The Rise of the New Bloods, From Dark Beginnings (13 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The tension was beginning to show in us all, especially in Blaze, who was now pacing about the living room. He was unshaven and had been wearing the same Guns N Roses t-shirt for the last few days. I had to get him out of here before he would lose it completely.

 
‘Blaze, do you want to go and get something to eat? There's not much we can do here at the minute.’

 
‘Huh?’ he said. ‘Er, yeah I guess I could do with some air. But what about what Draven has found out, what if you're in some sort of danger?’   

 
‘I think I'm capable enough of handling whatever it is.’ I called to my brother, ‘Hey Draven, we're just going out for a bit, if you need us ask Stride to call Blaze on the mobile.’   

 
‘Sure, I'm just going over some of April's books anyway. Not much else to do,’ he said looking up from the book he was holding.     

 
‘Looks like he has the right idea eh?’ Blaze laughed, pointing at Stride.

Stride was half-asleep on the sofa, clutching an empty bottle of Sc
otch. I tutted, and shook my head at him, as I walked out the door.

 
‘Oi, here’s your sunglasses, Jyrki. You don't wanna strain those eyes with the sun now do you?’ Blaze said, handing me my sunglasses.

 
‘I guess not, we'll go to Danny's Diner a few blocks over, yeah? I reckon it'll do me good to try your human food for a change. I quite fancy trying some cheesecake.’

I was only trying to crack a joke to ease Blaze's dark mood. Judging by his beaming smile under the freshly grown beard, it seemed too have done the trick.

  Blaze narrowed his eyes and grinned. ‘You are going to eat cheesecake? With what? Strawberry preserve, the vampire kind?’ he laughed.

 
‘Now, don't tempt me,’ I said in all seriousness.

I saw him flick me a worried look.

‘I’m joking, ok.’

The sounds of the city this early in the morning was actually a breath of fresh air as we walked from Blaze's ap
artment through the streets of downtown Manhattan. The steam rising from the grates and the passing of the yellow cabs was now a familiar sight to me; it was as if I had adopted this place as my second home.

 
‘So what do you think is going to happen?’

I
shrugged and continued walking with my hands in my pocket. ‘I don't know. Anything is possible.’

 
‘Anything is possible?’ That's right, vampires and wolves running around the city and nobody but us is any wiser. It just doesn’t seem right does it?’

 
‘Nope, it doesn't, but it's a good thing,’ I said, looking at a bunch of kids walking past on their way to school.

‘I wouldn't like to see the innocent get hurt.’

  I could smell the freshly made coffee lilting in the air and the sound of Elvis Presley comin
g from the door. It certainly smelt better than the dreaded blood I had to force down my neck every day.

 
‘Here?’ Blaze asked.

He pointed to an old firehouse, which had been reformed into a 1950's diner.

  ‘Yeah this is the place.’

We walked in through
the double doors and was greeted by the smile of an overly keen blonde waitress in a tight fitting red and white uniform.

 
‘Table for two?’ She smiled as she walked us over to the corner booth at the back of the room.

Blaze sat down opposite me on their
red leather seats by the window. I glanced around at the 1950's decor when my eyes caught sight of a retro poster hanging just above his head.

 
‘All customers with serious personal problems will be served first.’ I smirked. Blaze glanced up and looked at me oddly.

 
‘What? What’s so funny?’

 
‘Never mind,’ I said, still trying to contain myself.

 
‘Here's the menus, just give me a holler when you're ready to order. Oops sorry,’ she said as she dropped the menus on the floor.

 
‘Do you want a hand?’ Blaze grinned.

I could not keep my eyes off her cleavage as she deliberately bent down to pick up the menu she had dropped.

  ‘Here you go. I'll be back to take your order when you're ready,’ she smiled as she walked back to the counter.

 
‘I think she has the hot’s for you,’ Blaze sniggered. ‘What's your secret man? Whatever it is, can I have some?’ he said, as his eyes followed her about the room.

  I shook my head, slightly embarrassed by it all.

‘Whatever I have, you really don't want mate. I can assure you,’ I said fiddling about with the ketchup bottle.

 
‘Yeah, but aren't you vampires supposed to be really attractive to the opposite sex or something?’

 
‘Well, yeah. When we turn on the charm,’ I grinned

 
‘So what are you having? I don't want to be long in case something happens.’

 
‘Just a slice of cheesecake will do and I'll try a hot chocolate,’ I said, still reading the menu.

 
‘Wow, you’re going all out today aren't you? I wonder what the Count would say if he saw you eating this shit?’ he laughed, ‘he'd probably defang you!’

 
‘I'm trying to be as human as possible.’

 
‘Yeah,’ he nodded towards the blonde waitress. ‘I think that one prefers you as you are.’

I snatched a sneaky side-glance at the woman
wiping the counter top down. As she saw me looking, she turned away. It was becoming quite an annoying game with Blaze now, but at least it was easing the stress of what tonight would bring.

 
‘Err miss;’ he said, snapping his fingers, ‘We're ready to order.’

‘
So,’ he said, turning to me, ‘Did you know about these wolves?’

 
‘No I didn't. I sensed an animal watching me back in Finland but I couldn't quite connect with their breed...’

 
‘You've seen them before?’

 
‘Not seen, but they've spoken to me.’

Bl
aze was about to ask me something else, when he was interrupted by the waitress.

 
‘So guys, what are you ordering?’

 
‘Err, just a black coffee for me and a hot chocolate, and some pancakes for him.’

He was still sniggering and I am sure the waitress ca
ught on, as her face went as red as the blood in her veins.

Blaze grinned at me and I had a sneaky suspicion what he was about to do.

  ‘What's your name doll?’

 
‘Jules. Why, who's asking?’

I turned to look out of the window.

  ‘My mate just there?’ he said, pointing a finger at me.

 
‘Well that's a shame because I thought you were. Anyway, I'll get your order,’ she winked at him.

I covered my mouth with my hand to hide my smirk from Blaze.

Blaze looked dumbstruck.

 
‘Did she really say me? Fucking hell. I'd better ask her for her number. Too late my friend,’ he grinned.

I was somewhat relieved anyway as I already had my eye on April.

  ‘There you go, enjoy,’ she put the drinks on the table and handed Blaze the receipt.

 
‘Thank you,’ he said staring at her.

 
‘No problem, all part of the service,’ she said smiling.

Blaze looked down at the receipt and smiled.

  ‘She left her number on here.’

 
‘Did she, well she must be desperate.’ I joked. ‘Hey, isn't that your mobile I can hear?’ I said.

 
‘Oh fuck yeah,’ he said, putting his coffee down.

 
‘Hello? Who’s this? Hang on I'll put him on.’

 
‘Who is it?’

 
‘Draven.’

 
‘Hi, what's up? You're serious? Well tell him to stay put until we get back.’

I could tell by the sound of his voice t
hat something was wrong. I listened to what he had to say before relaying it all back to Blaze.

 
‘Er, Stride had a call from Jimmy,’ I said

 
‘The wolf?’

 
‘Yes, the wolf. He wants to meet him later,’ I shrugged

 
‘Why? But hold on, how is he human anyway, does he transform when there's a full moon or what?’

 
‘I have no idea why he is in human form or what his game is; in fact I don't trust him at all. I'd better go with Stride, are you coming?’

 
‘Of course,’ he said as he gulped down the remainder of his coffee. ‘That bastard has my sister. Anyway, what does he want to see Stride for?’

 
‘He wants to come to some sort of an arrangement.’

 
‘Yeah right,’ Blaze scoffed then realised that I wasn’t joking.

His expression hardened.

‘I’ll rearrange him if he touches her. Come on, let’s get out of here.’

 
‘What time is it?’

 
‘Going on for eleven,’ I said, turning back to look through the café window.

 
‘Do you think April is ok?’

 
‘Of course she is, now don't worry.’

 
‘I know a shortcut back, just through that alleyway across the road.’

Blaze was chatting away about having Jules
’ number when he noticed I was not paying him any more attention.

 
‘Hey, did you hear anything I just said?’  

 
‘Huh? Yeah I did, it’s just that I can sense something bad had happened here last night.’

 
‘Something bad happens every few seconds in New York bud, don’t worry.’

We carried on walking up the lane between the buildings when I saw an elderly homeless man sat against the wall, sha
king and looking as if he had been frightened by something.

 
‘What do you think is wrong with him?’ Blaze whispered.

 
‘I think we should ask him, but I've got a bad feeling about this though.’

Blaze knelt down beside the man who did not seem to notice we
were here.

 
‘Hey fella, are you ok?’

 
‘Vampires,’ he muttered, still staring blankly ahead.

 
‘Vampires? Is that what he said?’

 
‘Yeah, but look Jyrki, on his neck, two puncture holes. Oh my fucking god man,’ Blaze jumped up from the ground.

 
‘Oh fuck, I see. It wasn't me though, I've been at the apartment, and so has Draven for the last day or two.’

 
‘Then what the fuck is this? Jyrki, is he turning into a vamp?’

 
‘No, the transformation won't take place unless he's almost drained. I'm more concerned with who done it at the moment.’

 
‘Want me to call Draven?’

 
‘Yes, tell him what we've just found and ask him what’s the best thing to do. This poor guy looks like he's in deep shock; we'll need to bring him around quick. Go and get him some coffee whilst you're on the phone will you?’

 
‘Sure, I'll be back in a minute.’

 
‘Come on dude; come back to the real world,’ I said, gently slapping his face.

The guy lifted his head up and looked at me.

  ‘He bit me, a vampire, but there's no such thing as monsters,’ he mumbled.

 
‘Listen, I know you can hear me, ok.  You're going to be alright, just hang in there. Can you remember what this...thing looked like that attacked you?’

The man looked at me sorrowfully.

I knew instantly he was not lying.

 
‘He...he was tall, dark hair. A bit like you, but, oh I’m sorry I couldn't really see to be honest with you, it was too dark and it all happened so quickly.’

 
‘That's okay. My friend has gone to get you something to eat. I think you should see a doctor though to check out that wound.’

The man shook his head.

  ‘No, no they’ll throw me in the nut house. I've been on the streets for thirty years and I've never known anything like this.’

 
‘Jyrki, what the fuck has gone on?’

 
‘Stride, this guy was bitten by a vampire.’