Read The Dead War Series (Book 2): Desperate Times for Free Online

circle,” he offered.
    “If you don't mind me asking, then, why the remark, sir?” Chloe questioned.
    “You're his youngest, I was testing you.” Ovidius flashed her an approving smile. 
    Chloe glared at Ovidius long enough to get a smirk from the Master vampire, but not long enough to piss him off. She turned her gaze onto Sajan. “Please clarify.”
    “I believe he was referring to those vampires who were infected, but then regain themselves. Am I correct in my assumption?” Ovidius asked Sajan.
    Sajan nodded. “We don't know if they can still infect another being. We don't know if when they attempt to feed, their bite will transfer the virus to either human or vampire.” He turned to Chloe, smirking slightly as if to say, 'see, he got it'.
    Chloe rolled her eyes, but remained silent. Her feelings toward the first lieutenant were thinly veiled to say the least. But as a fourth rank lieutenant, she had to bite back her insults and swallow and heavy dose of her pride.
    Ovidius caught the unspoken dialogue between the two lieutenants and he lowered his head to hide his smile. He remembered all too well, the competition within the ranks. Once his smile faded, he raised his head to address the two younger vampires. “You make a valid point. I'll set aside a section here to house those vampires until they can be tested,” he said. “Now, I believe you have orders to carry out.”
    Both Chloe and Sajan nodded and walked off to fulfill their duty.
    “Master, I couldn't help but here a bit of your conversation and I have to ask, what do we do about the vampires who become infected?” Madison asked, coming up behind him. She pinned her dark brown, crinkly hair back from her eyes using several bobby pins she found in the beauty aisle. “You know, if there are too many?”
    Ovidius turned. “If we can't contain them until we cure them, we kill them.”
    “What about rank or age?” Madison asked.
    Ovidius pursed his lips. “Of course, every effort will be made to save one of our own who holds a substantial position among our kind. However, if in the event of trying to save one jeopardizes the others, we do what we must.” He slipped his hands into his pockets. “So basically the containment units are only reserved for vampires worth the risk. Does that answer your question?”
    “Yes. May I make a suggestion?”
    Ovidius shifted from one foot to the other. “And that is?”
    “That we use blood bags to feed vampires who've been infected. I think tossing humans inside the cages for them to feed on would be a drain on our resources if they feed, kill and then the fucking things rise up and bite the vampire and start the whole cycle all over again. Do you agree?” Madison's eyes scanned her Master searching for his approval. She so wanted to please him and was hoping her strategic suggestions were earning her points.
    Ovidius pursed his lips. “Good point. Blood bags it is.”
    Madison allowed herself a moment of internal gloating and celebration before another thought squashed her pride under foot. She frowned. “Oh, but what if an infected vampire needs fresh blood straight from the vein in order to restore themselves?”
    “Fucking hell, Madison!” Ovidius grimaced, his frustration getting the better of him.
    “Am I raining on your parade too much?”
    “Try torrential downpour.”
    “I'm sorry, you know how I am. I like to look at all of the angles,” Madison said in her defense.
    Ovidius offered a warm smile. He caressed her cheek lovingly. “I know. That's why I turned you. You're also very good at presenting those angles.” He sighed heavily, unable to hide his annoyance at their situation. It was hard to prepare for something when you didn't even know what the hell to prepare for. Fighting a territory war, that was easy. He excelled at that. The vampire who owned St. Louis before he took over gave it his best effort, but he was no match. Give him a vampire territory war over this shit any day and