monsters’ or whatever, either,” I defend. “It’s not naïve to be decent to my employers, anyway.”

It’s been forever since we’ve had any kind of disagreement. Anger pulses through me, like none I’ve ever felt towards her. She won’t stop twisting a knife I’m trying to ignore. I hate how painfully aware the divide between vampires and humans has become, especially when it shouldn’t matter.

Is that naïve? Am I truly incapable of independence in the “real world” like my parents always said?

Am I still a teenager clinging to my sanity in that hospital bed?

Wrong notes crackle through the phone. I wince and grip the phone tighter.

“I really have to go,” I say. “Let me know when you can talk next.”

No response, but more wrong notes.

“Love you,” I say before swiftly cutting the line.

My head is spinning, and my chest is so, so tight. I don’t know how long it’s been since Niko left, or if Lorelai is going to march through that door in just a moment.

All this for a job. I scoff at myself, stuffing my phone back in my pocket. Except . . .No. It isn’t the job I’m spiraling over.

Hot tears spill over. The muted thud of signs against barricades and shouting in the background doesn’t help. I take some breaths, trying to steady myself again. Maybe I really am just a stupid, silly girl. Defying my parents for music and now blowing up at my best friend for my supernatural employers.

No, that’s too simple. They’re not just my obligation. How could I ever think that when I’ve cried for Ezren’s past? When I’ve witnessed Selene’s strength and worries? When I’ve seen the worst of Niko, and refuse to let it define him?

Maybe that’s the most foolish thing of all. Even if he did want me, even if we somehow crossed the line . . .

What would it cost to be his?