The cadaverous Legionnaire started toward Rose. Kathy stepped around the table to stand in her way. “If you do what he says, you’ll never be cured. You’ll never be able to return to your old life.”
“My old life sucked. The Legion gives me a purpose.” She hit Kathy’s midsection with the butt of her rifle. Kathy gasped and doubled over. The Legionnaire shoved her into a table and went for Rose.
Struggling to breathe, Kathy clawed at the table to keep from falling.
“Stop or I’ll shoot!” yelled Hector.
The Legionnaire swung her rifle in his direction.
Hector’s pistol clicked.
“Don’t kill my bloodboy,” said Baneful. “I have other uses for him.”
A shot rang out. The female Legionnaire screamed and fell to the floor.
Kathy looked up. Everyone was staring at the balcony. She craned her neck. No one was there.
With eyes and guns raised, Baneful and the male Legionnaire sheltered under opposite sides of the gallery. Baneful sniffed the air. “Vendetta,” he muttered. “Come on, Joe,” he called out. “Your contract is to protect Kathy. I have no interest in her. Let me go with Rose Blood and we’ll call it even. You don’t really want this so-called cure.”
“Go.” Vendetta’s voice came as a whisper from on high. “But I won’t let you take either girl.”
Baneful raised a questioning hand to the Legionnaire across the room. The boy shook his head.
“Look, Joe,” called Baneful. “Without Rose Blood, I have no leverage.”
”Not my problem,” Vendetta whispered.
Kathy turned in a circle, scanning the balcony. Where is he? Why doesn’t he just shoot Baneful? Nothing Hector or I can do. We’re like fleas in a dog fight.
“Be reasonable, Joe. We can cut a deal,” said Baneful.
“You offering something better than immortality?” Vendetta whispered.
Baneful’s gaze fixed on a specific set of bookshelves above. “I can leave the school – go somewhere else. You and Edna can disband the Legion chapter there.”
“You will,” came the whisper. “And we will.”
Shots from Baneful’s pistol shattered the silence. Despite knowing the vampire was firing at the balcony, the startled teens ducked beneath the tables.
A few scraps of paper floated down like confetti as the echoes died away. Along with the paper came another whisper from on high. “You finished?”
“No!” screamed Baneful.
“Yes,” said Bunny.
Kathy popped her head up. Her eyes went wide. Bunny stood behind her half-brother. Her pistol was aimed at his head. “Drop the gun and straighten up real slow,” she ordered.
Baneful’s face seemed to turn from milk to gray pudding. As he complied, Edna LittleHawk prodded Major Winkish into the room. The man’s face was grim, his military posture weighed down by defeat.
“I want a cure!” Across the room the teen Legionnaire threw down his weapon.
“Leave while you can,” said Vendetta coming into view on the balcony. His face and hands were blackened. His two pistols seemed aimed at no one and everyone. The Legionnaire fled.
Baneful turned slowly. He gave Bunny only a passing glance but stared at Winkish. “You freed her?” His tone was incredulous.
“We came to an agreement,” said the Major. “I warned you to get off campus.”
“And I’m done warning you.” Bunny holstered her handgun and took out Kathy’s knife. “Blood ties don’t make a brother.”
Baneful flashed a bitter smile. “You, too, are Satan’s child.” Then his body jerked as Bunny plunged the knife between his ribs and twisted the blade to stop his heart forever.
54
Purpose
With Soo sitting beside her, Kathy watched the dawn skyline of Boston fall away as the chartered jet banked to head west. The leather seats were the most comfortable she’d ever experienced on the ground, much less in an airplane. Behind her, Tanya’s parents were jabbering away in Russian as they tried to process being taken hostage by vampires and forced to upgrade to a larger plane. Tanya had given up trying to soothe them from her single seat across the aisle. Now she, like Hector, who was sprawled out on a divan, was fast asleep. Except for Edna LittleHawk, who sat in the cockpit with the pilot, the other vampires had chosen seats in the rear from which they could keep an eye on everyone, especially Major Winkish. Rose and her father sat midway back, engaged in a quiet discussion.
“So you just walked off the campus?” asked Soo.
“Drove,” said Kathy. “Major Winkish ordered the DHS agents to stand down, so we had no problems.”
“There will be big problems there this morning,” said Soo.
“Not right away. Winkish ordered his agents to quarantine everyone on campus and put out a story that an outbreak of norovirus caused graduation to be postponed.” She glanced toward the rear. “He’s not a likeable guy, but he’s clever enough to know he couldn’t stay behind once Bunny took Dr. Baneful’s video watch from him. I don’t know what the vampires intend to do with him.”
A chime sounded. Kathy glanced upward. The seatbelt light had gone off. She looked over at Hector. He lay facing her, his expression more peaceful than she’d ever seen it. We’ve only touched when we were in danger. What will it be like now that we’re not? She remembered their kiss in the library and smiled. It’s going to be even better.
“It will be useful to have the Major’s knowledge about how Homeland Security will go after us,” said Soo.
“What?” Kathy brought her mind back to the present.
“The government cannot continue to deny we exist. Dr. Quintz’s work will change the world.”
Kathy shook her head. “No. It will just introduce another source of fear and hatred. He made the world a more dangerous place for all of us, especially Rose.”
“He is well aware of that,” said Soo. “When I was guarding him at the motel, he spoke of his great regret about what he’s done. And yet, his work has given me hope that my mother and I may someday return to a normal life.”
“I hope so, too, although I doubt any of us can achieve that after what we’ve been through. How can I go back to a regular high school? Even another boarding school? I can’t share what’s happened without kids thinking I’m either making things up or boasting. And I can’t pretend I’m interested in all the superficial stuff that goes on in schools. Now I understand those soldiers who come back from war and feel no one will really understand except someone who’s been there, too.”
“I feel the same,” said Soo.
“I’m sure. But you have the Wilderness Academy to go to. At least for two years, you’ll be a student with others in the same situation.” You’ll have LittleHawk and Finkelstein to help you, thought Kathy. And you have definite goals. “I’m pretty much on my own,” she said.
“If you prefer not to go on to California with them — ” Soo’s hand indicated Hector and Tanya. “ — you could stay with me at the Academy.”
“I don’t want to be a vampire. That would be endless killing, endless running away.”
“The faculty and I could keep you safe.”
“We’ve been there, done that. It didn’t work out well.”
“Not for my family. But it did for Lionel. And you and Hector found each other.”
For however long it lasts. Kathy bit her lip.
“You are troubled about going with him?”
“We both have our doubts. I said I’d go meet his family, visit for a while, see how it goes. I’m afraid I’ll not fit in there any better than I have anywhere else. I really do love him, I think. But I’m only sixteen! Still, going with him is better than returning to a vampire school in Idaho or an empty house in Greenwich.”
“Hi!” Rose stood in the aisle. She motioned toward Hector and Tanya. “I don’t know how they can sleep. I’m still wired.”
“Me, too,” said Kathy. “You and your father figure out what you’re going to do?�
�
“We’ll go as far as Boise, then head somewhere by ourselves for a long vacation.”
“DHS will come after you,” said Kathy.
“My father says the vampires have secluded villas in different countries. They’ve offered us enough cash so we can stay off the grid.”
“You will not go back to school?” asked Soo.
“I want to go to an art school in the fall. I think I’ll like that a lot better.”
Soo nodded. “So you will live with your father?”
“I don’t know. CQ intends to continue his research but he doesn’t want to be used by either the government or the vampires. He’ll try to find a country that will let him work without government interference.”
Kathy blew air from her lips. “Good luck with that. But at least you know what you want to do and have a good shot at it. I know you’ll get there. You came through for all of us when it counted.”
“It’s amazing,” Rose shook her head in apparent disbelief.
“What is?” asked Soo.
“All those books and ads about how to boost self-confidence? I’ll bet not one of them lists killing a vampire.”
Kathy smiled. “Yeah. But I’m afraid that may change now that your father’s research shows people that vampires are real. Still, you’ve been great. Without you, the bad guys could’ve kept his research for themselves.”
“Yes. I am most appreciative,” said Soo.
Rose blushed. “I would have disappointed everyone without you guys. Let me know when Tanya wakes up, okay?”
“Sure,” said Kathy. She watched Rose walk back to her seat.
“I am pleased Rose has chosen her own path,” Soo said quietly. “You, too, can fill your life with whatever you choose.”
Kathy regarded the girl sitting beside her. “You didn’t choose to be a vampire.”
“True. Or to have to kill.”
“But you do have goals,” said Kathy. “Most people do. Tanya wants to be a bigshot at Stanford. Hector wants to reclaim his family. Rose is determined to be an artist. I’m the only one without a purpose.”
“I suggest you see a guidance counselor,” said Finkelstein as he came forward, Bunny a step behind him.
Kathy bolted upright. God! You never hear them coming. But they hear everything. The two vampires towered over her. “Thank you,” she said, “but I don’t think a guidance counselor can help me with this.”
“How can you be sure unless you try?” said Finkelstein. “We’re helping Rose and her father.”
“You guys won’t ever let go of him,” said Kathy. “Not until there’s a cure, anyway.”
“Not until then,” Bunny agreed. “But prisoners aren’t the best workers. We’ll keep him and Rose safe and help them as needed, but otherwise stay out of their hair.”
“I never dreamed you — I mean you vampires — could be that generous,” said Kathy. “It’s going to ruin your reputation.”
Finkelstein grimaced. “Darling, we’ve always faced tough problems in public relations. I admit it’s worse in today’s world, with 24-hour news cycles and social media. Now that we’ve been pushed out of the closet, it will be a nightmare for everyone. That’s what Mr. Vendetta, Bunny and I have been discussing. We have to make an all-out effort to change our image. You agree?”
“Sure,” said Kathy.
“Good. Because we have agreed that you possess the looks, the brains, and the right blood for the job.”
Her stomach knotted. “After all that’s happened, you’re going to ‘turn’ me?”
“It would be my pleasure,” said Bunny. “But I can wait.” Her serious tone was belied by a wink.
“Turning you into a vampire would ruin your credibility,” said Finkelstein. “Can’t have that.”
“What are you saying?”
“We want you to re-introduce vampires to the warmblood world,” said Bunny.
She gulped. Is she joking? She scrutinized the vampire’s face. She looked undead serious. “Is this an offer I can’t refuse?”
“Darling, you’re always free to say no,” said Finkelstein.
“I’m not special. You probably could hire famous people to do it.”
“None that have lived with us for months and have come out unscathed,” he said.
“It is something you’d be good at,” said Soo.
What would it be like? TV interviews? Paparazzi? No, don’t go there. “I want to spend time with Hector and his family. I promised.”
“That’s fine,” said Finkelstein. “You’ll be in L.A. There’s more than one studio in Hollywood controlled by vampires.”
“It’s for an excellent cause,” said Soo.
“Can I walk away if I don’t like it?” she asked Finkelstein.
“What’s not to like? You’ll be promoting tolerance and peace throughout the world. Was there ever a more important task?” He put a cold hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, darling. We’ll screen out the hate mail and be there to protect you and your loved ones. Still, should you at some point in your life decide it’s not worth doing, you can leave with the satisfaction you did something you really believed in.”
“What more could anyone want than to stand and fight for something you really believe in?” asked Bunny.
“For starters? How about a real home and a loving family?“ said Kathy.
“We’ll be there for you whenever you need us,” said Finkelstein. “I’m sure Soo and Hector will, too. Isn’t that enough?”
“It’s certainly a good start.” Kathy gazed up at him. Suddenly, she frowned.
“What?” asked Finkelstein.
“You sound so straight. Did you really cheat Bunny at cards?”
THE END
The Cure Page 31