It was the first time Alex heard him speak. There was a slight accent to his voice. It was at odds with the behavior he displayed. Even, thoughtful, almost pleasant. It didn't match his youthful appearance.
"Relax, Zoey," he said, reaching for her. "Please, calm down."
Zoey fought. She flailed and kicked as her back pressed against the wall. The man easily caught her wrists and gently ran the back of his fingers down her cheek. Where she would have enjoyed the gesture minutes ago, now she only cringed.
"Do you know what a rare gift this is?" he asked. "I knew there was something special about you. I saw it when you danced, when you laughed. But I never dreamed…." He trailed off and smiled. "We have a lot to talk about."
Zoey's face lit up at the sight of her best friend. Kylie lay motionless, only a few feet away. Her mouth opened and closed slowly, her eyelids fluttered. But that was all.
The alley faded in and out quickly, like a power spike killing a TV.
"What's happening?" Kylie asked.
Alex struggled to speak. "You're still alive here, but not for long. The brain is going. This memory won't be far behind."
Kylie took a deep breath. She seemed to be handling everything better than Alex. It saddened him to know they were at her last moments.
"My last memory."
Zoey held Kylie in her arms, crying into her shirt. She leaned her head back and sobbed hysterically, revealing large fangs.
"Zoey, you have to drink," the vampire said. "Warm blood is the best blood. Your friend…she's gone."
"You fucking killed her!"
"And you'll be dead soon, too, if you don't learn. Listen to me."
"No!"
The alley faded again. When it returned, Kylie was flat on the ground with Zoey on her knees next to her. Her face was still a mess, a mix of grieving and vampiric features that she couldn't control. Her eyes turned back and forth from red to green. She seemed more receptive to the stranger, who squatted next to her.
Their words were broken, incomplete. The last words Kylie would hear in the living world.
"…so thirsty…."
"…more noise than I would have liked…get rid of the body…take care of you…."
The alley faded one final time, taking Zoey and the vampire with it. Kylie's body disappeared. Alex cast a sideways glance to Kylie. Her face was passive, unreadable. He knew they were back in the living realm, away from Kylie's memory. Still, he couldn't resist rejoining it and running his hand along the wall, just to make sure.
"Are you okay?"
He regretted the question as soon as it left his lips. She laughed sarcastically.
"Okay? I'm not sure what that is anymore." She squatted and stared at the spot where her body lay, where she died. "What the fuck did we just see? Why am I dead, but Zoey is alive?"
"It's not like the movies," he explained. "Not everyone becomes a vampire when they get bit. But it looks like Zoey is one of them."
"I tried to tell her." Her voice rose. "I tried to help her! And that's what happens? I get killed?!"
Kylie paced, her hands balled into fists. She stared at the ground and refused to look up. Various noises of rage and disgust escaped. Alex was quiet. It was best to just let her be.
She stopped and swung at the wall as hard as she could. Her fist passed through, and her balance along with it. She fell, her legs sticking out. Any other time, it would have been a funny sight. Alex reached through the wall to help her.
"Get off me!" she said, after he pulled her up. Her expression quickly softened. "I'm sorry, it's just…she was my best friend. I don't know how I feel right now."
"It's okay. I'm here for you, and Nate is, too."
"Did someone say my name?"
They jumped at the sound of his voice. They turned to see Nate standing five feet away. If Alex didn't know any better, he would have thought the ghost was tired. Nate's shoulders were slumped, his movements slow.
He noticed the solemn expressions on Alex and Kylie's face. He approached her, concerned, but stopped short of touching her.
"Is everything okay?" he asked. "What did I miss?"
"Did you find Zoey?"
"Yeah, I caught her. Actually, it's more like she finally decided to stop running. Damn, that girl can move. Can all vampires do that? She ran across rooftops, jumped across buildings, fell two stories to the ground. I thought she was going to parkour her way all the way to Canada. If I wasn't in such good shape—"
"What about Lisa? Detective Nash?"
Nate shook his head. "I didn't see her. I don't know where she is. There's no way she was keeping up with Zoey."
"Okay," Alex said. "Let's go see her."
Kylie shrugged. "Why?"
Alex and Nate looked at each other.
"We still have some questions," Alex said.
"Oh yeah? What? What could possibly matter now?"
Alex would never understand what Kylie was going through. At least not until he was brutally murdered and found out his best friend was involved. He knew Kylie was hurt, devastated, but he felt she'd regret it if they gave up now.
He could think of a few questions for Zoey, but one stood out above all the others.
"How about where is the vampire that killed you?"
Kylie sighed and relented. She brushed hair out of her eyes and lowered her head as she moved past them, taking the lead.
"Fine, whatever. Let's go."
Nate held up his hands. "Whoa, what? A vampire? Killed Kylie? It wasn't Zoey? What did I miss? Can someone fill me in here?"
CHAPTER 14
Nate led Alex and Kylie through Stewardtown. Night was rapidly passing, but there was still the occasional car on the road, the pedestrian on the sidewalk. The trio was quiet as they walked. Alex didn't have the energy to try to lift Kylie out of the mood she was in. Even Nate was smart enough to keep his thoughts to himself. Kylie kept her eyes forward. She adjusted her glasses occasionally, and her lip twitched once.
After ten minutes of walking Nate pointed to an overpass up ahead. The sides sloped up, were full of graffiti and broken glass. Near one of the columns supporting the road above Alex could see a figure sitting. Zoey sat on the other side of the column, away from the road and the eyes of a driver in a hurry. Her legs were bent, her head buried between her knees.
"Hiding out under an overpass. Like a troll," Kylie said, her tone laced with venom. They were her first words since leaving the maze of alleys near the club. "Somehow, it's fitting."
Alex took the lead. Kylie and Nate drifted behind. They whispered amongst themselves. Alex never would have believed it, but he was once again thankful for Nate's presence. The young ghost was more helpful in ways Alex never would have thought, not the least of which was making Kylie smile, even if that chore was impossible at the moment.
They could only see the top of Zoey's head, but that was enough to know she was a mess. Her hair was wild, with spots of blood speckled across her neck. She'd been crying, judging by the way her entire body heaved.
"I don't have any change," she announced suddenly. "And mugging me isn't a good idea."
"That's okay," Alex said. He reached up and felt the cuts on his face. "Do you have a band-aid?"
She glanced up at the sound of the familiar voice. Her eyes were green again, her fangs gone, although dried blood was streaked around her mouth. Her lip quivered, and she looked to be on the verge of falling apart.
"I smelled you coming, if you can believe that."
"I believe it."
"I…I almost killed you. I'm so, so sorry."
He sat next to her. He didn't realize how exhausted he was. His body ached and throbbed as he slid down along the column.
"Actually, no you didn't. I'm tougher than I look."
"Yeah, I'll bet. Are you a different kind of vampire? One with wings?"
"There's not really a word for what I am."
She nodded and wiped tears away from her eyes.
"It's not like you thi
nk," she said. "There's nothing great or glamorous about it."
He glanced up at Kylie for direction. Did she want to talk to her best friend? Yell, scream at her? Forgive her? She only stood next to Nate with her arms crossed, her gaze full of hate.
"I know some of what happened that night. I know you were attacked, and Kylie tried to help you."
Zoey's face wrinkled as she hid in between her knees again. She sobbed, unable to speak for nearly a minute.
"He was so cute, funny, smart. Kylie didn't like him right away. She knew, she warned me. And I didn't listen. Everything that happened that night was my fault." She looked at her hands, at the blood on them. "I deserve this. But why did Kylie have to die?"
Alex regarded Kylie, to see if the ice was breaking. Nothing.
"He bit us both," Zoey said. "He killed her, but I became a vampire. He said it's very rare. I…I didn't know what else to do. I helped him. I helped move Kylie's body to the river. He said the water and animals would hide any trace of his…our kind."
She paused, letting her words hang in the air. Nate kept a comforting hand on Kylie's shoulder, who remained silent.
"He wanted me to leave town with him. He said he'd take care of me, teach me. I told him to go fuck himself. He just laughed and told me I'd be dead in a month. I stayed in my basement, away from the sun. I tried eating food, but it just tastes weird, and I threw it up. I haven't eaten or drank anything in weeks. I told myself I could fight it, that I didn't need to drink blood. But that's a lie. I was so thirsty. So I did what he did. I met a guy at the club and lured him outside. I told myself I wouldn't kill him. I would only take just a little. But…."
"It's not so easy," Alex finished.
"Yeah. The taste, I can't describe it. I hated myself when I bit him, but I couldn't stop. If you wouldn't have showed up, I would have killed him. I'm…I'm a monster."
Kylie laughed. "I can't argue with that. I can think of a few other words, too."
"I saw Kylie tonight," Zoey said. "In the alley. I thought I was going crazy, or dying."
"You weren't. You saw her ghost. It's a long story, but I can let the living talk to the dead."
Zoey perked up for the first time. "You can? Can I talk to her?"
He looked to Kylie for approval, of which he found none. She didn't have to say a word. Her body language said it all. The other day she was desperate to talk to Zoey. Now she wanted nothing to do with her.
"I don't have anything to say."
Kylie vanished, leaving Nate's arm hanging in mid-air. He smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
"She just went back to the motel," he said. "It's the only place she really knows how to teleport long distance. I'll give her a few minutes, then check on her."
Nate disappeared as well.
"Well," Zoey said. "Please? Can I talk to her?"
"She doesn't really feel like talking right now. She just left."
Zoey rested her head against the column.
"She hates me."
"She's angry, hurt. Can you blame her?"
Zoey didn't respond. Alex gave her a minute before unleashing his next set of questions.
"What's the vampire's name? You said he left town. Do you know where he went?"
She shook her head. "He said his name was Steven, although I don't even know if I believe that. He didn't tell me where he was going."
"You said you moved Kylie's body. What kind of car did he drive? Anything at all?"
"Shit…Alex, right? I don't even remember what planet I was on that night. I'm sorry, but I can't help."
He groaned as he leaned back against the column next to Zoey, contemplating his next move. His next move announced itself as his stomach grumbled and the pain and soreness in his body intensified. He needed to eat and sleep.
But he couldn't leave Zoey as she was, for her own safety as well as those around her.
"So," he said. "What's your plan in all of this?"
She laughed sarcastically. "My plan. That's funny. You know what my biggest problem was two weeks ago? Senior prom. It doesn't matter how far away it is. Kylie and I talked about it. We were going to get it all started early. Looking for dates, picking out dresses. Now, my biggest problem is making sure the sun stays out of the basement. I have no idea how I'm going to handle school, or my parents, or anything. Like Steven said, I'll probably be dead in a few more weeks."
Alex struggled to pull himself to his feet.
"Well, today may be your lucky day, Zoey. I think I can get you in touch with someone that can help. Can I borrow your phone?"
Zoey eyed him curiously, but handed over her phone. It took him a moment to remember the number. Technology was beginning to spoil him. He seldom remembered numbers anymore.
But there were a few that were very important.
"Hello?"
"Victoria, it's Alex."
She laughed. "I know who it is."
"How are things over there in New Delhi?"
"Oh, it's beautiful. There are a few dark moments. I'd forgotten how much of an asshole certain members of my kind can be. And the politics and vampires pointing at each other across conference tables, I could do without, but the country is beautiful. You and Cindy will have to see it someday."
"Uh, yeah," he said, glancing at the graffiti and concrete around him. What appeared to be a used condom lay not far away, next to a syringe. "It's beautiful over here, too."
"Are you still working your case?"
"I am, and about that…there's a crazy story behind all this, but I was hoping I could get a favor."
"Anything you need."
Alex smiled. There wasn't anyone alive or dead that had friends like him.
*****
Almost an hour passed as they waited under the overpass. Alex waged a war with fatigue, and fatigue was winning. He had to stand up and move about to keep from drifting off. Zoey, after a short conversation with Victoria on the phone, was in a slightly better mood. He wouldn't have gone as far as describing it as hope, but at least it wasn't despair.
"Do you know what we're waiting on?" Zoey asked. "I don't want to sound ungrateful, but the sun will be up soon."
"You've got hours."
"Yeah, well, that's soon. The sun hit my hand once, for a second, in the basement. Worst pain I've ever felt."
"Victoria just wanted a nearby address and told us to wait here. That's good enough for me. What did she say to you?"
"Same, but she wanted my number. Said she'd call when she got back to the states."
Alex nodded. "That's a call you should definitely take."
His attention was drawn to a Lincoln town car approaching. Any thoughts of it moving past them disappeared as its headlights went out and it slowed down, finally stopping next to them. Zoey stood up and stayed behind Alex. She self-consciously wiped her mouth and kept her head low, trying to seem smaller, although it wasn't necessary.
A well-dressed driver opened the door. He climbed out and made eye contact with Alex for a brief moment, signaling with his head to follow. Alex and Zoey fell in behind the driver and walked to the back of the car. He popped the trunk and stepped aside for them to see.
Zoey's brow furrowed in confusion, but Alex nodded and smiled. Sitting before them were four red and white coolers, side by side. He opened one and saw exactly what he thought he would. Many bags of blood and layers of ice.
"Oh, wow," Zoey said, her eyes growing wide. She reached out and touched a bag. "We…can drink cold blood?"
"Of course. We keep a stash at our house for when Victoria stops by."
"But Steven said—"
He held up a hand. "Forget everything Steven said."
"This is all for me?"
He looked at the driver for confirmation. The driver smiled slightly and gave a wink.
"I don't know what to say."
"I'll tell Victoria you said thank you," Alex said, laughing. "This will at least get you by until she gets in touch with you." He looked at the driver. "Hi,
I'm Alex."
The driver glanced behind him. "You're talking to me?"
"Yeah."
He smiled. "Most of the things I do for Victoria, people don't talk to me. I'm Ken." Ken regarded the area they were in. "Do you two need a ride somewhere?"
Alex could have flown, but wanted to make sure Zoey got home safely. A relaxing ride to the motel was also exactly what he needed.
They stopped at Zoey's house first. The three of them carried the coolers into the basement. Her father was working, her mother sound asleep. There was a door leading directly to the basement in the rear of the house. It only took a minute to drop the coolers off, then Ken returned to the car. Alex stood near the back door with Zoey.
"I'm sorry," Zoey said again. She stopped just short of touching the cuts on his face. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean to hurt anyone." She looked at her hands. "I thought I could control it."
"You got lucky tonight, for sure. No one died. And don't worry about this." He touched his face. "I'll be fine tomorrow."
"Victoria. She must be amazing."
"Yeah," he said, smiling. "If she's looking out for you, you're in good hands."
"Do you think…?" She lowered her eyes. "Do you think Kylie will talk to me?"
Alex didn't have an answer.
*****
Alex nearly dozed off as Ken drove him back to the motel. Ken offered to take him to the hospital, which he declined. He had the cure to all his injuries sitting in the glove compartment of his truck.
He opened the door to his room and flipped on the light to see Kylie laying in bed. She looked up at his arrival, then fell through the bed to the floor. He wanted to hold in laughter, not knowing her mood, but simply couldn't. Shaking his head, he grabbed the outstretched hand sticking through the mattress.
"Every time I think I'm getting better, I do something that makes me look like an idiot."
He laughed. "Sounds like my life."
She winced when she saw his face, as if seeing his wounds for the first time. His face had stopped bleeding, but the cuts were still open, raw. Dried blood covered his cheek, neck, most of his shirt.
"God, Alex," Kylie said. "Are you okay?"
He waved away his concern as he pulled his shirt off.
Demons LLC (Damned and Cursed Book 7) Page 24
