The Meridian Gamble

by Garcia, Daniel

  “I’ll be quite fine on my own,” I say. And it’s hard for me not to smile back.

  When I get down to my bra and panties, Roland’s grin widens just a bit, and I get the feeling he’s watching me from the corner of his eye.

  When I’m changed, he reaches back for his own bag. He strips out of his body armor, and throws the pieces in the back. And I can’t help but to peek at his naked form, also. Roland doesn’t have any underwear on beneath the suit, but he slips on some white cotton briefs, the kind that I love, and I’m embarrassed that I can’t pull my eyes away from his form.

  “Are you reminded of the good old days?” he says, with a smile. “When our love was in first bloom?”

  “It’s not fair,” I say. “I still have your venom running through my system. It’s clouding my mind.”

  “Actually, it’s not. I may be a monster, but I’m not completely heartless,” Roland says. “I made sure to bury my fangs in another before I bit you, so that the dosage would be low. The remnants should be gone from your body by now.”

  And I’m stunned by what he says.

  “Unless you’re lying to me again,” I say. “Trying to manipulate me.”

  “No. No more manipulations,” Roland says. “I owe you better than that.”

  He seems serious about what he says, and I’m confused to think that I’m not being moved by his bite, that my emotions and lust for Roland are all my own. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, I’ve always been wildly attracted to him. But it was easier when I could blame it on the effect of his fangs, and I’m no longer sure exactly how deep my own feelings run.

  “Tell me something. If I hadn’t been Saga, would you really have devoured me? If you were convinced that Adam truly loved me.”

  “No, I would not,” Roland says. “I would have seduced you and claimed you for my own. Because I was taken with you from the moment I saw you, from the way you stood up to me in the bathroom.”

  And Roland laughs, thinking back to our exchange.

  “And let me tell you, Meridian, there is nothing so ugly in this world as two vampires fighting for the love of a human. But I think you already know that.”

  And I finally manage to look away, and catch Lenore’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

  “Please don’t start making out,” she says. “I’m not the chauffeur on prom night.”

  “Just keep driving,” Roland hisses.

  We continue on in relative silence for a while, perhaps an hour or a bit more. I know the vampires are busy using their mental powers to search for signs of attack. But soon, we’re driving toward bright lights, and I realize we’re approaching the heart of Las Vegas.

  I’ve never been here before, gambling doesn’t appeal to me, but I can’t help but to be a bit intrigued. It looks gaudy and flashy and perfect for my companions; a city that is awake at all hours of the night.

  We come upon an expansive shopping mall, and pull into one of the structures, but we don’t spend much time in this place. When we get out of the car, Roland quickly finds a sparkling silver Mercedes that he looks over quickly, and he uses his telekinetic powers to unlock the door.

  Lenore sees a street bike nearby, and she smiles.

  “I’ve found my ride.”

  “Take care of yourself,” Roland says.

  “I always do.”

  And she hops on the bike, and starts it with a kick from one of her stiletto heeled boots. Lenore speeds off on the motorcycle, and I get into the car with Roland.

  He concentrates on the ignition, and it must be more difficult this time, because he focuses his attention on it for a several moments. And it's a side of him I've never seen before. This isn't the vampire I've known who is always cool and collected and in charge. Roland is being crafty, using his cunning to survive the night, and I suddenly realize how much I've disrupted his life. I now know what it feels like to have the Luminos hunting you down, and it’s fascinating to see how readily his survival skills kick in when he needs them.

  Finally, he works his magic on the car, and Roland smiles as the engine kicks over. The Mercedes comes to life, and he pops it into gear. We pull out of the structure and onto the streets, losing ourselves amongst the glittering lights of the Vegas Strip.

  Chapter Thirteen: The Paris Vampires

  We’re sitting in the Las Vegas airport, near an airline that specializes in flights to Paris. And Roland scans the crowd with an intense look on his face. He watches and waits, and I can’t even speak for fear of disrupting whatever mental task he's focused on.

  A couple in expensive clothing approaches us. They’re slightly older, and the man has on a long, grey trench, and his wife or girlfriend wears flashy jewelry that hangs over a silk blouse. I get the feeling he’s an investment banker, or a lawyer who charges hundreds of dollars an hour.

  “Excuse me,” Roland says, as he eyes them.

  And I’m surprised when he gets up and leaves me sitting by myself in the tacky pastel seats of the lounge.

  I watch Roland go to talk with them. And after a few moments, the couple pass him something, quite happily, and walk away. It almost looks like a drug deal, but what Roland holds is paper. He comes back to me and sits down, handing me a first class ticket, which I stare at in shock.

  “We’re now Mary and Ted Black,” Roland says.

  “I … what did you do?”

  “I convinced them to extend their stay in Las Vegas for another two days, before they head off on the next leg of their trip. And they feel like the luckiest people in the world, to have found someone to purchase their tickets,” he says.

  “Roland, you didn’t.”

  “It’s simpler this way. There will be no way they can trace us on the flight.”

  “But what about the people at the gate? Won’t they want to see passports?”

  “Conveniently enough, they left us those too.”

  He passes me a small blue book, and I open it to find a picture of the bottle-blonde woman staring back at me.

  “We look nothing like those people,” I say.

  “It doesn’t matter. The workers who take our tickets will see exactly what I want them to see. The chance of them blocking out my influence is miniscule.”

  Roland smiles, and even though it’s a cruel trick to play on the strangers, I’m relieved to get out of this city. Even if we are flying to Paris.

  And now that we have a moment of relative quiet, we have a chance to talk.

  “So Paris. I’m assuming it’s not random that we’re going there.”

  “I would have taken anything overseas. But Paris would be our ultimate destination,” he says. “We’ll be safe there. It’s a city beyond the influence of the Luminos, and outside the reach of Marion’s claws as well.”

  “So, why do the Luminos stay out of Paris?”

  “Because the Elders are there. They would kill them instantly. Their psyches have evolved to the point where they can do that if someone is within their vicinity. They won’t even allow a human to live in the city if their minds are impenetrable to scans.”

  “And you think I’ll be safe there?”

  “You, they won’t touch. I promise,” he says with a smirk.

  But somehow, his words aren’t helping to make me less afraid of the Elders.

  “So what does this mean? That I’m going to be changed?”

  “No. I won’t change you, Meridian. Not unless you want me to. But when we get there, I am certain that you will be convinced otherwise, that you will see it is your destiny to become one of us.”

  And I say nothing for a moment, because I don’t want it, I don’t need to become a vampire ever again, and I’m not sure how to tell him that. And I don’t see how Roland can be so certain that I’ll ask for the change.

  But he is right about one thing. It feels like my destiny to go there, to finally understand my strange fate in this war that everyone keeps talking about. And if that’s where he wants to take me, I’ll follow along, at least for now.
>
  “Thank you,” I say.

  “For what?”

  “For coming for me,” I say. “I’m not sure why, but I got the feeling that I was in a very bad place.”

  “Does this make up for my past sins?” he asks with a smile.

  And I laugh.

  “Hardly. You almost killed me. That isn’t something a girl takes lightly. But as someone who’s past lives are filled with bad choices … I’d say everyone deserves a chance to redeem themselves. Will you excuse me for a moment?”

  I get up from the pastel couches of the waiting area and go over to get something I really need, real coffee, from a mini-Starbucks in the airport food court. I don’t ask Roland if he wants something. I doubt a grande drip will appeal to him, and from the way he’s chomped down on my veins, I know he’s more than capable of finding his own refreshment.

  I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve had a good cup of coffee, which is an unusual change in my life, but I order a non-fat vanilla latte from the clerk at the counter, and even if the barista does a terrible job, I’m sure I’ll think it’s delicious.

  They hand me my coffee in the white and green cup, and it tastes like heaven. But like everything in my life of late, I don’t get to enjoy it for very long. Roland gets up from the couch, and comes toward me with a grim expression. When he gets closer, I try to make light of the situation.

  “Did you want something?” I say. “I’m sorry, I should have asked.”

  “They’ve found us.”

  He pulls me away from the coffee stand, and a bit of the latte spills from the tiny drink hole in the plastic lid and splashes onto my blue dress.

  “Who found us? Which side?”

  “One of Marion’s flunkies. Hopefully, he won’t have the audacity to attack us,” Roland says. “Keep your eyes open for him, Meridian.”

  “And what the hell am I looking for?”

  “I’m not sure. He’s masking his thoughts as one of the travelers,” Roland says. “He’s good, definitely not one of the young ones. I’ve only gotten brief glimmers of his real personality.”

  I look around in a panic, unsure of what it is he wants me to do. If an older vampire like Roland can’t spot our foe, I’m not sure how I will.

  I put my back to Roland’s, and scan the crowd around us, but the airport only seems like it’s filled with your average Vegas visitors, mid-Westerners looking for quick riches, and young people seeking a good time.

  “Are you sure you don’t see him?”

  “I’m trying,” Roland says.

  “Are you sure it’s even a man?”

  “I don’t know. Let me think,” he whispers.

  And then I see her, a woman standing near us. She’s at a pay phone, and for some reason, it strikes me as odd. My first thought is, “Who the hell doesn’t have a cell phone by now?”

  But it can’t be her. She’s a less than a perfect specimen. Her long brown hair is certainly pretty enough, but she’s a bit overweight, no stunning beauty, with a figure encased in a flowery, pastel print dress. She doesn’t seem like the type the vampires would pick to join their cause.

  And I realize she has a scarf around her neck.

  “Could it be a trick? Like the Twins? Could he have some hidden talent, like being able to watch us through someone he’s bitten? Say, the woman standing over there?”

  Roland turns to look at her, and he smiles.

  “That’s it,” Roland says. “I have you now.”

  I go to him, stepping in front of him, and this isn’t like an ordinary battle. Roland stands there, with eyes closed, concentrating. And a drop of sweat rolls down his forehead. I have no idea if he’s winning or losing, and as people around us begin to stare, I try to think of a way to cover, somehow.

  “Darling, are you all right? Is it the migraines again?”

  It goes on for several moments, but finally, he gasps, and opens his eyes.

  The woman at the pay phone instantly reacts. It seems like he’s severed the connection between her and her vampire master, and she begins running across the airport waiting area. And Roland follows her with his gaze.

  “You, will be far more simple to defeat,” he says as he eyes her.

  And the woman falls with a scream, hitting the ground in a twitching lump. And people around her rush to her side.

  We go back to our chairs, and Roland seems just a bit shaken, as airport security rushes to the fallen woman.

  “Are you all right?” I say.

  “I’ll be fine. The events of the day are taking their toll.”

  “What happened? What was it?”

  “A vampire, from the house in Las Vegas. He was watching us through that woman. It all clicked, when you mentioned a trick.”

  “And, what did you do?”

  “I bought us some time. Hopefully, I didn’t kill him. But his human pet might not be so lucky. Come on.”

  They call for the boarding of our plane, as medics arrive to look after the fallen woman, and begin loading her onto a gurney.

  Luckily, first class really is first, and we’re able to board quickly, before any of the other passengers.

  I’ve only flown coach before, and I’m just a bit excited to experience airline luxury, despite everything that’s happened. The seats we sit in are big, like recliner chairs, which will be nice, considering the length of our flight. But as I look to Roland, he still seems weakened, and I’m just a bit worried. An immortal vampire shouldn’t look this way.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “I’m fine, Meridian. But I may need to drink when we land. Our mental powers are not as magical as they seem. The strain on our bodies is intense. And I will need to keep scanning until we’re in the air.”

  “And will we be safe then?”

  “We should be. Marion is not so desperate to stop you that she would try to blow us out of the sky.”

  “Are you sure? What if she does?”

  “Then I will need to shield you from the blast and levitate us to the ground,” Roland says, with a smile.

  And I’m not sure if he’s serious or joking, but I don’t press the issue. Heights scare me, and the last thing I want to think about is floating to the ground from thousands of feet in the air.

  We finally take off, and maybe I am more like the vampires than I realize, because I no longer pity the people we stole our tickets from. It’s petty, but I’m grateful for the extravagance of first class. They bring you pillows and blankets, coffee and champagne, little tablet computers on which you can watch movies and read magazines. And Roland seems to relax a bit, when we’ve been flying for a short while. He even drinks a few sips of champagne, though I can tell he’s less than impressed with what they serve.

  I don’t want to offend him, but I can’t stand it any longer. I have to ask.

  “Roland, where’s Adam?”

  He looks at me with just a hint of annoyance that he’s too weak to mask.

  “Please. I have to know.”

  “Adam is Marion’s little lap dog, and they’re in full crisis mode right now, trying to evacuate the New York tower. And security is being increased in all of our locations, for fear the Luminos might attack again. I’m surprised she had any resources to spare in looking for us at all.”

  “I thought maybe he was assisting you.”

  “No. But I cannot lie to you, Meridian. Although he is playing the role of Marion’s protector, Adam may be searching for you on his own. Who knows what deals he has made with other vampires to help him find you, or perhaps members of the Luminos he still has contacts with. For all I know, he gave them the information they needed to rescue you, and is only playing his role now to hide that secret.”

  “So you aren’t the one who let them in this time?”

  “No, I’m not. But I am the one who found you first.”

  “Roland, I still don’t know if that’s a good thing. I can’t seem to shake this feeling that the Luminos are doing something horrible
. I just don’t know that you should have given them the blood.”

  “Meridian, there is something I must tell you. I have not been completely honest with you, and I realize now that it was a mistake. One of many I’ve made …"

  He moves closer to me, and for some reason, I think Roland is about to kiss me. He stares at me with those riveting blue eyes, the ones that seem to hold me in place with their intensity, in the way only a supernatural creature could.

  "Though I care for you deeply, and I am convinced that you and I are meant to be together, there is another reason I have searched for you. Years ago, when you were Saga, the elder vampires came to the scene of one of our greatest battles, and gave me a message …”

  “I know, I remember that part. It’s a bit of her life that’s come back to me.”

  “Then you may have heard them say that you were meant to lead us. But the Elders also had a message that was only for me, one they put directly in my mind. They gave me a task. They told me that I am to be your protector. And though I have failed in that role time and again, I will not let you down in this lifetime. Because you are important, far more so than me, or Marion, or Adam. You are more important than all of us combined.”

  My protector. It’s odd, the way he says it, with such importance, as though it’s his great mission in life. Which, it must be from his perspective, because the Elders have given him this task. And suddenly, it makes some bit of sense, why he and Adam have struggled over me so intensely. Even though he has feelings for me, I now know that it’s something more.

  Yet, even though Roland says I’m important, I feel anything but.

  “Everyone keeps saying this, but it can’t be right. I don’t want to lead, I’m not ready to be transformed again. I’m not ready for any of this.”

  “I can’t decide what you are or are not ready for, even though I am more than confident in you. I can only try to help you understand your role in this battle. And at the very least, there are worse things in the world than a visit to the City of Lights.”

  Roland smiles, but even his charming grin isn’t enough to make me feel chipper about visiting the elder vampires in Paris, even though I must. And I only hope that my purpose hasn’t already been served, that giving them Roland’s blood wasn’t my role in this struggle. Because then this visit to Paris might cost me my life.