Secrets of the Night Special Edition Read Free Page A

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    "And it's only because of the dull light in here that no one suspects what we are.  If we stayed out in the bright sunlight–Otherworld forbid!–people would know we belong to the undead. And the sunlight would burn us to ashes." Gaderian gestured to a waitress to indicate that he wanted ale also. "Sorry I have no money with me," he said to his companion. "How about lending me the money this time, and I'll pay next time." After Egan placed the coins on the table, Gaderian continued, "As for your comment—I intend to so something about that danger, no matter how long it takes or the obstacles I must overcome. Other creatures are killing the mortals and making it look as if the vampires are committing the murders. And we know what creatures.  Damned bandregas! I'd like to kill them all." His mouth tightened, a muscle jerking in his jaw.
    "A process I don't understand, how the bandregas can make it look as if the vampires are killing."
    "Easy enough to understand. The bite of a bandrega itself is poison to a mortal. Kills them instantly, like snake venom. Can even sicken the undead, at least for a few days. Then the bandregas drain all the blood from the humans, so that the mortals think we are doing the murders. All these years we've built up trust among the mortals–now gone–" He snapped his fingers–"just like that! Before these murders, we were at least tolerated among the humans. And we never killed any mortals for sustenance, just took only what we needed. At least, I never killed any humans.  I hope that is true of the other undead, also." Anger heated his blood. The bandregas were powerful creatures, cunning, too, who could assume human features and human ways, although they were actually demons with sharp features and claws. Where did they get their power? How were they able to practice black magic? Just as important, how did they make themselves look human? He'd give anything to know.
    "Deceitful creatures, the bandregas. Over the years, they've led the mortals to believe they gradually disappeared, going to other countries." He shook his head. "But they are still among us, like a poisonous weed. Like poison."
    Egan blew out a long breath ... "And what about the price on our heads, rewards for turning us in?" Even in the dim light, his face showed red with fury.
    Gaderian clenched his hands on the table. "Those who are captured are killed with a stake through their heart."
    Egan paused.  "But are we absolutely sure it's not the vampires who are killing the humans?"
    Before replying, Gaderian waited while the waitress set a mug of ale on the table. She scooped up the coins and dropped them in her apron pocket.  He lifted the mug to his mouth, revelling in the cool liquid that soothed his dry throat. "This was before your time as a vampire, but several centuries ago, the Guild of the Undead ruled that we would prey only on criminals and take no more blood than we needed. At the same time, we pledged to the mortals that we would protect them against the bandregas."
    Absently, he traced an indentation on the wooden table, initials carved by a long ago patron. "You have no idea the distress those bandregas caused the humans–stealing their young and ravishing the women. So for the longest time, we have protected the humans against these evil creatures by killing them, chasing the bandregas away." He lifted his hands. "Now look what's happened. The bandregas far outnumber us. Now they are killing the humans, and the humans blame the murders on us. Worse still, the humans think the bandregas disappeared long ago. The mortals don't know that these creatures still exist, here among us. And don't forget, these creatures can apply the glamour, making them look like mortals, instead of the beasts that they are."  He had to defeat the bandregas, had to! He had failed in his endeavors too many times in the past, and always the feeling had dwelt within him that he must do something worthwhile in his life.
    Egan