Shadow Born: Book 1 of the Shadow-Borne Chronicles (40 page)

As before, Alec and Silas were led to a private parking garage and a nondescript black car was waiting for them.
 
The driver took their bags and placed them in the car as Alec and Silas got in the back.
 
Alec noticed that as the driver leaned over, his jacket opened, revealing a gun strapped under his arm.
 
Security around here was serious.
 
Alec was starting to get tired from lack of sleep and all the running he had done recently.
 
Burning blood could keep him on his feet and going, but once he turned it off he was exhausted.
 
Alec didn’t have much to say which was just as well since Silas was on his cell phone most of the trip.
 

Once they arrived at the airport, they were taken to a private airfield where Silas’s jet waited for them.
 
They walked up the steps to the plane while the driver loaded their luggage in a separate compartment.
 
Before they knew it, they were taking off and the lights of Chicago were below them.

“How are you doing Alec?” Silas asked, looking at him closely.

“It’s been a long couple of days,” Alec chuckled.

Silas smiled.
 
“No, I mean with everything?”
 
When Alec squinted at him, he continued.
 
“In the last couple of months, you’ve been turned, threatened, chased…how are you holding up?”

Alec sat uncomfortably for a moment, his eyes on the floor but his thoughts focused elsewhere.

“I’m…okay I guess.”
 
He sat quietly for a moment, thinking.
 
Silas didn’t say anything but waited for the young man to continue.

Alec sighed heavily.
 
“Growing up in the orphanage, things were just a certain way.
 
You learned quickly not to question why things were done the way they were and you learned to accept them.
 
Asking questions wasn’t really appreciated at the orphanage and more often than not, led to some sort of punishment.
 
Alec looked up at Silas, his eyes wet with unshed tears.
 
“You know, I still don’t even really know how my parents died?
 
I know they died in a car wreck when I was eight, but that’s all they would tell me, even when I got older.
 
The caretaker John, he didn’t even care.
 
When I asked, he would just get mad and start yelling at me telling me that they were dead and that’s all that mattered and that I couldn’t change anything by knowing how or why it happened.”
 
Alec sat quietly.

“I’m sorry, Alec.
 
I know you had it rough growing up.
 
But things are different know.”

Alec shrugged.
 
“Not really.
 
Now my life is threatened and in danger because of something some vampire did to me.
 
I didn’t have a choice and I wasn’t asked.
 
And for that…” he stopped and shook his head.
 
“For that, my life could be taken from me.
 
I’m sorry.
 
I’m tired.
 
I haven’t had any sleep since before yesterday.”
 
Silas nodded and Alec turned his head away, toward the windows of the plane.

Quietly Silas said, “I’m sorry, Alec.
 
I’m doing everything in my power to help you.”

Alec was quiet for a moment and then he said quietly, “I know, and I appreciate everything you’re doing.”
 
Alec hesitated a moment.
 
“I have some questions.
 
I don’t know if you’ll answer or not but I’m curious about something.”

“Okay,” Silas said noncommittally.

“When we were in Saint Louis and heard about the hostage crisis in Chicago, why did we fly out here?
 
No one had mentioned that Victor had wanted to speak to vampires at that time.
 
Normally, the Protectorates like to deal with a situation on their own and don’t like help until they ask for it.”

Silas chuckled.
 
“I wondered if you were ever going to get around to asking.”
 
Silas set his drink down.

“I’ve told you before that some in the government are aware of our existence and that we help them in certain ways for supplying us with blood to sustain us.”

“So since Senator Taylor was one of the one’s that helped with that, you knew he would need help getting his son back?” Alec guessed.

Silas hesitated a moment, thinking.
 
“Yes.
 
There’s that.
 
But there’s more.
 
One of the services that we provide in exchange is… complicated.”

Alec looked at Silas confused.

“We run…I run an agency that specializes in high priority cases such as abductions, extractions, investigations, one might even say spying when necessary.”

Alec narrowed his eyes.
 
“Assassinations?”

“Not if we can help it.
 
We are there to help the government with cases that are considered very dangerous or highly important.
 
We aren’t hired killers.”

“So when the CIA or FBI need help, they come to you?”

“Yes, something like that.
 
Sometimes they come to us, sometimes I offer our services if I feel there is a need.
 
I knew that Senator Taylor was one of our people and knew it would only be a matter of time before we were called in to help.”

“And you have the U.S. Government’s backing?”

“Yes.
 
Actually, it was one of the stipulations for the blood collecting facilities.
 
They call on our ‘expertise’ when needed.”

Alec thought about it for a moment.
 
“And this is government sanctioned?
 
Is it a real, legitimate agency?”
 
Silas nodded his head yes.
 
“So, you flashed the FBI your badge and that’s why they started taking orders from you in Chicago.”

“Yes.
 
Marcus and I both belong to this agency.
 
That’s why they did what I told them.”

“How much power do you have?”

Silas laughed out right then and shook his head.
 
“A lot.
 
We were formed directly by the power of the President of the United States of America and the United Nations.
 
As such, we outrank everyone.”

Alec sat back in his seat stunned.
 
A group of vampires outranked all other intelligence agencies in the U.S.
 
Unbelievable.
 
He supposed it made sense in the big scheme of things.
 
Why not use immortal beings with unheard of abilities and powers to do the dirty, dangerous work of agencies with more important things to worry about than getting their own people killed.
 
And Silas ran this agency.
 

“Okay, enough for now.
 
You’ve had a long couple of days and you have more ahead of you.
 
Why don’t you rest and try to get some sleep.
 
I’ll answer more of your questions later when you’ve had time to think all of this through.”

Alec nodded and reclined his chair so that he could rest.

“And Alec, this is top secret information.
 
I know I don’t have to say it but I must.
 
Please keep all of this to yourself and tell no one.”

“Of course,” Alec mumbled.
 
“Of course.”

A couple of hours later, Alec was jolted away by his phone buzzing in his pocket.
 
He pulled it out and saw that it was from Steven.
 
Made it here in one piece.
 
You’re right.
 
Marcus is a nice guy.
 
They’ve given me a room and I am going to get some sleep.
 
Have you gotten to where you’re going yet?

Alec replied with,
No.
 
Still in the air.
 
I’ll text you later.
 
Glad you made it there alive. ;-)

Silas smiled at Alec.
 
“Did you have a good nap?”

Alec stretched and yawned.
 
“It was okay.
 
Sleeping in a chair is difficult.”

“Strap in.
 
We are about to land.
 
A car will be waiting for us to take us to a hotel.
 
We will rest there during the day and then start out again once it’s night.”

Alec looked out the window.
 
“Where are we?”

“Rhode Island.”

Alec turned to look at Silas with a question on his face.

“This is the closest airport to where he lives.”

“Jacob?”

Silas nodded.
 
“Yes.
 
I’ve called ahead and had the hotel prepare rooms for us.
 
Tomorrow we will rent a car.
 
Hopefully, he got my message and is expecting me.
 
For safety reasons I did not tell him you were coming with me.”

“Do you not trust him?” Alec asked frowning.

“I trust Jacob,” Silas laughed.
 
“I just didn’t want the message to be read by just anyone and end up walking into an ambush.
 
Marcus and the pilot are the only two that know where we are.”

The plane landed and a dark car with dark windows was waiting for them beside the runway.
 
Alec could say this; Silas certainly knew how to travel.
 
The driver loaded their baggage into the car and then they were on the road to the hotel.
 
After about fifteen minutes of driving they finally pulled up in front of a huge, magnificent hotel.
 

Alec got out of the car went to the back for their luggage but Silas motioned for him to follow, so he dropped behind him as he walked into the opulently decorated foyer and up to the service desk.
 
Silas spoke to an immaculately dressed older gentleman and he in turn dispatched four bellhops to collect and see to their luggage.
 
Alec was almost dead on his feet at this point. He could have burned blood and felt refreshed and wide-awake but decided not to since he was about to hit the sack.
 
He did, however, prepare himself in the unlikely event that they were attacked and he needed to defend himself.

The gentleman behind the counter called over the concierge and handed him a key, and the man asked them to follow him to their rooms.
 
The man didn’t make idle chit chat on the ride up the elevator and Alec for one was grateful.
 
He didn’t feel like trying to hold a conversation as tired as he was.

The elevator ride was longer than Alec expected and once they arrived, he realized why.
 
They were in the penthouse suite.
 
The elevators opened onto an opulent suite decorated in cream and gold.
 
It was a little extravagant for Alec’s taste but he’d never stayed in a penthouse before and was excited.
 
The concierge showed them around and explained that the windows had been completely covered as per their request.
 
He didn’t question why it had been requested and acted like it was an everyday occurrence.
 
Silas tipped the man one hundred dollars before he left.

On his way out the concierge held the elevator door as four bellhops carried their luggage in and placed it in their rooms.
 
Alec noticed several devices that looked like refrigerators among Silas’s belongings and wondered what they could be until the answer hit him suddenly.
 
That was Silas’s blood supply.
 
Of course.
 
Because everyone carried blood around with them.
 
Alec was so tired he almost laughed.

Silas again tipped each man one hundred dollars and watched as the elevator doors closed.
 
Alec suddenly realized he hadn’t texted Steven and quickly pulled out his phone and typed a message and sent it.

“If you’re texting Steven or Marcus, please don’t tell them where we are or what hotel we are in,” Silas said loosening his tie.

Alec yawned.
 
“Not a problem since I have no idea about either.
 
I didn’t even bother looking at the name of the hotel.”

Silas removed his tie and folded it up before putting it in his pocket.

“Good.
 
If you wish, you may retire for the day.
 
I had your windows blocked so that they sun wouldn’t keep you awake.
 
I hope you don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” Alec said yawning again.
 
“Actually, that’s a good idea.
 
I think I will hit the sack.”

“Then sleep well, Alec.
 
You have a big day ahead of you,” Silas said grinning.
 
Before he’d turned Silas said, “And Alec, please don’t come into my room while I’m…asleep.
 
I don’t want there to be any unfortunate accidents.”

Alec nodded with a frown on his face and then headed to the room that had been designated as his.
 
He stepped into the completely dark room and fumbled until he felt the light switch and clicked it on.
 
He looked at his luggage neatly stacked against the wall and walked wearily over to the bed.
 
He stripped out of his clothes, slipped between the sheets and instantly fell asleep.

It must have been some hours later when Alec’s phone vibrated and woke him.
 
He felt refreshed and realized he must have slept longer than he thought.
 
He reached over and grabbed his phone to check his message and realized that it was five PM.
 
The message was from Steven, checking up on his progress and well-being.
 
Alec typed in a message and rolled to the edge of the bed.