BLOODBOUND II

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The Council has gathered to decide what to do with the vial of the First Vampire's blood before Gaius can claim it. But before anyone can decide, Gaius himself emerges from the shadows.

Gaius: Oh, well done, all of you. You came so close. But not close enough.

Amy: He's here!

The Baron: G-Gaius!

Lester: We're dead.

Jax: So, this is him, huh? Doesn't look like much.

Kamilah: Don't let his appearance fool you.

Gaius steps forward with a smile.

Gaius: I'll admit, your little coup in the 1920s was quite clever. Congratulations are in order for your... temporary victory.

He lays a hand upon a broken pillar and squeezes. It breaks apart into rubble.

Gaius: But all it bought you was time. Time enough for me to contemplate exactly how I would repay your actions. Time spent lingering in the dark, imagining how I would kill every single one of you.

Amy: Don't you dare come any closer!

Gaius looks at her, vaguely surprised.

Gaius: Why, Amy, it certainly is a pleasure to see you again. I only wish it could have been under second circumstances. As it is, I have some unfinished business to attend to.

The Baron is the first to shake himself out of his shock. He falls to his knees and hangs his head.

The Baron: Gaius... my King... I offer my deepest apologies! The others forced me to do it! I swear!

Kamilah snarls, taking a step toward The Baron.

Kamilah: You sniveling coward!

While The Baron cowers, Lester slowly backs away from the circle, looking frantically around.

Lester: I gotta go... I gotta go... gotta get the hell out of here!

Lester bolts for the door, pushing past Amy as he scrambles up and out of the temple.

Gaius: Mm. Predictable. I'll deal with him later. In the meantime...

Before he can advance, Kamilah steps forward.

Kamilah: Gaius. Please. Reconsider what you're doing.

Gaius: Did you reconsider, my Queen, before you plunged that blade through my body? Before you cleaved me in two?

Kamilah suppresses a wince, her expression of heartbreak.

Kamilah: I'm sorry, my... I'm sorry. But you know it had to be done. You had lived too long. You'd forgotten your humanity.

Gaius: I've had no humanity for a long, long time. You knew that well. You reveled in it, and now... now I revel in it for the both of us.

Adrian: Gaius, please. You don't need to do this.

Gaius: Adrian. My naive killer, clinging to hope. Still unable to see the glorious future I offer.

Adrian: A future dominated by vampires, turning humans into our slaves? Just because the humans once hunted you doesn't mean you have to hurt them!

Gaius: Wrong. That's exactly what it means.

Adrian snaps and charges toward him, baring his fangs.

Adrian: GAIUS!

Adrian leaps forward, poised to attack, then crumples to the floor, grabbing his head!

Amy: Adrian!