The second dark ages box.., p.23
The Second Dark Ages Boxed Set, page 23
part #1 of The Second Dark Ages Series
“One second.” She stood up from her barstool and patted Mark on the shoulder as she stepped around him. Jacqueline turned the corner, and both guys could hear her step into the bathroom down the hall.
Michael chewed on his sandwich, Mark shrugged his shoulders at him. Michael fought to keep the grin off of his face.
“Mark?” Jacqueline’s singsong voice called to him from the hallway.
Mark turned in his chair, leaning out so his voice would be louder then shook his head at his stupidity… He had a Were here! “Yeah?” he asked.
“Can you come here for a second, I want to show you something.”
“Yeah,” he stood up. “Sure.” Mark walked around the corner. Michael could just imagine what he was about to see.
“Nope,” came Mark’s voice, very matter of fact. “Beautiful, not an ounce of unwanted or undesired fat anywhere, I completely fail to see it.”
“You… fail… to… see… any… fat?” she replied. Michael couldn’t tell if she was astonished, annoyed her prank on Mark was failing so miserably, or realizing he really loved her body just the way it was.
It wasn’t Michael’s place to tell her most guys would gaze all day at her naked body and never get tired. THAT would be inappropriate.
“Okay,” she answered contritely. “Uh, thank you.” Michael heard her shut the bathroom door softly.
When Mark came around the corner, he winked at Michael and mouthed ‘HOT!’ Michael smirked at the young man. He had played his cards very well. The older vampire raised the last bite of his sandwich in salute to Mark before he finished it off and started cleaning up the kitchen.
A minute later, Jacqueline joined them, and he turned back around, all business.
“So, I learned some things this evening when a small army of vampires came here from Europe to attack New York…”
“What?” Jacqueline interrupted.
Yeah, she got over her embarrassment very quickly, he thought. “Yes, I’ll tell you the full story later. But I need to make plans and want to be gone by the morning if possible. We,” he pointed to the three of them in a circle, “need to understand what you two,” this time, they were the only ones indicated, “are going to do going forward.”
He put up a hand. “You have options, hear me out before you choose.”
“Go with you,” Jacqueline announced. Michael looked at her and her face colored. “Uh, if that’s an option?”
“It is an option,” Michael agreed. “But the statement hear me out before you choose generally means hear me out before you choose.”
“He’s got you there,” Mark whispered before the resounding crack of her slap across his arm put an exclamation mark to the end of his sentence. Mark waited a moment before slowly reaching across with his left hand to rub the spot where she hit him.
She had never turned from looking at Michael.
“Mark, let’s start with you,” Michael said. “I’ll be traveling to Europe, which I haven’t visited in over a hundred and fifty years, to locate a powerful vampire who has dozens, if not hundreds of minions, and thousands of soldiers.”
“I’m in,” Mark announced.
“I’m not done,” Michael replied, his voice clipped. “Don’t be taking lessons on how to answer too quickly from our resident Were here.” He nodded at Jacqueline. “There is a very good chance you could be killed. There is a group of vampires, led by an honorable female who could probably use your technology skills, right here in New York. You can find the protection you need, and help a good group fight in your own town.”
Mark shrugged. “I have nothing keeping me here. My parents are dead, my sister turned me into the local Enforcers for what, money? Because she was scared? I was feeding her soup to help her recover from the flu when they crashed down the door. I don’t think I need that kind of family in my life.”
Jacqueline turned to view Mark. “You were taking care of your sister?” Mark nodded. “God, that sucks.” Mark shrugged.
“Besides,” Mark worked up a smile. “I’d be working with you, the Dark Messiah himself. Who better to help me figure out how to stop popping the stupid pills?”
“Let me try this one more time,” Michael looked straight into the young man’s eyes. “You. Could. Die!”
Mark shrugged. “I’m already dead. I died back in that alley. My sister turned me in. You’re the only reason I’m still alive! And, if I’m to have any future where I’m not a virgin? It’s with you.”
Michael tried his damnedest not to snort. Mark would be out of luck if Jacqueline decided to stay. He turned to the young female Were. “And you?”
This time, it was Jacqueline who turned introspective. “I’m just now starting to like the new me. The temptation to fall back into the old me is still there, with you I’ll continue to strive to be the person I want to be.”
Michael explained it as simply as he could a second time. “You could die.”
Jacqueline pulled herself together, sat up in her chair and looked Michael straight in the eyes. “Then I’ll die respecting myself, and I’ll meet my father with my head held high. This new me?” she motioned at herself up and down, Mark’s eyes following her finger. “This new me, I respect. And... more importantly, my father would respect.”
Michael shrugged. “So be it. You’re both old enough to make your own decisions. Mark, I can use the technological support, so don’t think I’m bringing you along just because I’m nice. You will work. Jacqueline, you will train and then train some more. You will be used on operations in the future.”
“Now, who knows what we need to use for money, and how we should go about getting it?” Michael asked them.
“Steal it,” Mark answered and then noticed both of them looking annoyed with him. He put up his hands. “No! I don’t mean take it from good people. I’m suggesting that we go to one of the bars that sell vampire blood to the rich and take it back.”
“Oh?” Michael’s eyes flashed red. “There’s a place people go to buy vampire blood?” Mark swallowed and nodded, Michael’s visage had gotten ugly, very quickly. “I’ll be happy to visit them,” he agreed.
“We need clothes,” Jacqueline mentioned, hoping to bring Michael’s annoyance back down. Note to self, she thought, Don’t talk about people selling vampire blood if you don’t want DM to pop up in the middle of a conversation.
She’d tell Mark the same thing later.
Michael’s head pivoted to her, his eyes losing their I-am-going-to-rip-someone’s-head-clean-off-their body look, and replaced with a why-do-you-need-more-clothes-now look.
She pointed at Mark. “Do Europeans dress the same way we do? And, does he have what we need to go overseas?”
Michael turned back to Mark who looked at them looking at him, and then looked down at himself. “What? I’ve got two or three pairs of something back at my place.”
“Are they clean?” she asked. When Mark didn’t reply, she added, “That’s my point.”
Mark tried to be sneaky, and sniff his shirt while he turned and faced the other direction.
“Mark will need new clothes,” Michael agreed. “But that’s because I doubt he will look the same.”
“What? Why, am I changing?” Mark asked.
“Yes,” Michael answered. “You’ll be having your nanocytes modified. I imagine they will change your body a little bit, as well.”
“Why?” Mark looked down at himself.
Michael said, “You’ll need to be able to walk in the sunlight, and this will accomplish that. The new programming in your nanocytes…”
“Programming?” Mark interjected, excitement on his face.
“Focus,” Jacqueline popped him on the arm.
“Yeah, got it, focus!” Mark rubbed his arm again. “Say, could we find a new way to get your point across?”
“Yes, but you can’t handle it, trust me,” she said, her voice a sexy kitten purr.
Mark looked sideways at her and swallowed. He turned back to Michael. “I’m sorry, nanocytes, sunlight?”
Jacqueline looked positively pleased with herself. Michael wanted to rub his face, he was too old to be a father to two young people, when killing them was the only punishment not permitted.
Michael nodded. “Yes, you will have your nanocytes reprogrammed. First thing in the morning, you two will find a place and acquire clothes for the trip. We will need transportation for the three of us.”
“Ah,” Mark put up a finger. “The winds have been pretty messed up since you were around a hundred and fifty years ago. The airships might or might not have any trips going back right now.”
“Is that so?” Michael asked, and Mark nodded. “Then I’ll have a talk with one of the captains that just came across.”
Mark shrugged. He didn’t know what captains Michael would talk to, but that wasn’t his concern at the moment.
“All right, you two get some sleep, I’ll get the money and work on passage and then we will be leaving.” He turned to Jacqueline. “No dawdling when you shop. Mark, come with me.”
Her face was a study in innocence.
Michael walked out of the kitchen, assuming he was going to find that she had pulled a fast one somehow. Mark was screwed, Michael thought, but not in a way Mark was probably hoping for.
Lucas Brzezicki, bouncer, eyed the two young women, diamond necklaces working to compete with the short... Lucas looked once more, taking in the very short rhinestone dresses they were wearing. One in white, one in black.
Yin and Yang, Lucas approved. He moved his seven foot tall, three hundred pound mountain of muscle and reached down to unhook the velvet rope, allowing the two women to cross before reaching back to hook it up again.
Michael Mysted into the club along with the two women.
Like clubs he had been in for centuries, it was dark, it was loud, and it smelled of pheromones, smoke, and alcohol.
The music wasn’t anything he recognized, but then he had slept through a few decades so perhaps it was new, something he missed.
He searched for the expected door to the back and noticed a large Russian-looking man in a black suit standing beside a blank wall.
Michael considered his next action and shrugged. He doubted the UnknownWorld was going to be undercover to the general populace for very long after the fight earlier. He made his way around the dance floor. People were still gyrating against each other after midnight. The guard turned towards Michael, taking in the white shirt, dark blue jeans and expensive looking boots he was wearing under his coat.
He leaned over so Michael could speak to him.
Michael looked out over the dance floor, ostensibly to check if anyone was watching them before he turned to the guard. “Who would I speak to regarding the blood?”
“You got the cash?” he asked.
Michael shrugged and pulled the cost of the blood out of the man’s head. It was incredible what the value of money had become once they dropped it down to strictly coins. “I’ve got it.” He pulled out a handful of change to show him.
The guard looked down and nodded. He reached over to the wall and pushed on it. Michael heard a click, and it opened up a few inches. He nodded to the guard and walked in.
Inside, the hallway was poorly lit and the carpet was worn. While the club had seemed in good shape, back here was a mess.
There were four doors in the hallway, the first on his left was open. He could hear a man talking, so Michael waited and listened. They were talking about the fight earlier.
“I don’t care, Wyznoski!” he was saying. “There were fucking vampires all over down there. What kind of shit is going on?” Michael heard a few taps of a pen. “Look, screw this. I’m done. No, you said this was a few vampires selling their blood for some money. I heard the rumors, you guys in Enforcement are sucking them dry. Now, those that you were preying on are running around killing your asses.”
There was a pause before he came back on. “Yeah? You think I’m concerned about you coming over here? No, you guys have lost it. You’re going to be running and gunning now for a while. Yeah, well, I’ll have the guys show you in, and we can talk. But before you come over, why don’t you see if you can get your building back.” The phone slammed down before the man spat, “Jackass!”
Michael took two steps and turned left into the doorway. The balding older man noticed him coming in his office. “What the hell do you…” His eyes opened wide, taking in his black trench coat and bald head. “Oh shit. You’re him!”
Michael raised an eyebrow. “Which ‘him’ are we speaking about?”
The bald man put his hands up. “Look, I don’t want any problems with you guys. I thought this blood stuff was all legit, or I wouldn’t have done it.”
Michael stepped further into the office and sat on his desk. “Louis, isn’t it?” he asked, and the man nodded. “I heard your side of the conversation a minute ago, so I understand your side. So, two questions.” He received another nod. “What do you get for money from Europe?”
“Mostly same as here, coin. Although, if you have any Euros, they might work as a single. Doesn’t matter the denomination, though.”
Well, that explained some of the inflation trade-offs.
“Where does one get this coin?”
Louis shrugged. “We get it from time to time, but it sits here. It’s easier to take it and keep the customers happy. If any of my people go to Europe, we spot them.”
“Money exchange?” Michael asked.
“Usually you get half face value because it’s such a pain,” he said.
“I see.” Michael stood up. “Your blood is going down the drain.”
“What, tonight?” Louis asked in alarm, noticing Michael’s annoyance. “Yeah, sure, tonight. That bastard Wyznoski would probably confiscate it anyway, he’ll just think I’m doing this and rough up the place. I’ll hide the good liquor.”
Michael’s smile turned malicious. “How bad do you want to keep them from damaging your club, Louis?”
The next day, Wyznoski showed up to take back the blood. After seeing the bandages, the black eyes and the sutures, Wyznoski believed Louis’s story that the Dark Messiah had been there.
After visiting two other clubs, Wyznoski decided that maybe he should get out of the blood trade as well. It wasn’t looking like it would remain a profitable operation.
Or good for his health.
Michael arrived back at his house to find the other two getting ready. Michael had shared blood with Mark, then pushed energy into him and sent him to bed earlier. Now, Mark was awake, but he was certainly tired. “I feel like I want to sleep for a month,” the younger vampire said while he was pulling on a shirt, talking to Michael who was watching him from the door.
Wearing a shirt that didn’t seem to fit him too well, Mark sat on his bed and stared at his arms. The shirt was at least a half-inch too short for him at the moment.
“Well, this is unexpected,” Michael said. “Try on your pants.”
Mark slipped his pants on. While they fit in the waist, maybe even a bit more loosely than before, the length was going to be a real problem.
Mark looked at his clothes, then up at Michael. “What’s going on?”
Michael thought back to his conversations with Bethany Anne and through her, with TOM. “Your genetics.”
Mark looked as confused as he must feel. “What’s wrong with my genetics?”
“Your genetics must have a better version of you designed in your DNA. The genes that made the original you weren’t the best choices apparently.”
“So… I’m growing again?” he asked, and Michael nodded.
“When will it stop?” he asked.
Michael shrugged. “Sometimes, people could be in the Pod-doc for a month or more. But, I wasn’t expecting you to do anything this drastic, since the Pod-doc can make proactive changes, more radical changes, and my blood shouldn’t be able to do anything like this. Frankly, this is surprising.”
“That’s not good,” Mark mumbled, looking down at himself.
Michael smirked. “Oh, it’s going to be good long term, trust me.”
“What happened to you?” Jacqueline asked, stopping in her tracks to take in her shopping partner. “Did your clothes shrink?” She started biting her lip, trying to figure out why he was so different.
He shook his head at her question.
She made a face and stepped closer to him, then grabbed his arm and pulled him next to her. She looked up, her eyes widening. “You’ve grown!” She grabbed him by his upper arm. “Flex!”
Mark made a muscle and then looked at Michael before returning his gaze to the Were. He hesitated before asking, “Are you purring?”
The purring stopped.
“No!” she replied, letting go of his arm. “Of course not. But you’re getting stronger, that means more kata work for you!” She turned quickly and went towards the stairs to go to the street level. “Let’s go shopping!” she called out before turning the corner and stepping out of sight.
“I’ll drop you two off outside. When you’re done, I’ll meet you back in the park.”
Captain Miles O’Banion was stationed ten miles off the New York City-State coast. He had been roped into the damned invasion, and now he had an airship, twenty damned Nosferatu in his hold with no vampires aboard, and fuck-all idea of what to do next.
The trip back to Europe… if he showed up empty handed and the Duke found out, would be a one-way trip... with excruciating pain at the end. Not much of an option, if you asked him. With eighteen other men and women looking to him for leadership, he wanted to ask them what the hell was he supposed to do? He had been pulled out of his home, tossed on the airship and told what to do. That he gave half a flying shit about these people looking to him was a curse, not a damned benefit for him personally.
He wouldn’t fly the Jolly Roger, that was out, and he shut up the two guys who even mentioned it. Either of them, he told both emphatically, would take a short hop off the side of the ship if they ever brought it up again.
