“It hasn’t so far. I’ve known the human for three years. We went to school together.”
“Sir, our surveillance cameras have picked up several vehicles speeding this way!” Jack said with fear.
“How far away are they?”
“About half an hour.”
“What direction are they coming from?” Clayton demanded.
“From the north. And now we’ve picked up more vehicles coming from the south!”
“I’m sorry, I am at a loss as to what your name is,” Clayton said to the woman in desperation.
“Cassidy, sir.”
“Cassidy, what direction is your friend’s lab?”
“East.”
“How far east?”
“About two, maybe three hours.”
“Let’s go, all of you! Bring all the blood and whatever you think we’ll need. I’ll get the tote bag. Let’s move! Use your vampire speed!”
“Sir, more cars are coming from the west and the east. They’re going to surround us!”
“How far are they from the east where we have to go?”
“About an hour, sir.”
“Everyone, you have one minute to get your things!” Clayton yelled as he grabbed the green tote bag and put it carefully over his shoulder.
In less than a minute, the thirteen scientists and Clayton packed their equipment into two vans.
“Let’s move!” he yelled as he started up one of the two blue vans.
After fifteen minutes, Clayton felt a tinge of fear. While it was exhilarating and intoxicating, it unnerved him. He stole a glance at Jack, who managed to bring the laptop that was tracking the cameras, which in turn was tracking the O type vampires.
“Jack, how are we in relation to the vampires headed our way?”
“They are closing in. One thing we have going for us, and it’s vice versa for the other vampires too, is we can’t, and they can’t, smell us in a closed place like the van.”
“Let’s take a different path! Let’s go southeast to avoid them. They don’t know we’re in blue vans, do they?” Cassidy asked in a panic.
“I don’t know if Desiree knew about the vans. I never took her to the garage, but she had plenty of free time to scope out the place,” Clayton said with a heavy heart.
“Make a right at the next intersection, Clayton!” Cassidy said in desperation.
Clayton grabbed his phone. “Time to get our army prepared.”
*****
Maryl sat quietly in her chair as she looked over the six scientists. She had them brought to her estate. They were in her spacious backyard on a large wooden deck with handrails surrounding the perimeter. A drop of over a hundred feet loomed close by. She was sipping some O negative blood from a wine glass while thinking.
It was pointless tieing them up. The A and B vampires would break free of any known bonds. Instead, each A and B vampires were held at bay by four vampires of her type, who had just fed and were at full strength.
Two men and a woman entered the large deck through sliding glass doors. They brought two trays of human food.
“You will eat human food, so it suppresses your vampire strength,” Maryl said firmly.
“And if we don’t?” a scientist asked with arrogance.
Maryl smirked. “The six of you vampires are scientists and not warriors. Give it a rest. Just be happy your types of blood allow you to consume human food.”
The vampire guards forced them to the tables. The trays were put in front of them.
“Eat!” demanded Maryl.
“I don’t like buttered toast,” one of the scientists remarked.
“Oh, you don’t like buttered toast? Is that right?” a vampire named Ray asked as he walked to the vampire.
“No, I don’t. I am a very picky eater.”
Ray chuckled. “Did you hear that, Maryl? He’s a picky eater!” Ray nodded to two guards and grabbed the toast from the tray. He forced the vampire’s mouth open and stuffed the toast inside. He held the man’s nose, forcing him to chew and then swallow.
“How long does the depowering take once they eat human food?” Ray asked Maryl.
“I don’t know. Several centuries ago, I recalled Eli telling us he attacked Clayton’s village after they had eaten human food for two weeks.”
“Two weeks? We can’t wait that long, Maryl!”
Maryl threw her hands up in the air. “I know. What do you suggest, Ray?”
He pointed at the six prisoners. “This treatment of the criminals is way too soft for my liking.”
“I’m too nice? Is that what you’re implying, Ray?” Maryl demanded.
“Yes, you always have been to the other kinds of vampires too.”
Maryl walked to Ray, who outweighed her by fifty pounds.“Are you purposely trying to offend me, Ray?”
“No, Maryl! I apologize!” Ray said as he backed away.
“That’s what I thought. Tell you what; I’ll let you think of a way of extracting information from them, how about that?”
“Yes, finally!” Ray said as he strolled to the prisoners.
Desiree walked outside and sat beside Maryl. She sized up the situation fast. “Maryl, if I may, may I make a suggestion?”
Maryl put up a hand for Ray to stop. “What is it, dear?”
She looked at the vampires. “Do what you will with the enemy, but I can lead you straight to Clayton.”
“How so?”
“I told you what he was going to do with the serum.”
“Yes, you did. What of it, Desiree?”
“He’ll need a lab to alter the serum. I know where his lab is located.”
A smile formed on her lips. “Ray, fun time is over. Gather as many troops as you can in this sector, and I’ll do the same.” Maryl looked at Desiree. “You can ride with me!”
Ray pointed to the prisoners. “What about them?”
Maryl thought briefly. “Before we go, Desiree, I want you to give them the gray mist, and make sure to film it.”
Ray laughed. “How someone of your stature can be kind, and then in a split second, become the opposite is truly a spectacle to behold!”
“It has its perks,” Maryl said as she opened the sliding glass door. “By the way, Ray. You stay here with some of your troops in case we’re ambushed.” Maryl started to walk inside.
“I have things to do, Maryl. I must leave and take my minions with
