communications. Not when they did not need such clumsy, awkward means. The Others had always been very careful not to let their technology escape to Vampire or Human hands. I did not doubt the veracity of the Roswell incident, that the U.S. Government had debris from that crash site, but the Others had always been very careful in their attacks on us that they never carried samples of their technology on their persons when they came for us. They came armed with cold steel, but never anything more advanced.
I have fought the Others more times than I now cared to count. I knew their strengths. They had no weaknesses. Physically they were like Vampires. Thirty times as strong as a Human power-lifter. In the physical sense, they were very much godlike. If it had not been for their susceptibility to cold steel, they would have long since done for me, but in the end, despite all their strengths, they were still flesh and blood. They could not resist the honed edge of my blade. I could still feel their telepathic screams ripping across my mind when they tasted that steel. Cold steel was never palatable. They could stomach it no more than any other and it was only that steel which had stood between us.
“How do you plan to attempt to lure them in?” Sonafi asked. If she felt any guilt for her participation in the drama of a moment ago it was not reflected on her face, nor did Brid seem to acknowledge any enmity.
“Oh that. We're just going to tell them we're here.” Brid answered, the smugness returned to his voice. Could the hierarchical role of the Community alter itself to follow the pattern that Humans followed I wondered? Wealth and station, thus position, were determined by intelligence, business prowess or educational level. In a New World Order, could an Elder actually follow the directives of a much junior Vampire? Follow the rules and laws as laid down by others. It went entirely against everything a Vampire held as a standard. The hierarchy among Vampires was determined by physiology, and nature, so anything else would be entirely alien. Yet . . . !
“You're going to tell them?” Sonafi asked incredulously.
“I know a little something about conceit.” Brid answered. “I have little doubt they will be able to resist. For all their technological wonders, their long evolution, they are diminished by their aggrandized conceit of their superiority that our continued existence denies. It inflames them that we can resist them. No. We do not have to worry on that account. They will come.”
“I agree that getting them here won't be the problem.” I said.
“I wonder what kind of Pandora's Box we might open if we do this?” Sonafi asked, and I had to agree with her, as well. There was just no telling what we were getting ourselves into here. What box of horrors we were opening. What awful chain of events we might precipitate, but the die had been cast. The wheels were already in motion. I could not stop them even had I wanted, and I had no reason to want to do so. It would continue with or without me. I might as well join them. It could work.
“It does not matter.” Brid said. “The Community has spoken. You may join us, or not, but you will not hinder us.”
It was about time the Community had gained some unity, I thought. I said; “I'm behind you a hundred percent.”
CHAPTER 5
I felt the sensation as I was halfway out my front door. My Vampire senses were suddenly burning. Every nerve ending in my body aflame, signaling that danger was near. I wasted no time, not even the slightest moment. It was possible I didn't have a moment to spare.
I continued my forward motion without pause, accelerating my perception and my awareness, ramping my Vampire adrenal system into hyperactivity, hyper-attenuation, hyper-acceleration. As my perceptions sharpened, as my metabolism went
I have fought the Others more times than I now cared to count. I knew their strengths. They had no weaknesses. Physically they were like Vampires. Thirty times as strong as a Human power-lifter. In the physical sense, they were very much godlike. If it had not been for their susceptibility to cold steel, they would have long since done for me, but in the end, despite all their strengths, they were still flesh and blood. They could not resist the honed edge of my blade. I could still feel their telepathic screams ripping across my mind when they tasted that steel. Cold steel was never palatable. They could stomach it no more than any other and it was only that steel which had stood between us.
“How do you plan to attempt to lure them in?” Sonafi asked. If she felt any guilt for her participation in the drama of a moment ago it was not reflected on her face, nor did Brid seem to acknowledge any enmity.
“Oh that. We're just going to tell them we're here.” Brid answered, the smugness returned to his voice. Could the hierarchical role of the Community alter itself to follow the pattern that Humans followed I wondered? Wealth and station, thus position, were determined by intelligence, business prowess or educational level. In a New World Order, could an Elder actually follow the directives of a much junior Vampire? Follow the rules and laws as laid down by others. It went entirely against everything a Vampire held as a standard. The hierarchy among Vampires was determined by physiology, and nature, so anything else would be entirely alien. Yet . . . !
“You're going to tell them?” Sonafi asked incredulously.
“I know a little something about conceit.” Brid answered. “I have little doubt they will be able to resist. For all their technological wonders, their long evolution, they are diminished by their aggrandized conceit of their superiority that our continued existence denies. It inflames them that we can resist them. No. We do not have to worry on that account. They will come.”
“I agree that getting them here won't be the problem.” I said.
“I wonder what kind of Pandora's Box we might open if we do this?” Sonafi asked, and I had to agree with her, as well. There was just no telling what we were getting ourselves into here. What box of horrors we were opening. What awful chain of events we might precipitate, but the die had been cast. The wheels were already in motion. I could not stop them even had I wanted, and I had no reason to want to do so. It would continue with or without me. I might as well join them. It could work.
“It does not matter.” Brid said. “The Community has spoken. You may join us, or not, but you will not hinder us.”
It was about time the Community had gained some unity, I thought. I said; “I'm behind you a hundred percent.”
CHAPTER 5
I felt the sensation as I was halfway out my front door. My Vampire senses were suddenly burning. Every nerve ending in my body aflame, signaling that danger was near. I wasted no time, not even the slightest moment. It was possible I didn't have a moment to spare.
I continued my forward motion without pause, accelerating my perception and my awareness, ramping my Vampire adrenal system into hyperactivity, hyper-attenuation, hyper-acceleration. As my perceptions sharpened, as my metabolism went
Similar Books
