by L.H. Cosway
“I was far from the top of my class, but I did love the subject. Did you attend college?”
“Yeah, though it feels like another lifetime. I got a degree in computer programming back in Ireland. I’d just started a job with an IT firm when my mother and sister were murdered by a vampire.”
“Oh, my God, I’m so sorry,” she gasped. “Is that why you decided to become a slayer?”
“Yes. Back then, I lived for revenge. This vamp seduced my mother first, then moved onto my sister. I’d been so busy with college and then my new job that I didn’t even see it happening right under my nose. Not all vampires are psychotic, but this bloke, he fancied himself a bit of a serial killer. Long story short, I finally tracked him down and lodged a stake in his heart. I got my revenge, but it didn’t feel like enough. That was when I learned of the DOH and did everything in my power to get recruited. I left my comfortable computer job behind for a cause I felt was righteous.”
“And do you still feel that way?” Alora asked.
I blew out a breath. “Nothing is the same as it was. I’m not sure how I feel anymore.”
We fell into silence, and I took another sip of my tea, studying her for a moment.
“Are you looking at me?” she whispered.
“Yes,” I answered simply.
“Why?”
“Because I like your face.”
A red flush coloured her cheeks as she lifted her mug to her heart-shaped lips. “If I wasn’t blind, I’d say I’d have to keep my eyes on you. You’re a terrible flirt.”
I chuckled as some sort of affection for her grew and expanded inside me. She was so easy to be around. “You’re too clever, Goldy. You have my number already, so you do.” She blushed again as I went on, more serious now, “Listen, everything’s kind of been a crazy rush this last day or two, and we haven’t really had the chance to talk. Is there anything you need? Anything that will make staying here more comfortable for you? Name it, and I’ll do my best to get it. I want you to feel at home.”
“I can’t believe you’re helping me like this,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “You hardly know me.”
“Well, I like to prove that the saying about relying on the kindness of strangers is true. I can also see that you’ve had a really tough time of it and you deserve to be protected. Given that the barrier is in place, Michael Ridley must still be in the city somewhere, and he could decide to come after you again at any time. I want to make sure you have someone looking out for you if that happens.”
“You’ve got a kind heart, Finn,” she said, a catch in her voice.
“That’s me, alright. Finn Roe: Kind-hearted vampire slayer. So, I repeat, is there anything you need?” Without meaning to, I reached over and put my hand gently on her shoulder.
“Um, I could use some toiletries, I guess. Shampoo and body wash, the girly kind.”
“Girly shampoo and body wash, done and done,” I told her, smiling. “What else?”
“That’s all,” she answered sheepishly.
“Low maintenance. I like it,” I said, teasing.
A moment of quiet passed before she spoke again. “Actually, there is one more thing.”
“Say the word, and it’s done.”
“Can you describe what everyone looks like for me? I want to be able to picture you all in my head.”
I grinned. “Sure. Let me see. First, you have Delilah. She’s a dhampir; petite, face like a china doll, pale skin, and curly red hair. Attitude for days, but you probably already know that. Ira’s a shapeshifter who typically turns into a large dog, but I think he can take on several animal forms. He’s tall, built like a brick shithouse, dark colouring. Gabriel’s a dhampir, too. He and Delilah are half-siblings. He’s got short brown hair and green eyes, average height, bit of a pretty boy. Alvie’s human, though he knows a little magic, too. He’s thin as a rake, brown eyes, dyed black hair, wears a lot of Goth clothes.” I paused and watched her as she absorbed it all. “And then you have me, handsomest motherfucker you’ll ever come across,” I joked.
She laughed. “Be serious!”
“Okay, okay. My eyes are blue, hair’s light brown. That’s about the size of it.”
“Stand up for a minute.”
Curious, I did as she requested, and she followed suit, reaching up to place her hands on my shoulders. I stood at least a foot taller than her. “Hmm, you’re tall,” she said as her hands drifted from my shoulders, down my arms, and across my chest. “And you’re lean.” Now her hands came up to my face. Her fingers were gentle as they tenderly searched my features. “I think you weren’t lying either when you said you were handsome.”
Jesus, I had to concentrate to keep my dick under control. My breathing came out all fast and shit. I really, really liked it when she put her hands on me.
“Keep touching me like that and I might have to kiss you.”
The husky words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them, and her hands froze on my face. A quick breath gushed from her, and her cheeks turned a bright shade of red.
“I’m sorry,” she apologised and moved away from me to sit back down on the sofa.
“Why? Those were the best thirty seconds I’ve had all week.”
A grin curved the ends of her lips as she stared at the floor. “I think you might be a charmer as well as a flirt, Finn Roe.”
At that moment, I knew I was going to kiss her. Not today, but someday. And when I did it might just turn out to be the best day of my life.
***
Later on, there was a knock at the door. I went to answer it, thinking it was Gabriel. Instead, I was greeted by Tegan on my doorstep, hand in hand with Cristescu and Rebecca by her side.
“Hey, come on in,” I said, gesturing into the house.
Alora had been resting in her room, so I climbed the stairs to get her. I knew she couldn’t exactly see Rebecca and confirm whether or not she was the girl from her vision, but maybe she’d, I don’t know, sense something. I rapped my knuckles on her door.
“Yes?” she called.
“It’s Finn. Can I come in?”
I heard sheets rustling before she answered, “Sure.”
When I entered, I found her sitting up in bed under the covers, her hair mussed from sleep and her lips swollen. Damn. Yet again, my dick woke up to say hello. Go back to sleep, fucker.
“Remember the little girl I mentioned who might be the one from your vision?”
She nodded.
“Well, she’s here now. How do you feel about meeting her?”
“Oh,” she replied, startled. “I’d love to. Just give me a minute to fix myself up.”
“Sure. See you downstairs,” I said, leaving her to it.
Then I went to get Gabriel and Alvie from the RV and Delilah and Ira from the house across the street. Ten minutes later, we were all assembled in my small living room. Alora was the last one to enter, her hair now pulled back into a braid away from her face. I noticed Cristescu eye her with interest and felt like punching his lights out just for looking at her. Not that I’d be able to punch his lights out or anything. Definitely not now.
Everybody watched him warily, studying him and trying to pinpoint the changes brought about by Tegan’s blood. The fact that he was sitting there in broad daylight was probably the biggest difference anyone could expect. His eyes were slightly silvery now, and his skin had a subtle, barely-there glow. Delilah embraced her brother briefly and told him it was good to see him. I suspected that was about as lovey-dovey as those two got when it came to family greetings.
Tegan proceeded to give everyone hugs, gushing about how relieved she was to see them all in one piece. Then she approached Alora, and for some reason, I held my breath.
“Hi, I’m Tegan,” she said. “I’m a friend of Finn’s.”
Alora shook Tegan’s hand then went still. “Say something else,” she urged.
“Huh?” Tegan questioned. “What do you want me to say?”
�
�I’ve heard your voice before. I’ve seen you. I know you.” Without asking permission, she pulled Tegan closer and put her hands on her face, sifting through her hair and getting a feel for her appearance.
“Hey, buy me a drink first,” Tegan joked, but I could tell she was intrigued.
“You’ve seen her in one of your visions?” I asked Alora, stepping forward.
“Yes,” she replied, withdrawing her hands from Tegan’s face. “Sorry for just grabbing you like that. I got a little over-excited.”
“No problem. What did you see?”
“You were there with the little girl I saw. You were older than you are now, but you didn’t look old. I mean, it felt like you were older than you appeared to be. Like the way vampires are old, but they don’t look it.”
“Weird,” Tegan said, raising an eyebrow. “How could I be older but not have aged? I’m human.”
“Half-human,” Gabriel corrected her.
“Yeah, but witches don’t stay young like vampires,” she disagreed. “They age the same as the rest of us.”
“Unless they become sorceresses,” Alvie interjected.
Tegan shot him an incredulous look. “Ha! I’m not going to become a sorceress. Screw that.” She folded her arms and walked back over to stand by Cristescu.
“You swore. That’s naughty,” Rebecca said, smiling up at her.
Tegan smirked and stuck out her tongue, and Rebecca giggled.
Alora’s head whipped in the direction of the girl’s voice, and she stilled. “She’s not the one I saw,” she stated unequivocally.
“Are you certain?” I asked.
“Yes. The voice I heard just now is not the one I heard in my head. She isn’t the future ruler.”
Something in Tegan’s demeanour relaxed, as though she had been hoping Rebecca wasn’t the girl Alora saw. I understood her relief. I wouldn’t condemn a little girl to the task of restoring peace to this fucked up city either.
“More unsolved mysteries,” Alvie said, shaking his head and folding his arms. “Do they ever end?”
“Nope,” I replied.
My attention was drawn to Cristescu as I wondered if he still planned on setting Rebecca up to be cared for somewhere away from vampires. It was too risky to just keep her in the city, and I was sure he knew that. I was also sure he didn’t want any other vamps becoming like him because that would mean his current position as top dog would be threatened.
All of a sudden, he grinned at me, and I tensed. He looked like he could hear every thought that ran through my head, and I didn’t like it one bit.
“What are you grinning about?” I asked with narrowed eyes.
“Of course I still plan on finding a safe place for the girl,” he said, and it took me only a fraction of a second to realise he was answering my unspoken question.
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
“That’s what you were wondering, correct?”
“Uh, yeah, but what the hell? You can read minds now, too?”
“The answer to that is no. I can predict your thoughts reasonably well from your breathing and the way your facial muscles move.”
“Shut up!” Alvie exclaimed. “That’s not a thing.”
“I assure you, it is,” Cristescu replied evenly.
“So, drinking Tegan’s blood turned you into a mentalist. Wonderful,” I said testily, running a hand through my hair. I didn’t like him being able to tell what I was thinking. There were just way too many thoughts inside my head that he had no right to know.
“I have to be consciously doing it. And I have far too many more pressing matters to focus my attention on than continuously reading people,” he said.
“Well, focus on them then because we both know that you were reading me just there. Again.”
Cristescu smiled widely now. “Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“Ethan, stop it,” Tegan said, giving him a stern look.
Before I got the chance to tell him where he could stick his mentalist bullshit, the television began to crackle with static and the screen turned fuzzy. I walked over and banged my hand down on it, but it didn’t help. The crackling continued, and black and grey squiggly lines fizzled on the screen. It was an old television that belonged to my friend, Noel. I seriously needed to think about going digital. In fact, the entire house could do with an update. All the furniture and fittings were at least twenty years old.
I was about to go and unplug the TV, thinking I’d try fixing the signal later, when Ira reached over and put a hand on my arm to stop me.
He gestured back to the screen where the static was clearing up and a picture was forming.
“Oh, my God,” Alvie squealed, clasping his hands over his mouth in surprise.
The television showed a studio room somewhere that’d been decked out to look like a quaint, homely type of living room. I picked up the remote and tried changing the station, but every single channel showed the same picture.
On an armchair sat Theodore, wearing a plain brown suit and smart dress shoes. His hair had been combed into a neat style. He looked completely normal, and it was a stark contrast to his usual wacky appearance.
On the armchair opposite him was Rita, who, just like Theodore, looked nothing like her usual self. She wasn’t wearing a single scrap of make-up. Gone was the heavy black eyeliner and the ghostly pale foundation. Her hair was pulled back from her face by a clip, and she wore a white dress with a flowery design.
The camera focused on Theodore as he smiled and began to speak.
“Good people of Tribane,” he said. “I’m airing this emergency broadcast as there are dark forces at work in our city. Dark forces that need to be expelled. I’m sure you have all been affected by the attacks from those Satanic fanged beasts that can only be described as … vampires. I’m here to help you. My name is Theodore Girard and with me today is my daughter, Rita Girard.”
The camera panned to Rita as she smiled benignly and nodded hello.
“Together we have decided to call on the people of the city to set up a force against the vampires. They are an infestation that needs to be expelled. We were here first, and we will be here when they have been exterminated. A lot of you will be aware that they have used their ungodly powers to trap us all inside the city so that they can kill us without interference from the outside world. I need each and every one of you to join me if we are going to succeed in defeating them. Together we can thwart their dark plans to murder us all.
“I make no claims to greatness. Like you, I am just an average man, but I refuse to allow the devil to win. I refuse to allow him to take away my right as a human being to a life free of constant threat. So, what I ask of you is this. If you are with me, take a piece of white chalk and draw a circle on your front door. The houses with circles will show where humans are living. If there is no circle, we will know there are vampires within. I have it on good authority that they all sleep during the day, so they will be unaware of this broadcast. They will not know why there are circles on your doors.
“At first light tomorrow morning when the vampires are asleep, I ask that you all gather on Campion Row with whatever incendiary devices you can find. Together, we will set the vampires alight, and they will burn in their dark slumbers. Please, do not be afraid to leave your homes. In just one day’s time, we will all be able to live safely again. Stand with me. Believe in this, my people, believe.”
As the last word left his mouth, the broadcast immediately cut off, and the channel went back to normal.
“Well,” Gabriel said, his eyes wide in shock. “That was …”
“Quite ingenious,” I finished. “If I didn’t know he was such a psychopath, I might actually be impressed.”
“He intends to murder my people while they sleep in their beds,” Cristescu said, his face etched in fury. “I won’t stand by and let it happen.”
8.
Tegan
Once Theodore’s broadcast shut off, it was like everyone started tal
king at once, and I couldn’t think straight. I put my hands over my ears to try and block them out, so I could think of a plan.
Theodore wanted the humans to set fire to the homes of vampires, but surely he must know that burning didn’t kill a vampire. They either needed to be staked or decapitated. So, if he was aware of this, then why on earth had he set this mad plan into action? The words he used and the tone of voice he employed were very cleverly thought out. He wanted to incite a mob even as he came across as a humble, concerned citizen.
He even referred to himself as an average man. What a joke.
“Vampires can’t be killed by burning,” I said, but no one heard me over the din of voices.
“I said,” I repeated, shouting now. “Vampires can’t be killed by burning, so why is he getting the humans to burn them?”
Everybody’s attention fell on me.
“Perhaps he doesn’t mean to kill the vampires,” Delilah suggested. “Perhaps he simply means to frighten them enough so that they’ll leave. They’re all vulnerable during the day, and Theodore wants to play on that vulnerability. Show them that even though they might be stronger than humans at night, they are far weaker when the sun is up.”
“No, I don’t think that’s it,” Ethan said. “We might not die from the fire, but it will certainly cause us severe pain. I think that’s what Theodore wants. He wants to make us angry so that we’ll attack the humans once night falls. He wants chaos again, only I’m not sure why.”
“You’re going to have to get the word out to your people about the chalk circles,” Gabriel said. “Get them to put them on their doors, too. If every door has a white circle, it’ll cause confusion, and the humans won’t know which houses to burn.”
“I have every intention of informing them,” Ethan replied evenly. “But what then? If the humans cannot find anything to burn, then they’ll know we’re onto them. They’ll have a lot of pent-up energy with nowhere to put it.”
“That’s Theodore’s problem,” Delilah interjected. “Let him deal with them. All we need to do is ensure that the vampires know what’s happening and that they don’t under any circumstances try to lash out against the humans.”