Michael walked into Kris' dorm room and sat down on the rug. Kris was at her desk, working on her computer. She gave him a polite nod as he entered, but said nothing. There was a discomfort apparent in her silence.
“Still a little freaked out about last night?” asked Michael, breaking the silence.
“It was...” She seemed at a loss for words. “unexpected.” A moment later, she seemed to compose herself. “You did not seem quite so surprised. And don't seem so disturbed by what happened.”
“Well, I went in skeptical and somewhat prepared.” he admitted. “In one sense, the only thing that really caught me off-guard was how the evening ended. That...that was a surprise.”
“And Father Malenkov? His gift?”
“A clear read of body language and a few long-established parlor tricks can explain him.” Michael lied. “The content of his message too. Panders to the base needs and impulses of all of us. The desire to be loved, to be accepted, to be a part of a larger whole. But the way they express that, well, that was unusual.”
“I'm sorry, Michael. I was not myself during that.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I was disloyal to you. I let so many of the men there have me.” Michael heard the thrall-bond behind her words, and the emotions it engendered.
“I noticed and you did seem to enjoy yourself in that. But honestly, Kris, you were caught up in the moment, as was I. It would be awfully hypocritical of me to condemn your behavior when I was guilty of the same.”
“I suppose.” said Kris. Absolution did not appear to be what she desired from him.
“Look, let's not talk about it. Let's not think about it. We'll pretend it didn't happen and move on.”
“Well, that's kinda what I've been trying to do today. It's paid off. I have something for you.”
“And that is?”
“The identity of our hacker friend.”
Michael stood up and went to her side. He gave her a congratulatory kiss and looked at the screen. “Joshua Burke. I recognize that name.”
“He's a dropout from the CS program. Hangs out with a group of sycophants who think he's hot stuff because he works in video game design. Apparently that doesn't pay as well as he'd like, since he's scamming the banks on the side.”
“Stealing what we'd like to steal.” said Michael. “Let me use your phone and we'll do something about this.”
----
Mitch drove the five of them into the parking lot of the Shawnee Apartment complex. They climbed out of the cramped Camaro and they could hear the loud goings-on at a nearby apartment.
“Josh was planning a LAN party tonight.” Said Kris. “That’s probably what’s causing the noise.”
Michael listened to the ruckus more closely and indeed he could hear the sound of computer games and trash talk amidst the din.
“A LAN party?” Deborah asked, confused.
“Computer games. Network a bunch of computers together and then play head-to-head. Sounds like Doom to me.” Answered Michael. “They’re awfully loud for a bunch of computer nerds.”
“So?” asked Boar.
“Well, we don’t want to shakedown a whole apartment full of people, no matter how scary we look. Best to chase his guests away first and I think I know just the way to do it.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter, flipped it, and headed towards a nearby phone booth.
A Blacksburg police cruiser was there in less than ten minutes. Michael and the others kept out of sight as the officer stepped out of the car. She was a young woman, probably not too much older than the students she was about to encounter. Michael smiled as he thought to himself. “Well, I may need to get me a connection in the Blacksburg police next.”
“Eyes over here.” teased Kris quietly, giving him a nudge.
The officer headed to the door and broke up the party, claiming that they had received a noise complaint. There was grumbling and complaining, but the apartment was soon emptied. Things quieted down and the officer went on her way.
“Looks like they’ve all cleared out.” Said Kris. “Now’s your chance.”
“Everyone knows their parts.” Said Michael, drawing a gun from the back of his pants. He checked the magazine and then chambered a round.
“Just look scary.” Said Boar. “I think I can manage.”
Kris went up to the door first and knocked.
“Now what?” snarled a man in his early twenties as the door flew open. He was clearly annoyed. “What do you want, Kris?”
“She’s here for us.” Said Michael pushing his way inside.
“Who the fuck are you?”
“Call me an admirer.” Said Michael, moving past Joshua to enter the kitchen. Mitch and Boar moved inside the apartment behind him.
“Now wait a second.” Protested Joshua. “Who the hell are you people?”
“You hacked the First Union. Put a subroutine in that siphons the change off their interest calculations.”
“Yeah.” Said Josh, “how did you know?”
“Removed another similar routine in doing so, right?”
“Let me guess. Yours?”
Michael nodded. “Never occurred to you that worm belonged to someone, did it? That they might be a little miffed having their stolen money stolen from them.”
“Dude, it’s about $30 a day. Hardly major cash.”
“No, but it is my cash.” Said Michael firmly. “And I don’t like people stealing from me.”
“So, what the fuck are you going to do about it?” said Josh defiantly.
“I haven’t quite decided yet. I suppose it depends mostly on you.” Said Michael, walking about the kitchen somewhat nonchalantly. “I could let Mitch and Boar take my money out of your hide.”
“Ooh, I’m shaking.” Said Josh, sardonically. He was putting on a brave show, but it was obvious already that this whole affair had him very unnerved.
Michael paused. “I'm not joking.” He drew his gun and brandished it casually in front of him. Josh’s eyes grew wide.
“Dude,” said Josh, now obviously anxious. “this is getting a bit out of hand. Hey, look, it’s only a few hundred dollars so far. You can have it. I’ll even write you a check.”
“That’s not all I want.” Said Michael flatly.
“I won’t do it again.”
“Oh, but I hope you will,” replied Michael. “but while working for me. You see, I said I was an admirer. That part wasn’t a joke either. You sliced through what my top hacker put in and then replaced it with a routine she couldn’t dislodge. I could use someone like you.”
“I don’t think I’m interested.” Stammered Joshua. It was honest defiance, if a bit weak.
“It wasn’t a request.” Said Michael. He casually flipped the safety off. “You see, if you don’t work for me, you might decide to work for someone else. One of my competitors. And I really don’t want to have to deal with that.”
“Look, I don’t want any trouble.”
“Then take my offer. You see, the only trouble you’ll have is if you keep saying no.”
“Alright, I’m in.” Josh conceded. “What do you want me to do?”
“For starters, fix the First Union hack and put it back to its original account. As for further instruction, Kris will be in touch.” Michael tucked his gun back into his pants, gave a cute little wave, and headed out the door.
Deborah had remained at the foot of the stairs leading up the apartment the whole time, listening to what went on, but not intervening. “Not bad, although a little heavy handed.”
“Right tool for the right job. I wasn’t going to hurt him, but he didn’t need to know that.” Replied Michael.
“Well done. We'll talk more about this later.” said Deborah. “I'm going to see about a snack. Stop by when you've finished up.” She began walking up the street, towards the 7-11 at the corner of Tom's Creek and University City Blvd.
“Who is she anyway?” asked Kris suspiciously.
“My boss.” said Michael. “No need to be jealous.”
Mitch and Boar snickered in the background, which pretty much spoiled Michael's lie.
Kris gave them a withering look, which silenced their laughter, and then she turned to Michael. She said nothing, but seemed to be awaiting an answer from him.
“You are much too smart to be kept in the dark any longer, Kris. All this is far more complicated than it appears.”
Kris nodded and Michael continued. “As it happens, I am also not what I appear to be. You see a young man, ordinary human being, but I'm not. I am a vampire and Deborah, who just left us, is the one who made me so.”
Michael was not sure what sort of response he would get. The words sounded utterly ridiculous in his ears, but it was now too late to retract them. They would stand or fall on their own.
Kris just sort of blinked, as if she couldn't believe what he'd said. “I thought...you can't...” she stammered out, as if trying to sort out everything in her mind. “How is that possible?”
“That is a very good question.” said Michael. “Unfortunately, it is not one I can answer. I can't explain how or why I've come to be this way exactly, only that I am what I say.”
“So you drink blood?”
“Yes.”
“You turn into a bat?”
“No, that I can't do.”
“Have you...from me?”
“Numerous times.” said Michael slyly. “And you have loved it every time.”
Kris simply stood there at that revelation, dumbfounded. Her expression was one of confused horror. She looked at Michael with a paradoxical combination of disgust and desire. And then she ran.
Michael was stung a bit by that.
“That did not go as well as you'd hoped.” said Mitch, stating the obvious.
Michael committed himself to trusting in the power of the thrall-bond and shrugged. “No, but I'm not worried. She will say nothing to anyone about what I've told her, nor will this be the last we see of her. She will be back. You can count on that.”
----
She did not that night nor the night after. Michael tried to remain unconcerned, but a thread of doubt lingered in the back of his mind. As time went on, it blossomed into genuine concern. Three days after his shakedown of Joshua, Michael decided to go looking for Kris.
As he headed towards Kris' dorm, Solomon pulled up. “You ready?” said Solomon curtly. “We were to train tonight.”
“I'd forgotten.” Michael admitted. “There is some business I have to take care of.”
“It can wait.” said Solomon. His tone was firm and clearly indicated that Solomon would accept no further refusal.
“Very well.” relented Michael, hoping onto the back of Solomon's motorcycle.
The drive from Blacksburg to Roanoke took around 45 minutes and the noise of riding a motorcycle made conversation impossible.
“Deborah will be pleased to see you.” Said Solomon as he parked his bike in the garage of a large apartment complex. The top floor penthouse was Solomon’s, and contained many luxuries only the very wealthy could afford. Not the least of which was his own dojo. “She is curious to learn how things have gone with your blood doll.”
“That was the business I was hoping to address.” said Michael with some frustration. He was not happy that Solomon knew about that.
“You've not done anything yet?”
Michael shook his head.
“You are far too trusting.”
“She's tasted my blood three times and even in a vampire as young as I am, that's enough to establish the bond. She's no threat to the Masquerade.” said Michael defensively. “Besides, it's rich that you would chide me about being trusting when you allow Deb and I into your own haven.”
Solomon stared balefully at Michael, but said nothing for a long moment. “You're not a threat. And neither is she. You may know how to get into the apartment, but you do not know where my inner sanctum is nor could you penetrate it if you did. The only way you could take me out then is to take out the whole building.”
“That does seem a bit overkill.” Admitted Michael. “But thank you for making my point. The situation with Kris will resolve itself in due time. There is no cause for alarm.”
“You leave much to chance.”
“No, it's only chance to those outside looking in. It's certitude.”
The doors opened and the two exited out into what would have been Solomon’s living room, if he’d had one. Instead, the Gangrel had converted it into a dojo for sparing practice. The floor was covered with dark colored padding, which was good since, of the handful of times they had sparred, Michael found himself bruised and bleeding after every one. He expected the same tonight, perhaps more so since he'd provoked Solomon outside.
Along the walls, Solomon kept a collection of both sparring weapons and the real thing. Michael was impressed by his collection of swords and blades from across the world and from many eras of history. To the right of the room was an exit that led to the kitchen, bath, and the living areas of the suite. To their left was a glass wall that looked out over an outdoor patio, with a swimming pool and hot tub. Above the glass wall were metal shutters; shutters programmed to close promptly at dawn.
But for now, the shutters were up and the two could look out clearly at the patio and the city beyond. But the patio itself held a sight to see. A young woman in a wet Roanoke College t-shirt sitting on the rim of the hot tub, Deborah’s head buried in her crotch.
“Swinging for the other team tonight, I see.” Said Michael mirthfully. He began to move towards the sliding doors to go outside. “Deb’s being selfish. She should share.”
“Unlife is not merely the porn movie you and your sire seek to make it into.” Said Solomon gruffly. “We have work to do.”
“Always with you it’s work.” Replied Michael. His tone was teasing, meant in jest. It was an effort to lighten the mood a bit after their argument outside but Solomon was not smiling.
The elevator doors opened and Ernie stepped out. He gave Michael a brief glare and then turned to Solomon. “All work and no play make you both no fun.” His voice had a sing-song quality to it, like a small child.
Michael's mind was immediately flooded with memories of the orgy, seeing Kris in the thralls of ecstasy, of having all those women himself, and then the image of Ernie in his prophet guise offering more of the same.
“You should have more fun.” Continued Ernie, “The offer stands.”
“Get out of my head.” Said Michael intently.
“Make me.” Taunted Ernie.
“We were not expecting you tonight.” Said Solomon. The comment was enough distraction for Ernie to release Michael.
“I knew you two were playing war tonight. I wanna play too.” Ernie’s voice got excited, but soon became crestfallen. “Debbie’s here too. Darn. Now Michael's going to have fun with her instead of me. I'm a better friend that she is.” Ernie pouted.
The power of his forced remembrance left Michael mentally spent and sexually aroused. His thoughts were now only of joining Deborah and relieving his lusts. Realizing this, Solomon dismissed him with an exasperated nod. Michael headed out onto the patio, quickly stripped off his pants, jumped in the hot tub, and thrust himself into Deborah’s now elevated posterior. Deborah paused and sat up for a bit when he felt him enter her, but she soon resumed her pace.
“He’ll be back.” Said Ernie. “And more eager to play with us.”
“Don't interfere again, Ernie.” said Solomon sternly.
“Please,” said Ernie dismissively. “The moment he saw Deb he wanted to play Doctor with her instead of War with you. That's not my fault.”
“He's weak-minded. You're not helping.”
“He's Daeva.” said Ernie. “They're so much fun. So easy.”
“That doesn't help our cause.” asked Solomon gravely. 'He needs to learn to resist you.”
“I can tell you all about the things he wants to do to his two friends outside.” Ernie replied, completely ignoring Solomon's comment. “Ooh, and there he goes with that one.” Ernie began to pout. “That must be fun, being all naked and rubbing against each other like that.”
“So I’ve been told.” Said Solomon.
"Oh, now, don't pretend you haven't buried Little Solomon deep in that crevasse. I know better." teased Ernie. "There was a time when you two could barely keep your hands off each other."
"A long time ago." mused Solomon with bitterness in his voice. He went over to the wall and got down a couple of blunted swords. “Times are different now."
"Not as much as you'd like to pretend they are. Solomon want to play Doctor too!"
"That's not important. Right now, we need Michael trained up. To do that, we need him focused. Your job is to teach him to block out..."
“Ooh, speak not his name.” warned Ernie. “He might hear.”
“Who? Michael’s rather distracted at the moment.”
“No, the Scary One!” said Ernie emphatically.
Solomon shook his head in exasperation. He’d been around Ernie enough to know how to deal with his various personalities. Ernie was among friends he trusted, hence the emergence of his child self. And although Ernie spoke and appeared to reason like a 6-year old, Solomon had long since learned that his core self was still there underneath it all. Regardless, in this personality, Ernie steadfastly refused to be serious about anything.
That, by itself, was annoying. But in the midst of all of it was Ernie's uncanny ability to uncover truths no one else wanted him to know.
The glass doors slipped open and Michael, Deborah, and their rather weary companion came back inside. All three were now clothed, although their clothing was somewhat disjoined as if they’d dressed in a rush.
Deb gave Michael an affectionate peck on the cheek. “Thanks for the surprise. I’ll see Lisa home. You get to your practice.”
“See you then.”
“Not a word about your thrall, I see.”
“The porn movie strategy as you call it can be a nice distraction.” said Michael.
Solomon tossed one of the practice swords to Michael. Although he seem to be distracted still by Deborah’s departure, Michael snatched the weapon from the air and spun it with a bit of flourish.
“Fancy maneuvers won’t help you on a real battleground. Forget all that Hollywood stuff.” Reminded Solomon.
“Then let’s try this.” Said Michael, launching into a furious attack. Solomon parried each strike one by one, but then Michael slipped through and gave Solomon’s left arm a good whack. There was a crunch of bone.
“Ugh.” Growled Solomon, staggering off a bit. It would only take a minute or so for the bone to mend back. “Nice.” He complemented through clenched teeth. “Had that blade been sharpened, you would probably taken my arm. But you hit my left.” Solomon swung with his sword. Michael made to parry but wasn’t fast enough. Solomon’s blow struck on Michael’s jaw and sent him flying. “My sword is in the other hand.”
Michael spat out blood and stood back up. Like Solomon’s arm, his broken jaw would soon mend back.
“That looked like it hurt. Did that hurt, Michael?” asked Ernie hurriedly.
“I’ll live. He’s done worse.”
“Solomon shouldn’t be so mean.” Said Ernie emphatically. “It’s not nice.”
“Not nice would be letting him out there against the Scary One without proper training and conditioning. You still…” He swung at Michael again “…have a lot…” and again “…to learn.” And again.
An hour soon passed and they switched weapons from swords to staves. Michael proved to be less adept at the new weapon, but he’d been learning fast. From there, they went to knives. By midnight, they were done and the padding was once again slick with blood. Both considered it a good night and even Solomon had to admit that Michael was getting better.
“Alright,” admitted Solomon. “We’re done for tonight.”
“So when will I be ready to face this Scary One you two keep talking about?” Michael had adopted the child-Ernie’s nickname for their foe.
“Who knows?” admitted Solomon. “But it won't be for some time. You're far from ready.”
Michael had, of course, already some suspicion who the real identity of the “Scary One” was, but Solomon, Ernie, and Deborah had all three steadfastly refused to confirm or deny any of his guesses. Still, as he heard Solomon speak of Deborah’s plan (such as it was), his mind went to those same guesses.
“I’d not think that if I were you. What if you’re wrong and the Djinn decides to take you out first?” offered Ernie. “Or the Prince?”
“Or you.” Offered Michael in return. He'd seen enough of Ernie to know there was enough there to scare anyone, putting Ernie squarely on the short list of possibilities.
“Nah. I’m not the Scary One. Wait, maybe I am? Oh, my…What am I going to do with myself? Agh!” He got up and began to run about the room.
“Now look what you’ve done.” Said Solomon.
----
Michael and Solomon left Ernie to his insanity and headed back to Blacksburg. Michael decided to pick up where he’d left off when Solomon had fetched him for the night and asked to be dropped off as near to Slusher Tower as possible. Solomon did so and then sped off into the night.
Michael remembered the date: December 31. This time tomorrow would be the new year, and he was thankful it was not yet the holiday. Tomorrow’s revelry would make his purposes more difficult.
It was well after 1:00am now and the dorm was closed to non-residents. That would prove to be little hindrance to a vampire. Michael walked over to the wall and leaped up. With his enhanced senses and strength, finding and holding onto the smallest handholds was easy. He scaled the tower and set foot onto the roof.
To his surprise, he found Kris on that same roof. She saw him come up and she stood there before him quietly, shaking in fear.
Michael said nothing for a moment as he watched her. He found her terribly beautiful like this. She, in turn, said nothing either, only finding her voice after a few seconds.
“I knew you would come for me.” She admitted. She pulled the neck of her sweater aside to expose the skin beneath. “Do it. I won’t run.”
Michael hesitated. He was confused about this behavior. What was she offering? What was she thinking?
Michael walked over, the urge to feed strong, and to feed from one so willing was arousing. He took her into his arms and bit down at her proffered neck. She gasped for a moment as Michael drank. He felt her legs give out beneath her and he released her, gently laying her down onto the rooftop.
She was weak, but still conscious, panting with fear. “Why are you so frightened?” he asked.
“Because you’re going to kill me.”
“I could have done that at any time and have always chosen not to.” Said Michael. “You know nothing of my kind if you think we would so casually throw away one as valuable as you have proven to be. And you think little of me if you believe I’d so coldly murder someone I care about as much as I do you.” The honesty of his last statement surprised even Michael somewhat. He was not in love with Kris, he knew, but he did care for her.
“But isn’t that what monsters do? Isn’t that why you chose me? To take my life’s blood?”
“You’ve read too many stories.” Michael played with her hair affectionately. “If you were so convinced I meant to murder you, why stand waiting for me?”
“Because…” she swallowed. “you’ve made me happier than anyone ever has. And if all I was meant to have was these few short months before dying in your arms, then so be it. I couldn’t stay away, even as scared as I have been. I’m in love with you, Michael. My life is yours. Do with me as you will.”
Michael ran his fingers across her cheek, feeling the wetness of her frightened tears. He was utterly awestruck at her emotions. He could not believe that she would sacrifice her very life for nothing more than his pleasure. Such a gift was too great for him to accept.
“What I will is for you to live.” He said, choking up himself. Then an evil thought encroached on his mind. As powerful as her willingness was, he would never know if it was genuine or not. The blood bond was always there, twisting a beautiful moment into something ugly.
But it was all that he had. Its illusion would have to suffice.
She reached up and touched his face affectionately. “When the time comes, whenever you wish it to be, when I’m old and grey, or next year, or even tomorrow, promise me you’ll do it. My life is yours, and only you have the privilege to take it.”
“I promise.” whispered Michael. Illusion or not, Michael still could not believe her dedication, her loyalty. It was intoxicating, arousing. He slid his hand under her skirt to feel the warmth between her legs, discovering that he was not alone in finding it so.
Michael smiled as he entered her. Yes, there were illusions. Yes, there were regrets. But what a life he now had. Women beautiful and willing. Tutors to train him and make him powerful. A cadre of servants to provide for his every need. And all this in a mere ten weeks. With a new year ahead, he wondered what glories awaited him still.
Act Two Chapter One
No comments:
Post a Comment