by David Page
“Exactly.”
Ray’s gun was back up in a flash.
“I can’t let you do this. Even if it wasn’t suicide. I can’t be responsible for allowing even one vampire to get his power back.”
“We’re only talking about Richard,” Beth insisted. “If he can’t access his power, he’s as good as dead.”
“I understand your trepidation.” Richard shrugged. “But I promise you, I will pose no threat to anyone.”
“I’m a cop and it’s my job to safeguard the public. I can’t take a chance this could free the rest of your race. I’m sorry.” Ray sighed. “Dan, turn the car around… now.”
“Ray, this is the reason I created Radovan.” Beth pleaded. “We have to help them.”
“Look, I know how bad the camps are. I’ve seen them first hand,” Ray told them. “It was the reason I opted for the vampire cases when no one else would take them. And I’d love to see the Department go down. I think what they do is against everything this country stands for, but that doesn’t mean I want to give you back your fangs.”
“If we don’t do this, you condemn me to death.”
“You don’t know that. I promise, I’ll keep you safe from the Department and have a medical team check you out, but we ARE going to my precinct and I mean now.”
Beth’s hand dropped to her own weapon.
“Don’t, Beth. I guarantee, I can take you out before you draw and I really don’t want to risk killing you.”
Beth halted. She looked at Richard, fear in her eyes.
“I cannot allow you to do that.” Ignoring his injuries, Richard launched from the seat, arms reaching towards Ray.
Ray swiveled and fired in one smooth motion. The bullet caught Richard in the right shoulder, spinning him around, but not stopping him. The sharp pain similar to that of a bee sting barely distracted him. He managed to drop between the two front seats and grab Ray’s gun hand.
“Richard, stop!” Ray ordered. “Don’t make me do this.”
“Dan, slow down!” Beth cried.
Richard struggled against his friend, but quickly lost out to Ray’s strength. The gun slowly turned back towards his head, but just when Richard was certain his friend would pull the trigger, he hesitated.
“Enough!” Ray barked.
Ray’s door suddenly flew open allowing rain to splatter against them.
“Now!” Beth cried from where she had wedged herself against the side of the van.
Richard dropped his hand and hit the release on Ray’s seatbelt. It snapped back and caught on his right shoulder. Richard heaved with all his strength, knocking his friend back into the void. Ray tried to catch the doorframe, but the seatbelt whipped him around. He dropped his gun and then fell backwards, landing on the pavement with a thud. The van had slowed enough by now that Ray simply rolled and came back up onto his feet. He reached for his gun a few feet away.
“Floor it!” Beth ordered.
Dan sank his foot into the gas pedal and the van lurched forward.
“God damn it, Richard!” Ray roared from behind them and then they were past.
Dan made a sharp right causing the passenger door to slam shut.
Richard breathed a sigh of relief even as guilt rose within him like bile in his throat. He had betrayed his one friend all for the chance to survive. Even as he thought that, however, he knew he had done what he had to. Colette needed him.
“Thank you, Beth.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“So… change of plans, boss?” Dan spun the wheel to the left.
“Yep,” Beth answered. “We’re going after that ancient vampire.”
***
“We’ll need time to prepare for this.” Richard placed his hand on Beth’s. “We must not go blindly back there.”
“Ray knows about it now. The longer we wait the harder this will become,” she argued.
“True, but he had a radio with him and a cell phone. It is already too late. We must regroup, tend to our wounds and come up with an effective plan of attack.”
“What if he tells Frederick about the old vamp down there?”
Richard shook his head. “He does not like the Department any more than us. I do not believe he will do so.”
“All right then. To Richard’s apartment,” Beth advised.
Richard did a double take. “That was not quite what I had in mind.”
“Trust me.” Beth smirked mischievously.
Richard might have laughed at her expression if not for the burning pain in his abdomen and his left arm.
“On our way.” Dan revved the engine.
“Your apartment is the last place anyone will look,” she explained.
“And what of the surveillance equipment in my room?” Sweat broke out on Richard’s head and he gritted his teeth against the pain.
“Not to your room. We’ve got a little hideaway tucked into the old section of your basement where there aren’t any spying devices.” Beth added.
“Ah, so then Modin does work for you.” Richard was relieved that he had not been part of Questor’s operation. He rather liked the man.
“How did you know?” Beth scrutinized him.
“I was hiding near the coal bin when you and Modin came searching for me.” Richard forced a weak smile.
Beth’s brow furrowed. “I thought as much.” Her gaze fell on his stomach. “You’re bleeding!” She reached for his shirt.
“Yes.” Richard looked at his bloodied clothes. “Jack’s blade was silver.”
Beth lifted the shirt, revealing the oozing wound on his left side. Richard had to fight a wave of dizziness as the silver in his wound sapped his energy.
“Jesus, Richard. Why didn’t you say something? We’ve got to get you bandaged up!” She moved to the back of the van, rifled among a series of duffel bags, and returned with a blue plastic first aid kit. She popped it open and removed surgical tape and bandages.
Her hands were cool against his flesh. Richard’s breath caught in his throat, surprised that her touch felt so good.
“Beth.”
The lilac smell of her hair filled him as she pressed the bandages to his skin. His pulse quickened and his fangs sprouted. He stared at the pale skin of her neck, the memory of her sweet blood slammed into the front of his consciousness.
“Hang on, almost there.” She pulled him forward, pressing against him in the process as she wrapped the bandage around his back.
“Beth.” Richard’s blood pounded in his ears. He felt her body tense. She pulled back, having finished taping the bandage.
“There…” she met his gaze and then stopped, her ice blue eyes boring into him.
They stared at each other and it was all Richard could do to remain where he was. He tried to think about dead kittens, but no thought, however grim could pull him from the brink.
“Richard…” Beth’s lower lip quivered.
His body tingled with anticipation. The van, the city, and everything else faded into the distance. He leaned forward ever so slowly and pressed his lips to hers. Her response was tentative, probing. She gripped him by the shoulders and pulled him against her, kissing him with passion.
“Um, guys?” Dan cleared his throat. “Guys!”
Beth pulled away, her face turning red. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what…” She blinked.
Richard took a deep breath and released it. He had to hold onto his center, had to remain in control. He could not do too much damage in his wounded state, but he could still disgrace himself. He searched her eyes for approval or rejection, but saw only confusion.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.” Dan appeared to be trying his hardest to contain his embarrassment. “We’re a block away.”
Beth straightened her tank top. “Park in the alley.
“Got it.” Dan waved his acknowledgement with one hand.
As the van pulled into the alley, Richard looked back at Beth and felt the need to say something. “You really
are Radovan.”
Beth nodded. “Yes.”
***
“It’s ten o’clock, man. Things should be chilling in Pioneer Square by now.” Dan held up his watch for Richard and Beth to see, and then sat down on a nearby crate. The stress of his near death seemed to have drained from his face along with all of its color, but there were dark circles under his eyes.
They were seated in the middle of the basement to Richard’s apartment building amid several open crates. Pistols, several automatic rifles, and communication’s gear lay strewn about. Jack had been kind enough to load the equipment into the van before he had had gone after them.
“Yes, I suppose so.” Richard leaned back against the scorched wall next to the old furnace. He found it incredible that it had barely been twenty-four hours since he had hidden there from Beth.
“Hey, relax, man. Beth will be back soon,” Dan added, pulling his unkempt long hair into a ponytail.
“She has been gone quite a while.” Fear gnawed at Richard. Frederick was still out there looking for them. If he had somehow managed to catch Beth, Richard did not think he could live with the consequences.
“She’ll be okay, man. Relax.”
Richard nodded. It was true that Beth was very capable, but that did not mean she was invincible or infallible. As he worried over her, the memory of her soft lips filled his mind. He blinked, wondering if Colette’s influence had caused them to kiss. He had not had any real feelings for Beth before, but since they had touched, his emotions were clouded.
“I’ve got them!” Beth’s voice interrupted Richard’s chain of thought.
His heart raced at the sight of her. He stood away from the wall and turned towards the far side of the room just in time to see her take the old wooden stairs two at a time. She hit the bottom and then hurried through the maze of boxes towards them. As she negotiated her way through the cluttered piles of junk, he observed that she had changed her clothes in favor of the all-black look again. Unlike her gothic attire, however, there was nothing stylish, or counter-stylish about her black jeans, boots and the black sweatshirt that covered up her tank top. She was prepared for a stealth operation. A large black duffel bag hung from her left shoulder.
Modin followed, his limping gait clearly audible as he hobbled after her. He navigated his own way through the meandering path, avoiding the debris to either side, and finally stopped in the clearing near them.
Beth placed the duffel gently on the ground and straightened. Beth looked at Richard, but said nothing. Her bright blue eyes searched his, as if she were looking for something. The corners of her mouth tightened almost imperceptibly. He hoped that she was not about to chastise him for kissing her, even though he had thought she had enjoyed the moment as much as he. She looked away, her cheeks blushing, and stared up at the cobweb-covered beams.
“Were you able to ascertain the situation in Pioneer Square?” Richard wondered if Ray had informed his fellow officers of their plans.
“They’re talking about us on the news,” Beth straightened. “A special broadcast.”
Modin rubbed his white beard stubble. The yellow raincoat he always seemed to be wearing squeaked as he moved his arm. “The television person says activity in Pioneer Square was caused by bank robbers.”
“That’s a lame excuse,” Dan replied.
“That’s why it’s a good story. The dumber the explanation, the easier the cow-like masses absorb it. People don’t want anything unusual to interrupt the monotony of their lives.” Beth moved over to lean against the coal bin, seemingly oblivious to the soot covering it.
“You’re totally right.” Dan nodded.
“What is in the bag?” Richard asked.
“Black clothes and masks for sneaking around.” She smirked, but there was no humor in her eyes.
“Where did you acquire them?” Richard eyed the bag tentatively.
“Targé.”
“Where?”
“Target.” Beth smiled wanly.
“Ah.” Richard smiled, glad she had added some levity to their conversation.
“Are we really going to go back into the lab?” Dan’s voice quavered.
“Richard and I are.” Beth looked up. “You get to monitor us from the van.”
“Okay.” Dan sighed with obvious relief. “The van is good.”
Richard cleared his throat. “What exactly is our plan?”
Beth turned to him. “We sneak inside through a different route than the one Frederick and his cronies will be watching, and then find this vampire of yours.”
“There is another secret way into those tunnels?” Richard shook his head, wondering how many tunnels could possibly exist beneath such a new city.
“I worked as a guide for the Under-Ground Tour for two years when I was at UW. I know every nook and cranny down there. There are a bunch of undocumented entrances and rooms.” She knelt and unzipped the duffel and retrieved a black sweatshirt and some pants. “Try these on.” She tossed them to him.
Richard caught it and in a moment had pulled it over his cotton dress shirt. It fit snugly but it would do. Next, Beth removed two pairs of night vision goggles like those worn by Jack’s men, she handed one to each of them.
“You did not acquire those from a store.”
“I found them in a compartment in the van. Dan knows how to use them, right?” she glanced sidelong at the tech.
Dan simply nodded.
Richard put the goggles on a nearby crate and turned to Beth. “So, when do we leave?”
“An hour and a half before dawn.” She looked at her watch. “We’ve got about four hours.”
Richard was not sure he understood. Once the sun rose, he would quickly lose consciousness, rendering him defenseless and useless.
She noticed his discomfort. “Relax Richard, we’ll be all right. The Department won’t expect us to go out that close to dawn. It’s when they will be the most vulnerable.”
“Of course.” He swallowed despite himself and shifted his weight to the balls of his feet.
“This will work, Richard.” Beth squeezed his hand reassuringly. “In the meantime, I suggest the rest of us get some sleep if possible.”
Dan nodded. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
“Okay. I come back in a few hours.” Modin grunted.
Richard forced himself to breath slowly. Perhaps it was possible for them to locate and free the other vampire and take a sample of his blood without getting nabbed by the Department…. perhaps.
29
“You ready?” Beth leaned against the furnace and watched him.
“I believe so.” Richard reached back to adjust the pistol tucked into his waistband beneath his sweatshirt. A shoulder holster would have been more comfortable, but could not have been concealed if they had to go out in public. Next, he checked his pockets and confirmed that the two spare clips were safe and sound. Yes, he was ready.
It was nearing their designated departure time. Modin and Dan had packed the night-vision goggles into the duffel bag and departed to steal a cable company van. Beth thought the vehicle would allow them access to Pioneer Square without raising eyebrows. Richard had spent the night pacing back and forth in the dingy basement, occasionally looking at crates and trying to guess what was in them to pass the time. Try as he might, he could not distract himself from the thin thread of hope that he could prevent himself from dying and in doing so regain his full abilities.
Beth continued to look at him, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Finally, she sighed. “Richard… the van…”
“Yes?” He froze.
“Why did you kiss me?” She stepped around an old mop bucket and a small cardboard box and entered the circle of crates. She looked up at him tentatively, an odd contrast from her usual assertive self.
“I simply could not help myself.” He paused and tilted his head to one side. “Your lilac perfume is intoxicating. It reminds me of Colette.”
Beth held up one hand. “My
what?”
“Lilac perfume?”
“I never wear perfume.” She narrowed her eyes. “Do you think Colette is manipulating us?”
“I do not think she can. Perhaps she can simply offer… suggestions to our subconscious minds.” Richard did not like to attribute any actions to an outside force. It was ironic, given that so much of his current predicament was the result of actions and factors beyond his control. “Have you never thought of what it might feel like to share a kiss?”
Her cheeks burned crimson. “Thought about it? Sure, but thinking about something and actually doing it are two different things.”
“I find myself with a similar feeling.”
“It’s Her. She’s reaching through the cross somehow.”
“Given my flashbacks, it is a logical assumption,” he agreed, knowing with certainty that it was Colette who had found a way to trigger his memories from afar. Their love had brought him across into this life of eternal damnation and it had sustained him through one-thousand years; this love he had only just rediscovered, pounded through him. He needed to find her, to save her and to be with her again.
“We have to help her.” Beth echoed his sentiment. “I sensed her feelings for you in that kiss and also her pain. She’s trapped somewhere out there. We have to save her.”
“We must first save ourselves.” Richard was both relieved and slightly disappointed that Beth had not kissed him of her own volition, though he was sure his feelings for Colette had motivated him as well.
“Do you think there’s anything to be gained by another vision?” Beth asked, touching the chain of her cross without removing it from under her sweatshirt.
Richard frowned. “Perhaps.” He was uncertain what rules governed when and where the visions would come, though they did seem to be tied to him viewing the cross. He paused. That was not completely true. He had had a vision when he had looked at painting of the woman in red.
“I think it’s worth a try,” Beth decided, asserting herself again.
