Read The New Night Novels (Book 2): Revelations (A New Night Novella) for Free Online

the threat of the Rippers, we need to do it by protecting our human allies and having an open exchange of information.”
         “Dr. Geisel keeps pretty much to himself,” I admit as I shimmy off the bed. I open drawers and remove undergarments, tight black pants, a white tank top, and a zip-up sweat shirt to go over it. With one mournful look at my ruined bra, I begin the process of dressing with my second favorite. Ramses grabs his own clothes and follows my lead as I continue speaking.
         “He doesn’t even want to work with the other doctors and scientists we have here. One of the humans is a genuine virologist, and Dr. Geisel sends him out of the lab all the time. He says he can’t tolerate him, and the man’s an imbecile. I think he’s just kind of arrogant.”
         Ramses smiles as I fluff my hair and try to tame it with a pony tail holder. “Sounds like an ass, not just kind of arrogant,” he says with a laugh.
         I shrug and say, “Yeah, I guess. I don’t mind working for him because I feel like I’m doing something good. I want to help the human population, and ours, of course. If we can cure the Rippers…” I trail off with a frown. I’ve considered the implications before. How would it work? Their bodies haven’t deteriorated much, but can we bring their personalities and reasoning abilities back? Will we invent a cure just to end up with billions of bodies no longer capable of containing cognizant human souls?
         “Hey, I didn’t mean to worry you,” Ramses says. He takes my hands and rubs his thumbs over the backs. It isn’t what he’s told me that’s worrisome. It’s the end result of either cure or curse that could leave us with the same depressing scenario: a planet full of even more death.
         I force a smile his way and shake my head. I squeeze his hands in response. “No, I’m glad you told me.” I step in to hug him, and hold him as tightly as I can. “I’m glad you came back.”
         “Well, I came back for a reason,” he reminds me. “There’s a lot to do, and I need you with me for it.”
         We end the embrace and step back, still holding onto each other’s arms as though parting is too much effort. “Couldn’t you just say you need me with you? No reason for it, you just need me?” I ask on impulse.
         Ramses looks surprised at my question. If he can’t imagine the problems his leaving has created, with thoughts on my self-worth and his dedication to us being the least of them, then shame on him. I wait for an answer, still holding him by his large biceps.
         “Sreya,” he says my name in a serious tone and takes my chin in one warm, smooth hand. “Of course I need you, sweetheart. For three hundred years, I’ve needed you. When I was without you, it was the closest I’ve come to dying since I left humanity for this life.”
         My knees feel a little weak and I smile again. Since he’s been gone, I haven’t been anyone’s sweetheart or sugar. I’ve been a fighter, a runner, an executioner of poor souls with no life left but one of violence and blood. It feels nice to be a little weak again.
         “I just had to get that out there,” I admit. We finally break contact, but hold hands again almost as soon as we stop touching.
         “So when did this Dr. Geisel show up here?” Ramses asks as we leave my room. I make sure to lock it, as I always do.
         “Right around the time you left, actually. I remember feeling pretty lost and down and having him show up with things for me to do was really helpful. I think I would have driven myself insane worrying about you if I didn’t have runs to go on for him all the time.”
         “And what did he ask for, mainly?” Ramses continues his questioning, storing all of my answers in his fascinating, fast-working brain.
         I push a door open for him and lead the way toward the doctor’s work space. He has a private lab