First Semester

by Jace Mitchell

  Remington smiled. “Can’t say I have.”

  “Well,” Marissa met his smile with her own, “this could be your chance. And a captured vampire might just lead us to this cult you’re chasing.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “You know you’re pretty smart, right?” Claire asked as she and Marissa pushed a large spotlight through the hall.

  Marissa didn’t look at her, just kept her head down and pushed. “I’m okay.”

  Everyone had been busying themselves with preparations all day. Claire was covered in sweat and grime. The three of them had been working for hours, with Remington, Lance, and a host of other FBI guys throwing their muscles in too.

  “No, I’m serious,” Claire continued. “You’re smarter than Jack and me combined. Legit.”

  Marissa shook her head, red appearing in her cheeks. “Nah, no way. You guys are plenty smart.”

  “Please.” Claire course-corrected the spotlight. The thing was heavy despite its wheels, so it took a good bit of strength to make sure it didn’t bang into the wall and break.

  Probably cost ten grand, she thought.

  “Back in that meeting, neither Jack nor I had thought that far ahead. We were still busy trying to wrap our heads around what was happening, but you came up with this entire plan. Now here we are, enacting it.” Claire looked at Marissa, hoping her friend was taking in the words she said. It was important that Marissa understood. Claire thought she saw the girl’s confidence growing, but she wanted it to blossom fully.

  The three of us will never be as good together if it doesn’t.

  Marissa swallowed, then nodded. “Thanks, Claire.”

  “We’re going to need you to keep stepping up like that. Jack sure as hell doesn’t have the brainpower, and neither do I. We’d be outta luck if it wasn’t for you.”

  Marissa grinned a bit, her face turning bright red now. “I know what you’re doing.”

  Claire smiled. “What’s that?”

  “Trying to build me up and give me some confidence.”

  Claire nodded and looked down at her feet. “Yeah, maybe a little bit, but what’s wrong with that? I’m not building you up falsely. There aren’t any lies to it. I’m telling you this to get your confidence up, but that’s because we need it up.”

  The two reached the end of the hallway and rolled the spotlight to a stop.

  The door to the right was open, with stairs leading down. Jack stood at the bottom. “Took you long enough!”

  He and a group of men climbed them, ready to lug the spotlight down. The mansion hadn’t been built with this kind of furniture in mind, so no elevator was available.

  Claire ignored them but looked at Marissa. “Just keep remembering that, okay? We’re a unit, the three of us. That’s not because of any school designation. It’s because we three have to keep each other alive, and right now, your brain is doing more to assist that than anything Jack and I have. So keep it up.”

  Marissa was still staring at the floor as Jack came up the stairs, but Claire thought she saw some pride in her. Red cheeks, still beautiful and shy, but Marissa was hearing Claire.

  Good, she thought. Because even with all these preparations, when it finally happens, we’re gonna need her brainpower.

  The preparations went on for days. At night, Claire lay in her bed, wide awake. She didn’t know what to expect; no one did. Truthfully, no one even knew if these vampires knew the university existed.

  The bet was that they did, though, and as long as the group didn’t leave, the vampires would come here soon enough.

  How many? How dangerous would they be?

  Frank didn’t have any answers, which meant the group of Mythers he’d found didn’t have any, either.

  They were in a prepare and wait situation, in which something might come, or it might not. Frank dropped by on the second night, but he didn’t have any more real information.

  Claire thought he’d come for two reasons. He was scared for her, and he wanted to get a look at Marissa. She thought Frank had a crush on her friend.

  Marissa had gone to sleep, Frank had disappeared, and Claire was alone again.

  Three nights went by like that. Preparations during the day, mostly sleepless nights for Claire. On the fourth night, Frank returned...with actual information.

  Claire was lying on her back, staring up at the ceiling. She heard him near the window and looked up. “You were just here two nights ago, Frank. Why are you back?”

  “Tonight’s the night, lass. He or they are coming.” His eyes twinkled in the moonlight.

  Claire sat up on her elbows. “You’re sure?”

  Frank nodded. “Aye, as sure as I can be. I’m here to help.”

  Claire raised an eyebrow, not quite sure what he meant. “Here to help?”

  “Aye, I didn’t like vampires when I lived across the Veil.” Frank stepped away from the window light, his green skin growing much darker. “Maybe I’m speciesist, too. Or maybe I just don’t want to see them make mincemeat out of ye, but either way, ye should put me to good use.”

  “Frank, you’re three feet tall and slower than me,” Claire told him with a sly smile on her face. She knew how to bug him.

  “Aye, slower, but not weaker. Those silly vamps won’t know what hit them when Frank takes over. It will be like a whirlwind for them. You’ll see.” Frank reached the bed and put his hand on the comforter. “We need to get ready. You need to wake everyone up, lass. This is no joke. My group got word that they’re coming tonight.”

  Claire flipped out of bed but kept the lights off. She didn’t want to wake Marissa just yet. “Did they say how many?”

  “No!” Frank hissed, showing real anger for the first time. “But it’s time to get a move on. It’s nearing the witching hour, and I imagine that’s when they’re going to strike!”

  “Hush!” Claire scolded. “What’s the witching hour?”

  “Three in the morning,” Marissa mumbled as she rolled over in her bed. She looked down at her watch. “It’s two-thirty.”

  “You see, Frank? You woke her up.” Claire turned to Marissa. “I wasn’t going to wake you until I knew for sure. Now, what is the witching hour?

  “It’s for sure, lass.” Frank turned to Marissa. “Ye’ve heard of it? The hour?”

  Marissa sat up, sounding groggy as she spoke. “Yes, of course. In mythology, it’s when evil acts occur. Witches fly, demonic possessions, things of that nature. It makes sense that the vampires would attack then.” She blinked a few times and wiped at her eyes, then gazed at Claire. “We should ready the others.”

  Claire looked down at her feet. Okay, it’s happening. You need to get focused and decide what comes next.

  “We’ve got to get the other students into the basement. That’s the first part.” She glanced at Marissa. “How long until three?”

  “Exactly twenty-two minutes.”

  Claire stood up. “Get dressed. Frank, turn around.”

  “Damn it,” Frank complained with a sly grin, although he stood and immediately walked to the window. Claire wasn’t worried about him trying to catch a peek. He was all bluster.

  The two ladies dressed as quickly as possible and then opened the door. Claire looked at Marissa. “You go get Jack. I’ll get Dean Pritcham.”

  Marissa nodded and headed off to the right.

  Claire looked back at Frank. “Come on, let’s do this.”

  Twenty-two minutes was barely enough time, but they managed to round everyone up. The other students were brought down into the basement. Thankfully, they’d all been briefed about what was happening before.

  Another great idea by Marissa, Claire thought.

  Remington and Lance looked more awake than the rest. Jack appeared to be half asleep, rubbing his eyes as he walked in.

  The group of seven reached the University’s lobby, where they’d spent the previous day fortifying. The room was large and the ceilings high, and the three large UV spotlights had been placed in
different corners. Black sheets were draped over each of them, hiding their true natures. Each were remotely operated, so once the drapes came off, anyone in the room could turn them on. “You’re helping?” Remington asked as Frank waddled into the room.

  “Trust me, human, I’ll be of more help than ye,” Frank retorted. He glanced around the room. “I don’t suppose anyone has any beer I can drink before this shindig gets started?”

  “No, sir,” Dean Pritcham replied.

  “Everyone has their tools?” Lance asked.

  “Not yet, bucko,” Jack replied. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we were all woken up barely twenty minutes ago.”

  “Over here.” Remington walked toward the large table in the middle, where a vast array of weapons effective against the undead waited. “Jack, please tell me you have the items we asked you to keep on hand in your room?”

  There was a two-pronged approach to the attack plan. The major preparation in the lobby, and then sleeping with weapons near in case the vamps infiltrated the university undetected.

  The rest of the group followed Remington over, with Jack responding, “Yeah, it’s all up there. The wooden stake. The garlic. The cross that won’t work since I can’t even remember the Hail Mary from when I was a kid.”

  Marissa smirked and shook her head. “It’s like four sentences.”

  Jack wiped his eyes as the group looked at the weapons. “I wasn’t the best student.” He pointed to the crossbow on the table. “That’s what I want.”

  “Probably the best bet,” Claire agreed. “Given your arm.”

  Jack smiled.

  Someone cleared their throat from across the room. Everyone at the table jumped, and Claire whipped a wooden stake off the table, ready to stab whoever the hell just entered the lobby.

  “Damn it, Byron.” Pritcham’s hand was over her heart. “If I’m going to die tonight, I’d prefer it not be from a heart attack.”

  “Sorry,” Dr. Byron murmured sheepishly. He stood just inside the door, having snuck in too quietly for anyone to hear him. When he’d heard about the vampire threat to the city, he’d requested that he move in here. He said it would allow him to study more and travel less, so he had a room here now, like the students.

  “My apologies.” Byron remained at the door. “I was wondering if I might have a moment with the three students?”

  “You’re supposed to be downstairs,” Remington scolded as he stepped away from the table. “With the students.”

  Dr. Byron held up his hand as if to acquiesce. “I know. I know. I just wanted to take a few moments to speak to them, and then I’ll hustle back down. Scout’s honor.”

  “Let’s make this quick,” Lance instructed. “We’re already past three, and who knows when they’re going to attack?”

  Claire glanced at Jack and Marissa. They both shrugged, so she started across the room, and they fell in behind her. They reached Dr. Byron in a few seconds and formed a semi-circle around him.

  He looked at all three, and when he spoke, his voice was soft. “When I went to war the first time, I was your age. Eighteen. I was scared as hell, as I imagine you might be right now. They put us in a jungle, fighting people we didn’t know for a cause I didn’t fully understand. But I went, despite being scared.”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets and paused for a moment.

  “If you’re scared, that’s okay. I don’t know if these other people have been in a war, so this might be their first time as well. What I came here to say is, trust each other. Do your best. Protect the people you care about.” He grinned, meeting their eyes with his sweeping gaze. “Oh, and do your best not to die.”

  Claire grinned back.

  “Aye, aye, Captain!” Jack replied with a smile. “Don’t die. Check and check.”

  “All right, go on back, and be ready to kill those bloodsuckers.” Dr. Byron looked beyond them at the others in the hall. “Thank you. I’ll be on my way now.”

  “Hurry up!” Pritcham shouted back.

  Byron said nothing else, only slipped out the door as quietly as he’d entered.

  “Don’t you think you should be down there as well, Dr. Pritcham?” Remington asked as the students reached the table.

  “No, I’ll be right here defending the institution I helped build. Now, give me what I need.”

  The group focused on the table, and Marissa helped hand out the necessary items. A bag of garlic. Everyone got a cross that hung around their necks. Two stakes apiece strapped into leather holsters at their sides. The FBI agents passed out vials of holy water, and everyone stored them in their belt loops. It was an easy pull—you simply ripped the bottle off and the top would pop off.

  Jack turned away from the table and looked out the large bay windows. “You see that?”

  Claire did the same. “Yes, I do,” she whispered.

  The room had grown darker, although the lights still burned above them.

  “It’s a powerful one.” Marissa moved closer to Claire, her hand reaching down to grip the stake on her right. “He’s pulling clouds across the moon.”

  “I hope it’s Dracula.” Jack’s hand held onto the garlic pouch. “Because if that asshole woke me up this early, he’s definitely going to die tonight.”

  “Not Dracula,” a voice boomed from all around. It seemed to exude from even the walls. “You can call me David, and I definitely think you should try to kill me for waking you from your slumber. I look forward to it.”

  Frank grabbed a stake from the table; he was the only one that they hadn’t made holsters for. “Come on in, creature. I’m tired of waiting. There’s beer to be had when we’re finished.”

  Something dark dropped outside the window. It landed softly, and Claire saw it was a person, or at least shaped like one. No human could survive such a quick drop, at least not without breaking bones.

  The figure landed on a knee and then stood. The bay windows held a single door, and it swung open of its own volition.

  “Nice cape,” Jack remarked as the creature stepped through the doorway. “You guys must be big on theatrics.”

  “I didn’t know there would be such a large welcoming party.” The vampire smiled, surveying the group in front of him, his eyes landing on each individual. “I’d hoped I could slip in and out without causing much of a fuss.” He didn’t appear worried in the slightest, but rather seemed amused by everything. As if this was all a joke.

  “You probably should have brought backup,” Jack said. The group grew tighter together, forming a straight line where they stood shoulder to shoulder.

  “Who says I didn’t?”

  Four more dark figures dropped from the darkness, all landing as softly as the first vampire. They stood as one, then walked through the doorway to form a large half-circle behind their leader.

  “How should we do this?” the first vampire asked, turning a palm up into the air. “Would you like to just present us with your necks?” He lifted his other palm. “Or do we want to tussle first?”

  Claire watched Frank slip behind her quietly. He gave her left calf a light pinch and she knew what to do, stepping closer to Marissa on her right and filling in the space. She didn’t know exactly what he was up to, but she trusted him.

  Claire unsheathed one of her stakes and gripped the garlic in her left hand. “Why don’t you see if you can get to my neck first?”

  “So be it,” he answered with a smile. The vampires spread out and moved across the large expanse of floor, the leader in front.

  Okay, Claire thought. Time to organize ourselves quickly.

  “Jack, get in the back and fire that damned crossbow,” she demanded. “Dr. Pritcham, you’re on water duty. Spray it around this place like you work for the fire department.”

  Pritcham dashed back to the table, where more vials of holy water sat.

  Claire headed straight for the main vampire. You’re mine.

  He smiled as she approached, spreading his arms out to throw his cape
behind his back.

  Claire couldn’t worry about what anyone else was doing. They were all as trained as they were going to be. Time to get to business.

  She brought the garlic up and the vampire hissed, revealing his fangs as his face stretched in a grimace.

  “Come on. You’re not scared of a little seasoning, are you?” Claire swept the stake forward with her right hand, knowing it wouldn’t mortally wound the creature. She only wanted to keep him at a distance.

  The vampire easily dodged the blow by moving his head back slightly. His hand darted forward, his nails daggers beneath the bright lights. They cut into Claire’s hand, the one holding the garlic. Blood spurted onto the floor.

  “Oh, you sonofabitch!” Claire snapped, her eyes alight and her hand burning with pain. She still held onto the garlic.

  “Back up, bitch!” the vampire hissed, looking to his right. Dean Pritcham had approached softly, but she didn’t waste time with words. She flung the holy water at the undead monster.

  It hit his face and the flesh started sizzling, just as Claire had seen in the club. Bright red gashes appeared where the water seared him, and his hands jerked up to his face. The water coated them as well, his palms burning.

  “Keep going!” Claire shouted.

  Dean Pritcham didn’t hesitate. She flung more water from the vials, dousing the vampire with it.

  His screams filled the hall, drowning out the sounds of scuffles elsewhere. Claire dashed forward, moving faster than anyone else in the room besides these vampires. She dropped the bag of garlic, wrapped both hands around the stake, and lifted it above her head. She brought it down hard, plunging it into the creature’s heart.

  The vampire didn’t even see it coming because his hands still covered his face. His arms fell to his side, and his eyes grew wide as his mouth fell open.

  Claire stepped back and watched the creature twitch for a second, unable to pull away from it.