Shadow Born: Book 1 of the Shadow-Borne Chronicles by Paul A. Cagle Page A

his head.   “Alec I certainly understand your frustration, but we aren’t your enemies.”
    “No, you’re my captors.   And you were sent to spy on me.   I thought you were my friend Marc…Marcus… whatever the hell your real name is.”   He sat back on the couch and crossed his arms over his chest feeling betrayed by the world in general.
    “Marcus.   And Alec, I am your friend.   The fact that I was sent to monitor you doesn’t change that.”
    “Really?   How do you figure?   I was some sort of, what, assignment?”
    “It’s true that Silas sent me to ‘spy’ on you if you like.   But I was also there to protect you from any of the others and to keep you from hurting yourself.   It wasn’t just for information.”
    Despite his anger, Alec wanted to know what he was talking about.   “What do you mean, to protect me from the others?   Why would they even care about me? I’m a nobody.”
    “Back in the old days,” Marcus said rolling his eyes, “there was no vampire council that looked out for all of us.   It was a chaotic, dark, dangerous time.   Vampires sired whomever they wanted whenever they wanted, often against the victims will, and constantly clashed with one another.”   Alec was intrigued despite himself.   “Some of the older vampires, and a few of the younger, resent the council and its control.   They do whatever they can to work against them in secret.   There are always plots, and plans and mechanizations behind the scenes.   When you are immortal, you run out of things to do and you get bored easily.   So, they plan and wait for the right moment to strike.   And they are always looking for new weapons and tools.”
    Alec wasn’t sure what that had to do with him.   “I still don’t understand why anyone would care about me,” he said in a huff.
    “No one is allowed to sire a vampire without the council’s permission.   Well there are special circumstances but that’s not important now,” he said, and waved his hand like he was pushing something away.   “When a vampire is sired without permission, the offending vampire is punished in horrible, horrible ways.”   At this he shivered.   “And as a lesson, the newly made vampire is put to death.”   He said this slowly and quietly.
    “What???” Alec said sitting forward.   “Why should I be put to death for some crazy bitch’s wrong doing?”
    “I agree, Alec.   And you were left alone and not picked up and questioned because you survived and showed no signs of vampirism.   Well, except for your blood.   Silas thought that maybe Clarissa had failed in some way and you were still human.   That’s why I was sent to monitor you.   If any of the other vampires thought that you had been turned and you were left to roam freely, that could jeopardize our existence.   So, we knew that someone would take matters into their own hands and try to kill you.   That’s what happened tonight.”
    Alec slumped back on the couch and sighed.   “This just gets better and better.”
    “If you had been turned and not put to death, then that would show that Silas and the council were incompetent and give our enemies a platform on which to base an argument for its dissolution.”
    “So, Silas is one of the council members?”  
    “Yes, he is one of five.   He’s also the Protectorate of Tennessee.   He oversees the vampires here and upholds the laws of the council… among other things.   And Alec, I am his second.   He thought you were important enough to pull me off of my other duties to watch over and help you.”
    “Great,” was all Alec said, shaking his head.
    “The vampires that attacked us tonight were either there to kill you, and flaunt to the council that they had to do its job for them, or they would have captured you and made a spectacle out of you.   Either way, not good for you.   But, there’s something more.   And unfortunately they are aware of it now.”
    “What’s