ALEK
“You’ve come a long way,” Alek said to his intruder, only glancing in their direction.
“It was the least I could do for the Monarch of all Vampires,” Tiller said from the doorway. “Especially seeing how busy you’ve been,” he added as he glanced at Alek’s feet.
Alek noticed Tiller’s lowered gaze and felt it was only natural for the Fox to be distracted. He stood in the center of a pile of broken bodies.
Alek flashed his fangs at Tiller and lifted the crystal decanter in his hands to his lips.
“Are you worried about them? Don’t worry too much, they’re all dead,” he teased.
Tiller sighed, raised his hand as a signal to the hidden Veil Police, known as Blue Jays, to stay back. Hoping they wouldn’t make sudden movements.
“And why did you feel the need to kill so many of your own kind,” Tiller asked.
“My kind?” Alek repeated as he faced Tiller fully.
The atmosphere changed immediately. Shadows peeled themselves from the wall and crawled like frantic spiders towards Tiller and the guards, circling them all. A few of the guards shifted in nervousness, bracing themselves for attack.
“Youdarecompare me to them? They’re accidents. I was forged eternal.” He took a threatening step forward. “I should rip your ears off for that insult.”
The single step stirred up a wave of fear that ran through the Blue Jays standing behind Tiller. The pressure from a noble Vampire’s power always caused panic. His pale skin glowed in the nearly pitch-black room. His burgundy kilt rode low on his hips, and his long silver hair was plastered to his skull from the amount of blood that covered him.
Tiller’s eyes ran over him, searching for a weakness.
Seeing this Alek lifted a hand and motioned up. “Eyes up here, demon.” He grinned. “I’m sorry, but I’ve only ever enjoyed pussy.”
Tiller’s expression remained unmoved. “I heard through the grapevine that there is something you’re after. That there is information that you would risk your life to acquire.”
“And you’re offering it to me?” Alek asked, looking down his nose at Tiller, his stance casual as he took another swig from his bottle. “I assume you want something from me. I’ve heard about you, fox. You’re going around gathering toys to play games against the councilmen with.” Spreading his arms wide, he added, “You should rejoice that I’ve deigned to conquer the Slavic’s for you.”
“Indeed, I would be thankful… If I didn’t already know that your four sons are taking over what the Slavic’s lost,” Tiller said, pulling his cellphone out of his coat pocket.
“You’re not fooling anyone,” he added.
“Who said I need to fool anyone?” Alek asked.
A whisper of wind faintly brushed past Tiller’s cheek.
It wasthe only warning of movement from Alek before Tiller realized the Vampire was now an inch away from him with his cellphone in his hand.
“I only need to claim it as mine, and it becomes so. Which just so happens to be easy for me to do.” His amused gaze met Tiller’s flustered stare.
Regaining his composure, Tiller put his hand out. “Return it.”
Alek clicked his tongue, lifting the cellphone. “Not until you tell me what you’re offering me. And what is it you think you know about me?”
“Information about Surrem,” Tiller offered.
He flinched when he heard the ominous crack of his cellphone.
Alek tossed the broken phone to the floor and ordered, “Speak.”
Straightening his collar, Tiller lifted his chin. “I will investigate them, if you agree to a five-year contract with me.”
The rolling shadows surged up like waves in response to Alek’s disrupted emotions. Ominously, they devoured the bodies that surrounded him. Their dark depths slowly turned red, deepening in color till they were bright and rich like blood. The sound of bone crunching and flesh squelching filled the room. Alek grinned as he drew away, giving Tiller his back.
“You have yourself a deal.”
