The Last Human (Vampires Rule # 1) by Rocky Grede

opposite me,
placing his elbows on the table. “The Kron Vampires initially held
him prisoner. They were using him as a blood harvest machine. Lexus
res cued him and brought him
here.”
    I sit up straight and swallow the shock. “So…how did
they get him? And how was he rescued?” The words ‘Blood Harvest’
echo around in my mind. So they had bee n using him as…as a blood bank?
    “ Lexus undertook the rescue himself. So to speak,
he took him from under their noses,” Elis says. “Of course the
Krons eventually figured it out, but they never knew who kidnapped him, until
now.”
    “ So they sent those creatures to get him
back?” My voice comes out as a
small whisper.
    Elis brow creases and he nods. “Yes. And that is the
most disturbing part. Somehow, the Kron Vampires have forged an
alliance with the Valkyries.” Seeing my stunned and confused
expression, Elis elaborates, “The Shadow Zone is home to various
mutated creatures. When the humans were waging wars, nations used
biological and chemical weapons against one another. They also used
human weapons.” He pauses and glances out the window. The sun is
setting in the sky, and orange and yellow flames
ar e spreading across the
horizon.
    “ The creature you encountered is a by-product of the actions of
humans,” Elis says turning his gaze back to me. “Once those
creatures were humans, but radiation exposure has altered them into
monsters.
    “ The Shadow Zone is cloaked with an impenetrable
mist of darkness. The creatures that reside their sparsely leave
the confine of the mist that
surrounds them.”
    I try to gather my scattered thoughts, which are
blowing around in my mind like gust blown flower petals. “How come
these humans…I mean creatures, how come they don’t come after us?”
    “ The Shadow Zone is their home. But most
importantly , they cannot bear
sunlight. We leave them alone, and in turn they stay away from us,”
Elis says. “But now, it seems that has changed.”
    I don’t know how long we sat there in silence,
wondering in our own thoughts. I think about Zack. He was assigned protection for his own sake;
he wore glasses because his eyes were not red rimmed; he kept a
distance from everyone less someone figure him out, he never spoke
in case it gave him away. It all makes sense now.
    “ So this was the issue Lexus was referring to?” I
say as the pieces fit in place. Zack wasn’t the threat, but the
Kron Vampire s were, and my
proximity to Zack would have placed me in danger. So that was why
Lexus told me to keep away from Zack.
    “ Yes,” Elis
says.
    I nod , and ask
him about Lexus.
    Elis scratches his chin with one long finger.
“He departed without notifying
us of the reason.”
    “ So you don’t
know?”
    Elis and Maxwell
shake their heads.
    “ How about
Gregory?”
    “ He knows as
much as us,” Elis says, though his tone is careful.
    I stuff my hands in my pockets, and feel
something smooth brush against
my fingertips. I take out the sheet of paper, realising it was the
note that Lexus had left me. I look back at Elis, “What did he say
in the letter he gave you?” For a moment I think he is not going to
tell me, but to my surprise he extracts a letter from his own
pocket.
    “ He re,” he
says, handing it to me.
    I take it, and slowly unfold it.

    Elis

    When this letter
reaches you I will be gone. I cannot give a time frame in when I
will be back. But in my absence, take care of Jake as though he is
your own kith and kin. Watch over him and make sure he comes to no
harm. Keep him away from Zack. It will only place Jake in vital
danger. I have left Gregory to handle affairs in my absence. He
will make sure the borders are kept under tight watch. If something
goes wrong in my absence, Elis, do what you think is best. But
never let harm come to Jake, no matter what happens.

    Lexus

    I place the letter
back on the table, my insides cold and brittle, and stare at it in
silence. I sigh and look back at Elis, who