Blood Stakes

by Upton, Bradley

  There was no vegetation so it would be safe. Dionysus handed him a red road flare. Malcolm pulled off the plastic cap, opened the end and struck the flare like a match. Bright red flame shot out of the end two inches lighting the surrounding darkness in red light. They were far away from the freeway and the road had taken several turns so the light would not be seen. Malcolm leaned in and thrust the flame at the ruined flesh and clothes. Instantly the body caught fire. He stepped back, his eyes fixed upon the cremation in front of him.

  “I’ve never understood why we burn like this.” Malcolm said almost absentmindedly. “There’s got to be a chemical change or something...” His voice trailed off. He knelt down and stubbed out the road flare in the dirt and tossed the remainder on the road. The three stood silently watching the body consume itself. It burned hotly, thin black smoke trailed off into the air like a spirit dissipating in the wind. The two younger vampires were told they would burn in the sun, but they had never seen it. Was this what it looked like when their bodies were exposed to the deadly rays of the sun, a bright unnatural, unquenchable fire?

  “Should we say anything for him?” Anderson asked.

  “No.” Malcolm turned and looked at Anderson like someone who had seen a dog speak. “Why? Why would we say anything?”

  “He was part of the church. It's the civil thing to do.”

  “If I’d been civil, I’d be dead, not him. He’s a crushed bloody mess because he was a fool.” Malcolm stared at the flames. “I have no words for fools.”

  Anderson was silent. He knew of Malcolm’s disdain for the vampire, but he didn’t know how deeply his hatred ran. Anderson avoided spending time with Thomas finding him to be young and impetuous, but he hadn’t wished him dead.

  The fire dwindled into nothingness. There wasn’t a bone or scrap of fabric left behind, just a blackened smudge in the dirt.

  “Let’s get moving. It’s another hour to Cedar City.” Malcolm and Di walked back to the car. She settled into the passenger seat and buckled in. Another hour of travel time, that wasn’t so bad. It was cathartic to watch the fire consume the body. Like their old life was being burned away to create a new future. Di had Ice safely secured in the back of the truck. He would be back with her soon, very soon in the vampiric timeline of eternity.

  Anderson closed the door to the back of the truck and padlocked the latch closed. He walked back to the cab of the truck, and climbed in. He started the engine and slowly maneuvered the truck 180 degrees. A U-turn on a two lane road in the desert was tricky. If the truck got stuck in a soft shoulder they wouldn’t get to safety before the sun rose.

  Once the vehicles were turned around, the drive back to the freeway was quick. They climbed the mountains to Cedar City without event. The scenery improved greatly, they were within a few miles of Zion National Park with its sandy red and tan rocks. The landscape around carried the same coloration, just without the soaring spires of the park. Malcolm led the way to the warehouse by the small airport. Before dawn there was little traffic so no one observed the large white truck being led by a black Jag. The tall, plain building had a large roll up door in the middle of the small parking lot at the front. The sign on the building named an import export business.

  Malcolm pulled up at the door and got out of the car. He walked to a small lighted pad by the side of the door and keyed in a code. The lights in the pad changed from red to green. He pressed a button and the door rumbled upward exposing a dark interior. Malcolm got back into the car and drove into the building. The truck followed him. Once the door was back down he turned on the lights. The windowless building was empty. There was no business, the name, like the structure, was a shell. There was an office in against one wall with furniture, an empty desk with some chairs.

  “Let’s get the coffins unloaded. The sun will be up in an hour. Tomorrow night we will continue going east.” Malcolm came around to the back of the truck. Anderson already had it open.

  “Where are we ultimately headed?” Dionysus asked.

  “East. There’s several possibilities. We shall see what fits our needs best.”

  Chapter 28

  Sabbatical

  The cab arrived at Maggie’s house. The ride was silent. The cab driver figured they were merely two tired revelers at the end of a long night. The reality was different. They were shocked into silence because they had survived. Against all odds, the vampire had them beaten, captured, and he then let them live. It was unfathomable to Father Bryant that Malcolm showed mercy. A killer four hundred years old, who had murdered thousands, showed them compassion. He let them go. There was taunting, and gloating; he exhibited a deep anger and profound sadness. But he let them live.

  Maggie paid the cab driver and they got out of the cab. “Come on. We’re almost home.” John opened the car door and stepped out of the cab. He felt odd. After the certainty of his death was torn away he felt strangely renewed. It was a new chance to live. He went from no options, except a moldering grave, to almost endless options.

  It was a short walk to Maggie’s house. They entered the dark house. John stopped to look in the entrance hall mirror again. Maggie walked back to find him staring into the mirror. She came up behind him and encircled him with her arms. She kissed his shoulder gently.

  “How are you doing, John?” Her words were full of promise and hopeful expectation. She rested her chin upon his shoulder. Her eyes searched his.

  “I don’t know. Everything is weird. Up in the air,” he replied.

  “What’s next?”

  He let out a long breath and shrugged. “I dont know.”

  Maggie shifted her arms and kissed him lightly on the neck. She kissed his neck higher. She nuzzled his earlobe. He started to shift and respond to her amorous attentions. He leaned his head away from her hot breath.

  “I’m a priest...”

  “But you’re still a man...”

  John pulled away from her arms and turned around to face her. His brows furrowed as his mind raced. “Youre right.” He leaned in and kissed her mouth tentatively. She responded gently then with a growing eagerness which surprised him. Wives were supposed to be obedient to their husbands. He didn’t think she would be such a willing participant. He hadn’t had sex since he entered seminary. It had been over a decade since he embraced anything carnal. He denied his humanity and the animal side of that humanity. He didn’t know exactly how to proceed. On occasion he pleasured himself but just for a release. And after every time he did so, he confessed his sin.

  Maggie sensed the reason for his hesitation and took charge of the situation. “Come with me.” She took his hand and led him to her bedroom. The room was large with a large bed against the wall. The solid headboard was made of a dark wood; the bedspread was smooth, white, and meticulously made. It looked like a snowy field undisturbed by foot prints. Maggie left him and walked to the top of the bed and pulling the pillows from under the bedspread. She left the pillows on the cover for quick deployment under hips or heads.

  Maggie walked up to him and circled his neck with her arms. She raised her head to kiss him. His hands held onto her side and he responded. Her lips were like a whisper on his. Soft, caressing, he shut his eyes and relaxed, fully giving into the kiss. Her hot skin smelled like rain and fear. As they kissed she undressed him. He helped by stripping off his shoes, socks, and pants. He left on his briefs, shyness. Maggie looked down and smiled.

  “Don't worry, I don’t bite much.” Maggie smiled at her joke. John smiled back, unsure of himself and what to do. She ran her hands down his body. He was fit, not overly muscular, but not fat. His job wasn't something arduous or stressful like a construction worker. When she reached down she found him all ready to go. She stripped him nude and appraised him. “Nice.” She gripped him and led him to the bed. She pushed him down on the mattress. “You’ll need to be seated for this next part.”

  Maggie stepped back and slowly peeled off her clothing. Her body was fit, she trained long and hard to keep the
body she had. It was necessary for her job. When she was nude she reveled at the look in his eyes. She ran her hands up and down her body, letting him watch as she gave a silent tutorial into what she liked.

  “Scootch forward a bit.” She instructed. He wiggled toward the edge of the bed until his legs were spread and his feet rested on the floor. She knelt on the floor and began to work on him. She enjoyed the surprised sounds, the moans, and sighs as she exhibited a hidden talent.

  John shut his eyes. The pleasure Maggie was giving him was shattering, he was taken to heaven but some part of him felt guilty. Guilty he was doing it, guilty he was enjoying it. When he was close she sensed it and doubled her efforts. Fireworks went off in his head as he climaxed. Maggie enjoyed giving him pleasure. They nearly died and now she couldn’t think of anything more life affirming than making love.

  Maggie gave him several minutes to collect himself. She knew the war going on in his head, the cost of sin for the priest. She snuggled up next to him. Her body warm and soft against him. Her hands idly roamed his body discovering everything about him. He was tentative in the way he touched her. He rested his hand in one spot. Not fearful to explore, but not confident on how to please a woman. Maggie entwined his hand in hers and she showed him around her curves. His breathing quickened as she showed him what she liked and how she wanted to be touched.

  He wanted to reciprocate. Maggie took him under her tutelage and he proved an eager student. He learned quickly and with some coaxing and instruction brought her to climax. By this point he was ready again. She pushed him on his back and mounted him, lowering herself onto him. She rose and fell, her body shook as she rode him. They rolled from position to position until they were satisfied.

  Afterward they lay, limbs entwined, basking in the glow.

  “Wow.” John said. He wasn’t sorry but there was niggling guilt in the back of his mind.

  “Thanks. You were okay.” She winked and smiled and ran her hand up his side.

  “I’m out of practice.” He shrugged suddenly tired. His breathing deepened and he drifted off, his head pillowed against her body.

  Maggie didn’t know what tomorrow would bring but she was alive and content at that moment. She drifted off to sleep under the covers feeling warm and safe.

  They woke late, around 10 am. They shared a shower and some slippery shenanigans before starting the day. Maggie made breakfast and John turned on the TV. The local news was talking about the police station massacre and inferno. Police from neighboring areas came to Las Vegas to fill the vacuum left by the dead officers. The public safety was paramount. A city as large and possibly dangerous couldn't be left unprotected.

  The police station was a total loss, video showed the structure gutted. The roof had completely collapsed because of the fire; burned walls were standing alone, barely connected. It couldn’t be considered a box or a building. The reporters replayed tape from the night before. John was shocked at the ferocity of the blaze. Flames leapt into the sky, lighting up the night, making silhouettes of the fire fighters as they tried to stop the building from burning further.

  They watched the news silently as they ate. They knew who attacked the station and why. Vampires. Vampires who wanted them dead. They couldn’t come forward and tell the authorities, however, because no one would believe in vampires. If they revealed they were under arrest in the building when the attack happened, they would again be in peril. The FBI was searching for evidence and clues to the assailants. Any evidence of John and Maggie being under arrest had been destroyed in Malcolm’s attempt to exterminate them. Anyone who saw Maggie brought in with a rogue priest was dead. They were safe, but the cost weighed heavily on John.

  Maggie checked the blinking light on her answering machine. The tape rewound and started. “Maggie, you need to come into the north LVPD station. We need every cop on the street.” The time stamp on the tape said midnight.

  “Shit. I have to go to work. I should have realized. I didn’t check the machine when we got back.” She glanced at John, her voice softened. “We were busy.” She leaned over, collected his plate and coffee cup. While leaning in she kissed him then retreated to the kitchen. She tossed the plates in the sink and headed to the bedroom. Her voice reached the living room as she talked “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m not sure. I think I should get out of town,” he replied, calling loudly down the hallway. “My face was still on the news. I don’t want to be dragged in for the station attack.”

  “They didn’t have the right name, when you were hauled in they didn’t get your real name.” Maggie walked back out. She was dressed in her uniform. “And...” she pursed her lips before continuing. “Everyone who saw you at the station is now dead.”

  His face fell. All those deaths were his fault.

  “I’m going to get a commuter flight to Palm Springs.” John stood up and walked to her.

  “You could stay here for a bit.” Maggie said, biting her lip nervously.

  “I wouldn't be able to leave.”

  Her face brightened with mischief. “Then you could stay as my sex toy.” She hugged him and kissed him hard on the mouth. She tasted like toothpaste.

  “You brushed.” He smirked, running his tongue around his lips.

  “I’m headed to work. Can’t have coffee breath in the patrol car. At least not at the start of the shift.” Maggie shifted tone and became serious. “You’d be safe here. With me... I’d like you to stay... for a bit...”

  John smiled wanly and looked in her eyes, his chest hurt. “I have to go. If I don’t do it now it will be harder to leave when I do go. You know I can’t stay. I’m a priest, Mags, it’s all I know.”

  “You’re a man, too. You proved it last night. And this morning.”

  “I was a man for a few days, a foolish man.” His guilt surfaced again. “The vestment has to go back on or I may forsake it forever.”

  “Would that be so bad?” Maggie was fighting back the emotion she was feeling. She wanted him to stay. Maybe not forever, maybe just for a little bit... try to see if they could work.

  “I don’t know if I could live with myself if I gave it up.”

  Maggie looked deep into his eyes. She kissed him long and hard. “Okay, you made up your mind. I’m sorry I can’t change that.” She kissed him again for an endless moment before breaking the embrace. She walked to the door of the garage. “You’ll call a cab?”

  “Yeah.”

  “See ya.” She gave a small wave and disappeared out the door. It swung shut automatically behind her. When it closed, the sound was sharp and loud, like a gunshot.

  He stood motionless in the room. The sound of the car starting and the garage door rolling up reached his ears. The motor sound diminished and the garage door came down with a finality of unexpected consequences. John stared at the door for several minutes, secretly hoping she would come back. When the door didn’t burst open with Maggie’s return, a deep shuddering sigh shook him. He looked absently around the room. He was trying to remember every moment, every nuance of the brief time he spent there. It had been an impactful few of days, especially for a man of the cloth.

  Pain the likes of which he hadn’t experienced in a long time welled up inside his breast. How could love hurt so much? The emotional connection had just started only to be abruptly halted. They barely knew each other for a week, less than a week. In that time they lived through life or death events. It bonded them quickly; he depended on her for his safety. If she hadn't believed him, hadn’t followed him, he would most certainly have died.

  The heartache he felt was the same when he left Elaine to join the priesthood. It was all fresh, a searing, painful hurt. He was leaving Maggie for the same reason. He thought of all the things he was giving up, and had given up to be a priest.

  He had come to Vegas on a quest. A quest to kill vampires, and a quest to find his faith again. He had killed a few vampires, but paid an unbelievably heavy price. Had he found his faith again? Could he
go back to his life of service? He wasn't sure but he had to try.

  Father Bryant was packed and the cab arrived to take him to the airport. He took his bag out to the car after making one last idiot check, looking around to make certain he hadn’t forgotten anything. Finally ready to leave, he stood in the doorway looking at one possibility, wondering ‘What if’ He locked the door, shut it, and walked to the waiting cab.

  The cab dropped him at the rental car lot where he rented a car when he first arrived. He signed papers to absolve him for the shot up rental he reported stolen. At the beginning of the night last night, he didn't think he'd live to sign the forms, and it wasn't important to him either. Having not died he now felt obligated to tie up the loose ends of this adventure.

  At the airport while waiting for a small plane to fly him to Palm Springs, he called his sister. Another loose thread to tie up. She answered the phone, her voice sounded rushed. "Hello?"

  “Lori, it’s John.”

  “Are you all right? You sounded funny on the phone last night.”

  “I’m fine. I had a lot on my mind when I called you.”

  “How long are you in town? Can you come by for dinner?”

  “I’m leaving today. Sorry.” He paused for a second. He hadn’t prepared a story for his sister. “I was in town on a work thing. It’s done and I have to go.”

  “Back to Colorado?”

  “I’m going to Palm Springs for a couple weeks. Then back home. Rough, hunh?”

  “Really rough. Hey, why did you ask those odd questions on the phone last night?”

  “You know I don’t like Vegas. The strange people, the crime, the gambling, I worry about you.”

  “I can take care of myself, big brother. But thanks for worrying. I’ve got to run. Call me later.”

  “Yeah, I’ll call you in a few days. Bye, Sis.”

  “Bye, Father.”