by Zeecé Lugo
Placing his well-heeled, buffed leather shoes on Max’s windpipe, the muscle man smiled as he pressed down. “Now, let’s see who’s talking. I’m going to ask you where the bitch is, and if I don’t get the right answer, your air supply is gonna get real short.”
The vampire’s eyes flashed a glowing red and, on his sudden hiss, fangs two inches long erupted over his snarling lips. The man gasped in shock and jumped back.
“What the fuck? What the fuck are you?” There was fear now where before there had been bravado.
“What do you think I am?” the vampire asked, bolting up and turning his head almost 180 degrees side-to-side for effect, his fanged smirk and glowing eyes painting him a beast from hell.
The gangster looked around him in desperation. The beast stood between him and the exit. His gun was back in the room, and the beast had taken his switch blade. The only alternative was a drop twelve floors down he was not ready to take. This job had taken a turn he never could have predicted.
This thing before him was something out of a horror film, but he had downed him once. Maybe, he was not as strong as he seemed. The muscle man’s eyes became calculating and his stance changed.
“Oh, yesss,” hissed the vampire. “Fight me! Let your blood pump full of adrenaline, sweet and thick as nectar. Then, when I’m done drinking, I will have all your memories. For fun, I will turn you over and ride you like a whore before I turn you into my mindless slave. You’re a pretty boy. I will keep you until I tire of you, and then I will drain you dry.”
Max licked his lips in a hungry leer. It was fun to use the human’s own ridiculous beliefs and legends to instill fear. Draining a human of five to six liters of blood would take three vampires his size, and fucking this thug would be as agreeable as putting his cock in a meat grinder. Still, fear was a monster’s greatest weapon, and Max could work it to the max. He smiled at his own pun.
“We can deal,” answered the terrified thug in desperation. “I don’t want to be a mindless slave. I’d rather jump off the roof.”
“I don’t really want you, human. I want your boss. I want to know why he wants the girl. What is so valuable about her?”
“She’s not valuable, not as you might think. She’s one of his whores, and he has thousands of them in all major cities in Asia, Europe, and America. But she got away, and if he allows her to go unpunished, every other whore and muscle man he has, will think they can too. You can see his position. He has a multi-million dollar business and a reputation to protect.”
“You talk of human trafficking? Your boss is the head of a human trafficking ring?”
“One of the biggest and most powerful.”
“How then did he come to lose the girl? Does your boss also take women with children?”
“She was stolen as a young girl. There is a big market in Asia and Europe for young girls. She was taken to Tokyo, installed and trained to serve a very select clientele. There, one of our lieutenants fell in love with her. He was highly trusted, one of the inner circle. He betrayed the organization and risked his life to steal the girl. That was seven years ago.
“In our business, you don’t do that. Five months ago, Marco was caught, but he refused to give up his family, even under torture. We were, however, right behind the woman. She was found, and our men were sent to intercept, punish, and execute her, but they failed to report back, and we lost her again.”
“This Marco is dead?”
“Yes, he was ‘questioned’ and then executed. Once the rest of his ‘little family’ is handled, the work is done. There is no need for you to get involved. She’s not valuable to anyone but our boss. He’ll buy her from you, if you have her.”
“The children?”
“The children too. The example set must be absolute. Everyone who works for the organization must understand that treason brings about unthinkable retribution, for you and yours. That means the kiddies must die. Not that I like it, but we all know the rules.”
The vampire observed the man before him. His thousand-dollar suit and two-hundred dollar tie were more valuable to him than the lives of two small, precious children. In the blink of an eye, Max was on the man, one arm around the assassin, pinning his arms in a vice-like grip, the other grabbing his hair to pull the head sideways to expose the neck.
The vampire allowed his inner beast to surface, striking hard, sucking, feasting, inhaling deeply the sharp scent of terror oozing from the man’s pores, thrumming to the racing heart beat. The blood was warm and thick, but tainted with the tang of nicotine and cocaine. Before throwing the man over the parapet, he hacked over the bite wound several times with the man’s own switchblade.
Max took his time getting himself under control. It never surprised him how close to the surface the monster was and how easy it was to release him. Maybe it was the city doing it to him. Since coming here, he’d become more modern but also less civilized.
He now hunted without pity or regard for his prey, never shielding his victim from terror, always killing afterward. He justified his actions with the argument that he only preyed on killers and rapists. But was he just using excuses to justify his own savage nature?
******
The prickle in the back of his neck that signaled one of his kind was nearby, was getting stronger. He crouched down to scan his surroundings for the uninvited presence. Yes, another vampire was nearby. He inhaled deeply, catching the faint scent of his own bloodline.
He leaped away, crossing the bridge to the far side of the river, leading the hunter away from his place. Not that the location of his home was a secret. He had been there long enough that both friends and enemies knew where to find him. However, he would rather keep the presence of the little human family a secret from those who might use the knowledge to their advantage.
Max led his follower on a merry chase until minutes before daybreak, when his pursuer fled for his own shelter. Max raced home and made it inside seconds before sunrise. The house was silent and full of shadows. On the mattress in the corner of the living room, little Nina and her mother slept deeply. Next to them, on his playpen, baby Marco lay on his tummy, his round butt sticking up.
Max watched them and anxiety knotted up his belly. Now he lived in constant watch, both for human and vampire enemies. All his life, he’d kept away from those things that would bind and limit him. Now, he was surrounded by them. Gone was the silence and solitude. Gone was the sense of control.
The vampire sighed in frustration. Had he to do it over again, would he have left the little family in that alley to live or die? He was, after all, vampire, and vampires had cold hearts.
CHAPTER 15
He seemed calm and undisturbed, but he was far from that. The information he’d gotten from the man now dead, had shaken him to the core. He now knew that Angel had lived through hell, and her enemies were evil, relentless, and deadly indeed. While they lived, the little family’s lives would always be in peril.
“Your threat is gone. I handled it.”
Angel gazed at him with eyes wide and intent. “He’s dead?”
“Yes, he’s dead. If any others follow, they will die too.” Max stared out the window into the dark night. “Still, be careful. I know you need to go outside and tend to your errands, but be vigilant and aware.”
“I will go out only when absolutely necessary, and I will keep my eyes open.” The woman moved to tend to the water she was boiling for tea. “Why do you help me? You have nothing to gain and all to lose. I’m a complication you do not need, I know that. You have no objections to killing and do so easily. Why go to so much trouble to try to keep me alive?”
“Not just you. If it was just you, I’d have left you in that alley to live or die.”
She felt a sharp pain at his easy dismissal of her life’s worth. For some reason that escaped her, she wished deeply that he thought her important. Why should it matter? He was something that most would consider evil, satanic, worthy of instant extermination. With his long, wi
ld hair, unkempt beard, sullen, contemptuous eyes, and hulking physique, he looked far from civilized. Still, it mattered to her.
“It was the children,” he continued. “No vampire would ever hurt or abandon little ones in dire peril. They touched my heart, and they needed their mother. I had little choice. Even if I gave you up now, your enemies would keep coming for the children.”
“The man spoke before he died?” Angel poured her cup of tea and took it to the table. Her hands shook as she put sugar in it and stirred. She feared his answer.
“Yes, he told me all.” Max turned to regard her, his dark blue eyes observing her from a countenance shadowed by all the wild hair and beard. He saw the deep blush of shame on her face, the lowering of her eyes in pained resignation.
“You know I’m a whore. Now, you’re not so positive about saving me. Maybe you think my babes would be better off with another mother.”
“You’re a whore? You still practice the trade?” he asked, dangerous anger instantly flashing in his eyes.
“Of course, not!” she shouted angrily, standing so fast her teacup splashed liquid on the table. “I was forced to it, a fourteen-year-old girl trapped in a strange country, trained through beatings, constant rape, and threat of hideous death. Fear, loss, dependency, those were the tools they used to bind me.
“Once Marco stole me away, I was never anything other than a wife and mother. He loved me, truly he loved me, and he paid the price for it. His death could not have been easy.” Tears ran down her face, and she reached up to wipe them with her hands.
“Yes, he did love you very much. He never gave you up, even when tortured. You are not and never were a whore. You were raped and forced. It seems to me a whore chooses to be one.”
“You may say that, but it’s not what I feel. I should have killed myself rather than submit. You know what really scares me? I dread that someday my children will find out, when they grow up, and they will wish I had died.”
“There is an easy solution for that. Never tell them. There is no need to burden them with the pain and sorrow. Once your enemies are destroyed, you bury the knowledge deep, forever.”
“You are a strange being, Max. You accept death, killing, lying, and who knows what else as if these were unimportant things. Yet, you help a destitute woman and her children out of the kindness of your heart.”
“I’m a practical and realistic being. Only fools struggle against the necessities of survival. For the present, you’re safe. Go to bed and leave your sorrows for another time.”
******
The vampire was a creature of conflicting facets. He wore expensive, well-made clothing, but he seemed never to comb his hair or shave. He had plenty of books in the shelves of his bedroom but no movies. He used the internet like an expert, but seldom watched TV. He had a town-home that would cost a pretty penny, but kept it mostly empty. He had solid, comfortable bedroom furniture, but an empty living room.
Angel shook her head at his inconsistencies as she dusted and oiled his book shelves. There were three guest bedrooms in the second floor as well as two extra bathrooms. She had cleaned every single one. She was making her way down to the basement to do some laundry, when Max came in from the outside.
“Do you never stop your toil, woman?”
“I don’t mind. I’d be bored to tears if I had nothing to do. The children are asleep already, so I thought I’d do the chores I find hard to do when they’re awake. Mostly, dusting upstairs and laundry in the basement.”
Max nodded and observed the woman silently. Truth was, she was a beauty, although not in the popular sense. She wore no makeup, her hair was not cut in a stylish way, and her clothes were chosen for warmth rather than style. But her skin was clear and radiant, her eyes were large and dark, and her lips were definitely worthy of passionate kisses. He could understand why a man may risk his life to have her to himself.
Angel loaded the washer, her mind busy with thoughts and fears. She knew she could not stay here very long, but she had no idea where to go. If she went to her friend in Seattle, they would find her. They were probably watching her house already. Angel dreaded taking her children out into the outside world again, to hide in shadows like beggars, to shiver in the cold, at the mercy of predators, always being chased.
Here, she felt protected, her babies warm and fed properly. Nina had developed an attachment to Max and he, for all his gruff demeanor, was kind and affectionate to the child. Angel smiled as she considered the man. He really needed looking after. It was not good for one to live so isolated from the world, so alone.
That morning, when Max came in at sunrise, he found the woman fitting clean sheets on his bed and pillow cases on his pillows. She looked up as he came in and smiled. He felt a small rush of warmth in his chest.
“Did you not sleep?” he asked.
“Of course, I slept five hours, and I will find time to take a nap with the kids during the day. Your bed is freshly made. The one task that still needs doing is the drapes. A cloud of dust forms when I touch them. Tomorrow night, I will bring them down and wash them. They’ll be back in place before morning, I promise. Honestly, are you not bothered by dust and cobwebs?”
“I never noticed them until you removed them. I do see the difference now.” He moved to sit on the ottoman and began removing his expensive, soft, leather boots. The wild, uncombed hair and beard left little of his face to be seen. The woman’s eyes tried to peer through them to see the real man.
“It’s the same with your face,” she murmured.
“Excuse me?” he questioned, his brows coming together in a frown.
“Surely, all that tangled hair gets in your way. With the winter wind blowing, it must obscure your vision. The beard must be a haven for dry, crusted blood.”
Max seemed irritated by her remarks. “I never gave it a thought. Why spend time grooming when I live alone and have no one to impress. I put my time to better uses. Not that your opinion matters to me, but I will have you know that I do bathe daily. Are you done?”
“Yes, yes, of course. I did not mean anything. Sleep well.”
“I’m not sleeping yet. I’ll take a shower, then do some work on the computer. Keep Nina from coming up. She likes to pester me with questions.”
“As you wish, Max. I’m sorry that she bothers you. She has developed an attachment for you. The first thing she asks for when she gets up, is you.”
“Yes, well,” he evaded her eyes, embarrassment and pleasure dueling in his gaze, “it’s understandable. She’s clearly bored and probably missing her father. However, it’s not good for her to get attached to me. Your stay here is temporary, at best.”
Angel returned downstairs. The baby was sleeping through the night now, and she had at least an hour before the morning routine began. Her mind dwelt on the vampire. How old was he? Had he always been alone? How far were the myths true? How much danger did he and his enemies represent for her and the children? There was so much she wanted to know about him, but he was difficult at best. Angel settled down by Nina’s side and closed her eyes.
******
“I will be gone most of the night. I have a large area to cover in my rounds and, when I feed, I like to do it as far from my home turf as possible. Remember the rules. Stay inside, all windows and drapes closed, let no one in, even if you know them. Understood?”
“Yes, Max. I understand. No one in.” Angel held the baby to her breast, the child placidly sucking at her nipple. The vampire fought to keep his gaze from drifting down. At her side, Nina looked up at him in adoration.
“Can I come with you?” she begged.
“No, child, you can’t. I will be working and hunting bad guys. It’s dangerous work.” He crouched down in front of her, serious eyes meeting hopeful, innocent ones.
“I could help. Mommy says I’m a good helper.”
“Yes, you are, but mommy’s work is very different from mine. Besides, who will watch your mother and your baby brother if we both leave?
” The child looked disappointed but accepting.
“We can play Subway Surfer when you come back,” she countered.
“Yes, perhaps we can.”
CHAPTER 16
That night, Angel stayed up late bringing down the drapes from Max’s bedroom and washing them. Just after midnight, the babies asleep, she went up the stairs with the washed and still damp drapes in her arms. She intended to hang them damp so they hanged properly as they dried.
She brought up a small stepladder from the basement, and she now climbed it, starting to install the drapes by placing the attached hooks into the tabs of the rod. The second-floor window faced the back of the house where the courtyard abutted the neighboring townhouses on the sides, and a tall, brick wall closed in the back.
Angel was humming to herself as she reached up to place a hook when the pale face and glowing red eyes stared straight at her through the glass. In startled terror, she screamed and pulled back, toppling off the three-step ladder and hitting the carpeted floor hard.
She lay there trying to breathe through the pain shooting up her elbow, and then raised her face to find the face gazing down at her with a wide, amused smile. Long, curved fangs at least two inches long, protruded over the lower lip. Hair white as snow fell in long, soft, glittery sheets to frame the oval face. In the light of moon, the face showed clearly, sending waves of terror through the woman.
Angel screamed again, and scampering to all fours, crawled her way to the door. She fought to open it as in her desperation, she forgot how to turn the knob. She flew down the stairs almost tumbling down the last few steps and grabbing the baby from the crib, she went to crouch at Nina’s side.
She watched the second-floor landing in terror, her heart racing, her breaths tearing in quick succession through her lungs. She expected the vampire, for she knew it was a vampire, to bolt over the railing at any moment.
