Blueblood

Story: Blueblood: Dracula

Chapter 5 Fear No Evil

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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If Dragon becomes ally they can move forward. After the convince Dragon of that.

Fear No Evil

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 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 much in the way of 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 on his uninjured leg! 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 that out." 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 that 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 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 Nicolae's 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." He 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. I don't want them to get hurt."

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're scaring 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 that odd, 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 others, 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. The response to Dragon's video broadcast was immediate. In just a few days we started getting messages from all over the world. Dragon's hypnotic voice carried and was just as potent as if he was standing right in front of them. We stood over Stan's shoulder as the others were gathering to share what they found that night.

Stan began feeling the weight of all the requests and messages coming in. "I need help! Look at the number messages!" He said after he saw the volume of messages coming in. "Going through all these messages is going to be difficult. Authenticating the senders and there are so many of them!" He waved at his screen. "Even now there are more coming." He looked back at George and me. "How many vampires are there?"

Colin shook his head. "You don't really expect an answer, do you?" He grinned. "I feel it safe to say, there is a whole lot."

I bounced as I watched the screen and messages came on the screen. "And those are just the ones that have family or is connected to the Internet. I'm sure there are many more not connected." My eyebrows wiggled at the prospect.

Mark grinned. "That's what we wanted, isn't it?" He said as he hugged Stan from behind and then sat in a nearby chair.

The others were dressed for their patrolling in dark colors and warmer clothing as it got cold here at night. The dark colors were not to hide what they were, but not be easily seen by others who weren't vampires.

"Why is it always with the dark clothes?" I asked. "No matter what the country vampires wear dark clothes. Is there a dress code I should be told about?"

Willie grinned and pulled the serum gun from under his trench coat. "It doesn't attract attention and it's easier to hide this."

Mom kissed me on the cheek. "Besides, black is more slimming and always chic."

Stan nodded at Mark's question. "It's what we want, but sorting all this will take time." He turned in his chair. "What I said about hacking. The system can't be hacked; not easily, but there are others that are not vampires that are contacting us." He patted Buddy. "He can stop a lot of attempts to hack in." He looked back at the screen. "There are messages from Canada, the United States, England as well as other countries around the world. India, China, Japan, and others...I don't recognize some of these languages. Some of these are just teenagers and young adults that think it was cool what we sent out." He shook his head. "There are agencies also trying to get in." He chuckled. "So far, the FBI isn't one of them or MI5."

I squeezed Stan's shoulders. "That's because there is someone in those agencies that know who and what we are." I grinned. "We'll get you some help, Stan," I said patting him on the back as the others came in. "Mom can type over a hundred words a minute!"

Mom laughed and rolled her eyes. "Years ago."

"But I bet you're still fast," I said.

It was when Alex and Gabriella came in that drew our attention. Gabriella sighed wearily as she sat down as if exhausted. Alex gave a grim smile as he looked at us. "Things are getting strange out there."

"Strange?" Colin asked. "You mean, more strange that it is with vampires roaming around?'

Alex gave a grudging nod. "That's the problem, we haven't come across one the past few nights."

Colin frowned. "You maybe just didn't see them?"

"They can't just slink past us." Gabriella shook her head touching her nose. "It isn't even that." She explained. "A vampire has...a scent." She began. "The problem is...we're picking up a lot of scents, but they are crisscrossing their trails and confusing us."

"The vampire tracker can't pick up anything if no one's there," Shelly said putting the tracker down.

Alex nodded. "The thing is, there are a bunch of them."

"Dozens, maybe," Gabriella said.

"It's like when you're looking for footprints, but the area is so high in traffic there's no way to see how many people and where they go," Alex said. "I'm telling you, it's on purpose. They want to disguise their numbers and where they are."

Colin nodded. "Why?" He asked no one and everyone. "What is it they want?"

George came into the room with Burke. "They want to be the vampire of legend; like in those stories." He said hesitantly. "They want the power we are supposed to have."

"But we're not that kind of vampire! No one is! They don't exist." Colin said again stating the obvious. "That's why it's a story. They are all just stories. We have a physical condition, there's nothing supernatural or evil about us."

"Yet, we don't die," George said. "That one fact seems to make them think we are supernatural. The fact we don't die is supernatural."

I nodded as I thought and did what George and Colin did as I thought out loud. "You need to realize; these vampires are old." I looked at them again. "They believe we are more."

"Why? We simply haven't died." Colin asked. "It's not evil or good. There's no devil or god in anyone."

"Are you sure?" I asked. "When you were bitten, what did you think you were?"

"I knew I wasn't..." Colin said thinking about how to explain it. "At first, I didn't know! When the sun was about to rise, I could feel the danger and I knew I had to get somewhere safe, so I buried myself."

"How did you know to do this?" I asked.

Colin shook his head. "I don't know. Instinct?"

"An instinct that was clearly not...human," I pointed out, "and therefore, unnatural, but supernatural."

"What!?" Colin balked.

"We're dealing with a form of thinking that predates a lot of science." I pointed out. "Gaius and Dragon think they're going to be punished by God." I waved at Amasis. "He thought he was a god." I waved my hands at the overwhelming scope of what I was saying. "I'm not looking for a theological debate, but we're dealing with centuries of beliefs! Believing in gods is just one of those beliefs. Lucian believes we are products of supernatural...occurrences. So, why aren't we capable of more?"

Colin looked a little annoyed. "Because we aren't."

I nodded. "And Lucian needs to understand that." I shrugged. "You have to admit, Dragon has a talent that seems to appeal to everyone. He can influence almost anyone."

Mom frowned. "Having met him once, I have to say he does have that talent." She gave an appreciative nod. "And it's a pretty impressive talent."

"But it's human." I pointed out. "The ability to lead people...to hypnotize is very human." I said. "Dragon is Vlad the Impaler. He won't admit it, but he is. He had this ability when he was a man. Now that's he's lived as long as he has...it just got better...stronger at using it. It's like our ability to see or smell." I waved at Gabriella and Alex. "They pick up on scents I can only sense in close range. They can almost see a trail left by the scent. That ability is more than natural to me; our hearing...the same thing. Lucian and his followers see those enhancements, too. They think with time and teaching, they can become that legendary vampire all the stories are about."

"It's not possible," George said. "We are not supernatural." He shook his head.

I shook my head. "We are! You said it yourself!" I said. "We don't die from any natural cause, that's supernatural."

"Our life spans are a result of the venom. There is a biological reason we don't die." George said. "We're kept alive to feed the venom and pass it on."

I looked at Mom. "Have you seen the venom under a microscope?"

Mom shook her head. "Not really."

"How do you know you have it?" I waved at George. "He could be lying about all this."

George looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "I'm not! You know I'm not."

I nodded. "But she hasn't seen that." I looked at Amasis and Wayne. "You haven't seen it. Do you believe what he's done and says about what we are?"

Wayne also looked puzzled. "He's not lying. We are sitting here as the result of what he's found out and treatment."

"Well, not to lecture, but...man came up with explanations for what he saw and the Earth. That is the religions of this world." I said. "The sun and moon rotated around the Earth. We know now...having seen the evidence we are moving around the sun. Then we found out or entire solar system is rotating in a galaxy and that galaxy is floating in space. We're always in motion. Nothing rotates around the Earth but the moon." I smiled. "I know this because I've seen the evidence. I know there is a venom because I've seen it." I waved out of the house, "they do not."

Colin nodded. "He's right. We just introduced the idea of the venom recently."

"The Devine spark we carry as men and women is still there," I said. "We are aware of ourselves. We have venom. That spark is still there, but we're now...hosts...to the venom. We never lost our souls."

"But you believe in God?" Burke asked.

I chuckled. "Whether I believe in God or not is irrelevant." I shrugged. "I believe there is something about us that's special. I know the life here is much too complicated for my understanding...I have a hard time believing it's just random and not a plan. I don't care how long it took." I waved again at Amasis. "He was born before Christ was even born! He's not a Christian. Is he a child of any god? He's human! These vampires are men and they were raised to believe a certain way. We can't expect them to accept what we tell them about ourselves without proof!"

"How can we prove that?" George asked. "We have no idea what their education was. Would they know what we say if we show it to them?"

"We don't have to." I smiled. "We ask them the question. Are they now evil?" I shrugged. "I don't feel any different. I am a vampire, but I'm still me. I still have a slightly warped sense of humor I've always had. I love movies and often quote them and compare situations that remind me of movies," I grinned as they were nodding, "as you well know." I chuckled they laughed. "I'm not evil. We need to ask them if they are." I smiled at Wayne. "Even those we classified as wild have their humanity. Wayne got his back. He got his mind back." I held my hands out. "Dragon is going on the serum, right?" I asked George.

"Yes, I was planning to do it tonight." George nodded.

"We may put that off for another broadcast," I said smiling. "We need to show them that what they are has nothing to do with what you did wrong or even lack of faith. The one basic is a belief. We'll show Dragon as a vampire." I grinned. "What is the one thing that drives a vampire back in almost all the movies and stories?"

"A cross?" Mom said. "Holy water?"

I nodded. "We'll have the broadcast where Dragon does not burn because of a cross...or a Star of David or any other religious icon. He is not evil. He's infected, just like we are. Like measles or any disease that doesn't care what you are, it can infect you and will."

"But he may believe, in his mind, he is evil," Gabriella suggested. "His mind will tell him he is and burn?"

I shook my head. "Not if he doesn't know it's there." I chuckled. "And it would have to be a powerful mind to cause him to burn because he believes it will. He has a strong mind, but I intend to prove he's not evil." I looked at Colin. "I think we need to include Gaius in this as well."'

"That could be dangerous," George said quietly, uncertain how I was going to do this. "Men of this time were willing to go to war and die for what they believed. Dragon killed brutally to defend his people and beliefs."

"Yes, he did. The Ottoman Empire soldiers were his victims, but it could make a difference for us." I said. "I'll be careful. I've seen him enraged and I don't want that again." I smiled at George. "You would die for your beliefs I have no doubt, but I'll be careful."

It was later in our bedroom when Colin came over. He slid beneath the sheets beside me.

"This plan of yours...to prove to Dragon he is not evil...what is it?" Colin asked.

I shrugged. "I'm sort of...winging it." I said softly. "There is no real plan, but something I intend to do."

Colin looked very uncomfortable now. "Winging it." He chuckled, but not happily and nodded as he stretched out beside me. "Listen, Devon...when you married me...I had no idea what was going to happen." His admission was hesitant and he didn't look at me directly. "I knew you were special, but I had no idea how special you are." The chuckled was not because he was trying to be funny, but...

I lifted his head so he had to look at me. "Colin." I began. "What is it that you don't want to say?"

Colin grinned and looked surprised a little. "How do you know I have something I don't want to say?"

I brought him into a kiss which he readily responded to. "Because I know you," I said simply. "You have this way of easing things before you tell me something not good," I said looking in his emerald eyes. "I think I know it, but..."

"I worried about what we're doing," Colin said.

"Worried about what we're doing? Or what I'm doing?" I asked with a smile.

"Stop that!" Colin smiled and shoved me lightly. "I'm serious. This Dragon is who we know he is. This man is a dangerous man. He can hurt you."

"I know." I nodded.

"When I bit you...I brought you into a life..." Colin started.

I held my finger to his lips. "Don't say it again," I said softly. "You didn't know how it was going to turn out," I said simply. "This life is not what you had in mind and so forth. How could you have?"

Colin frowned. "Stop saying what I'm going to say!" He pushed me down and crawled over me to look down at me. "Knowing me as well as you do...is kind of irritating." He grinned.

I nodded as I smiled at him. "Sorry." I gave him a look of patience, but it was put there on purpose. "Go ahead."

"Be serious." Colin urged. "Winging it may be what you want to do, but I want you safe." He shook his head. "Since we met, there have been some dangerous characters like Brett Marshall who attacked you because of me. I don't want you to be putting yourself at unnecessary risk."

I rolled us so I was on him. "Look, Colin. When I met you, I was just hoping to get a job. Instead, I meet the man of my dreams who turns out to be a vampire." I chuckled. "As I got to know you, I find out you're an amazing human being. Now you're my husband."

"But I've put you in danger!" He said sadly. "And not just you, your mother, too."

"Mom is fine," I said smiling. "She's happy. She met a great guy and happily married to him." I gave a grudging shrug. "No, I didn't marry a regular guy. I've been in combat, I've seen a lot of things I wish I didn't, but I have no regrets about being in this life." I looked at his eyes. "You're not having regrets, are you?"

Colin looked surprised. "About marrying you? No, but this is not an easy life. There are those out there that want to kill us."

"You're worried I could be hurt by Dragon." I nodded. "Do you trust me?"

Colin rolled his eyes. "Of course." He looked at me harder. "I trust you! It's Dragon I'm not sure of."

"Was I wrong about Wayne?" I asked. "Was I wrong about the Old Ones? Or Alex?"

"I don't know about the Old Ones," Colin admitted. "They are dangerous, too."

"To regular people, yes. To us? No." I said. "They're like...children." I shook my head. "I can't explain it, but...I just know Dragon won't kill me."

"How?" Colin asked. "I thought I was the one that could sense people."

"You can....about business and stuff...it's like when I explained about the heightened senses. It's a part of who we are." I struggled to find a way to explain. "When I confronted Dragon about him judging himself...I knew he was going to blow up." I chuckled. "I was right. He did blow up. I have never been so scared in my life, but I knew...I knew...he wouldn't hurt me." I shook my head again. "I don't believe he will this time either."

"How do you know?" Colin stressed again.

I had to think. "I just do." I grinned. "But you know...I've been feeling a little of that disconnect with you recently."

"Oh?" Colin asked with a smile. "We'll have to do something about that." Then he got serious again. "Just one more thing, though. I trust you. I love you. Because of that, I'm super protective of you. You're a grown man and I adore everything about you, but...understand...I will always question your safety."

I nodded as I leaned down and kissed him again. "That's the man you are." I reasoned. "You really killed those men that were going to attack Gabriella...I have no doubt you'd do it for me. Just...trust me. Okay?"

"Okay." He grinned and rolled us over again. "Enough vampire talk. We need to reconnect."

I nodded pulling him down to kiss me fuller, which I returned with as much feeling. "I love you."

Colin grinned back. "I know. I love you."

I increased the pressure of our kiss. "I know."

We all went below ground to Dragon that night.

"Here we are again into the Dragon's Lair." Mark grinned to me as he waggled his eyebrows as he helped Stan bring his equipment down.

I rolled my eyes. "How long did it take you to come up with that one?" I asked, but it was pretty good.

Colin pulled me aside. "Devon, I know you can reach people that I wouldn't even dream of trying to reach. We discussed it last night...or this morning...whatever it was, but I'm still trying to protect you."

I nodded. "I know."

Colin said as he looked at Dragon. "He could snap your neck...I don't want to lose you."

I kissed him. "I know he could, but...I told you, I don't think he will, just like I knew he wouldn't that time I confronted him telling him he wasn't evil. In spite, what he believes he is, he's a logical man." I patted him on the chest. "You are my strength. I thought about you when I confronted Dragon about him being evil that last time." I grinned. "Now, I'll show him." I kissed him again deeper. "And, I told him if he hurt me...you'd kill him."

Colin chuckled. "And I would, but he could probably kill both of us."

I nodded again. "I also said my mother, Willie, and all the others would kill him." I gave him a sly grin. "I even told him George would probably do it and he knew more about us as vampires and it wouldn't be easy if he did."

Colin nodded as he leaned closer pressing his face against my neck. "No, it wouldn't."

When Gaius got there, I told them both what we were doing; as in, explaining that what we are had nothing to do with what kind of person we are, we were infected, plain, and simple. Then George would be giving Dragon his serum. Then I further explained what we were going to do and why we were broadcasting again.

Stan looked at me and waved toward us. "In this broadcast...we don't need to be so secretive. The best angle will be if he sits up more." He waved at his tablet that was acting as a monitor. "See?" He waved at Dragon. "If you could sit up for a better image?"

Dragon was again caught up in the technology; he didn't pay that much attention to what I was doing. I got what was needed and put it behind him. The gold cross, I had leaning against him.

"Just sit up," I said. "The best angle will be a direct focus on you."

Dragon shook his head. "So many marvels in this world. I feel I've missed so much."

"That's why we're here. To catch you up." I grinned and patted him on the shoulder.

We assembled around the chamber as Dragon spoke again to everyone out there. Stan's coaching of him to sit up paid off. He never leaned back on the cross. "...there is a vampire among us that is leading others of our kind to a conflict. Do not be deceived. Lucian is not telling the truth. Our enemy is not mankind, do not become an enemy to us." He said "...and in conclusion, we are simply carrying an infection. There is evidence and we will show you this evidence." The screen showed the images of normal blood and vampire's blood. Then it showed the venom that Wayne had given to George before when he was a wild vampire with George explaining what they were looking at. "See for yourself. We have an illness. We are not the pawns of Hell."

I walked up and all that could be seen was my torso. "Neither are you," I said to Dragon. "You are not evil; neither is any one of you evil just because you have this condition," I added as I reached behind Dragon and picked up the gold cross he had behind him. I rested it against his forehead. "Nothing. He is not evil. I am like you, but it didn't harm me. Nor is it harming Dragon."

Dragon had not seen what I'd pulled from behind him. He sat back as he focused and his eyes widened as he sat back suddenly in shock.

"Don't jump back now; you've leaned on it for quite a few minutes," I said. "I told you, you aren't evil," I said softly so only he could hear. "Do you believe me now?"

"You tricked me." Dragon whispered angrily becoming angrier.

I nodded. "I did it to prove a point to them and to you. You are not evil. Otherwise, you'd be a cinder by now." I pulled out some other icons of religious faiths and placed each against him. The cross was his concern, but I said without showing my face. "He is not evil. He has a soul like all of you do. What you have is an infection. You can be a criminal or a saint, you were bitten and carry an infection. We have treatment. We need others that can help us with this treatment."

Gaius was staring wide-eyed at the objects I pulled out. "It's true?" He reached tentatively for the large cross I was holding, but not sure he could touch it. "I'm not evil?"

I smiled at Gaius and shook my head. "No." I held the cross out to him. "Take it. I'm not evil. It won't hurt you. It's not hurting me and we are the same. We're vampires."

The broadcast did show Gaius taking the cross, which didn't burn him. Now that he had moisture in his eyes it showed that there were tears coming down his face.

"For centuries...I thought..." Gaius said softly. He looked at Dragon. "It doesn't burn!" He smiled through his tears. "I'm not evil. I have a chance."

"Just like everyone else," I said. "Believe me."

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."