*
Long into the early hours of morning Alex and Silent Scythe planned the first battle of the war against Alu. They would have to kill all of them, at least they would have to be prepared to do it. Still, no one could put their finger on the essence of Alu's plan.
And then Jaklin stepped forward; her bearing had suddenly turned professional. "I've been thinking since Jašić mentioned Peleș Castle," she said, walking into the middle of the room as if she were about to make a presentation. "Perhaps the nature of Sinaia itself, as a center for international traffic, has something to do with it. Dignitaries from all over the world are here right now. A major conference is about to end. I work at Casino Sinaia, the International Conference Center. We have been planning a big celebration that's to be held nearby at Peleș Castle in the State Protocol Building."
"Ferals can turn people by just biting them," said Catherine. "No consent required. Perhaps, Alu has been hiding these elite vampires and controlling them as best he can, so he can release them on people who really matter."
"These Masters of the Universe up at Peleș Castle," added Mikhail.
"And all just before they return home," said Jaklin. "When they get there, they'll seed the entire planet with ferals, and at the highest levels of government and society."
"It really is the entire world," said Alex. "At Shadowrise, Alu told me that this was much bigger than anything I could imagine."
Mary finally came to a conclusion. "Our one chance to stamp out the feral threat is to exterminate them right here in Sinaia. If even one gets loose, it would spread the threat again, but this time it wouldn't be under Alu's control and guidance."
When it came to the matter of what to do about Alu himself, Mary balked. "I've weighed killing Alu for two millennia," she said. "Perhaps you can convince me otherwise, but I've not been able to bring myself to execute the first vampire."
"I've wondered what I would do myself," said Alex. "I had my first chance two days ago at Shadowrise. I let it pass. He has done much good for both the World of Vampires and mankind."
"We can't know the final outcome of this battle before it begins," said Mary. "But news of this conference makes immediate action imperative."
"When does the conference end?" asked Alex.
"Day after tomorrow," said Jaklin. "They've been at facilities scattered all over Romania, but tomorrow evening they'll congregate at Peleș Castle. They've closed it to the public. It's all over the news. Everyone who's anyone will be there, including all the heads of the Romanian government. Not to mention a continuous stream of royalty."
"Just think," said Alex, "after infecting dignitaries, Alu could turn them loose on all the tourists descending on Sinaia. When they returned home, they'd spread it farther. Alu Kard could take vampirism mainstream."
"Shouldn't you warn the ICC?" asked Mikhail.
"As if they'd believe us," said Jaklin. "Despite the panic, no one will admit that vampires exist. I've questioned my colleagues. They're naive beyond belief"
"True," said Catherine. "Worse yet, if word gets back to Alu that we're on to his plan, he'll scatter his ferals. They're all in one place now."
"Trap 'em in the Ichor Dome. Exterminate 'em," said Jaklin.
"Let's get you two initiated first," said Alex. "If you're anything like me, finding your way to violence won't be a problem."
"Want me to come with you?" asked Catherine.
"Stay with Andra," said Alex. "You'll need protection though."
"Silent Scythe will provide that," said Mary. "The least we can do considering."
Alex continued staring at Catherine. "And I have one more thing to do for you."
"What might that be?"
"When you bit me, you turned back human. But you could still be made a vampire again. You need to be inoculated."
"Never heard of such a thing."
"You wouldn't. It's not in the vampire playbook. I have to bite you. It's my saliva. This is another thing you'll have to trust me about."
Mikhail suddenly raised his arms and shouted to the heavens, "Oh God!"
"What's wrong?" His outburst had panicked Alex.
"We're bloodsuckers! When will I wake from this nightmare?"
Mary smiled and looked them top to bottom, gave a little chuckle. "What a handsome ménage."
Alex smiled. Did she know? Had Mary intended something even more lascivious?
Alex was also worried about herself, having noticed that she had changed in the last couple of days. She felt more compassion than before turning her friends. She'd felt it for the feral they'd interrogated. She felt it for Mary and the millennia she'd suffered with a life she'd not wanted. Most of all, she felt compassion for Mikhail. He too had struggled with what it meant to be a vampire but had chosen to become one to be with her. This new compassion was disconcerting. It was as if she'd actually absorbed a little of Mikhail's. She felt softened, weaker, more thoughtful. Plus, she seemed to have lost her fighting edge after turning Jaklin. Did she now have the stomach and skill to wage a war against feral vampires?