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

other acknowledgement of our presence.
         “Did Pharaoh bring you what you needed?” I ask him as I gesture for Ramses to sit in one of the three chairs on wheels. Why does Dr. Geisel need three chairs in an office he chases everyone else out of? I’ve never asked, but often wondered.
         Ramses declines my offer. He instead chooses to stand near me with his arms crossed over his chest. Oh, well. Let him play at being the Hulk. Dr. Geisel won’t be intimidated no matter how big his muscles are.
         The doctor grunts his affirmation of my question and I roll my eyes. “This is Ramses.” I offer the introduction out of centuries of politeness training. Seth takes things like that seriously. “He’s Pharaoh’s son, and he’s been working with some of the other groups. He wants to know if you have any information that could be contributed to the study of the Grissom virus.”
         “Thank you, Sreya, but I can ask questions for myself.”
         I hold up my hands, signifying I didn’t mean to step on his toes. Dr. Geisel looks at Ramses like he’s part of a project he’d be happy to toss in the incinerator, but the expression is shoved away hastily when he grasps what I’ve said about him being Seth’s son. Typically, it’s frowned upon if you’re an asshole to the boss’s kid. That’s true in human and vampire society.
         Ramses wanders toward Dr. Geisel like he doesn’t have any interest in the vampire or his work. He flicks one casual gaze over the Ripper strapped to the table. The hairless creature has the look of what Frankenstein’s monster would have been if left to wither away before the reanimation process was enacted.
         “So, what are you hoping to learn from this?” He tips his chin toward the prone form. Geisel might not notice, but I see Ramses seeking out information from the paper, tools, and measurements the doctor has lying around in his workspace.
         “Same as any who are studying this particular disease,” Dr. Geisel responds. His tone is bored and standoffish, but Ramses doesn’t seem offended.
         “I’ve never seen anyone doing this with live subjects,” Ramses comments. “It’s interesting to see one not trying to bite through my face.”
         “Well, my current round of tests is dedicated to discovering what can be used to sedate them for extended periods of time. I’m hoping to assist the crew Pharaoh will be sending out to repair out communications towers by offering them a way to neutralize the threats without engaging in the messy and time-consuming process of fighting and killing them.”
         I frown at that explanation. Dr. Geisel has known what methods to use to sedate Rippers for well over a year, that I know. I’ve seen him with subjects anaesthetized and studied for at least that amount of time.
         “So, would you mind telling me what you’ve discovered about the virus so far?” Ramses asks. Dr. Geisel clears his throat. His pale blue eyes hop from Ramses, who never stops moving toward him, to me, to his prone patient, and then back to Ramses. The vampire is typically anti-social, but he seems downright nervous in Ramses’ presence.
         “The Grissom virus is extremely complex,” Dr. Geisel begins as he runs a hand through his light blond hair. “No one here can keep up with my information. I don’t expect someone who isn’t a trained scientist to be able to grasp any of the concepts I’m dealing with here.”
         “Please, try me,” Ramses offers, though it sounds like nothing of the sort. Even with the ‘please,’ it’s obviously a command.
         Ramses is interrupted before he can interrogate the doctor further. Neither of us heard Seth come down the stairs. He’s a rare one among vampires and can sneak up on any of his own kind.
         “Sreya, Ramses, I need you,” he informs us. Saying nothing else, he turns around and returns up the