by J. S. Malcom
“Hey, it's Jenny,” she says. “Where did you guys go?” She sounds confused, alone and a little scared as she talks into her phone. After a moment, she says, “I just needed to get out of there for a while. When I came back you guys were gone. Call me, okay?”
As a group, we suddenly stop, remaining out of sight to the person we hear. The vampires exchange eye contact in a moment of silent conference. Then John whispers to Nora, “You stayed at that place last night, right?”
She whispers back, “Yeah, but that’s okay. I’ll—”
“Go,” Stephanie says. “We can wait.”
Nora hesitates one last moment, and then starts walking, her footsteps silent against the pavement. A moment later and she’s gone, having blended into the shadows. The others fall back.
Now, I'm faced with a dilemma. I can fall back too and pretend this isn't happening, or follow Nora to stop it. I know I signed onto finding Mason, but standing by like this goes against all my instincts.
I set myself in motion but it's already too late. Nora holds onto the girl, one arm wrapped around her waist and the other supporting her back. The girl’s legs have buckled, her head hanging back as she lets out helpless moans. Magic surges within me, my hands prickling with electricity, but then I remain rooted to the spot. Partly because I'm not sure what I'd do. I only know one way to handle vampires, and I can’t do that to Nora. Then I realize that those sounds I hear are moans of pleasure.
Nora keeps her mouth pressed to the girl's neck, her throat working to suck in blood. By the light of the moon, her eyes meet mine. They glow pale blue, but not with the savage hunger I expected. Instead, I see that she too is experiencing pleasure, both sensual and unexpectedly intimate. Within me, the urge to kill suddenly shifts to a feeling of awkwardness. Like I just walked in on two people having sex.
While I know vampires control minds, I always assumed their victims felt helpless terror. This is something else entirely, and my discomfort grows as Nora’s victim switches from moaning to panting, the pace of her breathing becoming more rapid. Do the other witches know about this? Why hasn’t anyone told me?
A few more moments pass before the girl emits another sound, this time the soft cry of climax. Then I hear Nora whisper, “You liked that, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” the girl says softly. “Can we do it again?”
Nora chuckles “Not tonight, babe. It wouldn’t be good for you.”
“Please?”
Nora gently shushes her and the girl says nothing more.
“Come on, let’s get you home,” she says. “Where do you live?”
They walk past me, the girl shuffling while Nora keeps her from staggering. I have no idea how drunk she might have been to begin with, but that’s the impression now. Nora appears as one friend helping another. I follow after them, catching up as they reach the street. Nora keeps her arm around the girl, who rests her head on Nora’s shoulder. Nora keeps stroking her hair.
“Do you mind hailing that cab?”
It takes me a moment to realize that Nora is talking to me. I didn’t think she even knew I was there. I look down the street to see the cab parked at the end of the block. I shine my flashlight app, clicking it on and off a few times. The car pulls forward, soon stopping in front of us.
“Here, hold onto her for a moment.”
I turn, thinking I must have heard wrong, but Nora shifts the girl to me. Suddenly, I’m hanging onto a hundred and twenty pounds of dead weight. It takes everything I have not to spill both of us to the sidewalk. Thanks so much, Nora.
The cab driver rolls down his window. “Who’s going where?”
Nora approaches the car and speaks in a steady, firm voice. “Please listen closely. You will take my friend to three-forty-one Tyburn Street. You will help her get inside. You will not touch her or hurt her. Do you understand?”
Damn, the mind control vibe coming off of her is so strong that even I can feel it. I have to shake my head to regain focus. Then I hear the cabbie say, “Sure, of course. Three-forty-one Tyburn. Help her get inside.”
“And what else?”
“Don’t touch her or hurt her. I’d never do that.”
Maybe that part’s true. I’d like to think so, but it’s clear the cab driver has been seriously mesmerized. Meanwhile, Nora motions for me to assist the groggy girl into the cab. I get her seated in back, lift in her legs and shut the door. The girl stares at me blankly through the window.
I hear Nora whisper, “Got any money?”
Boy is she asking the wrong person. I haven’t had a cleaning job since booting Dorothy the Drunk from Martha Sanders’ house. “Not much,” I say.
Nora turns back to the cabbie. “You already got paid, okay?”
“Sure,” he says. “I already got paid.”
“Big tip too.”
“Big tip. Got it. Thanks.”
“No problem.” Nora pats the roof of the cab and says, “Off you go now.”
We watch as the cab drives along a now empty street. Soon, it turns a corner and disappears. Just another vampire victim being driven home by a mesmerized cabbie. If nothing else, the supernatural world never gets old.
A second later, I jump at the sound of Eric’s voice close to my ear. “Guys, I don’t think we’re alone.”
I spin around to see that both John and Stephanie stand beside him. I look to where Eric is pointing and my already escalated pulse ratchets up another notch. Down the street, a figure just emerged from an alley. I don’t have to get any closer to know that it’s a demon.
CHAPTER 6
My first instinct is to run like hell and just keep running. It’s not that I’m afraid of demons. At least, usually I’m not, but even from a distance I can tell this fucker is huge. I have just seconds to think about the timing, and whether it could possibly be a coincidence. I sure as hell hope so, or my cover is already blown.
The demon starts to advance, and by advance I really mean charge. It’s a bull of a creature, barreling toward us on all fours. If there’s anyone still inside those clubs around us, I hope they’re locking their doors tight.
Eric falls back, followed by John and Stephanie. Nora alone remains by my side. Damn, she’s a brave little thing. Or maybe she’s still blood drunk from that little cross between a soft porn and a late night meal.
“What the hell is that thing?” she says.
Okay, maybe she’s just frozen with terror. If anything can kill a vampire it’s coming at us fast.
“Demon,” I say.
“Yeah, obviously. What kind of—”
That’s as far as she gets before the demon slides to a stop before us, a cloud of smoke rising into the air. Along with that comes the acrid smell of burning tar. Apparently the thing burned up the road along the way.
I wasn’t wrong about it being huge, when I was hoping that might have been an optical illusion. On all fours it’s massive, but then it rears up onto powerfully muscled legs. The creature has to be eight feet tall, with a flat head and two slits for eyes glowing fiery red. Corkscrew horns protrude from its forehead.
“Yeah, definitely a demon,” I say. “I’ve got this.”
Do I piss myself just a little as I speak these words? Let's just say I can imagine it happening to someone else. It definitely doesn’t help when the demon opens its mouth and acid drips out to burn a hole in the road. Great, there’s that tar smell again. If the demon doesn’t rip our heads off, we’ll all die from lung disease. Wait, I’m the only one here technically alive. This does not make me feel better.
At least there’s one thing working to my advantage. I’ve been on a low boil all night. While encountering a demon would normally set me off anyway, I just went from DEFCON 5 to DEFCON 1 in a matter of seconds.
Behind me, I hear Stephanie say, “Holy shit. Look at that.”
This time, I know she means me. I have one arm cocked back, the other flexed at the ready, both hands already cradling crackling spheres of energy.
; The demon drops back to all fours, getting ready to charge, but that’s as far as it gets before I unleash my magic. As soon as I unload, I reload without even having to think about it. More bursts of magic flare from my hands, in a rapid series of blinding strikes. I keep driving the monster back, only to have it keep struggling forward.
From what feels like a million miles away, I hear Eric say, “I don’t think she’s got this.”
That’s enough to push me over the edge. I am just so over being tested right now, after days of freaking out in ways I never imagined. I let out a roar unlike any that’s ever escaped my lips, this time pushing out both hands held together palms open. A massive blast of light shoots forth, doing way more than driving the demon back. Yes, it stumbles backwards, but then it bursts into flame burning as bright as magnesium. It takes only a few more seconds for it to sizzle down to it's already fading supernatural core.
For a few moments, all I’m aware of is the beating of my own heart as it desperately tries to slow. Then I hear voices behind me.
“What just happened?”
“You know what just happened. It was a demon.”
“I know it was a demon, but why did it attack us? It’s not supposed to work that way!”
As I come back to my senses, I hear Nora say, “Look, I don’t know, but I told you guys we can trust her.”
“Whatever,” Stephanie says. “That demon came after us because of her.”
“She’s right,” Eric says. “I’m out of here.”
“Ditto,” John says. “I’m sorry, Nora.”
With the demon no longer blocking their way, and no humans present to observe them, the three vampires depart so quickly that my eyes can barely track them. They're at the end of the block and then gone before I have a chance to process what just happened.
For a moment, I expect Nora to leave too. Instead, she starts walking and I do the same, although I'm not sure where we're going.
As we leave the street, and thankfully the smell of burning tar behind, I turn to Nora. “What was up with your friends?”
“You mean why were they uncomfortable being attacked by a giant demon?”
When she puts it that way, it does seem like a silly question. “Well, I did tell you guys I had it under control.”
Nora chuckles. “Was it me, or did it seem a little touch and go there for a moment?”
I waggle my hand. “Maybe just for a moment.”
Nora brings her gaze back to mine. “The thing is, we never should have been in danger to begin with. Demons don't attack vampires. Not even inside the Inversion.”
That one piques my interest, as I remember what Beatrice said about vampires crossing into that realm. Just to verify, I ask, “So, you guys can go there?”
To me, that sounds like veil witch magic, so how the hell does that work?
“Technically, yes,” Nora says. “Personally, I've never paid a visit, but portals exist for those so inclined.”
I feel my eyes narrow involuntarily.
Nora reads my reaction accurately. “We have an accord with the demons. It's not like we can open the veil.”
What's weird is that I can tell she intends to set me at ease. Not exactly what I expected from my natural enemy.
Still, because I’m snooty about my veil witch territory, I say. “Of course not.” Then I add, “But why would you guys go there at all? It's kind of a hellhole. Just saying.”
We continue walking, now across a footbridge leaving the canal area. I figured we were through with searching for Mason tonight, but maybe not. Vampires don't exactly get tired and we still have time before daybreak.
“Like I said, I've never been, but some vampires go to partake of the Shared Feast. They say it strengthens the bond between vampires and demons.” She shudders and adds, “Look, that's just what I heard. I have no idea if it's even true.”
I'm pretty darned sure I just stumbled onto something not even Beatrice knows about. There's just no way she wouldn’t have mentioned something called the Shared Feast. At the same time, I can tell Nora wants to change the subject. So, I figure I might as well try to round out some of my other vampire knowledge.
“Just curious,” I say. “That girl we put into the cab. Your, um, victim.” I stop just short of saying dinner. “She seemed to be enjoying the experience. Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly the reaction I expected. Is it always that way?”
I would have heard about that, right? The witch community can’t be that clueless.
Nora shakes her head. “Definitely not. What they experience is up to us, depending on how we influence that person.”
I'm pretty sure what she means, but I figure it can’t hurt to double-check. “Influence?”
“That's what we call it. Mind control just sounds so creepy.”
Right, because vampires aren't creepy. I limit my response to, “Yeah, it sort of does.”
“The thing is, everyone approaches it their own way, particularly when it comes to feeding.”
She tries to leave it at that, but I’m nosy. “Based on what?”
Nora shrugs. “I don’t know. Based on whether you’re an asshole, or if you’re basically nice. Or whatever inclinations you may have had in the past. Everybody’s different. You know, kind of like people.”
Ouch. But, to be fair, I walked right into that one. I decide to give it a rest while I get my bearings. We’ve covered a few miles, at least. Naturally—or maybe unnaturally—Nora seems completely unfazed by the trek. On the other hand, my legs are tired from trying to keep up, and I’m too proud to ask her to slow down.
“Where are we going?”
“Byrd Park,” Nora says. “Since it’s not too far.”
Is she joking? That has to be a few more miles. What, exactly, is too far for a vampire? “I take it we’re still looking for Mason.”
In other words, she’s not just hungry again, right?
“I figure it’s worth a look.” Nora checks the sky and adds, “After that I better bail. By the way, can you walk a little faster?”
CHAPTER 7
By the time we finally enter the park, my legs are all but worn out. It also feels like I’m getting blisters. Great. I didn’t really think about it earlier, and just put on my boots. But if I’m going to keep doing these vampire workouts, I’m going to need new sneakers. Or maybe I can tap into that Regina thing and fly alongside Nora on these little death marches.
Thankfully, we slow our pace now that we’re here. I take advantage of that to catch my breath, trying to inhale as silently as possible.
“Doing okay? Nora asks.
“Doing fine,” I say. “How about you?”
Nora laughs softly, but doesn’t bother answering the question. I didn’t fool her, obviously.
I look around the park, taking in what I can. It’s not much. The full moon, high in the sky before, has continued sinking toward the horizon. Clouds have also moved in during the time that’s passed. As Nora scans the landscape, maybe she’ll see something I don’t.
A few moments pass and then she sighs. “Shit. Where is everyone?”
Definitely another first. I've never been around someone complaining of a lack of vampires. At the same time, I’m disappointed. I realize it’s only been one night, but it’s one more that Autumn remains charged with a magical crime.
Still, I can’t think of anything either. “Should we call it?”
Nora scans the park again, and then glances at the sky. “Let’s give it a few more minutes. You never know.”
She’s right, you never do, and it seems that Nora and I are a little alike. We jump in fast, blind to the risks as we try to get things done. We also don't forget when someone crosses someone we love.
Nora points down the path and says, “There’s a bench over there. I wouldn’t mind sitting. Come on.”
I know she’s doing it for me, but I take her up on the offer. We walk to the bench and sit beside each other.
“So…” I say.
Nora laughs softly. “You’re not comfortable with silence, are you?”
She’s right, obviously. On top of which, I’m nervously jiggling my knee. “You have no idea,” I say.
She raises her eyebrows. “A veil witch thing?”
“For this veil witch, yes. I lost the ability to speak for a while. With my own voice.” To clarify, I add, “I kind of lost my body too.”
Nora whips around to look at me. “You’re that veil witch?”
I shake my head, confused. “There’s not very many of us.” Shit, should I tell her that? It sounds like she didn’t know. Trying to cover, I add, “I mean, there’s enough.”
“Dude,” Nora says, “we know there’s only two of you. Well, three now, apparently. But I wasn’t sure if that was you or your sister.”
Right, of course. I’m such an idiot. “Oh. Yeah, that was me.”
“I hate those bastards,” Nora says.
I know who she means, of course. The Vamanec P’yrin. Ironic. In the time that’s passed, I’ve kept hating the vampires, while some of the Vamanec P’yrin—the same supernatural tribe I would have once exterminated without question—have become my friends. Well, Autumn’s friends, mostly, but I know I can trust them.
“What about Ellis?” I say.
“Right, Ellis. I guess he’s different. He must be if he works with the Shadow Order.”
Which makes me wonder. “Have you ever run into any others?”
Nora shakes her head. “Not so far. Let’s just say I’ve made a conscious effort over the years.”
I can’t blame her, of course, since the enmity between the Vamanec P’yrin and vampires goes back forever. It’s strange to think, that for all the differences between those in the supernatural world and those who aren’t part of it, in this way we’re the same. Like our non-magical counterparts, we find reasons to hate those who are different.
I know I’ve already been more than my share of nosy for tonight, but I’m curious. “How many years?”