Louise was practically frantic when Gabriel strolled through the office door as if nothing was wrong. He didn't look any different, maybe more relaxed, but she knew there was something very wrong.
“Hey, where’d everyone go? Joyriding without me?” He asked, tossing his denim jacket onto his office chair and flopping down into it with a relaxed sigh. He was a completely different person than he’d been for the last few days, which in itself was almost disarming.
“Looking for you! We know what's wrong with you, why didn't you just tell us?”
“Wh-what?!” He exclaimed, startled, “it was just a drink! That’s it. You of all people should--how did you even know?!”
“Just a drink? You knew you had done it and never said anything? Made us worry about you?!” She was shouting now, couldn't help it, how could he knowingly drink and then act like he hadn't? Even going so far as to go to the doctor.
“Hey!” Gabriel stood up now, slamming a hand on his desk and going on the defensive, “I needed a break, alright? Just because I had one drink doesn’t mean I planned to stay out all night and--well, I mean you were all kinda pissing me off. So what? What’s the big deal? Why would it be your business anyway?”
She scowled, “wait, tonight? You mean, you really don't know what's wrong with you?”
Gabriel sat back down with a wounded expression, “there’s nothing wrong with me, and even if I was gay, there still wouldn’t be anything wrong with me. So, thanks for that misguided little attempt at a lecture, Louise. Really. Just how I wanted to end my night.”
“You drank vampire blood, Gabriel, you're infected.”
“What?” He asked, leaning back in his chair and looking back at her like she had just grown a second head, “no, I didn’t. I think I’d remember something like that.”
“That vamp, the one that got away, he told us, could smell death on you. You drank, whether you want to admit it or not.” She sat down, looking confused, “how could you not remember? That's a little hard to forget.”
Gabriel took a deep breath, slowly letting it out as he closed his eyes, “he was probably lying. Maybe he just already knew about me, wanted to get into our heads. They’re fucked up like that. They like to play with you until you’re done screeching.” He opened his eyes again, looking back at her, “Louise, I was trapped and tormented for weeks by one of them. I watched my parents die. I was force-fed blood while all the other kids around me were tortured to death in a crowded, damp hellhole. You never wash that taste out of your mouth. If I was turning again, I would…” he trailed off, putting his head in his hands and leaning against his desk, “I mean, I didn’t. There’s no way.” His voice cracked just enough for her to know she was getting through to him, “Jesus Christ. How?!”
She shrugged, “I don't know but Gabe, we have to figure it out before…” She trailed off, the unspoken thought of, ‘before you kill’ hung heavy in the air, “what does it feel like? Does it feel the same?”
“It—“ he hesitated, “No, not entirely.” Gabriel reached behind him to yank his jacket off of the back of his chair and dig a pack of cigarettes out of one of the pockets, “there’s no ‘connection.’ I don’t feel like there’s some monster hovering at my shoulder, no—shit, I hate even thinking about it—there’s no master. I don’t have a craving to serve or please him.” He shoved a cigarette in his mouth, “but I’m just as tired.”
“What about food? The whole blood thing? Do you feel like you want blood?” She prodded, they needed to know everything.
He fiddled with his lighter, focusing on a spot just to the right of her shoulder, “I’ve been eating a lot of rare meat lately,” he admitted, “but I haven’t wanted to drink blood.” Yet. The unspoken word hung in the air between them.
“What are we going to do?” It felt so final, they needed more information.
Gabriel lit his cigarette, “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.”
She looked out the window, “who do we know that has a shit load of books, maybe we can find something.”
“I think you already know the answer to that question.”
“Alright, I guess we go there.” She really didn't want to see the old coot but if it would help Gabe, she'd suck it up.
“Two visits in one week, the guy’s gonna start thinking we like him,” Gabriel joked, his voice hollow and bitter.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
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“Yeah, I’m heading there right now. Did you already call Chuck and Danny?” Lee asked softly, pressing his cell phone to his ear while he drove. Damned reckless, if you wanted Todd’s opinion, “alright, I'll see you at the office when we're done.” Finally he dropped his phone and ended the call.
“You really need to get one of those hands free things.”
“I guess I do,” Lee agreed, taking a sharp turn down a road they hadn’t been to before. “We’ve got to pick up a few things.”
Todd scowled, “pick up a few things?”
“Research material,” Lee explained in a clipped voice, giving Todd absolutely no clues about what he really meant. He’d never understand why his little Lulu was knocking boots with a slanty-eyed know-it-all like this guy.
“That’s no help, can't help you if I don't know what you're after.” He glared at him from the passenger seat, why did he agree to let Lee drive? Guy couldn’t steer in a straight line if he had the bumpers up. Then again, they were all pretty bad drivers.
“I just need to get a few books, that’s all. There’s a client of ours who might have something we can use to help--” Lee cut himself off. “Something we can use. I’m sorry, I can’t say more than that until I figure this out.”
“Got somethin’ to do with Gabe, don't it? That's why Lulu wanted that vamp.” He wasn’t stupid.
The car picked up speed, “I’d really rather discuss this with everyone else, Todd. Have you ever heard of the Collector?”
“That the guy that keeps tryin’ to grope Lulu?” If it was, well, he might have to break a finger or two.
“Among other things. He’s also got the largest collection of occult books I’ve ever seen. Not the kind you’d pick out last minute shopping at a new age health food shop. The real stuff. We need to see if he has anything that might be useful.”
If there really was something there that was interesting, well, he might have to put some of his more, lucrative, skills to work. Todd was good at what he did. Damned good.
“You think he’ll hand it over that easy?” He asked, scratching at the uneven stubble on his chin.
“If he won't I guess you'll have to steal it.”
Now they were talking! Todd grinned, “what’s the security setup look like?”
“He doesn't have one, except the lions that guard the stairs, if you go that way make sure you pat one on the head. No one tends to steal from a hoarder of supernatural antiquities.” Lee replied as he turned down another street.
The rest of the trip was spent mostly in silence while Todd speculated how he’d approach the mystery house and whether his tools would come in handy. He hadn’t broken in anywhere in a long time, since most monsters didn’t really jive with the domestic life. He’d only ever tracked down one werewolf hiding in the burbs, and a handful of bloodsuckers renting out condos here and there.
The house was huge, really, Todd had only seen places like this in photos. It was the type of house he tried to avoid at all costs when he needed a little extra cash. This would be fun if he actually got to rob the man. Too bad he’d promised his old lady he was done with that shit.
“Todd, do you have your phone?” Lee asked, turning off his car engine and looking at him in that better-than-you kinda way he always looked at people with. Or maybe that was just his face. Whatever it was, Todd just didn’t much like the guy.
“Yeah, always, what of it?” He eyed Lee, didn't the kid have his own phone?
“Because I may have to text you if I need you to go in. You’ll have to stay in the car while I talk to him.”
Todd scowled, “why? Old man not like visitors?” Why did he have to stay in the car?
Lee’s better-than-you expression intensified, “Todd, don’t you think it would be a little difficult to sneak around the house if he already knows you’re there?”
“Fine, but I don't like it. You'll have to tell me where shit is if you want anything.” He knew he was pouting but it wasn't fair.
“Around the back of the house, there’s a door. I don’t have the place memorized, so you’ll have to figure it out from there. Somewhere in the house is a book room. A big one. That’s all I remember. Do you think you can do this if you have to?”
“Yeah, yeah, I can do it.” Of course he could, if there was no alarm it would be easy. Jimmy open a window and he was in, provided there wasn't any other nasty things in there.
“Okay. If we have to do it this way, what you’re looking for is pretty much anything related to the undead. If it has the word ‘sanguine’ in it, ‘varkolak’, anything like that, just grab it. Do you understand what I’m asking you to do?”
“Yeah, I'm not stupid, blood and vamp shit, I get it.” He glared at Lee, “you think I'm a fuckin’ idiot, don’t ya?”
“What? No, of course I don’t. We just don’t have time to risk any mistakes. Someone could die if we don’t get it right the first time, and if you’re caught or you grab the wrong books, we’re not going to get another chance.” Lee shook his head, “Gabe’s my best friend. I’m sorry.”
“Alright, I know my job kid, I'll get the books if you can't pull it off.” He said with a heavy sigh. The kid was gonna get himself killed one of these days, poking a bear like that.
“Okay. I trust you.” Lee smiled, giving him a quick nod before slipping out of the jeep and heading towards the house. He’d parked at the very end of a long gravel pathway, where a large willow obscured the windshield so Todd would have to crane his neck out of the window to see anything. From where he was sitting, the place kinda looked like that plantation in Gone With the Wind. Terry or something. How did one old geezer amass so much money?
He made it about fifteen minutes before losing his patience and slipping out of the jeep. Just to check out the surroundings, get a good idea of the layout if or when he had to break in. He cursed the moment his phone rang, he fumbled with it, trying to get it to shut up so he wouldn’t be found.
“What?” He hissed, holding the phone to his ear.
“Todd,” Lee. Of course. “I’m sort of stuck in here. Ruben wants me to have a drink. He’s acting funny today, I’m going to need you to sneak in and get the book. I saw one, I just can’t get to it. It’s in the library on his desk. I guess he was doing some research of his own--okay, I’ve got to go--” the phone abruptly cut off.
Well, shit.