by CT Grey
He nodded and then raised his visibly shaking hand.
“What is it?” I asked.
Wally gulped and wiped sweat from his forehead. “I just want tell you sir, that whatever the boys might have heard, it didn’t come from me. I didn’t tell them anything.”
I sighed. Whatever gossip technical teams and support personnel talked to each other had probably produced all the possible imagery monsters between heaven and earth. Yet I couldn’t believe that Wally with his big mouth, especially on spoiling Harry’s old handle… unless. “Well,” I said. “I’ll take that in the account, when I report to Mister—”
“Don’t.” Wally shoved his hand over my mouth, taking it off again, just as quickly as he realised what he’d done. “Please don’t. I’ll do anything.”
“Oh my God, are you trying to bribe me?”
“Um…” He looked really desperate. “I won’t go down on my knees, if that’s—”
I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Do I look like I’m that sort of man?” And just as he was about to reply I continued: “Just stop. Whatever you might have in your mind Wally, you have to understand I’m not one of those people who can be bribed, and I’m pretty sure we did our best to weed out their kind from the list, before we gave the evacuation order, yeah?” When he nodded, I added. “Now that you said you’re willing to do anything, I have something in mind that you can help me with.”
Wally straightened his back and saluted me: “Consider it done, sir.”
I looked around before I leaned closer and whispered in his ear: “Get me into level one.”
Wally closed his eyes and said nothing. He didn’t need to as I guessed he already regretted opening his mouth in the first place. “You cannot back away from this,” I said, as he reopened his eyes. “It is really important that I get in there without anyone knowing! Do you understand me?”
“Yeah.” His shoulders slumped. “I do understand what you mean, sir, but what is it that’s so important?” I didn’t even need to open my mouth as I saw the gears in his brain finally locking into place. “I should never have asked.”
I nodded and started moving us towards the elevator. “Before you ask, I need it to be done now. So, what do I need to know?”
Wally bit his lower lip and then he lowered his voice. “There is a way to get in there, but sir, it’s not going to be nice.”
I rolled my eyes and said, “If it’s doable then we’ll do it.”
To which Wally shoved the flask against my chest and said, “You might want to reconsider that hair of the dog, sir.”
*** Jane ***
I felt so confused, so disorientated, when a bright light suddenly pierced the darkness and interrupted my sleep. I automatically raised a hand to shield my eyes. All I could see was light flooding in from the doorway while my nose picked up the awful stench of the shit demon.
“Dear God,” a familiar voice said in the distance, while I backed into the corner ready to fight the demons of hell. “What’s happening?”
“Sir, stay back,” another familiar voice replied. “I’ll deal with this.”
When a bulky figure stepped into the doorway and blocked most of the light I had to exert my will to keep the vampire from charging forward and tearing out the demon’s throat. There was never just one of them, more of them would be waiting outside the cell. As he moved closer I readied myself to run. Then the figure clicked something, and a blinding beam of light crossed the room.
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” a bulky figure said. “Don’t kill me. It’s me, Red.”
“Red,” I said, vaguely remembering a couple of Red’s that I’d met over the centuries. “Red who? What year is this?”
The light shifted, turned around and shone in the face of Sergeant Red. “It’s me ma’am. There’s nothing to worry about, I didn’t come to harm you. Believe me. There’s someone very keen to meet you outside.”
I clapped my nose and growled: “What is that smell? Have you let a fucking Golgothan in here?”
“Gol… what?” Red frowned at me. “I don’t know who do you mean ma’am, but I’m pretty sure there’s no Colmogattan…whatever… out there.”
There was something in his voice which made me doubt his words; something that vaguely reminded me of the time when the Damned had tricked me in the Marseille catacombs. And that one time I had promised myself never to trust my minions if there were demons around. I wasn’t going to be used again. Not by them and not by anyone. So I let my guard drop slightly as I whispered: “Come closer.”
“What’s taking so long?” a familiar voice hollered from outside.
Sergeant Red turned around and pointed his thumb at me. “Sir I think she’s disoriented. You know when you wake up and—”
He didn’t get to finish his words as I crossed the room and jumped on his back. My claws were at his throat just as I saw two men; one tall fellow with glasses and a black and white suit, and next to him a smaller, balding guy wearing janitor-type blue overalls, and they stank like they’d gone through a septic tank.
The janitor grabbed the suit’s sleeve and shouted: “They’re real. God, save me.”
“Shut up Wally,” the suit snapped at him. “I’ll deal with this.” He took a step forward and raised his hands. “Mrs McGriffin, there’s no need for violence. We are not here to harm you in any way.”
I frowned at him and asked: “Henrik, in flesh and blood?”
“Yes, my lady,” Henrik smiled. “Could you please let Sergeant Red go and come with me as I need to tell you something urgently?” Then he waited a second before he added, “Please.”
Even though my instincts told me to not trust him I removed my claws from Red’s neck and forced the vampire back into the dark depths of my mind. The big man almost dropped to his knees. He stumbled backwards, seeking support, while his eyes flared with terror.
“Sorry,” I apologised. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“My God,” Red rasped desperately. “I think I need to change my underwear.”
I grabbed smokes from my bed and stepped outside to see a vacant control room, open security gates and no guards in sight. It was almost as if they’d abandoned the base. But I couldn’t understand why they would have done so, since I was certain the outside world was still suffering at the hands of the undead. They wouldn’t have gone away. Not unless I’d spent years in my cell. But it didn’t feel that way. I wasn’t that thirsty for blood, I just felt as if I just needed a little top-up.
“Shall we?” Henrik took a step closer. He offered his arm and expected me to take it, but I couldn’t. Even though I liked the gesture. Not as long as he smelled the way he did. Instead, I lit up a smoke and jerked my head towards my cell. “Do you mind if I go back there?”
He scowled. “Actually I do. We need to talk. So please walk with me.”
I took a deep drag and blew smoke on his face. “Not before you’ve taken a shower. You need to clean yourself up. I’m not kidding.”
Henrik threw a murderous look at the guy in the overalls, who shrugged his shoulders and said, “Don’t look at me like that sir. I warned you that it was the only way in.”
“Actually it wasn’t, Wally,” Henrik said. “And you could have told me before we—”
“Excuse me,” Red cut in. “I think we went through this already. So please calm down or I’ll throw you in one of our cells to cool your nerves.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time…” Henrik muttered under his breath. Then he raised his eyes and said, “Jane, please. We don’t have much time, and there’s a lot we need to talk about before this is over.”
“No,” I said and pointed to the control room. “Red, get my darling out.”
“You’re not going to do that,” Henrik protested.
“Now!” I added.
Like a robot, Red stomped towards the glass box as amazement spread across Henrik’s face. “I’m going to do this, Mister Jackson, and I recommend for your own sake that you go and get a sho
wer, and change your clothes. And that goes for you too, Wally.”
“This way, sir.” Wally nodded sharply. “We’ll get you proper in ten.”
“Ten minutes will do fine,” I said as Wally started dragging Henrik towards the gates. “We’ll be ready when you come back.” Then I waggled my finger. “Red, lock those and stay there, while you let her out.”
Red nodded sharply as I took a last drag out from the smoke and then stomped it under my heel as Jaq’s cell door clonked loudly and started drawing to the side. As fast as a lightning strike my sireling charged out with her long blond hair flapping behind her like a horse’s tail.
“You,” she screamed. Jaq jumped and forced me underneath her as we fell to the floor. “You killed me.”
I locked her arms and said, “Only to save you, my dear.”
“Save me?” She growled. “Save me from what? Death? All I know is, I could be in heaven right now, with Ali. But no. I had to wake up on a cold slab and realise I’m a fuckin’ vamp.”
“A very beautiful vampire,” I smiled at her. “Your hair looks especially nice.”
“I don’t fucking care.” She spat on my face and tried to push her fangs close to my jugular. “I want some bloody revenge.” When something clonked I saw her turning her head towards the control room, and grabbed her tunic, shoved my leg up and tossed her from me. And before she got up, I was on her, and locked her hands under my knees.
“Ma’am,” Red hollered from the gates. “Do you need assistance?”
I waved my hand. “Stay there and make sure we aren’t interrupted by anyone.”
“Ma’am,” Jaq snarled, underneath me. “So you’re behind this… thing.”
“No. I’m not.” I shook my head vehemently. “I don’t have anything to do with this place or with these people. But I used them to keep you safe, while your body and soul went through the transformation. It was the only way. I couldn’t drag you into the Underworld.”
“But why?” She relaxed a bit. I remembered how it was centuries ago, and now I was behaving just as Damien had, when I’d woken up in his bed. And back then, I had been just like her, angry for being pronounced dead and sent to burn in hell. It had not been one of the most pleasurable moments in her life. Quite the opposite, and I couldn’t even begin to guess what sort of torment Jaq had gone through. It certainly wouldn’t have been a heaven, where she could have rested in the arms of her lover, while bathing in God’s glorious grace. Vampires don’t get that sort of chance. They were the Devil’s foot soldiers, and the eternal life they gained in exchange was a curse.
“Answer me!” Jaq wriggled underneath me. “Why did you do it?”
I looked up and said, “Forgive me my Lord,” before I turned my gaze down and focused onto her eyes. “I did it so that you could have a chance for redemption.”
“What?” She blinked.
“You saw what he did to Alison,” I said. “I could never avenge her.”
Her frown deepened. “Why not?”
“Not just because Damien is my husband, but because he sired me.”
“Yeah,” Jaq rolled her eyes. “But no, ‘cos that’s ridiculous. You’re joking, aren’t you?
“No Jacqueline.” I shook my head and stood up. “I’m serious. You could not have understood this game when you were human. And I cannot blame you, it took me a really, really long time to get it. So consider how lucky you are, for not having to go through all the stuff, when you can learn from my mistakes. Or you’ll end up dead.”
“Thanks,” Jaq said. “For nothing.” She brushed away my hand. She didn’t even look at me as Jaq got up on her own. “You shouldn’t have done what you did and I’m blaming you for it.”
“Jaq, Jaq, Jaq…” I felt awfully sorry. “You’ve always been so short-sighted.”
“Like you’re any better.” Jaq pointed around. “Look what you’ve done. We’re in a bloody prison and there’s no way out from it. Not that I really want to go out there to be with the stiffs. It’s not nice.”
“But you deal with the stiffs every day.”
“Yeah, but,” she said. “It’s not like they wake up suddenly and start chomping off bits from you, innit? They’re nice and quiet. And most of the time they’re not there, you know? It’s just me, mop and a bucket of secret stuff, yeah?”
I had to bite my tongue to keep my face straight, but in the end I couldn’t. “Jaq…”
“Yeah,” she said. “What are you laughin’ about?”
“Nothing.” I smiled. “I just wanted you know to know how much I love you.”
“Careful there girl.” Jaq shook her finger. “You know which way I bend ‘cos you might end up bedding me for a very long time.” Then she cupped her breasts and asked, “Do these look smaller to you ‘cos I’m sure they feel firmer to me.”
I smiled. “That just one of the benefits of being a vampire. Your bits aren’t sagging like potato sacks when you get older.” I stopped for a moment to scratch my neck. “Well, that’s not entirely true, as I do remember a couple of girls who—”
“Shut up,” Jaq snapped. “You always do that. You spoil good things as if it’s oh-so-natural and then you get in a huff, when it’s pointed out.”
“I never…” I turned to look for help from Red.
“Why are you looking at him?” Jaq asked. “He’s not gonna step in to save you from digging a hole under your feet, is he? He’s a proper man, yeah?”
“Yes he is.” I pulled out another smoke from the box and lit it. “He’s a real gentleman and I’m sure going to miss him.”
“What are you talking about?” Jaq asked. “And where did you get those?”
“He got them for me,” I said and clicked open the cigarette case at front of her. “Have one if you want. They’re the proper stuff, and I doubt you’ll be able to get them for long if I’m right about what’s going on outside.”
“Are you saying that we’re leaving, is that it?”
“It might be so,” I nodded. “And that’s what I’m going find out soon, but for now you’ll have to promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Promise that you’ll behave, and that you’re not going to show anyone you’re a vampire unless it’s necessary. And don’t think for a second I don’t know what you’re going through, because I do, and it’s a massive change.”
I could see her wanting to throw in a counter argument for sake of it, so I waggled my finger again and said, “There're no buts. That’s the deal. So get back into your box and have a think about how you’re going to behave in front of these people.”
“Yeah, but…”
“Get in.” I pointed my finger to her cell. “This is my game until I say otherwise.”
Jaq shoulders slumped. She turned around and went back into her cell, muttering under her breath: “You’re so mean. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this.” To calm her down I threw a packet of smokes on her floor before I signalled Red to close the door. But I’d barely turned round before I heard pounding against the steel and heard her shouting, “How I’m going to light these up?”
I sighed and jerked my head towards the cell door as I pulled the lighter from my pocket. “Here,” I said as Red opened the door again. “Can I go now?”
“Sure,” Jaq said. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Hopefully.” I gave a signal to Red, who slammed the button and then came out from the room.
“She’s a feisty one, isn’t she?” he said.
“Yes,” I said. “And I love her for that, but where are they? I thought I gave them ten minutes and it’s more like fifteen since they left.”
“Ma’am,” Red said. “They are not coming back. Mister Jackson sent me a message and said we should meet in the normal place.”
*** Henrik ***
“No,” Wally muttered from the corner, where he’d been sitting on top of his toolbox, as the interview room door opened. “This isn’t fixable. I mean, look at this head. It’s
not only torn apart, but it looks as if it’s been crushed as well.”
“Take it with you.” I waved my hand as Jane stepped in looking almost relaxed – as if a weight had been removed from her shoulders. “And wait for me, please.”
“Sir.” Wally saluted. He shoved what was left from the holo-drone under his arm and then tipped his head to Jane. “I’ll be outside if you need me, okay?”
“Okay Wally,” I said and then turned my attention to Jane standing at other side of the desk; eyeing me in a way she hadn’t done before.
“Please sit.” I gestured at the chair I’d grabbed from the next room.
“Well,” she said. “Thank you.” However, this time she didn’t sit down where I pointed, instead she walked around the table and leaned her bottom against the table as close to me as she could get.
“Henrik Jackson.” Jane touched my head and brushed her hand down my cheeks and raised my chin. “Alive and without mechanical aids.”
“Uh…”
“I thought I was going to rot in that cell for the rest of my life. But if I’d known all I needed to do was to smash your machine, I would have done it earlier…” Then she leaned closer so I’d no choice but to see nothing except her curves. “Much, much earlier.”
“Uh,” I swallowed. “We… we need to talk.”
“Obviously,” she softened her voice. “I’m not stupid. There are lots of things we can talk about, but what is you wanted to talk me about?”
I sighed. This wasn’t going well at all. The moment she’d walked in she’d gained the upper hand. And as much as I wanted to tell her, for some reason, how much I wanted to get her between the sheets, I didn’t. Instead, I forcibly said: “It’s very important you trust me, implicitly, because what I’m going to suggest to you is going to be a really, really sensitive matter for us.”
She didn’t say anything. Instead, she shook her head subtly as I continued: “But before I talk about that, I need to know what you know about the Damned, those three vampires, and why on earth you hid Jaq’s resurrection from us.”