Free Vigil by Craig Saunders, C. R. Saunders

could work computers and things. This one vampire, their leader? He told everyone what to do. It was him that started using us as meat. That was his idea. I hate him the most.’
    Tom’s legs felt weak. He wanted to stand and ask a question, but he couldn’t. He thought he would never have to think about the project ever again. But he couldn’t be sure. He needed to ask, only he couldn’t stand. He tried to speak anyway, but his voice failed him. He was aware of Marie holding his arm, asking him if he was alright, but her voice was far away.
    Marie shouted out to Jean.
    ‘Somebody help! Tom’s having a heart attack!’
    People began dashing around and trying to help him. He couldn’t breath. He was struggling against them, trying to push them away.
    Marie called out to them, telling them to give him room. One of the medical team pushed through, clambering over chairs.
    He knelt beside Tom and laid a hand on his neck, checking his pulse. Tom felt his eyelid being pulled back and it was uncomfortable.
    ‘Get off,’ he said. He tried to push the man away. ‘I’m not having a heart attack. Get me up. I need to speak.’
    ‘Just lay still.’
    ‘No time. Get me up.’
    Against his better judgment the medic pulled Tom to his feet. ‘Tom, you should sit down. Take it easy a minute.’
    Tom shook his head. ‘Help me up, for fuck’s sake.’
    He’d cracked his head a good one on a chair going down. Great way to make an impression. Make everyone think you’re a useless old bastard, as if they didn’t already. He held onto Marie’s shoulder.
    ‘Sorry, everyone. Nobody loves a drama queen. Jean, can I…?’
    ‘Go ahead, Tom. Are you OK?’
    ‘No. No, I’m not. Not at all.’ Rein it in, Tom, he warned himself. He took a breath. ‘Sorry, Jean. Nicole, did this big room have a kind of tunnel in it? A big circular thing?’
    ‘I don’t know, Sir. I heard the vampire talking, though, when he didn’t think I could hear. I was feeding the…people…when he was telling this other vampire…I can’t remember exactly.’
    ‘Just the gist is good enough, honey,’ said Tom. His heart was still pounding but he had a good idea where this was going now and he’d prepared himself for the worst.
    ‘He said something like, ‘It won’t work without the other one.’ He was talking about the big thing down below, way under the ground. Sometimes when they were using it the ground shook. It was pretty loud. Like a dragon, or something.’
    ‘I guess it would seem that way. Thank you, Nicole.’
    Jean raised his eyebrows. ‘You have an idea? Tom?’
    Tom nodded his head. ‘I don’t have an idea, Jean. I know something. But this is for private.’
    ‘If it’s something to do with us, tell us! We need to know!’ cried someone.
    Tom wished he’d been more circumspect, questioned the girl in the quiet, alone. But he’d panicked. And with just cause.
    ‘No, Paul,’ he said to the man, as gently as he could. ‘This is for the council. After, perhaps, but this is for the council.’
    ‘That’s why we’re here, Tom. Everyone should know,’ said Jean.
    ‘No, Jean, they shouldn’t. Call a meeting tomorrow, if you want, but for now we need to go. Sarah, Ben, we need you, too. Sam and Kappa…Alain, Suzanne. Marie.’
    The hall was full of angry murmurs. They didn’t like being left out. Tom didn’t care. Nobody had listened to him all these years, now they were desperate they wanted answers from him. They could bloody well wait.
    He tried to not look at anyone as he left the room, but their stares followed him, boring into his back.
     
    *

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eighteen
     
    Command
    Level 1
     
    Tom’s chest hurt like a bastard. Perhaps he had had a minor heart attack. His chest was sore, but he could have hit himself falling off his chair.
    He didn’t think it would matter either way, soon.
    His mind was racing as the council came in behind him. He schooled his thoughts for a moment, his intellect