by Phil Maxey
“Very cool,” said Alyssa.
“I removed your death from the register, so you’re officially alive again, but I couldn’t get access to any of your old assets, as they were liquidated.” He held up a tiny plastic cube. “All your new info is on here. I’ll need a day to get you the hard copies. New cards, passport etc. I gotta talk to a guy.” He tossed the memory stick to me.
“What about old photos of me that are still out there?”
“That’s on you bro. Just say you were in an accident or something. Plastic surgery or some shit.”
I suddenly felt a strange and alien sensation. One I hadn’t felt for months. Hope.
“The other thing on the memory stick as well?”
He nodded. “Yup,” then frowned. “You fuck me when you get your company back. And I go public with all of this.”
“I’ll be offering you a job when I get my company back.”
He smiled. “Nah, don’t need it. I make more being freelance. Just deliver the one mill in Bitcoin and we all good.”
“You got it.” I planned to give the kid at least that.
The young man quickly placed everything back in his pack and stood. “My pa used to tell me about the Knights of Exile, real bad ass dudes.” Before I could react he left.
I looked at the small device in my hand, the old me encased in an one inch piece of plastic and metal.
Alyssa sat on the sofa next to me and looked at Jacob. “So now he gets his company back?”
“Not exactly, it’s been sold to Octavian, and even if he had been err… not officially dead at the time of the vote, the board could have still voted that way. But if their lawyers accept you’re not dead, then they have to reinstate you to the board and your voting powers. You should also get some of your assets back. The apartment, the house, some other things.”
“Octavian will try anything to stop that,” I said.
“If you have the correct identification, there won’t be much they can do to stop it. The Hell-Lock corporation though will still have to take its orders from Octavian, unless you can convince some board members to reverse the decision in a new vote. What this will do though is give you money, lots of it to hire attorneys.”
I collapsed back in the sofa, trying to absorb my old new identity. “Just when I had gotten used to sleeping in an alley.” I was only half joking.
“Is there anything we can do right now, with the information we have?” said Alyssa.
He looked at me. “There’s some people I can talk to, to get your accounts and line of credit reinstated.”
I nodded. “Good, but now we have to leave.”
Jacob smiled and slid a hand across his face. “Well have fun out there, keeping the streets safe or whatever it is you do, but I need to get some rest, we’ll go... oh no, no no. I’m not riding on that thing again, nor doing what you’re planning!”
I pulled his laptop across the table and slid the stick in the port, navigated to the correct file and brought up the information I had asked Twist to find.
“Maybe forty minutes,” said Alyssa.
“Twenty by Gargoyle airlines,” I said.
Jacob kept shaking his head. “Nope.”
“I’ll take the stingray,” she said. “It should still be parked where it was left.”
I slipped the stick in my pocket, and we both stood. “If we leave now,” I said to the accountant. “You can be in bed by sunup.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
I soared past skyscrapers, seeing glimpses of office workers pulling all-nighters, then out, over the East river, and through Queens, moving east. The beast beneath me beat its wings gracefully and for a moment I was able to contemplate becoming the person I used to be. Except I wasn’t him anymore. More than just my face had changed. I had set out on a path I should have decades earlier, and there was no going back.
To the south the moon glistened off waters of various bays, and I steered us in that direction. Somewhere below was a 70s sports car with a vamp and a mind reading demon, and I needed to get to Caspian Frome’s home before they did.
I applied a little pressure to the back of the creature’s head and we descended, until we were just a few hundred feet above the waves, and I realized I had become a flying demon after all. Lights twinkled on the coast from beachfront homes and connecting streets, and the salty wind blasted my face. I loved every minute of it.
We rose as we approached land, but were still barely above the treetops. The homes here came with tennis courts and pools, and I passed over the roofs of a few, before my destination came into view. I had already seen the Octavian head of security’s home on the internet, and it looked no different in real life. A traditional style mansion, with numerous bedrooms, and a few acres, the back of which led down to the beach.
We flew over a high fence, no doubt electrified, and then gently landed on the pebbles at the start of a wooden path to the back of the house.
I slid off Dexter and patted him. “Don’t go far.” He snorted in reply.
The roar of the waves filled the air. I pulled out a cell phone, one of many ‘burners’ Jacob had, and sent a short text message.
‘On the beach. Moving to the back. Where are you?’
After a short pause a reply came in. ‘Few miles away. Don’t go inside until we get there!’ Like I was going to listen to that.
I ran forward, keeping to the grass, avoiding the wooden planks, and hunched down when I got to the verge which overlooked the more manicured grounds. No lights were visible at the back of the house. I had no idea if Caspian lived alone. I hoped he did.
My original plan was to hover over the top of the house with Jacob, but he said he needed to be within ten or so feet, with a good light of sight to properly read the target’s mind, so another plan was hatched.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
‘We’re here. I’m getting out. He’s driving to the gate. Hope you’re right about him, or this will go real bad.’
I had no idea if I was right about Jacob, but I was about to find out. Caspian needed to let him into the grounds voluntarily, then Jacob would tell him he had escaped from the Praesidium, and he knew where they kept the Hell-Lock book. That’s what we hoped he would say, or he could completely sell us out. Either way we needed to keep our distance, unless we needed to resort to plan B, and I really didn’t want to resort to plan B.
I scanned the grounds best I could in the dark. There were no obvious signs of guards, no patrols or even alarms, which was a little baffling. The head of security with no security?
Phone vibrated again. ‘Gate opening. Following.’
What?!
I almost spoke the word aloud. My fingers danced over the virtual keyboard, sending, “STOP!” then, “NOT PLAN!” but I was sure it was too late. I swore into the wind coming off the beach. I needed to get closer.
A light turned on downstairs and I ducked down as I ran along a stone slabbed pathway, then moved behind a pool house. Shadows were moving behind drapes. I squinted, trying to see if any of them were Jacob, but couldn’t quite see enough detail.
I stepped out from the small building and stopped dead in my tracks. A woman wearing just a white negligee stood ten-feet from me.
“You shouldn’t be here! You have to go!” said Olivia Octavian.
I scanned for any other heartbeats nearby. There were none. The waves in the pool gently lapped against its sides.
I stiffened my back, then walked a few feet and sat on pool side chair, reclining, and putting my feet up. “Think I’ll just sit here for a while.”
Her expression changed, which was almost lost in silhouette. At first I thought it was anger, but then I noticed it was something else. “He will kill you if you stay here! Please leave before it’s too late!”
“I thought you were the Ninja? The bodyguard? I can handle Frome.”
A sound came from the house and she shuddered, turning in an instant to see if anyone was coming towards us. They weren’t.
She turned back. “He’s not what you think!”
“He’s not a creepy asshole?”
For a moment I thought she smiled, but it quickly dissolved. “I never had the chance you have. Once your seal is broken, you still might be able to resist, but not if they have you…” She quickly turned to her side, her limbs moving to a fighting stance.
Shit. Alyssa.
The vamp was just behind me. I stood in front of her, ready to pull her back.
“Get out of the way, Sebastian! Frome and his skank are going to pay for what they did!”
Olivia sneered. “You’re going to be eleventh bloodsucker I’ve killed.”
I threw my arms out. “Everyone calm down!”
My phone vibrated, which I grabbed hoping it would distract everyone.
‘I’m leaving. Got what you needed.’
I walked backwards pulling Alyssa with me, but kept my eyes on Olivia. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell your boyfriend.”
Her expression didn’t change, which was good enough for me. Finally Alyssa turned around and we sped back to the beach.
*****
We landed on Jacob’s apartment building’s roof just as the sun threatened to peek above the horizon. Alyssa slid off before I had had a chance to say anything, and walked to the stairwell. It had been a somewhat painful journey due to her digging her nails into my back for most of it. I ran after her, and we walked into Jacob’s apartment using the spare key he had given us.
She walked through the darkened apartment, the only light coming from streetlights, and went straight to the fridge where she pulled out another of Jacob’s bottles of blood, and started drinking. I leaned up against the doorframe.
“At least—”
Her blood smeared lips were on mine before I took another breath, and for a moment I forgot when and where we were. Both of us picked up the sound of footsteps outside the front door, and we pulled back as Jacob entered.
“That’s some car. Although I was always partial to the 60s... Am I interrupting something?” He said standing in the entrance to the living room.
“We were just waiting…” I said, my mind still not fully located within my skull.
“Do you know where the professor is?” said Alyssa as if nothing had just happened.
He placed the car keys on the coffee table and switched on a lamp. “I got glimpses, although I’m not sure it’s going to help you any.”
“Just tell us what you saw,” she said.
He looked at me. “Statues… big statues… a house… which looked like a gothic castle—” I exchanged a glance with Alyssa. “Catacombs or a dungeon… He was being held underground, looked like some kind of prison cell. Any of that useful?”
“Was the house surrounded by a forest?”
He scratched his head. “Yeah, maybe.”
I sat on the arm of the sofa. “Then I know where he is.”
“Great! Now can I get some sleep?”
I nodded, and he wondered off to his bedroom.
Alyssa returned the blood to the fridge. “Tomorrow night we rescue Fortacan.”
“Yes we do.”
“What’s the deal between you and that demon girl?”
“There isn’t one. She’s… the enemy.”
Alyssa walked towards the hallway. “Good. Next time I see her, I’m going to kill her.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
I’m not sure why I lied to Alyssa. Especially after what had just happened between us. I laid on a single bed, covered in bright sheets and surrounded by an assortment of boxes, piled high. It was still the best bed I had slept in for… well, since before the change, and my eyes were heavy, despite my brain not wanting to shut down.
Olivia was like me, I was sure of it. Not just a descendent, but also not evil. She was trapped and I wanted to help her out of that situation. But there was just the small issue of Alyssa wanting to kill her. Maybe if I explained to Alyssa what my instincts were telling me…
I awoke with a start. Was that singing? A LCD alarm clock told me what I already guessed, which it was early afternoon. I made use of the en-suite bathroom, enjoying a shower then got dressed and made my way into the living room. A large envelope sat on the coffee table.
Jacob appeared from the kitchen with an apron on, and a spatula in his hand. He waved it at the envelope. “Twist dropped that off, with another note about not screwing him over.”
I tore the top off, and emptied everything out. A passport dropped out as well as a number of ID cards, including a driver's license. I stood for a moment, allowing the feeling of being part of the world again, wash over me then sat and opened the fresh clean passport.
My new face looked at me from the photo, along with the old personal details. I let out a breath, one that I felt I’d been holding for months.
I’m back.
“Everything look right to you?” said Jacob.
I nodded. “They look perfect.”
He moved back into the kitchen. “Welcome to the world… Oh, have a look at my laptop on the table.”
I pulled the machine forward and took it off the screen-saver. A news article looked back at me.
‘New York’s richest will be at the former home of the Hell-Locks tonight in a gala hosted by the new owner of the Hell-Lock corporation, Octavian Media Enterprises.’
I swore. The timing couldn’t be worse… or… An idea formed in my mind. A bit theatrical, but when opportunity knocks… A door opened in the hallway and Alyssa appeared, wearing another of Jacob’s long shirts, while in her hands were some jars from the bunker.
She walked into the kitchen.
“I know how to cook!” said Jacob, they then argued, while I read more.
‘The mysterious CEO of Octavian along with the new CEO of Hell-Lock, Michael Hell-Lock, who many thought dead like his son due to his absence from the public eye for over a decade, will welcome many guests from New York’s social elite, in a celebration of the takeover. The event begins at 9 p.m.’
Alyssa reappeared with a piece of what smelled like fried meat and sat heavily in the single armchair.
I looked at the kitchen. “Any news on getting my accounts set up and a line of credit?” I shouted.
Jacob reappeared. “Yes, I completely forgot. I heard back today from a number of banks who say if you turn up with your ID and passport they will be happy to do that. I expect you’ll be putting me on a retainer?”
“A hundred K do for a start?”
He smiled with a nod.
I looked back at the vamp munching on the very rare meat. “We’re going shopping, then we’re going to a party.”
*****
We walked out of the fourth bank on fifty-second street, with a bunch of plastic cards rattling around my pockets. Pockets in pants which weren’t even mine. It was time to change that.
“I think I want a Porsche,” said Alyssa.
I laughed. “First lets look the part.”
I light rain fell, and the early evening streets were alive with neon blues and oranges. I had already called on ahead to my favorite stores, telling them who I was, and each readily agreed to stay open a little later if needed. That also included a number of car dealerships. I waved at a yellow taxi, which promptly stopped, and we bundled into the back. I noticed I was holding Alyssa’s hand without realizing and let go, but she grabbed it anyway. My eyes met hers and she smiled. For most of my twenties my encounters with women lasted until the following morning, and then they or I would leave the apartment to never see them again. Occasionally things lasted a few months, and I would inevitably find them leaking stories to the papers and websites about my life, and getting paid handsomely for the pillow talk. But relationships that laster longer, I could count on one hand, if I was only counting two fingers.
So I wasn’t sure I was prepared for a ‘thing’ with anyone, let alone a vampire. Still, as we sat in the back, looking at exasperated shoppers run for cabs, I felt like a little piece of puzz
le in my life had fallen into place, quite unexpectedly. I hoped Fortacan would approve.
The sedan slowed to a stop and we climbed out onto fifth avenue. Several stores had fake skulls and sprayed on cobwebs, while others obviously felt the glitz was below them. I went to ask which place she wanted to visit first, when she stormed off towards the most expensive of the lot. A designer clothing store.
The next hour was a whirl of outfits, for myself and her, each with a monthly salary price tag. Finally we left one of the many stores we had visited, complete in our evening wear, and stared straight into the bright light of a broadcast video camera. A woman with more makeup than was needed stood in front of us with a microphone.
“Do you claim to be Sebastian Hell-Lock?” she shouted. I held Alyssa’s hand tight stopping her from doing what she wanted to, to the reporter.
I smiled. I had always hated being on camera, despite the fact that it came with the Hell-Lock name, but at least I was trained in the ancient skill of double talk and bluster. “I do not claim anything. I am Sebastian Hell-Lock. I have been recuperating in an European clinic for many months. I—” I looked down, doing my best to portray a moment of gravitas, then looked back into the woman’s brown eyes. “— was in a very serious accident. As you can see I survived, but not without many, many operations, including extensive plastic surgery. But I am back now and—”
“Did you give your consent for your family’s company to be sold to Octavian?”
“All business-related questions, I direct you to my business manager, Mr. Vellor. He will be contacting all of you shortly. For now I have nothing further to say.”
She went to ask another question, but Alyssa and I had already run to the curb clutching multiple bags and jumped in the closest cab available. I directed the driver to the local Porsche showroom.
Alyssa looked back at the newslady standing in the rain. “Would have been nice to surprise Octavian at the party.”
“My coming back was never going to stay secret for too long. I’m sure they will still be caught off guard when we arrive, in…” I looked at my damaged watch, which despite seeing numerous examples of expensive alternatives I still had on my wrist. I did arrange for a jeweler to replace the front glass though. “Just over an hour. We need to get our ride and get moving…”