Internal Conflict

Nathaniel flipped through a series of documents, scribbling down any necessary notes on a yellow legal pad.Xavier, a loyal hybrid of the clan and head of daylight security, went through another pile of documents, highlighting important information then passing it to Nathaniel.

Usually Marcus helped Nathaniel with the paperwork, but due to Marcus’s sudden absence, Nathaniel recruited the assistance of Xavier.They had been analyzing the paperwork for hours, deciding upon sources of blood and issues involving finalization of hunting and gathering.It was a process that was performed once a month in order to insure the clan had enough food.

Victims were chosen on various merits:threat and danger to society was a big one.The larger the threat, the better the target.Medical history, specifically diseases, were looked at to verify overall health.The exsanguis usually didn’t contract most human diseases; however, the hybrids were a bit susceptible to the pathogens.Location was a large factor as well. They had to choose from various areas to prevent any patterns emerging.But, most of their intended victims were individuals that would not be missed and seldom did a missing person’s request get filed.After humans were chosen, a group of hybrids and pures were then provided with names and locations of the intended prey and then the exsanguis would hunt.

Humans were seldom brought back to the clan hideout.Usually the consumption of blood was performed at a secret location that was either thoroughly cleaned or thoroughly destroyed.Nathaniel’s crew was meticulous in covering their tracks.No investigative agency had yet to locate any of their victim’s bodies.

Nathaniel did allow humans into the clan, but at the cost of living the rest of their days with the exsanguis.They were seldom allowed to venture from the manor unescorted.Usually any human brought into Nathaniel’s clan became a lover to a pure or a breeder.Nathaniel felt the concept of using humans as feeders was rather tasteless and de-valued the humans; however, a lover was allowed to be a feeder but only to their respective mate.

The door to the small, dingy room opened as Rose quickly paced over to the clan head.“Father?”

Nathaniel looked up and quickly removed his smile upon seeing her distressed face.He placed his paperwork on the table and shifted his full attention to the stunning redhead.“Rose.What’s wrong?”

“Have you heard from Angela?”

He shook his head.“No.Why?”

“Xavier, have you?”

“Nope,” he said, still highlighting.

“I can’t find her anywhere.”Rose began pacing the room nervously.“And she won’t answer her phone.”

Nathaniel grinned, assuming that the pregnancy hormones were probably getting the best of his worrisome daughter.“I’m sure she’s fine, Rose.She probably wants to be left alone right now.”

“I don’t know.Something just doesn’t feel right.Xavier, have you heard from Marcus yet?”

“No.But I don’t expect to hear from for at least a few more days.”

“Have you called him?”

Xavier finally looked up to the red head and sighed.“No, Rose.I haven’t called or talked to him.If he needs me, he knows how to get a hold of me.”

She tossed her cell phone toward Xavier.The hybrid easily caught the silver device.“I can’t get ahold of him either.I keep getting a dropped signal.”

“Maybe he lost his phone,” Nathaniel offered.

“Not Marcus.Let me try.”Xaiver used his own phone and punched in Marcus’s number.It rang twice before the signal became dropped.“Hold on.”He sent a text message that was their signal for emergency:dinner will be late.Once the text was sent, the other party had three minutes to respond.If there was no response, then it was an indication of trouble.“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Xavier stated flatly, turning back to his paperwork.“You’ll see.He’ll respond in like a minute.He always does.”

Rose stared at the phone, the knots growing tighter in her stomach.She could almost hear the drumming of the second hand on the wall clock.Nathaniel’s casual smile devolved into a concerned frown as three minutes came and went.“Something’s wrong,” he said, rising from his chair.

Xavier sprang up, already barking demands on his walky talky to other hybrids in the group.

“Come with me, Rose.”Nathaniel snatched his pregnant daughter’s hand and exited the room with Xavier on his heels.“Xavier, do you know where Marcus was going?”

“The only thing he told me was the east coast.He said he had a lead on Alena and that he would contact me once he found her.”

“He told me the same thing.Who do we have on the east coast that we can trust?”

“I know a few people but we don’t have any of our crew out there right now.”

“Rose,” he flipped he gaze toward the worried woman.“Where’s Cody?”

“He’s asleep.”

“Go get him and tell him to meet me in the conference room.”Nathaniel released her hand and watched her scurry down the hall.“Contact Walter and the rest of the group.I want them…”

The lights went out, casting them into momentary blackness, and causing Nathaniel to lose his train of thought.

“What the hell?”Xavier glanced to Nathaniel who had already adapted to the dark with his vibrant blue eyes.He plucked a walky talky off his belt and depressed the call button. “Kyle, what’s going on with the lights?Why aren’t the backup generators kicking in?”

“I don’t know,” returned a voice.“I’m on my way to check the breaker now.Hey, wait a second.There’s something weird going on here…”

The line went dead.

“Kyle?”

No answer.

“Kyle?!”Xavier was growing visibly concerned.He glanced to Nathaniel who merely nodded affirmatively.“Code red, code red,” he hollered into the walky talky as they both began jogging down the corridor.They stopped momentarily for Xavier to slam a switch on the wall.A siren was supposed to sound as well as flashing blue lights, but nothing happened.He smacked the large button again.“What is going on here?”He pounded the button, but nothing happened.

“Wait.”Nathaniel placed a hand on the hybrid’s shoulder.“Listen.”And then the sound of gunfire popped in the near distance.Both of them whipped their heads in the direction of the tell-tale sound.“Oh dear God,” Nathaniel whispered then grabbed the walky talky.“Anyone who can hear this fall out now.Man on the moon.I repeat, man on the moon.”

A hybrid came dashing down the hall, waving at them frantically.“We’re under attack!”

“Who is it,” Xavier asked.

“I don’t have a clue.”

“Exsanguis?” Xavier and Nathaniel took off running with the hybrid toward the room that contained the weapons.They could hear screaming and could smell the distinct odor of blood on the air.

“Yes, sir,” the hybrid responded to his leader.“Definitely pures.”

Nathaniel could feel the adrenaline burst into his veins as his claws and fangs erupted forward.“It’s gotta be Aaron’s boy.”

“Dad!”

Nathaniel stopped dead in his tracks.It was Rose.He shot a glance to Xavier.“Go!Get the weapons.Get the clan safe.”

“But sir?”

Nathaniel ignored his comrade and bolted in the direction of his daughter’s voice.“Rose, I’m coming.”A beam of light poked out of a room thirty feet from him followed by Rose stumbling out holding the flashlight with one hand and her swollen abdomen with the other.

“Daddy?”She exclaimed upon seeing Nathaniel close the gap between them.A wave of relief washed over her delicate features.

Suddenly a massive boom rocked the very foundation of the building.The floor beneath them trembled as an explosion in the west wing ripped through to the heart of the shelter.The blast wave forced Nathaniel to his face and poured debris between him and his oldest child.