Fred (Book 6): Undeading Bells

by Hayes, Drew

  We gathered around a table probably built for parties of eight, the extra space just enough for Gregor and Bubba’s shoulders. Looking at the pair, it dawned on me that perhaps we should have added another car to the convoy. There was no way those two could have been comfortable in the same vehicle, even one as spacious as Krystal’s truck.

  The menu was simple, essential fare one would expect from such a venue. Krystal ordered a pot roast, while Bubba and Gregor chose to consume multiple burgers each. Amy, who was wearing oversized sunglasses and a hair-concealing hat despite the late hour, asked for two milkshakes and a packet of saltines. Asha opted for one of the few salads on the menu, and I got a club sandwich. It didn’t really matter what I chose, as my real nutrition came from blood, but I had a hunch it wouldn’t go to waste. Between Bubba and Gregor, there was no shortage of appetites to go around.

  Once orders were placed, Asha lifted up her water glass, the only drinks we’d all been served so far. “Before we dig in, I just wanted to say thank you once more for letting me come along. I know I’m not technically in this club, but it means the world to me to get to cheer for you on your special day. Fred, Krystal, cheers to your upcoming nuptials. And thanks for hiring me to do the paperwork—that really helped my billable hours.”

  That drew a few chortles from Bubba and a snicker from Krystal, a sure sign that I needed to know more about what we were discussing. “I’m guessing that entails more than a standard marriage contract?”

  “Not all the time, no,” Krystal explained, keeping her voice low, for her. “Depends on the situation. Since treaties usually apply to a type of… condition, they split up easily. But where things get sticky is when people merge their families, such as in marriage. The treaties cover those outlined, and usually their families, for obvious reasons. So when you have people with different conditions getting hitched, you’re also effectively merging the rules and protections of two treaties. Now, factor in my job and all the perks that come along with it, which also apply to spouses, and you can see how it gets a little thorny. The hard part is done, though; I hired Asha to knock out the legal work a few months ago.”

  I wasn’t sure which part of it floored me more: that Krystal had thought ahead regarding paperwork, or that she’d actually gone to the trouble of hiring a lawyer. Either way, I leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek in a rare case of me initiating public affection.

  “You’re an amazing woman, and I can’t wait until we’re married.”

  That earned some uncomfortable fidgeting around the table, as well as a brief blush on Krystal’s face. “Geez, Freddy, save a little romance for the altar.”

  The sound of a chair skidding scraped along the floor as Asha rose to her feet. “Since we’ve got some time to kill until dinner, I can go grab the contract and start running Fred through the particulars. Krystal, you have the copy I gave you?”

  “Packed in my suitcase—top of the pile in the back. But you don’t have to bother.” Krystal tossed over my car keys, in spite of her offer to let Asha sit. We both knew she wouldn’t, not when there was work to worry over, but the offer still had to be extended. As the person usually in Asha’s shoes, I appreciated it when others at least tried to help me relax.

  In a surprisingly graceful move, Asha snared the keys out of the air. “I’ve been to enough weddings to know how hectic things get once we’re at the venue. I’d rather use our downtime well, then enjoy myself the rest of the trip.”

  “Ahhh, work first, then on to full party mode. I respect it.” Krystal offered up a high-five, which Asha accepted.

  As she ran out to grab the contract, I turned my attention to the rest of the people in the diner. While my fear was largely abated this close to Boarback, it wouldn’t do to falter in my caution in our final mile. At least with everyone together, there wasn’t much fear of being overwhelmed. Even if everyone in here was an enemy, I doubted they’d be able to get past the combo of Bubba, Gregor, and especially Krystal. I forced my eyes away, out to the window, where my anxiety wouldn’t have as much to latch on to.

  That twist of the head was why I witnessed it. The others only heard the boom, saw the windows crack and the plates rattle. I witnessed the actual explosion. I saw as Asha lifted the key fob and double-clicked to open the rear door. I watched the bloom of red, the sudden flash that sent her delicate, all-too-human form tossing through the air.

  I was numb, unable to process what I’d just watched. In my moment of dumbstruck terror, I happened to glance down at the table where my phone was resting. Displayed on top was a new text from an unknown number, crisp, concise, and like a blade to the gut.

  “Hurt that I didn ’t get a wedding invitation , but I dropped off a gift , anyway . Hope you enjoyed . —Quinn ”

  2.

  Krystal moving broke the spell, freeing me from my helpless fugue as she leapt over the chairs, barreling for the door. The others were on her tail, but the moment my feet hit the ground, I was already past them. Vampire strength means our leg muscles are enhanced, as well, so I was built for speed, but I couldn’t recall ever moving this fast before. As I briefly registered the tickle of the front door’s glass breaking on my skin as I sped through, I realized it was because no part of me was holding back. In that moment, I didn’t give a damn what any of those people thought or figured out. All that mattered was our friend.

  I could smell the blood before I saw it, and there was plenty to whiff. Something else, too, something potent, but nothing sang to my senses stronger than blood. Reaching Asha’s side, I surveyed the damage. The diagnosis was bleak. Asha’s small bit of distance from the explosion had unquestionably saved her life, for the moment. Shrapnel tore up her torso, and the landing had cracked more than a few bones. I’d never had much talent nor penchant for the medical field, but as a creature who lived off blood, I knew that she was losing too much of it.

  “Oh shit. Oh shit.” Amy skidded to halt, dropping to Asha’s side while Krystal kept coming. Gregor and Bubba took up defensive positions, which was smart. I hadn’t even considered that this might only be the opening volley of an attack.

  “Amy, tell me you’ve got something in that bag to stabilize her,” Krystal barked.

  “I’m sorry, but nothing I have will work. Not against that.” Amy still dug into her bag, despite the hopeless expression on her face.

  On the ground, Asha was struggling to breathe, grabbing my hand as she rasped. Every gurgling breath was a countdown to the end, and it was only coming faster. She was going to die. There was no doubt about it, given how far we were from the nearest hospital. There was only a single hope for her, slender as even those chances were. I looked at Krystal, who stared straight back. Bless this woman, she’d reached the same conclusion as me.

  “Two per year, right?”

  “Right, Freddy.”

  I looked backed down to Asha, one of my oldest friends, a person who’d actually known me in my human days. Part of me wondered if it would always come to this, if humans simply couldn’t exist in the supernatural world. I hoped I was wrong about that; however, this wouldn’t be the day to find out.

  “Asha, you’re dying. I am so sorry, but there’s no use in hiding the truth. We’ve got one shot that I can think of to save you. I can try to turn you into a vampire. Odds are low you’d survive, but they’re…” Deborah’s words haunted me from the past, reminding me that this was yet one more inevitability she’d long seen coming. “But they’re a lot better than your odds if we do nothing. It has to be your choice, though. I won’t force this on someone else.”

  Despite her ravaged body, Asha mustered the strength to squeeze my hand once more and nod, albeit weakly. She wheezed out two lone words—“Trust… you…” before coughing spasmed in her lungs once more.

  That was as good as we were going to get, and she didn’t have time to spare. Leaning over, I sank my fangs into one of the unbloodied patches on her shoulder, around where the pavement had torn at her skin. I drank for as l
ong as I dared, making sure to get enough. After that, I sank my fangs into my own palm, producing a bright pool of blood.

  For a moment, I feared Asha was too far gone to drink as my hand pressed to her lips. At last, she managed to slurp down a few gulps before shuddering and falling still. I heard her heart fall into the same unnaturally perfect rhythm I’d heard in Sheri. The process had begun; how long it would take with a victim in this state, I had genuinely no idea. I looked up and noticed that the diners were starting to gather around outside. Bubba and Gregor had blocked their view as best they could, but people were getting curious.

  The blare of a siren and flash of lights startled everyone; we’d been so focused on Asha and the flaming wreckage that we didn’t even notice Sheriff Thorgood’s truck pull up. He hefted himself out of the cab, took in the entire scene with a single glance, and then leveled his eyes at the patrons.

  “All of you, back in the diner! Can you not see the damn car still burning? Sit tight until the fire department gets here. I’ll have someone in to take statements shortly.”

  It was the same genial Leeroy tone I’d come to expect, only this time, there was a little bit more to it. A flicker of force, an iota of willpower, barely even perceptible, yet every single person did exactly as he instructed. Cheerful and kind though he was, the man held together an entire town of parahumans and commanded the respect of agents. Nobody managed that without serious power to back it up.

  With the crowd handled, he strode over, sucking in a breath as he saw Asha. “Sweet mercy, what happened?”

  “Quinn, my sire.” I spat the words, and only then saw the surprise on the others’ faces. “I got a text when the bomb went off. He wanted to make sure he got the credit, I assume.”

  “In just the time when we were inside? That means he’s still in driving distance.” A very dangerous look appeared in Krystal’s eyes, one that had to be nipped in the bud.

  “Or he used pawns again, which Quinn loves to do,” I reminded her. “Either way, Quinn doesn’t matter right now. Asha does. My first turn attempt worked; that’s no guarantee that this one will, too. I might have just gotten lucky. Amy, is there anything you can do, any alchemic additive that will increase Asha’s chances of success? Anything: a tenth of a percent is fine. We just have to give her a fighting chance.”

  There was a long pause before Amy spoke again. When I looked up, I realized that she had removed her glasses and hat, showing her eyes and hair to be both a fizzing purple. “No such potion exists to my knowledge, or the Blood Council would have huge standing orders for it. She’s in the hands of your power now, Fred. That has to run its course. My larger concern is what happens if it succeeds. None of you have even noticed yet, have you? Why none of my potions could have helped? Not all the shrapnel in her is from the car.”

  At her words, the second scent finally clicked. “Silver. That bastard made a bomb and stuffed it with silver.”

  “If he was expecting to hit a vampire, that would do a lot more damage,” Bubba concurred. “Also means Quinn doesn’t know your secret yet.”

  Silver was bad. It weakened us, limited our healing, turned us back to the non-magical corpses we were meant to be. Having it stuck in her torso would be a living hell, assuming Asha was even able to survive the change with that metal still inside her. Given how weak she was, we couldn’t very well go hacking around for the pieces out here in a parking lot. Even if we could find them all, there was no way we could manage in time, not at the rate her heart was fading.

  “Oh god, I didn’t even realize...” I shut my eyes, thinking hard. “We are not bringing Asha back just to see her die again. There’s got to be a way.” My mind darted back to my first attempt, and how Deborah had brought along specific blood to regenerate Sheri. “What about blood? Is there any blood out there that gives a resistance to silver, if not an immunity?”

  Krystal shook her head. “Only the rarest and most powerful grant even a resistance. Dragon blood, some versions of refined fey blood, certain ancient beings that are as much myth as history, none of which we have on hand.”

  I heard the tinkle of glass and knew it instantly. From his pocket, Sheriff Leeroy Thorgood produced a vial with a small amount of blood in it. I’d seen that vial once before, when we first visited Boarback. He’d offered it to me as payment for services, though in truth, that was just a pleasantry. The real reason had been that it would make me strong, powerful enough not to fear the threats I’d been facing. When I turned it down, I’d expected that to be the end of things. Never had I been so glad to be mistaken.

  “The hell is that?” Krystal asked.

  “Wedding present,” Sheriff Thorgood replied. “I thought you might want to keep this around, just in case a real bad day ever happened.”

  “Holy shit. Something made you bleed?” Krystal reeled; her reaction to this admission of Sheriff Thorgood’s slight fallibility at least explained why she hadn’t originally counted him as a possibility for donating blood. “Did you fight the director?”

  Sheriff Thorgood shook his head. “Just found something old that felt like moving into town. We disagreed about what proper conduct was. I won, but it was tough enough to draw this, so I saved it, just in case.”

  “Great as all that is, it doesn’t tell us dick about what that does, or even what you are,” Amy pointed out. “I’m not sure if the rest of you are tracking her deterioration, but Asha is fading fast. She’s either about to be dead, or in a whole lot of pain, so how about less backstory and more telling us what effects your blood has.”

  To that, she received a simple shrug. “No idea. Never given my blood to a vampire before, nor have any of my kind that I know of. I was a little curious myself to see what would happen if Fred drank it.”

  Evidently, that was Amy’s last straw. Her eye and hair color changed to crackling red as she stepped up into the sheriff’s face. “Then why in the living shit would we give it to our dying friend? This is not the fucking time for experiments!”

  The fact that it was Amy, of all people, who was saying that truly drove home just how dire the moment was. Sheriff Thorgood, on the other hand, remained completely calm.

  “I don’t know what it will do, exactly, but I do know it will help.” He shook the vial, then tapped it once. “That is my blood, which means it carries within it my willpower and intent. I offer this freely, as a gift meant to aid, so that’s what it’s going to do. I just don’t know the shape that aid will take.”

  Asha’s breath was so thin even I could barely hear it now. She’d gone a lot faster than Sheri, then again, Sheri hadn’t been bleeding to death. The end would come soon, and she couldn’t make the decision about the blood. The pain would be far too intense, and there might not be time even if we could explain everything. Asha had put her fate in our hands, my hands, as her sire.

  My eyes went to Krystal once more. “You trust him with your life?”

  “More. I’d trust him with yours.”

  “Then, for Asha’s sake, let’s hope we’re both putting our faith in the right places.” I held out my hand. “Sheriff Thorgood, if you don’t mind, I think I’d like to accept that wedding gift.”

  It was in my palm near instantly. I could feel the power coming from within the vial. One day, I was going to have to learn more about what this man was and what it was he could do. Gideon’s blood was the most powerful I’d ever tasted, and something told me that this would be an experience on an entirely different level. I hated that I was making Asha take the plunge with something untested, but there was simply no time for anything else.

  Her breathing stopped. The end was here. I held on, realizing for the first time that we’d all been assuming I would succeed. There was an incredibly real chance that Asha would stay dead, as most who tried to become vampires did.

  Seconds ticked by, each one representing more and more risk that Asha’s eyes would never open again. My anxiety tried to overtake me, images of what would happen if it failed flashing into min
d. I could picture her funeral, the looks on her friends’ and family’s faces, never understanding what had truly taken her from them. With every passing instant, the doubt threatened to swallow me whole, but I remembered that Sheri had required a bit of time, as well. I couldn’t give up. Not yet. Not until we were sure she wouldn’t—

  Asha’s eyes flew open, a scream rising through her throat. I could already hear the sizzle of flesh where the silver pierced her now enchanted body. It would be like getting stabbed by burning metal from the inside, and I had no desire to see her suffer any longer than necessary. I gripped her face firmly, turning it to mine, hoping to cut through the pain and panic.

  “Asha! You have to drink this to stop the pain. Focus on me, on the blood.” With that, I flicked the cap from the vial with my thumb and pressed it to her lips. I saw her entire body recoil; it was trying to fold in on itself, pain overriding reason.

  But Asha Patel did not force her way into the parahuman world and build a successful law practice without potent willpower. Hands curled into fists, she bit back the screams and tipped the vial into her mouth, spilling the meager number of droplets along her tongue. With a look of defiant triumph, Asha swallowed hard, and then crumpled to the ground.

  Now the screams did come, harsh and guttural, but mercifully short-lived. As we watched, Asha’s body changed. The sizzling stopped, her wounds healed, but it was more than that, too. The few bits of metal I could see poking from her body were dissolving, rivers of silver running along her flesh, interweaving with the repairing skin. She lay there, shaking, as her body rebuilt itself, some sections more extensively than others.