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“They aren’t trying to eradicate all vampires?” I asked, because this had been a topic I had heard discussed frequently and with much eagerness by people in the shelter. Humans were tired of living in fear, they felt we would always be in danger of falling prey to vampires. If all of them were gone, the world would undoubtedly be a better place for us.”
“We couldn’t even if we tried,” Joe smiled. “There are too many of them. And besides, they are powerful, they have wealth. We need to work with them, bring them under our control.”
I nodded.
He said, “Lucca is part of the new order, but there are some in his family who are fighting back.”
“His sons,” I said. “I’m guessing, Layrr?”
“And Sunil,” said Joe. “They have joined a faction of vampires called the Ancient Ones. They have retreated to an icy plateau that is inaccessible by our forces.” He paused, “We could nuke ‘em but there is some hesitancy around causing that much damage to the environment. Not to mention, the civilians that are injured and killed as a result.”
“What is the alternative?”
“We wait them out. They will come out sooner or later.”
Joe paused. “Someone should talk to Lucca. Tell him there is a spot for him on the Council. Tempesto’s position. Helping to restore order, build bridges between their kind and ours. Restore the peace.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Someone? You mean me?”
Joe laughed. “Of course? Who better? He will listen to you.”
I wasn’t so sure.
“But he will have to agree to Layrr’s execution. That will be the stipulation.”
“Where is he now?” I asked.
“As far as I know, he is at the castle. While we were launching the attack on the compound, he was at Fort Ferney, fighting off vampires trying to attack the refugees. It was a sensitive situation but he acted with honor. Protecting the defenseless. This is what we are looking for in a councilor.”
I nodded.
“I’ll go see him.”
I didn’t have anywhere else to go anyway.
“Mobile networks will soon be restored,” Joe said, asking me to call him after I’d met with Lucca. “Do you need a ride?” I shook my head and waited for him to go.
Then I packed my things and walked down to Costello’s workshop. It didn’t look like much, an old building with a greasy floor and broken cars. In the back, his rooms were bare and contained little of interest. It didn’t look like much of a life, but I had loved him, and I was sad for him. I called one of his workers, told him to keep coming in and taking care of business until we had the time to decide about the future.
He had left everything to me in his will, including his motorbike collection. I picked one of the biggest metal beasts, snapped a helmet on and drove out of town.
But first, I stopped at the graveyard.
I slowly made my way to my father’s headstone.
Then I took off the helmet, placing it carefully on the ground.
I closed my eyes and cleared my head, waiting for the image of my father to appear. It took longer than it usually did, as if he was further away and harder to reach.
But finally, he did appear and he was smiling.
“Your mother is here,” he said.
“I know,” I said, feeling tears pricking my eyelids. “Listen, Father, I want you to know that I’m going.”
“To see him?” I couldn’t place his tone.
“Yes.”
