Chapter 16

Animals have a keen distrust of Vampires.

Master vamps generally take blood every day but only need it once a week as long as they do not allow their systems to become depleted and are not undergoing some type of physical exertion. The lack of blood will not kill a vamp, but it would make for an unbearable existence.

Garlic has no effect on Vampires.

Vampires can be killed by mutilation of the heart, decapitation, being branded by a holy item, or caught in sunlight. Other things that would normally cause pain to humans would also cause pain to Vampires—maybe even more so because where humans might die, Vampires continue to experience pain until they heal.

Vampires have a limited control over humans by allowing a bit of what animates their body to slip into humans. It was the way we mesmerize or hypnotize humans. And because of this a human who continually feeds a Vampire can often gain some of the Vampire's ability while still remaining human.

Vampires are required to take a number of regular human donors who willingly give blood. This cuts down on random human attacks.

Vampires get wealth from their human donors, but Masters are allowed to take financial support from specific targets, a process I found way too complicated to understand. Lower graded Vampires are not to be trusted to do this, so being a Vampire doesn't mean you will automatically be filthy rich. This is the reason so many lower Vampires are pimps, sucking the life from their victims.

I asked why Vampires didn't run for president or prime minister and control the world, and Tony told me, "They have." Tony asked me if I remembered the fall of the Roman Empire. It was decreed then that Vampires must maintain a lower profile to protect their existence.

A Master Vampire wasn't the strongest thing by far. An Elder was stronger than any Master. To become an Elder, you had to possess a power that could not be defined. No Vampire rules applied to an Elder.

After our long discussion, I relaxed again. But now my curiosity had gotten the better of me, and I focused it on my benefactor.

"Tony, who sired you?"

He stiffened. "Kaniji."

"Somehow I'm not surprised. And Johan, did he sire her?"

He shook his head. "No. But many years ago I believe they had a relationship. She denies it."

I thought hard about my next question. "Why do you care what happens to me? You've taken an interest in me in a way that seems uncharacteristic for a Council member to have with a Third."

His brow quirked up and he seemed perplexed by the question. "Because ... you're my liege."

My brow gathered. "You didn't sire me."

"No, but my second-in-command did, and I sired him. So you are ... part of my family. Even when I first set eyes on you I felt the kinship. Didn't you?"

I shook my head.

He made an angry, dismissive sound. "Figures. Third Generation ..." He closed his eyes briefly. "But I feel you, Kim. It's not your fault that you are not linked to me the way I'm linked to you."

"Linked?"

"Yes. It means that we are connected in a small way mentally. And that's how I found you. You don't know how to shield yourself the way Tige does."

"If you find Tige, what will happen?"

"He'll be put down. It's not that I want to. Tige is a Rogue and the rules are pretty firm on the matter. Don't look at me like that. Tige is my Second, my best friend. I love him! But he created a Third."

"No, Tige saved me ... sorta." I explained the events of my turning as I remembered them.

Tony rubbed his chin. "Still, he made another Neratomay, and then he ran."

"How will it be done?"

"Because he's my liege, if he's not killed in pursuit, it will be my choice. He will probably be taken into the sun while he sleeps. It's painful but quick."

"Damn, Tony. Tige sacrificed himself for me." I understood this now. He'd thrown away his existence to save me.

"He's a good man."

"Then why should he die?"

"Kim, just because I'm a Council member doesn't mean I can just make and break rules. There's another Council above mine. I mess up, and they'll have my head."

"Another Council?"

"Council of the Elders. There are Elder Councils all over the world. They sit in on our meetings then report back to their own Elder Council." He shook his head. "To be called out by them is not pretty. They are incredibly powerful. They control our 'demons'." He nodded. "This means that they can do things like knock you across a room without touching you."

"I think I understand. And Tony, you're a Master, not just a Council member? You seem too young to be a Master."

"I am a Master based on my strength and status," he said. "You can also become a Master when you reach the age of one thousand years. By the time a Vampire is a thousand years old, he or she is controlled and strong. But regardless of the age, a Council member is always considered a Master because in order to get on the Council you have to be powerful."

"And once you become a Master you can 'make' others. How did you get on the Council?"

"I killed my predecessor." He stood and offered me his hand. "It's a story that I'll save for another night."

I took his hand and stood.

"I want to show you the rest of the house and the location of my quarters."

The main floor had a smallish, modern kitchen, most likely for his human guests. Comfortable reclining chairs rested in a library decorated in dark wood. A metal and cement stairwell led to a second level where most of the glass was. The floor was either acid stained cement or slate. Plush rugs broke up the surface.

Tony had a huge round media room. He had rows of rounded theater seating upholstered in what appeared to be black chenille and a massive chenille sectional loaded with pillows. I didn't see a screen, but Tony told me it lowered from the ceiling.

There were only two others rooms on that floor. One was a conservative office with an oversized desk. The other was a room decorated in retro jazz posters. Albums lined the wall on expensive metallic shelves. He had a CD disc changer that held 2,500 discs. Tony assured me that it was filled to capacity. One reclining chair faced a wall of speakers.

"I like being alone when I listen to Jazz."

The top floor of his house was his bedroom. The stairwell didn't lead directly to the room. A brick wall with a metal door blocked the entrance into the room. Once he opened the door he led me inside a loft that gave the impression it was sitting on top of the city.