Chapter 10

10

H ow did a week go by so fast when you wanted the time to crawl instead?

Deacon Morrison stood next to Indigo in the council meeting room, waiting for the call to let them know the president was ready to see them. They'd been told it wouldn't be in the Oval Office, and they'd shared a look between them.

It didn't matter where they met, though, as long as they met .

Deac shook his hands out and took a couple of deep breaths, closing his eyes as he did. A lot rode on how this went. Their whole future depended on how this day went.

They'd spent the last week holding meetings, discussing where they stood in regard to security and personnel, making sure they had everywhere covered, or covered as much as they could. Jacques had sent some of his vampires to help, and they worked well. It helped that Sacha was still there, and as Jacques' right man, he held some sway with him.

Sacha had smiled when Deac asked about making sure the vampires did as they were told. "They all know and trust Miguel and my Jared." Jared Warszawski was a human who was mated to Sacha and worked with Rescue Inc. Jared and Sacha had let Jacques live with them when he'd first been freed from slavery. So, he'd garnered a great deal of respect among those vampires closest to Jacques. "Jacques has been open about what he endured as a blood slave. They don't want that to continue to happen to you. You have their full support."

Now, Deac stood next to Indy and Balor, waiting for the call to tell them everything was a go. Deac breathed deeply again, and Indy muttered, "Feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest."

Thank fuck it wasn't just him. "Pretty sure you can hear mine."

"And mine. Balor is finding this interesting."

Shrugging, Balor pushed his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. "It's natural to be nervous under these conditions. Shifter future is about to change."

Deac glanced at the clock. The meeting Senator Williamson had arranged with the president was at one pm. It was now twenty minutes past. What could they be discussing? Didn't they get straight down to business?

The phone rang, and they glanced at it then at each other. Indy picked it up and watched Deac as he spoke. "Hello." He nodded, then looked at Balor, then back at Deac. "We're on our way." Indy put the phone down and blew out a breath. He glanced at his phone, then showed it to Balor before shoving it in his pocket. Picking up the folder, he stood next to Deac. "Ready?"

"No?"

Balor placed his hand on Deac's shoulder, and the world disappeared, then reappeared. Gone was the council meeting room, and in its place was an office. A desk was in front of him with several chairs placed in front of it. A man in the process of standing caught Deac's attention, and he realized he stood in front of the president.

President Whitby.

"President. May I introduce Indigo Dubois, Mayor of Salutem and Deacon Morrison, Mayor of Morefield Village."

"Mr. President." Indy stepped forward, his hand held out in front of him. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I wish it was under better circumstances. I'm Indigo, but people call me Indy."

Deac stuck his own hand out. "Mr. President. Deacon or Deac. Whatever you prefer."

"Sit, please, and call me James." He glanced at Balor, asking, "And you are?"

"Balor."

"That's an interesting name."

"He's a demon, and they won't be coming out like us. Most, if not all demons, are not interested in humans and don't want to live among us. They find us childlike." Indy smiled and placed the folder on the desk next to those already on there. "I'll assume some of our information is duplicated, but you have everything we've gathered over the years while we've been hunted."

Deac sat back in the chair, watching James watch them. He had a slightly wild look to his eyes, which to Deac, was probably the right reaction. If he was in the man's place, he would be shocked too.

"As I was saying, shifters have lived amongst humans without revealing themselves. Shifters have served in our military, as well. In fact, shifters have served here too." Indy looked at the folder, then glanced at Deac.

"We merely want to live our lives as humans do. We want homes, and jobs, and families. I have two daughters. I don't want them to be hurt or hunted."

"People are still coming to terms with what the vampires tried to do." James glanced the folder.

"We know Jacques well, and he has done everything he can to make amends for what a certain group of vampires did. He punished those who were involved."

James nodded. "As President, I have to look at the larger picture here."

"James," Indy spoke softly. "We're in a difficult position. My kind are being hunted. My kind are being captured and experimented on, then murdered. We're being used to create an army. I have no doubt once these people reach their objective, then they'll make their next move. Shifters are hard to kill, and we tend to recover faster than humans. Imagine an army of us under their control."

"There are those creatures they've created as well," Deac added. "We struggle to kill them and have lost shifters doing so. If they are hard for us to kill, how hard will it be for you? An army of them and shifters doing as they are ordered by people who oppose you?"

"I have all the locations listed with intel on those who work there." Williamson pointed to the folder. "I have an autopsy report on one of those creatures as well. As Indy and Deac said, they are incredibly hard to kill. The only weakness they possess are the eyes, and from what my mole has managed to gather, they are actively working to remove that. We have a limited window."

"Surely they're not that hard to kill?" James opened the folder, and his head snapped back. "What?"

"Try fighting one," Indy murmured. "Those things on their backs? Quills that they can shoot. They contain a compound that slows the coagulation of blood, meaning it takes longer to heal. The claws are lethal."

"One of our men shot a creature in the face, and it didn't nothing. The only time we've had any success was when we shot it in the eyes. Other than that, they have the upper hand."

"How many of these creatures are there?" James moved some papers and picked up a photo of one. "They look…"

"Deadly and they are." Deac looked at his hands in his lap. "I've lost some good friends to them. One was ripped apart. Another left injured and dying, set as bait to try and lure more of us in. We exploit any weakness they show. You can be sure they'll be working to remove that weakness as quickly as possible."

"We don't know how many they have, James." Williamson pointed to the photo the president held. "Can you imagine an army of them or them leading an army of shifters completely under their control?"

"They'll be taught how to use weapons, and from what we've gathered, they have a former general, so they'll have tactical training as well." Indy glanced over his shoulder at Balor, then to Deac. "I wouldn't be surprised if they can communicate through telepathy."

"What?" James dropped the photo to the desk and shot a look at one of the men in the room with him. "How do you know that?"

"We have mates like vampires do, and mates can communicate telepathically with each other. I'm certain they would know about that and will have attempted to find out how."

"I don't want to consider the number of shifters who died while they tried to find out." Deac briefly closed his eyes. "Or the experiments used." He opened his eyes and looked into James' blue ones. "It isn't hard to think what they would have done to figure that out."

"When we reveal ourselves and tell the world what's happening to us—with proof—they will have to respond." Indy picked up the photo James had dropped. "We're getting to the stage where we have no choice but to reveal ourselves. This"— he waved the photo—"tech, CCTV. At some point, we'll be discovered by someone else's tech."

"Yes. I'm surprised you haven't been." James stared at Indy, then Deac. Deac waited. He could see James thinking this over, probably weighing it all up. "Say we do a presidential announcement, and I tell the world about you and what's been happening. What then?"

"We'll help you take them out. All we ask is for some measure of protection. Not all humans are going to be happy. Some are still struggling with vampires after what happened." Deac considered what to say next. "We're more than happy to follow the laws in place for vampires, but we don't want to be hunted by humans who won't see us as sentient beings. Also, we have shifters who have served in the military, and they struggled to do so. We have more who want to serve because they love their country. Those issues can be dealt with at a later date, but there would need to be safeguards in place."

"Vampires have safeguards for when they serve. We have a growing number who are enlisting from what my generals tell me." James leaned his elbow on the desk and looked at the papers there. "I understand why you've come to me. I also understand this couldn't have been an easy decision to make. I must consider this from all angles, not just yours."

"We understand. I wouldn't want to be in your position." Indy smiled slightly. "It's hard enough being in ours."

Deac nodded. "I long for the day when I only have to deal with arguing neighbors or giving kids medals for science projects."

"Some days we must wonder why we put ourselves in these positions." James stood and glanced at one of the men lining the wall. "I need to go over everything here and speak to a couple of people. Your secret will remain safe regardless of the decision I make." He nodded at Indy and Deac, then left the room, all the men following except for one who gathered up everything on the desk.

Williamson stood and waited until the man had left. "That went better than I thought it would."

"You think?" Deac stared at him. "How so?"

"He didn't say no immediately." Picking up his briefcase, he said, "As soon as I know, I'll contact you."

Deac stood and stretched. "I think I'll have a beer or five when I get home." Balor placed his hand on his shoulder, and the next second he was back in the council meeting room. "Gut feeling?"

Indy walked over to the window and sighed. "I honestly don't know. I couldn't pick up on anything. Balor?"

"He has a strong mind, but he was considering making an announcement, a statement of some sort. He doesn't like what is being done. He's open minded to other species and has a good working relationship with Jacques. He thinks highly of him. I believe we should prepare for an announcement."

Deac agreed. "He's in an unenviable position. Humans, vampires, and now shifters. The world is changing on his watch, and he has to find the best and safest way to integrate us all. I'm looking forward to being a simple mayor and going home to my family every night."

"That would be nice, wouldn't it." Deac saw Indy smile at Balor. "A day just doing boring paperwork, then going home to shout at the kids. Feels like we might be closer to that dream now."

"We'd be bored within a few days." Deac chuckled and stood next to Indy by the window. "Look at them all in Sam's place. Should we call them over?"

"We should." Indy looked at Deac, and they both smiled. "Or we could torment them for a little longer."

"We should have a beer first." A couple of seconds later, Balor handed him a cold beer. "You're a handy guy to have around."

"I believe you've both handled this situation well and deserve a drink, and there is your brother, mate."

"Cyan or Teal? Because we both know it will be one of those who comes over first."

"I believe it is Cyan. No eye patch."

"That pisses him off, you know." Deac sipped his beer, waiting for Indy to elaborate. "When they were younger, it was hard to tell them apart. Now we can."

"He isn't alone. So much for having a beer in peace."