Glenn came back. “Disturbing! Okay, thank you, Cheryl Ottoman, from CVB news. We now go live with Sarah Picks. Sarah? What do you have for us?”
Sarah’s hair was in a tight ponytail. She wore glasses and had a green blouse with a white scarf around her neck. “Thank you, Glenn. Just a hundred miles south of the Brooder estate murders, police discovered another grisly scene. A police spokesperson told me nearly two hundred people, many with their necks snapped, were brutally murdered. Just as many perished with the same type of powder covered the dead bodies. The powder was not gray as the other sickening scene, but orange. There are no suspects yet in these two bizarre mass killings. One of the victims was identified as Ray Greenwell Conqueror, who owned a chain of popular restaurants called Conqueror’s Steak House and Grill. Other bodies are waiting to be identified. Back to you, Glenn…”
Tiberius hit the pause button.
“She is systematically taking out her competition, including her sister’s blood type!” Jack said as he slammed the desk. “This can not go unpunished, Clayton!”
“I know, Jack. I know,” Clayton said as he sat down. “We can’t do anything until you’re done with the serum.”
“Hopefully, it won’t be much longer,” Jack said in frustration. He glanced at the paused video, shook his head, and returned to his chair. “And it’s nighttime, so we can’t do anything until tomorrow at sunrise.”
“We will get our revenge, Jack. That I solemnly swear!”
“You’ll have to make it soon, or we’re going to run out of vampires!” Jack said in protest.
“Jack, I can’t do anything until all of the serum is slightly altered.”
“I know, but seeing our family and cousins dying is tearing me apart, Clayton,” Jack said with profound sadness.
Clayton patted Jack on his back. “We’ll make this right, I promise.”
Chapter Twenty
Show Time
Present Day September 19th
Clayton and the scientists took turns hunting humans to remain healthy. After Clayton came back from a hunt, he stepped into the lab and went to see Jack.
“Jack, I need to talk to you.”
Jack’s head peered up from the microscope. “What’s up?”
Clayton pointed outside the building. “I discovered over thirty-five discarded humans within a few miles of the Institute.”
Jack shrugged his shoulders. “And? They’re just humans. Food. They are meaningless. Their sole job is to provide us with nourishment for our continued existence.”
“I understand that, but that’s not my point.”
Jack looked at him in confusion. “Then what is your point, Clayton?”
“You can’t leave dead bodies lying around! If one of their families is looking for them, or if someone stumbles upon them, that will bring in the police, and then they will know our location.”
“Huh, we hadn’t thought about that. What did you do with them?”
“I buried all of them so there wouldn’t be any trace.” Clayton looked at Jack. “How do you hunt where you used to work?”
“Hunt? We never hunted until recently with you.”
“How did you obtain your nourishment?” Clayton asked with uncertainty.
“Our blood was given to us in units like the ones you see at hospitals.”
Clayton smiled. “They sure spoiled you.”
“You own the company, so you’re the one that spoiled us!” Jack grinned, and then grew serious. “I have some news. The serum is done. It’s ready. All you need to do is call Maryl, but you left your phone in the car.”
Clayton smirked. “The one in the car is a prepaid phone. I have my other one in my pocket.”
“I suggest you call her as soon as possible,” Jack said with seriousness that bordered on terror.
Clayton took a few deep gulps of air before he called Maryl’s number.
Jack looked at Clayton, who was looking at his phone. “Nervous? I know I am, and I’m not the one that is going to talk to her.”
“I’m not usually, but this is an unusual circumstance.”
He dialed, and after the second ring, he heard her familiar voice.
“Hello?”
“Maryl?”
“Clayton? What a pleasant surprise! How are you?”
“Fine. Listen, I need to talk to you.”
“I am all ears.”
“I have to be honest with you, Maryl.”
“About what?”
“You know what, Maryl. I have been unable to alter your serum.”
“I want my serum back, Clayton. That’s all I ever wanted.”
“And in retaliation, you are slowly getting rid of your competition?” Clayton said with bitterness.
“That is a matter we can discuss at another time, don’t you agree?”
“What do you propose?”
“Bring my serum to my estate, and we can discuss what you desire.”
“I want the serum destroyed,” Clayton said with firmness.
There was silence for a moment. “Then why didn’t you just discard it? I’m confused.”
“I want to have a bargaining chip,” Clayton said honestly.
“Clayton, you do realize if you give the serum back to me, I will still go ahead with my plan to find a way to assimilate it into humans?”
“I was hoping I could talk you out of it.”
Laughter erupted in Clayton's ear. “You still have your sense of humor! I’m delighted!”
“Will you listen to my request?”
“Yes, of course! Come alone tomorrow evening to my place with the serum.”
“And go into the lion’s den alone? Give me more credit. I will bring a brigade of soldiers.”
“Okay, why not for old times sake.”
“Maryl, why are you killing off my tribes?”
“Because you were going to kill off my bloodline.”
Clayton looked at the ground for a few seconds. “You’ve changed in the past few months, and I can’t fathom why.”
“Clayton, all your answers will be revealed tomorrow.”
“Revealed to me? Before I die or as I am dying?”
“Whatever the mood I’m in at the time, Clayton.”
“I will see you tomorrow, Maryl.”
“One question before I hang up,” Maryl said with a trace of humor.
“Shoot.”
“Do you even have a brigade of soldiers left?” she hung up before Clayton could reply.
Jack overheard the conversation. “Humbug! Maryl does have a point. We don’t have that many vampires left in Indiana.”
Clayton smirked.
