Vampires
“Carnage the likes of which has never before been seen in this part of the world.” the news reporter stepped out of the camera view. The lens moved past her natural afro, to show paramedics carrying out covered bodies on stretchers. The lense cut back the reporter, “So far an actual body count has not been determined, but I have seen twelve bodies come out so far. This is the most bizarre case we’ve ever seen out here. It appears as if some kind of religious ceremony was taking place inside this abandoned apartment building. About midway up as you can see here.”
The camera cut away to an open window half way up the building.
“There is an apartment where mostly female victims have a strange… what it was described to me, are bite wounds near their major arteries. It appears they have all been drained of blood by some sort of apparatus. There were also several male victims inside as well, all beheaded. But also, these male victims were drained completely of any blood.”
“Such a bizarre case, Alison.” The news anchor spoke as the focus returned to the news room.
“A vampire nest.” Jeremiah glanced at Augustus. “We’ll have to leave the city.”
Augustus watched the news in silence.
Argon exchanged glances with Utheus.
“Hunters.” Utheus remarked.
“Hunters.” Argon parroted.
“I agree.” Augustus stood up and turned off the t.v. “We’ll head north to survive.”
“This is your doing.” Jeremiah looked at Jules.
“I hope you have learned from this experience.” August approached Jules. “What you and Elizabeth were planning would have meant the extinction of our species. For centuries we have fed without provocation. Now they perceive us as a threat, where they were so blissfully ignorant of our existence. You disturbed this peace.”
“You should leave him here to face the hunters.’ Utheus smiled with his rotted out blackened stubs.
“We could take out the hunters ourselves.” Argon interrupted.
“If you kill these hunters, more hunters will come. Then more hunters will come. Then hunters will come from far away places. And then WE become the prey. They have the power to expose us to the populace. All they need is to catch one alive.” August intervened.
“And Jules is just the pretty boy to capture alive.” Jessica played with his long brown curls. “So you’re coming with us.”
Jeremiah watched Jules still. No remorse crossed the face of the youth, no indication of betrayal. “Was it worth it?” he questioned Jules. “The taste so sweet and pure and the strength that lasts three days. Three days, and now we must be hunted like we hunt them? You gave up our peace and stability. We could have lived like kings, now we must run like convicts.”
Jules looked up at Jeremiah. “It wont happen again.”
“If it happens again, I will behead you myself.” August said the final word and walked out of the room.