by J. Armand
“I know this is totally against procedure, but we have to get you somewhere safe,” Lyle told the man as he helped him out of the alley.
The woman charged at me, making that nauseating guttural croak. She was pinned against the wall by my thought. I had to destroy the head, but I was having a hard time applying enough force to crush it.
The infected creature’s cries were soon going to attract more of its kind. “Sssstop …”
I could swear it was talking to me. The whites of its eyes were blackening now. “Plleeasse …”
There it was again. This thing, this woman, was still alive. She was trying to fight the infection and watching as I killed her.
“I’m sorry!” I apologized. “I can’t let you go or you’ll kill people!”
It might have been me projecting, but her expression had a mounting sadness to it. She was frightened and confused, clinging to life. I knew there was no cure for her, but I couldn’t find it in my heart to put the poor woman out of her misery.
The dumpster was close to us. I kept my hand out to stay focused on restraining her while I walked over to open the lid. A stagnant odor wafted out from the half-empty container. This wasn’t going to be pleasant, but the choice was between dignity and death.
I willed the still flailing woman into the dumpster, guiding her through the air with my hand. Once inside, I threw the lid down and raised the bar to lock it in place. She was making a racket, banging against the metal sides of the container. I looked around to see if anyone noticed and sure enough from the apartment windows above a couple was staring down at me with phone in hand.
I ran out of the alley, staying close to the buildings to keep from being detected. There were police lights much further down the avenue, but no sign of Lyle. Headlights turned down the road toward me. I sidestepped into another alley and took cover behind some garbage cans as another cop car rolled by, shining a light between the buildings. Great. Their response time couldn’t have been any more perfect when it meant me getting caught.
I snuck toward the other end of the alley, hoping to lose them on the next street.
“Man, you're a slow learner,” a voice came from above. “How many times do I need to tell you? Always leave yourself an escape route.”
Noah was perched above me on the railing of a fire escape. There weren’t any words that would help now. I fled down the alley, but the sound of high heels on pavement cut me off.
Vivian stood in my way, sandwiching me between the two of them. Maybe if I hadn’t seen her in action at the chateau I would have thought she was the easier of the two to get past, but now I knew better. Noah was wrong for once; I did still have an escape route.
I flew upward between the buildings faster than I ever thought possible. “I taught him that,” I heard Noah tell Vivian below me.
“Fantastique. Now go get him,” she said, apathetic to his gloating.
Only five more floors to reach the roof, but Noah was keeping pace right beside me. He wasn’t even using his super speed, which felt a little insulting, but that was probably his point. I kept my eyes ahead of me, aiming for the roof, but it wasn’t easy with him showing off his parkour tricks as he scaled the building.
Being seen didn’t matter to me anymore. I landed on the roof right as Noah vaulted overhead to intercept me.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I said, backing away from him.
“Don’t worry, you can’t.” He sat on the edge of an air conditioner unit watching me. I had to stay on guard. The more I focused on him, the easier it would be for Vivian to strike from another angle.
“You must think us monsters,” she said, still getting the drop on me.
“Enough mind games.” I glared at her. “If you’re going to try and kill me, just do it already.”
“Try?” Noah scoffed. “If we were going to kill you you’d have been dead the second you got off that train.”
“You’ve been following me all this time?”
“Sure have. We’ve been having fun watching you run around the city in a panic,” he laughed.
“You were having fun, I have been working,” Vivian corrected him.
“Why are you here if you’re not going to kill me?”
“I’m positive the Carpathians’ creatures will take care of that for us,” Vivian answered. “We don’t have to dirty our hands.”
“Eventually you’re gonna run out of dumpsters,” Noah added.
“Vance said you’d say that. What happened to him?” I asked. “You got here fast, even for you.”
“He fled to a Strigoi stronghold in Munich,” Vivian replied.
“How do you know that? And why were you so certain I’d return here and die?”
“You’re predictable,” Noah said and got down from his seat.
“No, there’s no way you knew what he said and where he’d be, and make it there and back in time,” I said with rising suspicion. “Not unless you three planned this.”
The silence that followed spelled it all out beautifully. “How long?” I asked.
“Since my trip with him back to France,” Noah replied.
“Oui, and after witnessing that dreadful display of self-defense in the alley we have no choice but to report your impending death. It is as I told you; there is no need to get our hands dirty when the Carpathians will do it for us.”
“I don’t understand. I’m right here. You said yourselves, you could have killed me at any time.”
“You don’t need to understand,” Noah barked. “Just shut up and get out of here.”
“He deserves more than a simple dismissal, Noah.”
“Wait. What about Lyle?”
“He’s safe,” Vivian reassured me.
“I don’t trust you.”
“You don’t have to, but there comes a time when no matter how strong or how fast you are you’ll need someone to trust.” She was speaking to me, but her eyes were on Noah.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked looking between the both of them.
“Why did you not end the suffering of that poor creature in the alley?” Vivian responded with a question of her own.
“She was still human inside. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Did you not empathize in some way? You may think us to be monsters, but on the inside we are still just as human.”
“That woman is a victim. She wasn’t choosing to attack me to tie up loose ends, or get rid of me because I might be dangerous. She is being controlled, so yeah, I do empathize with her. She lost everything in a split second because she got caught up in something that had nothing to do with her, just like me and all the rest of these people. We’re not living in mansions playing God with others’ lives. We’re trying to survive.”
“We are no less victims than you, manipulated and forced to suffer tragic losses over hundreds of years. Some of us accept our place while others fight it, but our pain is all felt the same way. We do not have any choice but to obey or face a fate worse than death.”
“You mean Aurelia? She may have been the one to give the order to kill, but I don’t see why it makes any difference to you. You have eternal youth and beauty, live in a palace, and have powers that I’ve only seen in movies. Why should I believe that we mean anything to you?”
Vivian opened the briefcase she was holding and slid it across the roof to me. “What is this?” I asked, looking down at it suspiciously.
“Your proof.”
I glanced around first to make sure this wasn’t some kind of trap. Noah was gone. “Where’d he go?” I asked, but didn’t get an answer.
The briefcase was filled with forms and a newspaper. Under that were two handguns with ammo, shoulder holsters, shooting gloves, and a combat knife. The forms had Lyle’s name all over them and there was a picture of Lyle in the paper.
“What is this?” I asked again.
“Monsieur Turner’s absolution. His false crimes have been purged from history and no one shall
ever know of their existence. Paperwork has already been filed explaining he has been on medical leave after sustaining injuries while rescuing civilians from your apartment. That newspaper has an article detailing his heroism including sworn statements from his superiors. He will also be receiving an award.”
Finally, a surprise of the good kind. “Why did you do all this? And how?”
“ ‘How’ is very simple,” she smiled. “The Archios still own this city. I did shut it down for us to work, after all! The government, law enforcement, and media have been taken over. We have members in every office, precinct, and newsroom pulling strings to allow us greater control during this crisis.”
“I figured that was you.”
“Monsieur Turner is selfless, courageous, and gallant. Men of his kind are a rare breed. He reminds me of another, one that I failed to save from this life years ago. I do not wish to see one more pure heart lost to our war.”
She really did have a thing for him, that lucky son of a bitch. Technically, I introduced them.
“Don’t amuse yourself too much,” she said, noticing my smile. “My best gift to give is my absence. After tonight he will be believed dead, and we will have no reason to meddle in his life any longer. I cannot promise the same for you, as other supernatural beings will sense your power as we can. The decision is yours to make, but if you truly care for your friend, you too will leave him. What happened to your family was a tragedy, one that many of us have felt, but it doesn’t have to continue if you are careful.”
“Who did you lose?” I asked.
“We should speak elsewhere,” she suggested. “I have a limousine waiting for me on the next street. If you’ll join me I will share my story once we have reached the safety of our shelter.”
“Not without Lyle,” I insisted.
“Noah is retrieving him and will meet us there.” Vivian collected the briefcase and walked to the ledge. With remarkable agility for someone wearing a tight skirt and business suit, she jumped down to the pavement, landed on her feet, and kept walking. Not wanting to be shown up, I dove off after her, also landing successfully.
As she said, there was a limo waiting for us one block over. One of the darkened buildings we passed was filled with sounds of violence. I opened my mouth to redirect Vivian’s attention, but before I could get the words out she refuted my concern.
“We have Outsiders, hired mercenaries, clearing out the buildings we have sealed off.” Getting in the limo with her was awkward after our argument. It would be my own fault if I fell into a trap after all the experience I had with them. The ride was quiet, and short. The shelter she referred to was a police station less than a mile away. Our driver escorted us to the door.
“Why a police station? I’d think a four-star hotel would suit you more,” I asked.
“I prefer to travel in luxury, but this is business and I’d rather my business be secure.” The station was abandoned and pitch-black until she turned the lights on and entered all the correct passcodes to bypass security. We made our way to an office on a lower level, locking all doors and security gates behind us. Inside was another briefcase and her engraved katana sheathed on top of a desk.
“What happened to all the police officers that worked here?”
“Reassigned to another precinct overnight while the building is closed for inspection, as per the commissioner’s orders.”
“You mean your orders.”
“I won’t take all the credit. He practically handed the keys over on bended knee without any supernatural influence. Not a wise man, but a simple one, and there is something to be said for that.”
“And that is?”
“I don’t know, you would have to ask his wife.” Vivian busied herself with files on the office’s computer while we waited.
“Shouldn’t Noah be here by now?” I was starting to get nervous again. It wasn’t like him to not be ten steps ahead.
She produced a cell phone from her suit jacket, although I wasn’t sure how she had room for it in something so formfitting. “He’s on his way,” she let out a sigh after reading a message. “Trying to scare Monsieur Turner by traveling via rooftops.”
No surprise there.
“You have a cell phone?” I didn’t want it to come off as insulting. The Archios definitely kept with the times, but still it was kind of amusing and the tension between us was making me antsy.
“Of course, love. It’s the twenty-first century,” she said, so blasé that I felt stupid for asking.
I sat in a chair across the desk from her playing with the pens and paperclips by levitating them.
“It’s good you are finally practicing your gift.” She smiled, keeping her eyes on the computer. “When you first arrived at the chateau you were too timid to even admit you had it.”
“I guess I’ve had my back against the wall one too many times not to,” I said and showed off a little by trying to create patterns in the air with the office supplies.
“Sometimes that is the best way to find out who we truly are and what we are capable of.”
“Yeah, Noah kinda simulated that a little too well back in France.”
“Boys will be boys, even when they are almost two hundred years old.”
Chapter Eighteen
I had never spent this much time with Vivian until now. It was almost pleasant and made me laugh inside thinking how jealous Lyle would be if he knew. She turned off the computer monitor and stepped in front of a floor-length mirror to freshen up. I couldn’t keep myself from staring. If I had difficulty looking away, then Lyle was a lost cause.
“You promised to tell me your story,” I reminded her. “Who was it that you lost?”
“My dearest friend, Jehanette. I was born of noble blood in France during the early 1400s. My brothers had died in the war against England before I was old enough to remember their faces. Because of this I was kept at my parents’ side under close watch. My only friends growing up were the children of our servants.
“When I became of proper age I was allowed trips into town disguised as one of the servant’s children while they tended to the family’s errands. It was there that I became acquainted with young Jehanette. I was her senior by several years, yet she had a fire in her much like my own. We conversed on all manner of things, including the war with England. I questioned what a peasant girl would know of such diplomatic affairs, but she seemed as well-versed as any king.
“Some time later I accompanied my family to a formal gathering of nobility near Paris. I attended under instructions of my father not to speak of political matters, as it was not my place. The event quickly became an inquisition between noble houses to see where each stood on the war. Defying my father, I found it difficult to remain silent on issues I felt strongly about, such as my displeasure with our King’s failure to drive out the English and restore France to its former glory.
“I caught the ear of another noblewoman, who agreed with my views and expressed the same disgust in our mandated silence due to gender. We spoke more in private. I confided my friendship with the peasant girl to her and how even she could see clearly that changes were needed.
“I was invited to stay and talk more with her. I expected my father to decline such an invitation, but after a brief meeting with her he agreed with a surprising amount of enthusiasm.
“The very next day the woman was nowhere to be found. Her servants reported she had taken ill and had requested privacy while resting in her chambers. That night, however, she greeted me in fine health and high spirits, apologizing for her absence. She spoke passionately of sending the English back across the channel and of a lovely dream where we instead ruled them.
“Our conversation took a turn to religion and the supernatural as the night drew on. I thought she was daft at first or the wine had taken hold of her, as she preached of a power to rule them all right under our noses. I politely agreed, but felt uncomfortable with the heretical discussion and excused myself for the remainder of the nig
ht.
“The noblewoman appeared in my bedchambers so inconspicuously I was certain it was a dream. Her speech from earlier continued as if there were no pause while she stood over me. A bit frightened, yet intrigued by her ambition, I agreed we had much in common and should work together to make our dreams reality.
“I knew not what deal I made. Immediately her fangs at my throat took my life from me. The blood in my veins was replaced with the divine ichor flowing from her wrist. Over the next few nights my new life was explained to me. The woman had a plan that included my peasant friend back home. As noblewomen, our presence would draw much unwanted attention, but hers would go unnoticed until the time was right. She sent me to Jehanette under the shroud of night, impersonating the saints she prayed to.
“With the ability to easily influence a mortal’s mind and new angelic features, along with clever costuming, I assumed the guise of a holy spirit. I explained the plan to infiltrate our military and how to strike a critical blow to the English. While dear Jehanette marched onward with the guidance of a ‘divine spirit’ behind her, I worked from the shadows to manipulate the minds of all she encountered, paving an easy road to victory.
“The noblewoman’s plan unfolded flawlessly. I returned to her chateau bearing the good news. While I was away I received word that Jehanette had been captured. She had taken up her own crusade, believing the silence of the Holy Spirit was a sign of displeasure at her idleness. I immediately sought to rescue my friend, but was stopped by the woman. Jehanette had played her part, she explained. Her death would close the book on any suspicion of supernatural involvement that may lead an investigation back to us. I argued to save the life of my friend as she was worth more than a few military victories. My pleas were denied. Rumors were spread that Jehanette’s divine guidance was nothing more than bouts of insanity, and the charges of witchcraft were dropped. I was witness to her burning at the stake and I felt every bit of her pain as if it were my own.
“Years later I was made wise to hidden truths behind the war. After the Black Death, when many kingdoms were weakened, high-ranking Archios were given land to watch over so as to prevent any further turmoil while humanity rebuilt from the ashes. The Archios controlled both England and France at the time of war. Those in charge endeavored to expand their territories by overruling the other, which caused the war.