by Alex Dire
“Am I being fired? Has someone said something to you?” Norman had only seen superintendent Shawbrin once since he returned from his three-week long debriefing after the incident at the White House. His boss had barely said a word and seemed half-scared, half-disgusted by him. He figured that was fine. It would keep him off Norman’s back.
“No.”
Norman tilted his head, waiting for more.
“Things are changing. You have to leave.”
“I don’t think so,” replied Norman. “Why would I leave?”
“You have to, if you want to survive. If you want your nymphs to survive.”
How did he know that word? nymphs. Blake knew much more than Norman had ever suspected.
“Wait. What do you mean? My nymphs? Survive?” Norman’s mind reeled with the undisclosed possibilities.
“If you stay, the consequences will be dire.” Then Blake’s cheeks relaxed once again and his usual expression of peace and contentment returned. “I have to be going.” He turned and strode to the door, reaching for its handle.
“Wait. Blake.” Norman couldn't let Blake leave without explaining what danger his nymphs were in. He honed his focus in on the teacher. The world dropped away. Where Blake had stood, now floated an orb. White as ice. Norman had never sensed such a thing. He reached out with the tendrils of his own intention. When he touched Blake's will, a searing heat traced back to his own body. His whole body erupted in fire for an instant. Then the world snapped back into place and his attempt to glamor was over. This had never happened before. What the hell was this being that stood before him?
Blake remained, staring into Norman's soul. “Goodbye, Norman.”
“Stop!” shouted Norman standing.
Blake smiled and turned to face the door. “You’ve got a visitor.”
Norman’s mouth hung agape. What could he possibly mean?
Then the phone buzzed. Norman clicked a button.
“Mr. Bernard, Cory Wright’s father is here to see you.”
Blake turned the door knob. “Goodbye Mr. Bernard. We shall meet again.” With that, he left the room.
Norman’s mind whizzed around in circles trying to decipher the cryptic message that had just smacked him in the face. Not only was he losing a good teacher and confidant, but his life was about to be turned upside down. Again. Norman didn’t doubt Blake’s predictions. The gym teacher had always had a way of knowing.
As the thoughts and conjectures swirled through his head, his gaze fell on the map that lay across his desk. His thoughts seemed to tangle with the maze of tunnels it depicted. He wondered what the dire consequences would be that Blake spoke of as his eyes fixed on the five-pointed star.
“Mr. Bernard.” Elaine Sperry’s voice broke his trance. “May I send him in?”
“Oh, yes, Ms. Sperry. Please send him in.”
The only thing Norman wanted to do was to reach out to the friends he’d made in the vampire world and probe them for information. To Chip who knew the politics of vampires. To Rae who knew the politics of humans. To Matt who knew so much more.
A light skinned man with unwashed hair enter Norman’s office with his hat in hand. The man showed obvious deference to Norman’s title.
“Come right in, Mr. Wright.”
“Thank you, sir,” said the man, seemingly paralyzed.
Norman clicked the button on his phone once again. “Ms. Sperry, it’s getting late. Why don’t you head home for the evening?”
“Thank you, Mr. Bernard,” came the reply.
Norman forced his worry and questions down so he could focus on the man that stood before him. In these situations, even though titles may say otherwise, it was the parents who really deserved the deference. “Please, sit. I’m glad you could come in.”
Norman would do his job. But in a few hours, he knew he was in for a restless day’s sleep.
3
Inside Man
Norman waved his arm in a long ark to encompass the cavernous gymnasium. “This is it.” His voice echoed from the concrete walls and shiny wood floor. You’ll teach five sections per day.
The tall man in matching sweats took in the room. His face had a bit more than five o’clock stubble and his salt and pepper hair had not been combed for some time. It was a bit too long to get away with it and made him look disheveled. He was tall and had a body that might have been quite muscular once, but now had some extra cushioning just about everywhere. “Nice.”
“Your office is there, and you’ll find the equipment locked behind that door.”
The man responded by continuing to gaze about the room and nod his head.
“When can you start, Mr. Hanford?”
Suddenly the man stopped gaping around and looked at Norman. “I got the job? I thought this was an interview.”
“It was. You’re hired. When can you start?”
“Uhh. I guess tomorrow? And call me Bill.”
“Great. The kids will be very happy to get out of the study hall they’ve been in, Mr. Hanford.” Norman didn’t want to break decorum with this new teacher before he’d figured him out. “I hope you’re ready.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bernard.”
“You know the drill. If you do well and you like it, we may have a full-time offer for you.” Norman had become used to non-interviews. At Night School, you took what you could get. Its reputation preceded it and kept most teachers away. Plus, the hours were weird and the headmaster was a vampire.
Norman shook hands with his new substitute and left the gym. He walked quickly back to the office wishing the district would just assign the teachers. Why bother with the “interview?”
As he stepped into the office, he saw the back of a tall young man standing at the front desk speaking to Ms. Sperry, a packet of papers in his hand. Norman instantly recognized the crew cut, skinny limbs, and dark grey trench coat.
“Matt Barnes,” said Norman though a broad smile. He hadn’t seen Matt for a while and wondered if Nebulous’ plans would bring them together again. They’d been through so much.
Ms. Sperry poked her head up from behind the desk. “Guess who’s re-enrolling in Night School, Mr. Bernard?”
“Glad to hear it.” Norman shook Matt’s hand. Norman wondered if Nebulous had placed Matt here for some reason, some plan. “Step into my office, Matt. We’ll get you settled.”
Norman closed the door behind him and embraced the young man. It felt like family. “Please sit.”
Matt sat in the chair across from the desk. Norman expected they had much to talk about. Matt fidgeted and rolled his papers into a tight tube.
“So, you want to finish up and get your degree?” said Norman.
“Of course,” said Matt.
“But there’s more.”
“In my new line of work, there always is.”
Norman waited for the more. “Well?” he said. Matt's reappearance so soon after the encounter with Blake, couldn't be a coincidence. Perhaps Matt knew something of the danger Blake spoke of.
“I do want to finish school. Even Nebulous members need a day job. Being a student is not a bad gig.”
“But…” said Norman.
“I’m also here in my official capacity. You are the most public vampire right now, and we need a direct connection.” Matt looked down at the floor for a moment and began tapping his feet in a rapid rhythm. “You have a role to play in what’s developing out there.”
Norman leaned back in his chair. “Hmm. I don’t know what you’re getting at.” He smiled. “But no thanks. I’m just starting to settle back into school life.”
Matt shifted in his seat, a thin sheen developed on his forehead. “You’re more important than you know, Mr. Bernard.”
“So I keep hearing. Nonetheless. Our secret is out. There are other vampires out there that can lead the charge now.” Why did everyone seem to think Norman should be part of any bigger plan? The best way to protect Felicia and the nymphs, was to stay right here. He could protect th
em directly no matter what the strange gym teacher or Nebulous had to say.
“Mr. Bernard. Let me explain…”
“Look, Matt. I’m truly happy that you’re re-enrolling in school. But whatever it is Nebulous has concocted, I’m not interested. I’ve got nymphs to raise. They’ve all been put through too much already. So have you. Take a break. Learn some Shakespeare. Get your degree.”
Matt stopped tapping his feet. “You’re in grave danger.”
“How? Is Skeete back? Is she after me again?”
“No, Mr. Bernard. You’re all in grave danger.”
“The nymphs, too?”
“All vampires.”
Norman sat back up in his chair and folded his hands on his desk. Now this was something different. “Go on.”
“Walsh is going to win the election.”
Norman knew Walsh. He had used him in the state capital to try to rally the legislators. Garcia had warned Norman about the senator’s hostility.
“He'll become president.”
The boy did not need to explain to Norman what elections were for. “Don’t you have people on the inside? You’re usually able to influence these situations. Besides, he’s down two points. His anti-vampire positions are rather extreme.”
“He’s going to win,” said Matt.
“I don’t think so. All the polls and analyses say he’ll lose by more than two points when all is said and done.
“So you have been paying attention,” said Matt.
“I try to stay informed. Things change quickly these days.”
“Mr. Bernard, he’s going to win.”
“How can you possibly know that?
“We have better metrics.”
“So nudge it. Tweak the formula. Change the outcome. That’s what you do.”
“Exactly,” said Matt. “That’s why I’m here.”
Norman waited for more, but the youth just stared back at him as if Norman should be able to figure it out himself.
“Why don’t you have a man on the inside?” said Norman.
“We do. Governor Kramer is one of ours.”
“Then why is he going to lose?”
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“And he’s your only bet?”
“No,” said Matt. “You are.”
Norman’s laughed. “Oh no. I’m not getting involved in Kramer’s campaign.”
“That’s right, Mr. Bernard. Kramer can’t win.” Once again, the boy waited.
Norman looked into his eyes, trying to read them. This time he let out a bellow. “You can’t be serious. I will not run for president against Walsh. I don’t know the first thing about politics. You must be totally nuts to think a vampire could get elected to President of the United States of America. I don’t care what your metrics say.”
“Mr. Bernard, you’re not going to oppose Walsh. You’re going to join him.”
Norman’s laugh turned into a gasp. His mind zig-zagged to connect the dots pushing out everything else. “How could I possibly fit into that scenario. He wouldn’t want me on his team in any capacity. Even on a phone bank. Plus, he’s an asshole. Every time he opens his mouth, I want to puke.”
“We know through back channels that he’s open to taking on a vampire in his cabinet. Secretary of Education.”
“But the cabinet won’t be chosen until after the election, so I can't really join the ticket. Besides, why would he be open to that, anyway?”
“You wouldn't be formally on the ticket. It's more of a gesture, a promise to the public.”
“More like a publicity stunt.”
“Mr. Bernard, he’s aware of his vulnerability. The people sympathetic to vampires are greater in number and more organized than the media have led everyone to believe. He sees he’s down two points and thinks that if he can throw a bone to them, he can peel off enough votes to change his fortunes.”
“And what do you think?”
“The metrics, Mr. Bernard. He’s going to win anyway. This is our shot at getting a man inside.”
“There must be someone more qualified than me. What about Chip? He’s the politician. He’s ambitious. Get him to do it.”
“It has to be you. Despite your attempts to avoid attention, you’re the most public vampire out there. Heck, Mr. Bernard, people saw you save the president on TV.”
Norman had hoped his time in the spot light would fade. He had used his special influence and made deals during his debriefing to protect his nymphs from media scrutiny. He accepted a few interviews about what had happened and how he’d been involved. He was damned if he was going to risk his nymphs again. It seemed that whenever he got involved in these battles, they got dragged into it as well. Especially Felicia. She was his own creation. She’d insist on being at his side. “I’m sorry, Matt. You’ll have to tell your people I’m out.”
“Mr. Bernard. Walsh has plans to create a vampire registration program. He’s going to force you into a tracking system. He’s exploring legislation that would exempt you from cruel and unusual punishment on the basis you can heal so quickly.”
“Matt, I can’t.”
“He’s going to torture you. We have no doubt that ultimately he wants extermination.”
“Then why the hell would he take a vampire onto his ticket?”
“He wants to win. He needs you.”
“He won’t listen to me.”
“That’s true. He won’t. But he’ll put you on TV just enough to help his polls.”
“So, what’s the point? If he wins, won’t he do all those things you just mentioned?”
“He doesn’t know he’s going to win. In fact, we’ve gone to great lengths to convince him he’s going to lose. If he takes you on. You’ll be on the inside.”
“But what could I do if I were there? I'd be an outsider. I’d never have any real influence.”
Matt’s tone went flat, and he tipped his forehead. “Mr. Bernard. You can be very convincing.”
Norman stared at the boy for what seemed like minutes. He knew what Matt meant. He'd have access. That along with his special abilities could get him the president's ear, practically whenever he wanted it. And once he had that, well… He reached into his desk and pulled out a pen. With his other hand, he reached across the desk to Matt. “Your paperwork.”
Matt passed his packet of papers across the table. Norman shuffled through the pages and signed in various parts.
“Give these to Ms. Sperry on the way out.” He handed the packet to Matt. “Welcome back to Night School, Matt.” He couldn’t help the frustration in his tone. He saw that Matt sensed it. “I really am glad to see you.”
“Me too,” replied Matt. “So…”
“You’ll be late. Hurry.”
4
Back to School
Norman mulled the new situation as he walked through the dark streets back to the condo. He passed Fiore’s, now closed and dark. He’d tried so hard to stay uninvolved, to avoid danger. But Skeete came for him and kept coming. He wondered if she had some role in the events that now unfolded, now that their great secret was out. It hadn’t gone exactly the way the Corps. V had wanted. Oh, they’d done plenty to terrorize the human populace with the slaughter at the warehouse, the super-V march to the capital and their attack on the president. But Norman had also given them another view. He’d risked everything to save the president and take out that impossibly strong army.
Chip's dream of peaceful coexistence hadn’t exactly gone as planned either. There would be no summit where human governing bodies and the VU could hammer out treaties and figure out a way to live together. Very idealistic. Too much bridging the gap even for a reformer.
Now much of the world was afraid. Afraid of what they didn’t know. Scary things existed. What else was out there? But there was good, too. Norman had shown that by risking all to save the president, by taking in the nymphs as if he were their father.
And now this. Nebulous had sought him out to become involved a
gain. How could he? He’d risked so much and put his nymphs through hell. He could ask no more of them. Norman needed to be there for them now, to teach them.
He arrived at the door to his building. He jumbled for his keys in his pocket, but before he could grasp them, an elderly woman met him at the door.
“Senior Bernard!” Felicia’s grandmother was always happy to see him. They had become quite close since Norman had bought the entire building and given it to her. This was the first home she’d ever owned. Having a human owner had proven helpful in the past, why not make it her?
“Buenas Noches, Abuela,” said Norman. He’d picked up a bit of Spanish from students at Night School over the years. It was fun to practice.
Abuela opened the door and let Norman in. She gave him a huge hug and kiss on the cheek. Norman hugged her right back. The woman’s embraced warmed him, his worries just seemed to melt away.
“¿Comida?,” she said. “Uh. Eat?”
“Oh no, gracias,” said Norman. “I ate on the way home.”
Minutes later, Norman entered the condo. Felicia and the nymphs ignored him, apparently uninterested in their nightly tutoring. They were gathered around the TV in their usual positions.
The TV was tuned to the news. “I don’t know,” said a person on the street. “They scare me. They just…they drink people’s blood!”
The screen cut to another person. “After all the destruction at the White House, we have to do something.” Then a third person came on and said, “Rushing to judgment is completely wrong. I think dialog is what’s needed.”
A neat newscaster in a tie narrated. “A rising issue in the campaign is dealing with vampires. It has overtaken the economy and national security as the number one issue.” The screen cut to presidential candidate Vince Kramer. “Tolerance and patience are what we need. We need an administration that does not knee-jerk this situation. America doesn’t need any more enemies.” The screen cut to Walsh, “I’ve dealt with these…uh…people personally, and I can tell you we have much to fear. I will introduce a bill that requires registration of every. Single. Vampire.”
