OV: The Original Vampire (Book #1) (18 page)

She came to, “god, Vinnie, you were with someone else.”

“It’s not real. I haven’t been with anyone but you.”

“Liar.”

“No, Josie. That wasn’t real.”

He walked her over
, as they sat on a log overlooking the lake. She leaned her head on his arm.

“I was in the Gateway. I’m getting good at it, except for that.”

“What happened?” Vinnie asked.

“You were on top of
Mezrolly, that girl I mentioned.”

“No, I don’t know
Mezrolly.”

“Anyways, she’s a manipulative bitch. I think we’ve known each other longer than I think.”

“How so?”

“Long story, let’s just relax and watch the water.” She said.

It’s getting late
, as Josie and Vinnie walk the trail back to Marymere. The trail is now dark, but Josie had adapted to night vision, like a cat. They walk a couple miles. Once in a while the trail came close to the highway and they could see the headlights of cars hitting the tree trunks.

They approach the waterfall and head up the switchbacks towards camp when they see flames from a fire. They hear laughter and the pop and crackle of the flames.

“Get down.” Vinnie whispered.

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know.” They sat and listened. They heard a lot of curse words, an indicator of a group of people who lacked intelligence. Then, Vinnie heard his name,

“Vinnie Santos, we know you’re out there!”

“Fuck yeah!” Another man yelled. Then, they all howled at the moon.

“Rednecks.”
Josie said, “Why would they be saying your name?”

“I’m the spokes model now for anti-logging. I have a feeling these people aren’t the peaceful, tree-hugging type. Let’s walk around. They’re too close to our home to fight them.”

“Vinnie Santos, you’re dead!” They yelled.

“Let’s go.” Vinnie said.

They went through blackberry bushes and began the ascent up a sheer rock wall. Josie had automatically followed Vinnie, until she realized she was fifty feet up by climbing without any rope or gear.

“Vinnie?”
She whispered, “What are we doing? I can’t believe this.”

“Follow me, you’re doing fine.”

She could see in the moonlight that there were lines of blood coming from her fingers. As she climbed, she looked to one side to the other. She got lost in the splendor of the view. The moon lit up everything, including the Straights of Juan De Fuca, which was fifty miles away.

There also grew a little ball of light within reaching distance of Josie, but if she tried to grab it she would fall. Instead, she watched it grow with amazement, until she saw
Daira’s face appear within the orb.

“Oh man, what are you doing up here. I’m about to fall to my death and you’re smiling.” Josie said.

Vinnie asked, “What?” but their faces were so close to the Cliffside that it just sounded garbled.

“Risky girl, you are.”
Daira beamed.

“Why are you so happy?”

“Well, thanks to you, I’ve been hanging out with my dreams rather than going to work.” She stretched her arms and yawned, “Reality is so over-rated.” She said, as she floated.

“You’re abusing the Gateway. I found you and put you in it so we could reunite, not so you can romp around without responsibility.”

“Josie dear, I’m the Professional, not you.”

“Careful. I can yank away your delicious pipedream with one fart.”

“Oh you wouldn’t. I have so many secrets on you.”

“Okay then, fuck off for now.” Josie smiled back.

They climbed up the edge and collapsed. Josie peeked over the edge, “I never in my wildest dreams thought I could do that.”

“The Universe is yours baby, it’s your belief system that’s limited.” Vinnie said.

“Thanks professor.” She touched her toes to stretch.

Vinnie looked at the blood that now covered her hands and arms. “Can I help you clean that off?” He pointed to her hands.

“Vinnie, that’s low and pathetic. Please understand that my blood will not make you feel good about yourself. It’s just a distraction.”

“Thank you professor.” Vinnie looked at the horizon and spat off the cliff. He was hungry for something and was short-tempered about it.

“Vinnie, I love you. This is temporary. Look at what we’ve achieved so far; logging stopped, my asshole boyfriend is dead, and I’m mastering the Gateway.

“I know. I’m just spoiled.” Vinnie threw a rock off the mountain.

“No, you’re gifted. The masses are spoiled with their S.U.V’s and 72” flat screens. We’re surviving with very little and that’s the true experience, not that watered-down shit, climate control, cruise control, parental control, screw that power trip stuff, we’re real and we own it.” She threw a rock and it went further than his. He looked at her. A little smile formed.

“I think we should get out of here.” He said.

“Where?”

“Like you said earlier, New York City, you can be a Channel or Medium and help people with their problems. In fact, maybe the Gateway will give you a deeper insight into their lives.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Let’s go to town tomorrow and get some Tarot cards. You can start practicing.”

“It’s scary. I have more problems than the average person. How am I going to help someone else?”

“The Universe only gives you what you can handle.” Vinnie said.

“Did you just read that off
a cloud?” She laughed.

“They’re fortune cookie clouds.”

They hitch-hiked back to Port Angeles the next day.
Vinnie was still a local celebrity, or the most hated, so he had to wait for Josie to screen cars when they stopped. The first two cars were Rednecks in trucks. They had trouble taking “no thanks” for an answer. One guy sat on the side of the road and stared at her with his truck idling. Luckily, a State Patrol pulled a car over a half mile back and it scared the Redneck away.

They made it downtown into the old part, where warehouses that once held lumber were empty with rats. The Port of Port Angeles was now an attraction for Sailors, rather than freighters carrying logs to China.

There was a little purple building in between two vacant buildings. The sign on the building read: The Witches Brew Shop. When they entered, incense made them gag. They were used to pristine wilderness air. There was a grey haired woman in a little office adjacent to the cash register and display counter. Josie walked over to the deck of cards. She picked up the deck that read: Deviant Moon Tarot.

“I want this one.” She said, as Vinnie looked at
Medieval daggers.

“Can I help you?” The old woman limped out of her office.

“Yes. I’m getting this.” Josie placed the deck down.

“Ah, my
child, the wonders of the world await you.”

“Nice. Okay.”

“Children today all look the same.” The woman scanned Josie with her eyes, “This deck was my own.”

“Really?
It looks new.”

“I laid them out once and that’s all that was needed.” The woman smiled.

“So, what kind of insight did it bring you?” Josie asked.

“Well,” The lady looked outside as the cars passed, “It brought me Madness.” She laughed and wheezed until she held up her hand to say ‘one minute’ and went to the bathroom. When she came back her voice was deeper, “I learned a lot by watching you.” The woman pointed at Josie.

“What?! I don’t know you.” Josie became defensive and tightened her lips.

“I entered a realm, you could say, that made me see everything of that person I chose to see.” The woman blinked fast, “You’re Bud’s daughter. I’ve watched you grow.”

“Lady, I don’t know you!” Josie stepped back.

“It’s okay.” Vinnie came forward and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“No, it’s not. Who in the hell are you?” Josie asked.

“It’s okay dear, it’s a tight community. Shall I say, we all get around, sooner or
later.”

“Oh, like my father?” She relaxed a little.

“Yes dear. Your father made many girls talk.”

“Oh, that’s nice.” Josie tapped her foot.

“What happened to Bud, by the way?” The woman sat down in a rocking chair.

Josie didn’t waste any time with small talk, “Well, he’s in Purgatory.”

The woman closed her eyes, “That serious? I knew he played around, what did he do that was so bad?”

“Long story.
How much are these?”

“Free, dear.
You have a lot of work to do.”

Josie whisp
ered back at Vinnie, “Fuck this,” then said to the woman, “Okay, Thanks.” As she pushed the door open and went outside.

They walked to a park on the waterfront. It’s very close to where the logging rally happened fifteen years ago.

“I remember when you gently tugged on my bottom lip with yours.” Josie said, as the sea breeze blew through her hair.

“That seemed like a dream.” Vinnie looked into her eyes.

“Maybe it was.” Josie looked out at the water. “Where does this all lead?”

“What?” He asked, while messaging her feet.

“This life, the water, the birds, evil people, us, family, animals.”

“They’re allotted in the afterlife.”

“Well, I hope my pets will all be there.”

“Giving big wet kisses. . .” He added.

“Yeah.” She looked down, a few drops from her eyes hit the ground.

“It’s okay baby. I will always be with you from now on.” He leaned over and kissed a tear off her cheek.

“I feel that, I really do. You’re my world.” She rubbed her eyes.

They sat on the lawn. She opened the deck of cards on the grass and read a couple of them out loud: “The Empress, ‘for her life begins, grows, and dies. She nurtures creation through all those phases.’ (the Dreamers journal, pg.56) Sounds like me. I watch creation die.”

“That’s dark, Josie. Try another one.”

“okay. ‘The Lovers. The man represents the conscious mind; the woman, the subconscious; and the Moon, our higher self.’ (the Dreamers Journal, pg.56) “I like that one also. Woman is the Subconscious, therefore I should rule the Gateway.” She looked up and smiled at him.

“I like that.” He said.

“I’m going to try reading Bud.” She said, as she shuffled the deck. She pulled out a card and laid it upside down on the grass. “I’ve seen this part in movies.” She said, as she hovered her open hand across the card several times. Then she closed her eyes and thought of Bud and flipped the card over. It was the Fool card.

“Perfect.” She said as she leaned back.

“What does that mean exactly?” Vinnie asked.

She thumbed through the definition booklet. “Actually, it’s not bad, ‘the Fool suggests making an intuitive decision even if it seems illogical.’ That’s Bud. ‘Illogical choices created his ill-fated path.’”

“That’s pretty deep. Quick conclusion, Josie.”

Vinnie got up and threw rocks in the water. He was a fighter, lover and warrior, not a philosopher, analyst, or psychic. “What about your friend,
Daira, who is she within the cards?

“I don’t know, let’s see. Josie shuffled the deck and closed her eyes and pulled out a card. She opened her eyes: “The High Priestess.”

“Sounds top notch.”

“It looks that way. Let’s see.” Josie thumbed through the pamphlet. ‘Refrain from action for a while and instead take the time to search within yourself for the wisdom you need to move on.’ Sounds right,
Daira is lost. Now, for some fun, let’s see who Vinnie is.” She shuffled the deck and pulled out a card.

“Okay, knock it off Josie. This is juvenile.”

“Wait. Oh, it’s good, wait.” She looked at the definition in the pamphlet. Her body slumped, as her mouth opened slowly.

“What, what’d you read?” Vinnie looked concerned and standing stiff.

“Says here, that you have another sibling, what the hell, Vinnie?” She looked up at him. “I didn’t think you were a liar.”

“I’m not.”

“Then, what the hell is this? If the cards are b.s. tell me, but it looks like I hit a nerve.”

“Let’s go. We need to prepare for NYC.” He looked back at the road.

“No, let’s not. Tell me what’s going on?”

“The cards are a lame excuse for entertainment.”

“Tell me.” She looked more serious than ever.

Vinnie looked around and paced. He grew frustrated and screamed out into the bay. He walked away, but came back five minutes later. She still waited for an answer.

“Okay,” He breathed heavy. “I have a brother. His name is Dios. He’s worthless, a leech who sucks off any helping hand.”