Ancient Blood: A Novel of the Hegemony (The Order Saga Book 1) Read Online Free

is it? So many species do. It’s not as if I would have to hunt and kill every night, not with the blood banks set up nationwide and the companies that exist to serve The Order. Even if I had to hunt, I only need a pint each from several people a night, not enough to harm anyone. No one need die to sustain me.
    I’m rationalizing. Yes, there are drawbacks. Yes, it’s not a perfect situation but if I understand it going in, the harm can be minimized. I have the ability to understand a society I never suspected existed. I also have the opportunity to influence that powerful society toward doing less harm to the people it controls. Perhaps a synthetic blood substitute can be created, something with all the nutrients Vampyrs need to live on. Surely Sebastian and the others could see the advantage.
    In the end, I suppose it comes right back to love. I don’t want to live without Sebastian. I can’t. I don’t want to be alone anymore. There is no one like Sebastian. Every moment with him has been stimulating, exciting and romantic. Think of what he’s offering. Not just a good marriage but the opportunity to truly make the world a better place! Meet the brightest people, travel the world and see every new discovery make its impact. Promote science and medicine to help rid the world of disease, poverty and hunger. Help Sebastian and his allies understand their enemies better, to minimize the damage they can do to both mankind and each other. Maybe we can stop future wars, or at least, lessen the horrors they inflict on the innocent. I can make a real difference! Not to mention being alive for the next centuries and seeing the marvels that will exist. Not just see them but touch them, live with them! Isn’t that reason enough to accept Sebastian’s offer?

October, 2007
     
    Caroline told me that Sebastian had finally found us, and we had to leave. We wiped down our place in Princeton as soon as the sun set that evening, loaded our few essentials into my hatchback and headed down to Trenton so Caroline could meet up with this hacker guy she’d met online. She wanted to give him some insurance for safe keeping.
    I grew up in Trenton, so I know the area well. The hacker lived on South Clinton, one of the residential streets that parallels Broad Street near the Whitehorse Circle. I remember it was a small, white duplex.
    “All right, I’ll just be a minute,” Caroline said, grabbing her folder off the floor as I pulled to the curb. “Keep the engine running but shut the lights off. Oh and turn off the radio, scootch down in the seat a little in case—”
    I reached over and brushed the back of her hand—she jumped like she’d forgotten I was there. Her head snapping over to look at me. I remember being reminded of my old girlfriend, Michelle, whose previous boyfriend used to beat her. Michelle jumped like that when I touched her too. This nervous, skittish Caroline wasn’t somebody I was familiar with. It scared me and pissed me off at the same time. Caroline was the rational one, the strong voice of reason who took the lead and always knew the best way to go about something.
    “Hey, relax,” I told her as gently as I could and moved my fingers up to stroke the fine, downy hair at her temples.
    She gave a half-hearted nod, so I leaned over and kissed her. I wanted that kiss to be solid, reassuring and passionate; a kiss that would make her melt into my arms and forget our situation for a few blissful moments. Instead, she gave me one of those closed-lip pecks and pulled away.
    I shut off the headlights but kept the music on since I was only halfway through “Vampire Love.” I watched Caroline climb the steps to the second floor and knock. She glanced around the whole time. After a few seconds, somebody opened the door and she went inside. I sat back and gazed around at the other houses and occasional passing car, singing along under my breath.
    A cop car crossed the intersection in front of me just as the song