This was the beginning of his monopoly, the start of his power. Little did he know, all the people he healed with my blood were turned into vessels that craved my blood to live.
I’ve always been proud of creating a race more advanced than humans, but as the years went by, my heart ached with guilt.
I helped to create the end of humanity.
Chapter Three
My father handed me a crystal glass, its surface gleaming, filled with a rich, amber liquor. A large cube sat in the middle, like an island in the vast ocean. I felt a sudden surge of anticipation for the celebration as he smiled and lifted his glass in a toast, inviting Gabe and me to follow suit.
With our arms raised like a pyramid, my father proclaimed, “To Vincent!”
We clinked our glasses together, and a bright, cheerful sound echoed through the room as the cool, smooth glass touched my lips. A fiery sting shot across my dry lips as I tasted the alcohol, followed by a rich, smoky caramel sweetness that filled my mouth. It felt as if a scorpion injected poison into my throat, and the sharp, burning pain made me cough uncontrollably while my face contorted in agony.
I hated his alcohol; I much preferred wine.
“A delicious vintage I’ve been saving for a special occasion.” My father quickly finished his glass, a satisfied look of wistfulness on his face as he set the glass on the bar. He smacked his hand against his forehead. “Silly me, I forgot something.” He approached the mahogany desk, and I heard a drawer open. Hebeamed with a child-like smile as he clutched a small square box with a red button to his chest. “Go ahead.”
My father’s flair for the dramatic made me stifle a laugh. He watched, eyes alight with anticipation, as my finger pushed the button. A light glowed from the center, and within a second, the air filled with confetti, and balloons rained down from the ceiling.
His lips curved into a gentle smile as the vibrant, confetti-like pieces of paper fluttered down, blanketing his suit. “Isn’t that fun?” Warmth and happiness radiated out of him, emotions he doesn’t feel very often. He placed a hand on my shoulder. “What are your birthday plans?”
I shrugged, shaking the confetti from my hair. “I’m hoping now that I am officially twenty-one, even after sixty-five years of birthdays, I can do more outside my room?”
My father’s smile faded, his eyebrows furrowed as his face fell, worry etched deep into his skin. Clearing his throat, a nervous cough echoed the tension in his shoulders. “Is your room no longer comfortable to you? I can fix whatever you don’t like.”
“The room is amazing, Dad. I appreciate you creating everything to make me comfortable,” I began, “but I really want to create relationships with the other people in this Elysium, maybe even get a job.”
His eyes grew wide. “A JOB? Absolutely not, I vowed to take care of you for the rest of your life. I am sorry, but that’s simply out of the question.”
I watched Gabe’s fingers fidget in his hair, a clear sign of his unease, but I didn’t care. “This may come as a surprise, but I’m not yourprisoner. Let me actuallydosomething.”
“Sir,” Gabe’s deep masculine voice interjected. “My apologies?—”
“Don’t apologize for my son’s outburst.” His calm voice, devoid of any emotion, sent shivers down my spine more than any raised voice ever could. He lifted his face to the sky and squinted before another sip of his drink. “You’re right, my boy, you are responsible, and I should recognize that to show you my trust. So how does this sound to you?” He turned to me, both his hands gingerly on my shoulders. “I’ll allow you to leave your floor, but only if Gabe accompanies you.” He paused, a smirk playing on his lips. “Do we have a deal?”
I knew he was lying to me. This was his way, always saying exactly what I wanted to hear. I forced a smile before answering. “Deal.”
His lips curled into a smirk, and he winked at me, a triumphant glint in his eyes. “That’s my boy, you never give up.” He turned to Gabe. “I’ll give orders first thing in the morning to halt all other responsibilities he has to focus on you and your protection.” He turned to the muscled man. “Please ensure you report to me tomorrow to discuss your new role.”
He nodded to my father, his hands fidgeting behind his back. “I was going to ask your permission in private, but with this new development, I think it’s appropriate.” Clasping his hands behind his back, he puffed out his chest. “May I ask for your permission to take Vincent to Smoke for his birthday tonight? Rest assured, I’ll request an exclusive table in the VIP area so we’ll not be bothered.”
I knew Gabe was essentially calling my dad’s bluff and could practically feel the tension in the air. If he doesn’t let me leave this floor, his lie will be obvious; however, if he does, I know this is a single exception. The thought of having a meal at Smoke, the chicest place in Elysium, sent my heart soaring. Getting a reservation at this restaurant is nearly impossible. It’s one of the most exclusive in the world, with a menu curated by top chefs, each dish a masterpiece.
Regardless of my father’s response, a rebellious determination to break free from his watchful eye was coursing through me. Even if he allowed Gabe to take me out, I knew it would be a temporary freedom, and I’d soon return to the suffocating confinement of my floor. I’d be stuck in the same endless cycle that had trapped me for another sixty-five years.
A stern look crossed my father’s face as he raised his chin, a sharp tutting sound escaping his lips. His eyes lingered on my boyfriend’s face, a silent question in their depths, before lightly patting him on the shoulder. “Of course you have my permission. This will be a birthday to remember.” He stuck out his forefinger sternly. “Be careful with him tonight, our enemies have been quiet, and the Dogs still roam outside Elysium.”
Gabe put his hand over his heart. “You have my word.”
“Ah, to be young again.” My dad got a faraway look in his eyes, like he was recalling a long-forgotten memory.
He always says we’re young, but maybe he’s too old to remember. Like everyone in Elysium.
The Dogs were always a concern. During the war, the government told its citizens they were created to keep an eye on their enemies, although they also monitored their underlings. The Dogs were cold, metallic figures made of hydraulics and steel with brains programmed to record and relay all interactions back to their controllers. Once the government began to fall, the Dogs turned against their own creators, turning feral and deadly. Once they went rogue, they formed vicious packs and were determined to kill anyone who stepped in their path.
We have one rule known to all: stay inside, and they’ll leave us alone.
“We know our enemies control the Dogs, so their silence concerns me. Please be alert, you know how I feel about them,” my dad almost spat his words. Though he remains silent, therumor persists that his closest companion, Dante, allied with the humans in their war against us. In the early days, my dad used to say it was the biggest betrayal against him, and we dared not speak his name around my father. A century is a short time for vampires, yet long enough for Dante to surely be dead. We haven’t had an attack from the humans in years, but that didn’t stop my dad from being constantly paranoid.
