Free Blood of the Gods (The Vampire from Hell Part 5) by Ally Thomas Page B

this?  Now?  So soon?”
    “Yes,” Rayea said.  “I’d like this over as soon as possible.  I’m ready to move on with my life.”
    “I agree,” G said as he returned to the front of the crowd.  By this time, many individuals had sat down on the ground or perched on a nearby rock or other structure.  The judges of the council remained hidden.
    “This proposal of hers,” G continued, thrusting his burly chest forward and raising his hands, “proves she is capable of love and we should be capable of forgiveness.  She tried to save my son, J, not destroy him.”  Standing for a moment, he let his words drift through the crowd.  Despite his small height, he was an impressive sight with his attire of all white and a confidence that few could rival.  He reminded me a lot of Max, my former boss.
    Just then, Max joined the discussion.  He walked over in his long denim shorts and black AC/DC t-shirt.  His unruly gray hair was pulled into a tight ponytail that cascaded down his neck.  “Hasn’t this gone on long enough?” he asked as he stood before me, Rayea, and Blick.  “I call upon the council to make a decision now.  This is ridiculous.  Show yourselves.  If she were one of my daughter’s or G’s for that matter, would you be taking your sweet ass time deciding her future?  No, you wouldn’t.  May I remind you, blowhards, that Mehen is still flitting around somewhere doing who knows what!  You clearly haven’t stopped her since many of you seem to be hiding here on Valeria, and not on the Summit where you should be.  Am I wrong?”
    “We are observing,” a voice from the crowd said.
    “Beelzebub promised us a safe haven,” another one offered.
    “Bullshit,” Max yelled.  He threw up his arms and walked over to stand near G and J.  “You are cowards!”
    I wanted to pinch Rayea on the side of the arm as I heard Max’s words.  I had no idea he kept such high and mighty company, but the man spoke his mind and I loved that about him.  If the situation had not been my maker’s judgment day, I would have wanted to pull up a seat, munch down some popcorn, and have Blick blend up one of those famous smoothies of his.  Instead, I gave Rayea’s hand a tight squeeze and stepped forward to share with the mystery council, still hiding in the crowd of people, a piece of my mind.
    “If you are worried about this Vampire from Hell turning evil, you are looking at this situation all wrong.  She is fighting the evil out there.  She is the good guy.  I have met her sister, Stephanie, the snake woman, if you can call her that, who refers to herself as the New Medusa.  If you end Rayea’s existence, then you had better figure out a way to stop Stephanie and Mehen who are probably in league together by now.  It’s just my opinion, but if it were my decision, I’d rather have a vampire dragon shape-shifter on my side instead of the other way around.”
    More flashes of light surged from the crowd of people and finally a few figures came forward.  These people must be the Ancient Council.
    “Who is this creature that dares address us?”A very tall old man dressed in white and holding a long staff asked.
    I stepped back in line with Rayea, hoping I had not really messed up the situation.
    “ Zeus , this is Grace, Max’s daughter and my niece,” J spoke up as he walked over to Rayea and me.  J grabbed my hand.  My mouth fell open.  I’m what?
    “Rayea saved Grace after she was attacked by Stephanie.  I owe her a lot for saving my child.  Because of this vampire, the future line of the House of the Lion did not end that day,” Max added.
    “She’s saved both our children,” G interjected.  “From this evil that you are comfortable to ignore.”
    “Or hide from,” Max piped up.
    J returned to stand by his father and uncle.  “Yes, I don’t know where I would be if Rayea’s blood had not diluted the poison of Stephanie’s.  Of course, I now have the blood gift, but I am