Author Note:
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Thank you for sticking with me.
Episode 11
Andy's POV
I keep watch at the screens trying to keep my mind off my little girl and what could possibly happen to her on her trip from wherever she is. The only thing more frightening than what could have happened to her while with Jessica is what could have happened to her if those Government assholes got a hold of her.
"The convoy is starting," one of the men at the consul tells the room.
"Our men in route?" the man I've learned is named Barrack says.
"Yes, Sir," the young man at the console says. "ETA is fifteen minutes. They will be in the middle of the desert. They think by not using flights and moving in the daylight they are in the clear."
"How many on the convoy?" Barrack asks.
"The SUV with the boy and his mother plus two others that Stork is taking on. Three other vehicles, eight men in total."
"Fire power?" Barrack asks.
"Standard," the boy says. "No air coverage and the convoy is heading straight through to Colorado. They are planning on rail transport from there."
Barrack laughs slightly. "You would think they would have learned after the last time they tried that."
"Tried what son?" I ask.
Barrack looks at me with a smile. "That's the first thing you've said since you spoke with your daughter. I'm glad something piqued your interest."
"What did they try and how many people got hurt?" I ask. The cop in me knows that something happened.
These folks are fighting a war. No, I guess we folks are fighting a war now. Or at least I'll keep an open mind until my girl gets here. Then I'll decide if this is a war worth fighting.
"Several of the De USC were hurt in the fire fight but it was superficial," Barrack says. "We don't take lives unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Mercenaries?" I ask. "Or are you terrorists?"
"More like rebels," he says with a smile. "And to answer your question, the De USC has tried to move Halflings by rail before. We intercepted them outside of San Francisco."
"Don't forget the trip out of Paris, Sir," the man at the console says. "That was a tricky one."
"Tricky?" I ask.
"We took the train in the tunnel," Barrack says. "Stopped service for over an hour but enough time for us to extract five halflings. Three of them were couples. The women were pregnant. It would have been a prize for the lab rats but we got to them first."
"You always use fire power?" I ask.
"No," Barrack responds. "We try to get to these folks before they are even on the De USC's radar. Sometimes we fail. We have a lot of recon and intelligence but this world is big and Halflings don't exactly like to make themselves known. It takes time."
"So you are telling me that there are a lot more like Adilyn and Sookie?" I ask.
He smiles. "Oh, there are none like Miss Stackhouse but like Adilyn, there are enough that the De USC has three sites with about two dozen in each. We can't tell for sure. We know from those we've gotten out and the little Intel we have been able to gather that they have enough to cause us concern."
"How many have you saved?" I ask.
"To date," Barrack smiles at me, "Adilyn will be our hundred and first."
"How you hiding that many folks son?" I ask him.
"Oh, we have our ways," he says.
I want to ask him more but I hear a car.
Running to the door, I'm flanked by two people as I go to open the door.
"Wait," I hear Barrack say as he turns to one of the many screens on the wall.
I turn to see the car stop, three people get out and one opens the back door. I hold my breath as I see my little girl get out.
"Okay," Barrack says.
I take that as his approval. Pulling the door open, I run out on the porch as Adilyn looks up. Smiling, she runs to me.
"Daddy," sheyells.
"Baby," I say and hold out my hands for her.
In a flash, she's in my arms and I can't but let the tears I'd been holding since she was taken fall.
Neither of us says anything for a minute before someone, I'm not sure who, says we need to move inside.
I don't really remember moving by my little girl never leaves my arms.
"Sheriff Bellefleur we don't have much time," Barrack says. "We need your decision."
I pull back and look at my little girl. Brushing away the hair from her face, she looks up at me and smiles.
"You promise me you can keep my little girl safe?" I ask him.
"She will be," the woman that came in with her says. "She won't be found."
"Daddy?" Adilyn says.
"Baby," I say touching the side of her face. "Baby these people are going to take you somewhere you'll be safe. Those people won't be able to find you."
"Daddy, we," Adilyn says. "We need to go," she nods her head.
"Sir, there…"Barrack begins.
"That's my town," I growl at him. "I can't just…"
"There's nothing left for you there," he says.
"Holly and the boys," I say in response.
"Have been taken into hiding," Barrack says. "They will meet us at the plane."
I shake my head. "I ain't never run from a fight."
"Sir, it isn't running. You will be protecting those you love," Barrack responds. "What do you think they would do to you to get Adilyn to come back?"
"That's the US government son," I say looking at him. "They will not…"
"They already have or do you need to see the photos again?" Barrack asks.
"My town," I say to him.
"If the De USC hadn't called off the infected Vampires, your town would have been laid to waste. There is nothing to say they won't keep up the fear factor in human's hearts. That is the only reason people haven't been asking more questions. In their eyes the government is helping and they don't care what the cost is."
"And you do?" I ask. "Northman does?"
"He does," Barrack nods. "We do. We wouldn't be doing what we are to help if we didn't."
"Why do you care?" I ask him.
"It's all about the balance," the woman says.
"The balance of what?" I ask.
"Everything," she says with a smile. "The balance of good and bad, light and dark, day and night, everything."
I look at my daughter again.
"Please Daddy," she says softly, "you are all I got left. I can't lose you."
I choke back a tear. "I can't lose you either," I say holding her closer.
Looking over her head I find Barrack. "Holly and the boys?"
"Will be waiting for you at the plane," he says with a nod.
"She knows what's going on?" I ask.
"She knows that you and your daughter were in danger and her and her boys could be as well. She saw what happened at the bar and she saw what happened after. She's suspicious but willing to stay low if it meant that you were safe. She is rather powerful herself," Barrack says.
"You got no idea, son," I say and look down at Adilyn. "Ok, baby," I say to her.
"You going to stay with me?" she asks with hope in her eyes. "I can't leave you."
I look at Barrack. "When do we leave?"
"As soon as we have the others," he points to the screen showing the convoy and I can't help but wonder how the hell they are getting those pictures.
But after everything I've seen in the past day, I'm not sure I'm ready to hear anymore.
I allow Adilyn and me to be ushered off to another room under the pretense of getting food.
I am a little hungry.
Senator Martin Douglas POV
"Sweetheart," I hear from the hallway.
I quickly put away the burner phone I have and turn to look at my wife as she comes into the room.
Smiling, she walks over with her bracelet her hand.
"Would you mind?" she asks.
"Of course dear," I say and help her with the clasp. When done, I lean down to kiss her cheek.
"I didn't hear you come in last night," she says.
"Yes," I say with a nod and turn away from her. "The meeting went later than expected."
I can't look at her. She always knows when I'm lying. The past months have been terrible. But it will be all over soon. As soon as the Vampires are sufficiently eradicated, I will not have to play this game anymore. Renee and I'll be well on our way to the White House and I'll leave all this behind me.
Well perhaps not all. Sarah could be fun to have around. But I'm thinking she may be too dangerous to me. After all JFK got burned more times than anyone can count and least we forget about Clinton. Both of them should be a warning to anyone who plays while in office.
Yes, keep it quiet and hidden. Women in power certainly don't like to be in the shadows and Sarah Newlin isn't one to stay in the shadows.
"Douglas," Renee says.
"Yes?" I ask as I spin my head to her and smile.
"You haven't heard a word I've said, have you?" she asks putting her hand on her hip.
"I'm sorry, dear," I say and move toward her. "I'm a little distracted."
"Well," she says and reaches up to fix my tie. "You need to keep your head in the game," she kisses me softly. "We need these people tonight. Everyone knows you are perfect candidate but you mustn't take it for granted. New York society has a make or break playing field."
I try not to roll my eyes. I do hate these northern trips but my PR people, campaign heads and Renee all tell me that it's necessary.
It is why after a day of campaigning and meetings in DC we had to get on a plane and head to New York immediately. I didn't even get a chance to call Sarah. Oh, I know that she is going to be mad.
"I know you hate being here," she says as she rests her hands on my chest. "But you have to remember, the country is bigger than Louisiana. After so much time in DC you would think you'd have come to terms with that."
"I have," I huff. "But couldn't we have waited a day?" I ask.
"And have the other candidates have first shot at charming all these lovely people out of their money?" she laughs. "Come now, sweetheart," she smiles at me. "You know this is necessary."
"Yes," I nod. "I know."
"Well then," she stands back. "Shall we?"
I nod like the good boy I'm supposed to be and follow my lovely wife out of the house.
Looking around, I see the children sitting in the sitting room watching some show or another. I hear my wife wish them a goodnight with a promise to go to the park and zoo tomorrow. They look up and smile at me.
I'm doing this all for them; I have to keep reminding myself. I'm doing this so that they have a life. I'm doing this so that they have a future.
Nothing else matters.
Holding the door open for my lovely wife, she smiles at me again as she walks out the door. I follow, closing it behind me.
SPOV
It took every ounce of strength Eric and I had to leave our little love nest and return to the land of the living, or dead, or well, whatever. It took all we had to return to reality.
I for one would have been happy to stay in our bubble but that wouldn't have answered any questions, solved any problems nor fixed anything.
"Okay," I say with a sigh. "I know that you were hurt and didn't tell me," I say as I sit at the table that someone had graciously setup with food for the only eater in the room. I'd have to remember to thank someone later.
"I already explained that," Eric says coming to sit next to me on the two person sofa in front of the table.
"Yes, and you will not be doing that again," I say as I pop a grape into my mouth.
"No," he says and kisses my nose.
"Okay," I nod and look up into his beautiful eyes. "Is everyone safe?"
He knows what I'm asking.
He nods. "We secured everyone except for the shifter and," he sighs. "The Wolf."
"They were in on it," I say. "With Bill, they were in on it."
He just looks at me. "Sookie," he begins but I wave him off.
"No," I shake my head. "It's fine. Well it isn't fine but its fine," I laugh a little at my wording but I'm sure he'll know what I mean. "I don't want to dwell on it."
"There is something we need to talk about concerning Herveaux."
"Is it going to make me mad?" I ask.
"Most definitely," he says to me.
"Then can it wait?" I ask him.
"Sookie," he starts.
"No, I'm not trying to avoid the situation. Its, just well," I pause playing with the food before me. "I'm just really happy right now. We are together and what we did," I motion to the other room. "Well, it was, I don't have words. I know there is a lot of bad stuff we need to talk about and I know it's all important and serious but Alcide is the least of that right now."
"If you are sure that this is going to make me mad, then it's bad and I know I have to deal with it but in the grand scheme of everything else, it's not really important. I lost all feelings for Alcide when I learned he was planning on handing me over to some government crazies. You would have thought he'd have learned that doesn't work with Burrell but I guess since it didn't concern Weres, it didn't concern him," I say in a huff remembering his unfeeling ways when he had learned about all that had happen to the Vampires. Even with Jason living with one, he didn't seem to care, at all. In fact he wouldn't even speak to Violet any time he saw her.
It's like he had no empathy at all.
"Are you sure?" Eric asks me playing with a piece of my hair.
"Yes Eric," I say with another sigh. "I want to hold onto this good feeling as long as I can. If something is so serious that you are willing to tell me immediately then I know that it's something I'm not going to like. Well," I look up into his eyes. "I know I'm not going to like a lot of things we need to discuss but I want to keep Alcide, Sam and Bill in the past for just a little while. I know we need to deal with it but it's the past. I am here, with you and I'm safe. I want to keep that for now. My hurt, my feelings and what they tried to do to me can wait for another time. There are more important things right now."
"There is nothing more important to me than you, Min Sol," he says.
I place my palm on his now healed cheek. "You are sweet but you have a whole, Island of folks that are important. If they weren't they wouldn't be here."
He smiles at me. "My Sookie," he says, "how insightful you are."
"No," I say shaking my head. "Just decided it was time to grow up. Everything isn't always about me and there are more important things going on right now than my hurt feelings and wounded pride. So tell me, what is this Covenant and what does it have to do with me, you and everything else that is going on here."
EPOV
"Straight to the point," I say smiling at my beautiful faerie.
"You taught me that," she smirks back and pops another grape into her mouth. "Spill Vampire."
I shake my head at her playful nature. She is truly a wonder.
"Very well," I nod and lean back. "At the beginning of time, there was Vampire," I begin.
"Like that Lilith, Billith thing?" she asks.
I laugh. "Billith," I shake my head. "I would believe him completely unworthy to wake the daemon of the night, don't you?"
She nods. "Yeah, I didn't understand that one either."
"Lilith was the first Vampire but she was not the only one," I say. "She had a sister and there were several others roaming the earth. Lilith thought she was the most powerful and strongest because of how she conquered so many. Not to mention learning where the Fae were and desecrating their existence by turning one of them."
"Warlow," she says.
"Yes," I nod at her. "In Lilith's mind, her greatest conquest but it shifted the balance of power, tilted the world."
"The others?" she asks.
"The others," I continue, "are known as our ancients, collectively known as the Batran. The brotherhood of the balance."
"Vampires?" she asks.
"The first Ancients," I respond. "Three of them are the first Vampires, three of them are the, well, I'm not sure if they are the first but certainly close to the oldest of the Fae. A detente was reached once Warlow destroyed Lilith. While she was roaming and destroying, the world was spun into terrible turmoil. The balance was off," I say to her.
"And this Batran put it, what, right?" she asks.
I nod. "They did. For thousands of years, they kept the balance between light and dark.
"But all the stuff that happens," she pauses.
"The Batran weren't concerned with petty differences between man, country or anything like that. They were concerned about keeping the light and dark equal. Without that, life as we know it," I pause. "We would have no life, Sookie. Do you understand?"
"I," she looks down at the food. "I think so. Was Lilith that evil?" she asks.
"She was the definition of evil, Sookie. She was the night, she was the dark, and she was the nothing. When she was destroyed, the Batran swore to uphold the balance. To keep a covenant between the light, the Fae, and the dark, the Vampire. They kept us from destroying the world."
"But she came back," she says.
"In a way," he shrugs. "She met the sun. The first of our kind to do so. A curse all Vampires after her now bare."
"Wait a minute," she holds up her hand. "Before Lilith, you all could walk in the sun?"
I nod. "We think it was Warlow who cursed the Vampire but I don't know for sure and no one ever wanted to ask him. Since that time, all new Vampires who rose could not bear the sun."
"So, with Warlow destroyed does that mean you can all walk in the sun again?" Sookie asks.
"One would think so, but no," I shake my head. "With the ingestion of his blood only, but I think it's because he was the covenant within him."
"What?" she asks.
"Warlow was the covenant," he says. "He was light and dark."
"But," she shakes her head. "Bill, you and Russell could walk in the sunlight drinking my blood."
"You are a descended of the original covenant, Sookie. Warlow was your blood."
"So you can't drink the Fae here," she points outside.
I shake my head. "The halflings are powerful. They all have the spark but the blood is diluted. I would think that if one drained a Fae, they could walk for a few moments but then it would fade."
"You drank my fairy godmother," she says.
"Pure Fae," I say. "Also a direct decedent of Warlow as is your Great Grandfather but still, it didn't last long. No," I shake my head. "Nothing can make us walk in the sun permanently."
"Then why have all these halflings here?" she asks.
"Their blood does have healing properties similar to the Vampire. We believe that if we locate the healing enzymes they can be synthesized into a cure. I think she was over the moon from what she found in your blood."
She nods and looks down again. "Eric she said I'm…"
"You are almost full fae," I say to her.
Ludwig had shared her finding with me before Sookie came out of the bathroom last night.
"You don't want to drain me, do you?" she asks.
"I will drain you," I lean into her, "but it won't be your blood."
I feel her lust rise in our newly reformed bond.
"Eric," she says and blushes.
"I'll never get tired of that," I touch her check and she gives me a small smile.
"The cure?" she asks.
I nod. "We are close. Ludwig and her team are the best."
"So, the Halflings aren't here because of their blood or should I say they aren't here to feed the Vampires like, well, like going crazy on a blood high kind of way. So they are here because why? Surely Ludwig could have gotten their blood without them coming here."
"The Covenant," I say to her. "The Covenant required us to take action. If the Halflings were all destroyed then the balance would tip once more."
"Then why isn't the Batran here or," she moves closer to me. "Eric are you part of the Batran?" she asks.
"No," I smile. "Godric is but I am not."
"Godric," she says and tilts her head. "But he," she swallows. "He met the sun."
"No," I shake my head. "He joined the rest of the Batran."
"But you," she shakes her head. "You were so upset. You begged him to stay."
"I didn't want him to join the Batran," I say to her. "I didn't want him to leave me."
"I don't understand," she says.
"The Batran are alive but, I would think you would call it asleep in some way. They got bored, tired, and restless with the world and decided to sleep. Godric was the last of them. He stayed for me, for Nora and for the enjoyment the world gave him. But he too became disillusioned. He wanted to join his companions and sleep until they were again needed."
"But he was going to allow the Fellowship to burn him," she says.
"Ancients can't die unless they are done in by another ancient. Warlow was the first of his kind. In essence he was an ancient. Lilith is the only ancient that has ever been destroyed."
"Twice," she says with a smirk.
"Well," I shrug. "She left Bill. I'm not completely sure she'll never come back."
"We killed Warlow," she says.
"He had no light," I say. "You took it."
She blushes again.
"I don't want to talk about that," she says.
"I don't really want to speak about you bedding others either. But the truth of it all is that if you didn't, he would not have been killed and you may very well be a Vampire Fae bride."
She shivers a bit at that and I can't help but pull her close.
"He is gone, Sookie."
"But you said ancients can't die. What if Warlow is asleep or whatever the Batran are doing?" she whispers.
"What happen when you killed him?" I ask her.
"Grandpa came through a portal in my bathroom no less," she says. "He held Warlow and Jason staked him. He turned to red goo on the floor. Took a month of Sundays to get it all out of the grout. Alcide," she looks up. "Well, anyway that's what happened."
"He is gone," I say. "The Ancients disappear into a realm I would say. It's the best way to explain it. They dissolve into blue light."
"Like Godric," she says. "When I watched him. He didn't burn, it was blue like it was cold."
I nod. "See," I say touching her face. "The Batran were said to return when all became into balance. When light and dark were one."
"Me and you?" she asks.
I nod.
"So what," she says. "The Batran will come back to what?"
"They will be back to return peace. To return the balance. To be with us once more."
"And we were the key?" she asks.
"Our love," I say.
"So if I what, got my head out of my ass years ago, the Batran could have saved us from all this shit?" she asks.
"No,' I shake my head. "It's not like that. Prophecies have many parts. They have many interpretations. They are coming now because now is when they are supposed to come."
"I'll never understand any of this will I?" she asks.
"You understand more than you think," I say and kiss her.
"So what? What are they going to do? Knock on the door and wait for us all to invite them in?"
Before I can answer, there is a shimmer of energy in the room. I know that Sookie can feel it too because she stands and looks around the room. There is a knock on the door.
Sookie looks form me to her. "Well fuck me," she says.
Oh how I'd love to right now, but I feel the anxiety and anxiousness waiting on the other side.
"Yes," I say.
The door opens and Celine walks in.
"Eric," she says. "It's begun."
I look at Sookie. "They are knocking Sookie," I say to her. "But not on the door."
Senator Martin Douglas POV
"Senator," a man says behind me.
I turn keeping my smile in place. "Hello," I say and hold out my hand.
He takes it and pulls me a little closer.
"My name is Carl Mahan, Captain Carl Mahan. I am assistant to Senior Chief McAvoy. He would like a word with you."
"Now?" I ask looking around the room. "I'm a bit busy at the moment. Couldn't we do this in the morning? I'd meet him for breakfast. I'll have my assistant make the arrangements."
I try to pull my hand away but this Mahan fellow is strong.
"I'm afraid it can't wait," he says. "Please," he says. "Make your excuses to your wife and we will leave."
"But my wife…" I look over at her.
She's already suspicious about where I went last night. But I had to meet with those people. The ones that Sarah had me working with to get the syringes out. They wanted to talk because of all the extra Vampire disappearances. Several of the towns they visited didn't even have Vampires left in them.
I had no one else to send. Sarah wouldn't dare work with them and with Burrell and all his people gone, it was only me. I didn't know who to trust. We didn't have very many allies left and it's not like they are holding a sign saying they are down for destroying the Vampires.
"I can't leave right now," I say to him.
"Darling," I hear from behind me.
I turn to see Renee walking up beside me. "Honey, what's wrong?" she asks.
My wife, she knows me so well.
"Mrs. Douglas," Mahan says. "I'm sorry but there is something that the Senator needs to address with the De USC. It's quite important."
"Have they found something new?" Renee asks. "Did those doctors learn anything?"
"Yes they have, Ma'am," he says. "Since your husband is the liaison with the division, he is needed immediately."
"Of course," Renee says with a nod.
It was her idea that I be part of all this.
"Vampires vote too, you know," she said with a smile. "Who better to have in the White House than the savior of their race."
I had to admit that it was a good cover. Especially after everything that happen with Burrell but still. She has no idea what is really going on and what we are really trying to do.
De USC may be trying to cure Hep-V but they also want to control Vampires. I don't want to control them, I want them dead.
"We will have men bring you home, Mrs. Douglas," Mahan says.
"Oh," she waves off. "That won't be necessary."
"I'm afraid I must insist," Mahan says.
"Is there trouble?" I ask.
"Potential," he says and looks at my wife.
I swallow hard and look toward Renee. "Please dear," I say to her. "Have his men escort you home. I would feel so much better."
"Well," she says looking around. "The party is winding down anyway."
"Good," I say as she leans up and kisses my cheek. "Don't wait up."
She gives me a smile and a nod. "Of course," she says and turns to say her goodbyes.
I watch as she makes her way across the room with her guard detail and Mahan's extra men.
"This better be damn important," I say to him as I follow him out the side door.
He says nothing as we make our way to the elevator, down and out to the waiting limo. Once in, he positions himself beside me and takes out his phone.
"Secure," he says to whoever answers on the other end.
"Ten," he says and hangs up.
I look out the window at all the lights. Even at this hour, the city is still alive. It's always alive, moving and fluid. It's probably why Renee loves it here so much. She's so much alive and fluid. Always trying to move up, out and everywhere else. Always reaching for the next level.
Me, well, I'm only along for the ride. If following her gets me to the White House all the better. Then I can get working on all my true intentions.
Making the world free of these…these creatures.
They just destroy everything…and everyone.
I get a flash of her in my head. That beautiful girl. Her blonde hair, green eyes and sweet smile. Her laugh when I'd tell a joke. Her eyebrow that would rise when I'd say something silly. The way she looked at me. The way she loved me.
That is until she found that Vampire. Or that Vampire found her.
I didn't know what they were and neither did she. All she knew was he was mysterious and playful. Much more exciting than me. Much more, well more than me.
He took her, changed her and left me without her.
It was then I learned about Vampires but no one would believe me. I was too young, too stupid and no one wanted to hear that the things we think go bump in the night actually do.
By the time that Vampires came out, everyone had forgotten what I'd said so many years before. My beautiful Lillian was nothing but a casualty and statistic. With all the Vampires Burrell captured. For all the Vampires we've seen die, none have been my Lillian.
I'd only seen her once after her turn and it was when I found her months after at the club she told me about. It was the club she met him. That monster who took her.
When she saw me it was like she saw a ghost. Then she pretended she didn't know me. When I finally got her to look at me she stared at me with those cold, dead eyes.
"Go home, Marty," she told me. "Go home to your happy life and forget me. I'm happy. Be happy."
She also told me that if I came looking for her again, she'd make sure that no one would ever find me.
That was twenty five years ago and I've yet to find her again.
The car pulls over and the door opens.
"After you," Mahan says.
I get out and button my coat. Looking around we seem to be at the UN building.
Why would we be here instead of the Federal building? But looking around the several men I notice are military, I decide not to ask.
I follow the men who are with us into the building and I'm quickly ushered through the main lobby to a back staircase. Down three flights we go until I see a long corridor.
Down the corridor, is an elevator. It seems to open as we come closer and once we are all in, only one button appears to be on the instrument panel. Once depressed, I can feel us descending even further.
Who knew that the building has so many subfloors? Then again, I don't think I've been in the UN more than twice in my whole life.
The doors open to a large room with many stations, consoles, computers and people.
"This way," Mahan says as we make a quick right and head up a flight of open stairs and down a cat walk to a room.
"Senator," a man says from the table in the last room on the right.
"Chief McAvoy," I say and hold out my hand and smile. "Your staffer said this was important?"
He rises, takes my hand and nods.
"I'm afraid so," he releases my hand and motions me to sit.
"Well," I unbutton my coat and sit. "What couldn't wait until morning?"
"We have a problem," McAvoy says. "I'm afraid we have a big problem."
I don't get a chance to ask what when a file is placed in front of me.
In it are about a dozen pictures of me with the man from last night. I feel sicker with every picture I look at. Then I see pictures of Sarah coming off my plane, heading into the apartment and smiling to anyone who was looking at her.
I take a minute to compose myself before looking up at McAvoy.
"You have exactly ten seconds to begin talking Senator or I'm going to lock you in the deepest, darkest hole I can find."
"I don't understand," I try to smile.
"I didn't believe that one of the founders and major ally of the De USC could be working against it," he says. "Until I received those pictures this morning. So I say again, Senator, do you want to continue having a life?"
I say nothing for a minute.
"I suggest you begin talking," he says.
I look around for a minute before I turn back to McAvoy.
"You have no idea what is going on, do you?" I ask him.
"I know full well what is going on," he says leaning forward. "We've already spoken to your," he points to the folder, "associates. They are singing without an orchestra. It would seem they don't share you and Mrs. Newlin's zeal for the cause."
"No," I shake my head. "They are in it for the money."
"What are you in it for?" McAvoy asks.
"Peace," I say.
He leans back. "I think you better start talking Senator."
I look at the pictures again.
How did I think this would end? Not like this.
"What do you want to know and where do you want me to start?" I ask him.
"At the beginning," he says and points to the camera. "We will record this," he smiles. "Just so we get it all right."
I nod. I believe they will. The question is, will they agree with me or was this all a dream?
Sarah Newlin's POV
He didn't come. He didn't call. Where the hell is he?
I've called him at least three dozen times. He isn't in DC. I've checked.
According to his driver, who is very nice looking, he and the family left for the airport early this morning. Where they were going, he hadn't known and no one was talking to me.
Stork would be no help. That bitch knows something. I can tell by the way she looked at me. She knows something about the virus. Why else would she be asking me all those questions? The crazy witch actually thinks we are working toward a cure.
She'll never find one. With all my hard work, she'll be chasing her own tail for years.
"By then," I say to myself. "All the Vampires will be gone."
I laugh. "And maybe," I say walking into the kitchen, opening the fridge and grabbing the bottle of wine. "Those other things will be destroyed too," I say to the room as I get a glass and poor some of the wine.
Taking a sip I smile again. "That will just be a bonus."
I pick up the phone.
"Maybe Montana knows something," I say in a huff and begin dialing when the doorbell rings.
"Well finally," I growl.
Putting down the glass and phone, I go to open the door.
"Darling," I purr, "Where have you…" I stop when I look up to see three men standing in the hall way.
"Mrs. Newlin," the one in the center says. "We need you to come with us."
"Who are you?" I ask with my best smile.
"Please, Mrs. Newlin," he says and reaches his arm out for me.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I step back. "Not unless you tell me who you are and what you're doing here."
"Ma'am," he says reaching into his inside pocket and pulling out a bill fold. "We are with the De USC, Chief McAvoy's office. We need you to come with us."
"I'm not due to meet with McAvoy until next week," I say to him.
"It's a matter of national security," he says. "We are instructed to bring you to him. There is a jet standing by."
"A jet?" I ask.
"Yes Ma'am," he nods. "Please get your things and come with us. We can contact him from the plane if you wish?"
This is highly irregular but they did send three strapping men here to escort me. Could it be I'm in danger? Why would I be? I'm, after all, helping to cure Vampires.
Taking the three men in again I nod and turn.
"Let me just get my things," I say.
But before I can do anything, someone grabs me and I feel a small pinch in my neck.
I want to scream but I can't.
"I thought it would be harder," one of the men say.
"Nope," another one says. "The bitch loves to be pampered."
I hear nothing else as the darkness takes me and then the silence.