Their Dark Reflections

by Amanda Meuwissen

  They both laughed as Marie took the bag of snacks back from Sam and went outside to claim a chair.

  “What do you think?” Ed asked. “Will Black up the death toll now that we took care of Shaw?”

  “I don’t think so,” Sam said. “He’s biding his time. He wants us to take out the Cramers, because then he doesn’t have to. He doesn’t need any more murders to frame you. He knows we’ll be committing plenty of our own.”

  “Then maybe we shouldn’t go after Alverez.”

  “We’re still taking out Alverez. We need the case to stay hot.”

  “But we’re not going to frame Black?”

  “Too risky now that we know he’s a cop, but we can do better.” Sam grinned. “We’ll talk more when there are less ears around. Now, come on. We actually need to go through this stuff.”

  Most of the items had already been cataloged by Sam in previous weeks and simply needed to be put in a keep, sell, or donate pile. During a break from working, Marie claimed a Tiffany lamp that she said reminded her of one her grandmother used to have, and Ed gladly let her have it, but she wouldn’t accept anything else since he refused payment.

  She reapplied sunscreen, made the kids do the same, and let them head back into the water. When she was finished with work, Ed showed her how to use his digital jukebox, and she played some classic rock while sunning herself.

  As it was nearing dinnertime, another knock at the door turned out to be Daniel. Having yet another person in his home usually would have made Ed edgy, especially so close to his feeding time, but this family had won him over as easily as they had Sam, and seeing Daniel at the door made him smile.

  Until Daniel entered to reveal Cheroneau behind him.

  “I hope this is a friendly call?” Sam said, managing much better than Ed at maintaining a cordial expression.

  “Sorry,” Daniel said right away, “I didn’t mean for the both of us showing up to make you sweat. Hal’s just coming over for dinner tonight, and I figured I’d help Marie wrangle the kids. Telling them pool time is over can be a challenge. You two wouldn’t want to join us, would you?”

  “I promised my friends I’d meet them later,” Sam jumped in, which was just as well, since Ed blanked on a response, “and Eddie already turned down my offer to tag along.”

  “Right! I… have too much on my mind to leave the house tonight,” Ed fumbled to add, “but rain check for sure.”

  A chorus of complaints rose up from the patio.

  “It begins,” Daniel said in apology and headed to his wife.

  Leaving Ed and Sam alone with Black.

  Ed growled, letting his vampire aspects flash in warning. It didn’t matter if Black saw him; he should see him and fear the power that simmered beneath the surface.

  “Down, boy,” Black said snidely. “If you’re as old as I suspect, you have to have better control than that. Or maybe you haven’t been eating well.” He cast a glance at Sam that made Ed growl louder. “Careful, how would you explain my sudden demise to that sweet family in there? Of course, you could always kill them too.”

  This was why Ed didn’t make friends or get close to…

  He glanced at Sam.

  … anyone.

  “But you won’t, will you?” Black said, almost pityingly. “You’re a nice guy who cares. Fascinating….”

  Ed forced his face back to normal, but with a firm mask of hatred in place. “Whatever you want from me, ask it now.”

  “Not yet. We haven’t finished cleaning up our messes yet.”

  The anger that spiked through Ed made it difficult to stop his true nature from coming out again, and he clenched his fists to stay the change. “You murdered a friend of mine.”

  “Did I?” Black leaned closer to Ed without an ounce of fear. “You might have to be more specific.”

  Ed almost lunged, seeing red everywhere in his vision—when squealing from the twins reminded him that they weren’t alone.

  “You can fantasize about sinking those pearly whites into my neck all you want,” Black taunted, “but if anything happens to me or Lara, there’s a timed delivery planned for more than enough evidence to blame the two of you for everything. Shaw was a parlor trick by comparison, so don’t get cocky.”

  He smiled widely, putting on a façade of pleasantness, and strolled right past Ed into the living room.

  “Where are my favorite kiddos?” he called.

  Ed hated how powerless he felt, how powerless he was against a lone human, and tried to convey how sorry he was to Sam.

  But Sam was not so easily broken, despite all he’d been through, because he put on his own façade, giving a comforting nod to Ed before heading into the living room too.

  The children were being rounded up and dried off as they began their goodbyes. It was a bustle of real and false smiles, Marie and Daniel thanking them again and the kids chiming in with their own gratitude that ended with last-minute hugs around Ed’s legs, making it impossible to be completely soured by Black’s presence.

  “Can we swim at night with you sometime, Mr. Ed?” Dawn asked.

  “Only if you call me Ed. And if your parents say it’s all right.” He was just glad that the chlorine helped to dull any tempting smells from having them so close.

  He shouldn’t be making friends at all or getting so attached, but he’d already broken that rule for Sam, and it seemed he was doomed with this family too.

  Though it surprised him after they all left to see Sam still smiling.

  “Why are you happy?” Ed asked. “That man was in my home!”

  “I know. I didn’t think we’d get so lucky. Because now I know what he wants.”

  “You do?”

  “He was casing everything,” Sam said, pulling Ed back into the living room to indicate the boxes, “especially what we’re planning to get rid of. Your sire was robbed before he was killed, right? Black wants what he took from you, he wants more, but I’m betting what he really wants is his next lead.”

  “He wants information on other vampires….” The weight in Ed’s stomach flipped jarringly, and he honestly wasn’t sure if he felt better or worse.

  “You do have considerable wealth. I imagine others like you, those old enough, which is most of the ones still alive, you said, would be just as well off.”

  “Then it is all about money, just more than mine. To think he’d kill for that!” At least Ed only killed to survive.

  “We also know where he’ll be tonight. Right next door.” Sam’s cell phone buzzed before he could say more, and he paused to look at it. “The Cramers won’t meet. They’re too nervous about Shaw being missing after what happened to Fitz. That probably means the warehouse will be empty. We could lure Alverez there. You can still catch his scent, right?”

  “I can find him,” Ed said. His nose was often sharper when he was hungry. “The Cramers can hide all they want. When the time comes, I’ll find them too.”

  “Then I better head to Lucifer’s Rest, while you get a line on Alverez. We message each other when we’re ready?”

  “Does that mean you’re finally going to tell me the rest of this plan?”

  Despite the dangers, despite Black having been within their grasp and having scared Sam so deeply before, now he took on a look of mischief that Ed loved, proving he enjoyed the hunt just as much. “I needed to be sure, but now I am. Here’s how this is going to play out….”

  SAM WAS proud of how everything was going to play out. It was a risk, there was the chance that Black would throw them to the wolves before they were ready, but Sam didn’t think he would. Black would have done that by now if he believed he could still get what he wanted with them in jail or on the run. They had to go on the offensive, and Sam knew exactly how.

  He was all smiles when his friends joined him for dinner, especially when Lara served their table. Small talk was easy, playing things up like he really was interested to learn more about her since she was “dating” his friend. She’d hover by their
booth, dawdling longer with them than anywhere else, because, in her words, “Anything to have more time with Gerry.”

  Sometimes Sam could almost believe she liked him—until the others’ attention was elsewhere and she cast him a nasty smirk. She probably thought Sam was squirming in his seat, faking it all for Black’s sake. Let her believe that. He was going to make them pay for what they were doing to him and Ed—starting by keeping an eye on where Lara touched the water glass she gave him.

  Sam made sure he didn’t disturb the fingerprints left behind when he slipped the glass into his pocket.

  Lara had a long shift ahead, so Mim convinced Gerry to head elsewhere for another drink, but Sam said he had to take care of something for Ed, which was true.

  “Does it have to do with the accounts I hacked?” Gerry whispered. “Is he going to bleed them all dry?”

  Sam tried not to give away how apt a description that was. “Eventually. But promise me you never talk about any of this stuff with your girlfriend?”

  “Of course not! She’s a sweet, normal waitress. I prefer her thinking I’m tech support, not… freelancing.” Gerry never could stomach calling them criminals.

  “I’ll see you guys later,” Sam said.

  He slipped away but didn’t try to hide it from Lara, making a point of looking dejected, like he was shuffling off with his tail between his legs, unable to stand being around her.

  She gave a little wave, and he turned around in a huff—to hide his smirk.

  Before hopping on his bike to head to the warehouse, he texted Ed, On my way. Find Alverez?

  Strangely, no. I’ve tried his apartment, his haunts. He must be on the move. I’m going to check a few more places before I meet up with you. Be careful.

  Alverez must be agitated, looking for Shaw. Sam didn’t believe he’d ditch town any more than he believed the Cramers had. They were all too stubborn, even if they were cowards.

  The streets around the warehouse looked empty like usual. Still, Sam was cautious as he listened at the entrance and heard… something. Like frantic rummaging? Maybe street kids or vagabonds had infiltrated the place.

  Finding the door unlocked, Sam took a risk and went inside.

  One street kid, it turned out—the one whose fingers Alverez had broken. His hand was clumsily wrapped, and he didn’t appear to be using it much as he scavenged through the room. He already had a stack of cash and items to fence that he’d been gathering on a table.

  He jumped at Sam’s entrance, flicking out a switchblade. At least it wasn’t a gun, and this kid looked like a light breeze would knock him over.

  “Relax,” Sam said, holding up his hands. “I’m not with the Cramers. Not really. I’m just like you, caught up in a bad spot.”

  “What are you doing here, then?” the kid demanded, circling wide to keep Sam away from him, while never straying too far from his spoils.

  “Just wondering where they ran off to. Seen any of them?”

  “Wouldn’t be here if I had. They’ve been gone all day. I don’t think they’re coming back.”

  Sam felt his phone buzz in his pocket but didn’t reach for it.

  “Watch it!” the kid cried when Sam stepped closer to him.

  Halting, Sam raised his hands higher, as the kid finally gave in and started scooping what he’d stolen into his bag while his knife remained poised. “Seriously, you don’t have to worry about me, but even with them gone, you should get out of here. And don’t come back.”

  “Why, ’cause you want everything left for yourself?” the kid snorted.

  “It’s not like that—”

  “Whatever.” He finally had everything in his bag and started moving toward the entrance. “I don’t want to come back here, but like it even matters.” He cringed, far too aged and broken for someone so young.

  Sam should know.

  “We’re all the same monsters eventually,” he said and bolted out into the night.

  Those words made Sam pause, because he’d thought he knew what monsters were once, something he’d always tried to avoid becoming, but the lines had blurred over recent weeks.

  Even so, he couldn’t believe the kid was right. Maybe they were all monsters, but not all monsters were created equal.

  He looked around at what was left. The kid had taken anything of real value. The Cramers must have taken the computer, though, because it wasn’t there and hadn’t been part of the kid’s stash. What Sam needed was a lead, any lead on where Alverez might be if Ed couldn’t find him.

  Then he remembered his phone and reached to check his messages.

  I think he’s headed toward you. Don’t go inside the warehouse.

  Sam froze, hearing the telltale shuffle of feet behind him, but before he could turn, an arm locked around his throat.

  “I knew it was you!”

  Alverez.

  The phone dropped from Sam’s fingers as he tried to pry Alverez’s arm off, but he had the upper hand and was significantly stronger.

  “Sto—”

  “I knew it! I knew it was you!”

  “S-sto—” Sam gasped, trying in vain to get in any amount of air.

  Then Alverez let go, dropping him to his knees. He saw his phone in front of him, lighting up with another message.

  Sam? Are you there?

  Alverez seized Sam’s shoulders from behind, wrenching him up to his feet and spinning him about to face a snarling maw, before he punched Sam hard enough to send him toppling back to the floor.

  Ed was on his way. Sam just had to hold out a little longer.

  Pushing past the spinning of the room, he flung himself at Alverez’s legs, but though Alverez teetered, he kicked Sam away and managed to stay upright. Then he kicked Sam again, right in the ribs.

  “You’re part of it!” Alverez kicked him again. “You know what happened to her! Just like Fitz! Is it Midnight?” Again. “Or Simons? Tell me, you fucking—”

  A blur of motion barreled into Alverez so fast, Sam couldn’t be sure through his hazy vision if what he’d seen had really happened.

  “Sam!” Ed’s hands were at his shoulder and face then, gently checking him.

  He hadn’t imagined it.

  “Are you okay?”

  Alverez was sputtering and groaning, thrown across the room to strike the wall with such force, it was like he’d been hit by a freight train. Sam, worst case, had bruised ribs and nausea to look forward to. Alverez wouldn’t be as lucky.

  Because the second Sam nodded that he was fine and started to right himself, Ed offered a tender smile—and then went cold as he stood to turn toward his prey.

  ED FELT only cold as he moved on Alverez, slowly crossing the expanse between them. He’d stunned the man enough that he wasn’t going anywhere. Not fast enough.

  How dare he touch Sam? How dare any of them think it?

  Grabbing Alverez by the back of the neck, Ed flung him into the wall and darted after him to hold him there. “If it’s any consolation, Mr. Alverez, Miss Shaw did not meet her end by us. But you will.”

  He swooped in to sink his teeth in deep, drinking ravenously as he kept Alverez pinned. The man was an impressive fighter, struggling hard against him, but when it became clear that there was no escaping Ed’s grasp, a whimper left him, and he started to plead.

  “S-stop! I’ll do anything!”

  It was always those with the roughest, loudest voices who were the most cowardly.

  “Shhh,” Ed whispered, lapping at the wound when he pulled his fangs free. “I’m afraid there is no end to this where you survive, but how you leave this world does not have to be painful.” He turned back with a faint smear of red on his lips to see Sam on his feet, holding his wounded ribs. “You decide, Sam. Does he deserve mercy?”

  The mirrored coldness that overtook Sam’s expression, so like Ed’s, stirred something primal in Ed’s gut that he never realized he could lust after.

  “No,” Sam said.

  Ed lunged back into Alverez’s
neck, tearing skin and sinew anew, and making a point to not be gentle.

  SAM COULDN’T say he’d ever seen Ed be gentle when he fed, but when he told him not to show mercy—not to Alverez, who was harsh and cruel and unapologetic—the cries that tore from the man’s throat at the vicious assault Ed launched on him were enough to make Sam tremble.

  But he didn’t dislike the feeling.

  He didn’t dislike it at all.

  Sam was sore and angry, and it made him feel vindicated, watching Ed be brutal in his name. It made him feel… invincible.

  Just like the glass he’d taken earlier apparently, because when he checked it in his pocket, certain it would be nothing more than pieces now after Alverez’s vicious kicks, and that they’d have to start over with their plan for tonight, he found it whole and uncracked.

  One more enemy down, with Ed fed for another week, and the rest were soon to drop.

  But first they had to deal with Lara.

  Ed left the body with Sam as he zipped off with his impossible speed to check the back room at Lucifer’s Rest. When he returned and reported it empty, he was able to move both Sam and Alverez across town without Sam ever feeling the presence of the corpse with them.

  Ed laid the body down, using a knife from the back room to slice through Alverez’s many bite marks and leave him in a similar state to Fitz. Then he wiped the knife clean and kept watch while Sam put on a pair of gloves.

  He pulled out the glass and grabbed cocoa powder from one of the shelves. After dusting the powder onto Lara’s fingerprint, he was able to transfer it to the handle of the knife using a piece of packing tape.

  “Cocoa powder?” Ed questioned.

  “It’s easier to see, and it won’t seem strange in the restaurant where it came from. Anyone coming?”

  “No, I can hear everyone in the kitchen and main bar.”

  “Then let’s get out of here.”

  Sam dropped the knife, and Ed whisked them out of the restaurant as easily as he’d whisked them in, without anyone seeing, until they were back at the warehouse beside Sam’s bike.