5 Darkness Falls (10 page)

“Leka.” Kai placed a hand on my shoulder, pulling me out of my
trance.

I mentally shook myself. “Sorry. Um, we can use any of the computers in the perimeter offices. They’re the only ones with access to the software.”

I headed for a corner office far away from the conference room, not wanting to be any closer to the memor
ies.

I breezed into the space
and
pressed the power button on the computer, praying that it turned on after being untouched for several months. I squealed inside when I heard the telltale beep that signaled it was booting.

I set my phone down on the desk and focused on logging into the back office of the computer, where I could access the voice recognition software.

As I waited for the program to load, I couldn’t help but praise my grandfather. He really did know what he was doing in this field. He was old school, yet open to all
that
modern technology had to offer. He took advantage of his historical wisdom and the plethora of technological advances over the centuries. He’d amassed a ton of electronics, software, weapons and more. I was slightly shaken when I realized that it all belonged to me now.

The moment the program was open and ready, I played back the conversation between myself and the unknown vampire.

“Two matches had been found,” the computer relayed.

The group gathered around
,
waiting with me.

“Alexa Lorrayne Jackson, daughter of Sharon and Stewart Jackson. Date of birth is confirmed and available. Birth city is confirmed and available. Three-hundred sixty-two relatives are identified and available. Current location is unknown.”

I gaped at the screen. Here I thought I only had Aunt Claire left. I guess Cesar wasn’t exaggerating when he said he’d built an army.

“Wow, Lex. That’s a big family reunion,” Gabi stared at the screen with me.

My picture was visible in the top left corner. My stats spread from left to right beside the photo. The three
-
columned list of my relatives all blurred together. A first and last name as well as a city and state or country was provided.

I cleared my throat, clicking ‘Next’ to obtain what we’d really come for. I would have to
go climbing
into my family tree another time.

“Kalia Lexus Constancia, daughter of Sheeba and Arrameo Constancia. Date of birth is confirmed and available. Birth city is currently unavailable. One relative is identified and available. Current location is Cape Town, South Africa.”

I enlarged the picture of Kalia. It was a grainy photo that was probably
snapped
by a traffic camera based o
n
her movements. Even without perfect pixilation, the girl’s attitude came across
in the picture
perfectly.

She was dressed in black skinny jeans tucked into combat boots. A sleeveless hot pink shirt poked out beneath a black tank top. Oversized metal stud earrings gave her a hard edge, but the pile of tight curls falling around her face softened it. Her mother’s African American ethnicity shined beautifully in her curls while her father’s Hispanic heritage gave her smooth
,
olive skin. Her lashes covered her eyes, but from the tiny visible slits, it appeared she had green-grey eyes, a unique coloring given
that
both of her parent’s
eyes were most likely
brown
.

I clicked several links and pulled up as much information as possible on the girl. From what I gathered, her father was a vampire; her one confirmed living relative.

I frowned as I continued reading. “This can’t be possible.” I highlighted the information and stepped back. “How can she be one-hundred percent vampire but have a human mother and full-blood vampire father? Shouldn’t she be a vampeen?”

“Shit,” Kai murmured.

Shit wasn’t good.

I butted my way back to the computer
, pulling
up her photo again. I knew my features were scrunched as I pondered her status.

I
pressed my bottom lip between my teeth as I examined
her image. She looked young. Her cheeks were still slightly rounded with baby fat. Her chest didn’t extend very far,
indicating
that
either
she wasn’t blessed in the bosom department or she possibly never got the chance to develop. She appeared short. Taking into account the downward angle of the photograph, I would guess she
was
just five f
eet
t
all
.

I
firmly pressed my lips together,
considering the pint-sized
pistol
of spunk. If I had to guess, she looked about fourteen. “Is it possible for a vampire to bite a vampeen before she changes
, overriding
her DNA
and
changing her early
; essentially
wiping out her human-vamp mix?”

“All armies have forbidden feeding upon children,” Kai stated.

My mind was
busy
working, tossing
around all
the facts
.
“Do you think her dad could have bitten her ahead of time
,
because he wanted her to be on his side? If she’d changed, she would have technically been a vampeen
with
fifty-percent
vampire
.”

“You never know,” Gabi offered.

I sighed. Something about the situation didn’t sit well with me. Of course, that could have been because she had one of my men. I pulled out my
cord
and downloaded the information on the girl into my phone. I immediately sent it out to the High Authorities, the Bladangs, Jack and all of my primary vampeen army contacts. Bad past or not, Kalia was now on my hit list.

“Let’s go. I’ll follow up with everyone on the road.”

“Lexi, would you mind terribly if I obtained a copy of this software? I’ve seen hundreds of voice recognition programs on the market, but none with a complete log of all vamps.” Jack stared at the screen with fascination.

I knew it was wrong to judge a man based o
n
his past; people change
.
I was apprehensive to give him access to this program because of what he’d put us all through
.
If
he had access to software like this, I could only imagine how much the ant
e
would have increased.

His expression slipped, revealing his hurt. “Forget I asked.”

“I’m sorry, Jack. Of course you can
have
a copy of it. My only requirement is that you encode it so that it’s impossible to hack on your system. I’m trusting that you won’t abuse it.”

He gave me a small smile. “I am a changed man, Lexi.”

Gabi wrapped her arms around
him,
hanging onto his side. She smiled proudly. “He really is, Lex.”

“Alright.” I knew this was a good way to mend our rocky past. Jack could never prove himself
,
unless I took a leap of faith.

Humanity involved risk. We lived off an honor system. The risk came into play when someone destroyed his or her honor. I was a firm believer in second chances, but that’s what they were: chances
…
risks. I was choosing the side of humanity
,
and humility
,
with Jack. All of us must grovel for redemption at some point;
so
it was always best to
give
the forgiveness you’d
be
seek
ing…
the second chance you
’d
be
hop
ing
for.

Chapter 9

Kai, Gabi and Jack left
, going to
attend
to some Bladang business, leaving Drexel and me to drive home alone.

I immediately called my managers, my primary contacts for the vampeen army. I ordered them to deploy our best operatives to the general area that Rashik was taken from. I sent up a silent prayer that they
wouldn’t
get hurt in the process. I knew I was going to have to face Cecilia and Kalia eventually, but for now, I’d send in the experts.

My heart was heavy as I called the High Authorities and relayed everything. I sent them out a profile. Auggy agreed to send in a team to back
up
my men
.
My gut twisted at the knowledge that I was launching a war against the vampire army in doing this. I was against war, but I wouldn’t be walked all over, not when it involved others.

Cecilia crossed the line when she sent in Kalia. Taking my people, doing God only kn
ows
what to them, infuriated me
- perhaps
that’s
exactly
what she was aiming for. She wanted
to evoke
a reaction from me. She wanted my attention, beyond a little note of presence
…and she
got it.

I breathed through the constriction around my chest. My baby’s heartbeat was steady in the background, a soothing melody keeping me calm when I wanted to act out, when I wanted to whip into action with my vampeen employees. I never thought it was fair for one man, for one person
,
to delegate the fate of others from behind a big desk. It was so easy to lose touch with reality when you were secluded in a large office for too long. I never wanted to lose my perception
…
my humanity
…
my humility. These men and women were risking their life to handle business that was mine, not theirs. I would feel
never-ending
guilt
if
anything happen
s
to them.

“Calm down,
B
aby
C
akes.” Drexel took my hand, securing it in his. His touch was a reminder of where I was, of my present. “Listen to that baby’s heartbeat and remember why you’re sitting back. You’re not lazy. You’re not a heartless leader sending others to die. You’re doing your best to protect everyone, especially that little one inside you who can’t protect itself. Plus, I was one of those guys. We fucking live for that shit.”

I nodded, giving him a
meek
small smile. He was right. Right wasn’t always easy though.

I sat back in the seat, keeping my phone in my free hand in case anything happened.

I gazed out the window, watching the scenery fly by. The sun was already beginning to set. Trees flew by as Drexel sped down the highway. The closer we got to home, more buildings, dwellings and proof of life became visible. It was vastly different from the secluded lifestyle my grandfather created out in the middle of nowhere.

“I can’t believe I have so many relatives,” I mused.

I knew I would
never
meet most of them, but
just knowing
that they were out there was comforting. Family
was
the ones who had your back no matter what. Knowing that they were the product of my grandfather though, I knew there was a chance that many of them wanted nothing to do with me.

“You know you probably employ a good many of them,” Drexel stated.

“Hm
m
. I hadn’t thought of that.” I frowned as I
mentally reviewed
my employees. I’d met many of them, but
there were
still left thousands I’d yet to introduce myself to. “I have six thousand eight-hundred sixty-two vamps on payroll. I’ve wanted to scale back. It feels like a dinosaur to gaze at, but I know many of them rely on me for income.”

“You have time to think that one through.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

My mind was
racing,
turning over
thoughts
about the business and life in general. I spaced out for the remainder of the drive. Drexel held my hand,
keeping
me
cognizant
of where I was
…keeping
me from completely loosing myself in my head.

Drex opened the apartment door for me. I slowed as I walked in. Two men, both tan with nearly black hair, dark
-
brown eyes and unimpressive statures stood beside Kellan. One seemed slightly older than the other based off the wrinkles beginning to line his forehead and cheeks. Kellan
was holding
a double oven in his arms. He was hovering it
over
a set of cabinets
that
had been removed
.

“Um, what’s going on?” I asked, finally gaining my wits and venturing
forward
at a steady pace
.