by R. M. Garcia
“Maybe something happens to it when we drink it,” he said. “Maybe they were trying to hide that from you.”
“Stefan said that he picked me for a reason,” Abbie said. “I had always thought that it was because I was half-Jewish, but maybe there is more to it.”
“I was thinking about it. What if the manual is filled with some fact and some fiction?” he asked. “I mean, what better way to control you than to give you misinformation and mask it as truth?”
“I have clung closely to that book, you might be right,” said Abbie. “We need to talk to a vampire that can give us some straight answers.”
“It’s a shame that we couldn’t stay with Gaston. I think we could have learned a lot from him. Eighty years as a hunted Foundling, I am still trying to wrap my head around that.”
“Once we make it to Lakeland, I think we will get more answers,” Abbie said. “At least, I hope we do.”
“Well, let me go pay for the damages,” Donnie said as he reached into the duffel bag and started counting money.
“Donnie, do you think that’s wise?” she asked. “I mean, they’re likely to remember us more if you pay for the damages than if we ditch.”
“I’m not letting a small business owner take a loss for our actions,” he said, “besides, I’m sure this has happened to him before, and will again.”
“Yeah, I guess you are right. We really trashed this room,” she said, laughing
Donnie shook his head and opened the door. He looked around and then came back inside. “Hey, where’s the Thing?”
“I swapped it for that truck,” Abbie said, pointing outside. Donnie went back outside and then came back in.
“That truck and the camper it has on it?” Donnie asked. “Even swap?”
Abbie smiled at Donnie, she could tell that he was pleased. “Well, I had to pay a little extra but mostly an even swap.”
“How much did you pay extra?” Donnie asked.
“Five thousand, is that all right?” Abbie asked unsure.
“Babe, this truck is almost new, and the camper is just as new,” Donnie said. “You got a great deal!” Donnie went back outside to inspect the vehicle. Abbie watched him smiling.
Boys and their toys, she thought to herself. She had decided to keep the details about the swap to herself, as well as the fact that she had actually paid twenty thousand for the truck and the camper. She couldn’t bring herself to get rid of the car; so instead, she placed it in a storage garage and paid for ten years to house it.
Donnie checked out the Ford F-150 truck. It had an extended cab, the camper was secured in the truck bed and partially covered the truck roof, and both were only a few years old. Donnie estimated that the truck had a total height of eight feet. The camper was a pop-up, and when not in use, it was compacted within itself. It was a great buy. Donnie inspected the car from top to bottom and was satisfied with its overall condition. Aside from a high amount of miles, the vehicle was immaculate and very well maintained. After his inspection, he walked down to the office to face the owner. Donnie noticed that there were no other cars in the lot and that made him feel uneasy. He entered the lobby and rang the bell. An elderly man walked into the room. Donnie could hear a television blaring in the other room. He got a glimpse of the interior and could see what seemed to be a living room. It was apparent to him that the owner’s business was also his home.
“How can I help you, son? Need some more towels?” The old man asked.
“Yes, we could use a few more towels, but that is not why I’m here,” Donnie said respectfully lowering his gaze.
“What did you kids break?” The man asked slightly annoyed.
“I’m going to pay for everything,” Donnie said quickly.
“Well, that’s good, we only had two rentable rooms left.” The old man said “What’s broken? Martha! Martha!” An elderly woman entered the lobby area. She walked next to the old man, and he placed his arm around her. Donnie could see the love between them. The comfort of trusting one another and growing old with each other, it crushed him to know they had harmed the elderly couple in any way.
“Yes, Ned?” Martha asked.
“How much of a deposit did you take for the guest in room twelve?” Ned asked.
“I think one hundred dollars,” she replied.
“Thank you, dear,” Ned said as he leaned down and gently kissed her on her forehead. Even after what Donnie knew in his heart was a long marriage, this tiny bit of affection still made her smile. It reminded him of the love his parents shared and his eyes welled with tears for a moment. She headed back to the living room, and Ned opened the door for her.
“So how much do you have to cover the damages?” Ned asked.
“All of it,” he answered.
“Well, let’s go have a look,” Ned said and began walking toward the room with Donnie. When they got to room Donnie stopped Ned.
“Please let me make sure my wife is dressed,” Donnie said.
“I’m decent,” Abbie yelled from inside the room. Donnie shrugged and opened the door.
Ned walked in and was stunned “Great Caesar’s Ghost!” Ned exclaimed. “All that is left to do is set this room on fire!”
“We’re sorry,” Abbie said.
“Young man, I think I should call the police, you won’t have enough to cover this amount of damage,” Ned said.
“That really won’t be necessary,” Donnie said. “We can cover it.”
“Well, then I estimate that this amount of damages, will be ten thousand dollars,” Ned said.
“That’s outrageous!” Abbie yelled. “Maybe one thousand.”
“Well, I can always call the police,” Ned said.
“We’ll pay that amount,” Donnie said, “even though I know you are cheating us, after we were honest with you,” Donnie’s words hit the old man like a brick.
“Donnie, it’s too much,” Abbie said. Donnie went into his duffel bag and grabbed the rest of the money and handed it to Ned.
“No, your lady is right,” Ned said ashamed. “I’m sorry, young man and miss. I had a moment of weakness. One thousand will be plenty. I apologize for trying to cheat you.”
“It’s all right,” Donnie said.
“It’s been really rough this last year, the economy is bad and this neighborhood has gone to hell,” Ned said. “I have been trying to sell the place, but with all the damage, no one wants to pay me a fair price. Any money we do manage to get goes to pay bills rather than repairs. I’ll probably be out of business and on the street soon anyway.”
“Can you give us a moment, Ned?” Donnie asked. He nodded and went outside.
“I know that look, Donnie,” Abbie accused. “I can’t believe you are thinking about giving him the ten thousand dollars.”
“And why not, these are good people Abbie. You should have seen them together. It’s the kind of love I want ours to grow into, and as a man, I can understand worrying about protecting the one you love the most.”
“You’re always going to be you, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Do you want me to change?” Donnie took her hands and looked into her eyes.
“No, I love you, just as you are, because no matter what, you always try to do the right thing. No matter what is thrown at you, you never seem to lose faith in this world,” she replied. “You inspire me every day,” Abbie said as she hugged him.
“I have lost my way many times. I’m far from perfect,” he said. “You have been my compass, the force that keeps me on the right path. If I didn’t have you, I don’t know where I’d be now. You say I inspire you, but it’s your love that sustains me.” Abbie reached into the duffel bag and retrieved another forty thousand dollars. She handed it to Donnie.
“If something is worth doing, do it right, my dad always says.”
“Now that’s the spirit. Let’s go give it to him together.” They exited the room but Ned was gone. Donnie looked around and saw him rushing as fast as his old legs could mus
ter back to office. His eyes were instantly drawn to a pair of men standing in the driveway. They were dressed in old and tattered clothes, and they began making their way toward the old man.
“Donnie, they’re like us,” Abbie said. She had caught sight of them also.
“What are they going to do?” Donnie asked.
“Feed . . .”
“Like hell they are.” Donnie ran at the pair of hunters, and Abbie kept pace with him.
“Oh dear Lord, protect me!” Ned said as he anticipated being caught and eaten.
“No!” Donnie said as he grabbed them both and tossed them behind him. They had been mere inches from Ned. Ned looked back and saw Donnie and Abbie as they turned to face the pair and hurriedly went into the lobby. The pair of hunters flipped in midair and landed on their feet.
“Impressive,” Donnie said to Abbie.
“I think they know a thing or two,” she replied. The pair spread out and began encircling them.
“You don’t want to do this,” Donnie warned, but they were undeterred.
“So much for avoiding conflict with other vampires,” Abbie said as she got ready to fight.
“Yup, I’m sorry.”
“I’m with you, no matter what.” The pair of scraggly vampires was trying to figure out the best way to attack, when Abbie tilted her head. “Donnie, more are coming.”
“Crap!” Donnie exclaimed as four new vampires dropped from an unknown building. They were dressed in some sort of dark-colored uniforms and immediately tore into the pair of unkempt vampires. Within moments, they were both beheaded. One of the slain vampires turned into a pool of black ichors that bubbled for minutes after it was killed, while the second one simply turned to gas and dissipated.
“Identify yourself!” one of the uniformed vampires yelled at Donnie and Abbie. Donnie’s mind went to work. Scenarios formed, outcomes developed, and he had a plan.
“Why should we?” Donnie barked back. Abbie looked at him in disbelief.
“What?” The lead vampire said as he walked briskly toward Donnie.
“Didn’t you hear me? I don’t care to repeat myself, but since you seem inept, why should we?” Donnie reaffirmed.
“Do you know who I am?” The lead vampire asked.
“Obviously not,” Donnie replied.
“I am Garret. Head executioner of Illinois,” he declared.
“So,” Donnie said irreverently.
“What?” Garret said outraged. “I will have your names, and Bloodlines, and I will have them now!” Abbie became very tense and grabbed Donnie’s arm.
“Garret, are you over eight hundred years old?” Donnie asked, “because if you aren’t, I suggest you walk away.” Garret looked back at the other executioners, who were standing surprised. Garret scrutinized Donnie up and down. He was looking for something that gave him a clue to this vampire standing before him. There was something odd about Donnie to him, but he couldn’t place his finger on it. Then their eyes locked. Garret felt fear, he felt suddenly small as if he was prey and he should run. It was a feeling that lingered. Whoever this vampire was in front of him, he could detect that he had real power.
“My apologies, elder, I was not informed you would be in this area,” Garret said.
“We are merely passing through, and I did not feel it was necessary to inform you,” Donnie said. Abbie picked up on his act and began standing straight.
“May I ask what your final destination is?” Garret asked.
“You may not.” Donnie did his best to sound as arrogant as possible.
“Elder, may I ask how long will you be in my district?” Garret asked.
“We will be leaving shortly, and our destination is not the concern of someone of your station. Just know that I will write a letter commending the swift execution of those filthy Foundlings.”
“Thank you, elder,” Garret said as he stepped back and bowed. In a moment, they were gone into the night.
“Are they gone?” Abbie tilted her head and listened.
“Yeah, what the hell were you doing?” Abbie said as she hit him on the arm.
“Two things,” Donnie replied, “one, I know a bully when I see one, and two, CeeCee taught me that the best way to handle a bully is to kick him in the teeth and don’t back down.”
“You were serious when you said she used to beat up boys when you were younger?” Abbie asked.
“Oh yeah, Misha had problems with several of them and she took care of each and every one of them.”
“So what, you just decided to play it tough?” she asked.
“Heck, yeah,” Donnie replied. “I figured those first two guys were Foundlings. They looked like they had been living in sewers, and when those four fell on them and killed them without so much as a word, I figured they were executioners.”
“How did you know they would back down?”
“I didn’t, but I figured that since that Cassandra girl was so feared at four hundred years old, if I pretended to be older and acted like she did, it might have worked.”
“Good plan, but what if he was older?”
“Then we kick them in the teeth.”
“Well, I’m glad it didn’t come to that.”
“Me too,” Donnie said relieved, and they turned into the lobby and rang the bell.
“Go away!” Ned yelled from behind his door.
“Ned, it’s us, those guys are gone,” Donnie said.
“Yeah, but you guys are vampers too, I saw!” he yelled again.
“Ned, we’re not going to hurt you, in fact we saved you,” Abbie said. “Come out, we have your money. We’d like to check out. Abbie could hear Martha and Ned whispering to each other.”
“Just leave it on the counter,” Ned yelled.
“Come on, Ned. If I wanted to hurt you, I could have done it already,” Donnie said. “We had you alone in the room.” Abbie could hear them continue to argue. Finally, the door cracked and Ned emerged holding a two-foot long cross in both hands. Abbie gasped and bolted out of the lobby and ran back toward the room. Donnie watched confused as she ran away.
“OK, give me the money,” Ned said nervously. Donnie turned around and walked up to the counter. He counted out fifty thousand dollars in front of Ned and placed the money on the counter.
“Dear God!” Ned said as he lost his focus and dropped the cross. Donnie caught it and placed it on the counter for him.
“This is so you can fix the place back up and get it sold,” Donnie said.
“Why are you doing this for us, complete strangers?” Ned asked.
“I have it, and you need it,” Donnie replied. “My parents taught me that to help others is a good thing. They weren’t wrong.”
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor,” Martha said as she walked out of the living room, holding a twelve gauge shotgun. “Proverbs 22:9.”
“Yeah, that too,” Donnie said, smiling and exited the office. “Stay safe, you two.” Donnie ran to their room and found Abbie shaking.
“Abbie, what is wrong?” Donnie asked.
“That big cross, it terrified me! I want to leave!” Abbie said obviously distressed.
“OK, we can go,” Donnie said and started grabbing the bags. Abbie sprinted into the truck and started the engine. Donnie had to hurry, or she might have left him. They spent the next ten hours, driving. They stopped in a town called Moorhead, in Minnesota. The town wasn’t a metropolis. The population there was about thirty-five thousand residents. They got a room at a motel and rested for the daysleep. The signs for places to feed were far less prominent there. They found only one spot that displayed the signs that they were looking for. It was a bar called “The Last Drop.” Abbie and Donnie went in together. They looked around and walked toward the bar. Several patrons walked out hastily.
“Don’t mind them, they just don’t like strangers,” the bartender said. “Name’s Jesse, what can I get for you?”
“Hemo,” Abbie re
plied.
“Oh, one of them,” she said. “OK, I’ll need ten bills, each.”
“Two grand, are you serious?” Donnie asked.
“Yeah, you’re lucky I even provide the service way out here,” she said.
“Donnie, I’m hungry,” Abbie said.
“OK fine, two K,” Donnie said and handed the bartender the money. She motioned them to follow her to a door behind the bar and they proceeded through it. It went down into a basement and then into a hall. Donnie felt uneasy about the conditions, but when they got to the end of the corridor, it opened up to a gambling hall. There were poker and blackjack tables, slots, and craps being played. Jesse waved over two serving girls and whispered in their ears. They looked at Donnie and Abbie.
“Follow them,” Jesse said. “Stay and gamble for a while if you like.” She went back through the passage she had come through. The girls took them to a secluded room, and Abbie was able to feed on both of the girls. Donnie again didn’t need to feed, so he declined. Once Abbie was satisfied, they left the hall and hit the road once again. They crossed the border into Canada once again and were in Lakeland in just over five hours.
“What now?” Abbie asked.
“Gaston said we were told to wait and that they would find us,” Donnie said. “Let’s get a room and wait.” They drove about town for a bit before checking into a room. There were absolutely no signs of vampire activity in that sleepy little town.
CHAPTER 26
Luther
DONNIE AND ABBIE waited. They waited for an entire day, and nothing, so they stayed in their rented motel room another day. “Nothing,” Donnie said.
“Well, at least we can make it to Moorhead and back in one night,” Abbie said.
“You will need blood again soon.”
“Not tonight. I’m still good,” Abbie said. “Tomorrow is a different story.” They decided to run around the town, looking for any signs, but there were none to be found. When they got back to their room, they found a note; it had been placed under one of the truck’s windshield wipers. Abbie grabbed and opened it.
“What does it say?” Donnie asked.
“It’s an address,” Abbie replied. “Maybe this is it?”
