Seated in the abandoned warehouse that has become her headquarters, Kimberly was addressing the vampires around her.
"We must increase our numbers substantially. The boss needs us to overwhelm the elders in order to defeat them. He wants us to outnumber them twelve to one, double that, if possible. The elders are individually far stronger than us and our only chance for victory is to attack with overwhelming force.
I need you to go out into this city and turn as many people as you can find and force them to join our cause. He has entrusted me with raising an army and I will not fail. Which means that you cannot fail. When we are victorious we shall all be richly rewarded with fortune and power."
The cheers of the mass of vampires she addressed filled the stale, rank air of the warehouse.
The floor was littered with broken glass and bits of the deteriorating concrete. The windows which once stood gleaming at the top of the tall, concrete walls were almost entirely shattered. Just on the outside of those windows, mostly concealing himself behind a large steel upright, crouched Balor.
He had begun searching the decrepit, forgotten industrial neighborhood after his research indicated that the area Sarasoto had claimed of interest was centrally located among most of the reported deaths. He surmised that it was a good place for vampires to gather out of sight of the public and found his hunch to be correct after trying several of the complex's many buildings.
He listened to gather information and hoped to glean their future plans. As he stood concealed he heard Kimberly continue.
"Soon we must begin the trek to Chandler. He has found a network of caves in the desert where we can conceal ourselves as we move our soldiers into position. We cannot arouse the suspicion of the local magistrate and so we must travel with care. We will move small numbers at a time in the manner that the humans travel so we can blend in with the public. He has helped us secure transports which will ferry our soldiers to the desert. We begin moving in three days. In the meantime you must all go forth and recruit many more vampires to our cause. Go now and return here no later than three days for the beginning."
Balor had some information to report. He decided it was time to slip away before he was found in his hiding place as the vampires began to leave on their mission. He would return to the crematory and discuss with Sarasoto when he returned from inspecting the crime scenes.
He began to slowly climb down the rusty steel ladder on the outside of the building. Upon reaching the ground he turned to find three vampires had discovered him. There they stood, three minions deciding if they should attack or report to Kimberly the intruder they had found.
"What are you doing here vampire?" the female asked. She stood with a male vampire on either side of her. She had fiery red hair and looked like she came straight from the Gap. She wore tight jeans and a white V-neck sweater with a set of three blue triangles ascending from left to right across her breasts. Underneath she wore a white turtleneck. The males also looked equally yuppie wearing boat shoes and sweaters. They creeped closer almost in unison as they awaited his reply.
"Well, I was hoping that I could join your cause." Balor said taking a few steps toward them.
"I guess we could use another, but you look frail old man. Are you able to fight?"
"Let me show you!" Balor exclaimed and shot forward surprising them. He did indeed look like a frail old man but he was an old vampire with more strength than the three combined. He attacked the male on the left first, gripping his throat and lifting him with an uppercut to the gut. He had come prepared with a small sword and he unsheathed it with a swing taking the female's head. She had barely time to react to his attack and now she fell into a heap of ash on the ground outside the warehouse which was similarly littered with concrete chunks, trash, and the shattered remains of a once thriving commercial space.
Balor swung again and decapitated the other male with a swift and strong stroke. His ashes fell to the ground and were swept away with the breeze. The male he first attacked now had regained his breath and attacked with a right cross. Balor sidestepped the punch easily and drove his blade into his belly. When the vampire fell to his knees Balor pulled the blade from his abdomen, turned and swung to take his head cleanly above the shoulders. The vampires ashes blew lazily in the soft breeze and Balor quickly returned his small sword to the concealed sheath and turned looking for any other vampires who may have seen the fight. He saw none.
Hurriedly he escaped on foot heading for his SUV parked down the block a ways. He thought that Sarasoto may have returned to the crematory by now and he was anxious to both report what he had discovered about the mass of vampires gathered in the Tenderloin and hear what Sarasoto may have uncovered.
`
Sarasoto returned to the crematory expecting to see Balor hunched over his computers analyzing data. He was surprised to find only Ashley seated in an office chair spinning to entertain herself.
"Where is Balor?" he inquired.
"Dunno'," she replied mid-spin examining her fingernails. "he just said he'd be back soon."
Before Sarasoto could become annoyed with the girl's lack of knowledge the problem solved itself when the door creaked open and in came Balor.
"Sarasoto, I'm glad you're here. I have some important information. I found a warehouse where the vampires congregate and have learned that they intend to begin transporting an army of vampires to the desert near Chandler to await an invasion upon the elders and The Council in a coup de tat. They plan to begin transport in three days but in the meantime have orders to change as many as they can to be recruited to their cause. We must inform Lanius immediately."
"How did you come upon this knowledge?" Sarasoto asked cautiously, knowing the questions Lanius would have for them.
"I concealed myself by the windows of a warehouse where they were gathered and heard them speaking of their plans."
"Were you seen?"
"Yes, I was discovered but I killed those that discovered me before they could report. They are unaware that we have this information." He crossed to the desk and sat, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees he studied his hands as if they were foreign to him.
"There's more. The one speaking the orders referred to a "boss". There must be at least one elder conspirator. We must inform The Council."
"Yes, let us call Lanius and now and relay the information. But only to Lanius. Trust no-one with this information. Lanius will have a plan.
`
Upon hanging up with Sarasoto and Balor Lanius took some immediate actions, despite not wanting to tip his hand. After ordering Balor and Sarasoto to try and discover who the vampire at the top was and reporting it back immediately, he contacted the head of security at the Hall and told him to begin calling in as many able bodied elders as possible to begin fortifying their position against attack but did not reveal the nature of the threat. If this attack were to come they would wait for it and surprise that threat with greater numbers than are believed are there to resist. He called the Magistrate in Chandler and sounded the same alert without specifying the threat. The Magistrate pledged that the entirety of his forces will be dispatched to fight for Lanius at The Hall.
Lanius sat back, satisfied that they would be ready to meet the army marching towards them but was concerned that the female vampire that Balor heard spoke of another who was in charge. Who is the mastermind, the leader, of this insurgency? He began thinking of those who may benefit from such an attack and who may be so devious as to attempt it.
Lanius decided to pose this question to The Council and sent a message that he wanted a meeting as soon as possible. The impending army headed this way was one obstacle but finding out who orchestrated such an act of treason was far more important.
`
The meeting began much the same as the others. Oberon was present to call the meeting to order once Lanius was seated at his place at the head of the table.
"Gentlemen, we have a grave threat upon our doorstep. A force of new vampires begins toward us in three days from San Francisco. The happenings there were but the beginning. Someone is recruiting an army of vampires there to come here and overthrow our authority.
Those that I sent to investigate have reported this to me but they have yet been unable to identify the person giving the orders. They know that a female lieutenant is carrying out orders to build this army but we do not yet know the identity of the general giving her those orders."
"What size of an army are we to face?" the query came from Hickman.
"We are uncertain but I was told that the congregation of vampires observed by our investigators was at least two hundred. We must assume the worst and that the army is greater than those numbers. I have already sounded the alert and all personnel available will be dispatched here for the purposes of defense of The Council and this Hall. I call on all of you to pledge as many as you can to this same endeavor."
Hickman replied first, "Certainly, my Lord, I will make available all of those under my command to report to you."
"Very well. You have my gratitude Hickman. I expect the same from all of you. I will act as general of the troops here and all efforts should be coordinated through me. I will, immediately after this meeting, call together my Patriots to also be here to lead the charge."
One after another the Representatives stood and pledged soldiers to the defense effort.
As they did Lanius studied them for their mannerisms, looking for what might be an indication of guilt among them. None stood out but a couple could have been in the 'maybe' pile. Nobody is above suspicion he thought.
"We will be ready for this attack but what concerns me more is the identity of their Commander." He searched the faces of the old vampires seated at the table.
"Do any of you have any information which could provide clues to this quandary? Have you any name in mind that should be investigated for suspicious activity?"
The Representatives looked at each other but offered no leads. Then, Kerberos stood.
"With your permission, my Lord?" he requested of Lanius to address the Representatives.
"Speak, Kerberos. What information do you have?"
"I have no direct information, my Lord, but request permission to create a task force to investigate. We should put our best and brightest detectives on the case to seek out the leader of this coup. Every lead should be pursued and I fear that your two investigators in San Francisco are insufficient to do so effectively."
"Very well, Kerberos. Create your task force from among our military police. I believe there is insufficient time to put together such a force, let alone for its investigation to bear fruit but build it anyway. If it is too late for preemptive action it may still serve as post facto investigative body to sort out the happenings I believe are very close at hand. You shall report directly to me, and only to me, any and all information that they come upon. I urge you to keep a low profile in the search and do not divulge any information to anyone not essential to the investigation, including the other members of this Council. We do not want to tip our hand to our enemies. For now they are unaware that we are preparing for this threat and I think it best to keep them in the dark about what we know and our preparations."
"Yes, my Lord." Kerberos replied with a bow and took his seat. It was at this time that Addance, Representative of New Hampshire, rose.
"With your permission, my Lord?"
"Speak your mind, Addance."
"It occurs to me, my Lord, that the perpetrator we seek may be an elder. Perhaps a vampire in this room. How are we to know who can be trusted?"
"Your fears echo my own, Addance. Until we have more information we must keep this body together. The risk of a member of this Council being who we seek is outweighed by our need to operate as a Council. I assure you that nobody, either a member of this Council or not, is above suspicion. If it is found that it is indeed a member of this Council that seeks to overthrow our authority rest assured that they will be found out and punished severely for their treason."
"I move that a military tribunal be established to investigate rather than the task force suggested. We cannot allow a member of the Council to investigate themselves. We need a special prosecutor to be selected from the general courts and an independent team be put together. Their findings should not be presented to this Council but only to the military tribunal."
"We will do both, eventually." replied Lanius. "Addance, you are wise and have served this Council for many years with honor. I would direct you toward my instructions regarding the task force. The only member of the Council privy to the investigation will be myself. At the conclusion of the investigation all findings will be presented to a tribunal and a trial will commence with both an independent prosecutor and defense being parties to due process as we all agreed is necessary among a free people. Does this assuage your concerns?"
"Yes, my Lord. As always your suggested course of action is wise and fair. I thank you for leading this Council with such honor."
"Thank you, Addance." Lanius accepted the compliment with a nod. Then, turning to the table in general
"If there are no more questions or requests let us adjourn and each attend to our duties. There is much to do and, per usual, little time in which to do it. With that, Oberon banged the gavel and the meeting was adjourned.
`
Oberon looked around to be sure that nobody could be close enough to overhear him as he stepped from his car toward his house. He held his phone to his ear thinking c'mon, c'mon answer ... the few rings seemed to mock his urgency*.* Finally the voice on the other end answered.
"Sir, I must report that The Council is aware of our impending attack and are preparing for it. I need guidance as to how to respond. The spies that they sent have discovered us. Shall I instruct Kimberly to begin the attack sooner? I am uncertain how soon we can move the army from San Francisco to Chandler. The logistics suggest at least two days to move all of our soldiers if we abandon our attempts to conceal the transport, longer if we still try to do that."
"It's unfortunate that they know. The fact that they have days to prepare means we will lose many more soldiers in the attack but I believe we will have sufficient numbers to still be victorious and a sacrifice I always assumed we would be forced to make. Contact Kimberly and tell her to begin transport immediately but still take every effort to conceal the transport. They will be better prepared than we first hoped but not as well prepared as they think they will be. We may still have the benefit of surprise yet, despite their spies."
"Yes, my Lord." Oberon chided. "I will contact Kimberly immediately."
"Very well, do so now." and he hung up.
Oberon immediately called Kimberly in San Francisco. "Kimberly, we have been discovered. He has ordered us to begin transport immediately but still conceal the act. Call in all of the soldiers you have now and begin moving them. If we hurry we may still have the benefit of surprise."
"How did they find out our plan?!?" Kimberly exclaimed.
"The investigators that Lanius sent to San Francisco have found you out. All the more reason to leave that city as soon as possible. I have not been appointed to any of the Council's investigative teams so I am only privy to what Lanius discusses with The Council in official meetings. They are assigning a task force to investigate and find our Lord. Then a military tribunal to prosecute. We will be on trial for treason alongside him if we fail. They have no leads discussed in The Hall but I do not know what else the investigators may have told Lanius that he has not discussed with The Council. Remember, conceal the transportation of our troops but do so with haste."
"Yes, Oberon. I will do my job but you must find a way to get more information about the investigation. I must know what they know in order to best plan around their defenses. Also, I expect you to fight with us when the attack begins. You cannot seize the power you desire without getting blood on your sword."
"I cannot jeopardize my position. I must fight on the side of the elders but be assured I will not fight well. They must not know that I am part of this until it is over and Lanius is in our custody."
"You are a coward Oberon." and she hung up.
"Stupid bitch" he barked at his phone and then scurried inside.