by Alex Dire
Chip closed his mouth and turned his head between Bronte and Norman, not sure who to address first. The Q & A stopped suddenly, interrupted by a knock at the door. Everyone’s head turned. Bronte leapt to her feet, ready to act.
Mrs. Gomez finished tasting a liquid that bubbled away on her stove. “Uno momento,” she called. But before she could reach the door, Norman sprinted to intercept her. His speed took her by surprise. Her eyes crinkled in confusion as she stared into Norman. Damn it. He needed to be more careful around humans.
“Hola, Abuela,” came the voice of Felicia from the other side of the door. “Que soy yo.”
The voice transformed Mrs. Gomez’ face from suspicion to pure joy. She rushed to the door and opened it. She threw her arms around Felicia who returned the gesture. After they released each other, Mrs. Gomez planted a heavy kiss on each of Felicia’s cheeks.
Another figure appeared from behind Felicia. “Abuela, esta es mi amigo, Matt.” As she said the words Matt Barnes stepped into the condo doorway in his familiar black trench coat.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, extending a hand.
Mrs. Gomez scoffed at the gesture and gave the youth a forceful hug. Then she stuttered out a few English words, “Felicia’s friend…my friend.” She smiled. “Come inside. Eat.”
Felicia looked around the room at faces familiar and new. When she saw Norman, she leapt to him and gave him a hug. “Were you worried?”
Norman replied, “I didn’t know where you were, but I knew you were safe. That’s how it works. Where are the others?”
“They’re working,” said Matt striding across the room. “Everyone’s scattered. We’re trying to bring them back together.”
“What about the enemies?” said Bronte returning to her original question.
“We’ve had just a few skirmishes, but only with regular Corps. V,” said Matt. “The enhanced ones are laying low.”
“Why would they do that?” said MacManus. “They tore right through our headquarters and massacred most of us like it was nothing. What are they waiting for?”
Matt cleared his throat. “We think they’re…um…nursing.”
MacManus spat through his nose and said, “Now I’ve heard everything. Vampires sucking milk at a mother’s teat? This is shite.”
“Well,” said Matt. “In a way, they’ve just been born. We think they won’t reach their true strength until they’ve had a chance to feed for an extended time.”
“So,” said Bronte, “what we were fighting were like babies that hadn’t even learned to walk yet.”
“Something like that,” said Matt.
Norman shuddered. These things were truly monsters. If they were only at a fraction of their eventual strength, perhaps Alric was right to want to sleep for a thousand years.
“Where are they, ahhh, nursing?” asked Georgios.
“That, we’re not sure of,” replied Matt. “It would require an awful lot of human blood, given their numbers.”
The whole group looked to him as if waiting for him to finish.
“That’s all we know. At least that’s all I know,” Matt concluded.
MacManus revived his line of questioning, “I still want to know about these new allies of yours.
Chip leaned back on the sofa. “Tomorrow I’ll introduce you to an old friend.”
That day most of the vampires slept strewn about Mrs. Gomez’s condo. Matt had insured her absence under the pretext of taking her for a day of shopping to help get settled in to her new place. The sounds of heavy breathing permeated the darkened studio. The window shades did a good job keeping the light out. After all, Norman had installed them for exactly that purpose.
Norman lay on his side with his back to the group, unable to fall asleep. Felicia and MacManus had given up entirely and sat on the sofa enduring the silent minutes of another day.
MacManus whispered small talk. “So, how do you know Norman?”
“He’s my teacher,” replied Felicia.
A long silence ensued, Norman wondered if she was talking about Shakespeare and Night School. Probably not. She probably meant all he taught her about her new world, her new self. He shifted his position so he could observe the exchange.
“He’s your maker, too,” said MacManus, interrupting the silence.
Felicia lifted her gaze from the ground and met his eyes.
“I can tell,” he said gently.
Felicia’s eyes began to glisten.
“How old are you?” MacManus asked.
“Seventeen,” she replied.
“A babe,” said MacManus. “I meant how old are you really?”
“Oh,” said Felicia looking back at the carpet. “One.”
MacManus nodded. “A babe indeed.”
Norman listened with surprise. He had never heard such a soft tone from MacManus. Given his near constant anger level, he never betrayed any other side of his personality. Now he seemed all kindness and charm.
Felicia held her gaze on the carpet. The water in her eyes gathered and dropped to earth in a sphere of brine. Finally, she spoke. “Will I ever stop being afraid?”
Norman’s undead heart burst to pieces. He’d tried so hard to protect them and to give them the skills and knowledge to remain safe. However, Felicia, the toughest of the Nymphs, lived in a world of horror. Her tears told the truth of it, though. What chance did they all have? Learning to remain secret in a world of men had a stability to it that tamed fear. Hiding from the ambivalent could almost become a fun game. They couldn’t hide from this new threat, though, and it was far from ambivalent. Likely, her short vampire life would be filled with fear and she would die in terror. The idea of the Nymphs impaled on wood filled Norman’s own body with terror, but also anger. The image of Keon dying at Skeete’s hands amplified his anger to rage. His resolve to prevent that from happening to any of the others rekindled and increased, fanned by Felicia’s fear. Norman would keep them safe. Norman would get revenge.
“Here, take this,” said MacManus. He reached around his neck and removed a chain metal loop. Whatever dangled from it was not apparent from Norman’s line of sight. He placed the jewelry into Felicia’s hand.
She looked down at it. “But I thought…”
“All the Nymphs think that,” said MacManus. “The three gems represent blood.”
Felicia looked from the necklace to MacManus.
“I’ve lived in fear most of my life,” he said. “I always grasped this in my hands in the worst times. It meant so much to me that I couldn’t let it go after I…changed.”
“I shouldn’t…” said Felicia.
“It’s okay,” MacManus replied. “I’m not afraid anymore.”
“Why not?” she said.
“The chancellor found me and taught me that I shouldn’t be afraid. That I should be angry. And that I should fight.”
“It seems like you’ve done a lot of fighting,” observed Felicia.
“Yes. Random fighting. Fighting myself,” he said. “Now I fight them. I fight with you. With Chancellor Harding.” MacManus took the chain necklace from Felicia’s hand and placed it around her neck. “No more fear.”
“Thank you.” Felicia smiled and leaned to kiss him on the cheek. As she leaned her new chain dangled from her neck. A shiny metal object slid to the bottom. It was a crucifix with three red gems. One at the bottom and two on the ends.
Blood indeed, thought Norman.
The sun had barely set when they left by car for down town. Soon the offices would close and it would be too late to find the people they needed. So, Chip had urged haste. Norman squirmed in the back seat, uncomfortable riding in a stolen car. MacManus unlocked the door and started it with rote speed. His actions seemed practiced and professional. His driving, however, was less so.
Matt and Felicia sat silently next to him with Chip in the passenger seat. Norman had left Bronte and Georgios with the new Transylvanian members of his little organization. He didn’t trust them, yet and wante
d to keep Mrs. Gomez safe. They would all go out to “party” as soon as the night turned dark. A night of feeding would go a long way to healing their new friends.
Norman turned to Felicia sitting next to him. “Where’s Declan?” he asked.
MacManus turned his head slightly, listening in on the question.
“He’s with the others. Rufus is leading them. They’re trying to find everyone who scattered. Most of the wolves just disappeared,” she said.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” said Norman.
“I know he is,” she replied. “I can feel him. Water began to fill her eyes again. She looked down and grasped the crucifix at the end of the chain around her neck. Her thumb caressed the red jewel at the bottom.
Norman changed the subject. “I’ve always stayed neutral on the issue, but I don’t see how humans can help us? I’m not even sure they won’t kill us the second we reveal ourselves?”
“When you’re out of choices,” said Chip. “You have to forge your own.”
Norman pursed his lips. “I wish we’d brought Bronte in case things go south.”
“That,” said Chip, “is why I brought you. Any of us can glamor someone we run into. But you can have your way with a whole room full.” Chip paused to give Norman a chance to comprehend his role in the evenings mission. “In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s going to come to that.”
“I can’t glamor the whole world,” said Norman. This endeavor was sounding less and less like a plan and more like a Hail Mary.
“You don’t need to,” replied Chip. “You just need to glamor enough of the right people. The rest will fall in line.” Chip glanced to the back seat, a hint of a knowing smile leaked from his lips. “You’ll see.” The car slowed, and he turned back toward the front. “Ah. We’re here.”
Norman almost let out an audible gulp as he stepped out the door. The whole group left the illegally parked car and gazed up. The night had grown dark but they could still easily make out the well-lit columns and grandiose Romanesque arches of the state capitol.
Felicia once again clasped her necklace.
“Oh Jesus,” Norman whispered.
As they reached the top of the steps, Norman made out a figure in the dark shadow of the deeply recessed entry archway that led to massive old wooden doors. Chip looked over at him searching for a reaction. Norman gave none except puzzlement. Who had Chip arranged to greet them at the doors of this small nexus of human power?
“You made it,” came a voice from the darkness.
Norman recognized the voice, and the features instantly filled themselves in on the dark face in the archway. Norman looked back at Chip. “Rae?”
Chip nodded.
Norman bolted in front of the group and grasped Rae with an embrace of pent up affection.
“I have wondered about you,” he said. Rae had been a damned good fighter and ally. Norman stepped back, his hands on her shoulders, still taking her in. And a good friend.
“I know all about you,” she replied, “headmaster!”
“Not doing much headmastering these days,” said Norman releasing her and smiling into her face. Her green eyes shone back the same tiny joy. She wore glasses and was dressed in a smart suit with her hair in a tight bun. “What are you doing here?”
Rae’s smile widened into a sarcastic grin. “I’m from the government. I’m here to help you.”
Chip elaborated, “Rae has been working for State Senator Walsh. She’s our ‘man on the inside.’ It’s always been a matter of time before our little secret got out. It’s never too early to build alliances.”
Ever the politician. Norman never could quite call Chip a friend, but right now he was glad the acting chancellor was an ally.
“Let’s move,” said Rae. “Everyone is closing up shop and we have people to talk to. This is a big risk, you know.”
“Of course,” replied Chip. “It always has been. That’s why it’s never been done before. But this was always part of the platform. I wish we’d done it from a position of strength as I always advocated. Not out of…desperation. Does Walsh know we’re coming?”
“Not exactly,” said Rae. “We’re not going to meet Walsh.”
Chip stopped mid step. The whole group’s momentum evaporated. “What? That’s why we came here. The whole plan revolves around enlisting his support.”
“You’ll never get it,” said Rae. “He’s kind of an asshole. He hates everything. Whenever he has a chance to help people in need, instead he hates them. He thinks saying no makes him strong.”
“Then why exactly are we here?” said Chip.
Rae looked back at Chip reluctant to answer the question. “Garcia,” she said finally.
Chip slapped his hand to his head and spun. He paced a few steps then returned. “We’re dead.”
“We have a shot with him,” said Rae.
“But that won’t get us anywhere. We need Walsh,” said Chip.
“He won’t come over,” replied Rae.
“That’s why I brought him.” Chip pointed to Norman.
Rae gave a doubtful glance in Norman’s direction. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. He’ll agree, but only following orders. We’ll have to constantly re-subdue and manipulate him as the effects wear off. It’s not sustainable.”
“We’ll do what we have to do,” said Chip. “We need his perceived strength on our side to help convince regular folks out there to join us.”
Rae exhaled to fill the space left by her thoughts. “Walsh keeps four guns in his office. He’ll call security. You’ll have to fight your way out. You’ll get your introduction to the world, but in the worst possible way. If Norman glamours them all, he’ll essential have to live here to keep them subdued. It’s not going to work.”
“I can be very persuasive,” replied Chip.
Rae’s silence rebutted his assertion.
Norman broke the stalemate. “If he’s such an asshole, why do you work for him?”
Rae uncrossed her arms. “He was hiring for night work.”
Vampires’ employment options were always limited by that one all-important job criteria: darkness.
“You think we’ll do better with Garcia?” asked Norman.
“He’s our best shot,” said Rae.
“Why?”
“Because he’s a crackpot,” huffed Chip. Despite this protestation, his tone betrayed his acquiescence in the argument. “Show us to his suite, then.”
The young Page had his jacket and backpack on, ready to leave for the evening. He knocked on the door and spoke to the other side. “Mr. Garcia, Rae Gordon from Representative Walsh’s office is here to see you. She has some guests.”
A moment passed. The page looked awkwardly back at Rae and the group. The door opened up enough for a face to pop through.
“Phillip, I thought I told you to go home! It’s getting late,” said the face. He met the eyes of each in the group and then opened the door a bit more, stepping into the marble hall. “Thank you, Phillip. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good night, Representative,” said the page. His footsteps echoed down the hall.
“Ms. Gordon, I’m Representative Garcia. What can I do for you this evening?” Representative Garcia smiled a calming friendly smile, reminiscent of Chip’s when he met new vampires. His brown eyes were mild and welcoming, framed by wire-rimmed glasses. The charming smile that took up more than it’s share of space on his face was partially obscured by a shaggy mustache. In fact, all of his hair was slightly overgrown. The substance he used to slick it back each day had begun to loosen its grip and the strands jiggled with the movements of his head.
Rae replied, “Hello Representative, I have some constituents here who would like a moment of your time to discuss some…district issues.”
“Isn’t it a bit late for a constituent meeting, Ms. Gordon?” said Garcia in a curious rather than annoyed tone.
“If you’ll give us a moment, I think you’ll understand why the timing is necessar
y,” replied Rae.
“Well,” said Garcia, “any friend of Senator Walsh, is a friend of mine.”
Rae rolled her eyes at the group as Garcia turned to walk around his desk and dropped onto the cushion on his huge dark stained wooden chair.
Norman and the others stepped through the door. He took in the furnishings and decor in the room. Along the left wall were shelves of bizarre artifacts. One shelf contained three fossils of creatures which appeared to be human from the waist up with a fish’s tail below. The shelf just above it contained skulls with huge cranial lobes and extremely large eye sockets.
On the far wall hung several framed newspapers. Their paper appeared aged and yellow and contained hyperbolic headlines about Roswell, New Mexico. Above the pictures hung a shelf with an array of helmets arranged on it. Some of the helmets had been fashioned of aluminum foil while others were of sturdier metal.
Behind and to the right of the desk, a shelf protruded from the wall that held a complete set of X-Files DVD’s and a poster with large letters stating: “I Want To Believe.” Taped across the poster was a bumper sticker reading “SETI.”
The next item sent a shock down Norman’s spine. From a peg in the wall beneath the DVDs hung a simple chain necklace. Dangling from the end was a five pointed star surrounding an eye.
Norman instantly snapped his head toward Garcia who lounged back with his hands behind his head. He brought his arms forward and leaned onto his elbows. “Well friends,” he said. “What can I do for you?”
21
They System
Norman and his friends failed to respond, taking in the odd decor of the office. Norman began to realize why Chip had resisted coming to Representative Garcia for help. The word crackpot was among those whizzing through his brain. But there was that necklace.
“Oh,” said Garcia. “Are you enjoying my artifacts? It’s taken me a lifetime to collect them.”
Norman took his eyes off the necklace with the Nebulous symbol and watched Garcia reach across his desk.
