American Blood: A Vampire's Story Read Online Free Page A

recovery no more than seventy-two hours,” Siri replied. “Maybe less. There’s no way of telling.”
    “Her kind has been captured—even caged before—for short periods,” the Director said. “Don’t be fooled, she’s helpless for the moment, but soon, very soon . . . .” The Director stepped right up to the glass and began to quietly talk to himself. The man had a strange habit of ignoring others at his whim.
    Ryan stared at the female as she floated within her fluid embrace. He wondered what lay ahead for himself, for everyone. As she regenerated her largest wounds had already started to close and fill in with newly synthesized flesh. He knew that vital information had been withheld from him, but he also knew he could find answers to her existence. She might be a creature of deception in the larger world, but at the molecular level he could discover her secrets. Unless, of course, they ran deeper than he could ever imagine.

Chapter Two
     
     
    “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.”
—Albert Einstein,
Theoretical Physicist
     
    T he next morning Ryan was back inside the isolation unit with Siri. The presence of two armed agents by the door only added to the sense of danger within the room.
    “You don’t seem to approve of our work,” Siri said.
    Ryan shook his head as he examined the sphere’s external fittings and plumbing. “This thing is a mess.”
    “The techs assembled it a few days ago and filled it with plasma yesterday during her surgery,” Siri said.
    “Why was she even in surgery?”
    “I didn’t attend,” Siri replied. “But they wanted to clean up some of her larger wounds and make sure the tracking sensors weren’t damaged.”
    “You know about the sensors?”
    “I’m aware of your contributions to the project.”
    “It seems that you are.”
    “So what do you think of the chamber?” Siri asked.
    “It looks like it was cobbled together using a lot of guess work.” Ryan had squirmed himself in between the maze of external plumbing. “Sloppy. No wonder the thing is leaking plasma everywhere.” Ryan had to contort his upper half to free himself.
    Siri walked over to a technician attempting to repair the leaking plasma supply. “Just get a mop and clean up what you can.” The spilled plasma had formed a large puddle on the stainless steel floor.
    “Can’t say I like the way it smells in here,” Ryan said and pointed to where some plasma had leaked into an electrical connection box which had begun to smoke. “The air filters can’t keep up.”
    “What do you suggest?”
    “I think you’re on the right track,” Ryan said. “Mop up what you can.”
    Siri looked at the same technician. “Bring an extra bucket.”
    As Ryan continued to inspect the sphere’s external fittings a single question kept interrupting his thoughts. “How will she be removed from this thing? And please don’t tell me you’re going to let her crawl out of it when she wakes up.”
    “I’ve approved a protocol for her extraction. It should be safe for everyone, including her.”
    “Don’t be surprised when she regains consciousness she’s in a lousy mood.” Ryan stepped away from the sphere and looked at Siri. “Unless you think she’ll be happy waking up inside this thing.”
    Siri calmly pointed past him.
    Ryan turned back toward the sphere. The female met his gaze; her eyes wide open and alert. How long had she been looking at him? One more thing to add to his list of things he didn’t need.
    “You do understand how strong she is?” Ryan asked.
    “I know she’s unusually strong.”
    “That’s an understatement. She rolled a van over on its side like it was like a toy.”
    “I’ve seen the video,” Siri said. “After she pushed the van on its side you crawled out through the broken windshield and when the male ran at you, one of the agents got him with a grenade a second before our female here killed