After The Awakening | ONC 2023

Chapter Sixteen

'Have you got a computer?' Xavier asked Krish.

'I thought you were set on leaving?'

'We are, but there's something we need to finish watching.'

Krish wiped his hands on a tea towel and left his chopping board.

'You're staying for dinner, at least.' He passed his laptop across.

'I could be persuaded.' Xavier eyed the ingredients set up on the side.

'Krish's tacos are to die for, or so people tell me,' June said with a smile.

'It wouldn't hurt you to eat,' Ray said from the door.

'How are you feeling?' June asked her.

'I'll live,' she dismissed before tossing the empty blood bag into the bin.

'We have more blood. If you want to remain in control, you'll need it,' June said carefully.

'Thank you. We'll take some before we leave,' Xavier answered.

'How'd you get so much blood?' Ray turned her chair around to look at the couple.

Krish shrugged. 'To most, I'm a retired medic, but the secret is I'm not so retired. Kept my practising certificate and I can order my medical supplies as and when I need them.'

'Not from legitimate suppliers,' piped up Xavier, making Krish's smile.

'Most people aren't happy dealing with so much secrecy, but there are those that thrive on it.'

'And since the Awakening, there is a much larger market for blood,' interjected June.

'Quite lucrative,' joked Krish.

'I spent years shutting down illegal blood drives and now I'm supporting them,' Xavier grumbled.

'I think that might be the least ironic part of all of this,' Krish pointed out.

Xavier shrugged and loaded the memory stick into the port. Ray scooted forward as he selected the video file and fast forwarded to where they'd stopped it.

'Is that Mari?' Krish asked hesitantly, stepping forward as though he was being drawn to the screen.

'The memory stick was the reward for following her breadcrumbs. It's how we know about the Bureau and the vampires.'

Krish nodded silently and pulled up a chair to watch with them whilst June took over cooking duties.

Xavier hit play, and they settled back to watch the last remaining minutes.

'I have spent years gathering information to prove the Bureau's involvement, but they've covered their tracks well. Any agent with information either disappears or is paid so well they'll never turn on the Bureau.' Mari paused on the screen and swallowed hard.

'The First-Borns had amassed more than power. They amassed a substantial amount of wealth that completely disappeared after the Awakening. The Bureau made sure the accounts were frozen. From the little I've gathered, it was the Bureau that took it all.'

'Money. This all comes down to money,' seethed Xavier.

Krish placed a hand on his shoulder in consolidation, too lost for words to do anything else to comfort him.

'It's your existence Ray that threatens to out everything. You're a piece of history that shouldn't exist. And to many vampires, you represent someone who can oppose Grayson Amos' rule.'

The sound of chopping ceased, but they were all too riveted on the screen to notice.

'I don't know what the Bureau and Grayson are planning, but I know Grayson's plan is not yet over. But he won't have total control unless all the First-Borns are eradicated. He wants you Ray, and as soon as he has you, I think that's when everything will explode. It will make the Awakening look like a day in the park.'