by Alex Dire
Cornelius’ skin began to pock with bubbles and heal. The battle between dissolution and healing continued, but clearly his size and strength began to diminish.
The last thing Norman saw was the fingers on Cornelius’ nearly healed hand shrivel into nubs. Then Norman’s eyes turned to jelly and dried to ash. He fell to the ground attempting to shade himself with his hands, but they, too, erupted in flames from the direct sun. Two holes in his charred face, the remnants of his nose, still let in odors. He smelled the flesh of his burning friends.
His last thoughts were of them. He wondered if he’d meet them again in oblivion. He held on despite the pain, despite his failure. He held on for any chance of success. Of winning. Of saving them. He could not fight the sun forever. He would need to let go. As the last of his senses went dark, he could feel nothing and see nothing. He was alone with his final thoughts. In a moment, he would let them go as well. One last group of neurons fired. “I'm sorry.” The words ricocheted around his brain for moment and then went out.
A new thought flickered on in the void. “Mr. Bernard.” The words came from somewhere else. How did they get in here? It was Felicia’s voice. It made sense that this would be the last memory he could resurrect. His only progeny. His only family. Then he realized it wasn’t a thought, but a voice.
“Mr. Bernard. Drink.” His ears had begun to hear again.
He blinked his eyes. Light poured through in blurry blobs.
He tried to force sounds from his throat but only scratches and fluid came up.
Something touched his lips. A warm liquid poured into his mouth. Blood. The viscous fluid coated his desperate throat, easing and soothing as it went down. Moments later his vision cleared, and he saw a charred but healing Felicia sitting with his head in her lap. “Felicia,” he managed to say.
“Shhh. Just drink.” She tipped the container further and the rest of its contents gushed down Norman’s esophagus.
He felt energy surge through his limbs and life return to his body. He sat up and scanned his surroundings. He was inside a truck. Its walls were lined with unfamiliar equipment. Crates stood stacked against the back door. And his friends all lay about the floor, crammed into every morsel of space.
The side door stood open. Outside, Norman saw the White House and the broken window of the Oval Office. Next to the truck was a pile of bubbling green goo seeping through the fabric of a Corps. V uniform. The goo seemed to struggle as it bubbled and sizzled its way to nothingness. Cornelius could harm them no more.
From the driver’s seat Elijah looked back and nodded at Norman.
“Let’s get out of here,” said Norman.
“No can do,” said Elijah.
Then, through the side door, Norman saw a ring of soldiers form around the van, rifles raised. The sound of helicopter rotors grew louder, drowning out any possibility of communication.
A figure in a suit accompanied by an officer approached the line of soldiers. The officer spoke into the ear of one and he let them through. As they neared the van, Norman recognized the man. Garcia.
They approached the open door.
“Garcia,” said Norman.
“Nice to see you, too,” said the state representative.
“The president?”
“He’s fine. Rushed to safety the instant I called.”
The officer put a hand on Garcia’s shoulder and shook his head.
“Guess I shouldn’t say any more.” He smiled and a hint of his wily face returned. “We’ve got a convoy forming in front of your van. Follow. You’ll be flanked by pretty heavily-armed vehicles. I’d drive slowly and calmly if I were you.” With that, Garcia slid the side door shut.
“You heard the man,” said Norman, relieved. Vampires had not killed the leader of the free world. There might be hope for dialogue between the two species.
Elijah nodded and faced forward.
“Do you even have a license?” asked Norman.
“Never needed one,” replied Elijah.
The engine rumbled as the van accelerated and drove off with its massive escort.
Norman looked to the faces of his Nymphs. Felicia wrapped her hands around his arm. He could feel her affection for him. Declan slept with his head against her shoulder. Felicia must sense his feelings the same way. Darius sat exhausted against the crates with Tyreese next to him. Cindy sat cross-legged, head bobbing with the irregular rhythm of the van.
Tyreese stared into Norman’s eyes. “For Keon.”
“For Keon,” repeated Norman.
Rae sat on a box with her head in her hands.
They all bumped along slowly and thought about where they were and where they might be going. Waiting. Healing.
Norman hoped they’d get there together.
Epilogue
Two weeks later Norman and the Nymphs rode through the streets in a limousine accompanied by representative Garcia on their way back to the condo. They had been interrogated by everyone from military to CIA to a whole group of doctors. Garcia had been instrumental in their eventual release. Turns out he had more friends that Norman had imagined.
“Thank you for coming to me,” said Garcia.
“It was Rae’s idea really,” replied Norman. Perhaps politics had some value now that connections to humans and their power structures mattered so much more. Rae and Garcia were good allies to have.
“She’ll be working for me now. We have a lot do.”
“I’ll bet,” said Norman.
“We’re drafting legislation to protect you all. I hope to make it bigger than just for our state.”
“Good luck,” said Norman.
“The war is over,” replied Garcia, “but the fight has just begun.”
Indeed, thought Norman. People would learn that the creatures of their nightmares were real and walked among them. Somehow all that remained of vampiredom would have to overcome that. How do you make peace with a monster? One that feeds on human blood?
“God Speed,” said Norman.
The Nymphs finally relaxed when they reached the Condo. Felicia and Declan stretched out on the sofa. Cindy sat by the window, staring out. Tyreese lay on the carpet and closed his eyes. Darius slouched in a chair across from the sofa.
“Let’s skip the lessons for tonight,” said Norman. They had been through so much. They would need to figure out a new normal. It couldn't just go back to the way things were.
A long silence gripped the room. What was left to say? He’d struggled so hard to protect them, it had only been a matter of time before they’d needed to fend for themselves. They’d done it well.
Except Keon. Keon was Norman’s greatest failure. That failure made Norman wonder about how far the others had come. How much more they might need? Could he really let them go? Were they unready? Like Keon? Like Richie Taylor? How could he ever know? The memories of the Keon's death and of the Nymph's valiant fighting warred in Norman's head.
Finally, Felicia broke the silence. “Mr. Bernard.”
He looked up in response.
“Are we going back to school?”
All the others looked to him, awaiting his answer.
“I don’t know,” he replied.
Everything in him wanted to keep them here, away from the world, the world that now knew what they were.
“Not tonight at least.”
They had learned so much and readied themselves in many ways. But it always seemed the world kept getting more and more dangerous.
After one hundred and sixty years, Norman wondered if he himself fit in anymore. Given the events that had forced the human and vampire worlds together despite millennia of secrecy, what was he to do?
“I’m going in, though.”
Norman stood at the entrance of the homeless shelter, a large bag of confections dangling from one hand. The intern stopped folding her sheet and stared. “It's you.”
Norman scanned about and saw that three beds had occupants sleeping in them.
“Starting
to fill back up?” said Norman to the young woman.
She responded with frozen silence.
Norman slowly approached her with measured footsteps. Her eyes grew wider as he neared. He could smell the fear in her breath. He lowered his head and stared into her eyes. He was loving this.
“Here you go,” he placed a cruller on a napkin at her table and walked past to the office.
He knocked on the office door. When no one answered, he pushed it open. “Gene?”
“Jesus Christ,” the robust woman replied. “Don’t you ever knock?”
Norman subdued a chuckle. “I brought something for your…guests.”
She snatched the bag and looked inside. “Where’s the cruller? Didn’t you bring me a cruller?”
“Oh,” said Norman, “I didn’t know you wanted one.”
“The hell you didn’t!” she replied, reaching in and withdrawing a Boston cream.
“I gave it to the intern,” said Norman as a means of apology.
“What intern?” she said, biting into the doughnut.
“Right.”
She stared at him chewing the confection, no hint of fear. She seemed as annoyed to see Norman as ever. “Why you still here?” crumbs escaped her mouth as she spoke through the pastry.
“Aren’t you afraid?”
She kept chewing. “Why?”
“Well,” replied Norman. “Didn’t you see on TV?”
She ate, unmoved.
“I’m. Well. I’m a…”
Gene swallowed and interrupted. “You’re a vampire?” She squeezed out a single spasm of laughter. “Honey, I knew that the first time you walked in here. Any fool could see it.”
Norman smiled. “Oh. What gave me away? Was it the cape? Or the fact that I always flew in as a bat?”
“Now if there’s nothing else, I’ve got a ton of work here, and it ain’t gonna do itself.”
“Sure,” said Norman. “See you later, Gene.”
She sat down without responding.
Back in the dormitory, the intern had turned to face the office door. The cruller remained next to her, untouched.
Norman paced toward her and stood a bit too close for comfort. “You should taste it. He picked up the cruller and chomped off the end. “It won’t bite.” He smiled through his chewing mouth and placed the confection back down.
The intern stood paralyzed as Norman left.
Norman entered the office of MLK night school. Silence and stares had followed him up the school steps and down the hall.
Now that same silence greeted him in the office. The entire staff had stopped what they were doing. A parent with a student sat off to the side stuck in the same trance.
Norman approached the front desk. Elaine Sperry’s eyes followed him as he approached. “Any messages for me while I was gone?”
She shook her head.
Norman was certain a huge pile of paper had piled up for him in his absence. She probably answered in paranoid fear, doing anything to make him move on.
Norman addressed the whole office staff. “I’m sorry I was gone for so long. You probably saw that I had become involved in something quite important. I look forward, though, to settling back into our normal routine hear at Night School.”
His words drew no reply. He turned to walk into his office. As he grasped the handle, Elaine finally spoke up. “Ahem. Mr. Bernard.” Her breathing rate increased. He heard her heart rate surge as well. “Elijah and his father are waiting for you in the office. He’s been absent for days, and his dad wants to speak to you.”
“Thank you, Ms. Sperry.” Elijah’s father, indeed.
In the office sat the two in chairs opposite Norman’s desk.
He quickly sat and stared at Chip and Elijah. So much had happened since their last meeting in his office that Norman hardly knew what to say.
“So, our secret’s out,” said Chip at last.
“Apparently,” said Norman. “I can barely get a peep out of my office staff. Is it going to be like this forever?”
“Not if I have to say anything about it. I’ve already got a plan,” said Chip.
“I figured you would, Chancellor Harding,” replied Norman.
Elijah leaned forward. “I’ve been sent to give you an update.”
“Oh, how kind,” said Norman.
“The threat is basically over,” said Elijah.
Norman waited for more. He raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? That's the update?”
“The details are not very consequential.”
“They are to me.”
“Oh, just tell him,” said Chip. “They were able to get the gene mutation into the tubes of the other hives around the world, which pretty much finished them off. One facility in Ireland had timed out and opened, but we knew how to take care of them. We had a lot of help from the human military. And they had a lot of help from us, obviously.”
“So, they’re all destroyed?”
Chip and Elijah's eyes met for an instant.
Uh, oh.
“Well, almost all,” said Chip.
“A few escaped the White House unchanged. Our drones didn’t hit every one. They’ve scattered. We’re currently attempting to track them down.”
“And Skeete?”
Elijah shrugged, “Unknown as well.”
“She could be dead,” said Chip.
“I wouldn’t count on it,” replied Norman. He hadn't really needed to ask. He knew she was out there. He could feel her, just barely. Enough, though. He'd hoped it was just a memory, a ghost. He dreaded ever having to see her again. Perhaps he wouldn't.
The three men shifted uncomfortably in their chairs. Something was left to be said.
“So that’s it, then,” said Norman. “Everything goes back to normal?”
“No,” said Chip. “Things can never go back to normal. They know about us. You see how your staff and students look at you. Everyone will look at you like that for a while. What matters is what happens when the shock wears off.”
“They’ll hate us,” said Norman. “We’ll have to hide again.”
“Not this time,” said Chip. “I’ve been planning for this for a long time.”
“What’s your plan?”
“You’ll see.”
“As long as I have no part in it, I’m happy.”
A broad smile stretched across Chip’s face. “I’ve got something up my sleeve.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“And I may need your help.”
“No, thank you,” said Norman.
The two men rose. “Good day, Mr. Bernard,” said Chip. “Elijah, I believe you have class to attend.”
Norman raised an eyebrow at the young Nebulous member. “Wait, you’re staying? I thought it was all over?”
Elijah replied, “A kid’s gotta go to school somewhere.”
As the two exited the office, Chip turned. “I’ll be back.” With that he closed the door.
I’m sure you will.
The bell rang and the roar of footsteps filled the hall as students hustled their way to first period.
Norman sat in his chair wrapping his hands behind his head and lounging back. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine his future in this new world. All he saw was darkness. And that, for the moment, was just fine with him.
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Night School Book 3: Vampire Ascendance
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Also by Alex Dire
NIGHT SCHOOL SERIES
Book 1: Vampire Awakening
Book 2: Vampire Legion
Book 3: Vampire Ascendance
FREE NIGHT SCHOOL STORIES
New Blood: Adrift in a Vampire War (prequel)
Young Blood (the story of the nymphs)
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HUNTED BY MAGIC SERIES
Demon Marked (Coming Soon)
Demon Blood (Coming Soon)
Back of Book Stuff
When I was a half dozen years into my teaching career, I had an interesting discussion with one of my classes. Standardized testing days were coming up and I was teasing them sarcastically about how much they were going to miss my class. One of the students screwed up her face and said, “No, Mr. Dire, we like coming to your class.”
Of course, I knew this. You can tell, as a teacher, when the students are happy to be there. But seldom do you hear students acknowledge it. Curious, I asked, “Why do you like coming here?”
Another student thought for a moment and answered, “Because you’re the only teacher that doesn’t seem annoyed that we’re even here.”
Students didn’t feel that way because of my pedagogy or my classroom management. They felt that way because of love. I cared for them deeply and it came through in my class. I enjoyed forging relationships with those kids and they rewarded me with their smiles.
Norman Bernard has some secrets up his sleeve to aid him with his students. But I wanted to give him a group that was more than just a bunch of kids. His nymphs.
Around the time I started writing Night School, my wife and I had our second child. I’d always been part of a family as a child, of course, but starting a family of my own was entirely different. My own children are so dear to me. I never knew I could love someone so much.
I wanted to give Norman a family. To push him beyond the bounds of his roll as a teacher. To give him some people who were so dear to him, he’d die for them. I also wanted to provide him with all the pinch points we parents feel. When to protect? When to push? When to let go? As a dad, I never really know what’s right in the moment. I do my best, sometimes screw it up, and one in a while nail it.
