by E R Landron
“You know what happened?” I raise my voice.
“No detective.”, the officer says.
“Or when this will be fixed?”
“Is not like we have this constantly, so not really, sorry.”
His answer seemed sincere, his been here a little longer than me. From ticket officer, at least he has air conditioning now. This is what they do with new recruits. I force a smile and let the box of cinnamon rolls. I head out of the station. I pass through the detainee doing the scene. He and the policemen stopped to watch me leave. When I got out of the police station a shallow sound similar to the one that beeped twice before went off. I felt the frown and let air slowly out of my mouth.
I get to a newspaper stand with candy, magazines and other novelties and verify if I’m being followed. I took a newspaper that stated, Giovanni Smirnoff, COMING TO USA. Other similar newspapers stated the same but with different headlines. And to the side of that information was the photo of the boat that crashed in the harbor. The other was about conspiracy theories: "swamp man lives in the sewers, gators moved out." I look behind the newspaper, and the owner of the stand looks irritated. "This isn't a library missy!" he says. His freckled angry face and orange afro kept twisting as his continuous to say no with his head. I’m annoyed and upset. I pay the man, "keep the change". Nobody was watching me. It’s all in my head. I put the newspaper down for a moment and continue watching the surroundings, the billboards, some graffiti, the sounds, trying to make up some sort of information appear from nothing. Literally, it was nothing just your ordinary metropolis with cars honking, people, yelling, laughing, most with the cell phones stuck in their hands and others with their heads stuck on their phones. Vendors are trying to sell, others trying to hustle. Constructions everywhere. My paranoia is growing to new heights. I go to my car. I’m going where we had our fight the other day to clear my head.
After some traffic, looking sideways, seeing if somebody was following me, I get next to the alley. I park next to the church. My hand is close to the holster all the time walking little by little. Looking behind my shoulder. The alley is humid, and the stench is not as bad as most days. Just your normal alley, with freaking... freaks. I get exactly where we fought. Nothing? All cleaned up? The place looks like it hasn't been walked or used in a time. Keeping the abandoned look. Keeping a dirty look, the smell, the garbage, the papers that flew from the streets through the alley. The ripped cutouts of local concerts... but the ash, the blood, the dismembered people I saw the other day, all gone. Good job whoever did this. This will creep out anybody and the paranoia meter would of exploded by now. Even more so if you are a conspiracy buff. There must be something that can tell me where to next. What was that? Something stepped on water. Humid floor, someone's behind me! I drew my gun and took aim just to see Ezequiel looking back at me in close distance. Fuck, fuck, fuck. My hands shake, and my knees almost gave up. My breathing got heavier. I know that with this gun, I wouldn't be able to match up with this being. He doesn't move. His arms are resting in his chest while he grips his biceps. He is wearing a worn shirt, and some pants with a couple of holes and some beat up sneakers. I bet he's trying to blend in. A gust of wind accompanies us for a brief moment. My eyes water. I keep staring at him. I’m doing my best not to show how shitless scared I am. I’m the one to break the silence first.
“It’s daylight.”
“I can see that.”
“Aren’t you supposed to burn?”
“Me? No. Others may be.”
Oh shit, oh shit oh shit! Shit! Daylight walking vampires! His voice is deep, and he’s paused rusty English freaks me out. I gather all my strength not to lose the little control I have. My body is all tensed up, and he can see it. At this moment the only control is the grip of the gun. This guy can withstand heavy blows of blunt objects, bullets even grenades. I hope that it something goes on, that at least Kokolite is a daywalker too and helps me. But he told me he wasn’t already. My grip tightens up.
“My friend is close you know.”, I say.
Ezequiel tilts his head and back to straight position.
“No, he is not.”
Can he read minds too?
“I cannot read minds if that is what you are thinking.”
So how do you know what I was thinking?
“I’m not going to harm you.”, he says crossing his hands into his waist.
“No? Then… what do you want?”
“To talk detective.”
“Why me?”
“You are human, yet you are not a slave. You are free of our kind for now.”
“Why you say that?”
“You are walking among us without to answer to none of us.”
“I bet they are many like that. So why are you talking to me?”
“Because of the orb. It's missing. It is imperative that we find it, and to be returned to me.”
“And if not?”
“Doom detective.”
“Doom? How? Explain.”
“Not much has changed since I last walked the Earth. There is the good kind. There is bad kind. There is somebody that knows what the orb does.”
“And what is that?”
“Power detective. It gives you power.”
“Explain. How it gives you power?”
“Today’s vampires are weak. You are still amazed I walk on plain daylight. With the orb, you can access blood. Blood of one of our first. A drop from the first vampires blood will make that vampire very powerful. Like a god.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I don't know you. But the Seelisch knows you. When he entered my mind, I saw his. Very troubled man. Good man none the less. However, I saw you while holding your gun. You're not bad. You want things done right. And the right thing to do is, to find me that orb.”
“I can't say I believe you.”
“You don't believe in leaps of faith?”
“Facts are my friends.”
“The orbs knows the heart. You held it. You saw it glow. Also, you saw it red.”
Martinez? When he grabbed, it was red. Wait a minute...
“Orbs?”
Ezequiel pressed his lips, and his demeanor changed, and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. There's something more to the story he does not want me to know... at least for now. His dark skin looks shiny as the sun is hitting him directly. Also, his great physic can intimidate anybody.
“We need to find it.”, he continues.
“I need an aspirin.”
“Your world is bizarre.”
“So is yours.”
I lower my gun back to the holster. Either way is not going to do much with him. I raise my hands above my head.
“What now? What about the others looking for it? How we will contact each other?”
“Continue detective. I'll handle the others. I'll be closer, I can protect you.”
“That’s not…”
I close my eyes and lick my lips. I don’t like the idea, but I’ll go with it. I nod and walk away from the alley and give a pat to Ezequiel. He’s like a rock.
“Thanks for not killing me.”, I say.
“My pleasure.”
I can't ask around for the orb. I barely saw it, and I can't describe it completely. I could go to pawn shops nearby and see if they have "sphere like decor" or "antiques" but if they are watching me one way or another this will get people to start talking. Where would you have started dad? As I look over my shoulder, I see nothing. Ezequiel is gone. Why I'm not surprised?
I get to the car, and before I close the door, two females on the street parallel to each one, one walking a dog and the other running with her heart monitor, sunglasses and probably any other electronic regarding fitness. One says: "Holly? is that you?", and the other goes: "Molly from freshmen year of course, How are you?" Holly? Molly? I bet they used to call themselves Holly Molly. The only person I know that knows about this orb is Ko
kolite. I will go to him then. See if he knows something about the vampire community that will give me some light. "Remember when we used to call ourselves Holly Molly?" one of them says. I roll my eyes and make a gagging gesture as I close the door. This morning nice gestures should have lasted more. Aspirin first, Kokolite close to night time. I hit the gas pedal.
Night - Hospital, 5:30 PM
At least I helped the other day at the station. If not people would of think I’m slacking off. All this talk about the orb. Good vampires, bad ones… am I going crazy? Of course not. Martinez has not been found because he is dead. And he worked with whom I presume to be the bad ones. I got to the elevator and pressed the priest’s floor. Door opens. Pass through the nurse badge in hand. Walk like I own the place. Sunglasses and some music and I would look like a badass. I find him. He’s getting to his bed hunched. I haven’t seen him much to notice if that was normal. I won’t ask.
“Priest?”, I call.
He opens his eyes widely.
“Oh, detective. I was wondering when you will get back?”, he says with a big smile.
“I’m here now. I'm looking for him.”
“Good, good, good. Please get him out of here before he causes any problems.”
Did he say any problems?
“Can I ask why?”, I ask.
The priest jumps in his bed and extends his hand to close the curtains. Why doesn't he have a room already? He makes a gesture to come closer and starts to whisper.
“He’s a good man; you know that already, with me, and you and...”
He hesitates and looks at a space where the curtains meet, almost paranoid that someone might overhear.
“But...?”, I ask.
“He...”
The priest is looking to the air looking for words to describe him in the best way possible.
“He has like this OCD thing where he likes to collect shiny things.”
“I heard "The Shiny" too many times before.”
I did air quotes while saying the shiny. Don’t know why he keeps repeating it.
“Did I mentioned OCD?”, he asks.
“You did.”
“Well it is bad, and already people are starting to talk about stolen jewelry and assortments.”
I squint expecting a punchline after that, but she just has a straight face not even blinking.
“You’re serious.”, I lower my head a bit while keeping eye contact.
He nods without blinking. In a simultaneous movement, I roll my eyes, closes them and let gravity catch my head. How weird will this get before it gets better? As my head rises the priest smiles. I force a grin. I must be in Neverland. Soon pixies, pirates and lost boys will appear.
“Where is he?”, I ask.
“Two floors up.”
“I’ll look for him.”
“Thank you.”
I walk back to the elevator and press the button. The Priest's smile is still on as the door is closing. I let a deep sigh while I grab the back of my neck. The door opens on the upper floor, and a security guard is the first thing the greets me. Almost bumping into me. He sees my badge on my waist.
“Oh sorry, mam. Pardon me… Detective. Don't let your belongings out of sight, there's a possible thief on the loose.”, said the guard.
I nod at the security guard. I step out of the elevator, and he enters quickly touching the button repeatedly. This is nuts! Where are you? A voice in my head replied: "straight, right, right, straight room 308." My eyes widened. I hold my breath for a second. I’m both relieved and weird out at the voice. Usually, when he talked in my head, it was nearby. I feel like I'm hearing voices and going coo-coo. Kokolite answered: "Well you hear a voice... if you hear multiples, then maybe you are going mad." I frowned. I pick up my pace.
I follow the directions through the corridor as he said. All the faces of the patients, nurses walking around with their clipboards looked familiar. I don't know them, but I bet Kokolite has seen them. I bet that’s why they look familiar. Straight, right, right, straight room 308. I get to the room. Open the door. There’s an elderly woman with life support. The machine is beeping, and her chest is going back and forth as it is helping her breathe. The woman's eyes are closed as she rests. I tense up. My eyes open widely. I got the wrong room. Oh, shi…
“So, sorry I....”, my words are interrupted.
“You are in the right room.”
Kokolite steps out of the bathroom to the room. He looks at the lady and forces a smile while walking to her and puts a hand in her forehead. He passes his fingers through her white hair. He looks cleaner than ever except for his worn brown trench coat. His hair was almost covering his face, but you could still see his face that had a sadness that seemed to weigh a lot.
“Ninety-two. Four kids, multiple grandkids. Kept working till a few months ago. Pneumonia put her here. She is not going to make it.”, he says.
“Why are you here?”
“Nobody visits her. She kept working, so there are no money problems in the family. Now that she is not working they do not need her. They think they will get something. Two days ago she changed her will. I kept her accompanied since I got here.”
“The shiny?”
Kokolite's eyes open and he runs to the only dresser on the room. The room looks empty. It is with furniture and some “hospital art” frames on the wall, but the atmosphere feels empty and sad. He takes out two pairs of earrings, a gold chain, a watch with diamonds and one Swarovski swan figurine. The only thing that is distracting at the moment is his huge smile while he has all the items aligned in his palms like he was doing some sort of offering.
“Little pieces of heaven. Can you believe all that I've got?”
“You’re stealing shiny things?”
“No, yeah, hmm, well, what... you know... when... stealing no? Maybe... It reminds me of heaven.”
He almost looked like he was having some stroke, squinting changing his head side to side and grasping his hair back as I remain unfazed.
“Well, I need you to look for the orb.”, I say.
“The other shiny?”
I nod my eyes are fixed on the woman. Kokolite puts all the objects in his trench coat pocket. He goes to the lady and caresses her forehead one more time. He smiles.
“Have a safe journey Olga.”
We share a stare and press our lips almost to make a smile that never comes out. We leave the room. We took no more than ten paces each when the alarm of the room went off, and nurses rush towards it. This is so surreal. I feel like this week I haven't had a break. I never asked Diane how she felt when dad died. I didn't have the guts to see his casket when it was lowered on the cemetery. I hope the lady went out without pain. We got to the elevator and hit the parking button. As the door closes, more nurses kept running towards the end of the corridor.
“We need a plan.”, I say.
“You know you plan so much. I have heard every plan you have made, and it gives me a headache.”
“You got… to stop entering my mind.”
The elevator door opens up. We get to the car still discussing multiple scenarios about the orb. We keep circling the same things over and over again: The ship, the church, ninjas, cats, policemen. All led to nothing. I'm seriously doubting my detective skills. It is frustrating. Something is missing. Or maybe I’m missing something. We drive revisiting all the places except the ship. It feels like I’m being watched. Yet the streets are more deserted today. The few people that were on the street looked at the car since it was the only thing going on tonight. I keep looking through the car mirrors, see if I’m being followed. I’m paranoid.
"There is no word in the street, or there's nothing out there except cats.”, Kokolite says.
I think when he says cats he must mean, information about them being murdered. I need to change cloth or something. I’ll head to the apartment to change into something a little more comfortable. And get my head in the game aga
in.
“How about we do our thing?”, Kokolite tried to change the subject.
I raise my eyebrow.
“Our thing?”, I ask.
“Yeah, yeah, like when you ask me vampire questions, and I answer them. That could I don't know, inspire you to look for something!”
I like the idea to talk about something else that it is still related. I stare at the window for a moment trying to come up with a set of questions.
“So... Ezequiel.”, I ask.
“You know the same as me...”
“He said that you are good.”
“And so did the Priest, but you have trust issues, and control issues and somehow this question won't leave you with a satisfying sense. How about...”
Kokolite made some bop sounds looking upwards like he was looking for something while snapping his fingers.
“Ok. Vampire 101. You could tell someone is newborn by their hair, tattoos, piercings or other things known as modern that have to do with how their physical image is.”
“Explain.”
“When you are born into the night you can't change your image. How you look is how you were converted. Except for the quiets and the shadows. Shadows eyes turn black, and the quiets turn green. Never understood the green.”
“Shadows? You mean who attacked us?”
“Yup.”
“And how old are you?”
Kokolite opens his eyes and lets a long phew come out.
“You would like to meet newborns in a sense, that their powers aren't that great, but they are almost all the time very immature. So if you got in a fight with a tattooed vampire, it would feel like you're fighting a normal maybe above average strong human.”