Albert Manlii has walked this earth for more than two thousand years, but survival on his own was never easy. Now he leads a faction of highly organized vampires who carefully guard the secret of their existence. Unlike the old days, potential recruits are carefully selected and presented with an offer.<br><br>Phillip Brewer has weeks to live -- if he lets his disease run its course. He doesn’t want to die, but given a choice, will his desire to live outweigh his concerns about the vampires’ ethics?<br><br>When the new recruit’s missteps are cause for concern, can Albert control the fallout, or will Phillip’s life once again be torn apart?

The Recruit

The people—vampires obviously—that he’d noticed near the path now surrounded them.


“Welcome,” the woman said. She handed him a lightweight, hooded sweatshirt coat. “Put this on over what you’re wearing and pull up the hood. Your death on paper will be recorded soon, and logged in a different part of the city. It’s better if you’re not recognized again.”


“Please, come with us now,” a man, one of the Frisbee players, said.


Phillip froze and turned to Albert. Everything was happening so quickly.


“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Albert said. “You can trust Eunice and Ivan to take good care of you until then.”


“Breathe,” the man—Ivan—said as he gestured for Phillip to follow.


“It’s no longer involuntary,” Ivan continued. “But you’ll need to present the appearance of human life, and you’ll need it for speech.”


Chapter 11