by Al K. Line
He waved as we ran toward him, a cheeky grin on his face. Damn but he was getting good, if a little too proud of his own skills. A car pulled up to him just as we got to the road and Dancer jumped out the passenger side and ushered us all into the back to join Amber.
"Thanks," I said as he slammed the door shut then jumped back in front.
"You're welcome. Let's go."
Persimmon slammed her foot on the accelerator, crunched through gears, and we tore away before the vampires had chance to do much but feel the wrath of Faz Pound and his posse.
Good plans always rely on the unexpected, and I know vampires. The older they are, the cockier they get, and I knew that us being there would make those holding Amber feel confident and in control. They had acted as I knew they would, unable to resist the chance to gloat and to defeat me, never considering I'd use myself, and Kate, as mere decoys.
"You okay?" I asked Amber. She looked well enough, if a little shaken, but that was hardly surprising.
"Fine. Thanks."
"Did you have any problems?" I asked Dancer.
He turned while Persimmon focused on driving and said, "Nope. Just a couple of goons holding her in the last trailer. Easy peasy."
"Oi, you didn't do anything," said Persimmon, taking one hand off the steering wheel so she could punch Dancer on the arm.
"Hey, I kept lookout. And came up with the plan."
"No you didn't. It was my plan," I said, rather put out.
"I think it was all down to me," said Mithnite, trying to get more leg room, sandwiched as he was between me and Kate.
"All you did was a little blast. I had to go in and deal with the goons," said Persimmon.
"Yeah, but I finished them off when they ran out screaming," said Dancer.
I began to hum quietly to myself.
See, this is why I work alone. Why can't anyone ever be bloody quiet? I smiled at Amber and mouthed a silent, "Okay?" holding her gaze, looking deep inside her to find the truth of how she felt.
She nodded. A tear fell.
Mine, not hers.
A Long Journey
"Hey, it's not that way," said Amber, leaning forward in her seat, pointing to the turnoff.
"It is," said Persimmon, tight-lipped and clearly in need of sleep as much as the rest of us.
"We can't go back to yours," I said, wondering how long I could resist asking the million questions that swam around my head.
"But we beat them. You beat them," said Amber.
"For now. But they'll be after you. After us all. Kalle said you were to be his wife. That means he already thinks of you as his own. He won't give you up so easily."
"Where are we headed, then?" she asked.
"Cardiff," said Dancer from the front. "And we aren't stopping until we get there." Dancer coughed then made a strange gargling sound, a cross between puking and his guts being torn out his mouth. He cramped forward, moaned deeply, then shot upright and lurched to his right and grabbed Persimmon around the neck, pulling her head down. His mouth opened and his eyes were unfocused, the hunger utterly in control.
I did the only thing I could think of in the cramped stolen car Amber's neighbors would be right about now calling in. I punched him on the nose. Cartilage cracked as my exhausted fist connected.
His head slammed back and hit the side window as Persimmon shouted, "What the fuck?" then swerved to avoid hitting a tree.
We skidded across the road and stopped as her foot slammed on to the brakes, everyone flying forward, saved only because we were squashed in like sardines in a can.
Dancer was at her in a moment, clawing at her body, grabbing hair. I jumped out and ripped open his door, nodding to Persimmon. She pushed the seatbelt release and I yanked Dancer out and dragged him kicking, screaming, and thrashing into the side verge.
It was coming for me now, too. I felt the hunger rise like a sick emptiness that had to be satiated no matter the cost, and as everyone clambered out, shouting and screaming, I croaked, "Can you do this now? Can you take it away? I'm sorry, but it's getting worse. We'll be lost to it soon."
I hated myself for asking, for putting so much on her so soon after what she'd been through, but there was no choice. If this was to be done it had to be now.
Then I was gone. Watching from outside my body as I dropped Dancer and lunged for Kate, drawn to her because in my mind she was the tastiest, most delectable meal I would ever have.
I wanted her. Now.
Before I blacked out, I saw her fist come at the side of my head with all the power of the vampire behind it.
Which was nice of her, given the circumstances.
Ooh
Coming around tied to various objects was becoming a habit. This time, I happened to be bound to a tree, Dancer beside me. Frayed blue rope that stank of oil and mold was wrapped tight around our bodies, our arms pinned by our sides. Through the fog of my mind I understood I was back to myself because Amber was right this moment drawing out the last of the zombie infection. The hunger was fighting her, had no wish to leave such hosts, but when Amber called, magic came.
I didn't even try to release my bonds—no point freaking everyone out when I was quite happy where I was, thank you very much. The less I struggled, the sooner this would be over with.
Slowly, everything came into focus. Kate, Mithnite, Amber, and Persimmon were spread out in front of us, Amber looking like she was ready to keel over. Everyone else looked with concern from me to Dancer to Amber, not quite knowing who would collapse or scream first.
Dancer was mumbling beside me, something about brains, but I was past that now. As Amber's chest expanded, so bitter pills of diseased magic spat from my mouth like I was one of those kids' toys where you press a button and a sweet pops out the head. I was glad to be rid of it, and with each painful lump that scratched and ripped at my throat as it was purged, I felt a little stronger, a little more myself. A littler wilder.
Pure magic rejoiced at the freedom, at the chance to swirl and dance through my body. Channeled by my ink until it could contain itself no longer and I felt the tired scraps of the zombie virus leave my body. I felt hollow yet full, cold yet warm, sad yet ecstatic. Emotions and feelings all mixed up, most of me knowing I was back to being whole, a part of me still craving the blissful ignorance and freedom from feeling or caring that the infection had brought and would deliver in ever-increasing amounts if I'd just have accepted it.
Dancer spasmed, retched and coughed as Amber continued to breathe deep and suck out the poison. He spat and swore, still not himself, and Amber faltered, purging tainted magic she consumed to save us. Up it went, tarnished energy cleansed by her abilities, but still some of it taking hold. She battled and raged and swore as the terrible price was paid for taking such corrupt magic in such large doses.
When I draw magic from Hidden, I take on some of their sense of self, their very essence for a while, and such insights into the minds of others is seldom welcome. However quickly you send it on its way back to the Empty, vestiges of it linger for a while. Leaving you disconnected from your own reality, unsure of your own mind and emotions. It's a dangerous game to play.
Amber was clearly an accomplished witch, no doubt, but she'd been through a very stressful time. The fact she'd already helped us out and was doing so again was more than I believed I could have handled without having to wait a week or two to recover. At least the old me would have.
Something snapped in my head, like when a bone clicks and pain vanishes and you have full mobility in an arm that has been hurting you for so long you had accepted it as part of yourself. I felt utterly devoid of any foreign magic, anything corrupt. I was pure and I was strong and I was connected to the Empty in ways I'd only glimpsed for fleeting moments.
Dancer gave a final cough and a wispy trail of brown magic like dirty steam wandered from his stretched mouth and was sucked down by Amber, only to be released an instant later as something white and pure.
Her work was done.
>
I nodded to Dancer and he smiled. An actual, genuine smile, and we both knew we were free.
With a shrug, I burned through the ropes with heat so well directed it didn't even touch our skin or clothes. We got to our feet and rushed over to Amber as she collapsed.
She was freezing cold, drenched in sweat. The dark veins that had bloated her body as she took on our infection slowly receded and trailed away even as she herself faded from consciousness.
"We need to go," said Persimmon, "right now. They'll be after us and you can bet they'll catch us unless we get the hell away from here and somewhere a little safer."
"Put her in the car," I said, grabbing under her arms. Mithnite took her legs and we bundled her inside.
As everyone piled in, Kate stopped me and took a long hard look into my eyes. "You back?"
"I'm back, baby, and feeling fine."
"Good." Kate kissed me then, and it made everything feel perfect for a second before Persimmon shouted and called me a nasty name. I smiled at Kate and we got in.
Next stop, Cardiff.
Home at Last
Much as I was concerned for Amber, worried about vampires, unsure of my own mental state, overwhelmed by the fact I had a daughter, and confused as all hell about how on earth she was here, I was asleep before Persimmon was in third gear as she sped off.
Maybe it was the relief that the zombie fiasco was finally over, or maybe it was relief we had Amber back and could hopefully make sense of it. Whatever it was, my body decided sleep and recuperation was more important than getting answers. So I slept and didn't wake until Kate nudged me. I jolted awake, my neck hurting from the position I'd been in.
There was something gross stuck to my chin, and as I wiped away the cold, wet goo I realized it was drool. Not helping my cool image, but I guess that had gone out the window once I wore the tie-dye. My clothes were crusty and stank, in fact the whole car did. The windows were open, letting in a familiar smell, but not enough to eliminate the terrible odors emanating from me and Kate, covered as we were in the goop of vampires and would-be-vampires.
"Man, you snore like a walrus," said Mithnite, shifting in the seat beside me, but unable to get away as we were so squished.
"Do not."
"Do, too."
I ignored him on principle as it's not the done thing to get into arguments with young uns when you're supposed to be their guardian and teacher, and instead I looked out the window at the familiar sights. The city proper was off a ways, only the skyline visible, and as I got my bearings Persimmon exited the main road and took several turns then parked up under a bridge on rough land the local dodgy builders used as an illegal tipping site.
"Why are we here?" I asked.
"I made a call. It's time to ditch the stolen car," said Dancer.
No sooner had he finished speaking than several of his fleet vehicles arrived and he got out and spoke to the goons. A minute later he beckoned us all over and they got in our car and drove off.
"I'll take Persimmon home. You guys go home, too."
"What? Um, this doesn't feel right. We can't split up now," I said, the words coming out before I knew what I was saying. Everyone stared, expecting me to sigh with relief only too happy to cut down on the numbers so I could get some peace. Heck, I surprised myself. Usually, I'd be itching to get home and be left alone, but for some reason it felt like an anticlimax, like it shouldn't end this way.
This wasn't over, we all knew that. Didn't everyone want to get to the bottom of the mystery? Uncover what was going on with Amber and the vampires? Let alone exactly how she was even alive. And let's not forget the vamps would be after us.
All of this and more went through my mind, but then I realized one very important thing I somehow seemed to have forgotten. People are always after us. One preternatural creature or another is usually out to harm one or other of us, so it wasn't exactly groundbreaking news.
"You feeling okay?" asked Dancer, shocked at my strange outburst. "You sure you're not still zombie?"
"I'm fine, just tired. Okay, guess it's time to go home. Thanks for all your help, Persimmon, you saved our lives."
"My pleasure, as long as you don't make a habit of it," she warned.
"We won't," said Dancer, obviously keen to have some alone time with Persimmon. "Spark, we'll talk later. Maybe tomorrow. I've got a lot to sort out. A new headquarters for one."
"Sure thing, Boss."
The goodbyes continued for several minutes, then we were in the car. I got a front seat, Kate drove, and Mithnite and Amber settled down in the back, everyone relieved to have leg room. Ah, new car smell, nothing like it after being cramped up in a dodgy motor definitely not built for so many people.
We remained silent as we made our way out of the city and into the country, this time heading into familiar territory.
Home.
Kate's phone rang and she said, "Can you get that?" and I picked it up and answered before I had chance to think whether or not it was a good idea or even register who was calling.
"You better be coming to see Grandma, Faz, or there'll be no more tea, or hugs for you."
"Um, hi, Grandma, how are you? Nice day, isn't it?"
"Don't get smart, Faz, I'll see you in five." She hung up.
"Did you hear that?" I asked Kate.
"What do you think? Everyone in Cardiff heard it. Don't worry, I'm going." Kate took a right and switched back onto the road into the city.
"How does she always know everything?" I pondered for the millionth time.
"Because she's Grandma," said Kate.
"She's scary," said Mithnite.
"Is this a good idea?" asked Amber, looking nervous in the rear.
"I guess Dancer told you about her?" I said, already knowing the answer.
"He did. But everyone knows about Grandma. She's more famous than you, Faz."
"And a lot more dangerous."
One thing you can always say about Grandma, she does like to stay well-informed, but I doubted even she had any idea about exactly who we were bringing to visit.
Wrong.
A Growing Family
"My great-granddaughter," shrieked Grandma as she flung the door open and ran down the garden path.
She's never done that for me. I always have to let myself in and go get her from the kitchen, or have a hug in the hall if I'm lucky.
Amber, bless her, didn't freak out, not even a little. She stood, motionless, arms by her side while Grandma hugged her and squeezed her and showed no sign of ever letting go.
Understanding she'd be there until the world ended and hell froze over unless she reciprocated, Amber slowly raised her arms. First, she patted Grandma, which just elicited a tut, then hugged her back, getting tighter and tighter and tighter until they were squeezing for all they were worth.
I began to worry they had some kind of weird arm lock disease. Yes, I know that isn't really a thing, but stranger, much stranger, things have happened.
Finally, the embrace was broken. Grandma held on to Amber's hands at arm's length and said, "Let me take a look at you." Grandma can be pretty intense at times, and this was no exception. She studied Amber with such focus I expected her to turn around and do a runner at any moment. But she didn't. She held Grandma's gaze and she hardly even flinched.
"You look just like her," said Grandma, as she turned to me and smiled. And nodded. Then she frowned and said, "You stupid boy. How could you get turned into a zombie? Haven't I taught you better than that?"
"Hey, it's not like I did it on purpose. And I did save us all from being controlled by Dragon. Not that I've got any thanks for it."
Grandma waved it away. "I know all about that. And it was Delilah that dealt with him, or have I got that wrong?"
"No, Grandma. But we did our fair share."
"Yes. Dragging poor Kate and Mithnite here through all kinds of nonsense, silly boy."
"Grandma!" I was used to it; it's her way. She's often not big on showing to
o much emotion, especially in front of others, but this was different.
I realized something then, the reality of the situation sinking in. I think we all did, at about the same time.
"This is our family now. Wow, it's kinda grown pretty big pretty quickly."
"I'll have to buy more chairs soon," said Grandma. "Hello, Kate. Mithnite. So, you're my adopted great-grandson now, are you?"
"Um, kinda, Grandma. Spark and Kate said I can live with them, be part of the family. Er, if that's okay?"
"Of course it is, you stupid boy. Come here."
Before Mithnite knew what had hit him he got a Grandma special, too.
"Ah, what the hell," I said, and I grabbed Kate and Amber and then we were all hugging. A new family.
Yes, it was beyond merely dysfunctional and out the other side, but in this world you get few chances like this and I wasn't about to let it go no matter the questions I had. For that moment, wrapped in the embrace of my family, I let it all go. The hurt, the pain, the confusion, the questions I hoped I could accept the answers to from Amber, and everything else that was bad in the world. I let it go and clung to the moment like I clung to my family.
"Come on, you lot, inside. You'll have the neighbors talking."
It felt strange because it felt so normal. I'd walked into that house so many times over the years. But nearly every time I'd done so it was alone. Always me visiting the only family I'd known since a boy. Now I had a de-facto adopted son, a daughter, my wife-to-be, and Grandma.
It was gonna take some getting used to.
I didn't care.
I was happy.
Which meant something awful was bound to happen. That's just the way it goes for the Fazmeister.
Everyone Likes Tea
"I don't drink tea," said Amber.
The room fell silent, the bubbling pots somehow deafening as everyone held their breath. Grandma stared at Amber with completely blank features—she may as well have been saying, "Does not compute. Does not compute."
The silence stretched on and on until I had to nudge Amber gently to get her to see sense.
