Oberon rushed back and forth hurriedly ushering new and confused vampires into the backs of huge trucks. They had to transport thousands of vampires and do it under the radar of the humans and the Council's appointees in the area.
He didn't know if Sarasoto and Balor were in the area but he was certain that if there was a sudden exodus of vampires by traditional means the Magistrate would become aware somehow and surprise had to be on their side.
Truck after truck pulled up and Oberon pushed vampires into the back until they were crammed in shoulder to shoulder. They fought amongst themselves and acted like rabid dogs. He wished to correct them but he didn't have time.
Instead he just pushed more in and slammed the doors shut. They had to get on the road. Their human helpers as drivers could stand the sun but the trucks had to get to the caves in the desert and unload everyone before the sun rose, the tops of the trucks were translucent. Despite a fresh coat of black paint over them, the hurried manner in which it was done offered little in the sense of confidence in a thorough job.
He was glad to have some help from others but Kimberly was holding him personally responsible for the entire endeavor. What she was doing with her time he had no idea but he was a busy vampire.
Kimberly was reporting to her master. She watched the army she had created get loaded into the trucks from a window above and spoke on the phone.
"Yes, my Lord. They are being loaded as we speak and shall be in position before sunup. We can begin the attack the following sunset.
"Be careful, Kimberly. Our element of surprise has been stolen from us. Your failure allowed information to leak and the Council is preparing for the attack. I feel it matters not. We have enough soldiers to overwhelm them.
They may be older and stronger, and for that our casualties will be great, but I believe we will be victorious in the end. Our total numbers are sufficient fodder to win a battle of attrition."
"How could they know?" asked Kimberly.
"Your new vampires were sloppy and attracted attention. A contingent was sent to investigate and came upon our plans. Exactly how I do not know but it is of no matter. Proceed as scheduled. I will accept nothing less than full victory."
"Yes, my Lord. It shall be done." she hung up. How could they have found her out? She shook the thought from her head. My master says to worry not and so I shall not. We continue as scheduled. She went back to the broken, filthy window she had strayed from as she spoke and watched the trucks beginning to leave with their cargo, headed for the caves near the Council's precious Hall outside of Chandler. She watched with a smile thinking about the spoils of this war which she intended to lay her hands upon in the form of riches and power.
`
"Who was that?" asked Balor.
"It was Lanius." Sarasoto folded the phone and pocketed it then continued. "He told me that I should be departing for Chandler shortly to aid in the defense of the Hall but he says that you shall remain here and continue the investigation."
"Like hell. You lie. I am a Patriot and will stand with my fellow Patriots whenever a foe advances upon us."
Sarasoto was taken aback and it showed.
Balor continued seeing the shock on his friend's face. "I know that you consider me a nerd and probably even think me weaker or less brave because I don't run headlong into full battle at the first inkling of conflict but you have seen me fight many battles, old friend. I am no coward and enjoy a fight just as much as you. I'm just not foolish about getting into them. I will be returning with you to fight shoulder to shoulder with you, Lanius, and all of the Patriots. Be certain you gather all of the gear and don't forget anything."
His shocked face growing still more shocked Sarasoto's mouth was agape.
"Yes sir, I will be certain to load all of your electronics. With your permission." Sarasoto feigned servitude.
"Ah, you see? All of these centuries and you don't know me as well as you believe. I'm guessing I'm equally uninformed about you. You're a gruff vampire, Sarasoto. Why are you always so grumpy? We should use this time together to talk."
"You talk." Said Sarasoto. "I would rather drive in contemplative silence." he said, mostly to himself, as he turned away from Balor toward the drivers seat of their SUV.
They drove in silence for a long time, crossing the bridge and getting on the 680. It was a long drive ahead of them and Balor wanted to know more about why this brute was so brutish.
"How old are you, Sarasoto? He asked finally breaking the silence.
"I lost track sometime around the New World. Was around 5000 at that time, I think, though." Sarasoto answered and clammed back up.
"Well, I remember those days. I was 32 when I was turned in Rome in 786 BC by a female I was courting. We were in the midst of passion and she bit me and started to drink. Before I knew she had done it. I was befuddled. She was grinning when I passed out, I'll never forget that. When I awoke she and I embarked on a long journey through life, traveling the known world. Many years later, when in Eastern Europe, she went out on some inane errands and never returned. I stayed an entire year waiting. I can only assume she was killed by a vampire hunter. Do you remember when you were turned?"
Cinnin stared ahead at the road and didn't offer an answer. As the 680 merged with 5 he saw them.
A huge line of eighteen wheelers stretching as far as he could see up the highway. It was quite the caravan, he thought, and sped up to pass them.
`
In Chandler Lanius was busy ordering preparations for the impending attack. He had ordered a contingent of strong vampires to line the canyon that lead to the Hall hidden in the red rocks of the Arizona desert. They would create a shield wall, funneling the attack to the center where the enemies' numbers could not overwhelm the older, stronger vampires.
While they were much stronger and faster, they could be overwhelmed if the numbers Balor suggested were true. He did not know for sure, he had said, but was certain it was many.
Lanius ordered the Hall Guard to stand at the Hall entrance where he would stand with his Patriots.
They would be the last line of defense for the Hall. The other members of The Council were, of course, vacated to an undisclosed location to remain in tact should Lanius fall.They were old and strong vampires and they would create a new working government
. The small army Lanius had called made up of magistrates and their deputies from the surrounding areas were mostly battle hardened, older vampires but for now they were at ease.
Their enemy was yet far away and they did not expect them today, or even tomorrow. Knowing that it was an army of new vampires told them the attack would start just after sunset of the following day. All they had to do was hold their ground until sunup.
Lanius paced, nervous. Where is Sarasoto? I need him here with my Patriots. We have won many a battle at the edge of his axe. I should have recalled Balor, as well. And where was Oberon? He had mysteriously disappeared when the preparations began.
He was not much of a soldier but he was an old and strong vampire, he could be of use.
`
And back in San Francisco Oberon watched the last of the trucks pull away. He would ride with Kimberly and her entourage to meet the trucks and command the army against Lanius and the Council. He knew by now he would be missed. He couldn't wait to see the look on Lanius' face when he was seen at the head of this army.
Kimberly slammed the door of the office behind her and descended the skeletal, metal staircase of this former factory.
"Is that the last of them?" she asked
"Yes, my Lady. All of the trucks are loaded and moving, and almost an hour before I estimated." Oberon reported with open pride. He was exhausted, disheveled, and a little exasperated so he expected a pat on the back for this last.
"Well done, then. Shall we be off?" She replied offhandedly and headed toward her SUV.
Oberon thought that the lack of praise smarted and he deserved a bit more than that but dutifully followed her silently. His time would come. When this coup was over he would have riches and power. It had been promised to him and he planned to collect. Honestly, he was so sick of the old ways of things that it would have taken much less of a promise to get him to turn on Lanius but they offered, so he negotiated and they had agreed.
Once he was in the backseat of the SUV, Kimberly's minion put the truck in gear and off they went. They would follow the same route as the trucks and arrive before them to oversee the unloading by the appointed captains. Sarasoto and Balor, unknowingly, followed the same route and were now driving in silence, about two hours ahead of Kimberly's motorcade. Balor had given up trying to make conversation and was playing games on his phone.
Inside the trucks the army of new vampires struggled for room to breathe. They pushed and shoved each other and many fought. Those appointed captains were stuck in there just the same but tried to keep some semblance of order. They were sometimes shown cursory respect. A few vampires were killed where they stood. And, crammed in there as they were, they didn't have room enough to fall but just turned to ash and were crushed by the crowd who brushed the ashes from their clothes.
~ ~ ~
In the desert outside of Chandler hundreds of battle hardened and strong vampires were at a soldiers' leisure. Some played football while others played cards. Some just sat around their fires and talked the night away. Some trained in groups, sword fighting and hand to hand combat. Inside each of them was the knowledge that soon they would face a fight, but for now they were relaxed.