Blackjack

by Kristopher Norris

  “Fine.” I tried to make it sound like I was protesting, though I didn’t mind. I flipped the pages ‘til I came to the index. I scanned the titles of the short stories and poems in the collection. I recognized and remembered a lot of them. I decided on ‘A Tell-Tale Heart’, it was the first Poe I’d ever read. I began reading but my voice didn’t hold the same animation that hers had held. The way she read I could see the story playing out in my head. I sounded like I was giving a military briefing.

  She noticed. “You’re not relaxed anymore. This isn’t work Vinny, feel what the characters are feeling. Don’t think, just feel.” I nodded then continued. After a few paragraphs I was able to do what she asked. I even started giving different voices to Poe’s characters; she got a kick out of the cheese British accent I gave one of the police officers. I let go of some of the inhibitions that I normally gripped so tightly. I had fun. Wow, fun, I remembered fun. This wasn’t just a distraction or a bit of fun, like when I would sit at the blackjack tables. This was joyful and innocent. I hadn’t felt innocence in so many years. It was a stranger sensation than joy or fun.

  When my reading was finished, she laughed. I knew it wasn’t at me but I had to joke. I just wouldn’t be me if I hadn’t. “You're laughing at me? This was your idea.”

  “No, I’m laughing with you… you’re just not joining in.” Well put, but I did start laughing, and I don’t know why we were. I didn’t think she knew either.

  As it is in our lives the joy was short lived. “I’m glad to see the two of you getting along so well.” A bitter old voice came from the next room. I’d known that others had entered the library, but I didn’t want any of them to be him. Before he rounded the corner I knew who it was, the voice, the buzzing of the electric wheelchair, oh yeah and that whole feeling people I can do, Eddie boy with a guard in tow.

  “Hey, Eddie baby. How ya doin’?” I said without turning my head.

  He ignored my question. “Why do you insist on being a constant irritation?” I assumed that he was talking to me.

  I spun my head around to watch them approach “Why do you insist on being a decrepit old pecker that just can’t get up? How’s that wheelchair working out for you?” His guard, whose name I didn’t know, let out a small chuckle. When Edward glared up at him he went back to being silent.

  He returned his condescending gaze at us. “It’s just so adorable to see the two of you acting this way in such troubled times.” His eyes fixed on Carmen. “And you Miss Piper…”

  Carmen’s hand started going for the gun, long ago forgotten resting on the arm of the chair between us. Before she reached it my hand caught hers, for a split second she fought me for her hand. We both knew she’d only cause more trouble than he was worth. But I still cut him off before he could say anything that would get me reaching for the gun. “Eddie, did your visit to your wife not go well? You know you have to take the Viagra an hour beforehand right?” His face began to glow crimson with anger. I loved the effect I had on him. “Now, what can we do to help you leave?” He didn’t speak he was too pissed. “Nothing? Well are you at least gonna have a heart attack soon? Cause your presence is really getting old.”

  “Two actually,” Carmen said, looking very smug as she spoke. “He’s had two already.” Though her nails had begun digging into my hand. I have little doubt she would have shot him had I let her.

  I didn’t think he could become much redder. I was so very wrong. “Two, really? Damn you’re a tough old shit aren’t you?” he tried to say something else, but began coughing violently as he turned his wheelchair around to leave. “I’m sorry Mr. Ed did we offend you? … You horse’s ass.” He was already to the door, still coughing. His guard still stood there but with a nod and grin he trotted after.

  “What’s with the coughing?” I turned back to Carmen.

  She still stared at the door glaring with anger at a man that could no longer feel the weight of that hateful gaze. Her fingers dug into my hand. I didn’t think she realized we were still holding hands. When her attentions turned away from the door she looked at our intertwined hands. Slowly she let go, I didn’t try to hold her this time. Upon letting go she exposed my skin, red and white from the pressure and four small nail imprints. She hadn’t drawn blood but she’d come damn close. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t worry, it’s nothing.”

  She gently replaced her hand in mine. “Still feel bad. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  I looked at her ‘til her eyes met mine. “Don’t worry.”

  She let out a long breath pushing her anger away. “I hate that man.”

  “Don’t we all.”

  Her face showed her agreement. “The cough, it’s been known for a while that he’s been sick. With what; none of us really know. I’m sure there are people in the company that do. But like normal they aren’t going to say anything. I think he’s sicker then he’s leading on.”

  We sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments when a thought entered my head. “Edward.”

  “Huh?” she said snapping back to reality.

  “What if Edward…” I didn’t want to finish the question. Too many people could be listening. He has the freedom and the knowledge no one questions him. It made so much sense.

  I didn’t have to finish she understood what I was hinting at. “No,” Shaking her head. “I don’t like him, as I said I hate him. But this is his life’s work. He has been with the company longer then my father. No, it couldn’t be. It’s almost religious with him. He hates vampires. Why would he?”

  She was probably right; she knew him and the company better than me. “I don’t know, just an idea. Then who could it have been?”

  She shook her head. She had no more ideas then I did. “I think we should continue this conversation tomorrow away from here.” She was right again.

  “So is it time we went our separate ways?”

  “Did I say that?”

  “No.”

  “Damn skippy I didn’t.” She gripped my hand a little tighter. She picked up the book and began to read one of Poe’s poems. After a few minutes all the irritation, from our interruption, faded from her voice. We spent the night there in the library. Having moved to a couch after retrieving another book from the shelves we became much more comfortable. I don’t know when we fell asleep or which of us fell first but the next day the sun woke me shining brightly through the large bay window. I tried stretching out my back and she grunted in protest. A book remained in her lap open to the page she’d been reading when she fell asleep and her head rested against my shoulder. I let her sleep. I removed her glasses that were dangerously close to falling off her face. I don’t know how long I sat there feeling like I was protecting her allowing her the rest I knew she needed. At last she stretched herself awake. Suddenly she shot up startled and unsure of where she was. Wide eyed she looked at me then relaxed. I returned a content grin. Her hair was tossed and the messy ponytail bar held on to existing. She half spoke half yawned, “You are just too damn comfortable. You know,” she said closing the book, “I normally don’t sleep with guys I’ve known for such a short time.” She yawned again rubbing the sleep from her eyes and replacing the glasses I handed her. “I need a shower. No, you can’t join me.” She must have seen the comment in my eyes. Can’t blame a guy for dreaming, can you? She stood up reaching out for my hand. I didn’t need her help up but I took it anyway. I picked up her gun and checked the safety. Yep, it was on. I knew she had a proper gun education but I’ve heard too many horror stories not to be a tad paranoid. Hand-in-hand we made our way to our rooms. She was tall enough that we could hold hands standing and not have it be at all awkward. A lot of the time I’d have to stretch my arm down or the woman would have to oddly bend hers for it to work, but not Carmen, we just fit. I liked it.

  At the point where we parted I turned the gun around and handed it to her grip first. “I believe this is yours.”

  “Aw… and most guys just give flowers.
” It was good to see her joking and having a bit of fun. She’d been too on edge lately. Even through her smile and laughing I could see the pain she was dealing with behind those bright eyes. She kissed me then, softly but with affection. Her lips were full and tender and felt so good. There really is no other way to describe it. The kiss was good. Her smile grew a little as she rested her bare feet flat on the ground. Holding hands worked, but there was still too much of a difference in height to kiss without tiptoes or me leaning. But that I liked. Call it testosterone, ego whatever you want to I don’t give a fuck. I like it so fucking deal with it. “I’ll meet up with you in a little while. We’ve got a busy day.” And with that she turned and walked toward her room. And just as I’d pictured last night she looked tiny in the puffy robe with a book in one hand and a gun in the other making her way down the hall. I laughed to myself as I finished my way to my room. The bright red numbers on the alarm clock told me it was noon when I got to my room. A long shower would feel good. And that is just what I did.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The shower felt wonderful. My muscles were sore from sleeping on the couch, half sitting half lying, and the hot water was helpful. It was worth it. No matter how nice it felt to let the water run down me relieving my aches Carmen was right, we had a lot to do that day. I couldn’t stand there all day long. Reluctantly I shut off the shower. I quickly finished getting ready; I pulled my hair back into a ponytail after running a brush through it. I’d just let it dry on its own. Click. I heard the door to the other room open. There was only a brief moment I wanted to grab the gun off the sink and go in for a fight. Naked or not. I tried to feel out for who was in the room, but I couldn’t whoever it was had their mind locked. That worried me more than them being in the room ‘til I heard them call out. “Black?” Goodspeed; relieved I wrapped myself in a towel.

  “Terry.” I said stepping into the main room. “How was the trip?” He chuckled for a moment. I think it was the sight of me with a towel around my waist, my hair still dripping and a Glock in my hand. “Well enough, I think they wanted me gone longer than I was.” I tossed the gun on the bed and picked up another towel to try and get my hair drier. “I guess you’re just too damn good.”

  “I guess so. Edward did look happy to see me.”

  I let out a small laugh. “Yeah, he’s never happy to see me.” “I heard you gave him some more shit last night in the library.”

  He chuckled again. Then it clicked. He wasn’t laughing at me dripping wet, gun in hand, half naked. He’d heard about last night sleeping arrangements. Great now we were in for it. We’d probably never hear the end of that.

  “And how is dear Edward since last night?” “Still an ass. At least he’s an ass that ain’t here anymore.” He said with a shit-eating grin on his face.

  “What? Terrence, did you shot him?” I’d hoped he’d say yes.

  I could see the thought of it passing through his head the grin grew. “Unfortunately, no. On my way in I saw him getting loaded into a truck. One of the guards said he was going away for a while, didn’t know where or for how long. He’s the one that told me about the library.” The grin turned into a smile.

  “Okay, what’s so damned funny?” I knew what, I just wanted it out of the way.

  He just shook his head. “I’ll let you get dressed. I’ve got to go say hi to Carmen.”

  He began going for the door. “Be nice!”

  “I’m always nice.” Not the way I’d describe him, sometimes, not always. “Oh,” he said opening the door, “have you gotten to check out the couches in the library? I hear they are real comfortable.” Before I could find something to chuck at his head he was gone. I could still hear him laughing in the hall.

  We’d made no mention of the fallout we’d had before he’d been sent on assignment but we were joking and back to the way things were. I don’t think we were quite to the point of deep apologizes, not that I owed him one, but we were friends, as close to friends as I’d ever known. It was nice to see him again. I retrieved a suit from the closet and went to find the two of them. Hopefully, she wouldn’t kill him.

  I found them in the dining room eating lunch. They sat across from one another. Layers of meats and cheeses lay out next to rolls and condiments. “Hey.” I made it a general greeting for both of them. They nodded, both in the middle of chewing. I made myself a sandwich then sat across from Terry, next to Carmen. I didn’t think she’d mind. Terry looked up from his food at me as I sat. He had that same ‘aw aren’t you two just so damn cute’ look on his face. I was right we weren’t going to see the end of it for awhile.

  There was something different to his face, his left cheek was red and a little bruised. I guessed that he wasn’t nice and Carmen didn’t take it as well as I had. I stared at the bruise an eyebrow raised along with one corner of my mouth trying to fight off a smirk. “She hit me,” he said in between bites.

  “With a pillow… pussy,” She quickly defended her actions.

  “You bruised him with a pillow?” I thought there was something amiss in the story.

  She tried to look innocent; she even batted her eyes a little. “Well… I don’t think it was the pillow that did the bruising. I think it was the extra magazine hidden in it that did that.”

  I looked back at Terry, “Didn’t I tell you to be nice?” he shook his head chewing on his sandwich. “You know women aren’t as rational as men.” I didn’t mean that, I just had to mess with her.

  The innocent look faded away. “Would you like to be next, dearest?” with the tone of her voice I didn’t think she meant the ‘dearest’ part of her statement.

  “No, no I wouldn’t.”

  After we ate, we left the safe house for the city. We had a lot to catch Terry up on and didn’t want to do it with the ever-listening ears of The Guild around. With nothing to do but talk, we found a coffee shop and took a table outside. There was a bit of a chill to the air but all and all it was a nice day. We still had hours before we were expected back at Amun’s. So we waited. While we waited we talked, telling Terry about everything that had transpired since his departure. We told him about our last visit to Amun, with the introductions to Tarja and Alex. Giving both of our impressions of them, Carmen wasn’t as impressed with Tarja as I was. She tried insulting me too. I just don’t get women. No matter if they are in their mid-twenties or their late 2ndmillennia. I’d just never understand the grudges. We also informed him about what we’d learned about the Council and its history. That story in itself took most of the afternoon to tell. In return he told us about the hit he’d been on. We knew it was beneath him. They, The Guild, were trying to lose him for awhile. After he told his story, I had no doubts about it. The hit was easier to fulfill then the vamp I’d helped him kill in Nevada. No wonder he sounded insulted while reciting it for us. He’d already mentioned to me that Edward was out of town for awhile but I didn’t know if Carmen was aware. “Any theories on where Eddie might be off too?”

  “None” I guess she knew since she’d answered. “He just needs to drop dead from that damn cough of his.”

  We all shared laughter of agreement. The sun was beginning to drop and the chill in the air was becoming cold. We’d managed to pass the hours and get Terry caught up. It was time to get to Amun’s. In an unspoken moment we dropped cash on the table for the tab and left. Johnny’s shop was only a few blocks from where we had spent the afternoon. There was no need to take the underground. Carmen and I walked arm in arm as the three of us made our way down the city streets of London.

  Again, Johnny waited outside for us. I’d found out that shape shifters aren’t particular about the weather, so it didn’t surprise me to see him in a t-shirt and pair of shorts. “Hey Johnny,” I patted him on the shoulder as I walked past him. I turned back around and asked him. “Do you just wait out here for us?”

  He laughed at my remark. That was the first time I’d heard him do so. “No, Amun lets me know when you are coming. He sees it as being proper to
have someone greet you at the door. And being as I spend most of my time up here anyway it only makes sense.” Inside the shop another werewolf sat on one of the counters. He was clean cut with short blond hair and well built, not as large as Alex but bigger than Terry or me. He didn’t look happy that we were there, but he still inclined his head. I had begun to grasp how loyal they all were to Amun. “How dare you sit there like that?!” A voice that was more of a growl than speech came from Johnny. “These are Amun’s quests you will raise to your feet when they enter a room.”

  “Amun may be your master, pup. But he is not mine, you forget your place!” The wolf man that was sitting on the counter was now on his feet not because he was told to do so. “You also serve our Lord. Don’t forget that, don’t ever forget that!” He towered over Johnny in not only height but overall size. I didn’t know this guy, so I had no trouble putting one in the back of his head if it was needed. As their voices grew I felt another wolf coming toward us. His power was overwhelming. I didn’t want to be here if a wolf brawl started.

  “I never forget my place, Simon.” The rage was growing behind his eyes as he spoke. “How would our Lord take it if he knew you had shown Amun’s guest such disrespect?” I really didn’t think he’d done anything that deserved this from Johnny, but I did admire Johnny a bit more after seeing him stand up to the larger and apparently more dominating wolf.