by Jen Pretty
“Are you ok, Lark? You look worn out.” Trevor said.
“I don’t know. I’ve never been this tired before. I don’t think I can get sick so maybe I’ve just been pushing myself too hard.”
He still looked concerned, but we got out and went into the mansion. I had promised to ask Vincent about Trevor getting a job so I wanted to do that before I got involved in something else.
I knocked on the door and Vincent’s stern voice said “come” from within so I opened the door and walked in. Taking my usual seat in front of his desk, he got up and came around to lean against it. Standing much closer to me than necessary.
“You don’t look so great,” he said.
I sighed. “Yeah, I don’t feel so great either. I’m exhausted. I’m thinking about going back to bed for a couple of hours.”
Vincent’s intense eyes trailed over my features, making me suddenly self-conscious. I sat up straighter in my seat and adjusted my wayward hair.
“Maybe you should stay in tonight,” he said, finally breaking the awkward silence. “Get some more rest. I don’t have anything specific for you to look into.”
“Ok, sounds good. I wanted to talk to you about Trevor though.”
He straightened and put on his boss face. “What has he done?” His tone implied he would take care of the problem. Except there was no problem.
“Nothing, Jesus, don’t jump to conclusions. He wants a job or something to keep him busy during the day when everyone else is working and he’s alone.”
“Hmm, I had thought about sending him back to school when he was ready. Do you think that might suit him?”
“He wants to be a reporter,” I said quickly. If Vincent was willing to send Trevor to school, that would be a fantastic opportunity. Something for him to work towards would probably help improve his health too.
Vincent smiled. He owned both local newspapers.
“I’ll talk to the dean at the college and see if we can get him in.”
“Thank you,” I stood and waved a goodbye, then headed back in the direction of my bed. My yawning had become chronic.
That had gone way better than I had hoped. Maybe Vincent’s sharp edges were wearing off.
I changed back into my big sleep shirt, tucked into bed and fell asleep immediately.
***
“We have a problem.”
“Good morning to you too,” I said, my eyes still closed. I tucked my head under my blanket and tried to go back to sleep.
“This is serious, Lark,” Vincent said, his voice reaching my ears even through my covers.
I rolled my eyes. I didn’t care what the problem was. I was too tired to deal with it. He sat in silence while I hid under the blanket. I couldn’t stay there forever and I could feel his eyes burning into me. I flung the blanket off and walked to my closet. Pulling on yoga pants and a big hoodie, I walked back out to face the newest drama. I prayed it wasn’t in Alaska.
“What is it?” I asked, sitting down on the bed across from where he sat in his favourite chair.
“This.” He held up a grainy picture of me on an elevator.
“I don’t recognize that place. Where was it?”
“Today, at the plaza tower downtown. Around 1 o’clock,” he replied, shoving the photo back into an envelope and pulling out a different picture. This one was a photograph, not a still from a video, so the photo was clear and in colour. The fact it was in colour showed the extent of the carnage. There were bodies strewn about the floor and blood sprayed the walls and ceiling in the otherwise white office space.
My heart started pounding. The scene was a massacre. Adrenaline rushed into my bloodstream. I stood up and started pacing the room.
“I was asleep at that time. There’s no way. I was here. It’s a trick of the light or someone who looks like me.”
I remembered the mom from yoga who had said I waved at her.
Vincent stood and stepped in front of me, stopping my pacing. He held my shoulders and looked me in the eye.
“There are muddy boot prints on your carpet, Lark.” I looked over to the window I had closed when I got up earlier, but the muddy boot prints were there, just as he said. I followed the trail. It went into my closet.
I pushed past Vincent and went back into my closet. I was too tired to notice the mud on the carpet. My boots were there, caked in it and sitting at the end of the trail. My mind was foggy like I was still asleep and this was a weird dream. Did Durga do this while I was sleeping?
“Oh, God,” I whispered.
“We will figure it out, Lark,” Vincent said from right behind me in my closet.
“Wait, where did you get the photos? How did you find out about this?” I asked, biting my lip and fearing the worst.
“The police found the scene,” he said, matter of factly.
“I’m going to jail?” I asked in a shaky voice. I had never felt like what I did was wrong. I only killed vampires who were killing humans. “Tell me they were vampires.” They looked human in photos. I knew that my magic didn’t work on a photograph. I had to see the vampire in person to know that’s what it was.
“Yes, they were vampires. Here illegally. I checked their names and they came in on the same flight as the one who attacked you in the house. No, you are not going to jail.”
“The police have that photo.” I covered my mouth, feeling like I might puke. My hands were shaking. Durga was utterly silent inside me. Not a single stir. This was her fault. I never even imagined she could do this. I knew she could easily push me out of her way, but to control me while I was asleep? I was helpless. She could do whatever she wanted, and I had no control.
“The photo is so grainy; they won't be able to make an ID. I promise you will not go to jail.” He wrapped his arms around me as I shook and the first tear ran down my cheek. All I did in the last three days was kill people and cry about it. My life was finally coming together; now it was completely out of control.
Vincent leaned back and slid his hands up to cup my face. He brushed away my tears with his thumbs as I sniffled and tried to wrap my head around Durga’s actions. Why wouldn’t she lead me to them? Crazy fucking deity.
“Come on, let's get some food and then we will meet with the team and figure out what to do.”
I followed Vincent down to the dining room and when we walked in all the voices hushed. I put some food on a plate, though I wasn’t hungry.
When I turned around, all the vampires were staring at me.
“Come on,” Vincent said and I followed him back out to his office. I set my plate down on his desk and collapsed into the chair as he walked around and sat in his chair behind the desk.
“So, is there any way you can talk to Durga, Lark? Maybe we can find out what is going on.”
“She kicks me or pushes me. I don’t hear voices in my head or anything.”
Frankie poofed into the room. I gasped and my knife appeared in my hand.
“Jesus, Frankie, you scared me! We need to put a bell on you or something.” I said. Vincent hadn’t even flinched when Frankie popped in unexpectedly. Maybe Vincent had summoned him, however that worked, I didn’t know. The adrenaline spike caused by Frankie's sudden appearance crashed hard and I was more exhausted than when I got up.
Frankie came over and sat in the chair beside me, turning my chair with his foot so I was facing him.
“I saw the photo on the news,” he said, completely ignoring my teasing comment. “Who would recognize you?”
“I don’t know. Arnie?”
“He’s a warlock, Lark. Anyone outside of the supernatural world?” he asked impatiently, leaning forward and staring at me with a strange intensity.
“It's not clear enough for anyone to positively ID her,” Vincent chimed in. We both looked at him and then Frankie looked back at me, ignoring the vampire in the room.
“Who, Lark? Think.”
“Fuck, I don’t know. No one.” I pressed my palm into my forehead and thought about it for
a moment. “Maybe Mr. Fellum?”
“Who is that?”
“My old boss from the Discount Emporium across town. I mean, I only saw our old landlord once. And nobody ever remembers me, but Mr. Fellum might.”
Frankie disappeared. Shit, I hoped he wasn’t about to hurt Mr. Fellum. He wasn’t a bad man.
I rubbed my eyes. I wasn’t thinking straight. I should have asked him before I gave up my old boss. This was a disaster and all I wanted to do was go back to bed.
“You should eat something, Lark. You haven’t eaten in nearly 24 hours.”
I picked up a dinner roll and broke off a bite. That might slow down the churning stomach acid that was eating away at me.
“I’m going to talk to Shiva, if I can calm down enough. Maybe he will have an answer for me.”
“Ok, why don’t you do that here,” he said and I got his meaning. If Durga came out while I was meditating, he could at least follow her around and clean up her mess instead of her sneaking out another window and making the mess even bigger.
CHAPTER EIGHT
I sat on the floor and crossed my legs, so tired that I wasn’t sure I would make it to Shiva before I fell back to sleep.
Closing my eyes and calming my breathing, I blocked out the feeling of Vincent’s gaze burning into me and let my muscles relax. Durga stirred inside me. It distracted me for a moment before I blocked her out and found my inner peace.
***
“Why are you back so soon?” Shiva asked in a clipped voice.
“I want to talk to you about Durga,” I said.
He had never been particularly patient, but he hadn’t sounded upset to see me before.
“Oh, Lark. Ok, sure, what about her?”
I paused. It sounded like he was expecting Durga again. Maybe she was talking to him while I was asleep too. “Has Durga been coming here?” I asked. There was no point in beating around the bush.
“Uhm,” he looked like I had caught him with his hand in the cookie jar.
His snake came out of his sleeve and I shivered. The thing had been inside his shirt.
It hissed at me and slowly rose in front of my face. I leaned back, trying to keep some distance between us, but it moved forward till it was nearly touching my nose.
“Ugh, get it out of my face, Shiva,” I muttered.
“Maybe you should go. He doesn’t like you. Come back another time.”
***
Durga kicked me in the stomach, knocking the wind out of me and I came back to Vincent’s office coughing and trying to suck air into my lungs.
“Are you ok?” Vincent asked. He crouched in front of me as I gasped like a fish out of water.
That old deity, bitch.
When I got some air in my lungs, I lay back on the floor and closed my eyes. This was not going well.
“He didn’t want to talk to me and then Durga kicked me out or something,” I said.
There was a knock at the door.
“What?” Vincent said.
Clive peeked in the door. “Boss, there are police officers out here”.
“Oh, shit,” I whispered, sitting up so fast my head spun.
“It’s fine, Lark,” Vincent assured me. “Show them in, Clive.”
Clive stood at the door for a moment before he walked away to do as Vincent had instructed him.
“I’m going to jail,” I whimpered. Panic starting to take over.
“You don’t say a word, Lark.” Vincent pointed his finger at me. “Sit on the couch.”
“I need a lawyer,” I whispered. I was in such deep shit. Scrambling to the couch, I got a glimpse of myself in the reflective glass of the window. My clothes were rumpled, and my hair was a mess. I patted it down and smoothed it out, trying to slow my breathing at the same time.
Clive walked in followed by two large police officers. The first officer was older-- mid-fifties. He had a greying beard and a pot belly. The second officer was in his late twenties with striking white hair. It was slicked back and nearly shone like the moon on a winter night. His shirt stretched across his chest displaying his prime physique. They looked like a typical pair you would see in a made for TV movie.
“Evening, folks,” beer gut said, eyeing me hard. “My name is Officer Blane and this here is Officer Jeffery. We stopped by to ask you some questions about an incident down town yesterday.”
“Of course, officer, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have,” Vincent said.
Officer Blane eyed me for a moment longer before turning his attention to Vincent.
“I’m actually here to talk to the little lady,” he replied.
“I see. Well, in that case, you will still have to speak to me. As her lawyer, I won’t have my client questioned by the police,” Vincent replied.
My jaw dropped. Was he even a lawyer? Probably. Vincent was full of surprises.
The officer grunted.
“Can you tell us where your client was yesterday around 1pm?” Officer Jeffery asked Vincent in a respectful tone.
I suddenly had a feeling that the younger cop was part of the community of supernatural beings. He spoke with his eyes lowered and a questioning tone that held no accusation.
Vincent rubbed his chin and considered the younger man. “Lark works for me, she was with me the whole day.”
“Can anyone else vouch for her?” the older officer asked in an obviously accusing tone.
“You think I would lie?” Vincent scowled. “I’m a lawyer and an upstanding businessman. I dine with the police chief and sponsor the Police Officers Christmas party every year. Perhaps I should call your supervisor to settle this matter.” By the end of his little speech, I recognized Vincent’s tone as the one he used just before he lost his temper.
Officer Jeffery took two steps back towards the door. Smart man. Officer Blane turned a shade of red that had me envisioning smoke coming out of his ears like in a cartoon.
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Crowden,” Officer Blane said in a stilted voice.
Both men turned and walked out the door.
As the door clicked shut, I tipped over and lay on the couch. I tucked my knees to my chest and closed my eyes. My life was going down the toilet.
“Lark.”
I opened one eye to look at the vampire who was now kneeling in front of me.
“Everything will be fine. I promise.”
“You can’t promise that. I’m being taken over by a deity who is ruining my life. I’m afraid to go to sleep and the police want to put me in jail. I guess Frankie didn’t get to Mr. Fellum in time though I’m not sure if I’m happy or sad about that. Who knows what the warlock was planning to do with Mr. Fellum.”
Speak of the devil, Frankie popped up in Vincent’s office. He took one look at me, curled up like a child trying to hide from the boogie man and turned his angry gaze on Vincent.
“What have you done?” He asked, looking at Vincent.
“Only what you couldn’t do,” Vincent replied.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Frankie replied angrily
“Exactly what I just said.”
Great. They were going to do this.
I uncurled myself from the couch and walked out of the room to the sound of their arguing. There were several vampires still in the dining room. I grabbed a coffee and walked to an empty table so I could sit by myself. It was late. I should have been out hunting, but if Durga couldn’t be trusted, I wasn’t going to risk the team.
“Hey, Lark. How’s it going?” Trevor slid into the seat beside me, his smile beaming at a million watts.
“Hey, Trevor.” He was such a bright light in an otherwise dull room. “Everything has gone to shit,” I said, dropping my head down into my folded arms.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have expected the good things to last,” I muttered.
“This is just a bump in the road. You will get through it. I believe in you.”
God, I loved that kid. He had been through much worse than I was going through, but instead of pointing that out, he tried to make me feel better.
Pity party over.
I took a deep breath and smiled at him. “Thanks, Trevor.” I drained the last of my coffee and stood up. “I’ll see you at 8 for class?”
“I’ll be ready.”
“OK, see you later.”
“Bye, Lark.”
I returned my mug to the kitchen and walked back down the hall towards Vincent’s Office.
“Lark, wait up.”
I turned to find Darya striding towards me. I still hadn’t had much chance to talk to her yet. I should get to know her better. Maybe we would be friends, but it seemed vampires kept getting in the way.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey, how’s it going? You settled in?” I asked.
“It’s been great. Everyone has been very welcoming.” She smiled, and I noticed her gap-toothed smile. She was one of those women who you just knew had no idea she was gorgeous. “I wanted to see if we could hang out some time.”
“Sure, hopefully some of this craziness will be over soon. I’d like that.” I replied.
“Great, I’ll see you around. Vlad said we aren’t going hunting tonight so he is taking me out for diner,” she said, blushing a bit.
I smiled at her shyness. “That’s great. Have fun.”
“Thanks,” she said as she hurried off back down the hall. I hoped we would have time soon to hang out.
I carried on down the hall way and paused at the door to Vincent’s office. It was quiet so I figured it must be safe. I didn’t bother knocking, just strolled in to find the two of them sipping whiskey and standing over a bunch of contracts.
“I am not satisfied with this clause. This limits your ability to build on the new site to the specifications you desire,” Vincent said.
“I see. I’ll take it back to the lawyers then. Thank you,” Frankie said.
My jaw almost hit the floor. How long had I been drinking coffee?
“Are you feeling calmer, Lark?” Vincent asked, still looking at the files on his desk.