“Well there won’t be any human blood for you while we have you, so if you want to survive, you know what you have to do,” Drake said wiggling his eyebrows at Elsie.
Elsie’s face turned sour. “Never!”
Drake shrugged. “Okay, it’s your choice,” Drake turned and walked away with a smug smile on his face.
Drake found Herb and Megan making supper.
“Mmm, smells good, what’s cookin’?”
“Spaghetti,” Herb said with a smile as he pulled some vegetables out of the fridge.
“You must be getting to the point when you need you feed, too,” Megan said as she diced some tomatoes.
Drake smiled. “Yes, I am. And there is an added bonus that didn’t even occur to me a week ago; Elsie needs to feed right now, too. She’s getting desperate, actually.”
Megan narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Well, obviously we’re not going to provide her with a human man,” Drake said, with a look that conveyed, ‘don’t you get it.’
Megan’s eyes lit up into a surprised expression. “You don’t mean?”
“Yeah, why not? And we’ll plant the body.”
“Are you sure she’ll do it?”
“Eventually, yes I’m sure.”
Megan laughed and raised her hands. “Can you imagine. They’ll be hunting for her as well as you, now.”
“I know-how cool is that? Herb, I know you hate this part, but we’ll need 2 supervisors this time…a man and a woman.”
“I’m not as squeamish about it as I was before. I just have to remind myself: first of all, they’re all killers, second, that they all have to die anyway, and third, any friendship I had with them before is all nullified now. It’s no problem, my pleasure.”
“Good, as soon as you can arrange it then,” Drake rubbed his hands together. “This is going to be fun.”
It was obvious to Megan that Drake’s participation in the rebellion was coming to an end just by the amount of time he had to torment Elsie. Drake asked Herb to invite handsome young human men over for a visit and included Elsie in the gatherings. Megan got a kick out of seeing Drake have such a fun time with this. He was like a little kid…a vengeful little kid, but a precocious scheming little kid, none the less. The thought didn’t completely sit well with Megan because she knew the root of Drake’s payback. It was as painful to Drake as it was to Megan, but she understood it a little better now, and Drake had been true to his promise, and now it was his turn. They actually had to stop the gatherings, much to Drake’s dismay because Elsie was actually making lunges, teeth bared, and the men were just too freaked out to continue with the harassment.
That night was a different gathering. Two supervisors had been invited over using a damaged grain storage tower as a ruse. Herb greeted them in his yard and invited them into the house.
“Oh, before we go look at the silo, there’s somebody that would like to say hello.”
“Really, who is it?” Rolly Tucker asked, taking his well worn hat off and brushing his brown hair aside.
“Miss Fleck.” Herb informed.
Carly Travis’s face lit up. “Oh , cool, I haven’t seen her for months. What’s she doing here?”
Herb looked down as he walked towards the house. “I told her I was having trouble adjusting to the idea of leaving the base next year and she agreed to come and talk with me for a bit, to kind of set my mind more at ease. I like it here, I don’t want to change my life.”
Carly smiled. “Don’t worry, Herb, you’ll love it up there.”
Herb seethed inside as the last vestige of friendship instantly dried up. He smothered a shudder as he recalled the crush he had had on Carly for his entire life.
“Any word on Grimshaw? I haven’t seen him for weeks,” Herb asked.
“Do you miss him?” Carly asked with a smile.
Herb blushed slightly. “Not too much, no.”
They paused on the porch, their voices framed in a background of creaking crickets.
“He’s probably on a bender up top if I know Grimshaw. Sorry, but I’ll bet he’s fine.” Carly smiled.
That smile in the past had driven him crazy with desire, but now all he could imagine was those fangs buried within. It was strangely stimulating and Herb instantly recognized the peril of such thoughts. She was still so beautiful.
Herb was uncomfortable on so many levels, and his voice stammered, “Th-this way please. Elsie’s in the living room.”
“Elsie! How’s it going. I heard through the grapevine that you had been around, but I thought you’d be gone by now,” Rolly bellowed, but his big smile dwindled into a puzzled look when he got a closer look.
Carly looked concerned, too. “How long have you been down here.” She looked at Rolly. “You look a little stressed out. Maybe you should take a break and go back up for awhile.”
Elsie’s face was ashen and she did her best to hide the pain she was in. She managed a few words through her nervous demeanor, “Hi guys! Good to see you again. Yeah I know, eh, my alarm went off yesterday and I just got tied up with stuff. My Dad’s in town waiting for me and we’re going to leave shortly. I think I may look worse then I feel. I’m more just tired than…stressed,” Elsie ended, her eyes darted this way and that.
“Herb, could you leave us for awhile. We just want to talk to Miss Fleck privately for a few minutes if you don’t mind,” Rolly said, punctuated with a polite smile.
Herb was more than glad to oblige, then his eyes met with Carly’s and his heart skipped a beat…like it used to. He turned and left the 3 of them in the living room and went out to the porch.
Drake had already disabled the vehicle that Carly and Rolly had driven over and was waiting for Herb outside. “Go tell the fellows to be ready. As soon as I leave the room with Carly, you rush Rolly. We’ll see how long Elsie can last with a vessel of blood at her feet.”
Herb did as instructed, but still had a jabbing in the pit of his gut with Carly haunting the back of his mind.
Drake entered the house and paused before entering the living room. He listened with delight to Elsie’s obvious discomfort.
Elsie was caught off guard by the situation and her grinding need was hindering her thought process. “Rolly, why don’t you go home and Carly and I can take care of whatever Herb needs from us. He’s in a very vulnerable state right now and I think we can help him to make the right choice to achieve his full potential within the Empire. I’ll give Carly a ride home when we’re done. Don’t worry, we can handle it,” she curtly waved at him.
His brow tightened and he looked over at Carly. “I would really like to see the damage to the Silo before I go,” Rolly said, sounding offended.
“But…” Elsie’s next words were cut off by the entrance of Drake.
“Hello Rolly, hello Carly- nice to see you again.”
Shocked looks turned to smiles and then to confused expressions when the 2 visitors turned to see their old friend, Drake. Drake stepped forward to shake Rolly’s hand and a quick hug for Carly. The unmistakable presence of another Vampire was quickly noted.
“I’m just here trying to help Elsie talk some sense into old Herb. She thought because we had been such close friends that I could help convince him to, you know, fulfill his obligation.”
Carly and Rolly were both still amazed to see Drake again, as a Vampire.
Rolly said, “I thought The Great Edict was passed before you had a chance to be converted? But obviously not.”
“Elsie was able to pull some strings. She’s pretty amazing, really; although I need to get her back upstairs. She’s so dedicated to her people and her responsibilities; they seem to matter more than her own comfort and needs. It’s really nice to see you guys again…on a different level,” Drake said, and his eyes lingered within Carley’s vibrant blue gaze.
Carly’s heart now fluttered. She felt her last feed rush to her face and felt a tug at her subconscious to shyly look away, but could not.
; Elsie and Rolly studied the pair.
“I guess Megan didn’t get the same opportunity as you?” Carly asked.
“No, she was given a more substantial role in the maintenance of the Empire. I believe she has already fulfilled her obligation.”
Both guests nodded and grunted their understanding.
Carly tried to smother a pleased smile but the remnants lingered. Non-chalantly tidying her dusty hair Carly fought a garden of butterflies just released in the pit of her stomach.
“Carly, come with me for a minute, I want to show you something. Rolly, please try to talk some sense into Elsie, will you? The authorities will be looking for her soon.”
Rolly smiled. “No problem-man it’s good to see you again, Drake…welcome aboard.”
“Glad to be a part of what I know will be a change for the better. Come on Carly.” Drake extended his hand and Carly, surprised but delighted by the gesture, took it and followed willingly.
Elsie and Rolly watched them go; Rolly with a pleased expression, Elsie though, a tight jawed grimace.
“Wow! What an unexpected surprise that was. Carly sure looked pleased-she’s always had a thing for Drake.” Rolly noticed Elsie’s expression and realized he may have twanged a nerve. He remembered rumors that Elsie also had a thing for Drake.
He chuckled a little nervously, “I guess there aren’t too many girls that didn’t have a crush on Drake.”
Out on the porch Herb saw Carly go by with Drake and knew this was his cue. He felt a twinge of jealousy and anger towards Drake but managed to shake off the ridiculous emotions. He assumed Carly would be dead in a few minutes and he really had to squash the absurd feeling of pain that surfaced. Gritting his teeth, Herb waved over to the barn and 6 young, strong looking men appeared out of the darkness.
Rolly looked down at Elsie and purposely tried to look more stern. “Come on now, Elsie-I know you feel a personal connection to your charges, but to delay the need to go back up top is ridiculous. Surely…”
Herb entered the room. “Sorry for the intrusion. We thought you may want to look at that silo now.”
Rolly turned to see Herb and 6 other workers behind him. “Whoa, what are all you guys doing here. I didn’t think I’d be seeing all of you again so soon. Is there a poker game that you forgot to invite me to?” Rolly asked with a broad smile.
Elsie shook her head and leaned back in her chair.
The men rushed Rolly and quickly subdued him with duct tape and a gag. He fought ferociously, all the time with a terrified and confused look in his eyes.
All of the men had liked Rolly as a supervisor and even as they struggled with him, wondered if they were doing the right thing.
“He’s a Vampire, boys, he’s killed hundreds of young women just like your own sisters. He has drained them of their blood without a single thought of remorse for his victims. Are his feet and hands secure?”
The men left Rolly there at the feet of Elsie like a Vampire sacrifice.
In the other room Carly heard a commotion. “What was that?”
Drake smiled and looked deep into Carly’s eyes and she didn’t care anymore.
He didn’t speak another word and Carly felt every caress of Drake’s gaze like it was a warm bath relaxing every tense muscle in her body. She no longer felt the tension of physical attraction, just the relaxed feeling of contentment.
When he was growing up Drake had a crush on Carly, too. He remembered having young boy dreams and conversations with Herb at their fishing spot, about how hot she was. But, back then, she was older and way out of their league. Drake’s attentions turned to Megan as the years progressed and he never looked back. But now here she was, at his mercy, with all of the appealing beauty that had attracted him when he was 12-years-old. Her long slender throat beckoned to him until Herb walked in. Drake’s head jerked around, but Carly was unwilling to snap out of her bliss. Herb just stood there looking pitiful and Drake smiled and nodded at his old friend. Dropping his head, Herb turned and left them with their privacy. Drake felt a twinge of, ‘letting a friend down’ or ‘not adhering to the guy code’, or some such ridiculous emotion. He shook it off and tried not to enjoy the moment so much; although, the feeling was glorious.
He walked out of the room and found Herb on the porch, trying his hardest not to sulk.
“Sorry buddy…but you chose her. Why did you pick her as the one to bring over?”
“It was the obvious choice for the deception…and I honestly did not think I would have these feelings-considering everything.”
Drake smiled, “I know. These are hard times. But things will get easier once we begin the battle away from our own homes. They all have to go…including me,” Drake said.
“I think I would have let her feed from me,” Herb revealed sheepishly.
Drake understood his feelings. “Love’s a strong thing. I’m sorry things had to work out the way they have…for all of us.”
Drake rubbed his hands together, his demeanor suddenly changing. “So, how’s Elsie making out with her Vampire dinner?”
“Well, Rolly’s at her feet, like a roast pig, done up with an apple in its mouth. That was kind of hard, too. Jeez Drake, they were both so nice…how could they turn themselves into killers.”
“It’s hard for most people to choose, sure imminent death, over eternal life.”
“You managed to do it.”
“But I had the Great Edict to help me. I like to think that I would have resisted…but look at me now, I ended up one anyway.”
“Maybe it was destined to be,” Herb said. “that you would come along at exactly the time of the Great Edict, as they call it.”
Drake shrugged. “Maybe. Let’s go see how Elsie is doing. And try not to have any residual feelings for these people any more. It is essential and justified that we have hate on now for them now. This is war and there is no room for merciful thinking. Let’s try not to let nostalgia inhibit our reflexes.”
Herb nodded, set his jaw and followed Drake into the house.
“Elsie, you seem to be sitting on the edge of your seat,” Drake, said. “Hello, Rolly.”
Rolly still wore a bewildered, traumatized expression as he struggled to look up.
“Don’t worry, Rolly, I expect that Miss Fleck will help you through this trying time- isn’t that right Elsie?” Drake said, looking rather pleased with himself. “He’s there if you want him, Elsie-and I know you want him. He’s all you’ll get. Judging by how flushed he is, I’d say he’s fed just recently. Just think of all of that fresh human blood coursing through his veins; blood that could end your torture. Up to you,” Drake ended with a shrug.
***
Lang and Genn drove back to their temporary lodging after their meeting with Elsie’s father. Lang tried to stop looking at the picture of Drake, but it was like a magnet.
Genn glanced over as he drove. “You know, you’re going to wear a hole in that thing.”
Lang blushed and put it aside, again.
Genn’s phone rang. The detectives had become accustomed to this being the harbinger of bad news.
“Genn here.”
Lang studied Genn’s face and soon saw the telltale grimace that usually meant another body. Genn hung up.
“I guess we were due for another one,” Lang said.
Genn looked over. “How about another 2.”
“Two?”
“And 1 of them is male.”
“What?”
It took them only 5 minutes to get to the dump site.
“Not too out of the way, is it?” Genn said.
“He’s never really made it a secret when he kills, but1 male victim-I don’t get it. Maybe it’s just a murder with no feed.”
Pulling up, the detectives were puzzled to see a minor excavation taking place.
A detective approached. “Morning, Genn, Lang. We have 1 fresh body, a female up on the knoll there, but we also discovered a fairly fresh grave over by that thicket. It appears to be ma
le and in a state of decomposition. It’s a little smelly.” He displayed a sour expression.
A breeze came up from that direction and the detectives reeled.
“Told ya.”
The detectives walked up the hill and over to the spot that had just been dug up.
“You know, Genn, Elsie has been away from a feed for over a week now. Do you think she could have been forced by hunger to murder? There’s no way they would have provided a human for her.”
Genn’s eyebrows jumped. “I guess we’ll find out shortly.”
The body was riddled with maggots and the victim’s mouth was wide open; his final look of anguish still discernible through the decay.
With a look of distaste, Genn pulled out his electronic DNA tester. “Well, feeding was definitely the motive. He held the instrument to the decaying wound. “Arthur Grimshaw. And the murderer is…wow, that’s kind of unexpected,” he looked over to Lang, the stench suddenly not an issue. “Ulah.”
Lang’s eyes opened wide. “Wow, that’s unusual. Why would he do that? Female supervisors aren’t that rare down here. Let’s test the woman.”
They walked to the top of the knoll.
“What a waste,” Lang said, shaking her head.
The victim’s serene appearance and expression were a stark difference from that of Grimshaw.
Genn tested the woman, “Carly Benson…Ulah as well.”
Lang looked confused. “Maybe they ran out of female options and had to go with male, but I’m surprised that he was able to manage with a male victim.”
On the drive back Lang talked out her thoughts, “Let’s look at this, Genn. The buried body, according to the detectives on site was pretty well concealed, while the other was out in the open. I think Ulah was embarrassed that he had fed from a male so he tried to hide the evidence, or more likely gave instructions to someone else to do so. I’m sure he wouldn’t have been happy to know that the woman’s body was dumped so close to the male victim’s shallow grave, and really not too hard to find because of the proximity…but, why? It’s obvious that other female victims were, and are available, because the woman was killed after the man, and he obviously didn’t care if her body was found because it wasn’t concealed. But why did Ulah kill the male supervisor? Let’s pay a visit to Farmer Pless. I want to ask him about this Vampire. What was his name again, Genn?”