“Grimshaw.”
***
Farmer Pless was running a load of corn over to a storage bin when the detectives found him. He shut it down and the detectives followed him to the privacy of his office.
“What a shame. Two good people-well 1 anyway. Are you absolutely sure it’s, Drake? It seems so out of character. And 1 male Vampire? That certainly sounds strange.”
Lang presented Pless with the cropped picture that Margaret had given to her.
“That’s definitely, Drake. Why has the picture been cut?”
“To hide the identity of the other subject,” Lang said.
“And do have any suspicions of who that may be, because whoever it is, is probably the one who started this whole mess.”
“We’re not really at liberty to say at this point of the investigation, but what we really wanted to ask you was about the male victim-Mr. Grimshaw,” Lang asked.
Pless shook his head. “A nasty piece of work Grimshaw was. There will be no tears shed on either side of the fence for that one. Carly will be missed by all, human and Vampire, such a shame. But Grimshaw, no one will miss his nasty demeanor. He would go out of his way to make life miserable for others; especially those he hated. He absolutely hated Drake and I had to act as the buffer between them on many occasions.”
“So why did you keep him around?” Lang asked.
“Well, to be truthful, he got the jobs done, quickly and efficiently, and, his DNA donor has some pull. On numerous occasions when I was ready to fire Grimshaw, his donor managed to keep him his job. We would talk to him, and Grimshaw would improve for awhile, but he always went back to his old spiteful ways. As I recall, part of his problem with Drake, was that Grimshaw had a ‘fang on’ for Megan Durham and I don’t know if you remember, but Megan was Drake’s sweetheart.”
“Yes, I remember. Thanks Farmer Pless. That clears up a few things. Come on, Genn.”
Genn looked over and stood up, unsure of what Pless had just cleared up.
“Don’t you get it? Grimshaw was the perfect example to use for his demonstration,” Lang explained as they walked back to their vehicle.
“Demonstration?”
“Ulah would have had to prove to a group of trustworthy friends that his outlandish claim was true. So he picked someone to murder that the human’s didn’t like; in fact, hated. It was a smart move when you think about it. Killing a supervisor that everyone liked and respected may have backfired, and Ulah could have been dead before his plan had a chance to form. But he chose someone that they all hated. And it seems to have worked, because the next victim was well regarded. It must have been quite a chore for Ulah to get suitably stimulated to be able to feed from a male victim, especially one he loathed. Do you think you could ever do it?”
Genn opened the car door and looked across the roof towards Lang, his face suddenly looking like he had a bad taste in his mouth. “What? Feed from a man?”
Lang hid a smirk and plunked herself into the car seat.
Genn quickly followed. “How could you even ask me that question? I’d starve first. I just wouldn’t be able to: first, the thought just turns my stomach, and secondly, because of the first, I couldn’t physically extend. As a matter of fact they would probably retract deep into my skull. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t care if other Vampire men want to go that way, I just couldn’t do it myself. How about you?”
“Genn, that’s a rather personal question!”
“Well, you asked me.”
Lang laughed and then thought momentarily. “Yes, definitely I would. I certainly wouldn’t starve to death because of that. But, she would have to be hot.”
Genn roared out a laugh as he wheeled away from the farm and onto the highway.
Chapter 19
Elsie’s Offer
As the days passed Drake and his growing army continued to spread the word. It multiplied quickly and a plan began to form. All of the transfer stations would need to be commandeered, but there were many of them and spread out across the wide expanse of territory that the base did cover. What Drake thought would take months, took weeks. Megan began to show signs of her pregnancy which only made Drake more determined to provide his child with a better life. Soon, pockets of resistance were set up around all of the transfer stations and all supervisors became targets for execution. It was difficult to still allow the Vampires their food supply. It was the hardest thing Drake had to do now, was to allow this to continue. It gnawed at him like a constant irritant and he suffered grievously from the guilt. Another annoyance was Elsie constantly in his ear about the danger he was in. She told Drake of her plan of escape for him-off the planet and away safe until things cooled off.
***
“My place is here, Elsie. I’ll die in the dome just like you,” Drake said calmly.
Elsie’s face turned sour and annoyed. “Why do you have to keep talking like that. You know that can never happen. The Empire is just too strong. I admit you will cause a lot of trouble for us and we may have to tighten our belts a little, but a rebellion can never be successful. You need to look at the big picture, Drake. If you go away, things will cool off, and then we can get you back here. Megan will be gone of course, but your child will still be alive. You can watch him grow to maturity. We could even work out a way that you could be a part of his life down at the base. Then, when he reaches maturity, you can buy him and protect him for the rest of his life.” Elsie wisely stopped short of suggesting another illegal conversion with Drake as his own child’s donor. “I’ll bet Megan will agree with me.”
“You may be right, but my place is here right now, until the job is done, and Megan understands that. Now, I have a meeting to attend and some work to do, so no more talk of space shuttles to distant planets, please.”
Elsie went to find Megan, finding her cleaning up in the kitchen after the noon meal.
“Surely you can talk some sense into him. The noose is tightening, and once he is caught, he will be killed,” Elsie pleaded her case to Megan.
Megan turned to look at Elsie, fist on hip. “If this rebellion is successful, you will certainly go before Drake, so I’d be more concerned about my own well being if I were you.”
“Surely you realize that this rebellion has zero hope for success. The sooner we can get Drake away from here, the better, and obviously we both want to save him-right?”
Megan flashed an irritated look. “Of course I want to save him, Elsie, but there is a greater need right now, and it is that necessity, relentlessly driving him right now.”
Elsie swallowed hard. “But he also loves you, and his child that you carry. It will be his only reason for living once the rebellion fails. If we can convince him that he may be able to come back some day after things have cooled off, we can save him. That’s the only thing that will appeal to him. So, help me to convince him…please. You want this as much as I do.”
Megan turned back to the pile of dishes in the sink. “I’ll think about it.”
She heard Elsie leave the room and leaned on the edge of the counter. Drying her hands on her apron, Megan’s hand paused on her belly. She realized, if the rebellion were successful, and things were actually coming close to turning from plan to exploit, that she and her child would be safe, but Drake would not. Why not try to get him away once everything was set up and in place. Megan could already see the need for Drake in this rebellion, dwindling. And as his necessity waned, humans, even his best friends would see him as the enemy.
Megan cornered Drake after his meeting.
“Why don’t you take Elsie and her father up on their offer? As time goes on things may change, and you would be able to come back and see your child…and me.”
Drake thought about that. He wasn’t scared to die but he certainly would prefer to live. And the prospect of possibly returning to Megan and their child was something that appealed to him. He couldn’t figure out how that could possibly happen, but he couldn’t argue with Megan’s wisdom; the passing
of time did bring change. Things were almost set up and rebellion was imminent. Drake had full confidence in the men spearheading the operation and he could see that the need for him was at an end. By simply controlling the transfer stations, the humans could starve the Vampires to death in a matter of weeks. The thought of the suffering of rapid aging that the Vampire population was about to be subjected to was a vengeful delight to Drake. The upper dome would rapidly decay into a chaos and lawlessness. The Vampires with the most wealth would be the last to go. They would have to lock themselves up with their stockpile of blood stock in order to be protected by the desperate mob. Vampire against Vampire until the last was gone. To think that a month from now, no more Vampires would exist, and right now they were all completely oblivious to the prospect that their precious eternal lives were about to come to an agonizing end.
Megan continued, “Maybe not in my lifetime, but our scientists will pick up where the Vampires left off and maybe they will come up with a reversal to the Vampire conversion and be able to make you human again.”
Drake frowned. “I don’t see how that could possibly happen. It will take centuries for our people to catch up to where the Vampires are right now, technologically. And they will have no need to spend their time on a means to transform back one lone Vampire living far away on a foreign planet.”
“I, and your child, and your grand children will continue to fight for you, the hero that saved the human race. If just out of sheer obligation to do what’s right, there will be people to continue to keep the hope alive.”
Drake shook his head. “It’s a long shot.”
“A long shot is still a chance. It won’t hurt just to ask Elsie some questions, will it?”
Drake cringed. “I suppose not. I just hate to have to depend on Elsie for anything.”
He looked into those eyes that always got their way. He loved her so much and he reached out to touch her and their growing child. “Let’s just let Elsie think that she’s probably right about the rebellion not having much of a chance.”
Megan’s pleading look broke instantly into a delighted grin and she jumped to encircle his neck.
Drake’s solemn look melted away as he gladly accepted her into his arms. Ever since Drake first met Megan when she was transferred to Plesston at the age of 15, his most pleasurable feeling was, making her happy. Oh, to be able to come back and be normal again…he would do anything for that.
***
“Elsie, I think I may want to take you up on your offer. You’re right, the rebellion may not be a success and I’d like to attempt escape with the possibility of returning one day.”
Elsie beamed and sat up at attention. “I’m so glad you’ve come to your senses. Things will cool off eventually and you can return and take your rightful place in the Empire. We’ll work things out. I’ll get you some paperwork and a false identity for you. I already had been looking into that and had figured out a way to do it. This new planet you’re going to will get you used to feeding from a non-Vampire life form. The inhabitants there apparently closely resemble humans physically and nutritionally, but they are just animals so don’t get all sentimental again and refuse to feed.”
Drake’s jaw tightened. “Sounds ideal. Why haven’t the Vampires already begun to colonize the planet?”
“We have brought back many of the inhabitants for testing, but have yet come up with a viable strategy such as we have here. And we have everything we need right here that works perfectly well, so there is no urgency. Maybe you can come up with your own strategy to feed a colony of Vampires and I can come and join you some day. Wouldn’t that be exciting! You’re like an explorer going to a new land of vast opportunity.” Elsie bounced in her chair.
Drake cringed at the thought but kept his face even. “Let’s just concentrate at the task at hand, Elsie. You’ll need to talk to your father and set up the plans. The sooner we get out of here the better. Those detectives will be watching him like a hawk, so he’ll have to be careful. Quite frankly, you have more to lose if we get caught than I do, now that you’re a murderer.”
Elsie’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll deal with that when the time comes. The main thing is to get you away first; although, you did needlessly complicate things.”
“Maybe so, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. We’re waiting for better timing to display your victim. You never did tell me what it was like for you. Are you hooked on the rush of Vampire blood now? You know how they say the intoxication is addicting, and I can personally attest to that.”
“I can assure you that it was a onetime thing. No different feeling than the couple kill we shared.” All of a sudden Elsie’s eyes went dreamy.
“How can you even remind me of that?”
“Well, you’re rubbing it in my face…fair’s, fair, and it was a lovely occasion. Other than being the donor during your conversion, it was the best experience of my life.”
Drake relaxed. “There is definitely nothing fair about this entire situation, but getting back to the matter at hand, the longer we wait the better chance of them getting lucky.”
“Don’t worry, Drake. Leave it to me, everything’s going to be all right now…the way it should be.”
“The way it should be. You’re right, Elsie-it’s finally going to be, as it should be. Call your father right away and get things set up. Tell him that someone will pick him up at the back of Robinson’s general store at 5, sharp,” Drake said as he walked away.
Drake went to a bright room at the back of the house where he knew he’d find Megan.
“I told Elsie that I’d take her up on her offer.”
Megan walked over, and on tiptoes encircled his neck.
Megan realized as she felt Drake’s warm breath filtering through her hair that her feelings towards him had finally returned to the way it was before his conversion…he was just Drake again. The only thing that had changed was the world around them, and Megan was determined to change it back.
“We have brilliant minds that can sift through all of the records and pick up where the Vampires have left off, and I will relentlessly push the new government to catch up as quickly as possible and to find the technology that will reverse your predicament. You will be a hero, and heroes are recognized and honored. My hopes are high.”
Drake loosened his grip so he could see Megan’s face. “I’m going to miss you terribly.”
“We’ll be here waiting for you when you get back. Promise you won’t be disappointed if you come back to an old lady.”
“You will be a beautiful old lady. I guarantee it!”
***
In another area of the house Elsie bounced around the room. She gave her father detailed instructions on how to get to Robinson’s general store.
“Five sharp, and make sure you’re not followed. I’ll see you soon…and thanks, Dad.”
Fleck hung up the phone and shook his head. “Why do I risk so much for her?” he asked himself and then started to collect his belongings.
The junior manager of Robinson’s general store was human and proud to be able to do something to help the cause. He hustled Elsie’s father to the back of the store and Herb collected Fleck without incident.
Goodbyes were short when the time came as everything had already been said.
Megan was so proud of Drake but the thought of never seeing him again knotted in her gut and again her hand caressed her swollen belly.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Megan said, fighting back an emotional breakdown.
“Like you said, I could be back in a few years. I’ll keep up hope. It will be the only thing that will keep me going. Say hello to junior for me.” Drake placed his hand on Megan’s belly and he felt tears sting his eyes. “I love you so much, Megan.”
The vice-like hug couldn’t contain the jerking of Megan’s sobs and Drake’s embrace intensified; like he wanted their bodies to become one. They felt closer to each other now than any time since Elsie converted Drake.
It made Elsie cringe to see Drake and Megan together like this. She turned away and made herself busy. Elsie re-assured herself that when she next saw Drake, Megan would no longer be in the picture and she would have him for herself.
Drake climbed into the trunk and made himself as comfortable as possible. They managed to sneak out of Plesston and made it to a transfer station. Days from now, this and every other transfer station would be taken over and disabled. After that, it would just be a matter of time before the flow of blood stopped and the agony began. The older the Vampire, the faster the aging process and the more intense the pain. Drake shuddered at the thought of it, as he had experienced it in its mildest form.
Detective Lang had asked the local transfer station to be on the look-out for Elsie’s car and they called to report it.
“Search the car!” Genn yelled over the phone.
“You know we can’t do that without a search warrant and we can’t even detain the car. For the love of crimson, Ms. Fleck is a government agent and comes and goes freely countless times every year. I wouldn’t have agreed to notify you if I knew you were going to overstep your bounds.”
“Okay, okay, thanks…” Genn hung up. “for nothing.”
Lang was already packing up her personal effects.
Genn watched her momentarily. “So, I suppose we’re following.”
Lang just glanced but didn’t speak. Genn admitted to his dumb question with a grunt and proceeded to gather up his belongings.
“Maybe Ulah is still here,” Genn ventured.
“I’m convinced he’s in that car. For what reason I don’t know. Elsie wouldn’t leave without Ulah unless he was dead, and I’m sure he isn’t. And this thing is coming to a head. I’m sure you would rather be up top where it’s safe when the rebellion starts. I fear it’s too late now. So I think you and I may be starving to death within the next few weeks. I would recommend liquidating all of your assets, empty your bank account and buy as much blood stock as you have room for; although, it will just delay the inevitable. But I can pretty much guarantee the price of a human will sky rocket over the next couple of months. The rich will be the last to go.”