Dominant Species by Guy Pettengell Read Free Book Online Page A

forward he pulled back his long leather coat, revealing the dark glint of the body armour he wore beneath. Although his voice arrived in a low, deep, grumble it somehow also managed to convey a stark coldness at the same time.
    The effect was startling. In an instant the Mayor turned from pompous sailboat, in all its finery, to a leaking, beached rowboat. He started to feel that his day couldn’t get any worse. Beside him both men stood frozen, panic covering their faces, even more so than when they had been confronted by Voltan only minutes earlier. Like Voltan they knew this vampire didn’t suffer fools, but unlike Voltan, they also knew he didn’t follow any rules either. But of the greatest concern was the simple fact that Kadir worked for Rodan. And as far as they all were concerned, he was simply the worst of them all.
    Engulfed by the dim, grey shadow cast by the massive vampire, the Mayor bowed and grovelled as he stuttered a response.
    ‘Yes, Lord Kadir, I’m sorry. I...I didn’t see you there I apologize profusely. What may I do for you this fine evening?’
    With this he pulled off an even lower bow, his head just a foot or so from the pavement. The sight was indeed comical and Kadir burst into deep rumbling laughter. He extended a finger, with an inch long nail at the end, and dragged it slowly up under the Mayors chin bringing his head up to meet his gaze as he leant forward, so he was only a few inches from the Mayor’s fat, red face.
    ‘You know what Mayor? For a second back there I thought you’d found some backbone. He smiled and snorted. ‘I’m so glad to see that I was wrong...’ his eyes narrowed ‘…so very wrong .’
    From deep within the shadows half a dozen eyes glowed, watching. There was a high-pitched chattering sound that grew louder when Kadir spoke.
    ‘Lord Rodan would like to see you Mayor Cooper.
    Nodding furio usly the Mayor responded, ‘of…. of course Lord Kadir. However I have also been summoned by Overlord Karick so, once I have….’
    The vampire’s features changed in a flicker, the smile and laughter gone as he slowly shook his large head, and the chattering from the shadows grew louder and quickened in pace. Then Kadir draped one massive arm around the Mayor’s shoulders and guided him away. People bowed as they approached. Downcast eyes, full of hate, scored their backs as they passed. And the worst of it was clearly aimed at the fat Mayor, the man who was the traitor in their midst.

Chapter 7
     

The Serpent ’s Layer
     
    Rodan sat with his back against the long wall of a large rectangular room that had once been the home of the thriving, Michelin starred, Gilt Restaurant, one of the most prestigious and famous restaurants in New York City, situated in one of the best hotels; the New York Palace. Soon after the War it had become Rodan’s stronghold and the building from which he managed most of mid-town, the area he had responsibility for running.
    The once ornate hotel with its majestic courtyard still retained some of its earlier glory, although the walls were now decayed and watermarked. Steps climbed up from the enclosed courtyard off Madison Avenue, to the vast doors and grand entrance. Either side of the main doors two figures stood guard, each wore long coats that reached down to the ground and each fought to control the animal that they held firmly on a leash made of heavy-duty chain.
    At first glance one could be mistaken for thinking that the animals that pulled against their chains were large dogs. But as Kadir and the Mayor walked through the ornate gates and into the quiet courtyard, then crossed to the steps that led up to the main entrance it become apparent that these ‘Dogs’ were in fact humanoid in shape, were in fact men crouched on all fours like some deformed animal. As the Mayor drew closer still he could hear the same, familiar, chattering sound that he and his colleagues had heard earlier, coming from the shadows as they had walked