He pointed to Ray. “Before we get to the heart of the matter, since Ray the Conqueror is new, why doesn’t he provide more information about himself, and then we introduce ourselves to him?”
“I don’t want to. I have no need. I know who all of you are, and I despise all of you except Maryl Rosser. I don’t care who all of you are,” Ray the Conqueror said in defiance.
“I insist,” Clayton said with force.
“And I said I don’t care!” Ray said as he stood up.
Clayton sighed and got up too. “You will introduce yourself to our group that is probably older than you by centuries, and you will be respectful!”
“Or else?” Ray demanded. His face turned deep red as his blood pumped furiously. He seemed poised to attack.
Clayton rushed to Ray the Conqueror. He had to squelch the new person, or he would look vulnerable. He slammed Ray to the hotel wall with such force Ray was embedded several inches deep.
“I don’t care what blood type leader you are, you will listen to me, or I will tear your heart out and feed it to the wolves!” Clayton seethed in anger.
No matter how hard Ray tried to pry himself free, Clayton was far stronger than himself. He gave Clayton a slight nod and was let loose. Clayton backed up slowly, never taking his eyes off his opponent.
With sudden ferociousness, Ray the Conqueror sped to Clayton and fully expected to slam him in the wall as Clayton did to him.
Clayton saw the anger and embarrassment in Ray’s eyes. He knew he would attack, and Clayton was prepared. As Ray was upon him, Clayton pivoted to the left. With nothing in the way, Ray ran into the wall headfirst. Clayton turned him around, held him steady by the throat with one hand, took his other hand, and started to go inward to Ray’s heart.
Ray the Conqueror’s screams reverberated across the hotel walls.
“You’ve made your point, Clayton the Archetype. Release him, please,” Silvia the Hopeful insisted.
Clayton took hold of Ray’s beating heart and squeezed it a little. It would be nothing for him to extract it. Out in battle, he would have removed it without any remorse. Here, in the Hotel with the other leaders, he complied. He slowly removed his hand from Ray’s inside. Ray staggered to the floor, holding his chest.
Clayton sat down. “I apologize to the other council members for my actions. I have serious business to discuss here.” He took out a handkerchief and wiped his bloodied hand. He looked at Ray as he attempted to get up three times before succeeding. Then he looked at the other members as he pocketed the stained handkerchief. “And I will not have any interruptions from a new member who doesn’t know or doesn’t care about the rules of respect.”
Clayton waited patiently until Ray was able to make it back to the table to sit down. “We now know Ray the Conqueror is the ruler of the O positive tribes through battle, so he will forfeit his turn. Who is next?”
A large bald man with a long beard stood up. His beard had rubber bands that lead down to a point. Several looped earrings were on both sides of his ears. “I am Octavus the Brooder, leader of the A positive group of vampires. We are a subset of Clayton Coles tribe and proud of it! We will defend our groups until death!”
A woman with long brown hair on one side while shaved bald on the other side stood up. Necklaces and bracelets adorned her neck and wrists. “I am Maryl Rosser, the Seeker, and I am the ruler of the O negative vampires. I have been the ruler for almost as long as Clayton. Had my family been bitten first and not second by the Stranger, my type would be the Archetype.”
Clayton Cole stood up and glanced at the bitterness that was on Maryl’s face. “I am Clayton Cole, the Archetype, leader of the AB positive tribe of vampires. I am the oldest member here.” He looked at Maryl, the Seeker. “I see you’ve changed your look since the last time we saw each other.”
Maryl Rosser smiled mischievously.
A tall, slender woman with jet black hair that went down to her lower back stood up. “I am Silvia the Hopeful, and I am the ruler of the B positive vampires. We vanquish who dare cross our boundary, but never seek conquest.”
A towering figure rose who was wearing a black shirt with gold pants. He had jet black hair and bushy eyebrows. “I am Platov, the Compromiser, and I am the supreme ruler of the AB negative vampires. We are the frontline defense for all A and B blood types. We serve Clayton Coles tribe with honor and distinction.”
Clayton looked at Platov and bowed in respect.
“I am Salvatore but do not wish to stand for I was in a minor skirmish recently with Maryl Rosser’s handiwork!” Salvatore said in anger. “I have healed, but wish to remain seated.”
“Of course,” Clayton remarked. He noticed a long deep scar that ran across his right side of his face and down his throat. His mustache curled up at both ends of his lips.
“It was a minor misunderstanding, Salvatore,” Maryl said without elaborating.
Salvatore glared at her. “How dare you say it was a misunderstanding!”
Maryl shrugged. “Things happen. I deeply apologize.”
Salvatore looked at Clayton with unchecked rage. “Are you going to allow this?”
Clayton chose his words carefully. “Yes, but I do not condone her actions! This is a meeting I requested. If you want to take this matter up further, you must wait until my docket is complete.”
Salvatore sneered at Maryl. “No, I do not want to push this through. However, next time you enter my boundaries without my consent, you will pay!”
“Maryl wanted to see how you responded, and gauge your line of defense,” Silvia commented. “She has done the same in my territories.”
“This line of conversation can be discussed later!
