Chapter 51. William #2
“You are out of time,” says Minaro, her eyes like black holes that portend his future doom. “The others are close. You must make your choice.”
WILLIAM HAS never run so hard in his existence.
As he races to meet Fabiana by Nate and Cisco’s disinterred bodies, Director Minaro’s words loop through his mind.
She said Grandsire placed William in a death-sleep to protect him and the entire vampire species. But that does not explain why such a cautionary and pragmatic being would think it best to leave just one Stoker behind.
Why not a dozen?
Based on what Minaro said, it is unlikely Grandsire would have anticipated when the vampires would awaken or what they would choose to do. He also likely would not have known about the vampires needing to regroup and return to death-sleep for the spell to end.
He was surrounded by variables and no constants he could control for—except one.
His grandfather knew William.
They had spent enough time together that he knew his grandchild inside and out. He would have predicted the direction William was most likely to lead. And if he left William as the only Stoker, the others would be forced to at least listen.
Which means …
Grandsire was counting on William to follow his basic nature.
“Where have you been?” Fabiana demands as soon as he shows up to the clearing where she has been waiting for him with Nate and Cisco’s hibernating bodies.
They are bathed in silver moonlight, the stars’ glow growing dimmer by the instant as the sky fades from black to charcoal with the approach of morning.
“I went back to Huntington,” he says hurriedly, and Fabiana’s whole face furrows in anger. “I learned that—”
“I can’t believe you’re fucking around with that human when we’re out here trying to save her and her friends!”
The temperature is rapidly cooling, the vampires approaching with the force of a global ice storm.
“Listen to me—”
“No, you listen. Or better yet, smell!”
The cloud of ancient air blowing against the wind, in their direction, is becoming oppressively stronger. William wants to share his information with Fabiana before they come within auditory range.
“Fabiana, the spell—”
But it is too late.
The musk is now overwhelming, and it is pushing in on all sides. Within seconds, William begins to see eyes glinting in the black spaces between the trees, as if the night itself were awakening.
William and Fabiana are exposed on every side, the clearing empty save for them and the resting Nate and Cisco. William feels his brethren’s scrutiny, and while the tension grows, it strikes him that he should speak.
Now, while he holds their attention.
“Thank you for coming,” he says, trying to infuse his voice with the same sense of authority as Grandsire. “I am William Stoker, and I have awoken because it is time for Grandsire’s spell to end.”
William feels Fabiana’s gaze jump to him, and she must be realizing that he had big news to share with her. The other vampires keep hidden among the trees, a good distance away, but at least they are listening.
“Now that humans have forgotten us and the conditions of the spell have been met, our species can be restored. I was able to commune with the guardian of Grandsire’s spell, forged of Stoker blood, and she told me that to bring back our forebears, we must all return to death-sleep in a location that is the nexus of the spell. ”
William hears rustling as vampires step closer through the underbrush, like they are jostling for a front-row view of him. Some of them are turning to each other to gauge how to feel about this revelation.
William is certain this is what Grandsire wanted—for him to be loyal to their species and see the full plan through.
His grandfather knew William would not be eager to assume the mantle of leadership, and that he would not give up on his kind.
Vampire or human, William is and always has been a family man.
Only now, it is not just the Stokers and his classmates he feels entrusted to look after, but all the vampires. This is why Grandsire chose him.
For his empathy.
An immortal steps forth into the clearing, his skin blacker than the night, eyes more brilliant than even the moon.
All sound is sucked from the atmosphere as Leonardo the Bloody strides across the wild grass in a black hooded cloak.
“Why should we trust you, William Stoker?” He eyes Nate and Cisco’s bodies as he approaches, planting himself only a few feet away from William.
“For all we know, your duty is to the humans, and you are tricking us. Look at what you have done to your brothers, forcing them into death-sleep against their will.”
“They are leading by example,” says William. “I implore the rest of you to follow.”
“If that is true,” says Lenny, “let us find out!”
A couple of familiar vampires rush forward to tend to Nate and Cisco, and William knows he has just walked into a trap of his own making.
Henry brings a thermos to Cisco’s lips, while Anne does the same for Nate.
She glowers at William while feeding the ponytailed vampire, and the Stoker knows that she is not going to be an ally.
She is doing too well in this world to be likely to give it up.
Cisco leaps to his feet, as if he were just awakening from a power nap. Nate takes longer, presumably because he realizes who is tending to him. He gazes into Anne’s eyes as he sits up. “You saved me,” he says.
“Nate,” commands Lenny, and at the sound of the voice, Nate springs to his feet. He and Cisco report to Leonardo the Bloody’s side like soldiers obeying their general. “Tell us what transpired.”
Nate’s gaze settles on William’s, and the latter sees zero compassion or loyalty there. Whatever friendship they had started to build is gone.
“William bled us out,” answers Nate, “when we were just trying to do our duty.”
“Which was what?” prods Lenny.
“Kill his Familiar.”
There is more rustling in the crowd, and the rest of the vampires step forward, forming a loose circle. The gathering of the undead makes the temperature plunge until the air gives away every exploratory breath.
“William has just testified that he received a message from Grandsire, affirming that the spell’s conditions have been met,” Lenny tells Nate, “and in order to bring back our forebears, we must return to death-sleep. Have you seen any evidence of this?”
Nate frowns at William, studying the Stoker closely before speaking. If the ponytailed vampire thinks he can tell when someone is lying, William silently challenges him to do that now by openly staring back at him.
“How is that possible?” asks Nate.
“That is not what I asked.” An edge of impatience invades Lenny’s voice.
“I have not seen any evidence,” says Nate, yet he sounds less assertive than he did with his first answer.
“I have no reason to lie to you,” William says directly to Nate, appealing to the friendship they almost formed.
“We cannot forsake the entire species,” William goes on, looking to Anne and Cisco and the other vampires.
“The whole point of us staying behind was to keep our kind safe. If we fail our brethren, how are we any better than the Legion?”
William looks at Nate. “I am sorry that I let you down. The truth is, I knew a lot would be expected of me, and I needed to find answers before I could give you any.” He makes eye contact with other vampires as he speaks.
“Imagine the loneliness of the past few decades, when you did not know what the future held. Now think of our forebears, and what they must be enduring. How are we worthy of their sacrifice if we abandon them?”
The air feels tight with tension, and William knows this is the true test of his power. It is one thing for them to consider him their leader because he is a Stoker, and another thing to actually follow his lead.
“I’m not going back to sleep,” declares Nate, and William feels a twinge of regret that he never managed to win the vampire over.
“Humans don’t believe in vampires,” says Anne, “and the Legion can’t be all that strong. Now that you’re here, we can regrow our numbers in the shadows, take on whatever is left of the Legion, and reassert ourselves.”
“We are too few, and growing our numbers will take too long.”
It is Fabiana speaking. When William looks at her, he is relieved to find that she is still willing to follow him, even down this path. “Grandsire gave his life for our survival,” she says. “He had a vision—”
“Who says we want to see Grandsire’s vision through?” asks Lenny. William already knew the vampire was not likely to submit. Leonardo the Bloody has no interest in going back to rules and order.
“Our forebears made their choice to follow Grandsire,” says Lenny, “and now it is our turn to choose our own way.”
“So you would betray them all?”
“You would speak of betrayal?” Lenny challenges William. “Had Nate not found you, you would have stayed in hiding with your human harlot. The only question up for answering at present is: Are you going to work with us willingly, or will we have to use your Familiar as motivation?”
“You do not speak for everyone.” William’s voice is low and lethal.
The ancient vampire appears pleased to have provoked his ire. “You are right.” He turns around slowly, looking at the others. “Who do you follow? Choose your side.”
The vampires begin to shuffle around, some standing behind Leonardo the Bloody, others behind William. Osorio stays by his boss, while Fabiana stands staunchly at William’s side. Anne moves behind Lenny, as do Nate and Cisco.
Yet Henry crosses over to stand behind William. Once everyone stops moving, William counts twenty-eight vampires with him.
That leaves only twenty-four with Lenny.
“Dividing into factions is not an option,” William declares to them all in disappointment. “Only one of our visions can prevail.”
“I am glad you see it that way,” says Leonardo the Bloody, throwing off his cloak and handing it to Nate. Underneath, he wears a black suit that must have been what he was buried in, complete with belt and ceremonial dagger.
The other vampires back away in a larger circle as they realize what is about to happen. Only Fabiana and Osorio do not immediately move.
“Second,” says Osorio to William.
“Second,” says Fabiana to Lenny. Then they back up, leaving William to face off with the notorious Leonardo the Bloody.
The day has dawned cloudy and heavy, the perfect covering for a fight between vampires deep in the woods. “If I win,” says Lenny, “you will fall in line and start turning more Stokers.”
“If I win,” says William, “we all return to death-sleep.”
He sticks out his hand and Lenny shakes it. Yet when William tries to pull his fingers away, Leonardo holds on to them and yanks him closer.
“I hope you bid your girlfriend farewell. When I win, she will be my celebratory drink.”