The Columbia University biology lab looked like a war zone command center.
Military officers hunched over laptops next to supernatural beings tracking magical energy patterns. CDC scientists worked alongside witch healers analyzing virus samples. And in the center of it all, Alexander Kane coordinated the most unlikely alliance in human history.
"Vampire reconnaissance teams report the Los Angeles contamination zone has stabilized," he said, pointing to a map covered in red zones. "No new transformations in the past two hours."
"That's because everyone there is either dead or already changed," muttered Colonel Hayes, the Pentagon liaison who'd arrived an hour ago looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
"Which means the virus has a natural burn-out period," Dr. Chen said from her position at the main lab bench. "It exhausts local populations before moving to new areas."
