Sunset Strip: from the Tome of Bill Series

by Rick Gualtieri

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  “That was simply marvelous!” James...Ozymandias, I had to remind myself...exclaimed as we walked back to his hotel room.

  “You mean you’ve never had espresso before?”

  “Of course. I have been around for a while. Even so, that was a particularly good blend. I shall have to remember that place for future visits. In fact, I might have to start finding excuses to come down here more often.”

  I found myself genuinely smiling. That a being as old as him could find happiness in something as mundane as coffee was refreshing. A small part of me feared that a general malaise would set in after a time - years, possibly centuries, from now. With nothing of interest left, I might just find myself sitting out on the beach, awaiting one last sunrise. Ozymandias’s overall attitude gave me reason to push that particular worry aside.

  I had to admit, I was actually having a good time. He had no shortage of stories to tell and they were all surprisingly entertaining. I had previously met a few vampires that were older than Jeff and all of them seemed to suffer from the same affliction: being self-absorbed assholes. To meet someone so old, yet so alive, was a breath of fresh air. That he was wickedly good-looking didn’t exactly hurt, either.

  We stopped at the door and he began digging in his pocket for his room key. “I have to say, Sally, you have been quite the engaging company tonight. It’s rare that a coven master sends someone so insightful to meet with me.”

  “Oh?”

  “Quite. For example, Night Razor typically sends another member of Village Coven to entertain me when I’m in town...a charming, if somewhat vacuous, redhead. Sadly, her name escapes me.”

  I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing out loud.

  “Anyway, we often don’t even get past the threshold of my hotel room. Don’t get me wrong - I have nothing against physical companionship. It’s just that it’s nice to be able to sit and talk outside of business with someone whose interests lie beyond the usual staples of vampire life.”

  “Blood?”

  “And self-importance.”

  “Hah! I understand that one. What can I say? I used to be a history buff...a bit of a bookworm.”

  “Used to be?”

  “My father didn’t consider education of paramount importance for a woman.”

  “Forgive my saying so, but he was a fool. I’ve walked this Earth for many centuries and in that time I’ve developed a knack for reading people. One need only speak to you for a few moments to see the bright mind behind those lovely eyes. You could do far worse things than indulge your natural curiosity.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  I’d been holding back, mostly listening to Ozymandias talk all evening. The truth was there were a ton of vampire-related questions I wanted to ask him, but I’d been afraid. “Well then, what can you tell me about the war?”

  “Which one? Civil, Revolutionary, World...”

  “The Feet.”

  His eyes opened slightly in surprise.

  “I’ve been doing some translating for Night Razor, and I’ve noticed mentions of it here and there. It’s...”

  He raised a finger to my lips. “Curiosity is a good thing, but it should be tempered where certain business is concerned. Our hierarchy is quite strict, and some are none too pleased to learn when information leaks.”

  Uh oh.

  “Not myself, mind you,” he continued, lowering his hand and smiling. “I would rather see our people armed with as much knowledge as they’d dare wish to burden themselves with. Alas, while my power here may seem significant, I’m little more than a cog in the grand scheme of things.”

  “Somehow, I don’t believe that.”

  He leaned close and whispered, his breath tickling my neck. “Neither do I.” He pulled back and raised his voice to normal levels. “But far be it from me to admit so.”

  He was such an odd duck. The polar opposite of Jeff. Why couldn’t I have been recruited into his coven? He seemed like he had a lot to teach, and not just about the fluctuations of the price of drugs.

  “Sadly, much of this is moot,” he continued, unlocking his door. Pushing it open, he stepped onto the threshold. “I am of the mindset that even if I were given permission to open our archives, offer free access to all who wished it, the flood of those seeking knowledge would be little more than a trickle.”

  “Agreed. Not to put too blunt of a name to it, but at the very least I know my coven is full to the brim with fucking idiots.”

  “I won’t join in the disparagement of a coven under my charge,” he said, “but I find myself unwilling to disagree as well. Take no offense, but your group as a whole is quite the stark contrast compared to a coven up in Cambridge that I oversee. Albeit I would probably call them the exception rather than the rule...and their overall arrogance does tend to grate.”

  “Well then, Night Razor would fit right in with them...at least, until he opened his mouth.”

  “I hope you do not speak that way around your master. It has been my impression that he does not tolerate insolence.”

  “He doesn’t tolerate anything that doesn’t involve kissing his ass. He’s small minded, self-centered, insecure...”

  “Do tell me how you really feel, please.”

  Realizing I was just chewing Jeff a new asshole in front of the guy who was, in essence, his boss - a vampire who’d known him far longer than he’d known me - I quickly changed my tone. “I’m sorry. That was probably out of line.”

  “It was, but honest opinion is likewise a refreshing breath of air.”

  “You...won’t tell him I said that, will you?”

  He leaned against the doorframe and appeared to consider my words. It’d been stupid of me to get comfortable and let my guard down. I’d seen other coven members, a few of them now former members, get caught doing the same thing. They’d been whispering in hushed tones, making jokes, not realizing just how acute Jeff’s hearing was.

  The bottom line was that he owned us wholly. When he wanted something, we knew to submit. There was no defense we could take if he chose to make an example out of us. A brief shudder passed through me as I realized just how afraid of him I was.

  I looked up toward Ozymandias, ready to plead my case, but found him grinning.

  “I believe the phrase is, we have a deal. I will keep your somewhat low opinion of Night Razor to myself. In return, though, I will require recompense.”

  Recom...oh. I had thought Ozymandias different, but at the end of the day he was a guy and here I was, standing in his hotel doorway, wearing a dress that didn’t leave much of my figure to the imagination.

  “I know,” he continued. “I shall require your eyes.”

  “Huh?”

  “Not physically, of course, but I’d like for you to be my inside man...in a manner of speaking. I won’t lie. Night Razor concerns me. The Greenwich Village Coven is in a key city of this country. There should be more influence wielded, greater ambition shown. Instead, he runs things like one of those discotheques that used to be all the rage.”

  “Then why don’t...”

  “Because it is his prerogative to rule his coven however he sees fit. So long as the overarching integrity of the vampire nation is maintained, that is the edict of the First. I am beholden to it.”

  Realization hit. “You don’t like him anymore than I do.”

  “The enemy of my enemy and all that...albeit I would like to think perhaps we had more than that in common. Regardless, I would ask that from time to time when I visit, you simply fill me in on any goings-on that might be of concern. I don’t expect there to be much, but it will make me feel better knowing I am getting an honest opinion rather than the whitewashing that so many coven masters like to give.”

  There wasn’t really much to consider. I liked this guy, whereas Jeff was a fucking cock. Having a friend in high places wouldn’t exactly hurt in the long run, either.

  “In return,” he added, “while I
won’t divulge state secrets, I will allow you to indulge in your curiosity for some matters, especially as it appears that your position in the coven puts you in the know anyway.” He held out his hand to me. “Do we have a deal?”

  I reached out, but hesitated for a moment. “What if he finds out?”

  “He won’t.”

  “He could compel me to...”

  “No, he won’t...at least not when I am finished.”

  “I thought you said you wouldn’t insulate me against his commands.”

  “I did and I spoke true. You are his charge. To do so would be the height of impropriety on my part. That being said, as I consider our pact to be a matter above his rank, I see no issue protecting questions regarding it.”

  I laughed, then grasped his hand in mine and nodded.

  “YOU ARE TO IGNORE ANY AND ALL COMPULSIONS REGARDING THE NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP!!”

  It was both powerful and subtle. Unlike a normal compulsion, which rang through one’s head and made their body not their own, this one flowed like a lazy river into my subconscious. I felt something akin to a door being locked, one that Jeff didn’t have the key to.

  We stood there, holding hands for a moment longer, then Ozymandias said, “The pact is sealed. It has truly been a lovely evening with an even lovelier woman. Sadly, dawn is only about an hour away. You should get back to the safety of your...”

  He tried to pull away, but I refused to let go of his hand. “How do you do it?”

  “Do it?”

  “Stay...the way you are. You’re so...different. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re so human.”

  “Take that the wrong way? I consider it a compliment. That is exactly my secret. I try to never forget the man I once was. He wasn’t perfect by any means, but he tried. I don’t often live up to who I wanted to be, but when I fail, I remember my friends, my family, those who are long gone. As long as I can still see their faces, that man isn’t entirely forgotten.”

  He’d been lucky. I thought back to my family. There were few spots in my memories that weren’t tinged with resentment and regret.

  “Never forget your humanity, Sally.”

  I sighed sadly. “I think it’s too late for me.”

  “Nonsense. Believe me - once upon a time, I said the same thing. I was wrong. It’s only too late when we let it be. Perhaps you just need to be reminded.”

  “There isn’t anyone left to do that.”

  “Then perhaps one day you’ll meet someone who will. Strange times are on the horizon. The vampire nation has prospered, but our overall existence has been stagnant for centuries. That can only last so long before the tide changes and washes complacency away. Such is the nature of the world.”

  I waited for him to say more, maybe enlighten me as to what he meant, but he was finished. “Now, I really do mean it. You should hurry if you don’t wish to be caught in the sun’s morning rays.”

  Again, he tried to disengage his hand from mine, but once more, I didn’t let go.

  “I...think I’d like to stay, if you don’t mind.”

  “You don’t have to do that. As I said at the start of this wonderful evening, you are free from those orders. You need not fulfill any of my desires.”

  “I’m not,” I replied, inching closer. “I’m fulfilling mine.”

  I stepped into his embrace and pushed the door shut behind us.

  Chapter 27

  Present Day

  Had he been in the same situation I found myself in with Marlene, Bill would have paused to deliver what he’d no doubt consider to be a witty line. He seemed to do that a lot, despite the fact that it often ended badly for him. That’s what you get when your friends are dorks and your babysitter growing up is the TV.

  Too bad for my former employer that I wasn’t him. She might have otherwise stood a chance.

  I was on top of Marlene before she even hit the floor. Without hesitation, my claws extended and I raked them across her throat, severing her carotid arteries and windpipe in the same swipe. I dug deep, making sure that even her advanced healing wouldn’t be able to close the wounds in time. Even the most powerful of vampires would be hard pressed to keep going when drained of their lifeblood. She was...

  Ugh!

  She was still very much in the fight, backhanding me off of her like I was a gnat. I flew and slammed into the far wall, shattering the full-sized mirror that hung from it and embedding myself into the wood inlay like some sort of bizarre decoration.

  I shook my head, clearing it quickly. Fortunately, I’d been ready for her counterattack, using my arms to absorb the brunt of her power. I felt a trickle of blood from a cut that’d been opened in my cheek and smiled. So she wanted to do this the hard way. That was fine by me. Mark and the others were downstairs. Any thumping they heard going on up here would be assumed to be Marlene having her fun with me. Robbed of her voice, she couldn’t cry out, and I didn’t intend to give her enough time to psychically compel them to her aid.

  Extending my fangs, I grabbed a shard of glass from the broken mirror and launched myself from the wall. Marlene was struggling to get back up, her neck a geyser of blood. I plowed into her just before she could regain her footing. The floor was slick with her fluids, and she wasn’t able to brace herself. We went down again with me on top. In my life I’d been a meek little mouse, but in my afterlife I’d discovered the dom inside. Being on top offered far more possibilities.

  The glass sliced my palm open, but that was okay - nothing compared to the damage I’d done to her. I slammed the shard home into her chest - too far to the side to hit her heart, but more than enough to puncture a lung and maybe a few other organs.

  I was tempted to laugh, but kept my mouth shut instead to avoid swallowing any of the fluids that gushed from her. We struggled in relative silence. I wasn’t the Freewill. While Bill could gain strength from the blood of other vampires, Marlene’s blood was toxic to me. Too bad.

  She continued to fight back, grappling and trying to use her superior power. She almost made it. Just as she was on the verge of overcoming my leverage, I felt her strength falter.

  Gradually, I forced her arms back down, noting that the fountain of blood had begun to subside.

  The fight was over; she was done. I bent down and put my cheek against hers. Almost lovingly, I whispered, “You took everything from me. Now it’s time to return the favor.”

  I sat up and, claws extended, plunged my hand straight into her chest.

  Her eyes glared malevolently up at me for a moment longer. In them, I could see the long years she’d lived and worked here, the despair she’d felt at having her world torn asunder. Oh well - they say karma’s a bitch.

  They’re right.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  One moment, she was there. The next, a flare of light sparked and her body collapsed in on itself. I found myself sitting on an empty dress. Her ashes settled upon me and stuck, thanks to the amount of blood covering me. It was almost like being tarred and feathered, if a bit more pleasant.

  I stood up, dripping various pieces of her, and looked toward the stairs. No footsteps sounded. That was good. As I’d suspected, any commotion they heard would be assumed to be their master. To most coven vamps, it was nearly inconceivable to consider the alternative. Marlene, like Jeff, had ruled with an iron fist - a god amongst immortals. After a while, one’s charges tend to buy into the hype.

  Sadly, we still weren’t out of the woods. I could celebrate my victory later. For now, I needed to get my shit in gear.

  I walked over to where Christy was still shackled. I bent down and gently slapped her cheek, leaving traces of gore on it. She could always freshen up later.

  “Come on. Wake up, sleepy head.”

  “Ugh...”

  “That’s it. Time to wakey wakey. Your sister-in-law still needs saving.”

  “Kara, is that you?”

  “Not quite.”

  Christy’s eyes opened. She blinked a few times, and
then focused on me. They immediately went wide as she took in the sight. I couldn’t blame her. I probably looked like I’d just bathed in Marlene’s innards, which wasn’t far from the truth.

  “I take it you won,” she said groggily.

  “Yep.” I reached down and grasped the shackle that held her right arm down. They’d been designed with mages in mind, not vampires. I tore it from its hinges easily, then started to work on the other.

  “How?”

  I opened my mouth to reply and found that I couldn’t. The words wouldn’t come, but then I’d known that would happen.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  “I need a favor, James.”

  “I already know what you’re going to ask,” he replied from the other end of the phone line.

  “She’s not my sire or my master, nor is she under your dominion. This is a personal matter between...”

  “You need not explain protocol to me, my dear. I am well aware, just as I am aware of your history with Marlene. I hope you know that you’ve picked a less than ideal time to ask this.”

  “I know there may be repercussions. She’s old and well connected.”

  “Perhaps not as well connected as you may think,” he replied cryptically. “Even if I agree, you’ll still be at a disadvantage. Marlene is far older and stronger than you. Insulated or not, you would stand very little chance.”

  “Then you wouldn’t exactly be tipping the odds in my favor.”

  “True on that.”

  “So will you? Please?”

  “For the sake of what you’ve done for the vampire nation, I will.”

  “Thanks, James, and I promise to never tell another soul about it.”

  “I know you won’t, Sally, but I will have to take necessary precautions nevertheless...”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  “I’m just that good, I guess,” I said with a grin, before steering the conversation away from me. “How are you doing? Anything broken?”

  “I’m gonna need an ice pack and some aspirin, but I think I’ll be okay.” Christy shook her head again, then a panicked look appeared on her face. “Oh my God, what about...”

  “Calm down. How do you feel?”