Page 8 of In the Dark

“See. Told you that you knew.”

“He’s human.”

“Which is why I’m here and he is there.”

“We have laws in place regarding that.” Gray watched Kelvin, and he began to feel like he was under a microscope with the other vampire’s intense stare laser focused on him.

“I know and again that’s why he is there and I am here. Alone.”

“Minho has spoken to you.”

Inhaling deeply, Kelvin held it, then slowly released it. “How do you know everything?”

Smiling, Gray turned back to his computer and went back to searching the website ‘vampiresrreal.com’ “Such an original name. A lot of thought went into that. I can smell the burning from here.” Shaking his head slowly, Gray murmured, “Humans.”

“I still think about us revealing ourselves to the humans and the potential outcomes.”

“Some will fetishize us; others will want to hunt us.” Shrugging, Gray closed the webpage down and leaned back in his chair. “I too have considered it.”

There was only one problem, well, several, but they were all the same thing. “The laws.”

“Are there to protect both us and them, even if we sacrifice what is important to us?”

“I’m not so sure about that. Those laws came into effect during a turbulent phase of our history.”

“‘Turbulent phase’ is a nice way to put the near annihilation of our species. One which we still haven’t completely healed from.” Gray tapped away on the keyboard, then asked, “How is Maxim?”

“If anyone would know, it’s you.” Kelvin watched Gray run a search for Maxim as he spoke.

“He’s good at disappearing. I haven’t seen anything of him in decades. Whispers, yes, mutterings of where he could be, but nothing has panned out. He went dark and has remained that way for close to sixty years. Last whisper I heard was about a son. No name, or age, just that he had one.”

Maxim was one of the descendants that caused the civil war that spilled out to include humans. He still believed they should be in power, that all vampires should be ruled by one and not a council of ‘pussies’ as he had called them. Humans were to be considered game. To be hunted, fed on, killed. Vampires fewer in numbers but far more dominant, and they should rule all considered beneath them.

“I wonder if becoming a father has mellowed him?”

Gray’s eyes widened. “Maxim? The vampire who believes he is the ultimate authority over all species? That Maxim?”

“I’ll take that as a no, then.” No, Maxim wouldn’t have mellowed. If anything, Kelvin suspected that he would be far worse now, wanting to hand all vampires and humans over to his son. The one good thing about the civil war was that it brought the truth to the surface about many vampires and what they really thought of their fellow vampires and humans. People Kelvin’s family had called friend had shown their true colors, and it had devastated him, like it had many of the vampires.

Almost two centuries later and the ripples from that event could still be felt, hence the laws that were now in place. And the reason Kelvin would remain mateless. He would watch from a distance and ensure his mate had a good happy life and the family he deserved.

Fuck, it was like a dagger to the heart. The thought of another creating a life with his mate, making him laugh, making him moan; but Kelvin didn’t think he was in any position to question the laws. He would have to approach the council and request Key, and it would all fall apart. No vampire had been able to alter the laws, so why did Kelvin think he would be successful?

“Speak to him.”

“To who?” Kelvin watched Gray flicker through the city’s CCTV, bringing up one camera after another. Until he stopped.

“Key. Now look who we have here.”

Kelvin leaned closer to the screen, then groaned. “Speak of the devil and he shall appear.”

“Maxim.” Gray tapped a few keys and the picture quality improved. “Looking good in his old age.”

Kelvin snorted. “We age well.”

“That we do. I’m only three hundred. Still plenty of years left.” Maxim was closer to three hundred and in those years had caused nothing but problems. His father was one of the original ringleaders to have caused the civil war, and even though the vampire had been executed for his crimes, Maxim still believedcompletely in what his father had wanted. With a son, the cycle would begin again and nothing would be resolved.

“No son?” Kelvin searched the screen but couldn’t see anyone who appeared to be with Maxim.

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