Page 8 of The Vampire King's War

“But Superintendent Chambers, what if there are people inside?” An officer cried, even though there was no sign of life through the glass doors.

The Superintendent already knew from Rajani that there was no one alive, no one to be saved, so she had no guilt in telling everyone, “I cannot allow you to enter that museum. Until we know for certain what’s caused this, I could be sending you in only to die. Hazmat units are coming. This is the best thing to do.”

There were murmurs of worry. Everyone was leery now of the dead, but also aching to make sure there was no one they could save. But the Superintendent’s words were calm and measured. People believed her.

“Now, we need to set up a perimeter around the entire museum’s grounds. No one--and I repeat no one--is to get in or out who is not authorized,” she said, gesturing towards the property. “This is what you can do. Medical personnel, please withdraw to your vehicles for the time being. If there is anyone for you to help, we will alert you.”

Daemon caught sight of news crews arriving just as the paramedics carefully walked down the steps. Bright lights from cameras blared on and some of the paramedics lifted arms to shield their eyes from the glare. Reporters began to shout questions at the Superintendent.

“Why are the paramedics leaving?”

“Is there anyone left alive?”

“What’s the death toll?”

“Has anyone taken responsibility for this? It’s terrorism, isn’t it?”

The Superintendent ignored all of the questions and said sharply, “We need an evidence tent here right away!”

That would screen the dead that littered the stairs from the cameras, although not before a loop of the images they already had would be put on air, according to Julian.

We need to take advantage of the building still being empty. There’s got to be some kind of security room inside the museum where the cameras are controlled,Julian suggested. We should find it and you can do that short circuiting thing.

Indeed, that seems wise.

Julian went to open the nearest door to the museum. Daemon caught his arm.

What? What’s wrong?His fledgling asked.

Daemon smiled. We are invisible. The doors are not.

Oh… OH! That would totally freak everybody out to have the doors simply open on their own seemingly,Julian realized. So we need another way in? Maybe a door at the back, out of sight?

Or?Daemon prompted.

Julian let out a laugh. I’m not thinking like a Vampire again. Teleport! We teleport inside!

Exactly.

Daemon pulled Julian to him and teleported them just on the other side of the glass doors. There was no one alive to tell him where this security room was and Julian did not know, so they had to search for it. They were near a directory that showed a map of all of the floors of the museum. It appeared that the security offices were on the first floor at the back of the museum. Not having been there, teleporting would be unwise.

I know where we have to go. Come on,Julian suggested.

The two of them moved away from the front doors and through the tangle of dead. The sepulchral silence was getting to his fledgling.

I swear I keep thinking I hear something or someone, Julian confessed as they located a door beyond which should be a long hallway that would lead them to several offices, among which was the security office. Julian tried the door.

Locked! Can we teleport to the other side?Julian asked.

Without being able to visualize it, we may end up half in and half out of a wall,Daemon answered.

Ah, not a good idea. Okay… oh! We could use a pass card,Julian suggested as he saw the card reader to the side of the door with a red light on. But they’ll have a log for this. It’ll show someone entering this hallway after everyone died.

Then we use a simpler method that cannot be traced,Daemon suggested.

He leaned his shoulder against the door. There was a cracking sound as the door jam splintered and the entirety of the door and the surrounding wall swung inwards. The red light stayed red, still thinking that the door was shut. Julian let out a little laugh.

Okay, that is simpler. Though they are really going to wonder what happened here,Julian stated.

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