by Sydney Addae
“That’s because of those blood-suckers —”
Taney jumped up, pointed at Cryden. “No, it’s because of you! There was no reason to send them to that house, no reason for them to be in Vemdorian territory, but you couldn’t let it rest. You just had to go hunting for this ghost.”
“Not a ghost, but the leader of the Vemdorians,” Cryden said. “Their mastermind. We had a tip the Duke had been seen, and followed the clues. Somehow they must’ve found out we were closing in and planned something. That proves —”
“Nothing,” Taney said. “It proves nothing other than the loss of two Hunters on a useless mission. You’ve been tracking this ghost for decades. Vemdorians have a council, not a leader. There is no King, Duke, or whatever you think. No one person leads them. We need to recruit and train so that we can fulfill our creed when the time comes, not chase shadows.”
Carrie looked at her father’s clamped jaw and bit back a sigh. Although she agreed with her cousin to a point, Taney shouldn’t have accused Cryden in front of everyone. Her father would never forget this conversation or that no one took his side.
“That’s your opinion,” Cryden spoke into the silence, his voice carried a hard edge.
“All Hunters are free to express themselves,” Taney said, reminding everyone that communications of this nature are what Hunters thrived on. No one could stop free discussions in a setting like this.
“You’re not a Hunter,” Cryden spat.
Taney’s jaw tightened. “Hunter born and trained. Always a Hunter.”
Abalone, Taney’s father and Cryden’s younger brother, held up his hand. “Taney is a Hunter who doesn’t agree with our current methods. He’s entitled to present his points of view.” Abalone met Cryden’s hard gaze. “We need to evaluate everything, understand, if possible, our shrinkage. We cannot continue the way we’ve been going.”
Cryden snorted. “Nothing wrong with staying with tradition. I’m a damn good vampire hunter, my father and his father were Hunters.”
“What if this Duke is real?” Carrie asked.
“He is real,” Cryden said.
“What do you mean?” Taney asked, ignoring Cryden.
“What if they have someone who’s helping them? Lately, it seems they’re able to nullify our equipment as soon as we finish training how to use them. By the time we’re in the field our devices are useless,” Carrie said, feeling her way.
“The council could’ve commissioned an outside company,” Uncle Abalone said.
“But how are they learning about our stuff so fast?” Carrie countered. “Is anyone looking into that?”
“Yes, we’re checking. R & D swears everything is on lockdown and have no idea where the data leaks are,” Taney said. “Tell us what you’re thinking.”
Aware of all eyes on her, Carrie cleared her throat. “There has to be someone assisting the Vemdorians that we don’t know about. Most of them aren’t fighters. Even if they’re innocent of crimes against humans and should be left alone, if we don’t find out more about their defenses, how will we do our jobs when the time comes? We don’t need to engage unless provoked, but we can’t just sit back while the playing field changes.”
“Good point,” Abalone said, his gaze touching on others at the table. “Friar and Miltie didn’t just vanish, and if they did, we need to know more about this new ability. Plus, we need to find and bring them back home for their families.”
“Yeah,” Cryden said and fell silent.
Taney’s gaze landed on Carrie. “What do you have in mind?”
Carrie smiled. “I plan to go hunting, what else?”
Chapter 5
Baron had just left when Brieloff sensed another presence. He wondered at the novelty of both men seeking his counsel on the same day. He hoped Rugger had not heard of Baron’s transformation, the man would attempt to sway Baron to his cause because of his past friendship with Bulgar.
“Rugger, it is good to see you,” Brieloff stood to accept the bow from his guest. “It has been too long.” They both moved inside from the veranda and sat down. From behind his desk, Brieloff took the opportunity to study his longtime associate. The years appeared to be good to Rugger. His color was good, a light tan. Dark brown hair framed a square face with a hook nose. Overall, an arresting visage coupled with a rangy physique. Light gray eyes shifted around the room, scoping the space while seemingly at ease. Appearances in Rugger’s case were deceptive and, Brieloff knew, how quickly the man’s temperament could change.
“I take it you are not here to return to your position as the leader of our Sentinels.”
Rugger snorted and they chuckled at the long-standing joke. Rugger had indeed given up his commission centuries ago, and Brieloff had been requesting his return just as long. They’d reached a compromise. Rugger and Orton, another former council employee, trained Vemdorians for combat. Almost all the graduates were granted positions as Sentinels if they chose.
“I appreciate you seeing me, Elder Brieloff. I have questions and would like to discuss them with you,” he said, more subdued.
Neither suffered illusions regarding the feelings of the council towards Rugger. As an Elder and leader, Brieloff may seem a little more flexible, but in the end, he would defend the council’s position.
“Thank you for coming to discuss things with me first, it is appreciated.”
Rugger nodded in acceptance of the rebuke for the time he and his comrades went over the council’s authority, attempting to make a direct plea to the One without their knowledge.
“I know you are aware that I am not pleased with this planet. I believe a terrible bargain took place between the ancients. The One stripped us of our identity, customs, and values. These fragile frames in which we’re housed can be painful and are easily destroyed. Our people, who had no knowledge of immorality prior to coming to this planet, are so steeped in the carnality here that we are forced to police and destroy our own.” He stilled his hands from making more gestures.
“In addition, Hunters refuse to recognize that not all Vemdorians are Vampires,” he spat the name given them. “Not all violate the agreement with the One. Most of our people just want to live in peace, quietly. But, the hunters have been harassing our community for no reason.”
Both men reflected on the situation as it stood. No matter how you sliced it, Brieloff recognized there was going to be trouble as long as innocents died.
Rugger sat forward, hands clasped together on his knees. “We, a strong race, depend on others for our sustenance to live. Why is that, I ask? The One could have fashioned this, this thing.” He gestured to his body. “In a manner that would have left us with some dignity, something, anything, that did not involve taking food from others in order to survive!"
Brieloff stacked a group of papers together and moved them to the side of the desk, needing to do something with his hands. This was an old argument between them and nothing had changed.
“This is unacceptable and we will no longer tolerate this treatment. Too many Hunters get a free pass to slaughter innocent Vemdorians and nothing is done. We cannot go to the human authorities, to do so would be a violation of the canon. When we retaliate, we are hunted, and our people die! We cannot outwardly show our strengths or harm His precious man! That’s another violation of the canon! To die with such indignity, as cats being slaughtered by mice, we should have accepted our fate with the explosion of Vemdoris!”
Rugger’s face burned red with anger. His piercing eyes bled to white with pinpoints of red, an indication of his turbulent emotions.
Brieloff spoke before the old discussion grew more heated. “I hear your anger and hurt. I glory in the fact that it comes from a place within you of pride and love for our people. Those are admirable traits. However, I believe you have forgotten a few things.”
He waved a hand at Rugger, who tried to get up, causing him to sit immediately. “Vemdoris, our planet is no more than a pile of rubble in the galaxy. We could have stayed and
perished, or found another place of habitation, you say. Tell me, Rugger, were we wrong to want to survive? To come to a place that promised our continuation?” He gazed intently at his guest. “Remember, no other planet answered our frantic summons. What would you have done at such a time?”
He waited as Rugger pondered his question.
Gritting his teeth, Rugger scoffed, “Asked more questions, and sought more guarantees for the continuation of our way of life. We cease to exist here. We are being murdered; we have no heritage, no legitimacy!”
He nodded. “You are right. We ceased to exist in the form we were when we came to this planet. But first, answer me this. What right or bargaining tool did we have to secure any guarantees? Our planet destroyed and no resources to offer in exchange.” He was perplexed at Rugger’s line of reasoning. “We threw ourselves at the mercy of the One. He could have said no or not answered as the rest did.”
Brieloff stared at Rugger, refusing to make this easy. Too many lives were at stake. He would make sure Rugger thought through every nuance of the situation. Perhaps they could avoid an uprising. He doubted it, but he’d try reasoning first.
“Why didn’t he just let us come here as we were? We could have tunneled the planet core for him, honest work an honest exchange,” Rugger asked. “I survive in the mountains in this hostile place. Every century a few more like me move to a new mountain. These dark areas have become a sanctuary for our bruised spirits. I still say we could have bargained for more!”
Brieloff’s canines descended for a moment before he regained control and snarled, “This planet has rules and a system in place that changes for no one. We needed a place to survive and had to agree to the terms, otherwise, we’d be dead!” His stare matched Rugger’s. He sat poised as if he were granting a job interview. Clenched fists and lowered canines indicated his inner turmoil and fury.
“Do you remember the panic? The shrill noises, screams, and the pain experienced when the asteroid hit our planet? Not everyone left. Some chose to die at home rather than leave. What about the hysterical pleas sent out for assistance to the neighboring planets and the dreadful silence that followed? Do. You. Remember that?!”
Rugger nodded slightly.
“Our planet was destroyed. Only pieces floating in the beltway prove it once existed. We barely escaped to Earth. Now, centuries later, that act of kindness chafes you? Is that what you are telling me? Please, let’s be plain. I want to know what alternatives we had when we were dying and no one came to our aid. No one! Except the One.”
Taking a deep breath, Brieloff lifted his hand and smoothed it over his hair. Licking his dry lips, he looked thoughtfully at Rugger, who sat quietly in the chair, watching him.
“This planet belongs to mankind. You must understand they are the primaries; it is the way the One set it up. Nothing and no one can ever change that.” His tone was adamant.
He bent toward his visitor and stated simply. “We are guests here, and like good guests, we must obey the rules.”
“And if we don’t?” Rugger threw out, appearing ruffled by the finality in Brieloff’s voice.
Brieloff looked up from his desk, his eyes seared him with their intensity. “Then our destruction is complete.”
Rugger sneered. “Some bargain, I thought free will was one of the four conditions.”
“It is. You can obey the rules or suffer the consequences for disobedience. No one can make you choose either way. If we could, our numbers would still be strong.”
“Free will is nothing more than a trick to rob us of who we are.”
Brieloff glared at him.
He punched his chest with his fist. “I am Vemdorian. Not this pathetic creature made to inhabit this place. My line has built tunnels in the caverns since the beginning, and I refuse to be at the mercy of these sniveling, destructive, immoral beings occupying this place.”
With just a touch of smugness, Brieloff responded to the rant with a smile. “You say you are Vemdorian, and yet Vemdoris the planet no longer exists. On Vemdoris, no one argued, yelled, or complained. Nevertheless, here you are ranting and raving. Vemdorians burrowed into the ground digesting what they dug and rested, yet I feel your desire to move about this small space. These are not the actions of a Vemdorian, but the very creatures you claim to hate.”
Rugger struggled to move from his chair.
“Be still, Sir Vemdorian,” Brieloff mocked. “We have been here for centuries. Some of our kind, unfortunately, could not adapt. That was understandable. Our old bodies could not survive in this atmosphere. The One allowed us to remain true to ourselves on the inside, where it matters.”
He waved down Rugger’s attempt to interrupt in protest. “Because of that, this flesh we inhabit refused to make the fluid necessary to sustain life. We reached a compromise; we could take the little we needed from humans as long as we caused them no harm. To make that a reality, we were also given limited abilities to affect the minds of the donors so no record of the feeding remained.” Beetling his brows at Rugger, he forced the man to meet his gaze. “You and I both know our race broke that rule repeatedly.”
Rugger sputtered as his visage purpled. “Unfair. We were new, the concept of legs and arms foreign. There was so much to learn, and thirst an unusual necessity for us. There were no liquids on our planet to draw comparisons.”
Brieloff meant to hit a sore point. Vemdorians had no emotions before coming to this accursed place, now they exploded at the most inconvenient times. He knew Rugger well enough to know he hated it when he lost control.
“It’s not fair to throw the early days of our existence in our faces. His precious man has committed worse against their own, repeatedly, yet He gave them the knowledge to exterminate us.”
“True, and He did not.” Brieloff agreed as he scanned a page on his desk. Pulling his gaze upward, their eyes clashed. “But Rugger, need I remind you that humans were not exposed to our secrets until the past few centuries. I think it’s safe to say, it should not have taken us more than a century to become accustomed to our new way of life. The One has been more than fair in giving us time to get acclimated. Yet, we still harmed His man. Remember, we set up the Sentinels after the proclamation that they were given knowledge, not before. We knew there were those who violated the rules and did nothing about it.” His voice had taken on a weighty sadness, filled with shame as he remembered his earlier transgressions.
Rugger’s mouth turned up at the corners. “So he punishes everyone by allowing the humans to hunt us and still require that we do them no harm.”
Brieloff wanted to get to the root of the man’s anger. Unlike most of the council, he didn’t hate or despise the rebel. He understood the difficulty of change. But, he could not allow one man or a small group of men to destroy their way of life. “Yes, although most humans don’t believe we exist and are not after us. As long as we follow the rules we can co-exist, live in peace. Isn’t that what you want?”
Rugger looked at the mountainside, inhaled, and glanced at him. “I want to be able to share my heritage with pride. I understand that my world is no more." He raised his hands. “But perhaps there is another similar world we can inhabit that is more like home. This place...” He gestured toward the view outside the veranda. “This place is so noisy, and they have multiplied so quickly, they are everywhere. The men have no integrity, neither are they concerned that they are destroying this planet. In truth, most men do not care for The One. I find it hard to understand why He cares for them at all. There are enough other species here that He can wipe ungrateful man out and start over.” Both men sat quietly for a moment. Contemplating their situations, vastly different views, yet bonded from a joint beginning.
“What you want, you cannot have,” Brieloff said in a lowered voice full of command. “We cannot expose ourselves to mankind.” His eyes drilled into Rugger’s dark ones as if he could write the dictates into the corners of his mind.
“If you don’t like the noise, continue to sta
y in the mountains where there is quiet. If they are multiplying, it is with His permission. You talk of matters that are not your concern.”
He rested his hands on the arms of his chair as he leaned back into his seat. “The relationship the One has with man is their affair, stay out of it. Despise them if you wish, but do so from afar, and do not touch them. I speak the truth to you. He is jealous of them, and champions them whether they appreciate it or not. If it matters not to Him if they believe, then it does not matter to us. We know there is much in the unseen and are not ignorant of the higher powers. We tap into it daily to survive.” He tapped a finger on top of the papers that lay on his desk to drive home his point.
After a moment of silence, Rugger spoke. “I have heard that the One will put us out if there is too much disturbance.” He leaned back in his chair, appearing relaxed and unruffled at the warning he’d just received.
Warily, Brieloff looked at him. “You heard wrong. We can leave at any time if the majority chooses. However, if an individual disobeys the rules, that person will be destroyed. Our numbers will continue dwindling until we learn to live harmoniously.”
“Humph. Why would He destroy us after going through all that to save us?”
Scoffing, Brieloff tilted his head to the side. “You act as if what He did taxed His strength.” He knew Rugger didn’t understand the breadth or depth of the state of affairs. “What was life-altering and complicated to us, was merely a thought for him. He knew when we requested to maintain our essence that we would later require changes; that’s why we always have access to Him through the Madre.”
Brieloff tapped his desk in thought. “Although the increased numbers of sightings of her are becoming a real concern. Technology is not always a good thing.” He took a glimpse at his visitor's face before continuing. Baron’s change confirmed the One had not forsaken the promises made at their arrival. “Most of our race calls this place home and has no desire to leave. What will you do now? The longer we stay; we become more acclimated to this way of life. We are breeding. The young do not know the old way of life. We have changed and operate in family units, another thing uncommon on Vemdoris. Emotions, strong desires, lusts, and yes, even perversions are a solid part of our makeup now. I don’t see that changing, so tell me what will you do?”