Internal Conflict

“Are we having fun yet?”A male exsanguis with a tattoo of a dagger on the back of his shiny bald head chunked another penny at the man on the floor.The coin bounced off the man’s shoe and rolled for about five feet before flopping to the ground.

Nathaniel whipped his blue gaze toward the man, stern insolence on his face.“If you throw one more thing at me I will kill you.”

The three exsanguis that were guarding Nathaniel chuckled. Their captive was bound by thick wire at the wrists and ankles.His movement was thoroughly restricted.Plus, they had guns.There was no way the man could break free of the bindings or run.“What are you gonna do, old man?”The bald exsanguis nudged his comrade.

“He’s gonna stare you down until you just die.”

“Or maybe use magic,” the other chimed in.“He will magically break free and kill ya.”

They continued their taunting banter.The bald man retrieved another penny and set it on the top of his fingernail.Lining up his sites and using his thumb to assist in the catapulting action, he flung the coin toward Nathaniel while the others merely cackled while slapping their knees.

The penny smacked Nathaniel on the cheek.He said nothing.

“That’s what I thought, you old bastard.Harmless.We could leave one of the children to watch you.”

The three men engaged in more conversation about nothing horribly important when suddenly the bald man slammed into the wall.Nathaniel was right behind him, arms and ankles still tied.Using his own head, he banged his brow into the back of the bald man’s skull.This blow forced the man’s face to collide violently with the cinderblock wall, crushing the man’s nose.The man’s nostrils became fountains, exhausting blood over his face.

Nathaniel did not hesitate.His fangs were out and with a mighty thrust, he shoved them into the skin of his victim’s neck.He knew that at the base of the skull, resting within cervical vertebrae, was the main headquarters for the brain’s communication to the body, the brain stem.By digging in sharp fangs directly toward this site he was hoping to destroy the area by severing the nerves that leave the brain stem or damage the actual tissue itself.His success was immediately noticeable when the man dropped to the ground in a dead heap.From the moment the man slammed into the wall until he was on the floor spanned a total of 10 seconds.

“What the fuck?”The other two men did not realize what was happening until it was done.

Nathaniel stepped away from the body, licking his chops.He slowly walked back to where he had been sitting and sat back on the hard floor.

One man was on the ground, investigating his friend’s body while the other kept a gun pointed toward Nathaniel.“He’s dead,” the man stated after feeling for a pulse.“You killed him.”

“Yes,” Nathaniel stated bluntly.

“You’re crazy.”

“Maybe.But I did warn him.”

“I’m gettin’ out of here.”Both men rushed out of the room, slamming the door shut and locking it from the outside, leaving the crazy old man and the dead body in the room.

* * *

The air was still, though a hint of moisture was being deposited on the blades of grass next to the tarmac.A few clouds sprinkled about the sky, taking on a strange red appearance as the sun dared to peek over the horizon.It seemed like a perfect pre-dawn morning.

The Rolls-Royce engines of the G500 Gulfstream hummed and churned as the almost 100 foot long luxury aircraft finished its taxi on the nearly empty runway.The side hatch opened and the steps were lowered.Four passengers quickly left the cabin while baggage was removed and shuffled into vehicles.

Philip emerged from within guided the lovely Eva down the steps.She looked elegant in the tailored navy blue suit.Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, highlighting her long, gracious neck.The slingback, Italian leather heels pushed her to a daring 5’7” but Philip still towered over her at 6’4”.Keeping his hand on the small of her back, he escorted her to a limousine.

The door was opened for the pair but only Eva slipped inside.He leaned down a placed a soft kiss on her luscious lips.“I will join up with you in a few days.”His rich English accent made her yearn for his touch.She slid her fingers over his arm then up to his face.He gently kissed her fingertips, clasped her hand and nuzzled against it.“Be a good girl,” he winked and mouthed I love you then shut the door.

She kept her eyes on her lover as they steered away from the small landing strip.It felt strange to be back on her American soil.This was her first time back since her father’s death.But it no longer felt like her home.She felt like a stranger in a foreign land, though she had been born and raised there.

She reflected on how much had changed over the last few months and smiled.Being with Philip made her feel complete.He was not only attentive, but he supported her on an emotional, physical and spiritual level.They were a good match, recognizing yet respecting one another’s differences.

At no point had Eva experienced any personal guilt for leading Philip to her father, Aaron.She knew that her father was dead because of her actions, but instead of remorse, she ironically felt pride.Aaron’s actions had shamed her, and in her opinion, the clan.His demise was a necessary action in order to establish balance within the exsanguis.

Eva was annoyed that they had returned to the states to deal with issues concerning the female hybrid.She was convinced that the temptation of Alena was too great for any man, even her father.She hoped that Philip would not be easily swayed by the woman, assuming that they actually acquired her.Eva knew that if she was presented with the opportunity, she would kill the hybrid.

As the first rays of light splashed onto her window, she shied away from the glass.But the specialized pane prevented the deadly light from hurting her.She depressed a switch on a control panel embedded near the door which lowered the window separating her from the driver.

“How long until we reach the hotel?”

“About 10 more minutes, assuming traffic remains low.”

She rolled the window back up, yearning for a bath.But, the window went back down again; however, not at her command.“Excuse me,” she stated with great irritation, then tried to roll it back up, but the window would not budge.“Excuse me.I want the window up.”

The driver steered the vehicle to the edge of the road and placed it in park.He then turned around in his chair, pointing a gun directly at her.A sly grin hovered on his mouth.“Good night,” were the only words she heard as a dart pierced into her neck and sent her into a deep slumber.