by R.A Cullison
Three
It’s been decades since I saw Corbin or any of the Crow Clan. It was time I tracked them down to help me. With many months of searching, Gabe traced Corbin down in Germany, he lived there by himself.
After he found out I was turned he cut all ties with me, to him I had died. Even though I no longer loved him like I did. I was in love with Michael but I missed his friendship.
I arrived in Berlin around midnight. I walked out of the plane and into the airport. It was crowded; it made me uncomfortable with so many eyes staring at me, as if they knew what I was. I pulled my hood over my head and quickly made my way out of the building and hailed a cab.
“Spec hen sie Deutsch?” the driver asked.
“No, I don’t speak German.” I answered.
“Oh, then how do you know what I said?” he teased.
“That’s all I know.” I lied. I studied German before I left.
“Where to, Fräulein?” he smiled.
“To the nearest hostel please.” I smiled back. He put the car in drive and we headed down the crowded street. He was listening to some weird German music on the radio.
“Do you now this music?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No who is this?” I asked.
“This is one of the greatest German singers, Sabina.” he smiled big, “and she is beautiful.”
We pulled up in front of a busy building. People were falling over with beer bottles in their hands. Others were making out in the street. “Hostel Von Dora, are you sure you want to stay here?” he asked.
“Yes, I am sure I’ll be ok.” I handed him a wad of money.
“This is too much, Fräulein?” he attempted to hand me back the cash.
“No, keep it and thank you.” I slid my bag on my shoulder. I watched the cab’s tail lights fade into the fog that was beginning to rolling in. I walked into the building.
The TV was too loud and so were the people. As soon as they saw me they stopped talking and their eyes where boring holes though me with their stares. I walked over to the desk and lightly tapped the bell. I could hear a commotion coming from the back. The people in the room were whispering, fremder, which means stranger in German.
A grimy middle-aged man came from the back, zipping up his fly. He looked at me and frowned. “Was möchten sie tun??” he spat out.
“Ich möchte ein zimmer” I answered.
“Verreisen! Wir brauchen ihre art wie hier!” he growled. I heard a noise from behind me, so I turned to looked. Two very large men stood up from the couch.
I turned back towards the grimy man. “Ich will einfach nur ein zimmer” I said as nicely as I could.
“Nein! Wir brauchen ihre art wier hier!” he yelled.
“Schau, ich will keinen ärger, gib mir einen verdammter zimmer! ” I could feel my eyes changing. The man took a few steps back and handed me a key.
“Ja, Aimmer 14 im zweiten stock” he was now visibly shaking. I took the key gently from his hand and smiled.
“Danke” I turned and headed up the stairs. I found my room and opened the door; to my surprise it was clean.
I sat my bag on the bed and headed to the window. I opened it to let some of the night air into the room. I could see the lights of Berlin and I was in awe how beautiful it was. I sat down on the window ledge and watched the people on the streets roam aimlessly. My cell phone vibrated my pocket startling me alittle.
“Hello.” I answered.
“Hey did you make it ok?” Stephen asked. I got up off the window ledge and headed over to the bed.
“Yep, in my hotel room or should I say hostel.” I sat on the bed.
“Well, we have more info on Corbin, he is actually in Berlin, he is staying in a hostel as well. The Hostel Quetsche.” he chuckled.
“Ok, is that in the city?” I asked.
“Yes, ask around, people will know it. The informer said people know it because there was a rumor about it, that werewolves and vampires both stay there. So be careful asking people about it.” he warned.
“Yeah, yeah I got it. Good night.” I hung up the phone. I decided to get some rest.
I woke up to the suns warmth on my face. I rose up and looked around. I could hear people talking in the hall or more like yelling. I heard a small child crying. I opened the door and peeked out.
A woman was making a drug deal while her small child, who was no more then three, was clenched to her skirt. The child was dirty and visibly starved. The woman reached down and pried the little girl’s finger off her skirt and disappeared into a room with the man and closed the door. The small child was screaming. I slowly walked to the screaming child and kneeled down to her level.
“Hi sweetie.” she screamed louder. Right German. “Hallo sweety.” I spoken softly. The little girl looked at me with her big blue eyes huge with fright. Her blonde hair was matted to her head, showing signs of curls. Dirt was caked on her face, and she had two black teeth. I stayed out there talking to her for a few minutes and finally calmed her down.
“Her mother don’t care for her.” an older woman’s voice spoke.
I turned toward the voice. An old woman was standing in a doorway. “You speak English?” I asked.
“Oh yes, and French. Her name is Anja; we all take turns caring for her. Her mother is a whore and don’t know who her father is.” I looked down at the now smiling child. I picked her up and took her downstairs. I took her across the street to a small store and got her a change of clothes and some food. We were walking around the store when she saw a teddy bear. He picked it up, hugged it and then sat it back.
“Mörgen sie das?” I asked, pointing to the bear. She shook her head and smiled. I picked it back up and handed it to her. “Du kannst es haber” When we got back to the hostel, I bathed and dressed the child in the clothes I just bought her. She looked and acted like a totally different child. After several minutes, I could hear her mother calling for her in the hall.
“Anja!” she yelled. I opened the door and let her out. Her mother did not even know her own child.
“Mama blick!” she held up the teddy bear. The mother scuffed and grabbed the child’s arm and disappeared down the hall.
I walked back into the room and shut the door. It was 3:15 pm and it was time for me to find Corbin. I showered, changed and gave myself a serum injection. I prepared myself for everything.
I left the room and headed out onto the busy streets. I saw a bum digging through some trash. “Entschuld, gen sie mich wissen sie, wo die herberge Kvatch? ” I asked. The old man lifted his hand and pointed.
“Dieser ort ist die Hölle” he said under his breath. I headed in the direction he pointed. I was about to give up when a familiar scent hit me. Corbin’s scent. I followed it to a big run down building.
I pushed open the door and walked inside. No sign of anyone, I went to the desk and called out. A young man came to the desk, he was obviously a vampire. “Was?” he growled?
“Ich interessiere mich fur Corbin Crow, suchen.” I said quietly.
“Er ist nicht hier.” he growled back.
“Nora?” a familiar voice made me turns. It was Corbin, looking like he stepped out of my memory.
“Corbin?” I walked toward him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“I came looking for you.” I smiled
“Me? Why me?” he asked.
“We need your help.”
“My help with what?” he asked.
“Do you have time for me to explain?” I asked.
“Yes, I have lots of time.” he turned and headed up the stairs. I followed him. He walked up to a door and opened it with a big silver key.
We stepped into his room. I watched him sit down on a wooden chair. “Ok now explain.” I shut the door behind me.
“There is a war going on at home.” I said.
“I heard about that. Neverth
eless, I am not looking for war. I came here to have a life.” he shook his head.
“Life? When is the last time you been with a woman, Corbin?” I asked.
“You should know that.” he teased.
“Me? I am the last woman you been with?” I asked.
“Yes. What does this war have to do with me?” he stood up, walked over to the mini fridge, and pulled out a bottle of beer.
“Everything, your family will be effected and so will mine along with me. I know I am no longer human but my grandchildren are.” I could hear my voice shake.
“I can’t Nora, I am sorry. I no longer belong in that life.” he sat back down. I reached in my back pocket and pulled out his sister’s letter.
“Corbin, we been through a lot together, more than a person lifetime of tragedy and happiness. All I ask is from you is help. If you ever loved me you would help.” I watched his head drop to the floor. “Here.” I handed him the note.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“Read it.” he took the letter. “Bye Corbin.” I turned around and left the room and then left the building.
I made it back to my hotel room and decided I should leave. My trip was for nothing and I felt hopelessness wash over me.
I grabbed my bag and walked into the hallway. “Anja!” the child’s mother was running around looking for the child. This time she was frantic and so were a few others.
“What’s wrong?” I asked the old woman.
“Anja is missing, she disappeared and there is talk of someone stealing children.” She walked back into her apartment. I shrugged and went to leave. A familiar smell caught me off guard. I sniffed the air, Victor. I thought. I followed it outside and down the street, it continued down a manhole. I lifted the cover off; I could smell the scent of Anja getting stronger. I could hear her crying from down the corridor. I quietly crept down the corridor, trying not to splash. As I made it father down the corridor Anja’s cries got louder. I could hear the sounds of growls of hungry vampires.
“This child isn’t even a meal, Sven!” a woman’s voice echoes.
“She is the best I could do!” he yelled back. I hung my bag on a broken pipe and retrieved the gun I had hidden in the side pocket of the backpack. I snuck in behind them, Anja seen me. I made motions for her to close her eyes and she did what I asked.
I walked up behind the male and grabbed him, pulling him close. I pressed the barrel of the gun to his back of his head and pulled the trigger. The side of his head exploded onto the wall next to us. I then turn the gun and shot the woman in the head and she fell with a big slash. Anja still had her eyes covered.
“Hallen sie sie bedecked!” I told her. I reached over and picked her up.
We made it back to the hostel, where they were happy to see her. Her mother grabbed her arm and hugged her.
“Meine Anja!” she sobbed.
“Danke” she smiled at me. I went back up to my room to rest. I was exhausted, I didn’t know why but I needed to sleep.
