The Vampire SEAL Collection, page 35
Tripp stood behind her, ever the gentleman, waiting to guide her into the chair before taking his post as sentinel at the door. Once she was seated, the two men sat as well.
While the woman readied her laptop, the two men pulled folders and pens from their black briefcases, placing them on the table in front of them.
Once Tripp and Webb were in position, guarding the side doors, the man on my right stood up and bowed. His mustard-and-black-striped tie brushed the table.
“My name is Gregory Hollings. I am lead counsel on this matter. My colleagues, solicitor Maddox Tinsley and solicitor Matthew Atherton, and I are pleased to meet you,” he said, glancing between Sam and me. “During the next hour, you will address this panel with manners and politeness. You will not speak out of turn. If we ask you a question, you will rise and answer it. As long as you cooperate, we’ll get through this quickly.”
What was it with all the manners in this vampire world?
Sam, who sat on the other side of me, fidgeted in his seat. His gaze focused on the beautiful Maddox Tinsley. After a second or two, his gaze darted to Webb.
At some point, I needed to ferret out what Sam’s hang-up was with Webb.
“Is that understood?” Hollings asked.
Jerking my head to the front, I met three pairs of eyes staring at me. I glanced at each one; their expressions were deadpan.
I nodded.
“A verbal response is required, Ms. Mason,” Hollings commanded.
“Yes,” I said. Then I stood and curtsied.
Why did I just do that? Did I just curtsy? Ugh! Embarrassment washed over me and pain stung my cheeks. I glanced away as each solicitor flashed me a vampire smile.
“Yes, sir,” Dad said as he rose from his seat, then sat back down, all in one sweeping motion.
Sam pulled me down as he stood. “Yeah,” he said with a grunt before sitting down.
Hollings glowered at Sam. “I warned you about manners. You will address this panel with a yes or no. I don’t want to hear any tired or slurred speech either. Is. That. Understood?”
Complete silence filled the room as a mist of power whirled around. Whoa! Someone in the room had given off the strongest level of magic I had yet to experience. Forget the thousand bolts of lightning pricking my skin—the room had a total ionic charge. If someone lit a match, the place would explode. I wondered if it were the anger resonating from Dad or the man speaking behind the table. I guess it didn’t matter. I just prayed Sam wasn’t about to pull one of his rebellious stunts. My father was powerful, but I didn’t have a clue about the solicitors’ abilities. But powers aside, if they were in charge of the law, then Sam was just as screwed in the vamp world as he would be in the human world.
I sat frozen, waiting for Sam to respond, bracing for a rebellion.
My brother rose, bowed as Hollings did before, and cleared his throat. “Yes, sir,” he said with a nod. His tone dripped with more scorn than politeness.
I held my breath, hoping they didn’t detect his cockiness.
“Much better,” Hollings replied.
Sam took his seat. Letting out the air in my lungs, I restrained myself from kicking him. Weren’t we getting off to a smashing start with these folks?
“Very well. Let’s proceed. We’re here today to discuss your new status and what that means to you for the next few weeks.” Hollings cleared his throat. “Steven, have you had a chance to explain any of our laws to the twins?”
“Not really,” Dad replied.
Maddox typed furiously, the keys clicking with each stroke. I guessed she was the stenographer, here to take notes.
“Before we get started, I have a few questions for you, Steven,” Hollings stated. “I read through your paperwork, and I have some concerns about the twins remaining here on base during the bloodlust quarantine.”
“Gregory,” Dad piped in.
Hollings held up his hand. “Let me finish. If Sam and Jo remain here under your care, I’m concerned about the humans on this base for starters. At Grayson Manor there are no humans. There is no temptation. I don’t need any more problems further to the ones we have already.
“In addition, I’m also concerned about your enemies being locked up on this base. We both know what their intentions are in devising a serum that, if successful, could wreak havoc on our world, not to mention the human world. Now, I am not here to condone or pass judgment on why you did what you did to save your children. I know how much you’ve struggled with this over the years. Yet who’s to say that your brother doesn’t still desire access to the twins’ DNA for his mad scheme?”
“We’re vampires already,” I blurted out. “Why would they need us now?”
“Not now, Jo,” Dad whispered. “Gregory? If I may?” Dad looked to Hollings for permission.
The solicitor nodded.
Dad stood. “First, I understand your concern about the humans on base. I can assure you that my children will not come into contact with any human while quarantined here. They’ve been confined to my apartment for the last two weeks and I will continue to ensure that no problems arise between them and any humans. The vampire section of this base is heavily guarded, and only a few humans roam these halls, as you know.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Second, I don’t see how Patrick would have any need for their DNA. He’s locked up, for one thing, and for another, we both know that all indications suggest that he needs my blood to further his experiments. Without it, he won’t be successful.
“Therefore I asked the Counsel to consider leaving my children here with me so I can guard them. If they move to Grayson Manor, they’re more at risk from Edmund’s people who are still out there.” After his plea, Dad sat down.
Hollings rubbed his jaw.
I didn’t want to leave the base. If I had to be quarantined somewhere, at least I already knew the people here. To have to walk into a foreign place for probably the hundredth time in my life, well… I’d been in and out of enough foster homes and institutions over the years, and I hated each one of them. Why would Grayson Manor be any different? Besides, spending time in a vampire hospital didn’t sound like a joy ride. Then again, I wasn’t sure being around my dad did either, but at least he was the devil I knew.
“Where is your stored blood, by the way, Steven?” Hollings asked.
“I have a supply in the fridge in my apartment and the rest is locked up,” Dad replied.
The man in the middle, Atherton, leaned into Hollings and whispered. Hollings nodded in reply.
“Jo and Sam,” Atherton addressed us. His auburn hair was tied back in a low ponytail, which seemed to be a uniform style among most vamps. His bright green tie offset his deep-set grey eyes. “What do you know about the Eternal Protection Law?” he asked.
Sam and I exchanged glances.
“Okay,” he said. “Maybe now’s the time to go over it so you know why we are here.”
Now we were getting somewhere. All of this seemed confusing, and if we were going to be taken to Grayson Manor it would be good to understand why. Not that I was saying I’d agree. I was living in this new world, and knowing the law just might help.
Maddox continued to type.
“Our Eternal Protection Law was enacted to keep natural-born vampires from turning into monsters. There was a time that our world was in chaos where vampires sought revenge for personal gain and killed to live. We had to find a way to calm the masses for many reasons, including protecting humans. This law is the stepping-stone between mortality and immortality. It’s a set of regulations to help us control who becomes a vampire. Since we enacted this law, it has served us for the better.”
As he talked, I thought about that day I changed. The pain, the struggle and the trauma were still vividly burned in my brain.
“The law is straightforward in its direction, but complex in its delivery,” Atherton continued. “From the age of sixteen, any natural-born vampire has the option to stay human or become a fully-fledged vampire. If the latter is chosen and the family agrees, then the patriarch of the family must petition the Counsel of Eternal Affairs. It’s important to note this decision has to be agreed to by both father and child. Without agreement from both parties, the case is null and void. Once the petition is accepted, a hearing takes place in front of the magistrate. At this juncture the court determines through a series of questions whether or not the child is ready to become a fully-fledged vampire. I will not go into detail here since your case is past this point.”
He stopped and took a sip of water from one of the bottles Tripp had placed on the table. “There is one exception to this law,” Atherton added. “It states that if, for any reason, a situation dictates life or death, then leniency will be given in the application process. Any questions so far?”
“You said the agreement is between father and child. Why not the mother?” Sam asked.
“Because to become a vampire, you have to drink your father’s blood, not your mother’s.”
“I didn’t drink my father’s blood. I drank my sister’s.”
“Ah. You understand why I hope,” Atherton replied.
“Yeah, I do. I know it’s because of the amount of blood I lost and because of our DNA, since we’re twins. I heard the story. So your Eternal Protection Law doesn’t apply to us, then. Plus, we’re already vampires. Why are you wasting our time?” Sam intoned.
Was he trying to get thrown in jail?
Sam regarded Webb with annoyance in his eyes. Why did he keep looking at Webb? Then I scanned each solicitor. It seemed their tongues were tied, or maybe they were trying to bite back their anger. Even Maddox had stopped typing.
“Sam, this law does apply to you. Just because you’re already a vampire does not preclude you from the law,” Hollings cut in, his tone dripping with authority.
Yeah. Sam was going to get us thrown in jail or Grayson Manor.
Dad sent him an I-will-kill-you look.
“Steven.” Hollings’ tone eased, giving way to calm the state of play. “On behalf of the Counsel, Grayson Manor is the best place for— ”
I jumped up. “No! You are not sending us there,” I shouted.
Anger coiled through me and my vision blacked out for a second—a sign my eyes were shifting into their vampire guise. My body changed in strange ways with my emotions, especially if I were angry or scared. I hadn’t learned yet how to control my physical changes, but I blamed everything on the vampire puberty my body was experiencing. Still, when my eyes changed colors it wasn’t long before my fangs descended. That was the part that wigged me out. To think I had a weapon inherent within me that could kill a human in a nanosecond nauseated me. I didn’t move, well aware of the gazes and glares burning holes in my skin.
“Jo, sit down. He’s not finished yet,” Dad growled.
I turned toward Dad. “I’m tired of any authority dictating our lives. I’m not going.”
Dad’s eyes widened.
Then I jerked my head in the opposite direction and inclined my head at Sam. His eyebrows shot up as his eyes grew wide too. Was there something wrong with me? The only visible physical changes I knew I showed were my eyes changing from silver to black, and possessing canines of which any wolf would be jealous.
The last person to stare at me in horror had been Dr. Case, the ER doctor who had taken care of me the night I had been rushed into the hospital. He freaked when he saw my eyes changing colors. But Dr. Case was human. The people in this room were vampires and shouldn’t be shocked at something as trivial as that.
I lifted my hand to my face. Were they trying to give a teenage girl a complex? If so, it was working. I touched every part, but didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary. I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I could rule out any shape-shifting abilities.
I glanced at the panel of judges.
“Steven, were you aware your daughter’s eyes changed to violet?” Maddox asked. Her voice was soft and gentle.
What? My eyes change from silver to black, not violet. Was this some kind of joke? When I woke up as a vampire, the vampire gods had decided to highlight my hair with permanent streaks of purple, which I thought was pretty random. Now this vamp was telling me my eyes were purple too? Was she serious?
“No, ma’am, I wasn’t. This is new to me. Her eyes had been shifting from their usual color to black, like most vampires,” Dad answered with a hint of trepidation laced in his voice.
“You know there are currently only two other vampires who have different eye colors when their emotions shift? You’re one and the other is your enemy, Edmund Rain,” Atherton said.
“We’re getting off topic,” Hollings stated. “This discussion is not urgent for this meeting right now.”
“You know what that means, Gregory,” Maddox stated, sidestepping his protest.
“I do. Nonetheless, our law and why we’re here are more important right now. I’m sure Steven will watch her and report back to us,” Gregory Hollings countered.
“So why are my eyes—”
“Not now, Jo,” Dad whispered.
“What do you mean, not now? This is my life and I want to know what’s going on.” I didn’t bother to keep my voice low.
“It’s nothing to worry about,” Dad intoned. “Let’s get through this, then we can talk. I promise I’ll explain everything later. You’ll be fine. Your eyes are…there may be a reason for it, but nothing earth shattering.”
The color might not be that worrying—after all, it didn’t hurt me—but on the other hand, Dad’s pause pushed an alarm button inside me, particularly because the solicitors had added their two cents.
I huffed, dropping down in my seat. A split second of darkness returned my eyes to their normal color as I began tapping my foot.
“Good. Now, Jo, would you let me finish?” Hollings’ statement was a question, but there was no mistaking the bite behind his words. “As I was saying, Grayson Manor is the best place for any new vampire. It has all the best doctors, state-of-the-art equipment and security.” He glanced at Dad on the last word. “I don’t feel that Jo and Sam are safe here. Not with the Plutariums only a building away.”
Sam fidgeted again in his seat. His restraint seemed to be waning.
“But the Counsel…will give you some latitude, Steven.” Hollings paused, taking a sip of water. “We’ll allow the twins to remain onsite, and in your care. However, the protocol will not be any different to that for any other new vampire during this bloodlust stage and the process immediately following it. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” Dad said, letting out a sigh.
“Matthew, please explain the restrictions and what is involved from here.”
“Sure.” Atherton reached into a folder and glanced at a sheet of paper before lifting his gaze. “First, you’ll remain on this base for the next four weeks. During this time, you will not leave these grounds, and you will not have contact with humans whatsoever.”
Okay, how were we going to stay away from humans when they worked on base?
Dad leaned in. “We’ll discuss that later,” he said, responding to my inner thoughts.
“In addition, both of you will donate a vial of blood once per week for the next three months. Dr. Vieira will be responsible for taking the samples,” Atherton added, placing the papers back into the folder.
So far, so good, although remaining on base for another four weeks didn’t excite me. That meant no contact with Ben, or even Darcy from school. I did want to at least see Ben.
“Finally, at the end of four weeks, before entering St. Anne’s Academy, you’ll have a microchip imbedded under your skin at your lower back, which will house all your personal information. This is standard procedure for all new vampires.
“Any violation or non-conformance with these requirements will result in ramifications, not only for you, but for your father as well. We can’t have your father in a position where he’s not available to the human government. It will make them extremely nervous, which in turn will not sit kindly with Lord James,”
Atherton paused, looking at all of us, including Webb and Tripp. “Is that understood?”
Wait. Rewind. Chip imbedded in my body? For what?
No. Not understood at all. Were they crazy?
Sam and I looked at each other. He had eyebrows raised, his eyes wide and his mouth agape. His expression matched my thoughts exactly.
I hope my dad read this: No way am I getting chipped. Do they think we’re animals? These vamps were drinking some type of crazy juice.
“Why a chip?” Sam asked in a calm voice.
My head whipped around. Was this my brother speaking? If I hadn’t known better, I would have said some angel invaded his body. My brother would usually have had them in a headlock, beating all three of them, instead of being as calm, cool and collected as he was at the moment.
Webb cleared his throat. Sam shot him a glowering look, again, and then the electrical charge returned, peppering the air.
“Great question, son,” Hollings said. “It’s our way of policing the vampire population. If we didn’t have laws in place, wars would break out. The result could be catastrophic. So we track our people with a unique computerized chip, which will identify you within our government and in our computer system. Those vampires who don’t have it are considered rogues, and are dealt with accordingly.”
My right foot tapped furiously on the carpet beneath my feet for two reasons. One, I was still agitated that I had to be regarded as an animal, and two, my throat burned like a raging inferno. I needed to feed. I was still restricted to drink Dad’s blood until Dr. Vieira gave us the all clear sign. Although the thought of the flavored blood I knew was chilling in every refrigerator onsite for the other vampires had me licking my lips, especially for the Creamsicle one I’d tried once before. I absently raised my hand to my mouth, brushing my fingers over my bottom lip and one of my canines drew blood. The smell hit me as if a tornado had blown through the room.
