Kal pulled out a card from his pants pocket and set it on the table.
“Obviously I’ll need a new cell number but you can call my home number if you have any questions,” Kal said.
“Strange that someone actually has a land line now a days,” Detective Krite said. “Also. Your record lists your name as Kal. Is that short for something.”
“No. Just Kal,” he said then shrugged his shoulders. “I had strange parents. Also, I have to have a land line for my work. My wife helps out quite a bit. Sometimes we have my cell, her cell and the land line all going at once.”
“Mhmm,” Detective Krite said, clearly not buying this part of the story either. The man was determined to find Kal guilty of something. What had he done to piss off Detective Saul Krite? Before tonight he had never even met the man, though his name did sound a little familiar. A problem for another time. Kal’s wife was waiting and he didn’t want to waste another second.
After Detective Krite left a uniformed officer led Kal to a phone so he could call his wife. Thankfully he knew his wife’s cell phone by heart. Many of his other contacts, the one’s in his phone, he would have to find a way to get.
The phone only rang once before a pleasant, yet worried, voice picked up.
“Hello?” she asked. She was kind and her voice was soft but it was clear that she was terrified.
“Honey, I’m fine,” Kal said and cringed.
“Then you better have a damn good reason for this. You are two hours late and the first call I get is from the Salvon Police Department. Do you have any idea what was going through my head?!” Her words started out quiet but by the end she was practically yelling. Kal could hear the fear in her voice.
“I’m ok honey. I’ll tell you everything. I just wanted you to know I’m ok. I’ll be home in about thirty minutes or so,” he said calmly.
“Oh hell no! I’m coming down there!” she yelled.
“I’ll be released by the time you get here. I’ll just call a cab,” Kal explained.
“You better not! I’m heading out the door now! You better not move!” she commanded.
“Yes, dear,” he relented and he heard the click.
“A real ball breaker?” the man behind the desk asked.
Kal smiled and leaned over the desk.
“Actually, quite the opposite.” When he saw the man’s confusion he explained. “When she finds out why I was here and that you didn’t take me to the hospital.” He paused and smirked. “You’re probably going to need those cuffs.”
At first the officer behind the counter laughed then he realized Kal was serious. He quickly got back to gathering up the paperwork for Kal to sign so he wouldn’t have to face a furious Mrs. Johnson.
Chapter 3
The car ride back to their apartment was nearly silent. Kal’s wife, Brianna Johnson, hadn’t even said a single word in the police station. Kal knew he was in for the verbal lashing of his life. His beautiful wife was loving, kind and caring most of the time. When she wasn’t…she was the most stubborn and vicious person he had ever met. People didn’t want to get on Bree’s bad side and, right now, that’s exactly where Kal was.
After he walked in the door and switched on the lights he turned to watch his lovely wife shut, then lock the door. In that instant he was very aware of how angry and how beautiful she was. He had never, in over two thousand years, seen anyone who looked so gorgeous when they were furious.
Her bright green eyes and her sandy brown hair still made his stomach quiver. Her hair was almost blonde but a shade darker. Though he couldn’t see it right now, her smile was his favorite attribute. He had always heard the saying ‘Her smile could light up a room’ but had dismissed it as poetic musings until the day he met Bree.
Kal clasped his hands in front of himself while he waited for Bree to prepare whatever speech she was clearly assembling in her head. To say he was terrified was an understatement. He’d gladly have gone back to the alley and faced the ancient vampire rather than face the wrath of Bree. As he thought this a smile formed when he realized. Bree was the most terrifying person he had ever met, not because she was strong and fast, it was because she could do something no one else in the entire world could. She could break his heart.
Bree’s short, slender frame pushed by Kal and he allowed himself to be moved. She was a good four inches shorter than he was but that made little difference. He wouldn’t have pushed back even if he had been angry with her, which he wasn’t. His eyes followed her as she stormed over to the tan, plush couch where she plopped down and her expression changed. The anger had vanished, concern and sadness filled it now.
“Why did you go into that alley?” Bree asked.
Kal cleared his throat then cautiously walked until he was standing right in front of her. He thought about kneeling or bowing but the images in his head all looked ridiculous. Instead he decided to remain standing and take his punishment like a man.
“I saw someone following her. I thought…” Kal stammered.
Bree stood and her anger returned.
“You thought ‘Hey, I’m a big strong man. I can just go get myself killed.’ That’s what you thought. Not a single care for the wife you would leave behind nor…” She scowled up at him and slowly the expression eased. Her fury, in this case, was to hide her vulnerability. She was worried.
“I’m sorry,” Kal said and looked at his hands, which were still clasped in front of him.
Bree slid her hands under his arms and hugged him around the waist. After a few seconds Kal put his arms around her and hugged her back.
“Don’t do that to me,” she said and it sounded like she might be crying.
“What’s wrong?” Kal asked. Even for Bree this was more emotional than normal.
After another fierce hug she released him, took a step back and looked at him guiltily.
“Now I know there’s something wrong,” Kal said, his fear was back.
After a few agonizing moments Bree spoke.
“I’m pregnant,” she said.
Kal froze for a second then was filled with anger.
There are moments in life where people say the wrong thing and would give up almost anything to take them back. Kal’s moment was now. What came out of Kal’s mouth was a sentence that would haunt him for the rest of his life and a moment he would always regret.
“You cheated on me?!” Kal asked, his voice and face showed his fury then the realization of what he had just said, to the person he cared about most, hit him like a truck. Before he could say another word Bree’s anger eclipsed his.
“WHAT!? I tell you I’m pregnant and you accuse me of cheating on you?!” She stared at him and he suddenly forgot how to form a sentence.
“I…umm…we…I…” Kal stuttered as his hands motioned to himself then her then back at himself.
“Spit it out JACKASS!” she shouted then put her hands on her hips and just stared at him.
“I’m sorry,” Kal said meekly.
“You’re going to have to do better than that,” she scolded.
Kal’s mind raced. If Bree was telling the truth, and he was inclined to believe her, then this presented a huge problem. Vampires could get human’s pregnant but it was very rare, one in a million, rare. With a gargoyle it was impossible. He stopped and pondered it a little more. Apparently it wasn’t impossible. Kal decided to start out slowly. Find out if Bree could be mistaken. If not, she was in for a revelation that would change how she viewed the world. But if she really was pregnant with his child, she deserved to know the truth.
“I told you I couldn’t have children,” Kal said. Bree was still furious but her anger seemed to be waning slightly.
“Apparently whoever told you that was wrong,” she said angrily.
“Oh this is bad,” Kal said. He put both hands on the top of his head and sighed then saw the anger rise on Bree’s face.
“I tell you I’m pregnant and you accuse me of cheating on you then you tell me it’s bad?!�
� Bree asked. He could hear the anger in her voice and the tears she was desperately trying to hold back. “Fine! I’ll just get an abortion then!”
“You can’t do that!” Kal yelled.
“I can do whatever the hell I want!” Bree screamed back.
“No, no. You don’t understand.” Kal’s voice was quiet and caring now. “It will kill you.”
“What are you talking about?” Bree asked, her anger faded to confusion.
“You should probably sit down for this.” Kal gently grabbed her elbow and tried to escort her back to the couch.
“I think I’ll stand. Thank you very much,” she said angrily and removed her arm from his grip.
Kal paced back and forth. He had never done this before. In fact, it was against the law to tell a human. A law punishable by death, her death, not his. But luckily Bree was covered by an obscure bylaw that said telling a life partner was within his rights, so long as she never told anyone else. Bree wasn’t some acquaintance nor was she his friend. He planned on staying with her until the day she died, a situation for which this law was created. As Bree grew older Kal would not. This was the reason it was permitted. He had considered it before but now, with her being pregnant, he couldn’t put it off any longer. Her pregnancy put her in danger, not only from the unborn child, but from vampires wanting to kill her and the child she carried. There was no certainty that the child would be a gargoyle, being that a gargoyle had never gotten a human pregnant, but it was very likely. Also, it was his child, Kal the scourge of vampires. There were very few vampires who wouldn’t want his child dead.
“This is going to sound crazy so please just let me explain.” Kal looked at Bree and she was still furious. “And you can never tell anyone. Not your mom, not your dad, not your sister, not even your best friend. No one. Ever.” Kal stared at her waiting for confirmation.
“Well? Get on with it,” she ordered. She didn’t exactly agree to the terms but Kal could worry about that later.
“Oh boy. Where do I start?” he asked rhetorically while he paced. Bree started to look worried so he began with the most obvious. “I am two thousand four hundred and twelve years old.”
Bree looked at him strangely.
“My name is not Kal Johnson. It’s just Kal. Back when I was born there were no last names,” he continued.
Bree’s look changed to worry.
“I…I am a gargoyle and I sort of…police vampires,” he said with a cringe.
Bree laughed at first then when she saw how serious he was she let herself fall onto the couch.
“Oh boy,” Bree said and stared at her hands while she picked at her nails.
“Say something please,” Kal urged her.
Bree looked up at him.
“Is it hereditary?” she asked, full of worry.
“Being a gargoyle? I think so. No one is really sure. A gargoyle has never…” he started but she interrupted.
“No. The insanity. Is it hereditary?” she asked and now it looked like she was going to cry.
“I’m telling you the truth,” Kal said.
“Oh Kal,” she said with pity. “Do I need to call someone?”
“We’ve been married for five years. Don’t you think you’d know if I was nuts by now?” he asked, hoping this would convince her.
“Maybe the news of my pregnancy flipped a switch or something,” she rationalized. “Maybe it was too much and it sent you over the edge.”
“Fine. I didn’t want to do this right away because it’s a little scary but I need you to understand,” Kal said. Kal walked to the center of the room and took a deep breath. He had never shown a human before and he was a little nervous. Mostly because of who the human was. What if she was scared of him? What if she left? He had no choice now. Kal would have done anything to protect Bree and, right now, her ignorance was her greatest enemy.
“Kal…it’s ok,” she comforted. She stood and almost started toward him then saw his skin turning grey and he was increasing in size.
“I’m going slowly so you can get used to it. I usually change much faster than this but I wanted to ease you into it,” he said. His voice was still calm.
Kal’s eyes slowly turned red while his skin continued to change to a grey hue. Soon the sleeves of his shirt filled out until they were almost bursting, as did his pants.
Bree covered her mouth and fell onto the couch once more while Kal continued to change.
Large, canine looking fangs descended from his upper jaw and smaller ones came from the bottom. His fingernails turned black then elongated and came to sharp points. Even the bones in his face changed, they protruded until the bones of his skull were visible, just underneath the smooth grey skin that now covered his body.
“I’m telling you the truth,” Kal said and stood in front of her.
Bree’s mind could barely reconcile the voice of the man she loved coming from the monster in front of her. She blinked a few times then stood and put out her hand. Kal didn’t move. Bree gingerly touched the skin on Kal’s face and was astonished that, although it looked cold, it was warmer than hers.
“Does it hurt?” was the first thing that came to her mind.
“No. It’s just part of who I am,” Kal explained.
Next Bree moved her hands down his arms and continued until she felt the sharp, knife like, claws at the tips of his fingers.
“Careful. Those are very sharp,” he warned.
“And you hunt vampires with these?” she asked. Her mind was still reeling but she could hardly deny what she saw and what she felt.
“Something like that,” Kal stated. “Vampires hunt humans. I try to stop them. Well, some of them do. Long story.”
Bree continued to walk around Kal, astonished by the size of her husband. He had to weigh at least another hundred pounds, maybe more. His arms and legs, even his chest were huge compared to what he had looked like a minute ago. He was also much taller now. He had to be at least six foot two.
“Is this why you insist on wearing such baggy clothes all the time?” she asked. Her mind still wasn’t coping well but some semblance of reality was seeping its way in.
“Yes. That’s why my clothes are always two or three sizes too big for me,’ he said with a grin.
“I guess that makes sense,” she said but she was clearly still lost inside her own head.
“I’m going to change back now. Ok?” Kal asked.
“Sure,” Bree answered. She was squeezing his shoulders and marveling at how she couldn’t even dent the skin. It was like he was made out of concrete or steel but he was warm to the touch.
Kal eased his way back into human form and when he was himself again Bree walked to the couch and sat down. The look on her face was still the look of a woman lost.
“My kind is very sturdy. That baby,” Kal said while pointing at her stomach. “It won’t let you have an abortion. It will kill you first.”
“Oh,” Bree said but she still looked like she was trying to decide if she was dreaming.
“I’m really sorry Bree. I didn’t think it was possible,” Kal said solemnly.
“I know,” Bree said.
Kal’s heart went out to her. She was trying, she really was, but human minds were not ready to admit that his kind existed.
Bree slowly moved her arms over her stomach and it looked like she was hugging her unborn child.
“Will it kill me to have this baby?” Bree asked. Her mind was starting to work again.
“I don’t think so,” Kal replied. “Humans have given birth to vampires. Although this has never happened before, I don’t see why a gargoyle baby would be any different.”
“But you don’t know,” she said. “You’re not a vampire so this might just kill me.”
“Actually,” he said and cringed. “I sort of am a vampire.”
“What?” Bree asked and her terror returned.
“Gargoyles are a mutation of vampires,” Kal said.
“But blood makes you sick,�
�� Bree said.
“Exactly. I can’t even stand the smell of blood,” Kal replied. “But genetically, I’m still a vampire. They’re faster, I’m stronger, but we’re both vampires.”
“Oh,” Bree said and once again she looked lost and confused.
Kal started toward the couch to sit by his wife and answer more questions when a loud knock came at the door. He looked down at Bree then at the door then back at Bree.
“I’ll get rid of whoever that is,” Kal said.
“Please,” Bree said.
Kal made his way to the door and the loud knocking rang out once more. When he opened the door he was shocked at first, then anger took its place. He shifted into gargoyle form in seconds then growled down at the small Egyptian woman.
The woman at the door was even shorter than Bree. Her long black hair and olive skin resembled Kal’s. Even her facial features and nose looked like Kal’s. She smiled, patted Kal on the chest then pushed her way inside.
“Calm down little brother,” the woman said with a laugh.
“What the hell are you doing here El?!” Kal asked angrily. Was it Elyssa who had assaulted him in the alley? It couldn’t be her could it? She was the kind to play games, after all. Even though he knew his sister’s propensity for manipulation, would she really just show up at his door afterward? At the very least, if she had been the one to attack him, wouldn’t she want to gloat about it?
Elyssa stopped when she saw Bree on the couch. It was clear that Bree had been crying. Then Elyssa took a deep breath through her nose and smiled.
“Congratulations,” she said then looked at Kal. “This is a surprise. You tell her yet?”
“About five seconds ago,” Kal exaggerated.
“That explains the crying,” Elyssa stated then walked over and sat down beside Bree. She stuck out her hand and looked at Bree strangely. “I’m Elyssa. His big sister,” she said while looking at Kal.
“You said you didn’t have any family,” Bree said and ignored Elyssa’s hand.
“Ok. I lied about that because my family is very…” Kal paused and Bree interrupted.
Immortal Consequences Page 2