by P. S. Power
The man lashed out with a foot and kicked over one of the new displays. As if that wasn't good enough he cleared a row of candles from the shelf next to it for good measure.
"Fuck you! I know what I saw. This isn't over." Then without any explanation at all he stormed out, taking time to stop and tip an entire shelf like an angry little boy who'd been told he couldn't have all the candy he wanted.
Zack appreciated that he didn't slam the front door, since it might have broken. He did glare at Zack through the window, as if trying to memorize his face.
"OK, I take it back. He so isn't getting that discount now."
The Vampire girl looked at the mess and winced a little. It was a forced gesture, something she was doing on purpose to try and make herself seem more human, but it was close to being right, given the mess.
"Crap, sorry. I'll pay for this. I didn't mean for it to get so out of hand. What did you do with the guy I brought?" With a single swipe of one hand she knocked the long bangs out of her face. Her light blue eyes watching him closely.
"I took him to the forest. I'll peek in, but it's probably a good enough place for him until your friend leaves. So... You two used to date or something?" He smiled but the Vampire made a sour face at him.
"You mean because normally no one would keep going after someone like this unless it was personal? You'd think, but he's on me like a dog with a bone. This is the last straw though, the next time someone goes to kill him, I'm letting them do it. Screw him if he won't learn." She spun, her leather jacket shining a little under the florescent lights.
"Nikki, I'm the Proctor for this area. I know, it sounds cool, but that's only because I'm awesome and no one knows what the job really is. Basically the baby Vamp dog catcher. I clean up after the messy kids and try to keep them out of the papers and off the news until they either become responsible enough to do it themselves or I kill them for making my job too hard."
"Zack. Retail clerk. Not awesome at all." He smiled at her, waiting for some kind of judgment, since it wasn't a very high powered job, but he just got a solid nod instead.
"Really? You took another person through a node, without any kind of ceremony, power raising mumbo jumbo or three weeks of fasting and prayer, and you're just a clerk? What does the janitor do around here? If I want a pony can he miracle one up for me?" There was a bit of fang then, as if she were subliminally trying to impress him with how dangerous she was. Like that would work.
Zack shook his head and rolled his eyes a little.
"Nope. That's me too, meaning I need to get to work picking up after your not-boyfriend. You said you'd cover the damage? Do you want the candles if I can save them then? They might still be usable and you never know when the power is going to go out." It seemed a reasonable sales pitch, but the woman laughed.
"Oh, hells yeah. If I have to put in a claim for this with Lenore, I might as well have something to show for it. You know her? Stone cold killer from way back. A bit of a bitch too."
Zack started toward the first point of damage, since it was the smallest of the three main messes. After a few minutes he had it back together, only one of the candles being dented enough that he doubted they could sell it. There were five more in the next pile on the floor and a broken ceramic holder. That was pretty useless, but might be fixable with some superglue he thought. The last shelf was actually broken, which he didn't even know how to request a fix for. Three lines of heavy candles were smashed in places. It was horrible to look at and had left smears of wax on his floor. That would have to be scrapped up somehow, since wax didn't wash away.
Without waiting he wrote up a receipt for all the damaged pieces and handed it over, figuring that it might take a while for it to actually go through. Nikki took it and read the whole thing, then counted the candles and tried to argue that one of them wasn't that badly damaged at all.
"I mean you can barely see the dent if you turn the thing around like this." She set it on the counter, looking hopeful.
"Then it will look great in your bathroom next to your tub, won't it? Cinnamon scented too, if it isn't too strong for you?" That could be a real problem he figured, if that was even a thing. The woman tilted her head back and forth a bit, but still seeming a bit upset by the whole thing.
"I hate this kind of thing. I swear, if I have to pay for this out of pocket I'm going to kill Detective Baconni myself. Idiot." After letting him bag most of it up for her she looked across the central hallway and nodded in that direction. "Edom is there right now? Cool. He likes me. Lenore thinks I'm pretty much a waste of space." There was a brief pause as the man turned, as if hearing his name. It was pretty clear that was the case, and Nikki just started explaining the whole situation, pausing when she got to the part with where the man's body went.
"Um... Well. This fellow here went through the node here and took him away, then came back." There was a tone to her voice that said she didn't really believe it. "I think he can get him back?"
Zack shook his head a little.
"Such faith. I can go over there and use your node, after I close up here? Just after nine or so? I just don't want to clutter my place here up with bodies." He needed to finish fixing the place as well as he could, and that was going to take a bit. Nikki had told him they had about six hours before the man woke up. It should be enough time.
The Vampire next to him looked like she expected to be yelled at for being gullible, but the dark man wearing his little apron just looked at the clock on the wall and nodded, as if it only made sense. That got Nikki to go over, meaning he had some time to do the needed work. It left the store looking a little lopsided , but he really doubted anyone would care overly. He'd set up an extra Christmas display there or something in the morning.
The next day at least, if he could get to the store at all for that shopping. He had a good shortcut to the craft store, if he could get an hour or two to actually go.
It took a lot of work to get the broken shelf to the back, after unloading it, the thing being made of heavy enough metal that he felt a little weak compared to the Detective. If he ever got the time he decided to start working out a bit or something. Lifting weights. He could start with the dead man in the forest. That counted, right? He didn't know for certain but it had felt right, carrying the man. There was a sense that if he wasn't all the way off the ground when going through part of him would be left behind. That wouldn't make him happy when he woke up at all, would it?
The heavy shelf got tucked on the far side of the space, away from the node by a good twenty feet. On his way back he hit the lights and made sure to lock the door securely on the way out. That kind of thing was important, since they had expensive candles in there. More than that too. Some of that might be tempting to a thief, records and that kind of thing? He didn't know if that was true or not, but really didn't want to test the idea either.
He headed straight across, not stopping, to find that there were a half dozen Vampires and at least two humans in the store, Edom talking to them, just sitting at a table. Zack waved and walked past, not needing anyone to tell him where the node was. He could feel it after all. The thing practically drew him to it, a feeling almost like falling forward a bit.
Nikki followed him and Edom must have, because when he panted his way back carrying the heavy corpse, he was standing there, being very still, not even breathing. Zack had to set the man down fast, almost collapsing under his weight, the black Vampire pushing the dead man out of the way and grabbing him, like he was the one in danger of falling down.
"Oops. It's just carrying the weight. I mean physically. He's heavier than I am." Which, he realized, probably didn't mean anything to these people. Some of the others in the place were trying to crowd into the back with them, only to have Nikki make shewing gestures at them.
"Back, back you throng of undead." There was a playful grin with the words which got at least some of the people to smile as well. "And don't go telling everyone about this. Secret stuff here."
That was something he hadn't considered. Why would the dead man be a secret? From the cops, but he got the feeling that most of these folks weren't exactly going to be calling this in. If for no other reason that they probably wouldn't have been believed if they had.
"Well, there you go. All safe and sound." Still dead too, but that wasn't his problem. On his way out he nodded to Edom and then called back to Nikki, trying to make his voice light, and still sound reasonably serious about the matter. "Remember to put in that request for funds."
Then he left, the world outside the warm mall freezing. The snow had mainly melted off, but there were a few white drifts at the edges of the parking lot. Also clouds in the sky. Zack hurried home, being careful to watch for police detectives, as well as Vampires, since both seemed to be equally dangerous anymore. For the moment the police actually seemed the greater problem, since no Vampires had trashed his shop at all yet. Nothing showed up at least, so he was back home about two minutes later, the cold making him faster than normal.
It was Wednesday, which meant that Troy was home, a bag of Taco Bell sitting next to him on the sofa, which he moved off to the side, grinning.
"Just in time. I have some food with your name on it. The girl I met last night, her sister works at Taco Bell and is about to quit, so she gave away about three hundred dollars of food first. I got loads of it. There's more in the fridge. Beats Ramen." He seemed pretty happy about it, which got Zack to smile too, since Troy deserved to have good things happen to him.
"That's incredible. I mean, she must really hate her job, to do that. I hope she doesn't get in trouble." Not that he wouldn't eat the food. Even with the Chinese earlier he was still hungry. That was probably going to be happening for a while, a kind of rebound from not having enough for as long as had happened.
The rest of the evening was spent listening to the radio and eating tacos and chalupas. They were all good, but given everything he would have happily eaten dog biscuits at the moment. He loaded everything with hot sauce, enjoying the light burn it caused. Troy kept staring at each bite as if he was insane. Instead of the regular conversation they used to have about spicy foods his friend actually asked about his day at work.
"It was fine, but pretty slow. Well, until about seven or so. Then this hot Vampire girl came to the back door with a dead body. She was being chased by this policeman. A Detective Baconni. Which I just got. Baconni... Like bacon. Policeman Bacon. Funny. Anyway she had this body with her, which is supposed to wake up later, but, you know, no pulse, right? So she asked me to hide it. It was kind of strange. I guess you had to be there."
Troy munched his food carefully and nodded along, listening, but not really paying much attention to what he was saying. After a while he looked up and took the last bite of what he was eating.
"So, anyway, Cindy was saying that she has this friend, she's not very hot, but she has a really nice personality, I'm supposed to ask if you want to go out with her? I said I'd ask, but it's alright if you don't want to. I mean, anyone that get's flat out described as not very good looking... Well, that might not be the best thing in the world. Plus, I did mention that whole thing where you're insane. I don't think she believed me."
That could be a problem then. Most girls weren't all that into crazy guys. Not the "I hear voices and see dead people" kind at least. They wanted a little wild and assertive, not someone that has a foul mouthed mirror image.
"I'll pass. No judgment on her friend, who's probably better than I deserve. Unless she just wants to have disappointing sex a few times? Then I'm all in for it. I mean, who doesn't like that?"
Troy shook his head.
"I'll just let her know you're too busy for now, how's that? No need to burn bridges and all that. You really have been putting in the hours at work, I've barely seen you the last couple of days. We need money, but there's no need for you to burn yourself out."
The concern was real enough, so Zack nodded, even as Mirror Him started pretending to play a tiny violin.
"Poor Zack. He's so crazy he makes up stories about Vampires and bodies. Did it ever occur to you Zack that you might be the sane one? Not being willing to see reality as it actually is, well, that's not exactly normal, is it? OK... It is, but you know what I mean."
There was sense to the idea. It was also the kind of thing that nut jobs like him were told by the voices in their heads. To his relief the topic changed then, moving to the related topic of Troy's workplace. It seemed that Kevin the bouncer was sleeping with one of the other bartenders, an attractive woman named Barb and the manager, Edom, was not pleased by that at all.
"We're not supposed to fraternize like that, I guess. Too bad, because I'd love to bang Barb. Well, if she doesn't get fired you'll just have to take a crack at her."
Zack tilted his head for a second, wondering if there was any way in the world there could be two Edom's in one town.
"Edom... Good looking black guy, not overly tall, looks about thirty, drives a cream colored sports car?"
His roommate looked extremely puzzled then.
"That's him. Good guy as long as you don't break his rules. Harder on some of the people than the others. He likes me I guess. Then, I just work and don't do more than occasionally take a lady home with me. No sex in the bathrooms or anything. Till always works out at the end of the night, I don't come in drunk. Honestly... I just realized; I'm the perfect employee." He nodded, pretending to be self-satisfied for a few moments, then he chuckled. "Anyway, you know him? I wouldn't have thought your paths would connect like that. Did you meet him when you came to the club?"
Zack didn't really know how to respond, since Edom wouldn't really be working at Yoghurt World, not if it was a real place and Troy wasn't going to buy the man as a Vampire yet. His buddy just wasn't ready for that. After a few seconds he just shrugged.
"He hangs out at the mall sometimes. There were some people hassling an older woman the other day when I was leaving work and he helped me get them to leave her alone. Then he called a tow truck for her and put it on his Triple A, which was awesome of him." It was the truth, as far as Zack knew, so if Troy asked about it the guy wouldn't have to lie or anything. He wasn't at least, which his roommate would get, on some level.
"That sounds like him. I hope I grow up to be that cool. I do think he's being a little hard on Kevin and Barb, since it's just sex and I don't think he's sleeping with either of them himself, so it isn't about being jealous."
They chatted about the club for a while, until nearly eleven, when Zack decided all good little store clerks should be in bed, especially if he was going to finish fixing the store the next day. Hopefully Lisa would make it in and he could actually do that shopping for decorations. He had the envelope on him still, and made a point of tucking it in his coat pocket, so that he wouldn't lose it. There was no way he was leaving the house without it after all. Plus it was next to his house key, which would make it twice as certain.
He got up at about eight, dragging a bit, but made it to the store with plenty of time to spare just by walking a little faster than he normally did. He didn't look to see if Lenore was in yet, figuring that she would be. Instead Zack just got to work making a display table out of some nice red silk and some boxes that he taped together. He set a piece of white silk on the top as a place holder for the real display, which he'd make later and then some candles to hold it down, just as the Vampire girl came in, holding a flat container that seemed to be frozen yoghurt on a honey bun.
"A morning treat for you." She smiled, letting her teeth show, which he took to mean she was feeling comfortable with him, rather than aggressive. The fact she was handing him food while he was hungry didn't hurt either.
Zack took it with a smile and nodded a bit.
"OK, I'll go out with you. I warn you though, I'm totally crazy. I mean, I hear voices and stuff. On the good side the voices like you." There was a pause while he scooped just a little bit of the white frozen goodness up with a bit of bun. "Or, to be more
honest, he thinks that you're hot, but that you might be trying to fatten me up. You know, for food. Just to clarify, dating yes, munching no." It came out happy sounding and got the woman to cover her mouth and giggle a little.
"Oh? How serious are you about all that?" She leaned in a little, the scent of her hitting him like a gentle breeze. Flowers and something like vanilla.
"Totally. Even about the voices. I don't lie. He does, my mirror self. So, did you come to see the damage that Nikki brought to my door? It really wasn't her fault, but I can't exactly bill the local police department for it, so you get stuck with it. Did she mention that at all?"
There was a slow blink, as if she couldn't really track the conversation for some reason. Possibly like it was just too stupid to deal with at the moment. Then, she wasn't the one that had to explain the damage to Lisa, was she? Having cash in hand for it would make him look a lot less inept.
"She... did mention that. I haven't looked at the invoice yet. Still, I'm sure that you'll deal with us fairly. I'm not wild about Nikki at the moment. She's not a horrible person, but she's a little too gentle for the position she holds. You can't coddle the young. Not Vampire young. This problem with the human detective shouldn't never have happened, which is another sign she isn't ready for her job. Would you like us to kill him? It's been discussed anyway, so that wouldn't be a problem. I can expedite the paperwork on it, if you have a complaint too. That would make it a diplomatic issue after all."
He took another bite of the roll which was a little hard where it had been in contact with the frozen part of the dish. There was a cinnamon caramel drizzle on it, but no whipped topping, since obviously, it was too early in the day for that. After a few seconds he shook his head and sighed.
