Chapter 4 – Rescue.

Present

Intrigued by the events unfolding, Sylvie smiled and held up her hand. “Alan, since we have a few minutes I have to get the special stock in the back to make you a Bloody Madelyn.” She chuckled, “I will give you a point for originality.”

“Who says our kind can’t have a sense of humor?” Alan winked and took a steady slow breath. “Make it heavy on the Bloody Madelyn mix, please.” He flickered his eyes across the bar at the patrons who were filing in. “We have enough issues without me getting overly hungry.”

Opening the swing door to the bar, Sylvie headed back to her office and jerked a couple bottles of blood out of a milk crate and headed back to the bar to deal with Alan.

“Hey, who’s the brown-eyed nibbler I saw you talking to, Sylvie?” Veronica stopped Sylvie by tugging on her arm and peeking around her mistress to look at the gentleman. “Please tell me he’s a friend of yours.”

Thinking about her watch, Sylvie noticed it read 10:07. “Veronica, do me a favor and turn the television to channel ten.” She looked at her quivering blood bunny. “Yes, he’s a friend. I do believe he’s about to show me something important.” Sylvie licked her lips, “I don’t think his arrival is a good thing, Veronica?” Laughing quietly after seeing the sparkle in her bunnies’ eyes, Sylvie playfully gushed, “I think he’s single too.”

“Really?” Veronica hopped lightly on her feet and smiled wide. “Can you ask?” Veronica nervously nibbled on her lip.

Nodding and then pointing to the television once more, “I will. Please get the channel to ten.” Sylvie watched her friend nearly dance off with delight. Having returned to the bar, Sylvie pulled a frosty mug from a cooler and mixed a bit of vodka with a splash of tomato juice then filled the rest of the glass with real blood. “One Bloody Madelyn.” She stuck a peach on the side and winked. “In case you need to emulate biting.”

Laughing, Alan pulled a napkin from the bar and set it down for Sylvie. “Cute. I see your sense of humor hasn’t left you.” He pointed to the screen. “It’s coming up, and it’s one heck of a story.”

“Alright, Alan.” Sylvie shook her head and looked up at the screen, “You are really excited for some reason.”

-“Welcome back to 14 News at 10. We are currently tracking a tragedy out of Emporia concerning an unidentified college student from Southside Vocational Academy. Reporter Haley Grant is on scene with the details”-

Sylvie looked strangely at Alan, “College student does something stupid? How is this a problem?”

Pulling a small tug from his bloody drink, Alan wiped his lips. “Just give her a chance. The feed is about to start.” He pointed back to the television.

-“Roughly three hours ago, police and emergency units were called in response to a young man found not breathing and unconscious in a common room. When I inquired, I was told officially that the room is meant for small gatherings and a place to discuss items to be improved or duties for the dorms. However, that isn’t the whole story. The room also happens to have the best Wi-Fi spot on campus and a vast majority of students come here to play video games.”-

Watching as the reporter scanned the empty room, Sylvie saw all of the makeshift places for kids to sit, as well as wires sticking out of the walls. “Alan, I am not technical enough here, that was Kody’s flair. Why me?” Sylvie rolled her half-moon eyes lightly when Alan once again raised his finger and the reporter continued.

-“Confirmed by multiple students, who wanted to remain anonymous, they all agreed that the young man had been playing a new game that was released five days ago. Described as an endurance and first-person shooting game, there is also a substantial reward for being the first to complete the game. In questioning, I came to the conclusion that the student hadn’t stopped playing since its release. What that ultimately means, is left for the medical examiner to decide. The student’s name and pictures are being held by police until the family has been contacted.”-

Tipping the leftover bottle of blood she’d used in Alan’s mixed drink, Sylvie relished the cool feeling against the burn of her throat before speaking. “What does this have to do with me, Alan? Sounds like the kid just played a game too long.”

“Come on, Sylvie. When was the last time you read or saw something about a game killing a person?” Alan finished off his drink and smiled. “Another?” He waited until Sylvie had pulled out another mug and began mixing another before continuing, “There’s more to it. One of the EMTs on site is a thrall of mine…”

Dropping the twisted and long bar spoon, Sylvie faced her friend. “Naturally you left out the important part.” She waved at the television. “So what did your thrall have to say about it?”

“He tells me that the kid in question was dehydrated. Now how the hell does a college student get dehydrated to death playing a video game?” Alan nodded his head when the second Bloody Madelyn reached his hands. “My thanks.”

“EMT is not a doctor. How the hell does your thrall know that was the case?” Sylvie folded her arms and raised one of her eyebrows. “I am still confused about what this has to do with me.” She pointed to the drinks. “That will be twenty.”

“Steep price for a friend, only two drinks.” He wiggled his brown eyebrows playfully and dropped the cash on the bar. “Fine, no he’s not a doctor. He mentioned the kid being pale almost like he’d been drained, but not..” Alan whispered, “...one of us.”

Tapping a few things on the screen, Sylvie rang up the twin drinks and added the money to the cash drawer before closing it with her hip. “Special ingredients cost more.” She held up a finger, “That was the friend's price. If you’d been a stranger I wouldn’t have bothered, or charged triple.” She winked and leaned on the bar so she was closer to Alan. “Alright, I concede that it is odd. What does it have to do with me? Emporia is about twenty miles south of Petersburg. So it wouldn’t be connected to anything that I can recollect.”

Alan pulled off all of the silver items he was wearing and shoved it to Sylvie. “I am trying to gain favor to be on the reforming Regional Council, Sylvie.” He pointed to the television, “Solving things like that or looking into them before they are a problem makes me look proactive and helpful to the others around here, I mean we do have to hold an informal vote, if you recall.” He poked at the pile of jewelry, “Use that to cover what expenses you incur.” He shrugged, “It’s useless to me at this point.”

“I was told the meeting is over the weekend, and in the Phas building, which I am not fond of.” She patted Alan on the arm, “I have said before that going back in there is a risk. Police are still poking all over the place. Going there and slipping in for a little drink and voting is a bad plan.”

“What could happen? I mean you own the building, right?” Alan took a sip of his drink.

Flashes of the last time she’d been in the building flowed from her memory and Sylvie shook her head defiantly. “Yes, I am the last owner on the deed that is … alive.” Her eyes black as new moons bore into Alan. “I have no trespassing signs up all over the place. That still doesn’t mean a thing. If we go poking around in there looking for surveillance, then whoever is watching will know that someone has returned.” Knocking nervously on the bar, Sylvie protested further, “I have been working for six months to demolish the building.” She raised her eyebrows high, “I haven’t had a single company want the work. They all are wildly superstitious, like they think the place is haunted or sits on some burial mound thanks to the fucking bones found during the so-called investigation.”

Holding up both his hands, Alan gave in to Sylvie’s stern yet cool rant. “Very well. We will pick one of the undergrounds for the meeting. I don’t foresee many of the brethren showing up. I mean the area was wiped clean after that attack, right?”

Noticing that they were getting off track, Sylvie sighed and debriefed her friend. “Initially, yes. There were only thralls without any power. Things worked out for a little while, they worked and earned on the manor grounds.” Sylvie’s eyes shifted to small crescents, “After a while, most of them wanted that rush and power back. Got themselves turned into us. We have a flock of younglings in the area.” She poked Alan’s nice suit, “That is who you are trying to impress.”

“Fine, so what if I am? I have the only troupe in the area and the region needs another council.” Alan picked up the mug and downed the remaining contents. “We need coverage damned near to DC, and Richmond is getting worse by the day.” He straightened his jacket, “I have enough experience and time to know most of what’s going on around here…” He held up a finger, “...I also have people in places that keep me informed.”

Drawing little circles on her bar with her finger, Sylvie responded, “What does this have to do with me? You have a troupe, you have the resources. I am only running a tiny bar and barely keeping a few blood bunnies happy.”

“Honestly, Sylvie?” Alan posed and laughed. “Technically this is still your mess to clean up.”

Looking at Alan like he’d lost most of his mind, Sylvie was relieved when Amber walked up chuckling and tapped Sylvie on the shoulder. “Mist…um, Sylvie, I need change for a fifty and this.” Amber tapped a pink stone on her server tray. “Yeah, I got tipped a rock.”

Sylvie grabbed the bill and exchanged it for smaller bills. “That is pink quartz.” Sylvie picked up the smooth stone and froze in place.

–

Overwhelmed by dread and self-doubt, Sylvie’s conscience lifted her away from the bar and she suddenly saw a dark place with the scent of sea salt mixed with cold sand. Gripping the stone in her hand tighter, Sylvie’s mind desperately sought out the source of the melancholy emotions and was instantly rewarded by a vision of a completely dark figure walking along unnamed streets, passing others and in some cases bumping into them without stopping. Catching glimpses of the figure when it passed overhead street lights, Sylvie memorized that whoever it was, hid in a deep blue windbreaker with a matching hood that kept the figure's hair hidden from view.

-Jeans, white sneakers. I can hear you crying, whoever you are.-

Allowing the vision to keep flowing, Sylvie felt the sensation of time passing just before the vision briefly faded. Morphing the outlook, she saw the figure huddled helplessly against the wind side of a building, apparently taking the abuse from the whipping sand and light rain.

-Purgatory. Cleansing by self-atonement.-

Unwilling to accept the vision as truth, Sylvie attempted to find the one signal that the prophecy was real and not part of her silent inner darkness.

-Come on, where is the eclipse?-

Changing once more, Sylvie came face to face with a granite gravemarker with the name ‘Linda Stone’ engraved in big lettering and a date roughly a year in the past with a small epitaph. ‘May your new rivers journey find you peaceful pastures. -Mom.’ When the confusion of emotional turmoil slipped away by reading a mother’s farewell, Sylvie sensed her vision widening to encompass the full area. Once more the woman in the blue windbreaker appeared and was now kneeling, digging her hands into the damp grass. Slowly the moon’s light bathed the grave in its white and using the kneeling figure, Sylvie witnessed the eclipse effect that she needed to tell her the truth.

–

Hearing a few snaps, Sylvie blinked free of her vision and looked over to Amber. “Sylvie? Want me to get something from the back for you? I know that look in your eyes mistress. Your..” She whispered to Sylvie, “..eyes stopped phasing on a full moon.”

Happy to see her friend taking interest in a vision, Sylvie opened her hand and exposed the pink granite. “No, dear friend. I am content.” Sylvie smiled, “This pretty pink rock expresses love, compassion and emotional healing.”

“I keep forgetting you knew all this mystical stuff.” Amber chuckled in response. “It was part of your illusion, right?” Amber placed her hand over Sylvie’s as the bar owner attempted to give it back. “No, you keep it.”

Almost as though a final puzzle piece locked into place, Sylvie closed her hand over the smooth stone and then looked at Alan. “Sorry, Alan.” Sylvie shook her head and started near babbling, “River, stones from a river, granite marker with ‘Stone’ written on it..” Sylvie ran over and grabbed Veronica by the arm and dragged her over to Alan. “I don’t have time to explain it right now, Alan. I have to go. I do believe another friend of mine is in a bit of a mess.” She snapped her fingers and smiled. “Alan Brown, meet Veronica Brown.” Sylvie pushed the two close together. “She thinks you are cute.”

Blushing no less than three shades of red to look like an apple, Veronica stammered, “I..um…I said that, yes…” Veronica watched Sylvie grab her leather coat and hand the bar keys to Amber. “..um..hello there Alan..” Veronica smiled and twitched nervously, “..We have the same last name.”

Not waiting for Alan to respond to Veronica, Sylvie darted past Alan, “We will discuss your matters more when I get back.” Sylvie paused, “I figure since I gave you the keys to the…”

Amber laughed, “..Yes, Sylvie. I get it, I am in charge until you get back.

Tossing a thumbs up for her dear blood bunny, Sylvie raced through the door and after tightening her helmet on, waved at her bouncer and started the engine of her motorcycle. Depressing the clutch and dropping the bike into first gear with her foot, Sylvie happened to look up and see the streetlight at the entrance of the tiny plaza and froze in place.

–

Flashing lights of red and blue spun and flickered in a square around Sylvie. Turning in a small circle within her flash vision, Sylvie heard a helicopter overhead and visually scanned the carnage when the spotlight illuminated the area. Counting six police cruisers, Sylvie saw the remains of eight officers in putty-like chunks with both bite and claw marks riddled through the deep blue uniforms. Holding up her own hands, Sylvie licked the blood streaming from them and refocused on the loud aircraft. ‘HQ, we have identified the suspect. Attempting to make contact now.’

–

Having lost her grip on the clutch, Sylvie had stalled her motorcycle in the few seconds that the bloody image came to her.

-Contact. Got it, home then the road.-

Laughing to herself at the sudden warning, Sylvie restarted her bike and waved goodbye to Max before pulling off towards her house. While the vision was certainly about the need to have the technical help from her friend Kody’s contacts, Sylvie began thinking about a small list of ideas that would help her get to Virginia Beach in a timely manner. Before she could organize her thoughts, Sylvie had made it to her home and raced to her bedroom. Slipping the supple plastic over her moon phasing pupils, Sylvie willed blood to power up the lenses and headed for the refrigerator to make sure that her blood supply was topped off.

Much like before, a series of green checks dotted the outside of the contacts and then stopped with the same input question; ‘Query?’ Sylvie was just about to set up the activities in her head when she looked down at the counter. Shrugging her shoulders, the blue-gray haired vampire picked up the empty lens case and stuffed it in her leather jacket.

-Okay. Let’s get these ideas in some order.-

Exiting the house and locking it behind her, Sylvie noticed her neighbor Carl smiling at her. Ignoring the obvious perverted look glimmering in the man’s eyes, Sylvie hopped on her motorbike and spoke to the computer. “Code, are you still, voice active?” Sylvie saw the green lights flash blue and a moment later she heard the computer answer her through the speakers in her helmet.

“Adjusted for integration into Indian Super Chief electronics, Code online for verbal commands.” The computer voice stopped without any fanfare.

Briefly looking over the display in her vision, Sylvie could tell that the computer had left itself in the house scanning state. “Code, I need to get to Virginia Beach. So give me a road map with direction and an outline that will not wash out my vision as I ride.” She watched the display change and almost become an eerie green as though night vision had been activated. “I will be pushing the engine close to its limit..I think. I plan to go up to one-hundred and twenty miles per hour.”

Red dots popped up in Sylvie’s vision and focused on the bike’s engine for a few seconds. “Adequate engine performance to attain and maintain projected speed. Right side of your display is active to display time before refueling.” Code stopped speaking once more.

“Code, I will also need police traffic monitoring, police radar detection and jamming if you can do it.” Sylvie squinted one of her eyes in thought while the little green lights swirled just out of her vision. “I need the fastest route to Jennifer River’s home.” Sylvie paused and recalled the vision, “Wait, not Jennifer’s place, I need a gravestone with the name Linda Stone who passed away in December of last year.”

“Processing. Police radio and aircraft band detected and being monitored for activity. Would you like to know when a car or officer has gone off duty as well?” Code waited.

Surprised by the efficiency, Sylvie laughed. “I don’t need to know the specific officer, it would be better to be tracked for interference as I race my way to the cemetery you find.”

“Affirmative. Compensating for police activity. Radar used in the area is low grade and easily intercepted. No signal will be returned.” Code’s voice paused as it worked to fulfill the other requests. “Located Linda Stone memorial. Uploaded to display and route adjusted.” Code’s processing lights went red, “Local radio traffic indicates that there are construction zones that will impede process by exactly two minutes and twenty seconds.”

“I will decide as I reach the sections, we are on a rescue mission of sorts, Code.” Sylvie started the engine again. “I just need you to be almost faster than me and we can make it.”

“Blood requirements will be adjusted by an extra ten percent.” Code confirmed and went silent.

Without thinking about it, Sylvie had breezed out of the two small cities and onto the quiet rural route that headed east towards Virginia Beach. She didn’t like that somehow she’d gotten into an auto-pilot mode and while her bike slipped through traffic with the greatest of ease, Sylvie decided to focus on the little newscast that Alan had presented her before she left. “Code?”

“Querry?” Was the immediate answer from the AI.

“Strange news, starting with the video game death a few days ago.” Sylvie slipped between a pair of slow moving cars and chuckled to herself. “Put up a time to arrive in the display, please.”

“Added features on the display will affect vision by two percent, delaying the arrival by..” Code stopped when Sylvie spoke again.

“Fine. Give me an update between the strange articles you find.” Sylvie sighed and passed a semi that was also going over the speed limit. Glowing softly within her display, Sylvie kept the tachometer from going into the red while maintaining the speed she had told Code she’d be doing. “I am terrible at math, Code. Can you tell me how long on average we will be on the road?”

“Not accounting for construction or weather, the trip from start to finish takes forty-five minutes.” Code stopped for a moment, “Strange news. Boston, Massachusetts..”

Laughing to herself for the lack of detail, Sylvie stopped the little computer. “..Keep the strange news within an area of fifty miles around my home, including Richmond.” Ignoring a red proximity warning, Sylvie took great pleasure in testing her reflexes by narrowly going past a car that had merged into her lane without any indication that it would happen. “Restart Strange News.”

“Beginning with video game death.” Code paused, “Associated Press release. College student dies playing a video game non-stop for over one hundred and twenty-five hours. Initial report cites dehydration as the cause.” Code paused. “Unused eyewitness account of the person’s eyes wide open and completely black. Unused description, Black lines covered the male subject’s cheeks as though he was crying. No further report.”

-Alan, why is this so important to you and how the hell is this my problem?-

Sylvie circled her way onto another strip of highway and gunned her motorcycle once more. Merging into the six lane highway, she whizzed by the small pack of trucks and cars that built up near the entrance ramp. “Code, keep going.”

“Associated Press with conjunction of Chesterfield and Richmond police task force, still warning citizens about the need to travel in groups of two or more while ‘The Cross Killer’ is still at large.”

“Code, give me more on the Cross Killer. I don’t know the reference.” Sylvie knew she got a little too close to a mirror on a car when her leather jacket almost wrapped itself around an egg like protrusion then snapped back into place. Moments later, her HUD began giving orange alerts for the first construction zone.

-Let’s get crazy.-

Timing so that she found a break in the metal road barrier, Sylvie angled her heavy duty machine so that she ended up on the other side of the road with oncoming traffic. While able to swing and maneuver through the rushing traffic coming at her, Sylvie didn’t want to take the chance that she would scare the drivers any more than necessary and decided to stay in the small emergency lane. With the help of the HUD, Sylvie knew down to the yard where the construction zone would end and open road in her direction would be available.

“Cross Killer. Named for the fascination of the murderer to affix his or her victims on a crucifix. Currently twelve deaths are associated. Deemed Serial killer.” Code stopped reporting, “Estimated fifteen minutes to Virginia Beach City limits. Total current travel time, thirty minutes. Adjusted for avoidance of construction zones.”

Finally back on her side of the highway, Sylvie hadn’t realized how fast time had passed. Leaning her bike low and to the right, she took the final exit and onto the straight section of the highway that would take her directly to the oceanfront. “So much fun. Code, keep going.” Sylvie paused, “Delay that, do you have the ability to call someone?”

“Phone communication availability via the Internet is possible. Query?” Code waited for input.

Sylvie didn’t hesitate, “Jennifer Rivers. I need to speak to her.” Less than thirty seconds passed before Sylvie heard the worried voice of a mother.

“Sylvie? The caller ID only gave your initials.. SM. I almost didn’t pick up. Please tell me it’s you.” Jennifer’s voice sounded desperate.

“Yes, Miss Rivers. I am nearly in Virginia Beach. I am headed to where I think Casey is, I got…well.. a feeling.” Sylvie slowed down to a normal speed when the highway stopped and turned to a two lane road. “I think she is visiting a gravesite, someone named Linda Stone.”

Sighing deeply, Jennifer’s voice softened with the familiar sound of the vampire on the other end. “She’s been gone for about a day. I don’t know where she even slept last night.” Jennifer paused, “Oh, Linda. That was her college roommate. I was so worried, but afraid to contact the police given her past with them.” A long silence made the call almost uncomfortable. “Sylvie, take care of my baby. She’s going through something, and she’s not telling me everything. Maybe she will open up to you.”

“When I find her, I will do as you ask.” Sylvie stopped at a stop sign, “I might have to get her out of Virginia Beach, will that bother you?” Looking both ways, Sylvie turned right and followed the night vision into a darker part of the Beach. “So many memories here for her to process.”

Jennifer took another long breath, “Sylvie, it doesn’t bother me at all. Things with her changed the night she met Vivienne. It’s almost like she doesn’t belong in the normal world anymore.” Sniffling and clearing her throat, Jennifer added, “I am alright with her decisions, they aren’t mine to make. Just…just make sure my daughter is..”

“Like you said, I will take care of her the best I can.” Sylvie idled her way to one of the cemetery’s closed gates. “Martin will be there to collect her things and take them to my house, if that is alright with you?”

“That is fine, Sylvie. Really she didn’t have anything except a small bag and one suitcase. It was like she didn’t intend to stay anywhere long.” Jennifer cautiously mentioned. “You don’t think she is going to hurt herself, do you?”

Sylvie took a deep breath and shut off her motorcycle. “I won’t let that happen. Jennifer, I am at the gate now, let me take care of this.” She waited for a polite goodbye before she asked ‘Code’ to disconnect the call.

“Arrived at the requested destination. One female human subject is detected beyond the gate. Vital statistics available upon request.” Code fell silent.

Unstrapping her helmet and placing it on the deep blue gas tank of her bike, Sylvie smiled at the little icon blinking quietly in her vision. “Thank you for your assistance, I think you should power down at this point.” Sylvie spoke to her AI friend as though it were alive. Fluffing out her blue-gray short hair, Sylvie waited a few seconds as the lenses powered down.

Guessing that the iron gate and accompanying cement wall were roughly thirty feet high, Sylvie half-crouched and vertically leapt over the arrow pointed gate and landed without a sound on the other side.

Making her way silently to where her vision showed her, Sylvie’s hidden third eye opened and matched the premonition with the present. Squatting down in front of the polished stone, Sylvie set the pink granite that Amber gave her on the edge of the memorial. “Casey?”

Tossing back the thin hood that protected her curly auburn hair, Casey looked up into her friend's moon-shifting eyes. “S-Sylvie? It’s really you.” Casey wiped a few tears from her cheeks. “I don’t know what I am doing.”

Tucking a few strands of Casey’s hair behind her ears, Sylvie shrugged. “Not many of us do.” She tried to lighten the mood, and pointed to the grave. “The simple answer is that you are paying respect to Linda.” She paused for a breath, “Your mother said you hadn’t been back to her place for the last day or so. Tell me what’s going on.” Having long sensed the presence of dried and fresh blood on Casey, Sylvie tilted her head and noticed that her friend’s blouse was mostly in ribbons with the wounds visible. “What happened here?” Sylvie touched the thin fabric.

Debating internally on how to answer, Casey knew that the issues she was currently having had nothing to do with the friend beside her. “Let’s see, where should I start? Obviously you can see that I am no longer employed as a ward.” She pointed to the dried blood on her chest. “I came home, promptly got almost arrested by the FBI, I have been plagued by dreams of you know who…”

Sylvie nodded and put her hands in her jacket, twirling the lens case in her hand. “I won’t say his name either.” She paused for a second, “Please keep going.”

Casey leaned against Sylvie’s shoulder. “My mom was insistent that I do something, anything. So I went for a walk.” She sighed, “I just never went back.” Casey tugged at her blouse. “I found myself in a fucking rain storm on the boardwalk where the sand pelted my arms and cheeks, causing them to burn and finally I got attacked by a couple of vampires that, oddly let me go…after they figured out who I was.” Casey reached out to touch Linda’s marker. “So I came here. I hadn’t been here since she was murdered.” She looked up, “That covers it, so yeah, you find me kneeling in the mud.”

“I told your mother…” Sylvie stopped mid-thought and held the contact case tightly in her hand then froze in place for a few seconds. “Casey. We are about to have trouble.”

Casey pulled away from Sylvie and looked around, “What do you mean trouble?” Her heart started racing in her chest. “We are alone in the graveyard, right?” Casey questioned with uncertainty and started lightly shaking. “I should have expected this, Sylvie.”

Slipping her leather jacket free, Sylvie wrapped it around Casey. “We have a few minutes. I don’t think it is long enough to escape on the bike, they would just give chase until we stopped.” She pointed to the air. “A couple of young bats.” Sylvie hopped up and smiled. “I will only be a few seconds.” She bolted back to her motorcycle and grabbed the helmet from the gas tank and returned to Casey’s side in less than a minute. “This should delay an attack on your neck. You buckle it on while I get a couple of branches.”

Casey quickly lost track of Sylvie’s movements and just followed her friend’s instructions. “There we go. Snug as a bug..” Casey tried to laugh as she heard the cracks of wood being snapped in front of her. “..At least that is what mom used to tell me when she tucked me in.”

Returning with three thick pieces of wood snapped from a close by oak, Sylvie extended her claws and whittled them into sharp stakes. “Two for you and one for me.” She winked, “Just in case you miss.” She looked down and spotted the pink stone that she’d initially offered as a token of respect for Linda, “I will make this up to her later.” Sylvie picked up the stone and crumbled it in her hand to form an abrasive powder. “I know you only have two hands, but this should give you enough time to get one of those stakes in the chest.”

“I..I don’t know if I can do this without..help.” Closing her hand around the fine rock pieces, Casey suddenly got an idea. “Kiss me!” She nearly shouted. “That will make this a little more even and I will…you know…your ward.”

Spotting the twin bats in the distance, Sylvie shook her head. “There are things about me that you don’t yet understand, mainly because I haven’t mentioned it.” She took a deep breath, “Besides it takes a couple minutes to adjust and we don’t have the time.” Sylvie draped herself over Casey. “I am going for an illusion first. If that doesn’t work, then we have the element of surprise.”

Comforted by the fact that the two approaching bats didn’t display any knowledge of tactics and flew straight for their target, Sylvie crouched into her normal protective stance. Fangs and claws locked into place and Sylvie devoted a healthy portion of blood to her strength and reflexes to give her a bit of an edge versus her two younger brethren.

-Let’s hope in this case age prevails over impulse.-

When the two vampires shifted out of their tiny bat forms and into a pair of men dressed in colorful clothing, Sylvie quickly looked at both their hands and spotted what appeared to be a jester’s cap tattooed in blue and gold with little red bells hanging from the points. “Good evening, Gentlemen. You are a little outside your hunting ground. I know Jester. How is he doing these days?” Sylvie raised one of her bluish eyebrows and waited.

Curiosity got the better of Casey and she turned and looked up to see her two former attackers. “Th..That’s them.” She paused as her lip quivered from fear. “S-Sylvie, The b-b-big one, he um..” Casey trailed off and looked down at her hands hidden in Sylvie’s leather jacket.

When Sylvie heard her friend stammering in relation to the bigger vampire of the small group, she knew the torture that had to be going through Casey’s mind. “Gentlemen, I think you are in the wrong place.” She patted Casey on the shoulder, “She is under my protection.” Sylvie smiled, “Probably better that I take care of this and leave you both out of it. Her employer would be very upset to see the state she is in.” Spotting the ferocious look in the twin vampires' eyes, Sylvie got the feeling that diplomacy was an empty gesture and came up with a quick backup plan.

“Hello there Moonie.” Crushing leaves and patting his big chest, he continued. “The pipsqueak behind me is Owen and I am Oscar.” He rubbed his bald head, “Oscar Reynolds. We met a few months ago in the parlor.” He laughed, “I recall telling Jester that I would have loved to ink you.”

Noting the frail and pale Owen, Sylvie squinted her eyes and split her attention to watch Oscar walk to her opposite side so it appeared that the two men could attack from both sides. “I assure you, we are just fine. Oscar. I thank you for stopping to make sure that Miss Rivers and I were well cared for.”

Oscar shook his huge head and rubbed his pointed chin. “You have it wrong. We want our spoils.” He pointed one of his thick hands at Casey. “You see, we found her all alone on a bench. It was Owen over there that remembered her.” He patted his big chest. “It didn’t matter to me at the time, then he mentioned ‘The Raven’.”

Owen spoke up, “Oscar, I am telling you this is a bad idea. We have a town of people out there. Let’s just feed out there and forget this.” He almost pleaded, yet at the same time crouched with his claws extended. “Although…” Owen flashed his fangs covered in blood. “...We’ve eaten quite a bit this evening and nothing is as good as the one you let go.” He cackled and took a step forward.

Stalling for time the best she could, Sylvie once more tried to reason with the two younger vampires. “I can always get her here, if you need a refresher course on just who ‘The Raven’ is.” Sylvie curled her own lips back to expose her four shiny white fangs. “Curious, what makes you think that Miss River’s isn’t capable enough to handle you without her mistress?” She patted Casey on the shoulder reassuringly.

“She’s bleeding you dolt.” Oscar chimed in before letting out a booming laugh. “Thralls don’t bleed long, they regenerate.” He took another step closer to Casey. “I certainly shouldn’t be smelling the delicious blood she’s got, almost like it belongs in my mouth.”

Hair on the back of Sylvie’s neck went up a split second before she sensed Oscar moving in for the kill. Rather than moving to intercept the huge vampire, Sylve pounced on top of Owen and had started swinging her claws wildly, carving pieces of his pale flesh from his body before the weak vampire knew what was really happening.

“Arghh….” Owen screamed and gurgled blood from his mouth in a small fountain. “Os…” He tried to scream to no avail as his throat was opened as wide as his mouth. Kicking and flailing desperately to get the elder vampire off of him, Owen managed to swipe across Sylvie’s chest once and then fell perfectly still.

Something terrible boiled to the surface of Casey’s mind and in the moment Sylvie leapt away, Casey looked up with confidence and hate in her chocolatey eyes then with almost a banshee’s wail screamed, “I don’t belong to ANYONE!” Intercepting the giant vampire by throwing the rock dust in his eyes, Casey felt alive for the first time in days. “Not going to happen again, you bastard!” While she didn’t have her enhanced strength, Casey still recalled all of the lessons her mistress had taught her the ten months before. Throwing her entire weight against the stumbled vampire, Casey drove the one stake she had right through the hulking man’s chest.

Inertia helped Casey and she managed to ram the stake deeper as the two landed on the ground with a thud. “Bastard.” She muttered and rolled away from the hulking figure. “Why is it always the fucking big ones?” She kicked the immovable vampire and picked up the second stake then headed back to where his brown eyes looked up at the heavy chested woman. “Yeah, you aren’t the first asshole I have had to kill.” Digging out a small lighter, she set the stake on fire. “Burn you son-of-a-bitch. I always keep one of these now.” She spit on the vampire and shoved the burning stake through his open palm, “Keep your hands to yourself.” She huffed and kicked Oscar again, “Why the boobs, all the time? Hands off jerk.”

Thinking that she’d need to help Casey, Sylvie used blood and closed the small set of knifelike streaks that cut across her chest and faced her friend. “Well. That takes care of that.” She pointed to the burning stake in the big vampire’s hand, a reminder of the past battle with Brian. “A bit drastic?”

“Fuck him.” Casey looked at Oscar again, “I hope it hurts like hell.”

Determining quickly that she’d used a good portion of her blood, Sylvie dropped to her knees and pulled Owen to her mouth and centered on his neck. “We can’t have the police and fire department coming out, the veil has enough issues back home. Let me drain him and then I will..” She shook her head seeing small flames coming up from Oscar. “..Drain him too. Though I am not looking forward to tasting his blood.”

Leaning over and picking up Sylvie’s leather jacket, Casey slipped it over her form the best she could given her large breasts. “Naturally I can’t zip it up.” She shrugged and pointed to Oscar. “I don’t know what happened..I kinda snapped.”

Wiping her mouth clear of Owen’s blood, Sylvie smiled as the wiry vampire’s remains turned to dust and spread into the wind. “It was impressive, to be completely honest.” Sylvie knelt down and whispered to Oscar. “I tried to warn you.” She smacked the big vampire hard and it left a deep slice on Oscar’s cheek. “Should have respected your elders. I will let Jester know where you..” Sylvie giggled, “..you went wrong, and that you will not be returning to his services.” Driving her four blood stained fangs into Oscar’s neck, Sylvie drained him within a matter of seconds. Ashen remains floated away and Sylvie walked to the burning stake and stomped out the flame in near soupy mud. “I wish you didn’t have to see that.”

Flipping up the visor on the helmet, Casey’s brown eyes looked at Sylvie with wonder. “I have seen you feed before, I am rather used to blood at this point.” Casey sighed and picked up the stake from the ground, stuffing it into the jacket pocket. “I am more concerned that I just kinda..well, how can I put this? Raged.” She pointed to the ground where Oscar was. “I just kinda screamed…then it all was a blur.”

Nodding lightly with the things Casey said, Sylvie gently pushed the visor back down to protect her friend’s face. “No need to say anymore right now, Casey. You honestly repeated yourself.” Sylvie lifted Casey onto her back, “Oscar was going to kill us both if he could, there is no reason to apologize.” She looked back into Casey’s chocolate eyes. “Like old times, huh? Over the fence, to a small store to get you something that fits and within twenty minutes we are on the road. Just relax.”

“Yes Mistress. I can certainly get to the house and set up the third bedroom.” Veronica tried to calmly state over the phone while Alan tried to interrupt the conversation by kissing Veronica’s ear. “N..No, it isn’t a problem. You left A-Amber in charge.” Veronica glared at Alan and covered the receiver of the phone, “Stop it, Silly. I can’t concentrate.”

Laughing to himself, Alan stood up from the sofa and walked into the kitchen and looked around. “What to do, what to do?” He opened the refrigerator and spotted a bottle of ‘Crimson Zero’ and smiled. “Would she mind if I..?” He looked into the living room and saw Veronica with her thumb up and still trying to talk to Sylvie. “Cool.”

“You said Martin is already on his way? To the house?” Veronica rolled her eyes and buttoned up her blouse, covering her one exposed breast. “Mistress, it is alright. I’m not monumentally busy, I assure you.” Veronica listened to Sylvie for a few more minutes and finally ended the call. “Whew.” She stood up and straightened her mini skirt, fluffed her short dirty-blonde hair and walked through the attached dining room to the kitchen. “You sir, are impossible. I am almost one hundred percent certain that she knew we were about to do something.” Veronica watched Alan drink the cold blood with a smile. “I would graciously offer my own blood, but the mistress already took her fill this evening.” Veronica walked over and rubbed Alan’s shoulders. “I am glad she shoved us together, Mister Brown.”

Polishing off the contents of the bottle, Alan rinsed it out over the sink and placed the glass in the crate where the other empty bottles were. “I don’t know that it was love at first sight, but I do feel a pull to you, Miss Brown.” He shook his head, “I just hope we aren’t related somehow.”

Waving her hand to dismiss the thought, Veronica dragged the gentleman vampire out of the kitchen and down the hall to the bedroom across from Sylvie’s. “There are Brown’s all over the place, the likelihood is pretty slim. I am not even from this area.” She quickly kissed the taller man on the neck. “I am from Oregon. I came east because I wanted to try something new and not be in the fucking rain all the time.” She laughed and sat down on the fluffy bed. “Tell me more about yourself, Alan. Where did you meet my mistress?”

Coming to the realization that their makeout session was at an end, Alan walked around the bed to a small gray cushioned chair and sat down. “I liked the living room as a better place to discuss such things.” He politely sighed. “Very well, I can see it in your face that the hint was lost.”

“Not lost.” Veronica winked, “Just not the right moment. Depending on when Sylvie left, she could be here in an hour or even forty-five minutes. Martin will be here before that, if I know him.” She wiggled her index finger. “Now, come on. How did you and Sylvie meet?”

Using his left hand, Alan rubbed his chin for a few seconds and laughed, “I guess it was roughly a hundred years ago. I think last month I celebrated my centennial?” Shrugging, Alan leaned back and concentrated. “Yeah, that’s it.” He took a deep breath, “Understand that this entire area looked different back then. Colonial Heights didn’t exist and Petersburg was a living dream to be in. Almost no crime, stores everywhere, even the roads were paved.” He laughed, “Brick pavers. Day and night the crews worked with sand.” He snapped his fingers, “You know, like out front of Phantasmagoria.” He opened his eyes and grinned, “Except for the entire city. There was a mixture of power and gas lighting at night. It was a very beautiful town.”

Content to listen to Alan’s soothing voice, Veronica stood up and began looking over the room. “Go on, I am just going to grab some supplies and dust the furniture.” Veronica left the room for a couple seconds and came back and noticed Alan looking at her hungrily. “Ha, I know that look in a vampire’s eyes.” She pointed a little rag at the man, “Let me build up more and you can partake of the..” Veronica winked, “...drink within.” Veronica sprayed the lemon scented polish on a long mirrored dresser, “Come on. How did you meet her? I will trade the blood bunny secret, how’s that?”

“Deal.” Alan laughed and began again. “Back then, in the twenties..” He paused, “..the nineteen twenties, not now.” He winked at Veronica, who then just stuck out her tongue. “I was just making sure you got it.”

Working diligently to clear the dust with her rag, Veronica chuckled. “Yeah, I got it. I might act silly at times, but I am in my thirties.” She winked, “I can’t compare to over a hundred years though.” She tossed the rag and then sat in Alan’s lap, wrapping herself around the tall vampire. “Tell me more. We can use your fast reflexes to dust.” Leaning over, She kissed Alan on the cheek. “Sylvie.”

Unable to really resist the small woman in his lap, Alan nodded and kept talking. “Back then all sorts of shows and traveling entertainers came into town, it was a windfall for them.” He kissed the blood bunny on her cheek as well. “A different time. Street performers made up lots of these little side attractions. It wasn’t uncommon to see huge snakes or strange lizards for free.”

“I’ve seen pictures. I am a little of a history lover.” She cuddled into Alan’s arms. “Sounds like you enjoyed it.”

Memories of the age flooded into Alan’s mind, “I did. Very happy time.” He paused and walked his fingers over Veronica’s neck and cheeks. “That is where I met Amos.”

Fighting off the urge to lick Alan’s fingers, Veronica sighed and dreamily answered, “Amos? Amos who?”

“You don’t know your Mistress’s creator?” Alan huffed lightly, “Interesting. Amos Whitelock, If he is still around he’d be about three hundred now.” Taking a little liberty with his blood bunny, Alan slipped his finger down and plucked a button free on Veronica’s blouse. “Typical guy really. Still has a British accent, I think.” Happy that his light advance didn’t offend Veronica, Alan took the opportunity to unfasten a couple more buttons. “He and I met over a small bidding war on a pair of horses, of all things.” Alan laughed. “Virginia used to be rather known for horse racing, and I was trying my hand at it.” He shrugged and slipped his hand into Veronica’s blouse and rubbed her shoulder gently. “I found out later, after wasting a fortune, that I was terrible at it.” He snickered, “Amos even said as much.”

More than aware of what Alan was doing, Veronica turned to face her new beau. “Mister Brown, I will thank you to not open my shirt anymore.” She winked and kissed him lightly on the neck. “I have been around so many vampires that unless you actually use your ability to take my will away, the scent of a vampire no longer makes me…squiggly.” She laughed. “We will have plenty of playtime later.” She reached for Alan’s chin and turned him to face her. “I like you. I am already comfortable with you, so let things go normally, please.”

Rolling his expressive brown eyes for Veronica, Alan smiled and reluctantly sighed and conceded defeat. “Fine. When you put it that way, how's a vampire to resist?” He laughed, “I do find your blood mind boggling. How is it that I both want to feed and not feed?” He added, “What are you doing to me?”

“Tell me more about my mistress and I will give you that little secret.” Veronica winked and whispered into Alan’s ear, “It’s all about why I am a blood bunny, my dear.”

A fun shiver ran up and down Alan’s spine forcing him to adjust his seating. “More of that, young lady and I won’t be responsible for what happens.” He laughed then resumed, “Once we met, we just found that we enjoyed each other’s company. It took a couple weeks of visiting places in Petersburg and sampling all of the men’s clubs, before he trusted me enough to introduce me to Sylvie.” Alan felt his uncomfortable bulge diminish, “She didn’t call herself Sylvie back then. She still held onto her Native American culture and called herself Taini.” He paused for a moment, “If I recall correctly, it means returning moon.”

“How absolutely adorable!” Veronica bounced lightly, “Such a fitting name for her. I love her eyes as they phase. I could watch them all day long.” Veronica paused when Alan raised his eyebrow, “What? I like eyes.” She grabbed his thigh tightly, “You really should see..”

Holding up his hand, Alan had a feeling he knew what Veronica was going to say. “No, I don’t want to see those blue eyes.” He shivered, “You may see them as benevolent, but for most of us? That is the stuff of nightmares.” He cupped Veronica’s chin, “I prefer your brown eyes, Miss Brown.” He winked, “Anyway. The roaring twenties!” He clapped lightly, “Even then, we tried to hide in plain sight, the veil and all.” He watched Veronica nod, “Back then, we wouldn’t have risked having blood bunnies.” Reassuring her with a light pat on her thigh, Alan continued. “Even then, Sylvie stuck out. Her visions.” He tapped his forehead. “Something about them used to both fascinate and frighten people. She is much better at hiding when she is getting one now, but back then?” He shrugged, “People believed all kinds of wild things blindly.”

“So she’s been a visionary the entire time?” Veronica questioned and started flipping a strand of Alan’s hair between her fingers. “I know it's my turn.”

Leaning into the soft touch of Veronica’s fingers, Alan murmured, “Yes..yes she has, as least since I have known her. Fascinating woman, forced to see things she never asked to see.” He cleared his throat and looked into Veronica’s eyes. “Now it’s your turn.”

Using Alan as a partial bed, Veronica spread out horizontally across the chair. “I am sure that you have met lots of people who are obsessed with vampires and blood.” She heard a low snicker from Alan as he shook his head. “Good. It will make this easier to understand.” Using her finger, Veronica traced a soft line down Alan’s neck slowly. “Myself and the others, it’s not the blood. It’s not the bite. It’s the euphoria that is attached to it.” She looked deeply into Alan’s eyes, “The closest thing I can compare it to is having an orgasm that is so strong that your body almost can’t handle it.” Veronica smiled when Alan raised his eyebrows, “Notice I said compare it to an orgasm. I have had both..many times.” She winked, “Being fed from is at this point, necessary. I have noticed that through some trick of biology or..” Veronica snickered, “..or magic, I produce more blood than I should be capable of having.”

“Aren’t you afraid of being drained into nothing?” Alan inquired and licked along the veins in Veronica’s neck. “I know many of my brethren would love the opportunity to try and do it for the sake of doing it.” He kissed his way down Veronica’s neck to the center of her chest, stopping at her heart. “Vampires aren’t all that different from the people that they started out being. Some are plainly evil, some are just normal and trying to get by.”

Buttoning her shirt for the second time, Veronica sighed and sat up. “I am not worried about it in the least. I can’t explain why..” She tapped on her wrists, “..but my blood, the blood of the bunnies, it’s like filling to the point where you’d be forced to stop.” She shrugged, “Franco said he could taste his limit when we served him.”

Scooping Veronica into his arms, Alan stood up and twirled the couple once and then set Veronica back on her feet. “Thank you for sharing.” He winked, “I fear if we don’t get started on these preparations, then Sylvie will be a little grumpy when she gets back.” Alan tapped his forehead again, “Given what I’ve seen with her central eye?” He laughed, “I don’t want to tempt fate's eye on me.”

Retrieving the dust rag from where she’d tossed it, Veronica twirled it in her hand as she spoke. “I would be more concerned about what the mistress has already seen.”