On the other side of the metroplex, Antoine was hosting a Dallas Vampire Collaboration meeting. His right hand man, Alex Quill was right beside him. All of the vampires had attended. Including his least favorite—his half-brother Tony Quill. Tony was short compared to Antoine. He was 5'9. Antoine was 6'1. Tony had dark black curly hair against olive toned skin versus Antoine's snow pale skin and chestnut brown hair and bright blue eyes. Only related by their vampire father, Tony longed for the throne and would do anything to get it from Antoine. Alex Quill was Antoine's cousin and looked more like Antoine though his mother was the same as Tony's. Alex preferred to be by Antoine's side and fought with his brother Tony for Antoine's sake. Needless to say that the relationships between them were strained.
"Okay. Settle down. Marcus, as the leader of the North Dallas region, do you have any concerns," Antoine directed.
"We have an issue. There have been bitings without control." Gasps ensued after Marcus shared his piece.
"Who is out of line?!"
Marcus replied, "None of our group. It's unknown." Voices started chatting loudly.
"Quiet! It must be someone in the group. There's no one else. No vampire visitors are allowed on our turf. Think!"
Tony had been enjoying this conversation with a smirk on his face. He spoke up. "Unless it's a new vampire someone made."
Rage sparked through the crowd as everyone started to accuse each other.
Tony interrupted to make it more interesting. "I know who it is. It's the human female Antoine impregnated."
Nothing could stop the noise in the crowd now. But Antoine demanding control shouted and all chatter ceased.
"What proof do you have, Tony?"
"I was there that night. In the parking lot getting some extra blood. Good 'ole female O Neg. I saw Antoine having sex in the back alley. I have kept an eye on the human since. Here's the information." He tossed a folder filled with photos of Iris, her doctor appointment documents copied, and her address plus more.
Shocked, yes. But deny it, Antoine could not. He remembered that girl. She had come into the bar like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Her wavy caramel blonde hair had touched his cheeks. Her lips had smelled like expensive beer and tasted like cookie dough chapstick. She was average female height but slightly overweight. Her smile made up for it when she had smiled at him after he compelled her. He had watched her walk back into the bar and go into the women's bathroom. Her flowery pink blouse moving with the wind of the door. He couldn't forget her. He also didn't even try to look for her. She was human. As the current king, he had to marry a vampire. Marriage with humans was off limits. Antoine knew better.
Alex punched him out of his thoughts. He had apparently already grabbed the folder and had looked through the contents.
"Do you want me to tail her, Antoine?"
"Yes, Alex. Advise me if she is the one risking our peace in the North Dallas district. We will discuss this matter at the next collaboration meeting. Dismissed!"
All vampires except Tony and Alex zoomed out with vampire super speed. Tony decided to stay to pester his brother more and Alex stayed to help Antoine.
"Tony if you want to stay with us then lead us to her. We should know what we are dealing with. Hopefully it's a smarter human. Too many stupid human idiots in this world for my taste," Alex chided.
"Fine. Let's go."
********************
Iris was tired from interviewing. She had tried a job fair but no one wanted to hire her. She was already well known in the marketing community here but no longer for good reasons. She might have to settle for a job outside of her preferred field of interest. She needed to pay her rent in a month and currently she had no money saved towards it. Iris needed to plan to pay for two in the future. She had not even considered abortion. Texas was such a strong religious state. She had been raised Christian. If this was her path given by God, then she would raise this child in God's name. Bless her heart for getting these trials.
Iris just drove past a major corporation Gastropf-Quill Industries. She suddenly decided to turn right and go back. There was a sign on the front yard that said, "Open interviews. All Day Today. Just walk on in."
Iris parked her car and entered the building. She was directed to a large room with many tables lined up. She got in queue to sign in and receive a name tag.
"Next in line please," an austere voice said. Iris moved up to the older woman with grey hair and purple reading glasses around her neck. "Name please."
"Iris Morgan."
"Experience?"
"Worked in marketing for past ten years. Co-owned MarketingMadness for the past nine years. Various other marketing jobs in the past few months."
"Okay. You will interview with Teresa in the marketing department. Your number is 12. Please follow the signs. Next!"