Chapter One

A tall man, dressed in a sharp, black suit entered the room. His eyes were as tired as his stance, and grey hair was already beginning to encroach on his once-attractive brown locks. The heavy wooden doors creaked closed behind him. All eyes were on him as he strode across the room and took a seat in an elegant armchair in front of the fire. The meeting room was, officially, a library, with many bookcases lining the walls with hundreds of old dusty tomes housed there. The two armchairs and two sofas were arranged around an ancient stone fireplace, which was roaring happily. So, the man croaked to the group at large, thirty years of smoking twenty-a-day having taken its toll on his voice. What news? Eleven sets of nervous eyes shifted, looking at each other, no-one wanting to be the first to speak up. A few men sat on each sofa to the side of the room, two or three stood by the walls, and one sat in a similar chair to the man. We have- began one man. The man turned his eyes to the speaker, a young man called Mr Thomason. Well, in the past week, we have recruited forty seven new members to the cause, And how many were volunteers? S-sixteen, sir. Two of them are police officers, high-up in the force. They will, I think, prove most useful. The monsters have infiltrated all branches of authority. The time has come, of course, for us to infiltrate their infiltrations! He paused, waiting for some laughter. A few members of the group did so timidly. How goes the surveillance, Mr Phillips? the man asked, turning to the man sat in the second arm-chair. Mr Phillips spoke much more confidently. We have successfully deployed surveillance bugs at CCTV stations all over the city. Specially-trained recruits will monitor screens 24/7. They have been informed what to look out for? Indeed they have. Trained by myself. Phillips confirmed. Excellent. When can we expect results? I would anticipate the first arrests within days. Phillips said proudly. The assembled men seemed rather surprised at this. Oh yes, he addressed the group. I believe it is time we ended Their dominion over this city, this country, this planet.

Quite right too! said the leader emphatically. I assume your employees have been supplied with a crucifix and bible each, if the worst were to happen? Indeed they have sir. They have also each memorised a number of passages to use if it comes to it. Good. And the field agents? Rogers has failed to report three times now. It may be safe to assume he is lost. Pieters, however, claims to have four under his surveillance. Slater says two. Stone claims three, one of whom is a new recruit. Keep tabs on them. As long as they do not bring attention to themselves, we need not bother with them for the time being. Keep me informed. Of course, the vampires are not the only species to be purged. What of the werewolves? he asked, turning back to the group The werewolves will, regrettably, be slightly more complicated, spoke up the man on the left of one of the sofas. His name was Webb. How so? the leader asked, leaning forward in interest. Well sir. The dogs come out of their shells only one night in twenty-eight. This gives us one chance to bring them in, before we must wait another four weeks. During the interim, the werewolves are almost indistinguishable from you or I. However, it is my view that the mutts are the greater danger to our society than the vampires. There was a muttering among the group, some in agreement, some not. The leader narrowed his eyes and got to his feet. There was an intake of breath as eleven hearts raced, wondering what was coming. Why do you say that? he whispered menacingly. Webb seemed to gain some confidence from the attention he was getting. While under the power of the moon, the werewolves cannot control their actions. They attack randomly; anyone who crosses their path becomes a victim. The vampires however, seem unwilling to recruit any more humans to their kind under the circumstances. They know whats happening. They havent been told, but they can sense it. Change is coming Sir, and- How do you know? the leader interrupted. S-sorry? he faltered. How do you know, Webb, that the vampires have stopped their recruitment? Webbs eyes widened slightly. He knew hed made a

mistake. The leader continued. I had not told any of you that recruitment under the vampires had slowed. I was under the impression that I was your sole informant about the activities of the vampire race, Webb. Perhaps I am wrong? No, Sir, I- Perhaps you are gaining your information from another source Webb? The leader glared down at Webb, towering over him as he cowered slightly in his chair. The man sitting next to him shuffled up the chair nervously. Eventually, the leaders face softened. Calm yourself dear man. It is human nature to desire that information which we do not have access to. Th-thank you, Sir. Webb whispered, relaxing slightly as the leader walked away from him. The leader strolled around the room, talking to the group at large but looking at each man in turn. We know, of course, that both the vampires and werewolves pose serious threats to the future of our society. The only way to ensure the safety of the human race is to purge the monsters from the planet. That revolution begins. Today. In this very room, in fact. The men whispered confused utterances to one another. This room, Sir? asked Phillips. Of course. It is common knowledge, is it not, that the vampires and werewolves have been at as much odds at each other as us humans? The men nodded. If, as Mr Webb has so reliably informed us, the vampires know that the revolution is approaching, it would not be unexpected for them to do their usual. They would infiltrate our organization in an attempt to turn our efforts solely against the werewolves, and away from their own people. Do any of you disagree? he asked, completing his lap of the room and coming to lean on the back of one of the sofas. There was a shared shaking of heads. And would any of you be unwilling to fight back against these double agents? Again, eleven heads shook. Good, the leader said simply. He took out a long wooden stake from inside his jacket pocket and plunged it into Webbs back, vampiric blood spurting out of the puncture wound as the stake emerged from the front of his torso. Ten shocked faces gazed at Webb as his dazed face disappeared before their eyes and disintegrated, leaving nothing more than a pile of clothes and a mobile phone lying on the leather sofa. The vampires will stop at nothing to get what they desire! the man announced, seemingly completely unaffected by what he had just done. He placed the blood-soaked stake back in his inside jacket pocket. They

are evil, deceitful, underhand murderers! Our esteemed colleague, the late Mr Webb, is evidence of this. You will remember how Mr Fleet and his wife disappeared eleven days ago? Their bodies were found in Mr Webbs home this morning. But sir- spoke up one man. But nothing! the leader shouted, infuriated. The fact that you would stand up for that leech brings your reliability and trustworthiness into serious question! Shall I dispose of the waste sir? asked Phillips, nodding to Webbs discarded clothes. Yes. Get rid of them, he replied impatiently, still fuming. Phillips didnt even rise from his seat. He pressed a button on his mobile phone and put it to his ear. Clean-up, he said simply and bluntly. He hung up the phone and placed it back into his pocket. Moments later a young girl dressed in a maids outfit entered the room. Phillips rudely pointed towards the pile of clothes. Incinerate them, ordered the leader. The girl curtseyed quite an achievement with her arms full of clothes and left the room again. And then, of course, there are the werewolves, he continued, as if he had not been interrupted at all. They are diseased abominations. And diseases should be eliminated. There was a scattered applause around the room, and murmurs of agreement from the mans colleagues. They too seemed un-phased by their associates recent demise. The full moon is in two days. For that, and every subsequent moon for the next six months, I want half of you to order your workers to scour the countryside, set up cameras, bugs, anything that may lead you to a werewolf. Once they discover one, keep tabs on it. In six months time, they will be brought in. They will be destroyed, and we will be one step closer to implementing purity back into the human race. What about the vampires sir? spoke up one gentleman. The rest of you and your workers will search for the leeches. Each will be armed with two stakes, along with a crucifix and a bible. These are for your protection only. Every vampire found will be taken to the Compound. It is paramount that the activities of you all are kept completely and utterly secret. If any free vampire or werewolf were to catch wind of our actions, the entire operation would be compromised.

What about the vampires in high-profile positions? You said yourself that they infiltrate the important jobs, Of course they do. If they do not, they cannot survive in secret. Which is why you will replace each leech with a human. A human who has been specifically trained to watch for the vampires. One who will be armed and willing to fight against them. You all know the protocol. The man looked at his ten remaining assistants. Stand! her barked to them. Each man stood instantly and formed a line in front of their boss. Mr Phillips, you and the men to the right of you, you are responsible for surveying the werewolves. The rest of you, watch the vampires. I hope I can keep trust and faith in you all. This is a wonderful, moral undertaking. I have assembled around me the most suitable men for the job. Do not let me down. Yes sir, the men chorused. Dismissed, the man said as he took his seat back by the fire and poured himself a glass of Scotch. The men filed out of the room to prepare themselves.