The Vampire Council: Case File:1

by Steve Cunningham

  Jeff shuts the window behind her and looks around the room before perching himself on the edge of the bed. What am I doing? Jeff throws his face into his hands as fear begins to fill his heart.

  CHAPTER 11:

  IT’S NOT CANON

  Jacqueline takes a drag from her cigarette. The feeling of the hot smoke entering her lungs always gave her a sense of feeling. It’s the one thing from her previous life she has held onto. She taps her nails against her desk as she reads from a file open on her computer screen. She folds her legs, slips off her heels and edges herself forward closer to the computer screen. The light from the monitor illuminates her face. The look of panic yet intrigue strikes her face as she reads deeper into the file. This is not normal. She takes one last drag from her cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray next to her computer. All her concentration is now on this file. She rustles in her seat getting more and more agitated. She cannot keep herself from fidgeting as she scrolls further through the file. The name Leofric catches her eye. She quickly minimizes the file and opens a folder on her desktop marked ‘Known Hunters’. Within this folder there are ten more folders marked one to ten. Known vampire hunters are categorized to their level of threat. One being the least threatening and ten being the truly dangerous hunters. Jacqueline didn’t want to waste her time searching through folder by folder so moved her curser to a search option at the bottom of the open window. She squints her eyes to see what she was typing due to the lack of light. Her nails tap down on the keys. L. E. O. F. R. I. C. She hovers her finger over the enter key in hesitation. Her body shivers as she inhales a deep breath through her nose and closes her eyes. Please. Her finger slams on the enter key. The folders automatically start opening until the file on Leofric was located. Jacqueline places her hands in her lap and exhales. Please. She opens her eyes. The Leofric file had been located. She looks closely at the folder address bar at the top of the folder. The number ten stares back at her.

  ‘Shit!’

  She slams her fist on her desk shaking the computer monitor. She slumps back into her chair and slams her hands onto her face. Her breathing becomes more heavy and fast. She reaches for a cigarette box on her desk. She brings it to her face as she opens it. All out. She scrunches up the empty packet and chucks it across the room into the darkness. I should have more. Her hand flings open the top drawer of the desk. She leans in closely to have a look inside. Nothing but files. The top drawer slams as the drawer below gets pulled open. She reaches in with her hand to feel around. Nothing but pens and other office equipment. Rage begins to boil inside Jacqueline as she opens the last drawer. Her hand reaches in.

  ‘Oh thank fuck.’

  She pulls out an unopened packet of cigarettes. Her rage calms as she rips it open and pulls out a cigarette. She throws the packet onto the desk and picks up her lighter. Giving the cigarette a sniff she releases a sigh of relief as she places it between her lips. The flame from the lighter lights up her face as she lights her cigarette. A state of ecstasy is spread across her face. She grabs the ashtray from the desk and slumps back into her desk making herself comfy wanting to take her mind off what she had just found out. She shuts her eyes. A loud knock echoes through the dark room. Jacqueline’s eyes shoot open. She puts out the cigarette in the ashtray before placing it back on the desk. She flicks a switch on the side of her desk which floods the room with light. She straightens out her suit. Sits up straight. Finally fixes her hair before pulling her skirt straight. She prided herself on her professional appearance. ‘Come in.’

  Vaelen enters through the door.

  ‘Ah Vaelen. What’s the situation with the recruits?’

  Vaelen stands in front of the desk. ‘Will is resting in a room upstairs and I’ve just come back from making sure Katie got home safely.’

  ‘And Jeff?’ Jacqueline enquires.

  ‘I’m not sure but my best guess is he went straight home to his family.’

  ‘Yes I suppose a smart man would.’

  Vaelen notices Jacqueline’s slightly spooked.

  ‘Take it you’ve seen my report. I’m just glad I was there when I was. In a way if you didn’t send me out to hunt for rogues I never would’ve heard the gunshots.’

  Jacqueline slumps her elbows onto the desk and holds her head in her hands. ‘Why was Leofric here?’

  ‘We’re bound to come across vampire hunters.’

  Jacqueline jumps to her feet in anger and slams her hands down on the desk. ‘Not a level ten threat vampire hunter you don’t. Especially on your first day.’ That outburst took it all out of her; she slams back down into her chair. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap.’

  ‘I understand. This is an absurd occurrence.’ Vaelen looks on at Jacqueline who’s deep in thought staring at her computer screen.

  ‘This was no accident.’ Jacqueline looks away from the monitor and into Vaelen’s eyes very seriously.

  ‘What are you suggesting?’ asks Vaelen.

  ‘I’m suggesting dear Vaelen that he had been hired. No one outside of the council knows when and who we recruit.’

  Vaelen understands what Jacqueline is getting at. ‘And even if this knowledge was to leak, the vampire hunter clan wouldn’t send out one of their toughest men. They’re best reserved for vampires my rank.’

  Jacqueline grins slightly that Vaelen is following the same path of thought she is taking. ‘Exactly. So what other explanation is there. There is none. Someone had hired Leofric to track down and kill the new recruits.’

  Vaelen walks closer to the desk and leans over it holding himself up with his arms. ‘I know what you’re thinking. We have a traitor.’

  Jacqueline leans in close to Vaelen and looks him directly in the eyes. ‘As I’ve already said. No one outside of the council could know this information. Someone’s up to something. And it’s obvious it’s something not good.’

  Vaelen steps away from the desk as memories flood his mind of the last time he believed he had caught a traitor. ‘That’s a very serious allegation.’

  Jacqueline opens the second drawer of her desk and pulls out a nail file. She begins to file her nails as she leans back in her chair. ‘And I’m taking this seriously. I shall message the council members and arrange a meeting to discuss this. If we do a traitor we’ll find them in no time.’

  ‘Whilst you do that I’ll see what I can find out in the streets. Maybe there’s some information about this floating around the rogues. And I’ll keep a closer watch on our recruits; with Leofric on the scene you can never be too careful.’

  Jacqueline slips out another cigarette from the packet on her desk and lights it.

  ‘You should cut down you know. Not good for you.’ Vaelen smiles.

  ‘Well it’s not like I’m going to die.’ Jacqueline laughs, ‘now go. Haven’t you got a job to do?’

  ‘Yes ma’am.’ Vaelen turns towards the door and shuts it behind him.

  Vaelen heads into the main entrance lobby of the hotel. He spots Rita behind the front desk and walks over to her. He has an idea. ‘Rita.’

  Rita’s startled as her thoughts were miles away. ‘Oh good morning sir.’

  ‘Could you please get me all the files we have on a rogue vampire named Tessa and have them sent to my room? As quick as you can.’ Vaelen taps the desk twice with his fist as he turns to walk towards the elevator.

  ‘Yes sir. Right away sir.’ Rita quickly types in the name Tessa into the computer system. A file opens on the right hand side there’s all her general information. Name, date of birth, height. On the left shows a picture of Tessa. That’s the woman Jeff was with. Rita’s eyes widen as she comes to this realisation. ‘Erm, Vaelen sir?’ Rita shouts to get his attention before he steps into the elevator. Vaelen stops and heads back towards the front desk.

  ‘Yes Rita?’

  ‘I saw this Tessa earlier.’

  Vaelen attention is captured. ‘Where?’

  ‘She was up in Jeff’s room, they were…’ She stops herself
from saying anymore. She knew she had no power to give vampires rooms because of possible security breaches. Added with the fact she didn’t want to remind herself of what she had witnessed them doing.

  ‘Hold it. Jeff’s in a room? Why?’ Vaelen becomes confused.

  ‘Well he was attacked earlier.’

  ‘Was it Leofric? What am I saying he wouldn’t still be here if it was.’

  Rita looks down at the desk. Vaelen can tell she knows who by. But she looks tired so he decides to drop it. ‘Never mind. Just print me off those files and send them to me. Once you’re done with that, go home.’

  Rita looks up at Vaelen and smiles. It’s not too often a higher ranked vampire shows her compassion. ‘Thank you sir. I could really use the rest.’ She begins the printing process of the files.

  ‘Couldn’t we all Rita. Never a dull moment in the world of vampires.’ Vaelen gives Rita one last smile as he walks away back towards the elevator. I have a feeling things are going to get much more interesting soon.

  CHAPTER 12:

  MISSION TIME

  One week later.

  The sun beams down on a busy town centre. Shops located in rows either side of a walkway bustling with mortals going about their businesses and general shopping. A series of benches runs through the centre of the walkway. Teenagers on bikes ride through. Parents holding their children’s hands walking them to the shops. Or in some cases dragging them. Elderly citizens walk slowly alone or as couples, getting out in the sun, making the most out of the good weather.

  ‘This is ridiculous. There are people everywhere.’ Jeff mentions. Jeff and Katie are sat on one of the benches facing an ally way in between shops. Both are kitted out all in black. Black trousers, black shirts and black shoes. Both also sporting a long black raincoat which is standard to hide their weapons.

  ‘I’m not going to lie; I am sweltering in this heat.’ Katie pulls out a tissue from her trouser pocket and wipes some sweat from her forehead.

  ‘You’re not the only one. All black uniforms in the hot sun. What smart bastard came up with that?’ Jeff wipes the sweat off his forehead with his jacket sleeve. ‘And wearing a long black jacket in the middle of this heat looks very inconspicuous.’

  ‘Vaelen said these jackets are protocol.’ Katie looks around at all the mortals walking around. She spots a teenage girl with her mother laughing and joking walking arm in arm. She fights back some tears as her mind fills with thoughts of her mother and how their relationship is no longer like that. Silence has fallen between the two of them. Jeff hates awkward silences and decides to break the awkwardness.

  ‘How’s life been treating you since the Leofric incident?’ Jeff realised instantly as that name rolled off his tongue that this could make things a tad more awkward between them. But to his relief Katie answers.

  ‘As good as it could be I suppose. I’ve seen Will every day since. He’s been helping me take my mind off things.’ Katie smiles to herself as she begins to think about the times her and Will had been sharing the past week.

  ‘So you and him getting close then?’ Jeff asks.

  Katie could tell by his tone of voice that he was implying something was happening between the two of them.

  Katie shrugs. ‘Well in a sense yes. He’s the only person that understands what I’m feeling as he’s going through the exact same thing. No offense. Didn’t ask you, well because you have a family of your own and thought it might be hard to explain to your wife who your new younger female friend was.’

  Jeff shuffles on the bench as the mention of his wife puts him on edge as he has been too busy with work and helping Tessa on the side that he hasn’t spent much time with her. ‘I understand completely. Living with this curse and a family is difficult enough without bringing a lady friend home every day.’ Jeff spots Katie turn slightly away from him as she folds her legs and looks towards the ground. ‘So what about your family? Mother, father? Brothers, sisters?’

  Katie turns back towards Jeff as she begins to answer his question, but still facing the ground in front of her. ‘I’m an only child. My dad died when I was five. I live alone with my mum. And trust me that has enough problems in its self.’

  Jeff could tell this was a tough subject for Katie to talk about. Especially to someone she only met a week ago and hadn’t seen since. ‘So you still haven’t changed yet?’

  Katie looks up at Jeff relieved the subject was now off her family life. ‘No. Not yet. It’s strange. Vaelen said I’m the first recruit to not ever change within the first few days of becoming a vampire. I feel like I may hinder missions if I’m unable to change.’

  Jeff looks around the walkway at the crowds of mortals walking around. ‘I don’t think any of us will be changing today. Can’t risk any of these people seeing us as vampires.’

  Katie nods in agreement and proceeds to wipe sweat off her forehead again. ‘I think this sun is giving me heat stroke. Who are we after again?’

  Jeff takes out his special phone they were given by Rita on their first day. He thumbs a few keys to open their mission brief. The file opens, he scrolls through as he reads. ‘A rogue vampire. Been killing drug dealers and stealing their narcotics. Then selling them on for the obvious one hundred per cent profit. Possibly connected to a ring of vampire drug dealers. Our mission is to capture one of these rogues and bring them in for questioning to retrieve information on the hideout and who’s in charge.’ Jeff closes the file and puts the phone back in his pocket.

  ‘Seems a pretty straight forward mission. But how do we know one of these rogues will turn up?’ Katie shocks herself with what she is saying. She hated what had happened to her and the mess she was now in, but couldn’t help embrace it.

  ‘Vaelen let leak fake police files about a high class drug dealer been spotted down this city centre wearing a brightly coloured Hawaiian shirt. He knew it wouldn’t take long for the rogues to come across this information and look out for this drug dealer.’

  ‘Whoever they send to kill this dealer will have quite a shock when they come across Will.’ Katie smiles to herself as she thinks about Will wearing a Hawaiian shirt.

  Both Jeff and Katie’s phones begin to ring. They both get them out and answer them. ‘It’s on bitches.’ Will’s voice is on the other end of the call. Jeff and Katie look to the ally way in front of them as the notice a man walking slowly down it checking all the doorways one by one. They put their phones away and concentrate closely on the ally way. ‘This might be our guy, stay focused.’ Jeff states to Katie in a stern voice.

  ‘It’s Will that needs to be focused right about now.’ Katie points out that the man has stopped at the doorway in which Will is standing in.

  The sunlight illuminates the doorway Will is standing in. The mysterious man stops in front of Will. Takes of his sunglasses and looks Will up and down, scrunching his face up to Will’s outfit. Will cannot help but agree with the man’s disgust at his clothes. Will feels uncomfortable wearing loose cut off jean shorts, sandals and a horrible bright blue Hawaiian shirt covered with bright pink and yellow flowers. He begins to miss his tight shirts and skinny jeans, but forces himself to think about the mission ahead and gets into character.

  ‘You got anything man?’ The man asks.

  ‘Got some cocaine if you’re after it? How much you got?’ Will smiles softly, he feels like a movie star.

  ‘How much you holding?’

  ‘Got two grand worth, you want it?’ Will begins to get more into his role.

  ‘That’s a bit steep for me mate.’

  ‘You look a decent bloke. I tell you what. I’ll sell you half of what I have for one and a half grand. Think about it, share it with your mates, go to a strip club, snort it off some strippers arse, have some fun.’ Will holds back from laughing out loud at what he had just suggested.

  The man slams both his hands either side of Will’s shoulders on the wall trapping him. ‘Actually I think I’ll be taking it all. For free.’ The man’s voice turns vicious.r />
  Will doesn’t flinch. ‘Now we both know that’s just silly. I’ve got twelve kids at home to feed. And a very huge wife, the size of a whale you see. She needs feeding to, and lord knows that bitch needs to eat twenty four seven. She once ate a pie as I fucked her. Well I think I was fucking her, too many rolls, could’ve just been rubbing my dick in between them.’

  The man looks confused at what Will is saying. ‘Oh funny man are we. You won’t be laughing now.’ The man’s eyes change to darkness and hisses as he opens his mouth revealing his fangs.

  ‘I can do that too.’ Will then changes into his vampire form. The man jumps back figuring out that this was a set up.

  ‘Gotcha prick. Ha, you should’ve seen the look on your…’ Before Will could finish his sentence the man punched him across the face sending him to the ground. The man quickly changes back to his human form and runs back down the alley way towards the shops.

  Jeff and Katie had set themselves up ready to retrieve the man by standing either side of the alley way. The man runs out straight past Jeff and heads down the walkway towards the main road.

  ‘Isn’t that our man?’ Jeff asks as he quickly turns to Katie. Katie shrugs as Will walks out in pain holding his nose.

  ‘That fucker punched me!’ Will spits out blood. ‘Are we going to chase him or not?’ Will sprints off through a group of teenage girls pushing one to the ground. The girls shout and scream at Will as they help their friend up. Jeff and Katie run off after him. Katie turns back to the girls, ‘I’m so sorry,’ she turns back and continues to run.

  Due to the amount of people in the town centre it was impossible for the man to get a good lead as he had to dodge and push through the crowds. The rookies gain up to him quite quickly. The man periodically looks around to see where they are and panics as they gain on him. Not paying attention he smacks his foot against a bench leg in turn tripping him. The rookies close the gap even more.