by Anjela Renee
“Mary, my sweet. How is everything?”
“Business is good.” And boring as usual.
“We have a situation I need to talk to you about.” Oh please, not another declaration of love.
“Enri, you look very upset, what is it?” She noticed that he sat and started fondling his goatee, not looking her in the eye.
“Javon got in touch with me, there is a rogue Vampire that has taken his mate.”
“Oh no, I know he’s your best friend. Are you going to help get her back?”
“Yes, but that is not why I need to talk to you. The rogue Vampire is your Maurice from the old country.”
“What do you mean, my Maurice?”
“I'm so sorry Mary, I should have told you. I thought you would leave and go back to him if I told you.”
“Are you telling me my Maurice is alive?” She couldn't believe he had lied. All these years she had been faithfully by his side. “I can't believe you never told me!”
“I’m so sorry Mary please understand, your Father shot him and left him for dead, Javon found him and saved him. Shortly after that they moved to Greece, and Sally asked me to look after you.” The look on Mary's face was the one he had been trying to avoid and dreaded all these years.
“Oh, Mary, I have waited all these years hoping you would see me as more than your sire, but it just never happened. I knew if you knew about Maurice I would never have a chance. Please, forgive me!” Enri pleaded. Please don't look at me like you hate me.
“Enri, I don't know what to say. Right now, I need to speak with Javon.”
“I will take you.”
*****
“Sally! Where are you?”
“I am here.” Sally ran and gave Javon a reassuring hug. “I am so sorry, we will get her back I promise.”
“I called Enri on the way over. He will do whatever it takes to help”
“Connor from the VC Office has issued a warrant for questioning. It was the best he could do under the circumstances.”
“Every little bit helps.”
“Come, let's get you some blood.” Sally led Javon into the kitchen. She opened the fridge, unlocked the special compartment, and retrieved two bags of blood. “Do you want it warmed up?”
“No, cold is fine.” He took the bag and bit into it, drinking it down quickly, but he took no pleasure in it. Sally warmed hers up in the microwave and put it in a cup. She sat down and sipped it through a straw, savoring it until it was gone.
“You drink that fast and you'll make yourself sick.”
“I don't care.”
The doorbell rang. Javon knew it must be Enri, he said he would be coming by. Sally got up to answer the door.
“I'll get it, and meet you in the family room.” Javon walked off as Sally went to answer the door. She opened the door and promptly fainted.
*****
Abby opened her eyes, feeling groggy and sick to her stomach. The first thing that hit her was the smell of mildew and sweat. She was lying on an old mattress on the floor of a bare room. She sat up and was hit with a monstrous headache. Giving herself a moment before she tried to stand up, she slowly tried, mostly leaning on the wall. She made it over to the door and tried turning the knob. It was locked, no surprise there. She wobbled over to the window and look out. She was on the second floor in an old farmhouse and all she could see was a cornfield and an old propane tank with Aunt Annie's Dairy Farm written on it. No neighbors in sight. She checked the closet for anything she could use to get out but it was empty. She was having trouble standing so she sat on the floor, not wanting to sit on the filthy mattress.
“I see you're awake,” Brian said as he entered the room.
“What did you give me?” Abby asked as she scowled at him.
“Just a mild sedative, perfectly safe.”
“Who are you and why did you take me?” she asked as she forced herself to stand.
“I am Brian. My boss is very interested in meeting you. He will be here soon.”
“Who would that be?”
“Maurice, but none of that matters now. I brought food in case you get hungry.” He sat the bag of food on the dresser.
“Please just let me go,” Abby pleaded as she started to cry.
“I'm sorry this had to happen, but it will all be over soon.” He left and locked the door after him. Abby was left to wonder if she would make it out alive.
*****
Lizzy sat in her small one bedroom apartment with her black cat, Spooky. She’d started having visions about Brian the night after they met.
Her visions started when she was ten years old. She would see things that no ten year old should ever see. She saw the girl in her class, Lacy, who was sick a lot that year. In her vision she saw her dying in the hospital when she was a few years older, there were tubes everywhere and her parents were by her bedside crying. That was her life until she turned 13 and the visions stopped. It was a relief not having to see death and everything that was wrong in the life of her friends, family and strangers.
They came back the night after she met Brian. She knew she was meant to help him find his way back. He was at a crossroads between good and evil, if she couldn't help him, he would be lost forever.
Her roommate, Prena came home and rushed over to Lizzy.
“Lizzy, are you okay? You look pale, are you sick?”
“It's the visions, the ones I had when I was little, they came back.”
“What can I do to help?” Prena had always accepted what Lizzy told her about her visions even though she had her doubts.
“We need to help him.”
“Who? Who do we need to help?”
“Brian, he's done something horrible.” Lizzy sat up and cleared her throat. “Prena, we need to help him.”
“Lizzy, you're starting to scare me.”
“Come with me. Together, we can work to save everyone.” Lizzy began having another vision. She saw a woman; she was packing, then a needle. It was Brian, and he stuck her with a needle then took her. The woman was in a room now and she was locked inside with no way out.
“Lizzy are you okay? You had like a seizure or something. You weren't answering me and you had a blank look on your face.
“Let's go, I think I can find him.”
“How?”
“There's no time to explain, come on.”
Lizzy and Prena were driving west of Detroit. Prena had a very old car with no working heat; she was just hoping her car would make it to wherever they were headed.
“So, are you going to tell me where we're going?”
“Aunt Annie's Dairy Farm.”
“That place closed ten years ago!”
“I know, but that's where we need to go.”
“Okay, chickee, Aunt Annie's here we come.”
Chapter 11
Brian was in the farmhouse. He had done a little shopping for supplies; the house had a little furniture but no heat, water, or electricity. He had bought some camping gear to make himself more comfortable — a portable stove, some lights, sleeping bag, and of course some food. Now that he had what he needed it was time to call Maurice again.
“Hello, Maurice.” Brian answered smugly.
“Bring me the female and all will be forgotten.” Maurice replied in a sinister tone.
“No, she stays where she is until I am turned into a Vampire.”
“And if I refuse?”
“She gets returned safe and sound, and I search for someone else to turn me.”
“It takes days to complete a turn she will be dead by the time it is complete.”
“I will give you the address after the first 24 hours.”
“You know nothing. The first day will be filled with horrible nightmares and so much pain you won’t be able to see straight.”
“That is a chance you will have to take.”
“Ugh…I will call you in one hour.” The line was dead. Brian smiled. He couldn’t believe it was going to really happen. It l
ooked like it was going to work; he would soon be a Vampire. Brian walked up the creaky old stairs to the room where his captive was being held. The one area he didn’t skimp on was an alarm for the room she was being held in. He installed it himself. It only opened two ways: by handheld remote or a code. If it went off? A light and alarm would flash on a necklace he wore. He had it planned out perfectly. He reached for the door and hit the remote, entering to find her huddled in a corner crying.
“Are you hungry? I can bring you a sandwich.” Brian asked as he entered the room.
“Please let me go. I don’t know what you want with me.”
“I don’t want anything, it’s my master Maurice who has a hard on for your boyfriend Javon. He hates him for some reason, I’m sure he will explain it all when you see him tomorrow. It will all work out, you’ll see.”
“I don’t see this turning out very well for either of us. “Abby replied with tears still in her eyes.
“What is your name?”
“Abby.”
Brian shut the door, engaged the lock, and set the alarm. He decide to make Abby a sandwich and bring her a sleeping bag to make her more comfortable.
*****
Sally was coming out of a fog, so many people where standing over her arguing. All she remembered was answering the door and standing in front of her was Mary, but that couldn’t be. Mary hung herself Enri told me himself. Sally slowly sat up. There were people all around her, Javon, Enri, Connor, and Mary. Sally ran over to Mary and immediately hugged her.
“I can’t believe you’re alive, Mary. I cried for a week when I heard you were dead.”
“Oh, Sally, I didn’t know you were one too, Enri never told me. I missed you so much.” Mary cried.
“Ladies, I hate to break up the love fest but we have more important things to discuss. Let’s take this in the next room.” Connor said, as he walked into the living room.
Sally couldn’t believe her dear friend had come back from the dead from so long ago. Sally hadn’t been able to make too many friends in the modern era and was very lonely. She was thinking of how fun it would be to have a close girlfriend again. They all sat down in the formal living room. Sally wondered what Connor was doing here and when he had arrived.
“Okay, now that everyone is seated and revived, we need to figure out what we are going to do about Maurice.” Javon stated.
“I just can’t believe my sweet Maurice, who used to bring me a flower every day, is so evil.” Mary said with sadness in her face.
“I know, Mary, you were so in love with him. He kills like it’s nothing; I don’t think he came out of the turning completely sane.” Sally said as she comforted her long lost friend.
“So let me get this straight, Javon turned Maurice and Enri turned Mary and nobody knew what the other had done?” Connor asked. Everyone nodded his or her head in agreement. Connor got up from his seat and began pacing the room. “Well, we need to lure Maurice out before he hurts Abby.”
“How do we do that?” asked Javon.
“I have an idea.” Everyone turned to look at Enri. Connor sat back down as Enri got up from his seat and moved to sit next to Mary. He placed his hand on hers, but she pulled away from him.
“Maurice loves Mary more than anything, so in order to lure him out we need to get him a message that Mary is alive. Once he’s out we can follow him back to Abby”
“This would be where my special set of skills may come in handy” Connor began. “Every Vampire leaves a unique scent behind. I’m a werewolf, so I can follow it without being detected, and we’re sneaky like that.” Connor continued.
“I will send Mary’s picture around to all the Vampire bars with a message to call to set up a reunion.” Enri responded.
“Okay, it’s settled. We have a plan to get Abby back and to arrest Maurice for his crimes.” Sally said as she hugged Mary, still excited to have her friend back. Everyone began to disburse to get ready for the plan. Mary and Sally remained in the room alone. Mary began tearing up.
“Why are you crying, Mary?” Sally asked.
“Everything. I feel like this whole thing is my fault.”
“There is nothing you could have done. Enri should have told me about you. If we want to find someone at fault it’s him. Maybe Maurice would have been okay with you by his side.” Sally pointed out.
“Please don’t blame Enri, he loves me. I just never felt the same for him,” replied Mary as she looked down at the floor.
“Let’s forget this nastiness for a while. You will stay with me for now, okay?”
“That would be great.” Mary laid her head on Sally’s shoulder; they immediately fell right back into their friendship.
*****
Lizzy and Prena were in the car on their way to the Dairy Farm. Prena was more confused than ever. She always had an open mind about things, but this was pushing it for her.
“Lizzy, you ready to really tell me what’s going on, and I mean everything?” Prena stared straight ahead waiting for a reply.
“Okay, good thing we have a little while longer in the car.”
Lizzy told Prena the whole story, from meeting Brian at the Vampire bar to having sex with Maurice, and finally the visions. When she was done telling Prena the story, they pulled off the freeway onto the ramp. They traveled down a dirt road to where the closed Dairy Farm was located. There was a sign that had a big CLOSED across it at the entrance.
“Prena, you believe me don’t you?” Lizzy asked, as they pulled over to the side of the road.
“I choose to believe until you give me reason not to, that’s the best I can do.” Lizzy gave Prena a big hug
“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Usually this would be where our friendship ended,” Lizzy said as she nibbled her nails nervously.
Prena smiled as she continued driving the car past the gate. The whole farm was apparently neglected; nothing had been maintained in ten years. They parked the car behind an old barn, hidden from the main road.
“We park here and go the rest of the way by foot.” Prena stated.
“I agree. I saw a sign to the main house, the woman I saw in my vision is being held there.”
They began walking the short distance to the main house. Lizzy was remembering when she was ten years old and came here on a class field trip. A ghost of an old woman followed her around, Aunt Annie herself. Kept asking for help, but Lizzy just ignored her. All she wanted was to be normal.
They reached the main house. They could see a dim light from the front room and some movement from the upstairs window as well.
“Now what?” asked, Prena
“I’m not sure. We just watch for now, let’s see who’s in the house.”
“Is he dangerous? Brian?”
“I don’t think so, but he’s desperate to be turned so he could do something stupid.”
*****
Maurice paced the floor of the house he was staying at. He knew he had no choice but to turn that fucking bastard. He knew an old abandoned factory that would work for the turning, Detroit was full of them.
“Brian, I’m texting the address. Meet me in one hour. Don’t be late.” he barked into the phone as he shut it. “UGH.”
Maurice texted the address to Brian and headed off to one of the Vampire bars he liked to troll for food. There was a blood whore he used often who worked there. She let him do things the others wouldn’t, he thought he could pay her to work as food for the turning. He would also need to stop at the hardware store to get chains, rope, duct tape, and a few other supplies for the turning.
*****
Enri, Javon, and Connor were meeting in the study to finalize the plans for the evening. The room was decorated with dark woods and masculine leather furniture. The room had the scent of sandalwood and old cigars. There were various golfing and fishing decorations purely for embellishment.
“Have a seat, gentleman and let’s get this underway.” Javon announced as they entered the room.
/>
It was two in the afternoon and almost no other Vampires would be awake. They made plans for that evening and hoped to get a quick response from Maurice. Enri had a couple of pictures in his phone of Mary he sent it off with a message to call to exchange Mary for Abby.
“Are you sure this will be safe for Mary?” Enri asked with a worried look on his face.
“You love her, don’t you? I can see it in your face.”
“Javon, I fell in love the moment I saw her through her bedroom window. I am a sad old man in love with what I will never have.”
“There is no shame in falling in love.”
“But you don’t keep falling for women you cannot have; first Sally now Mary, I thought in time she would begin to feel the same way, and now she’ll leave me I know it.”
“I’m sorry, old friend. Life hasn’t been fair to you. Maybe you and Sally will reunite?”
“I think it’s time for me to give up any thought of a mate, it just isn’t meant to be. Enough of my problems, let’s get your woman back.”
“Thank you for doing this, both of you.” Javon said, indicating Connor and Enri.
“I am officially not able to help in this situation, however unofficially you have my special skills as well as my pack’s help.” Connor promised.
“Let’s feed and get some rest; we will need it for tonight. Do you have extra room for everyone, Javon?”
Enri asked.
“Yes, food and blood are in the kitchen, and all rooms are lightproof.” They concluded their meeting, and went into the kitchen. Enri and Javon each had a bag of blood, which Sally graciously warmed for them. Then they all had some food. They all said good day and went to get some rest.
*****
Brian was waiting at the empty factory where he was meeting Maurice for his turning. This place was worse than house they had stayed at in the ghetto. All the windows were broken out and it smelled like someone used the whole place as a toilet. There were rusted out metal pieces everywhere and empty beer bottles and other garbage.
“You ready?” Maurice said, startling Brian as he suddenly appeared behind him.
“Shit…you scared me. Who is that?”
