Damage Control

by Eric Alan Williams

  Seeing how fast they could slip and how much power Sara had already demonstrated against other Grand Alphas and they were unable to resist it, not a single person dared to speak of wishing to challenge her.

  Sara sat back down slowly. “Then I trust that my rule is accepted then?”

  Lulia offered. “You have to call for a vote. A show of hands.”

  Sara looked at the white-haired vampire and then down the long table. “Show of hands then, is everyone in the agreement of accepting my position?”

  Lord Asher, a werecat spoke up. “Before we vote, I simply ask for one additional proof, silver, prove you are immune to silver.”

  Sara rolled her eyes. “Bring me some then?”

  The handsome werecat got up and walked over to a display of weapons above the fireplace in the room. He grasped a silver dagger by the leather-wrapped hilt. He brought it over. Sara grasped it, blade first and held it. Nothing happened. She then used it to slice her hand and handed it back. Asher watched as there was no reaction, no steam, nothing. He instantly dropped to his knees. “ALL VOTE!” he called out.

  Seeing the last display, everyone raised their hands.

  Xairin walked over and stood behind Damien. He deactivated his holo armor, and lifted his shirt, showing his birthmark. He then looked at Sara. “You…” He then looked at his mother. “And you!” He returned his gaze to Sara. “I get it, your Queen now. I also think I get it that you left me behind I guess to keep me hidden.” He looked at both of them, this time resting his eyes on his mother. “But know this, do not expect me to warm up to either of you, anytime soon. I would appreciate some space.” His deep voice came across challenging as he returned his gaze upon his grandmother. “I also understand that being a sentinel requires a royal pardon. Don’t bother. I want to stay on the Sentinel team I’m on. That is my wish and the least either of you can do for leaving me ignorant of who I was, not to mention being left behind to be picked off by gorgons and gargoyles and whatever else might have tried to kill me. You owe me my request!”

  Cecilia wanted so badly to say something but stopped herself. Sara looked at Xairin and only nodded.

  Tyr, the brutish vampire, one of the seven sleepers, became emotional. Tears streamed down the massive man’s face. He couldn’t get over the rumor that Trevor presented to them, being correct. He, Kat, and his other siblings had kept it to themselves. They had no idea that they would be meeting her this soon and given how closely Sara and Cecilia resembled their bite mother, they wept. “You look so much like her,” Tyr mumbled.

  Sara looked down the table. She looked at Tyr, then Xairin. She figured he might be sore over past events and excused him for it. She returned her gaze to the council. “I never knew my mother. I never knew my father. This was denied to me. I have pulled enough from Lulia to know how these proceedings basically work, so here it is ladies and gentlemen. The gargoyle bitch that betrayed my mother and this council will pay with her life. This Lucifer won’t kill my mother. Based on what I know about him, he will need her as a bargaining chip to keep himself alive. Based on what I have pulled, he will be willing to sacrifice his own flesh and blood and anyone else that gets in the way of his plans. As long as my mother is alive, he knows he gets to keep his head. I know enough of that from Lulia, and I do trust what she knows. Furthermore, Lulia will keep her position as well as being my personal advisor. I also want additional Adjudicators in place to serve as judge and jury, investigating Society members who deviate from what this organization is about.” She paused. “I also have a list of immortals that I want to be found and brought to me. Needless to say, these individuals have caused me enough grief and were in part, my decision to remain hidden all of these years. That damage is done as of today. I want them found and brought to me alive so I can kill them myself. As for this gargoyle, she wasn’t the one that planted the device on my mother’s transport, so that means another traitor is either here in this very room, or within House Ninlil.” She waited for a moment. Many in the room looked at one another. “I will be reading everyone’s thoughts at this table as part of my right as your new queen.” The majority seemed okay with that remark. Sara was watching those who weren’t. She continued. “I was going to come forward decades ago, but a rumor I picked up from Jaxalon’s own nestmates, told me that someone in House Ninlil was a traitor.” She looked at Tyr, Trevor, Kat, and Cryer. “I don’t think it is one of the sleepers, or you Mr. Graves, but It is someone in your ranks, and I want them found, and brought to me alive…”

  Sara looked at her grandson. “Xairin?”

  He looked at her and crossed his arms. He seemed more annoyed than anything else.

  “For what it is worth, blame me for leaving you behind and not Cecilia. I made her leave you behind. I had to kill a woman that looked close enough to Cecilia to leave in her place. I didn’t have time to do the same for you. I am sorry.” She looked ashamed. “I planned on killing anyone that could have identified Cecilia or me and eventually get around to finding you. For what it is worth, I am sorry, and I will honor your request, but you will be getting your own personal guards.”

  “Excuse me?” He asked.

  “There will be no discussion in this matter Xairin. When you are on your tours, you will have your own protection detail.” She looked down the table. “I can’t have my own children and grandchildren killed. So, deal with my decision.”

  Xairin turned around and walked off.

  Sara looked at him leave. Cecilia was about in tears. She wanted so badly to chase after him, but after what he said, she stood there. Sara tilted her head back and then looked down the table. “Are there any questions?” Sara asked politely.

  No one said a word. “Good.” She looked at Erissa. “It is time for Lucifer to feel a reverberance!”

  Sara’s left hand lightly flung at the woman shackled down in silver bindings. Erissa was gagged with a silver ball strapped to her face. She couldn’t scream, only mumble loudly. She tried to resist what was happening but couldn’t. Every atom within her body began to speed up and vibrate until she burst into boiling blisters, followed by being engulfed in flames.

  _____

  Kalimantan, the Indonesian portion of Borneo Island.

  It took less than twenty seconds for the reverberance of Erissa’s death, to reach her nestmates, along with her siblings, one, in particular, was just over ten thousand miles away, living it up in Borneo, more specifically Kalimantan. He was in a private stone villa overlooking the sea. He has left a posh bed in which two beautiful women and two men were lying naked under the soft silken black sheets of the oversized bed. The Gargoyle King was exposed, fully unclothed. He began walking into a dark tiled bathroom, well-lit by LED lights that ran along the top of the ceiling.

  His chest was neatly shaven, his lengthy and girthy member, swung as he walked, he kept that area neatly trimmed as well. Lucifer reached for a sliding glass door and stepped inside the long shower that had four shower heads that gave perfect angles at hitting whoever it was standing in the center of the stylish and expensive shower stall.

  The dark-haired swagger of the ancient gargoyle amped as he stood there showering and lathering his hair. He was proud of himself. He felt like he was on top of the world. He was right where he wanted to be.

  Right after getting out of the shower, he reached for a fluffy white towel and began drying himself. He dropped it to the floor shortly afterward. Lucifer was standing in the black tiled bathroom, looking at himself in the vanity mirror that ran the length of the blacktopped counter. He pulled out a drawer and grasped a laser razer and began to shave his facial hair entirely off, giving the man a clean-cut look which he as admiring with a smile a mile wide. He looked like a young preppy college jock brimming with overconfidence. His chest suddenly began to hurt, he felt like he as being ripped open. He felt the burning, his sister’s agony, and then it went away. The man fell to the floor in his elegant bathroom gasping for air. He whimpered her name. “Erissa…”

/>   _____

  Xairin’s domicile.

  His first tour was over, and he had done everything he could to avoid talking to either his mother or his grandmother. So far, they were honoring his request. It helped that Damien was trying to run interference while also attempting to get to know the daughter that had been smuggled away from his life.

  Xairin knew he was going to keep his residence with Ethan for now but was flirting with the idea of asking Damien for something more private as long as he could keep him in Bastion City. He was packing his things. He was finally getting to go home. He just hoped he had the chance to get off the Island before he had a run-in with two individuals, he wasn’t ready to speak with yet. He just hoped his ride would be here soon.

  There was a knock on the door.

  Xairin turned from his backpack and walked over, willed his fingerprints to form and pressed the handprint module on the wall to open it. Standing there, was Hani, the tallest of the sleeping seven. The Arabian man stood there, almost sensually. His smooth chest was showing through his open shirt. He smiled. “Xairin, right?”

  Xairin looked at the tall, dark-skinned stranger standing in his doorway. “Who wants to know?”

  Hani smiled. “My name is Hani of House Ninlil. On behalf of House Ninlil, if you are Mr. Thunder, then I am here to escort you back to Mr. Holiday’s house.”

  Xairin stepped aside and let the tasty looking man enter. “Fine. Guess I’m your guy then.”

  Hani walked in, having to almost duck given his height. The man was dressed in a suit, though clearly, the man had a flair for flaunting his abs and muscular chest.

  “I was expecting someone in a uniform?” Xairin asked.

  Being a little cautious after hearing his grandmother’s concerns. He walked over and slid his armband back on. He turned around and crossed his arms, making sure his fingers were quick to press the emergency button if needed.

  “Why you?”

  Hani looked at Xairin with a curiousness to his face. “You seem on guard?”

  “I have a good reason. My grandmother said there was a traitor in House Ninlil.”

  Hani sat down. “That possibility has our entire house on edge. If it makes you feel safer, I will allow you to peer into my mind. Even pull from me if you wish. You know how, right?”

  Xairin nodded. “I know how to pull.”

  “Have at me then, Great Grandchild of Ninlil, you have my full cooperation.”

  Xairin squinted his eyes and started. His sensitive genes increased the telepathic flow, hastening the ability as well. Hani could feel Xairin digging around in his mind. It was as if he was opening doors in the man’s mind. Hani decided to open them all. He honestly had nothing to hide from the young heir.

  While his mind was being scoped, Hani decided to do a push, like any of the seven, Ninlil was their mother and their Queen. He wanted to give Xairin a gift. He pushed into Xairin’s mind an 11th century BC as a combat style utilized by Persian armies known as Varzesh-e Pahlavani, which would help Xairin understand how to fight with a shield and a sword. He also pushed a gladiator-based fighting technique known as Razmafar.

  Xairin felt lightheaded and withdrew. “What was that?”

  “A push instead of a pull. I simply pushed into your mind, and your muscles, memories of two fighting styles I am rather good at. I was once a gladiator, even enjoyed my time in the Persian armies a few times. I gave this same gift to your uncle, Vaughn, though somehow I get the feeling you’re far more even-tempered than he is.”

  “Why would you do that?” Xairin asked.

  “To be blunt, my young prince, you are the heir to my bite mother, Ninlil. Making sure you can handle yourself is important to me. Never before have any of Ninlil’s children survived. Learning of Sara’s survival and her own children and you, it is important to my bite siblings and me to ensure you live, so that when Ninlil returns, she will have the one thing that has always been denied to her.”

  Xairin sat down across from the sexy looking man. “What is the deal with all of her descendants being hunted?”

  Hani shrugged as he leaned forward. “Fear mostly. Ninlil is by far, one of the most powerful vampires that have ever walked this earth. The power she wields has often been unmatched. Many unable to resist her power, add the fact that she is immune to the one thing that harms every immortal that breathes, it is fear that motivates her enemies. They fear some old legend that says that one day she will have a child immune to silver, that can pass this power on by the bite.”

  “Have any of her children proven they can do that?” Xairin asked curiously.

  Hani digressed. “Not a single child of Ninlil has ever made it past a hundred years. Those born of her womb, my own son included, never bit anyone. Sara is the first to have created bite children.”

  “Wait, did you say your son? You had a son with Lilith?”

  Hani nodded. “His name was Astrief. Ninlil allowed me to name him after my father.”

  “What happened to him?” Xairin inquired as he became more dedicated to the man’s presence.

  “Astrief was like me. He loved a good fight.” The man grew cold. “His birthmark gave him away. He was killed. Assassinated in his sleep by an immortal that got away. A vampire named Kaligor.”

  “Is this Kaligor still alive?”

  Hani nodded. “Possibly. I have heard a rumor that he is an Elder for the Conclave. Other than that, I don’t know for sure. It is just a rumor.”

  “As you can see, your survival is important to me. I have had to watch my Queen grieve the losses of all her children. One of them, being my very own that I shared with her. Sara is Astrief’s sister...”

  Xairin could tell the man was sincere, not to mention taking a memory walk inside the man’s head.

  “All I have is packed in this backpack. I guess I’m ready to go when you are?”

  Hani stood up. “Then let us be off Mr. Thunder.”

  “You can call me Xairin. By the way, thanks for pronouncing my name right. So many people butcher the heck out of it.”

  Hani chuckled. “How else would it be pronounced.”

  Xairin smirked. “I could rattle a list.”

  Chapter 20

  He had been back at Ethan's Mansion for just a few minutes. Xairin made a v-line for the room that he and Griffin shared. Griffin hadn't made it back yet.

  The first thing he did was slide across the white comforter on his bed and reach for the cellphone he had left plugged into the wall. Xairin had forty-eight missed text messages, and thirty-eight missed calls. Most of them were text messages from friends. Three calls were from a certain Detective, along with a set of small text messages.

  < I'm sorry about what I said.>

 

 

  He looked over the text messages he had received from Rory. One, in particular, had Xairin questioning it out loud. "Rory is thinking about adopting and buying a house? Holy crap!"

  Topher had left a string of messages, asking how him how boot camp was going, followed by similar questions. He summed it up, to being unable to reach Xairin because he was somewhere, he couldn't reply yet. Apparently, a vampire working at the club had informed Topher Xairin would be out of contact while he was there. "Guess I won't have to explain that one." He said to himself.

  He decided since it was a Thursday night, he would go out and see how his friends were doing. He sent a text. . He sent another one.

  He got in the shower. Xairin decided he was going to use his laser razer and shave his chest. He even went for a smooth look to his face. The vampire was getting scruffy.

  After finishing some final touches beneath the beltline, he got out of the shower and put on a blue shirt with a rainbow-colored dragon on the front of it. He put on a pair of cargo shorts and decided to go with his LED lighting shoes.

  Xair
in combed his hair, parting it off to the side and fixed it in place with some gel. Leaning back, he looked at his face to make sure he didn't miss any hair, and that his face was smooth and clean. Brushing his teeth came next. After he was done, he looked at the toothbrush. His fangs had worn it down pretty severely. He looked at the brush and what his fangs had did to the new brush. "Well, poop-skittles! Guess I'm going to need a laser brush then."

  Xairin took another quick look at his face, then his teeth, his fangs elongated, then retracted. Satisfied that he was well groomed, Xairin left.

  He decided to take his hover jeep and flew off.

  Xairin landed in a parking space facing the river. He got out and leaned against the side of his hover jeep and looked at his cell phone. So far, no one had returned his text messages. "Guess I will take my chances." He hadn't text Ezra yet. He decided to do that while he was walking to the line to get in. It looked busy for a Thursday night.