by Kate Hill
“My curiosity is unlikely to be satisfied. The First Father was the last of the Originals. When Adam received his memories, the oldest ones were too unclear for him to decipher.”
“Suppose I tell you I’ve been studying the Originals.”
“How?”
“Ah. That got your attention.”
“What’s on the eleventh floor, Jay?”
“Normally, I wouldn’t allow anyone who’s been with the center for so little time access to my lab. You are exceptional, however, which is why I brought you here.” Jay crossed an ankle over his knee and leaned back, sighing. “You must love your brother very much to have risked everything to side with him against the First Father.”
“What’s your point?”
“You’d do anything for the good of your family, wouldn’t you? Not only that, you’d do what’s good for the majority, regardless of the cost to yourself.”
“Will you stop talking in code, Jay? If you have something to say, do so plainly.”
“That’s what I like about you, Matthew. You’re to the point. Direct. You don’t worry about offending anyone.” Jay stood. “Meet me on the eleventh floor in half an hour.”
* * * * *
Matthew paced outside the doors of the eleventh-floor elevator, his thoughts churning with revelations soon to come.
At one minute past eleven, the elevator doors opened. Jay, wearing his usual smile, stepped out, Amanda and three other scientists behind him.
“Anxious to get started, are we?” Jay winked at Matthew. “I’m sure you’ll find this more interesting than anything you’ve ever imagined.”
“I have quite an imagination.”
Jay glanced at his companions. “Ladies and gentlemen, shall we?”
Matthew and the others followed Jay to the door at the end of the hallway. He spoke into the security system. “Ashford, Jay Xavier Felix Denton.” Matthew tossed him an irritated look, and Jay shrugged. “I’ve lived many years and many lives, Matthew. I hate giving up old names.”
The digital screen flashed the word Cleared. Jay opened the door, and they filed inside.
Matthew’s gaze scanned the entire room. Initially, it appeared like any of the other labs in the center. He was a bit surprised at the number of people working there. Most of them he’d never seen, and he thought he’d met just about everyone at the center. Everything looked normal, but it smelled all wrong. Fear hung on the air. Fear and pain. After so many years of working in a hospital, he was accustomed to such smells, but this felt different. He detected the scent of hybrids, but also other scents—animal scents—completely unfamiliar to him.
“You get used to the smell,” Amanda told him.
“What animals do you use here?”
Jay said, “You’ll see everything in time. Let’s start over here.” He approached a bearded, Asian hybrid. “Dr. Li has been studying the differences between hybrid, Immaculate and Original strength. As you know, there are significant differences between the three. You, for example, are—according to the old way—considered an alpha. There are no hybrids and few Immaculates with your strength.”
“I don’t know,” Matthew stated. “I haven’t met enough Immaculates to judge.”
“Of the ones you know, are there many physically stronger?”
“My brother is probably the strongest Immaculate known thus far.”
“Yes.” Jay smiled slowly. “Adam. He heads the Network. We’re very glad to have him.”
“We?”
“I’ve been part of the Network for years, Matthew. Didn’t you know that?”
“Apparently Adam doesn’t, either.”
“He wouldn’t know me by this name. I’ve recently changed it, but I’m sure eventually your brother and I will be introduced. I’ve heard he’s quite remarkable. Of course, anyone who destroyed the First Father has my respect.”
They continued throughout the entire eleventh floor, moving from lab to lab. Matthew made detailed notes and was soon absorbed in the studies. Their knowledge of the Originals shocked him.
As one of the scientists stepped back from a microscope and allowed him a look at a blood sample, Matthew said, “Where did you get this? It’s the blood of an Original, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Jay replied.
“Where did it come from? I doubt you got it from the First Father.”
“Not directly.” Jay stroked his chin. “But as usual, Matthew, you’re not far from the truth.”
“Do you care to tell me, then?”
“Matt…sorry, Matthew—” Jay clapped him on the back, “—why else do you think I brought you here? Come on.”
Matthew, Amanda and the others followed Jay to a thick metal door across the room. Again, Jay disarmed the voice-activated security system. Before continuing, he glanced over his shoulder. “Inside, Matthew, is the answer to every biological and psychological question you’ll ever have regarding the Originals.”
Matthew’s heartbeat quickened with anticipation, then dread. When Jay opened the door, the smell of fear and fury was overshadowed only by the reek of urine and feces. The room was dark, even for vampire eyes. In the center stood a small cage, a naked boy curled in a corner. His eyes shining red with bloodlust, he hissed and spat like a trapped cat as the scientists approached.
“Good gracious! Hasn’t Max cleaned up in here today?” Jay wrinkled his nose. “This place must be scrubbed every day. It can make quite a mess.”
“What the hell is going on?” Matthew approached the cage. The child roared, his eyes narrow with hatred.
“What do you think, Matthew?” Jay stuck his hands in his pockets and strolled around the cage. “It’s an Original. Isn’t it fascinating?
“You… That’s a child! What right have you—”
“Calm down, Matthew. Before you let that temper of yours get out of control, just listen to me.” Jay winced as the child released a shrill wail. “Amanda, give that creature something to keep it quiet while we talk.”
From a refrigerator across the room, Amanda removed a chunk of raw, bloody steak and approached the cage. The child stretched its hand through the bars, reaching for the food while the rest of its thin, white body cringed. Matthew heard the Original’s heartbeat racing, could almost feel its desire for blood. He squinted at the child’s hands and noted white scars on the tips of his fingers. A sick feeling washed over him when he realized the Original’s claws had been removed.
“The steak won’t nourish him, but it will keep him occupied,” Amanda explained.
“What happened to his claws?” Matthew wondered if he sounded as furious as he felt.
“They had to be removed. It was for his own protection,” Jay said. “As you know, Matthew, they’re not like us. There’s so much animal in them.”
“Animal? They possessed the knowledge to travel across space and interbreed with humans, but they’re animals? There are definitely animals in this room, Jay, but he’s not one of them!”
“Matthew, just listen,” Jay said calmly. “He’s been in our care for a very long time. Perhaps he’s not psychologically sound, but he is an Original and he is extremely violent. You can see for yourself—”
“I see a child in a cage. Who do you think you are? Fucking Dr. Moreau?”
“Oh—” Jay cringed, “—such language, Matthew. Highly offensive and inappropriate. I would never have expected it of you.”
“You wouldn’t expect it of me?” Matthew laughed humorlessly. He glared at Amanda and the other scientists. “Are you all crazy? Doesn’t this bother you? How can you do this? What sort of ethics—”
“Matthew—” Amanda’s eyes begged him, “—please listen.”
“I understand what this must look like to you.” Jay touched Matthew’s arm, but Matthew jerked away. “Come with me. The rest of you can stay and go about your work.”
Still fuming, Matthew followed Jay out of the lab and to the elevator.
“I’m completely disgusted,” Matthew stated
. “You won’t see me here again. I’m reporting you to—”
“To who?” Jay laughed. “Mortals?”
“If I have to.”
“Grow up, Matthew. You know as well as I do there’s nothing they can do about our kind.”
“Then I’ll go to the Network. That’s why they exist.”
“It’s unbelievable how innocent you are. You’re not putting on an act, right? I’ve been with the Network for longer than you can imagine. They support this center.”
“Adam would never allow this. He doesn’t know.”
“You’re right.” Jay folded his arms across his chest and nodded. “Your brother doesn’t know. There’s a lot he doesn’t know, a lot he still has to learn, but I guarantee he’d take my side in this.”
“You don’t know Adam.”
“And even if he doesn’t, the Network’s decisions are determined by The Jury. Adam’s is not the only voice. Don’t you understand, Matthew? The child is a danger to society.”
“Then destroy him! Don’t keep him like an—”
“Animal? That’s what he is. He’s the son of the First Father and his mate.”
“Where’s the boy’s mother?”
“She’s dead. We had to destroy her. She was insane and far too strong.”
“You’re forgetting, I saw the First Father up close. I spoke with him. He was very intelligent. He had the soul of an animal but the mind of—”
“The soul of an animal.” Jay sighed. “Most of his minions—the ones who survived the battle with you, Adam and Vincent—would agree that he had no soul. He was evil, was he not?”
“Yes. He was evil, but no more evil than what I’ve seen here. Have you ever been caged, Jay?” Matthew demanded. Jay shook his head. “Well, I have. I cannot be part of this.”
“Matthew, listen to me. Think about all you can learn. The child is not abused. Did you see any marks on him?”
“He’d regenerate. Speaking of regeneration, how did you manage to remove his claws?”
“Ah.” Jay’s eyes lit with his discovery. “We used platinum.”
Matthew’s stomach twisted.
“Look, you’re no stranger to experimentation. This is no different from any other testing. The boy is an Original. He cannot be allowed to roam free because, as you saw, he cannot function as a member of society. But should we really kill him? Is that not unethical as well, to take his life? It’s not his fault he’s what he is.”
“Don’t try to turn this around and make yourself look like you’re doing him a favor.”
“Aren’t I?”
“The Network will decide.”
“Matthew,” Jay said as the elevator came to a stop, “you just got here. We don’t want to lose you. If you go to the Network with this and I allow myself to be taken to trial, when they take my side, will you stay on here? I’ll allow you as much freedom with that Original as with everything else in the center. You can see for yourself he’s not mistreated.”
Matthew uttered a mocking laugh. “Fine. If you think Adam and the Network will allow this to continue, you’re crazier than I thought.”
“I like you, Matthew. You have more spirit than a thousand vampires. All that passion and brilliance. All that innocence. How I envy you.”
Matthew repressed a growl as he stormed out of the elevator and down the hallway where, for the second time in a month, he cleaned out his office.
* * * * *
“Good Lord, Matthew! You can’t seem to stay out of trouble lately, can you?” Adam’s irritated voice sounded on the phone line.
“What would you have me do, Adam? Ignore the situation? Would you ignore it?”
“You should have gone with your gut feeling. You didn’t like Jay from the first, and now to find out he’s Xavier Ashford—”
“I can’t believe you didn’t know what was going on in your own Network!” Matthew’s temper slipped in the face of his brother’s aggravated response to the problem with the Original child. He knew Adam felt stressed between the Network and his career, but this was important, damn it!
“Xavier Ashford is known to all the old members of the Network. He’s done a lot for our kind. He was one of the first hybrid scientists ever.”
“I respect his previous achievements, but that shouldn’t affect our response to what he’s doing now. You should see this child, Adam.”
“The First Father’s child.”
“Yes. He’s the First Father’s child. Are you suggesting he should pay for his father’s crimes?”
“I’m not trying to sit in judgment.”
“You don’t have a choice. You are the judge for this trial or whatever you people call it.”
“We people? You could be part of the Network, too, Matthew. It’s not as if you haven’t been asked.”
“No. I’m caught between two worlds. I have too many human ties.”
“Which would make you even more valuable to us.”
“We’re not supposed to be discussing me. When is this trial going to take place?”
“This coming Saturday. It’s my only day off and the soonest we could arrange for the others to come. Five well-respected members of the Network will be The Jury.”
“And you?”
“Yes. And me. Matthew, you know me. I’m not going to be influenced one way or the other, nor will I let a child be mistreated…even the First Father’s child.”
“Adam, if you’d seen that cage. If you’d seen his hands. They removed his incisors, too. What the hell kind of people remove a vampire’s incisors?”
“Matthew, just cool off. You said yourself the boy is dangerous. He could very well have been injuring himself or others. Perhaps it was less cruel to—”
“Goodbye, Adam.” Matthew, unable to argue any further, slammed down the receiver. He drew a deep breath and sat at the desk in his study, tapping his claws on the arm of his chair.
“Sweetheart?” Dulcie stepped into the room and slipped her arms around his neck. “Are you all right?”
“No. I’m not. I’ve never known Adam to be so unreasonable before.”
“Are you sure he’s being unreasonable, or is he waiting to gather the facts before he makes his decision?”
“Dulcie, I know what I saw! Regardless of whether the boy is dangerous or not, Jay and the others are using him. I can understand taking blood samples, urine samples, studying him. But removing his incisors?” Matthew gazed her. “They’re doctors, for crying out loud. They’re supposed to help people, not torture—”
“What do you think should be done with him?” Dulcie perched on his knee and smoothed his hair behind his ear.
“I don’t know.”
“You said he doesn’t speak. He’s violent. Perhaps he got all the worst of the First Father’s traits. Maybe he has a mental problem—not to sound cruel, but it’s a possibility. Matthew, we’re Immaculates. You know how powerful we are, but he’s an Original. When he grows up, you realize how strong he’ll be. There’ll be no controlling him if he can’t control himself.”
“I don’t know, Dulcie.” Matthew buried his face in her shoulder. “I just know this is wrong. I feel it.”
Dulcie laughed. “Leave it to you to pick now to start going with your feelings. At least no matter what the Network decides, you’ll be able to make sure the Original is properly cared for.”
“In his cage.”
“If need be.”
If need be.
Chapter Eleven
The Case of the First Father’s Son, as it was recorded in the Network’s files, was presented to Adam and five esteemed Network members—known as The Jury—at the North American Headquarters—a hotel in Boston called Poet’s Manor.
The hotel was owned by a slight, blond-haired hybrid, Marcus, the vampiric offspring and lover of Marina, the vampire who founded the Network. Poet’s Manor, a tall, old-fashioned building, was reputed to be one of the finest hotels in Boston. Unknown in the mortal world, Network offices occupied the enti
re top floor. It was a storage house of historical files and a haven for vampires—Network members whose duties forced them into hiding for a brief time. The Network’s major concern was vampiric law enforcement, and its members were as open to danger as mortal police and military personnel. Adam was a leader, called upon only for dangerous missions and council meetings such as the one about to take place.
Marcus met Matthew and Dulcie in the lobby. The man’s slender lines and large brown eyes gave him the look of a deer. Dressed as impeccably as Matthew, the hotel owner wore a pale gray suit and a buff-colored tie with a matching pocket handkerchief. His short, white-blond hair framed a rounded face. A pale blue stone rested in one pierced earlobe.
“You must be Dr. Winter.” Marcus offered Matthew his hand. “The resemblance to your brother is startling.”
Dulcie noticed the strain in Matthew’s smile as he asked, “Has Adam arrived?”
“Yes, he and the other members are upstairs now. Marina—you’ve seen her—is on The Jury. I’ll describe the others on the way up so you’ll know who you’re dealing with.” Marcus turned to Dulcie and took her hand, bowing over it in an old-fashioned but charming manner. “Forgive me, Ms. Evans. How rude of me not to introduce myself.”
“I’m quite sure you’re Marcus,” Dulcie said. “Glad to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine. If you both would follow me, I’ll escort you upstairs.”
As they stepped into the elevator, Dulcie took Matthew’s hand and looked up at him, wishing she could help him relax. She knew how important the Original’s freedom was to him, and the more she’d listened to him talk, the more she also realized the graveness of the situation. What right had they to cage a child simply because his father had been a monster? The previous night, they’d talked. With Dulcie’s blessing, Matthew was going to suggest the Original be turned over to their care rather than live at the center.
Dulcie knew what such a decision meant, but Matthew was determined that with time and effort, the Original could function as any other vampire. She agreed that he should at least be given the chance.