2/14/2021 0 Comments Chapter Five - Part 1Thursday June 22, 2017 Jojo lay awake in the dark staring at the white bedroom ceiling. He glanced over at the digital clock sitting on the side table; it was 1:36 A.M. He’d been restlessly lying in bed for two and a half hours. How could he sleep when what he thought would be a pleasant trip was turned into yet another waking nightmare? Yet again, he had been allowed to feel hope that he might be happy again only for Jack’s depraved machinations to once again tear it away from him. Or at least, that was how he’d felt before stumbling into the kitchen the previous afternoon where he’d found himself in Gabby’s arms. Prior to this trip, he had only ever seen her during a brief stay with Eve’s group in the late 70’s, though he’d kept his distance from her and the others due to Jack’s presence. He hadn’t gotten a good look at her, which may have been why when he saw her in the Black Forest, he had been immediately entranced. She was like a star shining through the darkness, and it hadn’t taken much encouragement from Rex to cross the clearing to talk to her. It was a decision he doubted he’d ever regret. She was sweet, kind, gentle, and patient. Most amazingly of all, she had given him hope that he might actually be able to break free of the wretched magic collar he’d been stuck in for almost a century. He disliked having to leave her presence; her company was intoxicating, and even now he yearned to be in her embrace yet again. Being with her wouldn’t erase the pain he felt, but she made him feel warm, happy, and safe. He had also come to find he was equally happy to be around her bodyguard, Flynn. The man had a cocky confidence to him, but there was more to the man than what meets the eye. Little things like the way his face flushed when they talked about Rex, the sheer intensity he had shown when promising to help Jojo no matter what, and the shy and furtive glances he gave both him and Gabby made Jojo looked forward to seeing what was beneath the surface. His brief time earlier watching movies and chatting with the two had been wonderful, blissful, and peaceful, punctuated by the wonderful sound of Rex-on-Moore violence from down the hall. Jojo smiled to himself as he recalled the pained shrieks of his assaulter. He would have to find some way to thank Marianna for that; she had known telling Rex about what happened would inevitably lead to him beating Moore to a bloody pulp. His joy was short-lived, however, as later on, while he was still with Flynn and Gabby, shouting had been heard from the living room below. The group of three had quietly crept to the stairway to eavesdrop on what was being said. They soon realized Marianna and Amon were arguing with Eve. “...no reason at all when I am fully capable of paying him!” Amon had roared, the anger in his voice making Jojo flinch. “Amon, the boy is his payment,” Eve had replied, her voice a bit less confident than he would have imagined. “He approached me on the plane and told me Jack had given him his blessing, I’m not sure why—“ “Mother!” Marianna had snapped. “It is bad enough that you allowed that freak to live with us for a time! I am not allowing a monster like that in a house with my daughter ever again!” “Then pray for this mission to end quickly so he can leave,” Eve had hissed. “Until then, I don’t want to hear any more of this whining, understand? Perhaps the boy can stay and entertain your daughter when all is said and done.” They’d stayed on the top of the stairs for a few minutes more, but Jojo barely listened further. He knew Eve would eventually make them submit to her will; she always got her way with the coven. Regardless of this knowledge, it still stung to hear out loud what he’d already long suspected: To her, he was nothing more than a prize or a toy to be passed about the coven as she saw fit. On top of everything else he had been through that day, he couldn’t help but begin letting his tears flow again. Mere moments after his sadness returned anew, his newfound friends had both wrapped him in a hug. Gabby’s touch was soft and gentle while Flynn’s was firm and safe. Warm joyous electricity coursed through him. Feeling comforted, he had wished to never have to leave their arms, preferring to simply stay safe and happy with them like this always. “You deserve better than that,” Gabby had quietly told him. “You’re not just… just a tool. You’re my friend.” “And mine too,” Flynn had added. “Forget the stupid mission to find Dracula’s coven. All I care about is keeping you and Gabby safe.” “You are both so kind to me,” he had managed to choke out. “I’ve done nothing to deserve such compassion.” “Yes, you have,” Gabby had countered. “You’ve been a good person.” Guilt had stung his heart. He had not been a good person. He had made terrible mistakes in his life that haunted him even now. Though, he supposed fundamentally she was right; he had always tried to be kind, friendly, compassionate, and giving. He couldn’t bring himself to argue with her, so he had just allowed his two new friends to bring him back up to Gabby’s room where they had spent the evening watching more movies and getting to know each other. Eventually, though, they’d heard a knock, their movie being interrupted once more. “Gabby?” Marianna’s muffled voice had called out from behind the door . “May I come in?” Gabby had looked annoyed, but she’d still politely replied, “Yes, Mom.” Marianna had entered looking positively exhausted. Her eyes had been red; it was clear she had been crying. Jojo had looked down at his lap sadly. He’d remembered when he’d first met her. She had seemed cold and imposing, exuding an air of authority, but she had still welcomed him into the coven and had promised him companionship. The past century had not been kind to her; even in the forest she had seemed frazzled, tired, and a far cry from the woman he had first met. Still, the Marianna he remembered was in there somewhere; he saw it whenever she looked at Gabby, full of pride and adoration. “Mom?” Gabby had asked, her voice full of concern. “Are you okay?” She had shaken her head. “I’m… I’m fine, Gabby.” She had taken a deep breath and straightened herself out before continuing. “I think it’s time to say goodnight to Jojo. He needs rest.” He’d heard Gabby huff stubbornly. “He can speak for himself, Mom.” Truthfully, he hadn’t wanted to go, but it had been getting rather late, and he had been exhausted. “Must I, Marianna?” he’d muttered. “Just for one night, alright? Amon and I are sorting a few things out,” she’d said, rubbing her right forearm. “You need to go to your room for now.” “Sorting what out?” Gabby had pressed. She hadn’t sounded happy. “Sorting out the situation with Mr. Moore,” Marianna had said softly. “So why does Jojo have to go?” “Because that is what Amon asked me to do. He’s a good man, and I trust his judgment.” “Gabby, it’s… it’s alright,” he’d said, trying his best to reassure her. “I’ll be okay, and we can hang out bright and early tomorrow morning, ja?” He’d smiled, one he hoped told her that things would be okay. When she’d turned around to glance at him, the frown on her face and the way she’d bit her bottom lip had told him she wasn’t particularly happy about it, but she’d nodded regardless and mumbled, “Okay.” Marianna had gently led Jojo out of Gabby’s room and down the hall to his room. He’d glanced at her nervously, and she’d returned his glance with a sad smile on her face. “You know,” she’d began, “when all this is over… When Mother has won and all that… You could always come with Gabby and I. And perhaps Nadia…” She’d trailed off for a moment before shaking her head. “Perhaps we could go back to that house. You remember it, right? I still own it, you know. We could tidy it up and live there together.” “I’m not sure I could go back,” he’d whispered sadly. “He might still be there.” “Oh…” Marianna had sighed as they’d arrived at the door to his room. Before he’d been able to say anything else, she had pulled him into a tight embrace. “I’m so sorry, Jojo,” she’d whispered before letting him go and giving him a tearful look. “Goodnight.” She’d turned and quickly walked away, leaving him alone with his thoughts. And that brings me back to now, he thought miserably. He was alone and unhappy in his dark bedroom, twitching nervously at every sound and unable to sleep for fear of what might happen if he did. Jojo froze. A quiet tapping could be heard from somewhere in the hallway. What is that? he thought nervously. Was it Moore? Was it Eve? He listened in a panic as it slowly made its way closer and closer. Eventually, it stopped right outside his door. Jojo held his breath, not daring to move. Three gentle knocks made him jump. An unfamiliar female voice from the other side of his door called out,“Jojo? You in there?” “W-Who are you?” he replied with a shaky voice. “Oh, right. I’m Rhapsody. Can I come in?” Jojo knew very little about Rhapsody von Braun, but he didn’t think she seemed particularly dangerous considering Marianna had personally picked her to come on the mission (and Marianna was incredibly protective of Gabby). He figured that this was evidence enough that it was safe to interact with Rhapsody. “Um, alright,” he muttered. Rhapsody opened the door, quietly slipping inside the room and flipping the light switch on. “Can’t sleep, huh? Can’t say I blame you. I’m not very good with these sorts of things, but I’m really sorry.” She nodded solemnly. “But I’m here to help. Amon asked me to. He didn’t have to ask me twice either.” “Help… me?” Rhapsody nodded and gestured at him with her cane. “So. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m gonna need you to take your clothes off.” Jojo looked at her, dumbfounded. “Pardon?” “I need to paint you, and if this is gonna work, I need to know what your penis looks like.” She nodded as if this was normal and made perfect sense. “Why do you need to see my penis for that? Can’t you just your imagination?” Jojo asked, perhaps a little more loudly than he’d meant to. “It’s so I can draw it better. Look, I’m really trying not to make this weird. Here, hold on, let me show you what I can do, then maybe you’ll get it.” She closed the door behind her and unscrewed the top of her cane, revealing a large paint brush. She pulled down her tinted green shades and he saw the tell-tale flash of her eyes as whatever power she had activated. Suddenly, the tip of the brush was covered in black paint. She walked to a nearby wall and began rapidly painting on it. Jojo watched in awe as, in a few short moments, she had drawn a picture of herself in an old cartoon style. The awe only heightened as the painted Rhapsody peeled itself off the wall and stood next to the regular Rhapsody. The painted Rhapsody got down on a knee and did an exaggerated pose. “Ta-da!” it exclaimed. “See, I can make paintings come to life. My paintings, anyway. Sorry if you want to have sex with the Mona Lisa or something. I met a guy like that, once.” She yawned. “I’m gonna trick Baldy. But I gotta make sure I get every part of you right. I feel like he’s the sort of guy who’d be able to tell if something was off.” She tapped the painted Rhapsody on the head, which then sucked her into the tip of her brush like a vacuum. “I… Alright.” Sighing, Jojo removed his clothes. He suddenly felt very self-conscious about anyone seeing him in the nude, and he didn’t necessarily think it was because of his unpleasant encounter with Moore earlier. He just didn’t feel that Rhapsody was the right person to be looking at him like this. She silently walked around him, leaning in close here and there, examining every inch of him, before finally stepping back. “Okay. Cool. I think I’ve got this.” Jojo hurriedly began putting his clothes back on. “Good, good. Now what?” “Hmmm…” she muttered, rubbing her chin. “You can either wait for me, or you can run to Rex’s room. I might be a while. Just be quiet.” “Thank you, Rhapsody,” he said as he darted for the door. As awkward as that had been, he felt a bit reassured knowing that whatever Eve said and whatever Moore did, the members of the coven here had his back. He darted quickly down the hall to Rex’s room and tapped on the door. “Rex, please open the door!” Jojo quietly called out. A few moments later, Rex was standing in the doorway wearing red and pink heart printed pajama pants and, quite surprisingly, a shirt. “Jojo?” he asked. “What the fuck are you doing out so late?” “It’s a long story. Do you mind if I stay in…” He peered around his shoulder and noticed Mina peering back at him curiously from Rex’s bed. As she hadn’t bothered covering up, her breasts were exposed, and Jojo could see numerous scars crisscrossing her body. “Oh. Um. Am I interrupting?” Rex shook his head. “Fuck no. Get in here, now.” He dragged Jojo by his arm into the room and shut the door behind him. “Mina, we got a guest, so do you mind putting your tits away?” “Right, right,” she mumbled as she grabbed a shirt off the floor and pulled it on. “How are you feeling, Johan?” “Like shit,” he mumbled. Rex patted him gently on the back. “I can fucking imagine. Don’t worry, snapped a few of Moore’s bones for you. I’d have killed him, but that fucking boot-skinned bitch came in and gave me an earful.” He chuckled softly. “I’m not letting him fucking touch you, alright?” “I appreciate it, really, but… I’m so tired, Rex. Can I please just sleep now?” “Alright, alright,” he shrugged as he grabbed his pillows and some blankets and tossed them on the floor. “I’m gonna let Jojo sleep with me, okay?” “You’re throwing me off the bed?” Mina huffed. “Fuck no! What kind of guy do you take me for?” Rex retorted indignantly. “I’m sleeping on the floor, and Jojo’s gonna sleep with me.” Jojo shivered excitedly. He’d slept with Rex many, many times over the past hundred years, in every sense of the word. He was an incredible lover, but more importantly for tonight, he was very cuddly and warm. “You really know how to spoil a guy,” Jojo whispered. “Yeah, well, you deserve some fucking spoiling after that fucking shitstain touched you,” Rex snarled. “Now get on the fucking floor with me so you can sleep and go spend time with your new pals in the morning.” He didn’t have to ask twice. Jojo lay down next to Rex and cuddled up against him. “Sorry to steal him from you, Mina.” “Can’t steal what I don’t have, yeah?” she said sadly as she laid back down. “Why you gotta make me feel so fucking bad, Mina?” Rex grumbled as he squeezed Jojo close to him. Once more, guilt chewed at Jojo. He hadn’t wanted to interrupt Rex and Mina. “Sorry…” she whimpered. “Rex, get on the fucking bed,” Jojo groaned. “I’ll be fine by myself. Just don’t step on me, ja?” “No, no,” Mina said. “You get up here, too.” After a few moments of back and forth, they’d all agreed to squeeze onto the bed together, with Rex holding Jojo and Mina holding Rex. It was so warm and comfortable that it wasn’t long before Jojo drifted off into a comfortable, pleasant sleep. His dreams invariably drifted to Gabby; she dominated his sleeping mind. He forgot Rex, and he forgot Mina. All he could dream of was spending more time with Gabby and Flynn. Eventually, though, his dreams were interrupted by a cartoonish slide whistle. Wearily, he opened his eyes and saw a large TV. Looking around his immediate area, he recognized this as being the living room. On the TV were two hands with googly eyes chasing after a grey cat with black stripes with cheap, tacky blue butterfly wings on its back. The cat appeared to be flying about but really looked like a bad green screen edit of someone holding it under its arms. “Get back here, Blue!” one of the hands shouted in a squeaky voice. “Noitamrofni drac tiderc ruoy su evig!” said the other hand. “Yeah, what he said,” the first hand added before a coconut from offscreen landed on his head with a cartoonish bonk. “That’s what you get for evading your taxes! Meow, meow, meow!” said the flying cat. Seated next to him was Rex who was cackling at the show. Jojo slowly turned and stared at him with bewilderment. “Rex, what the fuck is this?” he asked, gesturing at the TV screen. “Why aren’t I still in bed?” “He wanted to watch TV,” Mina snorted from the other side of Rex. “And he couldn’t just leave you, right? So the most sensible thing is to carry you down here and watch stupid kids shows until the noise wakes you up.” “This shit’s so fucking funny!” Rex laughed. “They show this shit to kids? Un-fucking-believable. This is so stupid; it’s hilarious!” Jojo rolled his eyes. Rex would enjoy some dumb children’s show with no budget and gratuitous cartoon violence. Jojo tried to get into it, but his brain checked out when a giant purple penguin appeared, followed by the flying cat dumping even more coconuts on the hand’s head. “Rex, can we please change the channel?” Mina sighed. “I think you’re giving Jojo brain damage.” “Fucking fine,” Rex grumbled as he grabbed the remote and began flipping through the channels. “—yet another victim of the serial killer dubbed ‘Maneater’ was f—” “—unearthed in Mexico. The statue depicts a large, horned woman w—” “—t’s real! Real, I swear it! The vampire dolphin is r—” Rex finally stopped on a channel showcasing a commercial for Lost Paradise Candy Company. The sound of Maroon 5’s “Sugar” blasted out of the TV’s speakers as a pretty, colorfully dressed black man pranced across the screen. “Hey, look! Tony! That motherfucker’s still got it! Haven’t seen him in a long fucking time!” Rex exclaimed. “Can’t believe he’s still using that fucking song though. Did he buy the fucking rights or what?” Jojo shrugged as he watched Tony Sugar prance about before ending the commercial with his usual catchphrase. “Everyone deserves a little Sugar,” he said with a seductive wink before the commercial faded to the company’s logo, which was a winged stag. A huff from the living room doorway drew his attention away from the TV. An annoyed Gabby was standing there in a simple white t-shirt tucked neatly into a light blue skirt that showed off more leg than she’d probably intended. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she was glaring in Rex’s direction with irritation written all over her face. “Do you have to be so loud? You’re ruining my movie.” Jojo perked right up at the sound of her voice and peered around Rex and Mina to see her, a smile spreading across his face. “Good morning, Gabby!” Almost instantly, she dropped her hands to her sides. Her face brightened, and her mouth spread into a big smile. “Jojo! Um, good morning!” She hesitated before nervously asking, “Do you want to watch a movie with me? If you’re not busy, I mean. I don’t want to, um, take you away from Rex or…” Her smile faltered as she spotted the woman sitting next to Rex. “…Mina…?” Mina turned and waved at her with a polite, “Hello.” “Nah, Jojo would love to go watch a movie with you! He was just saying how much of an annoying asshole with bad taste in TV shows I was, and how much he wished someone would get him out of here!” Rex slapped Jojo playfully on the back, then leaned in and whispered, “Thank me later.” She seemed perplexed for all of two seconds before grinning brightly again. “Well, um, if you’re sure?” “Ja! Ja, I’m, uh, certain!” Jojo said as he leapt up and joined Gabby, turning to see Rex scoot closer to Mina and lean his head against hers, their matching heart earrings gently clinking together as they did so. It was obvious she was enthralled by this if how she nearly skipped through the vast foyer just outside the living room was any indication. “You can pick the movie! I was just watching this movie called Big, but we can watch something else if you want!” “I’m certainly not opposed to watching Tom Hanks.” “Do you want me to start it from the beginning?” She hopped onto the first step of the large staircase, pausing to wait for him to catch up. “I mean, if you’d like. I’ve only seen it once, back when it came out. Rex took me to see it.” “You’re so lucky,” she sighed. “I’ve never seen a movie in a theater before.” “Perhaps I could take you sometime?” Jojo asked. He was certain she’d say yes, but asking still made him feel a bit nervous. Her eyes lit up, and her dazzling smile returned. “Really? You’d take me to a real movie theater?” “Absolutely!” A sly grin spread across his face. “If I can find out where one is, perhaps we could sneak off there. I have a body double now thanks to Rhapsody, so that might make things easier.” Gabby frowned in confusion. “A… what?” “She… painted another me. To keep me safe. I spent the night with Rex and Mina, but I suppose now I can probably just hide out with you, ja?” He decided to leave out the part where Rhapsody examined his naked body as he still felt rather self-conscious about the whole ordeal. This was odd since he’d never been bothered by women looking at him before. He was starting to get an inkling of why he felt that way, but he wanted to spend more time with Gabby and Flynn first just to be certain. “That’s genius!” she whispered, her eyes widening. “But… what about the painted you? Will he have to suffer now instead?” “Unfortunately,” he winced. “But he is made of magic and paint. He’s like a blow-up doll, I suppose.” Truthfully this didn’t do much to alleviate his discomfort and disgust, as Moore would still be molesting his likeness, but it was certainly preferable to the alternative. Judging by the uncomfortable expression on Gabby’s face, she didn’t much approve of it either. However, she said nothing more and started leading him up the stairs. “Flynn isn’t awake yet. Or, well, I don’t think so. I haven’t seen him yet today.” “Shall we look for him? Or would you rather have me all to yourself for a bit?” He did want to see Flynn again, but he knew what answer he would prefer right now. She slowed as they neared the top of the second floor. “Um…” Turning her head to glance at him hesitantly, she asked, “Do you want to go find him?” “I think,” Jojo said slowly, “he will be able to find us when he wakes up, ja?” Her honey brown eyes sparkled with delight. “Yes, I think so. He’s right next to my room.” He was captivated by her for a moment, then gave a playful smirk and said, “Well then, I see no reason to bother him for now.” Grinning with excitement, no doubt at the prospect of having him all to herself, she raced to her bedroom, which was about halfway down the hall. Once they were inside, she gently closed the door and hopped onto her bed. “It shouldn’t take too long to rewind,” she told him as she grabbed the remote and stopped the movie. The TV’s screen turned black and a whirring could be heard from her VCR. “You know,” he said as he sat down next to her, “I like how you still have VHS, even when DVDs are more popular. The rewinding sound is very nostalgic. I remember a time in the 80’s when I spent months hiding out with Rex. Sometimes, I would fall asleep after movies while he rewound the tapes.” He sighed wistfully. She nodded slowly before quietly asking, “Are you and Rex really good friends?” “Something like that,” Jojo replied softly. “There was a time I wished for more from him, but I suppose friends is what we must be, ja? He… can’t really be more than a friend for anyone anymore.” “Why?” she pressed. Jojo looked down at the floor. “He has so much pain in his heart. He has been through things no man should have to. His childhood was a nightmare, he watched so many of his friends die, and Mina…” He trailed off. It wasn’t his place to tell her, so he just shook his head sadly. “And worst of all, for him at least, is how he has so often been separated from his sister. She is the one Jerrod tracked here. That is probably why Amon picked him. So he could see her again.” Gabby fell quiet for a long time. Jojo looked at her. She probably had no idea about any of this; Rex was not emotionally open. While he was outwardly violent, vulgar, and loud, in private moments, Jojo had seen a man who was vulnerable, scared, and desperately seeking companionship. He recalled how the man had clung to him and wept for hours after the tragic event that occurred with Mina. He remembered the genuine joy he’d had on his face when he recalled the day he watched the Berlin Wall fall with his sister. He remembered how gentle and tender he had been during their first night together. That was the true Rex, someone most people didn’t actually see. “It’s hard to believe, I know,” he said softly, “but he’s really not a bad man. Before I met you, he was the only person who I thought would ever really care about me.” Finally, she spoke, but what puzzled him was how pained her voice sounded. “Do you like him?” “Of course I like him!” Jojo laughed quietly. “But you want to know if I like him, ja? It’s not possible, Gabby. If I wanted to, he’s just not open for that, and before now I have never even dared hope I could be free to be able to love anyone. But now…” He paused, before scooting closer towards her. “Why do you ask?” She immediately lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, and shrugged. “It just sounded like you do, that’s all.” He moved nearer still and gently took her hand, swallowing nervously. “Do you… Do you want to know what I feel about you, as well?” When she lifted her head again, he noticed her cheeks had turned a rosy pink. She whispered shyly, “Maybe.” He took a deep breath. “Ever since I first saw you, I… I have been enchanted by you. I dreamt of you last night, I cannot get you out of my mind… I don’t know what all this means, Gabby, but I feel so blessed that you are in my life, even if there is still danger.” This put a smile back on her face. “I hope it was a good dream, at least.” “I don’t think any dream with you in it could be bad,” Jojo whispered. A mechanical clink sounded from the VCR, but she didn’t move. Jojo leaned his face closer to hers. “Do you still want to watch the movie? Or, um. Maybe we could just… talk?” She almost looked mystified as she replied, “We can just talk, if you want.” “Ja,” he sighed happily, “I want to listen to you for hours.” Gabby laughed nervously and replied, “I don’t know if I could talk for that long. I’d run out of things to say. My life hasn’t really been that exciting.” He shook his head. “I don’t care how exciting it was. I want to hear it all anyway.” She nervously tucked her hair behind her left ear. “I don’t know where to start.” He gave her a gentle, teasing smile. “The beginning?” She frowned and shook her head. “That’s not much of a story. I don’t know about my beginning.” “Start from wherever you wish, then. You tell me your story this time, and then I promise you I’ll tell you mine later. That sounds fair, ja?” She glanced to one side as she considered this, then nodded. She pulled her feet onto her bed and neatly crossed them. With a brief sigh, she began. “Remember when I said I don’t know who my real parents are? It’s because my mom left me on the steps of a church, but my earliest memories are of growing up in foster care.” “Right, right.” She’d mentioned this on the plane, as well as how Marianna had officially adopted her prior to turning her, though she hadn’t gone into any explicit detail about these events. “I don’t know if I ever really would have found a family if not for Mom,” she admitted quietly. “Too many of the foster families I was placed with were awful to me when I was younger, so I gave up any hope as I got older. And after I turned eighteen, I went from foster care to a homeless shelter.” “I’m so sorry, Gabby,” Jojo said sympathetically. “How exactly did you meet Marianna then?” “She found me,” she murmured with a small smile. “I was walking back to the shelter one day after trying to find a job, and she saw me. I don’t know what made me so special, but I guess I can’t really argue it, can I? I don’t know if I’d be here right now if it wasn’t for her.” “Well then I suppose I must thank her, because I am certainly very glad you are here,” Jojo grinned. “I am too,” she admitted happily. Then, similar to her question in the forest when they’d first met, she asked, “Why didn’t we meet before?” “It was better we didn’t,” he muttered. “I shudder to imagine what might become of you if we’d met any time before now…” Her smile disappeared. “What do you mean?” His entire body tensed. He knew he had to tell her this. If he didn’t, she wouldn’t be prepared if he ever showed up. “Tell me… What do you know about Jack Fairchild?” “I don’t know anything,” she shrugged. “Mom only says to stay away from him. She won’t tell me why, though.” He nodded. “She is a wise woman, then. But… you’ve befriended me. And I need to tell you the truth about him, so that you might be safe if he ever comes around.” “What do you mean?” Gabby frowned in confusion. “Why is he so bad?” Jojo swallowed. This was not going to be easy to tell. “He is, truly, the most wicked vampire who ever lived. He has the face of an angel, but his heart is a demon’s heart. As Rex has told me, he was once a student at Dracula’s school long ago. He was charming, but he liked to be alone, until the day he fell in love… And that love is what your, ah, grandmother used to twist and turn him into what he is. He slaughtered the entire school. The mortals, the vampires... And that is just the beginning.” Gabby’s eyes were wide, and she looked horrified. “There’s more?” “Mortals know him as Jack the Ripper,” Jojo shivered. “Have you heard that name before?” She wrinkled her nose as she pondered his question. “I… think so. Maybe?” “He once stalked the streets of Whitechapel, slaughtering women of the night, dissecting their bodies, eating them…” Jojo shuddered violently; thinking of Jack’s dietary habits made his stomach turn. “He doesn’t just drink blood. He goes further. And what he does to his victims… He does to them what Moore did to me. And he has done it to me as well. So, so many times.” His hands went up to the collar around his neck; he suddenly found it very hard to breathe. “I live in fear because any time I have something go well, he finds a way to ruin it. I have seen him kill and harm so many people I have befriended, and when first I joined, what he said he’d do to my family if I ever went near them again, it’s… it’s…” He gagged violently. He couldn’t help it. Thinking about everything Jack had done over the past century was nauseating and painful, but Gabby had to understand that if she ever saw him, she could not trust a single thing he said. He felt her grab his hand and squeeze it tightly. She stared at him intensely. “He’s not going to ruin this. I promise. Mom won’t let him, Amon won’t let him, and I won’t let him.” He wanted to be afraid so badly, but he couldn’t. The determination in her eyes, the gentle warmness of her touch, the joyous electricity once more surging through him as she held his hand… For once, he felt safe and reassured. For once, he felt like Jack might not ruin everything for him. ****** Gathered in the living room of the manor were Victoria and Dahlia. Dahlia was seated neatly on the couch, but Victoria was wearing the already-worn carpet down further by pacing back and forth across the room. She knew it was doing no good, but she couldn’t help it. After so many years of being separated, her eldest daughter was finally returning. She was unsure if their close mother-daughter relationship would still be the same. Prior to their worlds collapsing, Victoria was seen by Nadia’s side just as much as she was by Dracula’s. Nadia had sent letters now and then, always having the coven’s address thanks to Victoria keeping her updated with correspondences of her own, but the words were dry and void of any real emotion. What if, in addition to losing her beloved, she lost her daughter, too? And what if Nadia was ashamed of the coven and how far it had fallen? It had once been a proud group, but now it was merely a fraction of what it once had been. Victoria had tried her best to lead them, but even she had to admit it was not the same. It was no wonder so many on the outside had given up on them. A slow, steady knocking from the front door cut through her anxious thoughts. “Mom,” Dahlia whispered. “I think she’s finally here…” Wringing her hands nervously, Victoria slowly made her way to the front door. It had to be Nadia. No one else used that door; the coven always used the back to lessen any attention from passersby, as the house was assumed to be vacant, abandoned long ago for reasons unknown. She was so afraid. What if Nadia blamed her for leaving their home? What if she’d joined Marianna again? What if she’d come to laugh in her face? She could barely breathe as she opened the door, which seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. It slowly opened inwardly, its hinges creaking from lack of use over the past few decades. Standing on the doorstep was a face she couldn’t forget even if she tried. Nadia was exactly as she remembered her those hundred years ago. Her hair, always cut short just past her chin (a style that she was often criticized for in the 1700’s as it made her appear “unsexed”), was still a luxurious, shiny silver. Her warm caramel-colored eyes were still tired yet filled with a familiar sly cunning. Her brown skin, a shade nearly identical to Victoria’s, was still flawless and smooth. Her wardrobe was slightly updated from when they’d last been together as she was wearing a red crop top that bared her midriff and clung to her chest a bit too tightly and a black miniskirt. Still, it wasn’t too far a cry from the sort of things she’d worn in the late 1800’s. Nadia was hugging herself and trembling slightly, her eyes darting downward nervously as Victoria looked over her. “Hello, Mother,” Nadia said softly, her eyes watering as she spoke. “I… am home.” Any fear Victoria had washed away instantly. She felt the moment they were together again that their bond was just as strong as it ever was. She gently placed her right hand upon her daughter’s cheek. “Nadia… My beautiful, strong Nadia. You’ve no idea how much I’ve missed your presence.” Nadia gently reached up and touched her hand, leaning into it for a moment as tears welled up in her eyes. Then, in one quick movement, she pulled Victoria into a hug, squeezing her tightly. “I am... so sorry, Mother... I hope you can forgive me for... not being here for you... I promise you... I will not leave again. I am done hiding.” She wrapped her arms around her daughter, feeling wetness brimming at her own eyes. “We were both dealing with pain of our own. You have nothing to apologize for, my dear. My only regret is leaving your side when you needed me the most.” “You did not leave me. I left you. You and Dahlia… both suffering my pain… while I wallowed in misery. It was not fair. Perhaps... we could have helped each other...” Nadia sighed, squeezing her even more tightly. “But I suppose I cannot change the past… Only the future. I will do all I can to help you bring Father back. I swear it. We are to be a family again, yes?” “Yes,” she agreed. She couldn’t ask for anything more than to have her family again. Her heart felt much lighter already knowing both daughters were by her side once more. “If I have any say in it, yes,” Harlan added. He had been standing quietly behind Nadia, alongside his daughter Mara, watching the touching reunion unfold. “Glad I could see this, Vicky. Warms my heart seeing you reunite with your daughter.” Stepping back from her embrace, she smiled warmly at her friend. “Thank you for ensuring she arrived safely, Harlan.” “The pleasure’s all mine, Vicky,” he said. “I’m just glad to see you smiling like this.” “Smiles look good on you,” Mara added. “Hope Dad can provide you with more reasons to do it in the days to come!” With a sigh, she admitted, “I do as well.” She hadn’t smiled in a very long time, and it felt good to do so. “Perhaps more greetings may brighten your mood?” Nadia yawned. “Francis and Winston both say hello.” This news pleased her. Very few members of the original coven were still alive. “They are both doing well, then?” “Francis is as gloomy as he has always been,” Nadia nodded. Francis Varney had always been a rather morose individual, as Victoria recalled. “Still… he has been sweet to me, these past years. Winston, he is quite cheerful… He was married a few years ago. He tried sending an invite… but it seems those in the old castle ‘lost’ his invitations to you…” Nadia straightened up slightly, folding her arms and exuding a level of haughtiness fit for a princess. “I shall send a belated wedding gift, then,” she replied with a small smile. The Nadia she loved was emerging once more like a flower that had not bloomed for many ages. She nodded, a pleased smile forming on her lips. “He will… appreciate it. Ah. But now… May I come in? I wish to see Dahlia… I think she deserves a hug as much as you, yes?” “Of course,” she smiled. “Our home is yours, always and forever.” With a nod of thanks in Harlan’s direction and a brief goodbye, Victoria led Nadia inside to the living room where Dahlia was patiently waiting. Before either of them could say a word, Dahlia leapt up and embraced Nadia. “I missed you.” Nadia’s eyes watered again as she returned the embrace. “And I, you. I am sorry…” “Hush you,” Dahlua muttered tearfully. “You’re back now. That’s what matters.” Victoria nodded in agreement and quietly added, “We are stronger together.” Her heart felt more full than it had in years, though the hole left behind by Dracula’s death was still vast and empty. Nadia nodded. “This… is true. And stronger still we shall be once Father is with us.” Dahlia laughed. “I’m glad you still talk all flowery and dramatic.” Nadia gave her a small, sly smile. “I promise, I have not changed so much. Now…” She turned back to Victoria. “Mother… might you catch me up on all I have missed all these years?” “Of course,” she nodded. “Dahlia, would you like to join us? Perhaps we could go to my bedroom.” “Sure!” Dahlia chirped excitedly. “Gotta help you fill her in, after all!” Victoria led her daughters up the stairs to the second floor and down the hallway to her bedroom. Once they were inside, she sat on the edge of her bed. It was peculiar to be in her room and, for once, not be overcome with grief and despair. On the contrary, she felt happy and lighthearted. For the next half hour, Victoria told her daughter about the coven’s history over the past century. She told Nadia about how they went into hiding after Dracula was killed for fear they would be next. She gently squeezed Dahlia’s hand as she confessed that her youngest was her rock when she didn’t think she could continue anymore. She recounted every temporary home they’d had and how the few remaining members were disdainful at her insistence they bring Dracula’s coveted chair with them every step of the way. She quietly confessed how difficult each day was for her without their father by her side; how she found it increasingly difficult to leave her bed most mornings. She gestured at her room with a sigh when she told Nadia Rhine City became their final home several decades ago due to how easy it was to live there unnoticed. “And there is something else,” she quietly began towards the end of her grand tale. She held out her hand and called forth a small swarm of bees. They appeared and hovered in her palm. Nadia’s eyes widened. “Your power… changed? To bees, of all things?” “Yes,” she confirmed, her throat tightening. “I stopped using my power when your father died. It was too difficult as it was to continue on. At that time, I was simply existing. Thus, I did not discover this change until the 1980’s.” She sighed. “The coven members have taken to calling me ‘Queen Bee’ behind my back. I suppose our vampirism has a dark sense of humor.”’ At first, she’d felt like she’d lost another piece of herself when she’d discovered the change. She’d come to accept it, however, as she was, in fact, the leader of the coven. Another positive was how delightful her bees were. They were rather loving and did what was necessary to keep her happy and safe. “How adorable!” Nadia giggled. “It is a power that is deceptively strong, yes? I am of the belief it suits you well; you are stronger than any credit you for, Mother.” She gave her daughter a soft smile. “I am not sure I believe you in my current state, but thank you all the same. My bees and I have a unique bond. I command, and they do as I say. And, of course, they are not bound by any natural rules as normal bees are. They are immortal; they cannot die by a simple sting nor truly be defeated.” She arched an eyebrow and asked, “Do you wish to know how many there are? I have counted once out of mere curiosity.” “Oh, do tell me,” Nadia asked, leaning forward excitedly. “Two hundred and sixty-three,” she answered with a sly grin. “Such a prodigious amount of bees!” Nadia gasped. She looked to Dahlia next and asked, “Has your power changed as well?” Dahlia shook her head. “Nope! I can still open any lock with a touch, same as ever.” “Some change is good. Some things… I prefer they stay the same,” Nadia nodded. “I wish all had stayed the same,” she sighed before quietly scolding herself. She knew it was best she remained positive for her daughters. They would only get through this if they remained strong. “As do I,” Nadia sighed. “For too long I have felt as though I failed all that I loved… You, Mother. Dahlia. Father. Marianna… I had given up any hope that I could deserve to look upon you again. But Rose… She gave me hope, in the form of the ring… and then I felt it.” She tilted her head back and closed her eyes. “Gravity. Pulling me here. The force was undeniable. I cannot lack faith in my own domain, yes?” “You belong here. With us and with the coven.” She slowly slipped Dracula’s ring from her left hand’s ring finger before holding it out to Nadia. “He’s here. Faint, but present.” She took the ring into her hand. “I spoke to him, when Rose brought him… He is so weak, and yet it is undeniable… He is calling to us, Mother, Dahlia… He survives for us.” “He did so much for us.” She could feel tears rushing to her eyes again. “Now it is our turn. We can do this. We will do this. And then, we will be together again and, God help me, I will not let anyone tear us apart.” She was surprised by her own words. She felt so much stronger with both of her daughters by her side, even with how great her grief still was. What she said earlier was true: They were stronger together. “Indeed. So, tell me Mother… what is it that must be done?” “We need blood from each of those who were involved in his death,” she sighed. Nadia sighed as well. “Rose mentioned something to that effect… I know that there is at least one I might help with.” She glanced hesitantly at her daughter. Nadia didn’t have to say who; Victoria was more than aware of this person’s identity. “Are you certain you are ready for that?” she inquired. Nadia gave her a mysterious look. “I am more than ready, Mother. Do not worry.” “Are you certain?” she pressed. “After everything she did…” “After everything she was made to do,” Nadia corrected. “I have made my peace. Nothing will stop me from saving Father, do not fret.” “You don’t gotta be tough, Nadia. I know how hard it’s gonna be, seeing someone who was your ‘one’ again… Seeing them after they’ve broken it off, I mean,” Dahlia quietly replied. Though Victoria hadn’t experienced something like that herself, she guessed it was similar to the pain of losing them the way she had lost Dracula. She agreed with Dahlia. She certainly didn’t want Nadia to suffer. “I can always ask Harlan for assistance, dear.” “No, Mother,” Nadia stated firmly. “I must face Marianna myself. I do not wish for any other to carry this burden. But I will need help, as it is certain to me… that the wretched, vile creature still has its coils around her. She certainly will not be coaxed out with ease.” Victoria sighed. She didn’t trust Marianna in the slightest. The woman was responsible for the pain she’d suffered for over a hundred years. Still, she loved Nadia, and she knew if anyone could get blood from Marianna, it was her. “Then how may we help?” Nadia tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Who might be the most powerful force in this city? That is to say, besides you.” She considered this question. She hadn’t paid much mind to the city’s citizens, though a few names had gained familiarity in her mind. The first was the police chief, though she had been killed several years prior. The next was a woman who, as she understood it, was one of the richest women in the city. “I believe your best chance lies with a woman named…” She frowned. “What is her name, Dahlia? Jemima… Masters?” “Mathers, Mom,” Dahlia corrected. “But why go to her? She’s just a mortal.” “If I am to drive away Marianna from that wretched serpent for but a moment, I will need a grand gesture to egg her on. And the only one who might help me in such a regard would be someone as powerful as I, yes?” Her eyes flashed, and she slowly floated into the air. “I am Countess Nadia Shibani, daughter of Dracula, and I must enlist only one as grandiose as I to bring Marianna into my grasp. The wretched wyrm will surely wish for her to pursue me, so I will make myself known. This is the only way.” “Are you certain? It could be dangerous…” She didn’t know if she could bear to lose either of her daughters in addition to her beloved. “I am… positive.” She sighed, then nodded her head. She trusted Nadia, even if she didn’t trust either Marianna or Eve. “Please be careful, dear.” Nadia gracefully descended to the floor and gave one of her sly smiles. “You need not worry yourself too much, Mother. I might, in fact, expend… more energy than usual, for this special mission. I am to ensure your smile is permanent, yes? If I am to be back… I cannot accept more sadness.” “Don’t put your well-being at risk for me,” she insisted. “Please.” Nadia gently placed the ring back in Victoria’s hand. “I put my well-being at risk for my own misery,” she said. “If I must do it for anyone else now, let it be for you.” She frowned in disapproval, but she knew her daughter well. If Nadia had made up her mind, then there was little she could do to change it. “Very well,” she resigned, feeling defeated. Once more Nadia pulled her into a tight hug. “You worry after me, even now. I do not deserve such a sweet mother as you. I have been truly blessed… when it comes to parents.” Victoria hugged her back. “You deserve the world and more. You both do.” Dahlia joined in on the group hug. “And you deserve Dad back in your life.” “What would I do without you three?” she murmured. Gathering the blood from each of the vampire killer families would not be an easy task, but she had a feeling Harlan and the Silverwings would be more than happy to offer helping hands. Her lips curved upwards into a small smile. Her family would be whole once more soon, and the coven would be stronger than ever. ****** Rika was excited. Finally, finally, the team was going to do something to help the city out beyond just beating up muggers. Thanks to Anna’s suggestion and the leads Lilith got, they were going to be taking on something big. Even better, she’d finally managed to convince her friend, David, to join the team. As she escorted him to Valentine’s house, she reflected on how grateful she was that he had decided to join. David Paine was her best friend, her hero, and someone she considered a brother. Nine years ago, he had found her nearly frozen to death in an alley and had helped her get back on her feet. During this time, they’d become quite close. David volunteered at the homeless shelter she used to live at. Eventually, he’d invited her to move into his apartment. He’d even given her his favorite jean vest as a gift, one she wore almost all the time. He was a bit mysterious sometimes and more than a little odd—he wore a dark gray sweatshirt year round, no matter the weather—but he was a kind, selfless man who she was glad to know. “So,” David said with a smirk, “this Loveless guy has a bunch of cute girls working with him, right? Any of them single?” Rika sighed. And after I just thought all those nice things about you! she grumbled internally. “There’s, like… two besides me. I’m pretty sure they’re both single, but I think they might have other guys on their minds.” “Darn. Guess I’ll have to help you guys save the city single.” He gave an over dramatic sigh. Rika rolled her eyes. David was absolutely ridiculous sometimes, but he was family to her, and she loved him no matter how much of an idiot he was. “Oh yeah, I’ve been meaning to ask… Does this guy know he’s named after a famous shoegaze album from the early 90’s? Is he aware?” David questioned. Rika shrugged. “Maybe. He didn’t even come up with the name himself; Lilith did. And considering her taste in music… But then again, it may just be a weird coincidence.” “You think we’re gonna get there before her? I want to ask her, but if I have to wait, I’ll forget. You know me.” “I sure do,” Rika snorted. “But she’s gonna be there right on time, guaranteed. Speaking of…” She decided to quickly see how late they were running. She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out the ornate gold pocket watch that her father had made for her when she was a child. It was emblazoned with her initials and was one of the two things she’d been able to take with her when she was rendered homeless (the other being her stuffed tiger, Skimbleshanks). As it turned out, they were six minutes late already. She sighed, shutting the watch and giving David a tired look. He gave her a cheeky grin in return. “Oops.” “Yeah, oops,” she said, rolling her eyes yet again as she grabbed his arm and pulled him along in a sprint. It wasn’t long before they rounded the corner onto Loomer Street and Val’s house came into view, Lilith’s car parked in the driveway. She was surprised to see the car was still running, and it looked like Lilith and her new friend were still inside it. As they approached, the car door popped open and Lilith called out, “Hey slowpokes! You kept me and my boy, Aiden, waiting!” “Sorry,” David replied. “I walk slow. And anyway, ‘Always be fashionably late’ is one of my rules.” A thin, dark-haired young man stepped out of the car as well and waved awkwardly. Rika tilted her head as she looked at him. David leaned over to her and whispered, “He’s totally gonna bolt when you tell him you’re a vampire.” She elbowed him, perhaps a bit more roughly than intended because he inhaled sharply and covered his mouth. “Ouch,” he muttered. “Sorry,” Rika apologized before walking over to Aiden and holding out a hand. “Nice to meet you! I’m Rika.” He politely shook her hand. “I’m Aiden.” “Don’t worry, girl, I didn’t spoil the surprise,” Lilith winked as she skipped up to the front door. Her friend looked perplexed. “Surprise…?” Rika shrugged. “You wanna know now? I really don’t want it to be a big deal or anything.” “Sure,” he replied, still appearing confused. She gave him a big smile, revealing her fangs. “She’s a vampire, in case you don’t get it,” David added. His brown eyes widened, but all he said was, “Oh, you too?” Now it was Rika’s turn to be confused. “Too?” Lilith turned, mouth open in shock, and stared at Aiden. “Dude! You’re a vampire and didn’t tell me?! What the hell!” “You met another one?” David asked. “Was his name Allen? Because if it was…” He walked over to Aiden and put his hands on his shoulders, looking him dead in the eyes. “...you need to tell me where he is so I can drag him down to Hell and hand him to the devil personally.” The poor man looked unnerved. “N-No, not me, and I don’t know an Allen. I just, um, met someone recently who is one.” Rika gently pulled David away and gave him a smug grin. “So who is scaring Aiden off again?” “That’s so fucking sick, Aiden!” Lilith exclaimed, applauding him. “You should have told me though!” “Sorry,” he mumbled, appearing embarrassed now. “He asked me not to tell anyone.” “I mean, I can’t say I blame him considering what pop culture makes us out to be,” Rika shrugged. “I’ve only met one other vampire, and at worst he was… a bit overzealous.” That was one way to describe Allen, her ex, who had, in his excitement at hearing her say those three magic words, turned her. She knew he’d meant well, but it had shattered her trust in him, and she’d broken it off. To his credit, he had understood and left her in peace. “She doesn’t sparkle or play sexy baseball. Hope you’re not too disappointed,” David said. A small smile grew on Aiden’s face. “Nah, not really. My, uh… The other person told me the basics about how it works.” “Well, hey! Good! Might have to hear it again when she tells this Anna girl, though,” David shrugged. “Shit, that’s right!” Rika said. “Let’s get inside!” The group made their way into the house and were ushered to the living room by Val. When they were all seated comfortably on the sofas and chairs, Val stood before them and put his hands on his hips. “What took you all so long? Geez, I expect better from you guys, especially Little Miss Ignores-The-Speed-Limit.” “Man, we were just giving Aiden the rundown about Rika,” Lilith huffed. “Save you some time so we can get to the good part. You know, where we figure out whose teeth we’re gonna kick in this week.” “Oh sweet!” Val chirped. “So you know all about the vampire thing!” Aiden nodded silently. “Ok, good! Dang, where are my manners? I’m Valentine Leeds! I’m the owner of this here house, I’m obviously the most stylish one here, and I’m single.” He winked at Aiden, making his face turn scarlet red. “He has a boyfriend,” Lilith yawned. Valentine gave a long, exasperated sigh. “They always do, don’t they?” “You’ll find someone someday,” Rika offered. “Yeah, when I’m fifty or something,” he grumbled. “I’m going to get Jason, I think he’s still getting ready. Someone yell for me if Anna gets here!” After he left, Rika turned to Aiden, curiosity overtaking her. “So… about this vampire you met… is he a drifter or something? Or are there more vampires in the city?” He hesitated. “I’m… I’m not really sure if I’m supposed to talk about it or not.” “So that’s a yes, there are more vampires in the city” David said as he sank into the comfy armchair he had seated himself in. “Well, I’m not gonna push,” Rika nodded. “I’m not going to get you in trouble. I guess I’m just curious if there are other people like me out there.” “But… aren’t you with them?” “Them?” she said, her eyes widening. “Knew it. Figures this city would have a bunch of vampires in it,” David sighed. “As if it couldn’t get any weirder.” “They’re not bad,” he mumbled. “I don’t think so anyway…” “Well, let’s hope not because even with me there, I don’t think we could take on a whole truckload of vampires,” David smirked. “Someone’s got an ego!” Lilith laughed. “He sure does. I’m pretty sure ‘Be full of yourself’ is one of his rules. Say, Lilith, that reminds me. Who is it you said had the nicest ass on the East coast?” teased Rika. “Sorry, that’s just a fact,” Lilith said solemnly. “I can’t control these truths. I just speak them.” “Is Lilith talking about her ass again?” Jason sighed as he walked into the living room with his brother. “You know it!” Lilith said as she turned towards him and gave him a thumbs up. “Oh yeah! This here’s Aiden! He’s my new bro! I dunno if he’ll want to do all the crazy stuff, but he’s gonna ride with me!” The man waved politely. “Hi.” Jason gave him a polite nod. “Welcome to the team. And I’m guessing that’s David, Rika?” He gestured to the man who was lounging in the armchair. “Hey,” David waved as well. “That’s him alright,” Rika confirmed. “Well, any friend of Rika’s is a friend of ours. Glad to have you on the team!” “Aren’t you hot, though?” Val asked. “You’ve got a sweatshirt on, and it’s like almost eighty out!” “I’m fine,” David replied. “I’m actually a bit chilly.” Val looked at him like he’d lost his marbles, but Jason put a hand on his shoulder. “Alright bro, simmer down. Let the man wear what he wants. So, uh, has anyone seen Anna yet? Or are we still waiting on her?” With impeccable timing, the front door closed and Anna strolled in a few seconds later. “Did I hear someone say my name?” She was still in her work uniform and was, unsurprisingly, holding an iced coffee in one hand. “That was my brother,” Val said, jerking his thumb at Jason. “He’s been saying your name a lot today.” Lifting one dark brow and smirking in amusement, she glanced at their “boss” and asked, “Oh, really?” “I mean, uh, yeah,” Jason said nervously. “Sorry, is that weird?” “Not at all,” Anna answered coyly. Rika quietly laughed to herself. It was so funny how awkward Jason really was despite putting on this tough-guy persona. Even after knowing him for several months, it was hard for her to wrap her head around the fact that this man had been to jail for manslaughter. “So!” Jason said. “Now that the gang’s all here…” He glanced over to Rika. “Well, Rika, you wanna fill Anna in? Val told me you already told Aiden.” Rika put her hands together. “Okay, Anna, this is going to sound like a bunch of bullshit, but… I’m a vampire.” Again, she lifted a brow. “You’re right. It does sound like bullshit.” At least she was honest. “Darn,” David said, “guess we can’t get lucky like with Aiden. You sure you’ve never served a latte to Dracula, blue girl?” “How would I even know? I doubt he’s just going to stroll in and tell me his real name, even if he did.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and took a long sip from the plastic straw in her cup. Rika tilted her head. “Ok, I’m guessing you’re not gonna accept the fangs, so maybe I have to do a demonstration…” She closed her eyes. “So, tell me something I could have no possible way of knowing.” “Like what?” she asked before taking another sip. “Hmm...“ Rika considered her options for a moment, then snapped her fingers. “What was your mother’s full name?” Sadness crossed Anna’s face. She opened her mouth to reply, then paused. “I’ve got something better.” With her free hand, she lifted a small silver heart pendant from where it rested around her neck. “See this? This was the last birthday gift my mom got for me. I’ve worn it every day since she died when I was eight.” Rika looked down to the floor and closed her eyes. On some level, she understood her pain. “I’m sorry, Anna.” The sound of a ticking clock filled her ears as the past few moments sped backwards, landing her right where David said, “Darn, guess we can’t get lucky like with Aiden. You sure you’ve never served a latte to Dracula, blue girl?” Rika held up her hand, interrupting the woman before she could reply. “I’m sorry that I have to repeat this, Anna... Your silver, heart-shaped necklace that you wear was the last birthday gift your mother got for you, and you’ve worn it since she died when you were eight.” Her mouth dropped open in shock. Looking dumbfounded, she asked, “How did you know that?” “You told me. Or, you would have told me if things went exactly the same, but I have the power to rewind time.” It was a pretty impressive power, all things considered, even if she could only rewind for a few seconds at a time; the most she’d ever gotten to was thirty seconds. Anna’s free hand wandered up to the necklace, and she wrapped her fingers around the tiny heart pendant. “So how does this prove you’re a vampire?” “They each have a unique power,” Aiden spoke up. “My, um… friend’s is being able to read people really well.” He smiled shyly. “He almost knows what I’m thinking, sometimes.” “If you’re still not convinced, I could always climb up the walls,” Rika suggested. Anna’s brown eyes widened. “You can do that?” “That’s more because she’s really good at parkour,” chimed in David. “But she’s definitely beyond what even I’m capable of now that she’s a vampire.” “David can’t cling to a ceiling, for instance,” Rika smirked. “Shit, neither can I!” Anna laughed. “So we’re never going to lose with you around, right? We mess up, and you go back in time to fix it?” Rika nodded. “As long as we don’t screw up too much. I’ve experimented. At most, I can do it about six times before I need to, uh… refuel.” “She means drinking blood,” Valentine whispered loudly to Anna. “Oh, yeah…” The blue-haired woman cocked her head to the side. “So when I can see them? You know, your fangs?” “Right now!” Once again, Rika bared her fangs. Anna grinned. “That’s wicked sweet.” Internally, Rika sighed with relief. She was glad that both people she’d told about her vampirism today were taking it well. While she didn’t feel too self-conscious about it, she often worried if she’d scare people away. “And now that we’re all on the same page about that,” Jason began, “we can talk about the first real mission.” “Yes, please!” Anna sat down on the floor in the exact spot where she’d been standing. Jason nodded in Lilith’s direction. “Thanks to the files Lilith got from Vinny, we have some dirt on the lawyers who attacked Anna’s dad. And let me tell you… they are deep in some shit.” Anna was oddly quiet for a long moment, her smile gone, as she processed this information. Rika tilted her head curiously. She knew the lawyers had failed her father, so why did she suddenly seem less enthusiastic about all this? Wasn’t this simply confirming what she already knew? She figured that Anna would tell her what was going on later if she felt comfortable enough to; after the whole necklace thing, she didn’t feel like prying into painful personal thoughts and feelings again. “Turns out one of ‘em goes out drinking at the same bar every week on Sundays. This is gonna ease us into what we’re gonna be doing since it’s relatively simple compared to what we might have to do for the others, but we’re still gonna have to be smart and plan things out over the next couple of days.” “Who is it?” Anna asked cautiously. “Robert Snyder,” Jason replied. There was a long breathy sigh from the young woman. “Okay.” Rika was once more burning with curiosity, but she remained quiet as Jason laid out the plan. According to Vinny’s source (who had apparently been scoping these guys out on his orders), Snyder was a bit of a twit. He regularly got drunk and wandered outside of the bar at the end of the night to a nearby car garage. It was astounding the man hadn’t already been mugged (or worse). Jason and Anna were going to take the lead in attacking the guy. Lilith and Aiden were going to be parked in the car about a block away for a quick getaway. David and Val would be keeping an eye out. Val would be watching from across the street while David would be on the route Snyder always drunkenly stumbled down. Val was also the official cameraman and would film the beatdown so that he could upload it to the internet from a library computer the following day. Rika was going to do what she did best: Climb up high and jump in if they needed supernatural assistance. As Jason continued the rundown and detailed the items they’d need to pull this off, Rika’s mind drifted to thoughts of the other vampires Aiden had alluded to. She had no idea what to expect from other vampires. Was Allen with them? Were they really good people like Aiden seemed to think? How could they be certain that their number didn’t include Maneater, or the DTD Night Stalker, or some other infamous criminals from the city? What if they were the reason her father had vanished without a trace? She had nothing to go on here, and she was burning to know more about this mysterious bloodsucker clan, if only so she could be sure the gang would be safe in their activities. “Yo, Rika? You doing okay?” Jason asked, breaking through her thoughts. Everyone else in the room turned to look at her with concern and confusion in their eyes. “Shit,” she muttered, feeling guilty at having let her mind wander. The whirring of the clock once more sounded in her ear as she backed up to the start of what she’d missed. Jason shot her an amused smirk as he continued talking; apparently a little spark of light shone in her eyes whenever she used her power, and he had come to have an eye for spotting it. When Jason’s planning session was over, Rika went over to the couch where Aiden was sitting. “Hey, uh. I don’t mean to be too forward or anything like that, but… is there any way I could meet these other vampires at all?” He instantly looked nervous. “Um, I don’t know. I could ask my, um, friend.” She offered him a reassuring smile. “I’d appreciate it. Seriously.” He visibly relaxed and returned her smile with one of his own. “It’s no problem.” David also got up from his chair and came over. “Hey, kid. Sorry if I scared you earlier.” “David’s a bit too intense sometimes, but he means well,” Rika said. Aiden shrugged. “It’s okay.” David shook his head. “Nah. I’m pretty sure I creeped you out, so I’m apologizing. If you make someone else uncomfortable, you apologize. That’s one of my rules.” He gave him a small smile. “Plus, if you’re gonna get my sister here in with some vampires, I want to be on your good side.” “You’re related?” he asked in surprise, his gaze shifting between them in disbelief. David wrapped his arm around Rika and gave one of his smug smiles; she noticed that his hands were very cold, a common and bizarre occurrence that lended credence to his complaints of being chilly even in the summer heat. “What, don’t you see the family resemblance?” He gestured between their faces to jokingly highlight that she was Japanese, and he was scruffy and white. “She got all the good genes, obviously.” “It’s more like… an unofficial thing,” Rika explained. “He’s pretty much all the family I’ve got.” Bitterly, she thought, Anymore, anyway. Understanding crossed Aiden’s face and he replied, “Oh, that makes sense.” “I saved her life so she decided to be my replacement sister, you know how these things go,” David teased. Rika noted the hurt in his eyes as he said this. He’d been homeless once, too. A fire had broken out in his family’s home, and he’d been the only survivor. As a result, he had very little to his name. Moments like this reminded her that despite his laid-back, jokey persona, he was hurting as much as anyone in the Loomer Street gang. It also reminded her that no matter what, he was a good, selfless man who wanted to make sure no one ever had to suffer like he did. “Hey, I saved your life, Aiden!” Lilith chimed in. “I mean, maybe. I dunno. But does that mean we’re soul siblings now or whatever? I guess we should probably hang out more before that. But I sure wouldn’t mind having you as a brother.” Rika shook her head in amusement. Despite being late, the meeting had managed to go pretty well, and they were ready to start preparing for their big break. What’s more, Aiden had given her hope of understanding her vampirism better. She was definitely going to pursue this lead into discovering more about being a vampire; she had a feeling her dad would have wanted her to do this if he’d still been here to guide her. Her hand slid into her pocket and gently gripped her watch. I hope this will give me some answers, Dad… she thought as she began to mentally prepare herself for what was coming in the next few days. Click here for chapter five - part two
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AuthorsMichael & Tierney Ford Archives
July 2023
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