Zone Zero: Vengeance (Book 3 of 3)

Chapter 27

Alex's POV

The doors to the untouched office of the United Nations of Zone Two open and I step inside. It is much the same as the last time I was here. A large oval table with twelve people dressed impeccably sitting there staring at me with a mixture of emotions. Fear, loathing, pain and even hope.

I take the empty seat at the end of the table while Gable stands just behind me to watch my back. This is a mild precaution but one I now have to take since I am the new Vampire King. Especially when I am behind enemy lines.

"Welcome back Alex." The woman at the other end of the table states to which I nod my response.

"Let's just get to the point. You haven't held up your end of the deal."

My mouth turns into a tight line as she says the words I was dreading. She must know. They all must know.

"Every human that was in captivity was set free. Although some wanted to remain, they were all returned to the zone as promised." I report.

"No. Not all. The child is still missing." A tall man to my right states with an angered tone. His face is sour like he is sucking on lemons and he sneers at me as though I were vermin.

I choose to ignore him and speak only to the woman at the other end of the table. She is the true leader here.

"Every human in our possession was returned just like you asked. You're the ones who are withholding vampires. Only half have been set free. Why is that?"

I try to remain calm as I speak. I can not let my anger at this situation get the better of me in a time like this.

"You know why. We want ALL humans returned. Then we will release the rest of the vampires. It's a matter of principle." A woman to my left says with her head held high. Her accent is thick and I peg her instantly for an Egyptian. Her dark eyes and naturally tanned skin also gives it away.

"Where is the child?" The lead woman asks. If I remember correctly her name is Janet, or so I think.

I lock eyes with her and see nothing playing on her face. The other officials all have their emotions plastered on their faces like war paint but this woman gives nothing away. There is no way of telling what she is thinking at this moment.

"I don't know," I whisper and the room erupts in murmurs of outrage.

I stare down at my hands on my lap and await the firing of questions.

"You lost her?" A male voice says but I don't see the person that it comes from.

"She is probably dead! You monster!" Another cries in outrage.

"Enough." Janet says slamming her hand down on the table. "Was she stolen?" She asks me once the room quietens down again.

"No."

"Then what happened?"

All eyes fall to me and I have to force myself to remain still. I want to shift nervously under their collective gaze but I refuse to show any form of weakness.

"All I know is that she is gone."

More cries of indignation fill the room as they pour out of the mouths of the UN officials. Only one stays silent throughout this entire ordeal. Janet.

"Who took the child?" One man asks in disarray, his grey hair dishevelled.

"She was probably killed by a hungry vampire and now he is covering for them." The Egyptian woman from earlier spits to the great of the group.