[Askoga]: 89.Short Stories.Vampires

Edit: It still needs a lot more work! This will probably end up being a bit long, for the short story category, but for now it stays here, since I don't see it becoming a nove, either. There are bits that need to be expanded, and eventually I'll add some time between the beginning and the meeting, so that we get to know Kaleb a little better. Enjoy!

PS. I would love some feedback and/or helpful suggestions. Thanks!

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It was one of those terribly dark nights, with a new moon, and a thick cloud cover, blotting out the stars. It was not raining, yet, but they sky threatened. Few people were out on this dark night, even here, in The City. Once upon a time, this particular part of The City had been known as Washington DC, but few people remembered that now. Now, there was only The City and The Country.

One of those who knew of a time when there were more cities in America, who knew of a time when nuclear war was feared, was standing out in the night, shadowed by a huge building. He stood in an alleyway, one of those dangerous places for respectable people, as he seemed to be. But it didn’t matter. Nobody could see him easily, anyway, as he had ebony skin and was dressed entirely in black. As he stood there, another, younger black man joined our shadowed friend.

“Not many people out tonight, sir.” The younger one commented.

“Patience, Kaleb.” The older man said, then gestured for silence. After a few seconds, footsteps could be heard, and he smiled. He murmured to his companion, “Yours, Kaleb.” Then he turned, and disappeared completely.

The younger man, Kaleb, licked his lips, and for a moment his elongated canines could be seen. He waited for his victim to turn the corner, and pounced, as stealthily as one of the fabled cats. His victim felt nothing as he died, but Kaleb felt renewed strength, as he digested the man’s blood. He would be able to last another day with this victim, but he felt the urge to hunt again. Carefully, he brought the body back into the alley, where he could feed his master’s pets. Supposedly, these creatures were mutations of the cats Kaleb had mimicked earlier, but they were larger, and had the ability to stand on their hind legs, if they so wished. Also, they loved to finish the remains of their master’s meals.

Meanwhile, the older vampire watched his charge from another alley, and nodded his head in approval. Then he went off into the night, once more. Shortly after, he appeared before a house, where he was greeted by another of the felines.

“Hello there, Sasha,” he murmured softly as he petted her head. “I wondered where you were. Your brothers are feeding back there.” He gestured behind him, but the feline only began to purr and rub against him. Her fur, like her master's clothes, was midnight-colored, though her nose was a soft pink, and her eyes a vivid chartreuse. The elder vampire entered the house—he never bothered to lock it—and closed the door behind Sasha. He sat in the darkness pensively, with Sasha curled up next to him, until he heard the door open once more.

“You summoned us for a meeting, sir?” A lilting voice that carried hints of her time as an orphan in the deepest parts of the city preceded her. She entered the living room, flipping a light switch on her way in. A soft light shone in the room, revealing a comfortable-looking setup. Stuffed chairs—relics from the Elder's time—sat around the room, with some small tables and more modern moldable seats.

“Aye,” the old vampire nodded to the youngest of the Elders that would be present today, “I have something important to discuss with all of the Elders. Even Gregory will be here.”

Startled, the middle-aged black woman sank into one of the stuffed chairs, “Gregory? It must be important, for him to venture out anymore.” Her green eyes, left over from before she was a vampire, stared at the other man curiously, but he said nothing more.

Soon, three others entered, appearing to be, all, in their late forties. The elder greeted them courteously, and they all sat. The woman told them about Gregory's pending appearance, and said all she knew about this meeting, and they all shared the latest news. The elders didn't meet often, so it was a good time to catch up. Eventually, there were about thirty or forty of them in the room, and all of them were looking about. Whispers of, “Where's Gregory?” permeated the room, until finally an old man, looking to be near his deathbed, entered the room.

Several of the others scrambled to help him into a chair, handling him as though they feared he'd dust at any moment, but he remained whole. He took the help quite gracefully, given that he seemed amused that everyone wanted to help him.

“Alright, Ken,” the old man said once he was seated, “What was so important, then?” His tired old voice still held the British accent he'd had in his younger days, though the British no longer even existed.

The other elderly vampire, Ken, stood. Sasha got up with him, and stretched, but then she curled right back up next to his chair. “I don't know what any of you have heard, though all that's about The City is merely weak rumors. The reality is much, much worse than the streets make it.” He paused here and looked around the room, his grey-blue eyes stern and cold, then continued, “The government is unable to stand any longer. In less than a month, people will know that the banks can no longer keep up with the amount of money they say they have. All stocks are at a desperate low, which I'd say probably only Gregory has seen before, back in the early 1900s. All officials are corrupt, lining their pockets with gold, which should be going to the banks, or other institutions. Colleges have, as you all know, had to cut back drastically on all costs, and are accepting any student they are able. Most students do not even graduate high school anymore, and education is at an all-time low. Every new discovery is well-guarded in the science world, as all of them are afraid of someone stealing their ideas. Vaccines are no longer being given to the poor, and in the slums disease is rampant. Crime is higher than it has ever been in my memory, and it is getting harder and harder for us to feed ourselves. Even worse, it is harder for the humans to feed themselves, and they are dying at an incredible rate, due to either disease or hunger.”

He paused again, then looked directly at Gregory. “I believe that now is the time to reveal ourselves to the humans. After we do that, they will probably try to kill us, but I believe that we can survive. If we do, we will then install a new government, and we will pool our resources to begin building humanity up again. We need them to survive, and they need someone to teach them how. What say you?”

His eyes never left Gregory's face, and the elderly vampire took this a a cue to respond first. He rose, facing Ken squarely, “I think you're absolutely insane. If we take over the humans' lives, they will resent us. And once we expose ourselves, what will we do for food? They will fear us and hate us, because we eat them. And, our skin is different from theirs. Black coloring died out before the nations did, you know that!” The others nodded in agreement.

Ken smiled, “As for food, I would propose that we eat any who severely break the laws. And any who wish to, and whom we wish to, would be allowed to join our ranks as vampires. Also, I propose that we have vampires and humans alike in positions of power. Also, if there are not enough vile lawbreakers, we will continue to hunt, as we have always done. They will have to agree to this, else we will leave them to their own devices, and all will return to exactly as it is now.”

Gregory nodded, seeming satisfied. “You seem to have put a great deal of thought into this, an while I still think it's insane, I will allow you to attempt it, if the others agree.” He sat back down and folded his hands in his lap.

The others argued amongst themselves for a while, but eventually agreed. The young woman stood and said, “We agree to try your idea. But if it looks as though we will be wiped out, you must agree that we all go back into hiding, and return to our normal ways. Also, we must work out more details, to satisfy all. And, once we have the government in our hands, we must also let the humans change it as well. They must be able to live with us peaceably, if we are to continue to feed.

“Very good. I will reveal us two days from now. I want each of you to prepare your sections in that time, and prepare yourselves for some violence. You are all dismissed.”

There was a general rustling and murmuring as everyone returned to their conversations, exiting as they had come. Finally, there were only Gregory and Ken left, facing each other in the dim light.

“It should work beautifully,” Gregory's aged voice was soft as he spoke.

“I hope so. Thank you for your input. It will help if they all see that we are united, though you rarely put yourself to anything now. And thank you, too, for lending me your idea.”

“You are younger, and they listen to you. They might respect my opinion, but we all know you're the real leader here. Besides, I may not live to see the end, and this belongs in younger hands than mine.”

Ken gave a half-smile and nodded, saying, “In other words, you wanted someone else on the front lines. But never you fear, old man, you'll get your share of the fighting. I want you to sit with me and Kaleb when I reveal us.”

Gregory considered this proposition, and while he was thinking, Ken added, “It's only fitting, since you are the one that came to me with this idea. Besides, it will show them that we, too, age. That will put us on more even ground, don't you think?”

“Alright, you have me convinced.” The old vampire shook his head, laughing as he added, “But while I may have wrinkles and an old frame, you know that our hair doesn't turn white as we age. That subtracts from the image, you know.”

Ken shrugged, saying nothing else. Finally, Gregory said, sounding annoyed, “Alright, you've got my promise to appear with you before the public. Now get you gone!”

Grinning, the younger of the two left the house to find his charge, Kaleb, Sasha following him with her feline grace. The two of them found Kaleb just as he finished draining a second victim of blood—and, by extension, life. Sasha pounced on the body, and hissed menacingly at the other felines, warning them to wait until she'd had her fill. Wisely, the three others all backed up and sat a ways away, each washing itself.

Kaleb looked back at his master and smiled. “You look cheerful, Sir,” he remarked, kneeling down to pet one of the three waiting felines.

“Oh, yes.” Ken waved away how he was feeling, though, and said, “You know, Sasha is to have her kits soon. I could keep one for you, if you would like.”

Startled, the younger vampire looked up, his hazel eyes hopeful, “Oh, would you? That would be very nice.”

“Of course! Come now, I can see that you've fed enough, so we should return home.” The Elder turned and began walking back. Turning to call over his shoulder, he added, “The alcats will follow us when they're done. They know the way home.”

Kaleb nodded and turned to follow his master. As they moved into a shadow, they disappeared from sight. Only a few moments later, the two of them walked from a shadowed cave near a farmhouse, far out in The Country.