Relax Chapter 1 It had been a month since shed met Credenza and the Primordial vampires on the side

of the road. Despite the time that had passed, the

smell of burnt flesh still tortured her; it lingered over the entirety of Lake George. Thousands of dead vampires were burnt to ash, there. Starr was on her way back from the library, in the next city over. In the silver Mercedes shed stolen from a cabin down the way, she tried to gun it up the steep incline of the mesa. At the top was the house where she and the kids, from the clinic, were staying, since their cabin burned down. Damn, she cursed. Shed never learned how to drive stick, though shed read about it in school. A foul smoke filled the car. She pressed the gas, harder. It made terrible whining noises and then died. Deciding it wasnt worth damage to the clutch, she restarted the car and parked it on the side of the road, and then walked the rest of the way up to the house.

The mesa top was a great place for her and the others. It had a large beautiful house with views, and all the amenities of a hotel. With only a few square miles of land at the top and jagged rock covered in trees all along its sides, it was highly unlike anyone would try to climb up. She trudged the twenty yards of incline, kicking up dirt into her nose and mouth. In the last cabin, which now lay in a pile of ash directly across the lake, theyd had several stampedes of vamps sneak up on them. But most newly made vampires couldnt fly or levitate, so the mesa was perfectly safe. Those that did make it up the road were spotted by their dust clouds, and killed before they ever reached the top. As she walked over the last bit of incline, she spotted her friend and fellow vampire, Shane, in the front yard, messing around in the flower bed, as usual. Although many vampires came into telepathic abilities, Shanes were the most

powerful of any shed ever met. Sometimes, it was too much for her, which is why she spent so much time working in the garden: it was peaceful and away from the ever constant thoughts, internal monologue, and feelings that people always had. Of them all, Shane was the strongest vampire, though in a way she was the most crippled, too. Unlike Marla, who never needed to sleep anymore, and Mica, who had super hearing, Shanes ability to hear thoughts and feel others feelings never gave her rest, except in sleep. Everyone else at the mesa house was human. Hey, she said, as she stood up and wiped her forehead. Any luck? Yeah, actually. She held up a large book. Thanks. I dont know what I wouldve done without you.

Weeks ago, an ancient vampire, Credenza, rescued her from a fire. Shed passed out, and when she woke, Credenza was gone. Starr was alone in a strange house with an altar at her feet. Later, when she asked her about it, she refused to explain. Fortunately, she didnt seem to realize that shed left something behind: an old book with the words Necro-Grimoire etched into its leather cover. Necro, from the word nekros, as a fellow vampire explained, was a Greek word that meant dead. A grimoire was a book of spells. This particular grimoire, though rebound, was especially old. Credenzas actions towards Starr had been suspicious for a while. She was sure that whatever Credenza was up to, the book would be a vital clue. Her first attempt to translate went alright, but it didnt make complete sense. She knew there were over a dozen versions of Latin, but hadnt known that Classical was the written language of choice, back then. For someone

well versed in Latin, it was no big deal to translate classical using another dialect, but Starr hadnt a clue of any version of the language. From inside the house came best buddies, Josh and Rick, carrying large boxes of food. They stowed them into the back of a large blue SUV theyd picked up in town. When she found them stranded in their high school cafeteria, some months back, she invited them to come to the Lake. Since New York City was in danger of being blown to bits by the government, in an attempt to get rid of all the vampires, they had no choice but to leave immediately. Rick was lucky; hed finally made contact with his parents, who were in Ohio. Many families were separated when the vampires stormed the city, and many still had no clue what happened to them. Starr continued upstairs to her bedroom where she dropped the Latin translation book

on her bed, and then went downstairs to help out with dinner. In the kitchen, Mot, Mica and Lucas were cutting up onions and potatoes as Marla and Misaki shelled and shucked eggs and corn. That night they had dinner on the long glass table in the backyard, next to the pool and jacuzzi. The sun was setting earlier and earlier. So what are we gonna do? asked Mot, in between bites of burger. When winter comes, are we gonna be crammed in this house the entire time? Starr looked across the lake and inhaled deeply. The air had grown heavy, indicating that fall was already in the air. Well? he said loudly, distracting Starr from her thoughts. She sighed and looked at him. Why are you asking me?

Youre the leader, no? I dont have all the answers. I wish you guys would stop looking to me, all the time. After a moment of silence, Danny said, I have to admit that I can hardly stand to think of it; being cooped up here all winter. Its nice but small. The clinic was smaller, said Becky. But that was different: we got out and did things. You know, I never thought Id miss school but I do, said Misty. What worries me more is if society should rebound, then well be behind. Imagine having to repeat grades, and not graduating high school until were twenty years old. What about me? asked Misaki, who was a half Chinese-half Japanese immigrant. Im supposed to be working on my citizenship, but I cant even get a passport from my country. I get absolutely no reply, every time I call the Administration in Hong Kong.

Same here, said Mot. His nationality was Danish. I cant even begin to work on my citizenship. Maybe we should think about moving on? Starr suggested. Everyone got real quiet for a moment. Starr took a bite of her potato salad. Where would we go? asked Misaki.

~~~ The next morning, they bade goodbye to Rick and Josh. They were pretty excited to leave, and Starr wasnt going to hold them back, but she was concerned. What if something happened along the way? It occurred to her that people, in her life, could disappear forever, and shed never

know what happened to them. For a vampire, it was hard to feel complex emotions, but there was something about this thought that disturbed her; made her uneasy.

That afternoon, Starr sat at the bottom of the dock, watching the others fish and swim as she translated the first pages of the grimoire into a pink, leather bound journal shed picked up at the pharmacy in town. Herein lies a book of tools to break veils; to travel to many worlds; to guide you on your path to enlightenment; to reach out to trusted souls, and find the key to the universe, she wrote. As the sun warmed her back, it happened again. Oh no, she thought to herself. At first, it started off as a tickling in her ear, but then always developed into a brain bursting aneurism. Ugh!

She put her hands on the back of her scalp and pressed inward; then she put pressure on her aching eyes, trying to smooth out the spasms. Are you okay? asked Marla. She laid spread out on a towel with sunglasses and a magazine. Yeah, just another crazy flash. Ever since Lucenzo was taken away, hed been trying to communicate with her, telepathically. He was the main culprit behind the attempt at a vampire apocalypse. His father also happened to be a Primordial bent on punishing him for it, and hed been doing so ever since he took him away, that night on the side of the road. It was painful for Starr to watch and hear how he beat and tortured him. Even though she hated Lucenzo for beheading her, months ago, she felt bad for him.

The Primordials were the first vampires. According to Credenza, human vampirism was the result of a virus spread by them, a long time ago when they began to die out. Many tales of blood sacrifices, throughout history, to gods, were actually humans worshipping the Primordials. They werent gods and werent humans; just another form of life on Earth. What did you see? Same thing: White room with gold colored bars, like a jail would have, only fancier. Sometimes, shed see the outside of the place they kept him in, too. It was a white and grey castle that could have housed multiple cities, and it lay in a land that was layered with snowy peaks. The sun was often blaring loudly against an extremely cold blue-gray sky. Where ever it was, the place was so high in the atmosphere that it looked hard to breath. It was a peak that no one had ever been to, or, at least, not for a very long time.

What do you think hes trying to tell you? asked Mica who was rubbing SPF on her back. Its like hes trying to show me where hes at, but I dont want to know. Obviously, the Primordials keep their location hidden for a reason. Sometimes, though, I see a red ball. What? I dont know; like an orb or a large marble. That night, as she lay in bed, she contemplated how to approach relocating. Mot was right, but where should we go? New York? Boston? Somewhere else? She needed to find a place where good people had gathered. But, how? Televisions didnt work, and neither did radios. The only way shed find a place would be to search on foot.

But wouldnt that put them in danger? Not herself, particularly, as she was one of the more powerful vampires of the world: she shared the blood of Credenza. The kids were the ones she was concerned about.

Nekros Chapter 2 Next morning, Starrs inner demon woke her with a low growl in her stomach. It had been a few days since shed had blood. Although they didnt need to drink, it was a good idea to feed their monster, regularly; otherwise, they could vamp out. Vamp out was a term used to describe when their inner demon took over, controlling them like mindless zombies who wandered about, eating whatever crossed their paths, just like the zombies Lucenzo created to take over the world with. To quench their thirst, theyd often seek squirrels in the trees. Sometimes, theyd be lucky and catch a raccoon or a rabbit. She rose from her bed, brushed her teeth and changed. Downstairs, Misty and Kay were eating cereal at the kitchen table.

Starr put some coffee in a cup and walked down the road. By now the kids knew not to follow or question Starr, or the others, when they went on their little walks. When they first took the kids in, at the clinic, they worked hard to conceal their conditions because they didnt want to frighten them. After the rogue vampires attacked, it became impossible to hide their afflictions. There was something that was extremely repulsive about the new species of vampires that Lucenzo made. For Starr and others, their inner demon knew they were nothing like them. When they got too close, they couldnt control what happened; their fangs would extend, their eyes would change, and sometimes, they couldnt stop growling. While afraid at first, the kids got over it when they realized that having vampires as protectors was probably the only thing that

kept them alive, for Lucenzos vampires were strong and fast, like they were. Quietly, she stepped into the brush, just off her path, and toward a spot where she smelled urine. Hmmmshe said to herself.

The urine reminded her of something else, certainly not a raccoon. To her right, she saw some chewed leaves on a tree branch. Below it, the dirt was unsettled. She took another sip of her coffee and walked past the dirt. Come out, come out, she called with her mind; a nifty trick shed recently picked up. She loved to hunt by instinct only, but, some days, she needed to eat and get on with her day.

A moment later, it appeared: a young and still doe eyed deer, about the size of a dog, except with long elegant legs. The way the deer tilted its pretty head, and how its eyes shone innocently, charmed her, for a moment. She walked closer, kneeled down and slowly raised her hand to its head. Its ears flinched a little, as she pet him. Go, she said to it. For a moment, it stayed right where it was, looking at her curiously, and then walked off slowly. From her right side, she heard it. She didnt need to stop watching the adorable deer to know it was there. With the reflexes of a lizard, she flicked out her arm and caught it: a long eared hare. Yes, it was cute, but it would make a great sandwich someday soon, she thought as she pierced its furry side with her fangs and drained it.

When shed done, she pulled her hunters knife from her back pocket and proceeded to gutting and skinning it, the way shed read about in her book. She peeled back the fur and tossed it, and then made a little slit in its abdomen, careful not to cut any major organs. Then she scooped out all its innards and tossed it for other animals to consume, leaving her with a pink carcass. Back at the house, all the kids had risen and were eating breakfast around the table and talking about going on a road trip. Starr walked over to the sink and rinsed the rabbit. Then she grabbed a large knife and hacked it into four parts, wrapped it in aluminum foil and stowed it in the freezer. Why do you keep saving your kills? Thats disgusting! Mica exclaimed, as she reached up for a coffee cup. Mica, the world is different. What are we gonna do when the grocery stores are depleted? The kids need to eat.

Mica was the most squeamish vampire shed ever met. During the apocalypse, getting her to behead vamps was nearly impossible. Hi, Starr, said Kay from across the table. Want to take us into town? No! she said, as she turned around. Last time Starr took them into town, they went crazy! They Laughed, yelled, and ran all over the place without minding her. At one point, several of them wandered off without even telling her. They could have been killed! We need stuff, she retorted. Like what? Shampoo, conditioner and soap. I need new socks, added Lucas. Mine all have holes in them. Also, Id really like to get some rubber boots, so that I can walk the lake while I fish. Okay, well, write down what you need and give it to me.

Oh, come on, Starr. We havent been out in ages. Itd be nice to have a trip, before it gets too cold to go outside. Besides, our supplies need re stocking before winter gets here, and youll need help loading the van, wont you? She had a good point. Starr sighed. Alright, Ill take you all, if you can talk Marla, Mica and Shane into going. Im not gonna be responsible for all of you. You were a nightmare, last time. Im up to it, said Mica. Me, too, said Shane, who had just walked in.

That afternoon, all eleven of them got into the long van Starr got from the local lodge. It was a yacht sized vehicle they could easily load up with supplies.

Hopefully, they could get enough so they wouldnt need to make any more trips into town until spring, when the snow would begin to melt. Hopetown was the closest place for supplies, but theyd long since cleaned out its little pharmacy, mom and pop grocer and gas station. The next closest town was a hidden dust land higher up in the mountains. Two hours passed before they finally wound up a long, cloudy dirt road, and into a town called Rockford. Although tiny, there was a large supermarket, Walgreens, Target and a library on a single strip that wasnt more than three miles long. These little hidden places were the best because they had the most untouched or frozen goods, due to having smaller populations. First they parked in front of the supermarket. Starr, who had the ability to see happenings in other places a sort of telepathy, used her mind to probe inside the

store. Upon finding the place to be completely empty, she gave them the okay to ransack the aisles. Just like before, they went crazy, running up and down the aisles and all around the store, hoping to get the best goods before someone else did, and shouting, First dibs! Danny and Mot got into a wrestle over who got the last bags of cheese puffs. Lucas snuck up and hid them in his shirt and pants. He took off up the aisle. When they realized what he did, they ran after him and pinned him to the floor, punching him in the gut and popping the bags of cheese puffs. Misaki fought with Misty over bags of cookies while Kay was in the aisle over, shoving Snickers bars into her pockets. Guys, stop! shouted Starr. We need to load up and get out of here! You, she pointed at Danny, Mot and Lucas, to the back, now! Look for any frozen meat, or anything that might be good. We dont have

time to pick favorites. Just grab whatever you can and put it, neatly and organized, into the van. Move, fast! Mot and Danny helped Lucas up, who kicked his legs as he walked, shaking out loose cheese puffs. Becky and Misty ignored Starrs request and took to the makeup aisle, but she didnt care as long as they werent acting like mongrels. Misaki and Kay helped Starr, Marla, and Mica gather the last cans of food. After a few hours, theyd cleaned out the rest of the drinks, snacks, magazines, first aid, cleaning supplies and medicine aisles. In the back, the boys found a few dozen pounds of still frozen meat and ice cream. By the time theyd finished cleaning out the grocer, there was barely room for them all in the van. In Target, Starr sat at the camping section, reading about how to tie luggage to the car as the kids pulled the last bits of clothing and toiletry from the shelves.

Just when Starr was ready to go home, Lucas said, Lets check out the library. The library wasnt hard to find, either. At the end of the strip, it was a brick building that looked like a church. Inside, they found books, discs, and movies. Danny wandered over to the computer and exclaimed, Wow, the internet still works! They gathered around and took turns checking their emails while Starr watched the van through the glass door. A few moments later, Misaki walked up behind her and said, My aunt, Bi, has come from China. She wants to see me.

They made it back to Lake George just after nightfall. What? asked Becky, setting her fork down. You want to go to the city?

How did your aunt manage a trip, given the state of the world? asked Shane. All the airports on the East Coast have been shut down for months. Maybe she got here before the vampires attacked. Then why didnt she contact you before? I dont know, Misaki said thoughtfully, looking down at her plate. Would you take me? she looked Starr. Dont! said Shane, looking at Starr, too. Its way too dangerous. I agree, said Starr. You dont understand. The military is there, and they dont want any of us, vampires, to survive. We were supposed to be helping each other, and they blew up our hotel instead. We almost didnt make it out in time. Fine, but Im going. I have to. Why? asked Misty hotly, her face a shade of puce.

Because she saved my life. Back in China, I wouldve starved to death, if not for her. I was an illegitimate half Chinese-half Japanese child in a tiny farm town. She took me in when I was sick from the chicken pox, and we didnt get vaccinations like you guys did when you were babies. Cant you just call her? asked Mot. She didnt send a number. So email her. Well go back to town tomorrow, said Starr. Look, I want to go. Its just different for me than it is for you. Yes, youve all lost your family, too, but you havent lost your culture. You havent lost your home, not really anyway. Mot you know what I mean? Actually, I agree with them. You should stay here, he said strongly. Were finally all here, safe, even Starr. Now youre gonna go out and risk your life? I dont like it! said Misty, and she got up from the table and left.

She sighed and said, I have to go. Shes the closest thing I ever had to a mother.

Old Stomping Grounds Chapter 3 The next morning, Starr and Misaki packed small bags and took off in the little Mercedes. She would have let her go alone, if not for the others who urged her. There were plenty of leftover ATVs around Lake George, and, the way she saw it, Misaki was old enough to make her own decisions. If she wanted to risk her neck, then so be it. It occurred to Starr that a visit to the city might be a good thing though. Maybe she could find a quicker, easier way to translate the grimoire? What better place to try than the New York Metropolitan Library? Transcribing was such a laborious process. Sometimes it would take her up to thirty minutes just to figure a single sentence. During the first hour of the trip, Starr said nothing to Misaki. Instead, she replayed the conversation shed had with Shane, before she went to bed. She warned her that Misaki was

definitely hiding things, and that to go to the city might be trouble. Finally, Starr asked, Is your aunt in some sort of trouble? And dont lie to me. Ill know if you do. She remained silent, for a moment, but then said, I dont know.

Not a single car passed them on the motorway; it was just as dead as last time, except someone had pushed all the cars, from the middle of the road, off to the side. They didnt reach the city until about three p.m. As they rode down Broadway, Starr looked into as many buildings as she could. Is anybody here? Not that I can tell. Every place seems to be empty.

They parked a few blocks down from the China Town neighborhood; right around 57th. Do you know where were going? asked Starr. No, not exactly. At first, she followed Misaki down the empty block, and then they turned onto a street with many signs written in Chinese. It was dead silent: not a vamp or human anywhere. After a few blocks on which they found nothing, Starr paused in front of a narrow alley. At the far end was a nondescript black door in a red brick building. What is it, Starr? There are many people in that building, there. Im trying to see if we should check it out.

But just as she finished her sentence, the door opened and a man in a black cap waved to them. Xue! she exclaimed. Misaki ran to him as he stood back and held the door open. No, the man said, eyeing Starr. She cant come in. No strangers here. Shes not a stranger; shes my friend. When the man insisted, Starr said, Its alright. Go ahead. Ill wait. Starr watched them disappear through the door. She slid her back down the brick wall and sighed. ~~~ The moon was shining; night had fallen. For hours, Starr kept herself busy by wandering in and out of stores, gathering useful supplies. After stopping by a butcher for a raw blood casing, she walked back to the little alley.

She banged on the door. When after fifteen minutes, no one appeared, she banged again. Just as she was about to break down the door, it finally opened. A little woman in a white tunic appeared. Misakis staying. You go home, now. Uh, Lady, Im not going anywhere unless Misaki tells me to. One moment, she closed the door. A minute later, the man named Xue appeared, yelling at her in Chinese. Starr lost her patience. She yanked the man through the door, making him stumble into the opposite wall, smashing his head into the bricks and falling to the ground. Quickly, she caught the door before it closed.

Inside was dim, but not for her dead eyes. It was the waiting room of what looked like a warehouse. Down a hall to her left, a light shone. She went toward it, and turned right into another hallway. Above her head, there were a dozen offices. People were using them as living quarters. She smelled spicy food cooking and cigarette smoke. At the end of the hall, she made another right and found herself in the center of a large production room thatd been turned into a dining area and bar. From above, bright fluorescent lights glared down. To her right, three men sat on stools drinking and smoking as they watched a movie on a raised television. To her left, three women were tossing vegetables and noodles on an enormous greased butane stove and grill. A mound of freshly killed, unplucked chickens lay on a counter, next to them.

Right behind the women, a garage door, large enough to drive a semi through, opened onto a concrete patio where a bunch of people sat and talked around various tables. The men on the stool stood up and made to grab her, but she walked, fast, onto the patio. Misaki! she said angrily. Starr! From behind her came the clocking of a shot gun. Starr froze on the spot. Guns couldnt kill her, but they slowed her down; that and they hurt like hell. NO! shouted Misaki.

She remained silent and still as they exchange words in Chinese. Something about her needing to leave or theyd kill her.

Starr didnt speak the language, but vampires could sometimes sense what speakers, of other languages, were saying. Please dont hurt them? asked Misaki. Well, what do you want me to do? Hes got a gun to my back? Starr shouted. Tell him if he doesnt move it, now, Im gonna shove it up his ass! Look, just give me a day, okay? Come back tomorrow and well go home. I just want to spend some time with my family. A low growl issued from her stomach, uncontrollably. Judging by the screams of the ladies, Starrs inner demon had come out; something that happened when vampires got extremely angry. Their fangs would extend and their eyes would change. They arent your family, Misaki! From behind, one of the men said, Shoot her, in Chinese. No, shouted Misaki. Let me talk to her.

They agreed. Just let me have some time. I need this! Please? FINE! she said a little more loudly than she meant to. The power behind her irritated voice made the lights and windows vibrate, scaring the men and women once more. Ignoring their panicked chatter, she said, I will be back for you tomorrow morning! When I return, if youre not ready to leave, Ill drag you out. Misakis face was distorted and her eyes were glassed over. She looked surprised that Starr could be so angry. But the fact is Starr was livid. How could she stay with people who treated her so badly? And who wouldnt think twice to kill her? Culture or no, she and Misaki were supposed to be tight. Her behavior was a betrayal to their friendship. Slowly, Starr raised her hands, as if to communicate that she wasnt dangerous. Then

she whipped around, grabbed the mans gun by the barrel, and pushed the butt into his face, knocking him out. Misaki screamed. His two buddies were about to strike, but they were too slow for Starr. She pulled back both arms, closed her hands into fists, and re extended them, simultaneously, breaking their noses. The ladies screamed and shouted at her back. Ignoring them, she walked over to the pile of dead hens and picked the two fattest ones and walked out.

Ferociously, Starr drained the chickens of blood as she pounded the pavement back to the little Mercedes and got her overnight bag.