Free Red Serpent: The Falsifier by Delson Armstrong Page B

but it was too late. The vampires opened fire on civilians. The human reinforcements returned their blasts with lasers and rocket launchers.
    “What’s the matter with you?” John yelled, running to the Egyptian councilman.
    “Obviously they want a battle, don’t they?” Jarad said.
    “I wanted you to order an evacuation, goddamnit. I’ll handle the rest.” John held Angel by the shoulders. “Angel, you better go home. Don’t worry about anything.”
    “But, Mr. Howe—”
    “Just go!”
    “Uncle John!” yelled Alex, “what’s going on?”
    Nikolas said, “Alex, you’ll be safe, don’t worry.” He grabbed Alex tightly around his right arm.
    “What are you doing?” Alex pulled away.
    John commanded his driver, “Get my sword!” The driver tossed it to him. John caught it and, in a flash, pointed it at Nikolas. “Listen Nick, you can’t take Alex with you.”
    “It’s the Council’s orders, John. Listen to me.”
    “I can’t believe what you’re doing! You’ve joined them!” With one quick move John grabbed Alex and pulled him towards his side. He moved the sword up to Nikolas’s neck.
    “You’re misunderstanding me.” Nikolas said and backed away.
    “I understand you completely!” John slashed at Nikolas but the vampire dodged the blade.
    Alex dashed to the limo. His only thought now was to contact Angel. He pressed a button on the side of his watch and the chain around his neck broke apart and morphed into a headset that attached itself to his ear. He pressed the earpiece that served as a nanophone. There was no clear reception.
    John and Nikolas fought like never before. They felt invigorated even though they were fighting each other. Nikolas flew upwards. “Come down here, Nick, and face me!” John shouted.
    “Listen to me old friend!” Nikolas said.
    “Don’t call me that! You were supposed to keep your promise, Nick! And now you break it?”
    “I need him!” Nikolas said.
    “For what?”
    “I can’t tell you yet but I want you to take this.” He threw a silver canister towards John.
    John caught it but threw his sword at Nikolas. Suddenly a silvery substance engulfed Nikolas’s body like mercury, transforming him. The sword simply bounced off his hard metallic body. It fell to the ground, tip first, and stuck there.
    Meanwhile the two armies continued to fight it out. Lasers and silver nitrate bullets flew everywhere, damaging stores, restaurants and cracking glass. One of the Imperial soldiers levitated a piece of concrete with his will and flung it at some civilians, crushing them. Nikolas threw a large red energy ball towards the debris, disintegrating it.
    “What’s wrong with you?” he yelled at the soldier, “This was supposed to be a simple mission.”
    The soldier smiled bitterly, activating the restraining choker and Nikolas fell to the ground with a thud. John hurried to the limo where Alex was sitting. He got in beside his nephew and opened the container. He took a scroll out of the canister, unrolled it and scanned it quickly.
    “What’s happening?” Alex asked, ogling the scroll.
    “Nikolas is here to kidnap you,” said John. Alex was about to speak, but John gestured to let him finish. “It says here that Nikolas’s plan was to take you. And my guess now is that after seeing us with weapons, the vampire government is going to take action. They will see it as an act of aggression and try to attack us. By the time they do, we will have prepared our ultimatums and hopefully be able to avoid war by diplomatic negotiation. But before that can even happen, we will come to rescue you. Nikolas will take good care of you and he will tell you more than I know about the vampire history. So don’t worry.”
    Alex said, “I’m going to be a prisoner of war for the vampires?”
    “For the time being, yes. Trust me, Alex. I would never let this happen if I didn’t think Nikolas had the situation under control. I am also very confident that we can rescue