Dominant Species by Guy Pettengell Page B

‘Shallock ; they are a nuisance nothing more.’
    Then a squat vampire stood a couple of rows behind Shallock, his name was Dresden also one of Rodan’s loyal followers. When he spoke his voice didn’t match his physical appearance with its high pitched, nasally tone.
    ‘A nuisance you say? Well I say it is more when a dozen of my livestock goes missing with enough food for a month. Now, to make matters worse, two of my humans have disappeared as well.’
    ‘Aye,’ continued Shallock, ‘and they have stolen not just from Dresden, they have stolen from us all. Nowhere is sacrosanct anymore, from the lower East side, through China town; hell they’ve even hit Harlem.’
    He looked round, noting with pleasure the growing support. From near the back Zidtool continued to watch, a thin, wry, lopsided smile on his gaunt face.
    ‘You said …,’ Shallock emphasised the word you ‘…that they didn’t pose a threat, that we should leave them be, they were just hungry. Then, when things got worse and leaving them unchecked was no longer an option, you said they would be brought to book. It was promised that the Mayor would provide the whereabouts of these troublemakers and bring them to the sanctuary or, failing that, dispose of them… and has he?’
    All eyes focused on Mayor Cooper as he desperately tried to become part of the seat he was sat in. Behind him, the black , leather clad figure of Keermit leant slowly forward and whispered in his ear. ‘Perhaps it is time for a new Mayor?’
    Cooper shot forward as her breath caressed his neck, accompanied by a cackle of laughter from the whole auditorium.
    Drameer glanced around. It was clear to him that Rodan had orchestrated the discontent and , he had to admit, had done it quite well. He returned his focus to Karick, knew he was beginning to lose his patience and waited to see what he would do.
    On the elevated dais, Karick raised his hand. ‘The Mayor will deliver… won’t you?’ he half bellowed at the human council members in the front row below. Mayor Cooper’s neck wobbled, as he vigorously nodded his head in agreement. Then his eyes bulged as Karick finished his sentence, more calmly ‘…or he will pay the consequence.’
    The Mayor grabbed his handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the building sweat from his face. Behind him, Keermit leant forward again but this time dragged a fingernail across his wet cheek before slowly licking it clean.
    Suddenly a voice cut across the auditorium, bringing it to a complete silence. He had been waiting for it, but still Karick couldn’t help but grit his teeth and clench his fists as the voice of Rodan rang out across the chamber.
    ‘Overlord Karick we have heard these promises from you before. However, we are also aware of your… liberal ways…’
    At this point Rodan glanced behind him and up to his left, his stare clearly directed towards Drameer, who simply touched a finger to his forehead in a mock salute.
    Having made his point Rodan continued. ‘But you would do well to remember that not all of us agree with your approach. It seems to me that we provide our livestock with food, housing and protection and yet they are still ungrateful. What we need is strong leadership that ensures that they show their gratitude and I feel this means a return to our core Vampire values.’
    ‘You mean kill anything that’s still warm?’ retorted Karick, half to himself. Then he raised his voice in response. ‘Look, Rodan, whether you like it or not we need the humans, we need their blood to survive, and you know it .’
    Rodan looked slowly round the auditorium, scanning the faces of his fellow vampires, carefully judging how far he might be able to push things.
    ‘Yes, I do understand that, and our humans have chosen to support us to this end. They choose to stay in the inner sanctum because, in return, we provide them with work, with a purpose…’ Again he scanned the rapt faces of his peers, ‘...and of course with