Salvatore was not happy but proceeded anyway. “I am Salvatore the Great, leader of the A negative vampires. We do not seek battle, but we do not shy away from it!”
“And finally, I am Trevor, the Giant. As you can see, I am nearly seven feet tall. I rule the B negative vampires with an iron fist. When in battle, surrendering is never an option!”
“Your group of A’s and B’s seem almost militant in nature, Clayton,” Maryl Rosser, the Seeker remarked.
“Given our history of conflict with each other, and being the least of the populated vampires, it is no wonder we have a certain perspective,” Clayton said with a hint of defiance.
“That is an illusion, Clayton!” Ray said as he continued to rub his chest.
Clayton turned his attention to Ray. “How so?”
“The O type vampires have only O positive and O negative, which comprises about forty-four percent. You have AB positive, AB negative, B positive, B negative, A positive and A negative. You outnumber us with fifty-six percent.”
“Maybe with blood types, but there are ten thousand times more O type vampires than there are of all the A’s and B’s combined,” Clayton said with contempt.
“We can’t help it if your types have to wait thirteen years to ascend. In that timeframe, we reproduce at a much higher rate,” Ray the Conqueror stated.
“Let’s not forget the number of vampires you make out of humans!” Clayton yelled.
“While we have done that in the past, Clayton, we rarely, if ever, change a human anymore,” Maryl stated calmly.
“Enough of the arguing! The introductions are done as you requested. Why call this meeting, Clayton, The Archetype?” Silvia, the Hopeful, demanded.
Clayton took a minute to calm down and collect his thoughts. Even though he was the one who proposed the council centuries earlier, which led to the boundary lines of the eight different blood types, and an accord that was forged in blood, he couldn’t fathom why someone here wanted to jeopardize the goodwill. If anyone did that, it would be himself.
“I have a few things to discuss with the members here,” Clayton said as he looked at each vampire sitting at the oval table. “First off, why has no one mentioned that the Stranger has not appeared this past May and changed eight expectant mothers?”
“Is that really high on our priority list, Clayton?” Maryl asked lightheartedly.
“It might not be a concern for the O families, but it is for the others represented here. Reproduction among my species is especially difficult. Very few of us are able to reproduce. We are heavily dependent upon the Stranger to continue with our line of vampires.”
“So, your impotence is our problem?” Ray said with laughter.
Clayton rose in anger, followed by all the rulers except Maryl. She remained calm.
“Enough! Ray, sit your ass down!” Maryl scolded.
Ray looked at her in disbelief.
“You heard me. Sit! Think about it, Ray. There are six vampires versus you and me. The odds are not in our favor.”
Ray looked at Clayton in contempt, then looked at Maryl, who gave a slight nod.
Reluctantly Ray sat back down, grumbling under his breath.
“The Stranger not coming this past May is enough of a cause for alarm to bring it to everyone’s attention, Maryl,” Clayton said with seriousness.
“Okay, Clayton,” Maryl said as she looked around the room. “I propose all of us contact our resources and find out why the Stranger has not returned. All in agreement?”
Everyone raised their hands except Ray. Clayton was annoyed, but being the leader of his particular blood type, it was his right.
“Okay, that agenda has been addressed. What else do you have on the docket, Clayton?” Trevor, the giant, leader of the B negatives, asked with respect.
“I want to discuss something that was said to me weeks ago by both O positive and O negative vampires near the boundary line at my property.”
“Oh? And what was said?” Maryl asked.
“One O positive and two O negatives came to the edge of the boundary at my property. They dared me to cross the line. Obviously, I refused.”
“And what were their names, Clayton?” Maryl asked as she leaned in and put her elbows on the table.
“Their names are inconsequential because I only got their first names. What they said to me was important.”
“Proceed,” Maryl said.
“One of them said, ‘my time was coming,’ along with ‘you’re an AB type. It does not matter if it’s negative or positive. The AB’s have had their time,’ and ‘Remember the Great Yeomen Purge of 1751?’ What is bothersome to me is the last part. ‘For far too long, the AB tribe have thought themselves the top of the food chain. Remember, history tends to repeat itself!’”
“Interesting,” Maryl quipped.
Clayton laid his hands upon the table. “Now, I ask both you, Maryl and you Ray, what are you planning? Another war? Something more devious?”
“I assure you, Clayton, I am not planning anything,” Maryl said in earnest.
Clayton looked at Ray. “And what of you? You seem to be filled with conquest and evidently have hatred for me.”
“If I planned on attacking your blood type, would I be stupid enough to let other vampires know outside of my top elite army generals?” Ray said defiantly.
He had a point, thought Clayton.
“What else did you want to talk about, Clayton?” Platov, the Compromiser, asked as he looked at the wall clock.
“Two weeks ago, a prominent scientist, Doctor Shelly Leadstone, was killed at the Sequencing Enzymes Institute of Technology on the fiftieth floor.”
“Tragic,” Ray Greenwell said sarcastically.
“It is tragic because she was able to produce an incredibly powerful enzyme in her lab that can shred the antigens off the surface of all A and B blood types to develop an O type blood that would be universal. Sadly, it was stolen from her lab. Clearly, I can’t let that serum get into the wrong hands. I will not allow it!”
“And you think we had something to do with it?” Ray demanded to know.
Clayton raised his shoulders in
