Clayton released him and gave him a stern glance.
“Your parents arrived just in time, husband!”
“Yes, they sure did. How are you feeling?” Clayton asked in concern as he helped her up.
“I’ve been better. I wish they had more blood for us.”
“Me too, Ada. It is getting harder and harder for us to find any type of smelling humans to nourish ourselves.”
“At least we were able to help you, Clayton,” Tabatha said as she pointed at Eli. “What are you going to do with him?”
“He knew of our lack of nourishment.”
“What? How?” Tarson asked in surprise.
“He told me other vampires have been scouting us,” Clayton said with concern.
“Impossible!” Tabatha said in surprise.
“There’s only one way to find out,” Clayton said as he pushed Eli away from the Council Square.
“What are you planning on doing to him to extract the information?” Ada asked as she walked next to Clayton and Eli.
“What do you think I am going to do with him? I am going to torture him until he tells me what else he’s learned of his secret surveillance.”
Tabatha looked at Eli. “Do you eat human food too?”
“That is none of your business, Madame,” Eli said softly.
“Son, bring him to the prison shack, and let's give him some human food. If we can stomach it, they should be able to do so as well. If not,” she shrugged as if she didn’t care.
“There are slight differences between the different species of vampires, Tabatha. Perhaps we should be careful,” Ada said carefully.
Tarson looked sternly at Ada. “They were going to kill all of us, our entire tribe, and you want to show them mercy? Did I hear that correctly, Ada?”
Clayton looked at his wife in disbelief. “I agree with my father, Ada.” He turned to Tabatha. “Mother, after I take Eli to the shack and give him human food, I am calling for a special council session immediately. Please summon the others.”
Tabatha nodded. “It is your right.”
Clayton took Eli by the scruff of Eli’s neck. “Let’s get you something to eat.”
Tarson waited until Clayton left to speak to Ada. “Ada, your show of leniency disturbs me.”
“Why is that? Because I think all of the vampires should be treated fairly?” Ada said quietly.
“I have heard talk from other vampires in our area with that same nonsense! You sound like one of them! Are you a vampire, or are you a sympathizer?” Tarson shouted.
“I am a vampire!” Ada said with confidence.
“Good! It better stay that way!” Tarson glared at her. “It’s best if you kept your opinions to yourself about our treatment of other vampires! Do I make myself clear?”
Ada nodded. “Of course, sir.”
“Good. I expect you will go to the council session as an observer only.”
Ada nodded. “I will do as you commanded, sir.”
“I am going to summon the council now. Remember my husband’s warning, Ada!” Tabatha said as she glared at Ada for a few seconds before speeding away.
Clayton walked with Eli just outside of the village.
“Tell me something, Clayton. Why is it that you’re the leader of the Cole tribe, yet Tarson, your father, still lives? Shouldn’t he be the ruler?”
“He would rather lead our territorial army then deal with the tribal policies, so I put him in charge. Why?” Clayton said suspiciously.
“Because I fear him far more than I fear you.”
“You should fear both of us!” Clayton said as they came upon a small shack that stood right before the crops started.
Eli saw there was only one window, and it was small, with metal bars. Eli was surprised the hut was made from bricks.
“Nice accommodations, Clayton.” He sniffed the air. “Why does it smell like urine and feces?”
Clayton shrugged his shoulders. “It’s from the previous prisoners. The former occupants had to relieve themselves somewhere. We’ve had both vampires and humans held here.”
“You don’t have to give me human food, Clayton. We can make some sort of arrangement.”
Clayton scoffed. “Why would I do that when you had every intention of killing me and my entire village?”
Eli frowned. “Our species has always sought blood and conflict. It has always been like that. And don’t tell me your sweet-smelling kind hasn’t done the same thing!”
“Not interested,” Clayton said as he took a key from a small bag tied to his pants. He unlocked the door and threw Eli inside. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back.”
Eli put his hands on the metal bars. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” He tested the metal bars. “Has anyone ever escaped the shack?”
“No.”
Eli tested the metal bars again. “They seem flimsy to me.”
Clayton looked at him and smirked. “You could probably escape. Usually, there are several guards to prevent that from happening. I wish you would try so I can kill you myself.”
“You had the opportunity.”
“Don’t make me regret that decision. If you aren’t here when I come back, I will hunt you down, and I don’t care who I have to go through!”
A few minutes later, Clayton came back with bread and water.
“Is that the best you can do, Clayton? Bread and water?”
“For prisoners, yes.”
“I am not going to eat that,” Eli said with mounting dread.
“Yes, you are. If you don’t, I will force you to eat it.”
Clayton opened the door carefully with one hand.
Eli cringed and walked unsteadily to the back of the tiny shack. “Get that disgusting food away from me!”
Clayton closed the shack door. The putrid smell coming from the dirt floor engulfed both their nostrils. “I will not force you to eat the food if you tell me what you learned about us.”
Clayton came closer to Eli, set the water down, but kept the bread in his hand. “Tell me!”
“The fact that there are a lot more different smelling vampires than your precious sweet ones is not my fault!”
“No, it’s not. But the extinction of my tribe is—last chance.”
“Other than finding out you’ve been eating human food for some time, nothing, Clayton! I swear it! Anyone with half of a brain knows our sense of smell
