by RK Close
They giggled, laughed, and openly flirted with us as we followed the woman to the elevator. Once the doors closed on the gawking girls, she spoke. “Sorry about the ladies. They get excited whenever firefighters are around. I’m sure you guys are used to it,” she said, looking flushed.
“We are humble civil servants and happy to do our jobs, ma’am,” Cole said, laying it on thick before Liam bumped him on the shoulder. The woman blushed and smiled at Cole. The elevator stopped and the doors opened. We followed the woman down a hallway.
“Can you tell us what the problem is other than some wounds? Is there another reason you called 9-1-1 rather than taking the girls to the campus clinic or having someone drive them to the hospital?” Liam asked, keeping his tone respectful.
Abuse of the emergency system was a chronic problem that seemed to be getting worse instead of better. Some of the issues resulted from a lack of education regarding what was an actual emergency and what wasn’t. But some people used 9-1-1 services like a carte blanche for any and all medical needs, including a ride to the hospital for a head cold.
Unless the girls were bitten by a rabid animal, a rattlesnake, or a brown recluse, it was most likely not an emergency.
“I made the decision to call because of the girl’s strange behavior. I wasn’t certain if they’d been poisoned or slipped a date-night drug. I’m sorry if I overreacted. I don’t mean to waste your time, but—”
Liam put a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s take a look and see what we’ve got. I didn’t mean to imply that you shouldn’t have called. I’m just trying to get as much information as possible to help us do our jobs. I apologize if I made you feel any other way,” Liam said, diplomatically.
Liam was impressive to watch in action. He was skilled at defusing any situation, big or small. I guessed that was one of the reasons he was the youngest captain in the history of the department.
She smiled gratefully before we reached a dorm room that was overflowing with women. So much so that they were spilling out into the hallway.
Cole stepped up to the door. “I’m sorry, ladies, but we need you to clear the area so we can work. If you haven’t been bitten, please exit the room,” he said, sounding like the authority.
Giggles erupted at his choice of words. I smiled and shook my head as fifteen college coeds filed past me, stealing shy, and sometimes bold, glances as they went.
There were only two women left in the room beside the resident advisor that met us when we arrived. Both the victims lay on their beds and couldn’t have cared less that they were outnumbered by first responders.
They seemed to not know we were there. One blonde was draped across her bed and could have been high. She looked like she was seriously tripping on something. Her oversized T-shirt was doing little to cover her panties and stomach.
“We found them like this. No one had seen them since ten o’clock yesterday evening. They didn’t come out of their dorm room, and friends assumed they were sleeping or out for the night. When one of the girls came to check on them, she called me when they wouldn’t wake up.” The woman fidgeted next to the bed. “Do you see the puncture wounds?”
I could see the bite marks, and I knew exactly what they were.
Vampires.
Liam looked at me and then at Cole. Bite marks covered the girl's wrists and thighs. And if I was to guess, they seemed to be in the throes of passion. Blissful, even.
“Let’s get these wounds addressed, Seth,” Liam ordered. Cole began to take vitals. “Let’s get them ready for transport. I’ll call ahead to the hospital.”
“Will they be all right? What’s wrong with them?” The resident advisor asked. “These girls don’t do drugs. I’m sure of that.”
“Not certain, ma’am, but it’s best if we get them to the hospital. You did the right thing by calling. I’ll need to get some information from you,” Liam said, leading her to the hallway.
I let dispatch know that we needed medical transport, then assisted Cole cleaning and dressing the wounds before the ambulance arrived to take the girls to the hospital.
Once we’d discovered the bites, the atmosphere became tense. We worked quickly and efficiently without more than a few words between us. The victims were unresponsive the entire time, but their vital signs were stable.
The EMTs arrived within ten minutes, and Liam filled them in before we made our way back to the engine. Once we were inside and away from the curious attention of the students, Liam turned and looked at me.
“I thought the vampires were gone.”
“They are. Olivia said they left. I was with her the entire night, and they didn’t return to the house before sunrise,” I said.
“Do you think it’s likely that they stopped into Alpha Phi for a snack before leaving town?” Cole asked sarcastically.
Liam shot him a severe look, and Cole sat back in his seat and closed his mouth.
“I guess it’s possible. But it doesn’t make sense. They’ve been extra careful and cautious. Why be so careless now?” I asked, mostly thinking out loud.
“Maybe because they were leaving and didn’t care anymore,” Liam said.
“Not if they’re trying to stay under the radar. That was the reason they left, to clean up their tracks in case someone came looking for them. This was like leaving a calling card,” I said.
We looked at each other then. “What if the Chicago vamps are here already?” I asked, fear for Olivia crawling up my spine as the possibility sank in.
“How would they have seen Olivia on the news? It’s just a local station. Phoenix wouldn’t even pick it up,” Cole said.
“Maybe we’re jumping the gun. It’s possible that the vamps were in a rush to get out of town and needed to feed quickly. Let’s not jump to conclusions.” Liam looked at me. “Seth, speak to Olivia, see if she has any ideas.”
I nodded.
Liam turned around in his chair and faced forward, ending the discussion for the moment. I started the engine and drove us back to the station. I couldn’t help but hope that it was the vamps that left town. The alternative was a bigger problem.
15
Olivia
I knew Seth wasn’t home. And I knew I shouldn’t have been there, but his apartment was the first safe place I could think of. I wondered if he would mind if I broke in and borrowed his microwave. I really needed to drink. There was only one way to find out.
I climbed the steps to his door, carrying my liquid diet, then tested the doorknob. Of course, it wouldn’t be unlocked. That would be more like an invitation for me or anyone else.
But this was a small town. I ran my fingers along the top of the door jamb. Next, I lifted the doormat—still no key. Almost as a last thought, I reached up and felt around the dusty top of the light fixture until my fingers connected with a small metal object that I could grasp. I pulled it down and stared at the key in my fingers.
This really was a small town—not like the big city where I’d come from. Leaving a key in any of the usual places was simply inviting trouble.
In a strange way, I found it comforting to know this place was so different from the fast-paced life of the bigger cities. I hated it when we arrived. It didn’t seem like a good fit for me. I’d grown up in the city of Chicago. So Flagstaff, Arizona was like a one-horse hick-town that was barely cool enough to have a university.
It looked as though Seth had tidied up since I was there last. I went into the small kitchen, found a coffee mug, and carefully filled it with blood. I placed it in the microwave, pressed start, and then watched the cup turn on the glass plate. It was the longest sixty seconds of my life. When it was done, I guzzled the warm liquid until I’d drained the cup, then repeated the process again.
I’d been starving. Maybe not starving, but it didn’t feel good to be so hungry. Once my ravenous appetite was satisfied, I studied Seth’s man cave. There really was no other word for it. It was a true-blue bachelor pad with little to no personal effects, besides a sing
le picture of his family and a couple of posters on the wall--motorcycles and rock bands I’d never heard of. It was as though he lived there temporarily, waiting for a big move.
One of his flannels was thrown across the couch and I picked it up and felt the soft fabric between my fingers. I brought it to my nose and inhaled deeply. The scent was musky, masculine, animal, and so good. I wanted to wrap myself in his smell. I felt safe in his little apartment, even without him here.
But slowly, as I sat, drinking in the comfort, reality began to sink in, as it always did. If Xavier’s vampires were here in Flagstaff, this was the last place I wanted to lead them. Seth didn’t deserve to be pulled into my problems. If anything, I needed to face them on my own.
It occurred to me that I could have overreacted. Maybe, through my fear, I somehow conjured the scent of other vampires. There was only one way to find out. I’d have to face my fears and my enemies by going back to the house. I gathered my provisions and took one last look around Seth’s apartment.
I left everything as I’d found it, locked the door and replaced the key. I made my way back to the house. It didn’t seem realistic that I could run forever. A vampire on my own—I needed to learn what that meant.
When the house came into view, I stood on the street and watched it for a while. It was dark within the house. Fear threatened to choke me, so I pushed it down and walked toward my home, keeping to the shadows, taking cover from the hedges and trees that stood as a barrier between the properties on either side.
If someone was waiting for me, they’d expect me to enter through either the back or front doors. Instead, I climbed the apple tree in the back of the house. It’s branches almost touched the roof. I may have been able to jump, but if I missed, I’d wake the dead for certain.
I reach the roof, moving silent as a mouse. I entered through a window in Simon’s room that was unlocked. Vampires didn’t worry about home invaders—we wished for them.
Inside, the house was pitch black, but my sight was better than most humans. It saddened me that Simon wasn’t there to greet me. That was another part of being on my own that I would need to get used to. I left the grocery bag with the two Styrofoam containers on a table in Simon’s room. The door was ajar. I cautiously opened it and peeked down the hall. I heard nothing, so I continued down the hall toward the stairs that led to my attic room. My heart was a drum beating a thunderous rhythm in my ears.
I listened but only heard the ticking of the antique clock downstairs in the foyer. Pushing my senses further, I inhaled deeply, but all I could detect was the lingering fragrance of those who had left me. Quietly, I entered my bedroom.
I headed straight for my nightstand and opened the drawer. Simon once gave me a dagger that I mistakenly called a knife. He said that I should not be defenseless in my new world. I stubbornly told him I would never use it and that it was not my world.
I’d kept the dagger, mostly to appease Simon. But tonight, I was thankful for the gift. The blade was as long as my forearm and wicked sharp. I tried to visualize myself using it for self-defense. I hoped the visualization technique might help me carry out whatever action was needed to survive.
Being a vampire meant that I was already equipped with a killer nature if I chose to let my urges run wild. With the dagger in my grasp, I made my way back down the stairs to the second floor. The house was so silent that I began to convince myself that I’d overreacted earlier.
If that was the case, I might confess it all to Seth so we could have a good laugh at my expense. That thought did not stop me from treading cautiously through the silent house.
I stood frozen and listened—opening up to my heightened senses. No one was there. I laughed out loud, right there in the foyer, all alone. Flipping on the lights in the living room, I relaxed considerably and went back upstairs to Simon’s room to grab my food supply.
I brought the package downstairs to put it in the fridge. I balanced the blade and my bag of blood, while reaching for the wall-switch in the kitchen. The dark room flooded with light and I screamed--almost dropping my precious food supply on the floor.
Simon was sitting at the breakfast bar, watching me. “What the hell?” I yelled, almost dropping the blood and the dagger. “What are you doing here?”
His gaze surveyed me. “I returned because I thought you might need my protection.” He smiled then. “I can see that you have things under control.”
I walked over to the counter and sat the package down along with the blade. Grinning, I shook my head, then wrapped him in a warm embrace. I held on a few moments too long, because I was so happy to see him.
“Did you really come back for me?” I asked, leaning on the counter.
“I learned something interesting from Edgar, and I wanted to share it with you.”
I looked at him strangely. “What did you learn that was so important that you had to tell me?”
His gaze bore into me, and I was suddenly nervous to hear what he had to say.
“I learned the real reason why we moved here.”
“You mean other than Victor screwing up?”
“Yes. Victor did not screw up as we believed. He made a difficult decision and committed to seeing it through. No matter what the cost.” Simon showed zero emotion when he spoke, so his words carried the weight of a bad omen.
“Simon, what are you talking about?” I asked, fidgeting on the bar stool.
“Victor crossed Xavier to protect you.”
I blinked at him. His words made absolutely no sense to me. “What are you saying?”
“The only reason Victor crossed Xavier was that the other vampire took an unhealthy interest in you. I think you can understand what I mean if you know anything about his reputation.”
I was momentarily speechless. It was like my past, that was neatly organized in individual documents, was suddenly in another language, and I could no longer understand any of it.
“If that’s true, why didn’t he tell me? Why didn’t he tell any of us?”
He raised a perfectly shaped dark brow at me. “Because you are impulsive, and he never knows how you will react to any situation. He knows you don’t trust him. If he told you the truth, would you have believed him? Or would you have possibly run away, putting yourself in more danger?”
I didn’t have an answer. If I was honest, I would have to say that I would not have believed him. I had heard whispers of Xavier’s tastes and appetites, and the stories frightened me. I was never aware that I made it onto his radar.
“When Victor learned that you had caught Xavier’s eye, he pretended to bargain with the vampire for you. But he never intended to hand you over. It was just a distraction to allow him time to make a plan. He knew that once he crossed Xavier, Chicago would no longer be safe for any of us.”
I sat there silently, not knowing how to respond to this information. I had painted Victor as a monster from the start. I didn’t know what to do with this new version of Victor as my champion. To risk everything, including the lives of the rest of the clan, for me still did not make sense.
“Why would he do it, Simon? Why would he risk so much for me?”
“When I learned the truth, I asked him that very thing. He told me it was a human notion. You reminded him of his daughter before she and his wife were murdered by the vampire who created him.”
“I’ve been so wrong. If this is true, why did he leave me now?”
“Ah, that was another choice. He risked everything and everyone for you once. To allow his clan to be slaughtered for a child that he could not bring to trust him would have been a greater sin in his eyes. So he made a choice, once you made yours.”
“Was he angry that you came back?” I asked.
“I did not tell him. But I’m sure he knows why I left and where to find me if he should ever need me.” Simon seemed comfortable with his decision.
“So now, I’ve put you in danger. All because of--.” I buried my face in my palms, wishing to block it all ou
t. It really was too much to take in at once.
“You did what you thought was best. No one can ask for anything more.” He paused. “I make my own choices, Olivia. No one is responsible for my actions, including you.”
My eyes began to sting as I tried to understand how I should feel. I was so happy to see Simon, but I worried our friendship would get him hurt. No matter what he said, I couldn’t shake the guilt.
I filled Simon in on everything that had happened with Douglas disappearing and believing that I smelled vampires in his home. I told him I’d overreacted and how relieved I was that I didn’t stabbed him under the circumstances. The last made him laugh, something even I was not privileged to hear often.
Simon’s mood sobered, and his expression became serious once again.
“We should not stay here. Let us discover what became of Douglas before we return to this house.”
I could see the logic behind this decision. “Where should we go?”
“We can check into a nearby hotel. I have several aliases that Xavier cannot trace. Or we could stay in the woods.” For the last suggestion, I wrinkled my nose. “The hotel it is.”
I gave him a sideways smirk. “Aliases. You sound like a secret agent, or maybe a criminal at the least.”
He smiled and picked up his backpack and flung it over his shoulder. “Maybe both. Let’s go.”
I shoved my dagger down into my boot and gathered my package to follow Simon out the back door.
“Wait!” I spun around. “I forgot something.” I ran upstairs to my room and grabbed my diary and the family picture on the nightstand and shoved them into a backpack, along with the containers of blood.
The current predicament threw a harsh light on my dietary choices and how inconvenient it was to be a vegan vampire.
Next, I entered Victor’s room and took the locket and the file folder of papers. Knowing what Victor had done, I knew that I didn’t want these to fall into the wrong hands, even if I hadn’t forgiven him for turning me. I’d need to sort through those feelings when time allowed.