Fledgling (The Vampire Manifesto, Book Two)

by Rashaad Bell

  “Connor brought me back to life.” I continued. “As a Vampire.”

  Chapter 4

  Touch me, tease me, pull my hair…

  There was complete and utter silence in the room.

  “Didn’t see that one coming.” Ethan muttered.

  Connor placed a handful of chips in his mouth. “That’s what we in the industry like to call a plot twist.”

  My eyes fell on Dakota. “Are you okay with this?”

  She caressed my face with her hand. “I’m okay.”

  Connor was next to Ethan, thrusting the Doritos bag in his face. “Chip?” He asked. “Bet you can’t eat just one.”

  Ethan shoved it away. “No thank you.” His eyes were strictly on Dakota and me.

  Connor pointed to us. “Look at the hand holding.” He said. “The way their heads are touching, the way she just fondled Madison’s face. Now when they do stuff like that, what does it mean exactly?”

  Ethan didn’t speak.

  Connor shrugged. “Chicks.” He headed back towards the kitchen, tapping Ethan on the shoulder as he passed. “Think about it brother.”

  Abigail stood up. “I’m calling the police.”

  “What?” Girard got up too.

  Connor had his head in the refrigerator. “I fail to see how the police would contribute to this conversation.”

  “It’s obvious that she’s drugged. She’s talking crazy, you drugged her. ” Abigail was glancing around. “Where the hell is my cell?”

  “Looking for this?” Connor was waving her phone in the air while he was still digging through the fridge.

  “How did you…” Abigail began making her way towards the kitchen, but Girard was obstructing her path.

  “Wait Abigail, it’s true.” Staci exclaimed. “Everything she said is true.”

  Abigail just looked at her like she was crazy. “Oh please, you came in with them, your everything you say is suspect.”

  “Abigail.” I called out.

  Connor was closing the fridge, a slice of cold pizza in his mouth. Abigail was right there, in his face as soon as he turned around. She attempted to grab the cell out his hand, but he just held it over her head so she couldn’t reach it.

  “Give me my phone jackass.” She was jumping up, but he was toying with her, lowering the phone, then raising it higher each time she reached for it.

  “Now why do you wanna go and call the cops for?” He asked between mouthfuls of pizza. “I’d just have to kill them all when they arrived.”

  “Abigail.” I repeated.

  “Tough talk coming from a date rapist.” Abby proclaimed. “They’re gonna really love you in jail.”

  Connor smirked. “I’m sure they would.”

  I yelled louder. “Abigail!”

  This time she turned, proceeding back into the living room. “How can you defend him Madison? He drugged you. He probably drugged Principle Girard as well. We need to…”

  I wasn’t listening. I had the remote in my hand and I turned the TV on, switching the channel to CNN.

  “…and in the extraordinary aftermath of the explosion that rocked The Pine Gardens in San Francisco, a prominently exclusive, residential neighborhood, an attack which left seven dead, which was then followed by the detonation of an eighteen-wheeler on a busy Oakland freeway, which claimed thirty four critically wounded and twenty one people dead, President Nathanial Kennedy issued this most unprecedented statement today to the people of America. A statement that will transformation not only the face of the nation, but the entire world as a whole. Here is the speech that astounded the globe only thirty minutes earlier. Please stay tuned for CNN for continuous updates on this most startling situation. This is Haley Carter reporting live for Hard Talk.”

  The screen faded from the Hard Talk reporter to the White House pressroom. Behind the podium was President Nathanial Kennedy. He was self-possessed, wearing a dark blue suit, light blue button down shirt with a white color and a red tie.

  “Today I address the nation not as the President of the United States of America, but rather as a human being, an American and a father. I address not only the citizens of this great nation, but the entire world as well.”

  “For a while now this information has plagued my conscious. The magnitude of it, what it means to civilization as a whole, how it would change the course of human history itself, these are things that are too momentous for just one man to decide. That is why I have chosen to offer full disclosure on the situation to the public. The need for secrecy has past.”

  “As you all know, a series of attacks have rocked America this week, specifically in the cities of San Francisco and Oakland. However, these…incidents have not just been specific to that area. We’ve had undisclosed reports springing up all over America for the last ten years.”

  “What we are currently witnessing is a prolific rise of individuals in this country and abroad whose genetic code has been altered in some fashion, on the cellular level, by artificial, biological and evolutionary means. These alterations have afforded specific individuals, who we have come to understand are both willing and unwilling, with extraordinary abilities not afforded to common man.”

  “I myself have personally witness with my own eyes people that can create and control fire by using nothing but the strength of willpower alone. Individuals with the ability of flight without the means of mechanical assistance. Biological teleportation without the need of quantum computers. Strength that afforded the ability to manually lift weight calculated in the metric tons without performance enhancing drugs and many, many more.”

  “As of today, Congress has ratified into law with a unanimous ruling, that the purposeful alteration of the genetic code in order to gain any type of Post Human ability as an illegal activity and any person receiving or instrumenting this type of genetic alteration will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

  “The United States government has created a partnership with gene therapy conglomerate CornerStone Development and has opened up Registration Offices in every major city within the country. Any person, man or female with any type of Post Human ability must register said ability at one of our offices as soon as manifestation occurs or they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

  “If your genetic code has already been illegally altered at the time of this speech, we have afforded you a grace period. If you register at one of our faculties within one calendar month from today’s date, then you will be offered amnesty and will not be prosecuted.”

  “As I stated before, these abilities are also appearing in humans who have not had their genetic code artificially or biologically altered in any fashion. In layman terms, if you by some chance have been chosen by nature itself to represent the next stage of human evolution, you will not be prosecuted in any fashion whatsoever. You represent the future of the human species and shall be treated as such. We only request that upon manifestation of said abilities that you register at one of our facilities. Any person who refuses to register will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

  “I’ll end this by simply stating that this administration will not tolerate any acts of discriminatory violence or treatment toward our Post Human brothers and sisters. Any person found guilty of harming one of these individuals because of their newfound status as Post Human will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Any Post Human who uses their abilities to facilitate criminal activity will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

  “The United States is currently working in accordance with several governments…”

  I turned the TV off and sat down.

  Everyone was silent, the weight of President Kennedy’s announcement starting to sink in.

  “So…” Ethan was the first to speak. “Vampire. Neat.”

  I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not. He was always so hard to read from the get go, and that was just about the little stuff, but now, when it really mattered…
r />   “Neat? Really?” Connor came back from the kitchen. “Here, this belongs to you.” He dispassionately tossed Abigail’s cell phone to her as he passed, stopping in the central point of the room.

  “Okay, so here’s the deal.” He pointed to the TV. “Those Post Humans who use their abilities for illegal activities, that’s me and Madison he’s talking about.” He paused. “There are other bad guys and gals out there of course, but I’m pretty sure he was directing that particular line specifically at me and her.”

  “No thanks to you no doubt.” Abigail alleged. There was nothing but absolute, seething hate in her voice.

  “Well...” Connor made a motion with his hands. “…no, I mean, yes they were already looking for me, but they gave Madison here a free pass.” He held up two fingers. “Twice. She turned them down flat both times.”

  “Madison!” Abigail sat back down on the couch. “What were you thinking?”

  Connor was shaking his index finger at Abigail. “Now before you get all holier than thou, in Madison’s defense, she was demonstrating some serious honor, courage and commitment, ooh rah! She helped save my life.” He pointed to himself. “Which I'm grateful. And she also helped save your Judas ass Principle over there.” He cut Girard a murderous glare. “Which I’m…not so grateful.”

  Staci raised her hand. “I am.”

  “Of course you are my dear, now shut up.” Connor focused on the whole room again. “Now these government types, they’re after us and they don’t give a fuck.” He pointed at Dakota. “They shot up her house, killed her mother, in front of her, was about to kill her and that was just to find out what Madison’s name was.”

  “And they will do the same to you,” He pointed at Ethan. “You.” He pointed at Abigail. “And sleeping beauty up there.” He pointed towards the ceiling. “The fact that her parents just so conveniently happened to pop up dead in the middle of all this makes their accident suspect, because....”

  “Your parents just died?” Dakota asked. “You didn’t tell me.”

  Connor was snapping his fingers. “Excuse me, little red riding hood, you need to pay attention to this. You, Madison and Ethan can have your little emotional threesome later okay?”

  “You’re such an asshole.” Abigail sneered.

  “Abigail, my sweet, precious Abigail. You know your mother…what’s her name?” Connor was drunk and obnoxious, I should do something. “Janet. Yes, that’s it. Good old Janet. Damn she was fine. I used to sleep with her, you know. Not far from here actually.” He smiled. “Back when she was still in high school. She was such a peach back then. Vigorous. You never know, I could be your daddy.”

  Abigail rolled her eyes. “Dick.”

  “Does that make you like me more now?” Connor waited for a reply, but didn’t get one. “No? Maybe just a little bit?” He shrugged. “Anyway, we’ve got an additional ensemble of individuals, I’m not sure which ones are nastier though, the Initiative, that’s the government for those paying attention, or the Marauders, nonfederal, but equally devoted to the cause.”

  He actually stopped to think about it.

  “Let me guess.” Abigail said accusingly. “Some situation you placed her in pissed them off and now they want her dead?”

  “Well...” Connor sighed. “…that isn’t quite true either; the Marauders, they were after Madison well before we even met. In fact I’m the one who stopped them from kidnapping her.”

  “But you got her killed in Oakland.” Abigail yelled.

  “I didn’t get her killed.” Connor was waving his finger again. “No, no, she got herself killed. I wanted to do things my way, but no, that wasn’t an option. It was her way or the highway. That’s what got her killed. I’m the one who brought her back to life. Same for her brother.”

  Abigail didn’t believe him. “Whatever Connor.”

  “You know, despite my charmingly good natured…”

  “Dickish...” She interrupted.

  “Sure, okay.” Connor agreed. “Despite my…dickishly charming, good natured personality, I’m not the bad guy here. I mean, yeah I’m the bad guy, but I’m not the bad guy here, in this situation. By some obscene turn of events, I’m actually on the side of the angels. I’m the only one that’s, volunteered mind you, to protect the lot of you people from almost certain death, most of whom, truth be told, I couldn’t give a fuck about and yet, I do it anyway. As a favor to Madison. You’d do best to remember that.”

  He walked off heading towards the front door.

  “Connor...” I shouldn’t have let their quarrel get that far, I should have stopped it sooner, but I just didn’t have the strength. “Connor where are you going?”

  “Home.” He called out. “I don’t need this shit. I’ll see you in the a.m.”

  “What if they come tonight and you’re not here?” I asked. “What am I gonna do?”

  He was opening up the door. “Run would be my best suggestion.”

  “Connor!” My situation was desperate and you can hear it in my voice.

  Deliberately he closed the front door, made an about face and headed upstairs. “I’m going to go to sleep in someone’s bedroom. If it’s not for sex or imminent disaster, please do not disturb.”

  I watched him head upstairs and once he was gone, I felt reassured. He was extremely volatile at the moment, his emotions becoming unraveled. He’s my greatest asset in the upcoming battle, but also my most irresponsible. I got up, not wanting his night to end on such a sour note. I needed his head in the game. Ethan came over to me and I could tell something was different about him.

  “You okay?” I took his hand. “I know this is a lot to absorb on short notice.”

  “Yeah.” His eyes fell on Dakota and then sequentially, me. “I’m gonna go.”

  “Go?” I repeated. “Go where?”

  “Home.” He said it as if that was the most obvious answer in the world.

  “Ethan, baby, it’s not safe.” I was apprehensive. Even as I Vampire, I still couldn’t read any emotion from his face.

  He squeezed my hand. “I’ll be fine. Trust me.”

  “But…” I placed both of my hands around his. “…I don’t want you to go. I need you.”

  He hugged me, his arms enveloping around my soul, reassuring my mind, setting me at ease with my situation. “You’ll be okay Madison. I’m just going home. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  I looked into his eyes. “You promise?”

  “I promise.” He kissed me softly. “There’s not another person I’d rather be in mortal danger with then with you. I just need to take care of some things.”

  He hugged me again, kissing me on the forehead then ambled off, closing the front door after him. He didn’t glance back once. I stood there for a moment, just staring at the door, expecting that it would open back up and he would be here again, but it didn’t.

  “Just give him some time.” Abigail could feel my distress. “It’s a lot to take in all at once. He’ll come around.”

  Ethan Blackwood. Only time will tell now.

  Staci was observing from the counter in the kitchen, scrutinizing us all. The Judas in our midst. Connor was confident that she was going to betray us, but I was going in contradiction of his intuitive reaction, hopeful that there was more to this woman then what she has previously presented to us. I pray I’m not making a mistake with her.

  I can’t afford any mistakes.

  “Girard, outside.” I headed towards the front door. “Now.”

  I was standing in the driveway, waiting on her. Humans move so damn slow. She rounded the corner, coming towards me, hands in her pockets.

  “Crazy night huh?” She was trying to small talk me as if we were old chums.

  “Can I trust you?” I just wanted to cut to the chase.

  “Yes.” She appeared sincere, but it was something about her that still made me feel uneasy.

  “Okay.” Either I trust her or I don’t, but I’ve gotta choose one and move on. “That information on
the Eden Complex, how soon can you get it?”

  “Well I can access the Modus Operandi server from your computer here, so I can give it to you tonight if you want.” She wasn’t trying to stall. That’s a good sign…I think.

  “No.” I wasn’t equipped to deal with all that now. “But have it prepared for me by tomorrow. After I go see my parent’s body I’m going to want to dive straight into that information.”

  “Are you confident that’s safe?” She sat on the hood of the car. “I mean, wouldn’t that be the first place they would look for you at?”

  “I don’t care.” Of that, I was confident. “I’m going to see my parents tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” She was massaging her neck; it was one large purple and bluish bruise all the way around from when Connor grabbed her. “I’ll have it ready.”

  “I also want what you have on Pandora’s Box.” I said.

  “Pandora’s Box?” She seemed captivated. “You mean the legend of Pandora?”

  “Yeah.” I hope this isn’t when the stiletto in the back came. “That’s the one.”

  “Sure, I’ll see what I can do.” She bounced down from the car. “Anything else?”

  I held my hand out. “Let me see your cell.”

  “Okay…” She pulled her phone out her pocket and offered it to me.

  I typed something in the text menu then handed it back. She took the phone from me and read:

  I want everything you have on Connor Prometheus.

  “Why?” She erased the message.

  “Have everything ready for me by tomorrow.” I headed back towards the house.

  “Madison.”

  I turned around. “What’s up?”

  Girard glanced down at the ground, then back at me. “Thank you.”

  “Just don’t make me regret helping you Staci.”

  “You won’t.”

  I started for the door again, turning around precipitously. “I also wanna have automatic A’s for the rest of the school year.”

  Girard laughed. “Not a problem. I’ll even give you a glowing college recommendation.”