CHAPTER SIX
Elias was mindlessly going through the motions of getting dressed as his thoughts kept circling his accountability in the horrible things that had happened.
His research had been born out of something terrible and abusive, and as much as he wanted to be able to put it behind him, it wasn’t easy.
It was then that it hit him, and he realized that Mercier was not going to stop just because they messed up his building, destroyed records, and killed his scientist.
“The bunker.” He said as if Kael knew what he was talking about. “They wouldn’t have found the bunker.” He added. “It’s not recorded. Mercier had it made to house his most private concerns; it’s where he keeps all his terrible secrets.”
He saw the awareness when it hit Kael. “He plans to continue the experiments.” Elias nodded his head.
“With or without me, apparently.” Elias quickly finished tying his shoes and headed for the door. “Come on, we have to get there and stop this.” Kael took him by the arm as he tried to rush out the door.
“You can’t go back there.”
“I have to, please.” He pulled on Kael. “Few people, apart from Orion Mercier and I, know about it, and only he, I, and his head of security have access; no one else can get in. It’s where he keeps the plasma samples.” Elias could see Kael considering the risks, and he wanted to say no.
“Don’t say no. I have to destroy those samples. I have to stop this madness. Whatever Mercier is planning is not going to be for the health and welfare of the people. It’s going to be a nightmare.”
“Okay, but you stay behind me at all times, and you do exactly as I tell you, understand?”
“I understand.”
Orion Mercier entered the garage level of the Center, where he was met by a guard who accompanied him to the surveillance room on the first floor. The room was manned by one attendant, who was dismissed upon entering.
The building was unnaturally quiet and clean considering the violence and destruction of the previous day. The authorities were not involved, and all evidence had been dispensed with. Mercier did not complicate his life and work with laws and regulations.
The building appeared empty, but Orion had a full team of guards on duty along with some specialists.
He also had a backup force that would come into play if needed.
He doubted anyone would be back since it appeared that they got what they wanted, apart from Dr. Vance. Everyone was looking for Elias.
He sat down at the main board and began searching through the building, checking every nook and cranny. “Have you found anything to further identify the attackers?”
The theory was that Alexander Stone of Crimson Corp had ordered the attack, and that could very well be true, but Orion wanted more information. He had not done the deep dive that Blackstock had suggested because he had a feeling he already knew who Crimson was and what the attackers were.
“There was blood on the scene that was determined to be non-human.” That caught Orion’s attention, and he stopped scrolling through the building.
“Vampire?” He asked, already knowing that they were.
“Yes, it possesses the same markers as the samples you have preserved.”
“Was it in the lab? Could it be part of one of Dr. Vance’s batches?”
“It was in the garage.”
“Where is it being held?”
“Mr. Blackstock took custody of it.”
“Good, good.” Blackstock would have deposited it in the bunker.
He would have Elias test it once they brought him back here.
The vampire world was beginning to seriously open up for him.
He couldn’t wait to get DNA markers on a Crimson member.
It wouldn’t be long, and he would have all their secrets, and with Elias’ serum, he would also have their power, and the possibilities from there would be endless.
He put in a call to Blackstock as he continued to survey the Center. “Tell me that you’ve found him.” He stated the demand clearly in his voice.
“We saw him on a street camera, and it looks like he’s headed back into town. Not sure where he was previously, but the dark man is with him. I’m pretty sure he’s part of Crimson.” Blackstock was in his car and apparently following.
“Do you have eyes on him?”
“Not yet, but I have every street covered between here and the Center.”
“You think he’s headed to the Center?”
“He isn’t going home, so where else would he be going?”
“Why would he return with so many looking to kill him?”
“Maybe he forgot something, maybe something important, or perhaps the man with him has plans.” Blackstock made valid points, but it didn’t matter. If Elias was on his way, then Orion would definitely organize a welcoming party for him and his friend.
Kael drove defensively, having noticed the tail and also the interest from two other black sedans.
They were being followed, but Kael easily lost them in the confusion of downtown Norfolk.
Unfortunately, they could probably make an educated guess about where they were heading.
There was nothing in this direction that would interest Elias apart from the Mercier Center.
“We were followed. I lost them, but I’m sure they know where we are going.” Kael stated as he made his way expertly through the streets to their destination.
“Mercier?” Elias asked, tense and worried.
“Yes.”
“He’ll be waiting for us.”
“Most likely.”
Kael pulled into a parking garage a couple of blocks north of the Mercier Center. He parked, reached into the back seat, and grabbed a black knitted cap. He leaned over and put it on Elias’s head, pulling it down to just above his eyes.
He stared at him for just a beat and then pulled him in for a hard kiss. He loved this man, and there was no getting around it. He would do anything for him, and he would kill anyone who threatened him.
“Do as I say.” The command was lethal, and he meant it to be. “Stay close and stay alert.”
“I will.” Kael nailed him with another hard stare, and Elias repeated himself. “I will do as you say. I will stay close and stay alert.”
“Follow me,” Kael said and exited the SUV.
Elias followed, staying just a step behind.
Kael moved along the buildings, staying away from the street and cameras.
He’d often made this walk while surveilling Elias and knew how to go undetected.
Elias stayed behind him, close and careful, just as he’d asked.
They made it to the service entrances and slipped inside.
The lock was not complicated, and Kael breached it in seconds and quickly entered, keeping Elias hidden behind him.
“There are cameras everywhere, but the stairwell to the subbasement is not covered by cameras due to the secretive nature of my work. The bunker is just below my level and is accessed through my lab.” Elias whispered. They moved silently to the stairwell and down to the subbasement.
They entered the lab with Elias’s access code.
Mercier had not changed it, which was suspicious.
The door to the bunker was hidden within the wall panels in the supply room.
Everything remained quiet until Elias opened the bunker using his thumbprint and a pass code.
The door opened, and Oliver Mercier was waiting for them inside.
Mercier stood there looking cocky and untouchable. His arrogance filled the room as he moved forward. He had five men with him; they were all human, but Kael could sense a paranormal influence in the room. There was more there than he could see.
Elias remained behind him as requested, his hand resting lightly on Kael’s back. The room was large and filled with equipment and specialized containers. Everyone stood silent for about a minute, and then Mercier began to boast.
“I thought you’d end up here, Elias.” He said. “Did you come to steal the plasma? Are you planning to carry out your own experiments with my money and my products?”
“No, I came to destroy what was left of my experiments,” Elias answered, but did not step out from behind Kael.
“Well, that’s not very nice considering I funded your outrageous ideas when no one else would. You have no loyalty, no sense of obligation to those who stood by you.” He was rambling, trying to goad Elias into a verbal altercation, but thankfully, his chosen was not rising to the bait.
“I’m not going to help you achieve personal immortality at the expense of others.
Your drive to capture and secure the power of the vampires is sick and deluded, and I won’t be a part of it any longer.
” He took a half step to the right, a courageous move, but Kael preferred him to be shielded, so he countered with his own half step.
Mercier started to laugh. “You will do as you are told. Once I kill your friend here, you will get back to work and finish the serum. There is no choice here, you do as I tell you, or you will die like your friend.” He took a sudden step back and signaled his men.
They rushed Kael, but he was ready for them.
Thankfully, Mercier wasn’t completely versed on the strength of vampires.
If he thought five humans were enough to subdue him, he was gravely mistaken.
Keeping Elias well away from the fray, he took out the first two in seconds, leaving them dead on the floor.
The other three moved more decisively and also pulled their guns.
He pushed Elias down behind a table he had upended to keep him safe, then went after the remaining guards.
Mercier kept moving backward until he hit the wall.
Kael could sense a purpose in his movements.
Kael had neutralized two of the three and was turning the last man’s gun upon himself.
He discovered the source of the strange paranormal vibe emanating from the bunker.