Page 98 of The Vampire's Thirst
Aras pointed the gavel at Cadmon. “Tell us, High Commander. What do you propose?”
The front of his robe covered with chest candy awarded after many successful battles, the ylve looked to Nace, Jarek, and Kole for confirmation. All three nodded. His mouth drew into a grim slash while he delivered the plan. “Martial law. Severe measures. Curfews. Identity checks. When we find the Arisen Dawn base, we terminate all present with extreme prejudice. We round up suspected associates. If they resist, assume the worst. Initiate a shoot-to-kill. No survivors. If they offer no resistance, send them to Outcast Keep on Darque.”
An earthquake of sound met Cadmon’s plan, the rotunda walls shaking with shouts of opposition or support. Fights broke out, Roshan and Daire drawing first blood.
Aras’s eagle eyes narrowed to slits as he leaned forward in his seat, the gavel tightly clutched in his talons. “The next uncivil asshole in this chamber will be prey.” To emphasize the point, he popped black feathers.
With steely warrior’s arms crossed on his chest, Jarak waited for the rotunda to quiet, the combatants hoarse, exhausted, or terrified of Aras. “We also intend to contact the human army for a peace meet. Show them we want to work together.”
Hands raised, the attendees taking the eagle shifter at his word.
“The podium recognizes Rike, the berserker lawgiver.” Aras sipped water from a glass on the table, his wings snapping out, fanning the front row. “Speak.”
“Consider this, Firebrands, if you destroy Arisen Dawn but the Earth armies are not in a compromise mood, you will have eliminated a vast number of able fighters. We may need them down the road.”
Nerina pushed back her chair to stand, smoothing imaginary wrinkles in her red robe. Aras nodded his recognition. “Interesting. Strategic. Stupid. I agree with Jarek. I propose we see if this human army will meet. If they do, we try to reach a peaceful solution.”
Kole had always found the nymph lawgiver to be rational, her research into voting issues complete, thoughtful.
“If I may, Aras,” said Supreme Lawgiver Fera. She tapped her chin with a long, cherry-red nail. “Nerina is, of course, within her right to seek a weak position. Though I wonder. Perhaps we would be wise to consider Rike’s observation and take it a step further. If Arisen Dawn defeats the humans, it may be time to resume our place on Earth.”
With the female’s sleek, muscled body and flawless face, she was reputed to be the most beautiful Aeternal on Scath. But only a suicidal male would bed her. Kole would rather fuck a poisonous scorpion. Of course, if he wet his dick even in a venomous insect, he was a dead demon. Skyler would deliver the killing blow. Never gonna happen anyway. He loved his mate too much.
Raucous shouts ofyesorneverfollowed her proposal. They stilled at Aras’s cold-eyed threat.
Alarik unfolded from his chair, where he sat off to the side with the other directors of ministries, except the missing Boden. “We have no business ruling Earth. That’s why the Blood Coven created Scath and Darque. Are we to go backwards?”
“As a nonvoting attendee, you have no business offering an opinion,” said Rike. “If Arisen Dawn flexes its muscle, the humans will be more likely to negotiate. I say we adopt Fera’s plan. Wait and see. If they succeed, perhaps our fate is to return to Earth.”
Commander Nace, his golden jaguar eyes menacing, shouted above the melee. “There is no wait and see with Arisen Dawn. They are mercenaries, ferals who are hell bent on enslaving humans. The very worst of us. Will you free them to roam, kill, and feed? Is this what you want?”
“Of course not, Commander,” said Fera, her brows arched, her expression a faked innocence. “But Arisen Dawn may make the Earther army more pliable. A good thing for us.” She flipped her golden hair over a shoulder, looking at others for support.
Alarik jumped up. Director Jodran of the Ministry of Prosperity fisted his robe, trying to hold him in his seat. “Pliable, Fera? Good for us?” Alarik ripped the fabric out of his friend’s hand, freeing himself to stand unimpeded. “Do you hear yourselves? You are condoning slaughter. Destruction. Feeding on humans. We are not about unwarranted savagery.”
“You are warned, Director Alarik. Keep your opinions to yourself.” Rike tossed a leg over the arm of his chair, curling his upper lip into a snarl. “If you want to vote so badly, run for office.”
Kole surveyed the room, fire bouncing from one hand to the other as he fought to contain his rage. Cadmon rested a cool palm on his shoulder, urging calm.
“We cannot allow Earthers to find a way through our portals.” Fera opened her robe to smooth her hands along the tight bodice of her low-cut black dress. “Can we?”
“No. We can’t,” said Cadmon. “They would bring superior firepower. We don’t know whether the spell that prohibits our use of guns on Scath will work on their weapons.” He looked to Alarik, who shrugged. “But wars should be fought only after all other measures fail. We first need to prove to them we have lived in peace beside them for centuries. Convince them we can continue to coexist, separated by the Whorl but connected commercially, emotionally.”
Dolph the warlock justice stroked his chin. “Prove ourselves? When we are the older species, the superior species? An interesting approach, High Commander.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “Of course, the humans may be understanding. Perhaps they will not invade our realm with their weapons of mass destruction. If we only knew.”
“We have reports,” said Jarek, the battle glyphs on his hands moving as if alive, “of drug-addicted Arisen Dawn invaders racing through Bozeman, destroying entire families in their sleep, feeding on them. Children and adults. Leaving behind empty husks. Is this the message we want to send to Earthers?” Again, he had to rein in the smoke threatening to obscure his body.
A lukewarm smile tugged at Dolph’s lips. “No, Commander.” He unfolded from his chair, throwing his arms high. He slowly spun around. “You know me, friends. I have little ambition for myself, a mild temperament. I am a warlock who prefers a smooth drink with a book by my side on a quiet evening while I relax in front of a fire. But in all good conscience, I must consider what is best for Scath. It seems unwise to destroy so many Arisen Dawn warriors before we ascertain our true enemy. I call for a vote of lawmakers and justices.” He dropped into his seat, his spine straight, his eyes backlit with passion.
“Is there more discussion?” Aras’s gaze swept the rotunda.
Viktor the lawgiver pressed his palms on the table in front of him, pushing up with the grace of an ancient vampire. “As you know, Humans First mercenaries kidnapped, tortured, and killed my son. I have every reason to seek vengeance. Yet, I do not wish other fathers to lose their children to unnecessary violence. I say we destroy Arisen Dawn along with this Cerberus. They dirty our species. We should never adopt their solutions. Instead, we should pursue peace between us and the Earthers. If that is not possible, we go to war with the Scion Firebrands leading the way rather than a band of Aeternal terrorists.”
“Vote. Vote. Vote.”Lawmakers and justices bounded to their feet, shouting.
When the room quieted, Aras picked up his tablet. “How many of you support the Scion Firebrand proposal to enact severe marshal law, eliminate Arisen Dawn as well as supporters, and approach the humans for a sit-down? Show by a raise of hands, please.”
Too few arms shot into the air. Gilda. Aras. Eron. Miorise. Nerina. Daire. Viktor. Other lawgivers and justices glanced around the room, fingers laced together in their laps.
