“Then they will be destroyed too,” Quinn vowed. She felt a shifting behind her, but no one protested her words. “Fair is only fair after all.”
“So, no matter where we are, we will be offered this protection from all of you if we’re in danger?” another asked.
“Yes, but I will be the one you will deal with the most,” Julian replied.
“Are we going to get your number to call you, Julian, or do we click our heels and think of you really hard?” another vampire retorted.
Titters of laughter followed this question, and Quinn felt the corners of her mouth quirk toward a smile.
“You can try clicking your heels,” Julian replied, “but I’m certain it won’t work. We plan to recruit vampires as we go. Those vampires will also work closely with us and with you. They will help regulate any problems that arise which will allow us to cover more area and offer more protection if an emergency should arise. They will also contact me if they think it’s necessary for me to get involved.”
“And what will these regulators get in return?” the giant asked. “It sounds like they’ll be doing a fair amount of work for you; will it be out of the kindness of their own hearts?”
Quinn liked the term regulators the instant the giant said it. She used to enjoy watching westerns with her uncle when she was a little girl, and it brought to mind Billy the Kid.
Julian smiled at the giant as he spoke. “We’re vampires, even if we don’t kill, our hearts are far from kind.”
“True,” the giant agreed.
“The vampires who work closely with us will become a part of the governing system that will be established to lead all vampires, with myself and Quinn at the head of it. Those vampires will have power. They will hunt down and destroy any who break our rules, and they will also be able to keep the spoils of those they kill.”
An excited murmur went through the crowd. Power, security, and money, they were three things most vampires coveted. Julian had just waved them before these vamps like a red flag. She wouldn’t be surprised if the vamps stampeded them in their eagerness to get at what Julian offered them.
“These regulators will have the ability to make choices on their own regarding wayward vampires, if they deem it necessary. They will also be struck down as quickly as anyone else should they cross the line. I may not be able to be everywhere at once, but”—Julian held his hand up to the crowd—”it will only take one touch for me to know what you have done, or plan to do.”
“What will Devon be doing?” another in the crowd asked.
“Cassie and I will continue to train Guardians and Hunters. We will work to make sure they understand things are changing for the better and what will be expected of them. That doesn’t mean I won’t be there to help Julian, and you, if Julian calls me. I’ll also destroy you if it’s deemed necessary.”
“And who will keep you and Julian in check?” another asked. “You may not be slaughtering humans and vampires now, but we all know your histories, and as Elders, you are stronger than the rest of us.”
“I will!” Quinn declared. “If it becomes necessary, I will do what must be done. I won’t condone the murder of any innocent, even if it is Julian or Devon doing the killing. I may be a vampire now, but I’m also a Hunter who lost her family to vampires, and I won’t allow that to happen to others. Despite that, I’m also a vampire who understands the strain we all go through to resist killing.
“Throughout all of history, bringing the Hunters, Guardians, and vampires together is an idea that was never considered. Both sides have experienced heavy casualties because of ignorance; it’s time that stopped. I don’t care if you like it or not, but if you have faith in the prophecy, then you believe I’m to be your ally, and I know this is the first step to keeping all of us safer.”
Silence met her statement before more chatter erupted through the group. This time she let them figure out what it was they wanted on their own. There was only so much she could say to sway them one way or the other.
“I’ll say one thing for you, little one,” the giant said, “you got lady balls.”
“Ah…” Quinn had no idea how to respond to that. “Thank you… I think.”
“One question,” the giant said to her in a voice so low the crowd couldn’t hear him. “Vampires crave power. Many give into the lure of blood and death because of the power that comes with it. But you, you can take power from another without your fangs and with only a simple touch. Many of these vamps see you as their savior, but I want to know who will regulate you if you give into the temptation and start taking from others?”
“It is a possibility,” she admitted, “but all of you will regulate me, and so will Julian. He pulls me back from the edge when I’m tempted to lean too far over.”