by Alex Dire
“Enhanced?”
Felica shook her head. “No.”
“But what about—”
“Then these guys…”
“Guys?” said Norman.
“More vampires. In hoods. I don’t know who they were. They ripped Skeete’s men to shreds.”
“What did they want?”
“I don’ know. But the police opened fire. Pretty much everyone went down. Adrian and Juda changed and ran off. Adrian was shot in the arm. One of Skeete’s thugs leapt on an officer. A hooded guy tore him off and staked him. When he screamed, everyone ran. Even the police. By the end, the school grounds were empty.”
“That was very unfortunate.”
Declan had Norman’s map and had been turning it this way and that. He stopped and looked at Norman. “Why does Skeete want to kill Walsh?”
Felicia’s eyes asked the same question. They widened with realization. “He wasn’t trying to kill Walsh. He was trying to kill you.”
“Oh,” said Declan.
Norman found it harder and harder to hide things from Felicia. She’d grown considerably. Her senses had sharpened. Their connection was forever. As was hers with Declan and the other nymphs.
Declan picked the map back up and resumed turning it around in his hands.
The TV news blared. “Instant tracking polls have Walsh up by five points. It seems the assassination attempt has triggered a wave of sympathy.” A well-groomed man sat at a desk and bloviated.
Beside him a blond woman in a low-cut shirt responded. “Yes, Ken, it has also, apparently, stoked anti-vampire sentiment according to our latest on-line survey.”
“Well,” said Darius. “It looks like the press conference was a hit. Wasn’t that the plan? Get Walsh ahead?”
Norman frowned. “Not this way.”
Norman reached into the freezer for a bag of blood. “Anybody hungry?”
Felicia stared at the back of the map that Declan pondered. “You should just give it up, Declan. It’s too complicated.”
Declan, usually immune to subtlety, lowered the aged paper and peered over it. “I’m not as stupid as you think.”
“Easy does it,” said Macmanus. “She didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Touchy,” said Felicia. “Mr. Bernard, you should have talked to us before you joined Walsh,” said Felicia.
“She’s right,” said Tyreese. The boy’s seldom spoken words always seemed sharp and heavy. Everyone turned to hear more, but were met with silence. The dead air made his point.
“I did. Sort of,” said Norman.
“It would be nice to have been in the loop,” said Felicia.
Things had gotten so complicated. Would they understand? Should they need to? They were so young. “I did what I thought I needed to do,” said Norman.
“Walsh is an asshole,” said Felicia. “He’s going to round us all up.”
“Maybe.”
“Not maybe,” said Macmanus. “He’s written a fekin’ bill.”
Cindy stiffened in her chair. “How can you support that?”
Norman recoiled at the notion. “I can’t support that!”
The students leaned in.
“But I can’t stop it from the outside. None of us can. Unless you want an allout war with humans.”
“Sounds alright to me,” said Declan.
“Then we die,” said Tyreese.
All eyes turned to the boy of few words, once again.
“Better to suffer at the table than die on the outside,” said Tyreese.
“What table?” said Declan.
“For Christ’s sake, Declan,” said Felicia. “Can you follow a conversation just once?”
“What?” he replied.
Macmanus answered for her. “Christ. He means Norman’s got a shot at changing things now.”
“Because of a table?” said Declan.
“You’re joking, right?” replied Macmanus.
Declan dropped the map and stood, fists clenched.
Felicia shot up, placing her body between the two men. “Cut it out, Declan!”
Declan released his tightened fingers. “He started it.”
“Sometimes, it’s like dealing with a four-year-old,” she said.
It would be a while before the nymphs' feelings stopped running so hot. Norman remembered the experience from his nymph days. Bristling at nothing. Impatience. Lashing out.
The rest of Declan’s muscles relaxed, and he fell back onto the sofa, silent.
Felicia turned to Norman. “Mr. Bernard, we’ve followed you everywhere over the earth and underneath, without question. But this is too much. I’ve been assaulted twice out there, and now Walsh wants to round us up?”
“Register us,” Norman corrected.
“It’s the same thing!” she said through tightening lips. She punched her own thigh. “It’s no good.”
“Trust me,” said Norman.
“I’m scared.”
She was telling the truth. Norman could feel it. She was a tough kid, but everyone had their limits. Norman could feel more than just fear though. She felt angry. Betrayed.
“There’s no other way,” he said. “You’ll understand when…”
“No. I. Won’t.” Felicia stormed out of the condo, slamming the door behind her.
“Wait,” called Norman. He knew it wouldn’t do any good though. He could feel her frustration and anger flaring out of proportion. She needed to calm down. Perhaps a walk in the night would help. Maybe she’d feed. That would do her some good. She'd come back. She'd always come back.
Declan shook off his brooding and rose. “Felicia.” He rushed through the door.
Macmanus shook his head. “High school bull shit. He’s too simple for her.”
“Careful with them,” said Norman. “She made him.”
“I gathered that,” said Macmanus crossing his arms.
“And she’s mine,” said Norman.
“So?”
“Just be careful.” Norman’s little tribe had held together well. They were more than just his students now. They were family. Macmanus had seemed a good addition. However, Norman began to wonder.
“No disrespect,” said Tyreese. “You better be careful, too.”
Norman looked into Tyreese’s cool, knowing eyes. You have no idea how right you are.
18
Declan
When Declan emerged from the building into the night, Felicia was gone. He searched both directions, seeing through the darkness to no avail.
She’s wrong about me. Macmanus is wrong. They’re all wrong. Even Mr. Bernard. He rushed off down the sidewalk, being careful to move at human speed, just as Mr. Bernard had taught him. No need to call attention to yourself. Especially not these days.
He tapped on the window of Fiore’s. A few lights still remained on in the shop. Fiore poked his head out from the back, and, seeing Declan, came out and unlatched the door.
“Declan, it’s late. I was about to leave.”
“Have you seen Felicia?”
The baker shook his head. “Not since yesterday.”
Declan turned away. His worry hastened his steps away from the baker.
“I’ll keep an eye out,” shouted Fiore after him.
Declan hustled to the alley down the street. He peered in, searching for motion, anything. Two rumpled forms slept against the sides amidst piles of debris. She wasn’t there. He called anyway. “Felicia.”
He was about to turn away when a voice called back from the darkness.
“Looking for someone, friend?” The woman’s voice was soothing, welcoming. She stepped out from against a dumpster halfway down the alley.
Declan couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen her. She must have been hiding in the shadows. The woman approached. “Something I can help you with?”
“I’ve got to go, I’m looking for someone.”
“Aren’t we all,” she replied. “Perhaps I can help you find what you’re looking for.”
Declan’s shoulders slumped as his desperation turned to despair. He needed to find her. It felt so weird when she wasn’t around. He’d always felt like this since…since she’d changed him. “My girlfriend.”
The woman was close now. Curly brown locks partially obscured her green eyes. Her hands were in the pocket of her army surplus Jacket. She stared right into him.
Declan’s eyes became transfixed by her steely gaze. He blinked, and looked at the ground. The intensity of her gaze was too much. What did she want?
“She’s your maker,” said the woman.
He looked back up. “How…”
The woman smiled. Declan saw her large canines and realized what she was. He stepped back.
“No need to fear. I’m like you. I understand. I know what it is to yearn for your maker.”
Something about her soft tone, her green eyes, her smile, made Declan relax.
“It’s not just that, though, is it?” she said. “You don’t fit in. Even with others like us.”
Declan stared at his shoes like a fifth grader in front of a teacher who’s trying to explain something to him he didn’t want to learn.
“It’s okay. I’m Gloria. I feel the same thing. Everyone needs a tribe. Even if it’s just a tribe of two.” She held her hand out. “Friends?”
“Declan.” He took her hand and shook it.
She smiled. Her whole face was warm and inviting. There was no judgment in that smile.
“I’m different from them. They all think I’m stupid. I’m not. I see things. Just different.”
“We’re all a little different. Anyone who doesn’t know that, doesn’t deserve you.” She released Declan’s hand. “Walk with me. Let’s talk.”
Declan felt a spark of kinship with this woman. He looked up, meeting her eyes. His mouth curved to a frown. No time for a new friend. “I need to find Felicia.”.
“Felicia.” Gloria nodded her head. “If there’s one thing I can guarantee you, it’s that she’ll be back.”
“I’m worried.”
“I can see. Don’t be. I think I can help you find what you want. Things are very dangerous for us these days. You need friends who will protect you and not judge you.”
Declan thought of Felicia. “I have friends.” Then he thought of Macmanus. Always making fun of him more and more, how Felicia joined it. How cruel it was.
“Seems like they might not be the kind of friends you need. I just met you, and I can tell you’re not stupid. You’re strong. Anyone would be lucky to count you as a friend in times like these. There are so few of us. Strength should be valued.”
They walked along the sidewalk. The night grew darker as they wandered deeper into the city.
“I’m not sure where else to look,” said Declan.
“There’s someone I know who can help you.” She let a moment pass. “She helped me when I was like you. I was alone. I scavenged everything.”
“Did you survive the war?” asked Declan.
“Yes. And after, I had nothing. I hid.”
“I feel like hiding all the time. I used to just be a regular kid. I just want to feel normal again.”
“You can. Come with me.”
Declan followed Gloria into the night. Why not? Maybe he would see a sign of Felicia? Maybe he’d just have time to think a little. Maybe he’d made a new friend.
Declan stopped when he reached a broken band of yellow tape that surrounded a two- level house in a dark and abandoned portion of the city. He looked at the door. The rusted metal numbers 227 were affixed above it.
Declan picked up a length of tape. “I don’t think we’re supposed to go in there.”
With a gentle touch, Gloria took the tape from his hand. “These lines are old. They don't mean anything anymore.”
“Is it safe?”
“Very.”
This was a crime scene. Why was the tape still here? Who lived in this deserted part of town? “What happened?”
“Something long ago.” She extended a hand to Declan. He took it, and they walked up the porch to the door. Gloria knocked. The creaking porch floorboards broke the cool night silence. The knob jiggled. The door cracked open.
“Come in,” beckoned a voice.
Gloria strode in leading Declan by the hand.
Inside was dark. Ahead of them was a stair case and to the right a living room. On the sofa sat woman, a hood covering her head. Her face was obscured by darkness.
“Come. Sit” said the woman.
Declan found the voice familiar but couldn’t place it.
The woman patted on a sofa cushion, beckoning.
Declan could see better than he used to in the darkness, but her face was too dark. He sat on a seat next to the sofa.
“Very well.” The woman looked down keeping the front of the hood over her eyes.
“I know what you yearn for, Declan.”
Declan narrowed his eyes and peered into the black under the woman's hood. Who was this person? “You know my name?”
“Your strength has made you known amongst those who could appreciate you. And that’s why you’re out wandering tonight isn’t it. You’ve been used for your strength. But there’s more to you.”
“Uh…”words failed Declan as they so often did. How did this woman know these things?
“You deserve better. You know you do.”
She was right. He was the strongest of all the nymphs. Of any vampire he knew, maybe even Rufus. But no one respected him. They treated him like a child. He had power. He always had. He never backed away. Not even from his father. He had the scars to prove it.
“We can give you a home. A place where you’re loved. A place where you’re respected.”
Respect for once. Respect had never been anything but a servitude demanded by people who didn't deserve it, his teachers, his father. No one had ever offered it to him before. Declan’s memories released him. He looked up at the shaded face. He could barely make out her lips, smiling, inviting.
And why not? His longing pulled back at him. Felicia. He’d never leave her. “I’m just looking for my girlfriend.”
“Ahh,” said the woman. “She must be very special.”
Declan looked down again in silence. She is, when she’s not treating me like I’m stupid.
“She’s your maker, isn’t she?”
How could this woman know this?
“She’s your family. You don’t want to lose her. But you will.” The woman lifted her head slightly and a lock of hair fell out from her hood. It was silvery white.
Suddenly Declan placed the voice. “Skeete.” He shot up from the seat and clenched his fists ready to fight.
Skeete remained still on the sofa. She removed the hood and the rest of her white hair tumbled over her shoulders.
“I just want to go,” said Declan.
“You’re not a prisoner. You can leave any time you want.”
“But…”
“I just ask that you stay a little longer and listen. Then, if you wish, you can walk out that door and tell Norman all about our encounter. Although he will betray you. You know it’s true. He already has. He uses you for your strength. The he kicks you around like you were a child.”
A flash of his father lashing Delcan with a belt shot through his mind. “I just want to find Felicia,”
“Felicia. She’ll leave you eventually. They always do. She’ll leave you alone.”
“I don’t think so.”
“We never do. I was alone once. We all were. Then we found each other. Now we’re a family. Don’t let Norman take your family away from you.”
Gloria nodded from across the room.
“Stay for a while. I think you might discover happiness,” said Skeete.
Happiness. Declan thought back to before he changed. He remembered stealing cars with his brothers. A lightness filled him.
“You deserve a family.”
It was true. He longed for it. He always felt on the verge of losing it with
Mr. Bernard. Felicia was Mr. Bernard's creation. She would never leave him. He had so much control. And Macmanus. He always seemed to outsmart Declan. Felicia laughed when the Irish brute teased him.
Declan finally lifted his gaze from the floor. He could leave this room any time he wanted. He could fight his way out if he had too. Would it hurt to listen? He unclenched his fists and sat back down in the chair.
Skeete smiled. “Very good, my friend. We have a lot to talk about.”
19
Summit
Norman stepped from the sewer through the smashed portion of wall and into the secret chamber. Broken computer equipment and char marks on the walls remained from the battle that scattered Chip's nascent political movement.
Adrian stood at the back of the chamber with five other wolves in human form.
“I was starting to think you weren’t coming,” said Adrian. His arm hung in a sling.
“You sent a message. Of course I came.”
Adrian twitched his head. “I didn’t send a message. You did. This is your meeting.”
The five wolves behind Adrian looked back and forth between each other. One stepped forward next to Adrian.
“We called this meeting.”
“Geoffrey! What?”
It seemed Adrian didn't even have control of his side in the werewolf rift. Was this some sort of coup? “I don’t like this.” Norman flicked his eyes over the wolves, looking for weapons or anything else. They all had stakes tucked in their belts.
A woman spoke, “We needed to confront you both.”
Norman recognized her from his first encounter in the werewolf circle - Kara.
“Confront us with what?” said Adrian. “I don’t appreciate your deception. I am your rightful Alpha.”
“Adrian. So much has changed. It’s as if the old ways have been wiped away. We’re divided.”
“There are no other ways,” replied Adrian.
“Is that why you and your brothers went rogue?”
Adrian’ mouth closed in a tight, thin line.
“You, more than any of us, defied Richard.”
“What did you want to speak to us about,” said Adrian through tight lips.
Kara looked to another wolf. “Show him, Claude.”