by Terence West
"How can you accuse me of that?” I asked in disbelief.
"He sent a swarm of Sprites to kill us,” Toby pointed out.
"You don't know that,” Elena countered. “From what you and the Goblin said about the interrogation of this creature—and might I add illegal interrogation—it would have said anything to save its life. It gave you Lucas’ name and suddenly the same person snatches the Vampire out of her apartment?” She crossed her arms. “I find it a little hard to swallow."
"Ease up, Crusty,” Karl said, charging across the table toward Elena. “Those friggin’ Sprites did try to kill us! I was there.” He stepped back and kicked the Sprite's jar for good measure. “And suckhead may be a cold-blooded killer, but she isn't a liar.” The Goblin let his words die realizing he was defending me. Spinning on his heels, he gave me the hairy eye. “Wait a minute. You hate me. Why the hell am I defending you? She's a liar and a bigot!"
"Shut up, Karl,” I spat out of habit.
"All right,” Maynard said, finally intervening. “I've heard enough. Knock it off,” he looked to me and then to Elena, “both of you."
I looked angrily at Maynard while pointing at the Witch. “What is she doing here anyway?"
"She's here to help,” Maynard said with a grin. “And you should be grateful for that."
My mouth dropped open. “What?"
"She got your and Toby's suspensions dropped,” Maynard explained.
Lifting my hands in surrender, I dropped back onto my couch. Apparently I had been taken from my reality and returned to Bizarro World. “I don't understand."
Maynard held up his hand and nodded. “Be patient.” He reached into his pocket and produced two black billfolds. Flipping them open, he revealed our gold badges and Brimstone identification cards. Setting them on the coffee table, he slid them to us. “I sent her in to take a look at that Vampire nest. She confirmed your conclusion that a Cleaner Witch couldn't have created that magnitude of spell. She also found that the Vampire we have in lock up, Garrett Asp, was the former nest's Master. He corroborated the facts in exchange for a plea bargain."
I knew all of this. But beyond my conclusions about the nest's fate, I hadn't reported any of it to Maynard. That was my bad. Now Elena was getting credit for my discovery. I looked to Toby who only shrugged. He knew what I was thinking and had probably already pleaded our case to Maynard. It was pointless to argue. Let the old Witch claim the credit. At least we weren't suspended anymore.
"Elena also learned someone was conducting experiments on the Vampires of the nest,” Maynard added.
I sat forward. That was new. “What kind of experiments?"
"I don't know,” Elena said, taking over the debriefing. “The Vampire Asp had never been personally subjected to the tests. He only heard about them secondhand from the Vampires in his brood."
"How do we know he isn't lying?” Toby asked.
"He was paid a great deal of money to look the other way and not report them to Brimstone,” Elena explained. “We have the bank records to corroborate that claim."
"Who was paying him off?” I asked curiously.
"That,” the witch paused, “I don't know. The deposits were from a company that doesn't seem to exist. It was listed as Cantrix Unlimited of Las Vegas. I think it was a front."
"Obviously,” I concluded with a sharp snap. I was angry with Elena for getting further in my investigation than I had, but I was more preoccupied with chasing Demons in the middle of the Nevada desert. “Did Vlad—” I stopped and bit my tongue. No one else would know him by that name. “Did Asp say anything at all about the tests?"
"Just that once a week a different member of his brood would be taken and returned the next night,” Elena answered. “That's it."
That was troubling information. I thought of the Vampire Luke I had Franked and what he said about being taken. Seems it wasn't the ramblings of the dead after all. I looked to Elena and swallowed my pride. “Thank you."
That was apparently the magic word the Witch had been waiting for. With a smug grin on her face like the cat that just swallowed the canary, she relaxed her posture slightly and leaned back into the cushy couch.
Maynard scooted forward, grabbed several colored folders on the coffee table, and tossed them to me. “Here's the kicker: this isn't an isolated event."
I eagerly snatched the folders up and began to leaf through the pages inside. They were all standard Seeker Incident Reports. As I scanned over them, a pattern started to develop. The Inhuman species being killed may have been different, but the outcome was always the same. “How many times has this happened?"
"Four times in the past six months,"’ Maynard answered. “All in Vegas."
There was a slight air of guilt in Maynard's voice. I looked down at the bottom of each Incident Report and understood why. He had assigned each mission, and signed off on the reports.
"I didn't know,” the Dendro said in defense.
"How could you?” I asked, hopefully placating him. “You take your orders just like everyone else. But who's giving those orders?” I looked back down at the reports. “Says a pack of Werewolves was killed.” I flipped the page. “Another Vampire brood, and two Demon nests. You think these other nests were being used in the experiments, too?” I asked, trying to connect the dots.
"Obviously,” Elena snapped, echoing my earlier assessment.
I nodded. I deserved that one. I set the folders on the table and looked squarely at Maynard. “What's the plan, Chief?"
"I want you, Toby, and Elena to get to the bottom of this,” Maynard instructed.
I felt my heart sink at the Witch's inclusion. This was our case. I tried to hide the quick flush of anger.
"I'll put every resource I can at your disposal. But a word of warning,” Maynard added ominously. “Keep this one quiet. Something odd is happening at Brimstone and I want to know what the hell it is.” Standing, he paused and looked at us. “Daylight's burning, Seekers,” he said finally. “And get that annoying Goblin out of my home.” Turning, he started toward the stairs behind the atrium.
Karl started to retort, but I quickly grabbed him and slapped my hand over his mouth. “He will kill you,” I warned him. “Do you understand?"
Karl, cradled in my arms like a baby, nodded. I kept my hand over his mouth for good measure, or at least until Maynard was out of earshot.
I looked from Karl, to Elena, and finally to Toby. “We have a lot of work ahead of us. We should probably get on it."
Elena stood and started toward the front door. “I have my own leads.” She shot a nasty glance over her shoulder. “Try to stay out of my way.” Marching out into the darkness, she slammed the door behind her.
Karl pulled my hand away. “What a crusty bitch."
Setting the Goblin on the couch next to me, I nodded. “You can say that again."
"What a crusty bitch,” Karl repeated with a wide grin.
Dropping my head, I sighed. Should've seen that coming. I looked at Toby. “Did you happen to bring some spare clothes from my apartment?” I tugged on the t-shirt. “These aren't mine."
"Yeah, sorry about that,” Toby confessed. “When Maynard brought you in, all I had were his clothes. I grabbed a suitcase today. It's in the guest room."
So it was Toby who saw me nearly naked. I would have to remember that. I returned my attention to the colored folders on the coffee table before me. “Theories?"
Toby thought for a moment. “This is just damned weird,” the wolf admitted. “Someone is experimenting on Inhumans? Why?"
"That's a good question,” I admitted.
"I think it's aliens,” Karl stated seriously. “They're bored of abducting and butt probing humans, so now they've moved on to Inhumans.” He paused, probably waiting for our applause. Instead, he found both Toby and I simply staring at him in awe. “What?” he said, lifting his arms. “Area 51 is just down the road! That's UFO central, baby. It makes sense to me!"
"Karl,” I said ex
asperated. I couldn't even finish the scolding.
Toby scooted closer on the couch and patted me on the thigh. “What do you think, Rosy?"
"I think...” I ran my hand through my hair while I processed the details in my brain. A thought occurred to me. “I think we need to recover the Vampires’ bodies from that nest."
Toby took a moment, but nodded in agreement. “Thinking fun with science?"
I smiled. “It's dissection time, kids."
"I don't want to cut open a dead suckhead. That's freakin’ gross.” Karl slid off the couch and started toward the bathroom. “I think I'm gonna hark."
Chapter 20
It was cool, yet unforgiving in its hardness. Making no false presumptions of its use, it simply stood quietly in the center of the room. Running my hands over the perfect silver surface of the examination table, I couldn't ease the feeling of dread that tugged at me. I wondered how many humans and Inhumans this table had supported with their bodies unceremoniously sliced open in the pursuit of justice. Certain the number was staggering, I stepped away.
The autopsy lab resided deep within the Brimstone building. Despite how well lit the room was it still seemed as if darkness clung to this place, like the very hand of death hovered just below the ceiling. The fluorescent bulbs above buzzed as they spilled their harsh green-hued light over the lab's sterile veneer. Mint green counters, matching the tile on the floor, occupied every flat surface. My gaze wandered the floor until it settled on a large, silver drain in the center. It was where they washed the blood and chunks of flesh that spilled on the floor. I wasn't entirely certain why this room unsettled me so. It was a room like any other, yet its purpose seemed undeniably macabre. Perhaps it was because this room's function was bound unbreakably to death.
As if fingers had snapped, an epiphany explained my fear. As a Vampire, I had been the cause of death more times than I wished to remember, but there was something different in facing my own mortality. I've never done so, nor would I hopefully have to anytime soon. Yet this room reminded me that all things must end. Even for me. Someday I would die. There was no escaping that.
I didn't want to think about it anymore.
Luckily, Dr. Yazgren walked through the double doors just in time to take my mind off it. Yazgren, known around the office as “Yaz,” was a short, portly man with an obvious Asian pedigree. A traditionally trained Shaman, Yaz had also completed medical school making him one of the few Inhumans capable of treating both humans and Inhumans. A Sudis Demon, Yaz was basically human in appearance, but capable of growing long, metal spikes anywhere on his body. Generally a peaceful species, Sudis use the spikes for defense like a porcupine. In the time I had spent with him, I had found Yaz to be brilliant, yet deeply spiritual. It was an uncommon amalgamation of higher thought and beliefs.
"Ms. Webb,” Yaz greeted me as he moved to the cupboards directly behind the examination table. Opening the doors, he then started to remove the instruments of his trade. “I hear I have a Vampire for a patient tonight.” He turned slightly and grinned. “It wouldn't happen to be you, would it?"
"No,” I replied perhaps a little too quickly, not realizing he was teasing me. I probably had that sick puppy dog look on my face. “Toby should have your patient here in a moment."
Yaz laughed softly. Grabbing a box of rubber gloves, he set them on the mint counter and pulled two free. “How've you been?” he asked as he snapped the gloves on.
"I've had worse days,” I stated, “but I can't recall when.” I smiled politely hoping he wouldn't press the issue. “You?"
"Got to visit my daughter in Tulsa last week,” he said with a broad smile. “She's grown into such an amazing person and so far, not a hint of Sudis."
I knew his ex-wife was human, but I didn't know he was hoping his daughter would be too. “How old is your daughter now?"
"Five,” Yaz, the proud papa, answered. “Growing like a weed."
"When did you first display your,” I paused trying to find the right word, “Sudis-ness?"
"When I was eleven months old.” Yaz smiled. His eyes were soft, warm, and grandfatherly yet there was an ever-present glimmer of intelligence. “My parents found me spiked into my crib. Took a hacksaw to get me out.” He laughed.
I nodded and started to pace around the exam table. Despite Yaz's presence, this room was still giving me the heebie-jeebies. “How do you work in here?"
Yaz turned and looked at me with a bone saw in his hand. “What do you mean?"
"This is all so,” I said with a shiver, “grisly."
The doctor cocked an eyebrow. “A Vampire who's having trouble being in an autopsy lab? That seems a little odd, don't you think?” Setting the bone saw on the counter, he leaned back and studied me. “Your whole existence is based around death. You must embrace death to continue your existence. You cheat death in that you are, for all intents and purposes, immortal,” he essayed. “You are death. Slip a dark cloak on, and slap a scythe in your hand, you could be the Grim Reaper."
"Yeah, yeah,” I said, then let out with an uncomfortable laugh. He was right. I was obviously a psychologically damaged Vampire. Oddly enough, that didn't bother me so much. “Kind of like a pilot being afraid to fly."
Yaz considered my analogy for a moment and finally nodded. “That would qualify I suppose.” He realized the question was making me uncomfortable and turned back to his tools. “Ever seen a Krylbrea Demon?"
"Can't say that I have,” I said, relieved he'd changed the subject. “Don't think I've ever heard of that species either."
"Nasty buggers.” Yaz laughed. “Black and armor plated. Built like tanks.” He turned to me and pulled back the sleeve of the white frock he wore. “They have a bony protrusion on their forearm that a tentacle shoots out of.” He pointed to his own wrist as a visual aid. “Can crush anything. Had to put four exam tables together just to get it in here,” he said in amazement.
"Wow,” I said, feigning interest. “Where did this beastie come from?"
"Reno of all places,” Yaz said, then laughed. “Two Vampire Hunters tagged it."
Vampire Hunters ... the words gave me a chill. I had almost forgotten they existed. Usually I was the hunter, not the hunted. Luckily I hadn't run into any. Yet.
"We were the closest Syndicate branch, so it fell to us to store it before the Mages could send it back to its own dimension,” Yaz continued. “Since it was already dead, I took the opportunity to see what made it tick. Fascinating creature. Has five hearts."
"That's amazing,” I said half-heartedly. Where the hell is Toby?
As if on cue, the double doors burst open and Toby strode in with a black body bag slung over his shoulder. “Hey, Yaz,” he said cheerfully. “Where do you want our guest?"
"Hello, Toby.” Yaz patted the silver examination table. “Here will be fine."
As Toby set the body bag on the table the doors opened again, but I didn't see anyone come in.
"Sure, just slam the door in my face, puppy."
Karl. Great. I specifically instructed Toby to take the Goblin home before he retrieved the Vampire body. The wolf and I were going to have a serious discussion soon.
Yaz chuckled. “Hello, Karl. How's the family?"
"Numerous and belligerent.” The Goblin laughed.
I furrowed my brow. “How do you know Karl, Yaz?"
"We play poker Tuesday nights,” Yaz replied.
I crossed my arms. Seems like everyone is playing poker Tuesday nights. Where was this mythical game held, and why wasn't I invited?
As Toby circled around the table to stand by me, Yaz unzipped the bag. I instantly recognized Luke's face. It seemed he was going to help me yet again. The holes in its neck I had created with the bolts were easily visible and a trickle of the purple concoction I poured in his mouth still clung to his chin. The stick I had used to stake him was still partially exposed in his chest.
"How long has this Vampire been dead?” Yaz asked as he looked over the body.
"That's going to make this autopsy a bit more difficult,” Yaz placed his fingers on Luke's face and started to examine the holes in his neck. “A Vampire's body breaks down very rapidly after death. We're lucky he's still in one piece."
"I can't see,” Karl complained as he climbed up onto a plastic chair then onto a nearby countertop. Rolling onto his tippy toes, the Goblin tried to get a good look at Luke. “That's disgusting. Better start moisturizing, honey,” he said to me, “or you'll look like that soon."
Putting my hand behind my back, I gave Karl the one finger salute.
"Hey!” the little Goblin yapped in protest. “That's not very polite."
With a giggle, I returned my attention to Luke's body on the exam table. With the bag fully removed, Yaz started to cut away the dead Vampire's clothes with a heavy pair of shears. Sometimes I wished Vampire deaths were more like in the movies where they burst into flames or turned into dust when staked. It would be a lot easier to clean up than a pile of bodies.
"I can tell you already this isn't a normal Vampire,” Yaz said as he pulled Luke's shirt away. “Look here,” he said, pointing to a decaying hole in the abdomen. The edges of the hole were blackened and peeling back revealing bone where there shouldn't have been any. Yaz tapped on the bone with his knuckle. “Seems this Vamp has internal armor."
"What?” I asked, stepping closer, trying to ignore the terrible stench of death.
"It's an exoskeleton.” Yaz pulled the flesh back slightly to reveal more of the bone. “It's hinged to allow full range of motion. My Gods,” he breathed, peering deeper inside, “the musculature has been completely transformed to accommodate the plates. He has new muscles and ligaments to control them. Incredible."
"This suckhead is more of a freak than you are, Rose,” Karl said as he poked me in the back with a tongue depressor he had discovered.
Snatching the Goblin's new toy, I snapped it in two and tossed it in the corner. He stuck out his bottom lip sullenly and stuffed his hands in his pockets.