18

n the side of a secluded dirt road sat a dark blue Dodge Stratus. Lori waited in the driver’s seat, engine off and eyes searching for any headlights. The sun had gone down hours ago, and hours before that, she was speaking on the phone to her nervous source. It took several minutes of pleading to get him to meet with her. He kept offering his assistance over the phone, but Lori was insistent that they meet in person, sweetening the deal with the line, “You don’t want miss this.” Intrigued, he finally agreed to a meeting.
Lori sighed as she mentally counted the minutes since arriving. He had to show. He heard the urgency in her voice. The only reason he wouldn’t show was if he believed he was being set up. But he knew Lori. She would never turn against him.
Through the trees along the winding road, the glow of headlights caught Lori’s attention. She continued to wait as the car drew near. No other car had been seen until now. And as the car slowed to a stop on the other side of the road, Lori sighed again, this time in relief. It was like revisiting an old friend. Everything these past few weeks left her feeling isolated. The thought of finally seeing a familiar face relaxed her even more.
Lori heard the engine turn off and the driver’s side door open, while the headlights remained on. Upon seeing the man’s short, dark blond hair and worried expression, she stepped out of the car, a friendly smile finding her before being swept away.
“Hello, Charles,” she said, crossing the road to meet him halfway.
Charles, always the paranoid one, glanced up and down the road. “And we’re alone?”
“No one knows I’m here.”
Looking at her, the worry still filled his face. “You were very persistent on the phone. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
Lori slid her hands into her pockets, unknowingly showing her forgotten emotions. “I know you told me never to contact you if they found out I was trailing them.” She took in a deep breath. “A friend of mine is in trouble. Well, he’s not really a friend of mine. He’s a friend of a friend. Two nights ago, The Brotherhood tried to take both of them. They managed to capture the werewolf, but I helped the vampire escape. I was hoping you can lead us in the right direction to find him.”
Charles’ look of worry turned into annoyance. “I’m taking a great risk meeting you here. How do you know they haven’t found another way to track you? If it appeared to be an ambush, who’s to say they aren’t watching you now?”
“You can never be one-hundred percent sure of anything. I just want to know where to find him.”
Charles shook his head and replied, “Where was he captured?”
“Near the Oregon border.”
“That falls under the northwest district, which means he’ll be at the Crifton facility, forty miles east of Seattle.”
“I’m going to need more than just a name and a general location. You know how to get in, and what to expect. I’m going to be using vampires to help me, but they don’t stand a chance against H13. I’ve already had to deal with one case of that already.”
The admission peaked Charles’ interest. “Was this the vampire you helped escape?”
“Yeah. He’s fine now.”
“How? Did you have the antidote?”
“No. I had to think outside of the box a bit, but he’s good as new now.”
Confused, Charles knew there had to be another answer. “I don’t see how he could’ve been cured without it.”
Lori crossed her arms, almost gloating at her triumph over H13. “He’s here if you don’t believe me.” Looking into the woods she ordered, “You can come out now, Arden.”
Charles followed her eyes to the edge of the road and saw a vampire approach. It was obvious from his restraint and clear mind that he wasn’t under any veil of the drug. But this still wasn’t making any sense to him. “Are you sure it was H13 and not CHS3?”
“I almost died,” she replied nonchalantly. “It was H13.”
He looked at the vampire again, then back at Lori. “Not possible. There was no other way the effects could have been reversed. I was there when it was created.”
She shrugged at his continuing disbelief. “The Ancient Blood is a mysterious thing.”
“Ancient Blood?” He had heard the term before, but outside of theories, the study of such a substance was like finding the Holy Grail.
“The blood of the Original Six,” she explained, unsure if he knew. “Pure, not converted.”
“I know what it is. And you went to one of them for help?” Her story was becoming more incredible with each sentence.
“Not exactly. I, uhm… I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
“Lori,” Arden interrupted. “You have said enough.”
Taking in a calming breath, she returned to the reason for their meeting. “Charles, I would like you to help me form a plan to rescue someone from The Brotherhood. You don’t need to be on the frontlines. You can help us before we begin the assault.”
“Assault?” Charles stared at her, dumbfounded by the offer.
“We’re going to kill everyone in that place and burn it to the ground.”
“Are you mad? Striking them like that is suicidal!”
Arden spoke. “He underestimates us. We’re wasting our time with him. We should leave.”
Charles threw his hands up as he reached his breaking point with all of this madness. “Arden, is it? I admire your devotion to your friends, but this is the quickest way to get them all killed.” His next words were aimed at Lori. “If you’re going to do this with or without my help, I would prefer if you had my help. But you have to promise that there is no way they can trace this back to me.”
Lori flashed another one of her scheming smiles. “You’re going to be safely tucked away at the haven until everyone in the facility is dead.”
“Haven?” he said, shocked.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be safe.”
“You don’t understand the situation you’ll be placing me in. I’ve experimented on hundreds of vampires. If they were to find out what I’ve done—”
“Speak only to those I’ve cleared first, and don’t make eye contact with anyone. The place is mainly filled with fledglings. Mind readers are few and far in between, even in the elder circles.”
Charles rubbed his mouth and chin as I thought over her words. With deep breath he finally answered. “I can’t believe I’m going to agree to this.”
“Thank you.” Lori threw her arms around him. Charles slowly hugged her back, appearing shell-shocked by all that had happened and will happen.
Pulling away, Lori added, “Just follow my lead and everything will be rainbows and puppy-dogs.”
“Your attempt at humor has me really concerned right now.”
She smiled again. “Let’s get you to the haven so we can being the fun.”

In the car and back on the road, Lori’s once happy-go-lucky attitude returned to the one Arden was more comfortable with; seriousness mingled with determination.
“What do you think?” she asked.
Arden, sitting in the passenger seat, replied, “His fear seems legitimate.”
“Can we, I mean, should we trust him?”
“I could find nothing ill with him.”
Lori exhaled in relief. “That’s good to hear. And how about your end?”
“The word is out. We will see what happens from there.”
“I’m giving us a week.”
“Shall I inform the elder?” Arden asked.
“I’m sure he’s already sniffing around, but go ahead. I would love to hear his response.”

The elder, Miguel, entered the room to greet his newest guest. Upon seeing the human accompanied by Lori and Arden he scoffed. “Oh, more riffraff. My night is now complete.”
“He’s my guest,” Lori informed. “Out of courtesy and respect for the haven rules I brought him here to see you first.”
“This is slowly becoming your house, I see,” he said, nodding at Rebecca to record their guest’s name. “And who is your friend?”
Charles spoke before Lori could answer for him. “My name is Charles Winthrop.”
“Charles, I have a simple question for you. What is your relationship with our dear, sweet, Laurel Jones?”
Lori cringed inwardly at the way Miguel said her “name”. She glanced at Charles to see if he looked to her for an answer. Instead, his eyes remained locked on the elder as he replied. “Laurel is a very close friend of mine. She is the only one in this world whom I can trust with my life.”
“How long have you known her?”
“That’s it,” Lori interfered. “We don’t have time for this.”
Miguel looked at her, ending the small game he was beginning. “Then tell me. What are you planning?”
“Nothing you’ll approve of,” she huffed.
“Probably not. But in fear you will call for your ‘better half,’ I believe it is in my best interest to look the other way.”
Lori forced herself to calm her rising anger. “However this ends, we’ll be out of your hair before the month is up.”
“I am looking forward to it.”

Jayda sat on the bed, remote in hand and flipped through the channels on the TV. She heard the door open and quickly turned off the TV. Lori entered first, followed by Arden and another man. At first glance she thought it was Nicholas. But the brief touch of joy dissolved away when she realized this was the one Lori spoke of.
“This is Jayda,” said Lori. She then motioned to the man at her side. “And this here is Charles, the ace up our sleeve.”
Jayda gave a meek wave and looked away, her untrusting nature resurfacing.
Charles nodded at the girl, then glanced around the room. “One room for all of us?”
“Humans usually stay upstairs,” she said, “but all rooms are equipped with humans in mind. The bathroom is over there and there’s a kitchen on the floor above us. Meals can be ordered and brought to the room at any time.”
“I’m familiar with the basics. I’ve just never been inside one before. It’s rather remarkable. But I’m not sure that I like the idea of staying underground.”
“I can request a room upstairs for you, if you want.”
He gave a nervous smile. “Thank you.”
Lori allowed Charles no time to settle in as she went over to the table and readied a small stack of blank paper and a pencil. She then tapped the paper with the pencil’s eraser. “If you can, draw up the layout of this place and anything you can remember.”
“I’ve only been there a few times before,” he admitted, “but I think I can remember most of it.” Taking the pencil offered to him, he sat down and pulled a single piece of paper from the stack.
Lori glanced over Charles’ shoulder before addressing Arden. “I think it’s time to speak with Miguel. And please, don’t kill him. That’s the last thing we need right now.”
Arden gave no reply as he left the room. Lori went to follow him but stopped at the door. “I’m going to get something for us to eat. Anything special?”
Charles answered while continuing to sketch on the paper. “Nothing heavy for me. Fruit, if they have it.”
“A grilled cheese sandwich,” said Jayda, “and glass of chocolate milk, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all,” Lori replied. “I’ll be right back.”
Jayda found the room filled with an awkward silence after Lori left. She wanted to watch TV, but didn’t want to harm Charles concentration. The sound of his sketching was the only noise in the room. And perhaps Charles felt the same awkwardness. As he continued to draw the building’s layout, he spoke, the suddenness of his question catching Jayda off guard.
“So, what’s your story?” he asked, pulling a new sheet from the small stack.
Jayda shrugged and replied, “Wrong place, right time.”
“Oh?” He stopped drawing to look at her.
Jayda fidgeted in the path of the obvious, oncoming questions, and kept her eyes on the bed’s comforter as she elaborated. “I don’t know how much she’s told you, but it was Nicholas and Arden who saved me.”
“Nicholas, is he the one they’re trying to rescue?”
“Yeah. They almost got Arden, too.”
Charles turned further in his seat, interested more in the conversation than the boring drawings. “She told me a little bit about that. How did she save him?”
“She used her blood.”
“Her own blood?” There was skepticism in his voice.
Jayda traced her finger along a pattern on the comforter. “I guess it has something to do with what she is.”
“Oh, the whole half-breed thing. I know about that.”
“To live as long as she has, I can’t even begin to imagine a life like that.”
“How long has she lived? I was going to ask her myself, but I didn’t want sound rude. I know how some women hate being asked their age.”
Stealing a small glance at him, Jayda answered. “She said she was born around 350 B.C. I thought she was joking. Hell, she was probably lying.”
“350 B.C.? Had to be lying. Half-breeds normally have the same life span as humans. Did she mention her parents?”
Jayda was beginning to feel more at ease around him. These were all questions she knew the answers to. “She’s mentioned her father’s name before. I think it was Harrel or Jarrel.”
“Jharell?” He let out a laugh. “That has to be a joke.”
“No, I think she was telling the truth.”
“Do you know who Jharell is?”
Jayda shrugged again. “I gather that he’s really important.”
Charles rested his elbows on his knees and lowered his voice, as though he were about to spill some great secret. “Thousands of years ago, these guys seemingly popped into existence. Six of them; three female and three male. They are believed to be the very first vampires. No one knows how they were created or why they’re just six, but shortly after their emergence, they began creating their own legacy by mixing their blood with humans. Only those worthy were shown this great honor, as some call it. It’s a known fact that half-breeds are possible, but the chances are slim to none. If Lori is who she says she is, then this means her father is one of the Original Six, theoretically making her the seventh.”
“Can she”—Jayda lowered her voice—“turn someone?”
“Half-breeds are sterile, and their blood holds no special capabilities like that of a full vampire. They are unable to create children at all.”
Jayda unknowingly let out a sigh. “I guess that’s why she attaches herself to others. She doesn’t want to be alone.”
“If what you said is true, do know who that makes her?”
She shook her head.
“Dianthia,” Charles whispered. “But she was said to have been killed not long after her rise as Queen.”
“She mentioned the whole ‘queen’ thing before and her arranged marriage.”
“But all of this was supposed to be a legend.” Charles sat back in his seat, tapping the pencil on the table. “She has to be lying. It’s the only way to protect herself. If they knew she was just a typical half-breed, then they would kill her without a second thought. But if there was the slightest possibility her story could be true, we’re looking at the possibility that the Originals can reproduce, the human way, that is. But why haven’t they? Why continue to go after humans?”
Charles began talking more to himself than to Jayda. Finally, she interrupted him. “Maybe they want children but are afraid of creating something as strong as they are.”
He looked at her, stunned by the conclusion. “I…I think you may be right. It makes sense, actually. Kings and queens prefer their power unmatched. If they had equals of the flesh, their power would be in danger.”
“I have an odd question. What can you tell me about the vampire Gysai?”
Leaning forward again, Charles relayed all he learned about this queen. “Gysai, one of the Originals, was said to be the wife of Rhune, another of the Six. She loves humans with oddities. Not physical oddities, but those with abnormal mental abilities. Her Court is filled with them, and she’s always on the lookout for more oddities. That’s the common knowledge about her. Why do you ask?”
Jayda swallowed at the lump in her throat that formed as he spoke. “The reason they saved me—let me live—was because of what I can do.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “What can you do?”
“I, uh…” She breathed in deep, eyes back on the comforter. “I see things; past and future. I can touch something and know what will happen or what has happened. I can’t control it, though. That’s the only reason Arden stopped himself from killing me. He wants to deliver me to Gysai as some kind of gift, and Lori wants the same thing.”
“But is that what you want?”
Jayda forced herself to look at him again. “I want to go back home. Nicholas offered to take me home. We were planning to leave them that night, but then this happened. Do you really think we can get him out of there?”
Glancing at the sketches he replied, “I’m not going to lie to you. The chances aren’t that good. It will take a small army to swarm that place. And even if they manage to take control, we’re not one-hundred percent sure he’s there. But we’ll try. This Nicholas seems like he’s well loved by his friends. Must be nice to have people you can trust.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Well, this Nicholas, you trust him, right?”
She sucked in her lower lip. “I guess.”
Charles gave a half shrug. “Trust is a difficult thing to earn.”
“Don’t you trust Lori?”
“Not really. You know more about her than I do. Speaking of which, if she wants to know what we talked about, just say I told you about my feather collection.”
“Feather collection?”
“Yeah, bores people really fast.” He went back to drawing and continued with the small talk. “So, where are you from?”