by P. S. Power
Which, he knew, probably meant that he could change his eye color, if he was willing to eat more meat and be a much darker person. That part was fine, of course. It was only the fiery burning through his entire body that made him not want to bother with it. Liam felt pain but it normally left him after a few moments. Even if shot or stabbed. There was a single flare, to let him know of the injury, then little to nothing to annoy him after.
Eating meat, while it allowed him to blend with other people had caused about thirty hours of pure misery, each time. A fire that ate at every part of him, until he turned darker in one wave and it suddenly stopped. It was useful but also the single most unpleasant part of his life, so far. It did help him mesh with the world around him, so he did it.
Near the very end, there was a single notation, which hinted that there was a chemical that might dampen the psychic response to promethean kind. It wasn’t hidden, either, being potassium, which was a normal enough thing to be able to find. There was a star after it, however. Then no notation as to why that mark would be there. It was possible that it only worked for a short time, or that the effect wasn’t large enough to be worth it. That or there might be some kind of side effect that was unpleasant enough to not make preventing constant attack worth it.
Otherwise, Liam could simply eat a banana every few days. He was willing to do that, if it would work at all. He’d had those before and liked them well enough. He hadn’t noticed a lessening of such behaviors from others. Then, thinking about it, he hadn’t been around any humans during those times, other than Brenner. Closing the book and sitting back he thought about that until a jeep, one in a very pretty bright red, pulled outside the cabin. The man that got out matched the description in the green book, which he put back on the shelf, attempting to be tidy. Then he turned off the screen and walked up the stairs, quickly, closing the trap door and replacing the refrigerator, which he plugged in, before the front door opened.
Walking into the front room, which was darker now that he’d been sitting in the light for a while and dark clouds had moved in, he called out.
“Vincent? It’s Liam Frankenstein in here. You saw the SUV?” That would mean nothing, except that, obviously, the other man would understand that someone was there. When the knob turned, showing the long haired tall, rather thin being, his skin a nice golden color, which was more pale than not, the man nodded.
His face was serious.
“Making yourself at home, I see? That’s fine, I suppose. Cabin in the middle of nowhere and all that. I was trying to get here early, so I could meet you.” He walked forward, his right hand held out. There were no weapons visible, which didn’t mean he wasn’t going to attack.
The man was, according to the book Liam had read, strong. From the sound of it they were probably evenly matched that way. The other man was larger though, which could change the dynamics of a fight. Longer arms were an edge, after all.
Taking the hand anyway, Liam smiled.
“Sorry about that. Just letting myself in like that. I had to pry around to see if you had a military hit squad standing by, or a bomb under the place. I didn’t find any, in case you were wondering how your secret plans were going that way. It’s very rude of me but I’m trying not to simply leap into traps this week. It’s my personal goal.” His high voice was different than the deep sound coming from the other man. Enough that he sounded odd, speaking at all.
There was a single, very dark seeming, tilt of the head then.
“I understand. Now, I should tell you why I asked you here. It isn’t, as you would probably suspect, to try to collect a few million dollars. I don’t need that kind of thing at all. I have more than enough that way. A hundred and seventy years of life allows for ample opportunity to invest and invent new things. So I’m not your enemy. You… Do you feel a need to fight me? Perhaps rage over my taking so long to find you?”
Liam smiled and shook his head.
“No. Not even a slight amount. I could fight, if needed but other than being a bit hunted right now, there’s no feelings behind it at all. Whatever Warren and Mary did, Oaks and Stein, they managed to raise me well enough or changed the formulae properly to leave me initially kind enough. I tend to think of it as being nurtured early on, rather than a chemical thing but I haven’t seen the process that was used for that. I’ve learned medicine but not chemistry yet.” He spoke the words blankly, not wanting to seem to be bragging.
There was a smile, finally, in return. That and some relaxation.
“Good! You’re only a little over a year old, as well. That shows a high level of intelligence. What else do you know how to do?” It was a change of topic, though a normal enough thing to quiz others on, Liam had to think.
“Dentistry, fighting, making shoes and clothing. I made these? I could do a bit better on the clothing, of course. I have some nicer things, in the car. I just didn’t want it ruined, if things were different here than it seemed. I can use computers, of course. I have a DDS and medical degree and license. I passed the real tests for them, though clearly, I didn’t go to college for it. Most of my efforts have been adapting techniques for the alternate communities. I’ve mainly worked with that sort of person, so far.”
Those words got a smirk and a soft nod.
“Which, naturally, explains why there is a bounty on your head.”
As soon as the words were spoken, Liam understood the idea.
“I… See.” It wasn’t certain, of course but he thought a few pieces fell into place fairly well, once it was pointed out.
Chapter five
“So, Oaks has the hit out on me? Possibly with the aid of Lissette. Whoever is doing this has shown some computer skill as well. Oaks may well have that, of course. She merely mentioned some things that indicated she understood such as well. The goal being, what, to drive me to dislike those of the alternative communities? Or… no. So far our people have all been involved with them well enough. This then would be about framing the Federal Government for doing it, to drive me against them. Using vampires and elementals against me, so that I’d see who benefited most from it.” There was more that came into his mind then. A lot of data points came together. It wasn’t perfect of course.
Victor, still standing in the front room of his small cabin, dropped his head then.
“I can’t swear that’s what is going on, of course. It seems to be likely to me. Not that I’m any great friend of human kind. We’ve had some issues. At least I have with individuals. I simply don’t think that our kind is any better being in charge than they are. Yes, they are flawed and corrupt. Eventually all people that are worthy and able to rule must face that kind of thing. Don’t imagine that you or I are so perfect that we would not do the same, in the end.”
No one had ever spoken to Liam in that fashion before. After some moments, actual minutes of standing there and thinking, he had to agree with that basic thought. He at least, wasn’t perfect at all.
“That seems right. Those with the will to take power in the first place would, by their nature, be prone toward believing they and their own needs were the most important factor. Even those who try to see others as being the greatest calling might fall to that. Not everyone always does.” He wasn’t a scholar of history in particular but the making of laws as they commonly existed, showed that it couldn’t be only the evil and corrupt who guided them.
After a moment, Vincent smiled. It didn’t seem real, the man still seeming uncertain about how things were going. Liam could feel that for himself, since it was very possible that he wasn’t doing or thinking what the other man desired of him. That meant he couldn’t truly allow himself to let his guard down. It was fair for Vince to do the same thing.
After a while he nodded, just a small amount. A bare hint of movement, as if he wanted to encourage thought, without actually agreeing with something in what had just been spoken of.
“Perhaps. I have some evidence that the funds were provided by Oaks, which is fairly damning. He set
it into escrow himself. A simple thing, given he owns the company that is holding the funds. That speaks of him being rather well presented as far as certain types of computer work go, doesn’t it? It’s not the only thing like it he has control over, either. As I said, I have evidence, if you would see it? We’ll have to…”
The man looked at him then, as if uncertain what to say next.
Liam waved toward the kitchen.
“We need to go downstairs? How do you get the signal out, if it’s all right to ask?”
The other being laughed then, chuckling more than was probably needed over the question.
“You did mention not finding the bombs under the cabin. It’s simply a hard line that runs about a quarter mile from here, over the hill. I have a twelve-foot dish, that allows a direct uplink to a satellite that I own. This way then. You didn’t go in through the tunnel, did you?” There was a glance at him then, as if that made a certain amount of sense.
“Nope. I found that, and figured there would be another entrance. It seemed a bit destructive to go in that way. This is your property, not mine.” Not that he owned anything like it at all. He had a laptop, and some clothing. A few art, medical and dental supplies. Everything else was borrowed.
That got a nod. The other man handled the refrigerator the same way that Liam had, picking it up easily and letting it drift behind him, turning in place. As he did it, there was a half stumble, since the other being wasn’t as well balanced as Liam was, it seemed. That or he faked it to make himself seem more relatable.
When the wooden trap door was raised, Vincent flowed down the steps, moving faster than seemed normal. Liam was able to keep up, since they weren’t running or having a race. Lights came to life as they moved, however, the other man bypassing the upper rooms, heading to the second level via the plain concrete staircase directly.
Once there, he moved to the second room on the right-hand side. There was a large bank of computers there.
“I know that all of this could be faked. You’ll have to trust me and those working with me on this. Here…” A small black thumb drive was produced then, and plugged into the computer which had been turned off, or in some kind of sleep mode.
It brought up a spread sheet, which the man brought up on a large screen, by merely pointing at it.
Liam took the information in rapidly.
“Next page?” He had to do that every second or so, drinking in what it all meant.
They were banking records and the books of Holden Online Escrow, which wasn’t a legal business at all. It catered to those on the dark web, mainly holding the funds of people who were doing illegal things, until the goods or services arrived. Then they took three percent, and passed the rest over. It was a bit of a racket but not a horrible way to make money. One simply needed a computer or two and a good reputation to make it happen.
That and a willingness not to ask if the funds were going to hire a hitman, purchase drugs or buy a child sex slave. It was basically the same model that companies like Paypal used. Performing a money related task, then taking a cut off the top each time. Not a lot, but it would add up, over the years.
There was an odd look as Liam read, though the screen was flickering from one page to the next well enough. It would have been a bit faster if Liam was in control of the thing, but that wasn’t the case. It was well done considering they had to communicate with words to make it happen. What was clear was that this computer was vastly faster than his own little laptop.
After a few minutes, the files were read, though he sat there for a half a minute, before commenting.
“This does seem to be saying that Warren Oaks is likely behind this. That or someone is going out of their way to make it seem like that’s the case. I’ll have to ask him about it.” That seemed a good next step, really. Not in a face to face meeting perhaps, since things might well get a little heated, if they did it that way. Though, that could also work. They’d just need to hold it at the other being’s home. That way Liam’s laptop wouldn’t be broken as easily. That or his sewing machine.
Taking a deep, probably fake, breath, his brother sighed. Equally impressively. It was meant to make a statement, not simply gain oxygen. He didn't need to breathe, other than to speak. Like a vampire. Liam didn't either, so was used to that kind of thing. It was a trick he’d used himself a few times. The issue of the moment was that it wouldn’t impress him that much, with the gravitas the man was trying to display.
“That could be hard, finding out that your own father has tried to have you murdered like that.”
Snorting, Liam rolled his eyes. That was his own nod toward affect, in the moment.
“No, it really doesn’t mean that at all. The beings sent after me might have confused me, or have left me feeling attacked but they couldn’t do a lot to me as far as murder goes. They might manage a kidnapping. For a while. Oaks would know that and know that I’d understand it as well. This was about manipulation, I think. Really, I should call him about it and see if we can stop now. I’d hate to kill someone for simply being foolish and greedy.” A bit evil as well, since murder for hire wasn’t a good thing for people to be doing. For the money being offered it had to be tempting to anyone that thought they were powerful and who needed some quick cash.
It was clear that Vince didn’t agree and didn’t want Liam to be thinking that way. The idea was written all over the man’s face.
“Oh. So, I can’t just get you to throw in with me and prevent a promethean take over?”
The words were faint, compared to what the rest of his speech had sounded like. It was a sign of something. Probably that the other man was going to try and harm him, if he wasn’t going to be on his side anyway. Which was foolish, since there were a lot of places to be, other than in opposition to one another.
“I won’t just jump in but I can tentatively say that I won’t be helping with such a thing. It certainly isn’t what I have planned for the next decades.” He stopped then and smiled. “Though, really, I don’t have much planned at all, to be honest. Thank you for the information. Would it be possible to talk again, on these, or other matters? It’s been hard to find out much about our people, so far.” Other than the book that he’d read. Most of that was rather clinical though and only held one perspective.
There was, instead of an attempt to strike him, a rather disgruntled expression. It seemed honestly pissy.
“Yes. Fine then. I can’t afford to lose a possible ally or to create an enemy who isn’t against me right now, so yes, we can chat on things in the future. I’d hoped that you’d see reason, of course.”
Before Liam could do anything, the other man, took a step back and then let his body appear to relax. It was a small thing but one that was noticeable.
“By reason, I mean that you would see how wonderful and important my ideas are, naturally. I was allowed to present part of them to you though. Including the important one. That being how poor an idea I think it is that we take over control of the world. It isn’t needed and we’d be just as bad as those doing the work now. With humans, they get old and die, eventually. Imagine what one increasingly poor leader could do to a world if they never got old and couldn’t be killed… In less than a hundred years the whole world would end up enslaved, even without it being what was intended in the first place.”
The man looked at Liam from the side, not that he wasn’t focused in that direction all the time, constantly. It was being done back, so only made sense.
Vincent took a breath then and spoke, again not leaving a chance for a reply of note.
“Think about it. One day a new king or emperor takes over. He means well and does his best. Slowly though, things shift. A famine comes due to the weather, or a new political movement arises, with others seeking power for themselves. Perhaps both? That or some other thing. Then the new King decides to use a bit of force to set things right. Only people are hurt. Not horribly perhaps but enough to leave them angry. Then things build from there, until
, eventually, only force is allowed to work. Normally the old regime would be removed and a more powerful, better one put in place. With one of us at the helm, the descent could be unstoppable. A never-ending grind into hell.”
It wasn’t the only way things could go but Liam nodded. It was better than having to fight his way out of the place. That might work for him, or it might not. The being across from him was at least his physical equal, after all. Mentally that wasn’t as certain. He was clearly very intelligent, though Liam thought he might have an edge that way. What Vincent had over him was a hundred and ten times the experience. A bit less, but that was close enough to be going on with.
“I’ll consider that. Now, I should go. I need to put things to right here, if at all possible. That or find a large bomb that will remove Warren Oaks from the world. I’d have to make it. I don’t know how, naturally.”
There was a grin then.
“I have some things on that in the other room, if you want to borrow them? Or, given how fast you read, to stand there and absorb them. Just try not to rip the pages?” He was forcing joviality, though it worked to a certain extent. Liam winked at him in return.
“That would be a good idea. Not my main plan but it really could come up, eventually. I should leave the works here though. I wouldn’t want to lose or ruin them and right now that’s a real danger. People keep trying to kill me, after all. Most of them won’t attempt to protect paper-based information at the same time, I have to imagine.”
