Static and Gear watched as the EMTs loaded Sharon into the back of the ambulance. They were already calling Pops and radioing ahead to the hospital about setting up a trauma room. The police went inside the blood bank to see how much blood was stolen. "You okay Static?" Gear asked placing a hand on his friend shoulder.
Static shoved it off and whirled to face his friend. His eyes blazed with anger. "My sister was just attack by a couple of out of control Bang Babies. You heard the medics they don't know if she'll survive. Come on we have to get to Dakota Hospital now!" With that he unfolded his flying disk and took off with Gear right behind them.
They arrived at the hospital just as Mr. Hawkins did. He had rushed over from the Community Center after getting the news. He barely had time to page Virgil when he rushed into the waiting room. "Virgil! Richie! How did you two get here so fast?"
"We were kind of in the neighborhood Mr. H. What happened Mr. Hawkins?" Richie asked hurriedly.
"I don't know all the details myself. Dr. Harris called saying that Sharon had been injured while she was at the blood bank. I rushed over here as soon as I could."
"Pops do you think she'll be okay?" Virgil asked desperately.
Mr. Hawkins shook his head. "I don't know son. I just don't know. We'll have to wait for the doctor assessment."
"Mr. Hawkins? Virgil? I like to talk to you two in private about Sharon's condition. Why don't we step into my office?" Dr. Harris asked ushering them inside with Richie tagging along. Indicating them to sit they all sat down waiting for him to continue.
"Is my daughter going to be okay Dr. Harris?" Robert asked urgently.
"Robert when your daughter was brought in she has massive trauma both internally and externally. She also had a profound blood loss. Now the doctors are trying everything to keep her stable but it doesn't look good. By all accounts she should be dead now but for some reason special enzymes have sped up closing her bleeding wounds and she seems to have had a minor transfusion. It doesn't make sense." Dr. Harris explained. He shook his head trying to clear it. No one notice Richie perk up when he mentioned the enzymes healing her.
"As I was saying the only thing that will save her is surgery, but with the blood shortage it will be dangerous. We need to transfuse her. We know her blood type is B-. If we could have one of you donate blood she'll have a real chance to survive." Dr. Harris explained.
Robert shook his head and pounded the desk in frustration. " I donate if I could but I'm B+. I'm not a match."
"I'm B- I could donate the blood. Just tell me where to sign up and take as much as you need." Virgil said rolling up his sleeves.
"First we have to run some quick test to make sure its safe for you to donate blood. If you check out there's no reason you can't. Robert, Virgil come with me." Dr. Harris said getting up and leaving.
"You guys go ahead I'll wait here." Richie said watching them go. He was worried about Virgil donating blood, but now wasn't the time to raise those concerns. Sharon had to come first. Maybe he could find out more of what was going on while they were busy. He sneaked off to the lab to do some work.
After half an hour of testing, cross typing and answering a bunch of medical questions Virgil was sent up to surgery to begin the transfusion. Robert Hawkins watched with anxiety. He had lost his wife and now he might lose his kids. He didn't know if he could deal with that.
The doctors were busy trying to repair the damage done to Sharon. Virgil blood was entering through an IV to keep her alive. The external damage wasn't as bad as they thought it would be. A cast was made of the bite mark to give to the police. A sample of the saliva was taken and sent to the lab for analyzes. Finally after two hours they were done. The surgery had been a success.
Cassandra and Kathren had finally arrived home. They had taken the long way home. Cassandra glared at her sister. They had been through so much these past centuries, but this? She be lucky if Merton didn't kill her right away. "Remember let me do the talking." She told her sister as she disengaged the security system and then turned it back on after entering the cemetery.
Vanez was playing with the kittens in the parlor when the two vampires entered the house. Selena glided down the stairs and greeted them. "There you two are. Where have you been you're late?"
"Never mind. Here's the blood. Where's Merton?" Cassandra asked sighing heavily as she handed the bags over.
"I was in the study going over some plans for our attack on the blood drive when I felt your presence in my mind. Your late Siba returned an hour ago and Arra is downstairs in the Ceremony Room praying. What happened?" Merton questioned.
"We had secured the blood when we tripped a silent alarm. We barely managed to get out of the bank without problems when Static and Gear showed up. We warned them to back off, but they didn't. We fought and won. Just as we were leaving a car nearly ran into us. The driver smacked into a light post and her headlights ended up on Kathren. She couldn't think straight so she attacked! I managed to pry her off. We did an emergency blood transfusion and the paramedics arrived. I'm sure she's fine." Cassandra explained hurriedly.
Merton turned to face Kathren. His eyes were blazing with anger. "What in Dracula's name where you thinking! You harmed an innocent being. Do you know the penalty for such a crime? If she dies or I find out that's not the way it happened I have to execute you! Is that what you want?" Merton yelled at.
"By Dracula's guts it's the truth! I wouldn't lie." Kathren told him angrily.
"Don't you dare cuss at me Kathren. I want you to go downstairs to the Ceremony Room and pray to the Gods for forgiveness. You better hope that the girl you attacked doesn't die. Selena! Since you're the only qualified medical person around here I want you to go to the hospital and check this out. Report back to me as soon as possible." Merton ordered
"By Charna's fangs you can't send her off alone Merton. At least let me go with her. If the police are involved in this like we suspect I can find out and collect whatever evidence they have." Vanez added. Merton nodded and after Selena handed Siba, who come down to find out what the disturbance was, the blood they took the Hearse and were on their way.
"Merton I don't mean to be rude." Siba started
"Then don't be. I was in the study going over plans of how were going to get the blood from the drive now this mess." Merton said shaking his head.
"Merton no one is going to believe the girl was attacked by vampires. They'll probably write it off as a Bang Baby incident. Besides with Vanez destroying all the evidence they don't have a case. He may be a sports jock but he is loyal." Siba cautiously told him before heading back upstairs.
Cassandra sighed. "I told you what happened and you don't believe me? Your own mate? You wound me. I'll be in the library reading. Good night Merton." With that she turned and left him standing in the lobby by himself.
Down in the Ceremony Room Arra was praying. On the floor was a rich crimson carpet and above her hung a chandelier filled with black candles. On the walls were torches and lining the carpet were small candles. To her left stood a large black stone with the name of every vampire that ever lived on it. To her right stood an ancient bookcase with numerous volumes. Each book was a written account of her people's history. In front of her on raised ground stood the alter covered with a black cloth. Written in gold on were the words Physiol Est Portestas. Latin for Blood is Power the vampire motto. Beneath it was the symbol of her people a hand with the pinkie, index and thumb extend while the other two pointed down. Surrounded by a circle with three drops of blood coming from the fingertips. On the alter arrange in a circle were three statues representing the Gods of the Vampires.
On the right was a beautiful longhaired maiden in a flowing dress with a wreath on her head and wings on her back. She carried in her arms a crystal ball. She was Vista the Goddess of Life. The crystal ball represent her ability to see ones destiny and aid you through out life.
On the left stood a tall dark hair man. He had bat wings and wore a suit of armor. His fangs glistened in the light and he carried a rod in one hand and his other hand was clenched in a fist. He was Damien the God of the Dead. He protected all those who had left the mortal world and gone onto to Paradise. He was fair and merciful.
In the center was a woman. Not quite a maiden but not old either. She had short hair and wore a short dress. In one hand she held a book. In the other was a set of scales. She was Callista the Goddess of Judgment. She decide the fate of one vampire after their actions. It was to these Gods that Arra was praying to.
She closed her eyes and focused on the fire that was blazing in the incinerator behind the alter. In her mind she saw the safe they installed above the incinerator, which held the two most valuable things in the world. The Code of Vampire book and the Bloodstone.
"Humble Gods of the Vampires. It is I, Arra, again. I have come to you again to seek guidance for myself. The ache in my heart has not lessoned for Larten even though it has been nearly two hundred years. My mind, soul, and heart need some closure. Please I ask you, no I beg you Damien please let me hear Larten's voice once more." She prayed.
In her mind images began to flash through her head. Flash! Larten and her dancing under the moonlight. Flash! A lanky blond hair youth talking to her. Flash! Men carrying torches coming towards the house. Flash! Fire everywhere and suddenly she was outside watching as they're home collapsed with her beloved still inside. The mental bond broken. Gasping she jerked her head up and started panting. Instead of closure all she had done was relive her memories.
"Arra am I disturbing you?" Kathren asked softly closing the door quietly and kneeling down beside her friend. She looked at her with concern on her face. "Want to hear a joke? What did the vampire say to the clerk after she got her change? Fang you very much." She laughed happily.
"That is funny. I was just praying to the Gods for council. I have been trying to come to terms with Larten's death, but I can't." Arra told. Crossing the room she opened the safe and took out a thick brown leather book bound in gold. In flowing script was the title of the book, The Code of the Vampire. This book contained the origin, the culture, the customs and beliefs, their religion, their laws and punishments in it. It was a guide to how a good vampire should live.
"What brings you down here Kathren? Your sister seems more like the type to pray." Arra asked leafing through the book and stopping to read the section on matings.
Kathren told her what had happened and how Merton reacted. Arra was curious about the boy she battled. She told her Gear was an honorable warrior and he seemed smart. Not to mention he was cute. Arra patted her on the back assuring her that nothing could go wrong and everything was fine.
Selena and Vanez parked the Hearse three blocks away from the hospital. Taking a deep breath she took her knife out and put it on the dashboard. "Get rid of your weapon. We'll never get inside if were carrying blades."
Vanez hesitated for a moment before disposing of his weapon. "I always feel so naked with out my knife or some type of weapon to back me up. So what's the plan Selena?"
"The only way were going to get close to the police and the girl is if we disguise ourselves. They must have a room with some spare clothing in the basement so I'll dress up as a nurse and you go as a security guard. I got the girl scent from the scrap of clothing Kathren gave me so I can find her. You find the police and steal any evidence that may lead to us and I'll check the blood lab to make sure they don't have samples on us. Were in and out in twenty minuets any questions?" Selena asked stepping out of the car and slamming the door shut.
"Yeah one. You and I haven't had any human blood in days. If were going to do this were going to need a fix. I say we hit the morgue and find a fresh body to feed on." Vanez told her.
"Are you fucking crazy! The point is to remove any evidence of vampires not leave new ones." Selena growled.
"You know I'm right. We're weak right now. If were going to do this we need all our strength. I know you brought the bottling equipment so how about it? It will only take ten minuets?" he asked her. He stared at her hard.
Ten minutes later she found herself disguised as a nurse with a security guard in the hospital morgue. The morguetician had left a minute ago and she was on his computer rapidly going through his files.
"Can't you go any faster? He could return any minute!" Vanez hissed. He was guarding the door.
"Hold your horses. I have to find someone who is in relative good health and has been dead for less then eight hours. Otherwise the blood will have gone bad and we could be poisoned. Ah! Found someone that fits the bill. A twenty five year old who died in a car crash three hours ago. He's in cabinet 25A." Selena told him. She raced over to the appropriate drawer and opened it. Out popped a very dead man. Using her fingernails she cut a hole in his neck and using the equipment bottled two vials of blood.
"Come on we have to get out of here. He's coming!" Vanez whispered. When the morguetician entered two minuets later everything was the way he left it. Outside the doors two vampires hurriedly drank their dinner before heading to the main floor.
"According to this floor plan recovery for surgical patients is on the fifth floor so will head there. Once there we split up and do our jobs. Meet back here at the elevator in twenty minutes." Selena told him as the elevator deposited them on the fifth floor.
Selena breathed in deeply letting the scents fill her nose. She her sense of smell was as accurate as a wolf. Maybe even a little better. She had no trouble finding Sharon and Virgil's room. She entered room 521 quietly. Both patients were resting comfortably and they both seemed fine. Selena looked at her charts noting that Sharon seemed to be making a quick recovery at astonishing speeds. Noting that Sharon blood work was in the lab on the just down the hall she decided to grab her clothes and scat. Just as she reached for them she heard the door open. She quickly hid on the ceiling.
A teenage boy with blond hair entered the room. He seemed nervous about something. He took the bag with Sharon cloths in them and with a cotton swab dabbed it on one of the bite marks. He put the swap in a case and left the room. "Wonder what that was all about? Well no matter I best be getting to the lab." Selena thought dropping to the ground and exiting. She didn't notice the sparks of electricity coming out of Sharon's fingertips.
Vanez was trying to act nonchalant around the other guards. He had to find the police and doctors involved with the girl's attack and fast. He spotted some policemen talking to Dr. Harris and listened to them.
"Here's everything on Sharon Hawkins attack that you'll need. Cast made of the bite marks, the medical report, medical samples. You'll have to wait till tomorrow for her statement. She needs to rest." Dr. Harris told the police handing a thick file over.
"Were going to need it if were going to catch those Bang Babies. We have the security tape right here and for some odd reason the criminals didn't show up on it. Well we have to go." One of the policemen said. They started walking towards the elevator door when Vanez bumped into them. Faster then the eye could see he took all the evidence and switched it with some fakes he made. Apologizing for bumping into them they left on their way. "Suckers." Ten minutes later Selena and Vanez were on their way home with everything safe and secured.
Back at the hospital Virgil and Sharon had woken up and were talking with their father. He was very happy that the surgery had been a success. "Now Sharon honey are you sure that your okay?"
"For the last time Daddy I'm fine. I feel better than fine. I can't remember exactly what happened. Its really just a blur." Sharon told them.
"I'm glad your okay sis, but I wouldn't want to do that again. I feel majorly wiped." Virgil told her.
"I've been talking with Dr. Harris you two. He is astonished at the speed you're recovering at. He says both of you can go home tomorrow but no strenuous activities for awhile."
Hey guys how are you doing tonight? I brought you something to read V and for Sharon some flowers." Richie said entering the room.
"Richie my man. Its great to see you. So be honest do I look as bad as I feel?" Virgil asked.
"You look worse than hell I believe. I just wanted to check on you before I split."
"Ah that was sweet of you. I love them." Sharon said smelling them. Richie nodded and left the family. He had work to do and it was going to take all night.
The next day after a final check up and making sure that there were no complications Sharon and Virgil went home. Robert Hawkins told them to stay in bed all day and rest. He still had work to do at the Community Center and to call if he needed anything.
Virgil was trying to sleep, but it was hard. He kept having the same dream. The same one that had plagued him at the hospital. He was battling that girl again and she was winning. He threw a nova ball at her but she just laughed. Suddenly Sharon appeared out of nowhere and the girl flew over his head and bit her. "No! Sharon" but it was too late she was dead.
Virgil jerked awaked with a start. He was panting hard with sweat dripping down from him. He glanced at the clock, which read 12:30. "What a nightmare. Man that is the last time I give blood." His shock box began to ring. He picked it up and answered. "Richie what is it? Why are you calling me from school?"
"I'm not at school. Teachers Institute day remember? I'm at the Abandon Gas Station of Solitude. Listen do you feel up to coming here right now? I got some big news on those girls we battled last night." Richie said with excitement in voice.
"You have something on the fang girls? Count me in I'll be right over. Sharon's resting and Pops is at the Center. I'll take the bus and meet you in fifteen." Virgil said hanging up. He left his room and opened Sharon door. She was sleeping soundly. He shut the door leaving the house not noticing the electric surges going on in her room.
When Virgil got to the gas station he though Richie had robbed the library. Books, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, and printouts from websites littered the floor. Backpack was busy organizing them all into different piles. Richie was at a high-powered electron microscope that Batman had given them for their help in defeating Brainiac. He glanced up and smiled. "Hey Virgil nice to see you. Pull up a chair."
"Richie what did you do borrow every book from the Dakota library?" Virgil asked in exasperation. He glanced down at the title of the book nearest to him and blinked. It was called The Facts and Fictions of Vampires. In fact everything seemed to be about vampires. "Why are you so interested in vampires?"
"First off I didn't borrow every book just the ones about vampires from all the local libraries and the university. Second I've been up all night researching them to find out more about them because the girls who attacked us last night weren't Bang Babies. They were vampires." Richie informed him.
"Richie are you feeling okay? Because it sounds like you've been reading too much horror lately. Of course they were Bang Babies and when I get my hands on them their going to wish they never heard of Static." Virgil told him.
"Hear me out V-man. The girl who attacked me, Kathren I think was her name, had ten tiny scars on her fingertips. That's the sign that she has been blooded. Blooded means she's been turned into a vampire. Second she had all the powers of a vampire and lastly she didn't show up on Backpack tape. I spent all last night compiling a list of facts, fictions, and the vampire's history. Want to hear it?" Richie asked picking up a pile of papers.
"Richie I think you should see a doctor. They were Bang Babies not the undead. The doctors can prove that with the evidence they took." Virgil told him.
"Virgil I analyzed a sample of the saliva on Sharon shirt. It didn't match the one I had on your dad who's a normal human or you a Metahuman. It's a completely new type of DNA. I was running some test on it when you came in. According to the computer the DNA is of person who has great power and a iron deficiency." Richie explained showing him a three D model.
"What's iron got to do with vampires?" Virgil asked confused
"Plenty. Iron strengthens the body and the blood keeping us from getting sick. Scientist theorizes that vampires burn iron too quickly. The best way to get iron into the bloodstream is to drink it. That's why vampires drink blood. It could also explain why they can't stand sunlight but I'm working on it." Richie explained.
Virgil held up his hands in defeat. If Richie said they were vampires they were vampires. "Alright lets say your right for arguments sake. That those girls Cassandra and Kathren weren't Bang Babies but vampires wouldn't someone have proven their existence before now?"
"That's what I was trying to explain with their history. You better sit down because this could take awhile and don't interrupt unless you have to. Vampires have been around since human being first evolved. There are a lot of ideas of how they were created, but the one that seems the most correct is that vampirism is actually a virus that attacked early humans. Somehow their bodies mutate the virus so that they survived but in the process they became vampires. For hundreds of years they stayed out of sight trying to survive. Being hunted like animals and killed. Then in 7th century vampires became more organized. They set up their own society, culture, and lifestyle. They even found a home in the Alps a hollow mountain they called Vampire Mountain. It became their home and for centuries they were content until the War of Scars with the vampanzees happened in the 12th century." Richie told him.
"The War of what? Vampanzees? Dude what are you talking about?" Virgil demanded.
"Easy Virgil. Vampanzees are misguided cousins of vampires. They once were vampires but thought they should kill their victims to absorb their spirit through the blood instead of just taking a little to survive. They had red hair and purple skin and were bloody killers. I explain more later. Anyways the War of Scars was the war between the vampires and vampanzees. It lasted for about a hundred years. The vampires wiped out all the vampanzees but the cost was dear. Not many survived. The only surviving King and Queen went into hibernation to await the day when their kind would rise again. I came across an old painting on the Internet titled Vampire Clan and take a look for yourself." Richie said handing him the printout. He gasped right in the center of the painting was Kathren and Cassandra.
"No way it can't be them. It must be their ancestors or something." Virgil stammered.
"I don't think so Virgil. Were dealing with real live vampires here in Dakota and we have to figure out what they want before its to late. Its getting late I'll walk home with you." Richie said putting down his research and leaving with his best friend.
On the bus ride home Richie couldn't keep quiet about how cool it would be to be a vampire. "After all if I had an offence power instead of a defensive one maybe I wouldn't be kidnapped, brain jacked, or not trusted at all by adults. I could really get payback for all the pain that's happened to me." Richie thought to himself.
"Yo Rich are you okay? You've been awfully quiet for a while. Everything tight?" Virgil asked concerned.
"What oh yeah everything cool. I was just thinking of new inventions to take out the vampires. This is are stop." Richie told him getting off on the corner near Virgil house.
"Good because Static and Gear are going to need all the help they can get if were going to beat these bloodsuckers. Sharon I'm home! Sharon? Uh Richie you might want to take a look at this." Virgil said entering the kitchen.
Everything that was metal had been magnetized to the ceiling. The lights were flickering on and off. Appliances were running themselves with out being plugged in. "Virgil? Is that you baby brother?" Sharon called out.
"Yeah its me and Richie. Were are you Sharon." Virgil yelled running into the living room were the same thing was happening.
"I'm in my room hurry please! I think the house is possessed!" She screamed.
"She must be really out of it to suggest something like that." Richie commented as they head up the stairs. They flung open the door to Sharon's room and gasped.
Sharon was huddled on her bed covered with material. Electricity was shooting out of her fingertips. She had obviously tried to use the phone but short-circuited it as it lay on the floor all busted. "Virgil something wrong with me. I have to call Dr. Harris and tell him something went wrong with the surgery. This has been happening all day. What's wrong with me?" Sharon cried.
"Nothing wrong with you sis," Virgil said using his own powers to return everything to normal. Sharon gasped in amazement. "In fact I think I know what's wrong with you."
