Ezra sat on the edge of her desk with a forlorn look. “Body counts up to 49 now, and still no witnesses or leads. Our perp is also advancing his technique. The last 10 have all been linked to hook up apps.”
She spun around in her chair and brought up Xairin’s new civ profile. Ezra looked a little perplexed. He studied the man’s new chiseled face. “Are you saying he's alive?”
She turned back around and brought up some of Xairin’s details. He was now registered as a Delta vampire, showing in the place of sensitive. “Not only is he alive and kicking. He was stationed at the same facility I was. I ran into him 18 hours ago. He’s got some PTSD from the what happened to him, and he confirmed that the perp isn’t acting alone. Now he said he couldn’t see the others, but he did say he could I.D. one of the fuckers at least.”
Ezra’s eyes lit up. “He's really alive.”
Marine scoffed. “Tell me you're not still feeling responsible?”
Ezra was feeling responsible for Xairin. He had only received a report that he was still on ice, he didn’t know Doctor Battle had thawed him out. Ezra pulled up a chair and sat beside his partner studying the man’s perfected face. “I just can’t believe he's ok.”
“Now hold on a minute Ez. He didn’t want to give a statement. He's probably still too traumatized. I tried to talk him into giving me a statement in quarantine, but he just looked at me with that victim shit going on. He may cooperate, but this one's probably going to need to see a vampire shrink.”
Ezra scoffed. “Please tell me you treated him kindly and didn’t give the guy some attitude?”
Marine sighed. “What do you mean attitude?”
Ezra already had a good idea about how she went about it. Nine times out of ten, he did most the interviews, unless it was a good cop bad cop scenario. He sighed. “At least he's alive Marine, that’s all that matters. I’m sure he will come around. Do you have his whereabouts?”
She pointed at her screen. “He was likely released to his home. Looks like his landlord’s not a total human douche like some of the others. Says here, stipend was accepted for back rent, and three months up front. I highly doubt he’s off to work yet. We should probably swing by and get a statement. Otherwise I doubt he's going to come flying in here with bells ringing.”
Ezra was sympathetic. Also, he had been getting to know Xairin through K2. It was as if he already knew a good bit about the man. He knew his favorite colors, foods, movies. What he liked to do for fun. K2 was quite the chatterbox as he too was grieving. Ezra offered to help deactivate his emotion chip, but the droid refused. Being a little bisexual, Ezra wanted to get to know Xairin more. The more K2 went on about him, the more he sounded like the type Ezra went for when he wanted to date a guy. And now, with his heightened appearance, he was a bit more alluring on the outside, though Ezra was always more interested in who a person was on the inside. Looks were never a big factor in Ezra’s book, it was the person themselves and having K2 around helping around the house, while going on and on about Xairin, it made Ezra want to know the guy more and more. K2 was like having a constant audiobook going through chapters in the man’s life
Knowing some of what K2 had said, Ezra felt Xairin needed at least a day or two, to acclimate. “Look, let's give him a day or two to adjust then give him a call, besides, I’m sure the man will be overjoyed to find out his droid is ok.”
Marine wasn’t as content with that time frame. “Have you lost your damn mind? You just told me that we were nearing 50 victims. We need to contact this vamp cracker now. Cause if you won’t I sure as hell will. We need to get this case wrapped up and get these assholes off the street before we do hit 50.”
Ezra came to his senses and nodded. “Ok, fine. But you’re letting me do the talking. Last time we interviewed a witness I think you gave her panic attack. You’re not exactly soft hearted when it comes to interviewing those suffering from any sort of trauma.”
She rolled her eyes. “Some people need to have it spelled out for them Ezra, otherwise they never get on with it.”
_____
Apartment 706J
It had been almost 16 hours since Xairin arrived home. He slept all day, which gave Alex a chance to get out, and get back with some blood since his rations hadn’t arrived yet. Lillian was paying the bill. Alex stocked Xairin’s refrigerator with seventeen bottles of pigs’ blood, B+. He had looked up Xairin’s preferences on his Civ file and found which ones he preferred.
He warmed up a bottle, and untwisted the cap. He knew a hungry vampire would catch a whiff and wake up before he knew it.
Xairin hadn’t tossed and turned at all. He stayed in one place, lying on his back, with no covers over him. His nose began to sniff like a puppy, the smell of blood caused his eyes to open. They were red, and his fangs were at the ready.
He got up out of bed quickly, almost in the blink of an eye. He had totally forgot about Alex being there and walked down the hall in his boxers into the kitchenette. He didn’t even have a second thought about it when he reached for the pig’s blood and began chugging it. Alex laughed. “Hungry?”
Xairin was startled and dropped the bottle, catching it before it hit the floor even denying it the chance to spill. He stood up, a little shocked. “Did you get me breakfast?”
Alex nodded with a sly grin. “Technically Lillian did. Anyhow your fridge is full. I also took the liberty of checking with your landlord for any mail. So far WHO hasn’t mailed your rations yet. So, you have enough pigs blood to get you through a few days.”
Xairin smiled. “Wow, I appreciate that.”
Xairin turned around and finished the blood and tossed it in his recycle bin. When he did. Given he was shirtless. Alex noticed the crescent moon shaped birthmark on Xairin’s shoulder. The sight caused Alex to take a second look. He turned around. A little shocked to see that specific birthmark, every immortal knew it, and it had only been seen on a few… Ninlil being the first.”
Xairin grasped another bottle from the fridge and drank it cold. He didn’t care. He woke up hungry. Meanwhile, Alex walked over to the couch and sat down, he looked off to the side. He had a tablet that was in his kevlar jacket. He reached in and brought up Xairin’s file. It stated plain as day that he was bitten and one of the vamps that resurrected. His mind raced. Ok this has to be a coincidence then.”
He looked at Xairin seeking an answer. “Xairin, is that a tattoo on your shoulder?”
Xairin scoffed. “I get that a lot. And no. It's a birthmark.”
Alex sat back while looking at the hunk in front of him, Xairin was model material now. Even though Alex was straight, he still admired the view. “And you were bitten right?”
Xairin shrugged. “Yeah, bitten by an albino bat, and woke up from being dead. Why?” He noticed his bodyguard’s apprehension. “You seem off.”
Alex shrugged. “Uh, I guess it's nothing man. That birthmark, it reminded me of someone. But hey, you got bit so, don’t worry about me, I’m just being weird is all.”
Xairin shrugged. “Okay, whatever.”
Alex leaned forward while resting his elbows on his knees. “Just to get my report straight, you have no family at all, right?”
Xairin shook his head. “No, it’s just me. I finished my last year as a teenager in foster care. I was orphaned after my parents died in a dronemobile crash. It was just me and my droid, but I guess he’s gone.”
Alex’s face was still brimming with curiosity. “What were your parents like? He paused a little, “So your dad was a sensitive? And your mom, she was... Human right?” He paid special attention to Xairin’s heartbeat, it would have sped up a little if he lied about anything.
Xairin leaned back in the leather chair across from the couch. The questions struck him as completely odd, prompting a raised left eyebrow, accompanied by a frown. “Of course, my parents were human... That's an odd question. But for your information there really isn’t much to say really. My dad was a sensitive, and a detective for Interpol, and my
mom taught aerobics and a few kickboxing classes. That’s about it.”
Xairin’s heart rate never raised a beat but his face hinted at being slightly annoyed. Based on his heart rate, and lack of perspiration, Alex figured he was telling the truth, he wasn’t hiding anything. Alex felt relieved, Ok, that moon shaped mark is just a coincidence then.” he thought.
“Look, it's just that birthmark man.”
Xairin rolled his eyes. “What's the big deal? I get it, it's shaped like a half moon.”
Alex leaned back. “In the immortal world, a birthmark like that means something Xairin. Not too weird you out, but you should probably keep it hidden around other immortals.”
Xairin was a little spooked and leaned forward, his chest bulked a little has he positioned himself. “What do you mean?”
Alex shrugged. “Cliff notes version. A powerful badass vampire that most immortals fear has the same birthmark. Each of her biological children had it too. Anyhow, she’s immune to silver, as were her children. Now no one bitten has ever become immune, just her and her offspring. Back in the day, what you’ve heard referred to as Olympians, originally, they were all called Aeonians which was the original names for all the so called self-proclaimed gods. Legends among our kind depict a mighty war between all the Aeons. The Asgardians against the Egyptian gods. Egyptian gods against the Greek and so forth. Anyhow, the Olympians kicked all of their asses. Then one day, one immortal rose up that no one could kill. The vampire immune to silver. She was already a Grand Alpha. Beheading her didn’t work, and since silver didn’t faze her, no weapon could kill her either. While her bite couldn’t pass on the immunity, some forgotten Aeon supposedly prophesied that one day one of her children would gain the ability to pass this on by bite. Because of that, the Aeonians feared it would come to pass and bring about an army of silver resistant vampires that would one day cause an uprising and overthrow all the Aeonians. So… They killed them, every child she ever bore. But none could ever kill Lilith.”
“Lilith?” Xairin asked curiously while enthralled by the tale.
“Lilith is one of several names she’s had over god knows how many years she’s been alive. All I know is this, she’s a grand Alpha, the first known grand Alpha to emerge of the vampire race. Sure, there are others, but she was the first Grand Alpha vampire to come into being. So… Keep that birthmark covered. I would tell you to get it removed if we didn’t all regenerate. A birthmark like that could get you killed for mistaken identity.”
“You’re really serious?” Xairin asked while trembling a little.
“Yeah, I really am.”
Alex heard footsteps coming closer to Xairin’s door. He got a whiff of a werewolf outside the door, this spooked him. He immediately reached for his blaster pistol. “Are you expecting any company?”
Xairin shook his head. “No, why?” Before Alex could reply, Xairin looked over his shoulder and chattered his teeth. He could see an imprint of two people standing outside about to knock, the woman's face lit up a memory like a lightbulb, it was the woman from the lunch room. “Oh shit. It's some bitchy ass detective I met in quarantine. I guess she wants her statement.”
“Bitchy ass?” Alex jest.
Xairin rolled his eyes. “Yeah, she’s probably got fleas or something. She was pretty rude to me. To be blunt, basically something happened to me the night that bat bit me. Because of that, I’m an eye witness to something.”
Alex was still on guard. “Well, you still need to be careful Xairin. Other factions are recruiting.”
They heard the knock at the door. It was three knocks the first time, then six knocks the second time. Each one was progressively louder. Xairin and Alex both could hear Marine’s voice. “I can hear him in there Ezra, and he’s not alone. I can smell a sas in there.”
Xairin looked at Alex with a raised eyebrow. “Sas?”
Alex huffed. “Short for sasquatch, it’s the werewolf tribe I hail from.” Ales sniffed. “Well, smells like a yeti.” He looked at Xairin. “Yes, they’re werewolves too.” Go open the door, I got this if she’s not on the up and up.”
Xairin looked down at his chest, abs and hairy legs. “Dude I’m in my boxers.”
Alex sighed. “Fine, I will get the door, you go get dressed.”
Xairin darted down the hall to his bedroom while Alex got up and kept his blaster pistol where he could grasp it easily from his holster. He walked over and opened the door. “Can I help you?”
Marine was the first to notice Alex’s red kevlar uniform and insignia on his shoulder. “What’s the Society doing here?”
Alex eyed the woman, then Ezra. “Protective detail, and what’s your excuse?” Yeti?” He said sarcastically when he sniffed her.
Ezra could tell both werewolves didn’t like one another just from the way they were looking at each other and their body language. One didn’t need to be a psychic to figure that one out. “We’re here on official Interpol Business.” Ezra looked at Alex’s badge. “Agent Fifer.”
Ezra was polite in the matter in comparison to Marine. “Is Mr. Thunder available?”
As soon as Ezra asked for Xairin by his last name, he came around the corner and stood behind Alex. He was wearing a black t-shirt, and baggy blue jeans. He had to use a belt to tighten them since they no longer fit, the belt was showing more than it should have. Xairin had went from a 40-inch waist, down to a 34, he needed new clothes.
The moment Xairin saw Ezra, he quickly recalled in vivid detail, bumping into the man at the Haze when he spilt his drink. He also remembered asking the beautifully flawed man to dance. Those blue eyes, and hints of muscular arms coming through his black suit, still had that effect on Xairin. He stood there, speechless for a moment.
Ezra nodded his head forward with a friendly smile. “Can we come in?”
Xairin looked to the side for a moment. “Sure... um, come in.”
Alex kept a watchful post while the two officers came right in and made themselves at home. They both sat down on top of the blanket on the couch, while Alex leaned up against the counter in front of the microwave while Xairin shut the door... Xairin walked over, and slowly sat down in front of them where he had been before when he was talking to Alex. He kept looking at Ezra. “You’re the guy from the bar.”
Ezra lowered his head. “I was undercover when you bumped into me.” He then looked up. “So, you remember that night?”
Xairin scoffed. “Yeah, I’m trying to forget it.”
Ezra exhaled as his cheeks puffed. “There’s no real easy way to start this conversation Mr. Thunder. As of this morning we are at 49 homicides. Each one has everything in common with… Well... What your body exhibited before they took you to quarantine.”
Xairin closed his eyes tightly for a moment. “Okay, wait a sec, so 49 other people are… dead?”
Marine chimed in. “Technically 48. You were reclassified the day they released you. But you are the only eye witness.”
Xairin leaned forward and ran his fingers through his hair while taking a moment to think. He was overwhelmed. He rested his elbows on his knees and rubbed his face thereafter. “Okay. the guy that spiked my drink, I’m pretty sure I can I.D. him. The others helping him, I never saw their faces that well. Even their voices were distorted. Whatever they drugged me with, lasted a while. I couldn’t even make out the bat that was eating me clearly until after… After I woke up from cryo…”
Alex kept quiet while Ezra softly pressed on. “Can you recall anything pertinent about him?”
Xairin kept rubbing his eyes while his elbows rested on his legs. “He had a man bun, muscular, blonde, taller than I am. And after they were done beating me, they shoved a glass bottle inside my rectum over and over. I remember them kicking my stomach, I heard the glass crunch inside me.” He started to weep a little. They kept calling me a tumor, faggot, that I was some disease that needed wiped off the earth, and... Then the bat came, I guess it scared them off.”
Alex’s eyes grew wide as sauce
rs while having to hear Xairin’s ordeal.
Xairin didn’t cry, he just kept rubbing his eyes, and wiping away tears. “Do I need to go to the department and look at photos or what?”
Ezra shook his head. “No, we can do most of it here. If you’re ready?”
Xairin sobbed a little. “Yeah, I want this over with. So please. What do you need?”
Ezra pulled out his tablet and logged into the file that had a log of everyone who’s I.D. had been scanned in that night. He typed in a parameter of any male over six feet and blonde or brunette. He handed Xairin the tablet. “Take your time. Just swipe across until you see someone you recognize.”
Xairin cracked his neck while scratching his head out of being nervous. He closed his eyes and puffed his cheeks as he exhaled. He then shook his fingers, as if trying to limber them. “I’m not sure I can do this.”
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