by M. Lorrox
June frowns. “Bad side effects?”
Candace shrugs. “It’s hard to have a bad side effect as a vampire—that’s the blessing, if you want to call it that—but if you’re anemic, an antihistamine can really knock you down. I can check your blood if you want, and if you have a good cell count, then you’d be fine to take some.”
June recoils from the woman. “I, uh, I don’t like needles.”
Candace puts both palms up to June. “Just an offer.” She drops her hands and chuckles. “I used to be afraid of needles too, believe it or not—a hematologist afraid of needles.”
June looks at the woman and smiles. “That’s funny.”
“It is.” Candace smiles at her for a second. “I’d just need to prick your fingertip, and then throw a drop of blood under my microscope for a quick peek.” She motions over her shoulder to a little lab table with a microscope and some equipment beside it. “It would just take me a second to look at it and make sure you’ve got plenty of red blood cells—to make sure you’re not anemic.”
June breathes through her nose. Strawberries? No, peaches.
“It’s up to you, but I can’t in good conscience advise you to take any sleep aid or antihistamine without first ensuring that you’re not anemic.”
June studies her face. This is a nice woman. “If it’s a quick thing, and if you don’t make any record of it—not with my name or anything.”
Candace nods. “It is very quick, and I’m with you on the privacy thing. You’ll learn that we vampires are very discreet, and we like it that way. I don’t need to record anything, and besides I’ve already forgotten your name. Suzie, right?”
June laughs. “Alright. I really want to be able to sleep again.”
Candace nods. “I bet you’ll feel much better after a good night’s rest.” She motions to a chair with a cushioned arm. “Here, take a seat.”
Ten minutes later, June thanks Candace for the medicine. “You’re welcome, any time, Elizabeth.”
June laughs. “Nice.”
“I hope you sleep well tonight. Come by and see me tomorrow if you need anything else.”
June nods. “I will.” She walks out. And if I still can’t sleep, somebody’s gonna die.
After she leaves, Candace smiles to herself and looks around the infirmary. She walks back to her microscope and removes the slide with June’s blood on it. She pushes the slide’s cover plate off and into a sharps/biohazard trash bin, then she sets the slide into a rack of other slides to be sterilized back at the lab.
Now let’s see, what was I doing before? Oh right! COFFEE!
Charlie tries to keep up with Eddy as they walk back to the hotel. “Slow down! Jeez, I thought you might be tired after all that sparring.”
“It was awesome!”
“And hopefully you learned something.”
“Jambavan is better than he thinks; he should just chill. He’s got an epic reach, he’s stronger than me, and he’s pretty fast too. Faster than Enrique.”
Tactical firearms… I bet that’s impressive to see in action.
“Enrique is super strong, and he has good technique, but he’s kinda slow and a little limited to grappling. He almost put me in an arm bar, and that would have been it for me, but I squirmed out and rolled over to escape.”
“I haven’t met his knight yet. I’ll look forward to introducing myself and complimenting him on—”
“Sky was really good, and if she expands her repe-repertoire? Is that how you say it? Then she’d be really tough. She’s faster than she looks, but she relied on the same techniques and—”
“Eddy!”
He looks around, startled. “What?”
“Shut up for a minute.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re annoying me.”
He laughs. “Anyway, I like Sky... I mean, I don’t like her, I like them all. You know what I mean? They’re cool.”
“I’m glad you got along with them. By the way, how’s June doing?”
“Okay, I guess. It seems like she’s having a hard time with the change.”
“It can be difficult. You never had to go through it, so it’s hard for you to understand.”
“I know you went through it.”
“Yeah, but it’s different for June. For one thing, she’s living with these secrets, and another, it’s got to be a real mind-fuh…uh, it’s got to mess with her. Is that how you say it?”
Eddy laughs. “Yeah.”
“If she needs you, I know you’ll be there, just be careful to not get too close, too fast.”
“What do you mean?” We’re already so close.
Charlie clears his throat. “Well, we’ve never talked about you and her being romantic, but now…” Charlie shrugs. “Now she’s like us. Now it would be easier, if that’s what you two wanted.”
Eddy puts his hands in his pockets. Romantic with June... “I hadn’t thought about it much in the past, because, you know, we were different, and she and I were friends.” He brushes a twig off the sidewalk with his foot as he walks. “I suppose now that could change.”
“I’m just saying, if you two go down that road, you have to be cautious and go slow. Most kids probably have girlfriends or something growing up, but you didn’t. It would be your first romance, right?”
“Dad, c’mon.”
“What don’t I know?”
Eddy spins around and walks backward, looking at him. “No, you’re right, I just mean, lay off would ya?”
Charlie extends his arm and Eddy falls under it, allowing it to drape across his shoulder. “Try and stay cognizant of the fact that she’s going through a lot right now. She might act in funny ways and reach out, or she might push you away. Just be patient. Be her friend.”
Eddy shrugs with a nod. “Uh, okay.”
“Trust me.” Charlie swallows ancient pain back to his gut. You don’t want to lose her.
June is walking through the lobby when she hears Charlie and Eddy talking outside. She puts the medicine in her pocket and walks toward the front door to meet them.
“You know dad, I think I do like her, actually. I know it’s funny, because she’s like family, but maybe that’s why it’s so strong?”
Charlie takes his arm off Eddy’s shoulder. “She’s a great girl, Eddy.” He chuckles. “But if you try and kiss her, you’ll be terrible at first, so hope that she has low expectations.”
“Dad!”
June goes white. She turns and jogs away from the doors, at first toward the courtyard, but there is a group of people walking out of it, blocking the door. She turns and heads to the elevator. She gets there, hits the button, and glances toward the front doors. They’re going to see me!
To June, an eternity passes before the elevator doors finally open. Inside, a bellman with a luggage cart smiles at her and then slowly, carefully, steps out with the heavy cart. June darts into the elevator as she hears Charlie and Eddy say something to the bellman standing outside. That was close. She takes a few breaths, then she hits the button to open the door, and she steps back out.
Eddy sees her, smiles, and waves.
She smiles and waves back.
When they meet, both Eddy and June stop walking and just stare at each other for a moment. Charlie clears his throat. “Well, unless Sadie is back, Skip is still with Minnie. Right, June?”
“Oh, yes, he’s still in the room. I was just—”
“I’ll go relieve him.” He moves away from them quickly. “I’ll see you two later.”
June squints at Eddy. “Why are you all sweaty?”
He laughs. “I just had an epic meeting with some, uh…” He looks around to see if anyone is listening. He doesn’t see anyone, and then he also remembers that they’re in a hotel owned by vampires and filled with vampires. “I met some vamp warrior kids. Yo
u wouldn’t believe what Dad made me do!”
She chuckles. “I dunno, I can imagine him throwing you to the wolves, ’cause you can take it of course.” She smiles and pokes him.
“Wow. Accurate.”
A voice comes over a loudspeaker: “Complimentary appetizers are available in the restaurant until eight pm. They are all made with fresh and local ingredients. Please help yourself.”
Eddy raises his brow. “What do you think? They said the magic word…”
“Which one? Fresh, free, or food?”
“All three. Let’s grab a bite, and I’ll tell you about the wolves Dad threw me to.”
“I’d like that.”
Sadie stands before a semicircular table that seats the High Council. She is just finishing her account of the attack on the farmers’ market that she and Minnie experienced on Saturday. “I’d estimate that roughly twenty zombies attacked the market, and per official reports, they caused eighteen fatalities.”
“Why are you giving us an estimate of the number of zombies? Are they hard to count?” High Councilor Robert Flaxman, a man with a sharp tongue and soft belly, grumbles as he writes a note.
Sadie turns to address the man that has never shown her his good side. “Sir, some of the zombies were badly decomposed before the attack, while others were severely damaged during their execution. Also, trails found leading away from the site suggest that although there were nineteen confirmed dead zombies, there may have been more.”
“You said the facility was fenced in? They were no doubt drawn by the smell of the produce and all the people collected there. This seems like an unfortunate accident due to careless security. Nothing more.”
“Robert…” James Cartwright, a younger-looking High Councilor with short dark hair, flips over a sheet of paper and reads. “This is a quote from Dr. Melgaard’s most recent report: ‘Newly examined zombie specimens show increased functional brain retention in areas known to be responsible for social dynamics and problem solving capabilities.’” He sets the paper down. “They could have been drawn in by the scent, but now, zombies are exhibiting these new and dangerous characteristics. To assume the townspeople and security forces were careless, seems—”
“Rude.” Sadie glares at Robert.
He grits his teeth and swallows hard. “Now see here, all I was saying was—”
Mary coughs into her microphone and everyone turns to look at her. “Oh, I beg your pardon. But, now that I have the floor I’ll remind the Council that I personally toured the attack site. I hate to say it, but I believe that the doctor’s findings are consistent with what I saw there. The zombies had to have a purpose in mind. Let what I’m saying set in for a moment. The zombies had a purpose in mind. This changes the battlefield, and it explains why the United States military has failed to hold The Line.”
“I agree.” High Councilor Vincent de Villablino nods to Mary. “This does change the field, but I’m not convinced that publicly assisting the military is the best course of action. We could assign regiments of knights to the entrenched cities on The Line, and I will make the claim on record, Mr. Prime Minister, we would hold The Line.”
Council members speak over one another until a gavel is heard pounding.
Prime Minister Hamid ibn al Zaman sets down the gavel. “We will continue to discuss this and other strategies at length—” He gestures toward Sadie. “—but we do not need to waste the elder’s time. Does anyone have any further questions?”
“I do, sir.” Robert Flaxman grins and squints at Sadie. “Near your home outside Asheville, over two hundred zombies were found dead on Monday morning.”
Sadie blinks.
“Two vehicles operated by teenagers were crashed, and some children died in the incident.”
She frowns, thinking of poor Joe lying dead, Jess crying as she cradled him, and the cousin who put a bullet in his own brother to keep him from turning. “I heard, it is very sad.”
“Sad for them, yes, but are we to believe that nineteen zombies working together killed eighteen people while you yourself were present, while not a day later, a half-dozen kids take out over two hundred zombies?”
Sadie glances to Mary, James, and some other councilors she knows. She looks back at Robert. “I don’t understand your question, sir.”
“You lived there, you claim to have survived the attack of nineteen that killed eighteen, and you claim to have killed three yourself. Do you have any insight on this amazing feat that a handful of kids with guns accomplished?”
“I haven’t read any reports, sir.”
He glares at her. “I’m curious, Mrs. Costanza, why would the United States military need our help if a bunch of kids seem to be doing a better job?”
Sadie opens her mouth but she is cut off by the sounding of a gavel.
“You’ve made your point Robert.” Hamid turns to Sadie. “Thank you for sharing your story with us this evening. You are dismissed.”
She gives a curt smile and nod, then exits the room.
When she’s outside and out of sight, she cracks her neck with her hand. Flaxman… Che coglione!
Eddy and June have a nice meal of appetizers in the restaurant while chatting and hanging out. June checks her phone again; she texted her dad to see if he wanted a snack, but he hasn’t responded.
Eddy gets restless. “Well, let’s bring plates up anyway, I know those three magic words work on my dad.”
June laughs, and as Eddy starts to push his chair out to stand up, June reaches over and touches his arm. “Eddy?”
“Yeah?”
“This was nice—nice to just be with you. It’s been so crazy the last couple days.”
He smiles, then sets a hand on hers. “I know, everything’s been a whirlwind, and especially for you.”
She squeezes his arm slightly. “I still can’t believe you jumped in front of a shotgun to protect me.”
He stares into her eyes, not thinking about how different they are. “I…I don’t ever want to see you hurt.”
“Thank you, Eddy.” She starts to smile and breathe more slowly.
Oh boy. He pats her hand. “You’re welcome. Any time.”
She laughs and pulls her hand away. “Any time? Hopefully people won’t try and blow me away with a shotgun again!”
Right. That was dumb. “Yeah, I dunno what I was saying.”
“I’m not interrupting anything special, am I?” Li Chen walks over to where Eddy and June are sitting. Steve and Madeline follow behind.
Eddy looks up at them. “Oh hey, you grab any of the food? It’s pretty good.”
“Duh.” Steve says with a mouth full of crab rangoon.
Madeline steps toward June. “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend? Cool shades.”
“Thanks.” June glances at Eddy. Who are these creeps?
“Sure, this is June…” Eddy turns to her and motions to each of the vampires standing over them. “This is Madeline, this is Li Chen, and that’s Steve.”
“Hi.” Steve says before taking a large bite of a stuffed jalapeño.
“Charmed.” June looks back at Eddy. “Do you want to bring that plate up?”
“Right, I almost forgot.” Eddy slides his chair out and stands.
Li Chen repositions himself to stand square with Eddy.
“We were actually about to sneak some of the food up to the room.” He motions up with his chin. “My dad’s up there babysitting.”
Li Chen glances at June and snickers, “Oh, and you’re not?”
“Hey!” June pushes her chair out and stands. “Watch it, buddy.”
He smiles and turns to her. “I guess I was interrupting something. C’mon guys.”
Madeline snags a cracker from Eddy’s plate and bites it in half while winking at Eddy. She tastes it then makes a disgusted face as she looks
at the other half of the cracker in her hand. “Ugh, poppy seeds.” She tosses it on the ground and spits the cracker from her mouth behind her.
Eddy walks over to June, grabs her by the arm, and leads her toward the stack of new plates.
“Oh Eddy, one more thing…” Li Chen sits down where June was seated a moment ago.
Eddy turns back around. “What?”
Li Chen takes a sip from the glass of blood June was drinking. “Oh, this is good.” He lets a drip trickle down his chin. “After you’re done dropping things off upstairs, you should swing back down.” He grins, baring his blood covered teeth. “I’ve got something I want to show you.”
June pokes Eddy in the ribs. “Let’s go.”
Li Chen wipes his chin. “Oh, maybe we’ll just have to skip it tonight guys. Eddy’s got a bedtime.”
Eddy turns away from June. “Don’t insult me or my friends. If you can give that a try, I’ll consider your offer.”
Steve steps to the back of Li Chen while swallowing a large mouthful of something he didn’t properly chew. He grimaces, then coughs.
“Deal?” Eddy doesn’t blink while he stares straight through Li Chen.
He nods. “We’ll see you later.”
Eddy turns and rejoins June. They each grab a plate and silently pile some appetizers on them. Behind them, Steve is still coughing, and Li Chen smacks him hard on the back. Madeline laughs.
June shoots them a look of despise, and Eddy snuffs in amusement. When the plates are full, they loop around the bar to the other side and leave.
June walks beside Eddy all the way to the elevator without saying a word. When the door closes, she shifts the plate she holds into one hand, and with the other, punches him in the arm. “Ouch! Jeez, you’re getting vampire strength, you’re going to have to tone it down, or else I—”
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
Eddy holds his plate with one hand and rubs the spot she punched him with the other. “About that, you see—”
“No Eddy!” She nearly growls. “Don’t explain things to me. I know what you’re doing; you’re being all tough to fit in. Those creeps are trouble. You know it, and you do not need to prove yourself. Didn’t you learn anything from what happened?” She leans back against the side of the elevator and nearly spills the food off her plate.