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“I have a certain connection to the spirit realm,” is all Layden says. “I recognize the runes in the AI algorithms as a language of spirits from another realm. It’s invisibly interlaced on top of the humans’ code, driving and directing it toward the spirit’s end.”
“Which is? What do they want?”
“We don’t know,” Phoenix says, “but they knew enough to realize Layden was watching them. They could sense him and his family and used the human military to attack them. Whatever they’re trying to do, they don’t want to be stopped.”
“Even if I were to believe any of this nonsense,” Vlad waves a hand, “why should I care about what computers in some other country are doing?”
Phoenix’s mouth drops open. “They’re infiltrating Russia and China, Grandpapa, and you know enough of the world to realize anyone who starts with those powers won’t stop there. You have a good life here. You have control and power.” Her last words are said through her teeth as if it’s not something she’s entirely happy about.
Vlad shrugs his shoulders, but Phoenix presses her point. “Think about how long you’ve been building this city—this country. Your wealth isn’t in gold bars anymore. It’s in Swiss banks. That’s all numbers and digitized currency that’s secure so long as the government is stable. You think it stays secure when an AI run by a rogue element has control of that government? Any force seeking power will go after the world’s banks right after it gets control of the most volatile governments’ militaries.”
Vlad finally shifts in his chair, visibly moved by this argument at last. “Chase down this spirit with your computers, and then Phoenix and I will go to defeat it!”
“My family and I will stand beside you,” Abaddon says confidently.
But Phoenix only sighs as Layden jumps in. “It’s a different world than we have known in the past,” he says to both Abaddon and Vlad. “We can’t fight whatever this is with cannons or muskets. It’s about server farms and AI.”
“What is this AI?” Abaddon barks, obviously frustrated by the conversation.
“Artificial intelligence,” Phoenix says when Layden looks frustrated by our brother’s lack of knowledge. “Computer programs the humans build to do tasks that can think for themselves.”
“But the runework I’ve seen overlaying the human programming is allowing the AI to advance far beyond what the humans ever dreamed,” Layden says. “It’s speeding up what the AI is capable of by centuries, and from what Phoenix and I were looking at last night, it’s only days away from completely wresting control away from the humans.”
“Even if we could track it down, which we can’t because the AI or the entity programming the runes is smart enough to bounce the source code off server farms all over the world,” Phoenix says, “we still don’t know what we’re dealing with or how to fight it.”
“So what are we to do?” Vlad asks, rising out of his seat and throwing his hands in the air. “Did you bring us all here to warn us of a coming apocalypse we can do nothing to stave off? I tell you, Granddaughter, that I have seen kingdoms rise and fall, and I fear nothing! I have always risen to greatness, and this shall be no different. Let these human armies come for me. I shall decimate them and put their heads on pikes as far as the eye can see, like my honored great-grandfather Vlad Dracul the First before me! Blood will rain down on the fields near and far!”
“Dad would have loved this guy,” I mutter.
Vlad’s face snaps my way, but Phoenix obviously has many years of managing her grandfather’s tirades because she stands up, hands in a defensive posture. “Layden and I are monitoring the situation. And now that Sabra’s here, we’ll cast a circle to see if we can learn more.”
“Bah! What has witchcraft ever done except make things worse?” Vlad says, throwing a hand toward Sabra.
But Phoenix’s eyes narrow. “You know what gifts the witches have given us through contact with the spirits,” she says, her voice low. “Even if they came in unexpected ways.”
Vlad turned away from her. “You call betrayal a gift?” he snorts.
“You would not have me but for the witches,” Phoenix says, standing her ground.
“And what have you been but a thorn in my side?” her grandfather shoots back. “And now a canary to warn of a coming doom it sounds like you can do nothing to stop?”
Phoenix swallows hard, taking a step back. It’s clear to anyone that her grandfather’s words have wounded her, not that he seems to notice or care.
“And what can you do?” Vlad says, turning accusingly toward Abaddon and me. “You come here for safety, but it sounds like you’ve only painted a target on our backs if this spirit finds we’ve given safe haven to whoever’s watching it.”
Abaddon looks like he wants to stand toe to toe with Vlad, but I put a hand on his knee to stop him. Huffing in annoyance, he stays seated. “My family has many gifts,” he says through gritted teeth. “We can help in the coming storm.”
“How, exactly?” Vlad says, coming to stand over my brother in a way I know must set all Abaddon’s predator instincts on edge. “What do you bring to the table? Tell me or leave the sanctuary I have offered immediately!”
I see Abaddon’s face coloring with rage and quickly lift from my seat, stepping in between Vlad and Abaddon but making sure to stoop slightly so that Vlad retains the advantage of height. Time for the tactician to make an appearance.
“As Layden says, we have some experience with spirits from other realms. You’ll forgive our reticence to expose any weaknesses we may have to one as strong as you. We’ve never met any beings of such might.” I bow my head and hear Vlad huff slightly.
It’s an old tactic. Bullies who are scared love to be mollified by praise, reassuring them they’re the biggest and baddest in the room, regardless of the truth of it. Reason is of little use with them, only flattery.
“But I promise we are allies you may rely on.”
“I rely on no one but myself,” Vlad sneers.
