Catalyst: A Red Dog Thriller (The Altered Book 1)

by Blou Bryant

  Dressed in all black, with a red lined cloak, he hardly filled his chair. His body and face showed him to be more teen than terror, pimples over blotchy skin that had a sickly golden hue. Linkin took a long drink out of a chalice. “Ah, the blood is the life, and the life is the blood.” Wyatt leaned back into the old couch, letting it swallow him, and relaxed. Hannah and Teri joined him.

  Vasca leaned over and grabbed the chalice out of Linkin’s hand. He took a sniff of the cup. “Regular or diet Coke?” he asked.

  “Vasca, don’t,” Linkin whined, and grabbed the cup back. “Why do you always do that?”

  “What, spoil your show?” asked Vasca.

  Linkin complained, “You always do this, come on, be nice to me, please, can’t you? Why can’t you give me respect?” He waited for a reply and when none came, said, “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to get angry.”

  Vasca leaned over and held his hands out to the fire. “Don’t worry about it, Link, it’s gotta be stressful being king of the vampires.”

  “Thank you,” the other replied, as if Vasca had given in to him.

  “How’s the vampire business, anyhow?”

  Linkin replied to Vasca with complete seriousness, “It’s not a business, it’s a life. It’s who we are, who we were born to be.”

  Sandra stood a few feet behind the chair and Wyatt saw her roll her eyes theatrically at Teri, who formed what was an attempt at a smile.

  Vasca didn’t reply and Esaf rolled over an old office chair. “Linkin, I need your lab.”

  “That was clear already from your text messages. Why do you need it?”

  “Mine is out of commission.”

  “I saw that on the news. The internet is going crazy about Chicago killers on the run and I’ve heard you’re helping them,” he said with a glance over his shoulder at the three on the couch. “Is that them with Teri?”

  Vasca didn’t bother lying. “Yes, it’s them. They’re none of your business, so ignore them, they’re not your problem.”

  “You brought them, they’re in my house so yes, they’re now my problem,” replied Linkin.

  “No,” said Vasca, “Mind your own business, I’ll mind mine. You don’t need any details about them, so shut up.”

  Linkin looked furious, he stood up, “I don’t need to know?” he yelled. “I don’t need to know? This is my coven you’ve brought them to, do you know the danger we’re in? The authorities in town would love any excuse to invade my sanctuary. How dare you tell me to shut up?”

  At his raised voice, two people came in from a side door, both with long, ornate swords in their hands. One was a large girl, the other a boy with short legs, broad across shoulders and a dim look on his face. The boy asked, “Is everything OK here, Sire?”

  Sandra turned and took three long steps so that she was between them and Vasca. Wyatt noted she had one arm under her shirt at the back and he could see what looked like the handle of a gun.

  Vasca laughed, “Sire? When did you start that?”

  Teri clicked and when her father turned to look at her, she signed furiously. He signed back. She made a two angry clicks.

  Vasca sighed in the direction of his daughter and said to Linkin, “Forgive me, I’m being rude. Esaf asked about your laboratory. You’re right, we need your help and I should be more polite and respectful.”

  “Thank you,” said Linkin, with what sounded like relief. His back to the two in the door, he said, “Did I call you? I did not, how dare you disturb my guests and me. You’re not needed here. I will deal with your insubordination later.” They hesitated and Linkin turned to them, “What are you waiting for?” They stepped out of the room.

  To Vasca, Linkin said in a low voice, “Things aren’t all perfect here, it’s hard to maintain order among the Converted, they’re headstrong. How do you keep your people in line?”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Linkin. What types of issues are you having?” asked Vasca.

  “They want to go faster. The transformation isn’t quick enough, they want more and I can’t give it to them” Linkin replied.

  Wyatt hardly listened. He was exhausted and was starting to feel faint. The thought of a room and a bed had a lot of appeal right now. Teri leaned into him and he didn’t mind the touch at all, the two of them sat and waited for someone to point them toward somewhere to sleep.

  Vasca nodded agreement. “We don’t have that problem anymore, but I’ve heard a lot of the Altereds continue to push technology beyond where it’s able to go. I’m well aware of the costs,” he said and looked at Teri.

  Esaf pulled himself closer. He didn’t look Linkin in the eyes, staring at the ground, both hands tight on his own thighs. “I may be able to help if you let me use your lab. I’m close. I’m very close.”

  Linkin’s eyes lit up. “You’d share?”

  Esaf looked to Vasca, who nodded. “Yes, if you help us, I’ll share.”

  “Is it something they got?” asked Linkin, with a nod at Wyatt and Hannah, “I saw they raided a bio company, killed people, and blew part of the place up.”

  Vasca didn’t reply and instead pointed at Esaf. “He needs your lab. The rest of us need rooms.”

  “For how long?”

  Esaf said, “It will take as long as it takes.”

  “How much are you offering to pay for this?”

  “Isn’t our promise of sharing the results, enough, more than enough for you?” asked Vasca.

  “You’ve got police on your tail, and I’m taking a lot of risks.”

  “I thought your parents left you a load of money.”

  Linkin shook his head and whined, “There was some, but it goes quickly.”

  “You blew it already? Fine, how you spend your cash is your business, I can transfer enough cash to cover the time and use of the laboratory.”

  Wyatt tuned out as the two negotiated a price, and was happy when Vasca told them to get their things from the van. He didn’t have anything in it, but joined Sandra and Hannah, for something to do.

  The trio walked from the house in the dark and arrived at the van to find Rocky staring down four black-clad youth, three men and one woman. They were an ugly group, their faces and bodies not right in one way or another. Aside the two they’d seen in the house earlier were two middle-aged men who looked like they should be at home on a couch, not in the dark playing at being vampires.

  “Is there a problem?” asked Sandra.

  “Hey girl,” said Rocky. “They don’t like where I parked and seem to think they can look through the van.”

  “Need our help?” Sandra asked.

  “With these?” he said, and pointed at the four. “Don’t be insulting, San.”

  “True dat, sorry Rock,” she said. “I’m going to grab our stuff, they’re almost done haggling.”

  The largest of the four vampires said, “I don’t think so. You can go back to whatever trash-heap you came from.” He was broad across the shoulders but had short, thin legs. He had the makings of a beard, but it only covered portions of his face, thick in places and wispy in others.

  Hannah said, “What’s your problem?” Wyatt was learning that her mouth was a direct conduit for her brain, no filter between the two.

  The boy said, “We don’t talk to meat.”

  Wyatt wanted to laugh at how pretentious these little kids were but kept his mouth shut. It’d be like trying to converse with a house cat. Some crazy can’t be fixed, he thought.

  Hannah didn’t agree and said, “Have you always been a jerk, or is that something you learn once you sign up?”

  One of the three other vampires, a tall, pudgy, and balding middle-aged man, stepped up and said, “Come on, they’re not worth our time. Eventually, they’ll be dinner and nothing more.”

  “Eventually?” said Hannah.

  He looked at her dismissively. “Once the singularity arrives and our transformation is complete, we’ll rule the world. Normals like you will no longer be needed any more than cows or chickens
are now.”

  “Wow,” said Hannah, “delusional much? What’s this special event that’ll transform you from losers to winners? It sounds like a nice dream.”

  The short legged vampire said, “Watch your mouth when you talk to your betters, meat bag.”

  Wyatt watched this with tired amusement and wished only for bed. He was feeling hot, a fever was coming on again and he knew his body needed rest. The vampires appeared to be a toothless lot.

  “It’s OK, Vir,” said the pudgy one. “I taught the dog to fetch. When the singularity arrives, I’ll take care of these simple creatures as well.”

  “When a dog barks, I don’t bark back, but go ahead, you can be our St. Francis and make nice with the animals.”

  The tall man turned back at Hannah and said, “The singularity is the day where a superintelligence emerges that will guide our evolution in ways that mortals like you can’t ever understand. A chosen few will be given immortality and the ability to transform themselves into higher beings.”

  Hannah laughed out loud. “If by higher beings, you mean stoned numbnuts, then you guys are already there,” she said. “Do you put each other to bed with that fable?”

  She’d had pushed one too many buttons and the girl pulled a knife from her belt and pointed it at her. “Shut up, meatbag,” she said, “or I’ll drain you right now.” Wyatt saw her clear disdain for them written across her pimple covered her face.

  “Now, Lawrisa, anger isn’t our way,” said the tall one.

  Vir said, “Cura, let me take the lead, we’re done talking,” and pulled a knife as well. “We don’t tolerate insults.” As he finished speaking, Sandra caught him by surprise with a fist to his chin. He fell to the ground but bounced up quickly and stabbed at her.

  The fourth vampire had pulled a knife as well. He’d picked Wyatt as his fight partner, but didn’t move forward. Wyatt put up his fists, and backed up a step. He wanted nothing of a fight, especially with crazy vampire wannabes with knives. “Guys,” he started to say when Rocky slammed one hand into Vir’s side. The boy crumpled to the ground.

  Cura now had a knife out as well and the three remaining vampires moved forward in unison.

  Sandra pulled a gun and pointed it at the group. “Didn’t you ever hear, don’t bring a knife to a gunfight?” She pointed it at each of them in turn. “How about…”

  “What are you doing?” came Esaf’s raspy voice from behind them.

  Back to his feet, Vir said, “Get out of here, old man,” as the tall scientist walked up to the group.

  Esaf ignored him and said, “Sandra, put your gun away.”

  “But they have…”

  Esaf walked past her and stood in front of Cura. “I can see they have weapons, there is no need to state the obvious. Now, do as I told you and put your gun away.”

  She complied immediately this time. Esaf motioned for the rest of his group to move back, and the four did, although Wyatt had to give Hannah a gentle tug. She appeared to be spoiling for a fight, knives or not.

  “Do you still call yourself Cura?” said Esaf.

  The other man looked surprised. “You know me? I don’t recognize you.”

  Esaf shrugged. “I read a piece you wrote for the transaltered community website. There was a picture of you over the article.”

  “That was…” the man had to stop and think.

  “It was August, eight years ago. I didn’t realize you’d joined this group. I’m surprised. Their philosophies are rather simple by your standards. You were wrong, but there were some interesting insights in your article.”

  Vir moved towards Esaf, his knife in front of him. “I don’t know who you are, old man, but get lost.”

  “Put your knife down, there is no need for violence. We have reached a deal with your leader, and will be staying the night.”

  “Ha, he’s letting people like you infest our home? Another weak decision by a weak man.”

  Esaf raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you follow him?”

  “I follow the blood.”

  Wyatt laughed at the ridiculousness of how affected these people where. Vir turned at him with his knife and a snarl at the insult. Wyatt stepped back and just managed to avoid the blade. The next thrust was directed at his gut and he was off-balance, unable to move quickly enough to avoid it.

  He prepared himself to be stabbed but just before the knife reached him, Vir dropped it to the ground with a scream. Esaf had moved faster than Wyatt could have imagined. He’d reached out with his long arm, a surgical knife at the tip of his fingers, and had cut Vir across the back of his wrist.

  Esaf stood between the two of them, a small surgical knife now in each hand. He said, “Enough. You’re just a child playing child’s games. You’re not altered, you’re not changed, you’re just a boy who wants to be something different. Right now, you’re just someone wasting my time.”

  “I’m a vampire.”

  “No you’re not. You’re a fool.”

  “Who the hell are you?”

  “I’m a man, a surgeon, and I have a lifetime of training in how to use a blade. I just used mine to cut your extensor tendons.”

  Recognition flashed on Cura’s face. “You’re Esaf?” he said, awe in his voice.

  “I am.”

  Vir had dropped to one knee, his good hand cradling the other and looked up in sudden fear. “You’re him?”

  Esaf ignored him. “You four will return to the house while my compatriots gather their things. There will be no more violence, is that understood?”

  “I do, and I’m sorry. Times are stressful, you understand?” Cura bowed his head.

  “I do,” said Esafe. “Now move along.”

  Cura pushed and pulled the others back towards the house, they retreated quickly and quietly. As the vampires retreated, Wyatt could hear the girl ask Cura, “Who is he?”

  The answer was, “Shut up and move faster.”

  Chapter 16

  Wyatt and Hannah wanted to discuss the confrontation, but Esaf had returned to his quiet, non-communicative self. Once their things were gathered, the group returned to the house. Vasca and Linkin shook hands and Linkin directed them to the lab, which was on the third floor. As the group walked upstairs, Esaf described to Vasca what had happened outside.

  Vasca shook his head in worry. “I don’t want any more of that. Keep away from them, they’re hotheads, the lot of them, and I can’t have us getting in the middle of their internal battles. Understood?”

  Everyone agreed and Wyatt quite happy to avoid everyone right now, he just wanted somewhere to sleep. There were two bedrooms at the end of the hallway, just before the lab. Each had a simple double bed on the floor and a chair, nothing more. One was for Vasca and Teri, one for Hannah and Wyatt. Sandra would sleep in the van, taking shifts with Rocky, and Esaf was content to spend the night working.

  After their brief review of the bedrooms, they were shown to the lab which was the only room Wyatt had seen in the house that wasn’t run down and decrepit. Esaf said it had all the equipment and tools he needed, filled with complex machines and bright lights, nothing like the lab back at the Red Dogs hideout.

  It was late and Wyatt was ready for bed, but Esaf didn’t need or want to sleep. He took several vials of blood from Wyatt and then pushed everyone out of the room.

  Alone in the room with Hannah, Wyatt looked at the bed with trepidation and wondered how this was going to work. After all her flirting, they were now alone with one bed. Despite his exhaustion, he suddenly was nervous, “Um, do you have a side you prefer?” he asked. There was a chair in the corner and he wondered if he should offer to sleep there.

  “I’ll take the left, I like sleeping away from the door,” she said, and he decided that if she could sleep with him, then he could sleep with her.

  “Fine, I’m easy,” he said, knowing it left him open to a dirty reply. She said nothing and turned down the corner of her side. Shoes came off, everything else stayed on, and she climbed into
bed.

  “Get the light?” she asked.

  He pulled off his shirt, and she said, “Stay dressed.”

  “I wasn’t trying anything,” he protested.

  She giggled. “I know that.”

  “Then why?”

  “Do you trust these guys?” she asked.

  “God no, not at all.”

  “Then you don’t want to be naked, do you? I figure we should be ready to run, be ready for anything. That means we have to stay dressed,” she said.

  That made sense. He hadn’t thought of that. He pulled off his shoes, left his socks on and climbed into bed next to her. They lay there in silence for a while, but he was no longer close to sleep. “Hannah?” he asked, checking if she was awake.

  “Yes?”

  “Do you trust the Red Dogs?”

  “They seem okay,” she replied.

  “You and Teri got along pretty well.”

  She said, “I like Teri, she’s a good kid, interesting too.”

  “How’d you understand her so quickly?”

  “I’m good with languages. Learned Spanish when a kid, my gardener and his wife taught me. Then I had a BF who was deaf, taught me sign language. What Teri does is sorta like sign, I was able to pick it up. People talk in sentences, it’s ok to miss a word or two as long as you got the gist. Once you have that, you can figure out the words you didn’t get.”

  “What’s wrong with her?”

  “Inside, nothing, she’s smart. Wyatt, you’d not believe how smart she is. And for someone who can’t talk or hear all that well, she has a better understanding of people than anyone I’ve ever met.”

  Wyatt thought back to the reception with Linkin, and the small ways Teri had changed the dynamics in the room. She’d made his father back down and be polite, not something easy to do. “Ya, I sorta noticed that,” he said. “Her father, Vasca, wants me to heal her.”