The Veiled Monarch

by Shae Bryant

  Leo threw his hands in the air, "Oh come on! I thought you agreed you wouldn't! We talked about this! That is the worst stereotype in the entire world! A Vampire buys a nightclub. Come on, Vince! Please don't do it. Please, don't be that guy."

  I wasn't sure if Leo took a solid look at his Dad, but he was that guy. He was the stereotype of a Vampire if I had ever seen one. Vincenzo Moretti belonged in the textbooks for Non Human Studies. I would have bet money he was in one of them.

  "I want to buy a nightclub, Leonardo." Vince's tone changed when he gave Leo that face. The one a Father gives his child when he isn't prepared to discuss anything further.

  Leo crossed his arms and grumbled, "Leo."

  "I purchased a nightclub." Vince said firmly.

  Leo started to gesture wildly, mocking Vince's deep voice, "Why don't you bring girlfriends home, Leo?" He made a stabbing motion towards his Dad,"This is why! Because my Dad is a stereotype of every Vampire that ever lived!"

  "It would be hard explaining my Dad being a vampire..." Catherine was trying to help, but it only garnered strange looks from all three of us.

  "Yes, I suppose that is difficult." Vince suppressed a laugh. At least he had a sense of humor. "All Non Humans can adopt children, Detective. There's quite a bit of red tape, and we spend years being scrutinized in courtrooms. Still, it is possible. I'm glad I did it. Even if Leonardo does have to explain me being a Vampire."

  "Thanks for the answers so far, Mister Moretti." I'm sure his family story was riveting, but I had work to do and I really wanted more coffee.

  "Vince. Please."

  I shrugged, "Alright Vince. Let's move on."

  Vince waved his hand dismissively at me, "I'll help you skip those as well. No I have not turned anyone illegally since the laws were in place. I have not fed illegally in over a century. I was arrested in 1904 for feeding illegally shortly after the law passed. To be fair, most of us weren't aware of the law yet."

  He got that right. Most Non Human regulation laws were passed so quickly and quietly that Non Humans didn't get a chance to find out. They found out when they were arrested. Vampires always got the worst of it. They don't find out for days sometimes, and they always land in a jail cell until things are worked out.

  I scanned over the form. Hm. What's this? Iron Oath documents that are sealed? I had to ask. "And the Iron Oath?"

  Vince pursed his lips, "Our relationship is complicated."

  "You had a run in with them in the 1940s. Before that, the records are sealed. Even the records from Virginia."

  "We stay out of each other's way." That was all Vince was going to give me.

  Leo grinned, "What he means, is that he hates the Iron Oath and won't talk to them!"

  "Yeah, I'm not a big fan either." I shrugged.

  "They have helped us for centuries!" Catherine protested.

  "Us means Humans. You'll think differently if you have a Non Human Registry." I hope Catherine got my drift.

  She glared at me. Typical. Every Human thought the same thing. The Iron Oath is this wonderful organization that helps Non Humans and Humans live in harmony. They were formed during the Dark Ages to help Humans with the Vampires who adhered to "the old ways." After quelling the Vampires, the Iron Oath became part of the Catholic Church, an officially sanctioned group that was supposed to aid everyone.

  As the years went by, the Iron Oath split from the Church, but they were still funded by them. They adapted to society, working with law enforcement and eventually getting involved in politics. Most of the Non Human laws were passed thanks to their lobbying. Humans love them. We hate them.

  My train of thought was interrupted by a tap on my shoulder. Vince was focused on me, "You aren't Human, Detective Escobar?"

  "I'm a Druid." I responded.

  Vince smiled, "Well, I hope you do your best to stand up for all of us."

  "Wait. I want to go back to this. Why don't you all like the Iron Oath?" Catherine leaned forward on the sofa, looking between both of us.

  "I am sure Detective Escobar will share more with you. If you don't mind, ladies, it's almost time for me to sleep." Vince stood up, motioning towards the door. This interview was over whether we liked it or not.

  "Oh. Well uhh..." Catherine gathered up her laptop,"Thanks for your time, Mister Moretti. I don't think we have anything else to ask. It was nice meeting you."

  "Likewise." He smiled,"Please, come by the nightclub anytime. I already have an opening date for The Veiled Monarch."

  "That is the name!?" Leo shouted behind him, "Oh God...I won't live this down. I will make no friends in Miami. I can't start college. I'll get laughed out of my first class...why do you do this to me?!"

  Vince rolled his eyes, "You are so dramatic."

  "Good luck in college, Leo." Catherine chuckled.

  The two of us walked back to my car to continue our day. Something inside me said this wouldn't be the last time Vince Moretti and I would meet. It was probably a good idea to keep an eye on them for a little while. My chance came when Catherine got in the car. Earlier, a gull had been chattering away in a palm tree nearby. I motioned for it to come and talk with me.

  "Keep an eye on them for me." I whispered to it, "I'll make sure I bring some birdseed and thread for your nest."

  "Alright." The bird flew up to the window to keep watch on them.

  Catherine and I had left, but my new flying friend told me about the conversation that happened. Leo paced the hallway, trying to convince Vince to change his mind." You are buying a nightclub? I can't believe this!"

  "Leonardo. Do you not have shopping to do?" Vince started up the stairs.

  "What?"

  "School supplies, sir!" Vince turned around, "You are starting college in two days."

  Leo gave him an incredulous look, "That's not...how this works, Vince."

  Vince was puzzled, "In Virginia we always..."

  "What year was that?"

  Vince shrugged, "Seventeen hundred and...?"

  Leo laughed, "I don't go shopping for a new slate and book strap anymore."

  "Don't be ridiculous. That was for grammar school children." Vince rolled his eyes, moving to a room that was the size of a spacious apartment. The metal shutters that protected him from the sun had already been drawn. My new friend had a hard time seeing in the room.

  "Time for a drink. Wine?"

  "Water for me." Leo answered, leaning against the door.

  "Fine then." Vince spoke in a booming voice. "Behold! The elixir of life!"

  "... What?" Leo pushed himself away from the door, looking inside the room at Vince.

  "The very fluid life depends on. It rejuvenates all Humans!"

  "What!?"

  Vince sighed, "Water you moron. Water!"

  "And you think I'm dramatic?" Leo grabbed the glass of water and walked down the stairs, shutting the door behind him. Those two might be insane.

  The following couple of weeks were average for me. Work. Home. Maybe a bite to eat with a friend or two. Rinse. Repeat. Catherine was getting along well. She was a bit naive, but Miami would take hold of her soon enough. No one stayed innocent in South Florida for long.

  On Catherine's second week, we pulled a late shift and our radio chirped to life. A body in South Beach. Not our favorite place to be. Especially not during the weekend. It had been discovered minutes ago, and only one Officer was on scene. I radioed that we were en route. Ten minutes later, we parked at a crowded nightclub.

  A number of people milled around the side of the club, muttering to themselves and trying to catch a glimpse of the crime scene. A young woman walked towards an Officer I am familiar with. The Officer yelled at the woman to stay back, but she kept walking. Moments later, the woman screamed and rushed to the sidewalk where she lost her dinner.

  I used my badge to elbow my way through the crowd. Officer Danielle Morton was making a pointless attempt to keep people back. I waved her down, "Danielle! Hey. What's going on?"

  Daniel
le looked a little green. She moved someone away with a shaky hand, "There's not much of a body left, Raina. I think it's an illegal hunt."

  My skin started to crawl when the words 'illegal hunt' reached my ears. It was a full moon tonight. All Werewolves were in Hunting Sanctuaries. At least, they were supposed to be. Sanctuaries were places where Werewolves could shift and hunt freely. There were plenty of things in Sanctuaries for them to hunt, and people were never on that list.

  An illegal hunt is when a Werewolf refuses to find a Sanctuary. They end up shifting and lose full control of their Human side. A shifted Werewolf is a bloodthirsty killer. Anything or anyone in their way becomes prey. The poor person who gets in the way of a shifted Werewolf is left in a state that most people can't handle seeing. I've seen only one illegal hunt before, and it was the most disturbing crime scene I had ever witnessed.

  "It's a full moon." Catherine remarked, "All the Werewolves are in the Hunting Sanctuary."

  "I think one of them didn't go." Danielle gulped, handing us both a pair of gloves.

  I took a deep breath, "Let's see it."

  We walked with Danielle towards what was left of the body. Whoever this person was had been caught between the alley and the sidewalk. Blood pooled around their torso, streaming into the alley. Their chest had been ripped open and most of the organs were missing. A few of the organs were strewn around the body. Rather, the pieces of the organs.

  There was no way to tell if the victim was male or female. Huge claws had torn the muscle away from their face. The only thing left was an ear that dangled by a piece of skin.

  My stomach lurched. I turned away while trying to hold down the gag reflex. "Oh God..."

  Catherine was behind me. I tried to make her turn around, but it was too late. She took one too many steps towards me and the victim.

  "Detective? Are you OK?" When Catherine looked at the body on the asphalt, her eyes grew into dinner plates. "Oh my God. What...?" Catherine clasped her hand over her mouth, dashing into the alley where she promptly threw up.

  The sirens were getting closer. Thank God backup was almost here. This crowd was too big and three of us couldn't contain them. With Catherine getting sick, that left Danielle and I to try to keep the crowd away from the crime scene.

  "Dios mío!" I rubbed my temples in frustration, "Get some tape up! Folks! We need you to stand back! Go back inside. To your cars. Something! Just don't be here!"

  People started to move back, shoving at each other to make way for the cacophony of sirens that were pulling up to the sidewalk. Heavy footsteps barreled towards us from the nightclub's entrance. A familiar voice shouted, "Move! Let me pass! I am the owner of this establishment!"

  It couldn't be. This was Vince Moretti's nightclub? This could be a very long night. An illegal hunt happening outside of a Vampire's nightclub. He was going to be livid.

  Vince pushed through the crowd and made eye contact with me, "You! Detective Escobar! What is the meaning of this?!"

  I gave him a sarcastic smile, "I'd like to say it's good to see you again, but...it's not."

  Danielle and I both looked a little on edge. Vince's expression softened, and he tilted his head towards me, "What is happening?"

  Vampires can handle this stuff. Well, older Vampires can. I'm sure Vince had seen a Werewolf kill or three in his time. I stepped aside and motioned to the body. "Take a look."

  Vince blinked at the body near his feet, "Oh. That's quite an unsettling thing." He sighed, "I don't understand, Detective. I haven't seen a Werewolf here since I opened. What can I do to help?"

  I pointed towards the crowd, "For starters, you can get everyone away from here. If you and your employees can gather up anyone who might have seen anything, it would help a lot."

  Vince nodded, "I'll get on that." As he walked away, he chuckled to himself, "I feel like a Detective myself all of a sudden." He put on a bad impression of a 1930s movie actor, "Where were you on the night of the 15th buddy?"

  Danielle and I were left staring at him in disbelief. "This guy. Wow." I was about to utter some choice words, but Catherine walked towards us. I smiled at her, "How are you feeling, Detective?"

  "I'm so sorry. I've never seen anything like that." The poor thing looked like she might cry.

  I chuckled, "No one in Greenville warned you what an illegal hunt looks like?"

  "Yes, but actually seeing it is a different story."

  It was time to give Catherine a break. Illegal hunts are hard to deal with. Especially in your first month. I pointed towards the club and gave her some marching orders, "You are right about that. Let's help your stomach settle. Go on inside and start talking to people. Vince Moretti is here. He's cooperating with us." Catherine started to walk away and I called after her, "Hey! Don't worry. We all got sick on our first illegal hunt. Hopefully, you'll never get used to it!"

  Catherine turned back and gave me a shaky smile.

  The cars started to unload. Tape was going up. Officers were rounding up possible witnesses. The ambulance had arrived, but they were having trouble getting through the crowd. Me? I stood back against a wall and just watched the organized chaos. All of that mess wasn't part of my job.

  A small and tired voice called up to me, "Excuse me?"

  A skinny tabby cat rubbed on my leg. I smiled at the little thing, reaching down to pet it, "Hey there. What are you doing here tonight?"

  The cat looked at me with pleading eyes, "I'm so hungry."

  "I wish I had something. I... Wait! I do!" I dug into my purse and produced a half consumed energy bar. It was all natural. That was safe for a cat, right? "I hope you like energy bars."

  "I'll take anything right now. Even this." The cat started to chow down on the energy bar.

  "That's all I got. Sorry." I leaned against the wall again, listening to the cat eat. Then, I had a thought, "Hey? I don't suppose you saw anything earlier? Anyone around that may have hurt someone bad?"

  "No. I'm sorry. I didn't." The cat sat down beside me, licking her paws after the scant meal.

  "I thought I'd ask. Thanks. Try the crowd. I'm sure someone's holding takeout in their hands." The cat dipped her head in thanks, walking away from me to check the crowd for a dropped fry or something.

  "Did the cat have anything to say?" Danielle had been watching our conversation and she was curious. She knew about me. Most of the department did. It was no shock to anyone that I'd be talking to an animal near a crime scene. Technically, I wasn't allowed to do that, but most of my coworkers didn't care.

  "No. She didn't see anything. She was just hungry."

  Danille looked around the alley, catching sight of a rat near a dumpster, "What about the rats?"

  I can't blame her for trying, but Druids don't work that way. Most non domestic animals won't speak to a Druid unless we have an affinity with them. Every Druid has a different affinity. Some of us have an affinity for amphibians, some fish, some birds, some cats. Me? It was canines. From dogs to coyotes to wolves. I could talk to all of them.

  The cat spoke to me because she knows people. She wanted food and hoped someone might hear her meow. I'm sure she's glad that I heard her loud and clear. But, a non domestic rat who is terrified of people? There's no way.

  I shook my head, "I don't have an affinity for them."

  Danielle sighed, "Does the department know of anyone who does?"

  "I don't think so."

  The ambulance finally made it through the crowd with the stretcher. Both Danielle and I looked at them and then towards the body. They needed body bags. Not stretchers. After a few more minutes of making radio calls, the right people arrived complete with big black bags.

  "Barf bags ready, Danielle." I handed her a spare glove.

  "I hope I can do this." Danielle took the glove, "It's my first illegal hunt."

  "It's only my second." I sighed, putting on the mask that a Paramedic handed to me. "Here we go."

  While Danielle and I dealt with the nasty parts, Catherine wa
s avoiding it while inside The Veiled Monarch. She was speaking to possible witnesses. Her most recent one was a young guy who was still fairly drunk.

  "...And when did you go outside to smoke?" She asked him

  He shrugged, "About eleven, I guess?"

  "You didn't see anyone?" Catherine looked from him to her phone.

  "Well yeah. I saw a ton of people. It's South Beach."

  Catherine sighed, "Did you see anyone out of the ordinary?"

  "It's...South Beach?" The young guy laughed.

  "I mean suspicious!"

  He chuckled, "I didn't see anything that you wouldn't see here every Friday night."

  Catherine puffed her cheeks and waved a hand towards the patron, "Thanks."

  As the last person she could question walked away, she slammed her laptop shut. Nothing. Not one damn lead.

  Vince walked over to Catherine after seeing her frustration, "No one saw anything?"

  She shook her head, "No. Nothing that looked like a Werewolf shifting. No arguing. No suspicious persons. Nothing but club goers, tourists, drunks and drug users. Apparently that's a normal Friday on South Beach."

  Vince tapped his fingers on the bar, "This is going to be very bad for business."

  "Mister Moretti! Someone just died!" Catherine admonished him. She wasn't used to how Vampires handled things. Especially death.

  She was about to get a lesson in Vampire emotions 101. It was all or nothing with them. Vince smiled at her, "Call me Vince, please. I'm sorry. I must seem cold. You learn to deal with this sort of thing a little better at my age."

  She stuffed her laptop into her bag and sat down on the bar stool next to him, "I guess... Is there anyone else I can talk to?"

  Vince shook his head, "Not that I know of. Feel free to speak to anyone here. Including my employees."

  "Including you too?"

  "Of course." Vince pressed his lips together when he answered her.

  Poor Catherine was trying to get a lead anywhere she could. Vince's body language made it clear he was just annoyed at her line of questions. He wasn't a suspect and she knew it.