The Human-Undead War Trilogy (Book 1): Dark Intentions by Jonathan Edwardk Ondrashek Page B

vampires?” 
    Barnaby chuckled and placed the puppy back in its cage. “If you are asking if they have the means to change a human, the answer is no, Koltz.”  
    He opened a drawer below the counter where the Rottweiler’s cage rested and withdrew a paper towel, then bent and wiped up the blood. He dipped his finger in the bloodied towel and brought it to his mouth. He closed his eyes, smiled wide, and then disposed of the towel in a wastebasket. 
    Brian stepped back several paces, appalled.  
    Barnaby regarded him silently, then moved to an adjacent countertop filled with jars of various sizes and contents. He grabbed one jar from the counter, twisted the lid off, and tipped it. Bandages and a packet of antibacterial ointment fell into his open palm. He grabbed Brian’s arm and pulled.  
    Brian broke the grasp and backed up even further. 
    “I could kill you anytime I wish, Koltz. You must come to trust me.” 
    Brian ruffled his brow and scoffed. “Right.” 
    Barnaby was suddenly inches in front of him, grasping his wrist in a steely grip. He yanked Brian’s arm forward, smoothed the ointment on the pinpricks, and covered it with the bandage. Then he broke his hold and turned away. “We are much more than just monsters, Koltz.” 
    Brian followed Barnaby around the lab, checking his hand every few minutes to ensure he wasn’t seeing things, that it hadn’t been some slight-of-hand trick played upon him. He couldn’t bring himself to trust Barnaby given the mysterious vampire’s relationship with humanity. However, he couldn’t help but enjoy his presence and admire his choice of hobbies. 
    There were vampire snakes in one cage, and Brian stopped to watch them while Barnaby traipsed about. A green snake stared into his eyes as a red one crept up behind it. The red one struck, so quickly Brian couldn’t register movement. The green one slumped to the ground and burst into ash.  
    Dead. Just like that. 
    Shivering, he moved on to the next animal: A vampire raccoon. It was slow, cumbersome, lumbering toward him without a glance. And then it was splayed against the mesh wire cage, swiping at him through the holes with jagged claws.  
    Barnaby materialized beside him. Brian jumped.  
    “I would not stand that close to them, Koltz. They have the same insatiable bloodlust any vampire has. However, they are more primal in nature and respond with instinct alone. Your wound will encourage them.” 
    Brian gulped and moved on to the next cages, glancing in, observing the movements of the vampire creatures inside. Eventually he got to a large glass exhibit where monkeys swung from trees within. 
    It didn’t take a scientist to know why there would be monkeys involved in Barnaby’s experiments. “You’ve worked on humans.” 
    Barnaby once again appeared beside him, seemingly out of nowhere. “Of course. Gorillas and vampires as well.” He leaned in close and lowered his voice. “Does that appall you, Koltz?” 
    “If you know my work as well as you seem to, you’d know my experiments have been far more appalling.” 
    Barnaby straightened up, staring into the glass cage. “I suppose it was all a failure for you as well?” 
    Brian nodded. He didn’t want to go into details as to what types of experiments he had put the Undead leader’s minions through. Barnaby was sharp enough to figure it out on his own. 
    They continued in silence throughout the lab. After ten minutes of meandering and chatting about general science, Barnaby offered to head back to awaken Ruby. They exited the lab and re-entered the circular dome outside.  
    Barnaby stopped in the sunlight still cascading down into the tower’s center and spoke over his shoulder. “This could all be yours, Koltz. The laboratory, and anything else you desire to reach results with your creation. Remember that.” Then he set off through the secret passage. 
    Brian followed the