A Hero's Death: Aris Crow Vampire Legend

by Rachel McClellan

  "That's not what I'm aiming for."

  "Wha—"

  "Hang on tight." I leapt from the roof and spun so I faced the building. I hooked my hands onto the first window ledge, bringing us to a stop, my legs dangling precariously in the air. Oz nearly slipped from me, but I reached back with one hand and pressed him to me.

  "I said hold on," I whispered.

  He scurried back onto me and wrapped his arms tightly around my neck. "This is insane!"

  I let go of the ledge and dropped to the next one. I caught it with both hands. This time, Oz's grip remained firm. One more to go.

  I easily caught the next one. While I held as still as possible, Oz quietly climbed up me and onto the ledge. He slid open Amy's window and climbed inside.

  I followed but immediately stumbled into him. "Move out of the—"

  He elbowed me. I looked up to see what the problem was. Two men stood in the kitchen, their guns pointed directly at our faces.

  31

  The taller man turned to his partner and said, "Victor called it, Matt. He said the little punk would show up. And with the Crow, no less."

  "Why don't you two have a seat while we make a phone call?" said the other guy, Matt. A man bun was pulled tight to his head, and he wore a ski jacket with Bermuda shorts. It was an odd combination. "Secure them, B."

  ‘B’, whatever that stood for, looked like he’d been around the block a few times. Tattoos littered his body, including half of his face. They might have looked cool once, but parts of them were covered in scabs, with many of them having been picked at recently.

  I glanced at Oz and motioned for him to sit down.

  He casually dropped onto a dining room chair. "You guys know you're on the losing side, right? You should probably just leave."

  B motioned for me to sit down, too. When I did, he circled behind both of us and knelt by Oz to tie his hands together. He said, "Pretty sure we're winning."

  Oz chuckled. "We'll see about that."

  Matt said, "If either of you move a muscle, I will shoot. I'm getting paid either way."

  Before Oz was completely restrained, I did two things at once. I kicked my left foot to the side toward Oz's chair, knocking him and it to the ground; and, I jumped and spun, taking B with me and throwing him in front of my body. The gun exploded and hit B in the back three times. I shoved him forward, tossing him into Matt. Both of them fell to the ground, one of them dead. I felt no guilt.

  Matt pushed the body off himself and pointed the gun at me again. He fired but I was already circling the room. I kicked the gun from his hands. My next kick landed square into his face, knocking him out cold.

  I turned to yell at Oz to hurry, but he was already sprinting down the hallway. I went to the window and peered down. Having heard the gunshots, the two men were already on their way up the fire escape, their steps rattling the metal. No doubt the guys in front were also rushing in.

  "We gotta go!" I yelled to Oz.

  I heard him throwing things around his room. He called out to me, "Take all the medicine in the cupboard above the microwave. There's a bag below the sink."

  I did as he said, grabbing a plastic sack and swiping all the medicine into it. It was more than I expected. I tied it closed as I walked down the hall. "It's time."

  He shoved a square piece of equipment and several wires into a backpack. He dropped beneath his bed and reached way in the back. Seconds later, he pulled out another square box and shoved it in the backpack, zipping it up. "I'm ready."

  I hurried back to the window and climbed out to the fire escape. Oz was right behind me. The men below took the stairs two at a time, and when they saw us they fired their weapons.

  Oz didn't have to be told. He leapt onto my back and held on tight. I crouched low and sprang upward, hoping I could clear the jump while carrying someone. I was almost to the top when I realized we weren't going to make it. I reached up and just managed to catch the top ledge. I jerked forward, propelling us up onto the roof, bullets whizzing by us.

  As soon as we landed, I sprinted across the top to the other end and bounded across the opening to the nearest building. I did this two more times until we reached the street where I was parked.

  "Hold on," I said and jumped all the way to the ground. It wasn't near as graceful a landing as I was used to, but we made it.

  We slid into the car, and, after bringing the engine to life, I slammed my foot onto the accelerator. The tires squealed as we pulled away from the curb.

  Oz cried out triumphantly and laughed hard. "Did you see the looks on those guys’ faces?"

  I shifted the gearshift down and continued to drive. That had been close, too close. My heart still hammered against my chest. Not once had I been concerned for myself, but for Oz. He could've easily been shot with how many bullets had been flying by us.

  I would have to be more careful. I should never have taken him.

  "I'll drop you off at an Ironwood entrance," I said, pressing the gas pedal harder. "Work quickly. I want to end this tonight."

  I whipped around the corner, the back end of the car sliding dangerously close to a light post.

  "If you don't slow down," he said, gripping the side door tightly, "you're going to get us pulled over, and you don't want to stop in this part of town. We will be robbed faster than you can roll down the window."

  I eased up on the gas and pulled into an alley. "Do you remember how to get back from this entrance?"

  He peered out the window. "I think so. I'll text you if I get lost."

  He opened the door and exited the car, but just before he closed it, he said, "I don't know if you can, but it would be helpful to know how many cameras I'm going to have to deal with. I remember some of them from when I escaped, but they weren't near Victor's home. Maybe you can think of an excuse to head over to the Devil's Playground?"

  "I’ll see what I can do."

  I left Oz and drove to the underground parking garage beneath Bodian Dynamics. I might have to start driving more. It did take me longer to cross the city, but at least I was protected from the sun's rays.

  I knew something was wrong before I reached the seventh floor. A growing uneasiness had settled into my gut.

  As soon as the elevator doors opened, I hurried into the lab and looked around. At first glance, everything appeared normal. There were several techs already at their stations, but I noticed they kept glancing toward Richard's office. I followed their gaze. The shades were drawn. I did a quick scan of the rest of the floor. My pulse raced when I noticed Emma was missing.

  I headed straight for Richard's office and opened the door without knocking.

  "Look what the cat dragged in," Victor said. "Nice of you to join us."

  He lounged behind Richard's desk, his pointer fingers in a steeple at his chin as he swiveled his chair back-and-forth just slightly. On the other side of him, three chairs had been set up. Emma sat sandwiched between the Physician and Clark, the younger man from the club.

  Emma looked at me in relief.

  "What's going on here?" I asked. I moved closer to stand behind Emma wishing I could reach out and reassure her with my touch.

  "Nothing really." Victor smiled. "We were just picking at this beautiful, young woman's mind. She’s smart. I think I may move her to a different division."

  "I'm happy here," she said.

  "You say that as if that's important," Victor said.

  "Where's Richard?" I asked.

  "He's been promoted. From now on, he will be working at my private lab. He's working on something groundbreaking, a project you helped start."

  "I want to talk to him," I said.

  He leaned forward on the desk and stared at me. "I had a good time last night, but don't have any illusions. We are not friends. You cannot tell me what to do. It's me that does the telling, me that does the enforcing, and me that orders the killing. Do you understand?"

  I ground my teeth together and stared at him. The Physician rose to his fee
t and glowered next to me.

  "Yes," I forced myself to say. The only thing keeping me from jumping across the desk and strangling him to death was knowing that I would have my revenge on him tonight.

  "Good man," Victor said. He leaned back into his chair and began to swivel back-and-forth again. "Have you had a chance to do any detective work on that little project I wanted you for?"

  "Not yet," I answered.

  "Then why the hell are you in here when you should be out there trying to find the son of a bitch who made a fool of me?" Victor practically yelled the last words.

  "I just had to grab a few things from the office. I'm leaving in just a minute."

  The Physician inched aggressively closer. I could just make out the sound of a throaty growl aimed at me.

  I motioned for Emma to get up. She quickly obeyed and moved behind me. Victor followed her movements. I didn't like the predatory gleam in his eyes. Then he turned his cold, calculating gaze to me.”

  Victor continued to swivel the chair. "You know what I found interesting last night?"

  I waited for him to answer his own question.

  "Our vigilante didn't destroy anything of mine. I think that's the first time in over two weeks."

  "Why is that interesting?" I asked.

  He came to his feet and circled the desk, standing just a couple of feet away from me. "Because last night you were with me. Don't you think it's odd that the one night you're in my presence, nothing happens?"

  Victor stared hard at me, and so did his men. I also felt Emma's eyes watching me.

  “After two weeks of nonstop attacks, maybe the guy finally needed to sleep," I finally said. "We're leaving now."

  I headed toward the door, but Victor reached out and took hold of my arm. It was a much stronger grip than I expected. I motioned Emma past me and out the door. She looked back at me hesitantly, but I nodded her forward. She slowly slipped by me, her eyes sad.

  "I expect an answer soon about this Oz fellow," Victor said.

  This got me thinking. "I'd like to come by your home later today and see where he was last held. Maybe I'll notice something no one else did."

  "My men thoroughly scoured the area. They didn't miss anything."

  I looked at Clark and the Physician, then back to Victor. "I'm not your men. They're used to being there. I'm not. What you need is fresh eyes on the scene."

  "If you're that sure of your abilities, then go for it. Speak to my guy Jordan. I'll let him know you're coming."

  I nodded and left the room. I could still feel the remnants of Victor's tight grip on my arm, and it made my blood burn hot. Rage was building inside me. I only hoped I could keep it in check before tonight.

  32

  As soon as I was out of their sight, I circled back around to where I could see Emma. Our eyes met and I motioned her toward me. When she was within reach, I pulled her into an empty break room and closed the door.

  "Are you okay?" I asked.

  She nodded. "They were asking a lot of questions about you."

  "They are just trying to get to know me. It's nothing for you to worry about."

  She closed the distance between us and hooked her fingers through mine. "I am worried. He keeps giving you these impossible tasks. Plus, they've taken Richard to who knows where, and I'm afraid I might be next."

  "I won't let anything happen to you."

  She wrapped her arms around me. Her warm touch turned my rage to burning desire, and I resisted the urge to press her against the wall and kiss her all over again.

  "You need to be careful," she said, her voice soft. "There's something wrong with Victor, beyond just being an overall creep."

  I gripped her tightly, wishing I could tell her the truth. "Go straight home after work today."

  She pulled away and looked up at me. "But I'm scheduled to work at the diner. I can't just not show up. Besides, I need the money."

  "I'll cover your lost wages. Please call in sick."

  With Victor showing up at Bodian two days in a row, I couldn't help feeling that something terrible was going to happen. Victor seemed almost desperate, and I didn't like that a lot of his attention was focused on me. Part of me wondered if deep down he sensed who I was. If that was the case, then Emma could be in more danger than I thought.

  She searched my eyes. "What aren't you telling me?"

  I kissed her on the forehead, an action I wished I could do for the rest of my life. "I need you safe, and I won't be around to make sure that will happen. I can't lose you."

  "Funny thing to say to someone you've only known for a short time, don't you think?"

  I didn't answer for fear I might finally speak the truth.

  She reached up and caressed my cheek. "I feel like I've known you for a long time."

  I swallowed, then cleared my throat. "Will you go straight home?"

  "For you, yes."

  The weight constricting my chest lifted and I exhaled the breath I’d been holding. "Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow morning as soon as I can."

  "You better." She lifted on her tiptoes and kissed me lightly, but as soon as our lips touched, it was impossible to stop. I moaned low in my throat and deepened the kiss, my insistent mouth parting her soft lips. I breathed her in, wanting desperately to taste her, lick her, drink her…just be close to her. She tugged on the back of my shirt, urging me closer even though there was no more space between us, and yet, I felt as if someone had crammed the whole world between us.

  I stepped back, breathless and berating myself for being careless. Victor was probably still in the building. Already I had revealed too much when it came to Emma, but if he caught us just now?

  She seemed to read my mind. "One day, you're going to need to let go of all that responsibility. Life should be lived with passion and joy, not weighed down by guilt and self-control. I have a feeling you've already lived a lifetime with those burdens."

  "How—?" I couldn't finish the question. I just searched her eyes, wondering if she knew who I really was.

  "Go," she said. "Do what you’ve got to do, but when it's finished, let yourself be truly free."

  Nodding once, I disappeared before I changed my mind. Soon this would all be over, then maybe I would take her advice. If Victor were out of the picture, what would stop me from being with her? From having a normal life?

  I just had to make sure that everything went perfect tonight. At least Emma would be safe at home behind a security system. Not like that would really stop Victor if he really wanted her, but it was something.

  I drove my car through Pigtown toward Victor's home. I thought of Richard. There's a chance he could've been taken there. Maybe I would get lucky and get the chance to talk to him. I need to make sure he left by choice and not by force. Something told me it was the latter.

  As I drove slowly up the long lane to the Devil's Playground, I took extra care to notice everything I could about the security system. I spotted at least half a dozen cameras in the trees, and those were just the ones I could see. There weren't as many guards as I expected, though. Maybe more came at night.

  I circled around the nightclub until I reached Victor's home. I parked in front and walked up the steps. They were in full sunlight so I kept my head down, glad I had at least worn a long jacket.

  The door opened before I reached it. A bald, skinny man wearing a suit that looked way too big for him stepped outside, stopping me from entering and leaving me standing in the sun. I resisted the urge not to claw at my skin.

  "Can I help you?" he asked.

  "Victor sent me. Is Jordan here?"

  "He's expecting you?"

  "Yes. Is he here?" I rolled my shoulders back and cocked my neck. Much more of this and I was just going to have to barrel past the old guy.

  "Let me call him." He reached into his pocket and removed his phone.

  "I'm not waiting." I side-stepped him and walked into the shaded doorway, my flesh immediately relieved. I moved further into a grand foyer
unlike anything I had ever seen before. A fountain sprayed water at least ten feet high in the center of the room. Behind it, a wide staircase swept up to the second floor.

  "Now hold on a minute, young sir," the man began. "You have not been given access—"

  "You must be Adam," a voice said.

  I turned around. A tall, barrel-chested man with a ruddy complexion stood off to my left in between two white, decorative pillars. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with a bunny on its front. A knife stuck out of the bunny's back, its white fur stained red. The t-shirt's headline read: I HATE BUNNIES.

  "You're Jordan?"

  He turned around. "Follow me."

  I passed the old man who stared at me in disdain and followed after Jordan. Jordan didn't seem like Victor's usual guys who loved to show off their badassery in a ruthless glare or a random flex of their muscles. He seemed more bored than anything else.

  We walked into a room with a big-screen TV that was paused on some videogame of men fighting with AK47's. Jordan picked up a bowl of cold cereal on the end table and took a few bites.

  "Just a second," he said through a mouthful.

  "Take your time."

  I casually looked around the room, but took note of as many details as I could. So far, I'd spotted only one camera in the entryway. Nothing like what I found outside. There were three leather sofas in the large room, all set up around the TV as if Victor often hosted massive gaming competitions. One controller was on the ground, smashed to bits. I eyed Jordan sideways as he drank the milk from his bowl, wondering if he had a temper.

  He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and set the bowl down. "Victor said you wanted to inspect the place. Something about that kid who got away."

  "That's the plan." I glanced out the window toward the Devil's Playground. I could just see the back of it through the expansive lawn and several mature trees.

  "Do you really know what you're doing, or is this just Victor testing you?" he asked.

  "The latter."

  "Sucks to be you. And maybe me, too, especially if I have to scrape your body off the floor tomorrow. I really hate the smell of blood. It makes me barf."