by J. S. Malcom
“So, you’re saying you forced a gay vampire back into the closet.”
We look at each other for a moment as I raise my eyebrows. Autumn stares at me with a smile tugging at her lips, and I have to laugh.
“Funny,” I say.
Autumn shrugs. “I just couldn’t resist.” Then she glances behind me again, as if something keeps distracting her.
I turn around and see it too. Well, not it, him. He looks to be in his late forties or early fifties. He’s a big man, mostly bald, wearing baggy gray trousers, a stained white t-shirt and an even more stained apron. He holds a spatula in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Apparently, the ghost cook just stepped out for a smoke break.
“Do you see him?” Autumn says.
I nod. “Plain as day.”
Then I realize something. Even with her magic bound, Autumn still sees him. I have to wonder if maybe that part of a veil witch’s magic can’t be removed. Strangely, it’s like the ghost only sees Autumn. I’m right next to her, but he stares at her with sad, tired eyes.
“Who are you?” he says.
“I’m Autumn.”
He steps closer, his gaze remaining fixed on her. “I thought I was alone. I’m always alone back here.”
“Not tonight.” Autumn gestures toward the restaurant door. “I guess you must work there.”
The cook nods, dragging deeply on his smoke. “It feels like this shift will never end. They just keep putting in more orders. Every time I catch up, it starts again. I swear, sometimes it feels like I’m going to have a heart attack.”
As soon as he says it, I know, as I’m sure Autumn does too. The cook did have a heart attack. Long ago, right where we’re standing.
Autumn speaks softly, her tone gentle. “I can make the shift end. Would you like that?”
The cook heaves out a weary sigh. “I’d really like to leave now,” he says. “I just want to go home.”
Autumn holds out her hand, just barely turning my way. “I’ll give it right back,” she whispers.
I know what she means, of course. I take the stone from my pocket and slip it into her waiting hand.
CHAPTER 12
Personally, I never wake up hungry, but apparently Nora does, so it’s not long before we’re once again hoofing through the city. Our destination isn’t quite clear to me, but at least we’re miles from the Cauldron. It’s dicey enough keeping our presence masked from our neighbors. We definitely don’t need adding a vampire to the mix.
“Are we almost there?” I say, trying not to sound winded.
“Getting there,” Nora says. She turns to me and adds, “We’ve only been walking for an hour.”
The implication being what? I’m lazy? Well, excuse me for having living legs. I ignore the comment and keep walking.
First on our agenda is Nora’s breakfast. She just thinks better if she’s not hungry, she says. Which, I suppose, is fair enough. I also learn that she rotates the places she goes to feed. Whether there’s any particular pattern, she doesn’t say, although I suppose that kind of thing would be good to know when hunting vampires.
I feel bad as soon as I think it, and then I try telling myself I shouldn’t feel that way. After all, removing supernatural threats is my primary purpose. Should a cat feel bad about killing mice? No, right? They’re supposed to kill mice. And sometimes it might even be a kindness releasing someone from their vampiric state. Many see it as a curse, a life spent living in the shadows, an existence driven by a constant thirst for blood. I wonder if I should ask Phoenix to pull off some necromancy and make contact with one of the vampires I killed. Just to check in, I guess. Hey, dead vampire, any hard feelings? Never mind. Probably not the best idea.
Still, it only takes that much to make me start thinking of Phoenix again. I picture that night last week at Isabel’s house, and how natural it felt to be with him. I think of that moment when I reached for his hand, only to pull back again. In a sense, isn’t that how I handled our relationship? I reached out to him, then gave myself to him, only to say I needed time alone. In other words, I freaked out at getting too close.
Wasn’t it the same with Esras? Sure, I was all in for the sex, but then ran for the hills when he suggested commitment. Some of those concerns were legitimate, but the result was the same. As soon as I felt myself getting close, I bailed. Like really bailed, even telling myself I wouldn’t go back to Faerie again. Now I know that was a lie, but why did I run to begin with?
Once again, I suspect my behavior is rooted in the trauma I suffered as a child. You can’t exactly have your body snatched and not come away with trust issues. Still, talk about behavior patterns. It seems like I definitely have one myself. If a vampire ever wants to hunt this veil witch, all she has to do is head in the opposite direction of the guy who loves me.
Therapy, girl. Therapy.
Yes, I hear you, inner voice. How about this? Point out the therapist I can share my past with and I’ll make that appointment.
Just more excuses, inner voice says. She always gets the last word.
“God, you’re quiet tonight.”
I actually jump at hearing Nora. For a moment, I forgot she was there. “Sorry,” I say. “I kind of checked out there for a minute.”
I look around to see that we just entered one of those Richmond neighborhoods comprised of small houses, rather than townhomes and apartment buildings. Sort of like a miniaturized suburb, the houses all one-story with their own little yards and garages. Although, our surroundings look a little run down, the houses worn and most of the cars and trucks old.
“Is this one of your spots?” I say.
Nora hesitates, and then says, “Yeah, one of them.”
I suspect her hesitation resulted from the same thoughts that crossed my mind before. She’s probably not sure how much to share with me. At some point our partnership will end. Then what?
Still, being naturally nosy, I say, “Why here?”
“Reasons,” Nora says.
Is it me, or is she being snippy tonight? Do vampires get hangry?
Nora slows her pace, and then puts her arm out to stop me. Then I hear it too, a couple fighting inside a house across the street. They’re not exactly being discreet.
A woman’s voice cuts through the night, one with a Latino accent. “Why don’t you try it, asshole? I’d like to see how you’d make out stuck here all day with three kids!”
“That’s all you gotta do!” the guy hollers back. “Take care of the kids and keep the place clean!”
The woman’s voice rises higher. “You think that’s easy?”
The guy ups the stress level even more. “Try actually working sometime You just sit around and keep getting fatter!”
“Ouch,” I say. “What an asshole.”
“Shh.”
Yes, the vampire shushes me, but it’s like she knows what’s about to happen. Soon the woman starts to cry. Which, of course, makes the man flee.
“Forget this!” he says. “I’m going out. This place better be cleaned up by the time I get back.”
A moment later, a door slams as the guy comes out of the house. Beside me, Nora speaks softly. “Don’t worry,” she says. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t enjoy it.”
Then she’s gone, a shadow streaking through the night. The guy is almost to his car when she’s upon him. Somehow, Nora keeps him from making a sound. From where I stand, I see just two silhouettes locked in an embrace. A moment later, those figures disappear as Nora takes her victim down to the ground.
~~~
Like last night, we decide to check out a few clubs, this time going inside to check out the scene. It’s just the two of us, so there's no concern of anyone needing to feed. Each club is more or less the same, with music pounding and lights flashing as people dance, talk and stare at screens. I’ve never been a club-goer. In fact, I haven’t been in one since that night when I first got back my powers and went on a supernatural rampage. It’s probably for the best, I soon reali
ze, since Nora’s instincts prove right. In each club, I feel the kind of agitation telling me that vampires are present. The problem being that none of them are Mason.
As we leave the fourth club, I have to ask. “Is this what you do too?”
I keep the rest of the thought to myself, but what I’m thinking is how old it must get. It’s one thing when you’re young, killing time in places like that. Eventually, you get over it and move on. I can’t imagine doing it for decades as you pretend to be what you once were.
“It seems kind of pathetic,” Nora says. “Is that what you’re thinking?”
“Yeah, sorry,” I admit. “Maybe there’s some part I don’t understand.”
She shakes her head. “No, you’re pretty much seeing it for what it is. To answer your question, it really hasn’t been this way for me. At least not much. Remember what I said about some vampires having the advantage of a group? Part of that is about protection, but not all of it. There’s also the social aspect. At least for some groups. They become like family. After that, some of us don’t feel so restless anymore.”
I speak softly, feeling the sadness coming off of her. “So that’s what it was like for you?”
Nora sighs. “Yes, it was.”
I’m not sure if I should ask, but I’ve been curious. “Who were they?”
“There were five of us,” Nora says. “Thomas, Joel, William, Emily and me. By the way, Emily and I were just friends. Just so you know.”
There’s just a slight edge to her voice, making me wonder if I pushed too far. Or maybe it’s just too painful right now.
I don’t know what to say, other than, “I’m sorry.”
Nora looks over at me, her eyes flat and distant. “Thanks. Me too.”
I understand the resentment in her gaze. How much can my sympathy mean to her? But the strangest thing is that her anger still hurts a little. Once again, guilt flares inside me.
As if knowing what I’m thinking about, Nora says. “Let’s just keep looking. We need to get this done.”
She’s right. That’s why we’re here in the first place. What we are to each other after this isn’t important. And it’s quite possible, at some point in the future, we might just try to kill each other. That’s just how the deal works.
~~~
The hour keeps growing later, the search getting us nowhere, while something keeps nagging at me. It’s that thing I’ve been trying to ignore, and don’t want to face again. Even thinking about it makes my heart beat faster. Still, it keeps bugging me. We need to know what drew those werewolves to Byrd Park.
For that reason, we’re soon riding a bus across town, although Nora remains understandably reluctant.
“Seriously, are you trying to get us killed?”
It’s the first time I’ve seen her look nervous. I understand. Vampires have almost no defense against werewolves.
“The full moon was last night,” I say, trying to reassure her.
Nora points to the bus window, where a big round moon rides high in the sky. “Last night was the waxing full moon. That’s the full moon right there. Also, werewolf magic isn’t pinned to one night. It’s just strongest on the full moon. Do you even know anything?”
Damn. She’s right again, the brat. I keep proving myself to be a supernatural idiot. Did I actually save the Faerie realm a month ago? Maybe I just dreamt all that.
Still, I stick to my guns. “Okay, well, let me ask you this. Do werewolves usually prowl Byrd Park at night?”
Nora rolls her eyes. “Obviously not, or I wouldn’t go there.”
“Well, that’s exactly what I’m getting at. Something had to cause that anomaly.”
Nora thinks for a moment. “Maybe they were just chasing a deer or something.”
I decide to let her believe that if it makes her feel better. “There you go. Then they shouldn’t be there tonight.”
Nora heaves out an epic sigh. “Fine. You better not get me killed.”
I can’t help but wonder if, to those around us, we might seem like sisters. In this case, me the older of the two. Weird. Although, I can easily imagine Autumn’s eyes lighting up with amusement.
I look over at Nora, who’s turned to the window as she stares up at the moon. “I won’t get you killed.”
“You better not,” Nora says.
This time, I imagine Autumn laughing.
~~~
It’s past two by the time we enter the park, that full moon still shining brightly above. Yes, it’s beautiful, but it’s also a big fat reminder that this is a night prime for werewolf magic.
Not surprisingly, Nora is on edge too as we keep venturing further. She walks without making a sound, her head swiveling as she continues to scan. As she looks away from me, I resist the urge to tap her shoulder and say, “Boo!” It’s ridiculous, for one thing, but she’s also fast as shit. Those fangs of hers might hit my neck before I finish laughing.
“See anything?” I say.
Nora points and says, “Just a homeless guy over there. Too bad I’m not hungry.”
“I probably freaked the furry bastards out last night. Maybe they’re scared to come back.”
Nora keeps looking around. “Yeah, let’s hope.”
Byrd Park is a large public space, over two hundred acres across. It has three lakes, hiking paths, running trails and sports fields. There’s also an amphitheater and a number of monuments. The crown jewel is the Carillon bell tower, which rises hundreds of feet into the sky. It’s toward that tower that we now walk, drawn partly by its size I suppose. Still, there’s no denying the agitation I feel as we get closer. It starts as a mild tingling at the back of my neck, soon intensifying to travel down through my arms toward my hands. My body’s way of telling me I’ll soon need magic.
A quick check shows that nothing has changed for Nora. If anything, she seems more at ease now that we haven’t seen any werewolves. I’m pretty sure she’s right too. I’m not sensing werewolves, but I’m definitely sensing vampires. And, if I’m not wrong, I’m sensing a lot of them.
CHAPTER 13
Instinctively, I reach out and grab hold of Nora’s arm. It’s a strange moment in several ways. First of all, I’ve never touched a vampire. Magic flares inside me, my solar plexus lighting up with heat. In contrast, no heat comes off her at all. Even through the sleeve of her jacket, I can tell she holds no warmth. I might as well have touched a statue. On top of that, I take her completely by surprise. Much like I’d imagined before, she rears back to expose fangs that have instantly descended.
“Sorry,” I whisper. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Damnit!” Nora says. “You scared the crap out of me. What’s going on?”
I point toward the tower, which looms close now. But that’s all I see, just the tower and the shadowy trees surrounding it.
“You don’t see anything?” I say.
Nora shifts her gaze in that direction, frowning as she stares into the night. She shakes her head. “What should I see?”
There was no reason to think she should—after all, I don’t sense other witches—but clearly she doesn’t feel what I feel. Obviously, she doesn’t see anything either.
“Vampires,” I say. “I can feel them. They’re somewhere nearby.”
I guess just to be sure, Nora scans all around us. Once more, she shakes her head. “I don’t see anyone. Are you sure?”
“Definitely.”
It makes no sense, what I’m experiencing. How can I feel vampires this strongly—every fiber of my being telling me they’re nearby—when there’s no sign of them? If I was alone, I might convince myself that it was just about lacking night vision. That’s not the problem, obviously. Nora stands right next to me, and I know she wouldn’t lie.
Suddenly, I realize what’s going on. As Julia pointed out, my senses keep getting stronger. They extend farther than they used to. Even, quite possibly, past this very realm.
I turn to Nora again. “You said before that vampires
can go to the Inversion. Are you sure about that?”
She doesn’t hesitate. “Absolutely.”
“You said there are portals, right? Doorways you guys can use to get there?”
“That’s what I’ve been told,” Nora says, “I have no idea where they are.”
She looks around again, her nervousness starting to grow. Clearly, she doesn’t like where this is going. Her instincts are sound. I don’t like where it’s going either. More importantly, I really don’t like where I think we’re both going.
“Come on!” I start toward the tower, striding fast, soon close to running. It’s definitely the first time Nora has had to catch up with me.
“Talk to me, Cassie. What are you thinking?”
Yeah, she must be scared. That’s the first time she’s used my name. I pick up my pace even more.
“I’m thinking we’re near one of those portals. We need to find it.”
Nora abruptly stops, this time latching onto me. I wheel about as I get thrown off balance, my arm socket objecting to the tug. She may be small, but she’s vampire-strong. If she’d wanted to, she could have torn my arm off.
“Are you freaking crazy?” she says.
I shrug. “Kind of. Sometimes. Can I have my arm back?”
Nora reluctantly lets go, her eyes glowing in the darkness.
I step back. “You said you wanted to avenge your friends. Did you change your mind?”
She shakes her head.
“Good,” I say. “Because I’d like to keep my sister alive. So let’s find the freaking portal, open it and find out what the hell is going on.”
I don’t wait for her to agree. I turn and start walking again, not looking back until we reach the Carillon. My core thrums with an energy lighting up every nerve ending. Then another sensation is added to the mix, as my skin starts to crawl. I’ve never felt this sensation before, not exactly. But I suspect it’s what I’d feel if I came upon a combined group of demons and vampires. Only, I’m not yet seeing what I’m feeling. I take one last moment to consider what Nora said before. Maybe I am crazy. I’d have to be to do what I’m about to attempt.
