Blood and Needles

by Billy Lyon

  “Sorry guys,” Steven said. “My girl’s tripping balls on mushrooms, and I need to get her home before she really starts to freak out and gets security over here. I try and tell her to just stick to weed like I do, but she refuses to listen, and this is what happens.” He held up his hands and smiled innocently, as if to say, what are you gonna do?

  The man and woman, obviously veterans of one or two bad trips themselves, suddenly became Steven’s best friends. The male stepped forward and tried to steady the human. He stunk to high heaven from being out in the sun for God knows how long without taking a bath. “Yeah dude, you’d best get your lady home,” he said and handed the woman over.

  His partner, who had been silently observing things up to this point, gave the woman a sympathetic look, her soft green eyes genuinely concerned. “Yeah, Hun. Lay off the ‘shrooms. Drugs are bad, but weed is good. Just stick to the ganja.”

  “Right,” Steven said. “I’ll make sure that she does from here on out. Take it easy, guys, and thanks.” He took hold of her and gently, but firmly led her back towards the exit. “Nice try,” he whispered into her ear.

  Things had gone well so far, but the flying time to Citywalk along with the thirty minutes it had taken to catch the woman had eaten up a huge chunk of Steven’s time. On the way he had formed a loose plan on how to get her back to the mansion, but there were only fifty minutes left before time expired, so he would have to step things up. He walked the woman back through the main entrance to the parking garage without being seen and took her to the first car he saw. Thankfully it was a black and yellow Bumblebee Camaro, so speed wouldn’t be an issue.

  As a junkie Steven had lived outside the law by default, and could hotwire a car as easily as he could brush his teeth. He quickly looked to the left and right to make sure there were no Rent-a-Cops nearby and smashed the passenger’s side window with his fist. He then reached in and opened the door, slid across the seat to the driver’s side, and dragged the woman in along with him.

  She punched and kicked all the way, managing to deliver a blow to the bridge of Steven’s nose hard enough to stun him.

  “Damn it! He screamed. “You hurt me, you bitch!” Blinded by the pain, it took him a few seconds to locate the woman. She’s made it farther than Steven would have thought possible, and had almost reached the crowd.

  Steven ran to her. “Fuck this,” he said and knocked her unconscious. Then he dragged her back to the Camaro and pulled her inside, this time with no interruptions. He tore open the car’s ignition panel and started the car. Not long after, his only problem was avoiding the Highway Patrol as he sped back home along Interstate 4. Twenty minutes later he dropped his prize at Teresa’s feet. “Seven minutes left,” he said proudly.

  “It’s five and a half by my clock, but who’s counting? Great work, Steven! I have to say I’ve never seen anyone do such a kick-ass job in Vampire 101. You’re going to be a great warrior.”

  Steven hugged her tight. “Thanks. Now where’s my diploma?”

  Teresa smiled and pointed at the still unconscious human. “I don’t have a diploma, but how about a prize. Are you hungry?”

  “You bet I am.” Steven lifted the woman, buried his face into her neck, and drank until she was empty. Then he remembered Teresa. “Sorry. I should have offered you some.” “It’s okay,” Teresa said, laughing. “I flew over to Daytona on the way back and picked up a stripper. There’s always lots of dope in a stripper’s blood.”

  “This is true,” Steven said. Now that the evening’s work was done he felt full, satisfied, and sleepy. He wanted to head back and crawl into his coffin but remembered that Anna Marie wanted to see him before they went to bed. “Look, Teresa, I hate to run, but-”

  “Yeah, I know. Anna Marie came by while I was waiting on you and asked me to remind you that you were supposed to meet her.” She poked Steven mischievously. “Did I notice a gleam in her eye that wasn’t there the last time I saw her? What did you two get up to while I was gone?”

  Steven feigned innocence. “Why, Teresa, whatever do you mean?”

  “Yeah, right. Okay then, don’t tell me. I’ll see you later, Handsome.”

  19

  Steven walked back to the mansion and climbed the stairs that led to the suite of rooms he now shared with Anna Marie. It was empty except for a note pinned to the bedroom door. He removed it and read:

  Steven,

  I’m sorry that I couldn’t meet you here like I planned. There’s an important Council meeting taking place tonight that I would like for you to attend. I meant to wait for you but something came up and I had to leave early. If you don’t mind coming on your own I’ll meet you there. Here are directions…

  Steven left the bedroom and walked upstairs to the fourth floor. Before long he heard familiar, yet angry voices coming from inside one of the closed doors. He entered the room, which lacked the lavish furnishings he’d seen in every part of the mansion so far. Its walls were painted a mild cream color and were covered with a few simple paintings. All in all, it looked more like a conference room one might find inside an airport business hotel than a mansion filled with vampires.

  Two things were evident to Steven as he quietly took a seat beside Joseph and Samantha. The first was that he had missed the start of the meeting, and the second was that things had quickly turned contentious. Eric was shouting at Anna Marie, his face twisted in anger. Steven looked around for Teresa, but she was nowhere in sight.

  “I don’t care how much natural talent he’s got, Your Majesty,” Eric said. “It simply isn’t wise to allow someone who hasn’t been a member of the clan for even a week to join the ruling Council, let alone participate in a war party! I believe you’re thinking either with your heart or your crotch. Either way, the consequences to the clan could be severe. I can’t simply sit by and say nothing as long as your judgment, which is usually foolproof, is compromised by your relationship with Steven.”

  The tone Eric was using was so disrespectful that Steven halfway expected Anna Marie to throw him out of the room, but she appeared completely nonplussed.

  Good for you, Steven thought. Don’t give him the satisfaction.

  “Eric,” Anna Marie said with no trace of anger in her voice, “I love you to death, I really do. You have a strong and forceful personality, one that has proven valuable to the clan many times over the years. I have always valued your opinions, even when they don’t agree with my own.”

  Steven looked around to see the others’ reactions. Joseph’s face was stoic and revealed nothing, but Samantha nodded angrily in agreement with Anna Marie. As for Eric, he began to squirm slightly in his seat, probably realizing that he had gone too far. I’m glad I’m not in his shoes, Steven thought.

  “I will not, however, allow just criticism and open discussion to be subverted by mere jealousy,” Anna Marie continued. “We both know the real reason you’re so upset is that you’ve discovered Steven and I are lovers, not to mention the fact that you’re worried any authority I might grant him will put a huge kink in your ongoing efforts to subvert my own.”

  Eric said nothing.

  “I didn’t want to bring up the issue of your feelings for me at this meeting, but you leave me no choice.” Anna Marie looked at Joseph and Samantha. “Eric has made more than one emotional advance towards me over the years, and I’ve politely refused each one. Last evening, he walked into my chambers unannounced and found Steven and me in bed together. I informed him as kindly as I could that Steven and I would be living together. I’ve been alone for thousands of years, so the decision to take a mate doesn’t come lightly to me. I’m in love with Steven and in the short time that I’ve known him he has made me happier than I’ve ever been.”

  “I’m sorry for arriving late to the meeting,” Steven interrupted, “but could someone please tell me what it is exactly that has caused so much trouble?”

  It was Joseph who answered. “Anna Marie has been telling us how well you performed in your training
. In fact, Teresa told her that you’re the best natural hunter she’s seen in quite some time, which is saying a lot. The Queen thinks that because of your hunting skill and outstanding attitude you would make a good addition to our council. She also believes you would benefit greatly by accompanying us on an upcoming mission. As you can see, Eric is most displeased with the suggestion.”

  Joseph paused to give Steven time to digest what he had said before continuing. “Personally, Steven, I’m glad you and Anna Marie have found each other. We have hoped that she would meet someone worthy of her love for many years now. He turned to Samantha. “Is there anything you would like to add?”

  “I’m also happy that Anna Marie is now with Steven,” Samantha said. “He’s obviously a very worthy vampire or she wouldn’t have chosen him. At the same time, I feel that there might be a kernel of wisdom in Eric’s opposition. I have no problem with Steven joining our council, mainly because we haven’t added anyone in God knows how long. New faces are always good ideas because they bring new ideas and fresh ways of problem-solving with them. As for the mission, it may be that Eric is right. It could be dangerous to allow someone so inexperienced to participate.”

  “Exactly!” Eric shouted. “He’s too young, and he’s never done this kind of thing before. If we let him go on the mission and he screws up even a little bit, someone could get killed.”

  Steven stood. “I realize that I’m a very young vampire and new to the ways of the clan. I think I’ve mentioned to everyone here personally how grateful I am for the kindness each of you has shown by making me feel so welcome. This especially goes for Anna Marie. I didn’t expect to fall in love with her, but I did. Now that it has happened, I plan on spending every possible second close by her side. Even so, I have no desire for power or to supplant anyone’s authority. The only thing I want is to learn as much as I can about the ways of the clan and eventually assist in its leadership if I am found worthy.”

  Joseph winked at Steven. “I think that each word that comes from this young vampire’s mouth separates him by miles from Eric in maturity and judgment. I see no reason why he shouldn’t join our council. At the same time, I must agree with Samantha regarding our plans for Wednesday.”

  Before anyone could say anything else, Teresa rushed into the room and took the last empty seat. “Sorry I’m late,” she said breathlessly. “I managed to catch the tail end of your discussion, and I think my suggestion for Steven to join the battle party has been misunderstood. When I mentioned to Anna Marie that he might come along I meant that he should do so only as an observer. It’s true that he doesn’t have the experience yet to take an active role, but it would still serve as a great learning opportunity for him to come along and shadow the rest of us.

  To be frank, I really don’t understand the reason for Eric’s objection. Anna Marie sent Steven along with Eric after only one night after being brought over, as an advisor. Eric, did Steven do anything the other night to put either of your lives in danger?”

  Eric whispered something unintelligible.

  “What was that?” Teresa asked.

  Eric glared at Teresa, but refused to speak.

  “Since Eric has gone silent, I’ll continue,” Teresa said. “Steven’s hunting and tracking skills are truly exceptional and I am confident one day he will be as good a soldier as I. This is why I want him to learn about the military arm of the clan as quickly as possible. I would, of course, stay close by his side to make sure that he doesn’t do anything that might endanger anyone else. Does anyone object to this other than Eric?”

  No one said anything.

  Anna Marie stood. “Thank you all for your input,” she said. “Since we seem to have an agreement among the majority of the council. I hereby declare Steven a full member of the ruling council and grant him permission to participate in Wednesday’s mission as an observer.”

  Eric jumped to his feet. “This is bullshit! Fucking bullshit! How can anyone judge the combat ability of a brand new vampire based on how he performs in a few dumb games? He caught a few animals and a stupid woman who couldn’t fight back. It doesn’t mean a goddamned thing!”

  “Yet if I remember correctly, you failed at those same dumb games four times before you got them right,” Teresa said, and Eric lunged at her angrily. Steven stepped between them.

  “Maybe I can settle this to everyone’s satisfaction,” he said. “Eric, if I were to beat you in hand-to-hand combat would you feel more convinced of my ability to fight for the clan?”

  Eric laughed at the suggestion. “Yes, but….”

  “No buts. Do you accept or are you afraid to fight me?”

  “I accept,” Eric said icily.

  Steven looked around the room. “Does anyone object? We have an hour before dawn. That should be plenty of time for us to settle this and move on.” No one voiced any disagreement. Steven turned to Eric. “Are you ready?”

  “Oh, I’m more than ready, Pretty Boy.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  The vampires left the room and were walking towards the front door when Anna Marie’s voice popped into Steven’s head.

  “Are you sure about this? Eric is a really good fighter and he’s been doing it a hell of a lot longer than you have.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m ready.”

  “Cocky, aren’t you? I like that.”

  “I know.”

  “Good luck then, stud. You’re going to need it.”

  20

  It really is darkest before the dawn. That’s how it seemed to Steven, anyway, as the group passed through the front doors of the mansion and walked outside. The moon, which had shone so brightly only a few hours before, was now hidden behind a thick layer of black clouds. Distant thunder boomed in the distance and announced the approach of one of the powerful, yet short-lived storms so common to Florida during the summer months.

  Steven looked into the distance and saw a squirrel scamper up a tree. Briefly he wondered if his friend from earlier in the night had come to lend him moral support. He probably should have felt nervous, but didn’t. To be honest, he was more than a little bit pissed off. He knew he was vastly outmatched and that the fight with Eric probably wouldn’t end well (for him at least), but he refused to let the other vampire get the upper hand just because Anna Marie hadn’t reciprocated his feelings.

  Steven glanced at Eric. He was slender, his body was ripped, and he had to have been at least three inches taller than Steven. Even scarier was the fact that he had been fighting other vampires fifteen hundred years before Steven was born. The last attempt Steven had made at any kind of physical combat was a half-hearted fist-fight in the eighth grade that had been broken up before it had gone much further than the shoving stage.

  Steven felt the eyes of the Council fall heavily on him as he and Eric began to circle one another. “All right Eric, let’s do this,” he growled.

  “Are you sure you want to?” Eric retorted. “You’re going to get hurt, and pretty badly at that. I’m not going to show you any mercy just because you’re new.”

  “I don’t recall asking for any. If you think you can hurt me, then stop talking about it and do it.”

  “I’m only trying to spare you some embarrassment. What do you think Anna Marie will do once she’s watched me beat the living shit out of you?”

  “I guess she’ll take me to bed and lick my wounds,” Steven said. “She does seem to enjoy using her tongue, but you wouldn’t know about that would you, Eric?”

  These words got the reaction Steven was hoping for. Eric let out a scream of rage and charged blindly ahead at full speed. Steven quickly sidestepped and threw out his left foot. Eric tripped on it and fell hard to the ground. Steven expected this maneuver to grant him some time but was disappointed to see Eric bounce up almost immediately. For some reason the jingle from an old toy commercial popped into his head. Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down, Steven thought as he waited for Eric’s next attack.

  Luckily f
or Steven, Eric’s anger was still well above the empty mark, which precluded any sense of strategy on his part. This would have been a good thing if Steven had come up with any sort of game plan, but he hadn’t. Pissing Eric off had worked so far, however, so he decided he might as well keep it up.

  “What was it like watching me trip off to bed with Anna Marie, Eric? Hell, I’d only known her two days before I fucked her.” This time Eric didn’t so much scream as howl as he ran toward Steven again. Steven knew his tripping ploy had no chance of working a second time so he leapt into the air and flew upward until he was ten feet or so above Eric’s head. The move bought him a couple of seconds, and Steven used them to slice open one of the veins on the surface of his left hand. He brought the wound up to his lips and drank, relishing the power the blood provided.

  By now Steven was flying high above Eric’s head and had gained sufficient altitude to make his next move. He descended swiftly into a power dive and crashed into Eric at full speed, knocking him forward onto his knees. Steven leapt onto his back, sank his fangs into Eric’s neck, and shook his head back and forth like a dog playing with its favorite chew toy. Eric was still much too strong, however, and threw Steven off with ease.

  Suddenly, before Eric could attack a third time, Steven turned into a bat and flew upward at an almost vertical angle of attack, gaining altitude quickly. He looked right and left, but Eric was nowhere to be found. He started to engage his sonar when Eric (who was now also a bat) collided with him and sent his body falling rapidly towards the earth.

  Steven regained control fairly easily but hid the fact from Eric. Instead he flapped his wings and spun his body in an exaggerated manner, making it look like he was about to crash. Eric took the bait and chased Steven downward with all of his considerable speed, clearly sensing victory. Steven waited until he was mere inches from the ground and then pulled up sharply and flew away in the opposite direction. Eric slammed into the ground.