B00724AICC EBOK (32 page)

“
Nope, just one that’s interested in me.”

“
You can’t read his mind?”

“
No, he’s got some sort of block in there. I can’t get around it. It’s like I can get into the pantry but no further into the house. If I had lots of time maybe.”

Jenny and Allison continued on their way in a pleasant state of mind. So many vampires around that they had to let go of the ones that meant no harm. No one seemed to know their true numbers but lots of people guessed at it. Some continued to remain out of sight though in plain view, living their lives in the slow lane. They both got cuts to maintain their styles at the KK Salon. They had been there several times before and Jenny rather liked the place. While Jenny was getting her hair trimmed, a vampire showed up dressed in blue classic-fit kakis and a black t-shirt with the word Saturday on the front. He was a tall old man with a short white beard. He bent down and took some of Jenny’s blond hair off the floor and left. Allison didn’t notice the episode as she was in conversation with her hairdresser. Jenny’s cute face looked puzzled but she made no attempt to stop the hair thief.

That night Jenny dreamt about someone with vague features tossing her hair into the fire, and it had been disturbing.

CHAPTER FIFTY

BORDON STARED OUT at the boats in the water near the Dolphin Swim and Boat Club on Jefferson Street until sufficient time had passed for the meeting. He believed that on the ocean he would be as free as the birds in the sky, and was looking forward to buying one within the next few months. The biter knew that Stephen would be in pursuit and he had plans to leave the country as soon as he sold the dagger. The beautiful waters of Greece called to him. The island had preoccupied his mind for days. His thoughts wandered to Lefkada Island on the Ionian Sea, joined to Greece by a floating bridge. He would remain there for a century or two, enjoying its beauty and character. He remembered Egremni on the western side of Lefkada, a beautiful beach with white sand surrounded by imposing cliffs and crystal clear water. The plan was to spend a week or two before going out in search of a boat. Access to the beach was from a car park down 347 steep steps that hugged the weathered cliff face; it was a spectacular view from those steps. Bordon would walk the long sandy coast, eating a tourist every now and then. He looked forward to visiting the beach of Porto Katsiki as well; he would take a cruise there in his new boat after visiting his friend Abrax in the town of Nydri.

Bordon was spotted when the Stockton bus had to slam on its brakes to avoid hitting him as he jaywalked across North Point Street in San Francisco. He was recognized by a biter on the bus who smiled knowingly as the word had been put out to the vampire underworld by Stephen with a handsome reward offered. There was nothing like easy money. Bordon was heading for the Gary Danko restaurant to have some lobster risotto; he had craved that food since the last time he had been at the restaurant. Just prior to that Bordon had met an old man at the Buena Vista Café, a human named Carl Finch.

At the Café, Carl turned out to be distinguished looking gentlemen with a silver handled walking stick. He wore a top hat and attire that made him look as if he had stepped out of the 1800’s. An eccentric little guy with a stooped back that liked to buy his influence and he wasn’t stingy with his money. He was fascinated by vampire relics and had the means to make anyone rich for the right object. His impressive possessions were all about boasting to his friend, and claimed to have a gold vampire ring that had once belonged to Dracula. Hithroma, an object that could actually kill Dracula would be the old fellow’s most prized possession, even if it turned out to be one of the copies and not the original. No way to validate it except to plunge it into the Master. He would hang it on the wall and there it would stay; it would be difficult for the vampires to track it down, if not impossible, which was what Bordon liked about it.

The transaction at the cafe was easy as the sum of one million American dollars was deposited into his checking account with a single phone call from Carl. When Bordon called his bank his account was richer by one million dollars. The old man knew the story of Hithroma, and even if the weapon wasn’t the genuine article, he figured it to be worth the million as no one else would have one. Forged by Ninian, a famous vampire artisan that disliked the thought of mortals owning his works; his mark on the weapon made it worth plenty. Every sword and dagger that he had ever created contained several drops of his extraordinary blood. A tiny headless vampire was etched into the base of the blade. It would be a great conversation piece to discuss with his only friend in the world, Mason.

When Bordon exited the Gary Danko restaurant, which was to be his last meal before his departure, Luke and Noah were waiting for him. The look on Bordon’s face at the sight of the three vampires was a mixture of terror and surprise. He bolted but was almost immediately tripped, and with his speed he ended up tumbling on the hard sidewalk and ripping some skin off his hands and knees. They forced him to tell them what he did with Hithroma, which hadn’t been difficult because of his low threshold for pain. His screams were heard by many but it was over before anyone arrived to access the situation. They killed the old man and left Bordon’s bones on his front porch where it remained for two days, until a 15-year-old took it home to show his parents.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

THE FOREST SCENT WAS PLEASANT deep in the northern boreal forest of Quebec. The sky had a few clouds but not many. A bald eagle soared high in the sky as it searched for a meal. A light breeze moved the tops of the trees around, nature’s ballet. Surrounded by a predominance of coniferous trees was a large Ojibwe style wigwam. A black bear moved through the area but didn’t like the scent and stayed far from the dwelling, almost a mile. The round domed shelter, formed by a frame of wooden arched poles, mostly tree saplings, was unusually large, covered with various kinds of animal hides. It had a curved surface to allow it to stand up to strong winds and had been in place for almost five years. Something on the inside could be observed moving against the outside wall as it pushed against its surface.

A black crow’s feather floated on the air; it refused to touch the ground as it was kept aloft by a magical force. The quill fell and rose awkwardly around the dwelling, occasionally hovering and quivering in one location before continuing its path around the wigwam.

“
AaaaaaaaOoooooh.”

Chanting floated out of the wigwam and into the light cool breeze that appeared to have a dreamlike quality to it. The voice was deep and resonant with exotic words being repeated over and over. The voice was unusually deep. Dark smoke floated from the dwelling and reached for the sky’s embrace. A large black raven cocked its head as it looked down upon the scene from a nearby tree branch, trying hard to comprehend the goings-on. The animal followed the feather as it went around and around. It jumped from branch to branch as it waited patiently.

“
Oh,” said the voice from within.

A hexagon had been dug into the earth around the wigwam by repeatedly walking its shape and digging in with feet as spells were chanted into the forest environment. Several of the trees surrounding the wigwam were shaved by a small hatchet and carved with effigies of vampire bats of varying shapes and sizes. Three upside down vampire bat skeletons also faced the entrance and were painted with layers of vampire blood every new moon, their skulls covered with small leather pouches containing four fangs in each. It wasn’t easy to lure and catch a vampire in bat form. It was a special talent not afforded to many.

The shadows of the trees formed shapes that ebbed and then extended. Those shadows took on the figures of vampires dancing, like puppets on the forest floor. One large tree cracked and creaked under its own weight. The sound of it rushed through the woods seeking ears to acknowledge it. That particular tree would fall to the forest floor within weeks and be converted into the home for even more bugs and grubs, and become the commencement of another enchantment. The life of the tree was growing short and it suffered under its own weight. All things came to its eventual demise, even as the planet would one day. But the tree was being slowly pulled down by a spell to take its remaining life force.

A white-tailed deer that had originated from miles away was entranced to enter the wigwam. It approached with no hesitation whatsoever. It moved into the enclosure as if it had arrived into the lushest valley, ready to consume all that was good. It could smell the hickory nuts, beechnuts and pecans, could see the reddest apples in a basket that didn’t exist. The nature of the animal was overtaken by things that could not be seen. Achak immediately killed and drank the blood of the deer. Death was instantaneous. “There, there, you sustain me in my hour of need.”

He was a large native biter that dealt with magic, and almost always wore a red beaded headband passed down from his grandfather, which had been soaked in the blood of many vampires over the years. He occasionally had disturbing dreams of his grandfather’s disappointed face. Achak was a hunter, a healer, a dealer in paranormal ways. He was also a destroyer. A complicated soul of considerable might. He had the darkest brown eyes that one dared not look into for long. His dark skin made him even more handsome. Achak looked to be in his late forties but was in fact ancient. Dracula was aware of his existence and didn’t care for his ways. They hadn’t set eyes upon one another in way over a century.

Achak exited the dwelling and dropped the bloodless deer carcass to the right of the wigwam. Nearby were four trees that he had cut down, each resembled giant sharpened pencils. He stretched and cracked his back as he noticed the raven. The bird flew out of the tree as it came to rest on his left arm. It let go with a gurgling croak which made the native nod. “Yes, yes, I know we have company approaching. They are like elephants on rice paper. Mortals.”

Sharpton had been in the forest for two days and two nights. He carried a large green duffel bag and was annoyed. His guide was a young looking New Yorker named David Allen Finch who wore a nose ring and a Mohawk. He had Japanese writing on his right forearm that he believed to be ABANDON ALL HOPE ALL WHO FACE ME, but in actuality it read THIS SPACE FOR RENT. He was a friend of Achak’s and they talked regularly on their satellite phones. An acquaintance of a friend put Sharpton onto David in order to get into contact with Achak. Of course it was all accomplished with money and favors promised. David had wanted his wife killed and that had been granted. Her life insurance would pay him over a million dollars, and he would no longer have to listen to his mother-in-law’s endless mockery.

Sharpton was getting impatient as he wasn’t used to dealing with humans, feeling that they were so far beneath him. “How much further?”

David checked his compass to make sure he was on course. There were paths to follow and secret signs to read. The fellow felt that he was close but one tree was starting to look like another. At times the compass spun oddly. A spell had been recently placed over the area, and although they were within a couple of miles of the wigwam, the last two hours had been spent going in circles. “I think we’re close. I think. How do you know about Achak?”

“
His magic is well known to many, though I imagine he’s destroyed as many vampires as he helped. His nature is unpredictable. He often turns on his friends, not a warning just a fact. If he eats you, he eats you.” Sharpton showed David what appeared to be a knowing smile.

David stopped and stared at Sharpton. He considered the statement but then thought that it was one of those things best left alone. It was either factual or it wasn’t. He wondered about Sharpton’s motives for being here. The guy didn’t appear to be a fellow that one could get to like. “You’re not here to kill him are you?”

“
No, I need his counsel.”

David took in a deep breath and let it out. He looked left and then right, staring up into the trees and paused there. “Yeah. You know, he brings vampires to him when he needs their blood. He summons them and then kills them when they show up. Is it your idea to come here or did he summon you?”

Sharpton thought that David appeared lost. “I have a spell that protects me from being summoned.”

“
Really?”

“
No, but it sounds good doesn’t it. We’re going in circles aren’t we?”

“
Yeah, something strange is going on. I’ve been here many times but suddenly it’s different.” Certain parts of the forest looked indistinct and confusing, certain trees looked blurry. David took out his backpack and pulled out his satellite phone. “I could be in a boat in the middle of the ocean and this thing would still work.” He called Achak and they yakked for almost ten minutes as Sharpton looked annoyed.

“
On a boat in the middle of the ocean is a good place for you,” Sharpton said to himself. “Well?”

“
He’s placed a spell on the area around him. We’re close enough to him to experience its magical properties. We have to sit tight and wait for the raven.”

“
What the hell does that mean?”

David placed his green backpack on his back, shifted his weight and adjusted it. “Yeah, a raven will come and guide us in. You know a bird. Not a vampire named raven.”