“What? Can’t a man enjoy his sugar-milk in peace?” Thomas asked, pounding his fist on the table hard enough to make the silverware rattle.
Julia laughed and sipped her coffee again. “Never change, Thomas Spencer. Never change.”
“I’m doing my best here. I just had something done that’ll make sure I stay looking this good forever,” Thomas said, waggling his eyebrows.
“Oh? Sounds awesome. Can you give me your guy?”
“You know, I would, but he’s keeping a low profile. Besides, what could anyone possibly do to improve your face?”
Julia laughed again. He loved how often she laughed. It made the world feel brighter.
“You know, I really like spending time with you, Thomas,” Julia said, smiling enchantingly. “I haven’t met anyone as interesting as you in a long, long time.”
“I know several people that would mock you for thinking I’m interesting. Including myself,” he said with a wink. “But your father for sure. ‘Thomas Spencer?’” Thomas intoned, doing his best to sound like Lawrence, “‘Interestin’? I think not.’”
Julia guffawed and waved her hand dismissively. “Well he can piss off. I like you, Tom. We click.”
Thomas felt a jolt as he heard Julia use Artemis’ nickname for him. She was the only person who called him that. Hearing it come from someone else felt strange, maybe even wrong.
Julia arched an eyebrow.
“Ground control to Major Tom. Are you there, Major Tom?”
Tom.
He needed to say something.
“We should make a habit of this. We both like it.”
The words spilled from Thomas’ mouth before he’d thought about them.
“Haven’t we already?” she asked.
“I mean like this,” Thomas amended. His face was turning red, but it was too late to stop now. “Dating.”
“If I didn’t know any better, that sounded as if you just asked me to be your girlfriend,” Julia observed, her tone still playful but with certain intensity to it. Her voice held a touch of caution, as if to make sure that there wasn’t any misunderstanding.
“I, I guess I did,” Thomas said after swallowing a big lump in his throat. He didn’t know where this sudden spring of confidence came from—all he knew was that he wanted to be around Julia as much as physically possible. “Is that something you’d want to be?”
Pausing for a moment, Julia gazed into her coffee as if gathering her thoughts. When she was ready, she looked Thomas right in the eye, for once not smiling.
“I’ve been alive for a long time, Thomas,” she said.
His heart sank a little. It was only a fling.
“I’m too young for you?”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” Julia said, setting down her cup. “After a certain point, pursuing relationships by always trying to define them loses its appeal. Thomas, I don’t want to ruin what we have with a label. I’m enjoying being with you right now. Isn’t that enough?”
Thomas fished around for the right words. What was he supposed to say in this situation? He glanced at Julia, trying to gauge her mood. One look was all it took for him to know that she didn’t expect him to say anything at all. Julia was leaning forward over the table, and her posture could only mean one thing.
Torn between disappointment and excitement, Thomas leaned forward to meet her in a kiss.
His phone started to ring.
His lips only touched empty air as Julia pulled back, laughing.
“Well, they say third time’s the charm,” she said leaning back against her chair. “Better luck next time. But maybe from now on we’ll turn off our phones when we’re alone.”
“Shoot, sorry. I think that’s a good rule,” Thomas replied, inwardly cursing himself for not doing exactly that as he fumbled for his phone in his pocket, trying to mute the interrupting nuisance. He read the name flashing across his phone’s screen, and his heart plummeted.
It was Gary.
“What’s wrong?” Julia asked, immediately noticing the change in Thomas’ expression.
Nelson had mentioned he needed to contact Gary, that Gary was worried. How could he not be? The last time Thomas had seen Gary was when he wreaked havoc upon Stoker Memorial Hospital. He felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he realized he hadn’t let Gary know he was okay after his episode—he’d honestly forgotten about the old man. Julia had the habit of making him forget.
The phone stopped ringing, but a text came through. Look outside.
Thomas looked up at the shop window and saw Gary standing outside, waving at him with a smile plastered on his face.
“Who’s that?” Julia asked, trying not to giggle at the older man’s antics.
“It’s my coworker—my ex coworker,” Thomas said, getting to his feet. “I’m sorry, I need to take care of this. I’ll be right back, I swear.”
Julia drained her cup in one swig. “Take your time. I’ll grab another coffee. Are you coming back?”
“Definitely, I just need to talk to him for a second,” Thomas said. “Give me five minutes then come interrupt us.”
Julia tapped an imaginary watch on her wrist. “Time’s a tickin’, Mr. Spencer. I’ll be waiting for that kiss.”
◆◆◆
The glass door jingled as Thomas swung it open, and he spotted Gary leaning against a lamp post and waving. He was dressed in his scrubs already, presumably headed to work. As Thomas approached, he smiled, relief evident in his eyes.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Gary said, clapping Thomas on the shoulder. “Thomas Spencer, hellion extraordinaire. How are you, son?”
“I’m good, I’m good,” Thomas said, bobbing his head. “Hey look, I’m sorry I never let you know what was going on. I did some pretty crazy stuff the last time you saw me.”
Gary snorted. “You’re telling me. If Dr. West wasn’t so impressed with your sudden show of balls, he might’ve pressed charges.”
Relief flooded through Thomas. Dr. West wouldn’t press charges. That was great news.
“It was pretty crazy,” Gary said. “I mean, you just disappeared. I thought for sure something had happened to you. Next thing I know, I see you in the window on a date. Sorry for interrupting, by the way.”
“No, it’s okay.”
Thomas glanced at Julia through the window. They waved at each other before Thomas led Gary away from the shop front and into the mouth of an alleyway that ran between the coffee shop and the restaurant next door. A woman in a thick business coat glared at them as she passed.
Thomas resumed the conversation. “Look, I’m sorry for ignoring your calls. I lost my phone and only got a new one a few days ago.”
“You’re making me sound like your girlfriend or something,” Gary said. “I only called you once after you left. When you didn’t answer, I figured you didn’t want to talk.” Gary glanced around them. He leaned in closer, and when he started speaking again, his tone was serious. “Hey, I don’t want to keep you away from your date. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Thomas assured him.
“You sure? You aren’t looking for a new job or residency program? I could talk to the chief of medicine, maybe see if they’d take you back.”
Thomas was touched at the gesture. Gary always looked out for him, and he’d been ignoring the man for weeks.
“No, I’m fine. I’ve already got a new job,” Thomas replied softly, neglecting to tell Gary the new job was at a pub. “I’m serious. Thanks for worrying, but I’m okay. I’ve just . . . had some stuff I needed to work out.”
Gary smiled, satisfied. “Great. Well, that’s all I wanted to say, really. I’ve got work, and you have a date to get back to. Let’s get lunch sometime, okay?” He clapped his hand on Thomas’ shoulder before turning back toward the coffee shop.
Thomas followed the older surgeon, feeling reassured. “Yeah, thanks ag—”
A hand slammed down on Thomas’ shoulders fr
om behind and threw him backward.
The alley spun before his eyes, and he tumbled into a pile of cold trash bags. His head spun from the multiple impacts with the concrete. Thomas opened his eyes, but he couldn’t focus. His ears rang, muffling Gary’s shouts.
Thomas rolled onto all fours and tried to stand. A foot crashed into his stomach, sending him flying once more.
“Not so fast, fledgling. You and I gotta talk.”
Thomas got shakily to his feet. Gary had followed him deeper into the alley. He rushed to Thomas’ side now, catching him as he almost fell to the ground.
“Are you okay, Thomas? Holy shit.”
Thomas didn’t reply, his mind focused on the two men at the mouth of the alley barring the exit. He didn’t recognize the closest. He was broad and had a belt around his waist that sheathed five or six wickedly sharp wooden stakes. The man’s head was shaved, and a tattoo peeked over the collar of his shirt onto his neck. He looked dangerous, ready to kill. But Thomas was more worried about the vampire behind him.
Ernest.
Ernest met Thomas’ gaze and grinned. He still wore his suit and ascot, still carried his cane. But this time he wasn’t using the cane for walking. He spun it in circles as he and his associate sauntered toward where Thomas stood, rooted to the spot. The sunlight glinted menacingly off of the polished wood. Thomas couldn’t take his eyes off of the sharpened point. Including Ernest’s cane, there were seven stakes between the two of them, at least that Thomas could see.
While sunlight, crosses, and church grounds could hurt vampires, according to Lawrence, the surest way to kill a vampire was a wooden stake straight through the heart. The danger of the situation brought Thomas’ predatory instincts to the surface. He was surprised with himself as he felt strength surge through him, erasing his pain, and making him feel as if he could single-handedly take on an army.
“I told you that I keep close tabs on all my brothers in the city,” Ernest said, watching Thomas with a sly expression. “I know who you are now, Thomas Spencer. I know whose flock you belong to. I’m sure by now you’ve heard about me. I thought we might have another chat. I’ve brought a friend; I hope you don’t mind. This is Collins. But I see you’ve brought someone as well. Is this a friend of yours? Or are you just hungry?”
“Thomas, what’s going on?”
Thomas’ heart stopped as he heard Gary’s fearful voice. Caution warned him against initiating conflict, but Thomas couldn’t help himself. Gary was here. He would be caught up in this if Thomas didn’t get him out.
“Get out of our way,” Thomas growled.
In a blink, Collins crossed the distance between them.
“Or what, fledgling?”
Thomas’ hands curled into fists that could shatter brick.
That was as far as he got.
What felt like a sledgehammer connected with his jaw, and Thomas was knocked to the ground. Before he could stand, he caught a swift kick to the stomach with enough force to lift him straight into the air.
Collins was practiced in using his vampiric strength, more than Thomas anyway. While Thomas was mid-air, the man kicked out again and sent him flying hard into the bricks of the alley wall. He was nearing the limit of his vampiric fortitude, and hunger clawed at his insides. It mixed in with the sharp pain of his broken ribs, which weren’t healing well without recent blood.
“You must be Lawrence’s new pet. That man always did have a bad habit of picking up strays,” Collins said as he casually strode over to Thomas, who was collapsed in a heap.
Thomas tried to pick himself up from the ground, but a fresh wave of agony prevented him from doing anything other than crying out as the sharp, wooden point of Collins’ stake slammed right through his hand.
Collins kicked the stake, ripping it from the dirt. It tore Thomas’ palm, but didn’t dislodge. He cried out, his hand on fire. Collins pulled out another stake and grabbed a fist full of Thomas’ hair, slamming his head against the wall. His skin split along the rough brick, and the warm flow of blood washed down the side of his head.
“Someone help,” Gary shouted, his OR doc authority resurging into his voice.
“Quiet,” Ernest snapped.
Collins leered over Thomas. He couldn’t see what Ernest was doing, but he heard a sickening thud, and Gary’s yelling cut short.
Thomas cried out for Gary and struggled weakly, trying to escape Collins’ grasp, but he’d exhausted his energy. He sank against the wall, Collins’ hand tight around his throat. He could barely move. He had lost.
Collins knew it, too. He cackled and spit in Thomas’ face. Thomas could see the man bringing the stake up again, preparing to strike.
“Just a minute, Collins,” Ernest said.
Collins face twisted in disappointment, but he dropped Thomas and moved aside for his boss. Thomas slumped against the wall. His vision was blurring, but he could make out Ernest’s figure in front of him, bending down so they were face to face. Ernest looked Thomas over, clicking his tongue.
“It’s a shame, really,” he said quietly. “So much potential. You’re too young for all of this. Too young to know what you want. I tried to warn you, but you fell in with the wrong crowd.”
Ernest pulled a long stake from his waist. “I need you to take a message to Lawrence for me, Thomas. I’d originally planned on passing it on to his brat, but you’ll do just fine.”
Thomas coughed, trying to speak.
“Shh, shh,” Ernest said soothingly, wiping dried blood from the tip of the stake he held. “Don’t worry, it won’t take much talking on your part. I just need them to find you.”
Without any warning, Ernest swung the stake back and drove it into Thomas’ chest. Thomas screamed as it broke his sternum. The stake ripped through his left lung and grazed his heart as it plunged all the way through his body, breaching the skin of his back and lodging in the mortar of the wall behind him.
Thomas went limp, pinned to the wall and unable to move. His entire body was consumed by fire, racing through every nerve like lightning. Sharp, stabbing pain accompanied each ragged breath and started a new, intense wave of fire.
Ernest tutted again, shaking his head as he stood.
“It really is a shame,” he said again.
Thomas’ vision was fading quickly, but in his hazy, semi-conscious state, he could just make out Gary’s body crumpled against the opposite wall. Thomas willed himself to move, begged his body to do anything besides wallow in pain, but it wouldn’t respond to his commands. Tears welled in Thomas’ eyes and slid down his cheeks as Ernest stood and began to walk away.
“When they find you, make sure you tell Lawrence I want him and his flock gone. I will no longer tolerate any other flock in Colesbrooke, especially Lawrence’s. I’ve finally marshaled enough power to kill every vampire that stands in my way. Every day he stays in this city, humans and vampires will die,” Ernest said, looking back at Thomas. “You should be able to remember that much, right?”
Ernest turned and walked away. Thomas heard his cane clicking on the cement long after the vampire left his field of vision. Collins lingered, hovering over Gary’s unconscious form.
“No.” The word fluttered and died on Thomas’ lips.
He couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. There was nothing he could do.
While Thomas watched on in horror, Collins grabbed Gary’s limp form, yanked his head to the side and buried his teeth deep into Gary’s neck. Gary jerked, his eyes rolling and his mouth open in a silent scream. Slowly, agonizingly, Thomas watched the light fade from Gary’s eyes.
Thomas’ vision blurred as his consciousness slipped away. He closed his eyes and succumbed to the darkness, his old friend’s lifeless eyes imprinted in his mind.
◆◆◆
“Thomas? Thomas! Oh God, Thomas!”
A surge of pain washed through him, and he felt the stake being ripped from his body. Julia?
Before he could open his eyes to see, Thomas passed out again.
He remained in and out of consciousness, feeling bursts of pain intermixed with movement. But that was all.
After a while, the sensations faded, and he was left stranded in the back of his own mind.
The next time he could hear, it felt like an eternity had passed in only a moment.
“Thomas?”
Thomas opened his eyes. Above him was a white ceiling. It looked low, and it had a few moldy spots here and there. He was on a bed, but it was too soft to be his own.
Blood pooled in the back of his throat and trickled down the side of his face—they’d forced him to feed. He swallowed, gagging, and a mixture of dull and sharp pain rattled through his chest and lungs.
“It’s still not healin’,” Lawrence murmured, and a hand pressed on Thomas’ chest.
Hot pain engulfed him. He groaned, unable to summon enough energy to scream properly.
“What’s wrong? Why isn’t the wound closing?”
This time it was Julia’s voice. She sounded scared. Thomas tried to turn his head, tried to speak, to tell her it would be okay, but his eyes were closing again, his body dragging him back to the black depths.
“Hawthorn. It makes the best stakes. Or the worst ones, dependin’ on your point of view.” His voice was a hiss. “It always leaves splinters behind. That bastard is playin’ mighty dirty. Julia, your hands are smaller than mine. There’s a whopper of a sliver a bit beneath the surface. See if you can pull it out.”
Again, white-hot pain flooded Thomas’ body. But then it stopped spreading, and slowly the pain receded as Julia withdrew the sliver.
“It’s healing! He’ll be alright now, won’t he?”
“I doubt we got them all,” Lawrence said grimly. “But the others should be small enough that the wounds can close at least. Sara, we need more red lightning.”
Lawrence helped prop Thomas up against the headboard. He was able to keep his eyes open now, but he couldn’t do much else. He glanced at his chest, which was a mistake.
Left of the center of his chest, there was a gaping hole that, as he watched, started to knit itself together. His stomach rolled as the fibrous pericardium, where his heart was nicked, repaired itself underneath sloppy stitches. A straw stuck out from his lung, allowing air to be removed from the pleural space, and his ribs and sternum emitted soft chinks as fractures began mending.
Shadows of Colesbrooke Page 15