Other Places 1: Shortcuts

by P. S. Power

  "Candles and More, Zack speaking, how may I help you today?"

  "Hello Zack, Edom here." His voice was smooth and warm sounding, a little deeper than normal. "I was asked to invite you to join a group of us at the club tonight. We're closing it down, since The Bey is in town. He requested you personally. Do you think you can make it?"

  It was possible, as long as he didn't stay too late, there was a shortcut near his house that lead to it, even though Zack hadn't used it a lot. A big noisy club with drinks he couldn't afford? What wasn't to love? Still, if it was closed for the night, then it should be a little easier to put up with. No one would expect much from him most likely and chances were if anyone danced, it wouldn't be him. That was, even if they didn't know it, grounds for him to walk out, trying to make him embarrass himself like that.

  "OK, I guess I can come for a little while. As long as everyone understands I need to sleep. So, no drinking or anything. Work has to come first." It would for a while, which didn't get any arguments from the man on the other end of the phone. The only sound was a slight muttering that had the tone of someone else being talked too, rather than insane ramblings.

  "Wonderful! We'll expect you as soon as you can arrive then."

  When he left he saw a sign on the door of Yoghurt World, which was closed and locked tight, or at least the lights were off, which he just took to mean that. It said that they were closed, due to The Bey being in town. That they actually explained that much seemed out of place, until he noticed that the nice looking young blonde woman that was most likely very old, from the night before, was standing nearby, looking scared. Her focus turned to Zack as she pointed to the hand written sign.

  "The Bey... They say he only comes when many are about to die. This is a warning to run, to flee into the night and pray he isn't here for us." She blinked and shook her head a little. "Though, I know that I haven't done anything to come to his attention. I do believe that a vacation is in order. I don't suppose that you'd like to come with me? We could use a blood donor, my daughter and I." The words were pleasant enough and almost held temptation, since there would probably be sex involved in that too, but he had to decline.

  "After all, I'm on my way to a meeting with the man himself, so I might be missed if I didn't show up. We met earlier. He seemed very nice. Then, I'm nearly positive he didn't come to kill me." It was true but the woman actually shuddered a little bit. A thing he thought might actually be real.

  "Nice? I've not met him, but from what I've heard, terrifying is more like it. How did he get here? He refuses most modern transport, walking most places, except for when he needs a boat."

  "Through the node." Before he could explain about the phone call the woman turned and ran away at full speed, which was much faster than he would have figured. She physically blurred as she moved toward the outer door.

  The parking lot was empty, except for one car, a beat up old Japanese thing that only had one person in it. She got out as he moved, her face a little upset.

  "Hey... I was sent to get you, but my car died." Barb looked like someone had killed her puppy. That, or was going to lock her up for a month with no food.

  He kept walking signaling for her to follow him, which she did, making a face the whole time. At the node he stopped to explain what he needed to do, hoping she wouldn't be too heavy for him. He thought he could pick her up, if he didn't have to hold her that way.

  Her words interrupted him before he could even point at the empty space, or do more than glance into it. "I don't see why you're going anyway. Granted, you're better at making food for humans than I am, but we aren't serving dinner. From what I heard this is more of a staff meeting than anything else. If we're late Edom's going to kill me."

  Without saying anything he stepped toward her and picked her up, trying not to groan when he did it.

  "Here, I'll carry you, that way you won't be late." He sounded decently playful and relaxed, which got her to giggle, until they stepped through the rift. Then he pointed down the street to the left. "We have a few blocks to go from here to the next shortcut, come on." The Vampire froze in place, until he took her hand and pulled her along a little. It was too cold to just stand in place after all and his coat wasn't that good. His breath made a white puff in the air as he gave another small tug just to get her moving.

  After that they got to move in silence, their pace fast. She took his arm however, and leaned in, whispering softly. "We're being watched. Three of them. Vampires. I don't recognize the scents. Younger than I am."

  Without bothering to look around he led her down the blind alley behind the little convenience store on the corner, jogging as soon as they got there, picking her up again and struggling the few steps that caused them to end up right around the corner from the Terran 2 LA. There was a man on the door and people trying to get in, many of whom looked angry that they simply walked up to the large white guy, who was a regular human, as far as Zack could tell.

  "Hey Kevin. This is Mr. Hartley."

  "Barb! Edom is letting you come back? I didn't know he'd react like that. Or pick to keep me over you. I'm sorry." He looked a bit sad, his heavy jacket bulging in places that meant he had a lot of muscle underneath it. Around what competitive bodybuilders did.

  "Oh, Ed's not freaking out half as much as it seems like. I've just been helping out at another place that he co-owns. I'll be back here too, sometimes. Doing double duty, for the crime of 'distracting' you." She chuckled and grabbed Zack's arm, pulling him in, patting the large man on the shoulder as she did.

  Inside it was warm, the heat being turned on, and open flames from gas lamps burning around the whole space. They were using them and the glowing fiber optics that lined the room to light the place. There was a single, very large, wooden table set up, a round one that reminded him of the old stories of King Arthur. Set up so that no one would be above the others. Except it was clear that the closer you were to Bey, the more important you probably were.

  He was placed on the far side of the table from him, directly across. The set up got him to smile though, and wave at the little Vampire man on the far side, who gave a tiny gesture back. Then he waited, since the other chairs were being filled too. Not all of them, but several. Edom and Lenore were across from each other and on either side of them they each had two people. Two men and two women. It was very balanced looking, except for the fact that he was the only human at the table. The only living one at least.

  Nicole looked at him, her face still, but the man next to her wasn't anyone that Zack recognized at all, and he seemed scared. Openly so. Most of the Vampires did, and that was clearly oriented on Bey. It didn't take a genius to figure out that they considered him the biggest threat in the room.

  Troy was behind the bar and waved to Barb, who came and picked up a single drink, which was placed in front of Zack rather efficiently. It was just a sprite, with a lot of ice, but nothing else in it.

  Lenore stood, wearing a simple dress that made her daily work clothing look modern and hip. It was basically a sack with arm holes and a rope around the middle. No one else was dressed that way, and she didn't seem to be in trouble as far as he could tell. Some kind of ceremonial thing then, Zack figured. Bey looked at her with smiling eyes and face, looking at her as if she'd invented standing, which is what she was doing at the moment. She didn't clear her throat, but there was no reason too. Everyone was pretty darned focused on her.

  "Thank you all for coming. We have with us this night a most important being, The Bey. I'll not mince words. The Bey does not come openly to anyplace unless Vampires are about to die. In this case, it is, we can only hope, not going to be us. Bey, have you word or thought on this that you might share?" It was followed with a low bow, a thing that she held, even after the little man stood, his head barely moving when he did. He was just that short.

  "There is a small army of new children in this district, many no more than year out of the ground. I have not determined the purpose of this as of yet, bu
t I have seen such things before, over and again. First the growth, out of control and without the proper training that our kind requires to learn civility, then the attacks on those that would seek to reign over them. Since for this area, that is largely represented by those of you in this room, I would ask for your help in quickly and peacefully dealing with this issue." He bowed, one by one to everyone in the room, working first around the table, moving from side to side, ending with Zack. Then, to the surprise of everyone else, he also faced Troy and Barb, both of whom had moved back behind the bar, and bowed that way as well, including them in his request.

  "Now, if it is not moving too quickly, perhaps young Nicole, Proctor of this city, can inform us as to her findings? I am to understand that you are new to this occupation, having taken on the responsibility only four months prior to this time?"

  He sat and smiled at her, an adoring look on his face, as well as riveted attention. Hoping it wasn't rude, Zack took a sip of the sweet bubbly liquid. It was nice and cool and, he realized, they wouldn't be serving dinner. Not in any way he could enjoy at least. Mirror Him was watching everyone closely he noticed, especially Lenore, who was glaring at Nicole a lot more fiercely than should have been happening over something that seemed pretty clear cut and simple to him. They had a problem with kids running around getting into trouble, and, from what he'd been told, they didn't even have parents to spank them or put them in a time out. The simple thing to do would have been to find them all and suggest they fix themselves. If they didn't these others could just kill them until the younger ones got the general idea that going along was probably for the best.

  "Yes, Bey, that is true. I took this job over from Michlos, who was moved away to act as first area leader of the Montana section. I first became aware of this issue two months ago, and have only really begun to understand the true scope after that. Whoever is organizing this is either very subtle and clever, or much older than I thought at first. The rate of new creation is very high. I've encountered at least ten newborns in the last two weeks, often left to come into being in places that would almost require them to attack humans on awakening." There was a pause, a hard glance across the table at Lenore and then one over at Edom, who made a very tiny movement of his head.

  He was dressed in his normal fashion, though Nicole was actually in a dress. Her hair was the same punk rock color of red and the stud in her nose flickered slightly in the lamp light, but she was wearing an evening dress. It actually looked kind of hot, or would have, if she wasn't very clearly acting like she was about to have to fight someone. She wasn't looking at Bey either. All of her attention was on the other Vampires that Zack knew from work.

  "I've had some issues with a police detective here in town. The man knows something of us, but isn't capable of understanding, I don't think. He's... been a bother. The other day he tracked me as I was removing a new born from under the crawl space of a private home, to prevent a blood feast when the man came into consciousness for the first time. The officer followed me until I had to seek refuge at Westwood. The Mages aided us then, hiding the man safely so his body wouldn't be found."

  Bey simply nodded, looking more serious, but not asking any questions. Lenore however let her fangs show and growled at Nikki, half standing and leaning across the table.

  "You mean to say that you told him about us, without finding out if he could handle the information first, and then protected him several times when others sought to remove him as a problem? He isn't even a lover or blood slave of yours Nicole. Worse, you involved Mr. Hartley in your mess. The debt you incurred in this is... transcendent. If Zack were anyone else you'd be working as his personal slave for the next several hundred years to pay for your folly!"

  It was a bit intimidating, since Lenore honestly seemed ready to throw herself across the table at the woman, which got everyone else to react in different ways, clearly expecting violence. Barb for instance ducked behind the bar and after a few seconds pulled Troy down along side of her protectively. Edom went very still and most of the others actually moved back. Nikki brought her hands up, ready to fight.

  Bey... chuckled.

  "Girls, girls... no need for that. Our friend Zackary has not asked for anything for his work. From anyone at all. We should seek to settle that issue with him, but it is not dire. I find him to be a most excellent being. From what I've heard, he has aided people unknown to him four times in the last days, seeking nothing for his actions, but to give aid. He takes value only from the work he has chosen, as is fitting a man of good will. Now, perhaps this would be a good time to find what he would like as repayment? We should not stress his good will overly, since we will no doubt wish to borrow his services again in the future." The whole thing sounded pleasant enough that Lenore stood much straighter and tilted her head to the man, then sat, very gracefully.

  "Of course, Bey." Looking at Zack she gave him a small seated bow, one that didn't seem ironic at all. "What do you wish in payment Zack? Riches? Slaves? I wasn't joking when I mentioned that Nicole could be made to slave for you. That might be fitting in fact. She can spend her days toiling for you, servicing your every whim and desire, and her nights cleaning up the mess she allowed to form here."

  Mirror Him spoke in his right ear, loudly.

  "Oh yeah, you could have her suck your-"

  Zack tuned him out, stuck as to what to say at all. Finally he shrugged and just opened his mouth, not really certain what would come out.

  "There's a possible war forming in the East, over some kind of land dispute... with the shifters?" He waited, not certain anyone would know what he was talking about at all.

  Bey smiled and nodded, "yes. Would you like us to simply give that territory to them? Say the word and it shall be done."

  That got a reaction from the table, as everyone suddenly turned to stare at him, hard.

  "No... I was thinking more of, if possible, someone just kind of calling and asking whoever was in charge of that on your side to just be, I don't know, extra calm and reasonable? I don't know the issue, and if it's not fair for them to lose the land, then it isn't fair. But if there's a war, well, the Mages are in an agreement that would put them in the middle of it, you know? It would be good if people could stay calm. It's land, so it isn't going anywhere if this takes a while. Then all we have to do is get the other side to think the same way and we'd avoid a giant mess." It wasn't his disaster in the making, but he knew people that would be getting in trouble if it all fell apart. That was enough. Besides, it was kind of a big thing to ask for, so no one could think he was cheap or someone to walk all over.

  The little Vampire man nodded and clapped once, "agreed. May I have a speaking device? I will need to be in contact with Isolt. She is the one in charge of the proper section." He waited as Edom got up quickly, looked something up from a small pad in his pocket and handed a tiny black cell phone to the man after dialing for him.

  There was a pause and no one in the room seemed to move, except Troy and Barb, who had both stood up, realizing that the fight they'd feared wasn't going to happen. Not yet.

  "Ah! Isolt, my darling. This is Bey. Oh, no, no problem at all. I simply call with a request for you. It comes from a good friend of ours, the Line Walker, Hartley. We owe him a great debt, several in fact... No dear, he seeks no slaves or riches from us. He is a man of great wisdom." There was a big smile and intense listening then. "Only that we seek to be reasonable and fair in our dealings on your current issue. No, he was most clear and particular there. He is not asking for you to give over, only to seek true fairness in the issue with a calm soul." There was a laugh then, a deep and hearty thing.

  A few seconds later he hung up.

  "She agrees to do this. In fact she said that she was already seeking to do as much, but will work harder, even though the damned shifters are being most vexing."

  He passed the phone back to the black Vampire, a thing that had an eerie sense of not being movement at all. Then, grinning hugely, he leaned forw
ard again.

  "So, that is one issue resolved. Now, I owe you a debt of my own, for aiding me this day. What would you have from me?" He steepled his fingers a little, his body leaning forward over the table, as if interested in what he was going to come up with next.

  Zack had nothing... Except there was one thing that might be useful.

  "I need a carpet for Candles and More. A throw rug, that kind of thing, about five by seven or so. It doesn't have to be very nice or expensive, just sharp looking. Maybe something in red, to match the holiday theme? I could get it from Wal-Mart, but I've been working most of the time and don't have a car. I have money to pay for it, but if someone could actually go and get it for me?" It seemed like a small thing, compared to stopping a war, but the little man bowed and then waved to Edom, who nodded once.

  "It will be done. Short pile?" There was a grin then as if it were a joke, but Zack nodded.

  "That would really be great. Then I can run power to the little train set I bought without anyone tripping on the cord. Thanks."

  The Vampires, other than Lenore and Bey looked at him funny. It was a collective look of disbelief, as if he was expected to ask for something harder to do. He just didn't have anything to ask for overly. It was clear that Lenore was about to say something, her face slightly kinder now, and looking at Bey, not Nikki, when screaming started from outside. Everyone in the room vanished then, except for Troy and him. Well, Barb headed to the front door, but visibly, even though the rest of them were simply gone. Zack jogged over, not knowing what to expect, but figuring that super-powered near immortals would be the ones to send out first.

  That turned out to be only partly true, since there was a fire, a puddle splashed across the ground where the line of hopeful people had been standing earlier, that had cleared, with most of the people pulling back, spreading a bit, but into clumps. He figured out what had caused it when another burning container flew toward the front of the club, having been arched over a set of buildings several blocks away. He pointed at it and spoke calmly.