by R. M. Garcia
“Huh?” she said in disbelief. They arrived at a large shack, and Toby motioned them in. They went into the shack and found a mix-matched set of furniture within. Toby took a seat on a love seat and Millie sat next to him.
“Take a seat, you two,” Millie ordered. Donnie and Abbie sat down on a similar love seat across from Toby and Millie and waited. After a few minutes, a small child entered the room and sat down in a small chair. He was a very small child; he looked no older than five years old.
“Gaston, this is Donnie and Abbie,” Toby said. “They are the ones we were told about.”
“Greetings, my friends, I am Gaston, and I do my best to keep everyone here safe, warm, and fed,” Gaston said in a sweet high-pitched childish voice. He had an unmistakable French accent.
“Seriously, what are you like five?” Abbie asked.
“Yeah, I need to go with Abbie on this one,” Donnie said. “You are so tiny, how can you protect anyone?”
“Don’t let my size fool you. I am actually eighty-five years old. I was born in 1925 and was birthed in 1930,” Gaston said. “And like you, I became a Foundling,” Gaston’s words and temperament revealed wisdom far beyond what you would expect from his immature form.
“OK, I keep hearing that word, what does it mean?” Donnie asked.
“A Foundling is an orphaned vampire, we are created by accident, and we are usually killed on sight,” Gaston replied.
“Can you explain a bit further?” Abbie asked. “I want to know about the ‘killed on sight’ part.”
“Yes, I will explain everything,” said Gaston. “There are twelve Bloodlines known to me, but I suspect there are more. Each Bloodline is different, and they can all do varied things.”
“Like what?” Abbie asked.
“All the legends and stories that you’ve heard about vampires, they all originated from truths,” Gaston replied. “Shape-shifting into mist or wolves, flying, augmented strength, hypnosis, they are all abilities possessed by vampires.”
“I can’t fly,” Donnie said, “at least I don’t think so.”
“If you had the ability, you would probably never be able to use it,” Gaston said.
“I’m not following you, why not?” Donnie asked.
“Although some abilities are inherent, many others need to be taught. As a Foundling, we will always be at a disadvantage because of this,” Gaston answered.
“You say that like if you were at war,” Abbie said.
“In a way, yes that is a very correct statement,” Gaston said. “As long as I have been a vampire; Foundlings have fought to survive against the formal Bloodlines.”
“I’m sorry for all the questions, but what do you mean by formal Bloodlines?” Abbie asked again.
“It is quite all right. This is what we do, it is how we survive,” Gaston replied, “each vampire has a Bloodsource where they originated from, and that determines your Bloodline.”
“I’m still not following,” she said.
“Take me for instance, I am certain that I originated from the Breton Bloodline,” Gaston said. “I know this because all the Bretons are children.”
“How can you tell what Bloodline you come from?” Donnie asked. “Wait, what, all are children?”
“Yes, we are all children, and as to your first question, that is a hard one to answer, because many Foundlings simply don’t know,” he said. “We are accidents, and since we often wake up alone after an attack, we are left to fend for ourselves.”
“Wait, so every Foundling is an accident? Why not just bring them into the fold and teach them?” Donnie asked.
“From what my mentor told me, it is because we were not selected to join the Bloodline,” he replied. “There is a process to make a vampire. It is done on purpose, but a Foundling happens when a human is killed by a vampire who drinks too much of its blood and then dies. It is also a rare occurrence, but it happens nonetheless.”
“That must be what happened with you, Donnie,” Abbie said.
“Kookie isn’t it?” Toby asked.
“What about you, Abbie? How did you end up a vampire?” Millie asked.
“I was birthed by a member of the Reich, and because they are Nazis and I am half-Jewish, they decided that I was to be exterminated,” she replied.
“What about you, Donnie?” Millie asked.
“Abbie killed me accidentally, but there were special circumstances,” Donnie said. Abbie got a sad look on her face after Donnie answered.
“Oh, don’t be sad, Abbie, I killed seven people before I was found by Gaston,” Millie said.
“Twenty-three here,” Toby said, raising his hand.
“I have killed many more than that,” Gaston said. “There in lies the reason we are sought out and destroyed by the Bloodlines.”
“I get it, you’re so ravenous when you wake that you are blood-crazed,” Abbie said, “you go after the nearest source of blood.”
“Yes, eventually we are sought out and destroyed,” Gaston said. “Having to cover up grizzly murders, are unwanted problems. It is easier to eliminate the problem than teach the Foundling anything, especially if it’s from a different Bloodline.”
“That sucks,” Donnie said.
“Yes, it does,” Gaston said.
“So how have you managed to avoid detection?” Donnie asked.
“My mentor set up this den before she left, we have a symbiotic society,” Gaston said. Donnie and Abbie looked confused.
“It’s easy enough to explain,” Toby said.
“We take in runaways and abandoned children, and we make sure they have food, education, a safe, and warm place to live, and in exchange they provide us with blood,” Millie said.
“Since you aren’t mass-murdering out there, the Bloodlines don’t come down on you,” Donnie said. “Brilliant!”
“We have had to move several times,” Gaston said. “They still look for us, but my training makes it hard for them to catch us. Still, we have lost more than we have gained.” Gaston looked saddened as he said these words.
“Every time we go outside to get supplies, we risk being detected and followed here,” Millie said.
“Very few of them can see me, so I am pretty safe, but the others take greater risks,” Toby said.
“Why are you so safe?” Donnie asked.
“All the vampires here are from the Breton Bloodline,” Gaston said. “That Bloodline has mental abilities. Some of us can read thoughts, others can move things with our minds, and Toby can make you forget that you ever saw him. It makes him virtually invisible to most vampires and humans.”
“Neat trick, right?” Toby asked.
“Very handy indeed,” Donnie replied.
“What I want to know is why all of you are children?” Abbie asked.
“I was able get that answer out of a Breton exterminator before we killed her,” Gaston replied. “The Source of this Bloodline is a man called Gilles de Rais. He was hanged in 1440, for killing and sacrificing children to a demon named Baron. He was responsible for killing hundreds of children before he was tried and executed. It is whispered that the demon he worshiped rewarded him, and he rose as a Vampire Bloodsource.”
“I have heard of him,” Abbie said.
“You have?” Donnie asked.
“Yeah, he fought along side Joan of Arc in the hundred years war, I think,” Abbie said.
“You know your history,” Gaston said.
“OK, so why all of you children?” Abbie asked again.
“It’s a consequence of our Bloodline,” Gaston answered. “The only blood that is palatable to us, is the blood of a child.”
Abbie was mortified and said, “Really?”
“Yes, every Bloodline has different abilities, but they also come with a consequence,” Gaston said. “It starts at the Source and continues down the Bloodline.”
“What?” Donnie asked. “So this bastard gets eternal life, for killing children and now he gets to continue killing more children!
”
“Every Source is like that. They did unbelievably evil things in life and now get to continue doing more horrific things after death,” Gaston explained.
“Why doesn’t someone just put an end to him?” Donnie asked enraged.
“Bloodsources are very powerful,” Gaston said. “One alone could kill hundreds of vampires. To my knowledge, only one Source has ever been destroyed, and it took two other Sources working together to accomplish it, but that is only a rumor. So it is far beyond the ability of any vampire to dispatch a Source.”
“So what do they do when they bump into one another or have a beef with each other?” Donnie asked.
“Sources negotiate and argue points to settle disputes, rather than fight,” Gaston answered. “Other Sources act like arbitrators.”
“Great, they’re also lawyers. I hate lawyers,” Donnie said.
“I never thought of it that way,” said Gaston, “but it’s indeed a close analogy.”
“I just can’t believe this,” Donnie said.
“Can I ask you a few questions in return?” Gaston asked.
“Sure,” Abbie said.
“Yeah,” Donnie said.
“How did you get away from the exterminators that came for you?” Gaston asked.
“I killed them,” Donnie answered.
“All of them?” Gaston said, leaning forward in his seat.
“Yeah, there were six of them,” Donnie said.
“Very impressive, do you know which ones they were?” Gaston asked.
“I got the name of two of them. I know one was named Frances,” Donnie said.
“Yes!” Millie cheered as she stood up and did a little jig.
“I’m about to flip,” Toby said. “That’s great news!”
“It is?” Abbie asked.
“Yeah, he was their best tracker,” Millie said. “We can all rest easier, knowing he’s gone.”
“Who was the other?” Gaston asked.
“Her name was Cassandra,” Abbie said.
“Whoa,” Millie said as she sat back down.
“Donnie that is bad news,” Toby said.
“Why?” Donnie asked.
“Because she was an extremely old and powerful Breton and one of Gilles favorites,” Gaston said with a pensive look on his face. “How did you manage that?”
“Yeah, Donnie, how did you do it?” Abbie asked.
“Luck, I mean she had me beat. I was really sure she was seconds away from ripping me in half,” he said.
“Oh, Donnie,” Abbie said as she turned to Donnie, “why didn’t you tell me that?”
“I didn’t want to worry you, it was really close,” he said.
“What do you mean by lucky?” Gaston asked.
“A few moments before I should have died, a tornado came down out of the sky and picked her up. It tore her up pretty badly, and when she fell out of it, she became easy pickings for me. I kicked a field goal with her head.”
“A tornado, come on, really?” Millie asked.
“He is telling the truth,” Gaston said. Donnie looked at him. “No, Donnie, I cannot read your thoughts, but I can tell when someone is telling the truth or not. That is my talent.”
“Gaston, surely they are going to come for him,” Millie said.
“Yes, undoubtedly, so you can remain here for the day, but you must be on your way tomorrow night.”
“Great, now we will have two groups of vampires after us,” Abbie said.
“Can you tell us a safe place to go?” Donnie asked.
“Perhaps, let me make a phone call,” Gaston said as he pulled a phone out of his jacket. His call connected and he began speaking in an Asian language and after a lengthy conversation, he hung up the call.
“Well?” Donnie asked.
“My mentor advises you to head deeper north into Canada. She tells me that there is a clutch of Foundlings huddled up near Lakeland in Manitoba.”
“Well, where is your mentor?” Donnie asked. “She seems to have her act together. Maybe we can stay with her?”
“That would not be advisable,” Gaston said, “She is currently living in Miami, and she told me that the Reich control all of Florida and the Gulf States.”
“Cheese and rich,” Abbie said. “We can’t catch a break.”
“Don’t worry, babe, the plan is still the same, stay a step ahead of them,” Donnie said encouragingly.
“Hey, what do you know about the Reich, I mean who is their Bloodsource? Is it?” Donnie asked.
“No. Hitler still rots in his grave,” Gaston said. “I only know a few things about them.”
“Anything can help,” Abbie said.
“All I know about their Source is that he is known as Gestapo,” Gaston said. “The Bloodline is less than one hundred years old, it is also the youngest Bloodline. That is all I know.”
“Well, I guess something is better than nothing,” Donnie said. “Thanks for letting us stay the day, we will be gone tomorrow.”
“If you need to seek out my mentor, her name is Esperanza Alonso, but she simply goes by Espee,” Gaston said.
“Hopefully, it won’t come to that ever,” Donnie replied.
Donnie and Abbie were allowed to rest in an empty shack. The next evening, they said their good-byes, and Toby led them out. He gave them some helpful pointers on how to locate easy sources of blood. They packed the car and, with heavy hearts, began their journey into Manitoba.
CHAPTER 24
Bad Blood
DONNIE AND ABBIE filled up the tank of the car just outside of town and made their way to Chicago. “It’s like 350 miles to Chicago,” Abbie said.
“I think we should stop there for the night and ditch this car,” Donnie said.
“Oh, Donnie, do we really need to do that? You put so much into this car?” she asked.
“I know and it stinks, but a powder blue VW Thing isn’t going to be hard to spot,” he replied. “The car means nothing to me compared to you, and as long as we’re driving it, I feel we’ll be in danger.”
“Yeah, I agree, but it still stinks,” she said. Donnie continued to drive as Abbie navigated. They both felt a little sense of relief when they crossed back into the United States when they entered Michigan. Detroit was the halfway point as best as they could figure and decided to stop to refuel and take a small break.
“I think you should try to feed,” Donnie suggested to Abbie.
“What about you? You have not fed in days.”
“Yes, I did,” Donnie confessed.
“You did, when?”
“I drank from Cassandra, it’s how I immobilized her before I kicked her head off.”
“Donnie, you drank from a vampire again?!” Abbie was perplexed. “You’re not supposed to do that, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to mention it among the Easy St. kids,” Donnie replied. “With me worrying about getting us out of the resort, I didn’t really think to mention it.”
“Are you hungry now?”
“Not really.”
“Donnie, if we are to work as a team, as a married couple, you need to tell me these things, we need to be able to count on each other, not just you protecting me,” Abbie scolded. “We could’ve asked Gaston about it.”
“I’m sorry, baby, and you’re right. I promise to tell you everything from now on,” Donnie said apologetically. She had been right of course. He had grown so used to doing things alone; it had become second nature, and he needed to change.
“OK, from now on, anytime I feed, you feed as well, hungry or not. We need to keep our strength up,” she ordered.
“OK, sure thing, and it’s a good idea anyway.” They entered the Detroit city limits, and were marveled by the city. They had expected a slum, but at night, the lights of the city made it shine. Abbie began looking for the signs that Toby had given them to look for. Any hotel or motel with a letter “B” with an up or down arrow painted on its exterior, any club to bar with red hanging globes o
n its marquee, and any prostitute who wore a red scarf bandana or bracelet. They didn’t have to look far, the signs were everywhere.
“Are you seeing this, Donnie?”
“Yeah, there are places everywhere, and just about every woman, I thought to be a prostitute, was wearing something red.”
“OK, let’s get a room at a motel and bring back a hooker,” Abbie said and then paused. “I never in my life thought I would say something like that.” Donnie chuckled.
“I never thought I would pay for one much less two.”
“I can’t believe we’re forced to do this now.”
“Hey, we need to survive, people have done worse things than what we’re doing,” Donnie said as he pulled into the Advantage Motel. Donnie walked into the small hotel lobby and rang the bell.
“Can I help you?” a man asked as he walked out from a back room.
“I need a room,” Donnie said.
“How long do you need the room for?” the clerk asked.
“Maybe, a few hours,” he replied.
“Uh . . . huh, well then, it is twenty-five-dollars per hour or seventy-five for the night.”
“OK. Well, let’s start with two hours.” Donnie handed the clerk a fifty-dollar bill. The clerk took notice of the large bundle of cash he had just pulled from his pocket.
“Will you need any refreshments to go along with your stay?” the clerk asked. Donnie remembered having the same conversation with Jacques two nights ago and decided to play in cool.
“That would be excellent as it would save us time. We’re trying to reach Columbus tonight,” Donnie purposely lied as to their destination.
“OK, you’re in room number three. I will call someone for you,” the clerk said. Donnie looked at him and raised his index and middle fingers to the clerk.
“I will need two.”
“I see, I will ask for two, any preferences?” the clerk asked.
“No, whatever is the fastest. We’re in a rush tonight.” The clerk handed Donnie his room key and didn’t bother to have him fill out a registration card and held out his hand.
“Do I pay you for the refreshments?” Donnie asked.
“No, you pay them, but since I am facilitating it, a tip is customary,” the clerk said. Donnie took out another fifty-dollar bill and handed it to the clerk. His look of appreciation made Donnie think that it was a generous tip. Donnie walked back out and drove to their room. It was clean but nothing special. It also had the added benefit of having the windows painted black from the inside. Donnie brought in their bags and then got five hundred dollars ready. After about twenty minutes, there was a knock on the door. Donnie looked out of peephole and could see two large black women standing outside their door. He opened the door and waived them in.
