Olivia scanned the room to find a safe observation spot, one from which she wouldn't be noticed and ejected before the meeting began. Hernando stood in deep conversation with Caveman and Dradix in a back corner. It looked serious. She approached them without hesitation, feeling entitled to be there. Heads bowed, they spoke in a low murmur so their voices didn't carry. Thinking it best not to interrupt, she detoured at the last minute and circled behind them, placing her back against the shadowed wall and sinking down until she sat cross-legged on the floor, well below the field of vision of anyone sitting at the conference table.
Other Pure Bloods entered the room, some escorted by various security officers and councilors. Olivia was happy to see Mahvet among them, but she could feel nothing but anger when Moreau with his father and two uncles crossed the threshold. She hunched down and made herself smaller to escape their notice.
"Let us sit and begin this special meeting," Caveman announced from the podium position halfway along the immense table.
Annara rushed into the room and took a seat next to Hernando and Dradix, who had taken seats across from the podium. Olivia watched as her friend scanned the crowd, presumably looking for her, but then the first speaker took the floor, forcing Annara to sit down.
The first advisors read their dry, fact-filled reports in monotones, almost putting Olivia to sleep. A number of artworks and artifacts had been sold to concerns on Earth and duly cataloged, but an uncounted number had also been noticed in Earth's galleries and museums in recent weeks, thanks to the watchful eye of Ambassador Hernando and his staff. According to clan archivists and historians, these uncataloged items matched descriptions of those which had gone missing from Clan Alpha.
So that was why Mahvet was present. His damning testimony proved beyond doubt that it had been Clan Alpha—namely Moreau's family—selling the artworks to billionaires on Earth. Olivia bit her lip in worry. What will they do to poor Mahvet for betraying his fellow kinsmen?
Do not worry. Mahvet will be safe with his beloved, a calm voice reassured her.
Olivia perked up and looked about the room. Valori? Are you here in the council chambers?
No. I am nearby. Now listen. Watch. Observe.
Yes ma'am. Olivia did as she was told. Valori must be using Olivia's ears and eyes as a microphone and remote camera. Neither would be allowed in secret council meeting, but Olivia's boldness had given them both a window into what happened behind closed doors.
Dradix had taken the podium spot to give his technical report. Olivia thought it odd that the tall, silver-haired Pure Blood should be allowed to address the BloodDark Ruling Council, but she knew she was allowing her bias to color the proceedings. The council represented all of the citizens of the planet—including the bloodsuckers—and they did have the right to address the council. There were even a handful of Pure Blood councilors, but they were in the minority since humans, Quadsangs and Overseers made up the greatest percentage of the population.
"The signature of the transport beam indicated a small device, located somewhere in the city," Dradix read from his written report, "but other recent unexplained energy bursts have revealed the possibility of another Portal apparatus, one much larger than our official transport device, located elsewhere on the planet." He put down his paper and addressed the audience directly, his turquoise eyes intense and penetrating. "The confirmation of this large, unauthorized Portal device was given today by members of Clan Alpha."
A collective gasp filled the room. Councilors and advisors turned to each other and whispered about the consequences of having such a device. Olivia observed Caveman Charlie's somber expression and the slump of his shoulders from her position across the room. From Resistance cell leader to acting head of the government, Caveman had never shirked from accepting the challenge of leading a ragtag society, but today... Today he looked like he could use a break. Olivia felt sorry for him.
How did her boyfriend take this news? She couldn't make out Hernando's reaction, as he was turned away from her, conferring with Annara. However, he repeatedly tapped a finger at something written on a paper lying in front of him. Anger—she sensed Hernando's intense anger at something printed in the report he referenced.
"Where is this large rogue Portal located?" Councilor Winn asked as the hubbub began to subside.
Dradix nodded to the councilor and continued, "We are still working on figuring its exact location, but using the data on hand, along with the testimony of the Alphans, it appears to be located near the middle of the Mosaic Desert toward our southern pole."
"Why can't the Alphans give us its exact location?" Councilor Pralx, a brusque Overseer of some notoriety, asked. "They are the traitorous fools who built it, correct?"
"We did not build it."
Heads swiveled. All eyes focused on the interrupter. Olivia gulped. Moreau stood and leaned across on the broad wooden surface, staring daggers at the outspoken Overseer.
"You of all people, Pralx, should know Clan Alpha would never have built another large Portal when we have had control of the only transportation device between BloodDark and Earth for many cycles. Pralx, I am disappointed. You served our house well before this... this... rebellion." Moreau spat out his last word like a bitter morsel of food.
Pralx wasn't one to take things lying down Olivia realized. He stood and returned Moreau's condescending stare with one of his own. "This legitimate government for all inhabitants of BloodDark has the right to know what secret cabals and plots the Alphans have been devising since the days their spineless ancestors first arrived on this planet."
Another collective gasp and cries of outrage followed this outburst. Caveman stood and gestured for the Pure Blood scientist to leave the podium. Dradix nodded, his shoulders hunched as he took his seat, uncomfortable with the dissension which had enlivened his otherwise dull scientific report. Caveman spoke to a young aide who nodded and then ran from the room, before taking his position at the podium once more. He gaveled for the heated discussion to end with the ceremonial stone.
"Sit down everyone and stop talking." Caveman gaveled again and flashed a cross look at several squabblers at the end of the table until they shut up and took their seats. "Thank you. I want to thank Dradix and his team of technicians for working hard tracking this rogue device down. I also want to thank Ambassador Hernando and his staff and our security forces for locating and identifying the missing artifacts, but I also want to thank the members of Clan Alpha for their candor."
The murmuring and arguing began again. Caveman gaveled for silence once more. "I mean it. The Alphans have been honest with us, under a most stressful situation. We will need their help to neutralize and dismantle this threat to our security, and I am sure Clan Alpha will cooperate and do their best for the good of all BloodDark."
Must have had a good lawyer and copped a plea to stay out of jail. Olivia furrowed her brow and placed her chin in hands. What am I missing here? The Alphans are criminals, and yet we need their assistance to defeat a greater evil?
I told you once, my child, nothing is ever quite as it appears. This is the mystery of BloodDark and its people.
Olivia sighed. Valori, you speak in riddles. Can't you tell me outright what's going on?
Watch. Listen.
Olivia opened her eyes and observed the crowded conference hall as its occupants struggled to contain their anger and confusion. Caveman continued to gavel and ask for quiet for the next speaker, but it wasn't until the wide double doors swung open and in floated the high priestess of Clan Alpha that complete silence descended on the gathering.
"High Priestess Drucinda will explain more about the device in the desert." Caveman stepped away from the podium and gestured for the vision in flowing orange-red to speak.
"Thank you, Charles of the Cave Clan, Ruler of the Council of BloodDark." Drucinda's manners and style were impeccable. The long dark hair cascading down her back was kept in place by a simple gold and silver tiara. Her body language spoke of royalt
y and superior breeding.
Olivia felt like decking the arrogant woman where she stood. There must be some good reason why the priestess had been asked to address the ruling body, so she pushed her itchy fists against her side and listened as Valori instructed.
"My fellow citizens of our world, we have been under a constant threat from far away for many thousands of our cycles, and yet we have survived and prospered. How is this so? Our ancestors long ago wisely moved us to the safest side of this planet—its dark side—and then they placed a weapon to shield and guard us from all invaders who would do us harm on the harsh, perpetually lit side."
The Kloog? Olivia hadn't learned much more about them during her studies in the Clan Alpha house. The Pure Bloods' historic enemies had been given one small nameless footnote in their history texts, but Drucinda was implying the Kloog still existed as a menace. Now, she felt a twinge of guilt for trying to blow up the Alphans' dilapidated spaceship during the rebellion. Could it be the fear the Pure Bloods felt wasn't based solely on their ancestors' horror stories but on a very real and present danger?
Drucinda continued. "In a council very similar to this one, Clan Alpha was given the task of maintaining the defensive device, and they did so for many thousands of cycles. However, over time, increasingly violent storms caused the desert sands to cover it, and we lost the knowledge of how the device worked. We maintained the fiction of its existence and usability to provide a level of comfort for our people—all our peoples—to have and to hold onto so we would not dread the coming ages."
Olivia narrowed her eyes, incredulous at Drucinda's logic. It acted like sort of a Great Wall of China? The device might not prevent the barbarians from raiding, but it could make them think twice about it. How good could a useless defensive weapon be? Sooner or later the other side would find out it was defunct and attack. Olivia felt sick to her stomach with dread, and she assumed most of the room did as well.
"We have received data from Earth's space agencies since our opening of relations with the governments of Earth indicating the long ago enemy is still searching for us," Drucinda explained. "Word of BloodDark's inhabitants has been communicated across thousands of open channels on Earth. The enemy will undoubtedly be monitoring Earth's communications. As the keeper of this protective device, Clan Alpha feels obligated to repair and maintain it once again for the good of all."
Annara jumped to her feet and scowled at Drucinda. "So, why didn't you come clean about your ignorance and ask for help from the other clans? Why wait until now to tell the rest of us we're under the threat of attack by the Kloog?"
The Pure Bloods in the chamber flinched and screeched at the mention of the ancient rivals, their high pitch shrieks sounding like bat swarm in flight. Drucinda placed a hand on her chest, took a deep breath and calmed herself before she could speak again. "We do not say the name. It gives power to the enemy to say their name, so please..."
"If you need to sit down now, priestess, here you go." Caveman offered her his chair. "I believe one of your kinsmen can give the rest of the information."
Drucinda accepted Caveman's gallant offer and sat. Moreau rose and crossed to the podium. Olivia noticed his sullen glare and snarling upper lip didn't endear him to anyone in the room. She wondered what sort of story he'd weave to paint over the trespasses of his clan.
"It is true we did construct a smaller Portal," Moreau confirmed.
All eyes riveted to his face at the surprising admission. Not bad... He's using the guilty-but-we-had-to-do-it tactic. With his flowing blond hair and striking good looks, Moreau could have charmed his way out of any crime if he'd been captured by the authorities on Earth. They would have thought he was human.
The more Olivia thought about it, the more Moreau's looks did appear more human than Pure Blood. The fullness of his face and the stronger chin, plus his mouth wasn't quite as small as most of his kind. His full lips hid his fangs well like Hernando's—but Hernando was a Quadsang, a quarter vampire, and not a Pure Blood. Olivia furrowed her brow. She was certain Moreau didn't qualify as Quadsang or Overseer, but perhaps he had been bred to blend in better with humanity? Was he to become a liaison between worlds, a way to interact with humans socially and not solely through diplomatic channels?
"We admit to selling priceless artifacts and artworks to the humans, but we only sold those belonging to Clan Alpha. It was...necessary...as our human contacts wanted financial recompense for the technology and tools needed to fix our protective device. Their demand for more money has stretched our resources to the limit, and so we have stopped selling our items and are attempting to repair the device with the technology we've managed to acquire. The recent energy pulses the Portal Control Center noticed were from our first tests of the weapon. Its power curve mimics a Portal transportation device, and it's built of similar components. The weapon isn't working at optimum levels yet, but we have hope.
The room buzzed with excitement. Olivia sensed the fear of an imminent attack by the Kloog had subsided somewhat, but what Moreau told them still didn't add up. Was this recent trading of artworks for technology the only trades going on? She knew how greedy and inquisitive human beings could be. Helping the Alphans to fix an ancient protective weapon would have intrigued her kind. They'd want to know more about it and how it worked—and how they could get their hands on one of their own.
Annara must have held the same doubts. She stood and addressed the assembly. "On behalf of the security division of the ruling council, I have many concerns about this protective weapon and Clan Alpha's plans on how to use it. However, first I must ask Moreau the questions all of us are eager to know the answers to—who are your contacts on Earth? Which governments do they represent, if any, and why the subterfuge? Surely Alphan pride alone cannot explain your hesitation to reach out to your fellow Pure Bloods for help before asking Earthers to become involved."
Dradix rose and nodded to Annara. "I swear, as a representative of the technicians and scientists of Clan Delta, we had no knowledge of this weapon until today."
The crowd murmured as Dradix took his seat. Olivia believed the Deltan's statement. No, she sensed Dradix spoke the truth as earlier she had sensed Drucinda's sheer dread and horror of the Kloog. There was no artifice or lying in their words. Whatever the pair-bonding ceremony had done to her mind, she now possessed some extrasensory knowledge of the emotional state of individuals.
The roar of the assembled councilors and advisors faded into nothingness as she closed her eyes and visualized what was happening to her. An image of the golden boy Moreau stood before her on an empty plain under a velvet black sky tinted with the light of a red gas giant.
Olivia... You are one of us in the link between predator and prey.
If that's the case, Moreau, then why can't I get a good reading on you?
Because I will not allow it.
Why not?
I can’t afford to get too close to anyone, especially my intended mate. I am the pawn in a bigger game than either of us can imagine. We are both pawns. We are both predator and prey. It's part of our destinies to save our worlds, but we may never know how and when it will take place.
It's always riddles with you vampires! Why can't you just speak what's on your mind? I'm reading your mind after all, right?
The vision and the voice faded as the chamber's noise filled her ears. Olivia opened her eyes and sighed. The councilors bickered among themselves like so many spoiled children, wanting their way, never open to another's point of view. It wasn't until she had gotten to her feet and walked toward the great conference table Olivia realized how much she wanted to shout.
"All right! Settle down now." The shocked faces which greeted Olivia fueled her determination. "You have some serious things to discuss and leveling the blame on the Alphans or each other at this point isn't going to help. Your true enemies aren't each other or the..." She paused, not wanting to cause pain to the Pure Bloods present by vocalizing the dreaded name. "Your true enemies aren't
your old foes but your new foe."
"Who might this new foe be?" Councilor Kai asked.
Olivia turned to the woman and cried, "People from Earth, of course! Don't you all get it? For better or worse, you have admitted your biggest weakness to the inhabitants of my world. You can't trust us not to use this knowledge to our own advantage, and I have an idea the particular human beings the Alphans contacted to do their deals for technology aren’t exactly the most trustworthy of Earth's inhabitants."
"Roland Grundfest is far from honorable," Hernando said, rising from his seat. "He is unable to keep secrets as well. This past week before I left Earth, the news accounts told of an upcoming 'big deal' between Grundfest and some others which would change Earth for generations to come."
Hernando turned and walked the length of the table, stopping in front of Olivia. Smiling, he took her hand. "Don't you see how Olivia once again has come to our aid? Her recent actions have helped to expose this ill-conceived plan of Clan Alpha and gotten to the heart of the matter. Our world is vulnerable because it is too secretive. We don't trust each other, and we hide our own fear beneath masks of pride and tradition. We can no longer afford to divide into factions. Instead, we must unite and deal with our problems together if we are to survive both the threat of the Earthmen and the—our old foes."
Olivia blushed at his praise. "You're not mad at me?" she whispered.
Hernando took her other hand in his and squeezed. "How can I be mad at the only person outspoken and brave enough to save two worlds?"
Chapter Eight
"You've done well, my child." Valori stood at the foot of Olivia's bed at Clan Alpha House. "Get some rest now. It's been a long day."
Olivia yawned and pulled the blankets up to her chin. "Thanks again, Valori. We would have never been able to shut down the rogue Portal without your help. I knew you had it in you to become a high priestess. Remember how your scent potion helped me escape from BloodDark and Clan Alpha the first time I came here?"
Olivia's Decision Page 6
