Page 142 of The Satyr's Guilt
The male vampire lay on a third table, hischest slashed open for viewing. He was in a sedative-induced comafor the time-being.
“Dr. Messenger. Please do the honors. Startwith this specimen.”
“Wonderful choice, Dante. Sirs.” With aflourish, the doctor walked toward the table near the center of thelab. “This is a vampire.” He lifted the specimen’s upper lip,exposing fangs. “These are not always visible, but his havedropped. We are finding that happens for a number of reasons.Anger. Hunger. Stress. Since we have not fed him blood for six daysnow, he is starving. His fangs have remained exposed.”
The female nearby tossed her head, her ownfangs punching through her gums, her guttural roars echoing acrossthe room.
“Gentlemen, note his exposed chest. Here ishis heart. It is larger than the comparable human organ. Same withhis lungs. Here.” He pointed with a rod. “Now this is interesting.Humans do not have one of these organs.” When he tapped it, itquivered. “I am not sure how it functions. A thorough autopsy mightreveal its purpose. If I could cut it open to examine thecontents.”
“Not yet.” Dante angled his neck to oneside, studying the vampire.
The doctor appeared to be thoroughlyenjoying himself. He had a body, his pointer, and a captiveaudience.
“Astounding,” said General Lipton. He shareda look with the colonel, their exchange brief but holding a touchof disgust. “You say they are stronger.”
“Stronger and capable of magical actions.The female vampire shared information, hoping to keep us fromexamining her friend.” The doctor’s smile made even Dantecringe.
General Lipton walked toward the female,keeping a respectable distance from her teeth. He strode to Ramwhose drugged, unfocused eyes tried to track him. As he neared,they flashed green. “What did you say this is?”
“A satyr.” Dante stood where Ram could notsee him. “But he’s mine. You may interrogate him. We will give youultrasounds, x-rays, and images once we open him. Nothingmore.”
“What do you want from us?” Colonel MateoGarcia stood ramrod straight, hands behind his back, his legsparted.
“As I have already told you, they callthemselves Aeternals. They live on Scath, a realm which can beaccessed only via portals, some of which I know. They travel toEarth through these gates with devices called portal jumpers. Myscientists are examining one of them. The satyr specimen had atravel implement imbedded in his wrist. We dug it out and aretearing it apart also. If lucky, we will be able to duplicate thegadgets and invade their realm. I am sure you agree we need todestroy the otherworlders before they kill us.”
Ram popped the chain on his wrist, shiftedhis hip to snap the other. A soldier raised his rifle and fired.The satyr gripped his abdomen when the sedative struck. With hisother hand, he ripped off the strap across his chest and the chainson his legs. After he swung his feet to the floor, he chargedDante, his steps lumbering and slow. Two more shots.
Ping. Ping.
Before he collapsed to the floor, he staredat Dante. Shock playing across his face. “You.” With so muchtranquilizer in his system, the word was slurred.
Humans First guards rushed him. As thesatyr’s lids closed, he slumped into their arms.
Dante patted one uniformed man’s shoulder.“Good work, soldier.”
****
Ram awoke slowly. Voices.Shuffling feet. Light filtering through his lids. Busy machines.Sobs from the female vampire.What’s her name? Norah. That’sit.
Varik moaned. Conscious again. Earlier, hehad screamed. When his cries for help had quieted, Ram got thewillies. He thought the vamp might be dead. Glad to know he wasn’t.Yet.
How long had he been out? Hours? Days? Hehad lost track of time.
“The satyr’s coming to. Get Dante and theofficers. They want to talk with him.”
Ram recognized Dr. Messenger’s voice as thebutcher responsible for the torture-fest. The guy enjoyed his jobtoo much.
The door squeaked. Footsteps.
A shadow passed over Ram.
“Is he awake?” The voice was familiar.
I didn’t hallucinate. Why is he here?
“Yes,” replied the doctor.
“Look at me, bastard.” The old Englishmanfrom his past stepped into view.
