by Joe Fowler
“The same group I’ve been dealing with mostly. There are two new ones, though. Micah and Chief. Micah started out pressing me since he saw Saul’s trust in me. Chief is hard to read but he is funny. I would like him in a better situation.”
“That is because he is good. He is one of those I just spoke about. He is close friends with Dmitriy. Those two together are fun. Micah is devious. Be careful of him.”
“I saw that quickly.” I hesitated. “I had to attack a human tonight to get my newbie. Since my healing, it was the first unwilling human I harmed. I don’t like it. I know it is necessary but I hope it doesn’t need to be done much anymore.”
“The first few are the hardest. I still get sad when I turn a human. It is part of the system.” Arria understood.
“I guess I better go. It is time for some sleep.” I told her reluctantly.
“Are the fights tomorrow or the following night?”
“The following night.”
“Call me when you can.”
“I will.”
I sat in my chair for some time before I went to bed. Tomorrow would be almost a full day of old ones. I hated these days. It was why I was here but it didn’t mean I had to like it.
Ghost and Ares would find a way to protect me from the council. I wasn’t as worried about them as I was about keeping Sweetie safe here. The band who attacked and killed those old ones could decide to attack this group.
If they could kill seven old ones, they were formidable. Either they had the numbers or they were older and more powerful. It didn’t bode well for me in either case.
If they were council friendly, I could drop the illusion and show my true self. Then again, they might kill me anyway to keep from leaving a witness that could identify them. If they weren’t council friendly, I could fight but that would expose me. Darius would barely be of age as an old one at only 1200 years old.
I sighed knowing I would need to wait and see. My biggest fear was not being able to protect Sweetie if the attack came.
Chapter 18
I was freshly showered and my donor just leaving the room when Emelia called.
“Hello?”
“Are you busy?” She asked.
“Nope. I was wondering how I would occupy my time. I’m not looking forward to being in the meeting hall all day. Everyone is too high strung.” I used the true statements anytime I could. I hate lying.
“I know right? This is a rough time but we don’t need to be stressed out so much. We don’t know there will be any more attacks in the first place.” Emelia sounded strained herself. I sighed knowing she needed a friend.
“How about we meet in the lobby room? We can talk without being around the others.” I suggested.
“That sounds good.” I could hear the relief in her voice.
“I’ll meet you there.”
I wondered what was bothering her. Maybe just the nerves of this situation. She was only a few months into vampire life, the same as me. She didn’t have my abilities to keep her safe though. She did have illusions which was very strong but if the old ones looked too closely, they might see the truth.
I was just sitting down when she entered the lobby. I tried to look through the illusion and saw Sweetie. Seeing her brought a smile to my face. I stopped looking through the illusion to keep from making a mistake while talking to her. Her illusion was the only reminder for me to stay in character.
“You look down. Anything you want to talk about?” I asked as she sat in the chair beside mine.
“I felt like I was doing really well so far as an old one. My team isn’t as strong as some but I love them. The excitement of more fights made me even happier.” I could see the lie on her face. She needed to try to keep up the act better than she was. I knew it might be the level of comfort she had developed with ‘Darius’ though. “Now, before I can even get to enjoy the extra fights, I have to worry if I’ll survive.”
“I want to laugh at everyone.” I held up my hands defensively. “Listen before you judge. There was one attack. One. For all we know some old ones had a disagreement with someone at that fight. It might not have even been about the extra fights. We have almost no information to go on but everyone is assuming the worst.”
“What else can we assume? Most are convinced it was Ares. How can we even defend ourselves against him?” Emelia asked.
I saw then that she just needed a friend. I remembered vividly how tightly she clung to me during her time in the fights. Ares, Noah at the time, helped as well. I realized how rough the last few weeks had been on her then. She wasn’t equipped for this.
I grew angry at Ares for leaving her here in this situation. I knew he only did it because he knew I was here. It didn’t help. I wanted to say something to ease her mind but I knew I couldn’t tell her who I was. She would be more likely to make a mistake that could get her killed.
“I escaped him once. I’m hoping I can do it again. I still don’t think it was him behind the attack. Look, I know I’m no older than you are basically. If we stick together, we’ll have a better chance. Most of these old ones are so self-serving they wouldn’t help us if an attack came. I promise I will help you if it comes down to that.” She looked at me then with some hope in her eyes. She wouldn’t know how truly I felt this way but I would try to ease her mind.
“Really? That makes me feel much better. Much of my vampire life has been spent with others there to help me. While I was happy to try and be on my own, I see how much I miss the ones who’ve taken care of me.” She said. I saw the truth in her statement. I also saw some anger. I knew the anger was directed at Ares.
“I have seen what I needed to in you. While you have the over-enjoyment of the fights, you still judge fairly and don’t look for how you can use others for your benefit. The really bad old ones care only for themselves and their own gain. I hope to turn out more like Hermes. I really liked him.”
“Me too.” Emelia was in a much better place now than when she walked into the room. I was glad I could make Sweetie feel better.
I was about to try for small talk when her phone rang.
She grew worried when she saw the number. I offered help.
“If it is private, I will understand.”
“Sorry, it is. I will be back soon.”
She sped off to the other end of the room. She made sure to be far enough away that I couldn’t hear her.
I sat back and tried to relax. Sweetie was feeling safer. Ares was trying to keep me alive. Ghost was on the case.
I smiled knowing Ghost was the most comforting of those things.
I heard before I looked. Emelia was approaching. She wore a strange look on her face. She was confused. I could see a little discomfort as well.
“Bad news?” I asked.
“No.” She didn’t look like she was going to elaborate.
She sat down heavily. I tried to look into her mind but her walls were up. This was different. Sweetie never used walls when we went through the fights. She had some weird way to think without my being able to read her. Other mind readers had the same problem with her. I guess Ares made sure she used the walls, just in case.
“Well, whatever it is, it seems to be worrisome.” I teased.
“One of my contacts just asked me to stay close to you. I am thrown by the timing. He said I could trust you completely. If you knew this contact, you would know how strange it is for him to say something like that.” Emelia sounded baffled.
I hid my smile. Ares was still doing what he could to protect her. He was making sure she wouldn’t push me away.
Thank you again, Ares.
“I haven’t crossed anyone yet. I have been trying for trustworthy. It does me good to know others perceive me as such.” I said, sincerely.
Emelia smiled up at me. Ares assurance would make her feel at ease around me. I knew he would tell her to keep up her act though.
It was my phone’s turn to ring. Petra.
“Hello?”
“Some of us are in the meeting hall. We were wondering if you would join us.” Petra sounded tense again.
“Sure. Emelia and I were talking. We can be there in a few minutes.” I replied.
“Great! See you then, Darius.”
I disconnected with a slight sigh.
“So much for our more peaceful time. Petra wants us in the meeting hall. If you want, you can bow out. I can make an excuse for you.” I offered.
“No, thanks though. I need to hear what is going on.” She stated with determination.
We stood and made our way through Micah’s turquoise halls.
Micah waved off the protocols when we were announced. He simply motioned for us to join the group. Saul, Jonas, Petra, and Micah were here.
“Have you heard anything new?” Saul asked.
“Feng is calling his friends. He is asking them to join as many events as they can. He hopes this will bring in more information. The council is becoming tense though I don’t know all that goes into it yet.” I related this news with my eyes watching them closely. I was concentrating on Saul and Micah.
“Why would they be tense? That leads me to believe it is Ares after all.” Jonas said. I could see that Saul disagreed.
“That would explain Chief’s presence here. He was a late addition. He is a high standing old one. I couldn’t refuse to add him.” Micah explained.
“So, this would explain the string of council members we’ve been dealing with, I think.” I started. They were all looking at me for further explanation. “The council has eyes and ears everywhere. They may have suspected the attack in advance. From what I understand now, they knew of the extra fights being held.”
“I don’t think so. They would have sent the special guard. It is what they always do.” Petra stated.
“The special guard is in China. They are still busy dealing with Jabar and his fiasco.” Saul paid Petra little mind. I could see his wheels turning.
“Maybe Torch talked before they executed him.” Micah was getting closer.
“Could be. I’m not sure though. From what I understand, Torch was executed for raping his newbies.” I wanted to see their reactions.
“That’s horrid!” Petra exclaimed.
The others were shocked as well. Saul grew angry. I could see the struggle he was having trying to control his temper. Micah was the least appalled. He didn’t seem to like it but he didn’t care as much as the others.
“The nerve! If I’d known, I would have killed him. There’s no call for that!” Saul meant it.
“You just never know with some.” Jonas said. He was angry but better controlled than Saul. That was different since it was usually the other way around.
Our discussion was interrupted by the announcement for Chief. Our group gathered themselves quickly.
“Chief, glad you could join us. We are a somber bunch tonight. We could use your wit to liven things up.” Micah was quick thinking.
“Actually, I came here because I was down. I just heard not five minutes ago. Douglas is dead along with many other old ones. From what I was told, most of these others were not of age but they had teams used in illegal fights.” Chief informed us.
Saul was completely even keeled now. Petra was showing her shock. Micah closed his eyes in what looked like fear. Jonas stayed even though I could see the turmoil beneath the surface. I doubted Chief would.
“Was it like the other attack?” Saul asked simply.
“The fighters were sent to Douglas’s facility. All of them, even the ones from the too young masters. It appears to be the same.” Chief said.
I watched Chief. He was studying the others as well. He seemed to have a special interest in me that I didn’t like. I needed to believe Feng wouldn’t tell these ‘friends’ about my charade.
“Does this mean it is Ares?” Emelia asked.
“No. It is the prevailing thought but no one has any proof.” Chief replied.
Everyone was silent for a minute processing the new attack. I tried to appear to be doing the same. I was coming to some conclusions I hadn’t foreseen. I would need more time.
“Darius, can you find out more?” Saul asked.
“Maybe. It might take time. Give me a few hours and I will get back to you.” I looked around at the group briefly. “Emelia, if you would walk with me, we can finish the conversation we started earlier.”
“Certainly. Excuse me, everyone.” Emelia joined me as I walked out of the room.
We made it down the hallway some distance before we spoke. I wanted to figure out how to explain what I needed her to do without telling her too much. This was a headache.
“I don’t want you around the others any more than you have to be.” I was going to say more when I noticed how she bristled at my statement. “I’m not telling you, I’m asking you. There is something at play here that is getting bad. This is about more than the extra fights now. Saul and his group, including us, are now possible targets. We are safe for now if this Douglas was just hit. It would take too much time for the attackers to regroup.”
“I understand. Why the distance from the others?” She was calmer after my explanation.
“If an attack happens, you can turn invisible and hide. Don’t try to fight. It will be much easier if you aren’t in the same room if that becomes necessary. I may be a little overprotective. I tend to be that way about my friends.” I tried a smile with that statement.
“I will try to do as you ask. Even if it doesn’t make as much sense as I would like. I appreciate the concern.” She was scared again. “Do you want me to come with you now?”
I could see some hope tied to her question. She wanted the protection. I couldn’t have her around when I made the calls I was going to make.
“No. I would advise going to your suite for a while. I will call when I am returning to the meeting hall.” I saw both relief and anguish in her eyes.
“I agree. I will wait for your call.” With a smile saying goodbye, Emelia went a different route through the turquoise halls.
“Hello?” Arria’s voice sounded so wonderful it made me hesitate before I could speak.
“The attack on Douglas. What do we know?” I asked.
“It is like the first attack. No sign of who did it. The fighters from each attack say the same things. The ones putting them on the planes were wearing masks. They have no clue who they were. We tried to make sure no one knew about the masks and that there were around ten behind it. Feng and the others all agreed that we wouldn’t even tell you or Ghost that part. We knew it wasn’t Ares. I am telling you because you need to know. Obviously, you can’t share this with the other old ones.”
“I know, Arria. I won’t.” I sighed.
“What’s wrong? You sound troubled.” Arria knew me too well.
“Several things are wrong. The first thing is my own judgement is coming into question. Arria, some of these violators aren’t bad. They are breaking the rules but they are basically good. I would like Saul, Petra, Phoenix, and even Abel and Caleb. If not for their violations, I would like to have them for friends.” I admitted.
“I understand. I notice you left out Emelia. Is she bad?” Arria asked.
I laughed. Hard.
I made a decision then. It wasn’t the smartest decision but I couldn’t stop myself.
“Emelia is Sweetie.”
Silence.
I couldn’t even hear Arria breathing. I was beginning to worry until she finally spoke.
“Wait. What?”
“Ares was moving in to stop the fights. He was using Sweetie to help him. He set her up as Emelia. When he saw me, he changed his plans. He was going to change them anyway but he left Sweetie to play the role of Emelia while he was gone. He wouldn’t have let her remain if he hadn’t seen me here.”
“How did he know it was you?”
“Remember who killed Darius? When he heard the name he knew something was up. He saw through my illusion. I didn’t figure all this out until a few day
s ago. The message I gave you for Ghost told him all that I just said.”
“From now on, I will trust you when you don’t tell me things. I had no clue you were juggling this much. If I know you, you are more worried about protecting Sweetie than you are about staying safe.”
“Yep. There is still more that I can’t tell you. I’m glad you said you would trust me. Now, I have to make sure I do the right things.”
“Are there any more messages for Ghost?”
“No. Don’t let him know I told you about Sweetie. He knows you are aware of Ares being at Feng’s. The rest will need to be played out. There isn’t too much more he can do for my situation. Now, I just need to keep me and Sweetie safe when the attack comes. Make sure the council sticks to the every other event plan. It will narrow down when the attack will happen.”
“Now I wish I had fought you on that. They won’t attack with one of us there.”
“I know. This charade would never end though.”
“You’re killing me, you know that right?” Arria pleaded. She wouldn’t say the words but she was thinking them.
“It is for the best, Arria. I will find a way. I need to go. They are expecting some miracle knowledge from me for something that no one knows.”
“I love you. Please be careful!”
“I love you, Arria.”
I hung up the phone and sat in silence. I wasn’t going back to the meeting hall for some time. I needed some peaceful quiet with no interruptions.
There was a knock on my door.
Damn.
Glass stood there with a worried smile.
“Glass.” I stated simply and stepped to the side for her to enter.
“Saul is freaking out. He is calling around to many old ones to warn them. I heard him say that Micah doesn’t trust you. From what I heard, Saul and Jonas were defending you but Micah was adamant. He thinks you are a spy. He was stuck on the fact that everything started happening when you appeared and that you know stuff no one else does.”
“Wow. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought Micah to be more intelligent.” I was saying the first thing to come to mind.
