Crimson Crown

by Amy Patrick

  Looking perplexed, Parker thumbed through the pages, stopping to read a paragraph or two before chuckling.

  “Why exactly would I sign this?”

  He tossed the stack of papers onto the low table in front of him. “I didn’t like the first one. I like this version even less.”

  Abbi leaned in, offering him a pen. “You’ll sign it because it’s the best thing for all Americans, humans and vampires alike. You’ll also agree to stop agitating the anti-vamp sentiment in the country and to clamp down on violence and discrimination against vampires. In fact, you’ll be giving a national televised address on the importance of peace between the species and respect for one another.”

  She held up a finger and smiled. “Oh, and one more thing... you won’t be running for re-election.”

  She was so calm—a total badass. I couldn’t have been prouder.

  Parker, on the other hand, was losing his cool.

  “You are a piece of work, little lady. I won’t do any of this nonsense, and I will be running for re-election—and winning. As a matter of fact, I’m considering doing away with the two-term limit and staying in office as long as I damn well please. The people of this country are behind me. I have a public mandate to restore this country to its pre-Accord greatness, and I intend to do that. Vague threats from some little vamp tart aren’t going to stop me.”

  Muscles tensed all over my body, and even my veins strained against my skin. It would be so easy to tear this guy’s limbs off and beat him with them.

  Abbi raised her hand slightly in a gesture I knew was meant to calm me. Closing my eyes, and gritting my teeth, I willed myself to relax back into my chair.

  “Do you feel I’m being vague? Well let me clear up any ambiguity for you,” Abbi said. “The majority of people in this country are not behind you. The new VHC has been doing some grassroots outreach and voter polling. Most Americans want vampires and humans to live in peace and think vampires deserve equal rights.”

  “The VHC is nothing. I wiped it out before, and I can do it again. That’s how you deal with an infestation,” Parker said emphatically.

  “I know a little something about getting rid of vermin myself,” Abbi said, remaining completely cool and in control. “I grew up on a farm, and we had problems with mice from time to time. There were just so many of them. You know what did the trick? Getting a few cats. Did you know the average free-roaming cat kills about ninety small animals a year? They’re the natural predator of mice and birds... much like vampires are the natural predators of humans.”

  “Are you trying to threaten me?”

  “No, I’m simply informing you of the facts. You said to me before that we didn’t have the numbers. You’re wrong. There are far more vampires than you realize. And your followers are actually a small minority of the overall American population—they’re just very loud about their bigotry and hatred, especially when you lie to them and whip them into a frenzy.”

  Parker pointed at her, spittle forming at the corners of his mouth as he ranted.

  “There’s enough of them to win an election—especially when the other party splits the vote between candidates. That’s all that matters. My people go to the polls on election day, and they’re loyal to me and only me.”

  “Would they be, do you think, if they actually knew the real you?” Abbi asked.

  Parker blanched but made a speedy comeback. “If you think you’re going to scare me with that video you have of me fooling around with vamp whores, you can forget it. It doesn’t matter what you have on me. My followers won’t believe it, even if they see it with their own eyes. They care more about what I say than any sort of proof you or anyone else might be able to dig up.”

  His face split into a smile so big and so evil he resembled a jack-o-lantern. “I can do anything I want to—literally anything—and my followers will still believe whatever I say and love me and re-elect me.”

  He chuckled and puffed out his chest. “I could even kill you right here and now—do it in a live broadcast if I wanted to. I could stake you out there in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of a crowd of witnesses and still get away with it.”

  Okay, that’s it.

  I cocked my head from side to side and rolled my shoulders, ready to take the man down. The vice president too—and all the Secret Service members. No one was going to stake Abbi. Not while I lived.

  She didn’t appear to be shaken at all, and her voice stayed tranquil.

  “You could kill me, that’s true. But there will always be another me. You will never eradicate the vampire race. Just as with the barn cats, biology is on our side.”

  “Hardly.” Parker smirked. “That Crimson Accord you love so much stipulates vampires can’t lawfully turn humans, so if you keep to the law, there aren’t going to be any more of you made. There’s only one way that’s going to turn out for the vampires. Your numbers are going to go down—and keep going down. Eventually, you’re going to die out and disappear.”

  Abbi smiled. “Are we?” Nodding toward the window, she said, “Go take a look.”

  The Secret Service guys moved first, rushing to the three large, south-facing windows to look down on the south lawn of the White House.

  “Sir, you need to see this,” one of them said.

  President Parker and the vice president got up and went to the windows. Though we already knew what was out there, I did the same, just for fun.

  It was an incredible sight to behold.

  The vast stretch of green known as the South Lawn was the location of the annual White House egg-rolling contest and the landing area for the president’s helicopter, Marine One.

  Now it was covered with people—most of them vampires, but some humans too.

  Floodlights illuminated a shoulder-to-shoulder swarm stretching all the way to South Executive Drive and across it, filling the Ellipse, a fifty-two-acre circular public park south of the White House.

  “Where the hell did they all come from? How did they all get here?” Parker demanded. “I looked out the window just before the meeting, and there wasn’t a soul out there aside from our security staff.”

  One member of his protection detail shrugged apologetically. “They’re vampires, sir. They can pretty much go anywhere they want. And they’re fast. If they decide to occupy an area, there’s really nothing we can do to prevent it.”

  “You see, Mr. President,” Abbi said. “The Crimson Accord, including its prohibition on large gatherings by vampires, has only worked because we’ve chosen to abide by it. If you continue to violate its tenets, my people are going to decide there’s no point in them obeying it any longer.”

  Parker whirled to face her. “They’ll see the point when my soldiers start blowing them away.”

  Abbi didn’t even flinch. “Yes, you have anti-vamp weapons, but as with anything, if enough people get together and decide to do something, there’s no stopping them. Wave after wave will come at you until your defenses are overwhelmed. What you see is only a fraction of the vampires who are ready, willing, and able to stand up for our rights and fight if necessary. As their queen...”

  She raised a single eyebrow and waited a beat to let that phrase sink in before going on. “... I am uniting vampire-kind nationwide and have made contact with vampire queens in other countries as well. And we won’t be alone. The VHC’s offices have been overwhelmed by human allies who want to help.”

  Her deliberate pause was drawn out and dramatic. “I imagine those numbers will only increase once they realize there are innocent newborn lives at stake as well.”

  She pointed to the window, and Parker turned to look outside again.

  At the front of the crowd, surrounded by a protective ring of Bloodbound guards but still visible from our vantage point, stood Larkin and Kannon and their infant son.

  Kannon raised one of Daniel’s tiny hands and moved it in a wave.

  “Is that a... is that a baby?” the stunned president asked.

&nb
sp; “That’s right. And that happy couple is only the first,” Abbi said. “There are already scores of other vampire couples who’ve conceived. Quite a few of them will be making appearances tonight on the national news and late-night talk shows to show off their sonograms and baby bumps. They’ve already taped their interviews, but these two—and their son—will be appearing together on the morning shows tomorrow. All of them.”

  “We’re through running and hiding,” she continued. “Whether or not there’s ever a viable cure, a lot of vampires can’t go back, and many have no interest in changing. Which is why the world is going to have to change to accept us.”

  Graham Parker stood and stared, his jaw slack as Abbi continued.

  “That, sir, will be your presidential legacy. Without meaning to, you’ve brought unity to our respective species. Congratulations, Mr. President.”

  23

  Power and Peace

  Three months later

  Reece and I sat on our bed, surrounded by colorful wrapping paper and ribbons—and stacks of unopened gift boxes and bags.

  Since I’d gone public with my role as queen—and my pregnancy—world leaders and civilian well-wishers alike had been showering Reece and me with baby gifts. New ones arrived each day.

  So many had piled up in our private chambers it was hard to find room to move. I’d actually tripped over an enormous stuffed bumble bee last night while walking to get Sadie out of her crib to feed her.

  Like many of the expanding families here in the Bastion, we were feeling the need for more elbow room.

  Thankfully many of them had been able to go back to their homes, their old jobs, and communities.

  Many others—perhaps too many—had elected to stay in this isolated sanctuary. I was beginning to wonder if my role as their leader was due for a shift—from “queen bee” to “mama bird.”

  But how to go about pushing them from the nest? And when?

  Opening a box, Reece laughed. “Another diaper disposal system. Thank God we don’t need it.”

  One benefit of vampire babies—in addition to the fact most of them quickly moved past the waking every two hours stage—was the fact that their bodies used mother’s milk the same way our adult bodies used blood. It simply absorbed into their systems with no waste. Having washed and line-dried my fair share of cloth diapers as an Amish big sister, I would be eternally grateful.

  “Put it in the donation pile with the others,” I said. “There are plenty of human parents who will love it, I’m sure.”

  Dragging a bag onto my lap, I pulled out the tissue paper and reached inside. When I drew out the gift, Reece and I both stared at it.

  It was an autographed picture of President Parker, in an engraved silver frame. The personalized signature read, “For baby Sadie, from your friend, President Graham Parker.”

  “How thoughtful.” I wrinkled my nose. “I guess we can’t regift this one.”

  Reece laughed. “Who would want it?”

  “Do you think he likes us now? Or maybe it has something to do with that recording you got of him admitting the video of him with prostitutes was real and bragging that he could kill me and literally get away with murder,” I quipped.

  Reece shrugged, not looking the least bit guilt-ridden. “He was so busy threatening you he didn’t notice what I was doing.”

  I leaned against my handsome mate, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. “That was stupid of him. Everyone knows you shouldn’t trust a rogue vampire.”

  “I’ll show you a rogue.” Reece laughed again and kissed me passionately, pushing my shoulders gently back to the pillows.

  “Wait—we don’t have time.” I struggled upright again. “We have to go present Sadie to her people.”

  “What’s another few hours? They can wait.” Reece kissed my neck again.

  With regret, I wriggled from his hold and got out of bed. “They’ve played the pipe organ. People are gathering in the Grand Dome already. Besides, Sadie will wake up any second.”

  Directing a fond look at the crib, Reece smiled at his daughter, who was indeed beginning to stir and kick her tiny feet in the air.

  “Well, now that’s different. Daddy’s girl doesn’t wait for anyone.” He rolled out of bed and went to the crib, scooping Sadie up and nuzzling her cheek. “Do you, Princess?”

  When the baby was dressed and the queensguard let us know the Grand Dome was filled, Reece and I walked down the private corridor toward the huge gathering space.

  He carried Sadie in one arm and with the other clasped my hand.

  That was how we entered the Dome—together—a family.

  And as I looked out over the assembly of other new families, of hopeful faces, of people I cared about, I knew the time had come.

  It was time for all of us to leave the Bastion and join the world we had worked together to create through a combination of peace and power.

  “My friends... thank you all for being here. It’s so good to see each and every one of you. All of the life, all of the love in this room gives me so much joy I don’t have the words to express it. Like many of you, Reece and I have extra reason to be joyful these days.”

  He stepped forward and lifted Sadie so everyone could see her.

  “Meet Princess Sadie,” Reece said.

  There were cheers and applause mixed with oohs and aahs. Some of the other new parents held their babies up as well.

  “I hope our daughter will have the chance to get to know and grow up with some of your children,” I said. “As first generation, Crimson-born Americans, they share a connection like no other. But I don’t want them to grow up here.”

  The room fell quiet.

  “The Bastion is no longer necessary—and that’s a good thing. The world is a better, safer place with enough room in it for vampires and humans alike. I encourage each of you to go out and explore it, claim a piece of it for yourselves, and take your rightful place in society.”

  People began looking around, as if in shock or in some cases, fear.

  “There’s no hurry,” I assured them, “and no one will be forced to leave, but I want you to start considering the Bastion as more of a vacation destination, a site of historical interest, than a permanent home. It’s time. The Crimson Accord is stronger than ever. You are full citizens with equal rights.”

  The faces looking back at me were so varied and each one so precious to me. Right now, not all of them were convinced.

  I understood. Change was scary.

  But I’d learned you didn’t necessarily have to stop being afraid to move forward. The answer was to give yourself space to feel the fear… then simply to do what you needed to do even though you were still afraid.

  That was how fear was defeated for good.

  “Is the outside world perfect? No, but it’s never been perfect,” I said. “And President Parker will never be a great leader. But his threat against vampire-kind has been tamed. We’ll be watching closely to make sure he doesn’t backslide on his promises, and when his lame-duck single term ends, he’ll fade into the sidenotes of history. As far as public opinion, not every mind will be changed. You know that. Some people will always hate those who are born different from them, who look different or have different cultural traditions. But hiding here is not the answer. It’s only by working and living together and listening to each other that vampires and humans will come to truly know and understand each other.”

  I directed a significant glance at Shane and Marjorie, who’d fallen in love when she was a vampire and he was still human.

  They stood, arm in arm, smiling back at me. She dropped a hand to her rounded belly, and he placed his atop it.

  Beside them stood Kelly with her permanent mate, a Bloodbound soldier, and Heather with her hacker boyfriend, Luis.

  He’d lasted longer than any of her paramours so far, so there was a chance even she might actually select a permanent mate of her own.

  “I have immense hope for the future—for both our s
pecies,” I told my people, and I meant every word. “I think more of us—humans and vampires alike—do believe love is preferable to hate, and that is enough for peace and goodwill to prevail.”

  Taking Reece’s hand, I said, “Not all that long ago, when I was a scared little girl who’d never been outside her own village, someone said to me that there was no such thing as ‘good enough,’ that we should strive for greatness instead.”

  Reece beamed at me, tiny wrinkles forming at the corners of his eyes as he looked down at me with love.

  I dragged my gaze away from him and our daughter to address the Bastion’s citizens again.

  “He also believed in destiny. I believe in my heart that he was right on both counts. Our destiny as a race, as a people, is to achieve greatness, each in our own way—and in ways we haven’t even begun to anticipate yet. The possibilities are endless. The world is out there waiting for you. Make your mark on it. Change it for the better. Find your destiny.”

  * * *

  Thank you for reading Crimson Crown! I hope you loved it and the entire Crimson series. If you enjoyed it, would you consider writing a quick review?

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  If you missed a book in the series, turn to the Also By page for a list of all four books and the reading order.

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