“I have to go back to Petersburg and destroy the coven there,” she repeated, having told the story of the attack in Petersburg, stopping at the point where she had made her escape on the fishing boat.
“So why come to us…just because you met us in a bar one day?” Will asked incredulously.
“Well…yeah, that, but I…I don’t know what I was thinking. Danner and Riley were my world. Now I don’t have anything except a burning need to kill those animals. If I knew a bunch of friends that I could call on, I would have done it. But I don’t. I just…”
“Listen to me, Amp,” Ernie interrupted, feeling sorry for the girl, but needing to set her straight. “We aren’t warriors, we’re a bunch of guys that try to stay out of the limelight, a lot like you and your two friends did. We have a little something going on in this area, and it pays the bills. Whenever we need to hunt, we hop on Amtrak, and go into Seattle or Portland, sometimes up into Canada. We don’t fight; we don’t do anything that would draw attention to ourselves. We have never had any interference from other vamps, and we hope that we never will. So as answer to your request; not only no, but hell no. No offense, honey.”
Amp sat staring at the man, sick and defeated. Thinking about it now, she saw what a fool she had been coming to ask this of complete strangers. She should have recognized that these vampires were what they were: non-aggressive loners. Standing, she tried to retain her dignity.
“Thank you for listening to me,” she said softly. “I would greatly appreciate it if you keep this conversation confidential. I’ll be leaving now.”
“You don’t have to leave right away,” Ernie said, although his tone and demeanor gave him away.
“Yes. Yes I do,” Amp said, smiling sadly at the man who she had thought was something he would never be.
Walking out the door and down the drive, trying to get her bearings for town, she knew that somebody had followed her out. Turning, she waited for Nikka to catch up with her.
“I’ll give you a lift back to town,” the blonde said, jerking her head towards the cluster of cars parked at the side of the house.
Amp silently followed the girl, embarrassed at her naiveté, wanting nothing more than to get back to the hotel, gather Katy, and be gone from this town.
Nikka climbed into the driver’s side of a white Chevy Silverado pickup, Amp walking around to the passenger side, Nikka heading the truck back toward Mount Vernon. They drove in silence for the first mile, and then Nikka looked over at the smaller girl.
“That was the most bizarre conversation I’ve ever listened to,” she started. “You have got to be the most desperate thing…to think that anyone would go to those assholes and ask them to fight. That, my young friend, was insane.”
Amp jerked her head around, furious that this girl was making fun at her. What she found was a face full of… not ridicule…but compassion. Her fury died, replaced with the stupidity of the evening. Her emotions were in turmoil, and she ended up laughing, both at the situation, and at herself.
“Yada yada yada, I know…my last and most desperate plan,” she finally giggled. “I thought that crew was some big, badass vamps. Not true, huh?”
“Not true, right. Those guys, people call them the Carnival Crew, are a bunch of reject losers that do nothing but party, and puke, and then party. They make their money wholesaling a bit of drugs up the west coast from Portland to Seattle and into Alaska, not a bunch, but enough. And not a one of them, I’d wager, has ever battled another vampire…not ever. Every single one of those guys is a heroin freak. I don’t think they can be addicts…I’m pretty sure the only thing we are addicted to is blood, but they use a massive amount of the drug. They can’t die from an overdose, so they get a kick out of injecting bigger and bigger doses. They’re sick, and I don’t mean physically. I imagine if they could piss they would have been wetting themselves listening to you talk about being in battle against this Wilson character, about your guys dying. Ernie and his bunch have lived for centuries without a shred of dignity. You were barking up the wrong tree, sister.”
“So what the hell are you doing with them?” Amp asked. Something was out of kilter here.
“I just live in the area,” Nikka replied. “Those guys are acquaintances, not my friends. “It’s good to know each and every vampire that is close to where you settle, and that’s what I do. When I saw you approach them at the Blue Goose, I kinda joined the crowd. I was curious, and I didn’t want them causing you any grief.”
Amp took all of this in, and then quietly replied. “Thank you.”
“Welcome,” Nikka answered. “So where do you go from here? Running out of options, right?”
“Yep, I’m so out of options. Back over to Seattle, I think, and then go from there. One way or another, I’m going back to Alaska and kill these guys. If I have to go alone, then I’ll do the most damage I can with what I got.”
Nikka pulled up in front of the hotel, turning towards Amp with a serious look on her face. “I don’t mean to sound harsh, Amp, but you are one tiny, little vampire girl. You need several warriors, people who have trained and fought, and people who are not afraid of dying. You stand not one chance in hell of doing any damage to this character on your own. That, my little friend, would be a suicide run.”
Amp kept her silence, not revealing her background or the fact that she had just completed an arduous course in killing. The less people that knew she was a vampire warrior, the better her chance at surprise were.
“Yep, that it will be,” she replied. “That’s where I’m at. Thanks for the lift, Nikka.” She opened the door. “See you.”
------
Nikka Olson was lost in her private thoughts as she drove to her small cabin on the outskirts of Mount Vernon. The girl had lived in the Pacific Northwest for many decades; in this particular cabin for eight years. She was comfortable here, and after a very long lifetime of constantly watching her back for the next battle, she had found an inner peace in her simple lifestyle.
Now this little vampire had shown up with her story about being wronged in Alaska, and suddenly Nikka found herself contemplating something she had sworn she would never do again. But, she told herself, if I don’t help her, she’ll go alone…and that would be suicide. She had no doubt that Amp would go, could feel the need in the girl, the absolute resolve to right the terrible wrong she had experienced. A blood debt was all about honor; and Amp was awash in honor.
Walking around her small acreage, Nikka asked herself if she was willing to give this good life up? It wasn’t the first time she had thought about returning to the old life, but this time it was different. The girl needed help, and who better to aid her than Nikka?
Picking up a novel she had been reading, she looked at the page, shaking her head. Maybe it’s what I need, she chuckled. I like the girl, even admire her. I’m lying to myself if I don’t admit that I’ve grown restless lately. Maybe this is an omen, and it’s time to jump back in the game. You are vampire, Nikka Olson; a vampire warrior. After all the wrongs you have perpetrated throughout history, maybe it’s the right time to go to battle for the forces of good. Pretty dramatic, Nik, she laughed quietly…but maybe not so far off. Her mentor had told her that all things in their world eventually balance themselves out. Nikka had tried many times to make that fit her decisions, but that obviously was not the purpose of the lesson. She had a lot of horror in her past, hidden away from all but a select few. Maybe it was time to let things begin to balance.
Gently placing the book down, she carefully removed the bookmark, dropping it in the trash. Don’t think I’m going to finish this, she sighed, making up her mind. Grabbing an overnight bag, she started packing for a trip to Seattle.
------
Wilson’s human woman hadn’t been to town for a few weeks, the business affairs of the Wilson companies keeping her occupied, as well as the overbearing behavior of Beryl. She normally made it into Petersburg at least once a week, having drinks at the Harbor Bar, visit
ing the shops along Main Street, and occasionally meeting somebody and having a casual, anonymous afternoon of fun.
The paranoia that had escalated with so many deaths a year ago appeared to be dormant, and Miriam prayed that Wilson would keep a tighter rein on his progressing insanity. She couldn’t understand what was wrong with the vampire.
The only plausible explanation was that he had been born with mental problems, and upon being turned, had brought the paranoia and delusions along with him to his vampire life. The past several decades had been miserable for Miriam, and Wilson’s mental health was not improving. Her hope of being given eternal life from the vampire kept her from making an issue of it. She needed his blood to remain young, wanted to be turned to gain the ultimate reward. He had always promised her, and was using that promise as the carrot that he constantly dangled in her face.
When Miriam had first been hired by Wilson almost 100 years ago, she was an 18 year old homeless girl, miserable with her life, a failed marriage making it imperative that she find some type of work. It took her little time to use her body to move closer to Wilson, and was soon sharing his bed. Upon discovering the power of his blood, and his need for hers, the relationship evolved to the place where it was now.
Although Miriam had started as an office girl eventually evolving into bookkeeping, she was now the driving force that kept all of the various business dealings running smoothly. Wilson had long ago lost interest in operating anything more than the bodies of his various boy toys. Wilson knew that the loss of Miriam would mean the loss of his considerable income, so even though she drove his madness to new heights with her defiance and manic behavior, as well as her constant unfaithfulness with the working men on the docks, he was careful with the corporal punishment, and generous with his blood donations to keep her young and healthy.
As she parked her Mercedes around the corner from the Harbor Bar, she couldn’t help but remember the night more than a year ago when Sheldon was killed by the girl, Anne Marie, right at this very spot.
Miriam had never been more scared in her life, the girl’s raw courage and rage a thing of beauty. The young girl had been death’s instrument, and Miriam was thankful every day that the girl had spared her.
Sheldon, the blonde vampire who had struck the first blow in the battle against the vampire Danner, had deserved to die, and Miriam had not been sorry to see it happen. When the girl had tossed his head into the car, landing on Miriam’s lap, she had lost complete control of her bladder, and soiled herself.
Looking back, she felt a certain amount of pride that the young girl had attempted to even the score following the murder of her sire and her friend. What balls that girl displayed, Miriam thought, as she walked over the spot where Sheldon had died. Unbelievably huge balls.
What Wilson had done that night was despicable and unforgivable. In Miriam’s mind, Anne Marie had every right to do what she had done, and she was thankful the girl had not taken her head at the same time.
Pushing through the door of the town’s most popular bar, Miriam’s mind switched gears to the reason for being here. There were plenty of visiting fishermen, summer tourists, and lumberjacks that visited Petersburg, and Miriam was on the prowl for some casual, anonymous sex to satisfy the need that she could never fill while living at the Wilson manor. As long as she was discreet and careful, her town liaisons would fill the gap that Wilson no longer could fill.
As she walked down the bar, looking for the man that could fulfill her need, her last thought of Anne Marie was what had become of the little girl, and the hope that she had found someone to take care of her.
------
As Katy and Amp settled side-by-side into their seats on the Amtrak, Amp’s mind was going a mile a minute, trying to decide on her next step, knowing she was alone and desperate. She was embarrassed for thinking that the men of Skagit Valley would be her allies. Her people skills were terrible, having assumed that one short meeting in a bar meant that these guys would support her. Never in her life had she been so wrong about somebody. She told herself, it’s your mistake, not theirs. They have a life; I have nothing.
Her honor demanded that she avenge her friend’s, but the girl Nikka had expressed the truth coldly. It would be a suicide mission going against Wilson alone. She wasn’t afraid of the dying part, but she needed to take as many of Wilson’s people with her, and most important, Wilson had to die. She was all out of ideas, out of friends, and aside from Katy, alone and desperate. The depression came upon her, all-encompassing, not certain she could move forward.
Trying desperately to rid herself of the low feelings, she stared out the window at the approaching darkness, thinking that this part of the country was prime for vampires. Overcast and gray a good part of the year, the sun was not nearly as brutal like it was in Southern California or Florida.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the presence of another vampire on the train, very close, and her body tensed. Turning, she was surprised to see Nikka strolling down the aisle, slipping into the double seat across from Amp and Katy.
“Small world, huh?” Nikka smiled at Amp before turning to Katy. “Hi, I’m Nikka, a friend of Amps.”
Katy smiled at the openness of the pretty girl. “I’m Katy,” she said, pleased to meet a friend of Amp’s.
“You didn’t say you were going to Seattle,” Amp said, wondering about coincidences, at the same time pleased that Nikka had referred to her as a friend. She hoped the girl meant it.
“I thought this would be a lovely time to do some nighttime…errands…in Seattle, and thought how cool it would be if you and I could go together. That is if Katy doesn’t mind. I think what I have in mind might be good for you.”
Amp knew the girl was trying to tell her something, but wasn’t for sure what. It was too good to think that it had anything to do with her busted plans for Alaska.
“Katy will be fine while we do the things we need to do,” Amp replied.
“Sure, I can always find something to do,” Katy said without a great deal of enthusiasm. She knew that being with a vampire would be different, and the most difficult part was knowing that Amp would be gone, doing the things that vamps did. She had yet to bring it up to her lover, but the girl had a burning desire to be turned. Sometime in the future she prayed that Amp would be open to that.
After the conductor checked their tickets, Katy excused herself to explore the train, leaving the two vampires alone.
“What’s on your mind, Nikka? I know this isn’t an accident, us being on the same train.”
“How old are you, Amp?” Nikka asked, changing the subject. She smiled as she waited for the answer.
“132. I was 16 when I was murdered, reborn thanks to the vampire, Danner Gray. You?”
“I was turned in 1490 by the pirate, Jan de Bouff. I was the only survivor from a ship that my sire had plundered and sank in the North Sea off the Dutch coast. I was 19 years old at the time. I was with de Bouff until his head was taken in 1710. I’ve been on my own since.”
Amp was overwhelmed. Vampires earn respect from their age, and this young woman had been around for a long time.
“I’m an infant compared to you,” Amp said quietly. “You honor me with your presence.”
“I’m not here to be honored, Amp, and I’m not trying to impress you. I told you how old I am so that you understand that I do not make decisions lightly. I’m here because when I dropped you off earlier, I felt we weren’t finished, that maybe we have some uncompleted business. I don’t know how else to explain it, only that I feel as though we need to spend time together. You’re either the bravest girl I’ve met in a while, or the craziest. I want to find out which. So do you mind if I tag along with you?”
The look of happiness on Amp’s face answered the question, her depression dropping away in an instant. “I am overjoyed you’re here. I’ve never…it’s just that I’ve always been with guys, traveling, living, hanging out. I’ve never had a girl who I could call a friend. Yes,
I’m thrilled you’re going to be around. I hope we’ll become friends.”
“Your little human won’t mind?” Nikka asked, half serious.
Amp thought about the question for a moment before answering. “She is human,” she surprised herself with the answer. “It doesn’t matter what she minds.”
“Good, then it’s settled. Seattle is a great city; we can have a good time there.”
“So what are we going to be doing in Seattle?” Amp finally asked.
“Hunting, what else,” the girl said with a grin.
------
Amp couldn’t remember having this much fun, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, using the speed and power that only vampires possessed, to follow Nikka across the sky line of Seattle, high above the traffic and unsuspecting humans on the sidewalk. It was an unbelievably beautiful spring evening, just a tiny sliver of moon showing amongst the millions of stars in the clear, black sky.
After leaving Katy at The Paramount Hotel on Pine Street where the three had checked into adjoining suites, Nikka and Amp had dressed in dark clothing, and left for the night. This was all new to Amp, and she was enjoying it as much as school kids enjoyed a snow day.
“You ever been hunting?” Nikka had asked as the two sped through alleys and across roofs, running for the joy of it, moving faster than any human ever had.
“Not hunting…not like this. I glamour humans when I feed, drink what I need, and erase the memory. That’s how I met Katy, except she talked me out of the erase part. For that I’m glad...I think.”
“She’s nice, I like her,” Nikka said. “So she’s not just for feeding?”
“I don’t know what she is,” Amp replied. “She filled a large hole in my gut, kept me from going crazy for a bit. I’ve felt so alone for the past year, and I needed something, and Katy was there. I guess the only way to explain her is that she’s something, but the feeding thing with her is pretty intense. I don’t feel love for her, but I care about her. Loneliness is a bitch, and for the past year, I’ve been very lonely.”
Kill Wilson (Petersburg Vampires) Page 7