The Underworld Attorney

by Madison Nova

  He simply gestured me to walk out the door. Outside a dark tinned Rolls Royce was waiting for me. He opened the door for me and I climbed inside. I was expecting to find a vampire inside, but instead it was empty. We drove off from our little office towards the city and my nerves grew as the seconds towards my destination grew closer.

  When the car stopped I opened the door and found myself inside an underground parking area. The feedbag lead me to an elevator. My composure was calm and my spine steeled up as I watched the number change with each floor. Inside however, I kept repeating the same word, “One step closer.” When the elevator opened I took a deep breath and whispered: “One step closer to the truth.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The hallway was softly lit.

  I saw no windows as I was guided down the hallway to a dark oak door at the end. Technology as we know it seems to have not caught on in the Order's world.

  The skinny feedbag knocked on the door, and an elder voice on the other side said to enter. He opened the door and I stepped through to find the representative of the Order sitting behind an old heavy wooden desk in a candle lit room. I couldn't help but feel there were others watching us from the dark corners the light of the numerous candles couldn't reach.

  As I moved in closer he was gulping from a steel cup. When he lowered the cup blood was visible on his upper lip. He gently cleaned his spill with his handkerchief.

  "Forgive me Ms. Santana," he said placing the cup on the table, "It's my first cup for the day. Sometime I slurp to fast on them. I find myself being grumpy without it. I am pleased you have arrived." While standing up he stretched his hand out saying "Please take a seat."

  I sat down and looked around to see if my feelings of eyes upon me has any validity. It was impossible to see the darkest corners.

  "I have a sensitive matter that only you can assist me with Ms. Santana. An old friend has lost his way and committed an act of murder."

  I perked up in my chair.

  He continued, "A young woman however has been charged with the offense. And we as the order cannot stand for such an injustice to take effect. The true perpetrator will be dealt with accordingly of course. It's the poor innocent that are beyond our assistance."

  I remained silent as he called for someone to come in. A young vampire entered the room through the door behind me with a suitcase and a file. It was clear to me he was a pure blood. He walked up and placed the suitcase and file a few feet away from me on the corner of the huge wooden desk.

  With a nod from the elder he pushed the file towards me. "All the necessary information you will find in the file. And the required deposit is in the case for your inspection."

  The young vampire opened the case and slide it towards me. I placed the case in front of me and ran my fingers through some of the top banded notes. The stacks of notes filled the suitcase. Everything seemed to be in order, I thought as I picked up the file and opened it up.

  "The victim is a young woman who walked into a room to find one of my kind with another. My soldiers have been hunting him and unfortunately couldn't make it in time. It's an unfortunate event. It's sadden me to see one of my own still dwelling in the uncivilized ways of our nature. The order has worked hard to acquire numerous suitable feeding with consent."

  It was clear he was trying to sell me how vampires have become citizens of good behavior in this city. But truth is that vampire and werewolf conflict still spread through this city and at least twice a month a vampire would suck its teeth into a human living a less than simple life.

  "I thought this case would interest you Ms. Santana due to what you went through during your younger years. I think I might be able to assist you."

  I closed the file and placed it on the desk in front of me. "How do you know about what happened to me?"

  "Your interests and interrogation of my community have unfortunately not gone unnoticed. I think at the end of all this, I will be able to answer at least one of your questions regarding the event surrounding your brother."

  He had my full attention.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The young vampire smiled at me and I kept calm keeping my eyes on the elder. With a simple eye movement towards the door, the white shirt bowed his head and walked slowly out the room. My host took another sip from his steel glass.

  "What information can you provide me that I have not yet uncovered myself?"

  "My dear," he smiled looking at his cup. "I have lived longer than most. I was in my younger years at many historic events that shaped the world as you have come to know it. Many attempts were made on my life and I can tell you stories of the horrors I witness done by the self proclaimed masters of this universe."

  Looking up at me with a smile and a blood stained upper lip, "I have also encountered numerous of beings that has long been forgotten by most of our cultures."

  I picked up the file again and opened it. "So who is the vampire responsible for this?"

  "That my dear," he said slowly getting up from his seat, "is not your concern. We simply need you to fulfill the undertaking of making sure the young lady is not punished for one of our own mistakes. The true culprit will at the end pay dearly for his action."

  He slowly moved around the desk and I could smell him coming closer. I have been to scenes where a body has been decomposing for weeks, and it burnt my nostrils the same way. I stood up to make my leave out of the room and as I was picking up the suitcase the dead body was standing a few feet to my right.

  "Do not forget to return to me for your reward." I could hear him heavy breathing through his nose as he moved closer towards me.

  "I will look into the matter and will be expecting the information when I return."

  He stopped when I turned to take a closer look at him. He was dressed in a black robe hunched over as his body has lost its years against gravity. His eyes were blue and looked young compared to the skin wrinkled on his face. I slowly moved to the door escaping the dead smell filling the space.

  "Carter was right," he said as I walked through the dark room. "You are truly remarkable and unique. I haven't seen a being like you in ages. I hope we can have a long lasting relationship."

  I reached the door, and turned around to greet. He nodded and I opened the door.

  The young vampire with the white shirt was standing outside. The feedbag was nowhere in sight.

  "And where is my driver home?" I asked hiding the amount of nervousness running through my body.

  "My dear father has lost his touch regarding our ways." He said completely ignoring my question. "I on the other hand still believe in our right to own the night in this world. The vampire will be apprehended to the Order's wishes. Your law firm has the reputation of ignoring my race and interfering in our ways. The elders might allow you to run amok, but I want you to know that when the time of succession comes I will not allow our race to be obedient to your firm's demands."

  As I walked past him on my way down the hall to the elevator he stood still and I felt his eyes upon me. All I care about is the knowledge the order has to help me find my brother. I stopped half way and found myself turning around in front of the elevator: "You would do well to follow the example of your elders."

  He growled at me and I could see a rage in him - even at a distance. The sliding door of the elevator opened and the skinny feedbag emerged from it. He led me inside and as the doors close I could feel the hatred of the vampire. It's hard to estimate a true bloodline's age but physically he looked twenty.

  "Pay him no attention Madam."

  "So you talk," I responded.

  "His all bark and does not have a bite. I respect him but the order will probably never accept him."

  He said nothing further as we went down the elevator. When we reached the underground parking area, I could only think of one thing: The Order might hold the breakthrough that I have been searching for so long to obtain. I just hope I can get this case over with before the father is turned to ash by his son.
r />   CHAPTER SIX

  The report was pretty straight forward. It was the preliminary police report on the murder of Kara Lee, a 23 year old medical student. There were no official forensic report stating the exact cause and time of her death. All that it stated was that she had several cuts and her nightgown was covered with her blood.

  The accused was her roommate, Kamala Russ, a 26 year old medical student in her final year of her degree. She was found in her roommates room by the neighbor. According to the badly written police report she had the deceased in her arms.

  The police cells at the city's Precinct has a very distinct piss smell. Something - believe it or not - you actually can get use to. I remember the first time I entered the cells. I had a hard time to believe that they have someone checking in twice a day to actually clean the place. After you met some detainees and catch the smell coming from their mouths you quickly grow to tolerate the piss smell surrounding the cells.

  "So the boys decided to give you a murder case," Detective Helen James stated as she opened the cell gates. "At least it's a simple plea case. We have enough evidence to send her away."

  "From what I understand you guys have a medical student found trying to resuscitate her roommate. That's hardly enough evidence Helen." I quickly replied.

  "We have an eyewitness that places her at the scene at the specific time of death covered in the victim's blood. There were no one else there."

  "Except your apparent eyewitness," I stated walking towards the consultation room. Helen paused for a moment.

  "The witness called us before he went over, and the security feed confirms his statement. I don't know where you got your information, but unfortunately the truth is that it doesn't look good for your client."

  "Any weapons found?"

  "Well, we are confident that we will have the weapon by dawn today. We doing a full swept of the place and making sure there is no procedural mistakes. The victim's family has close ties with the higher ups. They don't want any acquittals based on any improper investigation."

  I sat down at the consultation table. "Then hopefully you guys catch the real culprit and let my client go."

  Helen smiled at me, as she usually does before saying "We got the culprit... I will go get her for you."

  I shrugged at her comment and sat back waiting for Kamala to arrive for the first consultation. Helen kept me waiting for a few minutes before bringing my client. Helen came into the room first with my client in handcuffs behind her. Kamala Russ looked terrified and shaken up. She was wearing a sweatpants and short sleeve teeshirt. She was placed at the opposite side of the table.

  "Here is your client," Helen stated walking towards the door "I'll be heading to the crime scene. Backum will be outside the room if you need anything. I'll see you tomorrow morning at court for the Arraignment."

  I nodded and looked at my client for a moment. The signs of crying was evident on her face. She was shaking and stared at me before asking: "Who are you?"

  "I will be your legal representative in this matter." I stated while switching on my pad to record the consultation. "Someone out there wants to make sure you don't get punished for something you didn't do."

  "I already have a lawyer." Kamala replied.

  I did not even consider the possibility that her family would secure legal representation for her. This is what happens when you blindly take on matters from the supernatural underworld for all these years. The orders and societies usually fork out the legal fees and the client is just happy they do. With humans it is a different scenario.

  "Well," I said leaning forward, "I will be your legal representative from this point on." I knew two things:

  First, the Order wanted me to represent this woman, which meant - they would make sure that whoever she is talking about was probably leaving the city with a shit stain in his pants.

  And secondly, that I will get the information I need from the order. Kamala has no choice.

  "Let us begin."

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Kamala looked at me and with a soft tone asked if I have any cigarettes. I took out my pack in my jacket, and offered it to her. I had an old school lighter with those dancing unicorns that disappears when you flick it on.

  "I don't smoke," Kamala said lighting it. "I stopped smoking when I started my studies." Shaken she took the cigarette to her mouth and inhaled. When she exhaled she looked at me and continued: "My whole life went from amazing to shit in less than two minutes. I should have stayed at Jeff's when he offered me earlier last night."

  "Who is Jeff?" I asked.

  "His my boyfriend. We been together for 4 months." Kamala answered. "I think his cheating on me with the Blondie girl who works with him. He always deny it though."

  I could see she was trying to escape the situation she is in through focusing on other things. I simply continued with my line of questioning.

  "Do you have any previous convictions?"

  "No"

  "Have you ever been arrested for anything in your life?"

  "No," she replied "this is the first time I ever seen the inside of a police cell."

  "How old are you?"

  "I'm 25 years old," she answered "and I guess I was a student. The university has strict rules when it comes to these sort of things. I have probably been deregistered by now. I should have listened to my father when he suggested that I do a virtual program and stay at home."

  "And how do you know the deceased?"

  She stopped moving and looked into a corner before answering, "I met her during my first year of studies. We both shared similar interest and became friends. Two years ago to this day, we decided to get a place together." Kamala looked down and closed her eyes. "I can't believe she is dead. We were planning on going out tonight to celebrate... Now, she is ..."

  With nothing left to say, I made sure everything is recording and the transcription was working. After half of a minute of silence, I looked at her and stated: "How about you tell me about what happened last night." I paused for a second, "I want you to tell me everything, even the part about the man who really is responsible."

  "There was something strange about him."

  "Let's start from the beginning, if you don't mind. I need to capture everything if I am going to provide you with the defense you need."

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  "I came home from Jeff's place around Eleven. Kara was already sleeping at that time. She preferred waking up early then going to bed late. I am the same. So I fell asleep around Eleven thirty. I had to wait for Jeff to let me know he was back home." She took another inhale from the cigarette and I could see she would need another one soon.

  "I don't know the exact time I woke up during the night. But there was a scream coming from inside... It was Kara." I could see her shaking as she recalled the previous evening event's.

  She continued: "I reacted immediately, by jumping out of bed and making my way to her room." I wrote down a reminder on my notepad to ask her about why she did not call or buzz any authorities or the security in the building. She stopped for a second and continued.

  "It was dark, and her room was on the opposite end. I had to cross the living room to get there. I bumped my knee against the coffee table while making my way to her room. When I got there I found..."

  "What did you find Kamala?" I asked.

  "I found another man holding her from behind." She took a long drag from the cigarette that ended with a loud exhale and smoke. I reached into my jacket again and took out another cigarette. "Thank you."

  "Please continue." I said to her as she lit the next cigarette.

  "He was holding her from behind with his arm around her neck. She looked as if she fainted. I tried to scream." Exhaling the newly lit cigarette smoke. "But I couldn't, I guess to be honest I froze. I couldn't move at all. He stared at me and I couldn't move." She was shaking again. The cigarette at least helped it would seem. She started to be more present then when she first came into the consultation room.
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  "Then what happened?"

  "I closed my eyes as I thought he was going to properly charge at me. I was unable to move. I should have made a run for it. But my whole body just stood there." Another inhale and exhale of smoke. "I only opened my eyes after feeling a wind blow against cheek... he was gone. He just vanished."

  "And Kara?"

  "She was laying on the floor covered in blood. I rushed over to find a pulse. When I couldn't find any I knelled down beside her and checked to hear if I could find any signs of breathing." I wrote down another question to ask: Why didn't you run to get help. The man could still have been in your place. Putting four bold exclamation marks behind it.

  "I heard a knock on the door and screamed for help. Next thing I know, Our neighbor, Jackson was standing over me." She started shaking again and I looked over the transcription of what she just told me.

  "Next thing I know they are putting me in handcuffs and shoving me into the back of a police vehicle. I told them this over and over."

  Starting with the first question I wrote down, I leaned over the table and asked, "When you first heard the scream you said you did not call the police but instead you stood up and walked to her room. Why?"

  Without hesitation she answered, "Kara always had bad nightmares. This weren't the first night I had to wake her up and calm her down with a glass of water. I honesty don't know what happened to her when she was younger, but it came as a norm. I thought it was just another bad dream."

  I opened the file the Order provided and looked at the witness statement. "Your neighbor said that he heard loud screaming from your apartment. Not just one scream."