years ago. He also happened to live in the area now experiencing human disappearances.”
“Who was it?” Alec asked.
Both Jodis and Eiji answered in unison. “Genghis Khan.”
CHAPTER SIX
“Genghis Khan?” Alec repeated. “As in the Genghis Khan, who ruled over Asia, China, and Europe? That Genghis Khan?”
Cronin nodded. “He claimed territories from as far east as Korea right across into Europe. He had faction covens, or generals as he called them, who claimed territories in his name for over a hundred years. It was an unprecedented carnage.”
“Worse than the Black Plague?” Alec asked. He’d discovered a few months before that the Black Plague wasn’t a plague as historians would have us believe, but a rogue coven of vampires who almost wiped out Europe in the 1300s.
“Much worse,” Jodis said. “Millions of people died, Alec. Millions.”
“And not just humans,” Eiji added. “Any vampire who dared question his motive or authority met their fate also.”
“You think it’s him?” Jodis asked Cronin. She looked concerned now; her blue eyes swam with worry. “But how?”
“That, I don’t know,” Cronin answered. “That’s what I need to research. Jorge said he is risen already , and there have been reports of human disappearances in China and, more than likely, Mongolia. For us to hear reports or any news from these regions means it must be worse than they’re letting on. And Kennard heard of southern Russian covens fleeing north.” Cronin took a deep breath. “It makes geographical sense.”
Alec pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled slowly. “Genghis fucking Khan. Jesus Christ, you’re serious aren’t you?”
Cronin took his hand, making Alec look at him. “You should rest, Alec. You are tired.”
Alec snorted. “You expect me to sleep now? And how would I ask the three hundred questions I have if I’m asleep?”
Cronin gave him a small smile. “I presumed you’d have questions.”
“Um, yes. First one: how the hell was Genghis Khan a vampire and no one knows about it? And who else was a vampire that I should know about, over the course of fucking-ever?”
Eiji laughed. “I do love the way you ask questions, Alec.”
“Genghis Khan was a human boy named Temüjin,” Cronin said. “It is believed a nomadic vampire slew Temüjin’s village, including his father, the chief. When he was about eighteen, he was bitten but not killed.”
“He gave himself an appointed title of Khan,” Eiji said.
“Meaning ruler or king?” Alec asked. “I remember reading about him in high school. He was responsible for the Silk Road, postal services, communication, and currency, right?”
“He was responsible for a lot of things,” Cronin said darkly.
“Did any of you guys meet him back then?” Alec asked.
The three vampires shook their heads, but it was Cronin who spoke. “No, we were not elders at that time.”
Alec nodded. “Right. Because it was before the Black Plague attack that took out your elders.”
Jodis nodded. “Yes.”
“Okay,” Alec nodded, finally getting his head around the absurdity of it all. “So what do you think he wants? What’s the point of his return? And more importantly, how did he die the first time? If he was killed once, then we can kill him again, yes?”
“I don’t know yet what he wants, or to what his return means. But do you mean how will the key bring an end to him?” Cronin asked rhetorically. “That’s what I want to know also. That is what we need to find out.”
Alec let his head fall back and he sighed loudly at the ceiling. “Who else is there?” Alec asked again. “Which other famous or infamous person throughout history am I likely to have to kill again? I mean, how many more are there? How long do I have to keep doing this?”
Cronin was quick to stand in front of him. He cradled Alec’s face so gently, with so much love, it took Alec’s breath away. He kissed Alec’s cheeks, his
“Who was it?” Alec asked.
Both Jodis and Eiji answered in unison. “Genghis Khan.”
CHAPTER SIX
“Genghis Khan?” Alec repeated. “As in the Genghis Khan, who ruled over Asia, China, and Europe? That Genghis Khan?”
Cronin nodded. “He claimed territories from as far east as Korea right across into Europe. He had faction covens, or generals as he called them, who claimed territories in his name for over a hundred years. It was an unprecedented carnage.”
“Worse than the Black Plague?” Alec asked. He’d discovered a few months before that the Black Plague wasn’t a plague as historians would have us believe, but a rogue coven of vampires who almost wiped out Europe in the 1300s.
“Much worse,” Jodis said. “Millions of people died, Alec. Millions.”
“And not just humans,” Eiji added. “Any vampire who dared question his motive or authority met their fate also.”
“You think it’s him?” Jodis asked Cronin. She looked concerned now; her blue eyes swam with worry. “But how?”
“That, I don’t know,” Cronin answered. “That’s what I need to research. Jorge said he is risen already , and there have been reports of human disappearances in China and, more than likely, Mongolia. For us to hear reports or any news from these regions means it must be worse than they’re letting on. And Kennard heard of southern Russian covens fleeing north.” Cronin took a deep breath. “It makes geographical sense.”
Alec pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled slowly. “Genghis fucking Khan. Jesus Christ, you’re serious aren’t you?”
Cronin took his hand, making Alec look at him. “You should rest, Alec. You are tired.”
Alec snorted. “You expect me to sleep now? And how would I ask the three hundred questions I have if I’m asleep?”
Cronin gave him a small smile. “I presumed you’d have questions.”
“Um, yes. First one: how the hell was Genghis Khan a vampire and no one knows about it? And who else was a vampire that I should know about, over the course of fucking-ever?”
Eiji laughed. “I do love the way you ask questions, Alec.”
“Genghis Khan was a human boy named Temüjin,” Cronin said. “It is believed a nomadic vampire slew Temüjin’s village, including his father, the chief. When he was about eighteen, he was bitten but not killed.”
“He gave himself an appointed title of Khan,” Eiji said.
“Meaning ruler or king?” Alec asked. “I remember reading about him in high school. He was responsible for the Silk Road, postal services, communication, and currency, right?”
“He was responsible for a lot of things,” Cronin said darkly.
“Did any of you guys meet him back then?” Alec asked.
The three vampires shook their heads, but it was Cronin who spoke. “No, we were not elders at that time.”
Alec nodded. “Right. Because it was before the Black Plague attack that took out your elders.”
Jodis nodded. “Yes.”
“Okay,” Alec nodded, finally getting his head around the absurdity of it all. “So what do you think he wants? What’s the point of his return? And more importantly, how did he die the first time? If he was killed once, then we can kill him again, yes?”
“I don’t know yet what he wants, or to what his return means. But do you mean how will the key bring an end to him?” Cronin asked rhetorically. “That’s what I want to know also. That is what we need to find out.”
Alec let his head fall back and he sighed loudly at the ceiling. “Who else is there?” Alec asked again. “Which other famous or infamous person throughout history am I likely to have to kill again? I mean, how many more are there? How long do I have to keep doing this?”
Cronin was quick to stand in front of him. He cradled Alec’s face so gently, with so much love, it took Alec’s breath away. He kissed Alec’s cheeks, his
Similar Books
