Legacy of the Shadow’s Blood

by E G Bateman

  “So, what exactly happened then, with Barry?” Scott asked.

  Lexi was glad of the opportunity to talk about something to distract her from the rage she felt. “We traced him to an old factory. I separated from my group and he jumped me and knocked me out. When I came to, he was dripping blood into my mouth. I realized the fucker was planning to turn me. Seconds after the blood went in, it was like someone had switched on a light and I could see the whole place like it was daylight. It was useful in that moment but not a good sign for going back to Kindred, even though I experienced for the first time what those enhanced senses were like for the other legacies. I had a shuriken in my sleeve. I slid it up his middle and ran while he tried to stop his guts from falling out.”

  “Was the kid okay? Or did you have to…” He left the sentence hanging.

  “I ran to the next floor and toward the sound of crying. I heard the others coming in the front. If they had seen me then, they would have known I’d been exposed to vamp blood. I’d heard what happened to people who were contaminated. I had to get into the light, but the windows on that level were completely bricked up. I found the boy tied up and he looked unharmed. I was relieved that I might not have to kill him.

  “I slapped an explosive charge on the bricks where the window had been, grabbed the kid, and ran into the hallway.

  “After a hole was blown in the wall, I took him into the room. First, I forced my eyes open to the daylight. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I wanted to scream. Inside, I was screaming. At first, it was like my eyes were on fire. After a few seconds, I blinked and the worst was over.”

  Scott stared out of the window. “So that’s how it happened. I was taught tasting vampire blood meant you were lost forever. I thought that was true until I met you.”

  “That was what they told me too but I didn’t feel lost. I merely felt like me.”

  He turned to her. “Did you get away with it? Or was that when you left?”

  “When they came in, I held the boy’s face to the hole in the wall and pretended to check his eyes. I felt them watching me as I turned the crying kid’s face to me. His eyes were watering from the dust in the air after the explosion. I hoped mine looked the same—only irritated. I checked his neck, then cut the cable ties on his hands and feet. I took the kid to the doorway, passed him to my sister Maggie, and asked if anyone wanted to check me, but they said I looked okay. God, my heart was in my mouth.” Lexi shook her head at the memory.

  “So, they let you walk away?”

  “Braxton, the father of the unit, wasn’t convinced. My senses were heightened, remember. Honestly, I expected a silver dagger in my back as I walked down the hallway. As I reached the stairs, he spoke my name. I almost stopped before I realized he’d whispered. There was no way I’d have been able to hear that with human hearing. I kept walking and waited for it to wear off. So, any more questions?”

  “Are you going to eat that last McRib?”

  They parked at the motel and Scott stretched into the back to retrieve the bags.

  “It’s probably best no one sees those labels.” He vanished.

  Lexi sighed and trudged up the stairs, trying to keep her scraped palms from touching the rusty metal railing.

  He was on the balcony and his cell was ringing when she reached the room.

  “If I step in there, I’ll lose the signal.” He put it on speaker and placed it on the metal railing, then twirled his finger in a circle. Lexi knew by now that this meant no one else could hear them. She stood near the phone while he went into the room to pull his first aid kit from his bag.

  “How’s it going?” Dolores asked.

  She conveyed her irritation in three words. “Well, hello, Dolores.”

  “Oh, dear. You didn’t kill him, did you?”

  Lexi paused long enough that she was certain Dolores would be perspiring. “No. We talked. He’s still an asshole but we can work together.”

  “He’s forgiven you? Just like that?” The woman sounded surprised.

  “Excuse me? He’s forgiven me?” Her voice was so high at the end, she squeaked.

  “You did leave him with a broken neck, dear,” Dolores admonished.

  “He told me it was he who called you that night to get me out of Chicago.”

  “That’s right. Did I never mention that?” She knew damn well she’d never mentioned it. Lexi remained silent.

  “Did you know he’s rich?” Scott jumped into the gap in the conversation.

  “Well, he was one of the most famous movie actors in the forties. By he, I mean his grandfather, obviously!” The older woman chuckled.

  “Did you know James Dean sat on his—” Scott began.

  “We’re not going through that again,” Lexi interjected and held a hand up to silence him.

  “Have you made contact with the client?” Dolores asked.

  “Yes. She thinks a local businessman is behind all this.”

  The other end of the phone was silent.

  “Dolores?” Scott checked the cell to see if they’d lost the connection.

  “Yes, I’m here. Sorry. I was looking out of the window.” She sounded distracted.

  Lexi was immediately on the alert. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s probably nothing.”

  “But?” She drummed her fingers on the rail.

  “You know when you see the same car too many times in too many different places?”

  “That fucking cult. Why can’t Kindred let it go?” She banged the metal rail with her fist.

  Scott brought out the gauze and sterile water. “They could be looking for me.”

  She shooed him away.

  “They think I’m stepping on their toes, dear, but yes, Kindred might have discovered one or both of you are with me.” That the woman sounded so calm irked her even more.

  “Is there anything we can do?” Scott leaned in the doorway.

  “It sounds like it’s time to move your office,” Lexi suggested.

  “I have a potential client coming in to speak to me about a job later. But yes, my Spidey sense is tingling. I’ll pack after this appointment.”

  “Do me a favor, Dolores. Pack first.” She was getting bad vibes about the situation.

  “And if you need us, call,” Scott added.

  “I will, dear. Look after each other and Scott, make sure Lexi doesn’t kill William.”

  “I’m right here,” she retorted, but the woman had disconnected.

  Scott took his cell and they entered the room. Lexi sat on her bed and he cleaned the scratches on her face.

  “I don’t like the sound of that.” She bounced her leg up and down, a recent nervous trait.

  “I hope she’s careful,” he muttered as he turned his attention to her palms.

  “I could do this myself, you know.” She didn’t mean to sound sharp but being in close proximity to other people when she was injured made her nervous. Irritated with both herself and everything in general, she put her hand on her knee to force her leg to rest.

  “I’d rather do it myself. I want to be sure I’ve removed all the dirt before I close the wounds. Plus, you’re really jittery.” He stood and threw the gauze into the R2D2-shaped can. “I’m sorry I interfered back there. I was anxious to show you that you have other methods at your disposal now that you have magic.” He returned, placed a hand on the top of her head, and whispered something she didn’t catch.

  Lexi wondered, not for the first time, if he used real words or merely muttered nonsense to annoy her.

  “Your way would have been more discreet, but I’d already committed to my action. That’s not the time to butt in with a different plan.” She looked at her hands and elbows and realized there were no scrapes. When she checked the mirror, her face was blemish-free. “Nice job. Thanks.” She headed into the bathroom.

  Chapter Five

  Lexi didn’t often feel like she was outside her comfort zone. Tonight, she thought she might need a map to find
her way back. She jumped at a knock on the door. Scott stood to answer it while she tried to tuck a two-inch switchblade into her purse. It wouldn’t fit with all the quarters.

  Dick stepped in, wearing a dinner jacket and a bow tie. He stopped in his tracks. “Well, don’t you scrub up nice!”

  She smiled.

  “Did you actually smile? Who are you, and what have you done with Lexi Braxton?”

  “So, what’s our story?” she asked. “Because no one will believe I’m your date.”

  “You’re Bianca, an old friend from Chicago. We’ve known each other for years and you rarely try to murder me. Do you think you can follow the brief?”

  “I don’t know. That last part sounds tricky.” She stuck her tongue out.

  “Just a second.” Scott took her hand and closed his own around it.

  “Erm…” She glanced quickly at him.

  He took his hand away, and in her palm was a shiny silver teardrop pendant on a silver chain.

  “Scott, this is lovely. Can you put it on for me?” Lexi asked. She lifted her hair and he fastened it at the back of her neck as he muttered softly.

  “This will cloak your magical ability from anyone who gets too curious.” He stepped back and looked at her. “Okay, knock ʼem dead.”

  “But please don’t take that literally,” Dick added. They left the room.

  “Don’t forget these.” Scott passed the purse and gloves to Dick.

  The vampire handed the purse to her. “What the hell’s in this thing?” he asked as they reached the vehicle.

  “Put it this way.” She slid into the passenger seat. “If we stumble across a pinball machine, I got us covered.” She winked.

  He glanced sideways at the dress as he drove away. “I must say I’m surprised. You have exceptional taste.”

  Lexi smiled. “What’s even more surprising is that Scott selected it.”

  “He’s quite a dark horse.” Dick laughed. “He seems like a good guy. How did you meet him?”

  “Through Dolores. He went to her for help when his Kindred cell was forcing him to match with someone he didn’t trust.”

  The vampire looked surprised. “It was my understanding that mages and legacies had the autonomy to choose who they were matched with.”

  “They usually do, but Kindred cells essentially run independently. Scott had watched this guy grow up and he was the kind of kid who tortured little animals. He hoped he’d grow out of it, but the guy only grew nastier. In the end, Scott flat-out refused to give him access to his powers. The head of the family was a bastard too. He tried to force him to comply. He didn’t feel safe there.”

  “Couldn’t they have matched the psycho with someone else?”

  “He insisted on Scott. It’s unsurprising. While we don’t get to meet many other units, I have met other mages and Scott’s abilities are beyond anything I’ve seen before.”

  “But he wound up matched with you.”

  “That was his idea and the situation we were in. Actually, I think it saved us both, but he wouldn’t have been wasted on someone like me if we were still in Kindred.” Lexi was ready to leave this conversation behind. “Have you heard from Leonard?”

  “I haven’t and I’m concerned. If I don’t hear anything in the next couple of hours, I’ll have to drop past his place tonight.”

  “I’ll back you up, just in case.”

  “In that?” He indicated the dress.

  “It’s surprisingly versatile.” She grinned.

  They pulled up at the entrance and two valets opened the doors. Lexi took Dick’s arm and they entered the grand foyer, where they were offered champagne. Both declined. Somewhere farther into the building, a soulful woman’s voice sang “Summertime,” accompanied by a live band.

  “William, it’s delightful to see you.” An elderly woman in a long, beaded cream dress with an organza wrap approached him and air-kissed him with a mwah.

  “Betsy, you look younger every time I see you.” He kissed the woman’s hand.

  “Thank you, William. I’ve been bathing in the blood of virgins.” Betsy winked.

  “Good grief, the import fees must be exorbitant.” He returned the wink.

  “William!” The woman feigned shock. “Are you suggesting Palm Springs is completely without home-grown virgins?” She laughed and whispered conspiratorially, “Thank goodness you’re here. We simply don’t see enough of you. I thought I was in for another boring evening of trying to wrangle money out of my frenemies, as the kids say.”

  “So, is there any gossip?” he asked as they walked through the entrance hall.

  “Well, the town’s most handsome and eligible bachelor has arrived with a mysterious, stunning beauty. Let’s start with that.”

  “Where are my manners? Betsy O’Donnell, this is Bianca Maybury, an old friend from Chicago.”

  Lexi shook the woman’s hand.

  “Are you by chance related to the New England Mayburys?” Betsy asked.

  “Oh, we don’t talk about the New England Mayburys,” she replied smoothly.

  “Really? How perfectly delicious. I look forward to hearing you not talk about them later after you’ve visited the gin bar.” The woman grinned at her.

  She grinned in response and decided she liked her irreverence.

  “Save a dance for me, muffin. I’m still holding out hope.” She patted Dick’s behind and moved on to greet more guests.

  “Let’s mingle.” He led them through the rooms and pointed out various paintings and pieces of furniture.

  They stood before a huge painting depicting a War of Independence battle scene. He looked at her. “You’re not very talkative.”

  “I thought you’d use your vamp hearing to listen in on the conversations around us.”

  “I can do both. Anyway, I have a question. If you weren’t trying to kill me in Chicago, what were you trying to do?” They both continued to gaze at the painting.

  He’d probably mulled over her reaction to him calling her “bloodthirsty” in the restaurant the night before. More than likely, he’d already guessed correctly.

  “Can we not get into this now?” Lexi asked.

  “As you wish, but it’s something we need to talk about, isn’t it?” Dick turned to look at her face as she stared resolutely at the painting. She nodded as though she agreed.

  Not if I can avoid it.

  As they wandered past a group of men talking about local business, she slowed to listen. “This is a beautiful”—she looked around for an excuse to have slowed—“vase.”

  The vampire glanced quickly at it. “I’d guess 1899.”

  “As old as that?” She was surprised and leaned in to look closer.

  “Not the age, the price. It looks like it came from Home Depot.” He sneered.

  “Well, there’s William,” a raised voice said from the group of men, clearly intended to get his attention. “If you’re looking for property, Caleb, you could see if he wants to sell.”

  “Stanley, how are you?” Dick asked and maneuvered them toward the group.

  “I’m very well, William.” A man in his fifties stuck his hand out, and they shook.

  “This is Bianca, an old family friend. Bianca, this is Stanley Horton. He’s the chief of police so you be good now.” Lexi shook the man’s hand.

  “What are—” Another man stared wide-eyed at her. He turned to Dick. “You’re in…surprising company this evening.” Turning his attention to Lexi, he continued with an oily smile. “Well, you look too young to be anyone’s old friend.” He licked his lips.

  “And this is Caleb Linden. He’s in property and virtually everything else. Be careful of him. He’s a rascal.” Dick chuckled.

  “William, my reputation—” Caleb started.

  “Precedes you.” The vampire laughed and the men all joined in.

  Lexi understood exactly what he was saying and shook the man’s hand as he continued to stare lasciviously down her neckline.

  She sm
iled and giggled as she imagined thunking the Home Depot vase into his face.

  “What’s this about buying my property?” Dick asked.

  “Don’t worry, William. I know what the answer would be.” Caleb sighed.

  A handsome, slick-looking man with gray at his temples smiled to reveal perfect teeth. “Will, I absolutely forbid you to sell that beautiful piece of history to Caleb. If it became a ninety-nine-cent store, the voters would blame me and this election’s already giving me an ulcer.”

  “Bianca, this is Todd O’Donnell, the current and future mayor,” Dick told her.

  Lexi shook hands dutifully. This is useful. All the players together.

  “Are you local, Bianca?” asked Todd.

  “He means, are you a voter?” Caleb Linden guffawed.

  “I’m visiting with my fiancé, John. We’re here looking at wedding venues, as recommended by Uncle William, and to get the paperwork arranged for our wedding.”

  “Oh, did you hear from the records office, dear?” the vampire asked.

  “No, not a thing.” She shrugged.

  “Not to worry. We’ll call again tomorrow.” He patted her shoulder.

  Lexi saw a brief flicker of a look pass between Caleb and Stanley.

  “How do you pass your time when you’re not at parties with gentlemen of questionable character, Bianca?” Caleb asked.

  Dick put his hand over his heart as though wounded, then chuckled.

  She smiled, but the man wasn’t looking at her face.

  My eyes are up here, douchebag.

  “I’m a dental hygienist, and my fiancé John is a systems design consultant.” She often used the dental hygienist line as no one ever wanted to know more. People usually glazed over at John’s systems job too, but not today.

  “Really? If you’re looking to put roots down here, he should come see me. Where is he currently?” Caleb handed her a card. She took it, smiled, and handed it to Dick. Not even a sliver of card would fit into the tiny purse with all those quarters.

  “He’s been working with a small tech start-up. He’d be able to tell you more about it than I could.” She shrugged and gave a vacuous giggle.

  “Well, I’m always happy to help a friend of a friend.” The man’s eyes were still glued to her breasts.