Sabah's footsteps echoed on the stone floor. Their green eyes saw perfectly in the dark. They ached a little after spending hours in front of their studies, preparing the speech, anticipating questions and even attacks by the Hierarchs.

It would not be easy, but being prepared would be helpful, or that was they mentally repeated as they walked. Conditions were not the most conducive to a friendly climate, but their conclusions could alter them much more if they was not careful.

Sabah kept their eyes straight ahead upon reaching the stone doors. They had always wondered how the underground temple could be so cool if the desert heat was deadly. No matter how many explanations they gave them, no one would take it from their mind that there was magic involved. It would not be the first time that the Hierarchs harnessed the wisdom of the imprisoned Bedouins, torturing them until they found what they needed.

"You have five minutes," Amin said as he turned around. His eyes were completely red and his skin, which used to be caramel-colored, seemed colorless. He needed to feed soon. Sabah nodded without saying anything, feeling their mouth go dry on the spot. Their heartbeat rumbled in their ears as the doors opened.

The room was very well lit. One would not believe that a few candles and groundwater could illuminate an entire place, but the Hierarchs had managed to find the right arrangement for the light from the flames to bounce as much as needed between the lakes, rivers, and waterfalls in inside. The result? A thousand interwoven rainbows that covered the volcanic stone walls.

Sabah counted the steps as they walked. There was something different there. They could almost smell it in the air, as if their pores were getting through their fingernails. It was a plague in the environment, an electricity that ordered them to get out of there.

The Hierarchs were sitting at the end of the room, surrounded by old and new books, always looking for new knowledge, transcribing and preserving what would be the new Library of Alexandria, or the Library of the Sahara, rather. The stone walls were filled with so many volumes that a life wouldn't be enough for Sabah to read them all, as if it were an underground Tower of Babel .

They had anticipated that the space would start to be missing years ago, so the Hierarchs organized a staged remodel. For three months, the workers would dig a new floor, which they would prepare for the following three months. The rest of the year they would dedicate to the maintenance of the upper floors, the first ones that their ancestors had built.

As time went by, the number of workers had to increase as the project did, as did the amount of food and the frequency with which it arrived. Working incessantly for six months doubled, and tripled, vampire thirst, and that was a problem. Humans were an endangered species after World War Four. But that's where Sabah came in.

"Sabah," Akbar, the Great, greeted him . The title suited him. The thickest of the Hierarchs easily stood two meters tall, with bushy eyebrows and arms that were twice as wide as any other vampire. Sabah had heard several times that he was able to raise a castle with one arm, easy to believe just by looking at him. His serious face also noted that it was better not to waste his time. They licked their lips as he rose from the table. The only thing the four of them had in common were the black cloaks they wore. "Goodnight. You asked for an audience a few days ago, you said it was life or death for our species. I hope the haste was not unnecessary."

"No, not at all, my lord," they said, perhaps very soon. They mentally chided themself.

"We all hope that, Sabah." The voice of Dana, the Wise, echoed off the walls. Dark-skinned and petite, she was the brain of the Hierarchs. It was said that she was the only living vampire who had read the entire library, and the one who had transcribed the most books since her ascent at just a hundred years old, the age at which the others were just beginning their political training. "These days have been a challenge for all of us, and we cannot afford to stop, but since your letter was quite clear, here we are."

Zaki, the Pure One, and Layla, the Night, remained silent, watching them from their seats but still transcribing some documents. Sabah understood that this was their moment to speak.

"The amount of humans has lowered these..."

"We know that," Dana cut them off, holding up a bony hand and looking disappointed, "get to the point." Sabah nodded, tensing every muscle in their body.

"I'm afraid when the renovations begin, the demand for humans will be so high that there will be none left."

"Are you implying that we did not foresee that scenario?" Dana's offended tone alarmed them.

"No, my lady, I would never say such a thing. I mean, I have been studying that scenario, and there is a... a substitute, a second option, that could prevent this from happening."

"Keep going." Dana wrinkled her face, but that was better to offend her, less being in the room.

"Humans wrote extensively about the mental abilities of vampires of all types, including the abilities they could develop. Some ideas lacked basis and logic," they said when they saw the four pairs of red eyes, attentive and not letting any of their words pass, "but there was some truth in them. A bond between humans and vampires can be established strong enough so it is unnecessary to consume blood, or to reduce its consumption."

"What kind of bond?" Sabah shuddered when they heard Layla. The woman's body was what helped her climb almost as fast as Dana, pale even among her class, using seduction, manipulation, and lies as weapons. There was no story she didn't know, was an expert at reading the body language of others, and didn't need to use strength to destroy someone. A sharp tongue was the only weapon she needed.

"Only that, a bond, my lady, but strong enough for vampires to feed. Humans obtain sustenance through the air and their meals, so if a psychic bond is established that allows vampires to feed on the air through a human companion, it would not be necessary..."

"I think I understand where you are going." Zaki's smile did not reach his eyes. Sabah held their breath. "You say that we should share with them, make them our equals."

"My lord, not necessarily..."

"Of course, Sabah," the Hierarch cut them off, "you tell us that we must interact with them, be their friends, and let them live, when it was they who caused the debacle of their own species, and therefore ours."

"The blame certainly lies with us, my lord." Sabah's mind worked at full speed. "This world is the result of the ignorance of my ancestors, but if blood consumption and deaths decrease then there will be enough humans to return to blood in a few years."

"Let us say we accept," Dana continued, "let us say we give our approval, how would these bonds form? By talking?"

"Yes my Lady. Just talking and allowing the human to feel something for the vampire. It can be appreciation, interest, gratitude, but not fear, or revulsion, or something similar."

"What tenderness," Akbar scoffed.

"If I had your approval, I can assign a human to each worker at this time. There are enough, and so when the renovations begin you will not lose lives."

"Under what criteria would you assign these... couples ?" The word vibrated on Dana's tongue. It was clear she disliked the idea.

"Really, my lady, there only needs to be an interest. The type of it plays no role."

"Any vampire with any human?" Her voice rose only an octave, but Dana taking a step forward was not a good sign.

"They must have something in common, certainly, my lady," Sabah said hastily, "but beyond that..."

"Sabah, if we approve of this, it will only be on one condition." The cold soaked into their bones in seconds. "If we are talking about couples, an idea detestable enough on its own, then it will be just a man and a woman."

"My lady," panic caught in their voice, "division is not equitable in either race. There are hardly enough humans, but less than half are female."

"Then think about how to speed up the reproduction process of your species to ensure your survival." Layla's voice rose when she did. In front of him, Sabah had eight scarlet suns.

"I also researched that possibility, my lady, but there is not enough time. Growth can be barely double, but tripling is far from possible at the moment. Maybe in a few years...

"There is nothing to discuss, Sabah," she cut them off. Layla turned around and sat down with the three Hierarchs. "Being able to speak is a right," she reminded him, "and I suggest you not lose it." The smile on the Hierarch's lips was enough to understand.

Never before was them more tempted by the idea of ​​speaking out of leave. The words that formed in their mouth threatened to choke them if they did not let them out, but they had to keep silent, bow their head, Thank you for your time, sorry for the inconvenience, my lords , and leave the room with a pounding heart that when they came in.

The icy air in the hallway covered them as soon as the doors closed behind them. They walked without stopping until reaching the communal dining room, almost an hour later, far from the audible range of the Hierarchs.

The place was deserted at that time in the morning, which made it look bigger than normal, if possible. A stone table divided the dining room in half, wide enough for a hundred people on each side, illuminated by patches of light thanks to the makeshift windows that time itself had created on the volcanic stone walls.

"So?" Amin went down the stairs that led to the upper floor.

"You're going to starve to death, and I'm just going to die," they said.

"We already knew that," Amin smiled , "so?" In a second, he had his arms around them.

"That we have to warn the others."

"War with no quarter?" The vampire smiled at the idea.

"Well... yes... I guess." It was difficult to feel optimistic before the panorama.

Sure, the humans who knew of their plan were on their side along with a few vampires, but a handful of rebels was nothing against the Hierarchs. Damn, Akbar would break their bones just by blowing.

"Calm down, everything will be fine." A pale hand caressed the nape of their neck and their eyes locked on the vampire's, red as the blood everyone believed fed him. Sabah still had in their mind the image of the horizon that Amin was seeing while waiting for them.

Sabah sighed, tired. They wanted to believe him, and maybe they would after a quiet rest. A soft kiss on their lips made them keep silent.

"Everything will be fine." Amin repeated. "Have a little faith in what you have discovered, please."

"I have faith, okay? But I'm terrified of what might happen."

"Have I ever lied to you?" Amin got them nearer with his hands, entwining fingers on the lower back of Sabah, who shook their head. "Are you sure your results are correct?" They nodded again. "Then you don't have to worry. We are few, but they are exhausted. Her yellowish skin tells you everything. And nothing will happen to us."

"You can't be ..."

Yes, I can. Everything. Will. Be. Okay." Amin sandwiched a kiss after each word, making Sabah laugh. "I like you more like that."

"Idiot," they sighed, "I guess we should break the news, right?"

"It is fair and necessary," Amin smiled.

They intertwined their fingers and left the place. Below, a mixed group of rebels awaited them. One for every thousand vampires loyal to the Hierarchs, each vampire feeding on a human, each capable of seeing, feeling, and hearing through their mate. A side effect very... convenient, Sabah thought. It would be dawn soon.