The Nebulizer Potion and the Electric Compass (Vampire DeAngeliuson Book 3)

by Kara Skye Smith

  “I am free from her curse now,” Domina says, “just as I was, then. You saved me,” she exclaims.

  Nostramadeus takes two steps forward; he leans in as though to speak quietly to Domina when Jessica interrupts the old vampire’s repeat of an old mistake yelling (and pointing), “Trolls!” Every vampire scatters; Domina tries to run, but stumbles on a rock. (Not again!)

  “You go!” Domina shouts, “I can't – anyway - leave the Underworld. Go! I'll be alright.”

  Jessica, aggravated, mid-step of the quickest get-the-heck-out-of-here run for her life, (afterall, she's learned her lesson: avoid capture) cries, “Ugh!! And I just got away too!” She looks at the escaping boot heels of Nostramadeus so intently she might burn shoe leather with her fiery gaze, that he turns, as if by magic, long enough for her complaints to be heard.

  “Can I go?! My husband's waiting. He wasn't expecting me to be gone this long.”

  Nostramadeus almost sneers, rolling his eyes at both of them, then he quells his inner cad determining that Jessica has had enough of the Underworld for a while.

  “O, all right! Go on. I'll take her,” he whisks Domina up in his arms, just in time, they ascend above the oncoming trolls. Jessica runs to the familiar spot where she’d first aided Theopolis in defending their kind against trolls, and says the words to ascend the bridge, Stygian Downs; on the third twirl, a gnarly troll nearly grabs her, but is hurled instead into the distance, never to be seen by Jessica again.

  Once back at home with Drew, and settled in (from a very unsettling jam), Jessica schedules dinner for the couple with her Father. Seated at the table among diners, Jessica explains the odd result of the troll lunging at her - at the very moment of her escape - and the effect of his being cast - or flung - into the distance.

  “Your ring,” her Father tells her, “you must have been in motion. Gravity at the Vortex - especially if mixed with motion - induces its own magical power to shield you. I told you it would, didn’t I?” he says.

  “I officially feel grown-up, now,” she rests her chin in her hand, “and able to protect myself,” she smiles at Drew.

  “What’s bringing on this new confidence?” he asks her, “Seems like you’d be more worried about going out alone, since you’ve just narrowly escaped disaster.”

  “Not our style,” Jessica’s father interjects. (Probably meaning, ‘Not vampires!’)

  “O, devious! I’m not quite sure why that is, other than how I’ve defended myself, on my own. Father, you used to be alerted every time I was in trouble, whenever something went wrong - even when something was slightly amiss - you know, like the day in the tower, and that little problem at school - it’s just good to know you can trust me, now, to handle life’s little bumps in the night - on my own.”

  Her Father looks over at Drew who cocks his head to one side and asks, “Just what happened down there, anyway, in that Underworld you were once so fond of exploring with your old friend - what’s his name?”

  “Theopolis,” Jessica mentions, “and dreadful nightmares are what happened, certainly! But, I’m home now, and much stronger for it, like I said.”

  Drew puts his arm around his wife, “She was gone a lot longer than I expected,” he says to Jessica’s father and Mattressa.

  “Well, honestly, it’s nice to know you can count on me, isn’t it, Father?” she asks. Before he can answer, a waitress approaches, asking if anyone at the table would like to order dessert, but then she asks Jessica, “Where did you get that great ring?”

  Jessica looks at it, and then at Drew and smiles, “This guy gave it to me. An old, family heirloom.”

  She says to her Father, “Now I know why you picked him out for me. And, it has already helped save my life. I might not be here, today,” she says.

  Jessica’s Father glances at Mattressa, who excuses the waitress from the table, “What? No dessert? Why?” Drew interrupts the start of one of their most recent and reoccurring discussions.

  “No, tell us, Dad, why did you pick me out for Jessica?” Jessica’s Father cringes at the sound of the word he has never been called, until now; not even Jessica has ever called him ‘dad’.

  “You’re just one of the lucky ones! I could tell right off, I guess, to the ghost of moon shadows, like fate - in the cards,” he says with Mattressa tapping his wrist, once, under the table – as a gesture to warn him to ‘be nice’.

  “I am one of the lucky ones!” lively Jessica expresses, “something I learned along the way.”

  An awkward glance, silver linings nearly tarnish, the waiter from the Underworld - whom Jessica had fed upon to nearly non-replenishable cell count the night Tyrannomous Slater was wounded and then dragged home by three friends and one brother, Crucious Port. Jessica holds her teeth in a clench so tight that the words, “How dreadful to see you,” do not escape from her mouth.

  The waiter whose eyes meet with Jessica’s for one long, uncomfortable moment, suddenly asks, “Any room for dessert?”

  Jessica answers, her teeth still clenched, “Uh... no... we're all right. How did you get here? I mean, no, not quite.”

  Jessica's Father looks quizzically around the table, and then turns to the waiter with a big smile, “Dessert? Sure! Darlings?”

  Later at home, Jessica realizes she has avoided the sort of life upheaval that could have caused her Drew to stop trusting in her adherence to living as mortals do. In other words, the fact that their agreement has been breached could have slipped out. She decides to re-affirm her vow to him without revealing her worries about her past mistakes catching up to her. She snuggles next to Drew on the couch while he is watching the televised, multi-player, Dungeons and Dwarves.

  “Did I tell you I realized – while away - just how much you mean to me?”

  Drew turns down the volume and turns to look at her, “No, but you can tell me now,” he smiles.

  Jessica hints, “You know, the night's still young - old saying of my Father’s, meaning there’s still time to go out into the night, for fun?”

  “It's 11:30!” Drew protests.

  “We’re grown-ups, so let's go out somewhere, just us, and make it a special night - out late - together.”

  “No,” Drew says, “we just got home.”

  Jessica persists, “I'll tell you all about my Underworld capture. We could go to the cafe I found - right in our neighborhood. Come along with me,” she says.

  Drew becomes pouty, a look he reserves for when Jessica refuses to agree with him, “Go alone,” he says.

  Jessica looks off, over the screen where the Red Dwarves have just taken a new portion of the Yellow Dwarves’ land, capturing one of only two remaining yellow dungeons and considers her request, remembering what befell her the last time she got the urge to venture out into the night to her favorite, neighborhood spot. (No!!)

  “No,” she says, “I won’t then.”

  Drew gets back into watching the take-over, but he asks her, “Why?” with his eyes on the screen. (Honestly, I could have asked the Yellow Dwarves’ team the same question, as they’d run off too soon to defend their last dungeon.)

  “O, hex! Just come with me,” she insists hoping the dungeon will fall and he’ll give in to her request. Two dozen Red Dwarves fill the screen and Drew turns the game off with the remote.

  “I'm going to bed,” he stands up, “Loved seeing your dad tonight,” he glares at her.

  Her jaw drops open a little and she shoots him a weird look, “What?”

  Jessica notices the ring on Drew's hand.

  “I know much more about these rings, now, that I would not have known if I hadn’t gone into the Underworld, again.”

  “Don’t you mean to say, for the last time? Tell me,” he says.

  “I'm not sure you're ready,” Jessica hesitates.

  “O, great. Something about vampires. Hmm? I've been sensing this conversation was coming. Jessica, I've understood there was something about you that I'd have to 'accept' for a long time. Remember?”
/>
  “Yes. I know, I just wish vampire wasn't such a bad word to you. I mean, how good of a bargain did you really get, ending up with me?”

  “Like when I walk with you, Jessica, do I have to carry 17 bags of vampire guilt?” he asks and then sighs, “I have noticed those red fingernails of yours lately. Not your usual style, I hope.”

  Jessica pulls them out of the way of his vision by stuffing them into the pockets of her sweater, “I'm not -” she doesn’t finish what she has started to say, because Drew interrupts her, suddenly yelling.

  “Mortal! I know!! And by gosh, could you please fix that?” he is only joking, so he smiles. Jessica has been startled, but she isn’t upset.

  “No! I can't. And I wish I could,” she tells him, “But, well, I am going to go out.”

  Drew sets down the remote, “Maybe you shouldn't tell me. Maybe we shouldn't talk about whatever is calling you out into the night.”

  “Would you rather not discuss it? We could just avoid our differences,” she suggests, trying to help him at least appear happier.

  Drew nods his head twice in agreement, “Yes, I suppose so. Doesn't that sound so back in the dark ages? Before all those marital, self-help books came about, but, I realize I don't want to talk about the dark side of my wife who might, as we speak, be considering night haunts and primeval vampire conduct,” he points to the balcony window, “out there.”

  “I’m just going out in the night for some air, not to hunt souls, Drew. I like the night air, and the moon, and the stars. And, if we don’t talk about our differences, will you resent me - building a grudge all night and day?” Jessica worries.

  “If I do, I'll go play Dungeons and Dwarves or something and release my resentment - or my suspicions,” he says.

  Jessica sits back on the couch and taps the back of her hands against her lap, “You'd take up a new sport rather than talk to me about being a vampire?”

  “Maybe. I mean... it's gruesome. Unholy! Why for Lutein's sakes?! You’re not feeding on victims, are you?!” he lets his worst worry fly out of his mouth, already unable to hold in his suspicions.

  “I know, gross, I'm a vampire,” Jessica admits.

  Drew almost laughs, “I know, sick, and I married a vampire,” they both laugh, “O, go on! Get some fresh air. I trust you,” he motions his whole hand out toward the door. “Jessica, I release you,” he says.

  Jessica makes a face, “It’s not like I’m going out to kill the mail-lady, or anything. In fact, Drew, a feed doesn't actually kill - not one feeding,” she tries to explain.

  Drew overreacts and immediately shuts off a chance to come to some kind of understanding about the lifestyle his wife has begun to recount, “O! Feeding, you call it? Feeding?” Rather than attempt any kind of understanding between beings, Drew sums up his sensitivity about the a vampire’s need to feed - for all mortals - and simply says, “Ick.”

  “Ick?” Jessica’s voice gets unnecessarily high pitched, “Drew, all beings have-”

  He interrupts, “Have their way to survive,” he says.

  “Yes,” Jessica agrees, “I guess so. I guess that was what I was going to say.”

  Drew gets closer to her and holds onto one of her shoulders, “No, it is true. We all do. We all do have our way to survive and all beings have some kind of beauty in that survival. I said I wouldn’t condescend you when we made our promises to each other,” he says, adding, “I’m sorry, but I am going to bed now; and, I trust you can go out, but I’d rather you stay, here, with me. Besides, if those nails get any longer or sharper,” his voice trails off - he looks worried.

  “I’ll have to hang,” she says. Now, Drew’s voice raises an octave. He gulps then blurts out, “And then what?!”

  “I can go a long time without feeding again,” she tells him.

  “So, you really have to do this?” he asks.

  “There isn't any written rule book, but yeah, my instincts say I do,” she answers. He glances toward her ring finger, a cast light (or his imagination getting the best of him) practically makes the nail shine. He looks back to her eyes, “Can’t you just cut them off?” he complains

  Jessica looks toward the door and back to Drew.

  “Don’t tell me, the night is calling you. I asked you a question,” he says.

  “I'd like to. I can’t cut them, but I can stay home. I'll try,” she smiles at him. He appears to be thrilled at the sound of her changing her mind. (And her ‘ways’? Once again, dear Drew - too imaginative.)

  He jumps for joy, “That's great!!”

  “I'll go get my p.j.'s on. Be back in a minute.” Jessica disappears into the bathroom and closes the door where her robe and pajamas hang over a hook on the back of the door.

  Drew yells, through the door, “I love you!!”

  As Drew sleeps in the dark room, Jessica lies awake beside him, looking at the ceiling. She looks at the clock... 1:11 a.m. She hears the chattering, in the distance, at first. She is aware the sound is getting closer… she hears her name, called out in the language of the ancients... the shriek, the empty cry.

  "Come with us!! Night Ride!" Jessica creeps out onto the balcony and sees in the black, darkness of the sky, the vision of nine vampires dressed in their finest, their leathery bat wings, appearing strong in the distance... the Above Worlders see: bats, if they happen to look toward the sky in the night; but, vampires, and other beings of darkness, see a chosen cast of immortal souls - the sons and daughters of night - dressed in their most gothic and ancient vampire garb. Jessica feels the call deep within her soul. She has never been on a Night Ride. It is an honor. A coming of age and status, a proof of good name and an earned reputation in the destiny she thought she could deny. Having killed the Witch she knows, now, she is held in high esteem; her rightful place in a line of vampires of prestige and notability. Not by name, but by deed and sacrifice, heart and soul, each choice with honor to the vampire essence; never to be undone or unbecoming, they ride in the dark of night. She cries back, the empty shriek, and this call back brings a 'cheer' of chatter that almost makes her laugh, such a raucous response to her acceptance of a rare invitation, indeed.

  “She's coming with us!!”

  “We'll wait!!” She runs into the house and toward the closet. Drew, being mortal, sleeps ever more soundly, as the legend goes; and, the neighbors, in the morning, remember not the noise of the chattering bats, but instead, they comment on having had a 'particularly good night's sleep'.

  Chapter Eleven

  Nightscape Escape

  On this particular Night Ride the moon is full and in the second sector of a lunar month, the average cycle between new moons - the only moon time during which a Night Ride can occur. Jessica sees Theopolis, Ickabod, and Mrs. Rita? Jessica knew she had secrets, but she didn’t suspect she was one of her own kind. The vampire DeAngeliuson introduces his only heir, and now a known vampire, around the group.

  “Fly off!” She says the words she took the time to memorize - after that pickle she was in last, she’s brushed up on most things Vampire Code (that she knows, anyway, as she is still so very young to eternity.). She looks to her Father for his approval. He seems quite different tonight, toward her - haply proud, not disappointed. She feels a sense of accomplishment. In this group, she has joined, tonight, she can be herself – her real self-among them. She is joined up among them not because she is a daughter, not by her family connection; but, because she has completed a task unknown to many vampires especially at her age, despite 'not exactly wanting to be a vampire' for most of her growing up years - perhaps even now. At this moment, however, she is opening up and letting go of the disapproval mortals have which she has let filter in among her own thoughts – the bad reputation of her kind - she admits, by her own choice, too many times. Tonight, she makes up her mind not to tune into those memories. Instead, she thrives among her own kind, discovering she is really proud to be a vampire within this circle of notable immortals, some newly met, and some she holds most dear to
her as family in an ancient line.

  Vampires have relied on bat wings for 1.2 million years to propel and lift themselves into the sky. And bats themselves, have been flying with the most versatile wings of all winged creatures for 50 million years. Although Jessica has yet to experience this thrill, until this night, she is keenly aware that bats know more than just a little about flight. They know the true art of flying! And vampires have gleaned from their partial brethren as much about the aerodynamic art as possible. Jessica is just about to tap into this wealth of ancestral knowledge of ancient breeds - surrounded by a circle of her own - in a way which truly makes her aware of the difference between ‘just testing her wings’ and true flight - the art of the soar. Just through the In Between’s tunnel is all she's flown - a storm-drain really - until tonight.

  The allure of the hunt. The joy of flight. The aerodynamics of ascension - bat flight. How her wings allow her to soar - maneuvering through unsteady air flows and turbulent conditions. Agility. Freedom. Like never before. Like an air wave 'dream skate park' or joy ride with best friends along for ride - the sheer pleasure of flight at daring speeds. Jessica smiles wide, and then she hears it - her own chatter, her own sing-song voice joins the group. She dips, flutters, and flies on wind currents with sonar - not eyesight - enabling flight.

  She lands, high on a sharp, rocky ledge, and looks out over the cityscape - a glowing landscape of city lights in the distance where Drew sleeps among his kind - the wind against Jessica's human form face have become the wind against a bat's face and her wings flap behind her like a black, aerodynamic cape. The shadows of the rocks form the illusion of secret rooms beneath the moonlight. She watches, listens, and looks out over the landscape as if it were her ancient home. Alone. Then she takes off again, into the sky, her bat form joins the group in a squeal of delight as they all take a harrowing dip, leaning into one wing and then the other, off a high current ledge into the air stream at high velocity, nearly spinning Jessica all the way around. She giggles and out comes the chatter of a bat. The pure and simple form of the bat she embodies.