Empire of the Vampire, #2
Empire of the Damned
by Jay Kristoff
Contents
Dawn
Overview
After Gabriel’s assault on Celene, Chastain confines him again but unknowingly leaves him with Dario, who is revealed to be Joaquin Marenn and part of Gabriel’s hidden plan for the Grail. This reframes Gabriel’s captivity as strategic rather than defeated.
Meanwhile, Celene gives Chastain’s mouse spy the true ending of her tale: Mother Maryn awakened beneath the crypt, nearly consumed Celene, then sensed Dior above. The final revelation that Dior opened her eyes overturns the apparent finality of Dior’s death and points the story toward a new phase.
Summary
After attacking Celene, Gabriel is returned from Jean-François Chastain’s cell to the tower room where his story was taken. Chastain arrives with his servants and warns Gabriel that Celene belongs to the Empress and must not be harmed again. Though Chastain acknowledges that Gabriel’s account will please Margot, Chastain suspects Gabriel and Celene have both withheld more than they revealed.
Chastain offers Gabriel blood and pleasure through his servants, testing Gabriel’s thirst and self-control. Gabriel refuses the sexual temptation but, tormented by hunger, accepts “another bottle.” Chastain leaves Dario with Gabriel, removes even his mouse familiar from the room, and departs with a final reminder that everyone must pay “the beast” its due.
Once Gabriel is certain Chastain is gone, Gabriel approaches Dario. The apparent servant is revealed to be an ally named Joaquin Marenn when Gabriel recites the prophecy about the Grail, the sainted blade, the virgin sun, and the ending of the blackened veil. Joaquin answers the final line, and both men dedicate themselves “For the Grail,” showing that Gabriel has been using his captivity to prepare another move.
The scene shifts to Celene in the dark cell below. Celene senses another of Chastain’s mouse spies, Marcel, and speaks to him as if he were a confidant. Rather than hide her knowledge, Celene offers him the final part of her account: what happened after Dior’s funeral, when Celene waited beneath the crypt of Mother Maryn and contemplated the prophecy she did not yet understand.
Celene recalls that the blood of Dyvok and a prince of the duskdancers had spilled onto the stone angel and into the hidden mouth beneath it. The tomb opened, and Mother Maryn rose as a childlike, ancient vampire. Starved from long slumber, Maryn attacked Celene and nearly drained her dry, but stopped when Maryn sensed Dior lying above in her burial chamber.
Maryn named Dior “San Dior,” and Celene describes Dior as savior, sinner, saint, and a girl she cared for. The chapter ends with the revelation that, in the dark after her funeral, Dior opened her eyes.
Who Appears
- Gabriel de LeónImprisoned silversaint; resists Chastain, hides a plan, and contacts Joaquin for the Grail.
- Celene CastiaCaptive Last Liathe; knowingly tells Chastain’s mouse the secret of Maryn and Dior.
- Jean-François ChastainVampire marquis; threatens Gabriel, controls the prison, and underestimates both captives.
- Dario / Joaquin MarennChastain’s apparent youngblood servant; secretly Gabriel’s ally dedicated to the Grail.
- Mother MarynAncient childlike vampire awakened beneath the crypt; attacks Celene and senses Dior.
- Dior LachanceMourned as San Dior; revealed by Celene to have opened her eyes after burial.
- MarcelChastain’s mouse familiar; spies on Celene and receives her final revelation.
- MelineChastain’s servant; helps manage Chastain’s desires and accompanies him from Gabriel’s room.
- JasminneChastain’s servant; part of the temptation offered to Gabriel before Chastain leaves.
- DelphineChastain’s imposing guard; accompanies the marquis and his thrallswords.