"I...." but she stopped unsure what she would have said anyway, apologize, she wasn’t sorry, she could not afford to be sorry.
"You are lucky, if you had twisted this blasted thing any more to the right or left you might have ended up with my blood in your mouth." Jennifer grimaced at the idea, she had no actual concept of how much blood it took to be turned into a monster, she didn’t want to find out.
"Did I ruin our deal," she had to know, she could force herself to kiss him if she had to.
"No, I think it is too beneficial for both of us to call it off over a little shed blood. However as compensation I think I’ll be keeping this little memento." Jennifer made to snatch the Bowie knife out of his hands but he shook his head, "an eye for an eye and all that."
"But...." what could she say, that she loved that knife, that parting ways with it felt like another monumental loss.
"That is what I thought," he tucked the knife in the back of his pants without cleaning the blood off. "Now if you don’t mind Jennifer we should seal this little deal and move on with business don’t you think." He put his hand out as if waiting for her to hand something over, "come now if we’re going to exchange information I’ll need your phone."
"Seriously," Jennifer asked incredulously.
"Deadly," he was back to smiling and Jennifer wanted to smack him, no better, she wanted to shoot him.
"Fine," aware that she was making a face the entire time she dug her phone out and slapped it into his open palm. "This is juvenile," she protested already trying to come up with excuses if anyone caught her talking with a vampire on the phone.
"Now we’re all set to go," as soon as her phone was back in her hands, he was back in his seat behind his desk faster than she could see.
"Good to know," Jennifer quickly glanced down at the number he’d added into her phone, the contact was listed only as E. "So talk, who is this guy, background, usual hunting grounds, and more importantly what the hell is wrong with him?"
At the last question he sat up a little straighter in his chair, or at least that was what she’d thought until he took the Bowie knife out and shoved it into a drawer. She hated that it would go uncleaned sitting in a drawer, she supposed it wouldn’t matter now, it was no longer her property. "Don’t look so heart broken, one day if you ask me very nicely maybe I’ll give it back." He said this but she knew that whatever he would want for it she wouldn’t be willing to give him. "Let’s start with the easy answers shall we, he goes by Dimitri, as far as I know he is one of our kind that has chosen to stay out of any business that would involve him with humans and assume the front of a full name."
"So he has no last name, no place of residence, that’s impossible he has to live somewhere." She glared at him behind his desk, the expression had no effect on him.
"There are those of us who live underground," he didn’t elaborate.
"So he was living with a coven, which one?"
"And here we are already, to the part that gets quite complicated," he shrugged.
"That’s it," Jennifer sarcastically imitated the gesture, "are you not going to tell me which one?"
"I am though it will do you no good to know the information, up until two nights ago he was staying with Ada." Jennifer swallowed hard, it probably wouldn’t have taken superhuman vampire hearing to have heard it.
"Why did he leave, it makes no sense, he would have full protection there, and why is he suddenly running around like a lunatic killing all these people?" That last question really needn’t an answer, how many times had she witnessed monsters kill for entertainment.
"He is not quite himself I should think," Jennifer gave a derisive snort.
"I suppose you’d have me believe before two days ago he was just gentle as a little lamb." She was pacing now in front of his desk and she was fully aware that he was tracking her every move like a caged animal that really wanted to pounce but couldn’t.
"I wouldn’t bother, now the real problem doesn’t lie simply within him, I’m afraid we’ve much more dire circumstances presenting themselves." She stopped long enough to look at him and measure his sincerity, he’d played her for a fool before, she wasn’t keen on falling for anything again.
"So are you trying to build suspense or are you going to get it over with and just tell me." When he didn’t immediately just spit it out she irritably took the seat she’d abandoned.
"You really don’t remember seeing this before do you," he asked out of nowhere as soon as she was sedentary.
"I think I’d remember seeing a vampire like this before, you’re kind is hard to kill, but bullets put them down long enough to take care of the rest. This vampire...." she paused remembering the way he’d moved, the way he’d been oblivious to pain, she remembered the way seeing him like that had terrified her into paralysis. "He wouldn’t go down, I’ve seen some strange things hunting vampires before he might just top them all."
"There in lies all your confusion, the word vampire may no longer apply to his condition." He said this as if simply saying it would explain everything.
"That’s really funny, seriously frickin’ hilarious, and here I thought the only thing that could cure a vampires condition was to kill it." He did not seem to like that retort very much if the way his expression locked up was any indication.
"Exactly."
"What," now she was really confused, she knew that in more then one way vampires were already dead. So what the hell was he talking about, "what are you talking about?"
"Do you know anything about the mechanics of the undead?" He watched her shake her head and seemed to take this as an indication that she wanted a lesson. "Do you believe in magic?"
"Okay seriously, I’ve had just about enough run around for one night, why don’t we save mechanics for later and you just tell me what the fuck is going on." She had to fight with herself to stay seated, she was building up enough nervous energy to pace a hole in his carpet.
"Fine, but I don’t think you’re going to like the answer, the term vampire will no longer apply to Dimitri because he has been infected with something else, if you will. I believe now you would call him a zombie."
Jennifer couldn’t help it, the minute his words sank in she was overtaken by a fit of laughter that she didn’t think would stop any time soon if she didn’t force it back down. "Zombie," just saying the word made her giggle, how stupid did he think she was?
"Think very hard Jennifer before you decide what is real and what you think is make believe." She was waiting for him to elaborate further but he didn’t and she was too exhausted to put up an argument with him at the moment.
"Fine, zombies then, tell me, how exactly did this vampire get infected with a zombie virus?" She wasn’t expecting an answer, really what could there be, how could she believe that a dead corpse became a dead corpse.
"I’m still gathering intel on the exact details, though I have my suspicions, admittedly this condition is usually a human one but clearly vampires aren’t entirely immune." He paused perhaps to let this information sink in but he seemed to notice that she wasn’t taking a word he said seriously. "Think on it Jennifer, the night before last you encountered him and he was seemingly not more than a blood drunk vampire on a rampage, but he had his wits. Tonight there was considerably less of them, enough still to run when outgunned and pursued but I suspect by tomorrow there won’t even be that much left. I think it takes only slightly longer in our kind than yours but clearly his higher brain functions won’t hold out long. He won’t even possess the instinct for self preservation just the unending need to eat," he shook his head again when even after this speech she looked at him like he was the one who’d lost all higher brain function. "Tell me something Jennifer did you examine his victims from the previous night?"
"Yes," she shrugged there had been nothing out of the ordinary, throats torn out, bloodless, the same as any vampire killing she’d ever seen.
"You need to see the ones from tonight as well, he will have progres
sed to consuming flesh by now."
"You want me to go to the morgue," she stopped to think about this, it was something she would have done eventually anyway.
"It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take your friend in the government with you," he suggested slyly.
"What friend in the government," though she knew damn well he meant the cyborg she was in no way going to betray the fact that she knew Tom even if the vampire did already know it.
"If he’s occupied I’m more then available," he offered all smiles.
"No thanks, I think I can manage a trip to the morgue without the help of a dead man." She had meant it as an insult and he apparently chose to take it as one because he was instantly that stone creature again.
"Tell me Miss Ryan, how can you hunt my kind and be so completely unschooled in what we are." His feelings were clearly hurt by her last comment and she had no idea why.
"I don’t need to know anything more about a monster than the fact that they kill and can be killed."
"Of course, and tell me, where exactly does that put you?" He smiled again like he’d caught her in the act of being monstrous herself.
"It puts me in the business of exterminating vermin," again she said before she thought, a bad habit of hers to be true, but usually she managed to reign herself in a little better when imminent death could be involved. He smiled again but this time it was an altogether different expression, there was nothing but sadness in it.
"Your precious church teaches you we are soulless, yes, devils probably. No need to deny it, I know their teachings well enough," he stood from behind his desk and Jennifer stayed stalk-still in her seat afraid that he was going to get violent. "Killers is an acceptable definition, but I hope you’re a fast learner Miss Ryan because you are about to see what being without a soul really looks like." She was sure something unpleasant was going to happen but instead of approaching her like she was expecting he walked past and opened the office door.
Without hesitating she was out of her seat and to the door in case he’d decided that hurting Marcia would be more fun. She knew that it wasn’t a good idea on her part, but to keep him from leaving the office she put her hand on his elbow and when it pulled him up short she stepped out past him. "Marcia, I think it’s time for us to go," she was not looking at the woman when she said it, her eyes were locked on the new Master vampire.
"Will you take the psychic with you," he watched her shake her head but didn’t seem to like the answer. "You will go in alone then?"
"It’s only dead bodies," she whispered to him, she knew touching him had been a mistake because he returned the casual gesture of grabbing her elbow when she tried to move away.
"Not for long Jennifer."
"More reason to leave the amateurs at home then," she squirmed a little because he was touching her, probably more from the fact that she didn’t find it repulsive in the least like she should. "I should go," he allowed her to slip her arm away from him and move back into the room where her companion was waiting. She was just about to tell Marcia again that it was time to go but never got the chance.
"I would like to stay here and ask more questions if that’s alright?"
"Absolutely not."
"That would be perfectly fine."
Jennifer turned to glare at the vampire behind her, "no it wouldn’t."
"She’ll come to no harm here, or have you already forgotten our alliance?" He didn’t react when she stormed her way back up to him.
"I don’t put much faith in words," especially not vampires.
"She will have a constant guard if you like," he paused to look at both Marcia and Phineas who were seated next to each other. "You won’t mind a bit will you Phineas," he smiled when the vampire simply shook his head in affirmation. "There see, not to worry."
"No," Jennifer objected, what was all this madness springing out of, first zombies and now her negotiator wanted to stay behind and what, have a tea party with some vampires.
"Jennifer," Marcia interceded, "I am both the Medium and acting negotiator for our group, this is something that must be done."
"Oh please," she was about to point out that the woman was clearly just smitten with the pretty vampires and burn yet another bridge when Ethan stopped her.
"Please allow me to offer you something to ensure her safety," Jennifer paused sure that there was nothing he could offer on the face of this earth that would secure any humans safety.
"This is non-negotiable she’s leaving with me," but he simply smiled and motioned for her to follow. "Ethan," she called after him more than a little irritated.
"Trust me, you’ll want this bargaining chip, it guarantees her safety and gives you an advantage that no other vampire will ever give you." Jennifer took pause, trying to think of any advantage he could offer that would make allowing one of her last standing teammates to stay in potential harms way. "You look so unconvinced, provide me with a moment if you will." As with everything he’d done so far tonight he retreated back into his office without waiting for her to affirm that she wanted any such thing. He wasn’t gone more than the blink of an eye before he returned with a key on a chain in his hand. "Surprise," he looked so delighted to be handing the key over that she half expected to drop dead just from touching it.
"A key," she didn’t bother to try and hide her irritation, she was tired, she hurt all over. What she’d wanted was solid information that she could report back, instead what she’d gotten was a name and the ridiculous assurance that she was dealing with zombies. "And it opens what exactly that you imagine it would be potentially worth my friends life."
"It’s the key to my heart of course," he shook his head when she looked like she was about to protest with violence. "Come, I’ll show you what it’s for," he motioned for her to move off in front of him.
"No way," she was in no way leaving Marcia alone, or walking with a vampire at her back.
"Phineas, please continue to keep a careful eye on Miss Cruz until we return." It was not a request and Jennifer hated that Phineas just went about nodding so compliantly.
"I said........."
"Jennifer this is my decision," Marcia interjected.
"Your friend is determined to stay it seems, at least allow me to offer you something to even the odds stacked against you in ensuring her safety." There he went with that damned sincerity again, it seemed so real, but she knew from her experience of having met him the first time that he was a very good liar. She didn’t say anything because she wasn’t agreeing to anything until she saw for herself what he was offering up to ensure Marcia’s safety.
"Lead the way," because she certainly didn’t trust him at her back.
"My pleasure," without pause he made his way at human speed to the waiting room entrance. There was no hesitation as he led her out into the black lit hall, his office had allowed for some illusion of normalcy, but out here it was back to the reality of the situation. He was a vampire, leading her through some of the same halls that she had stumbled down when she had faced Nickolei.
"Where are we going." she wanted to know, not that she really thought for a moment that he would just outright tell her, his kind and their need to procrastinate seemed to be ridiculously ingrained.
"And ruin the surprise," he did not look back at her so she couldn’t tell if he was truly smiling or not but there was a hint of it in his tone.
"I’m not entirely fond of surprises where your kind is concerned," there was no harm in letting him know, he seemed less prone to take insult than most of the vampires she’d been forced into the company of.
"Ah, well you see, down this hall there is a door, a door that not surprisingly just happens to be the back entrance if you will. Someday if you are very nice to me I might show you the secret chamber from here to my rooms." She made a derisive noise to indicate how interested she was in that event. "In any case I’m about to give you the keys to the kingdom as it were," he waited until he reached a heavy looking set of doors that were so obvious s
he didn’t see how he imagined this was an advantage of any kind. Instead of addressing her skeptical expression he simply put the key in the lock, twisted, and then shoved the door aside to reveal the back of the building.
"Really, you think that this is an advantage, having the key to a door that I could probably just kick down." She was of course exaggerating her own strength but she could certainly attach a chain and use a truck to bring th door down.
"Come, let me show you," he motioned her forward and though she was hesitant to do anything he asked she took the final steps that put her by his side. "This is yours now," and of course dramatically he placed the chain over her neck to rest between her breasts. "It looks lovely right there," she wanted to smack him but ignored the fact that his eyes were riveted to her chest. Without her permission he was touching her again to pull her ponytail from beneath the chain. "Now please take a look at what you’ll be privy to," he indicated that she should take a better look outside. Suspiciously she stepped past him outside, she shouldn’t have been surprised so she wasn’t sure why she was when as soon as she had both feet over the threshold he slammed the door closed and she heard the lock turn.
"Hey," Jennifer spun ready to empty her gun into the lock if that was what it took to get the door open but when she turned back there was no door. "Holy shit," she charged the single step back the way she’d come and did her best to try and find a seam, a sliver of light, anything that would show her where the door lay but there was nothing, then it hit her that she’d left Marcia in there. "No," panic overtook her, "no..no..no," she pointlessly tried to budge the wall with her shoulder, a stupid mistake considering it was already damaged. She ignored the considerable amount of pain that spiked through her entire arm and went to ram the wall with her should again but the door swung open before she made contact and she would have found herself on the floor if Ethan hadn’t caught her first.
Revenant's Kiss (Chronicles of the Afterlife) Page 12