Chapter 4 - The Virus

  ***Randolf's POV***

  The sterile, white walls of the underground facility hummed with the quiet sound of machinery. Randolf stood at the head of a long table, his fingers drumming softly against the cold surface as he watched the scientists bustle around him.

  The room was dimly lit, except for the sharp rectangular fluorescent light above, casting shadows across the sleek, metal surfaces. Around him, papers with complex formulas and genetic data were spread out—research they had poured over for years.

  Randolf’s brow furrowed as he studied the data projected onto the screen in front of him. “So, you’re certain this virus will only target the supernaturals?” His voice was low, yet edged with the impatience of someone who felt time was of the essence.

  Dr. Niles, the lead scientist, adjusted his glasses before speaking. His tone was steady, calculated. “Yes, President Randolf. The virus is designed to specifically attack the unique biological markers found only in supernatural beings—vampires, werewolves, Fae. We’ve designed it to leave humans untouched. The problem is, we are still having issues bypassing certain healing genes.”

  “What about the vampires? I fucking hate them the most. Have we figured out a way to get rid of them first?” Randolf pressed, his fingers tapping once more on the metal table. “Can we get it to work with them?”

  “That's where the complication lies. The vampire physiology, particularly their blood chemistry, is proving difficult to manipulate,” Dr. Niles replied. “We’ve considered using a host—someone who’s willing to be infected, a human who could go into a secret vampire den and offer themselves to be fed on. We inject the virus into them, and once the vampire feeds, the theory is they will contract the virus through the blood exchange. If this works, we can inject more willing hosts and start by weeding them out through private feeder dens.”

  Randolf’s eyes hardened. He wasn’t one for uncertainty, but sometimes, sacrifices had to be made for the greater good. “Then we’ll take the risk. We need to get this virus to spread, and we need the supernaturals to be wiped out. If we can’t do it with the vampires, we’ll make sure it works on the werewolves next.”

  “We’re testing this on humans first,” Dr. Niles emphasized. “We need someone willing to volunteer. The virus might not kill the vampires, but we don’t know how it will react in a human host.”

  Randolf’s jaw clenched. “You said that you made sure it wouldn't affect humans, we've been working on this concept for years, volunteers are disposable. We’ve lost enough time already. The virus has to be our weapon, or we’ll lose everything. No more ‘what ifs.’ It’s time to move forward. Prepare a host.”

  Dr. Niles looked reluctant, but nodded. “Understood, Mr. President. We’ll move forward with the plan. We’ll ensure the volunteer has the virus inside them before they’re sent to the vampire kingdom, and we will send out a team to follow the host until it is completed.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  President Randolf straightened up, an icy determination in his eyes. “Make sure they do it right. No room for mistakes, or its your fucking head on a pike.”

  The meeting was over, however the tension in the room remained as the scientists began to move, gathering equipment.

  ***

  ***Ivy's POV***

  Later that evening, in the city’s heart, beneath the dim neon lights of the Vampire Den, a striking woman moved through the crowd. Her hair was long and fiery, her figure sleek and confident as she made her way toward the bar. This was not the first time she had visited the club—she was all too familiar with the whispers of the vampires' forbidden indulgences.

  Ivy, a redhead, was one of the volunteers at the science lab, one of the many humans who had offered themselves up for this task. She hated supernaturals just as much as her fellow collogues, and this was an honor she wouldn't waste.

  She’d been injected with the virus earlier that day and had waited around the lab for a few hours to see if there were any side affects. Not a single hive or sneeze, and now she was here with a sense of purpose. She had no idea what it would mean, what would happen to her body, but she was willing to do anything to help turn the tide. The humans had to take action, and she was proud to be on the forefront. She had been trained to act as bait, to offer herself to many a vampire as she could in the past, to gain trust in her.

  She knew the rules and the game, vampires were not allowed to kill their prey. They could feed just enough to weaken, but never enough to take a life. But, as Ivy stood in the shadows of the club, her heart beating faster with anticipation, she wasn’t so sure about the others’ willingness to obey, for tonight they seemed to be hungrier or hornier than normal.

  With a drink in her hand, Ivy’s gaze landed on him—a vampire with eyes as black as night, his sharp features as cruelly handsome. She had heard rumors of him. Raze, King Sivren's right hand man, a vampire who had never been one to follow the rules. He approached her with predatory grace, his steps almost silent as he closed the distance.

  His voice was low, dripping with hunger. “My aren't you a beautiful little doll? Care to join me tonight?”

  Ivy nodded, her breath caught in her throat. Just enough, she thought to herself, Just enough to transmit the virus.

  The vampire smirked, showing a flash of fangs as he took her hand, leading her to the back of the club where the VIP's normally went. "Come entertain me back here little dove, there is plenty of room for us to... talk." She hesitated slightly almost giving into her natural instinct of fear to run. No one would see what would happen here, and no one would dare stop him she thought.

  Raze led her to the giant black velvet couch, his grip tightening around her wrist. “You’re trusting me to follow the rules?” he asked, almost mockingly.

  Before Ivy could reply, Raze pushed her back down into the couch cupping his free hand over her mouth and sank his teeth into her neck. The sharp pain jolted through her, and she tried to gasp for air to no avail, her legs giving away beneath her. He didn’t stop sucking as he began to slowly rock his groin against her limp thigh. His mouth was insatiable, the pull of his bite overwhelming as he drained her far past oblivion. For a moment Ivy’s vision blurred and she started to dream of her past as a little girl having a tea party with her father and sister back home.

  Her body fell completely limp, and her mind drifted off peacefully. Raze could feel the emptiness of this blood bag reach its last puff of air. Once he was finished, he shoved her to the floor and returned home as if nothing had happened. He was used to doing this, not every night, but enough to get him hard and keep him from being bored. Because immortality, was a hell of a thing.