The lamprey writhed as the diver struggled to pull it away from his neck—his triumph cut short by the flick of a T.V. remote.

Senator Baldwin looked across his desk at the young girl garbed in a crimson Victorian dress. She looked no older than his thirteen-year-old granddaughter, but protocol demanded a professional discourse.

“What may I refer to you as, miss?” Baldwin asked.

“Elly,” the girl replied.

“Alright, Elly.” Baldwin leaned back and tapped his finger over the manila envelope between them. “Have your masters read through all of the terms outlined in these documents?”

“Yes. All the documents have been read. Multiple times.”

“And what’s their response?” The only response he expected was their unconditional compliance. It didn’t matter if the United States government dealt with allied nations, displaced refugees, or these blood-sucking things from fiction; as long as they wished to live on U.S. soil, Baldwin and the others in his party held all the cards.

Vampires. The very thought still annoyed him. Months ago, if one of his staff had told him that vampires were real and wanted to come out of hiding, to live openly among the people, he would have fired them on the spot for being retarded. But here he was, looking at a living, factual vampire. Christ. Well, whether they were living or not was yet to be medically verified.

“We graciously accept the terms set by the United States government,” said Elly. The girl didn’t speak like someone her age should, despite looking as one. “The conditions outlined in the documents are within acceptable parameters, therefore you have our compliance.”

Baldwin snorted. It was like listening to his granddaughter recite an essay from memory—enthusiastic and rehearsed, all to impress. But it was obvious that this vampire girl was only repeating what she’s been told. Perhaps that was her role, a pawn pretty enough for the media to fawn over, while her superiors remained hidden, lurking in their holes somewhere. Pathetic, but relatable. If he were a vampire, he wouldn’t dare reveal himself to the public until he knew without a doubt that he had the public’s full support and approval.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

If. He licked his lips at the word. Fifty-seven, but his body felt twenty years older—all thanks to that damn prostate cancer. Treatments, chemotherapy, agony—the coming years looked abysmal. But this was his golden ticket—his miracle drug. Hidden within their blood laid the secrets to curing him, and evolving humanity into beings closer to gods.

Immortality. Imagine that. Governing the nation for all eternity. What were the trade-offs? Allergy to daylight? Subsisting on human blood? He could live with that. The others in his position probably felt the same way. Once science and medicine decode the myth, they would be at the front of the line towards human evolution.

Baldwin shook off his thoughts, finally noticing that the girl had been staring at him, unblinking, lips twisted in a courteous smile. In those eyes, the color of a vast clear sky, he saw his reflection—that of a young boy, a time that he had all but forgotten. Strange. Somehow, she reminded him of a happier time in his youth under the care of a young home tutor. Why couldn’t he remember her face?

“Senator?” Elly asked.

Baldwin blinked, snapping back from another reverie. Christ. What the hell were all these daydreams? It must be because of this late meeting at the office. The deal was all but done anyway. Time to finish this formality.

“Good,” he said. “As long as you keep to your agreement and do your job, we will mutually benefit.”

Elly nodded. “I’ll be sure to play my role as the goodwill ambassador perfectly, Senator Baldwin.”

Baldwin chuckled. That remained to be seen, but he was hopeful. The lingering fantasy of living forever still prevailed in his thoughts. Maybe he’ll watch those ridiculous vampire films. Millennials can’t seem to get enough of them—something about vampires having allure and sex appeal. Laughable, but could it all be true?

“Not to get ahead of myself here, but, how does it all work?” Baldwin asked. “Living as a vampire, I mean. What should I expect when I become like one of you?”

From the other side of the desk, Elly leaned closer to him, a smile spreading on her lips, “What kind of vampire would you want to be?”