“And none of them wanted mine.” Maggie added. “What does it mean? And why would Ginny eat my blood, but the vampire’s outside wouldn’t touch it?”
“Maybe Ginny was forced to eat it due to her captivity.” Charlie said. “The ones outside are free to roam. Maybe they were counting on finding real food later.”
“That is possible Charlie.” Stated Philip. “But lions in the wild won’t walk past a two-hour old zebra carcass in the hopes of finding a fresher one down the road. If what you are saying is true, that would imply that these things have an advanced thought process. That is an entirely new can of worms to open up. And a scary one at that. I should hope that’s not the case. Still, it’s an avenue we have to consider.”
“And the vampires we saw, they all looked to be male. Does gender have anything to do with their behavior?” Maggie brought up something neither of the men had considered.
“Oh, dear.” In the darkness, they could just barely make out the form of Philip as he reached up to rub at his temples. “So much to think about. All this information to process is giving me quite the headache. I think it’s time we get some rest. A bit of sleep will do us all some good. We can look over the data again in the morning and see if we’re any closer to figuring out this mystery. Unfortunately, like research is many times wont to do, I think we’ve created more questions than answers. Good night.”
Philip lay down on the couch with his blanket and was breathing softly very soon thereafter.
“That didn’t take him long. To get to sleep, I mean.” Charlie said.
“He’s been working like a dog on this since they got here.” Maggie added. “I’m sure he’s tired.” They were sitting with their backs up against the wall, underneath the front window. Maggie laid her head down on Charlie’s shoulder and grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze. “Thank you for giving him a chance.”
“Yeah, he’s not such a bad guy. I’m just a little leery. There may come a time when we have to do something unpleasant.”
“What is that supposed to mean, Charlie?” She demanded.
“Just that I can’t let him compromise our safety in order to keep his daughter alive. And by the way, have you looked at her lately? That’s not much of an existence. I saw her through the window in the kennel door. Her lip may have healed and grown back, but she looks like she’s hopped up on PCP. She just paces back and forth in that cage like some feral animal.”
“So, what would you have him do, Charlie? Put her down like some rabid dog?” Her tone was much more compassionate than he expected. Charlie sensed that he was teetering on a precipice where one wrong answer could put up a permanent wall between them, so he chose to say nothing. “What if it was me in that cage?” She asked him. “I know. That would be different, right? Why? Because you care about me?” Her voice was maddeningly calm. It felt like she wanted to scream at him, but she just kept talking in her low, got-it-all-together voice. “No, Charlie. She matters to him. She’s his daughter. We see this thing through.”
And that was it. The conversation was over. Their fates were decided and he wasn’t about to challenge her. She had already accepted whatever the future may bring. So why shouldn’t he? But Charlie couldn’t help the feeling that the other shoe was about to drop. And he had no idea how right he was.
Chapter 18
Her head ached and her fingers were locked in the shape of great hooks. She was able to loosen them from their stiffness through some effort. She stared at the ceiling through chain link fencing and the stone floor was cold on her back despite the blankets around her. She sat up and realized the chain link surrounded her. She was in a cage. She lunged at the chain link, shook it and saw the large padlock outside the door. A million questions whirled in her mind. What kind of person would lock someone in a cage? What kind of evil, demented plans did that person have in store for her? Where was she? Who was she? Her head was foggy, like she was having an out of body experience. A name came to her suddenly. Julia! Julia Beaumont! Yes, that was her name!
She shook the cage door again, listening for anything that might sound weak or loose, but there was nothing. She noticed the bolts holding the hinges on the door were on the inside of the cage. Anything was worth a try. She slipped a couple fingers through the chain link to hold the bolt still on the outside and used her other hand to try and pry the nut loose on the inside. Her finger slipped around the nut. She pressed harder and tried again with the same result. With beads of sweat beginning to appear on her forehead and desperation beginning to loom, she pressed harder and felt the nut give way slightly. She turned and turned while the nut cut through the corrosion and calcium buildup along the threads. She had one nut off and two to go, not counting the three on the lower hinge. She removed the second bolt with a similar amount of difficulty. With the third nut, her hand slipped and the bolt cut a gash in her finger but she kept turning. She couldn’t tell whether the blood was lubricating the bolt or just her hand. Suddenly, the nut was off and the hinge came away from the chain link door.
She cradled her wounded hand and stared at the hinge tentatively. As amazing as it was that she was able to get the first hinge off, she was equally sure she couldn’t manage the feat again, at least not with a wounded hand. One hinge would have to be enough. She pushed on the top of the cage door that was now only secured by the lower hinge and the lock on the other side and it bowed outward easily. With a minimal amount of pressure, she had a hole large enough to get her arm through. She gave a little more pressure and the door allowed her head to sneak through. More pressure still and she had her shoulders through the portal. The only thing left was to drag her lower half from the cage. A powerful heave from her tired arms and she slid to the ground with a fleshy plop on the cold cement outside the cage.
As she got to her feet, she realized her cage wasn’t the only one in the room. A row of cages lined the same wall her cage protruded from. They were animal cages with small doors in the back of them that she assumed lead outside. Despite the lack of light in the room, she could see quite well. About twenty feet away from her, on the far side of the room, was a large, heavy looking door with a small window near the top. She prayed it was unlocked.
Through the window on the door, she could see the empty and featureless hallway on the other side. She turned the handle and heard the nearly silent click of the internal mechanism as it gave way and she eased the door open. The air on the other side of the door was just as eerily still as the room with the cages. At one end of the hall, she found an elevator and stairs that lead up, but she wanted a way out. She went the other direction down the hallway and found a number of small rooms that reminded her of a medical clinic. There was even a room that looked like it was used for surgery of some kind. Finally, the hallway opened up into a small lobby, complete with a waiting area and a reception desk. The windows in the front of the building were all covered with plywood and the front doors had a large plank of wood barring them shut. A quick glance around the room showed her nothing useful so she moved to the front door and removed the plank and quietly set it on the ground.
She cracked open the front door and peered outside, getting a view of the street. The sky was black and no movement could be seen. The streetlights were still working and she had to shade her eyes for a moment until they could adjust to the new light. She edged out into the street and bolted into a sprint. She wanted to get as far away from her captors as possible.
The night air was cool and clean. She had almost forgotten that the world was in turmoil until something lunged at her from the shadows. It was all she could do to bring her left arm up to deflect the blow and send the attacker to the ground a few feet away from her. She tumbled to the ground as well but recovered quickly and sprang up. A growl came from a few feet away and she could see something that reminded her of the vaguely human things on the bus. But now she knew what they were. She turned to run, but it was on her back in an instant, claws digging into her shoulders. She whirled around trying to shak
e it off, instinctively reaching over her shoulder to grab it behind the neck and pulled with everything she had. The monster slammed into the ground and she wasted no time jumping on top of it. She began to pummel the creature with a fury she had never known before. It tried to protect itself, but she would not be denied. Her fists hammered down again and again. She opened her fingers and hooked them like talons. She slashed at the creature with her claws, opening gaping gashes in its face, neck, and chest. As the blood erupted from the thing’s wounds she became even more enraged until she could no longer control herself. She thrust her head at the wounds in the neck of the creature and bit down. Her teeth sank into soft flesh and she drank. She drained every last drop of life from the nameless beast that lay beneath her. When she was finished and the monster lay still, she sat up, still straddling her prey. The monster beneath her looked more human than she initially thought. Now still, and though it’s face had been bludgeoned, she could see it had clearly been a man. She wondered if the things on the bus had been the same. The scene had been so dark and chaotic, she imagined they probably were the same thing. A strength she had never felt before began to surge through her arms and legs. It tingled like electricity throughout her limbs and chest. She rose to her feet and caught a glimpse of her reflection in the store window in front of her…
And sat up in bed, drenched in cold sweat. Not me. She thought. Not me… My God! I was Ginny! Frantically she scanned the room and recognized it. She rubbed her injured hand, but there was no cut that she could see even though the pain was fresh in her memory. What on Earth? She thought. She glanced up and saw Sylvia perched on the dresser. “Did you see it?” She asked.
“I felt it.” Sylvia replied. “I could see pictures. Flashes.”
“So, what does it mean? I mean, I was Ginny! I was my sister!”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never heard of it before. But in dreams, anything is possible. It may just mean that your connection to your sister is so strong that you were able to share her mind for a time. I don’t know. But together we may be able to find out.”
Together. Julia thought. Wonderful. “So, I’m too late to save Ginny? It felt like she was a vampire. She was so strong. And I, er… she drank that thing’s blood.” She felt tears wetting her lower eyelids.
“Not necessarily. We need to find her to know for sure.”
“And what of my father? And mother? Will I always jump into people’s bodies?” Julia’s mind was on a roller coaster of emotion. She was excited and scared all at the same time.
Sylvia shook her head. “I’m not sure, but we’re going to find out. The sun will be down in about an hour. Your bags are already packed. Get cleaned up and we’ll leave just after dusk.”
“And the rest of my training? We’ve only been working at it for two weeks.”
“On the job, I’m afraid. It can’t be helped. You’ve got enough to get by for now. And your enhanced abilities will make your training easier. Just stay close to me and I’ll keep you safe.”
“And the patrols they are talking about on TV? How are we going to avoid those?” Julia asked.
A smirk drew across Sylvia’s face. “We will avoid them if possible. If not, we have government credentials.” When Julia’s eyes widened, Sylvia continued. “Let’s just say the Seraphim have a rather large body of influence in the political realm. Enjoy your last bit of time before we go. We might not get a hot shower again for some time.” With that the vampire left, closing the door behind her.
Julia couldn’t enjoy the hot shower no matter how much she tried. Her thoughts kept returning to her family. If her sister was a vampire and locked up in that cage like some animal, what had happened to her mother and father? Why hadn’t Virginia tried to escape before Julia had entered her body? Where was she now? The questions kept churning in her head and as they did, she felt her stomach tightening. She was scared. Even if Sylvia was telling the truth about her having enhanced strength and agility, she hadn’t been able to punch Sylvia when she tried. How much would her abilities really help her when they were out on their own?
She shuddered when she remembered the people on the bus, how they had been torn limb from limb all because their attackers were after her. It was her fault they had died. It was her fault because she got on that bus.
When Sylvia returned, Julia was ready to go. She had donned her “SWAT team” outfit, as she liked to call it, and had the duffel bag that was left in her room slung over her shoulder.
She and Sylvia walked together until they were hailed by Avery and Ledge in the main foyer of the complex. “We’re going with you, Syl.” Avery said matter-of-factly, but Sylvia was already shaking her head.
“No, you’re not. We can move faster as two than we can as four.”
“Hah!” Avery blurted a deliberately spiteful laugh. “One vampire and her newly gifted recruit? All by yourselves? You’ll both be dead by morning.” He paused for dramatic effect. “I don’t think you realize how dangerous it’s gotten out there, Sylvia. Trust me, you could use the backup. There are hell dogs everywhere out there.”
She let out a sigh that sounded something like a hiss. “Fine. But I don’t want anyone challenging my authority on this mission.” She said, wagging a finger in Avery’s face.
He gave her a mockingly rigid salute. “Yes, Ma’am!” He shouted with a broad grin on his face.
“Ugh!” Sylvia groaned and turned to head towards the garage. “Come, Julia. I have a feeling I’m going to regret this decision.”
Julia turned to follow Sylvia and as they walked, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Ledge sidled up next to her as they walked. He took her hand and put something small in it. She looked to see what it was and was surprised to see a little pink box the size of a thick credit card with a wire attached to earphones protruding from it. “My MP3 player? But how did you?.. Where?..”
Ledge, being the man of few words that he was, simply said, “On the bus.”
“Thank you.” She said with the kindest of grins.
Ledge nodded, then began inspecting the readiness of the small arsenal he pulled from somewhere under his long jacket while they walked.
By the time they made it to the SUV and were loaded and ready to go, the light next to the garage door was lit up “green” indicating that the sun was down and it was safe for the door to be opened. Two sentries stood guard outside the garage as the vehicle passed out into the world. It had been weeks since Julia had left the compound. Not much was different on the outside, but she knew they were in a remote location. Things were most likely quite different closer to large populations.
As they left the compound, Julia looked back to see what the outside looked like and laughed out loud. “Are you kidding me?” She chortled. “A church? You guys built your compound to look like a church? What do you do when people show up to pray or whatever?”
“It is a fully functioning Catholic church, Julia. Complete with human priests and nuns.” Avery said. “It’s all a cover, of course. But a clever one, don’t you think?”
Julia chuckled. “If by clever, you mean hypocritical, then yes.”
“Hypocritical, how? We are attempting to save mankind, after all.”
Julia let it go. She wasn’t about to explain the irony if they couldn’t see it.
Ledge was driving and Avery was in the front passenger seat. Sylvia had insisted on staying close to Julia. “We’ll head back towards your home and reside at a Seraphim safe house in the area while we search for your family.” Sylvia wanted to make it clear to Avery that she was in charge.
“Sylvia?” She decided now was as good a time as any to find some answers to things that had been weighing heavily on her mind. “How do people become hell dogs?”
Sylvia sighed. “It’s complicated. You see, when vampires bite someone and let them live, they need to be choosy. Humans say that a mother likes the smell of her child and can tell the difference between her child and someone else’s, correct?”
“I’ve h
eard that before. But what does that have to do with this?”
“Well, in a similar fashion, vampires can smell blood types. We can drink any blood we want, but we are drawn to our own blood types.”
Julia thought she saw where Sylvia was headed. “So, what? Mixing blood types is bad?”
Sylvia nodded. “To say the least. When the virus enters your system, it immediately attaches itself to the brainstem and your central nervous system. If you are of the same blood type, the virus can mimic your DNA and take control of the bodies autonomic systems. If the blood types don’t match, the virus bonds with the brain and can’t mimic your DNA.”
“Oh, God. Your body would see your brain as a foreign body?” Julia understood now. “Like a rejected transplant?”
“Exactly. When your own immune system begins attacking the brain, the first thing you lose are your memories but not because of your immune system. The virus, like all things in nature, is programmed for survival. When it senses the body’s attack, it simply shuts down the nonessential parts of the brain and leaves them to occupy the immune system while it completes the takeover.”
“The virus sacrifices everything that makes you human so it can live. You lose everything?” Julia asked in horror.
“Our theory is that the damage varies, depending on the virus’s ability to take control, though we’ve never been able to prove it. We think that the nonessential parts of the brain are dormant, although the immune system will eat away at them until the virus gains total control. Often times, the virus fails to take over, in which case the victim will slip into a coma and die. The better of the two possibilities, I think. What remains of the victims that live, we call hell dogs. They are nothing more than savage, brutal, killing machines. They fear nothing, feel very little, and seem to have no social abilities at all. Although that has yet to be proven. Only the most basic instincts remain. Though most true vampires can assert some control over them, if that vampire were to come between the hell dog and its survival, all bets are off.”
Original Blood Page 21
