“We?” Varenkoff, Nikolas and Liam said at once.
Nikolas said, “Aidan, what are you talking about? You know only vampires can be a part of the Knighthood.”
“You really don’t know, do you?” Aidan said.
“Wait a minute. How did the brotherhood originate?”
“Well, it was introduced first by my ancestor, Argos I. He learned about the Stones only after he joined the Rebellion against Markos. Fabian told him about them. They were excavated in some caves in a wild desert on Migra. After learning about the History, he decided to pay homage to his ancestors by creating the brotherhood based on the Twelve Creators, and hence those who were firm in the Rebellion were initiated into it. Now, I have reintroduced it. With this initiation comes the knowledge of prophecy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, and many other abilities. So I think it’s time.”
John said, “I’m honored. But are you sure?”
“Of course.”
“But we need twelve members to do it,” Liam said.
“John will need some time, don’t you think?” Dante asked, “I mean his body will not be able to take all that energy.”
“Yes, you’re right, Dante.” Aidan said. “Liam, we already have more than twelve members and this camp is filled with potential initiates.”
“But, will they agree to it?” Nikolas asked.
“That’s something we have to wait for,” Aidan said.
“So then, will I be initiated?”
“Can I be a part of it?” Richard asked reluctantly.
“Yes, you can,” Aidan said, smiling.
“This is madness,” Nikolas said, “You really think they can go for this?”
“Yes, but only if the rest agree.”
So the reason that John and Richard were not initiated was that the Rebels didn’t agree to it. It was not out of hostility, but because they thought they weren’t ready. When the right time came, they would do it.
That right time was now.
“Unbelievable!” said Alex.
“Well, you better believe it.” Nikolas stood across from him.
They were in Alex’s designated room, where he was monitored by security and cameras. Nikolas had just explained to Alex the story of the Twelve Elders, and the twelve tribes splitting into one hundred and forty four. He told him about the initiation, the story Aidan had told John and about the coming of the humans’ initiations. Nikolas was allowed free entry in and out of the Central Command Center, as he was now trusted, or rather Daniel had given him that trust. Daniel was up to something, Nick knew, because he had never seen his son so uneasy.
The story was told an hour after they landed and refreshed themselves. By the time it finished, the sun was setting. “Now I need to know more. What happened out–?”
“Wait, Alex. Not now. I’ll explain everything to you when we are alone...completely alone. For now, get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning.” He patted him on the shoulder and left.
Nikolas walked to the end of the corridor. There were twenty guards posted outside, ten against each wall three meters apart, to make sure every part of the corridor was protected. He left the corridor and entered a small hall where he waited for the elevator. They were five kilometers under the Earth’s crust. The elevator beamed down and opened. It was desolate or at least that’s how Nick felt when he left the place. He thought about this day and what had happened. Hopefully, by now, John had gotten the message encrypted in the canister. It was precious because this was one way they could defeat Anaxagoras’s army. After the Last Battle and the Treaty of New York, everything the Rebels owned was to be destroyed. The only way Nikolas could ensure the safety of the canister was to keep it where no vampire could ever find it and the only place he could think of was Antarctica. He kept it with Aidan, whose body was buried there. How he managed to get it out was another story, and a very dangerous one at that.
The elevator stopped. He was now on the surface level of the Command Center. He was to meet with Daniel for something very important. Everything was done so quickly and efficiently that Nikolas was as free as could be. The other Rebels faced the same restrictions, but they rested for some time before their next set of lab tests.
Nikolas knew that there was some ulterior reason Daniel had made sure it was this way. There was something he wanted out of it. He remembered before he left, his son had wanted to talk to him but Erik had refused. Now he would hear him out.
The surface was extremely busy. Scientists were scattered all over the place, discussing projects that had been commissioned by the Council of Twelve. This level was circular in shape with elevators at four points. Ten meters from the elevators were doorways, which led to the offices of the administrators who were responsible for the welfare of the vampires in their designated areas (in this case North and South America, Africa and Europe). There were the offices of Erik and Daniel and the Conference Hall. Then there was a smaller Boardroom, where the more important decisions and ideas were brought forth by senior officials.
He turned to his left and walked on, following his son’s instructions. He entered the small hallway, lit by bright florescent lights. There was a glass door, which was locked by a numeric code. Nikolas typed the code Daniel told him into a keypad on the right side of the entrance. 35842. The door opened and Nikolas walked into what seemed like a small foyer. There were two doors there, one to Daniel’s office, and the other to Erik’s. At one side was Mikhail’s desk, and at the other was Sirach’s desk, the latter being Erik’s secretary. Both secretaries smiled at him, and Nikolas smiled back. “Mikhail,” he said, “I was to see Daniel at 6:30.”
“Yes,” Mikhail said, “That’s right; you may go in.”
Nikolas opened the door and saw Daniel sitting in his chair, deep in thought. He didn’t even notice his father when he came in and sat down. Nikolas kept silent, observing his son, wondering what he was thinking. He was tempted to psychically scan his mind but he knew better than that. Nick cleared his throat. Daniel jumped. “Are you alright, Daniel?” asked Nick.
“Father.” He kept silent for about ten seconds, trying to recollect his thoughts and what he wanted to say to his father. “How is he?” he asked.
“Fine,” Nikolas said, “Although I can sense fear in him.”
“Yes, so can I,” Daniel sighed. “Okay, let’s just get down to it.” He rearranged himself in the chair and said, “I want to know more about the Falsifier. There’s clearly something no one knows about him except you. Who is he really?”
“You think,” Nikolas smiled, “I would tell you that? How do I know you aren’t asking me so that you can tell the Council? How can I trust you?”
“I’m your son,” Daniel said, a tinge of anger rising from his throat.
“But you are also President of the Vampiric Regime. Your allegiance is to the king, and mine is to Aidan.”
“You know you’re not allowed to speak his name.”
“It’s not the first time, is it?”
“Ah,” Daniel smiled wickedly, “That’s something I will never understand, father. Why did you go to Antarctica? Why did you
really
go?”
“You know I had to see my comrade, I had to receive his blessings before the mission. That’s what I told the Council, and they agreed, as long as I was accompanied–”
“But you weren’t, were you?”
“Yes I was.”
Daniel laughed, “You don’t expect me to believe that, do you? That the four soldiers died there? It’s obvious you killed them.”
“Even if I did,” Nikolas smiled, baring his fangs, “what difference does it make?”
“Unless there was something that happened there, something you wanted hidden, you wouldn’t have killed them.”
“Look,” Nikolas’s eyes pierced through Daniel’s as he spoke, “I have a proposal for you. You want me, you need me. You know that. And I’m willing to work for you, willing to tell you everything if you allow me this: let me talk to the boy privately, and I’ll get all I can from him; let him tell me all the secrets of the Regnum, of Howe, and the humans. We will use their weakness against them. Let me get him to talk alone, without any cameras and without guards.”
Daniel shook his head, “I don’t believe this; none of it. You betrayed us once, and we cannot trust you again.”
“Then as a token of my allegiance, as a sign of my redemption, let me tell you who Alex really is.”
“Alex? So that is his name,” Daniel reflected. He wanted to know more, and Nick sensed this.
“He is the Falsifier. He is both human and vampire,” Nikolas said, maintaining a strained eye contact with his son.
“Hmm,” Daniel said with nonchalance, not wanting to believe what his father had said. “Only the blood tests will prove that.”
“And,” Nick said, “He is the direct heir of Argos I.”
“What do you mean?” Daniel said, “That’s impossible.”
“Do you know the real reason why Anaxagoras cast his son out of the Nyrax Dynasty?”
“No!” He couldn’t believe what his father had just said; he didn’t want to. “Do you mean...?”
“Yes,” Nikolas smiled, “Alex is Aidan’s son, born of a human mother, who is...was Howe’s sister.”
“Then, that means...” Daniel’s eyes widened, the whites contrasting with the dark crimson, “No...no, it can’t be.” He looked at Nikolas, who was laughing at the shock on his face. “Well, if the scans show that what you say is right, then I will immediately tell the council that your true allegiance is to Lord Anaxagoras.”
“Daniel,” sighed Nikolas, “You think I don’t see what you’re doing? You want power! They want power, Erik wants power; all of us want power over the king. I’m right, aren’t I? Listen to me. Like I said, my allegiance is not to the king. The truth is...it’s to myself.”
“I have only one objective and that’s to do the bidding of Anaxagoras.”
“I know...I know what you’re saying is just for your own benefit. You’re waiting for the right time and so am I. You went away from me and Aidan. You left us all and made your own plans. Then you joined him and are now waiting. You’ve been waiting a long time for your opportunity. Now, my son, with Aidan dead and Anaxagoras far away, is the time to overcome this rule. We can join forces and create our own dynasty: the Gareng Dynasty!”
“What!” Daniel jumped off his chair. “How can you say that? That’s treason.”
“Calm down. If you think I don’t know that you want power, then you’re mistaken.”
“Get out! How dare you— I can’t have any of this.”
Nikolas smiled and walked calmly out of the office.
*****
As soon as John walked downstairs to keep his friend and mother company and get ready for the meeting with the Senate, the doorbell rang. A butler answered it and led the guest into the living room. It was Angel. Helen got up and welcomed her. “Oh Angel, what a pleasant surprise!”
“Hello, Mrs. Howe,” she smiled at Grandma Howe and hugged her, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, my girl. The question is: how are you? Is everything okay?”
Angel sighed, “I really don’t know,” her eyes watered up, and Mrs. Howe embraced her once again.
John smiled at Angel, “Hi Angel. How are things?”
“Okay, I guess.” She said, trying to be optimistic. “Any news about Alex?”
“He’s fine,” John said as he gave her a quick hug. “Um, you know Mr. Bacon, right?”
“Oh yes, of course,” she shook Richard’s hand, “How do you do?”
“Fine. Thanks.” Richard gave her a warm look.
“Your paper on the Political System of the Pre-WWIII era was excellent,” Angel said, trying to make light conversation as they sat down.
“I’m glad you think so,” Richard said, “Not everyone agrees on it, though.”
Grandma Howe went to the kitchen to fix up some tea for John and Angel.
“Oh, wait Mrs. Howe, let me help you.”
“It’s alright, Angel. Stay here and I’ll be back in a sec.”
“No, Mom. It’s okay,” added John, “We won’t be here for long. We have to get back to the Senate.”
His mother ignored him saying, “Your work can wait. Besides, we have visitors and I don’t want them leaving without any refreshment.” She left them and could be heard calling one of the maids to come and help her.
“So, what brings you here?” John said as Helen walked out of the room.
“I needed to talk to you about Alex, Mr. Howe. I’m really worried about him.”
“So are we,” John said. “But don’t worry too much. Everything’s going to be fine.”
“I saw the news and my parents are a little apprehensive.”
“This is only temporary,” said John. “I’m only doing it for Alex; I want him back and this is the best option we have. Don’t worry about politics, Angel. These things happen every ten years or so.”
“Mr. Howe, if I don’t get married to Alex, it will be bad for everyone.”
“What do you mean?”
Mrs. Howe came back with four cups of tea and a plate full of scones and biscuits.
“Mom! There’s no need–”
She shushed him and sat down, taking her own cup of tea.
John smiled and shook his head, sipping his cup. He sighed and sat back, more relaxed. “Now, Angel, what do you mean by all this?”
“I need to tell you...alone.” She said, eyeing Richard. “It’s a family thing.”
Richard cleared his throat and finished his cup of tea. “Thanks, Mrs. Howe, for the tea.” He got up and walked to the door, as the butler opened it for him. “I’ll be waiting in the car.”
John nodded and said, “It won’t take long.”
“Sure,” said Richard. He left the Estate and waited for John outside.
“So, what’s this big thing?” asked Mrs. Howe, “I hope things are fine between you and Alex.”
“Everything’s fine. I love Alex very much and want to marry him and like I told you...” she looked at John, “I have to marry him and no one else.” But she stopped, her eyes moving rapidly as she pondered on what to say next.
“Well?” John and Helen said.
“I’m pregnant.”
Mrs. Howe coughed uncontrollably, choking on her tea. “What did you say?”
“Calm down, Mom,” said John. He called one of the butlers, “Charles! Charles!”
The butler rushed in, “Yes, Mr. Howe?”
“Get some water! Can’t you see her coughing?” The butler ran out quickly, fetched some water and served it to Mrs. Howe.
She drank it and after a few moments was fine. Finally, she sighed and said, “How do you know? Are you sure?”