Cara Mia

by Denise Verrico

  Kurt grabbed my hand and pulled me back toward the house, as I screamed, “No!”

  I turned my head to see Brovik hurl himself at Ethan, and tear the knife from his hand. They fell to the ground struggling. Just as we cleared the door to the cave serving as a garage for Brovik’s collection of cars, Kurt hit a switch on the wall that brought the steel security shutters down around the windows and doors.

  I tried to grab for the switch, but Kurt pulled me away. “We can’t leave Ethan out there!” I screamed.

  “Mia, this is what he wanted! Don’t you see?” Kurt took my hysterical face in his hands. “I hated him, but I understand why he did this. He had to. It’s his redemption.” I broke down crying in a heap on the floor. Kurt wrapped his arms around me and tried to comfort me. “Hush, he’ll finally be at peace, while we have many more trials to face.”

  We huddled in the cave, numb from the events until the sun rose and set again. Outside, we followed a blood trail through the snow to the boat. We found two bodies onboard, disfigured and lifeless, only the hair, fair and dark identified them. Necrotic flesh, overcooked meat covered in a putrid jelly-like substance, fell away from the bones. I turned and vomited while Kurt held me.

  Kurt found a can of gasoline in the boathouse and poured it over the deck. Then he started the motor, while I waited on the dock. Kurt lit the gasoline, and flames leapt up over the boat. He jumped out onto the dock, and set the boat adrift on the fiord. We watched, hand-in-hand, as the burning craft disintegrated and sunk below the icy water. Kurt’s troubled eyes blinked back tears, as it finally slipped out of sight.

  Suddenly, the sound of a helicopter thumped toward us and we began to run.”

  Mia looked up, a single tear running down her face.

  “Ethan sacrificed himself for you?”

  “One hundred and sixty-eight years he walked this planet, then nothing. Poof, it’s all over. Now do you understand why I’m here?”

  “I’m sorry, Mia.”

  “Vampires aren’t supposed to cry.” She wiped her eyes. “Gaius knows we’re here somewhere. It’s only a matter of time before he puts this all together.”

  “That’s why this place is so well protected.”

  “If Gaius succeeds, the average mortal’s life won’t mean a thing. Immortyls will inherit the earth. Genocide on a scale never seen before.”

  “How did you manage to finally get here?”

  “Philip hid us for a while in London. He was shocked of course, but understood why we acted as we did. He gave us money to fly here. We hid with another group of rats in LA until Leisha was ready for us. Little did we know she was building us a prison here…”

  “All that data. It will save years of work. If she agrees to allow you to be together, you’ll give it to her?”

  “That’s all it’s going to take.”

  “I’ll get her to agree,” Joe said.

  Mia looked doubtful. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

  “I’m not going to let her get away with this.”

  “I don’t want that bitch Loy there when I talk to her.” Mia subsided into silence, her thoughts far away again.

  Joe felt it was best to let her alone now. “Thanks Mia, I understand things a lot better now.”

  She looked up, her misty, mirrored eyes reflecting Joe’s image. “You’re a good man Joe. You tied yourself to the mast and resisted the siren.”

  TWENTY-TWO

  Lydia stood in her office, attired in the lab coat Joe suspected she wore to bed, while Leisha gave him an appraising stare. He’d never seen anything like her. She was cold and frightening, over six feet tall, athletic, and a hell of a lot bigger than the two in the cells.

  “Doctor Ansari, a great pleasure to meet you. I want to personally thank you for your work with the female subject.”

  “Her name is Mia.”

  Lydia shot him a warning look. “Joe has established quite a rapport with our subjects. If it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t have gotten this far.”

  Spooky amber eyes fixed on his. “You’ve made great strides. You’ve begun looking into their empathic ability?”

  “It appears to stem from a biochemical transmitter stimulating the brain, to produce a psychic vibration so to speak, echoing the feelings of the donor inside of the receiver.”

  “No magic involved?”

  “Well, we aren’t quite sure how they transmit to the brain so rapidly or what component in the blood they latch on to. We need to isolate it. It’s my guess that hunger floods the transmitter into the brain. I’m still reviewing the data on tests we made. Hopefully we’ll be able to track it down.”

  Leisha smiled her chilly smile. “I’m thrilled but it’s just a start. There’s so much still to be done.”

  Joe took a deep breath. “Cut the crap, Leisha. Mia’s told me everything. I know who and what you are. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why you two sent me in there.”

  Leisha leaned her long body languorously against the doorframe, while Lydia hovered anxiously in the background. “Well, Mia has told you a lot, except the thing we need most.”

  “It’s very simple. Put them together again and they’ll talk. And don’t give me that safety bullshit. It’s Kurt. You really hate him. He risked his life to make this happen, and you sent me in to cause tension between them. They both want to talk to you.”

  “I was planning on it, after I reviewed your notes.”

  “No, Mia wants to see you now, and she wants me there.”

  “What business do you have with us?”

  “From what she tells me every person on this planet has a stake in this. I guess she doesn’t trust you, can’t imagine why.”

  “No need to be sarcastic, Doctor.” Leisha straightened up her long frame. “Fine, I have nothing to hide. Let’s go.”

  Joe turned to Lydia. “Not you, she specifically stated she didn’t want you.”

  Leisha nodded to Lydia. “Lydia, go home and get some rest. You’ve done a superb job here. I’ll call you in the morning.”

  “If you’re sure there’s nothing else?”

  Leisha’s voice was a caress, “No, please go home. It’s getting late.”

  It’s going to be interesting, Joe thought as he followed Leisha through the hall to the cells, wishing like hell he didn’t have to witness this catfight.

  Leisha had special clearance to the cells. She stepped forward, saying her name and the series of doors opened to her. Mia stood, dressed in a leather bustier, pants, and boots, a pint-sized dominatrix. Very hot. Leisha’s eyes scanned the room then rested on Mia’s face. They looked hard at each other, not a glimmer of emotion passing over them.

  Leisha moved to embrace Mia, but she hauled off and slapped her across the face. “You lying bitch! He risked everything!”

  Joe braced for something ugly to happen, but Leisha’s face registered nothing at Mia’s outburst. She replied with exaggerated patience, as if to a small child, “He could do us great harm. I worked with him for over ten years, Mia. I know a hell of a lot more than you think. He did lots of ugly things to please his master. How many mortals died for not keeping their mouths shut? Your boy gave the instructions to the dogs, and paid them off. I’m not taking orders from that little prick again. If he influences you, he’ll run roughshod over me, and if you’ll excuse me, you know nothing.”

  “Kurt and I’ve discussed our views on this enterprise in depth. We’re on the same page philosophically. We’ve all done ugly things, Leisha. Why do you think we want to end this nightmare? Guess what? I’m not giving up those discs unless I get what I want. Clock is ticking. Gaius has a six-month jump; Brovik’s data is languishing in files no one but Kurt can access. It’s up to you. Keep us prisoners here and slog for years to catch up or bring us together and expedite this process?”

  Leisha was beaten. It was scribbled untidily over her face. “You swear you’ll give me the discs?”

  Mia nodded. “Give Kurt his laptop and he’ll get you the res
t.”

  Leisha handed Joe a set of keys. “Doctor, the computer is locked in Lydia’s cabinet. Obviously, our people haven’t had any luck hacking his files. Mia, come with me.”

  “Gimme a minute. I haven’t seen him in a month.”

  Mia crossed to her dressing table, picking up her hairbrush and running it through her hair. Pheromone spread through the room, as she rummaged in her drawer for lipstick to apply to her mouth.

  Joe ran to Lydia’s office and found Kurt’s laptop locked in the cabinet. He caught up with Leisha and Mia at the outer door to Kurt’s cell. Leisha moved forward to open the door. Joe handed the laptop to Mia. She winked mischievously. What was she trying to tell him?

  Leisha opened the outer door and buzzed the intercom. Kurt came up to the glass. A long look passed between them before Leisha broke the silence. “Kurt.”

  “Leisha, you finally got everything you wanted.” He held his wrists out toward her. “What else is there but the blood in my veins?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, all I want is the data. We’re losing time.”

  He snapped. “Whose fault is that? I never should have trusted you.”

  “What choice did you have? You were persona non grata. It made sense for us to join forces.”

  “And you separated us, because we’ll join forces against you?”

  “It was a mistake. I’ve brought a peace offering.” She opened the door and stepped aside as Mia moved forward holding the laptop. “She’s here to stay. Now maybe we’ll get somewhere.”

  Mia dropped the computer onto the desk, falling into Kurt’s arms with a strangled cry. They covered one another with frantic kisses.

  It was an intensely private moment. Joe felt uncomfortable, yet oddly touched. In the soft light, they looked like young lovers. He glanced at Leisha to gauge her reaction to the scene. The bronze statue gazed enigmatically through golden eyes. Was she was feeling anything?

  Her honey-smooth voice interrupted their embrace, “So, where are my discs?”

  Mia pulled away from Kurt breathlessly, withdrawing a key on a long silver chain from her bosom. “Port Authority—couldn’t go back.” She turned back to Kurt, their bodies locking onto each other, opposite poles of two magnets. “You got your goddamned discs, Leisha,” she snarled. “Now get the fuck out of here.”

  Joe nudged Leisha. “Leave them alone now.”

  She nodded and turned to the door, placing her fingertip on the reader. Kurt waited until they cleared the door, then snapped off the lights so all that burned was a small bedside lamp. Joe took a final glance over his shoulder to see them fall in a tangle on the bed.

  Leisha’s face remained unreadable as they walked back to his office. “I have to leave for New York tonight Doctor, but I need to ask a favor.”

  “A favor? What kind of favor?” Joe opened the door to his office for her, but she didn’t come inside, instead hovering by the door uncomfortably. “I didn’t think you considered me an ally, Ms. Brookings.”

  Leisha frowned. “We’re on the same side, Doctor. There’s an Immortyl looking for them in LA, probably some bounty hunter hired by the Wolf. I’m taking them out of here but it’ll have to wait till I get back. In the meantime, I’ve had security doubled at night, and no other staff here after hours. That’s why I sent Lydia home. Obviously, he can’t do much until after dark. Lydia is aware of this but I’d feel better if you’d keep an eye on them till I get back.”

  “Me? What good am I against one of those things?” He realized too late what he’d said, but she didn’t take offense. Apparently, she didn’t put herself in the same class.

  “Immortyls can be killed in conventional ways. Shoot ’em in the head or heart with a large enough caliber bullet and they’ll die. Take my word for it. I’ve mowed down a few. We just have to be ready for them. You’ve earned Kurt and Mia’s trust. I obviously haven’t done such a good job of that. If there’s a crisis, they’ll follow your lead. Believe me, I don’t want them harmed.”

  “And if something happens? Where do I take them?”

  “Anywhere they’ll be safe. I’m entrusting their welfare to you, because I know you’ll protect them.”

  She turned away, tawny skirt and copper hair swirling with her movement, metal and tortoise shell tinkling like tiny bells on her long limbs. Joe’s breath caught. Her hips swayed as she walked slowly down the corridor, her stride loose and swinging. A lioness on the prowl, a magnificent creature, no doubt about that, but one who could devour in a single lethal bite. Despite her reassurances they were on the same side, he was terrified. What were they loosing on the world? She turned, regarding him for a moment with her steady golden gaze, before stepping inside the elevator.

  Joe was scared of a lot of things now. Making his way back to the lab, he started backing up all his files on disc, unable to shake the feeling of impending doom as he packed them and the notes he’d made with Mia into his bag. Put them in a safe place, he figured, just in case. The air conditioning dripped, plop, plop, like water inside a cave. In the dim light, the equipment cast strange skeleton shadows on the walls. He was exhausted, but he couldn’t leave now. Setting his watch alarm, he leaned back in the chair and dozed off.

  The alarm pinged at four a.m. Stomach acids churned and growled. He hadn’t thought to eat anything since the previous morning. He rubbed his eyes, rising stiffly from the chair.

  Making his way to the lounge, he surveyed the choices available in the snack machines. Honey-roasted peanuts and chips weren’t going to do it. There were better offerings upstairs in the cafeteria machines. He could grab a dry sandwich or wilted salad, at least.

  He pushed through the doors into the corridor, passing the cells on his right, trying not to imagine Mia and Kurt behind the closed doors. Drawing each other’s blood, fucking like rabbits, or both?

  This strange connection between blood and brain was deeply disturbing, yet spurred his curiosity. No instrument could test this. It was something he’d personally never understand even if he studied them for a century. As Mia said, the only way to understand was to experience it. He’d have to find a way less dangerous. But if Leisha took them away, how would it affect his research? He’d done rudimentary neurological tests, the usual scans, but he needed to study them over time. Would he ever get the chance?

  At the elevator, he stopped and listened—no sound, either in the corridor or above his head, only the omnipresent air-conditioning, humming and dripping from the ductwork overhead. The door opened and he stepped inside.

  The doors opened on the lobby. Joe looked across at the guard desk. Strange, it was empty. Usually, at least one guard was seated there. Perhaps they’d just gone on rounds or to the restroom. His heartbeat accelerated as a burst of adrenalin hit him. Sweat broke out on the surface of his skin, leaving his shirt damp, sticky, and clammy against his back in the artificially chilled air. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Then halfway across the terrazzo floor to the employee cafeteria, he saw the blood.

  A large pool with bits of brain matter lay spattered beneath his feet. A sticky maroon trail led off in the direction of the cafeteria. Joe flattened against the wall, sliding his way stealthily to the swinging doors to peer in. Soft, power saving, after-hours lighting glowed overhead.

  Its back was toward him, clad in black leather, with long, pale hair flowing over its broad shoulders like a cape. It was bent over a mass of wires attached to a box, a bomb. Nearby, mangled bodies of three security guards lay in a bloody heap, brains and guts spilling onto the floor. Joe broke out in a heavy sweat, willing himself not to breathe, or make any sound as he slid backward toward the elevator and flashed his id card at the scanner. The electronic voice betrayed him.

  “Good morning, Doctor Ansari, please move forward for identification.”

  Joe threw himself toward the retina scanner. The intruder roared, running toward the elevator at lightning speed.

  “Identification complete.”

&
nbsp; The doors opened and Joe fell inside the elevator. A dark shape hurled itself toward the doors. Just as a withered hand reached in between, they closed. Joe grabbed the fire extinguisher, swinging it with all his strength at the probing fingers between them. A painful howl erupted from the vampire, as the bleeding fingers drew back and the doors shut completely. The elevator swiftly descended underground and Joe fell out running as soon as they opened. He flung himself against the outer door of Kurt’s cell and went through the security procedure, cursing the delay. As the outer door opened, Joe stumbled to the next, banging frantically on the glass and buzzing the intercom.

  Kurt’s voice called out, “Go away!”

  “Kurt, it’s Joe,” he panted. “There’s a problem.”

  Kurt came to the glass, totally nude, hair damp and body covered in sweat. Tiny streams of blood ran from the corners of his mouth, and small wounds on various parts of his body. Joe turned away in shock, and explained the situation. Kurt cursed, calling Mia to get dressed. Joe leaned back against the wall struggling to catch his breath and calm down. He waited until they were both at the door before he opened it. Their faces were flushed, and they smelled strongly of sex.

  Mia looked obviously annoyed. “What the hell is happening?”

  “There’s one of them here. Upstairs, he’s killed the guards. We have to get out. He’s got a bomb.”

  Kurt’s head inclined slightly to the side as if an unpleasant thought occurred to him. “Did you get a good look at him?”

  “From the back. It was pretty dark. He’s big though and has long hair, like a biker. We need guns. There’s some in a closet down here. Can you break the lock?”

  Kurt’s voice betrayed impatience, “Of course.” Slinging his laptop over his shoulder, Kurt set off with Mia and Joe following into the corridor to the closet, where the weapons were locked. Kurt twisted the steel handle until it broke, clattering to the floor. The door swung open. Inside, hung two high-powered rifles, a small pistol and a few tazers and dart guns. Kurt took down the firearms, checking to see if they were loaded. He tossed one of the rifles to Joe. “Can you shoot, Doctor?”