"Thank you for your warning, father. In falling back, we would live, but the fact remains, this Jack, the scientist I believe I know of, still must be stopped."
~~~~~~~~

The memory of his own words echoed through his mind as he beheld the mortal before him. This creature, this Jack, thrived on war and the progress of his experiments. He had lost all capacity for love and trust and was therefor a wild cannon, a machine, a weapon himself. A being without loyalty or honor did not deserve to live. Mithias then contemplated himself. He had gone from fighting for the extermination of all vampires, to suppressing them, to aiding them in total takeover. Where in fact did his own loyalty lie? If all of it had been fighting for an end to war, for justice, he had been deluding himself. True peace would never come. No longer the same being he had been, Mithias needed to define himself in this new world or leave it. 

"Vampire control of North America has been established, in large part thanks to you, Jack Stine. Your methods both intrigue and disgust me, but your service has been unquestionably invaluable." The vampire turned his wine glass with his fingers. "We've seen only the end of the first act of this play, however. The fighting will continue. The war will go on, and your services will always be needed." Mithias seemed disappointed about that fact. "Local uprisings are becoming fewer and fewer, but we have new and powerful enemies in the human-dominated and SOLDIER controlled countries in the rest of the world. Fearing Magnus will not stop at the borders of this land, they will certainly attack us. I have no doubt technologies are being furthered elsewhere to combat yours. Dormant oldbloods will also rise and perhaps join a side. This Vampire Kingdom cannot sustain world-domination, even if we achieved it. Such is impossible. And since humans can never be eliminated, someday, one day, when all of history has been forgotten, they will rise again as once force and topple the regime, just as the day SOLDIER was created. They may be weak and prone to death, but I have no doubts about human capacity for greatness." Mithias hadn't taken a single bite. His eyes belied a faint sadness as he looked at his old enemy. "Are you content, Dr. Stine? I know the outcome of the war matters little to you, as you have found something to live for in your work. I envy you. Tell me, what is it you wish for?"