by Brandon Hale
“Did you succeed?” Cooper asked.
Jesse laughed. “No. He captured me and imprisoned me in a cave for the next three years. Every day, he brought humans to the cave and made me sit there and listen to them talk.”
“Talk?” Cooper asked. “About what?”
“Life,” Jesse said, “and death. And pretty much everything in between. They just told me about their lives.”
“And that changed you?” Cooper asked.
“Not really,” Jesse said. “Not at first, anyway. For the first year or so, I just sat there and smelled their blood. The need for blood never went away, but it did become tolerable after a while. That’s when I started to get to know these people. Most of them were very old men.”
“They were close to death,” Cooper said. “He wanted you to meet people who were facing death.”
“Yeah,” Jesse said. “He brought them every day for three years straight. Sometimes it was a new person, sometimes it was a regular. They lived in the villages above the cave. Then, one day, Bao – the vampire who made me – came to the cave and told me one of the regular visitors was dead. Natural causes. It was devastating to me. In a weird way, these people had become my family.”
Cooper nodded. “That makes sense.”
“For three years,” Jesse went on, “that was my life. Bao brought people to the cave, I got to know them, then they died. He intentionally chose people who were close to dying.”
“How did he do it?” Cooper asked. “Was it mind control?”
Jesse shook his head. “No. They came because they wanted to be there. I think they knew what they were doing.”
“Changing you,” Cooper said.
“Yeah,” Jesse said. “And it eventually worked. Over time, I began to understand. I lost my desire to kill. Don’t get me wrong, I still craved blood, but I couldn’t kill.”
“Because you knew them,” Cooper said.
“No,” Jesse said. “It was because I understood how precious their time was. Their time here was over so damn fast. I refused to do anything to shorten that.”
“So that’s it?” Cooper said. “It’s that simple? You just have to… get to know people?”
“Three years confined to a cave is hardly simple,” Jesse said. “Besides, that wasn’t what changed me. Not really. It softened me up, sure, but I didn’t fully understand until about a year later.”
“What happened?” Cooper asked.
“I can’t describe it,” Jesse said, “but I can show you. If you want.”
Cooper nodded. “I don’t know what you’re about to do, but I came here for answers. If you can show me, show me.”
“Hold out your hands,” Jesse said. “As you know, vampires can communicate telepathically. That means we also have the ability to share memories. Just so you know, this isn’t a pleasant experience. You won’t like it.”
Cooper held out his hands. “I understand.”
Jesse wrapped his hands around Cooper’s.
Chapter 19
Grung’s Escape
“As prison cells go,” Grung said, “this ain’t bad.”
“I think they just converted a guest room for humans,” Lily said. She was still wearing the gloves and ski mask.
The “cell” looked more like a small motel room than a prison cell. It even had a small bathroom. The room had two small beds, but was otherwise empty. A sheet of flat metal was attached to a section of the wall. Lily assumed it was covering a window.
An empty food tray sat on the bed. Lily and Grung each held a small bowl and a glass of water.
Grung scooped up a spoonful of the oatmeal-like substance in the bowl and took a bite.
“What is this shit?” he said with a grimace.
“I think it’s some kind of nutrient mix,” Lily said.
Grung placed the bowl on the floor. “Well, it’s disgusting.” He sighed. “How long have we been here?”
“Not sure,” Lily said. “It’s been over a day, I know that.” She picked up the food tray. “This thing’s metal. Do you think it’d stop a bullet?” She handed the tray to Grung.
“Dunno,” Grung said as he looked at the tray. “Maybe. What are you thinking?”
Lily looked around the room again. They had searched thoroughly for any recording devices and found nothing, but they knew there was still a chance they were being watched.
“I think it’s okay,” Grung said, guessing what Lily was thinking. “I don’t think we’re bugged. Apparently, human rooms aren’t worth the effort. Besides, they obviously didn’t capture us to get information.”
“Yeah,” Lily said. “That’s what concerns me. What are they planning?”
“Whatever it is,” Grung said, “it has nothing to do with me. They had orders to take you alive, but I was expendable.”
“Yeah,” Lily said. “That’s why I asked about the tray. Put it under your shirt. When they come for us, I want you to get the hell out of here. As soon as you see an opportunity to escape, take it.”
“No way,” Grung said. “I’m not leaving you here.”
“Grung,” Lily said, “they’re not planning to kill me. Not at first, anyway. I’m not in immediate danger, but you are. I think they’re going to kill you as soon as they separate us.”
“Then we’ll leave together,” Grung said.
Lily shook her head. “No, Grung. You’ll never make it out if you’re carrying me around. By yourself, you have a chance. You can get to Scott then come back for me.”
“Lily—”
“That’s an order, Grung,” Lily said. “Your escape is my best chance to survive this. You won’t do me any good if you’re dead.”
Grung took the tray and slipped it under his shirt. “Why’d you do it, Lily?”
“Do what?” Lily asked.
“Why’d you surrender?” Grung said. “When Travis started killing them, we could’ve escaped, but you stayed. You stayed and helped them.”
“I couldn’t let them die,” Lily said.
“They’re vampires,” Grung said. “They can call themselves Topians all they want, but they’re vampires.”
“Half-vampires,” Lily said.
“Whatever,” Grung said. “I’m not one to get hung up on technicalities. I don’t care if they claim to be half or three-quarters, they drink blood. Human blood. That’s a vampire in my book. And you’re Lily Baxter. You kill vampires. It’s what you do.”
“Yeah,” Lily said. “Killing vampires is the only life I’ve ever known. And I hate vampires, Grung. I really hate them. They took my mom, my dad, my best friend. They took my entire hometown.”
“Then why’d you do it?” Grung said. “Why’d you save them?”
“You can’t have peace,” Lily said, “until the soldiers stop killing each other. Peace starts with us, Grung.”
“And what if they’re lying?” Grung said.
Lily laughed. “We’re prisoners for something we didn’t do. Of course they’re lying. Doesn’t matter, though. We learned something important today.”
“What’s that?”
“Some of them are for real,” Lily said. “That Isaac guy. He’s not our enemy.”
Grung nodded. “I agree.”
“So that leaves us with one question,” Lily said. “Who is our enemy?”
“Whoever ordered our capture,” Grung said.
“Exactly,” Lily said. “I’m pretty sure I’m about to meet that person. And hopefully, I’ll kill him.”
“You don’t think it’s Cassius?” Grung asked.
Lily shook her head. “No, I don’t. Why would Cassius spend all these years building a world just to throw it all away by attacking us? It’s somebody else. Something has changed.”
“It’s that damn president,” Grung said.
“I think so,” Lily agreed. “And once we can prove it, he’ll be a dead president.”
“Okay,” Grung said. “You surrendered because it was the best way to find out who’s calling the shots
. That makes sense, I guess.”
“Far as I could figure,” Lily said, “it was the only way.”
“You look ridiculous, by the way,” Grung said. “You look like you’re getting ready to steal some rare diamond from a museum or something.”
“Really?” Lily said. “You’re teasing me about the clothes they’re making me wear? You were naked for most of the day yesterday. Do you really want me to go there?”
Grung laughed. “I don’t. I really, really—”
“Grung, something’s wrong,” Lily said, suddenly serious.
“What is it?” Grung asked.
“I don’t know,” Lily said. “I just… felt something. Something dark. It only lasted a second, but I felt the presence of something very powerful.”
“A vampire?”
“I think so,” Lily said, “but I can’t say for sure. You know how vampires get weak when I’m around? I think it was like that, only reversed.”
“You think it’s part of the whole good creature gig?” Grung asked.
“Maybe,” Lily said. “I really don’t know. Abbie didn’t exactly leave me a manual. Grung, I think I felt the presence of whoever is behind this. And I don’t like what I felt. At all.”
Grung got up from the bed and paced around the room nervously. “I wonder why this is the first time you’ve felt it. Do you think it just woke up? Maybe it was imprisoned, like Travis.”
“No,” Lily said. “She was reaching out to me. I think she was just saying hello.”
“She?”
Lily nodded. “Yeah. I don’t know what she is, but it was definitely a female presence.”
“Okay,” Grung said. “Plans have changed. There’s no damn way I’m leaving you here.”
“Yes,” Lily said, “you are. You have to get to Scott. It’s more important than ever. I’ll be okay until you come back for me. When they come for us, find a way to escape. Don’t waste any time and don’t look back. I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t like this,” Grung said.
“I don’t either,” Lily said, “but what choice do we have? If you stay, they’ll kill you. I’m sure of it.”
Grung nodded. “Just don’t do anything stupid until we get back, okay?”
Lily flashed a smile. “Hey, it’s me.”
“I know,” Grung said. “That’s what worries me.”
Lily started to laugh, but stopped when Grung abruptly said, “They’re coming.”
“Shit,” Lily whispered. “Remember, the first chance you see, take it. Don’t focus on me. Just get the hell out of here. Got it?”
“Got it,” Grung said.
The door opened and two Topians stepped inside. “Come with us.”
Grung was instantly a wolf. He wrapped his claws around both Topians’ heads and slammed them together. A second later, he was gone.
“Damn,” Lily said as she looked at Grung’s shredded clothes lying beside the tray on the floor. “He really took the whole ‘first chance’ thing to heart.”
She stepped into the hallway. To her left, she saw several Topians lying on the ground. To her right, she saw several other Topians running toward her.
Lily threw her arms up and screamed, “I surrender!”
Chapter 20
Perspective
Vietnam, 1976.
Jesse stepped into the main room of the cave. He held a small container full of red liquid. “The village east of here is having problems with flooding,” he said. “I think tomorrow night, I might go dig them a ditch.” He placed the container on the floor. “Also, they left another offering.”
Bao was sitting in a corner of the cave. He was a very small Vietnamese man, but he wasn’t fully human. His body was covered in fine hairs. His ears were long and pointed, as were his fingers. He looked like a mix between a man and a bat. “That is good, Jesse Merrickson. If you help them tomorrow, do not let them see you. That village believes we are good spirits, but that won’t protect you if they see you. I do not know how they would react.”
“I understand,” Jesse said. As he walked toward Bao, he noticed the little vampire held a sharpened piece of wood. “What’s with the stake?”
“It is time for your final lesson,” Bao said.
“Are you gonna stake me for my final lesson?” Jesse asked.
Bao smiled. It was a hideous smile, but gentle at the same time. “No,” he said. “It is time for me to rest.”
Jesse took a step forward. “No, Bao. That’s not gonna happen.”
Bao placed the stake over his own heart. “If you take another step, Jesse Merrickson, I will end this now and you will not get your final lesson.”
Jesse stopped. “Bao, don’t do this. You have eternity. Don’t take that away.”
“I do not need eternity,” Bao said. “One moment is enough.”
“Don’t give me that nonsense,” Jesse said. “I need you, Bao. I can’t do this alone.”
“Promise me you will never kill a human,” Bao said.
“Sure,” Jesse said. “I promise.”
“Do not make such promises lightly,” Bao said. “Life is good now, but it will not last. Eventually, the villages will stop offering blood. As the old ones die, the young ones will see the offerings as silly superstition. Eventually, Jesse Merrickson, you will starve. When that happens, you will struggle to keep your promise.”
“I’ll keep my promise, Bao,” Jesse said. “I will never kill another human.”
Bao smiled again. “Then this is a happy moment. One day, the world will need Jesse Merrickson. When that day comes, you will answer the call. I have fulfilled my purpose.”
“No,” Jesse said. “I need you, Bao.”
Bao nodded. “You do,” he said. “You need me to show you that a moment of happiness is better than an eternity of nothing.”
“Bao, don’t do this.”
“You are my friend, Jesse Merrickson,” Bao said. “I saw the spark in you when you were human. I knew you would find that spark as a vampire.”
“Help me make that spark grow,” Jesse said. “I still have much to learn.”
“You will learn it,” Bao said. “I have walked in this world for too long. I am ready to go. This is my final gift to you.”
“That’s not a gift, Bao!” Jesse yelled.
“It is,” Bao said. “Vampires never live because vampires never die. This is why the world belongs to humanity.”
With those last words, Bao thrust the stake into his own chest. A moment later, he was dust.
Jesse fell to his knees and began to cry…
***
“Holy shit,” Cooper said as Jesse pulled his hands away.
“Yeah,” Jesse said. “It was a bad day.”
“So that’s why you fought for humanity?” Cooper said. “Because they die? Seems rather pointless.”
“Then you still don’t understand,” Jesse said. “Death gives life meaning. Only a man dying of thirst can truly appreciate a glass of water. Humans deserve the world because they appreciate it. Or at the very least, they have the capacity to appreciate it.”
“Sounds like a bunch of philosophical bullshit to me,” Cooper said.
“You came here to learn about good and evil,” Jesse said. “You have your answer. Good and evil don’t exist. It’s all about perspective. And time.”
“That’s good news to me,” Cooper said. “It means every vampire is capable of becoming what you are.”
“I don’t think so,” Jesse said. “Bao was able to change me because I was still new. I hadn’t fully let go of my humanity. And even then, it took years. The vampires you’re facing… there’s no humanity left in them. Vampires aren’t evil, Cooper. They’re something much worse. They’re nothing.”
“How is that worse?”
“Because,” Jesse said, “when you feel nothing for centuries, you get desperate to feel anything. Vampires have no compassion. They have no empathy. So if killing ten thousand people gives them an ounce of excitement,
they’ll do it without hesitation. You were lucky Cassius led the war against humanity.”
“He won the war,” Cooper said. “I don’t see that as lucky.”
“Building worlds gives Cassius pleasure,” Jesse said. “It’s what makes him feel. That’s the only reason you’re alive. It’s the only reason he fought the war the way he did. Another vampire might not have been so… strategic. Another vampire might have gone for wholesale slaughter instead.”
“That would have been stupid,” Cooper said. “They need us.”
“That’s my point, man,” Jesse said. “Some vampires don’t care. Some vampires would give up an eternity of nothing just to experience a few months of absolute destruction.”
“I see,” Cooper said. “Well, that’s still good news.”
“How so?” Jesse asked.
Cooper smiled. “It means we have no moral reason to refrain from killing vampires.”
The other vampires in the bar began to laugh.
“What’s got them so happy?” Cooper asked.
“That,” Jesse said, pointing to the TV over the bar.
Cooper turned around to see a male Topian newscaster on the screen. The writing was in Vietnamese, so he couldn’t understand it, but he immediately recognized the face in the little picture beside the newscaster’s head.
“Lily,” he said. He spun around and looked at Jesse. “What’s he saying about Lily?”
“She’s been arrested,” Jesse said. “Apparently, she went on some kind of rampage and tried to kill a bunch of Topians in the capital city.”
“Not possible,” Cooper said.
“People do crazy things,” Jesse said.
“Lily’s a soldier, not a murderer,” Cooper said. His eyes were cold.
“She was looking at the end of human culture,” Jesse said. “Maybe she snapped.”
Cooper slammed a fist on the table. “No!”
“Okay, okay,” Jesse said. “It’s not like it matters now.”
“What do you mean?”
“They arrested her,” Jesse said. “If she did it, they’ll execute her for it. If she didn’t do it, they framed her so they can execute her for it. Either way, they’re gonna kill her.”