Drea,
Kirk and Margo have gone to Andres' mansion to inform the Vampire
Council of their experiences, only to find out that something much
more dire is affecting the whole coven.
Heinrich
sighed exasperatedly. "Very well. Come. We'll make the
announcement together." He led the way to the main room.
Kirk
followed at a respectful distance. He adjusted his suit and tie,
suddenly feeling very on display. He did not like public speaking,
but he wasn't in a position to avoid it. Someone had to.
Unfortunately, it fell to him.
Heinrich
led him to the grand staircase. When he got there, he clapped his
hands for attention. Everyone in the room turned toward him. Kirk
stood slightly to his left and a step behind him.
"My
friends," Heinrich began. "We are all aware of the
disappearances of our people. Kirk has come to me with further news.
I will let him fill you in as he sees fit. Please give him your full
attention. Some of what he says may be alarming, but it must be dealt
with." He nodded to Kirk.
Stepping
to the center of the stairs, Kirk raised his head. The room was full
of expectant faces. He picked out Drea and focused on her. She smiled
her encouragement. He told what had happened to him and Drea over the
last few days. There were mutterings around the room. Kirk held up
his hands for silence and they stopped.
"We
have agreed to investigate further, but we need your help. Any of you
with military or law enforcement experience will be needed to provide
security for the rest. Go nowhere alone, travel in pairs. You are
much more vulnerable by yourself."
"We're
vamps," one young man said. "We can take on an army if need
be."
"We
are still vulnerable," Kirk reminded him. "With the right
tools, we can be subdued and killed. Don't let yourself be a victim."
The
young man scoffed. "I'm not worried. I can take care of myself."
"I'm
sure that Vincent thought so, too. He was older, stronger and more
capable than you. He was a warrior in his first life, before turning.
Now he's gone. We don't know what these people have to use against
us. To them, we're the enemy—the evil, waking dead. We prey on
humanity."
There
were protests from the other vampires. Heinrich held up his hands for
silence.
"He
has a point! Who among us can say we have never drunk of human blood?
Who of us has never killed? Have any of you not turned at least one
other?"
There
was immediate silence. Kirk nodded his thanks. "We aren't
perfect. We may not be as humans paint us, but we're not angelic.
They don't call us blood sucking fiends for nothing."
There
was scattered laughter. Smiling, he continued.
"I
am not asking you to give up your lives. I am asking you to be
cautious. Think before going out alone. Take another with you. Go
about your activities with care. Be watchful. It takes moments only
to be vigilant just as it takes mere moments to disappear."
"What
do you intend to do?" The same young man, much subdued, asked
him.
"We
intend to get to the bottom of this. If we can, we'll find who's
responsible and take them down."
"And
if it's some of us?"
"I
would hope that none of us would do this to our own. However, if you
meant vampires in general, it is possible. A rival coven, one not
bound with the same morals and constraints we imposed on ourselves
centuries ago."
"I've
got police experience," Rolf said. "Also been a bodyguard.
I'll help all I can."
"I
will too," Theo said, stepping forward.
One
by one, a baker's dozen stepped forward to volunteer. Even the
Tweedle Twins said they would help out, which surprised Kirk.
"We
need to make plans," Kirk announced to his volunteers. "Meet
in the library in ten minutes," he said as he stepped from the
staircase. "Heinrich." He jerked his head at the
Councilman.
To
his amazement, Heinrich followed without protest. Andres, on the
other hand, was livid. He intercepted Kirk before he left the room.
"What
do you think you're doing?"
"What
you should have done six weeks ago when the first of us disappeared,"
Kirk said angrily.
"Do
you remember who is in charge here?"
"I
have no memory loss, Andres. Perhaps you've been too wound up with
your pretty, new plaything to pay attention to the fact that someone
is hunting us."
Drea
stepped between them, a hand on each chest. "Stop it. Andres, if
you'd clear your love clouded mind, you'd know he's right."
Andres
said nothing, but backed out of Kirk's way. He followed quietly, much
subdued, to the meeting in the library. Carley made to follow, but
Drea held her back.
"No.
You stay out here."
"But
I don't really know anyone else!" She looked terrified. "They
frighten me!"
"Do
you think they're going to bite you?" Margo was incredulous.
"Silly child. What do you think Andres means to do? When you
marry, he'll turn you. Or he may turn you first." She shrugged.
"One way or the other, you'll become one of us."
Carley
stared after them, trembling uncontrollably. The others gazed at her
for awhile, but soon lost interest. They were more concerned with
what Kirk had said, than anything a 23 year old girl would do. The
youngest among them was well over 50 human years. They cared very
little about a mere child.
©
2019 Dellani Oakes
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