Lewis Aleman - The Anti-Vampire

Roderick talks, facing them, holding up a hand to keep me behind him, “Calm down, Carvelli. Simon and I have some things to discuss.”

Carvelli growls, taking a step into the alleyway toward us.

“Restrain yourself,” utters Roderick struggling to keep himself from growling, rasp taking over his tone at the end of self , “Or I’ll have to restrain you.”

Carvelli closes his enraged mouth.

“Now wait in the loading zone, but stay near. I’ll call if I need you.”

Carvelli punches the bricks with a deep thud, brick dust floating to the ground. He turns and walks to the loading zone. Blood drips from his knuckles.

My eyes focus on the blood. Sight grows unfocused again.

When I look to Roderick, even through blurry eyes, I see he’s been watching me.

“So hungry that you focus on such unappealing blood as his? A bit dry, Simon?”

Shaking my head to balance my blurry sight, “No, I’m fine.”

“So, the suburban queen that you’ve found already has you starving yourself for her? We’re never anything but beasts to them once they get to know us—something to enslave and subordinate. Whipped in two nights? Must be a vamp record. Maybe even a human record too.”

I could punch his smug, laughing face until my knuckles become worn down to nothing, but Ruby’s more important. Besides, don’t know how many of my punches would connect in the condition I’m in.

“Last two times I saw Carvelli and Quint, they’ve been trying to kill me—why shouldn’t I keep an eye on them?” Lying, I continue, “I wasn’t watching his blood—just watching an enemy. But, I think you may be the one who’s a bit dry, Roderick—so obsessed with one little party girl.”

I become focused over Roderick’s shoulder at what looks to be a broken, female fingernail wedged in the gap between two bricks. Definitely an office he’s used before.

“Well, that’s really not important now, is it, Simon? You seem to be weak and fading , so we had better get to it, shall we?”

“The girl—leave her alone.”

“She has something I need. Besides—what do you care for the blue-haired harlot?”

“Not her. Her friend.”

“Doesn’t she have a name, Simon? Are you afraid to mention it in front of me?”

“I know you know her name—know you know where she lives—know you already know too much about her.”

“Well, then, what do you think we should do about it? What can you offer me to forget?”

“You can go after her friend for all I care—but just leave Ruby out of it.”

“There lies the problem, simple Simon. Ambrosia has disappeared. Last I saw her she slipped away with your dear Ruby. Was beginning to think she was dead—‘bout to have Carvelli and Quint check the morgues for her body, but not now that you’ve just assured me she’s still alive—waiting to be found.”

“Damn it,” I grumble, squinting my eyes again, trying to keep them from losing focus.

“Thank you for that, by the way. I’m sure Carvelli and Quint will appreciate it too.”

Shake my head roughly—trying to keep from blacking out. Ministry’s “Just One Fix” can be heard through the wall pumping from the speakers.

“You’re only proving my points, dear boy. You’re dry and weak and fading —can barely keep yourself from passing out. Getting weaker and weaker. Why don’t we strike a bargain before something… un—fortunate happens to you?”

“Why do I suddenly feel like Faust?”

“You praise me.”

“Wasn’t meant as a compliment. Just that a deal with you can’t end well.”

Vision’s not what it should be. Just one bite in the bar could’ve fixed all this. The red one would’ve worked fine—she wouldn’t even remember it tomorrow. Just felt wrong. Now feel gone. Slipping…slipping into black…

Roderick’s face grows angry.

“I need to know where Ambrosia’s hiding. Now.”

“Well, that’s what you need, Roderick. What about what I need?”

“I could care less about that bit of fluff that you’re so smitten with. Although she should pay for the way she spoke to me at the sch—”

I shove him open-palmed into his chest, breaking his speech, “Don’t even think about it. Ever.”

Roderick’s fangs flash in the dim light that the alley affords, “You’re tipping your hand, Simon. I know what you’re waiting for, and I hold all the cards to give it to you.”

“If it’s that easy, then why haven’t you already found Ambrosia and ended this?”

“It’s not over. I’ll find her.”

“Then do it without Ruby—do it without me, and you won’t have me in your way anymore.”

“Asking me to find a treasure without the map—can’t do it.”

“Trying to tell me that you’re too powerless to find one girl who’s fled your city—trying to tell me you know no one who can find her? Certainly you’ve grown weak. With all your power , one blue-haired girl is out of your reach?”

“Carvelli and Quint,” he calls, and two shadows loom at the end of the alleyway.

Glance down at the door—no handle on this side. Wall behind me. Rooftop too high to leap to. Three angry vampires between me and the only way out. Great. Simply spectacular.

I fling my hands in front of me, fingernails sticking out, fangs showing.

Roderick holds up his hand at them, “Just wait there, boys. May not need you, but be ready.”

Speaking to me again, he continues, “I know you , Simon, and you can tell me where the blue-haired mystery is hiding.”

“I don’t know where she is, Roderick. I was still here waiting for you to come out the fire while they were running away. Remember?”

“Look me in the eyes,” he hisses.

I stare at him, trying to hold my vision steady. It bounces between focus and blur—God, I hope he doesn’t see it. His hand grabs my chin and holds my eyes aimed slightly down into his.

His hand smells of blood and alcohol.

“Now,” he says, “Tell me.”

Fierce are his eyes as they study me.

He continues, “Tell me you don’t know where she is, and for the sake of your beloved mistress, be sure you speak the truth. The time for games is through.”

“I don’t know where she is. Just that she’s gone away. I’m the one who told her to leave town and not come back.”

His face looks like an attacking wolf as my last words settle in. The truth of it stings in him. My vision goes blurry. He knows she’d be easy to find if not for me. Knows he’d have what he’s risked so much to find if not for my words. Knows he’d have what he wants so dearly if not for my defiance. He’s now just a smear to my eyes, but I can hear the fury swirling in him as his breathing becomes erratic.

“Why, Simon?”

Can’t answer, his voice echoes in my head, thoughts turning black.

He slaps my face.

“Wake, Simon—no time for sweet dreams—this nightmare’s not over yet.”

Move my mouth, no sound comes out. Slaps me again.

“Come back, Simon. Come back, or I’ll find Ruby. Maybe she’ll tell me what she wouldn’t tell you.”

My hand flings up and finds his throat, squeezing with all the strength I have. My eyes only give me a blurry glimpse of what’s going on.

Hands grab me and slam me into the bricks. Sight bounces with the collision. Wind knocked out of me. Hand at my throat pressing my head against the wall.

Carvelli and Quint both have hands pinning me to the wall. Hand at my throat is Roderick’s. Two bits of wood dig into my back, under my shirt in my pants. God, don’t let them find them. Not now.

“Back now, Simon?” asks Roderick.

Nod my head as much as I can with his hand squeezing my throat. He releases my neck.