“What do you want from me? I gotta live my life, right? Gotta make money, right? Gotta live normal, like you just said.”
“You want to talk money? Five hundred dollars a day. Just to be my eyes. No flying, no crazy heroics. I can't go out in the day. You can. Be my eyes.”
Money didn't matter at all to me. Victoria sounded like she really wanted my help, and that's the hook that got me. Victoria sensed it, and put a hand on my shoulder.
“Something important is happening,” she said again. “Please help me figure out what it is.”
Even as I nodded, I couldn't believe what I was agreeing to.
We left before the cops showed up. Indeed a busy night for them. I barely remember driving with Victoria back to her house, and then back to my apartment.
Chapter 24
It was one of those deep sleeps where you don't even remember if you dreamed or not. I woke up, and it actually took me a minute to figure out where I was. I felt my comfortable bed, recognized the morning sun throwing shadows on the closet door. I was home.
I half stumbled to the bathroom and gave myself a look in the mirror. I was surprised at what I saw. I looked terrible. An insane night in the city would do that. A few tiny cuts in my hair from crashing through the butcher shop glass. Huge circles under my eyes.
I was in the middle of making a microwave breakfast when I heard the front door open. I turned to see Cindy. It felt like it had been forever since I last saw her, although we just fought the night before.
I took a quick look down at myself. I couldn't remember what I wore to bed. Luckily I put on a pair of shorts sometime before passing out the night before.
Cindy looked great. Tight pair of jeans, a shirt that showed that slim stomach of hers. She gave me a small half smile, a sign that we weren't fighting anymore.
“Rough night?”
I never lied to Cindy, but wasn't up to talking about the night before. Luckily I didn't have to. Before I could say anything, she lowered her head and looked at the carpet.
“Sorry about last night,” she said.
I actually had to think back to our fight. “Hey, no problem. Wasn't our first fight, won't be our last. But what the hell was that about, anyway?”
“We'll talk about that later, okay? I won't leave you hanging, I promise.”
I shrugged. Fine. I had other things on my mind anyway. I turned back to the kitchen.
“So when do I get to ride you?”
What a thought. I turned, and actually caught her staring at me.
“Huh? What?”
She smiled. “It's all over the news.”
“What's all over the news?”
She grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. It only took her a second to find what she was looking for.
I felt my heart sink.
Pictures of me were on the local news. Different angles, different cameras. Some were from cell phone cameras. One was from a traffic camera. No shots of my face, and none of them were very clear. But there I was, flying through the city streets, for everyone to see. They even interviewed a guy while a slide-show of all the different photos played of me.
“Aw man, it was awesome,” he said. He stood on a sidewalk while gesturing behind him. “I was right here. The dude actually saved a guy's life. He had these huge wings. It was just nuts. I saw the whole thing. He pulled this guy out of traffic, then started flying away.”
Cindy muted the TV. We locked eyes. Part of me thought she was gonna run away. Why not? I'm pretty much a monster. But she didn't. She just gave me that smile.
“So, you can fly,” she said. “I thought it was weird you kept going in the woods. Didn't think I noticed, did you?”
“I was gonna tell you, Cindy. Just as soon as I got a grip on everything.”
“Oh, I know. Sounds like you had a crazy night. When do I get to try you out?”
I really wasn't hearing what she was asking. Panic started to set in. I did my best to keep it in.
“I can fly.” I sat on the couch. “And now the whole world knows.”
Cindy knew I was upset, and like the true friend she is, did her best to bring me out of it. She sat next to me and put a hand on my shoulder.
“Hey, it's okay. A lot of the news reports are already saying the whole thing is a fake. It has to be, right? Because no one can fly. You okay?”
I didn't say anything. I kept looking at the TV.
“Look,” she said. “Has anyone knocked on your door yet?”
“No.”
“Then no one knows. You're safe. Just wear a trash bag on your head next time you take off.”
I laughed. That's all I needed, was a laugh and a friend. As always, Cindy made me feel better.
“Thanks, Cindy.”
“Anytime.” She smiled and rubbed my shoulder, a little more than I would have thought. Or it could have been my wishful thinking. We did hold eyes for a moment, long enough for her to suddenly pull back her hand and stand up, almost awkwardly. “Well, I gotta head to work.”
“On a Saturday?”
“Yeah. We're behind, and my dad's paying double, so off I go. I'll talk to you later. And call Leese. She misses you, and keeps crying about boys. Take her out to lunch or something.”
I nodded.
I would call Alicia, but I had a little Saturday work to do myself.
After Cindy left I immediately went for the phone. I had no idea what Victoria's day schedule was like. Did she sleep all day, like in the movies?
“Hello?”
“Victoria. It's me.”
“I thought you'd be sleeping. How the hell are you awake?”
“Listen. I'm all over the damn TV. They know about me.”
“Who does?”
“Everyone. There's pictures of me flying through the city.”
She was quiet for a moment.
“And?”
“And? There is no and.”
“Please tell me you didn't call just for that. It's not a big deal.”
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, Alex. Shit. They've got pictures of Bigfoot and the Lochness Monster. And no one thinks they're real. Well, the funny part is they are, but no one believes it. They won't think you're real either.”
“Victoria-”
“Look,” she cut me off. “If you're really freaked out about this, I'll take care of it. Alright?”
“What do you mean? Take care of it?”
“Just trust me. You ready to do a little running for me?”
I took a deep breath. To be honest, I wasn't sure I was ready. “I gotta take a quick shower.”
“Alright. Head down to the police station in the city. I already talked to William. He's gonna look over the corpse of that guy in the street last night. Bring me a copy of the report.”
“You don't have like a fax machine or something?”
“Yes, I do. But I want another set of eyes. And not just a cop's eyes. Your eyes.”
“Okay. Don't know how much help I can be. But sure.”
“Good. Stop by later. And hey?”
“Yeah?”
“How are you and Cindy?”
I was touched she was actually asking. “We're not fighting anymore. She stopped by this morning. Still don't know what her problem was.”
“She's a woman. You might never know. But after all this is over, you've got to just throw her down on the couch. Alright?”
I laughed and shook my head. Getting romantic advice from a centuries-old vampire. “Whatever you say, Victoria. I'll see you soon.”
Before jumping in the shower I called Alicia. It was short, but not really sweet.
“Hey, Alex.”
“What's going on, sis?”
Cindy was right. She was down. “Not much.”
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing. I'll be fine. Cindy told me how her date went last night.”
“Yeah. She said it went good, then comes home and gets pi
ssy with me.”
She laughed, but it was more irritated than happy. “You have no clue, do you?”
“Uh, no. But I guess you do?”
“No. Forget I said anything.”
“Alicia.”
“Hey, you remember that guy I talked about a few times? Mark from Spanish class? You think I should ask him out?”
I rolled my eyes. Nothing like changing the subject. “Sure, go ahead. But remember what I said. Don't be stressing yourself out.”
“Yeah, yeah. I won't. I'm gonna clean the house. Give me a call later, alright?”
I hung up. Obviously she didn't want to talk. My sister and her guy problems. Me and my feelings for Cindy. Oh, and me being a half demon of some kind. Life had its share of problems.
*****
It didn't take long to drive to the city. I parked about a block away from the police station, the same one I forced Tony to turn himself in to, after he and his partner attacked Cindy. That felt like forever ago.
I felt foolish as I stepped inside and walked up to the sliding-glass window separating the front lobby area from the rest of station. I felt like I shouldn't have been there, and I had doubts as to why I was. How exactly was I gonna help Victoria?
“Can I help you?” the lady behind the glass said. She looked bored, and irritated.
“Uh, yeah. I'm looking for William Sloane. He should know I'm coming.”
“Name?”
“Alex Teague.”
She picked up the phone. “Bill, a guy named Alex here to see you?” She was quiet a second, then hung up. “He'll be right up.”
I flashed a small smile and waited. Bill greeted me a minute later. Without the distraction of an insane crime scene, I got a much better look at him.
He didn't look any better than last night. Just looked tired, defeated. It looked like he wore the same clothes from the crime scene, minus the coat. He looked strong, though, tough. He did manage a smirk and nod before shaking my hand.
“Hey, Alex. Put this on.”
He gave me a visitor's badge and led me through the maze of cubicle desks and chairs. A lot of noise, a lot of commotion. People were everywhere doing things you'd expect in a police station. Phones were ringing. Desk cops were taking statements from witnesses. Bill didn't say a word, which I liked. All business. He stopped at a desk that I guessed was his and started organizing some folders and punching away at his computer keyboard. He paused long enough to grab a cell phone from his desk drawer and toss it at me.
“This is for you.”
“Why do I need a cell phone?”
“Victoria wanted me to give it to you. Said you didn't have one. How the hell can you get by without a cell phone?”
I shrugged. “Just not popular, I guess.”
He smirked. “Anyway, her number's in there. I guess you really do work for her now.”
“How long have you two known each other?”
He laughed. The laugh seemed to go against his serious look.
“Long enough to wish I hadn't met her sometimes. Vampires, werewolves. I wish I didn't know they were real.”
He didn't know the half of it. Demons, ghosts, the list just keeps getting better.
“So, you got a report for her?” I asked.
Before he could answer, a cop led a drunk man in handcuffs by us.
“I'm fuckin' telling you! He flew through the sky! He was like a goddamn giant fucking bat! Or a monster or something!”
Bill shook his head as they walked by. I shifted in my chair, a little uncomfortable.
“What shit are these assholes on now,” he muttered, then looked at me. His mind was far away. “What was that?”
“A report? I'm supposed to get a report for Victoria?”
He smiled. “Not yet, but we will in about twenty minutes.”
“What?”
“We still have to examine the body.”
“We?”
“Victoria didn't tell you? She wants you to get a look at it. I'm not thrilled about it myself, a civvie like you. No offense. But I trust Victoria.”
I shook my head, a little angry. I knew it couldn't be as simple as playing mailman for a report.
“Well, what the hell does she think I'm gonna see that you guys aren't?”
“Beats me. She just says you're special, and let you have a look.”
I felt a little sick to my stomach. Seeing a dead body in the street is one thing, but examining one?
“You ready?”
“I guess.”
He got up and led me to the back and down a tight flight of steps. We passed a few sets of doors until we came to a set that required an electronic badge of some kind. He swiped a card and opened the door, but grabbed me by the shoulder before I could walk in.
“You're not gonna faint or puke, are you? I don't feel like mopping shit up on a Saturday.”
A quick flash of some of the things I'd seen in my life flashed through my head. A possessed ghost killing his wife over and over again. Visions of demons torturing souls, in my birthplace of all places.
“I'll be fine.”
We stepped into the morgue. It was like you'd think it would be. Very cold, very blue. The wall was lined up with small doors, which held tables of who knows how many bodies.
Bill looked at a file folder he had, matching up to which body cabinet he was looking for.
“Our victim, Larry Watling,” he started. He wrapped a hand around the body-cabinet handle. “Just a guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. We figure-”
He never finished.
As soon as he opened the body-cabinet door, something lunged out. Caught us both completely off guard. Before I could even blink, Bill was on the ground screaming in pain. The vampire had its weight pressed on Bill's chest, its fangs deep in his shoulder.
I reached down to try to pull it off. It shrugged me off easily, throwing me back a few feet. But it was enough to get its attention.
It lunged at me, but luckily I was a split second faster. I vanished, and it passed through me and crashed into the wall.
I backed up next to Bill, who was starting to climb to his feet. Blood was dripping down his shirt to the floor. We both stared at what used to be Larry Watling.
He half crouched against the wall. He looked to be sizing the both of us up. It looked at us and snarled. Bright red eyes that weren't natural, impossibly pale skin, unkempt hair. It was my first look at a wild vampire in good light, and I'd never forget it.
“This isn't right,” Bill said. “This one's acting like an animal.”
“Yeah. We found two more like this one.”
He lunged again. This time it went for me. My first instinct was to vanish, but I knew if I did, it would smack right into Bill. I took the charge and fell back into the wall. My head smacked off the concrete, knocking me senseless. As I crumpled to the ground, I felt his weight on me. He tried to push my head back and go for my neck. I managed to slip an arm between us, but he was stronger than me. I was a second away from vanishing when he screamed in pain. His hold on me started to slip a little, and he fell next to me, almost in a fetal position. I saw a few inches of a long metal rod sticking through the front of his chest, with the rest sticking out the back. Bill had stabbed him through the heart with some kind of tool used for autopsies.
“You alright?” Bill said, yanking me to my feet.
I nodded, and immediately felt like an idiot. That was what was itching in the back of my head last night at the crime scene. As Victoria and I looked over the scene in the street, it just never occurred to me.
Larry Watling wasn't dead. I should have known when I first saw him lying covered in the middle of the street.
I never sensed a ghost at all. I know if it were me, I'd be trying to solve my own murder.
Now here Larry was, lying in a vampire coma on the floor of a morgue, undead, of all things.
In all the commotion, Bill didn't see me vanish. That was a good thing, less questions. But he was ble
eding bad from the shoulder, and only a single thought hit my mind. He looked at me, and answered before I could ask the question.
“Don't worry. I won't turn into one of them. I've been bit a million times. Even let Victoria suck some blood when she was low.”
I sighed. That was a relief.
In fifteen seconds, Bill was calm enough to think. I wish I could say that.
“Fuck. I gotta deal with this,” he said, pointing to Larry. “And you gotta get out of here. We'll all talk later.”
“What are you gonna do with him?”
“You don't want to know,” he said, and gestured to the door.
I nodded, and left the morgue, leaving Bill to do whatever it was he had to do. I didn't give it any more thought. I just wanted to get out. I dropped my guest badge at the front desk and stepped into the afternoon sun.
I sat down at the steps leading to the police station to calm my nerves. The daylight felt good, like it was cleansing me of what the hell just happened. It was good to see people walking the streets, cars stuck in traffic. Normal things. Not the strange world I was suddenly thrust in to.
That vampire could have easily snapped my neck, had I let it. It was pure luck and Bill's quickness that saved me. Whatever the hell I was, half demon, human with demon blood, I was starting to feel like I was in way over my head.
And the day was only starting.
Chapter 25
After unwinding for a few minutes I got up and circled the block to get to my truck. I didn't have any report to give Victoria, so I was just gonna get something to eat and go over to her place.
I never made it.
I didn't even hear them coming up from behind me. Someone hit me on the back of the head with something hard. The pain burst through my skull as I fell to one knee. Then a van screeched to a halt next to me. Two guys jumped out, grabbed me by the arms, and dragged me inside. I didn't have a chance to vanish at all. Abducted right in broad daylight.
By the time the pain in my head started to die a little, I realized I was in the van. I tried to move, but something held my wrist. I was handcuffed to a railing running along the side, my arm over my head.
“Just relax,” someone said.
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