20. Chapter 20 - The Vampire Meeting

Chapter 20 - The Vampire Meeting

Alexei

A knot of tension twisted in my gut as I surveyed the empty conference room. Tonight's meeting with the vampires of Harmony Grove was long overdue, and the weight of responsibility weighed heavily on me. As Mayor and a pureblood vampire, the burden of maintaining the delicate balance between our supernatural community and the humans fell squarely on my shoulders.

The bite marks on Sarah, the young witch, were too similar to be ignored. I knew what it looked like, what it felt like. But the idea of vampires running amok in our town was simply unthinkable. We had strict rules, a code that guided us as vampires and I would hate it if it turned out to be one of us that has broken the code.

"This won't go over well, Alexei," Ana said as she plopped down into the nearest chair, her voice a low murmur. "We haven't had a compulsory meeting in years."

"We have to, Ana," I countered, my voice firm. "These attacks... they're reckless, they threaten our entire way of life."

"They could be a rogue werewolf, even a rogue hunter," she suggested, her voice laced with a hint of desperation. "There's no proof it's one of ours."

There was a flicker of hope in her words, but even Ana couldn't deny the chilling similarity of the bite marks to Evelyn's photos. I pulled them out, the stark images showcasing the tiny punctures surrounded by bruised flesh.

Ana's face paled as she looked at them. "Alright," she conceded, her voice tight. "Those do look… familiar."

"Familiar?" I scoffed. "They're practically identical."

A heavy silence descended upon us. We both knew the implications. If a vampire was responsible, it was a blatant disregard for the code, a potential spark that could ignite a full-blown supernatural war in our peaceful town.

I needed to handle this delicately and walk a tightrope between addressing the issue and maintaining control. "Let's grab some coffee," I finally said, needing to get my wits about me.

We stepped out of the town hall and into the cool evening breeze. My stomach was in knots, it was no secret how hard this is for me.

"How do you want to approach this?" Ana asked, her voice laced with concern. "We need a plan, Alexei. Accusations without proof could backfire."

"I know," I sighed, rubbing a hand over my tired face. "Maybe… maybe we start by reminding everyone of the code, the importance of discretion."

Ana nodded thoughtfully. "Good start. We could also mention rumors of suspicious activity, keep it vague until we have concrete evidence."

Our walk took us to the local coffee shop, its aroma a beacon in the quiet night. Inside, we sat in a secluded corner booth, the familiar scent of roasted beans offering a small measure of comfort. As we sipped our drinks, we continued strategizing, formulating a plan for the crucial meeting later tonight.

"We need to keep the peace," I emphasized, my voice serious. "The last thing we need is chaos, a lot could go wrong with that."

Ana nodded curtly. "Absolutely. "

The coffee shop bell tinkled as a group of students entered, their chatter carrying through the air. Seeing their youthful, innocent faces brought a fresh wave of urgency to my mission. I wouldn't let some rogue vampire jeopardize the peace of Harmony Grove or the lives of those who lived within its borders.

With a newfound resolve, I finished my coffee and rose to my feet. Tonight's meeting wouldn't be easy, but it was necessary. For the sake of our community and our safety, I had to ensure it went well.

The fate of Harmony Grove, both human and supernatural, hung in the balance.

***

Tension crackled in the air as I surveyed the dimly lit conference room at the town hall. The vampires of Harmony Grove trickled in one by one, their faces etched with a mixture of curiosity and unease. Tonight's meeting was long overdue.

Ana slid into a chair beside me. "Ready for this?" she asked, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes.

I forced a smile. "Ready as I'll ever be."

As the last vampire arrived, I stood before the gathering. The room fell silent, a hundred pairs of eyes focused on me. Taking a deep breath, I began.

"We've all heard the rumors," I started, my voice steady. "The whispers of strange occurrences, the recent… unfortunate events."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. I knew they were chattering about the string of murders plaguing Harmony Grove and the victims drained of life with strange bite marks on their wrists.

"These killings are a blatant disregard for the code we've all sworn to uphold," I continued, my voice firm. "And worse, they threaten the fragile peace we've established with the werewolves."

A low growl erupted from the back of the room. One of the older vampires, Viktor, his face creased with anger, stood up.

"Peace with the werewolves?" he scoffed. "A treaty that shackles us, that limits our freedom!"

Viktor represented a growing faction within the vampire community. Frustrated with the treaty's restrictions, they yearned for a return to the old ways, a time when humans lived in constant fear.

Ignoring Viktor for now, I held up the autopsy photos of the latest victim. The small punctures marring pale skin were stark. Undeniable.

"These wounds," I said, my voice tight, "they resemble… well, you all know what they resemble."

Another wave of murmurs swept through the crowd. Faces turned pale, a collective gasp resonating throughout the room. It was as clear as day – the attacks bore the hallmarks of a vampire feeding.

"Someone," I continued, my gaze sweeping across the room, "is breaking the code. And this reckless behavior jeopardizes all of us."

Viktor stepped forward again, his voice laced with suspicion. "What are you accusing us of, Alexei? You've been courting the werewolves for years, practically bending over backward to appease them. Now you suspect one of your own?"

A wave of agreement rose from Viktor's supporters. Disappointment washed over me. The meeting wasn't going as I had planned.

Ana, sensing my frustration, stepped forward. Her slender frame held a surprising amount of authority. "Viktor," she said, her voice sharp as a whip, "silence."

The room quieted instantly. My sister had a way of commanding respect, even from the most unruly vampires.

"We understand your frustrations," Ana continued, calm but firm. "But accusations won't solve anything. We need to find the culprit, and fast. Before things get out of hand and they start a war with us."

"They don't stand a chance against us. We all know that we are the strongest species here," one of the vampires added and I took a quick deep breath to tame my anger.

"Enough!" I boomed. "We are all on the same side here. The killings must stop. And we need to work together to find who's responsible."

Ana took over, proposing a plan. We would maintain heightened awareness within the vampire community, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity. Information would be shared discreetly, a united front against the rogue vampire.

Reluctantly, the others agreed. The meeting concluded with a fragile sense of unity, but the tension remained palpable.

As I walked out of the town hall with Ana by my side, a heavy silence settled between us.

"That went well," she said sarcastically, a dry smile playing on her lips.

I gave a humorless laugh. "Not exactly a walk in the park."

"They're scared, Alexei," Ana said softly, her voice laced with understanding. "The treaty has changed things, and not everyone is happy about it."

"I know," I sighed. "But it's the best way to live, we can't keep living like barbarians. The world is growing, we shouldn't stick to the old ways."

We walked home silently, the weight of the evening meeting hanging heavy between us.

Finally, Ana broke the silence. "Karla might be onto something with the banshee theory," she said, her voice thoughtful.

I stopped and turned to face her, I had been nurturing the same thoughts myself. "A banshee? Seriously?"

"We both know a vampire wouldn't be foolish enough to feed so carelessly," she continued. "Especially now, with the number of things at stake here."

Ana was right.

"They know the consequences," I stated, my voice tight. "The treaty with the werewolves hangs in the balance."

"Exactly," Ana agreed. "Which is why I think the culprit might be something… else."

We discussed the possibility of a banshee for a moment, the creature's mythological connection to draining souls a chilling possibility. However, the lack of concrete evidence left us with little more than speculation.

"Honestly, Alexei," Ana said with a sigh, "the meeting was more or less a formality. We needed to be seen taking action, to establish a record for posterity."

I chuckled humorlessly. "You mean for the sake of the Supernatural Council?"

"Precisely," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

We reached Ana's apartment, a modern high-rise overlooking the town square. Stepping inside, the cool air and familiar home scent washed over me.

"Hungry?" she asked, gesturing towards the kitchen.

"Not really," I replied, feeling exhaustion wash over me. The events of the day had taken their toll.

Instead, we opted to step out onto the balcony. The moon hung full in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the rooftops below. Ana poured two glasses of wine, a deep red that shimmered in the moonlight.

"Here's to a night of peace," Ana said, raising her glass in a toast.

I clinked my glass against hers, the sound echoing softly in the stillness. "A night of peace and a solution to this mess," I amended.

We sipped our wine in silence for a moment, enjoying the cool night air. Despite the turmoil of the day, there was a sense of comfort in being with Ana, and her calm presence was a soothing balm to my worries.

"We'll get through this, Alexei," she finally said, her voice laced with quiet confidence. "We always do."

I nodded, taking another sip of wine. Her words were a beacon of hope in the darkness threatening to engulf Harmony Grove. We had faced challenges before, threats to our existence and our way of life. But we had always emerged stronger, our bond as siblings an anchor in the storm.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed, shattering the peaceful silence. Pulling it out, I saw an incoming call from Evelyn. My stomach clenched.

"I hope there's not another body," I muttered, answering the call.