Ian’s business. Without further explanation, I raced down the steps in a blur, my feet barely touching the concrete steps.
Not fast enough to outdistance Ian. He politely opened the landing door for me and threw in a slight bow for good measure. A long corridor opened before us. The cement walls were smooth with no doors or windows. Harsh fluorescent lights hung overheard, casting an eerie gray pallor on the walls.
“Were you a domestic once?” I sauntered through the door way spine straight, head and shoulders aligned. If I had a parasol and a corset and I’d be Charity Belmont, genteel lady, once again.
Ian snorted, “No. But I can tell money when I see it. You were a spoiled rich girl. One of your parents, your mum, I think, must have been English. Probably landed gentry. Or aristocracy, judging by the airs you put on.”
“I don’t put on airs.” He was right about my mother. She was the daughter of an Earl. But I wasn’t telling him that.
The long hallway ended at a single reinforced metal entryway. Instead of a rectangular shape, the door was circular. “Are we in a missile silo?”
Ian clapped lightly. “I’m astounded by your intellect.”
I flipped him off before entering a spacious briefing room. The entire family was seated in folding chairs, talking amongst themselves, the vibe a mix of fear, anticipation and unease. Large whiteboards dominated the right side wall. A projector screen was pulled down against the back wall. A short vampire with cropped hair and an all-black suit stood at a small wooden podium.
“Glad you could finally join us, Ms. Cordial,” he said. Great, another limey bastard. Someone in the audience tittered at the remark, only to be shushed.
Jonathan motioned from his seat in the front row, directing me to sit by him. Ian sat in the empty chair next to mine.
The vampire cleared his throat. Once, then twice. After mopping his brow with a handkerchief, a nervous tick, since vamps don’t sweat, he addressed us. “Welcome to the Undead Space Initiative. My name is Prior and I’m your mission director. I’m pleased to see such a large,” he paused, “and quite unexpected turnout.”
He stopped and flipped over his speech. “You are about to embark on an exciting adventure only a privileged few are allowed to make.”
My eyes shot daggers at Jonathan when I saw his enthusiastic smile. Had he lost his mind? I wanted to get up and shake him and the idiots in the family who believed we could travel to Mars.
Prior droned on for a few more minutes, then flicked off the lights and fired up his laptop projector. A cheesy narrator perkily explained the benefits of the undead traveling into space. God, it was like a nineteen sixties era, space race propaganda film.
“… the undead are well suited for space exploration,” said the perfectly coiffed blonde hostess. “We need less sleep. We don’t use the bathroom or breathe. We can tolerate extreme conditions and with proper planning, we can survive with limited blood supplies. A recent breakthrough in blood banking techniques will allow us to replicate the rich nourishing blue blood, without risking the donor vampire’s health and well-being.”
I rolled my eyes. What a relief. At least I wouldn’t be turned into a cafeteria for the journey. I shivered. What was I thinking? This whole thing had to be a colossal hoax.
The presentation lasted another twenty minutes. By the end, questions were ready to burst out of me. The light snapped on and I raised my hand. Jonathan narrowed his eyes, but didn’t tell me to shut up.
Jay pressed his fingers over his closed eyelids, his head shaking slightly.
“Excuse me, Mr. Prior.” I waved my hand.
“Yes, Ms. Cordial,” he said warily. This guy didn’t know me, so why the ‘tude?
“How are we getting there? I mean, where is the spaceship?” Other heads around the room nodded. I raised my eyebrows at Jonathan. See? Not a crazy question .
“Excellent inquiry. Glad you
Not fast enough to outdistance Ian. He politely opened the landing door for me and threw in a slight bow for good measure. A long corridor opened before us. The cement walls were smooth with no doors or windows. Harsh fluorescent lights hung overheard, casting an eerie gray pallor on the walls.
“Were you a domestic once?” I sauntered through the door way spine straight, head and shoulders aligned. If I had a parasol and a corset and I’d be Charity Belmont, genteel lady, once again.
Ian snorted, “No. But I can tell money when I see it. You were a spoiled rich girl. One of your parents, your mum, I think, must have been English. Probably landed gentry. Or aristocracy, judging by the airs you put on.”
“I don’t put on airs.” He was right about my mother. She was the daughter of an Earl. But I wasn’t telling him that.
The long hallway ended at a single reinforced metal entryway. Instead of a rectangular shape, the door was circular. “Are we in a missile silo?”
Ian clapped lightly. “I’m astounded by your intellect.”
I flipped him off before entering a spacious briefing room. The entire family was seated in folding chairs, talking amongst themselves, the vibe a mix of fear, anticipation and unease. Large whiteboards dominated the right side wall. A projector screen was pulled down against the back wall. A short vampire with cropped hair and an all-black suit stood at a small wooden podium.
“Glad you could finally join us, Ms. Cordial,” he said. Great, another limey bastard. Someone in the audience tittered at the remark, only to be shushed.
Jonathan motioned from his seat in the front row, directing me to sit by him. Ian sat in the empty chair next to mine.
The vampire cleared his throat. Once, then twice. After mopping his brow with a handkerchief, a nervous tick, since vamps don’t sweat, he addressed us. “Welcome to the Undead Space Initiative. My name is Prior and I’m your mission director. I’m pleased to see such a large,” he paused, “and quite unexpected turnout.”
He stopped and flipped over his speech. “You are about to embark on an exciting adventure only a privileged few are allowed to make.”
My eyes shot daggers at Jonathan when I saw his enthusiastic smile. Had he lost his mind? I wanted to get up and shake him and the idiots in the family who believed we could travel to Mars.
Prior droned on for a few more minutes, then flicked off the lights and fired up his laptop projector. A cheesy narrator perkily explained the benefits of the undead traveling into space. God, it was like a nineteen sixties era, space race propaganda film.
“… the undead are well suited for space exploration,” said the perfectly coiffed blonde hostess. “We need less sleep. We don’t use the bathroom or breathe. We can tolerate extreme conditions and with proper planning, we can survive with limited blood supplies. A recent breakthrough in blood banking techniques will allow us to replicate the rich nourishing blue blood, without risking the donor vampire’s health and well-being.”
I rolled my eyes. What a relief. At least I wouldn’t be turned into a cafeteria for the journey. I shivered. What was I thinking? This whole thing had to be a colossal hoax.
The presentation lasted another twenty minutes. By the end, questions were ready to burst out of me. The light snapped on and I raised my hand. Jonathan narrowed his eyes, but didn’t tell me to shut up.
Jay pressed his fingers over his closed eyelids, his head shaking slightly.
“Excuse me, Mr. Prior.” I waved my hand.
“Yes, Ms. Cordial,” he said warily. This guy didn’t know me, so why the ‘tude?
“How are we getting there? I mean, where is the spaceship?” Other heads around the room nodded. I raised my eyebrows at Jonathan. See? Not a crazy question .
“Excellent inquiry. Glad you
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