by Lane Hart
…
"Am I going to have to take your fucking phones from you?" Sebastian barks from across the dining table on the bus. Tom, Sam and I all look at him like we'd love to see him try. "Peoples’ lives are depending on us getting this right. Put down the fucking phones!"
Sighing after his guilt trip, I put mine away.
"Now where was I? Right. So my inside man told me there are two levels above ground and a basement the length of the entire building. That's where they keep the supes in some sort of impenetrable boxes."
A look passes between Sam and Tom. "I'm familiar with them. They put me in one of those goddamn things," Sam says.
"The older ones on the trucks require keys for several different size locks, but the newer ones, probably like the stationary ones they'd keep in a building, may require a code," Tom explains.
"I've got the code list," Sebastian says. "And you'll each get a copy."
"Tom, tell us about their numbers."
"At six p.m. the office closes, so if we're there before that I'd estimate no more than six or seven of the ten agents will be there. Most head out early or leave during the day for assignments and don't check back in. The office is never completely empty though. They hire a company that provides private security guards for the night, maybe three or four. If we wait, we can just stun them and get in and out easier."
"We want to kill the agents," Sebastian says. "They're evil bastards who have built their lives on the suffering of our kind, and have taken too many lives. And of course we want their blood for the spells."
"Yeah about that," I tell them. "I don’t have the written spell anymore for obvious reasons, but I'm almost certain that for it to work, the one to drink it has to be the one to take the life. So Sebastian, you have to use the blood of the man you take down for your spell, and so on."
"So we can't do Kate's spell with these agents?" Sam asks.
"Afraid not, unless we keep him alive until we get back to Mexico," I tell him.
"She's not going to be able to kill anyone," he says, running his hands through his hair.
"Look, there are a ton of Mexican drug lords and other criminals lurking near your house. We'll find someone, and make this work," I assure him.
"So what do we need to do once we kill an agent?" Sebastian asks.
"Collect their blood in an empty vial, then keep it safe until we get out of there. It only takes six drops but better safe than sorry," I explain. "So, Sam and Tom, try and stun or incapacitate and save the killing for Sebastian, Matt, Seth and Alex."
"Aw man. That's no fun," Sam says.
"Does it matter how they die?" Seth asks, looking a little ill.
"Not that I know of. Pretty sure all it takes is intent and follow through," I tell them. "Personally, I used the heart-stopper spell."
"So, what are we going to do with the supes we bust out?" Tom asks.
"We're going to rent another van when we get closer. We'll use it for transportation to the facility and then back to the bus."
"What are you going to do if some are injured?" I ask.
Sebastian nods to Sam and Tom. "Hopefully they'll heal them."
"Of course we'll heal them," Tom responds. "Why don't we give you each a vial of our blood in case you need to give it to one of the hostages?"
"That's a great idea," Sebastian says. "And we can use it ourselves if we were to get injured."
"This is going to be a piece of fucking cake," I tell them, feeling more confident in our ragtag team. "Now Sebastian, you said something about taking out some of the supes that are dangerous. How will we know which ones could wreak havoc on the world?"
"I don't know for sure. My informant-"
"Who the fuck is your informant, and how do you know you can trust them?" Sam snaps.
"Well, he's fallen for a vamp he put into their custody, and now he's ready to do whatever it takes to save her."
"Including going in with us?" Sam asks skeptically.
"Yes. How do you think we're getting in? Tom, you know we need badges, codes and even fingerprint scans for some of the building entrances. Jacob is going to lead the way, get his vamp out, and get them out of town. We'll have to talk to all the supes we get out to figure out where they need to go. Probably all are heading to Mexico, so we can just drive the bus and the van back. The European coven has provided me with enough funds to give them to hide and start over."
"What about the cameras? How are we going to keep them from seeing our faces?" Tom asks, clearly more concerned since he was one of them and is currently wanted by them.
"Jacob has opened the virtual access for the facility's cameras. Seth's going to loop them back thirty minutes to give us time to get in and out before they go live again. There are no businesses within a block, so no other cameras to worry about," Sebastian tells us. "Is there anything else we haven't covered?"
"What if one or more of us get captured?" I ask.
"We're not leaving anyone behind if that's what you're worried about. There will be eight of us, so we're going to partner up. Watch your man's back and don't leave them unless you absolutely have to. Then call for backup and we'll get a group and go back."
"How will we communicate with each other?" Tom asks.
Seth produces two more cell phones for Sam and Tom. "We're going to all call into a conference call, and lock our phones. If you get in a pinch, say your name, location and problem. Tom you're with Seth, Sam you're with Matt, Alex will be with Jason, and I'll be with Jacob, leading the way in and overriding security. Alex and Jason will head for the hostages since Alex's shewolf Allison is being held, and he'll want to get her out first. Jason, you look for a female vamp with blonde hair named Sandra, then work on the rest. I know it sucks, but those are our priorities. Give them vamp blood if they need it, although Sandra may be able to take care of Allison if she needs any, then send them out to the van in pairs unless they're able to help release the others. Give them a spell in case they run into trouble we miss. Sam and Matt, you'll keep the first floor clear for our hostages to get out the door, Tom and Seth, once the agents are all taken care of you'll head back to the van and deal with getting everyone inside and healing them if needed, as well as holding off any LEOs that might show using your stun spells. Let's try and not kill anyone but D.R.A. agents and any crazy as fuck supes. Use your own judgment. If you think a supe is going to be a coldblooded killer once they get free, take them down using a stun spell if not the heart-stopper."
"How will the supes know we're the good guys?" I ask Sebastian.
"Since the agents usually wear dark suits we're going in with plain old grey cotton shirts and pants. Jacob said the office walls and carpets colors are dull greys, so it'll be the best way to blend in and let us keep up with who's who."
"Have you seen a premonition of this going down?" I inquire, and Sebastian squirms.
"Yes."
"But you're not going to tell us what happens?"
"I know we all get out alive, so that's all you need to worry about." Sounds like he’s hiding something. I wonder if it might mean some of the supes we rescue might not make it.
An hour later we’re in a grey rental van, wearing grey clothes, sitting outside the D.R.A. office with our turncoat agent. The man looks almost too young to be an agent with his smooth face and blonde hair. God, how many young agents like him are going to end up dead before all the facilities are gone? That’s it. From now on, I won't be a part of the bombs unless they’re done at night, with warnings to get people out.
"Everyone's call connected?" Sebastian asks. We all check our phones and nod. "Then let's go. I've got the bomb I'll set before we leave, and hit the switch once we're out of sight." I assume that's what he’s carrying in his leather shoulder bag.
The eight of us head for the front doors of the brick government building, Jacob waves a card over the reader and then we’re in.
There isn't a soul in the lobby. Other than a few potted plants and the big D.R.A. bald eagl
e logo in the middle of the gleaming floor, the whole place is bare, and could easily be any other office building.
"Alex and Jason, follow Jacob and he'll get you in the basement. The rest of us, let's spread out to find some agents. Hopefully quietly, to take them out before anyone calls for backup," Sebastian whispers.
Alex and I are led to an elevator where we get in with Jacob. He hits the 'B' for basement button, then the code eight-four-six-two on a touch screen to get it to start moving.
"Get ready," Jacob says. "There might be an agent or two down here." He grips his red vial, not playing around. I’m also pretty sure he’s hoping for an anti-aging spell, too.
The doors open to what looks like an empty, cold and stale warehouse with cement floors and walls. Straight out from the elevator starts a row of big, six by six square metal containers. To the left are several steel tables and various pieces of medical equipment that I don't want to think too much about, and to the right are a couple of wooden desks and several file cabinets. Only one agent occupies the desk area, bent over some paperwork.
"Nelson, who are these guys?" the older agent with grey hair asks, sitting his glasses down to get a good look at us.
Jacob, whose last name’s Nelson, smiles and heads toward him. "Hey James, these are new recruits. Just showing them the facility," he lies.
"They're not supposed to be down here," the man stands up and says with a scowl.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Jacob asks just to get closer to him, and then hits him in the center of his chest with the vial. Down he goes.
"All yours. You've got the code list?" he asks as he heads for the soon to be dead man, and we told him we do. "Allison's the sixth one down, Sandra's the third one. After I draw his blood I'm going back up to check on things. Code's the same to go up the elevator, eight-four-six-two."
I take off at a jog to the third container, pulling out my list, while Alex runs full speed to the sixth. Thank God there are codes instead of a million locks. A few seconds later I pull open the side panel and find a thin, sick looking blonde woman, or vampire, curled up in the corner of the otherwise empty container.
"Are you okay?" I ask her.
She nods.
"We're getting you and everyone else out. Wait for Allison, get on the elevator, use code eight-four-six-two, and head out the front to the van parked in the lot. Trust men in gray only, and Jacob."
"Jacob?" she says with a smile as she stands up slowly.
"Yeah, go wait at the elevator."
I walk back with her to the first container, figuring I'd start at the beginning.
When I see a frazzled brunette woman heading towards me I urge her to the elevator, then yell to Alex to start at the end and we'd meet in the middle.
The first box contains a small, middle-aged, balding man, and I have no clue what he is. He’s in decent shape and doesn't look psycho, so I tell him to go and wait for another supe before going up and using the code. When I hand him a green spell I suddenly remember I’d forgotten to give one to the women. Hopefully Alex did, and if not, hopefully they wouldn't need it.
A young, seemingly carefree blonde woman sent by Alex winks at me before she heads toward the elevator to go up with the man.
The second container holds a boy. A fucking boy. If I had to guess I'd say a warlock around ten or eleven, since he looks so much like Ryan. He seems healthy, so I wait for Alex to send another supe, a guy in his late teens or early twenties, and I give the guy a spell before sending them on their way with the elevator code.
The fourth container is empty. In the fifth container is a young woman who’s unconscious. I bend down and feel for a pulse on her neck, which I can barely find. I try talking to her, shaking her awake. Her eyes barely open.
"We're here to get you out. Can you tell me what you are?" I ask.
"Va-vampire," she whispers.
"Do you need blood?" I ask, and she nods.
Hoping my blood will work the same as humans, I pull out my pocket knife, slit a small cut in my wrist and hold it to her mouth. After a few drops her eyes open wider and her body seems ready to cooperate. When she sits up I pull my arm away.
"What are you?" she asks with a creased brow, licking her lips.
"Warlock. Can you try and stand?"
After she nods I stand her up and lead her out of the container, where Alex waits with a grim expression.
"That all of them?" I ask him.
"All that's alive. One man was already gone."
"Alright, then let's get her up and get the hell out of here. Vamps can have warlock blood right?" I ask Alex.
He shrugs. "How the hell would I know?"
The woman walks pretty well with our assistance, and after our short elevator ride we come out on the first floor. Sam’s leaning against the opposite wall, and Matt stands with his hands in his pockets.
"You guys look bored," I observe.
"We are. This it?" Sam asks, pushing off from the wall to head towards us.
"Yeah. Can vamps drink warlock blood?" I ask him, figuring he'd know.
"Fuck yes," he says with a smile. "Well, I've never had warlock's, that's just ew. But witch's blood is awesome. I can even manipulate minds after drinking Kate's. She a vamp?" he asks, nodding to the woman.
"Yeah, I gave her some of my blood."
"Umm. It was good too," she moans, quivering.
"Oh-kay. Well, let's get moving. Where's everyone else?" I ask.
"Outside, except us," Matt says as we walk casually out the front door. Sure enough everyone is loaded and waiting expectantly like we’re going on a class field trip when we climb in.
"Tom, drive us out?" Sebastian asks. "Okay, roll call, Sam? Got you. Matt? Check. Seth? Check. Jacob? Check. Alex of course is here. Jason's in. Let's go."
We pull off and get to witness the building exploding a second later when Sebastian hits the button. Our new passengers cheer at its destruction.
"So how'd it go with the agents?" I ask Sebastian.
"I killed one, Jacob got one, and Matt tagged one. So only Seth and Alex missed out."
"I don't want one," Alex says from his seat, wrapped up with his wolf woman.
"Well, with D.C., Charlotte, New Orleans, and Atlanta gone, we've got fourteen more facilities to go. I'm sure we can find Seth a takedown at one of those."
"So there were only three agents in the office?" I ask.
"Yeah. Almost too easy."
"Maybe you blowing up facilities has agents scared to come into work," Sam notes.
"Could be. I'm not complaining. So we only left behind one?" he ask me, and I nod.
"Well, we did good gentlemen. Let's get back to the bus and figure out where everyone's headed."
Sam and I both have our phones out dialing our women a second later.
"Tell Kate to let Joselin know I'll call her in a few, but I'm driving a van full of people at the moment," Tom calls out.
"Jason?" Cyn answers, relief clear in her voice.
"Hey love. We're all done, got seven hostages out of there and blew up the facility."
"Thank God. And you're okay?"
"Of course. It was easy, in and out with no problems."
"I'm so glad. We've been worried to death."
"I know, and in about seventeen hours we'll be back so I can make it up to you."
"Can't wait. Text me or call me again when you can, okay?"
"Definitely. Love you, sweetie."
"I love you too, Jason."
Clicking off, I look around the van to see how our new passengers are doing. They seem relieved, and in pretty good condition. Even the young vamp woman.
"Alright, so other than Sandra and Allison, who wants to head to Mexico?" Sebastian asks the group.
The younger man, the middle aged fellow, and two young women said they did. That only left the boy. What the hell were we going to do with him?
"Hey little guy. What's your name? Have you got any family left?" Sebastian asks him, and the bo
y shakes his head.
"My name's Adam."
"Are you a warlock?" Sebastian asked, and he nodded. "Well guess what, that's what I am, and what most of these guys in gray are too."
"What about the rest of you?" Sebastian asks.
"Vampire," says the younger man, who looks to be in his early twenties.
"Werewolf," says the middle-aged man.
"Vampire," says the least healthy woman I gave blood to.
"Elf," answers the last woman, and we all turn to look at the pretty young blonde who’s smiling mischievously.
"What the hell?" Sebastian exclaims. "An elf? How'd you get caught by the D.R.A.? How many of you are there?”
"I lost my temper. There are only a handful of us left which makes what I did even worse."
"Do you have pointy ears?" Sam asks her with a grin.
"Oh my, aren't you a yummy sight for my sex deprived eyes. And yes. You want to see them?" she responds, clearly flirting with him.
"I'm a very happily married man, well except when my wife says she wants to have other men's babies, and yes, please show us your ears," Sam replies.
"Aw. The sexy ones are always taken," she says with a pout, pulling her long straight blonde hair back from her ears. Sure enough, they are slightly pointy. "But why would your wife want anyone but you in her bed?" she asks, and I swear Sam blushes.
"I'm a vampire, so she can't have babies with me," he answers.
"Oh, that doesn't sound like a problem to me. And I bet you've never had a taste of elf blood before, have you big guy? Are you thirsty?" she asks. There is no doubt that she is flirting as she tilts her head to expose her neck to him. Sam's face definitely turns red after that, and in the rearview Tom's narrowed eyed expression looks angry.
"Ah, no," Sam answers, shifting in his seat.
"That's a shame since I really like being sucked on. Call me if you ever want to taste me," she offers, making it sound downright sexual. "My name's Ava. Just think about me, say my name three times, and I'll appear for your pleasure."
