by N. R. Willis
It was a swanky dining room. That’s all I have to say. Stupid swanky rich people.
I saluted Seth, in attempts to mock Niklas, he chuckled quietly.
Come on guys. Niklas thought, which only made us chuckle more. But I promptly swallowed my laughter as to not mess up the façade with Niklas.
Unfortunately it was time to focus in and listen to the conversations of Niklas’s family, or rather his parents.
“Good evening.” Niklas’s mother, who I later found out is called Lilly addressed the group. “I trust you had pleasant journey here.”
“Ah yes.” One of them spoke up. “It was… delightful.”
“You only say that because we were fed well.” One of the other vampires teased.
“Being a part of this… council does have its perks.” A woman commented.
“I don’t know about you but I thought that young one was quite delightful.” One of the older men said as he sipped his wine.
A couple of the dinner party made faces but only one dared to say something, “You would think that Vlad.”
“What is that supposed to mean?!” Vlad asked rather calmly for a cranky old vampire dude.
Contrary to popular belief not all vampires a young some are older than others… and some are much older but I guess that doesn’t mean they aren’t all attractive because being a vampire is seriously a beauty pageant.
“Gentlemen.” Lilly stated. She had a surprising amount of control over the group, “we’re not here to argue about the state of your… snacks.”
“We’ve gathered you here for a specific reason.” The man who I assumed to be Niklas’s father stated.
“Yes Damien. Do tell us what you have planned. We’ve been dying to find out.” One of the men said and the rest chuckled lightly.
I gave Seth a subtle but pointed look. He shrugged either not willing to tell me or he didn’t care to know vampire jokes.
“We’ve devised a plan,” Damien continued, “You see, we’ve been growing in population and not only have we been getting larger,” He smirked and I tried my hardest not to pull a face so Niklas wouldn’t pull one as well. “But the other races have been as well.”
“This has been happening for years. What is different now?” Someone at the other end of the table asked.
“The difference is that while humans are still the majority they aren’t by much. We’re getting stronger every day.” Vlad commented.
“But what about the others? The Council… the Periphery?” One of the men asked. The Periphery?
“They will be dealt with. Right now all we have to worry about is taking the humans.” Lilly responded.
“We’ve been speaking with the other vampires and demons. Any that will join us. We’ve had a council of sorts and have decided it’s time.” He looked far too smug for my liking when he said that.
Time for what? I asked Niklas but he seemed a little too stiff, a little too still for my liking. You’re not worried… are you?
There’s more at stake here than we originally thought. He thought monotonously.
“It’s time? How do we know its time? There has to be more than just this population growth.” One of the few females in the room asked Damien.
“And that is where our plan comes in. We’ve known for some time that our time would come so we’ve been preparing.” Damien was being far too slippery for my liking. I wanted to punch him.
“It’s not like we can just walk into the White House and take over… So how have we planned this thing?” The same female asked again.
“Ah, but we can. We’ve got strategically placed people everywhere. And it’s not just us. The demons have a hand in this-“ I looked pointedly at Seth, “Shifters, witches and warlocks just about every supernatural against the human race has a hand in this.”
“Holy crap.” I muttered before I knew what I was doing.
Everyone in the room turned to look at Niklas who I made scowl at them but it only made them more suspicious.
“Niklas, do you have something to add?” His father asked him.
He was totally suspicious. He knew that there was something up and he possibly knew about my presence with Seth outside but I was hoping that wasn’t the case.
“I was just going to comment on the…” I paused Niklas was sweating; I could feel it almost as if I myself was sweating.
“I think they’re on to us.” I whispered to Seth who looked at me strangely.
“Son?” Damien asked Niklas with an eyebrow lifted.
They’re way to smart not to suspect us. I thought pointedly at Seth. Ok, so I was panicking. So sue me…
“How would they even know? They don’t have any way of knowing. You’re being paranoid.” Seth tried to reassure me.
“I’m alright dad; I just want us to think of this from all angles.” I said quickly for Niklas in attempts to cover our tracks.
“We’ve been doing this for quite some time we know all of the variables. You should know this, Niklas.” His dad gave him a look. A look to me that said he knew what was going on.
He knew I was there.
“Didn’t have me followed for nothing.” I simply said to Seth before doing something that was probably irrational.
I broke the bond between Niklas and me quickly, not caring particularly for the consequences mostly because we needed to make a hasty exit. It was rather unfortunate but I knew it would be better to make the call sooner than later.
“They know we’re here.” I said in a hurried whisper to Seth.
“What about Niklas? Didn’t they hear all of that?” He gestured to the window.
“He’s probably passed out on the floor right about now… I broke the bond.” I started inching away.
“Crap.” Seth cursed and grabbed my hand, leading me away from the house. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 17: We’re Stupid
September 21, 2012
5:04pm
We were screwed. Totally screwed.
I couldn’t stop pacing for the life of me. Everything was falling apart and the only answers we had were that Niklas’ parents wanted to take over the human and we had no idea how to stop them apart from killing them… But that wasn’t really an option.
Oh crap, that’s going to be the plan isn’t it? We always seem to take the stupidest way out thinking that there is no other choice when really there are plenty! Of choices, that is.
I mean we could totally blow stuff up to distract them. We could get some shape shifters to pretend to be Niklas’s parents and call off the whole thing. We could attempt to bribe them. Despite the fact that they’re already rich! No, we could hold Niklas for ransom. That would be interesting. I hope Niklas is a good actor.
No, I think I have something even better. Everyone wants something and I think I could get Seth to get them to make a deal. Of course vampires don’t exactly have souls but that’s semantics.
“Dia. Stop pacing.” Seth demanded.
“I’m sorry, I’m just you know, freaking out here. Nothing special.” I wanted to punch him but resisted the urge.
“Now is not the time to freak out.” Seth pointed out.
“But… Niklas. We left Niklas. I feel like such an ass hole and I really shouldn’t because I don’t even like the guy that much.” I stamped my foot on the ground, annoyed.
“Niklas is fine.” Seth replied, clearly amused.
“How do you know? We did just leave him there after all!” I cried.
“I went back after you fell asleep last night and got him out… It was easier than I expected.” Seth informed me with a slight shrug.
“What the hell?!” I cried. “How did you do that?”
“Magic.” He replied sarcastically. “It really doesn’t matter. Niklas is upstairs sleeping. That’s all you need to know.”
“Now I’m really freaking out!” I threw my hands up in frustration. How the hell did he get Niklas out from under his mother’s nose?
“I think we’re all a litt
le freaked…” Niklas said from behind me through a yawn.
I jumped slightly. Stupid vampire. “A little freaked?! We don’t even know what their plan is! How are we supposed to stop the enslavement of the human race if we don’t even know how they’re planning it?” I threw my hands up in the air and went back to pacing.
“Of course we know what they’re planning. They’re planning to enslave the human race, use them as food. The usual. What we don’t know how they’re planning to do it.” Seth informed me. Smart ass.
“No, they want to start a fried chicken food bus.” I said sarcastically, “You know what I meant!” I said mid pace.
“I think we’re over reacting.” Niklas tried. And I laughed indignantly.
“Ha! We don’t even know what the hell they’re planning for me!” I cried. “This could be catastrophic because even I don’t know what I can do. I’ve been hiding for so long…” I stopped pacing.
“Look, I don’t think they’re going to be able to make a move with us here, you know their son and a demon.” Seth said nonchalantly.
“Lovely…” There was a pause.
“Probably shouldn’t have broken the bond that early. There’s still too many questions left unanswered.” Niklas interrupted the pause.
“Yeah well, we probably should have come up with a better plan! I thought demons and vampires were supposed to be good at coming up with plans…” I pinched the bridge of my nose, annoyed with the situation.
“So what are we going to do about it now?” I sensed that Niklas was trying to change the subject somewhat to avoid another argument.
“I think… we’re going to have to take them out to stop this.” Seth offered.
“We’re talking about killing Niklas’s parents here. I’m not too sure but I think that is a bad idea.” I gestured to Niklas, “Because of him.”
Niklas sighed, “I don’t really see a way around it.”
“Whoa woha woha. Not this again. There are ways around it. We just have to figure out the plan and thwart it.” I offered.
“And how would we do that?” Seth asked with an eyebrow raised.
“Well we could get shape shifters to pretend to be Niklas’ parents or an illusionist to work their magic on us.” I gesture to Seth and I.
“That’s interesting.” Seth commented. He obviously didn’t like the plan because he was a loser who had to do everything the hard way.
“We could always hold Niklas for ransom.” I shrugged.
“That might work.” Seth smirked at Niklas who paled at the thought.
“And how does every plan start? A little spying.” I commented. “Maybe we should do that… and have a plan in case we get caught.”
“Like what?” Niklas asked. That pansy wouldn’t be bait because he was too scared.
“Like… make a deal.” I said slowly because I knew there had to be a reason it was never done.
“Make a deal with a vampire?” Seth looked skeptical. “I’ve heard very few stories about demons making deals with vampires… they’re interesting to say the least.”
“See, it’s totally possible!” I gestured wildly at Seth.
“Yes but even I don’t know the consequences of a deal like that.” Seth stiffened, a 180 from the confident demon he was two seconds ago.
“I thought there weren’t any consequences for making deals…” I said slowly. Ok, so I was baiting him. I knew that only bad things could come from a deal like that.
“There’s a lot we don’t say. There’s a lot they don’t tell us.” Seth looked at me pointedly.
“And by “they” you mean…” Niklas left the question open.
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that there can be no deal made if they don’t accept it.” Seth gripped his knees tightly. There was something he wasn’t telling us.
“And you learned this the hard way.” I assumed.
“So what happens if they don’t like this deal, if they call a no go on my parents? What do we do after that?” Niklas brow was furrowed, he was thinking but not quickly enough for me.
“We kill them.” Seth said darkly.
Seth was a demon. I reminded myself. I probably shouldn’t forget that.
“What will happen to you if it doesn’t go through?” I asked slowly.
“What happens to all traitors…” He replied nonchalantly. “I don’t work for them anymore.”
“So you will… die…” I gulped. Ok, this was a really bad back up plan. “Maybe we shouldn’t use that plan unless we absolutely have to…”
“I agree with you.” Niklas replied.
“So, where are we going to start?” I asked them.
“Find an illusionist… and figure out what they’re up to.” Seth replied decidedly.
“You shouldn’t have to do this. They’re my parents. I should take care of it.” Niklas countered. I think he was trying to tap into his hero complex but was doing so poorly.
“And how might you do that Niklas?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Right now I think the best shot we have is this plan.”
“And I think the best shot we have is you!” Niklas burst out.
Everyone paused for a moment as if considering his idea. Why does everything have to be about me? Ok, that’s a weird sentence to hear from a teen… Don’t get used to it.
“If they want me, they can make a deal with Seth to get me.” I ground out through my teeth, “Because we’re not just talking about a couple of people casually discussing what they’re going to eat for dinner, we’re talking about them taking over the freaking human race!” I cried.
“Alright, alright we’ll try your plan first.” Niklas sighed and pinched his nose.
“Now, how are we going to do this?”
Chapter 18: Bird watching… kind of.
Sept 23rd 2012
2:34am
I was bored out of my mind as Seth and I sat in the hot ass car watching the queen. We were waiting for her to make a move from the country club to somewhere more exciting and maybe incriminating. At that point in time she wasn’t giving us much.
“My guess is she’s going to be a boring old rich lady and go shopping next.” I broke the silence in the car.
“I’m not so sure. She’ll take her lunch here first.” Seth smirked at me.
“Wait… no she’s going to do something more dramatic like eat a human and brainwash them.” I wiggled my fingers dramatically for effect.
“And then go outside and hiss at the sunlight.” He deadpanned.
I couldn’t help it, I just burst out laughing. I even shed a tear.
“I wasn’t aware I was that funny.” He raised an eyebrow at me.
“You’re not…” I took a deep breath, “I’m just bored.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” He was sarcastic of course.
“Well, demons have a more… sadistic sense of humor.” I trailed off. The last thing I wanted to do was offend Seth.
He shrugged at me.
“You know what doesn’t make sense to me?” I asked but didn’t wait for his answer, “is why you guys never tried to take over in the first place… Supernaturals I mean. Like why did it take so long for you to get outted?”
“We were always out, I suppose, with religions and superstition.” And it made sense. Christians believed in the existence of demons, angels and even witches before anyone could even fathom their existence.
“That’s true but the masses never really truly believed in the supernatural. I was pretty much just superstition. Or we justified it in some way.” I watched the Country Club without really watching it.
“It is easier for me as a demon to make a deal with someone who believes I’m not real. That their deal won’t have any real consequences because they think that there are no such things as demons… Humans don’t realize the consequences until it is too late.”
“So they think that by making a deal they get what they want without the whole… hell thing?” He nodded out of the corner of my
eye.
“They think that we’re like them because they’ve been around demons before and they’re “not that bad” but we really are.” He paused a moment. “They think that because we act human that we’ll have compassion when they beg us not to take their souls when it is time.”
“That’s… blunt.” I muttered.