Nightfall

No one said a word as the group left the council room, and went down the elevator to the first floor. Once they went out the door, they were met with a long stretch black limousine with a suited man waiting by the back door. As soon as they came out, the man opened the back door, and motioned for them to enter. Talon whispered to Runi when Runi stopped. “The man is okay. He works for the paycheck to support his human family. The only reason he worked for Windsor was because he knew how to stay out of the way, and can drive anything.”
Runi took a moment to scan the man’s mind, then nodded, the entire group got into the back of the limo, and still had room to spare. Talon leaned forward and spoke the man once he got in. “James… if you would please, we need to go to the main house, and please raise the window.”
James didn’t say a word, simply nodded and raised the privacy window. Thankfully Councilman Borrows called as soon as the group left the council room and informed him of his new employer. James was not unhappy at all about this.
Once the car was moving, everyone except for Runi and Samson broke out into almost hysterics. Duncan was the first one that was able to make his voice heard over all the others. “I can’t believe that happened. I thought I was going to piss myself!” He said half way between crying and laughing.
“I can’t believe the arrogant asshole actually tried to piss himself. Runi you were just amazing.” Colt bubbled then suddenly was a bit subdued. “How… and why did the others die though?”
Suddenly the mood in the limo sobered up. Runi sat back, and folded his hands in his lap while looking at Colt. “Yes they died. None of them felt any pain as I simply shut their minds down. They didn’t even realize they were about to die, till they already were.”
Colt nodded and then, almost hesitantly asked his next question. “But… why did they die?”
Runi sighed as he met Colt’s eyes. “They knew a good bit of what was going on, and none of them did anything to stop it. All of them together could have stopped what Windsor was doing, however, they were more interested in gaining more wealth than they were in doing what was right. You have to understand something Colt. Vampires are different from humans. I have found it to be a constant amongst Vampires. They do not change their ways. Once they start to get away with something, they will keep at it, until they are stopped. These men were not totally bad, which is why I killed them the way I did. However, they did sit by and allow many innocent people to get hurt. That is inexcusable, and that is why they died.”
Colt sat back and thought about that for a few moments. He did not like the idea of killing people, but he couldn’t argue with what the smaller boy had said. Finally he looked back, and one by one met eyes with everyone there. “I still don’t like killing people… but perhaps your right… sometimes some people need to die so that others don’t.”
“Exactly Colt.” Runi said sitting forward once again. “To be totally honest, while I have absolutely no problem killing people, I don’t enjoy it. One should never enjoy death. So while it is a necessity of my existence, I do not revel in it. However, in the many years that I have been awake, I have learned one thing. There are some people that MUST die to make sure that the innocent are safe. That is who I try to reserve my killing for, and one thing I WILL insist upon all of my companions follow as well.” He got simple nods from everyone except for Colt for obvious reasons.
Runi changed the topic as there were things he needed to know and quickly. “Talon… or may I use your real name?”
“I think it would be nice to be called David again. I have a feeling this is going to be my new family. I don’t think I need to hide who I really am anymore.” Dave spoke after a few moments of silent reflection.
“May I ask why you felt you had to choose another name?” Duncan asked in his somewhat thick accent.
Dave sighed and took his time looking at each person in the long limo for a few seconds. “I used the other name cause I didn’t like what I had to do… what I had to become. It made it easier for me to be someone totally different. It was as if I was putting on a mask, and no one had to know the real me, they didn’t have to know that I was afraid. When I was ‘Talon’ I was unstoppable. When I am David, I was just a kid that was being used my an asshole who had his baby brother as collateral. Does that make any sense?”
Runi sadly nodded. “I understand exactly what you mean. Runihura is not the name that I was given, but that name really does not apply any longer. Runihura is a more accurate description of who and what I am now, so that is the name I go by. Perhaps someday I may once again take my real name.”
Samson surprised everyone by speaking up. He was not known by anyone to speak much. “Never be ashamed to have done what you needed to so that your brother was safe. Feel pride in the fact that the bastard was never able to break you or your brother. He held much power over you, yet all that time he never was able to fully break you, THAT is something to take pride in.”
David looked around at everyone in the limo, and all of them were nodding.
He couldn’t help himself as the tears started to leak from his eyes, but he was grinning. For the first time in the last four years, he actually felt proud of himself.
Runi smiled as he changed the topic. “I am sorry to change topics like this, however, I know this is all happening very quickly. Many of you have no reason to trust me, or really each other. I am sure almost all of you would have a hard time trusting anyone. During my second waking cycle, I was a part of a group much like this one. We were thrust together very quickly, and had to learn to trust each other with our very lives. Someone came to us and offered to help, and I am now offering that help to all of you. From what Samson and Jennifer have said, something is going to happen soon that will be a challenge for all of us. If we are to survive, we need to be able to act as one; know what the others are doing and why; and most importantly trust each other with our lives.” He paused and saw that everyone was watching him intently.
“Before I go any further, I need to ask David something.” Once his eyes locked with David he continued. “David. I know how you feel about your brother, and I must say, I completely understand. You have a chance now to walk away with your brother, find some place safe to hide, and wait until your brother is old enough to be on his own. Or you can join with us, and will make you a pledge that no harm shall come to your brother while I am still able to draw a breath.”
“No matter where I go, or what I do, there will always be someone who would try to use my brother against me. That’s something I would never be able to live with myself if it happened again. I already trust you to keep your promise that Chris will be safe, so if you will have me, I’d like to join with you.” While he was talking, David met the eyes of everyone sitting in the limo, when he ended, his eyes were locked on Runi’s who met his eyes and nodded.
“Then what I am asking if you all would like to be involved with is a sharing of the minds that is almost permanent. To explain it more, would be saying that I would link our minds together so that we will always know what the other is thinking, unless that person decides to block the link. I would teach all of you how to block out certain parts of the link, or all of it, if they chose. You would still have your privacy if you wanted it, however, your surface thoughts would be available for all of us, unless you are blocking.”
Before anyone could answer, the car pulled up and stopped in front of a gate. “We’re here.” David said, then everyone, turned and looked out the window at their new home.

Chris Graft jumped from his chair as he saw the light pull up the driveway. Immediately he knew something was wrong. They were home way to early. He rushed to the window, and watched as the limo pulled up the long circular driveway and come to a stop right in front of the main doors, under the window he was looking out of.
The driveway was well lit, so Chris could clearly see as the drive stepped from the car, and moved around to the passenger side back door. Chris watched as the driver gently knocked on the window, and waited with his hand paused over the door handle. A few seconds, later, he opened the door, and Chris couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief when his brother was the first one out of the limo.
Relief turned to confusion as he watched first a huge man get out, one he had never seen before, then a young girl. Behind them were two other younger boys, but the biggest surprise came when the last person exited the limo. Chris was expecting to see Mr. Windsor come out last, but instead a very small boy who looked no older then ten or eleven, stepped out. The little boy looked right up and Chris, smiled and waved. He jumped back from the window, worried that he had done something wrong.
Dave’s voice sounded inside his head. ‘It’s okay Chris. I need you to do something though. I need you to come downstairs right away.’
Being used to talking to David like that, Chris wasn’t so shocked that he couldn’t reply. ‘What? But I’m not allowed to leave the rooms… you know that.’
‘Things have changed big time, little bear. Trust me, come on down and see whats going on.’ Had David not used his nickname for Chris, the younger boy might have thought it was a trick. Hesitantly he opened the door, and started to walk down a hallway that he hadn’t walked down in almost four years.
He half expected to be yelled at or even forced to return to the rooms, however, it seemed that everyone was coming to the main hallway to see what was going on.
Chris reached the balcony area that over looked the main entrance way, at about the same time that the front door opened, and the group walked in. All about him people were whispering and looking at the group that just walked in. The new group that was led by Chris’s brother stopped just inside the grad entry way, and for a few moments there was a staring match between all the staff and the new group. Tensions rose, until David stepped forward.
“You all know who I am, so I will tell you what has happened. Earlier this evening, the entire Tri State Area Council was ‘dismissed’… permanently. Daniel Windsor was convicted of several high crimes which resulted in his execution.” Loud murmurs were heard rippling through out the crowd, until David rose his hand and started speaking again. “Councilman Borrows of the High American Council has decreed that any and all of Daniel Windsor’s properties and holding are now the property of Duncan MacLeod;” David motioned to Duncan who stood there trying not to look too nervous. “under the conservatorship of the Elder Runihura.” Once again here was loud murmuring, only this time Chris was able to make out some of it.
One of the little known fact about Windsor’s employes is that a good number of them are actually vampires. Windsor was known to hire other Vampires, ones he did not consider to be threats to him, and keep them close. It was one of the ways the he saved on money. The Vampires would be paid much less then the humans, because part of their pay was food, they never had to worry about hunting.
There were two vampires close to where Chris was watching what was going on, and he heard the one of them tell the other. “I’ve never felt a vampire THAT old…. ever!”
The murmuring died down though, when Runi stepped forward and spoke. Once again Chris was shocked. The boy’s voice was still that of a little kid. Chris was sure that he was taller than this boy, and couldn’t help but stare at the boy’s face. His bronzed skin was flawless, and his big yellow eyes added to his beauty. Never before had Chris thought of another boy as beautiful, but Runihura was. However, the one thing that really got Chris was the boy’s hair. Completely bald save for a very long pony tail that was braided down to just past the middle of the kids back.
“First off, I am sure many of you have been shocked by the news of this evening. You may even be wishing to verify that what you have been told is the truth. Caution is prudent, and something that I will never begrudge someone for. If anyone wishes, they may try and contact Councilman Borrows to verify what has been said. However, as of this moment, this is Duncan’s house, and all of you are not working for him.” Runi looked around then sighed.
“I can sense that many of you are only worried about your pay, so let me address that first. No one will have any loss of income as long as they understand that rules around here will be changing. Anyone here who enjoys hurting others, or was involved in doing anything that is against the moral code of your new employer is free to leave at any time. Most of you anyway.” When Runi spoke that last line, Chris noticed that he was looking directly at a small group of vampires that were working for Windsor. They’re job was simple… they were his enforcers. For the first time Chris could ever remember, those four looked scared, and Chris couldn’t help but smile, he didn’t like them.
“All that everyone really needs to know is that things are changing around here.” Runi went on. “For most daily things, you will see few changes, somethings will change drastically. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.” With that, most people went back to what they were doing.
Chris watched as Runi spoke to his group for a minute. David then led all except the large man and Runi himself, up the stairway, and over to where Chris was standing. “Hey kiddo.” David said as he ruffled his hair. “We got some things to talk about. I know you don’t wanna go back to the rooms, so why don’t we all go outside?”
Chris grinned and nodded, he really hated being stuck in the rooms all the time. He hadn’t been outside in almost four years, and was almost giddy about being able to go.
With Dave leading the way, he quickly made introductions, then the group shortly found itself outside. Moving over to a set of tables that were sitting underneath a small stand of trees, David motioned for everyone to sit.
Chris found himself not paying attention to anything that was being said for a few minutes as he stared at the stars again, and revealed in the feeling of wind caressing his bare skin, the feeling of grass between his toes, and the sound of crickets.
He spent a few moments relishing being outdoors, before looking at the group of people with him. He knew their names, but now he was really looking at them. Colt was obviously as human as he was. He had dirty blond hair with green eyes. It was the eyes that made Chris know that Colt was still human. The kid named Duncan was obviously a Vampire with is yellow eyes. He had longish red hair with about a million freckles splattered all over his face and arms. Last there was Jennifer, a blond haired girl of about fifteen.
“I can’t believe this is all mine now?” Duncan said while looking around, first at the huge house, then at the land around them. “How big is this place?”
“There’s about a hundred acres here, but I know the guy has more land elsewhere.” Dave said, and Duncan just whistled.