Elsie studied the faces of the people that Herb approached and with each and every one of them, their smile faded into an uncomfortable mask. Elsie was careful to spread out her gaze and to watch Herb out of the corner of her eye.
Det. Lang felt something had caught Elsie’s eye but could not zero in on any one individual. The crowd gradually dispersed and Det. Lang again approached Elsie Fleck.
“So, Ms. Fleck-glean any valuable information this morning?”
“I just came to pay my respects to the people that I have been working with for their entire lives. I had no ulterior motive as you seem to think. I hope you find your serial killer, but you’re on a wrong, misguided path. Good day to you, Detective Lang,” Elsie stepped down to street level and walked briskly to her car.
Det. Lang gritted her teeth and scowled. She hated that Elsie had such a huge advantage and decided the best and only course of action was to concentrate her attention on Elsie. She bolted to her car and followed.
***
Herb had requested the presence of 10 trusted men and women. The meeting set for 9. Drake was pleased but nervous. The next 48 hours were crucial to the movement and everything hinged on tonight. He knew who his choice for the demonstration must be but he was hesitating on pulling the trigger on the final decision. There really wasn’t another logical choice; all of the other supervisors were liked and respected. Slaying a friend of the audience may very well backfire. Grimshaw was the only choice. The thought of feeding from a male made Drake squirm in his skin. He wasn’t even sure he could pull it off. He had purposely starved himself for days, but he didn’t think it would help. It became strikingly apparent that feeding, for a Vampire, wasn’t just a sustenance issue.
“We can do it in here. There’s lots of room for everyone,” Drake spoke to Herb and Megan in the living room.
“I saw Ms. Fleck at the church this morning and another woman was wandering around, watching as well.”
“Auburn hair, sharp dresser?” Drake asked.
“Yeah. Do you know her?”
“She’s a detective. We’ll need to be careful. They’re right on our tail. But we’re still okay. Any information Elsie gathers won’t be shared, we can count on that.”
“So, have you decided?” Herb asked.
“Grimshaw.”
Megan and Herb looked surprised by Drake’s choice, although Megan had a hint of a smile mixed in.
“As much as I hate Grimshaw and would love to see him dead…are you sure you can do it? Maybe it would be better to take the risk with a woman-at least you know you can do it.”
Herb looked dumfounded by the conversation.
“It’s just way too risky. Someone would probably kill me before I got my fangs out of her. You said it yourself-you would love to see him dead. Everyone in this room will feel the same way, and I may be able to explain our predicament before someone cuts my head off. That’s the only way to kill the devil dog, as you both know.”
Megan smiled. “Okay, you know best. How are you going to get him here?”
“With you as bait. He’s always had a thing for you. Now that we know what we know, it’s a wonder you survived as long as you did with him lusting after you day after day. With you to tempt him, it shouldn’t be any problem getting his lazy ass over here.”
Megan quivered perceptibly.
***
Time dragged until the meeting, with Drake pacing and preparing. He was desperate for food. The pain of aging had kicked in and would continue until he fed. Megan walked by and Drake could sense her warmth. Her beauty and desirability were almost more than Drake could stand when he was in this condition. He turned away and tried to think just of the need to feed and not about where the meal was coming from. It didn’t matter. All that mattered at this desperate point, was to feed. Who provided the sustenance was irrelevant. That’s what Drake kept telling himself…over and over.
Nine o’clock came and so did the guests. Herb greeted them and asked them to take a seat in the living room. The chatter was filled with curiosity and concern. Drake and Megan stayed out of sight.
Herb took a quick walk around his property with a flashlight and was satisfied that no one had been followed. Just as he was about to step back inside, a car pulled into his driveway. His heart jumped, as all of the invited guests were accounted for. It was Elsie Fleck.
“Damn it!” Herb whispered to himself.
Confused and scared, Herb wished Drake was with him right now. He looked back at the house, but Elsie was parked and out of her car before Herb could make a decision.
“Well, hello Ms. Fleck. What brings you out here at this late hour?”
“I heard you were having a party and I see I’m late for the festivities.”
“Oh, just some friends over for a few laughs.”
“One of those friends wouldn’t be Drake, would it?”
“Drake? You know as well as I do Ms. Fleck that Drake has moved upstairs. I guess I’ll be going in a few months, myself.”
“And are you looking forward to it?”
“Umm, well I guess I’ll miss everybody, but, yeah, I am looking forward to it.”
Elsie smiled. “Do you mind if I come in for a minute just to say hello to everyone?”
“Ahh, yeah, I guess that’s fine-come on in.”
Herb led the way.
All of the guests were surprised to see Ms. Fleck as part of the group. Her presence made them all re-think their theories as to the reason for the gathering.
Herb excused himself and walked to the back of the house where Drake and Megan waited. It was obvious from his expression that something was wrong. “Remember I told you that Ms. Fleck was at the church this morning…well she’s here, now.”
Megan’s head snapped to look at Drake who just smiled.
“Clever yet meddlesome woman. Hmm, this adds a new wrinkle to our plans. What to do, what to do,” Drake said as he paced. “She can’t turn us in or she’d be in as much trouble as we are…so, let’s just let her stay. She may prove to be useful in convincing everyone.”
Megan’s eyes lit up with inspiration. “Why don’t you demonstrate on her? At least she’s a woman, and wouldn’t it be nice to be rid of her?”
“Hmm, interesting idea.” Drake thought for a moment. “No, I think we may still have a use for her, and as far as I know, all of our friends look up to her-the way we used to. And our current plan is already in motion.” Drake shuddered slightly. “So let’s get started. Remember what I said, Megan. I need you close by when I’m demonstrating. Okay?”
“I still have no idea why, but yes, of course-whatever you say.”
Drake strode towards the door. “You’re sure Grimshaw will show?”
“I told him Megan was back, on her own, just like you said. I told him that Megan was unhappy with her stay up top, ran away and managed to make her way home. I also told him that she was looking for someone of authority that she could confide in. I asked him to come alone at 10 sharp.”
“How did he sound?” Drake asked.
“As ornery as ever, but his mood sure changed when I mentioned, Megan. I even put Megan on the phone.”
Megan felt a cold shiver at the memory of the short conversation. “I just told him that I had some unpleasant experiences during my visit up in the dome. I also added that I had always admired him and was looking for some help from someone I trusted.”
Drake paused at the entrance to the living room, smiling at the buzz emanating from the gathering. “Nice touch. I have no doubt he’ll come on his own. Just the thought of seeing you again is probably driving him crazy. We know he won’t turn you in until he assesses his options more closely, and by then it’ll be too late.” Drake said, just prior to bursting into the living room.
Drake’s face lit up when he saw all of his oldest, closest friends. The group’s instant, dumbfounded expressions quickly changed, making way for beaming, overjoyed faces.
Elsie stood back, amazed by the love and
friendship in the room. She longed to be one of the delighted party. I love Drake just as much as these people do…more, actually.
When Drake came to the end of the line of hugs and handshakes…there was Elsie.
“Well, Elsie, welcome to our demonstration. I’m not displeased that you discovered us. I trust you took the utmost care not to be followed?”
“That annoying Detective tried to follow me, but it didn’t take me long to lose her. Drake, I think I may have a way out of this. Can we talk in private?” Elsie reached up and placed her hands on Drake’s shoulders.
“Hello, Elsie,” Megan interrupted.
Drake spoke up, “Elsie, nothing you have to offer me could possibly sway me from my course of action. So, I suggest you take a seat and enjoy the show. You’ll be the only guest who isn’t shocked by it all.”
Turning his attention back to his friends, Drake spoke loud and clear, “Every one please take a seat. My good and trusted friends-the news I am about to present to you will come as a shock. Ours and our children’s lives depend on what we do right now! It will take all of our courage to do what we need to do-what we must do. I’m going to demonstrate something that happens up in the dome to thousands of innocent young people every year. We are told, from childhood, that we work at the base until we are 22, then we transfer up into the upper dome to take on roles to ensure the strength, success and smooth running of the Empire. To a degree this is true but, it not as idyllic as it sounds. Until just recently, a small percentage of the current crop of 22 year-olds was actually integrated into their secret society. And you will soon come to realize that my terminology of, ‘the current crop,’ is literal, because the rest of that so called crop is used as food.” Drake paused and looked into the faces of all of his friends. All of the smiles had transitioned into confusion and concern.
Elsie looked on. She had given a similar speech, hundreds of times, to humans just like these, but she couldn’t believe this was happening. She felt absolutely helpless. She shook her head and grimaced. Drake caught her eye and smiled at her obvious discomfort.
“The rumor of the devil dog that we have all grown up with has a shred of truth to it after all, for up above in the dome, living in a state of not aging and seldom dying, is a race of blood drinking beings called Vampires. The base is their farm…and you are the crop.” Drake began to pace. “You may notice that when I say you are the next crop. I do not include myself or Ms. Fleck over there. For you see we are Vampires. Ms. Fleck is actually over 500 years old. Me, I’m a newly converted Vampire; converted against my will, by none other than our very own, Ms. Fleck.”
All heads turned towards Elsie, who bowed her head until their attention was drawn back to the storyteller.
“All of your supervisors and advisers are Vampires. You may have a fondness towards them now, but soon you will see them for what they really are…cold blooded killers, who breed, raise and then sell you on the open market like a cow or a pig. Think about it: raising humans for slaughter, forcing them to breed, replanting their seedlings down in the garden, to grow into vessels of blood. Megan escaped the same fate as me. She was very lucky and now carries our baby, conceived before my conversion to Vampire. She will vouch for my story. Megan has been through so much and I love her, dearly.” Drake’s eyes burned with emotion.
Tears flowed freely now, but Elsie’s eyes burned with jealousy. What a mistake it was to buy that little witch, months ago. She wondered where they would be now if she had refused.
Drake continued. “But herein lies the dilemma; I am one of them and therefore I must eventually die as well, because not one of us can remain. But I’m different in 2 very important ways. I want to put an end to all of this. And most importantly…I refuse to feed from humans. I feed only from other Vampires.”
Drake paused and looked over at Elsie but she remained silent and stoic.
Drake’s calm delivery suddenly turned explosive and everyone jumped. “We need to start a revolt…now! We need an organized plan carried out with precision and daring. Your mistaken perception of a quiet, carefree life, has been smashed and now we must quickly transform into killing for our own survival, for a way of life that we are cheated out of.”
As Drake spoke, Herb constantly checked out of the window. Car lights shone through the dim night lighting of the evening and Herb motioned to Megan that their turn had come. Megan’s heart skipped a beat, she was dreading this, but she immediately jumped into action. Herb signaled to Drake. Herb’s eyes were wide. The audience were super alert and aware now and noticed every nuance of expression, gesture or movement.
Walking out the front door to greet their guest, Megan and Herb looked terrified, which was immediately noticed by Grimshaw.
“What the hell is going on, Grey? Why are all these vehicles here?” Grimshaw spoke in his usual nasty-attitude tone. His face softened when his gaze shifted over to Megan. As lovely as ever, he thought to himself. “Megan, what are you doing back here? This is serious. You need the help that only I can give you.”
Herb spoke out in a nervous voice, “Megan decided that she wanted to stay down here with her friends so she wanted all of us included, to help her make the right decisions.”
“Good thinking, and thanks for having the good sense to call me. I think we can figure a way to keep you safe and make the right decisions to solve this situation. The rules aren’t completely inflexible, but I don’t know if it’s ever happened before. Everyone seems to be content with the cushy lifestyle once they experience it. I always said you were a weirdo, Durham,” through his lies, Grimshaw made an attempt at levity. “Well, let’s get this thing started, Grey. I can’t believe I gotta look at all your ugly mugs on a Sunday, though.”
Grimshaw walked into a room of gloomy faces. The sound of tiny gasps greeted him and made him more wary. The presence of Elsie surprised him but set his mind at ease that all was safe. “Ms. Fleck. So they called you to this meeting too, eh?” Grimshaw also felt a pang of disappointment; her official attendance ruined his plan to bully and manipulate in order to make the most of this unexpected opportunity.
“Yes, unfortunately I have become a part of this sordid affair. I trust you had a good day, Grimshaw?”
“Umm, yes pretty good. At least ‘til I was dragged out to this thing.”
“Good, good.” Elsie’s eyes drifted over to where Drake was hidden, waiting to make his grand entrance.
He stepped out from around a corner, placed his hands on his hips and spoke out in a commanding voice. “Grimshaw! It’s good to see you again.”
Grimshaw’s head snapped to the side. “Ulah? What the hell is going on here?”
“You have been summoned here to be an important part of a new way of life.” Drake was relishing the feeling of control that he had never ever before experienced with Grimshaw.
Completely perplexed, Grimshaw’s mind raced. He sensed that something wasn’t right, but Elsie’s presence was really throwing off his judgment. He was close enough to Drake to know that he was no longer a human, and suddenly he felt a loss of control that he had always enjoyed and used to its utmost. But Megan was still human. “Ms. Fleck. Could you please tell me what is going on here?”
“This is Mr. Ulah’s show. You need to talk to him, Mr. Grimshaw.” Elsie fought to maintain her calm appearance and just hoped for something to go wrong with the demonstration.
“Ms. Fleck is here as counsel in this important matter that affects all of our futures. Your opinion, and hers, is what we desire.”
Elsie’s emotions raced as Drake walked closer to Grimshaw, who tensed for conflict.
But Drake’s eyes didn’t reveal the anger and loathing he felt from within, his face was relaxed. “I have a proposition for you Grimshaw. Megan is yours if you feed from her in front of all these people.”
Grimshaw knew now that something was terribly wrong and again he looked to Elsie for guidance. Elsie still remained quiet but was seething with pent up emotion.
&nbs
p; “Come on now, Grimshaw. Admit it. You’ve wanted to sink your fangs into Megan for years. Now’s your chance. I’m a Vampire now. Why should I care.”
Grimshaw looked from face to face, all expressions of complete horror and suspense.
Drake stepped forward. “These people deserve to know the truth.”
“He’s lying. Are you such idiots as to believe another fairy tale. Just relax and I’ll get this all cleared up. Obviously Ulah has gone crazy paranoid. He always was unstable, this just proves it,” Grimshaw stammered, then shot an angry look over at Elsie. He wanted to fight Drake but he felt the priority was to get out and get help. And he sensed that this could turn into an ugly mob scene.
Elsie shifted to the edge of her seat, her back straight as a board. She realized that Grimshaw couldn’t be allowed to escape. He would surely go straight to the authorities and she would have to face the consequences. Her options were limited, but she needed to go step by step and not make a careless error that may further jeopardize her precarious position.
Grimshaw’s sudden bolt to the door was blocked by Herb. Drake sprung into action and hoped the other men would follow suit.
Elsie finally shouted, “Help them! Grimshaw can’t get away!”
The men in the audience jumped into the fracas and quickly controlled Grimshaw.
Grimshaw struggled, his face red with anger and futile effort.
“Stand him up!” Drake ordered. “Grimshaw, you have terrorized us, our entire lives. And just now we come to realize that the fear you spread paled in comparison to the horror of the society that you and Ms. Fleck are a part of. We cannot continue to be raised like farm stock, fattened up for the slaughter. Now is the starting point of a new era. You can be proud that you were a part of the demonstration that set off the rebellion.”
Grimshaw spit in Drake’s face.
Drake calmly wiped his face with his sleeve. “Why would your bodily fluid be an insult to me, Grimshaw? I look forward to a deeper and more meaningful tap into it.”
The Nectar of Eternal Life Page 19
