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Chapter 14: Epilogue

In the caves it is blacker than night. Many would think that is not possible, but you have not experienced darkness until you have experienced cave night. Even when I died, it was not so black.

We are cornered.

When I went to go speak with the others, I had been calm. Now, though, I realize just how desperate our situation is, and how awful the future will become. And why? Hubris. Our arrogance and cruelty have brought this fate upon us.

I had stood at the entranceway, looking in the room. There was a table in there, and seated around it were all of the most powerful vampires there could be, with the exception of Aubrey. None of us know where he is. We cannot sense him.

Jessica is distraught. She wants to leave to look for him, but it is too dangerous, even for her.

While I stood there, Jager looked up and motioned me in. I sat next to him in a vacant chair. He looked worn, tired. It is unbelievable, but true. We were all overwhelmed by how many enemies there were and how powerful they had become.

"...and what do you suggest?" asked Kendra as I quietly sat down.

"It is hard to know," said Siete. "I am in a bad position. I could strike them down, yes, but then I would have to answer to their creators. And though I am powerful, I cannot stand against three, four angry immortals as powerful as I. And do not mention helping me," he said as Jager opened his mouth, "None of you can do anything to help. You all would be torn to pieces."

There was silence. Then—

"She played us, you know," said Katama, quietly. "I had thought that Lashan had been destroyed in the fall of Midnight, but that clearly was not true. If anything, the creature has grown more powerful."

I began to ask who Lashan was when I was interrupted by Silver slamming his fist down on the table. "Dammit!" He shouted. "Do you mean to tell me that all of the most powerful vampires from every line cannot take down just one vampire? Since when have we become so weak?"

"Since we lost our humanity," I said. At that, everyone's attention was on me. "She has many of the races on her side. Even witches. I doubt the Vida line knows much about what their renegades do. Nor would most of them really care what the others do in their spare time. In fact, some of Jeshickah's witches are probably proper members of the clan. Which isn't all that shocking when you think about it. After all, they have dedicated themselves to our destruction, and some of them probably hate us enough to consider joining with one of our number who promises them an end to vampires. We have played games for too long. We have been too arrogant about our abilities. We have forgotten to be human."

Kendra laughed. "To be human is to be weak," she said disdainfully.

"And that is why we have fallen," I replied. "Do you really think the other races would have joined together against us if they had been treated properly by us? But instead we have laughed at them, used them, played games with their lives, treated them like animals simply because they were not us. We have become so caught up in being the predator that we have forgotten what it's like to be the prey.

Perhaps we did this for our own protection. After all, how could you kill something that you empathize with? But it can be taken too far. We have always prided ourselves on being more than human, but what does it mean when being more than human means you act like an animal? So far, none of us have shown any qualities that make us better than humans. Yes, we have power. But it has corrupted us. In the end, we are no better than the people we kill, and in some cases quite a lot worse.

I have tried for a long time to forget what it's like to be human. For a while, I thought I had succeeded. However, events recently have made me realize that you should never forget to be human. I would love to forget. To be human is to feel pain. But feeling pain can save your life. If it were not for the sting of the witch's knife, we would not know to not go near it. We would slice ourselves, and die because we were too numb."

"Some go crazy from the pain," said Jager.

"We are vampires. We will all go crazy in the end," said Katama. There was silence.

"A touching speech, Risika, but I'm afraid it does not address our current situation," said Silver.

"But it does," replied Katama. "Siete, she's gotten to the heart and soul of the matter. What if we parley, try to convince the other races that we have seen the error of our ways? Sign a contract, make a pact, do whatever— as long as we get out!"

Siete shook his head. "It will not work," he said.

"What about the creators of the other races?" demanded Silver. "Surely you could talk to them!"

"No," said Siete. "You do not understand. We are disliked by all races, including their creators. Even if they will speak to me, they will not believe me. No, my fledgelings, we are truly and utterly trapped.

"So you are just going to sit there? What happened to you? You are Siete, creator of the race of vampires, the mightiest race on earth!" shouted Silver.

"And all of the power in the world cannot save me should the other immortals take revenge. I have already explained this, Silver. There is nothing more to say," said Siete.

"Then it is over," said Katama. "We are cornered. We cannot attack Jeshickah, as not only would that not get rid of the problem, but it is very likely impossible to do so. We cannot attack the others, as we will die."

"We will die anyway," said Jager. "We are cornered by our prey, and we have nothing to feed on but ourselves." There was a slight shudder as he said this.

"It is check and mate. I am sorry, my fledgelings. I will do the best I can, but I fear that is not enough," said Siete. And with that, we were dismissed.

I do not know how long ago that was. Time passes differently here. Since the meeting, Jessica has come up to me and begged me to help her find Aubrey. But I cannot feel his mind anymore. He is probably dead. But when I told her this, she merely flew into a rage and disappeared elsewhere. I do not know. I do not care.

As I sit here, I think about the situation. It is desperate. Many of us are already hungry. I am beginning to feel the familiar feeling of dust in my veins. I will have to eat, and soon. But there is no one to feed from.

Some vampires were able to bring blood-bond humans with them. They will be the first to go. The next will be the weaker vampires. We all know which ones are the weakest. They know too. Some vampires are already trying to round up the weakest for later feeding. The weak are trying to fight, but it is useless, and they know it. This knowledge gives them fear.

They are not the only ones who are afraid. All of us feel the cold, all of us know what is going to happen. And sitting here, drowning in my fear, a voice speaks to me from out of my past.

"Survive and be strong, or die, cornered by your prey, trembling because the night is dark."

We are cornered.

We are trembling.

We are dying.

And the night is black.

To Be Continued...