One of the mystics smiled, revealing two extra-large and pointy fangs.
“Want?” it said in a high-pitched voice that sounded like a violin. “What a funny question—don’t you know what vampires want?”
Zoey screwed up her face. “You’re vampires? But I thought vampires were supposed to be hot and built like supermodels or something?”
“So what are you saying?” said the mystic, looking slighted.
“Umm—you’re like—you’re like fat.”
The three vampires inhaled loudly and stood still with stunned looks on their chalky faces. They looked like three hard-boiled eggs about to crack. And then the shorter one spoke.
“Vlad, the girl just called us fat,” he said, his red eyes glaring.
“Are you going to let her talk to us like that? Nobody talks to us like that. We’re vampires. We kill people. She’s soooo dead.”
“Yeah, Vlad,” said the tallest of the three. Zoey noticed it had drawn a pencil mustache under its flat stretched nose.
“Let’s crush her. I want to feel her skull explode under me. Then we can sip her blood like a milkshake on a hot day.”
“We don’t like hot days, remember?” whispered the short vampire, looking embarrassed.
“Oh, yeah right.” The tall vampire scratched his round head. “Why is it again—why we don’t like hot days?”
“Cause the sun burns our skin, stupid.”
“Oh, right—because the sun burns us. Touché, I forgot.”
The small vampire shook his head, disbelief spread across his face. “How can you forget something as important as that?”
“I just did. What’s your problem?”
“My problem? My problem is you—”
“Shut up, you two,” said the vampire Vlad.
He waddled closer to Zoey. It was obvious they didn’t use their legs very often. They looked like just bones with no muscles.
He pointed a skinny finger to himself. “We’re not fat we’re round, there’s a significant difference. We are engineered that way for a purpose, Agent. You see, contrary to popular belief, vampires don’t fly around with bat wings—we roll.”
Zoey muffled a laugh. “Roll? Seriously? Is this a joke?”
“She’s mocking us, Vlad,” said the short vampire, his face twisting in rage. “She’s not taking us seriously. I hate it when they don’t take us seriously! Why do they always do this to us! It’s not fair!”
He kicked the ground in a tantrum.
“I’m with Victor,” said the taller one. “Let’s kill her now—her voice is annoying. And she’s small. I hate the small ones. They smell funny.”
He flashed his long gleaming teeth at Zoey.
“But I’m sure her blood tastes good. Girls’ blood always tastes sweeter, especially when they’re young.”
“Patience, Virgil, patience,” said Vlad. He smiled a toothy grin at Zoey.
“We will savor her blood and then take it like a shot. They promised it would taste like nothing we’ve ever had before. The blood of the innocent is always so delightfully sweeter.”
Zoey took a step back. “Who promised? Who wants to kill me?”
When they didn’t answer, she continued. “It’s the Alpha Nation, isn’t. Mrs. Dupont? I know it’s them—you can tell me.”
Vlad eyed her but didn’t answer, he just smiled hungrily.
“I haven’t done anything to you,” said Zoey. “Maybe we can make a deal or something? Or a trade?”
“There’s nothing you have that we want. It’s nothing personal, my dear,” said Vlad. He picked at his teeth with one of his talons.
“We’ve been hired to kill you, that’s all. We’re on the job. Got paid quite a lot for you, too. Makes me wonder why, for a scrawny little girl like you. You must have done something that really made them angry.”
“I can think of a reason,” said Zoey. She watched them closely. “The Alpha Nation wants to silence me because of what I overheard them say—because I know what they’re planning to do.”
“Well then, you shouldn’t have been eavesdropping. It’s going to cost you your life,” said Vlad as he eyed her jugular vein.
Zoey suppressed a shiver.
“Why are you even working for them?” she pressed. “They hate mystics. They want to destroy you and make you their slaves. Why would you work for people like that?”
“Because…”
“Because why?”
“Because I said so! That’s why!” Vlad threw his arms in the air.
“Enough with the interrogation—we’re not here to play friends—we’re here to kill you…and that’s exactly what’s going to happen, so stop your talking, little girl. You’re the meal, and meals don’t talk back.”
“I’m sure the agency will double whatever they’re paying you.” She blurted out. “If you’ll let me go and I can explain to them—”
“HA! If you think we’re going to fall for that again, you’re crazy.”
Zoey prepared herself to either hit something or run. “But I’m sure if you’ll let me—”
“No.” Vlad raised his voice dangerously.
“We’ve already been paid. And we want the blood we’ve been promised.”
His eyes went to her throat again. “Your blood. It’s time for you to die. Roll her up, boys!”
Virgil and Victor leaped into the air and rolled towards Zoey like giant bowling balls.
She leaped sideways just as she was about to get hit like a pin. She couldn’t believe that she was going to get crushed by giant vampire bowling balls. This was totally insane. She wasn’t sure whether to be scared or to laugh.
Victor and Virgil skidded around. Leaves and dirt spun in a blurry trail behind them as they rushed at Zoey again.
Adrenaline pumping, Zoey ran as fast as she could towards a large oak tree. The two vampire bowling balls accelerated towards her, and at the last minute she jumped out of the way. The two vampires hit the tree with a loud crack and ricocheted back, spinning in the air. They landed hard, but kept coming. It was like they were playing a game of pool, and she was the eight ball—they were trying to sink her in.
The air shifted behind her, and she felt someone almost upon her. She ducked down, twisted, and straightened her right leg. The vampire hit her leg and flew into the tree with a satisfying crunch.
But just as she turned, she was hit in her lower back. She tasted the blood in her mouth as she fell. Her leg was on fire, but she knew that if she stayed down she was dead.
“Fifty pints of blood if you crush her head first,” she heard Vlad say.
He laughed a sick wet laugh. “It’s all about getting the hit at the right angle, if you know what I mean.”
Zoey struggled to her feet, but she didn’t have time to catch her breath before the other vampire bowling ball spun towards her again. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. She was going to die—but she wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
Just as he was about to make contact with her, she jumped back and snapped her elbow into his chest, or what she thought was his chest since he was a perfectly round sphere. Her attacker crashed back, and the others tumbled over him.
She tried to run, but one of them crashed into her back. Zoey fell face first into the hard ground with pain so intense that she couldn’t even cry out.
With trembling hands she pulled herself over and faced her attackers.
The three vampires rolled to a stop inches from her feet.
Their evil grins distorted in their round shape.
“Let me do it, Vlad,” said Victor eagerly. “I want to mash her bones to a pulp. I want to hear her squeal when I crush her skull. Oh, please let me do it, please, please, please—”
“No, I want to do it,” protested Virgil. “You got the old lady last night. It’s my turn now.”
“Old ladies don’t count.”
“Yes they do.”
“No they don’t.”
“Oh shut up, the both of you!
” Vlad tried to raise his arms.
“We’ll do it together,” he sneered.
“Yeah!” chorused Virgil and Victor eagerly.
“Say night night, little girl,” said Vlad. “On three—One. Two. Threeeee!”
And as one, the three vampire bowling balls launched themselves towards her.
SPLASH!
The three vampires were suddenly covered in a gray liquid. They wailed as they tried desperately to get the gray substance off. But no matter how much they rolled and rubbed, they couldn’t get it off. It was eating at their flesh like acid. Vapors rose into the air, and Zoey smelled a mixture of burnt hair and garlic.
“You’ll be sorry,” howled one of the vampires madly.
But the three vampires melted down to three tiny white sizzling puddles.
“ZOEY!” Aria ran towards her with a large pot in her hands.
“Aria?” she said not believing her eyes. “You? You—what the heck did you throw at them?”
Aria stood over the three puddles with a satisfied smile on her face. “French garlic soup.”
“Garlic actually works against vampires? I thought it was only a myth?” Zoey started to laugh in spite of her aching ribs.
Aria tasted the remains of the soup from her pot. “Of course it does. Didn’t you learn that yet?”
“No.” Zoey was too shocked to think about her education right now. “I’m just glad they’re gone. For a moment there, I thought they were going to squish me to death.”
Aria kicked some leaves onto the three puddles until there was no trace of them left. “It’s a lot more effective in its liquid state.”
“I can see that.” Zoey smiled at Aria. “Thank you for saving me.”
Aria dropped her pot and lifted Zoey to her feet.
“It’s my duty to keep you safe—you’re practically like a daughter to me now—living in my inn and all.”
She inspected Zoey like an overbearing mother. “Are you hurt anywhere? Cuts? Bruises? I saw you fall.”
Zoey felt her heart swell to think that Aria thought of her as a daughter. But she was still a little embarrassed to be hugged, and she wiggled out of Aria’s many arms.
“I’m fine—really—I’ll live.”
“Good. Come along, Zoey. I think it’s time we speak to Agent Barnes.”
Chapter 17
Basement Level
Aria marched up to the hive, cornered Agent Barnes, threatened him with her pot, and told him about the vampire attacks. He called an emergency meeting. Now Agents Vargas and Ward sat at the table with the directors, but Agents Barnes and Lee stood. Their backs were against the wall, and they looked flushed and livid.
The directors in Mystic Laws and Regulations, room 3B, sat in stunned silence as Zoey recounted the events of the previous night. There was no way she could hide the fact that she had broken into the room in the first place. It was clear that she had intended to steal the file on her mother. But the information she had overheard was far more important than a little thieving—or so she thought.
Aria broke the silence. “Do you believe her now? Or does she have to risk dying again, for you to believe her this time.”
She waved the French garlic soup ladle at the directors. “She’s telling you the truth. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Agent Ward looked over at Zoey and tried to smile, but Zoey ignored her.
Director Hicks raised his hand. “Please sit, Aria, before you hurt someone with that.”
“There is no more doubt in my mind that what Zoey told us is the truth.”
His eyes moved along the great table and settled on Zoey. “I am only sorry it took so long for us to believe you. A girl your age should not have had to deal with vampires.”
Zoey stayed silent and looked at the directors. She was glad that they finally appeared to believe her, but she still felt some resentment towards them. But when her eyes met director Martin’s, she could see that he was still uncertain—he didn’t believe her.
“These accounts are the most unusual,” said director Campbell, her face grave. “I never thought I’d live to see the day when our agents would be working with the Alpha Nation. It makes no sense.”
“Believe it,” said Agent Barnes, “’cause it’s happening. I had my suspicions about the Boston hive. I had a feeling it was an inside job, now we know that it was. Director Campbell, open your eyes, not all agents are loyal to the agency. Some have been, and will continue to be false. They’re influenced by money and the need for power. We’ve all seen it happen before. Agents have even left the agency—we just didn’t realize that they were being recruited. Who knows how long they’ve been secretly plotting against us. And this isn’t just an isolated case, there are more traitors out there. Believe me—we haven’t heard the end of this.”
Director Hicks folded his hands on the table. The cheerful round face that Zoey had seen before was now flushed, and he looked like he wanted to punch someone.
“We should have paid closer attention to them years ago. The Alpha Nation has gone too far. They are asking for a war—and a war they will receive. We must focus upon protecting our headquarters in London. One of the remaining interlopers is still in their possession. The traitors have leaked the whereabouts of that device, which means they would be in possession of two interlopers if they got it—that would be a devastating combination.”
Director Campbell leaned forward.
“Does anyone know who this ring leader is?” she inquired. “I, for one, have never heard the name Mrs. Dupont.”
Everyone around the table shook their heads.
“Is she even real?” asked director Campbell.
“She’s real,” said Zoey suddenly, surprised that she even spoke up. “You wouldn’t forget her if you saw her. Trust me—she’s very real.”
She met director Campbell’s gaze, but she didn’t ask for any more information.
“We need to act quickly,” said director Johnson. “They might already be on their way to London. We should get the agents ready now, before the Alphas suspect we know their plans. It’s our only advantage.”
“Yes,” agreed director Martin. “If what the girl is telling us is true, then we must move the interloper.”
“It’s the truth.” Zoey met director Martin’s cool expression, ready to have a staring contest, but he looked away.
Director Hicks stroked his beard as he spoke. “Agent Ward, I need you to inform the other North American Agencies. Tell them what’s happened and to send us every available agent—we need everyone on this. I’ll speak with assistant director Darcy at headquarters, and we’ll make arrangements to move the interloper to another safe location.”
“Yes, of course, director Hicks,” said Agent Ward. She looked grim and tired, like this was all a bad dream.
Director Hicks paused. “Too long have we ignored the Alphas, and that has been a very big mistake. And now we are going to pay greatly for it. I hope our naiveté will not cost us too many lives.”
He hit the table with his fist. “We’re going to hit them with everything we’ve got!”
He pointed a large finger at Agents Lee and Barnes. “I want you two in London in five minutes. We don’t have much time.”
Agent Lee nodded. “Yes, director.” He looked at Agent Barnes with a mischievous smile on his face.
“And Barnes,” continued director Hicks. “You will be in charge of relocating the interloper. You only. Understood?”
“Yes, director,” said Agent Barnes.
He turned to Agent Lee and said with a lopsided grin, “Let’s go, Richard. I’m suddenly in the mood to kick some Alpha tails.”
“If they’ve got any tails,” Agent Lee laughed, and he and Agent Barnes headed towards the door.
“Wait!” Zoey jumped up and ran over to them. “I want to come with you.”
Agent Barnes stopped and turned. “No, Zoey. This is too dangerous, even for a girl as brave and as capable as you. You can’t come with us.”
“But I can help—I know I can,” she protested. “I am the only one who can identify Mrs. Dupont. I’ve seen her face.”
Agent Barnes shook his head slowly. “I need you to stay here and watch over the hive for us.”
He smiled at Zoey and said, “I need someone I can trust. Can you do that?”
“I guess.”
She knew this was a ruse to get her to stay put, and she doubted it would work.
Agent Barnes reached inside his jacket and pulled out her gold boomerang. He handed it to Zoey.
“Here—you’ll need this in case more vamps decide to show up. If you don’t have any French garlic soup handy, you can always pop them open with its sharp edges.”
Zoey took her boomerang and squeezed it happily. As she fastened the gold bracelet around her wrist it felt cool against her skin, and she realized how much she had missed it. She had a connection with this weapon. She felt incomplete without it. She looked up at Agent Barnes and smiled.
“Never thought I’d get this back. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. We’ll see you when we get back.”
And with that, he and Agent Lee disappeared out the door.
A half hour later, Zoey sat in the common living area at the Wander Inn with Tristan and Simon. When they had heard the news of the attacks on Zoey, they, and most of the other operatives, had waited in the main lobby. Instead of going home after class, they had stayed on, just to get a glimpse of her. Even Stuart King had waited to see her. The look of shock and jealously on his face—that she had fought and survived an attack by three vampires—raised her spirits. Zoey never felt better.
“So who has the file on your mother now?” asked Simon. He lounged comfortably in one of the sofas, sipping hot cocoa.
Zoey warmed herself in the thick chair next to the fireplace, enjoying the smell of burning wood. “Agent Barnes has it. I don’t think he’s going to show it to anyone. I trust him. He said he was going to help me find her.”
“Agent Barnes is cool,” agreed Tristan. “I wish there were more agents like him, apart from Agent Lee of course. He’s definitely cool, too.”
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