She Came From the Shadows (James and Tera: book 2)

18

We were set to be on the ground floor of the old factory. We were in the sights of the vampires above us, including Cedric, who sat with his legs dangling from the edge at the very top. It was kind of hard to tell it was him because of all the bright spotlights everywhere.

With us stood Victoria, across the floor from us. Beside her was a tall dark-skin man. He was bald and wore robes that were colorful and worn in the way that I'd seen images of traditional Africans wearing.

Finally, through the conversations of the groups of vampires above us, Cedric, who had the book in his hand still, closed it, and the talking ceased. He put the book to his side and gazed towards the floor. "We shall begin." He said in a monotone voice that made the hairs on my arms stand. "Bring in the accused."

Suddenly, Amara had emerged, dragging a chain that was wrapped around the neck of the vampire from the other night, the one who was going to expose the vampires to the world. From the looks of it, he looked different. He looked like some horrifying creature that was far from human. Charles had told me before about how vampires hide their true selves with a magic. Was this his true self? Red eyes with no white, a disfigured face and fangs that were long enough to go past his bottom lips?

Amara had let the chain go into the hands of the tall man and stood beside Victoria. The vampire on trial hit his knees suddenly. I looked over to see Victoria's eyes had turned a shade of pink that glowed. She was using her powers to keep the vampire from getting worked up and out of control.

"What is your name?" Cedric asked.

The vampire laughed, obviously not complying. "That's a funny question." He answered.

"Oh?" Cedric responded. "How is that so amusing as to ask?"

"I haven't been called my real name for so long that I've forgotten it." He looked around at each vampire, and then at me. "You. You'll be their dinner."

I felt cold, and I swallowed out of anxiety. Tera growled beside me. "Mine." She claimed, her hand squeezing mine just a little too tight. It hurt, but I didn't say anything.

The vampire laughed. Cedric continued. "The boy and the wolf are here out on business as a favor asked to the Pack Master of North America. Under our care, to be exact, so no feeding will proceed. Now," he leaned over the balcony of the walkway he was on. "What are you here for?"

The vampire eyed Cedric with a look of blank expression. "You know why I'm here."

"That I do, but I want to know your reasoning." He looked around at everyone. "For everyone here, this man is here out of not only the fact that he attempted to show our kind to the world but also making another of us and using him to go against our kind, specifically in my territory." He looked back down at the unknown vampire with a smile so sinister it could've been the Devil's. "I am so honored to be the one to deal with this situation."

The vampire looked up at Cedric with a look of anger that filled his blank face. "I chose this miserable life. I chose the life to follow the ways of The Undertaker and to get rid of your kind. Our kind."

Cedric raised an eyebrow. "I see. You chose to live this way, of that one whom was destroyed centuries ago." Cedric looked up. "The Undertaker was a treacherous vampire who hunted our kind and exposed them to the humans to destroy during the daytime. It was a type of genocide."

"'Genocide'? That's an inaccurate term for us. A genocide target a certain group of people, and we are far from people." The vampire told. "We are blood drinking savages. I am surprised that God even allowed such creatures like us exist, but I know that's why He sent me to get rid of you for good."