Sebastian nodded. Then he looked down at Hailey’s leg and saw the same bite marks on her upper leg, below her bikini line.
“Uh, yeah,” Hailey said. “I think we can keep each other’s secret, right?”
“Right,” Sebastian nodded. “None of this needs to leave this room. I think we can all agree on that.”
“And you two know each other, how?” Percy asked.
“Mason, obviously,” Gregory spoke up. “Hailey’s brother is the acquaintance my new friend, Sebastian here.”
“Oh, right. Mason,” Percy said, “I recall him.”
“Obviously you’re tired, little brother,” Gregory told him.
“Tired?” The night’s only begun. But I must get Hailey back to her home. Our human friends are not creatures of the night as we are.”
“Likewise,” Gregory nodded.
“Like you said, no one needs to know,” Hailey said to Sebastian who nodded nervously.
“Hailey, let us take flight,” Percy said to her.
She followed him as they took off through the front door.
“Thank you for another extraordinary night, Sebastian. Now… Are you ready?”
“First… I have one final question.”
“And what is that?” Gregory asked him.
“Why does the waterfall flow upside down?”
“An exceptional question, indeed, Sebastian. And I assure you – the answer is just as exceptional. One that we should, perhaps, save for another night. Now, let us take leave into the night.”
Chapter 10
It was Wednesday morning. Sheriff Zeddman was alone in his office, sitting at his desk, swishing back a gulp of whiskey from a stainless steel flask with his initials embossed on the front. His eyes had circles around them from his lack of sleep. He’d skipped breakfast. His nerves were frayed.
THUMP! THUMP! He looked up, quickly placed his flask in the top left drawer of his desk, and shouted, “Come in!”
In walked Deputy Coleman.
“I got your message Sheriff,” Coleman said, taking a seat in front of the sheriff’s desk. “What can I do for ya?”
“You can listen to what I’ve got to say. That’s what you can do. You better hold on to that damn chair ‘cause if you weren’t sitting you’d fall over after what I’ve gotta say.”
“Davey Crockett in a Pocket! What are you referrin’ to, Sheriff!?”
“See, last night I was at that meeting. The one at the school. Parent Teacher Organization stuff. All that sort.”
“How’d it go?” Coleman asked.
“The usual. Half the town’s gone mad. And I’ve got to keep a straight face for elections while also keeping everyone calm. But one little thing goes wrong and they think half the town should be shut down. Unsurprisingly, they were not keen to the idea of a town curfew.”
“Well what’ll please ’em?” Coleman hawed.
“We’ve agreed to increase policing around the school area. And we’re also going to – wait a minute Coleman, you’re making me lose focus! That’s not what I called you here to talk about!”
“Okay, Sheriff, what’d you like to talk ’bout then?”
“After the meeting, the crowd’s getting rowdy so I turn it over to Principal Dawkins and head outside for a smoke break. The cigarette’s in my mouth, you hear?”
“Yeah,” Coleman said, clutching the arms of his chair.
“My lighter’s out, you hear?”
“Yeah, then what,” Coleman gulped.
“I looked up – and what do think I see–?”
“What?” Coleman asked, his mouth agape.
“A giant… goddamn… BAT!”
“WHAT?” Coleman asked.
“It wasn’t a normal bat, Coleman. No, this demon here was sculpted by Hades himself. It was giant! I’m talkin’ a ten-foot wingspan! I’m talking a body as big as you or me!”
“Davey Crockett in a Pocket!” Coleman’s eyes flew open.
“No, Coleman. That’s not all.”
“Jaysus! A bat with a ten-foot wingspan. How could it get any crazier?”
“It looked me in the eyes, Coleman! It looked me in my eyes!”
“A giant bat looked yer in the eyes?” Coleman asked, and this time there was apprehension in his voice.
“You heard me right. But here’s the thing. Real bats got black beady eyes. Like a puppy or a rat. I just googled it to make sure. But this thing – no sir.”
“What are ya sayin’, Sheriff?”
“I looked this thing in the eyes. It looked me right back in the eyes. And you know what I saw, Coleman? I saw human eyes!”
“WHAT… in tarnation?”
“The bat! The giant bat. It had human eyes. Pupils, iris, all that. There were human eyes starin’ back at me, Coleman.”
“Lawd-ah-mercy!” Coleman cried.
“HUMAN EYES!” the sheriff shouted. He rocked back and forth in his chair, reaching his hand out for his whiskey drawer before deciding against it.
“Wait a tic… Sheriff, have you been drinking?”
“What? Why would you ask that?” the sheriff eyeballed him.
“I’m just sayin’… that’s a wild story. And I smell a faint scent o’ whiskey, sir. I’m just sayin’.”
“If a demon looked you in the eyes last night, you’d be sipping from the same bottle I am, Deputy. As for it being a wild story, when has whiskey and a cigarette ever made you hallucinate a hellbeast?”
“Well, never, sir. And I enjoy the occasional scotch and cigar quite often,” Coleman said.
“Exactly. Then don’t you dare question me! I’m the sheriff, dammit.”
“Yes, sir! Yes, sir… So what do ya think it was if it wasn’t a normal bat?”
“Isn’t it obvious. Coleman?”
“No, sir. Not to me, anyway.”
“Two people die on Old Mill’s Road. Then a mobile blood bank is robbed. Then cows are killed and drained of their blood. Just like the couple were. Don’t you get it, Coleman? Then last night the puzzle all comes together when I spot a giant bat with human eyes.”
“Tell me, Sheriff! Tell me!” Coleman pleaded.
“Coleman! What kind of a monster can transform into a bat?”
“WHAT!?” Coleman gasped, utterly confused.
“I’m saying it’s now obvious to me – that Corpus, Georgia has its own vampire problem.”
“Vampers?” Coleman said, pronouncing it with a southern drawl. “Say it ain’t so, Sheriff!”
“But it is so, Coleman. It is so!”
“That’s a lot to believe, Sheriff. I mean, how do you deal with a problem like that? Gonna go on DJ Jazz’s Radio Show WKP-26 and tell the whole town that vampers are behind all those crimes?”
“You gotta be kidding, Coleman! The town would go insane if the truth came out. Not a truth like that. No. We’ve gotta handle this quietly. Besides, they’d find a way to blame the vampire infestation on me.”
“So what are you suggesting?”
“I want you to come with me, Deputy. We’re gonna drive in the direction that I saw that monstrous creature and we’ll see if we bump into anything.”
When are you planning to do that? Then what?”
“First, I’ve gotta make sure we are dealing with what we think we are. And if we are, then we’ll take it from there. We’ll go looking later today.”
“This is undoubtedly the strangest thing I’ve ever heard in my tenure as a deputy. But if there’s anyone I trust, Sheriff – it’s you. Lead the way. I’ll be right behind you.”
***
Around noon on Wednesday, Hailey was in the cafeteria sitting with Madison and their new friend, Tara. They’d just come through the cafeteria line, which consisted of what passed for Salisbury steak, green beans, and some kind of powdered mashed potatoes. It looked somewhat like a microwave dinner placed on a plastic lunch tray – only worse.
“Oh God! I’m not used to this Georgia food,” Tara said, sticking out her tongue.
“And you never will be,” Hailey told her, scooping up a small spork full of mashed potatoes and assessing them.
“Never?” Tara said, disgusted.
“Well I’ve been here for a few months and I’m still not used to it. So I’m hedging all my bets on… Never,” Hailey said, feigning disgust.
“This is unbelievable,” Tara said as she took a bite of the steak.
“What you will get used to, though, is the fact that they’ll serve a meal that looks like this every day you show up to this school,” Hailey nodded.
“Oh, you two stop your whining!” Madison shot a look at them.
“It’s actually not as bad as it looks,” Tara said as she chewed.
“By that, you mean if it looks like a one out of ten then it tastes like a two out of ten,” Hailey said.
That made each of the girls laugh, Madison included.
“So, what did you think of the party?” Tara asked.
“It was incredible,” Madison sighed. “The music, the guys, the manor. Strangely, I feel like a lot of it was a blur.”
“Same. Did we even drink alcohol?” Tara said.
Hailey listened as they talked, not wanting to mention anything they’d been hypnotized to forget.
“I know we got there by car,” Madison said, “I mean I don’t remember, like, the directions. What street was it on? Where did we park? I strangely don’t remember those details.”
“Hmm,” Tara said. “Neither do I. How about you, Hailey?”
Hailey looked from Tara to Madison. She shook her head quickly from left to right then practically buried her face in her tray.
“I remember really liking it. But so much of it is fuzzy,” Madison said.
“It’s like a hangover without the headache. But I don’t recall trying any alcohol,” Tara admitted.
“You think,” Madison spit-balled, “that maybe someone put something in our drinks?”
“There was a big bowl of punch,” Tara nodded. “So maybe.”
“What do you think, Hailey?” Madison asked.
“Definitely not,” Hailey said. “You would know for sure if that was the case. If you remember most of what happened I wouldn’t worry about a few blurry moments.”
“And most of the night was great,” Madison said.
Tara reminisced. “The hosts. The boys in black. Weren’t they great? Especially that one I saw talking to you for a bit, Hailey. I think his name was Percy. That’s what someone told me.”
“Uh, yeah,” Hailey said, desiring a change in subject.
“So, you really like him?” Madison asked Tara.
“Yes. Maybe you could introduce me to him, Hailey. I don’t have any classes with any of them. I’ve only seen them in the hallway.”
“Same,” Madison admitted. “I only ever see them near the lockers. I think they’re seniors, so they’re a year ahead of us.”
Tara sighed. “I’m really hoping I get to see Percy again. And actually talk to him next time. What do you think, Hailey?”
“I’m not sure if Percy would be interested,” Hailey said.
“Why?” Tara scoffed. “Because you want him? I mean, you two aren’t dating or anything, right?”
“Uh, no,” Hailey rolled her eyes.
“No, you don’t want him? Or no, you aren’t dating him?” Tara asked.
“No to everything! I’d rather talk about something else.”
“Well it’s not every night that we get invited to a pool party at the only mansion in Corpus, Hailey,” Madison said. “Nothing wrong with a discussion.”
“I’m just saying it doesn’t take a genius to know when someone isn’t interested,” Hailey snapped.
“Wow,” Tara said. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Nothing. I’d rather just talk about something other than boys with you,” Hailey shot back.
“Then I’ll just have a flirt with that Percy boy the next time I see him in the hallway. Promise I won’t mention it to you,” Tara told her angrily.
Hailey felt her blood boiling. How could Tara be so interested in him? – Her vampire! She’d better stay away from Percy. Too bad little Miss California doesn’t know what she’s trying to get herself into.
Hailey sat silently for the rest of lunch. Without speaking to her friends she headed off to her next class, dashing past them without so much as a ‘bye.’
How dare Tara even mention Percy’s name! She fumed all the way to her next class. Tara had no bond with Percy. Nor any chance of one. Not while Hailey was around.
***
As the day wound down, Mason headed to the gym for physical education class. He tossed his backpack into his locker and carried only a drawstring bag with him. Inside the drawstring bag were his shorts and matching shirt bearing the emblem of the school’s mascot. The students were given only one gym outfit and it was up to them to wash it when necessary. Of course, to a bunch of middle school boys, this meant only when the uniform was at its absolute filthiest.
“Alright boys,” the coach called as the boys entered the gym the locker room. “We’ve gotten so many parent complaints about each of ya only having one uniform… and that one uniform getting so darn filthy, we dug deep into the school budget – mind ya, it ain’t much, and decided we could buy each student a second uniform.”
“Mine first!” Ben yelled and snatched one from the coach’s hands.
“Where was I… Before Ben so rudely interrupted me,” the coach continued. “I’ve never seen someone so excited over a gym outfit. But as I was saying, no one better step foot on my gym today smellin’ musty. And if you do, it’ll be because you didn’t wash yourselves. And not because of the gym uniform you’re wearing.”
“What about tomorrow!?” Alex yelled out.
“Well tomorrow is on you!” the coach said. “Maybe one day y’all will learn how to wash your own doggone clothes. I can’t just give you a new outfit every day. So I’m going to leave these uniforms right here. Just come up and get yourself one to change into. Mind the sizes”
Mason snatched up a uniform and returned to his area. He took his jeans off and changed into his new pair of drawstring shorts. He placed his jeans in his gym locker. Then reached for his new shirt but couldn’t find it.
“Where’s my shir–” he began, then saw Alex swinging it around.
“Looking for this, Mace! Come get it, Master Windu.”
“I’m not chasing you, Alex! Gimme me shirt back,” Mason told him.
“Nope! And if you won’t chase me then I guess you’ll just have to go onto the gym shirtless. I’m sure all the girls will be turned on – NOT!”
“First off, they’d like the sight of me much more than they’d like the sight of you. Secondly, best friend or not, I’m coming for you now.”
Mason chased him around the locker room as the coach’s command to stop horse-playing fell on deaf ears.
Mason hopped over a bench and jumped over a towel basket as he chased Alex down the locker room hall.
“Get back here, Alex!”
“You’ll never catch me, Windu!”
Eventually, he did. As Alex was running with the shirt in his hand, billowing behind him, Mason leaped forward and latched onto it. Alex fell to the floor and the two boys tussled over the shirt. They wrestled with it until the coach jumped in.
“Cut it out!” he snapped.
“We’re just playing!” Alex said.
“Get dressed and stop fooling around! You’re wasting my time!”
“Yes, sir. Right away, sir!” Mason said, almost mockingly.
The two boys stood up and slapped each other’s hands.
Mason placed his new gym shirt on and commended Alex for taking it from him in the first place.
“I’m very good at being sneaky,” Alex said, faking a high pitch laugh.
“If you put that sneakiness to some real use, you might not be so worthless,” Mason laughed.
“You know for an insult like that I’ll just have to
murder you. Maybe I’ll drain your corpse.”
“Not funny,” Mason sneered.
Alex jumped on him, pretend to drain him. Then Ben jumped in, wrapping his arms around both their shoulders and talking in an exaggerated Transylvanian accent. “I vant to suck ze blood!”
“Get off me!” Mason demanded and shoved Ben away. “About the vampire thing – I’m going to monitor my house again for a while. I’ll be paying close attention to the windows at night, that sort of stuff. If nothing else happens then I’ll let it go for now.”
“Good,” Ben said. “I know we came across something strange and unexplained but you were kinda getting obsessed for a moment.”
“A moment?” Alex laughed. “That’s putting it lightly.”
“But,” Mason stopped them, “I still saw what I saw. We all did.”
“We know. A cloud of mist transformed into Dracula,” Ben laughed.
“Oh, go away, Ben! I’m serious, you bunch of jackasses. If nothing else strange happens in the next week I’ll move on… for now.”
“Oh boy,” Ben laughed. “I wonder how that’ll go. Maybe we should show up at your door wearing capes just to excite you.”
“Yeah, don’t count on it!” Sebastian yelled as he ran by them, slapping each of them with a shirt. “That’s my old sweaty shirt too, losers!”
“Sebastian’s back!” Alex said.
“I never left, losers!” he jumped on a bench and howled like a wolf until the coach told him to settle down.
When Mason eyed Sebastian and asked him how his mother was doing, Sebastian quickly say “fine, just fine” and rushed away.
When gym class officially began, the girls went outside while the boys stayed in the gym. They were paired into two separate teams and played a game of basketball. Ben and Alex were on the same team with a half dozen other boys. While Mason and Sebastian played on the opposite team.
What a game it was. A game dominated entirely by Sebastian. He moved with speed, stamina, and dexterity. He was dribbling like a professional as he swerved around every opponent.
“Damn, Sebastian! How do you move like that?” Mason asked, stunned. “I don’t remember you being this good before.”
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