Epilogue

I’ll Be Seeing You

Alexander

“Where is he?”

My heart pumps with fury. I knew the bastard had grown stronger. I saw it in the muscle tendons in his legs that he tried to cover from his posture, and just like his brother, Khaven had gone to the other side with the Maximus.

But he’d made me laugh, asked intelligent questions, and he hadn’t kissed my ass like the others.

I overestimated his cunning.

What’s more, what I’ve discovered through the deep recesses of Khamari’s memories is how Khaven’s blood holds the key to our evolution. His golden blood can release the imperfection of our bodies. And with it, we may not even need to move our souls into the thousands of homunculi I’ve gained. We can choose any human or being we want and simply transfer. Dr. Persing, Khaven’s old doctor, is in route to resume her…studies.

The dark beast that rages inside of me bristles against my small defeat. But another part, the father of beasts I never intended on being, is proud.

The future, as they say, is bright.

And with me, it will be brighter.

A knock sounds on the door. One of my assistants takes a deep bow. The brightness in his eyes dims when he takes in my sweatshirt that says ATLANTA. Though he isn’t an ancient, he longs to abide by the ways of the old world. In his world, he believes that respect is earned based on the shine of your shoes, the stitching in designer clothes.

I’ve walked thousands of miles in steel-plated armor and helmets. Clothes bleached and faded from the sun. If there is anything that is a beacon of respect, armor will do it.

Or perhaps…perhaps the look is because I no longer look myself. I stare at the reflection of myself on my laptop screen.

Sometimes, many times, I forget. He does not look like me nor sound like me. But this shell belongs to me now. Until I can find the Maximus. Hers is the only other body that will do.

Heat waves through my body. I grit my teeth and bear through it. In seconds, my body cools. I close my eyes, breathe deep. There are cons to a soul exchange. There are always consequences, but I will conquer them.

And there will be many battles to come. The humans, I’ve learned through their films and shows and essays, are enduring.

But…they are selfish. Greedy and self-serving. And their desire for power exceeds morality and values.

Some will have a choice to either live eternally or contribute to the continuation of humanity. To shift their idealist view of an intangible and unreachable God to provide divine armor.

Or simply die. I do not need to kill them. Time will kill them. If they don’t kill themselves first.

“Sir, the secretary of state would like to schedule a meeting,” my assistant says.

I laugh. “They mean to eliminate me first.”

“Likely, Father. I will assemble a guard for your protection.”

“They will fail.” My voice rings with confidence. There is no force that can stop me.

“No. You will fail.”

“What’s that?” My voice is sharp, deadly.

“I-I’ve said nothing, Father.” The young vampire takes two cautious steps back and then rushes out of the office.

“You. Won’t. Win. I’ll make sure of it.”

The voice is familiar. The voice is my own.

Khamari.

I grab my glass of blood and throw it. The glass crashes against the wall. Red streaks dribble down the wall.

Yes. Everything has consequences.