Red Serpent: The Falsifier by Delson Armstrong

over again. He was not going to fall back or jump at the accusations.
    Just then, Richard Bacon, another Council member stepped out of an elevator and joined them. He had overheard the question. “He’s expecting you, John. I thought you’d know that,” said Richard.
    Richard was tall, taller than John even, and he was lean. His face was aged, as if it had seen too much work. His eyes were perpetually squinted, yet gleaming with wonder. His nose was big and round and his lips were almost entirely covered with a furry mustache which entwined with his beard. He pulled back his dark, red-brown hair and regarded John.
    John knew Richard very well. He had taken control as General in the Mediterranean during the Great War with the vampires. He was also John’s right hand man in everything they did. They were great pals in high school and Richard was also the best man at his wedding. Sadly, Caryn died only two years after their marriage and fifteen years before the War broke out. John trusted Richard with his life and he knew his old buddy would never stab him in the back.
    “Right, I’m going in to see him. Richard, I want you to come in with me.”
    Richard nodded and followed John. The others stared daggers at them.
    “Tell me,” John said as they stepped inside the elevator.
    “I have to be blunt with you. They want you out. Dead or alive.”
    John nodded. A sour smirk appeared on his face.
    “But as far as Jarad is concerned,” Richard continued, “I just don’t know. He seems two-faced.”
    “Yeah, that’s Jarad for you. I knew he would be against me from the very beginning. I knew he wanted the Leader’s Chair. He wants me dead and now he’s gotten a clear cut chance to show himself without any fear of being discharged. He thinks that under the situation we’re in he’ll be able to take power.” John sighed and shook his head. “Personally I don’t care right now. I just want Alex back.”
    The elevator stopped. They stepped out and Richard led the way to Jarad’s room. Once they reached his room, 11203, Bacon opened the door and John entered inside. Jarad lay there in a semi-comatose state with various tubes coming out of him. There was an intravenous drip in his arm that administered medication and a blinking machine by his bedside. His eyes opened slightly, but at the sight of his rival, he closed them again, ignoring the two. John and Richard sat down on the metallic chairs next to his bed, one on either side. Jarad turned his head to John and smiled in a patronizing manner. John controlled himself.
    “John,” Jarad’s mouth formed the name without a sound.
    “Jarad,” John replied quietly, “What the hell are you up to?”
    Jarad said with slow, heavy breathing, “I don’t know what to say.” He licked his dry lips. “I only wanted–”
    “What did you want? Power! I thought you were better than this. You should have waited until after I died! And you don’t think I know you planned that bloody assassination? Of course I do! And I think I even know who did it.”
    “It’s not like that at all,” Jarad said.
    “Because of today’s incident, you are temporarily discharged. I will make sure personally that you don’t interfere with the affairs of Regnum or of my family. Now,” John stood up, “hope you feel better. Take care and please, please, don’t ever think of coming to speak to me.”
    Richard and John walked out.
    “That was a bit harsh, don’t you think?” Richard said after they left the room.
    John shook his head and smiled, “Richard, this is between you and me; I never meant to publicly denounce him. Once he knows that I’m doing it, he won’t do anything to meddle with Regnum politics. And I’ll deal with the rest in the same manner.”
    “Well played, old friend!” Richard smiled. They entered the elevator.
    John remained quiet, calculating his next move.
    The ship started its descent, picking up speed in the atmosphere of the Earth. Inside, Nikolas