Scribbles and Drabbles

Vampire Drabble 4

Ryder was impressed. The Blood Dominion had done it. They'd destroyed the world and let darkness reign. The sun would no longer shine; instead, a red moon would be the sky's guiding light, and the humans would be enslaved by creatures with far more power than they'd ever have. A reckoning had been brought upon humankind, and they'd succeeded in cutting down the defenders of the Earth. 

He didn't think anyone would go through with it. 

He watched from the sidelines, not unaware of their plan but uninterested. This complicated matters and gave him an opportunity that many did not have. The Dominion knew to leave him alone. He might not be a vampire, but he wasn't human either, which put him in a weird space.

"Ryder?" Sandy interjected into Ryder's thoughts, the older man peering into the gloom that was Ryder's space. "We have a guest."

Ryder grunted, continuing to type at his computer. There were a limited number of people he gave a damn about, and two were yet unaccounted for. Humans may have fallen from power, but their tech functioned as of yet. He didn't have time for guests. His sons had enough human blood in them to be in danger. "Deal with it."

"It's one of the Dominion men."

He stopped typing. That complicated matters. They'd left him alone as of yet, content to let him live in his little paradise, but no doubt the Dominion would want him to show some sign of loyalty. An ache formed behind his eyes. Politics. He hated it, but if he needed to burn down one or two of their conclaves to make a point, he would. Then again, he'd done work for the Vampire who'd been titled Lord of Mercia. The man might be reasonable if all the blood he'd been drinking hadn't gone to his head.

It wasn't Alexander. It was his lackey, Mercy. She nodded at him as he walked into view. Sandy backed him, the old wolf ready for a fight if things turned south. 

"Ryder."

"Mercy."

"Xander sends his regards and thanks that you have remained out of the way. Some of the others have turned into wannabe heroes now their powerbase has been dismantled," Mercy said, not gossiping but stating facts. 

"I heard rumours. I have no desire to play a hero. I may have to at some point once I've located my children, but I have no intention to challenge the new order unless it comes to me," Ryder said, eyeing the female vampire. She hadn't changed outfits. She continued to wear a bodyguard uniform complete with military trousers and combat boots. Mercy didn't have time to be a femme fatale; she preferred action chicks far more. 

"Xander suspected as much. We will keep an ear out for them. The Brotherhood is in hiding, and the heroes have scattered. Xander offers a proposal. To put things simply, he has no desire to enslave humanity but cannot have heroes interfering. We would like to put them in your care."

"And you think they'd listen to me?"

"You'd make them listen or dispose of them," Mercy said, her name very much lacking in her voice. Mercy was expensive. Ryder didn't fancy the idea of being the one to inflict it on heroes. 

"A lot of trouble."

"We have no doubt of your skills that you'd keep them in line. Many have the potential to be useful if we can tame them. I'm sure your son would appreciate his friends being saved from the Scourge."

Sandy wrinkled his nose. "They had to call it that?"

"The Dominion Elders like their dramatics."

"Indeed," Sandy crossed his arms. "What would we gain out of this?"

"We'll deliver your sons, leave you in peace to run your own little Kingdom and let you operate freely in return for guarding the troublemakers. We ask that if you leave, one of my men or I remain here to watch any prisoners while you are gone, but otherwise, we require no real oversight."