Chapter 11 #3
Elijah and I went to the makeshift hospital after visiting with the local townsfolk.
There were so many that were still in critical condition.
Already this morning, there were at least a dozen that had been transported via helicopter to local hospitals for more intensive care.
Here, many of the humans were wrapped in bandages.
Because of my father’s obsession with the Malkovian clan, I knew the rules of vampire feeding firsthand. Those rules were upheld by the Council.
Vampires were not allowed to leave overwhelming evidence of their feedings like this.
If their activity alerted even just the local news, the Council would act and destroy those that endangered the vampire species as a whole.
It was better for humans not to know of the existence of wolf shifters and vampires.
The mass panic that would spread at the discovery of either species would turn the world upside down.
Most vampire clans fed in secret. The Malkovians kept a small group of human slaves for feeding, but they were under compulsion and didn’t fight their fate.
This was far more brutal and much more vicious than that.
I sat down beside one woman who was bandaged up on a cot. Her eyes brightened at my presence, lucid and clear.
“It’s not as bad as it looks. The nurses have me all hopped up on the good painkillers,” she explained when she saw me looking at the sheer number of bandages.
“Do you remember much of what happened?” I asked carefully.
“Most of it. I survived though. One day, maybe the story of the demonic cult of devil worshippers might make it into a movie,” she joked.
I chuckled, but I knew the Council would never allow such a thing. In time, they would probably suppress all evidence that anything had ever occurred here. Elijah would have to report what happened here at some point, and then they’d get started right away.
“Will you tell me what it was like?” I asked her and her eyes darkened with memory, but she broke into her story anyway.
The rogue vampires had arrived nearly three years ago.
They’d demanded monetary tribute from everyone.
They’d bankrupted her and many of the people she knew.
When she couldn’t offer anything else, they beat her and fed on her as punishment.
They ruled over the town with an iron fist. A few people tried to escape, and the vampires killed them in front of everyone as an example of their vicious power.
It was horrifying and saddening to hear all about it. When she finished, I took her hand in mine and squeezed it tight.
“I will make sure no one gets hurt like that ever again,” I vowed, and she smiled. A nurse came over to check her IV.
“You should be getting some rest, Eliza,” the nurse scolded, and the woman smirked knowingly.
“But I’ve got a visitor, Jane,” she teased. The nurse laughed lightly and released the flow of the intravenous drugs a bit more.
“Visiting hours are over soon, at least until this evening,” Jane explained while looking pointedly at me. I nodded quickly, getting the hint.
“I’ll come back later, Eliza. I promise,” I added, but Eliza’s eyes were already slipping closed. In seconds, she was fast asleep.
“How are your medical supplies? I can send out a request for more,” Elijah asked. He had been away checking on a few things and had just joined us.
“I can get you a list in just a little while. The injuries are far more extensive than I anticipated. We’ve almost gone through our blood banks. We’ll definitely need more to replace what my patients have lost. There’s plenty more we’re going to need as well,” Jane answered.
“I’ll make sure everything you need is here tomorrow once you get that list to me,” Elijah vowed.
“I need to make my rounds, but I’ll have it to you in an hour or two,” the nurse replied. Elijah nodded and Jane rushed off to another patient who seemed to be having a rough time.
We left the makeshift hospital after that. Neither of us wanted to get in the way of the doctors or the nurses there.
In a show of their appreciation, the town threw us a welcome dinner with an incredible amount of food and drink. They thanked us profusely for their freedom. When dinner was over, they all lined up and started offering tribute in exchange for the protection of the Rising Sun pack.
Elijah graciously accepted their tributes with the exception that they were to focus on getting on their feet first. One of the town leaders who’d survived the vampire ordeal led us into the basement of the central mansion.
There was a massive safe inside, and he opened it to reveal the riches the vampires had gathered during their time in this small town.
“They demanded tribute from us all, but they didn’t stop at our small town. In order for them not to attack the surrounding villages, this was the price,” the man explained.
The room was full of gold bars, crates full of euros, and chests full of gemstones and jewelry. I walked over to one, running my fingers along a diamond tennis bracelet in awe.
“I will take this blood money and use it to protect your people and mine,” Elijah vowed.
“Thank you. Already I know that you will be different,” he answered.
“I promise you that I will be,” Elijah said firmly.