Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 428 The Same

From the instant Altair had settled his eyes on Sterling Vahn, a strong disdain permeated his being. He could all but feel the man's envy towards him, including that supple sense of fear. Fear not brought by personal power but by who or what backed him—House Nier.

The Count was a handsome man, a bit scrawny but handsome, with sandy blond hair that complimented his icy blue eyes. Tall, though two heads shorter than Altair. He was transcendent, yet he wore his emotions like a dress. It seemed a waste that such a man held such power but thought with his cock.

Ashara's girls were good. They could no doubt capture even some gods, but that didn't matter to Altair. How could it?

"Debt," Altair said slowly, deliberately. "Myra, was it?"

"Myra Cendara," said Sterling hastily. The distress was quite evident. "Skin as pale as the moon, eyes as red as blood, a petite nose, almond-shaped eyes, and...."

The man went on describing her down to the size of her tit. By the time he was done, Altair could just about envision the woman. He had truly fallen for a whore. That in itself was reason enough for Altair to scorn the man. Had he no sense of honor? No sense of pride? He was a nobleman, but he was begging him, not the Master of House Nier but the Young Master.

"Ah, yes, Myra. A lovely thing," Altair said half-heartedly. It was the best he could manage and more than enough for such a lowly thing. "But I'm afraid the woman isn't for sale. How could she be? Our Myra has quite the bloodline. Transcendence is well within her future. Keeping her where she is could prove... lucrative." He paused, letting that image spin within Sterling's mind; he looked as if he'd licked a sour toad. "Do you truly expect me to hand her over so easily?"

"You must!" Sterling snapped. Fragments of Transcendent Might whisked across his tailored black suit.

Altair smiled, though it never touched his eyes. "And who are you to tell me what to do? You are no ally of my House or the north, nor are you an enemy?"

"I could be," Serling said hurriedly.

But Altair continued on as if he hadn't heard. "You might be the head of your House, but even you must answer to your Great Elders. Enemies would do you no good. I would see you dead, You and Myra, before you could leave this manner."

Sterling turned pale then, seemingly only now realizing where he stood. There were Wardings all around the Manner. One wrong move could lead to his immediate capture or Death. It only mattered which was activated first. However, the same could not be said for Raven. The girl looked as if she was ready to combat a Transcendent, even if it meant certain death.

"Mr. Vahn, I do believe I have been patient. I've listened to your drivel for as long as I can tolerate. Tasha have Myra brought to me. I would truly like to hear why a whore is seeking to marry a—"

Raven blinked unceremoniously, then smiled. "You and him are the same. That will never change. I'm sorry if you don't want to hear that, but I will not lie to you. Even if you command me to."

Altair snorted. "I am your king."

"And I am your protector. I protect not just your body but your spirit. The quicker you come to that realization, the easier it will be to protect you. The last thing I need is for you to do something stupid in response to your other self doing something you didn't like."

Altair was outraged. "I—"

"He is you. Reina and Syris will see it, just as I do. His lust and your pride. Your Sin of Sloth, and his Greed. Do you think no one notices? They'll see it in a single glance. And if they love you, they'll accept it. I have."

"He is not me!" Altair snapped, slapping her hand away.

Raven shrugged, lowering her hand. She sighed, almost as if she had expected such a response, and walked towards the door without another word; she was gone without so much as looking back.

Altair said nothing, thrown into a foul mood. How could he accept the Vale King? Even if he accepted that whatever the man felt was his own feeling. It wasn't him. It couldn't be him.

'But isn't it?'

The Vale King laughed.

'When I speak, you speak, when I fuck, you are fucking. Enjoying everything in that real-time moment. 'He crackled like a ghoul. "We are one and the same. The only thing that separates us from the other is our morals. Useless things if you ask me. You are not even a good person. So why do you try so hard?'

Altair did not bother to respond to him. It had nothing to do with him not having an answer; how could it? No, the Vale King was simply not worth his time.

'We'll just have to see what Syris and Reina have to say when they appear. After all, to anyone who cares—we are the same—no matter how much you deny it. I'm pretty sure they'll call us both Altair Blackwood Snow.'