"The Elemaiya do not come often to this planet," Gabron observed. "It takes their blood in some small measure, at least, to produce a vampire with those talents. My mother was a quarter, making me an eighth. I received mindspeech, along with strong compulsion. It is my understanding that the greater the amount of Elemaiyan blood, the greater the gifts. Our little Queen must have a great deal of that heritage and be of the Bright Elemaiya, just as I am. The Dark race creates criminals with the same talents at times."
"Why do they not come here? The Elemaiya, I mean."
"They are Travelers as you know, and they prefer those worlds less technologically advanced. We have had space travel for a very long time. They tend to stay away from those worlds. They are more in danger of discovery in those places. At least that is what my mother always said. If a child is half Elemaiya, they may choose with which race they wish to live. Should they be less than half-blood, the race will not claim them. If any of those become vampire, they make the finest turns."
"As you have proven, Prominence." Gabron shrugged at the compliment.
Chapter 5
"What's going on?" I asked, trying for nonchalance, even though I was shivering a little.
"There is no need to fear little one; I am merely here to give you an ID chip and Dragon will provide you with employment at his business," Pheligar replied, already reaching for my right arm. He had the tiny ID chip on a finger and just as he'd placed the disc on the back of my neck, he had the chip under my skin in no time flat and with absolutely no pain. Of course, I couldn't help staring at his blue skin while he did this. The only thing his skin didn't have was fluffy white clouds floating through it.
"What's the job?" I turned my gaze to Dragon after Pheligar released my arm.
"I run a self-defense studio," he said. "Which has seen increased enrollment lately. Mostly due to Solar Red, the disappearances, and other violence that the Ra'Ak have brought to this world. Unfortunately, you will be cleaning the studio after the classes."
"I don't mind; I clean pretty well," I said. "I've cooked for werewolves; was even a Packmaster for about thirty seconds not long ago," I added. "I'm a great bodyguard, too, if anybody needs it."
"I can see that you might be," Dragon almost smiled.
"I will go, unless you need additional supplies?" Pheligar asked.
"I have plenty of blood," I said.
"I have shielded your bedroom," Pheligar informed me. "If anyone comes to search the home, the entrance will not be evident."
"You can do that?" I was admiring this guy more and more, I think.
"Little one, your flattery is much appreciated, because it is honest," he said, smiling slightly before he disappeared.
"I will come to Lissa any time I wish to ask Pheligar for something," Karzac said, staring at the space previously occupied by the Larentii. "Your ID chip can be used to pay for anything you need," he added, tapping the raised spot on my wrist.
"When should I start my job?" I asked.
"Tomorrow evening; Pheligar has arranged the records, making it appear as if you've done the job for the past three months. Since I've owned the business, in fact," Dragon said. "I will come here on my break and take you to the dojo with me." He handed a chip key over. "In case you need to get in or to lock up and I am not there."
"Damn, why don't they wear jeans, here?" I asked, patting my loose-fitting clothing. I didn't have any pockets in my trousers.
"I have a chain; you can hang it around your neck," Karzac offered, heading toward his bedroom to get it. I hooked the chain through a slot on the chip key and then fastened it around my neck. "And I've been seeing priests at the restaurant near the hospital," Karzac informed me. "I think they are hoping to get word of the Vice-Governor's health since we do not allow them inside the hospital. They are concerned he might hand over incriminating evidence against them, no doubt."
"Those schmucks. I'll go check that out tomorrow night," I said.
"Remember not to give yourself away," Dragon warned.
"Hey, you're talking to a vampire, here. Wlodek, Merrill and Gavin would have apoplexy if I wasn't discreet," I said.
"You know Merrill?" Dragon eyed me speculatively.
"Yeah. He's my surrogate sire," I said. "You know him?"
"Only peripherally, through Adam."
That was news to me. That meant that I might have to be careful around Dragon in case he wanted to carry tales back to Adam, who might then carry tales back to Merrill. Or to Griffin, who would then carry them back to Merrill.
"You have such a sad look on your face, little vampire," Dragon observed.
"It's nothing," I shook my head. "How much night do we have left?"
"Six hours," Karzac said.
"Good enough," I said, and misted away.
* * *
"She said that the first night she was here and then went out to kill sixteen priests," Karzac sighed when Lissa disappeared.
"I could Look to find what causes that sadness in her," Dragon offered. "But I hate to pry in case it is too personal." Dragon was referring to the gift that all Saa Thalarr possessed—that of reaching out and obtaining almost any information—it was something they had been given in order to combat the enemy effectively. The enemy also had it, up to a point. Neither could penetrate the other's shield to discover where they were. Each battle could turn into a lengthy dance, trying to locate the enemy in order to initiate a confrontation. The winner gained the planet. If the Ra'Ak won, the planet would be devoured; they and their demon children survived on flesh and blood. If the Saa Thalarr won, they left the planet to its own devices and the Ra'Ak could not challenge again for at least a thousand years.
* * *
I didn't want to murder priests in their beds and that's where most of them were. The six I found awake were sitting in an office, drinking and laughing about the prisoners they'd tortured earlier. Those guys died so fast they didn't have time to be afraid. I could have dumped them in the river nearby, but I didn't. I left their headless bodies inside the office before misting their heads to the temple's domed roof. I left the heads there; all six lined up in a neat row on an outside ledge where they grinned grotesquely at anyone approaching the temple. Then I went looking for their prisoners.
The prison cells were located beneath the temple floor and the captives I found showed fresh signs of torture. A few were near death. Altogether, I found fourteen people—both men and women. I wondered if any of them knew how to drive the vans the priests owned.