After The End by Melissa Gibbo

drawing
Daemon’s attention from our mini-conference; he was the only person
not intently zoomed in on the meeting. The Roman vampire motioned
for me to speak.
    “We can’t just deny them a chance to join us
in the fort because they don’t speak English; it feels, well,
wrong. If they keep wandering out here alone, they’ll be killed. I
don’t think I can handle being responsible for their deaths.”
    “Squirrel, I will talk plainly with you.
Everyone in Nova Nocte sees you as our leader, myself included. You
are the final say, not myself or Chase or Sunny, you are. Although
my experience and advice are freely given to you, this judgment
must be your own.”
    “Look, the communication thing is important;
we have to be able to understand each other to make our society
work. It adds a lot of risk to bring the Brazilians in, but keeping
them out feels inhumane.”
    I was begging Cal to give me a better reason
to abandon these adolescents; or for him to make the ruling without
me. His demeanor softened and I saw the sadness trapped in his
gaze. He answered my plea the only way he could.
    “Making painful choices, even with others’
lives, is the reason the mantle of leadership weighs so heavily
upon the bearer. I’ve carried that burden as well and do sympathize
with you right now; but you must do what will be in the best
interest for our people. Are these six lives worth risking all the
others?”
    He gently patted my upper arm as he skulked
back into the amber glow.
    I stood in a swirl of lonely shadows, the
murmur of my thoughts buzzing through my head. I felt the bright
eyes fixated on me from the recesses of night. With a deep breath,
I announced my decision.
    “I agree with Caelinus; these half a dozen
turistas pose a greater risk as our neighbors than as passing
strangers. They’re trying to get home so let’s help them on their
way.
    They won’t be entering camp; we’ll bring the
supplies to them and give them tips on survival while guiding them
away from our community. The potential hazard to our group
outweighs the desire to provide more assistance.”
    I threw my head back slightly, signaling the
Roman to translate the message. Stepping closer, I watched the
petite girl who’d been forced into leading her friends; Maria
exhaled lightly and put on a false smile as my words came to her
through the vampire. She maintained eye contact with me until he
finished each word. She seemed to grasp why I made this ruling, but
I doubted she was aware of what an opposite judgment could have
meant.
    I pushed away the sound of my parent’s voices
in the back of my mind; they would’ve wanted me to help these
kids.
    But they aren’t here anymore.
    The popping upwards of Daemon’s hand
fractured the seriousness; he nearly quivered himself off the
ground in excitement. I heard snickering from several spots at
once. I was almost embarrassed to be friends with someone dorkier
than myself. I jokingly played teacher.
    “Yes, the hyperactive child in the first
row.”
    His usual ramble of thoughts poured out as
smoothly as uncorked wine.
    “I can fly up now, get the bag and canteens
ready, and tell everyone else to relax. Then I’ll be back in a few
minutes and Cal can tell them camping tips and stuff while I’m
gone. And then I can show them how to leave through the orange
grove; I’ve always wanted to be a tour guide, I just didn’t really
know until now. So can I? Please?”
    He was so energetic at the prospect of having
a new task to do I thought the guy might wet his jeans.
    He grinned widely as laughter erupted from
one of the tour kids; at their urging, Cal had translated.
    “Sure, go ahead. Have fun.”
    I barely restrained my amusement. It actually
hurt my abs trying not to laugh during such somber conditions.
    Daemon shot up and flew towards the guarded
hamlet. He really was gaining control over his flying. The warbling
of frenzied Portuguese erupted from the other teens as Daemon
crossed the dim heavens.