by Alex Dire
This break from his disciplined cool probably saved Norman. He should already be dead, but Cornelius was taking a moment to savor his kill.
That moment would cost him. Norman tuned out the universe and reached his tendrils to stroke Cornelius’s will. He felt the familiar slippery massage. However, now he knew not to give up. He searched for the friction he knew could come with enough will of his own. He looked into Cornelius’s eyes. The sensations of the world grew distinct around him. He heard Corps. V’s sucking on the arteries of wounded soldiers. The sound of his friend’s hearts beating in fear filled his ears. Cornelius’ brown eyes consumed his vision.
Cornelius then raised his free hand and grasped Norman’s throat, once again cutting off the circulation to his brain.
Norman struggled to breathe and lost concentration. The slow arcing tendrils of his will released Cornelius and the sounds of the melee merged together into a chaotic cacophony: screams, shots, tearing flesh.
“I heard about you, teacher,” said Cornelius. “Skeete commanded that we save you for her. But I don’t care. I’m going to do this my…” Then blood erupted from his mouth and he dropped Norman.
Cornelius fell to his knees as Norman crab-crawled away on his back. Cornelius grasped his hands around to his back and shook wildly. Felicia clung there gripping the handle of her knife, which was buried to the hilt between his shoulder blades. The whites of Cornelius’ eyes turned blood red. He coughed out more blood and fell on his face, twitching.
Felicia yanked the blade from his back and scanned around looking for immediate threats. She leapt off Cornelius and threw her dagger at an onlooking Corps. V. It pierced his throat. She landed with her feet on the chest of another and pushed off. He flew back, and she launched at the soldier clutching at her dagger. She landed on him and withdrew the knife, flinging it at the third who had only started to spring into action. She sprinted to him and climbed up his huge body, grasping the dagger and pushing the button on its side. He fell back and twitched as Felicia withdrew the weapon. She had become a fearsome fighter.
Felicia nodded at Cornelius. “Do you think he’s dead?” She extended a hand to Norman.
“I doubt it.” He reached up to grasp her. “How did you do that?”
“It’s got liquid silver pellets, remember?”
“No, I subdued your will. How did you overcome that?”
“I had some help from a friend.”
Just then two super-V solider rushed at them from behind Norman. Two more followed closely behind them. Norman spun around to intercept. His speed, although inhumanly fast, was no match for the super-soldiers.
They blurred at him, each holding a small assassin’s knife.
Norman lurched to position himself between them and Felicia. His efforts would prove useless. They were too fast and too well trained to be stymied by his rookie combat moves.
The knife tip of the first soldier whizzed toward Norman’s heart in the hand of the lead soldier. Norman raised his own hand, hoping to put a layer of flesh between the blade and his chest. The last thing he saw was the point of the knife pop through the back of his hand.
Then, the attack stopped. All three enemies tumbled to the side, forced through the air by the careening form of Rufus. With ninja precision, he sliced open their throats with the knife of his own. They tried to scream with agony from the wooden cuts. Instead of sound, blood spurted through their torn necks in sickening spasms.
Rufus helped Norman up. “You shouldn’t leave this one behind. She’s good in a fight.”
Norman turned to Felicia, “It’s too dangerous.” Indeed, she'd become a valiant fighter. But she couldn't win. None of them could. Her valor would be crushed by this enemy.
“A simple ‘thank you’ will do,” she replied.
They scurried through the lopsided melee and pressed their backs against a wall. Crouching they sped to where Georgios and MacManus hid behind a burning police car.
“We need to get out of here,” said Norman. “There’s nothing we can do.”
“As much as I prefer a straight on fight, for once,” said Rufus, “I think you’re right.”
“Wait!” shouted Felicia, pointing over the hood of the car to the roof of the storage building. Skeete stood atop the structure holding a struggling national guardsmen in each clenched fist.
The news helicopters above shone their spotlights onto her.
She dropped one and raised the other up with both hands above her head.
“What the hell is she doing?” said MacManus
“She’s performing,” replied Norman. “She’s letting the world know about us in the worst possible way.” She will make the whole world our enemies. Norman was stronger than her, but Skeete had completely outclassed him. He clenched his lips in impotent rage.
Skeete turned in a complete circle so all the networks could get a good look. Then she threw the guardsman off the roof. His body fell to the pavement below, striking with a sickening, wet, cracking sound. She then grasped the other by the scruff of his shirt. She bent his head back and exposed his neck.
“She’s going to drain him for the cameras,” said Norman. “Rufus, can you…” Before he could finish his thought, Rufus was gone.
An instant later he appeared on the roof behind Skeete.
Unaware of Rufus, she plunged her fangs into the throat of the wriggling guardsman.
Then Norman heard a new sound. More helicopters. Not like the news choppers that flitted above. The sound was deeper, more powerful. Norman looked up, but the buildings obscured his view of everything but the news choppers.
Atop the building Rufus batted her aside and placed the guardsman gently to the ground. He stood back up and looked toward Skeete who lay somewhere on the roof. He slipped his two knives out from his belt. His lips mouthed words, but the distance and noise prevented Norman from discerning them.
Rufus raised his fists, clenching the wooden blades in preparation for an attack.
The sound of the new helicopters grew louder. One poked its nose into the air space among the news choppers. It was much larger and painted all black. It had guns protruding from the front and an open side door. This was clearly military. From the sound of it, there were several more just out of view.
Rufus noticed the sound and twitched his head around. Too late. The chopper opened fire with its front guns and a hail of bullets ripped into Rufus. Bits of blood and flesh flew off him as if he was disassembled tissue by tissue. His pulpy body few off the edge of the building and landed on the ground with a wet smack.
The side gunner of the ship opened up on the warrior vampires below. Guardsmen scurried for cover behind buildings. Super-V vampires flew to pieces as large caliber rounds tore into them and exploded pieces off them. Many fell to the ground in gurgles and spasms. The tide had turned.
But only for a moment. A few of the super-V soldiers had leapt onto fire escapes and climbed. One jumped from a roof and grabbed onto the landing gear of the gunship. His considerable weight caused the ship to lurch and tilt. The pilot swung the nose around to compensate. The bullets spraying out from the side went astray. Two news choppers popped and sparked as bullets sprayed across them. They spun in spasms of metal and smoke. and crashed to the ground. The first hit and sank into itself, creating a pile of twisted metal and flames. The second smacked into the side of a building and exploded instantly, illuminating the battleground with a warm organic light.
The machine-gunned vampires began congealing. Their whole bodies appeared like the raw tissue beneath a torn scab.
“We need to move,” said Norman to his cowering friends. He pointed toward one of the many alleys between buildings. “Let’s get…”
His words were cut off by a second explosion. The crashed helicopter burst into sparks and flame showering him with chunks of hot metal and flaming gasoline.
Norman and his friends became covered in a blanket of flame as the liquid fuel soaked into their clothes and burned. They rolled an
d shook trying to douse the flames, ultimately shaking off their outer layers of clothing.
“We need to get to the airport,” Norman screamed.
Then another crunching metal sound screamed above them. The tail of the military helicopter had clipped the rotors of a news chopper. Splinters of the rotors shot down like projectiles. One pierced Norman through the gut, tearing out flesh and organs. Georgios fell back with a piece of jagged metal sticking out of his shoulder. Norman attempted to stand. He grasped his stomach attempting to keep his intestines from spilling out.
“Follow me.” Norman tried to hustle to an alley nearby. He limped awkwardly and fell. When he hit the ground, the jolt sent a line of small intestine shooting from the hole in his body. He pushed it back into his abdomen. He clutched the wound and ran again. He knew the damage would heal enough to keep itself together in a few moments. He hoped by the time the hole closed, no new ones would open.
He pressed his back to the wall and slid around a corner into an alley. He closed his eyes to push down the pain. He lifted one lid and peaked down at his hands as he lifted them. Raw pink tissue had replaced the rends in his flesh.
Georgios and MacManus slid around the corner behind him. Safe for the moment.
The instant the thought left his brain, he heard a clattering sound from deeper in the alley. He looked up to see a guardsman pointing his rifle directly at Norman’s chest. He couldn’t tell if the chattering came from some metal in the soldier's gear or his teeth.
As Norman met his gaze, the guardsman steeled himself and raised his rifle to his face. His finger moved off the trigger guard.
“You don’t want to do that. We’re not your enemy.”
The soldier lowered his weapon.
“Whatever happens, stay quiet. Stay low. Don’t try to engage.”
The soldier nodded his head.
Norman peeked back out of the alley to the spot where the pile of gristle that had been Rufus had impacted the street. He was gone. Norman pushed his head further out of the alley. Rufus hid behind the police car Norman had just fled from. His tattered cloths barely covered his raw pink healing body.
In a half whisper, half shout Norman commanded. “Rufus. Here.”
Rufus twitched his head up and scurried into the alley.
“We need to get out of here and regroup with the others,” said Norman.
“No,” said Rufus.
“Rufus, it’s no good. We can’t win here.”
“No. We’re going to the capital building,” replied Rufus.
“They’re going to take it over and use it as a base of operations. I got it out of one of them.”
“You work fast.”
“It’s my job.”
Norman spun the new information around in his head.
“We need to warn Garcia,” said Rae.
“Wait,” said Norman.
“Wait for what? Do we really need to stick around here any longer?” asked MacManus
“I have a little science experiment to do.” Norman took the vial of Georgios’ mixture from his pocket and rolled it between his fingers.
26
The Capital
The sounds of more military helicopters roared from above. Flames consumed the streets and nearby buildings. Gunfire increased as large caliber weapons rained lead down from the sky.
“Rufus, can you grab a Corps. V for me?” asked Norman.
“Yes, but for what? We have the information we need.”
“Trust me,” said Norman.
Rufus’ body had healed considerably since he’d been riddled with bullets from the helicopter. He craned his neck around the alley and then looked back at his friends. “I’ll be right back.”
He blurred away into the carnage.
Norman looked at the guardsman standing at the back of the alley. He looked frightened.
“Tell your friends we’re not all bad. Tell them some of us want to reach out.”
The soldier nodded his head.
Norman was sure he’d obey the command but wasn’t at all sure it would do any good.
Rufus returned with a Corps. V soldier dangling from his arm.
“That was quick,” said MacManus
Rufus placed the dazed super V onto his feet and held his arms back in a crushing hold. The soldier winced.
“You can’t win,” said the soldier, his words his only weapon now. “Soon you’ll all be dead. We’ll have wiped you away and replaced you with a superior class.”
“We already know your plan,” said Norman.
“It’s not a plan,” said the vampire. “It’s destiny.”
“Maybe,” replied Norman. “But, it’s not your destiny.” He paused to let it sink in. Instead of seeing fear grow on the soldier’s face, he saw anger. “Felicia. Do you mind opening him up for me?”
“The regular way or with the special treatment?” she asked.
“Regular is fine. Right below the ribs.” Norman wondered if his Nymph would have the guts to perform the grisly task. However, in the next instant, he wondered no longer. Felicia slide her blade across his abdomen opening up a gash that exposed his innards.
The soldier half growled-half laughed. “Pathetic.”
Norman slowly approached the soldier. “We’ll see.” He then put his face right up again the super-V’s. “Tell Skeete…” He then thrust his fist into the rapidly healing wound. Once his hand was inside the soldier’s intestines he squeezed. The vial of fluid crushed and its contest spurted between Norman’s fingers.
The soldier growled as Norman performed the macabre surgery.
“….I’m coming for her.” Norman nodded his head. Rufus flicked the soldier out of the alley and onto the street. He stood clutching his gut but instantly fell again, riddled by a hail of bullets from above.
“Now,” said Norman. “You say we should be moving to the capital?”
Rufus nodded.
The group sped along streets and around the corner to the heart of the city where the capital lay. They sprinted by closed shops and late-night drunks, stumbling along the sidewalks.
“Here!” shouted Norman while they were still a block away from the capital building. “Let’s approach from the back side.”
They jogged along at human speed until they stood at a T-intersection. The road led off to the left and right. The back of the capital building stood just across the street. It did not have a fraction of the gilded foil and Romanesque architecture as the front.
“It’s quiet,” said Georgios as they scanned the building and its surroundings. Not a single light illuminated any of the rear windows.
“Too quiet,” said Rufus.
“Yes,” Norman agreed. He quickly crossed the street with the others in tow. They pressed their backs against the building and slid along to a corner. Norman peered around it to see the side of the building and more dark windows. “Let’s move to the front.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” asked Felicia walking around Norman and taking the lead.
Norman grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Careful!”
“It’s empty. They’re not here, yet. We need to move now before they get here.”
“I’m not so sure. A little caution could go a long way for you. You’re just a Nymph, and I’d like to see you grow up.”
Felicia lowered her brow, and an icy look overcame her face. “Oh, yes. I’m a Nymph.” Her words dripped out like bitter syrup. She moved her hand to her Dagger. “But I’m not ‘just’ a Nymph.”
Norman recognized this posturing. He saw all the signs of adolescent rebellion. His classroom instincts kicked in immediately.
“That’s true. You’ve come a very long way,” he replied. “What’s your plan?”
Felicia’s face softened. “Plan?”
Norman waited for her bravado to fade as he knew it would. Her fire was fueled by pure teenage hormones. A moment of contemplation should stamp it out. Thinking and calm often put an end to overgrown temper tantrums.
Thinking is what he was best at getting kids to do.
Norman released her arm and continued his cautious walk along the side of the building. As he made his way to the front, he whispered commands to the others working their way around pillars and other obstacles that made their short journey anything but a straight shot.
Once they reached the final corner, Norman stood behind a column and looked around to the long and broad front steps of the ornate building. A few lights along the steps illuminated the facade. The great arches at the entrance stood empty of the typical daily traffic. Who comes this late to complain to their state representative? What state representative stays this late to field constituent concerns? They were not, after all, here on official state business. Their mission would definitely be classified as ‘underground.’ A clash of shadow organizations.
Norman relaxed his shoulders and turned back to the others. “It’s empty. I don’t understand?”
Rufus spoke up. “They said they were on their way here.”
“Maybe they’re not in any hurry. They don’t need to beat the sunrise,” said Georgios.
“Or they want to come and hold the politicians hostage,” said Georgios.
“Who would rescue that lot?” said MacManus in a chuckle.
“They’re inside,” said Rufus. “They’re waiting.”
Norman peered around the column again. Most lights were off in the grandiose building. A single light illuminated the window of a room on the top floor all the way at the opposite corner of the structure. “Well, someone’s here. Let’s go in.”
“I have a bad feeling about this,” said MacManus
“It’s a trap,” added Rufus.
“Then let’s spring it,’ said Norman.
The group did not exactly jump with enthusiasm.
“What do we have to lose at this point? We’re on the verge of all out global war. Either we try and stop it, or we become its first casualties. Might as well get it over with,” said Norman.
“I’m with you,” said Felicia, striding to the column to stand with Norman.
