It didn't take long to find the building, but the office was near impossible to find. They had to track down a security guard, who showed them the small hall that was hidden by a large plastic tree. Jerry and Lucas couldn't even walk shoulder to shoulder, they had to go one at a time. At the end of the hall was a door with Kailin's name in small print at the bottom. But what interested the two detectives was that her office was in an agency for writers, athletes, and artist.
"Must be her agent's office." Lucas said, when Jerry pointed at the names of the three men above Kailin's.
Jerry opened the door, and stepped in to find that the office wasn't much bigger then the hallway. Bethany sat at her desk on the phone, and held up her index finger to him when he approached the desk. He watched the woman tap her long red nail on the desk as she listened to the person on the other line.
"Alright, Mister Wells, I'll have Mister Sanchez call you as soon as he is out of the meeting." She said, and then fell silent, listening to him. "I understand that you have a showing today, but I can't do anything when he is with someone. It won't be much longer, I promise." Again she fell silent, "Mister Wells, there is nothing that I can do. If the gallery is asking for more then what Mister Sanchez said, then he has to take care of it." She went silent once more, listening to him. "Your showing is tomorrow, and you haven't set up yet? I'll put it as urgent, I am sure it will be fixed as soon as Mister Sanchez gets out of his meeting. Goodbye." She put the phone down and looked up at Jerry and Lucas with a smile, folding her hands together on her desk.
Lucas and Jerry stood shoulder to shoulder, staring down at her.
"How can I help you today?"
Both men held up their badges, but only Lucas spoke, "We are Detective Lucas Stark, and Detective Jerry Penn. We need to speak with Miss Drake."
Bethany looked down at her appointment book, "Miss Drake is flooded with appointments until one thirty." She told them, and then looked up at the clock above the entrance.
Both men looked as well, it was nine thirteen.
"We need to speak with her immediately." Lucas said.
"Well, I am sorry, but she is busy today. If you would like to sit down and wait, then perhaps she can squeeze you in between appointments." Bethany pointed at her seats next to Mark's office.
"But…" Lucas began.
"There is nothing else I can do for you, have a seat or leave." She snapped, and then stood up.
Grabbing some paper off her desk, she walked over to Mark's office, and opened the door. "These came for you." She said, and place them on his desk on the IN pile.
"Thank you." Mark's voice said, as she shut the door.
Both Lucas and Jerry were still in front of her desk.
"Standing in front of my desk, wasn't an option." Bethany told them, as she sat back down.
Both men continued to stare at her for a moment. "You do understand that we are police officers?" Jerry asked.
Bethany looked up from her computer screen, "You do understand that I am a secretary for four people, and I have to keep this office running. The rule is clear, you do not disturb anyone while they are in a meeting unless it's life or death. Now, sit down or leave, I will not ask you again."
"What's going on?" Mark stuck his head out.
"These two men need to see Miss Drake, but they don't have an appointment. I told them to have a seat and maybe she could squeeze them in, but they insist on standing here." Bethany told him.
"Have a seat gentlemen or I can have security escort you out." Mark said, and then shut the door to his office.
Both Lucas and Jerry walked over to the plastic blue chairs. Jerry picked up a Vogue magazine and started looking through it, showing Lucas any scantily clad women he could find.
Kailin's office door opened, and a short, bald man stepped out of her office. He was dressed in a dark business suit and carrying a briefcase. "Bethany, could you do me a favor?" He asked.
"Sure, what?" She looked up from her computer screen.
"Could you fax or call my publisher, and tell him I am on the way over. Also, say that Drake gave her approval on the novel."
"Sure, Mister Riley." She smiled at him as he walked out of the office.
Lucas and Jerry looked at Bethany, "Can we see her now?"
"She may be getting organized for her next meeting, be patient."
After a couple minutes, Kailin stepped out of her office. Her hair was in a bun with curls fall down around it and around her eyes. She wore a black skirted business suit with nylons and black high heels. Stretching her arms, she smiled at Bethany.
"That man can go on for hours." Kailin said, "That's why I told you to give him a two hour slot."
Bethany chuckled, "If you have a moment, these gentlemen would like to speak with you." She pointed at Lucas and Jerry.
Kailin walked around the desk, and looked at the two men. Lucas was displeased that she didn't smile when she saw him sitting there.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
"Miss Drake, I don't know if you remember me, but…" Lucas began.
Kailin interrupted him, "Lucas Stark from Phillip's party, I remember. What is it that you need?"
"Could my partner and I talk to you in private?" he asked.
Kailin looked up at the clock, "You have about fifteen minutes until my next appointment."
Both men nodded, and Jerry responded, "That should be more then enough."
"Well?" Kailin asked, as Jerry took a seat.
"Do you recognize this man?" Lucas pulled the same picture he had shown Gabrielle out of the folder, and offered it to Kailin.
Reaching across her desk, she held it with both hands and looked at it. Like Gabrielle the image didn't seem to bother her.
"Can't say that I do." She said, and slid it across her desk to Lucas.
"That's funny, because I recognize him as the man your roommate was with the other night."
"Your memory serves you poorly. Kristian is perfectly well. Bethany can give you his phone number, if you wish to see for yourself." Kailin's eyes went over to Jerry as he coughed into his hand.
"I also found a carnation near this body, it had some similar markings to the carnation you wore at Phillip's party. There was also a gold pin in it." Lucas put the photo back into his folder.
She looked back at Lucas, "I gave my carnation to the coat drop before I left."
"He didn't mention that to me."
"Did you ask him directly?" Kailin rose her eyebrow.
"You see, Miss Drake, the carnation had a L shape cut out on one of the petals. I remember seeing that on your carnation."
"Mister Stark, do you realize how many carnations are bug eaten? Especially ones at the party, I would say it is your victim's carnation." She realized then that the body was wearing a carnation, and her logic made no sense. However, it was no use in back tracking now.
"We retrieved the victims clothes, and the carnation was intact. This was found in a nearby bush." Jerry told her.
"Then perhaps, you have another victim." Kailin reached for her blinds, and opened them as a small man walked into the main room. "My appointment is here, so if you gentlemen will excuse me." She said standing up.
Both men exited the office, and Kailin followed right behind them.
"Bethany give these gentlemen Kristian Milborough's phone number and home address if you have it." Kailin told her and walked over to the short man, "Mister Martins, please come into my office. I have some good news about the text book." Kailin headed towards her office, and her and the man disappeared behind the door.
Lucas and Jerry stood in front of Bethany's desk, as she typed away at her keyboard.
"The number, please?" Jerry asked.
Bethany looked over at him with a scowl, "I am looking it up, please be patient." She said and returned to typing, after a few moments, she grabbed a post-it note and wrote down his number and address.
Her hand snapped up with the yellow post-it note, which Lucas took from her.
"Thank you." He said.
Bethany nodded and returned to her typing.
Both men stepped out into the hallway, "Damn, she is one rude secretary." Jerry said once they got to the main hall.
"Think it was just a busy day, she was probably stressed. It isn't easy having four people relying on you and wanting everything done now." Lucas told him as he pressed the down button for the elevator.
"Nah, let's just says she's rude. It makes me feel better." Jerry chuckled as they stepped onto the elevator, "I'm hungry, lets go get some breakfast."
Besides the podium and the thirty eight men, women, and teenagers staring at him, it reminded him of prison. They were all dressed in white robes, snuggling their bibles, and waiting for him to speak. Once he had been released from prison in Los Angeles, he had come to New York using what was left of his inheritance.
He knew that Kailin was here somewhere. He was going to find her, and burn her into nothing more then ash. Watching her as she suffered, would be his ultimate pleasure. That damnable vampire had killed his father, his father's father, and every father before him.
He had few friends left after being locked away for twenty years, but he managed to find friends within this cult. A cult that believed in vampires, and believed they had to be stopped. They worshipped everything that they believe God and Damon wrote. When he first arrived he was shocked to see his letters framed and hung on the basement walls. Short stories he had written about his life had been published and placed neatly on the book cases. These people believed he was next to God, and that would come in handy.
"Welcome, my brothers and sisters." Damon began. "I am Brother Damon. Thank you for inviting me into your group home, and allowing me to become a member of your dignified organization. I am both humbled and honored that my words have been posted on the walls."
He looked across the small group, and then over to the leader, who had given up his title for Damon. He wanted Damon to order the masses, and teach them to hunt vampires. He was a middle aged man with thick black framed glasses, and a oval shaped mouth. He was of average height, but Damon never saw a stranger looking man.
"Brother Neil has asked me to train all of you in the ways of vampires. Let me start by saying that I can sense some of you are natural born vampire hunters, however very few. Most of you are humans, but make no mistake, you can become a hunter. If it is in your heart, then it doesn't need to be in your blood."
Everyone's eyes stared at him intently, they hung on every word that he spoke.
"In order to train you as hunters, you much first learn about each species of vampire. Last night, I collected three samples for you to view. There are four vampires, but the last would be too dangerous to keep caged.."
Damon nodded at Neil, who walked over to the cells they kept in the basement for punishment. He pulled the white sheets away to reveal in three out of the six cells were beings standing within them. Neil stepped away, as Damon walked closer to the cages.
"This is a Pyrrhonian vampire." He pointed to the dark haired woman, who sat on the ground staring at them.
She looked terrified, as every one tried to get a good look at her. Her red dress was torn and one bare hip hung out from the hole, her knees and elbows were scrapped.
"Looks like a woman to me." One man said.
Damon smiled, "Almost every vampire does and will, but those of you with hunters blood in your veins, you sense it." He stuck his hand through the bars.
Instantly, the woman stood up and ran towards his hand. Her fangs were out, and just as she was about to bit into Damon's flesh, his hand captured her neck. "Pyrrhonians are easy to kill, simply pierce their heart and they will fall." He pushed her head back some, "Open your mouth, beast, or die." He said to the vampire, and she did as she was told. "Their teeth hide behind their canines, and protrude when they bite their victims. Unlike another vampire type, this species only uses their teeth as knives. They ripe the flesh from their victims and suck the blood from the gapping wound."
A small girl rose her hand, and Damon looked at her.
"How is it if they leave such a large wound that they go unnoticed?"
"An excellent question, your name?" Damon shoved the vampire back, and crossed his hands in front of him.
"Lena." The blonde haired girl told him, looking down at the ground.
"Well, Lena, it's simple. The wound heals over, and as for the flesh they tear from the body, it dissolves from the vampires saliva." Damon walked to the next cell, it was a man in jeans and a black leather jacket. He stood staring at Damon with hate in his eyes. "This is a Bowery, the weakest form of vampires. The best vampire you could hope to run into as a novice. These creatures have their teeth grow as well, but their canines are already sharp and pointed. This helps you to distinguish them, quite possibly the easiest vampire to spot, and also the rarest type."
A young man stepped in front of the ground, "How do you kill them and why are they the rarest?"
Damon looked over at the bowery, who stood calmly in the center of the cell. He had reinforced the cells with holy water, and had them blessed. None of the vampires could pass through the barriers, and could only be protected in the center of the cell. "Their abdomens must be slashed and their insides must spill out. As for why they are the rarest, before the Mephistopheleans, which is the next vampire we are going to meet, were created about two hundred years ago, the Bowery were the evil species. Vampire hunters, as well as other vampires hunted them down because they were dangerous, but easy to kill. Another reason for why they are so rare is in order to create a Bowery, the creator must be devoted, as it takes three bites to a human to create another Bowery. The bites must be separated by at least twenty four hours."
He looked at the group, and when no one asked anything, he walked to the next cell. A short naked, gray being stood in the center. It's long arms and fingers laid on the ground, as it licked some of the wounds on it's left leg. "This is a Mephistophelean or Mephis, for short. As you can see they are easily identifiable, as they have almost no human features at all. Their fangs always are showing, and they are extremely dangerous. Though they are the hardest vampire to make, they are the most common, which is worst then the fourth type ruling the vampire world." Damon looked at everyone as they stared in horror at the monster before them, he realized then that some didn't truly believe in vampires until that moment.
"In order to kill a Mephis, you must remove their head. It's also safer to bury their head and hang the body upside down so that the blood drains. The body won't completely disintegrate until most of the blood is gone."
"How are they the hardest to make?"
Damon turned to look at the young man again, "You need a bowery or a Mephis, who isn't willing to kill their victim, and a Hallowed. After the bowery or the Mephis bites twice, then Hallowed must make the third puncture. Some of you may ask why a Hallowed would create it's own enemy. It is believed that they are kept as prisoners."
"I don't have a Hallowed, because they are tricky to keep as they are stronger and not afraid of the same things as these other three vampires. They are the hardest to spot, as they look very human. They only make two puncture wounds that heal instantly, and they are smart. Even the strongest of vampire hunters is brought down by a Hallowed, if you see one run as fast as you can. Odds are they won't chase you, if you are lucky enough not to have pissed them off."
Damon looked over at Neil, who began to tack the sheet back up. He walked back over to the podium and everyone followed, "I think that is enough for today, I must kill these creatures before they find a way out. For my more advanced hunters, I am inviting you to join me on a hunt tonight. I turn the rest of this lecture over to Neil, he will answer your questions. Anything he can not answer, you can pose to me next we meet."
With that Damon stepped down and walked over to the cells, he heard the chatter as people began attacking Neil with questions. He grinned, knowing that these people would indeed help him get justice for his family. It wouldn't be long before Kailin paid her debt owed to his clan. He gave the group one more look over and then stepped behind the white sheet.
She sighed, when she was a human, those words wouldn't make sense to anyone who wasn't a vampire. She wished that she never had to speak them, she wished that she would of grown old and died as Madam Caitlyn Bramwell, wife of Duke Nathaniel Bramwell. Nathaniel, the strong, powerful, loving man, who adored everything about her. His dark brown eyes would remained burned in her memory forever. She remembered how he would tell her that he would marry her when they were children, and how she thought he was such a silly boy. She was a Squire's daughter, and he was a Duke's eldest son, it was practically unheard of.
He was her best friend though, and she loved spending time with him. Three weeks before her sixteenth birthday, she found her mother sobbing in her bedroom. Caitlyn asked her what was wrong for several minutes, until she finally told her that Caitlyn would be wed to Nathaniel on her birthday. She had no idea that eight years before, Nathaniel had asked for her hand and her father had accepted.
They were wed, and Nathaniel couldn't of been a better husband. Other women told her how lucky she was to have such a kind, loving man. Kailin couldn't see it. Even when he laid next to her the day she discovered she lost her pregnancy, he stroked her hair and told her that it would be alright. Kailin could only think that the vile man couldn't wait to try to force a child on her again.
For some reason, her best friend, and the very man she dreamt about marrying when she was a child was now her enemy. She wished pain and death on him, but it never came, not while she was human.
It wasn't long into the marriage before Kailin locked herself away, and only accepted visits from her younger sister. And time seemed to pass by so slowly, until the day she met with Lord Zdenek. He did this to her, and left her with all the questions and none of the answers. She ran away to America to be away from those she loved, least she hurt them. It was after becoming a vampire that she realized how wonderful Nathaniel truly was, but it was too late. She was no longer the human girl anymore, and no matter how much she fought to become one it would never be.
When she returned to England to be with her dying sister, she mourned that she never told Nathaniel how she felt. It was too late and all she could do was visit his grave, but there were more important tasks at hand. Her sister was dying, and when she saved her from the Bowery's grasp, she returned back to America with her sister.
Twenty years later she met Samuel, a handsome city guard, who would trip over himself whenever he saw that she was near. She couldn't help but fall in love, vampire or not. Sadly, during the battle with the Mephis, he died. She tried to turn him, but he couldn't be saved. She left his body in the burning house with Anthony, her sister's first turn and lover. That night watching the house burn, she thought for sure that the Mephis were over. Anthony was the only intelligent Mephis that had been made, but now she realized that probably to protect her children that her sister had lied to her.
After Samuel, she promised never to love any one again. She only brought death to those that she loved. With James Stark, she had to stop herself from allowing those feelings into her heart again. It had saved him from death, but from what she heard from Lucas, his fate was now worse then death.
She heard Gabrielle's bedroom door open, and she shut the blinds, and smiled at her red-headed friend as she turned around.
"Nathaniel was your true love, Kai." Gabrielle said, she had been reading her mind.
Kailin frowned that she had been so disrespectful of her privacy.
"Don't think so loud, and I won't have to listen." Gabrielle said before she continued, "But even some believe in reincarnation, maybe he has come back for you. I believe that some love can be so strong that not even death itself can stop it." Gabrielle half grinned, "I need a glass of water." She skipped into the kitchen.
When Gabrielle returned to the dinning room, she looked at Kailin who was staring at her feet.
"Damon is within the city, I can sense his foul blood." Kailin told her.
Gabrielle nodded, "So can I. Don't worry though, this time, we will get him." She said no more, just turned and walked back into her bedroom.
Kailin watched the door shut, then reopened the blinds. She hadn't thought about James, Samuel, or Nathaniel in such a long time, it had to be Damon and Lucas stirring up the memories that she would like to forget.
Kailin put the script down and looked at her, "Don't you ever go to work?"
Gabrielle grinned, "I have the night off, you want to go out with me?"
"No." She said and went back to the script.
Reaching over, Gabrielle snatched it from her hands. "I know this really great place with dancing and lots and lots of dinner yum yums to choose from."
She took the script back, "Ask Kristian." She said and began to read again.
Gabrielle grabbed the script and threw it behind her, it was stapled together, which Kailin was glad for. She gave her red-head companion an angry expression.
"Good, go get all prettied up. It won't take more then an hour or two, I promise."
"You'll abandon me, I can be abandon and alone right here."
"Kai." Gabrielle's voice was deep and serious.
Kailin sighed, "God damn it!" She shot out of her stool and headed towards her bedroom, "I swear to you…" She started and then shut the door.
Gabrielle could of heard her from beyond that, but decided she didn't want to let Kailin's temper tantrum bring her down. After a moment, Kailin stuck her heard out to find Gabrielle sitting at the couch.
"Are you going to get ready?"
She nodded, "Yes, I was just waiting for you to come out, so I could tell you that you need to change." She smiled.
"What should I wear?"
Gabrielle tapped her chin with her index finger for a moment, "Something whorish." She said with a smile, and then popped up from the couch.
"Whorish? Maybe I'm looking in the wrong closet."
She glared at her, as she opened her bedroom door.
Kailin searched her room for something "whorish", she finally decided on an outfit that Gabrielle had bought her a couple years before. Black leather pants and a black bra with a mesh, see-through shirt over it, and her leather boots to tie off the whole ensemble.
Gabrielle waited in the living room with a similar outfit. But in red and with a mini skirt and thigh boots. She smiled at her, "You look so much more sexy and friendly in that outfit, you should wear that to work."
Kailin looked herself over, "Maybe if I had your job."
She laughed loudly, "Oh, I would love to see you dancing around that pole, Kai. I would just die to see that."
"Let's go, the last thing I want is Misses Kraig to see us in these."
Gabrielle nodded, and they both grabbed their purses and headed out of the apartment.
Chapter 8: http://rkphunt.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=187
"Must be her agent's office." Lucas said, when Jerry pointed at the names of the three men above Kailin's.
Jerry opened the door, and stepped in to find that the office wasn't much bigger then the hallway. Bethany sat at her desk on the phone, and held up her index finger to him when he approached the desk. He watched the woman tap her long red nail on the desk as she listened to the person on the other line.
"Alright, Mister Wells, I'll have Mister Sanchez call you as soon as he is out of the meeting." She said, and then fell silent, listening to him. "I understand that you have a showing today, but I can't do anything when he is with someone. It won't be much longer, I promise." Again she fell silent, "Mister Wells, there is nothing that I can do. If the gallery is asking for more then what Mister Sanchez said, then he has to take care of it." She went silent once more, listening to him. "Your showing is tomorrow, and you haven't set up yet? I'll put it as urgent, I am sure it will be fixed as soon as Mister Sanchez gets out of his meeting. Goodbye." She put the phone down and looked up at Jerry and Lucas with a smile, folding her hands together on her desk.
Lucas and Jerry stood shoulder to shoulder, staring down at her.
"How can I help you today?"
Both men held up their badges, but only Lucas spoke, "We are Detective Lucas Stark, and Detective Jerry Penn. We need to speak with Miss Drake."
Bethany looked down at her appointment book, "Miss Drake is flooded with appointments until one thirty." She told them, and then looked up at the clock above the entrance.
Both men looked as well, it was nine thirteen.
"We need to speak with her immediately." Lucas said.
"Well, I am sorry, but she is busy today. If you would like to sit down and wait, then perhaps she can squeeze you in between appointments." Bethany pointed at her seats next to Mark's office.
"But…" Lucas began.
"There is nothing else I can do for you, have a seat or leave." She snapped, and then stood up.
Grabbing some paper off her desk, she walked over to Mark's office, and opened the door. "These came for you." She said, and place them on his desk on the IN pile.
"Thank you." Mark's voice said, as she shut the door.
Both Lucas and Jerry were still in front of her desk.
"Standing in front of my desk, wasn't an option." Bethany told them, as she sat back down.
Both men continued to stare at her for a moment. "You do understand that we are police officers?" Jerry asked.
Bethany looked up from her computer screen, "You do understand that I am a secretary for four people, and I have to keep this office running. The rule is clear, you do not disturb anyone while they are in a meeting unless it's life or death. Now, sit down or leave, I will not ask you again."
"What's going on?" Mark stuck his head out.
"These two men need to see Miss Drake, but they don't have an appointment. I told them to have a seat and maybe she could squeeze them in, but they insist on standing here." Bethany told him.
"Have a seat gentlemen or I can have security escort you out." Mark said, and then shut the door to his office.
Both Lucas and Jerry walked over to the plastic blue chairs. Jerry picked up a Vogue magazine and started looking through it, showing Lucas any scantily clad women he could find.
Kailin's office door opened, and a short, bald man stepped out of her office. He was dressed in a dark business suit and carrying a briefcase. "Bethany, could you do me a favor?" He asked.
"Sure, what?" She looked up from her computer screen.
"Could you fax or call my publisher, and tell him I am on the way over. Also, say that Drake gave her approval on the novel."
"Sure, Mister Riley." She smiled at him as he walked out of the office.
Lucas and Jerry looked at Bethany, "Can we see her now?"
"She may be getting organized for her next meeting, be patient."
After a couple minutes, Kailin stepped out of her office. Her hair was in a bun with curls fall down around it and around her eyes. She wore a black skirted business suit with nylons and black high heels. Stretching her arms, she smiled at Bethany.
"That man can go on for hours." Kailin said, "That's why I told you to give him a two hour slot."
Bethany chuckled, "If you have a moment, these gentlemen would like to speak with you." She pointed at Lucas and Jerry.
Kailin walked around the desk, and looked at the two men. Lucas was displeased that she didn't smile when she saw him sitting there.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
"Miss Drake, I don't know if you remember me, but…" Lucas began.
Kailin interrupted him, "Lucas Stark from Phillip's party, I remember. What is it that you need?"
"Could my partner and I talk to you in private?" he asked.
Kailin looked up at the clock, "You have about fifteen minutes until my next appointment."
Both men nodded, and Jerry responded, "That should be more then enough."
---***---
Kailin walked around her desk, and took a seat in her computer chair. Lucas came into the small office first, and tried to walk around the first small plastic chair in front of her desk. He sat in the second one, and looked over at Jerry. He was staring into the room, seeming to decide if he wanted to enter or not. Finally, he took a deep breath and stepped inside. There was barely enough room for him to shut the door, he had to scrap the door across his chest."Well?" Kailin asked, as Jerry took a seat.
"Do you recognize this man?" Lucas pulled the same picture he had shown Gabrielle out of the folder, and offered it to Kailin.
Reaching across her desk, she held it with both hands and looked at it. Like Gabrielle the image didn't seem to bother her.
"Can't say that I do." She said, and slid it across her desk to Lucas.
"That's funny, because I recognize him as the man your roommate was with the other night."
"Your memory serves you poorly. Kristian is perfectly well. Bethany can give you his phone number, if you wish to see for yourself." Kailin's eyes went over to Jerry as he coughed into his hand.
"I also found a carnation near this body, it had some similar markings to the carnation you wore at Phillip's party. There was also a gold pin in it." Lucas put the photo back into his folder.
She looked back at Lucas, "I gave my carnation to the coat drop before I left."
"He didn't mention that to me."
"Did you ask him directly?" Kailin rose her eyebrow.
"You see, Miss Drake, the carnation had a L shape cut out on one of the petals. I remember seeing that on your carnation."
"Mister Stark, do you realize how many carnations are bug eaten? Especially ones at the party, I would say it is your victim's carnation." She realized then that the body was wearing a carnation, and her logic made no sense. However, it was no use in back tracking now.
"We retrieved the victims clothes, and the carnation was intact. This was found in a nearby bush." Jerry told her.
"Then perhaps, you have another victim." Kailin reached for her blinds, and opened them as a small man walked into the main room. "My appointment is here, so if you gentlemen will excuse me." She said standing up.
Both men exited the office, and Kailin followed right behind them.
"Bethany give these gentlemen Kristian Milborough's phone number and home address if you have it." Kailin told her and walked over to the short man, "Mister Martins, please come into my office. I have some good news about the text book." Kailin headed towards her office, and her and the man disappeared behind the door.
Lucas and Jerry stood in front of Bethany's desk, as she typed away at her keyboard.
"The number, please?" Jerry asked.
Bethany looked over at him with a scowl, "I am looking it up, please be patient." She said and returned to typing, after a few moments, she grabbed a post-it note and wrote down his number and address.
Her hand snapped up with the yellow post-it note, which Lucas took from her.
"Thank you." He said.
Bethany nodded and returned to her typing.
Both men stepped out into the hallway, "Damn, she is one rude secretary." Jerry said once they got to the main hall.
"Think it was just a busy day, she was probably stressed. It isn't easy having four people relying on you and wanting everything done now." Lucas told him as he pressed the down button for the elevator.
"Nah, let's just says she's rude. It makes me feel better." Jerry chuckled as they stepped onto the elevator, "I'm hungry, lets go get some breakfast."
---***---
Damon stood in the cold, cement basement. He ran his fingers over his face, feeling the three scars on his cheeks. His hair was a dark gray, and his skin now wrinkled from old age. He wore the cult's white robe that they had offered him.Besides the podium and the thirty eight men, women, and teenagers staring at him, it reminded him of prison. They were all dressed in white robes, snuggling their bibles, and waiting for him to speak. Once he had been released from prison in Los Angeles, he had come to New York using what was left of his inheritance.
He knew that Kailin was here somewhere. He was going to find her, and burn her into nothing more then ash. Watching her as she suffered, would be his ultimate pleasure. That damnable vampire had killed his father, his father's father, and every father before him.
He had few friends left after being locked away for twenty years, but he managed to find friends within this cult. A cult that believed in vampires, and believed they had to be stopped. They worshipped everything that they believe God and Damon wrote. When he first arrived he was shocked to see his letters framed and hung on the basement walls. Short stories he had written about his life had been published and placed neatly on the book cases. These people believed he was next to God, and that would come in handy.
"Welcome, my brothers and sisters." Damon began. "I am Brother Damon. Thank you for inviting me into your group home, and allowing me to become a member of your dignified organization. I am both humbled and honored that my words have been posted on the walls."
He looked across the small group, and then over to the leader, who had given up his title for Damon. He wanted Damon to order the masses, and teach them to hunt vampires. He was a middle aged man with thick black framed glasses, and a oval shaped mouth. He was of average height, but Damon never saw a stranger looking man.
"Brother Neil has asked me to train all of you in the ways of vampires. Let me start by saying that I can sense some of you are natural born vampire hunters, however very few. Most of you are humans, but make no mistake, you can become a hunter. If it is in your heart, then it doesn't need to be in your blood."
Everyone's eyes stared at him intently, they hung on every word that he spoke.
"In order to train you as hunters, you much first learn about each species of vampire. Last night, I collected three samples for you to view. There are four vampires, but the last would be too dangerous to keep caged.."
Damon nodded at Neil, who walked over to the cells they kept in the basement for punishment. He pulled the white sheets away to reveal in three out of the six cells were beings standing within them. Neil stepped away, as Damon walked closer to the cages.
"This is a Pyrrhonian vampire." He pointed to the dark haired woman, who sat on the ground staring at them.
She looked terrified, as every one tried to get a good look at her. Her red dress was torn and one bare hip hung out from the hole, her knees and elbows were scrapped.
"Looks like a woman to me." One man said.
Damon smiled, "Almost every vampire does and will, but those of you with hunters blood in your veins, you sense it." He stuck his hand through the bars.
Instantly, the woman stood up and ran towards his hand. Her fangs were out, and just as she was about to bit into Damon's flesh, his hand captured her neck. "Pyrrhonians are easy to kill, simply pierce their heart and they will fall." He pushed her head back some, "Open your mouth, beast, or die." He said to the vampire, and she did as she was told. "Their teeth hide behind their canines, and protrude when they bite their victims. Unlike another vampire type, this species only uses their teeth as knives. They ripe the flesh from their victims and suck the blood from the gapping wound."
A small girl rose her hand, and Damon looked at her.
"How is it if they leave such a large wound that they go unnoticed?"
"An excellent question, your name?" Damon shoved the vampire back, and crossed his hands in front of him.
"Lena." The blonde haired girl told him, looking down at the ground.
"Well, Lena, it's simple. The wound heals over, and as for the flesh they tear from the body, it dissolves from the vampires saliva." Damon walked to the next cell, it was a man in jeans and a black leather jacket. He stood staring at Damon with hate in his eyes. "This is a Bowery, the weakest form of vampires. The best vampire you could hope to run into as a novice. These creatures have their teeth grow as well, but their canines are already sharp and pointed. This helps you to distinguish them, quite possibly the easiest vampire to spot, and also the rarest type."
A young man stepped in front of the ground, "How do you kill them and why are they the rarest?"
Damon looked over at the bowery, who stood calmly in the center of the cell. He had reinforced the cells with holy water, and had them blessed. None of the vampires could pass through the barriers, and could only be protected in the center of the cell. "Their abdomens must be slashed and their insides must spill out. As for why they are the rarest, before the Mephistopheleans, which is the next vampire we are going to meet, were created about two hundred years ago, the Bowery were the evil species. Vampire hunters, as well as other vampires hunted them down because they were dangerous, but easy to kill. Another reason for why they are so rare is in order to create a Bowery, the creator must be devoted, as it takes three bites to a human to create another Bowery. The bites must be separated by at least twenty four hours."
He looked at the group, and when no one asked anything, he walked to the next cell. A short naked, gray being stood in the center. It's long arms and fingers laid on the ground, as it licked some of the wounds on it's left leg. "This is a Mephistophelean or Mephis, for short. As you can see they are easily identifiable, as they have almost no human features at all. Their fangs always are showing, and they are extremely dangerous. Though they are the hardest vampire to make, they are the most common, which is worst then the fourth type ruling the vampire world." Damon looked at everyone as they stared in horror at the monster before them, he realized then that some didn't truly believe in vampires until that moment.
"In order to kill a Mephis, you must remove their head. It's also safer to bury their head and hang the body upside down so that the blood drains. The body won't completely disintegrate until most of the blood is gone."
"How are they the hardest to make?"
Damon turned to look at the young man again, "You need a bowery or a Mephis, who isn't willing to kill their victim, and a Hallowed. After the bowery or the Mephis bites twice, then Hallowed must make the third puncture. Some of you may ask why a Hallowed would create it's own enemy. It is believed that they are kept as prisoners."
"I don't have a Hallowed, because they are tricky to keep as they are stronger and not afraid of the same things as these other three vampires. They are the hardest to spot, as they look very human. They only make two puncture wounds that heal instantly, and they are smart. Even the strongest of vampire hunters is brought down by a Hallowed, if you see one run as fast as you can. Odds are they won't chase you, if you are lucky enough not to have pissed them off."
Damon looked over at Neil, who began to tack the sheet back up. He walked back over to the podium and everyone followed, "I think that is enough for today, I must kill these creatures before they find a way out. For my more advanced hunters, I am inviting you to join me on a hunt tonight. I turn the rest of this lecture over to Neil, he will answer your questions. Anything he can not answer, you can pose to me next we meet."
With that Damon stepped down and walked over to the cells, he heard the chatter as people began attacking Neil with questions. He grinned, knowing that these people would indeed help him get justice for his family. It wouldn't be long before Kailin paid her debt owed to his clan. He gave the group one more look over and then stepped behind the white sheet.
---***---
Kailin had returned home that afternoon, when she entered Gabrielle was still sound asleep in her room. She placed her guns on the breakfast bar, and walked over to the large window. Lifting up the blinds, she looked over the great city. Sky scrappers as far as the eye could see, how things had changed since she was a human.She sighed, when she was a human, those words wouldn't make sense to anyone who wasn't a vampire. She wished that she never had to speak them, she wished that she would of grown old and died as Madam Caitlyn Bramwell, wife of Duke Nathaniel Bramwell. Nathaniel, the strong, powerful, loving man, who adored everything about her. His dark brown eyes would remained burned in her memory forever. She remembered how he would tell her that he would marry her when they were children, and how she thought he was such a silly boy. She was a Squire's daughter, and he was a Duke's eldest son, it was practically unheard of.
He was her best friend though, and she loved spending time with him. Three weeks before her sixteenth birthday, she found her mother sobbing in her bedroom. Caitlyn asked her what was wrong for several minutes, until she finally told her that Caitlyn would be wed to Nathaniel on her birthday. She had no idea that eight years before, Nathaniel had asked for her hand and her father had accepted.
They were wed, and Nathaniel couldn't of been a better husband. Other women told her how lucky she was to have such a kind, loving man. Kailin couldn't see it. Even when he laid next to her the day she discovered she lost her pregnancy, he stroked her hair and told her that it would be alright. Kailin could only think that the vile man couldn't wait to try to force a child on her again.
For some reason, her best friend, and the very man she dreamt about marrying when she was a child was now her enemy. She wished pain and death on him, but it never came, not while she was human.
It wasn't long into the marriage before Kailin locked herself away, and only accepted visits from her younger sister. And time seemed to pass by so slowly, until the day she met with Lord Zdenek. He did this to her, and left her with all the questions and none of the answers. She ran away to America to be away from those she loved, least she hurt them. It was after becoming a vampire that she realized how wonderful Nathaniel truly was, but it was too late. She was no longer the human girl anymore, and no matter how much she fought to become one it would never be.
When she returned to England to be with her dying sister, she mourned that she never told Nathaniel how she felt. It was too late and all she could do was visit his grave, but there were more important tasks at hand. Her sister was dying, and when she saved her from the Bowery's grasp, she returned back to America with her sister.
Twenty years later she met Samuel, a handsome city guard, who would trip over himself whenever he saw that she was near. She couldn't help but fall in love, vampire or not. Sadly, during the battle with the Mephis, he died. She tried to turn him, but he couldn't be saved. She left his body in the burning house with Anthony, her sister's first turn and lover. That night watching the house burn, she thought for sure that the Mephis were over. Anthony was the only intelligent Mephis that had been made, but now she realized that probably to protect her children that her sister had lied to her.
After Samuel, she promised never to love any one again. She only brought death to those that she loved. With James Stark, she had to stop herself from allowing those feelings into her heart again. It had saved him from death, but from what she heard from Lucas, his fate was now worse then death.
She heard Gabrielle's bedroom door open, and she shut the blinds, and smiled at her red-headed friend as she turned around.
"Nathaniel was your true love, Kai." Gabrielle said, she had been reading her mind.
Kailin frowned that she had been so disrespectful of her privacy.
"Don't think so loud, and I won't have to listen." Gabrielle said before she continued, "But even some believe in reincarnation, maybe he has come back for you. I believe that some love can be so strong that not even death itself can stop it." Gabrielle half grinned, "I need a glass of water." She skipped into the kitchen.
When Gabrielle returned to the dinning room, she looked at Kailin who was staring at her feet.
"Damon is within the city, I can sense his foul blood." Kailin told her.
Gabrielle nodded, "So can I. Don't worry though, this time, we will get him." She said no more, just turned and walked back into her bedroom.
Kailin watched the door shut, then reopened the blinds. She hadn't thought about James, Samuel, or Nathaniel in such a long time, it had to be Damon and Lucas stirring up the memories that she would like to forget.
---***---
Night fell and Gabrielle exited her room. Kailin was at the breakfast bar reading a script. Without a word, she made her way over to the stool to sit next to her friend, and began reading over her shoulder.Kailin put the script down and looked at her, "Don't you ever go to work?"
Gabrielle grinned, "I have the night off, you want to go out with me?"
"No." She said and went back to the script.
Reaching over, Gabrielle snatched it from her hands. "I know this really great place with dancing and lots and lots of dinner yum yums to choose from."
She took the script back, "Ask Kristian." She said and began to read again.
Gabrielle grabbed the script and threw it behind her, it was stapled together, which Kailin was glad for. She gave her red-head companion an angry expression.
"Good, go get all prettied up. It won't take more then an hour or two, I promise."
"You'll abandon me, I can be abandon and alone right here."
"Kai." Gabrielle's voice was deep and serious.
Kailin sighed, "God damn it!" She shot out of her stool and headed towards her bedroom, "I swear to you…" She started and then shut the door.
Gabrielle could of heard her from beyond that, but decided she didn't want to let Kailin's temper tantrum bring her down. After a moment, Kailin stuck her heard out to find Gabrielle sitting at the couch.
"Are you going to get ready?"
She nodded, "Yes, I was just waiting for you to come out, so I could tell you that you need to change." She smiled.
"What should I wear?"
Gabrielle tapped her chin with her index finger for a moment, "Something whorish." She said with a smile, and then popped up from the couch.
"Whorish? Maybe I'm looking in the wrong closet."
She glared at her, as she opened her bedroom door.
Kailin searched her room for something "whorish", she finally decided on an outfit that Gabrielle had bought her a couple years before. Black leather pants and a black bra with a mesh, see-through shirt over it, and her leather boots to tie off the whole ensemble.
Gabrielle waited in the living room with a similar outfit. But in red and with a mini skirt and thigh boots. She smiled at her, "You look so much more sexy and friendly in that outfit, you should wear that to work."
Kailin looked herself over, "Maybe if I had your job."
She laughed loudly, "Oh, I would love to see you dancing around that pole, Kai. I would just die to see that."
"Let's go, the last thing I want is Misses Kraig to see us in these."
Gabrielle nodded, and they both grabbed their purses and headed out of the apartment.
Chapter 8: http://rkphunt.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=187