Nicole rounded the corner and spotted something that shook Nick out of her mind.
“Zachary? What are you still doing here?”
The boy was sitting cross-legged outside the ground level classrooms. He had never been here this late before.
Nicole knelt down beside him, “Hey, did your driver say he was going to be late?”
Zachary shook his head.
“Is there anyone else that can come and get you? Anyone that I can call?”
Zachary repeated his move.
Jesus fucking Christ! What the hell is going on here? Who is watching over this kid? “All right, that’s it. C’mon, I’ll drive you home.” She held her hand out to him and he took it.
*
Nicole pulled up outside of Raven Apartments. Zachary hopped out of his side and walked alongside her up the path to the huge, rounded glass entrance glinting in the afternoon sun. Strange that someone that lived in such a shiny new place could neglect the greatest asset one could have.
But something about this wasn’t right. Just as they breached the entrance, Nicole heard the rushed sound of clicking heels.
“Zachary! What are you doing? Why didn’t you stay at the school?” the woman screeched. Nicole recognised the voice: Samantha.
“Uh, hello,” Nicole said, moving in front of him. “My name is Nicole O’Brien, and I’m the counsellor’s assistant at the school. We spoke on the phone a while ago?”
“Oh,” Samantha said, faltering slightly before recovering and looking down at Zachary again. “You know the rules! You stay there until someone comes and gets you.”
“Excuse me. First, I think if you’re angry, you should be directing it at the driver who didn’t do his job. Zachary waited well past school hours and no one had come. I decided to give him a lift. A child this age should not be left alone. It was starting to get dark. I insist on speaking to his father about this lapse in responsibility.”
“The driver was taken to hospital about an hour ago. I hadn’t had time to collect an alternative. I see you were inconvenienced. There is no cash kept on premises.”
“Wh-what?” Nicole was caught off-guard by this. What is she on about?
“Give me a receipt for your fuel expenses and I’ll send you a cheque.”
What the fuck? “I’m not here for money, thank you very much. I need to speak to Zachary’s father. You can’t keep fobbing me off. This is ridiculous.”
“Fobbing you off?” Samantha said, her eyelids lowering to enhance her crow’s feet. “Who the hell do you think you are? This is private property. Leave or you will be escorted out.”
“You can’t threaten me with that garbage. I can inform the police of the neglect of this child and the entire school faculty will back me on this.” Nicole replied, pulling out her mobile. She hoped her bluff would save her. “I can call the police now if you like. Let them come here and question me. Maybe they’ll have better luck contacting Zachary’s father.”
Samantha looked to be weighing up the threat in her mind. Nicole imagined the sight of the police around the grounds wouldn’t be a good look for Samantha’s bosses. Nicole didn’t want to have to put this to the test, but she thought she could at least present a really good case if it came down to it. They would have to locate his dad at least.
“Why don’t we leave this up to the boy?” Samantha said.
“No,” Nicole replied. “We’re not leaving anything up to him—”
“Zachary,” she interrupted. “How would you like it if the police came up here and interfered in your father’s business? How would you feel, letting all that…added stress come on to him?”
“Hey, wait a minute,” Nicole started, raising a finger towards Samantha. “Don’t you dare try to emotionally blackmail him. He’s a child!”
“And perfectly capable of making his own choices,” Samantha replied, not taking her eyes off the boy. Nicole turned, to see his face tense, looking directly back at Samantha. “Do you realise what could happen, Zachary, to your father and also this lady perhaps, should there be any fuss made…where none is needed?”
The reaction was instantaneous. Before Nicole had a chance to speak, Zachary moved forward towards Samantha. “Zachary, no!” Nicole said, taking his hand and halting him. “You don’t have to listen to her. Whatever trouble you’re in, I can help you. I can get help. You don’t have to be afraid.”
Zachary studied her, then turned towards Samantha, whose face glowed with victory. Zachary let go of Nicole’s hand and moved back towards Samantha.
“Everything’s ok,”
Nicole couldn’t believe it. The first words she had heard him speak in ages, and they were a lie. Nicole stood frozen as Zachary moved behind Samantha and continued on slowly.
“By the way,” Samantha said. “Your school and the board of education can expect a call from me tomorrow about you. You and your attitude are a disgrace.”
Samantha spun around and followed Zachary inside, leaving Nicole there, stunned and silent.
It was a few seconds before Nicole moved, walking back to her car in a fog. She slammed her fists on the roof and screamed. Samantha would follow through, Nicole had no doubts. The career that was hanging by a thread now lay in tatters. She balled her fists in her hair, pressing them hard against her scalp. She wanted to just disappear or go back in time. This was bullshit! She might be able to recover from one complaint, but not two, and both times she had done nothing wrong. No matter what, she would never believe that standing up for what’s right should be punished.
Think! What can you do?
There was only one thing she felt she could do right now, and it was the last thing she wanted to. She looked out over the darkening sky and thought it over again, trying to talk herself out of it, but it was no use. If she wanted to save her future, she had to try.
*
Nicole gave the door a quick rap with her knuckles after a sighing breath. She heard footsteps approach from the other side.
“Well, here goes.”
The door opened and Nicole steeled herself.
“Well, well,” said Miller, “Isn’t this a nice surprise?”
He wore nothing but golden satin boxer shorts and the biggest toothy grin Nicole had ever seen. Nicole closed her eyes briefly and swallowed, afraid if she took any more notice of him, bile would begin to rise.
“I need to speak to your parents face to face.”
“Oh really?” he chuffed. “What about?”
“You know what.”
“Um, about the smack down you laid on me? The fact they are suing you? Am I getting close?”
“Yes,” Nicole sneered. “Can I speak to them?”
“They aren’t here. It’s just me. Why don’t you come inside and we can wait for them?”
“No thanks. I’ll catch them another time.”
“It won’t make any difference, you know. Whatever you’re planning to say. Plead, explain, apologise,” Miller waved a hand. “They won’t give a shit. I’m their last son. They couldn’t do anything to protect or get justice for my brother, but they can do this. Your only hope is to deal with me directly.”
“You? What are you talking about?”
“You’re a smart girl. I’m sure you can figure it out. You want something from me, and I want something from you.”
Nicole shook her head. “What the hell is wrong with you? What is with your freaking obsession over me? I’ve never liked you. Why do you even care?”
“You don’t know? Well, let’s just say I was one of the guys that knew your ex before he moved. When was that again? Two years ago? You must be hungry as fuck for some dick. He bragged about you all the time. He said you were the greatest cocksucker he had ever seen. Gifted the word was. You were up for anything and wanted it 24/7. So basically, that’s my proposition. You show me what he was talking about, I’ll make sure these charges get dropped.”
Nicole fought the urge to punch him again. She didn’t know whether he was tellin
g the truth about her ex or not, about any of it. But it didn’t matter. “You are even more messed up than I thought if you think anything would ever happen between us. You sicken me.”
“This is a one-time only offer, Nikki. My cock or two years of your life goes wasted.”
Nicole turned to leave. “It’ll be worth it.”
Miller stepped out after her, grabbing her arm. “You think I’m fuckin’ around? You think your career is the only thing I can mess up for you?” he growled, his free hand cocked.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a voice called from the darkness.
Both Nicole and Miller turned around. A broad figure stood calmly in the street light on the edge of the pavement. His front was almost drenched in black shadow, but despite her adrenaline rush, Nicole could swear she could make out the brightness of his eyes.
“Fuck off, mate. This doesn’t concern yo—”
Nicole yelped. The figure had appeared beside her in an instant. She had been pulled free of Miller’s grasp and was now standing with the figure by her side. Miller had jumped in shock too and fallen back inside the doorway of his house.
“What the fuck?!” he screamed.
The figure was moving closer ever so slowly to the doorway, like a snake readying a strike. “Cowards that prey on the innocent concern me very much.”
The voice was deep. It radiated authority, yet with a sheen of menace that chilled Nicole as well as excited her.
“What the fuck ever,” Miller said, trying to sound braver than he probably actually felt, and slammed the door shut.
The figure took a second before turning to Nicole. “Are you all right?”
Nicole had to steady herself. Now she was closer, she got a good look at him. She ran her eyes over his chiselled features and full lips. She noticed a pale tinge to his tanned skin, making the dark circles under his eyes even more prominent, but she stayed fixated on the first things she noticed. The eyes, now she could see them clearly, were a light emerald green. If she had to give them a description, she would have said they were hypnotically beautiful even though the rest of him made her think he was coming down with the flu.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied. The voice was warmer now, she noticed. The chilling effect she had experienced before had gone. The excitement however was still there, and also a sense of safety. He flicked his eyes to the keys in her hand. “I’ll walk you to your car, if that’s all right with you?”
“Sure, that would be great, thanks.”
They walked together a few steps and then she could not stop herself from asking, “How did you do that? I mean one minute you were here and then you were there?”
“I’ve learned a few things over the years,” he replied simply.
“Does that include moving eight feet in less than two seconds?”
“I guess it does.” He smiled. “Would you mind me asking you something?”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t mind.”
“You are an attractive and seemingly intelligent young woman. I do not see why or how you would get mixed up with the likes of that,” he gestured his head towards the house.
Nicole sighed. “It’s a long story, but believe me I wouldn’t choose to be within five hundred feet of him unless it was absolutely necessary. It was his parents that I wanted to talk to.”
“Do you not have a phone?” The man asked with a slight smile.
“Yes, I do. Of course.” She grinned back in exasperation and amusement. “But I thought face to face would be better seeing as though they are trying to sue me for assault.”
“Assault? Why would they do that?”
“Because I smacked the shit out of their son.”
The figure raised his eyebrows. “Neat.”
“Not really. It’s caused me a whole heap of trouble and it’s looking I’ll be suspended at the very least while the police get involved. If that happens, I can kiss my career of wanting to be a counsellor goodbye.”
The man appeared to ponder this, before reaching into his pocket and pulled out a business card. “Take this. If things get really out of hand, feel free to reach me there. I know next to nothing about the education system, but I have many contacts and some of them would. I can’t promise anything, but I may be able to help you.”
Nicole took the card and looked it over. “You work at T?”
“I own it.”
The words sunk in. “Wait. Are you…Dante Delavega?”
He nodded.
“Oh…wow. My name is Nicole. Nicole O’Brien! I’ve been emailing you, or at least I think it’s you, about the—”
“School formal dance,” Dante said with a small smile. “Yes, it has been me. I would be delighted for T to host it for you.”
“Oh, thank you so much…again! It would mean the world to the kids to have a party like that at T and it would give the school much-needed exposure too.”
Dante held up a hand. “Please, it’s my pleasure. All that you mentioned is wonderful of course, but this…” he paused gesturing to her face. “Is the best reason. Passion. A love for others and kindness. It’s a rarer thing nowadays and I like to help it along wherever possible.”
Nicole felt the heat rising in her cheeks. “Well, I’d better be going. But thank you again, for the last time. It means a lot.”
Dante made Nicole gasp a second time in the space of five minutes. He had gently taken her outstretched hand and kissed the top of it. It was not the gravely reply of “My pleasure,” but she gave an involuntary shiver at the instant hardness of her nipples when he touched her. Strange, as the rest of her body was quite warm. It wasn’t a cool night by any standards, but his fingers were like ice blocks. She put it out of her mind enough to wave him goodbye as she turned the car into gear and drove around the corner, leaving the house and Dante behind.
Chapter 26
Help Me
“I demand carnage!” Julian screamed, indicating the broken cell door. “It is impossible for anyone to break out of here from the inside. She had help. I know it!”
Vincent was bored with his son already. He had been for several hundred years, at least. He might have done away with him already, but from time to time, he could prove…useful. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Calm yourself. You sound like the toddler I ate last night…screaming for her mother.” He examined the lock and handle. “Did you not follow her advice on how to make these things?”
“Yes. What of it?”
“So did you consider she may have always known of a weakness in the manufacturing? Nothing is foolproof. Especially around you, my dear boy.”
Julian’s eyes widened, suddenly changing his argument. “I was played. She never loved me. I want her head!”
“No,” Vincent growled.
Julian took a breath at this signal and quietened. “She really was waking up in the day, then, wasn’t she?”
“Indeed, and getting far too close to our guests upstairs. I should’ve known her power would draw her to them and vice versa. If she uncovered what we are doing…” Vincent shook his head.
“What harm could she have possibly done?”
“It is imperative that only you, I and Hershel know we are using werewolf blood to make Dream State. The consequences would be diabolical.”
These were not just empty words. On the contrary, Vincent truly felt them. His stance on werewolves had prompted an enormous amount of resentment in the greater vampire population. The rest of the world had to put up with them, so why not Australia? Though surprisingly, his actions had gained him an equal measure of respect from the one place he needed it: The Messengers of Osiris, the overseers of the vampire world. They preferred to remain unseen, communicating only through letters sent by falcons that they had imbued with special strength and endurance. Although Vincent had indeed received notification of their approval—or perhaps it was merely tolerance; that was enough for Vincent—via such a falcon, the fact w
as, he had always doubted the supposed, almost omnipotent aura they commanded. Vincent had long had the view that a vampire’s only power was that which was given to them, and further, one could not challenge thin air. But then perhaps it was indeed this distinct absence that made The Messengers of Osiris nigh on invulnerable.
Vincent’s position as king was untouchable due to the fact he had been a formidable ally in the war against the wolves. His strength had saved many of his kind back in Innisfree in the late 1600s. Once king of Sydney, he made his choice and stuck to his word against werewolves. Other vampire leaders felt as he did, but due to the hangover from centuries of war all over Europe and the Americas, they relented somewhat and conceded to an uneasy peace in the early 1800s. Vincent, however, had declared that Australia was a free country for vampires only. He would recognise the peace with the werewolves only if they remained out of the country. The wolves were indignant, but could not risk going against Vincent, and more importantly, the newly reached peace.
That’s not to say there were not isolated incidents were wolves had snuck in, attempting to undermine him, cause trouble, or to inflict death. They were either quickly disposed of during their second full moon on these shores, or scurried away when they realised Vincent was after them.
It had solidified him as the vampire spokesman for the entire country, although he only officially ruled Sydney. Australia had been cut off and more importantly, left alone, to govern themselves.
This gave Vincent room to move when it came to the biggest nuisance of his entire ruling life: Australian politicians. Gone were the days when all one needed was a pair of fangs to keep the snakes in line. Now, though, there were just a few too many incidents where a feeding vampire was spotted by a member of the general public or captured by police. To keep these events out of the headlines took the one thing Vincent had long had little use for, and it was just the thing politicians seemed to always be in need of: money. Vincent all too frequently found himself “donating” large sums of hush money to the government, who would then distribute this to the media, or the Aboriginal charities—silencing them for a bit longer—as well as other forms of grants or funding. Vincent was fortunate in the fact that Australian politicians did not have term limits. He had only had to negotiate with a few prime ministers over the years. Most were spineless worms. Only one had ever proven to be almost more trouble than he was worth, and that was Harold Holt. He would not bow to pressure, and was not easily intimidated. To this day, Holt was the only Prime Minister to “go missing” and never be found. And, Vincent smiled to himself, he never will be.
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