“What’s going on?” asked Pakow, the low undercurrent of anger in his voice telling volumes about his frustration. “Dr. Wake didn’t authorize any new acquisitions.”
Marco’s anger at the man’s tone blazed, and he stood, his twisted hips jutting forward as he maintained his balance with difficulty. “I authorized it. And if Dr. Wake wishes to remain in my good graces, he will do as I request.”
Pakow showed neither surprise at Marco’s twisted appearance, nor did he back down. “That is something you will have to take up with Dr. Wake, Mr. D’imato.”
Marco smiled, and for just a second, Pakow seemed to shrink back. “Oh, I intend to. Now get Wake down here. Time is short.”
“I’m already here, Mr. D’imato.”
The man had approached so silently that even the vampires were caught unaware. Marco twisted around painfully.
Wake stood on the opposite side of the loading bay. He had risen to his full height, which allowed him to tower above all those present, but his skeletal frame made it seem like a strong wind would carry him upward like some crazy, human kite. His white hair jutted painfully from his head, crowning his look of complete exhaustion. “What is it that I can do for you?”
Marco let his body go, and felt his very atoms begin to flow, until he was nothing but mist. He let his essence guide him until he was in front of Wake, then he willed his body to coalesce again.
Wake continued to look at him casually.
“You know of the troubles of the last few weeks?” Marco said.
Wake nodded. “Of course. I’m very sorry for the loss of your son. Still, I’m confused by what you’re doing out here in the middle of the night.” He looked over Marco’s shoulder at the still form lying on the concrete. “Is this some form of retribution? Or do you have something even more… diabolical in mind.”
Marco laughed, a short bark completely devoid of humor. “The only thing I have in mind is the continuation of my lineage. I’d have preferred to keep my options more open, but I’ll simply have to work with what I’ve got.”
Wake nodded again. “And this young man has something to do with that? I’m sorry if I seem a bit slow, but I was given to understand that you had only one son.”
Marco looked behind him, and a fierce grin spread across his face. “That is correct. This is my nephew. I want you to perform the process on him.”
Wake looked at the body and his eyes took on the faraway look that told Marco he was peering into the astral. With that distant look still in his eyes, Wake said, “And it would seem that he isn’t undertaking the process with the same… gusto displayed by your son.”
Marco laughed, a low angry sound. “He would have taken some convincing, but unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of the time it would take.”
Wake snapped back to the physical world. “Are you also aware of his talent?”
Marco paused for a moment, puzzled. “Are you talking about his sculpting? I’ve seen some of it. It’s not bad, if you like that sort of thing.”
Wake smiled, a small thing that refused to reach his eyes. “No, I was speaking of his magical talent.”
“He’s got no magic.”
“In that you are mistaken, I’m afraid. In the astral, his ability is obvious.”
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
Wake laughed. “You already are.”
The two vampires at Marco’s back joined in the laughter until Marco’s glance silenced them.
Marco turned back to Wake. “Your attempts at humor are on the verge of being offensive.”
Wake looked into Marco’s eyes, as though measuring him somehow. “Is it still your wish that the process be performed?”
“Of course.”
“Even though you know the the procedure affects magically active creatures in different ways?”
Marco shook his head. “You don’t understand. This is my last chance to keep my legacy within the family.”
Wake looked at the body of Warren, who was beginning to stir. He paused for a moment, as if making a decision. Then he nodded. “Dr. Pakow, ready room number three. Put this young man on a saline IV with Syndorphin infusion, and prepare the vat. We have quite a bit of work ahead of us.”
Pakow nodded, and stepped up to a wall-mounted telecom next to the bay doors Team alpha, report to bay six, priority red.”
Marco grinned at Wake. “Make sure he comes through this and I’ll triple the monies I’ve been funneling to you. If he dies, I’ll cut you off at the knees.”
Wake simply smiled.
A new voice sounded on the loading bay, one groggy and unsure of itself. “Uncle Marco, is that you?”
Wake moved before anyone else. Pulling a patch from his coat, he knelt by the struggling form. “Rest now. You’ve had an accident, but we’re going to take good care of you.”
Wake slipped the patch over Warren’s jugular, and Marco watched him drift immediately back into oblivion.
6
At its highest levels, Ordo Maximus is the tool of a secret cabal of a: least half a dozen vampires-perhaps more-all skilled initiates who use the Ordo’s funds and political connections to conduct biomagical research well hidden from the public eye. Their goal is simple and terrifying; they seek to create variant strains of HMHVV, new viruses that will confer the strengths and weaknesses of vampirism at the Ordo’s sole discretion.
–
Martin de Vries, Shadows at Noon, posted to Shadowland BBS, 24 May 2057
The following morning, seagulls swirled in an azure sky over Marco’s mansion in Magnolia Bluff, some four kilometers from the heart of downtown Seattle. The area was favored by the sprawl’s elite and wealthy, including those who earned their nuyen on both sides of the law. The mansion was surrounded by a three-meter stone fence topped with wrought iron spikes, track-mounted Ares security drones, and trid cameras. This served to deter all but the most well-equipped burglars from even thinking about attempting a break-in.
The mansion grounds were spacious and well-landscaped in Italian-garden style, with roses and olive trees and fountains shaped into the forms of Roman deities. Today, the sun glimmered off the moving water, though Marco, groggy and just awakened from his daily slumber by an irate Julius, could not see it.
The two men were in Marco’s inner office. High ceiling fans provided the only movement of air in the completely enclosed room. Even though Marco could now sustain the touch of sunlight, on days like today, with the light so blazing and clear, he would still be severely burned.
Marco shook his head. He hadn’t anticipated Julius learning of Warren’s disappearance so soon.
“And I’m telling you he’s gone!” Julius’ voice was like a diamond saw cutting through stone. “Warren’s been taken by someone who knew our release codes.” Julius turned and paced across the Persian rug.
Marco knew he had to handle this with extreme care. “Maybe he simply went to one of his art shows.” He made sure to add just the hint of derision that Julius would expect.
Julius shook his head impatiently. “Impossible. When I tried to get in touch with him this morning. I got no answer. So I checked the guard logs, which showed he was left unattended from just before midnight last night. I went over there personally, and his front door was wide open. There was no sign of forced entry and no sign of a struggle, but Warren is gone. He would’ve told me if he was planning to leave Seattle.”
“And who do you think did this?”
Julius stopped pacing and turned to face his brother. “I’ve been warning you for months that something like this was bound to happen. Our contract with Don Bigio makes us a target. The yaks, the Seoulpa, it could be anyone. But whoever it was, it looks like they took a page from Derek’s killers and decided to get to us through Warren.”