Chapter Twelve #2
“No. I mean yes. They want that. Me, I am merely going along with the plan, and it is why I had to ensure the Kicklighters were not kicking up problems. Which they were threatening to do if I did not bring you home immediately.” He drew a slow breath.
“When the moment is right, I hope to change my coven’s minds—to help them realize their efforts are futile—but I cannot take such a drastic stand from a weak position.
I must garner more support, powerful support. ”
“Why don’t you just spank ’em, then?” I snapped sarcastically.
“They would enjoy it too much,” he said dryly.
Of course they would. Damned vampires. “You’re their leader. What’s more powerful than that?”
He rubbed his hands up and down his thighs. “My coven is not working alone. This past year, several well-respected vampires from other covens have joined the cause and have been conspiring with your human politicians, lobbyists, and manufacturers of pharmaceuticals to assist in this takeover.”
Wait. What? “Humans are in on this?”
He nodded. “Thousands of people a day are being cured of chronic illnesses with the use of vampire blood. That, and Korean boy bands. Seems laughter is the best medicine after all. Either way, these big companies want it to stop—they are going bankrupt.”
“I knew it. I knew they’d get all pissy.” Leave it to big pharma and those corrupt psychos in DC to stab humankind in the back. Not that they were all bad, but it just didn’t shock me that the worst of them would go there.
Stark continued, “In exchange for this—for our kind to outlaw giving out medicinal vampire blood—they have agreed to grant us human rights so that we may enjoy legal ownership of property, travel freely, and most importantly, have freedom from those who hunt us. Being given the same rights as living humans would make it illegal to kill a vampire.”
“That’s what this is about?” It didn’t seem all that crazy to not want to be murdered, but how did this fit in to treating people like chicken nuggets?
“Giving us these rights will change everything,” he said.
“We will be able to legally work, vote, hold office, draft laws, run companies, and even join the military.” He paused.
“We could teach in your universities and influence your youth to become sympathetic to our kind—to see us as the oppressed instead of indiscriminate killing machines.”
Pfft! College kids would never go for that sort of propaganda. Then again…
“Okay,” I said, “none of those things are good, but there aren’t that many vampires in the world compared to the rest of us.” Two million versus eight billion. I could hardly call it a takeover if a few vampires voted or ran for office.
“Our wealth is immeasurable,” he explained, “and no longer having to hide our assets in caves or under questionable identities will allow us to use banks, invest openly, and influence politicians without fear of being targeted. In a handful of years, vampires will have significant power. We’ll own the world, and there will be nothing humans can do to stop us once this law is passed. ”
I was getting the picture now. They planned to establish themselves and then seep into powerful roles, run the institutions, and control humans with money.
I’d say it was a crazy plan, but there were groups of power-hungry people doing that very same thing right now.
Didn’t matter the political affiliation either. The bad apples were growing everywhere.
“So once they take over the farm, they’ll push us into pens,” I presumed.
“At first, they will be careful. They will legalize assisted suicide across the world. Then will come suicide-by-vampire, followed by death-by-vampire as a form of capital punishment. Humans will quickly become accustomed to the idea until one day people will wake up and find a vampire knocking on their door because their credit score is too low. Or because they spend too much time on Instagram, watching people braid hair in unique and festive ways.”
I gave him a look.
He shrugged. “It is addictive.”
True. But it was also harmless. “Goddammit. Why’s the world have to be so evil?”
“There are still plenty of good vampires out there alongside good humans who deserve saving.” He gazed at me with tender eyes.
“Stop that. I am not falling for your sweetie-pie looks, Stark.”
“So I am Stark again?” He flashed a quick smile.
“No. You’re still Monty, Monty. And I am not about to buy one dang word you say without a bowl of pudding.”
“Pudding?”
“That’s where the proof goes, don’t it?” I snapped. “I would also like to point out that none of this explains your lies. Why make me believe I’m a vampire?”
He looked down at his black boots.
“Well?” I barked.
“I, uh…” He cleared his throat. “I was preparing you.”
I stared expectantly.
He gave his short dark scruff a scratch. “There is only a small chance we can stop the Repurposed People Act from passing, and if we are successful, the vampires seeking control will move to plan B. There will be war, Masie. A civil war. The fanged kind. It will be bloody, ruthless, and swift.”
Oh. That didn’t sound good. “What’s that mean for people?”
“I do not know—depends on which side wins. But either way, war means that my enemies will come for you, and the island alone can only protect you for so long. As a human, you are too vulnerable.”
The dots suddenly formed a neon flashing “oh crap” sign. According to him, derailing this new law would halt a big problem but create a new one: vampire war.
“You were preparing in case there’s a war, so I could protect myself?” I asked.
“Yes.” He nodded. “And, also, so you could fight with me if it comes to that.”
Me? Fight? “As in fang-to-fang combat?”
“I meant it in more of a diplomatic sense. The vampire world still believes you are Queen Anna Trehueger Stark reincarnated. It means that if you were my wife, it would increase our odds of swaying any undecided vampires to our side. That is what the entire last few days were about—a test to demonstrate to my coven that you will thrive as a vampire and that you are truly Anna, strong and fierce, worthy of becoming one of us. They all voted yes, and with this support, it further improves our odds of swaying them when the time comes. Two legendary, powerful vampires are hard to say no to.”
Things had gone from clearer to cloudy again. “I hate to point out a flaw in your plan, but I don’t want to become a vampire, and I’m not Queen Anna Treehugger.”
“Trehueger,” he said with a German accent.
Who cared? “You want to correct my Southern pronunciation for sewer-crout, too?”
“Yes, very much.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You will not turn me or make me pretend I’m something I am not.” And that included someone who’d studied German in high school.
“The Masie I know would do anything to protect her family. Even becoming like me.”
Maybe he was right. Maybe not. “But why not tell me what’s happening? Why lie about me being a vampire? I mean, a girl can’t survive on protein shakes forever.”
He looked away, and his Adam’s apple bobbed with a stiff swallow.
My mouth fell open. “So you were going to turn me no matter what.”
“Having you believe you were a vampire would allow more time to prepare you, to ensure the best chances for your survival. Especially knowing that I may not be by your side very long after your transition.”
“Why?”
“War is war. But a vampire war is something far uglier. We do not believe in the humane treatment of our enemies. Most importantly, we do not stockpile bullets or bombs. We only stockpile food to ensure our armies are well fed.”
Oh. “We are the stockpile.”
“Correct.”
“You said that not all vampires believe in killing people,” I argued. “So how would that work?”
“In times of war,” he explained, “all bets are off until there is a victor.”
That was very bad news for humans, but things still weren’t adding up.
“You’re saying that you lied to help me survive in case the bill is shot down and vampires go to war.
Okay. Got it. But the bill is more likely to pass, right?
” That meant vampires would have human rights and move forward with plan A to take control.
He nodded yes.
“So what’s your plan for that?” I asked.
“None.”
“None?” I arched a brow.
“If the bill passes, then it is game over. In which case, my best option is still to keep my seat as the leader of my coven and have you by my side. Safe and protected.”
Whoa the hell whoa. “You mean that’s it? Just throw in the towel, and let’s call it a day? Let vampires buy up the world and subject us to your scream-fests?”
“It is not my preference, Masie, which is the reason I am taking a large risk to stop the Repurposed People Act behind the scenes; however, I am only one man—handsome, wealthy, and excellent in bed—yes. But even so, I must plan for the optimal outcome no matter which scenario happens.”
Ohmygod. This was probably why, in his words, he was “going along” with his coven at the moment. He would only take a real stand if he had enough support. Otherwise, so long, world! Nice knowing ya!
“Now I see why you’re so old. You’re just-just,” I threw my hands in the air, “playing it safe like a coward.”
“Coward?”
“If that bill passes, we can still fight. People can change the laws back. We don’t have to give in.”
“If the bill passes, vampires will move swiftly to ensure power flows in one direction: theirs. Before anything can be done, they will buy every news outlet, bank, and strategic company. Humans will be assured there is no movement to control them, and by the time anyone figures out the truth, it will be far too late. Trust me, I have seen the plans.” He toggled his head.
“I admit they are quite good. Who knew my antediluvian brethren had it in them?”
Oh Lord. This was a nightmare. “We can’t let this happen.”
“I know,” he said with a sprinkle of pride.
“Are you really on my side?”
“No.” He nodded yes.
I gave him a look.
“Sorry. Sorry. I mean yes,” he said.