Dragon grinned as he watched Repetate and Iustina was so caught up in the fact that I was saying something yet heard what they understood from my translator. I heard him comment to Colin. “Amasis was correct. Your husband does have compassion for all creatures.” He waved at the two Old Ones. “Even them.”
Colin nodded. “He does. He’s almost reckless sometimes, but he can also get through to almost anyone. He’s trusted.”
Dragon looked again at the computer but wasn’t scared to touch it now, but still wasn’t comfortable doing that. “I don’t care what you say about this lightening thing and all that…” he opened the laptop carefully and looked at the many sites still up. “This is truly magical.”
“Devon was right,” Colin explained. “It’s a simple tool. He’s used an example to explain it before. You’re handed a blade, you can use it to cut vegetables, chop wood or kill another human being. It’s not the blade’s fault it killed, but the user. Just like with a blade, this can be used to hurt people. You need to be careful.”
Dragon nodded. “I always am, but I listen to people that have been in this world and I haven’t.” He shook his head. “I know it seems glamorous to most to live as long as we do, but you’re really isolated.”
“Which is another reason I knew I had to do something about it.” Colin nodded.
“What do you want with me?” Dragon asked. “I’m not that person on those…” he waved at the computer, “…that Inter…net.”
“I need you to understand what we’re trying to do,” Colin said. “Our numbers are in the thousands, perhaps a million worldwide, but we are so isolated, we can’t do anything. Together, we can return to the world. I’d like to have your support.”
Dragon nodded as he thought. “I’ll do what I can, but this really isn’t my world anymore.” He said sadly.
“You have more power than you realize,” Colin said urgently. “Like it or not, people see you as Dracula!”
Dragon looked up suddenly and shook his head. “But I’m not! Dracula was fiction!”
“I know,” Colin said quickly and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.” He took a deep breath. “This may seem…odd…to you, but you have more power than you know you have. Vampires don’t trust. I know that, but if you urge them to go with this…they might open up more.” Colin explained. “We number in the thousands…perhaps a million or more, but the world has become smaller as more of us are on the Internet and connected through that.”
“I can’t be everywhere.” Dragon said simply.
“That’s the beauty of this Internet.” Colin nodded. “You can.” He waved at the computer. “Through this, you can reach out and touch every one of them with your voice.” He waved at the computer. “We can do this however you want, but it would help us if you did.”
Dragon looked uncertain but nodded. “I’ll consider your words.”
I smiled having overheard all they talked about. Whatever talent Dragon had, his very presence with us would mean a lot. My time with Repetate and Iustina was to win their trust. The goal was simply to get them to volunteer their venom. They were both entertaining and though simple as many would see…if they weren’t hunting you, that is. Gaius and Cragen completed their treatments and had discs inserted in them. The transformation of those two was like the others, nothing but spectacular. Gaius had that horrible disfigurement over his eye, but a simple eyepatch covered that and his one good eye had the moisture needed and he looked very handsome. Their coming into the sunrise was delayed a day, but once we got them to that point, their reaction was like others. They just knew they’d never see another one without dying. Seeing it was nothing short of miraculous.
We told Dragon and the other vampires we were giving the serum to them, but George needed their blood as it was now to begin again making headway with finding a cure. I’ve said it often, so you know vampires may not trust easily, but they had learned patience and none them were worried about waiting a few more days.
We needed a space for George to work and Stan to continue his work. The new CPU was being sent, along with the supplies George needed to make more serum. We were also working to broaden the language database for the Delkenzie Translation Program which was growing quickly. The real trick was looking for a place to work in that had the power we needed in this part of the world. It needed to be secure as well as have access to the needed power. This part of the world was beautiful; if seen from above, but almost all of our time here had been spent underground. A cave is a cave, is a cave.
Most of these vampires were like others we met like Burke who had bred sheep for the purpose of consuming their blood instead of hunting and killing people. The vampires in Transylvania had bred cows and goats for their consumption of blood. Several families that had vampires in their families had a few choice livestock to provide the vampires with the needed blood. It was at the house we rented that Gabriella and Alex let us know about what they found out about Lucian and Iilya.
“The problem is…” Alex was explaining to the others gathered to compare notes. “…they are clever.”
Gabriella nodded. “They crisscross their paths.” She explained. “Tracking vampires, I mean vampires that can track is apparently not new to them. They know how to…” she thought for a word.
Alex was nodding. “…how to blur their tracks.” He completed for his wife.
“Iilya has remained hidden,” Gabriella said. “I know his scent, but this crisscrossing of his tracks causes problems and this Lucian is an unknown to us. Iilya traveled with several vampires so we can’t pinpoint a single vampire by scent.”
George nodded and let out a frustrated grunt. “Damn it.” He stood up and started to pace as he thought. “We are just so close to a solution, I know it!”
Burke smiled at George. “And it will be here again, we just need some equipment. It will be fine, George.”
George looked at Burke and nodded. “It’s just so…”
“Frustrating,” Burke said smiling he said taking George’s hand. “I know.”
George sighed and sat down again. “There is something…” he started, “…so different about Nicolae’s blood. He should be a vampire, but he isn’t. He’s aging normally and has children of his own! The answer is there, but I need my notes and research I did.”
Colin got up and hugged George. “And it will be there when we get the new CPU.” He looked at Stan. “What have you found out about a secure location to work out of?”
Stan grinned. “Well, the problem isn’t the power, it is the location.” He reached down and pulled up his laptop. “There are locations that were used during the Cold War…” he looked up. “…I was in diapers back then.”
“Ten years ago?” Mark asked innocently.
Stan put his hand on Mark’s face and shoved him back lightly and said. “Shaddup.” He said almost absently. “The Soviet Union had bases around here. There’s one not far if we get permission to use it.” He said.
“Can I ask a stupid question?” Shelly began almost too quietly.
Colin looked at Shelly. “Sure.”
“Why are you doing this?” Shelly asked.
Colin smiled and gave his shrug and nod. “That’s not a stupid question.”
Shelly sat forward. “I mean, why cure yourselves? You have what most people want.” She said simply. “You’re young, full of life and you won’t die.” She looked at Colin. “I joined this group to hunt vampires that prey on people.” She put in. “I’m all for that, but the idea that you could add a few decades or even a century or even…” she waved at Amasis. “…a couple of thousand years is amazing.”
Amasis nodded and he smiled at Shelly. “But we’re cut off from the human race. We can’t…or didn’t know we could until we found Gaius and found out we could…but we can’t have children.” He looked at Shelly. “You enter a whole different subject with loved ones and people that mean something to you that you will lose.”
“Being a vampire means losing people,” George said.
“But you aren’t.” Shelly pointed to George. “You have Burke now.” She waved at Colin. “You have Gabriella and Devon.” She waved at my mother. “Betty became a vampire to stay with Willie and her son. I think Betty and Devon have the best as vampires…someone that will love them for a long, long time. They are losing no one.”
“But that doesn’t mean we won’t die.” Colin corrected. “We can be killed by guns or even hit by a car.”
“Could,” Shelly said. “Not will. There’s a huge difference. You could lose them, but not will lose them.” She shook her head. “I have a mother and father who are doing pretty well, but they are getting older. I will lose them one day. We’re raised knowing that.” She smiled. “I have a sister that has two kids.” She chuckled at a memory. “I can only imagine what their lives will be like and I hope I see a lot of that life. I wouldn’t mind having a child of my own one day.” She shook her head and looked at us. “There’s no solution, but I will hunt the vampires that kill people, but don’t be in such a hurry to become human again. Enjoy knowing that you might live a damned long time!” She waved at George. “The things he’s contributed to science and medicine is just mind-blowing. Imagine what he’ll find in another century! He’s brilliant, but he can work on a problem for decades…if not indefinitely! The breakthroughs he will make…” she waved her head like it was impossible to believe, “I can’t begin to comprehend.”
“But the world won’t see us as human,” Gabriella said.
Shelly shook her head. “Why not? I do.” She held her hands out. “You’re right. We will be entering a new world if we have people that can just live indefinitely.” She smiled again. “I would love to, but not without my sister, her kids, and my parents. You see what happened to after you were bitten as a curse.” She nodded. “It was…until now? George found a way to stop the venom from working and now you have a life, enjoying meals and travel and anything you like. Don’t rush this whole…cure thing.”
Chuck nodded. “She’s right.” He added. “Let’s stop these vampires here like Iilya and Lucian from doing…whatever they are doing.” He nodded. “I’ve considered what it would be like to be one of you and…” he grinned. “That would be sweet, but like Shelly said. If I do this, I would want my father to be included, but he never would now that Mom’s gone.” He smiled. “However, you have what a lot of people want. Enjoy it.”
It was later when both Colin and I were exhausted and decided to go to bed a while and rest. As Colin slid in next to me, I was feeling a little guilty about my feelings. It must have been on my face, for as Colin was leaning closer to me, he stopped.
“What?” Colin asked.
I grinned at him and nodded. “We’re married. You can read me.”
“I was there.” Colin grinned. “I read you very well, but what are you thinking about?”
I frowned. “You won’t like it.”
Colin frowned, too. “Oh?”
I nodded. “I like being a vampire.” There, I said it.
“What!?” Colin asked in disbelief as he sat up more.
I waved at him. “See? You don’t like it. I knew you wouldn’t.” I held my hands up to stop him. “Just…hear me out.”
Colin laid down a bit more. “Okay.”
“I never had the horrible things you experienced,” I explained. “I never had to worry about avoiding the sun for any other reason that I would get sunburn easily when I was human.” I sat up to face him. “I don’t feel any different than I did when I was human! I’ve never hungered but that one time right after you bit me and when I showed Amasis what we are. I’ve never looked at a human being and seen a target to feed off of. You came in like this…knight and brought me into your world and…” I laughed, “…this world is pretty sweet. You’re rich, you’re generous and you’re smart.”
“But if George didn’t come up with the serum…it would be miserable!”
I nodded. “But he did! I have had no pains after the introduction of the serum. Your life had almost nothing but pain; mine didn’t.” I nodded. “I knew…after we first met, I knew I would be a vampire.”
Colin shook his head. “I didn't want that life for you.”
“You didn’t do anything to me, Colin.” I looked in his emerald colored eyes. “I secretly thank Burke for making it impossible for you not to make me a vampire. You had to feed, and I was the target. I knew you would never hurt me. You loved me. You hated what you were for so long…you can’t see it any other way.” I looked away. “I’m not sorry I became a vampire, Colin.” I looked again. “If this changes you’re opinion of me…well, we’ve always been honest. I’m being honest. I saw how glad you were to be in a relationship with me and I never wanted to leave you.”
Colin heard me, but he was looking in my eyes. “Okay, I’ll be honest, too.” He took a deep breath. “I wanted to make you a vampire almost from that first day.”
My eyes widened. “You did not.”
Colin nodded. “I did. Of course, you found the evidence of who I was, and I really didn’t fight you by not telling you the truth, but I wanted to make you vampire…well, you didn’t run away; I didn’t scare you, so I wanted you to stay,” he shrugged, “but I was on the serum, I couldn’t make you a vampire, so…”
“If you could have, you’d have done it?” I asked. “For love?”
Colin gave a shrug. “Lust at that point, but…yes. That was very selfish of me.”
I got up and pushed him back. “No, it wasn’t!” I was on top of him at this point. “It was human. We’re social creatures, we’re not meant to be alone. You were!”
“Yes, but making you like me wasn’t the answer!” Colin protested weakly.
I nodded. “But you didn’t, well…you did, but with George’s serum I’m not like you were.” I settled on top of him. “Are you mad at me for liking what I am?”
“Are you mad at me because of who I am and my wanting to keep you with me?” Colin asked.
I shook my head. “Not a bit.”
Colin smiled. “I’m not mad at you.”
“So, what are we going to do?” I asked.
“The problem was, we can’t have children…normally.” He smiled. “But replenishing the Earth isn’t that essential if we live as long as we do.”
“But we can die.” I pointed out. “We’ll need to have children because we can, and will die; eventually.”
“That’s one of the reasons George is looking for a cure.”
“Shelly’s right; we shouldn’t be worrying about a cure,” I said. “We now know a vampire can have children; we have Nicolae as proof.”
“Without the serum, we will become those bloodsuckers again,” Colin said.
I nodded. “George said the components to make the serum isn’t hard to find.”
“But complicated to make, he says,” Colin said.
“So, we make sure George has what he needs and passes it on. This Lucian seems to be under the impression that we are supposed to be the undead or like the character Bram Stoker wrote about.” I said. “He, right now, is the danger and we need to find him. My kidnapping when we were in Egypt told us that there are men out there that will want what we have to become this all-powerful vampire.”
Colin nodded. “Vampires are just people that don’t have a time limit; that’s scary to people.” He said. “There are good vampires and bad vampires. We just need to deal with the bad ones and keep the good ones safe.”
I nodded. “But the more we’re out there and the more people know about us…we will be found out.”
Colin sighed. “If that happens, I can see another of your movie scenarios where there is a raging horde of angry villagers with pitchforks and torches assaulting the castle.”
“The world isn’t ready for us.” I nodded.
“But we are here now,” Colin said. “What do we do?”
“We’ve become aliens on our own planet,” I said quietly. “I wish we were from another planet; we’d have a home to go back to.”
“What we need…” Colin said quietly. “Is a place on the world where we can be free to be what we are; like those men that took you…governments will try to use us for whatever. People will want us to make them into vampires or just kill us.”
I nodded. “There’s really no place left here on the world to go to find a country of our own. Even Antarctica is crowded more now.”
Colin smiled. “Well, maybe there’s a country…struggling that would welcome us.” He grinned. “Imagine, a country that’s struggling and we come in. We have doctors, lawyers, scientists, teachers and politicians with centuries of experience…George could open a hospital. We could add to the economy of that country and make it prosper.”
“If we can get the other vampires to talk to us...” I said. “We can’t form a country without them.”
“All this is premature anyway, we need to find Lucian and get Dragon on our side,” Colin said as he grinned at me. “We have been so busy…” he said, “…you’ve told me, but…do you still love me?”
I smiled down at him. “There, since we’re baring our souls to each other…no. You have to know the truth; I don’t love you at all.”
Colin chuckled. “Yes, I agree. It’s truth time. I don’t love you, either.”
“See!?” I said kissing him. “We’ve been together so long; I can read you, too. I know better.”
“You can’t lie to me, either,” Colin said rolling us so he was on top. “I know you do.”
I pulled Colin closer. “I know you do.”
We had not one, but two CPUs arrive from Manhattan along with things George needed to make up his lab so he could continue with his research. Now the issue was with the government of Romania.
Stan found there was an unused Soviet Base in the town of Barsov a little northeast of where we were. We had to deal with the mayor there who was also called George. George Scriparu who was dark headed about fifty. Colin, Stan, Mark and I went to negotiate with him to let us use it.
“I don’t understand.” The Mayor said from behind his desk in English. “Why do you wish to use this base?” He asked for clarification. Language issues?
“Because of what we’re doing,” Colin said and touched his translator and spoke in his earpiece microphone. “Suntem crearea unui program pentru calculator să ajute cu traducerea şi avem nevoie de un loc sigur. Casa pe care am închiriat a fost vandalizat şi am nevoie de undeva mai sigure.” He said saying we were creating the program to translate and we had our equipment vandalized while we had it at the house we rented. “Ne veţi plăti pentru costul şi securitate. Chiar şi pentru orice actualizări de putere s-ar putea nevoie. Avem nevoie doar de aprobarea dumneavoastră.” Colin said we’d pay for the use and provide security and even upgrade the power as needed.
Now the mayor was standing as he looked in disbelief looking at the device on Colin’s shoulder. “Asta a fost in limba romana.”
My earpiece told me he had said what Colin and said was in Romanian.
Colin nodded. “Acum, poate intelegeti mai bine?” Colin said now he may understand better.
(The rest I will write in English, but we were all speaking Romanian and English.)
“We need our equipment to be secure as we move around the country gathering needed information,” Colin said and turned to Stan and Mark. “Stan is brilliant with the computer…he can watch it while there…”
Stan grinned and nodded. “Thanks, Boss.”
Colin rolled his eyes and waved at Mark. “Mark is part of our security. So, we won’t be unprotected, though you may need to explain what is allowed and not allowed in this part of the world.”
Mark’s eyes were slits when he looked at Colin. “Gee, thanks.” He muttered in English.
We got permission to use it, with the understanding that we were to use a security firm from Romania for the outside security. We were not allowed to have guns here, but Colin agreed to hire this firm, which we found out later was a relative that ran it. Of course Mark, Stan, Shelly, and Chuck had their guns with them and could protect our stuff from inside the base.
The whole transition took a few days, but we got set up and found ourselves to be secure and George went back to his research. The man that had okayed our bringing our things into Romania was the same man that had let us in the first time and loved his translator! I could kiss Mitch for letting us use it. That program was providing the perfect cover! We were investors, but were really adding to his language database and therefore not a lie. Every member of our team carried one and all conversations were entered in and translated, making it easier as we went through the various towns.
We still patrolled for Lucian and Iilya and finding they had made others that were still remaining hidden. We interviewed Gaius, Cragen, and Dragon. Now that George had his equipment, he took samples of Dragon’s blood and took Nicolae’s again and started doing research again.
Gaius sat as his son got his blood drawn again. Gaius was enjoying being out during the day with his family.
“Tell me,” George said to Gaius as he prepared Nicolae’s blood to test. “The vampire that bit you…you were wild after the bite because he was?”
Gaius nodded. “I was.” He frowned. “Memories are a little foggy during those couple of centuries.” He grunted as he tried to remember some of it. “I remember I fought myself…” he tapped his own head in the memory of the frustration he’d gone through, “in here. I found it hard to think and recall anything.”
“And Dragon?” George asked.
“We were bitten by two separate vampires.” Gaius frowned at a memory. “There were several during that battle when we were both turned. They wandered around in these…packs…like wolves.”
George nodded. “But you came back.” He said. “Do you remember how much time had passed before you could think clearly again?”
“I don’t really…” Gaius began. “It was a couple of centuries I know. I remember having to hide all the time…”
“You said…” I began coming closer to the man. “…you were afraid to face God with what you did,” I said quietly. “You’re speaking of that period, or when you were with Dragon?”
“Both,” Gaius said bitterly. “I remember what I did with or for Dragon, but not when I was out of my head. I know I probably hunted humans.”
“You weren’t yourself,” I said calmly. “The venom was driving you then and took away your humanity. What you did with Dragon…”
“Was horrible!” Gaius spat. “He did it! I did it…there were others that did it!”
I nodded. “Okay, I’m not offering any absolution about that, but…if someone threatened Nicolae or your grandchildren and there was no other choice…”
“I ran poles up men’s asses that made the shafts come out the neck or chest! I gouged out eyes and cut off their man parts while they were alive!!” He said as he began rocking back and forth to shield what he now clearly could remember.
“To stop them.” I reminded him as I put my hand on his shoulder as he rocked. “Was there any other way?”
He was crying now as he shook his head. “I don’t know.” He said in sorrow and regret. “Dragon…you know he is Vlad, but he…did it himself as well…but he couldn’t do it alone. I had to help.”
I nodded and touched his other shoulder and made him look up at me with his good eye. “I figured that out a while ago.” He shut his good eye. “Gaius,” I said and he looked at me. “Willie…my stepfather…has some horrors he remembers when he fought in a war. It’s a terrible thing, war. I’ve dealt with the injuries of soldiers and one of those injuries is in your mind. You remember what happened. You’ll never forget. I don’t forget the things I saw, but I’ll help you if you want.”
“How? You can’t take it away.” Gaius said sobbing.
I shook my head. “No, I can’t, but there is one thing I can do. I can listen…maybe give some perspective.”
Gaius shook his head. “I can’t! I can’t talk about what I did!!”
I nodded again, still speaking softly to him. “What you’re going through is Post Traumatic Depression, it is a real diagnosis.”
George smiled at Gaius. “Listen to him, Gaius. He’s helped Willie and others.”
“I can see it bothers you,” I said. “That’s better than you not giving it another thought. You regret what happened and it’s tearing you up inside. If you don’t talk to me, you’ll never be able to deal with it. Your brain wants to deal with it, but you’re not letting it.” I made sure he was looking at me. “I’m not saying it will be an easy thing to do, but you have to if you want to get better.”
“I don’t want to remember.”
I nodded again. “I know, but you can’t have any release if you don’t. Talking will help your mind accept what you had to do. Then you may be able to forgive yourself and talk with God. He will forgive. The problem is…we don’t forgive ourselves.”
Colin smiled as I hugged Gaius, who grabbed me and held on tight.
I was concerned about Dragon. I told Gaius that as long as he had remorse and regret about what he’d done, he had something to come back to. Meaning, he was still human and just needed closure. Dragon, or so it seemed, had no problem with what he’d done in the past. Well, that just seemed right to me since he refused to be called by his own name because of what he’d done. He did have a very dark personality…kind of. I sensed a lot of brooding in him. Yet, he seemed to be capable of making friends and being friendly. He liked, appreciated and seemed to genuinely love Repetate and Iustina. They loved him as their whole demeanor changed when they saw him approach. They didn’t even have to see him. As he approached, they gathered near the bars of their cell in anticipation of his arrival because they could smell him and sense his coming. My observation of Repetate and Iustina revealed they both had definite and separate personalities. Iustina was the shorter of the two, but more assertive and a little stubborn. Repetate liked to clown around and pulled pranks, like hiding when I came to them and I have to admit, he was damned good at it. He could contort his body in ways I didn’t think possible and hide in the most improbable places as he was very nimble and limber; hiding behind an uneven stack of crates I never would have looked to find him. The cell was to keep them in place, for the safety of other people and themselves, so it was not barren of furniture or places to sit, but I didn’t see they sat much on anything preferring to sit on the floor when they had to sit.
The light in the underground was done by either torch or lamp light fueled by oils. I could see they were very pale, almost white to gray in color. I was constantly reminded of those…gray aliens we’ve all seen pictures of. Only these two had eyes like a human and ears. Their musculature was not like regular humans as they had very little definition for the muscles in their chests and arms but were very strong, able to lift a hundred pounds or more easily. While they could not speak, I saw them interacting with each other and seemed to understand gestures and grunts from each other. I longed to see their physiology. I knew they were human, but there were differences. The lack of genitals was the first difference and no way of eliminating solid waste, but a diet of nothing but blood, they wouldn’t need to get rid of solids that way. I noticed they didn’t have a radio or anything, so I brought out my laptop and pulled up some music I thought they’d like. Well, that opened a whole new world for them. They were fascinated by the computer and what they heard on those little speakers, which weren’t bad, but not really good stereo speakers, but having never heard music it was new to them. I was smiling when I saw them both frown when I got a country song going, so I changed it. I wasn’t going to expose them to more…harsher sounds at first, preferring lighter and music that didn’t have words. Then I showed some Tom and Jerry cartoons! They were amazed at the moving pictures, but with the sounds, like when Jerry hit Tom in the shin with a lead pipe and Tom yelped and jumped around! They laughed. The old cartoons that had almost no dialogue, but antics of that cat chasing that mouse and the sounds made by them caused them to smile and even…laugh? I was stunned, too! They laughed! It was an odd laugh as they didn’t “ha, ha,” but made a noise that clearly said they thought it was funny!
Feeding of these two was simply blood. They consumed about two pints of blood at first light of the day and one as the evening began. They did sleep during the day like Gizmo had preferred a fetal position on the floor. I was then questioned by George about what I’d found, and I agreed to write down my findings about them. It was easier than a daily report. However, Colin and I both questioned George about what he found when we returned to the lab he’d set up at the former Soviet base those couple of weeks. He had forgone the long white lab coat that most doctors and scientists wore, but he was fully a scientist here.
“Okay,” George said finally sitting on a stool after he’d run test after test on the samples he had of blood, both with the serum and without the serum…all tested with this antibody and antivenin that Nicolae had. He took a deep breath. “The only way to describe what I’ve found…is it has to be a kind of mutation.” He shrugged. “His birth itself is a mutation, he shouldn’t be here.”
“But he is.” Colin pointed out the obvious.
George nodded with a sigh. “Thank you for pointing out the obvious.” He grinned. “Gaius was the one that had this…mutation. It is in his DNA which he passed to Nicolae. Nicolae furthered this mutation allowing him to make the antibody and antivenin.”
“I thought our DNA was rewritten by the venom,” Colin said.
George nodded. “Yes, but Gaius’ DNA should be making his body make the venom…” he said holding a finger up, “and he is…to a degree…”
“Let’s try to be less cryptic, just tell us what’s happening.” Colin groused.
George frowned. “Fine.” He turned back to Colin and me. “He’s making less venom than he’s supposed to. His original DNA is coming back!”
My eyes widened. “I thought that was impossible.”
George nodded. “So did I, but he is. That’s part of the aberration.” He said. “It may be the reason he was able to father a child.” He pointed at the Petri dish where there was blood. “Nicolae was created using Gaius’ DNA, which had the instructions in that DNA to create venom, but he’s not. Instead, he had created this…antibody which is working with the antivenin that Nicolae himself came up with.”
“Keeping him from becoming a vampire?” Colin asked. “So, he should be a vampire?” The last part we worded as a question telling his uncertainty.
“No!” George said happily. “He shouldn’t be at all!!
Colin gave a grunt. “But he is!”
George nodded. “And that’s the mutation!”
“So…” I was seeing if I was understanding George when I asked, “what is Nicolae? Half vampire, half human?”
George nodded excitedly. “Yes! That’s why I’m saying he shouldn’t exist, but he does! The natural antibody and antivenin are keeping the venom that is being made from his father’s DNA from working…I mean it’s there, but this antivenin is keeping the venom from doing its job! The only thing Nicolae has is the intolerance for direct sunlight, everything else is just…ignored!” George was excited as he spoke of his findings.
“So what does that mean for us?” I asked.
“I have a way to go, but…” he held that finger up again as we could both see he was still working things in his mind. “If I can test this antibody and antivenin on the blood of others…like the vampires here not taking the serum and build up the strength of the antibody and antivenin…I hope I can give it to us and we’ll be completely serum-free!!”
I nodded as I grinned at George’s excitement. “We won’t have to take the serum anymore!”
George nodded again. “Right! We’ll make it ourselves.” He looked at Colin. “Do you understand?”
“But it’s not a cure.” Colin wanted to be sure he understood again.
George shrugged. “I don’t know, I still have some tests, but I can give every vampire this ability to make the antibody and antivenin and they will be almost normal.” He got up and waved at his many samples. “I hope to make a good amount of the antibodies and antivenin. I plan to create a very, very strong version of these antibodies and antivenin to test on the venom from Repetate and Iustina. That’s the purest venom, I’m sure!” He looked back. “If I can do that…we may carry the venom, but it will no longer work at all. It will be like measles or any other disease; we have a defense against it. We can be exposed, but never become a vampire…ever!! It would be natural!”
Colin nodded. “I think I understand.” He got up. “Not a word about this to other vampires.” He said standing and looking directly at George. “No one. Now, we really need to find this Lucian and Iilya. This treatment is not what they want.”
George shook his head. “Not a word, but it will be in the computer, my findings and conclusions…just in case.”
I smiled and put a hand on George’s arm. “Is there anyone else you’d trust with the formula or findings?” I asked. “I mean, I don’t want to lose you at all, but if…” I waved, “God forbid we all die in a plane crash, is there anyone you can think of to take over where you left off?”
He thought a few seconds. “I’d have to get them up to speed.” He shrugged feeling the heavy gravity he felt with this. “We need a Geneticist, a Biochemist, Biochemical Engineer, a Botanist and person who’s just knowledgeable at being a doctor.”
Colin grinned. “You’ve sort of raised the bar very high with all those degrees.”
“What about Karen?” I asked.
“Wayne’s granddaughter?” George asked. “She’s smart, I’ll give you that…”
“I mean…” I began. “There is no such person without the life span you have to be able to keep up and understand what you’re doing. We will need a team, and we can start by asking her and maybe she will know who.”
“What about your colleagues from school?” Colin asked.
“Which school?” George asked.
“That’s our point!” I said. “You’ve had access to many medical minds and scientists…there must be some people you can think of to talk to…people you think you can trust.”
Colin nodded. “You are the only practicing doctor that’s a vampire I know of.”
I slapped my own forehead. “But we’ve never asked!” I said shaking Colin by the arm.
“What?” Colin asked.
“There are thousands online that are watching the screen, waiting for something from us,” I said. “We just haven’t asked.”
“But that would compromise what we’re doing.” Colin objected. “We’d be telling we have something.”
I nodded. “I know that secrecy is needed, I understand why and agree, but George can’t be the only vampire out there that was a doctor.” I pointed out. “He needs help.”
George nodded as he began to pace again as he thought. “Depending on who we can find that person has to know how to work in a lab.” He waved at his lab. “My lab. They need to know how to do things…science changes and if they’ve been a vampire for decades or a hundred years…will they know about Electron-microscopes and computer imaging?”
“We’ll have to teach them,” I said simply. “A doctor is a doctor. He or she would be smart enough to do the job with the correct teaching.”
“But we’re giving away we have something,” Colin repeated.
I shook my head. “Not necessarily.” I grinned. “They already know about the serum; we’ve told them all we have it and will treat them with it.” I shrugged. “We’ll need help when we get to them…wherever they are. A doctor will be needed to give the serum.”
George nodded. “We can then glean through the doctors that are able and try to find the ones we think will help with this new treatment.”
“If they feel they can trust us.” Colin took a deep breath and let it out as he scratched the back of his head. “We need Dragon to speak to them.” He rose from his chair as he was working it out in his mind. “If anyone can reach them, he can.” He looked at George and me. “We’ll have him ask for the help and see who answers.”
I nodded. “I still think Wayne’s granddaughter would be of help. What about your lab technicians back in Manhattan?”
“They have a working knowledge, but I need others that have greater knowledge.” George sighed. “They would have it…in about two decades!” He threw his hands out in frustration.
“So?” I said. “Let’s get started!”
“I want my lab!” George said frustrated again. “This is fine for a few things, but I need my lab!”
“What about Repetate and Iustina?” I asked. “You’ll need them.”
George nodded. “I will need them in Manhattan.”
I knew this was hard for George. “Then, we’ll take them there.”
Colin nodded. “I’ll talk to Dragon…and tell him what we need to do.” He said sadly. “We’ll set up the video-blog and have him ask for medical professionals to come forward to help.” He looked at George. “You’ll need Nicolae and Gaius, I’m sure.”
George nodded. “I need Nicolae. Gaius will want to come, too.”
I nodded. “That means his wife and kids will have to come, too.”
“It would make it easier,” George said with a shrug. “Better than me trying to set up the kind of lab I need here. I have a working lab there.”
“I’ll call Congresswoman Chance and Senator Cooke,” Colin said. “We might need them to let whoever is in charge know they are needed and allowed to stay in the United States.”
“Anyone can come to the United States,” I said. “They aren’t immigrating.”
Colin nodded. “But if word of this gets out…if they are targeted as terrorists or something, they’ll have the government’s backing.” He shrugged. “Just in case.”
As always, we all gathered to tell what we found that day…or rather it was the morning after the others had spent the night patrolling. We sat in various chairs about the living area as we talked.
“George is going home in a few days,” Colin said. “He needs his lab and he’s not getting what he needs working from here.” He looked at Gabriella and Alex. “You’ve gotten nothing about Lucian and Iilya?”
Gabriella shook her head. “As I explained, we only had Iilya to go on and he’s laying low. I’ve gotten nothing from him.”
Alex nodded as he sat on the sofa by Gabriella. “Your daughter’s ability to track is better than mine. If she hasn’t gotten it, I couldn’t hope to.”
I grinned. “Why not?” I smiled at Alex. “Or is it like the difference in the color grape over puce? I could never keep up with all those names, or tell the difference sometimes.”
Alex chuckled. “I think it’s that.” He nodded. “Why not just say purple?” He asked looking at his wife.
“Because they are different colors!” Gabriella argued but shook her head.
Colin chuckled. “It’s a female thing.” He nodded.
I nodded as the guys were chuckling with us.
Chuck shook his head. “We don’t have enough estrogen for our gender to see those variations.”
“Personally, I’d feel better if you, Gabriella and Mom went back with George and Burke,” Colin said softly, hesitant.
That didn’t set well with Gabriella. “Why? We’re needed.”
Colin gave a grudging nod and said. “…because it might get dangerous, Gabby.”
Shelly sat up straighter at that. “And we’re not in danger all the time!? Because we’re women…you don’t think we can do the job?”
“Stop!” Gabriella said sternly to Shelly. “Please don’t yell at him because he wants to protect us…” she rose from beside Alex and walked over to her father. “He always was…even after he was bitten…very protective.” She knelt in front of Colin who wasn’t looking at her. “It was you, wasn’t it?” She pulled his head toward her so he looked at her. “Those years after I was alone at Wentworth, the war had started, my husband was off fighting that stupid war, but I never felt unsafe.” She pressed her forehead against her father’s forehead. “I remember that night…a bunch of deserters came to the plantation…no one could explain finding all those men dead when the sun rose. Their necks were broken, and no one knew how it happened.” She smiled. “That was you, wasn’t it? I could almost feel you there.”
Colin nodded. “I couldn’t let them hurt you. Those hateful men had raped and pillaged as they came. I couldn’t let them do that to you.” He said softly. He looked at Shelly. “You are a trained professional…but this is my daughter.” He waved at our mother. “She’s Devon’s and my mother.” He looked at me. “I’d send Devon back to Manhattan or Wentworth Manor if I could.” He shook his head. “I’m not sexist, I’m just being protective.”
Shelly smiled. “Oh, I see. I apologize.”
Gabriella nodded. “I know you want to protect us, but we’re going to be okay, Daddy.”
I moved toward Colin and put my arms around him. “I’d like us all to go away from this danger,” I said. “We can’t, though. This is more important.”
“George! We forgot!” Burke said as he slapped his own head. “I forgot!” He said running toward the room that he and George shared and came back with a gun, but not a real gun as it was plastic! “This came with the CPUs!” He held the gun up. “This is a new serum gun! Its plastic so it didn’t come across on the TSA scanner, but it can fire multiple shots!”
I grinned at George. “You knew about this?”
George nodded and grinned. “I knew he was planning something…”
Burke looked offended. “I designed and built this!” He said proudly as he showed it to everyone. “It can fire twenty shots before it has to be reloaded.” He pushed a button on it and pulled a clip out. “There are several clips, reloading is easy, but be careful, it can stick. Plastic on plastic needs occasional lubrication...” He shrugged. “But it has an explosive shell that causes it to fire.”
“Doesn’t that require metal?” I asked.
“Sure, but not enough to attract security and this plastic is pretty good at higher temperatures.” Burke nodded. “The cartridges holding the serum are gel based and will dissolve even in a vampire’s body and will disperse on impact with the vampires. The serum will stop a vampire by causing pain.”
George nodded held up a single cartridge. “And its concentrated serum, it will last a while disabling a vampire.”
Mark stood up marveling at the gun. “You built this, Burke!? I didn’t know you knew about guns!”
Burke nodded. “I’m more than a pretty face, you know? I’ve studied ballistics longer than you have been alive!” He shrugged. “You guys just never needed guns before.” He looked at all our shocked faces. “We had to protect ourselves in Arkansas!” He pointed out.
Mark grinned. “Sorry, sorry…” he grinned at the gun, “…of course you are.” He reached out. “Can I?”
Burke nodded. “Sure. You’ll have one yourself. It’s pretty light.”
“I guess we’ll be needing them soon with Lucian and Iilya.” Colin said sadly.
I pulled him toward me and hugged him. “They are planning something. We’ll need those.”
The weather was changing as it was going to be autumn soon and it was cooler at night now. Then again, my view of this part of the world was a little…well, a cave is a cave. I saw Egypt, mostly underground. I did see a lot of England, but Transylvania I saw mostly underground. The part of this underground world was like the others…carved out from centuries of habitation. Passageways were widen, floors were leveled out and torches burned to light the way. The seasonal changes could be felt outside, but it stayed the same down where we were.
I spoke with Gaius almost every night, but almost never with Dragon. I knew I wasn’t a therapist and I didn’t put myself in that position, but I did listen. That was the most important part of any therapy. I tried to pay attention to what they didn’t say as well as what they did say.
I needed to talk to Dragon as he would be the one to address the other vampires. The problem was…who would he present? Vlad the Impaler? The Dragon or…he claims he’s not and I knew he wasn’t, but people thought of him as Dracula!
The feature that stuck out the most with Dragon, was his voice. I’m not kidding when I said he used a form of hypnosis when he spoke. He could almost make me cheat on Colin. Almost, but that would not happen, I don’t care how convincing he could be. Thank God, he didn’t seem interested in having more than a friendship with either of us.
Stan sat with Dragon, while I watched as they planned this broadcast of Dragon.
“…and we don’t even have to show your face,” Stan explained. “I think it would add to the broadcast if you were seen, more like a face in the shadows. We need your voice more to convince others to come forward.”
Dragon nodded, but like any male, was fascinated more on how it was going to be done and fascinated by the gadgetry. “I’ll leave it to you to decide what is needed.” He looked at the little camera. “How does this work again?”
I smiled. “Well, the best way to describe it is…it will be a reflection.”
“Won’t that be backward?” Dragon asked.
I chuckled. “Okay…a reflection of a reflection.”
“Using the…controlled lightning you told me about.” Dragon nodded and shrugged. “But the things I see on the computer can’t be a reflection.”
“Without explaining it all…which I'll do if you like.” Stan began. “We found a way to…write it down so it can be viewed later as many times as you like. It’s a reflection memory.”
Dragon rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose and waved Stan off. “That’s okay, I guess I can find out later…for now, it’s giving me a headache thinking about it.”
Stan chuckled. “Many people can’t fully understand it now, either.”
I watched as Stan went off to do…whatever he needed to set things up. Timing was important, but…I looked at Dragon. At the moment, Dragon and I were alone. What I planned to do next…well, my heart was beating faster as I thought about it. This was not just for me or Colin, but all vampires in the world. We needed a strong confident leader, which Dragon was.
“You do understand what we’re doing, don’t you?” I asked. “And why.”
“Sure.” Dragon nodded. “I’m to speak to the other vampires to convince them to help you and bring them together.”
I nodded. “You will be the voice for us,” I explained. “You have a power we don’t. Think of the other vampires as…the extension of the people in Wallachia. These people need leadership and you will be the voice that brings them together.”
He looked up through eyes…even as a vampire were very compelling, but shaded right now. He had doubts. “Whether I want it or not.”
“It’s a heavy responsibility.” I nodded. “A responsibility you handled well in the past,” I said softly.
He grunted. “That’s why I’m seen as a monster.” He said sourly.
“That’s the problem right now. You are seen as a monster by some, but not by everyone. I don’t. You, however, see yourself that way.” I said as I came closer. I was shaking even before I began. I thought of Colin as I began. “With Gaius, I’ve listened to some of what he’s said about that past, but you haven’t said a thing.”
“Why should I?” Dragon asked in almost a growl. “I know what you’ve said about talking helping…but I’m facing judgment anyway…so…”
I nodded as my heart rate increased. “You’re God now?” I was in dangerous waters now.
“I never said that!” Dragon said quickly and a little angry at what I said.
I nodded. “You just did.” I pointed out. “You’ve judged yourself and condemned yourself to be punished, no matter what any deity has to say. You’re acting like you’re God!” I said just as loud.
Dragon rose from his chair and to say I was frightened would be an understatement; my heart was hammering inside my chest! He came and was glaring down at me. Whatever you fear…I mean real fear, like a shark right beside you with his jaws open and you knew he was going to chomp down on you in a matter of seconds; or this vampire with huge looming his fangs bared and a look…there are no words, but he could kill me and I had no doubt he's never broken a sweat! He was as big as Colin, perhaps bigger. “That’s not what I said. I know God can’t forgive what I’ve done!”
I couldn’t back down, but my voice was shaking now. “That’s what you said. You are condemning yourself without God’s input at all…you think you’re God!”
In spite of his attempt to scare me…I saw the rage in his eyes even as dry as they were, but I saw him realize what he was doing. “I sense the fear in you, but you don’t give in. That’s impressive.”
“Of course, there is fear,” I said forcing my tone to be even as I could, but I was shaking inside. “Isn’t that how you operate? That’s what you do! That’s all you know how to do. No,” I shook my head, “I won’t give in.” I agreed. “But making people afraid, isn’t that what you do?” I asked. “Scare people?” I shrugged it off. “I’m frightened of you. Terrified, but I can’t let you push me around. Fear is not a bad thing, it keeps us safe. Right now, my heart is beating so fast preparing to run away, but I won’t.” I swallowed and even laughed. “You can kill me if you wanted to, but I’m not leaving and you would have to explain what you’ve done not only to Colin, but my mother, step-father and those in our group I consider my family. If you do, they will kill you. And George,” I laughed harder, “he knows more about vampires than anyone, I know he could come up with an effective way and then you will face judgment; from them!” I shouted and he looked away and started to walk off. “You’ve got fear right now in you!”
“I do not!!” Dragon shouted as he turned to look at me.
I laughed at his statement. “Sure you do, you’re afraid of God Himself! Afraid that when you face Him, He’ll cast you into Lake of Fire! You…” I said coming in front of him, “are scared!” I touched his shoulder. “I’m not going to coddle you. You did some things that are pretty gruesome, but you had a reason. The sooner you deal with that, the easier it will be.” I smiled. “Your name is Vlad, not Dragon. I’m not going away. You are not evil.” I said. “If I back down, Lucian wins. Brett Marshall wins and all those that want to stop us. They win.” I said. “You can hurt me, you can kill me without effort, but I don’t think you will hurt me.” I made him look at me. “Will you?” I had to pee really badly, but I couldn’t move.
He suddenly chuckled. “You’re a brave man, Devon.” He smiled.
I shrugged. “That’s the problem with fear; I don’t feel brave when I feel fear.” I chuckled. “The flight part of the fight or flight thing inside me is yelling to flee.”
Dragon nodded with a chuckled. “But you don’t run away, that’s brave.”
I nodded. “Well, you scared the piss out of me,” I said weakly and hurried off to where Repetate and Iustina had their makeshift toilet when they were out of their cell with Dragon in the great hall. I let out a stream…but letting it go felt so good.
I heard Dragon laughing as I came out. Dragon came to me and grabbed me in a hug. Yes, there was a lot of hugging with Colin, George…hell, I hugged Repetate and Iustina every time I saw them and before I left them. Dracula was hugging me!
“You,” Dragon said smiling at me, “my friend, are a unique human being.” He said kissing me on the temple. “I like you.”
I sighed. “I like you, too.”
That’s when Stan came back with his portable unit and froze. He looked at us hesitantly. “Should I come back? I heard a pretty heated discussion, but I see it’s all good now.” He grinned. “Do I give you a few more minutes?”
Then we heard rapid footfalls as Colin literally skidded to a stop. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He asked, looking at me. “I heard yelling.”
I grinned at Dragon and patted him on the shoulder. “We’re fine.”
Dragon did the manly one-armed hug of me and smiled at Colin. “You are a lucky man, Colin Wentworth. You have a great human being as a husband.”
Colin walked closer, still not sure what to make of the situation. “I know.” He said still not sure what was happening.
“Stan.” Dragon said. “Will this…record…my progress, taking the serum?”
Stan nodded. “Sure.” He smiled. “It’s a pretty long process, though.”
“But they will feel more assured if they see it.” Dragon explained. “No shadows, they need to see that I am what they are.”
I nodded smiling at what he saw was the best way to approach this. “But you need to be full on. Be Vlad Dracul. It will come across with more purpose.”
Stan came closer and held his hand up. “This might be hacked. No, I’m sure we will be.” He whispered. “There will be others that see this…others who aren’t vampires.”
I nodded. “We always face those odd people, but can’t you scramble the source? Would they trace the signal here?”
Stan considered my question and thought. “A top hacker might be able.” He chuckled. “But I’m a top programmer.” He shrugged. “Hell, I’ll have it bouncing all around the globe! I got this, but it will be hacked, but it will be harder.” He waved the concern off.
Sitting on his throne…if you want to call it that, it lacked some of the ornate…whatever I’d seen on other, but it was a grand chair, but…though I didn’t expect it; his voice almost seemed…unnatural as he addressed the camera.
On the screen, we did start with a shadowed image of Dragon, but it lightened to show he was a vampire. The fangs and the eyes were plain to see. “I am the one called the Dragon.” He said as his voice almost seemed to…rumble, but that was his power. “I do not have to say more, but I have…” he looked at me, “…met some very good people from the United States of America, who are also like we are. I know having witnessed a few friends go through it, it will hurt, but they have a treatment for our condition, and you will go through it with me.” He smiled. “I know in a week’s time, I will again eat food and be able to go in the sun again after several hundred years of living in the darkness.” He shook his head. “This is a new day for us. I have seen the results and now you will see me as I go through this.” He smiled. “I was asked, my friends are trustworthy, they have helped in their own country, in England and Egypt. You need to decide, is the way you live now what you want? Your help is needed. You have the means to reply. Those of us with medical and scientific knowledge is needed. Communicate with them. Trust them…or you can remain where you are…in the dark, waiting for the next feeding.” His face went to darkness again and he added. “The choice…is yours.”