Psychics Vs. Vampires Episodes 1-4 (Psychics Vs. Vampires Collection)

by Shawn Wiseman

  "He's alright," she said.

  Kara checked the other end of the street, and could see the other vampires had already won their fights. All the attackers were defeated.

  "Go check on Damien," Olivia said.

  Kara nodded, and then ran over to where Damien had fallen. "Damien! Damien, are you alright?" she asked as her voice cracked. She turned him over and held him in her arms. He had scrapes and bruises all over his body. His eyes were closed, but she could tell he was breathing. "Damien," she called again, shaking him.

  He opened his eyes slowly. "I'm here, I'm here, God." He sat up and brushed himself off.

  "I'm so glad, I was worried," Kara said, tears forming in her eyes. She turned away from Damien when she noticed them and wiped her face. "Sorry," she muttered.

  Silence pervaded the area, and tension rose. Damien scratched his head. "That's one hell of a punch you threw there. Have you… have you been working out?"

  Kara chuckled and turned around as she finished wiping her eyes. "No, I just recently learned how to do that." Kara wasn't sure in the dark of the night, but she thought that she could see the faintest hint of rosiness around Damien's ivory cheeks.

  "Well, I'll keep it in mind next time I need a sparring partner," Damien mumbled.

  Kara laughed, but deep down she hoped he was serious. "Oh!" she cried, springing to her feet.

  Kara ran over to where James was lying on the ground. He was knocked out cold, and she could see a red welt on his jaw from where she’d punched him. She hoisted him over her shoulder and walked back over to where Olivia and Raymond were.

  Raymond was just getting to his feet with Olivia's help. "Are you alright, Raymond?" Kara asked.

  "I'll be fine, but my glasses have seen better days," he replied with a slight lisp from an already swollen lip. His face was scraped and bloody, but it was nothing that wouldn't heal.

  "Who's that you have over your shoulder?" Olivia asked.

  "James Moore," Kara replied with a smile. "We finally got him, and now you can take him back to Vasha."

  Olivia smiled. "Right on!" She raised her hand and gave Kara a high five. "Hey Raymond, can I borrow your car so I can take him to Vasha's?"

  "Sure," he replied.

  "What do we do about the other psychics?" Damien asked.

  Before Kara could answer, they heard the sound of blaring sirens approaching from afar. "I think we have our answer," she said. "Just lay low for a while, and everything should be fine."

  "We can hide out in one of the abandoned houses until the police leave," Damien said. "We might need to move soon though, since those damn… since the psychics seem to know where we live anyway."

  Olivia handed Raymond over to Damien. "Let us know if you run into any more trouble."

  Damien nodded and walked away with Raymond in tow. "Talk to you soon," he said.

  Kara couldn't be certain, but she thought he might have been extending that to her and not just Olivia. The thought brought a smile to her face, and warmth to her chest despite the cold of the night.

  Olivia gave her a gentle nudge and a knowing glance, and they shared a smile together.

  The two of them put James in the back seat of Raymond's car and drove to Vasha's. "Well, this is it. You coming in with me?"

  "No, I'm going to catch a cab and go home. I'm dead tired."

  Olivia laughed. "Alright, talk to you soon." Kara started to get out of the car, but Olivia stopped her. "What about Kalie's?" she asked with an urgent look in her eyes.

  Kara chuckled. "I promise we'll get a meal at Kalie's tomorrow as long as Raymond is up to it."

  Olivia pumped her fist. "Yes!"

  Kara laughed, and the two exited the car. She waved goodbye to her friend, then waved down a cab and took it to her home.

  As soon as she entered, the familiar smells and sights brought joy to her heart. She had been through a lot over the past couple of days, and the weight of it all lifting from her shoulders made her feel new again.

  "Kara! Kara, is that you?" an elderly voice rang out from one of the rooms.

  "Yes, it's me," she replied.

  Before long, Mr. Montgomery shuffled out from the back of the apartment. When he saw Kara in the flesh his face lit up with relief. He pointed his cane at her.

  "You had me worried sick! You haven't been home for a whole day!" He looked her over. "And what happened to you? You look like you've been through the wringer."

  Kara made her way to the couch and lay down in it. "It's been a long couple of days, Mr. Montgomery. I'm sorry I worried you," she said with a yawn.

  The old man's face softened. He moved closer to the couch. "Did you find your friend?"

  "Yes, she's safe now. Everything's over…" She trailed off as she fell asleep right there on the couch.

  "Dumb girl, can't even get in her own bed," Magnus muttered.

  He eyed Kara for a moment, then grabbed a blanket and placed it over her before mumbling about how ungrateful she was as he headed back to his room.

  Kara slept soundly that night, better than she had in many moons. She hoped that that would be the end of fighting against psychics and using her powers, but little did she know that this was only the beginning.

  THE END

  Psychics vs. Vampires

  Book 2:

  The Vampire's Rescue

  By Shawn Wiseman

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without written permission from the author of this novel.

  This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2016 Shawn Wiseman

  All rights reserved.

  1. Missing Fangs

  "Well, the bad news is you're going to need surgery if you want a proper replacement," an older gentleman said.

  "Damn," Olivia swore. "There's no other way, Gideon?"

  "I'm afraid not," he replied. "Unless you want to back down on the denture option."

  "No way am I wearing dentures. I'd rather have only one fang than dentures."

  Kara, who was watching nearby, laughed at the prospect of seeing Olivia in dentures. "C'mon Liv, they're not that bad. You're getting along in years," Kara began.

  "Getting along in years?" Olivia shouted.

  "And there's no shame in needing dentures for a vampire at your age," Kara finished with a devious grin.

  Olivia gave Kara a menacing look and pointed at her. "You'd better watch it, Kara. I'll show you who's old." Olivia turned her attention back to Gideon. "So, what goes into the surgery?"

  "What we'll be doing is creating what we call a fixed bridge. The teeth surrounding your missing fang will be cut down, and you'll end up with three replacements: the two on the sides will be built back with crowns, and they will support the fang in the middle. They'll be cemented in for stability, but it's not going to be like your old fang. You have to be careful when using them. If you're too rough it could cause nerve damage in the supporting teeth. If you have to drain live prey you should knock them unconscious first, otherwise if they pull away with enough force they'll take your fang with them."

  Kara cringed at the thought. The prospect of dentures was looking more appealing, but Olivia seemed undeterred. "Olivia, how about you have a normal replacement? You still have one natural fang left."

  Gideon nodded. "That is a possibility, and would be a good alternative for your dental health. And, while I'm not sure if it's the same nowadays, back in my day it used to be a status symbol to have a tooth missing from a psychic. It meant they were afraid of you enough to do some damage."

  Olivia glanced from Gideon's bespectacled look of pride over to Kara's concerned smile. She let out a sigh. "Alright, I guess I'll just get a normal tooth replacement."

  Kara let out her own type of sigh and then smiled more genuinely. Gideon also smiled as he pulled two plastic molds off the table. "Excellent! I'll just take these molds and we'll get you a temporar
y set of dentures in the meantime." Olivia was about to object, but Gideon held up his hand. "You need these to protect your gums and exposed teeth, Ms. Lucerno. Do not argue about this one. It's only temporary."

  Olivia pursed her lips, and after a nod Gideon left to get some dentures made. She got up from the dentist chair and Kara handed her her jacket. She put it on and fixed her hair.

  "To think I have to live with only one fang for the rest of my life."

  "However long that will be," Kara added.

  Olivia shook her head in disgust. "If I ever see that detective again, he'll regret even leaving me with one fang."

  "If only I could teach you telekinesis. I can't come to your rescue all the time."

  "I'll just make sure to knock him out before he knows what hit him," Olivia replied while flexing her arm. "Are you going to have Gideon check out your fangs as well?" she asked.

  "You know I hate everything to do with dentists. All the poking and prodding and picking." Kara shuddered as she tongued her incisors. "I can't stand it."

  "You're a vampire too, Kara. You should take care of your assets."

  "I'll pass," she said with finality. She pointed to Olivia's pocket. "I think you got a text while you were being examined."

  Olivia pulled out her phone and checked her messages. "Looks like Vasha has another assignment for me."

  "Mind if I come with you? I have a few hours to kill. Maybe I can help."

  Olivia wrinkled her lips and thought it over for a moment. "I suppose," she replied.

  Kara laughed at her friend's expression. "You suppose," she echoed.

  Gideon entered the room again with a plastic denture fitted to a metal wire. He handed it to Olivia. "Here you are. You can schedule with front desk on having the surgery when you're ready."

  "That was quick," Olivia commented as she stared at the denture.

  "The wonders of three-dimensional printing," Gideon replied with a smile.

  Olivia put the denture into place, fixing the hole in her teeth with a new, normal-looking tooth. She turned to Kara. "How do I look?" she asked with a smile.

  "Great!" Kara responded. "Now, let's go get you a walker and we're all set."

  Olivia stopped smiling. "Not funny," she said before walking out of the room.

  Kara laughed as she followed Olivia out to the front desk. Olivia set her next appointment, and the two left the dentist's office. They headed to Vasha's restaurant to see what job she wanted Olivia to take on next.

  They entered the restaurant to see it packed to the brim with customers. For the first time, Kara saw the restaurant when it was open, and it was at the tail end of their lunch rush. On the right side of the rectangular restaurant loud patrons enjoyed their food at packed tables, and on the left side diners and drinkers occupied all the bar stools. At the entrance, a female maître d' waited to greet new guests or, this close to closing lunch out, to turn them away.

  "Hi Olivia, are you here to eat today?" she asked in a pleasant, friendly tone.

  "No, I wish. I'm here to see Vasha," Olivia said.

  "Ah," the maître d' replied with a nod. "She's in the back office," she said with a habitual wave of her hand meant to direct customers.

  "Thanks," Olivia said, walking towards the back. "You're probably glad I'm not here to eat, it looks busy," she commented, glancing at the bustling customers.

  "There's always a table for you, Olivia."

  Kara and Olivia weaved their way past customers and staff towards the back of the restaurant. The smells of the food invaded their senses, whisking them away to a realm of fine dining that made their mouths water.

  "Is she one of us?" Kara asked.

  "No, Vasha employs a lot of normal humans as well."

  Kara winced. "Maybe I should be more careful with what I say around here. You've never told me much about how Vasha works."

  Olivia laughed. "Yeah, if you're going to be around more often it might be a good idea to watch what you say."

  Kara's face reddened and she pulled her hoodie up over her head to hide her embarrassment.

  The two of them went into the back office hallway and knocked on Vasha's door. "Come in," Vasha said from inside the room. Olivia opened the door and stepped inside, with Kara behind her, hoodie still drawn.

  The small office they entered had a few cabinets, a desk with a computer, and some chairs to sit in. It would be cramped if it wasn't so immaculate.

  Vasha was sitting in a comfy leather chair behind the desk. She was wearing a tight-fitting deep blue dress that showed off her curves. Her long, black, wavy hair was tied in a braid and went down the front of her shoulder, contrasting with her blue dress and accentuating the shaved side of her head. She was as stylish as ever, with various rings and jewellery adorning her body.

  "Kara, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Vasha said immediately with a snakelike tone.

  "I was with Olivia for her visit with Gideon," she replied.

  Vasha nodded, then looked at Olivia. "That went well, I presume?"

  "Yes—" Olivia started, but then frowned. "Well, as well as can be expected. I'm going to have a bridge put in, but because of possible issues with a fang I decided to get a normal tooth replacement."

  Vasha smiled a twinge. "Gideon would suggest that," she chuckled. "He is a man in love with the past, and with old traditions. Nevertheless, it will suit you." Vasha turned her attention back to Kara. "Now, Kara, be a dear and give us the room?"

  Kara's jaw dropped and she glanced from Vasha to Olivia and back. Vasha's commanding voice caused her feet to move before her conscious mind objected. "I'm here to help Olivia with her job, if that's what this is about."

  Vasha raised her brow. "You are free to do as you wish, provided that you understand this doesn't nullify the favour you owe me. You didn't forget about that, now did you?"

  Kara frowned. "No, I didn't forget. I still owe you; I just wanted to help Olivia."

  Vasha smiled. "Good. I might have need of your psychic powers soon," she said with a tone that sent a chill up Kara's back. "Down to business then." Vasha reached inside a drawer of the desk, pulled out a file folder, then handed it to Olivia. "A human scientist, Dr. Anne Barker-Wilson, went missing recently. I need you to find her and bring her back here. In the file it has her contacts and current address. She has a teenage daughter who can give you more details on the kidnapping."

  Olivia opened the file folder and skimmed through the contents. Kara looked over her shoulder to see a picture of a woman in her late thirties in a white lab coat. There was a variety of information located within: where she was working, her family and friends accompanied by pictures of each, as well as other miscellaneous data points.

  "Got it, I'll report back when I find something," Olivia replied, and then she rose from her seat.

  "Woah, wait a second, Liv. Aren't we going to get any more information on this before we leave? Like, why was this scientist kidnapped? What were they working on? Why are we trying to help a human scientist? Is this going to be dangerous?"

  Kara glanced back and forth from Olivia and Vasha while she asked her questions, uncaring of the looks each of them were giving her. Olivia's clenched teeth and her rosy cheeks indicated anger and embarrassment, and Vasha's leaning back in her chair and resting her hand on her chin showed that she was holding in her ire.

  "That's not how it works, Kara," Olivia replied.

  "All that you need to know is in that file," Vasha stated as she leaned forward and folded her hands in front of her face. "If you want to enter this world, you need to learn the rules. Your first lesson is that any job I give you will be dangerous. If you can't accept or handle that, my young dear, then perhaps the wrong person lost her fang."

  Vasha's eyes pierced like a sharp cut, and Kara's mind went numb. She felt that she should be embarrassed, but anger was quick to replace the feeling. "I understand," Kara said before she left the office.

  Olivia followed behind Kara, and the two exited
the restaurant. "What the hell, Kara? You just made me look like a fool in front of Vasha."

  Kara shook her head, the embarrassment and anger still coursing through her. "I know, I'm sorry, but that woman is going to get you killed one day," Kara almost shouted. "She doesn't care about you. All she wants is a soldier to do her bidding."

  "I know, and that's what I signed up for," Olivia stated flatly. "Not to get killed, obviously, but I knew what I was getting into when I started working for her. You didn't, and it's my fault you were thrust into this, but you need to accept things the way they are with Vasha, or leave the jobs to me."

  Kara nodded. "I got it."

  Olivia opened her mouth to say something else, but stopped. "I'm sorry, Kara. I know you're just concerned. I do want your help if you'll stay with me. Together, we're unstoppable."

  Kara smiled. "Right," she replied. There was a brief pause before Kara added, "I'm more upset because Vasha's such a bitch."

  Olivia's jaw dropped in horror, but it turned into laughter. "Don't say that, she's right in there," she said, pushing her friend. After another moment, Olivia added, "You're right though, she totally is."

  The two burst out laughing right in front of the restaurant as passersby gave them wary looks. When they regained composure and self-awareness, they had to catch their breath from laughing so hard.

  "Alright," Kara said, "let's find this missing person."

  2. Supernatural Evidence

  "So, what should we do first?" Kara asked.

  "Well, it would be best to talk with the daughter, as Vasha suggested. She might know something, or be able to give us access to her mother's things."

  "No father?"

  Olivia opened the file again, holding it against the cold wind outside Vasha's restaurant. "Seems he's estranged. Some kind of deadbeat, so he's not around."

  "How are we going to get the daughter to let us inside? We can't very well tell her who we are or who you work for."