Other Places 1: Shortcuts

by P. S. Power

  Sitting next to her he gave her a hug and just held her for a long time, not having any real advice for her. It hurt to be dumped, but it happened and the only thing you could normally do was move past it. Worse, he couldn't even blame Deidre really. Lisa was a mess, and knew it. Nothing that Zack said would really help her, so instead he listened, rocking her gently. It took a long time and he was getting bored and hungry by the time that the woman finally sat up and started to tell him about her trip and the resolution they'd come too.

  "It was almost too easy. At first both sides were yelling about war and seemed ready to fight right there in the meeting room, with Maddy barely keeping them calm. Then the next day Isolt came in and was perfectly calm and reasonable. The Shifter head there, Marv, was a prick about it for a bit, but then he fell into line too and they agreed to simply share the space, since it isn't used for anything all that important." There was a funny look through the red eyes then, a calculating thing that held something that Zack nearly didn't recognize.

  Pride.

  "We asked about it, and you know what they said? Both sides?"

  He shook his head, really not knowing what they'd have said at all. He could have guessed, but he hadn't been prompted to do that. It made it a lot easier to keep silent.

  Lisa stared for a second, "they both said that they were given orders from very high up to cooperate, since the 'Line Walker' requested it. Not demanded, not required... just asked that they consider it. I hate to say it, but Maddy figured out that you'd done it somehow, well before I did. Now, how did you do it and what did it cost? The Vampires at least never do anything for free."

  "Oh... I just went and got some people from different locations for them. The Bey, who's in town, that's a big deal for the Vampires if you've never heard of him, and the wife of the Shifter leader who was kind of trapped overseas with her kids. The man and his kids seem nice." Trying for a put upon face he sighed. "Notice that I didn't mention the wife? She makes your dad look like a sweetheart filled with kindness and understanding. Speaking of which, how did that part of things go?"

  "I'm still a lesbian, so he still has problems with me. He did his job and like always, did it well, but this trip didn't really help anything. I was hoping that I could show him how useful I was, and that sexual orientation didn't matter, but it does to him. Nothing I do will change that. I really doubt that even dating a guy would fix what's wrong between us now." She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue that she'd crumpled into a ball. The whole conversation had taken three of them. That was a record for him. Normally crying girls just ran out after about ten minutes.

  Then, Lisa wasn't upset with him.

  "OK, since you're my boss, and like girls, I'll let you go this time with only a warning, but the next time you come and cry on my couch like this over a break-up I'm totally trying to get you into bed. It's a time honored guy tradition you know." He said it very seriously, because he meant every word, but the woman chuckled anyway, as if he were trying to bolster her mood.

  "Got it. Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow? Or... No, really, you should get the day off. Did anything happen while I was gone? That I should know about I mean?"

  He had to think about that, remembering the man that had thought Vampires were harassing him and why that was.

  "I don't think so, but there is an issue in the area. A kind of rebellion or something. You should get with Lenore and talk about it, just in case it's a real thing. I also helped find a runaway boy... That's about all I think. Well, that and that business has picked up a little. We actually had some real costumers, if you can believe that."

  She nodded, but just sat for a while, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop or something. Not knowing what she wanted, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

  "Get off the drugs and you'll be fine. I know it hurts right now, but you can move past this. I can't do anything for you, or take the pain away, but know that I would, if it was something I could manage."

  She stood then, touching her hand to where his lips had been on her skin. It occurred to him then that he'd been pretty inappropriate, doing that. Lisa didn't seem upset by it, so he decided to let it go himself. He stood and walked to the door with her, watching as she got into her car, which was parked in front of his house and then drove away safely. Hopefully she'd be alright.

  Heating the frozen dinner took about fifteen minutes, since he liked his slightly overcooked and a little dry in places. It was strange, but the hungry man Mexican platter was better that way. Just as he sat down to eat, his fork making the first stab into the spiced rice compartment, someone knocked on the door again.

  Zack scowled.

  "Coming." Dropping the fork he stood, feeling a little sour over the whole thing. If it wasn't a hot woman, it had better at least be someone that wouldn't mind if he ate in front of them.

  When he opened the door, ready for almost anything, he was taken slightly aback. It was Bey, standing next to a very confused and befuddled looking Baconni.

  "Ah! Friend Zack! I was wondering if I could enlist your aid once again? I have some small trouble to attend to in the province of Florida, and then Italy. I know that it's a huge inconvenience to you, but I would be willing to pay handsomely for the service." He gestured to the man next to him, smiling hugely. "This is my new friend, Frank. I found him outside my daughter's home, looking in her windows... A little out of turn, but he seems a pleasant sort. Merely trying to find her guilty of crimes, which is his profession, not see her without clothing."

  Nodding Zack waved them in.

  "I was just going to get something to eat. If you don't mind waiting a bit?" It was probably all kinds of rude, asking someone as powerful and important as him to wait, but there was a gentle smile instead of impatience.

  "Please, I'm sorry for intruding on your meal time. Frank and I can wait in your sitting room?"

  Zack grinned and felt oddly happy about the phrasing. It was old fashioned, but meant kindly, not with any kind of judgment over the poor quality of the space. It really was clean at least. Troy made sure of that, and he tried to help when he could.

  "Certainly. I have some..." Glancing he saw that Baconni looked almost drunk, but neither he or Troy had coffee regularly. "Soda? Or orange juice? Um... hot water too." He didn't know what else to offer the funny looking Vampire, but the man gave a slight bow as if it were exactly what he wanted.

  "Perfect! I can get a reading on this area as well."

  It didn't take long to make certain both men had something to drink, and then, rude or not, he sat alone in the kitchen and ate. Quickly, since he really doubted that Bey would have tracked him down just to go and visit some relatives. After finishing, tossing the remains of his meal's evidence. After that he washed up in the kitchen sink, so he didn't embarrass himself by looking sloppy. Then, hoping he hadn't taken way too long, Zack went into the other room.

  "Now... you have a daughter?" He asked bluntly, but Bey bowed a little instead of acting like it was him being insane or abrupt.

  "Yes. In this case the one spied upon was Nicole. You know her? Also, in this area, Lenore. That is a most unusual circumstance, since they were sisters in life as well. I think perhaps bringing them both over was a mistake, in hindsight. They do fight so. Well, you've seen some small part of that. At any rate, Nicole is reluctant to kill her pet here, even though he is a nuisance to her. What do you think Zack, should we make him vanish for her? It would be simpler all around. We don't even have to kill him, you can simply take him to one of the other lands and leave him. The place of the fair folk perhaps?"

  That meant nothing to him, but he kind of got a hint of what it meant when Mirror Him spoke from the decorative shining tiles on the wall.

  "No shit. I hadn't thought about it before, but it's a real point. You can go to anyplace the nodes connect too. Not every place is going to be in regular space, is it? Tell him that you'll do it if you can bang his daughters. That Lenore seems like she'd be a beast in the sack. I
t's always the tame looking ones, isn't it?"

  Not wanting to die, Zack decided not to listen to what M.H. said in this case. Or not all of it at least.

  "We can do that. I think I can pick him up at least... eventually. I really need to work out more, get in better shape so I can pick up more than a hundred and thirty pounds."

  The tiny man nodded, as if that only made sense.

  "Frank is much larger than that. If I knew for a fact that you would maintain your abilities after the transformation, I would offer to bring you over. Then you'd have plentiful strength. It would limit when you could act however, for many hundreds of years. A program of physical exercise does seem to be the next best option."

  They both looked at the Detective, who was sipping at an off-brand cola. He hadn't spoken yet, still seeming dazed.

  Bey waved a hand and then looked at the large man.

  "Oh well, perhaps it's best if we do this the old fashioned way? Frank, please listen to me. Are you paying attention?"

  The man nodded dumbly and muttered yes in a voice so soft it was almost impossible to hear.

  Bey focused on him totally.

  "Very good. You will forget that you know about Vampires, or anyone that knows of them at all. When you try to think of Nicole, you will remember her only as a strange girl that enjoys play acting, but who is a harmless sort and slightly annoying. She isn't someone to be concerned with and in fact, you feel a strong urge to avoid her, so that she will not bother you. Now, you will go home and sleep deeply and well. When you awaken you will feel energized and like you have your life back. Nothing will deter you from living well, particularly silly superstitions and the games of bored rich children, which is how you will think of Vampires from now on. Is that clear to you?"

  "Yeah. I'm going to go home now." Then, without putting down the cola, he got up and left, getting into the fairly new model car out front and pulling away into the night.

  Instead of going back in all the way, Zack just grabbed his jacket and gestured for the tiny man to follow him across the street. There was almost no traffic, being as late as it was. He didn't mention what he was doing, but Bey didn't struggle or seem put out when he picked him up and moved them both through to the mall. In fact he giggled a little and clapped happily.

  "Splendid! Oh, I'm going to be in such debt to you soon, I fear. This is so much nicer than being trapped in a slow automobile or train. We should go inside however, lest you catch cold. Quickly... this way." Bey moved faster than Zack could comfortably walk, which meant he ended up jogging, feeling a little light headed from it by the time they were entering the Vampire shop. The man behind the counter was the younger Vampire from the other day. Cormack. Zack knew that because he had a name tag on. It was darned helpful of him.

  As if suddenly energized by the concept of getting to go someplace far away, Bey tugged his arm a little, his movements smooth and quick, rather than jumpy, but the sense of happy giddiness came through anyway.

  Zack stopped in front of the node, finding the main complex of rifts in Florida almost instantly. He knew where they all were, on some level and when he focused on them it was easy to find. What he didn't know was which one exactly he was supposed to go through. It was a real embassy style thing, and he could ignore the ones that were dark, the lights being turned off for the night, but that left seven almost identical spaces. Looking around he noticed that one of the rooms was very richly and ornately decorated in bright colors. So it wasn't that one, he didn't think.

  "Should we call and have one of the people there come to meet you? I can use them to find the right place. If they go to the node room, that should be enough."

  That got a small nod and the man using the phone behind the counter. Cormack looked at both of them nervously, just cleaning a bit while he waited for things to work out.

  There were no words however, which probably was wise, if he didn't know what was going on. After a few minutes of happy chatter Bey put in the request for the woman in charge to go to their node and wait. He didn't explain why, but looking through it Zack almost didn't get it at first. It wasn't a woman at all, for all her name was Sedra. She was maybe fourteen, or had been when she died, her hair long and red, but with a perfectly pale complexion and nearly coal black eyes.

  It was both troublingly cute, and eerie at the same time. No doubt that she was the right person though.

  When they stepped through she jumped back and yelled a little, which got three other Vampires to rush them. They died, each one appearing to just rupture at the same time, faces splattering into a red mist that flew back into the wall behind them and to the right, all in exactly the same place. Bey stood smiling and held his hands out to the girl Vampire, who was dressed in a pretty blue dress with black buckled shoes.

  "Sedra! How lovely to see you! I was given to understand that you were a little behind in your annual taxes? Now, we aren't animals, so if it's a true financial difficulty, we can arrange an extension, of course. I'm so sorry about your people here... I should have explained that our new friend, the Line Walker, was going to bring me to you for a visit." The happy voice turned flat suddenly, a deadly change that made Zack want to run away. Sedra looked to feel about the same way. "Now, I personally choose to disregard rumors that you and yours planned to simply not contribute as agreed upon. That would be a very poor plan."

  He turned to Zack, explaining, his voice much more pleasant again.

  "It may seem harsh, insisting on taxes from people, but if we do not, some tend to forget to whom they owe fealty. Vampires that believe they are ready to rule themselves very rarely are. When it does happen and they have grown calm enough and sane with time, we tend to draft them to the council."

  Sedra went to her knees and bowed in a way that Zack didn't think was possible for a human being.

  "Please... Great Bey, I beseech thee, do not slaughter us all. It was but an oversight, not willful disregard-"

  "Oh, do stop lying Sedra, we're friends here and I know you too well for such games. Just send that payment along to the Council and I'll let this go. This time. We will not, we cannot, allow rogue operations anywhere in the world. I had thought that you, of all people, would know that."

  Why that was neither of them said, but she sounded far more willing to pay up than not after that. Zack looked at the bodies and shrugged, they were all men, and kind of large, but by getting Bey to kind of toss them at the node he was able to carry them away to a strange looking forest that was very far away. He knew that, because there were two moons in the sky. One silver and pretty normal looking, one smaller, misshapen and slightly yellow. He didn't bury them, but with each trip through, using the momentum supplied by the Vampire, he got them into a loose pile without getting too dirty.

  The young looking girl was still busy groveling when he finished up, Bey smiling at her and nodding again.

  "Very good! That is more like it. Now, understand this, if you fail me, or the council, again, I will set you to serving as the slave of the Line Walker full time. He is a kind man, but we will school him well as to how to best punish you while you serve. Do not cause that to happen. I like him too much to see him used so poorly." He softened his tone a bit and touched her shoulder gently. "You as well, Dear."

  Then he stepped toward Zack and watched him carefully, not having given any other instruction than that they were going to Italy next. Again, it wasn't hard to find the node complex, which was decently large and well developed, but which place to go to exactly... In the end, he guessed and the little vampire hopped up, instead of waiting for Zack to grab him. It worked remarkably well, meaning that Bey was on his feet and looking around on the other side when they came through, not being cuddled by Zack. They stepped out into a large stone walkway, since the node behind them was kind of out in the open. Bey clapped again, but there was no one around to hear them.

  "This will do nicely. We need to go more carefully here, for the one we seek is older and far more powerful than those we j
ust left. Nearly my age. I do not wish to leave you unguarded, but please be careful. Janus isn't known as the three headed god for nothing. He has more than one face..." There was a brief pause, with a stillness that grabbed the attention. "More than one person lives in his skin? I do not have the words for it... Depending on who is around, this can be most dangerous."

  Zack got it. Multiple personality disorder.

  It wasn't exactly an unknown to him, was it? For some reason thinking that got M.H. to chuckle in his head.

  "I'll try to let you do the talking." It seemed safer that way, but Bey shrugged.

  "Who knows what will work? Shall we then? This might be very fruitful. That or a grand waste of time."

  Zack nodded, that was pretty much everything anymore, wasn't it?

  Chapter eleven

  It turned out to be a little bit of both, a waste of a lot of time, mainly chatting with the somewhat disjointed Vampire, and sort of useful. Janus was actually rather pleasant to them and spoke perfect English the whole time, because Zack didn't know any other languages. It wasn't really needed, since he didn't understand most of what the two talked about anyway. It was a matter of context and with people as old as these, they had it, and he just didn't. They stood while chatting, and took hours, mainly going on about different people they knew.

  Rather abruptly the short and stocky Vampire they were visiting with, who looked to be pushing fifty when he died, if not older, stopped and stared at Zack for a long time. It wasn't a hungry thing, not exactly, but it was pretty darned unnerving anyway.