The Vampire Council: Case File:1

by Steve Cunningham

  ‘Jeff you have no idea how much trouble you’re going to be in. Once the council finds out you’ve been working with a known rouge they will execute you on sight.’ Vaelen explains to Jeff but with keeping his back turned to him and facing Tessa instead.

  ‘I know about the corruption that’s happening from inside the council. And I think I know who may be behind it.’ Tessa states whilst lowering her gun, believing this will trigger a more settled atmosphere between them all. It does as Jeff lowers his too but still keeping it in his hand just in case.

  ‘I’m listening.’ Vaelen folds his arms.

  ‘Oh no I’m not going to spill anything until you agree to help us.’ Tessa turns her back to him.

  ‘I can’t work with a rogue. I have to think of the consequences.’ Vaelen gets slightly annoyed with Tessa’s games. She had always messed with Vaelen from the very first day she was recruited. She knew how to push his buttons, and this he did not like.

  ‘No one will ever have to know. And once this whole thing is sorted out you can take all the credit for figuring it all out and saving the council. How does that sound old man?’ She chuckles.

  Vaelen thinks for a moment. Running all the consequences though his head, thinking on his toes of a way in which he can stay one step ahead of Tessa at all times. Not again will he be tricked by her. His strong posture diminishes as he believes it’s the only option. ‘Fuck! Fine, who is it?’ From the instant he opened his mouth he filled with instant regret inside. But knows he must stay head strong.

  ‘Well I have information that Dirk is planning something. It’s called The Ana Programme. All the rogues I work with along with myself cannot find any piece of information about T.A.P apart from the name. That’s it. I tried to infiltrate it and become a part of it but he saw right through me and that’s when I bumped into your little recruit here’ Tessa points to Jeff and then shrugs as she has no more information to give Vaelen.

  ‘That’s not a lot of evidence to go on. But I thought Dirk would have something to do with it. It’s like 1813 all over again.’ Vaelen looks at Tessa for clarification. She nods in agreement. ‘Still, we have nothing to go on. We can’t just take him in. He’s higher than all of us in the chain of command.’

  ‘That’s why we need your help, and more time.’ Jeff butts in on Vaelen’s trail of thought.

  ‘Fuck the time!’ Vaelen checks his watch. ‘Shit I have to go.’

  Confused by what Vaelen is in such a rush for Jeff asks, ‘what’s going on Vaelen?’

  ‘Go down to reception, ask Rita which room Will is recovering in and he will tell you everything.’ Vaelen picks his gun from the floor and tucks it into the back of the waistband of his trousers. ‘Tessa, I’m trusting you on this. If I can trust you, we have a deal on me working with you.’

  ‘You can always trust me baldy. So a deal it is.’ She smiles. Vaelen nods with a snide look on his face.

  ‘What do you mean Will’s recovering?’ Jeff spurts out still confused by what Vaelen is saying.

  ‘I told you, go ask him, he’ll explain it all.’ Vaelen leaves swiftly through the doorway and heads down the stairs to get to the lift.

  Jeff quickly turns his head to Tessa. ‘What is going on?’

  Tessa lets out a big sigh, ‘go ask Will.’ Tessa runs to an edge of the rooftop that looks over an alley and jumps off.

  Jeff still tries to put pieces together and struggles as his mind has been through so much during the day’s events. Everything is a blur to him. He walks though the doorway with determination and shuts the door behind him.

  CHAPTER 21:

  OUT OF THE DARK

  Vaelen parallel parks his car in between the cars of Katie’s neighbours. When he left the neighbours were still not in, but considering the time of the day he expected them to have returned from whatever they were doing whether it be work or something personal related. He switches the engine off before removing his seatbelt. Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes momentarily he contemplates the decision he had made earlier. Putting trust into someone such as Tessa is one thing, but full knowingly putting not only his job but his life on the line is another. Tessa had always messed with Vaelen’s head. Not always intentionally but there was something about her Vaelen could not understand. Being with the council for as long as he has, he cannot think why anyone would turn against it. Not only is that practically signing your death wish but why would anyone turn their backs against an organization that keeps the peace and oneself protected. Upon opening his eyes he turns his head to the right and looks at Katie’s front door.

  At this moment in time there are a team of four vampires from the council who’s specific job it is to clean up these types of messes. He can’t help but think that this team haven’t had to clean up a mess of this nature since… The past is best kept that, the past. He thought. Vaelen looks at his reflection in his rear view mirror as he composes himself ready to enter Katie’s house once again. Having to deal with Jeff and Tessa left him no time to compile any thoughts as to what to say or discuss with her. Through training Vaelen had seen how frail and fragile Katie had been. She is still a young lady. In a way he felt sorry for someone like her to be dragged into the council. Not only the council but a council in which is slowly falling apart around them. Vaelen knew about Katie’s past, the deal with her father’s disappearance and her mother’s drug and drink addiction. A lump grew in his throat as these thoughts crossed his mind. His thoughts then suddenly switch back to the council and of what Tessa had told him. The Ana Programme? What are you planning Dirk? Does Leofric have anything to do with it? Why would Dirk align himself with one of the most feared vampire hunters. Or why would Leofric work for a vampire. He dismissed any idea that this attack on Katie’s mother as nothing more than vampire hunters becoming more ruthless with their prey and has no discernible connection with Dirk’s so called programme. Vaelen claps his hands to snap himself out of his train of thought and exits his car to face Katie once again.

  Before leaving earlier he remembered Katie standing in her bedroom staring at herself in the mirror with a gun pressed against her head. He managed to talk her into handing him the gun, but hoped that his instructions for the cleanup crew to keep an eye on her hadn’t fell on deaf ears. He had taken Katie’s keys from her before he left so that he could let himself through the front door on his return, he searched his trouser pockets as he reached the front door. He pulled out the keys from his left trouser pocket and a key ring dangling from the keys caught his attention. The key ring was roughly an inch long and was of a photograph of Katie and her mother. Katie looked considerably younger in the picture and both her and her mother had smiles on their faces. Vaelen could only assume that the original photo must’ve been taken by Katie’s father due to the pair’s happiness. Maybe this key ring belonged to him before his disappearance. Vaelen dismissed the thought quickly to focus on the task at hand as he pushed the key into the locked and turned it. He opened the door just a crack and slipped through leaving little room for his big frame to limit vision into the house just in case anyone was to be watching. As he shut the door quietly behind him he looked into the living room and saw no one except the equipment and change of clothes from the crew. Just as he turned to continue down the corridor one of the clean-up crew hearing the front door closing came out of the dining room area and made his way to Vaelen. The man was no more than five foot seven tall, had a skinny physique wearing an all in one white cleaning suit very similar to those worn by forensic teams. His scraggy blonde hair was kept in place by what was basically a shower cap. When reaching Vaelen he removed his goggles and mask so he could speak with Vaelen and get him up to speed.

  ‘Hello again sir.’ His voice was slightly high pitched for a man.

  ‘So, where are we?’ Vaelen queried.

  ‘The body was removed just shortly after you had left and we are just starting the final steps of the cleaning process right now. So it won’t be long until we are out of here.’ The
cleaner replied.

  ‘Where’s the body?’ Usually Vaelen wouldn’t concern himself with a body that had been removed but this was no normal body, he was thinking about Katie.

  ‘The body has been taken to the lab beneath The Ruby sir. It will be contained there until we return and then we shall dispose of it in an acid bath, leaving behind no evidence. The team back at the lab are already underway with completely disposing of any record of both Beth Hollister and Katie as your request.’ He explained to Vaelen.

  ‘Good. They were pretty to themselves so that shouldn’t be much of a task. But as for the body keep hold of it until I give you the orders of what to do with it.’ Vaelen states sternly looking into the man’s eyes.

  ‘May I ask why sir?’

  ‘This isn’t just another death of our own. This is a mortal. Not only a mortal but a recruit’s mother. She should decide what to do with the body.’

  ‘But sir, mortal or not for evidence sake the body must be disposed of the correct way, our way.’ As this sentence comes from the man’s mouth Vaelen suddenly comes over with a hint of anger. A frown appears on his face.

  ‘You will do as I say and I will hear no more about it. Her body shall remain right where it is. If I do not see it on my return I will have your head. If you think I’m joking around with you, just get rid of the body and find out.’ Vaelen hissed at the man. The man stood back at the realisation that Vaelen was being deadly serious.

  ‘Ok sir.’ His voice shivered with slight fear at Vaelen’s imposing presence.

  ‘What about the other task I issued you and your team to do?’

  The man pauses has he remembers what Vaelen had asked them to do. ‘Oh yes the girl. We removed a chair from the dining room and placed it in the kitchen so she could sit close by. We’ve been on a constant rotation keeping an eye on her as you requested.’

  ‘That girl has a name.’ Vaelen begins to grow annoyance towards the man. ‘Get back to work. And hurry with it.’

  The man’s eyes widen, ‘yes sir!’ He rushes back into the dining room with a scurry.

  Vaelen makes his way into the kitchen and relieves the man watching Katie of his duty and demands he return to his crew to give Katie and himself privacy. Vaelen shuts the kitchen door behind him. Katie is sat on a wooden chair placed in front of the oven. Her head is slumped. Her hair covers her face from Vaelen as she stares toward the tiled floor. Vaelen spots the tiles around her feet have small puddles on them, he deduces this is most likely due to her tears. Vaelen knows to handle this situation with care. ‘Katie, I’m back.’ His voice is soft as to not alarm her.

  Silence falls between them. Katie doesn’t move her head. ‘I heard.’ Her voice is solemn, empty, as though her soul has left her.

  ‘Then you must’ve heard what I said.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘So what shall we do? I know you never thought you’d have to think about this until years to come, but I’m afraid we have to do this fast and now.’ As harsh as this sounded it was the truth, so Vaelen didn’t hold back as he didn’t want to play around with her emotions at this crucial time.

  ‘Vaelen.’ Her voice is quiet. She turns her head and brushes her hair around the back of her right ear so she can look into Vaelen’s eyes. ‘There is no choice is there? So why say I’m making the decision?’ Her eyesight becomes blurry as tears begin to fill her eyes once more.

  ‘Usually no. But given who’s body it is, and under the circumstance in which this death occurred, I’m over ruling and giving you that choice.’ Vaelen believes this is the best he can offer.

  Katie slowly raises to her feet, her shoulders remained slumped as she has barely any strength to hole herself up. The tears that began to appear stay static under her eyes as she is all cried out. ‘I heard the man.’ Her body shakes. ‘I don’t exist. And neither does she.’

  Vaelen can’t look into her eyes and witness her pain. Seeing someone so innocent in this state is one of the most painful things he has witnessed. This shocks him as he has seen some horrific things in his time. ‘As protocol dictates, any records of the deceased and yourself must be stricken from every source possible. It’s a way we keep our council a secret.’ Vaelen hates himself for having to talk to Katie in such a professional manner and not consoling her like a normal person would do to someone this grief stricken.

  ‘What about my extended family? You can’t erase their memories of our existence.’ Katie wipes her eyes with the back of her hands.

  ‘Any extended family will be fed a false story which will be complied at a later date which will insure their knowledge that the both of you are no longer technically around.’

  ‘Well technically one of us isn’t!’ Katie snaps with anger.

  ‘Katie. Please, try and stay calm.’ The pain in Vaelen’s heart grows, but her outburst causes him to look at her once more.

  ‘Stay calm. Stay calm! I’m not sure you’re aware of this Vaelen but I witnessed a man kill my mother. After shooting Will, and tried to kill me the first day I was dragged into this shit. So don’t you fucking dare tell me to calm down!’ She shouts as she slams her fist down on the kitchen counter.

  ‘Yes Katie I’m aware of everything that has been happening. And we’re just as baffled as you as to why this has happened.’ Vaelen exhales to keep himself from shouting back at Katie. ‘Nothing like this has happened since the council was tasked with the protection of those not just involved in the council but their families as well. Jacqueline has been busting her hump non-stop trying to figure out how Leofric came across new recruits the very day they became members. The fact of the matter is, as much as I’m about to hate myself for saying this so bluntly. But what happened has happened. There’s no more we can do but follow protocol for the time being and begin to try and get to the bottom of this. So again I shall ask. What would YOU like to do with your mother’s body?’ Vaelen was kicking himself inside for being so up front.

  Katie looks down toward the floor. ‘Do as the man said.’ Katie’s fists clench. Vaelen spots this.

  ‘You don’t really want that.’ He states trying to get her to tell the truth.

  ‘As I said, there is no other choice. So just follow protocol.’ Katie cannot bring herself to cry.

  ‘As you wish Katie.’ Vaelen rubs his head as he knows there is no point in arguing.

  ‘The council is bollocks.’ Katie snaps.

  ‘As I’ve said, this event was unforeseen. Usually yes we are able to keep everyone protected.’ Frustration appears in his voice.

  ‘I want out Vaelen.’ Katie’s voice displayed sureness. ‘I don’t exist. I want to leave. And have no part in any of this anymore.’

  ‘You just said it yourself Katie. You don’t exist. You won’t be able to look after yourself in the real world now.’

  ‘The council couldn’t even look after me! So what’s the difference?’ She shouts.

  ‘If you leave, you’ll be considered a rogue and be hunted not only be vampire hunters but vampires of the council too. And with the basic knowledge and training you’ve received you will not last long out there.’ The truth can hurt Vaelen thought as he spoke.

  ‘Fuck! There must be a way?’ Desperation resides in her voice.

  ‘You know deep down and I know that staying under the council’s wing is the only option, for a life and protection.’

  ‘Shit.’ Katie exhales. Pause.

  In the background the sound of men mumbling and the front door being opened and closed can be heard. ‘Sounds like they are all finished. I can understand if you do not wish to stay here. You’re more than welcome to ride with me back to The Ruby. I believe Will maybe awake by now so you can see how he is and stay with him.’ Vaelen believes using Will as a bargaining chip may persuade her to join him.

  ‘I don’t want to see him.’ Katie seemed pretty sure with this reaction to Vaelen’s plan.

  ‘I thought the two of you were, well, you know.’ Vaelen becomes confused.

  ‘We are
… were… I don’t know.’ Katie shakes her head and runs her hand down her face as she tries to think. ‘If he. If he wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have been upstairs away from my mum. I could’ve stopped him straight away.’

  ‘Katie. You haven’t changed yet. Yes you are an amazing gun handler and your shot is impeccable. Not to mention your athleticism. But your judgement would’ve been way off. Will told me you froze.’

  ‘I…’ Katie surrenders as she knows this was the truth.

  ‘Don’t cast him aside so easily. As much as he may get on my nerves, he has thrown himself in front of a bullet twice now for you. Now what does that tell you?’ Vaelen shrugs as he puts his hands in his trousers pockets as he knows she will have no comeback to his statement.

  Katie slumps back down into the chair. Silence. The silence lingered between the two of them for what seemed like minutes. Vaelen removes his hands from his pockets and opens the kitchen door behind him. ‘I guess you’re staying here then.’ Vaelen waits for a reply but Katie doesn’t speak or move. He takes her body language as a yes and leaves her as he turns and makes his way to the front door of the house. Slam.

  Katie remains sat on the chair for a few moments before wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands once more. Suddenly her ears prick up as she hears a noise coming through the window facing her garden. She gets herself up and heads into the hallway. She stops herself as she reaches the door way of the dining room. She stares in. She gets hit with a sense of deliriousness as what was no more than a few hours ago a blood soaked room containing the headless body of her mother, was now as pristine and clean she had ever seen it. Through the shock of what had occurred in this room she could not help but think deep down how on earth they got the room so spotless considering the mess that was made. She snaps back into reality as she remembers why she came to this room in the first place and that was to head through the French doors separating the dining room from the garden. She slowly steps into the room deliberately avoiding stepping on where she remembered her mother’s body once lay. She looks into the garden. As it was night visibility was poor, the dining room light and the kitchen light together lit a portion of the garden but not enough to see what had made the noise. Katie looks around her and picks up a relatively thick magazine that was on the dining room table. She rolls the magazine up into a make shift weapon thinking that it may be a fox or a similar animal. She wanted to protect herself with something just in case. She slides the French door open and steps out slowly. Slowly stepping one foot in front of the other she makes her way further into the garden. Suddenly the outline of two man sized figures appears in her eye line, their faces and bodies covered by the darkness of the night.