by Susan Stec
Gibbie flew up, hovering a second, before landing on Paul's back. He grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled his sword. "Oh boy, I'm just in time!" the fairy squawked, eyeing the humble group.
Paul snuffed, lay down on the sidewalk and tucked his front paws under his snout.
"You're no fun," Gibbie giggled, swinging his sword.
A middle-aged man, dressed in a black suit that was a bit large for his small frame, stepped forward, offering a brochure to Dorius. He asked, "Can you give us a few minutes to share God's word, brother?"
Warren leaned over and scowled at Gibbie. "Where you been? Ain't seen you since you flew into Razzoo's."
"Shootin' the shit with a local fairy. Guess what he said?" Gibbie's shrill voice electrified the space between his lips and Warren's ear.
Warren jumped back, working his jaw while rubbing his temple. "Christ, can't you ever talk normal?"
The Jehovah’s Witnesses' faces turned in unison, all wearing quizzical expressions as they eyed Warren.
"Don't start that shit!" Warren spat. "Answer me!"
Jake lifted his shoulder and scrunched his eyes, whimpering, with both hands placed over his nose and lips.
Dorius pushed the pamphlet that was forced into his hand toward an old, black woman, dressed in her Sunday best. "We don't have time for this right now. Please step aside."
Pedestrians were gathering behind the Witnesses.
"I hear you brother, but time is running out." The old woman pushed his hand away gently. "There is a life after death! Don't you want to claim your place at His side when the end comes?"
"Amen," reverently shouted a teenage girl, who was standing next to the older woman.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses' heads bounced in tacit, unanimous agreement.
Warren swatted at Gibbie. He missed when the fairy buzzed up into the air. Gibbie landed on Paul's head, hooked his hand around the base of Paul's twitching ear, and jabbed his sword at Warren. "Alright, you don't have to be such an ass. I was gonna tell you."
"Talk fast!" Warren yelled.
"Is your friend in need of medical attention?" a meek Witness asked.
Dorius growled his response.
Gibbie bent over with laughter, pointing a finger at Warren. "They can't see me, you stupid redneck."
Warren started swinging again. Gibbie shot around Warren's arms at warp speed, hovering briefly in between swings.
"We're leaving!" Dorius said, taking a step to pass the Witnesses. The group shifted to the left, blocking him again.
The crowd of looky-loos behind the religious cluster began to whisper and snicker, some pointing at Warren.
Several of the Witnesses turned around and began passing out pamphlets.
"You better start talkin', fairy!" Warren said.
Gibbie arched his back and stood tall on Paul's back. Paul stuffed his snout under his front paws, his body vibrating.
Eyeing Warren with empathy, a section of the pamphlet-toting members moved forward a step. The old woman said, "Your friend needs God's divine guidance, brother."
"My friend needs to follow directions," Dorius said, slapping Warren with the pamphlet.
"It's never too late to follow God," the old woman said. "We're here to show you the way."
"Amen," the group agreed.
Warren's face was inches from Gibbie's.
Jake burped loudly, his breath hissing in the air.
Paul leapt, leash snapping, teeth bared.
The group, collectively, took three steps back.
Dorius snapped, "That's enough! We're leaving! Let's move it!"
Warren wasn't listening. Warren was on a roll. "Spit it out, bug! What did your fairy friend say?"
The Jehovah's Witnesses regrouped, forming a circle, their pamphlets extended in all directions as they recognized one of God's gifts of opportunity.
Gibbie put a hand on his hip, hovering in front of Warren's nose. "He said the town's been full of vamp-critters for three days. I mean hundreds of them. Maybe that's why we haven't seen many in Florida."
"Oh, for the love of blood!" Dorius said, pulling Warren a foot off the ground with what certainly seemed like a demonic burst of energy.
A six-inch flame burst from Jake's mouth.
The pamphlet huggers rasped one big, collective gasp.
Three raccoons, two badgers, and a shitload of squirrels scampered out of an alley, all of them sporting fangs, hissing and spitting. They formed a straight line and took several steps on hind legs toward the crowd, their eyes glowing red.
Paul suddenly went all feral, straining at the leash Warren ripped from Jake's hands.
Panicked pedestrians became animated, staggering in different directions.
"Praise God! The time has finally come to show our faith!" the old woman spoke in reverent glory, dropping to her knees. "Don't fear it, brothers and sisters! We are all God's children!"
Dorius hissed at the line of marching critters making their way slowly toward them, malice etched on their little faces.
The old woman shook her fist at Dorius. "I smite you, demon from the bowels of Hell, and I rebuke your minions. Pray brothers and sisters! Pray like you've never prayed before!"
The Witnesses fell to their knees, prayers soaring, pamphlets flying.
"An eye for an eye!" one yelled.
"A tooth for a tooth!" another shouted.
Warren exposed his fangs.
Raising her hands, the old woman warbled a long, "Ooooooh" and waved pamphlets at the starlit sky as she bellowed, "Sing His praises, brothers and sisters!" Her pamphlets clasped at her chin, she begged, "Sweet Jehovah, take us to your bosom and show these demons the error of their ways!"
"I've had enough! We're getting the hell out of here!" Dorius blew through everyone, dragging Warren behind him. He yelled over his shoulder, "Now!"
"Thank you, God!" the old woman cried.
* * * *
"We've lost valuable time with your antics," Dorius said as the group turned left off Royal onto Saint Ann Street. "If my mate is hurt, I'm holding you both personally responsible."
"What'd I miss?" Gibbie wanted to know. "You didn't say anything about Betty to me! Where's she at?"
"In the backseat of a cab with an immortal that is probably the rogue."
Dorius hit the "speaker" button under his shirt. "Jeni, what's the status on the taxi?" His steps quickened as the group moved across Chartres toward Decatur Street. "She answered you from the cab?" His brows reached for each other. "Did the vampire say anything?" Dorius ran fingers through his goatee. "Are you sure he is with them in the cab?"
He broke into a human run. "And my brother is still following?" The others picked up their pace, jogging along beside him. "Is Chick at the site?" They turned the corner and headed south on Decatur toward the parking garage. "Did you tell Chick our vamp is arriving with my mate?"
They reached the car as Dorius unlocked the doors with his remote. "We're heading to the swamp right now, tell Chick and Marcus we're about twenty minutes out." Dorius slid into the driver's seat. "Keep me informed." He hit the button on his chest, breaking the connection.
Paul jumped in back with Jake.
Warren climbed in the passenger side, shut the door and asked, "What's going on?"
Dorius started the Suburban, slammed it into reverse, and backed out of the parking space. Then he hit the brakes, hammered it into drive, and his tires squealed in protest as they motored out of the parking garage. "It's definitely the rogue. Resi was smart enough to hit her "speaker" button when they got into the cab and Jeni has been monitoring them. The vampire just told them he intends to meet someone at a swamp and offered to have the cab driver drop them off somewhere first. Betty won't get out of the fucking cab!"
~~~~
Chapter Thirty-Seven
~~~~
"So, where'd ya say we’re goin', sugar?" Betty asked the immortal sitting beside her in the back of the taxi.
He was dressed in navy-blue Dock
ers, a button-down, long-sleeved, white dress shirt—one button open at the collar—penny loafers and navy socks. He had blonde hair, cut conservatively above his collar, and short sideburns tucked under horn-rimmed glasses.
The vampire took in a slow breath, pushed his glasses up on his nose, turned from the passenger rear window, and answered, "I'm meeting a woman in a woody area at the swamp just outside of town, who might have answers to a current problem I'm having." He forced his lips into a smile and faced Betty. "I do wish you would let me drop you ladies off somewhere so you won't have to make the ride back to town alone."
"It's the least we can do, hon," Betty said, dropping her empty glass into the shopping bags at her feet. "We appreciate ya sharin' yer cab with us. I hope we haven't exposed ourselves on ya." She turned right and smiled at Resi who was shaking her head.
The young man frowned, one eyebrow cocked. "Um... of course not, but you really should have called another taxi." He leaned forward, eyes roaming over Resi's lava lamp attire where she sat on the other side of Betty. "It could be dangerous getting into a cab with a total stranger."
"Maybe my friend is a tad bit inebriated and got a little over-anxious." Resi chuckled, pinching Betty on the arm while fingering the area where her transmission button was taped.
Betty's glance moved to the area, and with understanding in her eyes she moved forward, blocking the immortal's view of Resi. "Why the swamp, sugar?"
Resi checked the communication button between her breasts under the halter top. When she was sure it was transmitting, she scooted forward and tapped Betty on the arm. Betty sat back.
"I… um… didn't want to meet in public," the man said, rubbing his palms over his pants, his eyes darting to Resi's crotch where black curls faded in and out of focus under lime gelatin. "My… um… problem is… well… of an embarrassing nature."
Betty playfully slapped his knee. "Oh, sugar, ya don't hafta be embarrassed with us. Tell us all about it."
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he said, turning toward the window.
"Why were you at the casino?" Resi wanted to know.
"Just wasting time until I could head out to meet the lady in question," the man told the window.
"I'm Resi and this is Betty. What's your name?" Resi asked, leaning forward, one hand tapping him on the arm.
He turned around and they locked eyes as the vamp reached for Resi's hand. He tilted his head, brows pushing a crease in the center of his forehead. Robotically, he answered, "Sonny, Doctor Sonny Wentworth. I'm a hematologist and Chief of Staff in the oncology department at Florida Hospital in Altamonte Springs."
Sonny shook his head. His eyes averted Resi's for a beat. "Well, I was, until I… Never mind. I no longer work at the hospital."
"What'd ya do, rob a blood bank?" Betty chuckled.
Sonny sucked in a breath and swiped a hand across his upper lip, holding it there.
"You don't look old enough to be a doctor, Sonny," Resi coaxed, with a penetrating stare.
"I'm much older than I look," Sonny said from behind his hand, shoulders rising, head bobbing as he tried to settle back in the seat.
"Well, let's talk about that, sugar," Betty said.
* * * *
"So Marcus is still on their tail?" Dorius tossed the question at the dashboard as the Suburban slowed for a stoplight a few blocks from the edge of town.
"Yes," Jeni answered through the speaker.
Paul shoved his snout between Dorius and Warren, tongue lolling, eyes locked on the dash. Warren tried to elbow him back, and the hair on Paul's neck stood on edge, as a deep growl emanated from his throat.
Gibbie was hanging from the rearview mirror. "I wouldn't screw with the wolf," he told Warren with a laugh. "I mean, I know that elbow would eventually heal, but still…"
Warren said, "Shut the fuck up, bug!" He took off his cap and swatted at Gibbie, who fluttered off the mirror and into Dorius' line of vision.
Jake whimpered, moving closer to the passenger door, his hand on the window button.
"How far are you from the road leading into the swamp?" Dorius asked Jeni while glaring at Warren. He swung at Gibbie as he came to a stop at the traffic light. Gibbie zipped away and landed back on the mirror, drawing his sword. Warren dropped his fangs and hissed as he put his cap back on. Jake wiggled uncomfortably in the seat beside Paul.
"About two miles from the road, three miles in front of the cab," Jeni answered. "But I need to tell you some…"
"And Chick has been warned?" Dorius drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.
"Yes, but–"
Paul simmered, eyes hooded at Dorius, his hackles ramrod stiff.
Dorius ignored him and addressed Jeni. "I want you to park off the side of the road about one hundred yards before the dirt road; turn off your lights and contact Betty—she's not answering me when I mind push her. Tell her she is absolutely not to get out of that cab with the vampire, and to signal the cabdriver to pull up in back of the van after the rogue gets out. And then I want you to make sure my damn mate gets in the communications vehicle with you and Lily, and stays there until we arrive. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, but…"
"No buts, just do it!" Dorius ordered.
A sigh came from the speaker.
Paul put both front paws on the center console between Dorius and Warren. He slowly lowered his head, body vibrating with a deep-throated growl, while wrapping his teeth around Dorius' shoulder.
Dorius dropped his fangs, yanked his body away and pushed back the menacing growl. "Don't challenge me, wolf!" He pressed down gently on the accelerator when the light turned to green and huffed at the speaker. "All right! What is it, Jeni?"
"The vampire, Sonny, is not what you think he is," Jeni said in a rush.
Paul returned to panting, tongue-lolling, and drool-dripping on the center console, his ears grazing the headliner.
"Are you saying he is not the rogue we are looking for?" Dorius huffed a frustrated sigh as he elbowed Paul's chest.
Paul backed off the center console and barked loudly in Dorius' ear.
Dorius hammered the accelerator and knocked Paul away from the back of his seat.
Warren laughed. Gibbie swung his sword at him. Warren stopped laughing
"No. He's the rogue alright, but I don't think… I mean, he isn't…"
"I don't care what you think he isn't," Dorius snapped. "I do care that you follow my directions, explicitly! Have I made myself clear?"
Jake shoved his face out the window, smoke billowing from his nostrils.
"Yes, but…"
Dorius punched the button on the dash and cut Jeni's words off. He pressed on the gas pedal until the needle on the speedometer hit one hundred and five and held it there.
Twenty minutes later, the Suburban screeched to a halt twenty feet from the turnoff to the swamp. "Where the hell is the communications van?" Dorius shouted, slamming the car into reverse. "Watch the sides of the goddamned road. Maybe we missed it," he told everyone as he sped backward eighty yards.
"Don't see it, boss," Warren said.
Gibbie said, "I'll go check out the woods by the road, and meet you by the swamp." He buzzed towards Jake's open window at warp speed and out into the night before Dorius could stop him.
"Goddamn it!" Dorius put the car in gear, and with tires squealing, headed for the dirt road.
As they cut the corner and left the asphalt, animals scurried from the woods on the left side and bolted up the dirt road at a speed, which made them invisible to the mortal eye.
"What the hell!" Dorius said, pushing the Suburban to its limit on the bumpy road. "Have they been following us?"
Paul growled.
Jake hiccupped a small flame before clamping his hands over his mouth.
Warren said, "I don't know, but they're definitely headed in the same direction we are.
~~~~
Chapter Thirty-Eight
~~~~
"I want you and
Tootles to stay in the van, Lily," Jeni said, throwing the vehicle in park about thirty yards from the group that stood in a clearing at the end of the dirt road.
"Do you really think it wise for you to get out, Cousin Jeni?" Lily asked.
Tootles put her front paws on the passenger door handle, nose sliming up the window, and barked her shared concern.
Jeni's eyes followed Tootles' snout. Her family all seemed to be talking calmly with the blonde man in the middle of the group. "I think it will be fine. I'll be right back—you two stay put—I just need to get Betty before Dorius gets here."
Tootles whimpered. Jeni patted the dog's head and pulled the keys out of the ignition.
"I do not wish to get out of the vehicle, anyway, Cousin Jeni," Lily said, closing her Nintendo DS and placing it into her purse. "I am trying to mentally communicate with Mother. She is quite upset. Marcus has not responded to her request; and Father is trying to sway Mother's judgment. I'm concerned she will do something that is unacceptable to me, but if I can communicate with her, I believe I can dissuade her."
"What is your father trying to make her do?" Jeni asked, putting the van keys into the pocket of her jeans.
"He is insisting Mother remove a clause she has penned into the contract, which would allow me to remain on Earth for two weeks after she arrives," Lily said. "Although Father is unaware of all the possible ramifications of not bringing me to the Abyss immediately, he is bound and determined to do so for reasons of his own. But Mother won't budge unless the family pressures her, which they would do by agreeing with Father to remove the clause. Not removing it suits me."
"Okay, back up, sweetie. What ramifications?" Jeni asked.
"I wish to exchange blood with Christopher," Lily said boldly, "and if Father pulls me back tonight, he will thwart my plans."
Jeni was all eyes. "I don't think you're old enough to make that decision, honey. Your parents should…"
