by Alex Dire
The hooded forms blurred around the room. They fought together in patterns. One sprang at an enemy, flew through the air and pushed him to the ground by his neck. The instant they hit the ground, another hoodie shoved a stake through the thug’s heart. A scream.
The whole team of hooded avengers paired up. Some fought off larger clumps of vampires back to back. Some worked their way through the crowd, killing one vampire at a time. The first would engage with a punch or a kick. The second would plunge a piece of wood in the distracted vampire.
Chubs stood at the periphery cocking his shotgun and firing. The smell of sulfur filled the chamber. Each shot brought death and flame. Some kind of wooden pellets. They burst to flame as they left the muzzle. The flaming wooden shot nearly blew up the vampire when they struck. The smell of burnt flesh mingled with the gunpowder.
With military precision, Norman’s saviors destroyed most of Skeete’s minions. Chubs’ crew now encircled the four remaining vampires. Their radius tightened. The enemies hissed and displayed their fangs. The hooded vampires closed in.
“Remember what I told you about a trapped rat,” said Chubs.
The group stopped their advance.
“You’ll catch it, but they’ll get a bite in.” Chubs breached the circle. He cocked his rifle and fired. One of the vampires exploded in flame. The three others charged at him. Chubs cocked again and fired. Another died in a flaming scream.
The remaining two lunged at Chubs. He dropped his shotgun and spun out of the way, catching one by an arm and flipping him to the ground. Before the other could react, Chubs had him by the throat.
A hooded vampire charged forward and shoved a stake through the vampire on the ground. The scream.
Chubs squeezed the final vampire’s throat. The poor bastard scratched at Chubs’ arm. Another vampire emerged from the semicircle, his arm poised to stake Chubs’ captive.
“Wait!” said Norman. This vampire was their last connection to Skeete and her plans.
Norman limped over to Chubs who held the struggling vampire.
“Stanley,” said Norman.
“Stanley?” echoed one of the hooded figures. It was woman’s voice.
Chubs snapped his glance to her. Norman recognized Chubs’ angry face. It silenced her.
“‘Sup Bernie?” said Chubs.
The nickname brought Norman back to Night School just for an instant. He remembered the flippant boy so eager to get himself expelled one last time. “It’s good to see you.”
“Likewise. Can I kill this motherfucker now?”
Norman looked at the vampire who pulled at Chubb’s arms. “Let me talk to him.”
Chubs loosened his grip. The vampire gasped.
“Why does Skeete want that map?” said Norman.
“Go to hell.”
Chubs squeezed and pulled the vampire’s ear close to his mouth. “You best listen to the professor.”
The captive coughed. “I don’t know. I swear.”
Norman looked into the vampire’s eyes.
“What are you doing?” Fear swept across the enemy’s face.
Norman saw his will. He reached for it. He slipped. Then he grasped. He held. It was difficult. More than usual. Norman closed his eyes. The room took shape in his mind. It was empty of all but this vampire’s will. He surrounded the orb with his tendrils. “Why does Skeete want that map?”
“What map? I don’t know.”
Norman opened his eyes. “He’s telling the truth.”
Chubb’s nodded. One of his crew staked the last of Skeete’s vampires.
Rufus wiped blood from a wooden blade. Felicia helped Declan to his feet. Skeete was gone.
Norman ran to the dark hall that led away from the circular chamber. He listened. Nothing. He ran into the darkness. His vampire vision guided him after the scant light from the chamber failed.
He sprinted to the turn that led into the old catacombs with the text encrusted bricks. He wanted to know the story that text told, what the map told. What was that floating image of the world with the Nebulous symbol in it? Why did Skeete want it so badly, badly enough to abandon her nearly completed political plot? What did she mean, end our pain?
The walls changed from straight to curved. Norman stopped and listened. Nothing.
He resumed, reaching the first intersection. A hall led to the left and right, another straight on. He listened. He heard only his own breathing. He held his breath, his heartbeat pulsing in his ears. He looked down each way as far as his vampire vision would allow him to see. Which way? He twisted his head from hall to hall. No way.
Norman walked back to the circular chamber. The soles of his shoes dragged along the floor. His chin sank to his chest.
When he arrived back, all eyes lifted to greet him.
“Gone,” he said. “Rufus, do you know about that map?”
Rufus shook his head. “Ask your Nebulous friends.” Was that sarcasm? Rufus had not hidden his disdain for the organization.
Norman approached Chubs and stood for a moment. He grasped his former student in an embrace. Chubs reciprocated.
“Nice to see you, too, Bernie.”
Norman released him. “What’s this? Who are these people?”
“They’re mine,” said Chubs.
“You made them?”
Chubs stared back with no reply.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re making things right.”
“Why did you leave Chip? He had a future planned for you.”
“His future,” said Chubs. “It didn’t take long for his idea about me to cut against mine. I left right quick.”
“I don’t understand.”
Chubs’ face grew solemn. “It’s like I told you, Mr. Bernard.” He flicked his chin toward the ceiling. “Up there, I was always a monster. No one would ever change their mind about me. Even if I learned my Shakespeare. But down here. I’m the hero.”
“But—” said Norman.
“It’s all I ever really wanted to be.”
Norman put a hand on Chubs’ shoulder. “It can be different now. Come with me.”
“I don’t think so, Mr. Bernard.”
“Trust me. I’ve made some changes at Night School.”
Chubs laughed out loud. “It’s okay, Bernie. I kept my Shakespeare.”
Norman stared into the boy’s eyes. He remembered that look Chubs had given him in the office after the massacre when he pleaded with Chubs to come with him, to flee the school. That was the look he saw now.
“This time will be different,” said Norman. “Just come see.”
Chub’s stared back. Somehow Norman still had a connection with this boy, this man, this vampire.
“We gonna take a field trip, folks,” Chubs announced to his crew.
A grin stretched across Norman’s face.
“You can come out now,” said Chubs.
His group of vampires pulled back their hoods. Norman looked around at his saviors. They were kids. All of them. Eight boys and four girls. They put away their wooden stakes into loops on their belts. Norman couldn’t believe how young they were. In an alternate universe, they might have been his students.
“Who are they?” asked Norman.
Chubs smiled. “They’re me. Rejects. Outcasts. Monsters.”
“Heroes,” said Norman. “Let’s move above ground before the sun comes up.”
“You heard him,” said Chubs. “We’re climbing up tonight.”
“Yesss,” said one of Chubs’ boys.
“Finally,” said a girl.
Chubs’ face grew stern. “‘Nuff with the back talk.”
The group fell silent but they kept smiling at each other.
“So, you kept your Shakespeare. I knew you’d be into it.”
“I said I kept it. I didn’t say I liked it.”
Norman smiled. “You’re mad.”
“Only north-northwest, Mr. Bernard. Only north-northwest.”
If Norman’
s smile could broaden wider, it did. Shakespeare bitches.
49
180
Norman had smelled sulfur a mile out. Now it almost overpowered him as he entered the cave that led to the werewolf circle. The briars had been torn away and the entrance did not seem so hidden anymore. The walls of the cave showed burn marks. Rubble lay about the ground from the blast. It got denser as he reached the spot where the silvered door had been.
He saw Adrian first, piling broken stones into a wheelbarrow. His brothers were around him, plus others.
Adrian sniffed and twitched his face toward Norman. “Hello.”
Norman took a cautious step. “Are we still friends?”
“We were never supposed to be.” His tight face loosened to a smile. He extended a hand.
Norman shook it. It was good to have friends. He peered about the room. Wolves in human form cleaned the debris from the fight that had ensued there not long ago.
“Are you going to put it back together?” said Norman.
Adrian nodded. “All of it. I’m going to make us one pack again.”
A young man ran through the dust that seemed like a fog in the room and threw his arms around Norman. “Mr. Bernard,” said Juda.
Norman returned the embrace. Joy. He felt like a teacher again.
When Juda finally released him, Norman looked him in the eye. “Thank you for what you did for Felicia.”
Juda snuck a glance at his brother.
“What did you do?” said Adrian.
Juda looked at the floor.
“He saved us,” said Norman.
Adrian’s gaze bore a hole in Juda.
“He gave his blood.”
Adrian growled. Then his face loosened, and his eyes turned kind again. “Hell. We’ve broken every other rule.” He furled his brow, growing serious. “Norman. Keep our secret. Don’t—”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.” Adrian put his arm around his little brother.
“I was going to ask you for some help, but…,” said Norman
“I can’t help you with your fight. I have my own fight on my hands.”
“I can see that now. Anything you need…”
Adrian nodded.
Norman put a hand on Juda’s shoulder. It felt warm. “That goes for you, too.”
“Can I come back to school?” said Juda.
Adrian replied, “We have too much to do”
Juda dipped his chin.
Adrian sighed. “We’ll talk about it. Soon.”
The bell rang and students flooded through the halls, around Norman, and out of Night School. Norman could feel their joy. The last day of school.
He waded through the sea of young adults. Teachers stood at their doors, smiling, hugging. Norman nodded to Kelly Houser who kept her eyes locked on him, looking so serious. He was, after all, the President of the United States. A security detail trailed behind him in their black suits and dark glasses.
Norman looked at the frosted glass door. The word “Office” was painted on it in old, scratched stenciling. A Secret Service man pushed up next to him. “We’ll clear the room, sir.”
Norman ignored him and pushed open the door stepping in.
Elaine Sperry shot up from her seat. “Mr. President!” She looked around the office as if she should be doing something to get it ready.
“It’s okay, Ms. Sperry.”
“We didn’t know you were coming.”
Norman approached the front desk. “It’s very nice to see you, too. I’ll be in my office.”
“Oh. But…”
“I know,” said Norman. He twisted the knob to his old office. Inside, a large man with a crew cut and Chicago mustache looked up from a folder of papers he’d been reading.
“Superintendent…um… I mean Assistant Superintendent Shawbrin,” Said Norman. “So nice to see you again.”
Shawbrin stood. His mouth opened up and twisted, but words failed to come out.
“Uhhhh…” said Shawbrin, “What can I do for you, Bernard…Mr. President.”
“What do you think of my school?”
Shawbrin gulped and stared at Norman. His forehead glistened. A squeak emerged from his throat. “It’s fine.” This must be hard for the apparatchik.
Norman leaned back into the Main Office. “Ms. Sperry. I’ve got some students staying after today.”
“On the last day of school?” she replied.
“Show them right in, please. Oh, and I’m also expecting…an old friend.”
Norman turned back to the desk, “Now then, Mr. Shawbrin. We’ll no longer be needing your services here at Night School.”
“But who’s going to…? Certainly not you.”
Norman walked to the desk, placed his fists on it and leaned in. His face grew stern. “And why not?” Norman couldn’t help but enjoy watching the man suffer.
“You’re just a…”
“A teacher?” He leaned in further. “A vampire?”
“You’re…You’re the President.”
Norman stood up, barely suppressing his smile. “That’s true. It would be difficult to work both jobs. I made some arrangements when I was Secretary of Education that will take care of this situation without…um…burdening central office.”
Shawbrin swallowed.
“Good day, Mr. Shawbrin,” said Norman. “Give my regards to Superintendent Connolly”
Shawbrin shuffled through some papers on the desk and shoved them into a satchel. He walked around the desk. Norman’s security detail did not move. Shawbrin weaved his way around them, through the door and across the central office. He opened the door to leave.
“Have a nice summer,” said Ms. Sperry. Norman could hear the smile in her voice.
Norman sat and rifled through papers on his desk. What a mess. This was no way to run a school. A knock interrupted.
“Come in, kids,” he said.
The door swung open as Norman continued to sift through the chaotic stack of papers, deciding which ones needed saving and which needed throwing away. “Have a seat.”
“No thank you,” said a deep, even voice.
Norman looked up to see Rufus in khaki pants and a light blue collared shirt staring down at him. Ms. Sperry stood behind him.
“Is this your old friend?”
Norman looked to his security detail. “Wait for me in the Main Office.”
“But sir,” replied one of them.
“That’s an order.” Soon enough they’d figure out that arguing with him was useless. He had already grown a reputation for speeding away without letting anyone know and occasionally just glamoring anyone he’d grown tired of arguing with.
“If you could leave us, Ms. Sperry,”
She smiled and closed the door. Norman was going to miss her.
“Rufus. It’s good to see you.”
“Likewise.”
“I never thanked you for…”
“Not necessary,” said the old soldier.
“You're looking good," said Norman almost with a chuckle.
Rufus shifted his shoulders, clearly uncomfortable in his business casual wear. “Not my ideal apparel.”
“What can I do for you?” asked Norman.
“That’s what I came here to ask you.”
“I don’t get it. Doesn’t Chip have you running some errand or working security?”
Rufus stared back at Norman before replying. “I don’t serve Chip.”
“You've gone rogue. Well, that's unexpected." This vampire had spent his whole life as a soldier, following orders, always obeying a commander. How would he fair out on his own?
“No,” said Rufus. “I serve you.”
Norman’s train of thought hit a brick wall and smashed to pieces.
“Wait, what?”
“You’re the only true leader I’ve met since the war.”
“But I have nothing to lead.”
Rufus stepped closer to the desk. “You can start with me.”
<
br /> Norman felt sad for the soldier. He had trained for hundreds of years to follow and defend his people. Now he had no people and no one to follow. “I’m not a leader, Rufus.”
“I’ve been with you long enough to know…”
“Rufus. Stop.” Norman thought about the time when he ran away from the scrap yard leaving Rufus and Seamus behind. All the times Rufus had covered his escape. Just days ago in the tunnels… “If I was a leader, I’d have that map.” He let Rufus’ stare slice into him. “Skeete would be dead.” His shoulders drooped. “And Felicia would be dead.”
“Sir, you were—”
“Rufus. I’m not a leader. At least not the kind you need.” He straightened up. “I’m a teacher.”
Rufus seemed to slump in his place.
“But I need to ask you for one last favor old friend.”
Rufus flicked his gaze up from the floor.
“Stay with Chip. Watch him. He’s power hungry. I don’t know what he’s up to.”
Rufus straightened back up. “Why don’t you?”
“Because I’m leaving,” said Norman. “For a very long time.”
50
Recycling Club
Another knock on the door. Ms. Sperry shouted from the other side. “Mr. President, the recycling club is here.”
Rufus stared at Norman, ignoring the interruption. Norman could see the questions practically shooting out of his eyes. He was a soldier, though. He would hold his tongue.
“Come in,” shouted Norman.
The Nymphs and MacManus entered. They stopped all at once when they saw the back of the huge man with the khaki pants and light blue collared shirt. Rufus turned to them
Felicia’s face widened to a smile. The corner of Rufus’ mouth raised almost imperceptibly.
“Looks like we’re getting the band back together,” said Darius.
Norman allowed himself a chuckle. The rest was going to be hard. “I’m glad you’re all here. This is going to affect all of you.”
“Let me guess,” said Darius. “We have to go after Skeete.”
A mild wave of laughter flowed through the group.
“Really, Mr. Bernard,” said Darius. “You’re getting so predictable.”