by Fatima Fayez
"You tried to reason with him?" Leon asked. "Did he identify with any groups with the same beliefs?"
I shook my head. "Several times. But no, he didn't have friends that agreed with him. It wasn't like he was part of a cult. It was actually a point of contention between him and the other vampires. They enjoyed wielding power over humans from behind the scenes. It was their behavior that kept driving him to be more and more outspoken."
I’d hated Sebastian's friends. They were the stereotypical vampires, lording it over those lower than them in the hierarchy. They told Sebastian he could do better than dating a witch, and a half-witch at that. One of his friends made the mistake of saying it within my hearing. A quick hex and a lesson with my blades had resulted in caution from the others. I never forgot, and Sebastian had told me they didn’t, either.
There had been affection between Sebastian and me, but I didn't think there had ever been love. I still liked him enough to wish him a painless death, which was why I’d chosen to have him drift off to sleep and then sink down in the most peaceful way. I guess I shouldn't have bothered with all that and just stabbed him in the heart instead.
"Well, he's alive," Leon said.
I looked down at the photograph. "Yes, he is."
Sebastian might not have died the last time, but I was going to make sure he did this time.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
Before I could knock on the door with the hilt of my dagger one more time, it opened and a sleepy-looking vampire glared back at me. "Would you cease that infernal noise?"
I shoved past him and marched to his living room. Ibrahim shut the door and followed me. I spun around. Ibrahim was just wearing pajama bottoms. For an old vampire, he had a solid chest. I couldn't help admiring his physique.
"Did you come over here to check me out? I'm flattered." Ibrahim folded his arms. I noticed it made the muscles in his arms bunch.
"You knew." I pointed at him with the tip of my dagger. "You knew this whole time."
He didn't react.
I knew the vampire knew exactly what I was talking about. "How could you let me go around thinking Sebastian was dead? I came to you first. I came to you out of respect, and I admitted to killing him. You made me jump through hoops after that to make it up to you. I can't believe you used me like that." I shouldn't have been surprised; vampires took advantage of any opportunity they were given. But I wasn't going to tell Ibrahim that I was furious at having been taken advantage of.
"I didn't consider it prudent to inform you of his status." Ibrahim unfolded his arms and lowered himself into his armchair. He crossed one leg over the other.
"So you just let me think he was dead?" I paced back and forth, furious with him.
"You weren't the only one who thought that," Ibrahim said mildly. "Most of Sebastian's acquaintances don't know he's still among us."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I demanded. "Does that make it okay?"
"I wasn't going to give you the chance to kill my offspring again."
"You know what he did. You know what he intended to do. I had to stop him."
Ibrahim's expression was shuttered. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
"You know what he did was wrong," I repeated. I spat the last word at him.
"I have forgiven him," he said.
I shook my head. "I can't believe you hid this from me."
It hit me: the whole time Ibrahim had been helping me, he knew what I was up to, he was keeping tabs on me. He knew I was the Supernatural Shadow. I felt so stupid. I had been played.
My face must have betrayed my thoughts, because he spoke up. "Don't. We are who we are and who we've always been. Don't let things change between us because you know."
"A year and three months. You've known for a year and three months that Sebastian's been walking around Barcelona and you did nothing about it." I couldn't keep the accusatory note out of my voice.
"You're angry at the moment, but you'll understand with time. And hopefully forgive me." Ibrahim tilted his head. "Are you not happy to learn that he's not dead?"
"No! I was happy that I killed him." I stared at him, incredulous. "I just let you know out of courtesy."
"It's unfortunate that you feel that way. I had assumed it would ease your conscience to learn that you hadn't killed someone for once."
I stared at the vampire. He wasn't seriously trying to guilt-trip me, was he? "Are you kidding me? You're just like him. You can't see right from wrong."
Ibrahim raised an eyebrow. "You want to discuss ethics now?"
"The Alliance is looking for him." I stabbed the air with each word I said.
"They're not the only ones."
"The Vampire Council?"
He didn't answer me.
"So it's true. He's really going to do what he promised he would. I can't believe you're colluding with him." I shook my head in disgust.
"I'm not," Ibrahim said.
"You are," I insisted. "You're complicit in what he's doing because you refuse to put a stop to it. You won't talk against him publicly. You created him. You're responsible for him, and you're not living up to your responsibilities."
"Who are you to tell me what my responsibility is?" There was a dangerous undertone to his words. Ibrahim never pulled the Master Vampire card, but I could tell he was about to.
But I refused to be intimidated by him. "Did you listen to the list of people who are looking for him? They all want to stop him. He’s going to turn our entire world upside down. You seem to be the only one who doesn't want him found or stopped."
We glared at each other. Ibrahim remained silent.
"Unless that is what you want." That had to be it. That was the only reason that Ibrahim wasn't moving to stop Sebastian.
Ibrahim shook his head and sighed. "No, I don't believe what he's doing is right. I called him, but he is not heeding my call."
Belatedly, I recalled what Leon had shared with me before he’d handed me the manila folder. Sebastian's Master had been searching for him, but Sebastian hadn't responded.
I remembered I had something else to be angry at him for. "Why did you tell Diego where I was?"
Ibrahim arched an eyebrow at my topic change. "He asked me if I knew you."
"He didn't know my name."
Ibrahim pursed his lips. "True, but he asked if I knew you, and I did. Would you have me hide this fact from the most powerful shifter in the city?"
"What did he say he wanted me for?" I needed to know if Ibrahim had given me up to die.
"He wanted to know if I knew who may have waylaid a few of his shifters. He suspected the Supernatural Shadow and wanted to meet him."
"Even if it meant my death?"
"He assured me he wasn't going to kill you. He just wanted to come to an understanding. I told him I was rather fond of you. I extracted a promise that he wasn't to hurt you when he found you."
The vampire may have been the reason Diego saved my life. He wouldn't have wanted the vampire to think he had harmed me. It was less trouble to drop me at my apartment door, and he had sent me a message by doing the same.
"Do you know where I live?" I had moved away from the apartment I shared with Sebastian after that night on the boat. I didn't think the vampire knew where I currently lived.
"No. Do you want to give me your address?" Ibrahim asked me.
I shook my head.
"How did you find out about Sebastian?" he asked.
"I'm not in a sharing mood at the moment." I crossed my arms over my chest. I was too angry at him for keeping the news from me. He had kept this big secret from me, and it may be childish, but I didn't want to reveal my part in the Alliance. I tapped my dagger against my arm.
The vampire didn't react. "I'm presuming someone's asked you to locate him. If anyone can find Sebastian, it's you."
"Will you help me?"
Ibrahim shook his head. "I've done all I can. B
eyond that, I cannot betray my kind."
"You risk the exposure of our world for a vampire that won't heed your call." I couldn't keep the bitterness out of my voice. "By that, you doom us all. "
"I'm counting on you to prevent that from happening."
Ibrahim wouldn't help me, but he wanted someone else do to the dirty work for everyone. Typical selfish vampire, refusing to help but wanting the benefits.
"You're an excellent bounty hunter," he assured me. "Your skills will determine whether we remain safe or become exposed to the world."
No pressure.
Chapter Thirty-Four
I didn't trust the vampire anymore. I thought Ibrahim and I had a solid friendship, but it seemed that he valued his self-interest more. Ibrahim had kept a vital piece of information from me and wouldn't supply me with the usual information that I needed now. He wouldn't help me find Sebastian. I'd have to do it without his support. That meant I was going to find out how good the resources at the Alliance were.
As I left the vampire's home, I started thinking of my next step.
Just like my tactic for finding Donnie the demon, I knew the key to tracking people was to figure out their habits. I had been with Sebastian for one year before I killed him, and we had lived together for four months. Before we lived together, he had explained several times how unjust the current supernatural situation was. It wasn't until I moved in with him that I saw how deep his convictions were and how serious his obsessive compulsions.
He believed it wasn't right that humans didn't know about supernaturals, citing the many benefits we could provide to the human population. Sebastian harped on how supernaturals could make the world a better place. He argued that we could eradicate diseases using magic, and we could help address social problems and open up many opportunities. He failed to see that if diseases were eradicated, global mortality rates would decrease, and the world has a finite pool of resources. With lower mortality rates, the competition for resources would increase exponentially. It would be a disaster.
The second reason I disagreed with Sebastian was because I knew humans’ history. When humans didn't understand something, they immediately feared it. If humans found out about us, they would kill us because they didn't trust us or they wanted our talents for themselves. Unable to understand or harness our abilities, they'd kill us out of envy and greed. Humans destroy that which they covet.
Sebastian had tried many times to get me on board with his beliefs. He called me pessimistic, but I thought I was simply pragmatic. I couldn't buy into the idealistic future he portrayed.
The more I walked, the more memories came to my mind. We used to go on walks. He enjoyed the movies, particularly the theater in La Barceloneta. It was a quiet, outdated movie theater where they played films in English. I decided to check there first.
The beach was less busy in September, but there were still people trying to catch a few moments of sunshine. I passed by artists creating fantastical sand works. One man had created a dragon out of sand and lit a real fire at its mouth. I smiled at a little boy who was awestruck by the work of art.
I took a left, crossing the road, and entered the neighborhood where the cinema was located. Memories came flooding back to me — memories that I had buried as deep as I thought his body had sunk a year and three months ago. I wondered if Sebastian had returned to the cinema since then. I knew I hadn't.
A newspaper stand reminded me that Sebastian loved to catch up on the news, especially the Continental Times. His favorite reporter was Charlie something-or-other. Sebastian would read his columns religiously and talk about how this journalist was the most awake reporter working today. I put a coin in the newsletter stand and took out a paper. I combed it for a byline starting with Charlie. On the third page, I finally found him: Charlie Gale.
He had a regular column that Sebastian would always echo. Sebastian respected journalists and their quest for truth. I thought he’d even wanted to be one. It was worth checking out if there was a connection between Sebastian and Charlie Gale that would lead anywhere.
I kept walking around the area. It was a quiet neighborhood. There were only a few people outside, but the place was still active, even for September. Mothers pushed their children in strollers, couples young and old sat on benches and enjoyed each other's company, vendors tried selling their trinkets to passing tourists. I went to the theater and left a note where he was sure to see it. I ransacked my mind for other possible places that Sebastian may have returned to. I would have to pass by his old home and see if he had vacated it. There was also a place that he had always wanted to live but had been too lazy to move to. It would be risky for him to move there now, since I knew of his desire to live there, but he might have done it anyways if he thought I believed he was dead. The Alliance was going to send me a list of the areas where Sebastian had been sighted to help narrow down his location.
The sun was beginning to set in the sky and I circled back to El Born and messaged Noor. Sometimes what I needed was someone to bounce ideas off of in order to figure out what to do next. We agreed to meet at the apartment.
The apartment was still empty when I showed up. I poured myself a glass of orange juice and drank as I waited for Noor to show up. She arrived only a few minutes after me.
"Sorry, sorry, a client with an infection showed up as I was leaving." Noor slid onto the chair at the table.
"Please, don't tell me the details." I made a face. I may be able to cut out a heart without feeling squeamish, but I hated hearing about the random infections Noor's customers got due to their lack of hygiene.
"I won't. This was a particularly gross one." She gave me a half-shrug. "So why did you want to meet? Are you going to tell me all about your Alliance meeting? Are you allowed to tell me?"
I took a deep breath. "Sebastian's alive."
Noor blinked. She sat there shell-shocked for a few moments. "He's what? He can't be. This whole time? Are you sure? Of course you're sure, or you wouldn't be telling me this. How did you find out?" Noor sputtered, shaking her head. "This is crazy."
"Tell me about it." I told her everything that had happened since I last saw her.
"He's been alive this whole time?"
"Well, technically..."
"Undead. You know what I mean." Noor rolled her eyes. "He's been alive for what, a year now while you've been moping over having killed him?"
"I wasn't moping because I killed him," I protested.
"Say what you want, but you haven't been in a relationship since him. A few one-night stands don't count. You can't act like it didn't leave a mark."
She had a point. The whole incident had made me leery of relationships. "To be fair, I had been with him for one year."
"So what are you going to do?" she asked me.
"I don't have any leads. I can't rely on Ibrahim. He refuses to help. I'm going to have to check out all his old haunts. That's the best shot I have."
"How does the Alliance expect you to find him if they haven't managed to do it? Did they tell you how long they've been searching?"
"Six months now."
"Wow." She leaned back. "Do you think you'll find him?"
"I have to." I gestured around us. "If I don't, all of this is gone. We won't be able to live in peace."
Noor grimaced. "You know, sometimes I wonder what would happen if the truth came out. It might be a pleasant surprise."
I scoffed. "Knowing what you know about humans, would you put your faith in them to do the right thing?"
She shook her head. "No."
"That's why Sebastian can't succeed. He has to be stopped."
"Where are you going to go now?"
"I'm waiting on the Alliance to send me the list of locations he's been sighted at. Later tonight, I'm going to visit an old friend of his." I raised my hand and lightly brushed my fingers against my cheek. It was time for some payback.
Chapter Thirty-Five
"Are you going to be okay?" Noor’s features wer
e scrunched in concern. She reached out a hand and placed it over mine.
"Yes, why?" I patted at her hand distractedly.
"You just found out the ex-boyfriend you thought you killed is no longer dead. And now you've been tasked to hunt him down." She raised her eyebrows. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I mean, yeah, I'm pissed off at Ibrahim for not doing more, the Alliance for not being good enough, and myself for not having done the job right the first time." I shrugged. "Does that answer your question?"
Noor removed her hand. She bit her lip. "Just be careful. It's a huge emotional moment. Don't do anything you're going to regret."
"Like kill him?" My lips turned up in a half-smile. "I've already done that once."
She leaned forward. "Aisha, don't joke about it. The Alliance wants him alive. Don't make them angry with you. I don't want you to be locked up."
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" She didn't look convinced.
"Yes.” I put my hands in my lap so she wouldn't reach out and pet me again.
"Deliver him to them in once piece. I know you want to tear him apart, but leave that to them. Promise me you won't do anything stupid."
Before I could answer her, my phone beeped. I checked it and saw that Rafael had sent me the locations of each Sebastian sighting. "Can you get the map?"
Noor went to the coffee table in the living room. She returned with a map of Barcelona and unfolded it over the dining table. I plucked grapes from the fruit bowl and started placing them over each place Sebastian had been sighted. There were eleven locations in total.
I stood up to see the map from a different vantage point, trying to find a pattern. I looked over at Noor. "Notice anything?"
She shook her head.
I glanced back down at the map. The places Sebastian had been sighted were areas we had never been to: Les Corts, Nou Barris, Sant Andreu. He had been smart, but not smart enough to leave Barcelona. There was one grape on the map that was closer to the Eixample area. I would start there.
