Blood Street

by Alves, Carl

  Getting to his feet, he held the stake like a talisman. She bared her fangs and hissed. He backed against a wall and used it as leverage to pull himself up.

  He tried to stab her, but she grabbed his hand. He yelped in pain as she squeezed his wrist. “Oh, God!” He screamed and dropped the stake.

  He was a dead man.

  Screeching tires came from down the street. She lunged in to bite him, but before she could, her body jolted and she fell forward. He stared into her blank eyes. Slowly, he pulled away.

  Mark Andrews ran in his direction with his gun in hand. “You okay?”

  The Goat clutched his wrist. “I think so. Thank God you got here when you did, man, or I’d be done for.”

  “What’s the situation?” Andrews asked.

  In the background, two other cars pulled up to the curb.

  “I killed one.” The Goat motioned to Markus. “Two of my boys got whacked.”

  “Any more around?”

  “Not that I’ve seen.” The Goat breathed hard. He needed some serious pain meds.

  “All right, let’s take care of this mess.”

  Kristoff fought his way through the crowd as the throng of people tightened. He felt each agonizing second tick away as he exited the club. He scanned the streets and followed the scream, coming to a sudden stop at the sight of Markus lying motionless on the ground.

  “No,” Kristoff wanted to go to Markus, but he had to find Antoinette first.

  Gunfire sounded. He ran to the sound of the shot, and spotted what looked like FBI agents. In the distance, Antoinette was motionless on the ground. She had been shot. He had thought his kind were impervious to bullets.

  Two more cars rushed onto the scene, and five men with guns exited.

  With Antoinette and Markus down, he was hopelessly outnumbered. He would wind up getting killed. The only thing left to do was to tell Magnus about what happened.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Alexei pounded his fist on Nora’s kitchen table, spilling his cappuccino. “These gangsters and FBI agents are a nuisance. I can’t believe they had the temerity to strike us again. You would think after we routed them, they would stay away. If I had it my way, we would wipe them out once and for all.”

  Nora gently stroked his bare chest. “Then why don’t you?”

  “Because Magnus has been preaching restraint. Hopefully, he has seen the error of his ways. If I was in charge, none of this would have happened. I would have killed him when we fought had Gabriella not intervened.”

  “I know you would have. They should follow you.”

  Alexei nodded. “I'm more powerful and smarter than he is, but they won’t see it that way. If we don’t act soon, more will die. You know, sometimes I envy you mortals. You have simple problems.”

  “It’s not that simple. In fact, I can’t take it anymore. You told me you would make me one of your kind.” Nora grabbed a knife from the kitchen and pressed it against her wrist. “I have nothing to live for. I hate my husband and my job. You’re all I have.”

  “Don’t be hasty. You have much to live for.”

  Nora leaned her head back. “I want you to do it now.”

  “With this blood feud, now is not the time to become a creature of the night. Although you would gain great strength in time, at first you will be vulnerable. If I’m off fighting, I won’t be able to protect you.”

  “I don’t care,” Nora pressed the knife into her skin.

  Alexei tingled at the scent of her blood. Giving blood was tiring, and he needed his energy. Still, he found her irresistible

  “If that is what you wish,” Alexei said. “This is what will happen. You will experience unbelievable pleasure and pain. Don’t worry about the pain. The ecstasy you feel will overwhelm all other sensation. After I finish taking your blood, you will be weak. When I give you my blood, you will feel a rush unlike anything you have ever felt before. Are you ready?”

  Nora’s face brightened. “Of course. I’ve been dreaming about this for weeks.”

  “Very well, my precious beauty.”

  Nora gasped when Alexei bit her neck. Her body quivered. Alexei closed his eyes, savoring her blood. It felt like golden nectar going down his throat. He was only vaguely aware of Nora moaning.

  He opened his eyes. Her face cringed. Although he had no recollection of his own turning, he had done this enough times to know the experience in vivid detail.

  Blood dripped down his chin and neck. Sometimes he got so caught in the moment that his feasts turned messy. No doubt Magnus would disapprove.

  Nora’s heartbeat slowed. Focus on the task. If he let her go too far, she would die.

  He pulled back and rested her motionless body on the floor. Even near death, she still radiated beauty. He certainly knew how to pick them. He only chose the exquisitely beautiful. Who had time for the plain ones?

  Using his fangs, he sliced his wrist. Dark blood streamed out of it. He shoved his wrist into Nora’s open mouth.

  She twitched, then writhed on the floor. He used his free hand to keep her still. As the seconds ticked by, her face began to show life. She sucked greedily, like a hungry infant.

  Alexei’s body weakened and his head ached. It was only a slight discomfort. He was strong enough that he could turn several mortals in a single day.

  When others would have pulled away, he continued to let Nora feed. He wanted her to be as strong as possible, so she would be more independent. He didn’t have the time or patience to take care of her. He was not the nurturing type. After all, the vampire who turned him abandoned him, and he had to fend for himself.

  Nora perked up, looking vibrant. He had made the right choice. She would fit in well with his brood.

  He gathered her in his arms and held her tight. Although it was a warm summer afternoon, she shivered. He had to take her to their temporary dwelling in Camden where the others would take care of her.

  “How are you feeling, Nora?”

  She tilted her head. “Tired. I want to sleep.”

  Alexei caressed her naked back. “It’s always like this. In a few weeks, you will have strength you never imagined. Until then it will be like driving a Lamborghini that won’t go past second gear.”

  Nora clutched him. “I feel good. Is it always like this?”

  “Not always. Sometimes you don’t feel like getting out of your coffin.”

  “Will the others…like me?” Nora asked.

  “Of course. What’s there not to like? You’re a splendid beauty. There’s always room for more like you in our brood.”

  Footsteps and then a door unlocking reverberated in the room. Alexei got to his feet in the blink of an eye. “Who’s that?”

  “My husband.”

  Alexei smiled. “Good. You can have your first meal.”

  Magnus stared daggers at Alexei. He then glanced at Gabriella leading Nora up a set of stairs. He threw his hands in the air. “I can’t believe you. What the hell were you thinking? How can you justify turning her when we’re in the middle of a…fucking war with the mob and the FBI.”

  Alexei flinched. Magnus never cursed. “Don’t get unruffled. It’s no big thing.”

  Magnus crossed his arms. “You’re impossible. I must have forsaken some ancient god, and now he’s getting back at me by making me deal with you. Don’t you think things through? You know how vulnerable she is.”

  Sitting on a recliner, Alexei put up his feet. “Of course. I’ve been around for as long as you have.”

  “She’s a well-known model,” Magnus said. “People will realize she’s missing and recognize her if they see her around. She can’t stay here, and right now, there’s nowhere for her to go.”

  “The girl begged me to turn her.”

  “You should have refused.”

  “That was my intention. But she threatened suicide. What choice did I have? You’re all talk, Magnus. You don’t live in the real world. I did what I thought was best. Look at her, she’s perfect.”
<
br />   “I can’t deal with you. Talk to Heinrich. We’re striking back.”

  Alexei raised his brows.

  “Don’t look so surprised. Get going. We have work to do.”

  Magnus took a flying leap and landed on the balcony of Sophie Koch’s house. Anybody could enter through the front door. He preferred a more dramatic entrance.

  He knocked on the sliding glass door leading to her bedroom. With his keen hearing, he listened to footsteps from inside.

  This was the fourth night in a row he spent with Sophie. She was almost his. Just a little more seduction, and he would have her.

  When Sophie opened the door, a bright smile lit her face. Although her looks were not comparable to the model Alexei brought into the brood, she had substance and style. After speaking with Alexei’s new girl for a few minutes, he had nothing to say to her. She was hollow.

  “Magnus, I’m glad you made it.”

  He stepped inside. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”

  “Can I offer you a drink?” Sophie asked.

  “Wine would be nice.”

  Sophie smirked. “Red wine?”

  “That’s the only kind I drink.”

  As she got drinks, he slid behind her. She jumped when he put his hands on her shoulders.

  “You have to stop doing that,” Sophie said.

  “It’s fun. If you had these abilities, you would use them.”

  Last night, he planted in her head how great it would be for her to become a creature of the night. At first, she laughed it off, but as he kept talking about it, she seemed intrigued.

  “Use or abuse? With great power comes great responsibility.”

  “No truer words have ever been uttered,” Magnus said. “That’s how these problems started between us. Unfortunately, Alexei has no concept of responsibility.”

  Magnus told her about Nora Brooks.

  “Nora Brooks?” Sophie asked. “But people will recognize her.”

  “I know. To make matters worse, her husband, the prominent attorney, is now dead. Alexei’s like a petulant but dangerous child.”

  “Why don’t you get rid of him?”

  Magnus leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling. “It’s not so simple. A brood is like a family, and every family has their problem child.”

  “I understand. Our organization is like a family.”

  “Ah yes. La Cosa Nostra. I read the Godfather and saw all three movies.”

  Sophie glanced down. “Fat Paulie was like a big brother to me.” Sophie poured two glasses of wine.

  Magnus wanted to change the subject. “Let’s drink to us. To a better understanding. To an everlasting love.”

  They intertwined their glasses, and Magnus took a long drink. He caressed her neck with his lips. She closed her eyes and moaned softly. Tonight, in another part of the city, there would be payback, but not here.

  On her bed, Sophie used Magnus’ chest as a pillow. She ran her long fingernails gently against his thigh.

  “So, I take it Enzo Salerno didn’t think much of your proposal of a truce,” Magnus said.

  Sophie shook her head. “He and Andrews felt like they had to act.”

  “I know. We took horrible losses the other night at the club. There has been too much violence. Unfortunately, we can't sit back and let these actions go unanswered.”

  Sophie’s head perked up. “What are you talking about?”

  “I really didn’t want to do this. If Salerno would meet me halfway, we could have avoided this. But just like Salerno, I would have lost face if I did nothing after my people were killed.”

  “Damn,” Sophie said. “What did you do?”

  “You would have heard by now if you hadn’t taken your phone off the hook and turned off your cell phone. Talk to your boss. I want this to end, but that won’t happen if he retaliates.”

  Sophie wrapped her bed sheets around her naked body. “Leave now, Magnus.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Tony Scrambolgni smiled as the card game unfolded. That new guy Herman Muller was getting his clock cleaned. At least the Kraut was in good spirits. He had seen newcomers get hostile after losing so much.

  With one of Andrews’ guys coordinating the vampire search, Tony felt he needed a break from vampire hunting. For the past week, that’s all he had been doing. They still had a business to run. Although Enzo made hunting vampires his top priority, he wouldn’t be happy if the bottom line suffered.

  Beans DeLuca was running the game tonight. Despite his inexperience, he was doing a good job. Muller had better be good for the money. The last thing he needed was a big talker who didn’t have the scratch to back himself up, but Beans assured him this guy had money since he owned over a dozen supermarkets in Germany.

  Beans walked to the fridge to get more beer for the players.

  “Hey, Beans, you got everything under control?” Tony asked.

  “Yeah, no problem,” Beans replied.

  “Good. I got another game in Kensington. Call if you need anything.”

  “Don’t worry about a thing.”

  Tony finished his glass of wine and put it on the counter. Beans kept his place clean. He even added classy decorations. The last thing Tony wanted was for his high stakes poker games to look like they were taking place in a frat house.

  When he got in his car, he called Enzo. “How’s it looking tonight?”

  On the other end of the phone Enzo said, “Not a peep. I guess they thought better of it after we killed a couple of them the other night.”

  “I’ve been thinking, we wiped out what, eight so far? How many can there be? If they were all in that mansion, they can’t have more than twenty or thirty.”

  “I wish I knew. It would make our job a hell of a lot easier. Until we know they’re gone, we keep hunting them.”

  “I hear ya,” Tony said. “We’ll get 'em.”

  For Enzo, eradicating these vampires was personal. He wanted revenge. Tony just wanted to get on with business. Until they took care of their vampire problem, business would suffer.

  Heinrich smiled as he lost another hand. The guys at the table couldn't stop laughing at his jokes. They thought he was an affable German businessman who was so happy to be playing a high stakes poker game he didn’t care that he was losing his shirt. Heinrich took pride in his acting skills, having performed in theater groups around the world.

  “Another well-played hand,” he said to Big Rube, a large black man who wore enough jewelry to outfit a small village.

  “Don’t worry, Hermy, your luck’ll change before long,” Big Rube said.

  “Yeah, it’s a matter of time,” Cisero said. His voice was barely a croak. It sounded as if he smoked three packs of cigarettes a day.

  Heinrich smiled. If he played for real, he would crush these men. He had been playing poker since before they were born. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to use the bathroom.”

  “Of course,” Beans said. “Make a right at the end of the hall.”

  With his acute hearing, Heinrich heard Big Rube say, “What a sucker.”

  When Heinrich reached the bathroom, he flipped open his cell phone and dialed a number. “The time is now.” He closed the phone and waited in the bathroom, leaning against the sink and stretching his neck. He was hungry, not having fed since Charlie Senerchia’s ill-fated stakeout.

  He looked at his watch. After a minute passed, he exited the bathroom. The guys at the table were ready for another game, but there would be no more poker tonight.

  Someone knocked on the door.

  “I’ll answer it,” Heinrich said in his thick German accent.

  “Who the hell’s coming over now,” Beans said. “I didn’t invite no one else.”

  “I guess we shall see.” Heinrich opened the door. “Ah, a friend of mine. You may know him.”

  Alexei emerged triumphantly into the room.

  “What the fuck?” Beans said. He and Big Rube reached for their guns.

  I
n tandem, Alexei and Heinrich leaped at the card players. Heinrich grabbed Big Rube’s gun hand and yanked his arm back until it twisted in an unnatural manner. He headbutted the big man, causing him to grunt before falling backward. At the other side of the room, Alexei shrieked with laughter as he tore into Beans’ throat. Blood spurted out his neck as Alexei took a deep gulp.

  “Fucking vampires,” Cisero said. “I’ll kill every fucking one of yous.”

  “Settle down, old man,” Heinrich said. “You will do nothing but die, so say a prayer to your gods.”

  Cisero balled his hands into fists and charged. Heinrich admired the old man’s futile courage. His death warrant had already been signed. Heinrich did not bother ducking or blocking his punch. He let the old man hit him, then squeezed Cisero’s throat. Within seconds, Cisero’s face turned blue and his eyes bulged. He threw Cisero to the floor when Big Rube’s hulking figure stirred.

  He lifted Big Rube by his large legs and slammed him. Big Rube’s eyes were glassy as he gasped for breath. Heinrich sunk his fangs into his throat and fed, glancing back to make sure Cisero was still down. He continued to feed, extinguishing the big man’s life. After nearly draining Big Rube of blood, he let go of the man.

  He walked toward Cisero, who was attempting to rise. “Stay down, old man. It’s done for you.” He bit Cisero’s throat and cringed. “Ugh.” He hated the taste of old people’s blood. Unlike a fine wine, age sucked the vitality out of blood. After draining Big Rube, he no longer needed to feed. Not wanting to have Cisero suffer anymore, Heinrich snapped his neck, killing him quickly.

  Alexei toyed with the remaining poker player. He let the man almost escape before blocking his path, making him retreat. The man gave an exasperated cry. He came after Alexei, but the vampire gave a thunderous punch to the stomach that made him double over in agony.

  “Finish him,” Heinrich said.

  “But I’m having so much fun,” Alexei said.

  “Others might come tonight. Magnus wanted these strikes done quickly with no error.”