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Maddox was missing. Lorien was missing. All the naughty little fledglings had flown Gideon’s nest, and he was not well pleased. He had expected rebellion, of course, but not this. One of the advantages a maker had was always knowing where his progeny was. But Gideon could not feel Maddox at the moment. It was like he had been completely erased from the planet.
Gideon was not so much concerned as he was confused. This was not technically possible, and yet it was happening. Lorien had distanced himself too.
“We do have Lorien’s phone number,” Raymond suggested. “We could call him.”
They called the number. Gideon took the phone and waited for the surprisingly arrogant fledgling to speak. He had assumed the spanking he gave Lorien would cause him to choose to obey. Apparently not. Apparently, Lorien was cut from the same disobedient, disingenuous cloth as Maddox. The influence of his rogue fledgling was sadly intense.
“Hello?” Lorien said.
“Where is Maddox?”
There was a pause. Lorien seemed to be deciding whether or not to answer. There was something like a snort. Perhaps even a snicker. “Can’t you always tell where your creations are?”
“I can. I can’t feel Maddox. Where is he?”
“That’s your problem.”
“Someone has slain him. That is the only explanation.”
“Or he chose to slay himself rather than have you hunt the man he loved to the very ends of the earth, torturing him all the while. You’re a bad maker. A bad, bad maker. Worse than Chauvelin’s or mine. At least ours have the decency to be absent.”
Lorien was very glad he was on the telephone, for there could surely be nobody who could survive Gideon’s resulting rage.
“You do realize, fledgling, that most all vampires currently living are of my line. That means I can find you too.”
“Oh,” Lorien swallowed. “I did not know that.”
“When I do,” Gideon said. “I am going to teach you the kind of lesson you will never, ever forget. I do not believe for a second Maddox has chosen eternity over life. So. However you have hidden him, whatever little games you are playing, you will all be punished for them.”
“Alright,” Lorien said as their final gambit fell apart. “I’m going to hang up on you now, if that’s okay.”
Gideon was kind enough to provide one final piece of advice. “Run, little fledgling. Run as far and as fast as you can.”
“I am beginning to think,” Gideon sighed, “that it would be easier to tolerate this wolf in the fold than to deal with the constant rebellion surrounding him. He is more trouble than any I have encountered before. Madis’ obsession with him has destroyed my awakening. We have not had a single celebration. It has been nothing but arguments and rebellions and now I have no idea where Madis has hidden himself, but I can only imagine it is among the stars. Trouble! They are all nothing but trouble!”
“They are of your lineage,” Ray reminded his maker, though respectfully. “Madis is growing stronger and stronger by the day. Perhaps the human woman was correct. Women are often makers in their own right. Perhaps Madis must suffer the love and the loss of this creature. Perhaps you have greater problems to worry about.”
“Oh?”
“The vampires of this city are starving. The sickness that keeps the people locked away prevents them from feeding. We are in a blood drought. Maddox’s ill-fated love affairs are nothing compared to the suffering of our own kind, not to mention the absolute spate of unprepared vampires making and abandoning fledglings, not to mention the fact that this city is one of hundreds facing similar problems. The world without you has crumbled into disarray. The human population is ridiculous, the vampires are in disarray. The wolves might be the only functioning community left. And since the moment you woke, you have thought of nothing besides Madis. Madis, Madis, Madis.” Roy threw his head from one side to the other. “He doesn’t matter this much, Gideon. I accept that he is your favorite son, but your talent for tearing throats out and persecuting those who disobey you is better served elsewhere. If you do not mind the impertinence.”
“You’re right,” Gideon said. “I believe everybody is right and has been from the beginning. I am an overprotective, overbearing creator, and I have destroyed my youngest with my obsession in making his life perfect.”
“Really?”
“No,” Gideon said. “Get Maddox back to me. Now. And pick out some nice new whips and paddles for Lorien. He needs to cry for me.”
“Okay, Maker, sir. I know you’re very angry at me,” Lorien said, after having been dragged into Gideon’s presence by Raymond and Chauvelin. “But I can explain. Please don’t rip my balls off. I’m really sorry. I had to help Maddox. I felt sorry for him.”
“You will be feeling sorry for yourself soon enough, baby vampire,” Gideon growled. “I warned you. I do not tolerate disobedience, nor do I tolerate plotting, scheming, or helping my fledgling escape. Twice.”
Lorien went to his knees and clasped his hands together. His only chance at surviving this was to grovel intensely and hope that the Maker would find his display of submission gratifying.
“Raymond tells me that you helped Maddox go into space.”
“I mean, I didn’t help him so much as mention that space exists,” Lorien said. “I’m sorry. I know you told me I had to… uhm. I had to do as I was told. And I know…”
“Bend over this couch,” Gideon said. “And stop talking.”
