by Logan Byrne
“You can’t do that, I’m just getting started,” I said.
“I can do that, I’m the Chancellor. I’m not doing this to punish you, but for your own good, Lexa. You aren’t ready,” she said.
“How are you able to decide that?” I asked.
“Look at yourself! You’re lying in a hospital bed and the only reason you’re there and not in a gutter is because Britta saved you. My word is final, Lexa,” she said.
“Fine,” I said, crossing my arms and looking away. I tried to hold back tears, my lips whimpering a little. It felt cruel and unfair. I couldn’t help what happened. It wasn’t like I slipped up—I was drugged. It wasn’t even like it was an attack on me, either. Everybody else there was taking those drugs, but my body just didn’t accept it. It wanted nothing to do with it, and that was why my body had a meltdown.
“I’ll let you know when you can get back out there. Until then, stay put in the camp and don’t leave unless I give you direct permission,” she said, before walking out of the tent.
“It’ll be okay,” Paola reassured me, walking back over with some aspirin and water. “She’s just hot-headed.”
“Yeah, I know,” I said, taking the pills. I wasn’t going to let Pote do this to me. I had a job to do, no matter if she liked it or not, and I wasn’t going to be told what to do like a child. I couldn’t let it happen, not this time.
13
“Wait, you’re going to do what?” Rosie asked, a few days later, as we sat in my tent.
“Keep your voice down,” I said, shushing her.
“Just tell me again, because I think I was hearing things the first time around,” she said.
“I’m going to go after the vampires, the ones who’ve been causing mayhem. I’m going to take care of them and get answers. Surely one of them knows the boss who’s been orchestrating this entire thing,” I said.
“That’s too dangerous, even for you, and I know you know that. Besides, these different places probably aren’t even connected,” she said.
“No, they have to be, I know they are. I’ve been thinking about it the past few days and there’s no way they aren’t connected. Think about it. Vampires are very loyal group creatures. Not only that, but they adhere to a strict hierarchy and always work together. They know their powers are in numbers, given their unique skills and abilities. Having multiple gangs across the realms doing business, in the same area, just isn’t great for them. Instead, they have one giant syndicate working its way around, trying to seize control from other non-vampire groups,” I said.
“And you’re going to what, barge in like a one-woman army and take them all down?” she asked.
“No, I don’t need to do that, at least not yet. Who knows what will happen in the future,” I said.
“Then what are you going to do?” she asked.
“I’m going to capture one of them and interrogate him or her. I’m going to get the answers on how they’re operating and where their boss is. We missed him at the gala, the event that led to me getting arrested, and now it’s his turn to pay the piper,” I said.
“I thought vampires don’t feel pain, at least not on our level. What are you going to do to them to make them talk? I don’t think they’ll just betray their own kind and tell you their secrets,” she said.
“I’ll get it done with this,” I said, pulling something out of my pocket. I unwrapped it, pulling out the cloves of black garlic that lay inside.
“Really? Isn’t that a myth?” she asked.
“Mortals have used it for centuries in their stories, but they’re only partially right. You see, garlic doesn’t repel vampires, but instead makes them spill their guts. It acts like a hypnotizing agent and allows you to control them. Only non-vampiric creatures can use it effectively. That’s why you always see and hear about them being repelled from it. They don’t want to fall under the command of a mortal,” I said.
“Why is that one black?” she asked.
“It’s been aged and fermented for weeks. It’s a long process and makes it even more potent. I figure I should use the best ingredients for the job if I’m going to make it work. I nicked it from the mess tent kitchen,” I said.
“What if I go with you?” she asked.
“Please, we both know that would be a horrible idea. I need to do this alone, for more than one reason. Besides, you don’t want to involve yourself with this. I got myself into this mess and didn’t let it go, which resulted in me going to Filtonshire. I need to make sure that prison vacation wasn’t in vain and finish what I started,” I said, packing a few essentials in my bag.
“What about Pote?” she asked.
“She won’t even know I’m gone. I’m going to sneak out of here and get the job done. If it takes multiple days, so be it, but she isn’t keeping close tabs on me, I don’t think,” I said.
“I just hope you’ll be smart and keep your wits about you. Vampires aren’t known to play nice. I could feel the death rolling off them at dinner,” she said.
“Don’t worry about me, I know how to handle them. If things get really bad, I’ll call for backup,” I said, with a smile.
I zipped up my jacket, slipping my wand into place, before slinging my backpack around my body and pulling up my hood. I wasn’t taking any deforming or disguise pills, instead just going as myself. I was going to take up my thieving roots and stick to the shadows, never allowing anybody to see my face to begin with. Nobody was going to get the upper hand on me.
The camp was harder to get out of than I originally thought. I could teleport out with my wand, but I wasn’t sure if that sort of thing would be tracked. After all, I couldn’t imagine a witch or wizard could teleport in or out without other people knowing. Wouldn’t that make it easier for the camp to be tracked?
The only other way out was through the portals that sat inside the camp. They were guarded, like most things were, to restrict the flow in and out. For the same reason, they wanted to know who was coming and going at all times, but it meant that sneaking out was going to be quite the dilemma.
I kept to the edge of the camp, walking through the darkness towards the portals before I crept up to the edge of them. I saw two guards standing still, watching and waiting, as residents walked past doing their normal jobs and living their lives. I looked around, trying to figure out my way up there without them noticing.
“What about a distraction?” I thought to myself, before taking out my wand. I couldn’t blow anything up or cause destruction, so I needed something that would make them walk away, but wouldn’t cause them pain. I ran through spells in my head, my eyes shut, trying to visualize anything I could. I had it!
What if I made them lose or drop something? They wore small helmets, like soldiers, but if one of their helmets flew off due to a strong breeze, they would have to run and go get it, which would leave the portals open for a few seconds. They wouldn’t have the slightest clue.
I pointed my wand at their heads, summoning a gust of air that would get the job done. “Ventio,” I said, as a breeze picked up through the camp. I kept my wand pointed, the spell active, but it wasn’t enough. Their clothes were rippling in the breeze, but the helmets weren’t flying off like I thought they would.
“Ventio Maximus,” I said, and the breeze turned into a gust. Their helmets flung off, rolling away, and the guards ran to get them. It worked! I jumped up the barrier, climbing over, keeping my wand pointed towards them and making the helmets roll a little bit further, before holding my breath and jumping through the portal into the city.
I was pushed out through a brick wall in an alleyway, though I was unsure of my exact location. I looked back, but there was no sign of the portal. I touched the bricks and felt them stiff and solid, like a normal wall. I guess it just spit me out here for whatever reason.
I pulled down the front of my hood, keeping my head down, before putting away my wand and walking towards the busy street. I peeked out, seeing the central area, which wasn’t quite where I’d wanted to
end up. I was going back to the noodle house for answers, and to possibly even get more information about the drugs.
I saw a bus pass by, but I knew taking one was too dangerous. They’d see me from a mile away, and they might not even let me on with my hood up. It was best that I walk. I could’ve used my magic, but I didn’t want to leave any trace of myself getting around. Wands could be tracked, and I wasn’t sure if mine was being watched. That was how we got a leg up on certain criminals back at the precinct, through the use of spells that were incanted over the realm. It was very handy back then, but a pain in the butt now.
The good thing about walking through this part of the magical realm with my hood up looking suspicious was that a lot of people looked like they were up to no good. It wasn’t like the mortal realm, where people would cross the street or pull their kids closer and hold onto them tightly. There were so many grotesque and wild creatures and beings that people just thought you were covered in warts or had a third or fourth eye somewhere on your face.
“Hey beautiful, can you come over and help me for a second?” one man asked, the reeking smell of booze on his breath. He walked beside me, berating me when I ignored him, as I tried to walk faster and keep moving. I wasn’t in the most desirable area of town now, filled with transients and criminals, but I couldn’t turn back. I put too much on the line when I snuck out of camp.
“Baby, come on!” he said, grabbing my shoulder.
I spun and grabbed him, kicking him in the back of the knee. He fell onto it, looking up at me, before I swung my left elbow around and knocked him out cold. I pulled him to the side of the street, pushing him onto his side, and allowed him to stay safe even though he didn’t deserve it. He picked the wrong girl to mess with.
The noodle place was undoubtedly busy as I turned the corner a block away. I stood on the other side of the street, my shoulder against the wall, and looked for a way to get inside without going through the front door. I didn’t know what I was going to be looking for once I got inside, but I had the black garlic in my pocket, and I knew it would be my savior.
“Around back, Lexa. Stupid,” I mumbled to myself, before walking further down the street and slipping into the alleyway. Flickering lights above exposed me periodically as I came in and out of view. I saw the door behind the shop open, and a man stepped out, tossing trash into the dumpster, before going back inside. He didn’t see me, not seeming even the tiniest bit alert. I knew he was my guy.
The place was so busy that he would eventually have to come back out to throw out more garbage, and then I’d take him by surprise. I didn’t know my exact plan, whether I’d shove him inside and get in there to catch him, or if I’d pull him outside with me, but I figured I’d do something. Sometimes things have a way of just taking their course the moment they happen.
I hid right behind where the door opened, lying like a predator in wait of catching her prey. I needed to be swift, making sure the vampire wouldn’t be able to react before I got to him. I looked around the area, trying to find where I could take him, but I couldn’t see much. It started to rain, sprinkling, as the water droplets formed and rolled down my coat.
Thirty minutes passed with no action as I crouched like jaguar Charlie waiting to pounce. I heard rustling inside the restaurant, and somebody yelling something, before the door handle turned. This was it—this was my opportunity. I knew he would see me once he turned around to go back inside, so there was no turning back.
The door opened, with me still hiding behind it, my wand ready to go. He opened the dumpster, tossing in two large bags of trash, completely unaware of my presence. He turned around, his eyes lighting up as he saw me, trying to react, but I was faster. “Rigormorio,” I said, the bolt hitting him before his body turned to stone.
I closed the door, obscuring us from view, before deciding to interrogate him outside the perimeter. I couldn’t risk somebody coming up on us. “Levio,” I said, pointing my wand at him. He became light, and I started to drag him away from the door.
“Obscurio,” I incanted, holding my wand upright, and the two of us became invisible to the naked eye. I walked further down the alleyway, towards what appeared to be an abandoned building with boarded-up windows and doors: the perfect place to hide a vampire. I kicked open the door, sliding him in and sitting him in a dusty red chair I found in the corner.
I used my wand to create chains that I tied him up with, his stiff body making them easy to tie, and then I even chained the chair to anchors in the wall behind him. He wasn’t going anywhere. I flicked my wand in front of him, releasing the Rigormorio spell, before he gasped for air and looked at me with wicked intentions.
“You’re her, you’re that girl on the posters and on the televisions,” he spat, as sweat rolled down his forehead.
“Want an autograph?” I asked, my arms crossed, as I still held onto my wand just in case.
“President Nightstorm will be most glad when I bring you in,” he said.
“Well, you see, that won’t be happening. I’m afraid you’re my prisoner, not the other way around, and I have something to stop you from getting all hyper like you are now,” I said.
“What are you going to do to me? You can’t keep me here forever,” he said.
“Well, I do have this,” I said, pulling out the wrapped black garlic. His demeanor changed once I took it out. I smelled it, taunting him, the sick burn of the pungent garlic enough to hypnotize even me.
“You can’t use that, it’s banned,” he said.
“Is it? I didn’t know. It’s also banned to kidnap women and impregnate them against their will, but it didn’t stop you,” I said sarcastically, waving the black garlic closer to him with each word.
“I’m never going to betray my people,” he said.
“Your people? The same people who bit you and turned you into this thing you are now? The same people who took your life away from you?” I said.
“They gave me a life, stupid witch. They gave me immortality!” he said, with ignorant defiance.
“Yeah, to work all hours of the day and night at a noodle shop, right? I bet they promised you fame and glory, a harem of women to satisfy your every desire, and then boom, here you are, with a piece of ramen stuck to your apron,” I said, pointing out a hardened noodle embarrassingly stuck to him.
He started to shake himself violently, trying to get free of my chains, but it didn’t work. I can’t say I didn’t get a little nervous, wondering if I knotted everything correctly to hold him back, but I didn’t worry too much. He was, after all, still stuck no matter how much he thrashed around.
“Like I said, you can’t keep me here forever,” he said, grinning sadistically. “Sooner or later you have to let me go.”
“Um, no, I don’t,” I said, with a little chuckle that pissed him off.
“You’re going to keep me here for eternity, then?” he asked.
“Yeah, why not? You’re a vampire, dude! You don’t eat, sleep, or need to drink. You can’t die, because you’re already dead, so why not hang out here for a while and think about what you’ve done? I could come back ten years from now and you’ll still just be hanging out,” I said.
“You wouldn’t dare,” he said. “I know you’re not that evil.”
“Kiren would think so, wouldn’t he? I might as well fit his narrative before going back to my comfy bed,” I said.
“I’m going to get free,” he said, before moving around. I watched as the bottom of the chair shifted a little, the stress on the joints of the chains increasing as he put every ounce of his heightened vampire strength into breaking free.
He was pushing himself, likely far past his limits, when the impossible happened. The foot restraints shattered, and he took the opportunity to come for me. He hissed, his mouth open and his gleaming fangs sharp, before I pulled up my wand. “Arma Maximus!” I said, the bubble stopping him before he slid down to the ground.
He fumbled, trying to stand up, but without use of his hands o
r arms. “Rigormorio,” I said, and his body seized up again.
“No!” he roared.
“I need some help,” I mumbled, before walking towards the other wall and pulling out my phone.
“Hello?” Charlie answered, sounding a little dazed.
“Charlie, it’s Lexa, I need your help,” I said.
“What? Where are you? Are you okay?” he asked, perking up.
“I’m fine, I’m in the realm. I kidnapped a vampire from that noodle shop and I’m interrogating him. I need you to get down here and help me keep control of him, but don’t tell anybody. This mission isn’t exactly sanctioned, if you know what I mean,” I said.
“Lexa,” he said, with a drawn-out reply.
“Are you talking to Lexa?” Blake asked, in the background.
“Don’t tell Blake!” I said.
“Lexa?” Blake asked, taking the phone from Charlie.
“Hey, babe, what’s up?” I asked casually.
“Please tell me you’re not on a one-woman mission,” he said. “Are you in trouble?”
“Not trouble, but I have a prisoner against his will and I’m interrogating him. No big deal,” I said.
“Text us your location, we’re coming,” he said, before hanging up.
“Can’t handle me on your own?” the vampire asked snidely.
“You know what, I’m sick of you. Have some garlic,” I said, before shoving some into his mouth. He hissed, trying to spit it out, but I held it in.
He put up a fight for a good twenty seconds, trying to hold his breath and hold out hope that somehow somebody would save him, but nobody came. It was just him and me in here, and I wasn’t relenting.
He calmed down, his eyes glazing over, the black garlic working and making him docile. I couldn’t deal with that mouth anymore.
“Lexa, come on,” Britta said, when she walked in with Charlie and Blake fifteen minutes later.
“You brought her? Why not wake up Mirian or the commissioner?” I asked.
“Why is it that you keep getting yourself into these situations, Lexa? You know you can’t do this, it’s illegal. And why does he look so vacant?” Britta asked.
