Empire of the Vampire (Empire of the Vampire, #1)

by Jay Kristoff

“And in sight of God and his Seven Martyrs,” the monster quoted, “I do here vow; Let the dark know my name and despair. So long as it burns, I am the flame. So long as it bleeds, I am the blade. So long as it sins, I am the saint. And I am silver

“‘The blood of lions flows in your veins,’ she told me that day. ‘And one day as a lion is worth ten thousand as a lamb. Never forget that you are my son. But there is a hunger in you. One you must beware, my sweet Gabriel. Lest it devour you whole.’”

“Too much hate will burn a man to cinders, Chevalier.” “Oui. But at least he’ll die warm.”

“Who the fuck told you I was a hero?”

If by being here, I can save one child, spare one mother the hell of what mine suffered, I’ll do whatever I can to do it well. And damn right I want to be fucking great. Don’t you? Don’t you want your life to count for something? To matter

‘I’d tear the wings off an angel to fly this cage. I’d claw down the sky to carve my name into this earth.’

‘One day as a lion is worth ten thousand as a lamb.’

And looking into the dark above, I beheld a sight I couldn’t recall seeing since I was a child. A sight none of us understood at the time. A sight that was to change my life, and the shape of this entire empire. “A falling star.

‘The world needs bad men, boy. We keep the monsters from the door.’

“Much faster ye were in thy youth, Gabriel

“Ye mayst use me as a walking stick if ye hast need?

“Ah, much better, much b-better indeed. The snik and the snak and the red red red

“What care I, the life these two lived? The Dead cared not for who we loved, nor creed nor kin nor any other measure. And if I were to risk all against them, I’d want the brothers beside me to be those who’d risk no less. Aaron de Coste and I weren’t friends. At that moment, I still doubted we ever would be. But we were brothers. And as the old truth goes, you can choose your friends, but never your famille.

Your past is stone, but your future is clay. And you decide the shape of the life you’ll make.’

It’s a fool who plays at the precipice. But only the prince of fools blames another when he falls.’ “The wind sang a heartbroken hymn. A

“‘I know not what awaits us at the end of this road. We will look upon the face of horror, that much is sure. But courage is the will to do what others will not. And in the arms of heaven’s host, we are invincible. I have looked into the eyes of the Dead and not flinched. I have faced down a Prince of Forever and lived. And I tell you now and true, I have never known such pride, as to ride with a company such as you.’

“‘In the Trial of the Blood,’ I called, ‘Seraph Talon told me that the greatest horrors forge the greatest heroes. But Frère Greyhand always said it’s foolish to be a hero. That they die unpleasant deaths, far from home and hearth.’ I raised my voice above the winds, trying to light a fire that might burn away this chill. ‘I think the truth lies in between. One or two moments of heroism—that’s what the wise seek. One or two heartbeats that last a lifetime. And this is one. A moment to bring a smile to your face on your deathbed. A moment that others will rue they were not here to share. A moment of which you will say, many years and miles from here, that then, if never again, I stood among heroes. And I was one.’

“‘That is true immortality. Not the dark counterfeit to which our enemy lays claim. Eternity lies in the hearts of those who cherish us. Love them, Gabriel. And know they await your arrival at the throne of the Almighty. But not yet.’ He shook his head. ‘Not yet.’

Life is not a story you can tell, de León. It’s only a story you can live. The bright news is, you get to choose what kind yours will be. A story of horror, or a story of courage. A story of indulgence, or a story of duty. The story of a monster. Or the a story of a man.’ “The doors to the Priory opened before us, and I saw light and warmth inside. “‘What will your story be?’”

“‘My wife used to tell me hearts only bruise. They never break. I don’t know if I believe that anymore. I know this world is cruel. That saints and sinners suffer one and the same. I know every time you give a piece of yourself to someone, you risk them breaking it. I know there are some wounds that never truly heal, and sometimes all that’s left of people are their scars. I know time eats us all alive.’

‘You’re looking at it wrong, Gabe,’ he sighed. ‘God may have sent the storm, but he gave me arms to swim for shore. He might bring the winter snows, but he gave us hands to light the flame. You see the suffering all around you but not the joy right beside you, and you curse him for the worst but don’t thank him for the best. What the hell do you want from him?’

In those few moments I had them, and if only then, I was immortal. Because they were immaculate. And they were mine.