by Hood, E. B.
David setup in the bed and replied, "Come on in." Tony came through the door and shut it behind him. David asked, "What's up?"
Tony said with a quiet voice. "We need to talk."
"Tonight?"
"Yes, it's important you and I have a heart to heart." Tony went on by saying. "Do you know anything about The Order?"
David looked puzzled for a second, and then said. "The Order? I have never heard of that before. What is it?"
Tony let out a breath, and then said. "I don’t have time for all the details right this second. So the easiest way I can explain it, is that The Order are police for the supernatural community. They help keep law and order, and protect all of us from humans or humans from us. If the humans started to believe in us again, they would go back to hunting us all down, so, to make it safer for the supernatural community, we formed The Order. They make laws and carry out justice. My coven works for The Order, and helps them with individuals that step out of line. To make a long story longer, three of The Order’s agents were killed today. They were killed in an alley near the Inland Mall."
"Really." David said with a voice full of panic and fear.
Tony let out another breath, and then paced around the room a few times. Then he said real quiet, "was it you? We had a report it was a Necromancer and a vampire. Soon as your mother told me you were a Necromancer, I put it together. The bus station is only a few blocks from Inland Center Mall. Your mom called me early today saying you missed your bus in San Bernardino, and you wouldn’t be in until this evening. So what did you do all day?"
David said really fast and loudly, "They attacked us without warning. They didn’t say they were with anyone, or who they were."
"Shhh… I don’t want your mother to hear about this. She would freak out; don’t worry, I will help you out." Tony said with a calming voice. "Look, it's getting late; you and I need to go for a car ride tomorrow. I need the whole story. Then I am sure we can figure something out. Try to get some sleep."
David said on the edge of tears. "Ok… thank you."
Tony was quiet for a second then said. "Did you really control a vampire?"
"No, I didn’t control her. She did it on her own." David said defensively.
"Oh, so she let you go without a problem?" Tony asked.
"Yep… she let me go." David answered. Thank goodness he didn’t tell him I was hiding under the bed. "Are there vampires in Beaumont?"
Tony opened the door and started to leave, and then he said. "There is a family of them that live off Mile High Rd. Don’t worry, they're not going to find out you live here. Get some sleep; it will all work out; you'll see."
"I will try; night Tony." David said as Tony left, shutting the door behind him.
Carrie started in at a million miles per hour. “What we do now? Do you think they will be after us for some kind of crime? Or do you think that we will have to go to a trial? Do you think that they punish ghosts? Even though this ghost had no choice in the matter; and, if so, how do you know how they might punish me? Do you reckon that your stepdad will help you escape justice?”
David said with a chuckle. “Is there an off switch?”
I crawled out from under the bed and sat next to David on the bed. Then I said, “Let me help. To answer all of Carrie’s questions, yes, maybe and no.” then looking over at David. “Sorry David, I think I might have got you into some trouble."
David looked at me and said. "No, no you didn’t. You saved my life; those men were not going to arrest me. They were going to kick my ass, or worse. You see how my whole family acted when they found out I was a Necromancer. I think somehow the guys in the alley knew what I was. Didn’t the big man say something along the lines of, what makes you think you can come into our territory?"
I thought about what David was saying. He was right; there was more to this. And somehow they did know what he was; how they knew is another question. I looked at David and said serenely. “Careful who you trust David. Our biggest problem is that we don’t know enough information about this magic world. We don’t know the rules or the players. I don’t think they knew what I was until it was too late.”
Carrie spoke up. “David’s dad said there were vampires off of Mile High Road.”
David gave her, are you dumb look. “So?”
I jumped to Carrie’s defense. “No, wait; she is right.”
David looked at me dumbfounded. “Right about what?”
“Well,” I explained. “At the risk of sounding like Carrie, we need info, about a lot of stuff, like what vampires can and cannot do? Who The Order is? What kind of trouble are we in, and so on and so on. I doubt these vampires are looking for us, so I could go to them for answers.”
Carrie giggled a little bit then said. “All I was saying is that there are vampires on Mile High Rd. I didn’t know I was sayin’ all that, but that sounds like fun to me; I’m in.”
David shook his head back and forth. “I don’t like it.”
“Well what am I supposed to do?” I said with a little anger in my voice. “Should I hang out under your bed? Or should we put all our trust in your stepdad?”
“And what’s wrong with trusting Tony?” David snapped back.
I needed to get out of this house; I really didn’t believe I would have to explain this to David. “I don’t think your stepdad had me in mind when he offered to help. I also think it would be a good idea if we split up for a little bit. This Order is looking for a vampire and a Necromancer. Your family will know how to hide you, but I doubt that they will hide me. If I go somewhere other vampires are, and I am not hanging out with a Necromancer, I am sure it will make it harder for The Order to find us. More time is what we need.”
“What about me?” Carrie whined.
“What about you?” David asked.
I jumped in and said. “She’s right. You can see her because you’re a Necromancer. I can see her because I am a vampire; logic says the other vampires will see her too. The closer Carrie gets to our kind the more real she is; also I can hurt her. I can reach out and grab her, and, if I squeeze her, it hurts her. I don’t know how other vampires will react to her presence.”
David looked at me, then at Carrie, then back at me again. “So you can hurt her. Gee I wonder how you figured that out.”
“Didn’t take her long.” Carrie said while making a sad face.
I took my necklace off. “Let's try a little experiment.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it, Melabeth.” Carrie cried; she ran over to me and put her arms around me. “Don’t throw me away; it really didn’t hurt that bad.”
It took real will power not to roll my eyes at her. “Carrie, honey, take a breath. Calmmmm… that’s it. I would never get rid of my only friend. At the same time, I am not about to take you somewhere that my only friend could be hurt.”
I then dropped the necklace onto the bed. Carrie was a ghost again and no longer could touch me.
“Whoa, I get it; she is also attached to the necklace.” David said
I said, “Pick up the necklace David.” Soon as he did, Carrie became solid again.
Carrie giggled with glee, and then said. “He can do it too. Hell I think he can do it better.” A wicked grin popped on my face. Then Carrie quickly added. “Wait, I didn’t mean it like that.”
David was staring at the necklace in his hands. “This has power.”
“I kind of thought it would work for you.” I said “I bet this was some sort of Necromancer necklace or something; of course I am just guessing.”
It took me another twenty minutes before I could convince both Carrie and David I needed to see these other vampires. It was close to midnight when I left. I felt better leaving Carrie with David.
Now they can watch over each other, hopefully not too closely; can Carrie even do that? Wait, am I jealous? Of Carrie? Well I can’t think about that right this second. First thing’s first. Find directions to this Mile High Rd. Second, bite someone, wait scratch tha
t, bite someone first, and, lastly, make contact with other vampires and hope they don’t kill me.
Well it sounds like a plan.
David had given me a big hug before I left. I think he almost kissed me. Not sure how I feel about that. I would have liked to kiss him, but I don’t trust myself. Also just three days ago I was forced to… I am not ready. Just thinking about those men, almost brought me to my knees.
I had only walked about a block from David’s house. There was a big oak tree next to the sidewalk; I leaned against the tree, closed my eyes and took big breaths. I felt like crying; my heart hurt even though it doesn’t even work. I felt overwhelming pain through my whole body as I slid down the trunk of the tree onto my ass. I pressed my head between my legs. After a little bit, I calmed back down.
My pain turned to anger; I need to kill those bikers, rip them to pieces. Soon I will find them… soon.
I was still sitting under the oak tree. The wind blew cool air through my hair. I missed the east coast from my childhood; I missed all of the green. This area was high desert; the trees were spread far apart, and the air was dry. And, even though it was February, it wasn’t that cold. Of course the wind blew off of the mountains, and, with it, cold air.
I had changed into my red dress; it hung to my knees, and, from there, my black boots took over. The dress was tight and there were thin straps that went over my shoulders. I probably looked like a hooker, but I didn’t care because I loved how I looked in the mirror.
My favorite color was red; of course it might change soon. I loved blood; I hated blood. Maybe my new favorite color would be pink; on second thought no. I got up and started walking and soon was lost in thought.
I realized I was leaving where houses were, and now was walking down a road that boarded two large fields. I was in such a hurry to get away from David before he talked me out of going that I forgot to ask for some basic directions. He didn’t know where Mile High Rd was, but I bet he knew the right way to the nearest gas station.
I could see the jack rabbits, owls and snakes. Nature did not notice me as I drifted quietly by. I missed my new friends, but I liked to be alone. I had mixed feelings about David, and I couldn’t imagine not having Carrie around. Still it was nice to walk alone with the sound of nature, wind in my hair.
What the hell is that sound? I turned around to see headlights heading my way; I could hear the bass coming from the car. It was traveling at high speed and would be passing by in seconds; I could have flashed away, and they would have never seen me, but I needed directions.
The car passed by, only it wasn’t a car; it was a truck, a little yellow truck with the word Nissan on the tail gate, I have never heard of a Nissan before, nor have I witnessed a truck so small. Not only was it small, but it was lying on the ground as if there were no tires.
The truck was going so fast it took a while for it to come to a stop; the loud music stopped and the white tail lights came on. The truck made a loud whining sound as the driver drove as fast as possible in reverse. Now I am thinking I should have hidden.
The truck screeched to a halt next to me. The passenger was hanging out his window.
With my vampire eyes I could see everything like it was daylight. The headlights had blinded me for a second, but now I could see the two men in the truck… correction, two boys, teenagers to be exact; the younger looking one of the two was the one hanging out of the side of the truck. He had long curly black hair that he kept in a black ball cap. He was wearing the ball cap backwards, how strange.
The driver was a larger boy with wild unkempt hair. Then again who could keep their hair combed in a city where the wind blew 360 days of the year?
The youngest one said. “You need a ride?”
“Yes” I replied. What the hell, if they were local boys they would know where Mile High Rd was, and both of them together would be a perfect meal.
The boy hopped out with a lot of energy. He held the door open and said. “Jump on in.”
I got into the truck and slid into the middle of the bench seat. The thin boy jumped in and slammed the door shut; now all three of us were smashed together. I have never seen, or even imagined a truck this small; who would have guessed that in the future everything would shrink. The other boy took off as fast as the little truck would go, and they haven’t even asked me where I was going.
The younger boy said. “My name is Eric.” Then, motioning toward the driver. “And that’s Donny; we’re the Hood brothers.”
“Umm, it’s Melabeth.” This kid was hyper, and spoke at thousand miles per hour.
Donny asked, “Where you headed?”
He might have spoken at normal speed, but he drove as if his house were on fire. The road was no longer straight as we headed up into the foothills.
If we hadn’t been wedged together inside this cab, I would have been bouncing from side to side, for Donny flew around the corners so fast that the rear of the truck kept breaking loose and sliding, and, even though the truck was not staying on the road very well, he did not slow down.
They were both crazy.
“I need to go to Mile High Rd.” I said a little bit nervous. His driving was starting to scare me. “Do you mind slowing down just a little?”
“Don’t worry, my brother drives like this all the time; you’re fine.” Eric said matter of factly.
Donny barked over at his brother. “Where is Mile High Rd?”
Eric leaned forward and said, “Bro, that’s where the Oak tree is at.”
“No it’s not,” Donny respond.
Eric laughed, then poked fun at him, “wanta bet.”
Donny went off the deep end. “You’re always right about everything. When we go up to the Oak tree, and it’s not on Mile High Rd. you WILL NEVER HEAR THE END OF IT.”
“Ditto bro, drive, you’ll see.” Eric said laughing.
They bickered back and forth, and Donny never really slowed down. This truck is so small, that I had to spread my legs so the older brother could shift. Even though he was reaching between my legs he did not touch me in an inappropriate manner, and the same could be said about the younger brother; so they were out of their minds, but they were not crude men.
Of course about the time I was starting to like these guys, we made a turn and started heading up a small road. The brothers were telling jokes, and they were funny, but it was hard to laugh because they were starting to scare me. As they joked, the road got smaller, and windier than ever.
And I swear Donny sped up; we were rounding tight corners and switchbacks. We were going up a steep incline; to top it off there was now a cliff on one side of the road. At one point the truck slid, the back of the truck headed for the cliff. And if that wasn’t unnerving enough, Eric said laughing. “Whee, we’re all going to die.”
Donny got the truck back onto the road and was still flying up the hill. He was laughing, and then he said to me. “Sorry if I scared you; we’re just having fun; we’re almost to the Oak tree.” Then he slowed way down.
“What’s wrong bro?” Eric asked his brother.
“Dude, look how white she is. I think I scared her a little too much; she is going into shock or some shit.” Donny said, but he was laughing at the same time.
“Thank you” That’s all I could get out; my body was frozen. I have never been so scared, and, to think, I am already dead. Yet these boys were trying to kill me again.
Eric interrupted my thought. “See, told you. This road turns to Mile High Rd. and right up ahead is the Oak tree. Looks like the shithead jocks are having a bonfire. Gee, I hope they don’t fall in.”
Donny asked. “You didn’t say where you wanted to be dropped off at. Are you going to the party or somewhere else?”
“Yes, the party, that’s where I am going. Just drop me off at the bonfire.” I said; forget sucking these boys’ blood. I just wanted out of this truck.
“No problem.” Donny said, and then floored the truck. He passed by the dirt road that lead up to the Oa
k tree. He then pulled the E brake and slid the truck around in a 180 degree turn.
You know this guy could drive; he finally slid to a stop at the entrance of the dirt road.
“You sure you want to go hang out with these asses?” Eric asked. Then he went on. “Look it’s not my business or anything, but you be careful. These guys take advantage of girls. Be careful what you drink; open your own beer. Do not take any pills these guys offer.” With that he opened the door and slid out.
Both these guys were dressed in black and looked like a couple of thugs. Who would have guessed they were good guys? Then Donny added. “Be careful, and you can always come and hang out with me and my brother. We’re meeting up with some of our friends, and they are a lot more fun.”
I was taken back about their concern; I am glad I didn’t eat them. If things weren’t what they were, I would go with these guys. I need to find more of my kind, so I wasn’t really going to this party. At least I knew where I was going to get a bite to eat.
So I said thanks to the brothers and watched them fly down the road. Well even though I let them go, it really didn’t even matter, and because the way that guy drove they would never make to adulthood.
I was standing on the side of the road. There was a barbwire fence, on the other side of a field; there was an opening with a dirt road running through the field and straight up to a giant Oak tree. The grass was brown, knee high. Bordering the field, were giant bushes and a few scattered trees of different variety.
The oak tree didn’t look natural, and, when I looked harder, I could tell there were remains of an old house under the oak’s huge branches. Someone had planted that tree long ago, and now nothing remained of the old house except the walls. I traveled down the dirt road toward the tree, and then I moved quickly into the field.
I was moving around the tree, so I could get a full view of the tree. I found an outcropping of rocks; I jumped up onto them. There I could look down at the tree. I couldn’t see the road from this location.
I could see a bunch of cars parked under the branches on this side of the tree. Also there was a small fire burning with kids sitting around it. I could smell the alcohol from where I was perched. I could hear voices and laughing coming from the tree. Kids were all over the place; some were making out. Some of the kids were in small groups, drinking and laughing. It was close to midnight, so the party looked like it was winding down.