Chapter Six - The Request

Josephine stared at the thick book on her walnut colored coffee table. The books were flipped to where a blood-colored bookmark was placed. On the open page was a Polaroid picture of Father George glued on. A giant red ‘X’ graced the picture.

“And what number would that be?” asked Telera from the kitchen.

“Two. Barely scratching the list,” said Josephine. She turned around in time to see Telera placed a plate on the bar. “Thank you for making dinner.”

“Well, I had to considering your arm and your stubbornness to go to the Golden Arches to heal up faster,” said Telera as she eyed Josephine’s left arm in a sling.

Somehow they managed to escape their safe house with only a few scratches and a broken arm.

“In case Leora is there. She might recognize me. I wasn’t sure if maybe she saw me during the battle,” sighed Josephine.

They were in the middle of interrogating Leora when the vampires busted through their safe house. She had no idea how that happened since she was sure Telera and her had covered their tracks. It was almost as if someone told them. Mentally, she shook her head. Telera would never betray her. She had no reason to.

She stood up and started walking to the bar where a plate of roasted chicken breast over potatoes waited for her. She had drunk holy water earlier and in a few hours her arm would be fully healed. Her stomach growled when she reached the bar.

“I looked over the security videos. She had assistance,” said Telera. She took out her phone and played a video for Josephine to watch.

“Did you run a face profile on the boy?” asked Josephine. She started eating her meal with a fork.

“Yup, ran his face through the DMV records. His name is Elijah Lee Sagittarus. Son of Carmen Lee Sagittarus,” said Telera.

“I don’t care who he is the son of—oh, it’s somebody I shouldn’t mess with?” said Josephine. She stopped mid bite at the look that Telera gave. It was the look where something important was being explained that she really should listen.

“She’s one of the ‘No-Touch-People’ I told you way before when you nestled yourself in San Francisco,” said Telera. She rolled her eyes. It was hardly the first time she had to repeat herself to Josephine. “She is the High Priestess of the West Coast Coven.”

“Ah, yeah, I remembered.” Josephine gobbled down a couple of bites of her food. She waved her fork in the air. “Hmm, now here’s a thought. Do you think the vampires and witches here teamed up to make a vampire that walks in daylight?” she asked.

“Highly doubt it,” said Telera. She looked over to the video on her smartphone and watched Elijah blast another vampire with energy, “I would think this boy wouldn’t need to break out his friend if that were the case?”

“Could be bad blood. Wouldn’t be the first time the witches and vampires backstabbed each other,” said Josephine before putting down her fork. “Your take then?”

“On?” smiled Telera.

“Leora,” said Josephine.

Telera grinned. She spoke with a slight tilt in her voice. “I believe Leora was speaking of the truth. Like I said, she seems nice. Yours?”

“Hmm, yeah,” drawled Josephine. She rubbed her chin. “She didn’t really struggle when she woke up. Most of the time, they’d try to spit at me. So kudos for that. Save for her sun immunity, she’s a basic vampire. I suppose that's a good thing? A master vampire immune to daylight would be interesting if I were still hunting them.”

“Yes, very much so,” said Telera, shaking her head. “Speaking of Master Vampire, I think you should lie low. Elizabeth would be looking for you.”

“Oh, her?” frowned Josephine. She recalled her bomb going off and the master vampire disappearing. “She wasn’t even there. Just projected herself and let her henchmen do all the work.”

“That is why she is the only master vampire here in San Francisco,” said Telera. “Count your blessings you didn’t have to deal with Axel too.”

“He noticed anything?” asked Josephine. Axel was the alpha of the ruling pack, the Moonbloods, in San Francisco.

“Nope. So long as we don’t crap his drug ring. He’s good with us,” said Telera. She put her elbows on the bar and rested her chin on her hands. “So, back to your favorite subject: Leora.”

Josephine rolled her eyes. “I know what you’re getting at. I am not really interested in that vampire.”

“Uh, huh. That why you asked her out?” teased Telera.

“Oh c’mon, it was you always telling me to go have fun, and I was doing that. Just didn’t expect fun to be a vampire,” lamented Josephine.

Telera laughed. “True. You have terrible luck. Eh, at least she’s cute and sunproof. Maybe the two of you can go to the beach next time. ”

“Oh, did I mention that she epically failed to hypnotize me never to date her again?” chuckled Josephine.

“Ouch,” said Telera and shook her head. “Not surprised. You were drunk.”

Josephine raised her hands. “You win,” “she said. Then she went somber. “Let’s get back to my actual favorite subject, Elizabeth. I was thinking that perhaps this Elizabeth gets a little famous. News about a series of killings where bodies have an odd pair of puncture wounds on the neck. Maybe even tie it in with a recent diocese death of a certain priest. Something that would make my next target decide to come to San Francisco to investigate. My contacts seemed unable to locate her currently. Last known place she was seen was in South America. She probably went into hiding after hearing about Father George.”

“No Elizabeth, please. She’s a very dangerous vampire and a reason why it takes both a witch coven and a wolf pack to keep her in check,” said Telera and quickly moved on before Josephine could reply. “How about you take this time to recharge until your next target comes out of hiding or we get more info? Like I said, all work and no play--”

“Makes for a dead hunter,” said Josephine. She cleaned her plate of the remaining food.

Telera rolled her eyes once more. “Way to hijack a saying.” She took the now empty plate from Josephine and placed it in the sink behind her.

“I think we should keep an eye on both Leora and House Eagle,” said Josephine  as her eyes trailed to the refrigerator. Did she have any beer left? “Strictly observing them.”

Telera shook her head. She knew Josephine wasn’t going to listen to her and just relax. “Just be careful of vampires,” she cautioned.

“Durr, I know. I am a hunter,” grinned Josephine.

***

Leora’s manager wasn’t happy that she could not do night shift for a few months.

“What kind of illness did your aunt have again?” asked Jones.

He hovered behind Leora like a ghost.

“Albimastocraniumo,” she said quickly. “Look, I am just trying to help out family until they settle. Then I get right back to night shift.” She observed her manager’s poker faced expression. She may have to hit Jones with a hypnotic stare if he doesn’t buy into her lie.

“Fine, but I want a timeline. I really need you at the night shift,” said Jones before going off to assist another of his underling. “Oh, and can you get me a large coke drink too?” he called back.

Leora let out a sigh before putting on her mic and earpiece. She started pouring into a large styrofoam cup a coke as she was on drive-thru duty today. "Welcome to the Golden Arches! Happily serving over a billion orders. What is your order today?" she said, hearing the rolling of tires stop right at the order speaker. Without looking at the little screen that showed the faces of customers at the order speaker, she waited for a minute expecting a greeting or a start of an order.

There was no response.

“What is your order again?” said Leora, barely putting on the lid for the coke.

“No shitting way,” said a voice through Leora’s earpiece.

Leora froze, instantly recognizing the voice. She slowly turned the screen and was horrified to see an extra pale Elizabeth with thick dark sunglasses in a brown, heavily tinted, sedan.

Elizabeth shook her head, her thick red curls bouncing with indignation. "Have you no shame? No dignity?"

“How did you find me?” gulped Leora. Where was her phone? She mentally groaned as she realized she had accidentally left it at the apartment today.

"A little birdy told me. I couldn’t believe them when they told me that you work here so I came to see it for myself," said Elizabeth. "Why are you wasting your time serving humans when they should be serving you?"

"Because I need money?" said Leora. She had come to realize that money was everything here and the means to gaining power in this world.

“Does your master not supply you? Are you abandon?” asked Elizabeth rapidly. She leaned a little forward toward the intercom video. “Is it because that hunter put you to this? What a horrible bitch. Should’ve just put your life out.”

“I don’t have a master nor do I work for this hunter,” answered Leora angrily. The sun was blazing high in the sky, and she took note of that. “The sun not bothering you?” she asked.

“A very thick layer of the finest sunblock and triple thick sunglasses,” answered Elizabeth sarcastically. She leaned back into her seat and cocked a half-hearted smile. “Apparently, you don’t need it at all.”

Leora saw, for an instant, Elizabeth flickered like the screen of an antenna tv that couldn’t get reception. This wasn’t the real Elizabeth and somehow the master vampire was projecting herself in the car. However, who was driving the car? A ghost?

“Hey, Leora, is that drink ready?” yelled Jones in the back.

“Yes, sorry. I am having one of those customers,” yelled back Leora. She turned back to the screen. “Give me a moment.”

“Be quick, the sunblock only lasts for so long,” sneered Elizabeth. Then she added, “Don’t make me wait and hope I’ll go away. I know where you live too.”

Leora bit her lower lip as she turned around and gave the large coke to a co-worker who then promptly took the drink to the front. She returned to the screen. “Okay, I said I was sorry for punching Aric,” she apologized.

“He doesn’t matter,” brushed off Elizabeth. “Look, I’ve come here for a proposition. Best if you and your witch companion come to my place tonight. You will not be harmed—for the moment.”

There was a honk. Elizabeth whipped around through her open window. “Fuck you! I am having a conversation here!” she screamed.

“Look, I need to wrap this up or else my boss may fire me. So, if I agree to come to your place, then you will leave? Like now,” said Leora. She pulled at her collar nervously.

“Of course. Details already sent to your friend. See you soon,” said Elizabeth before driving off.

Leora slapped her forehead and groaned.

A black mustang with missing doors pulled up into her screen.

“Yo, you forgot your phone,” said Elijah in a deadpan voice.

Leora groaned again. “So what now?” she asked.

“I get a number one and at eight we head for the Presidio Heights,” said Elijah.

***

Josephine was watching the grainy video on her smartphone in a blue van. The blue van had a logo of a cartoon handy-man and was perfect when she needed to do her stakeouts. She had acquired it from the same man that created the secret room in the Golden Arches.

She took a sip of coffee.

“Is that my coffee cup?” asked Telera who sat in the passenger seat with a laptop opened in her lap.

Josephine looked at her coffee cup. “Oh shit. Sorry, I grabbed the wrong one,” she said sheepishly.

Telera laughed. “It’s fine. I’ll just drink yours.” She nudged her chin at the smartphone in Josephine’s hand. “Same old?”

“Yup. For hours they’ve been chit-chatting for god knows how long. I almost want them to just like make out or beat the shit out of each other,” complained Josephine.

“Hey, you said you wanted to go watch them,” said Telera.

“Yeah, but I wish I knew what they were saying too. This is so damn boring,” yawned Josephine.

“I could only tap into the building’s video feed and unfortunately, the security cams in that building only have visuals,” explained Telera. Then she added before Josephine can ask her why they don’t just go and put in their own surveillance cameras, “We’ve already talked about this. There’re glyphs all around their apartment. The moment I set foot, boom, dead. You’re going to have to be patient and just watch them.”

“Patience is not one of my virtues,” drawled Josephine.

“I know but I want you alive,” said Telera.

“I don’t intend to die,” scoffed Josephine.

“Of course,” said Telera. “And we won’t die as long as we just watch them for now. Remember? You said just observe them.”

Josephine let out a deep sigh. “God, I hate when you’re right,” she said.

“I am your voice of reasoning,” said Telera. “Look, they’re leaving.” She chinned at Josephine’s smartphone. “Swipe to see where they are going next.”

Josephine complied, and they watched Elijah and Leora exit their apartment.

“Swipe again,” said Telera.

They then watch the pair enter what seem to be the garage.

“Finally heading somewhere!” said Josephine excitedly. She turned on her ignition.

“I’ll pull up the cams we’ve set around the perimeter beyond the glyphs and see where they are heading,” said Telera as she started typing and putting in numbers on her laptop. After a few moments, she closed her laptop down. “If my algorithms are right, they’re either heading for House Eagle or Al’s donut shop. I very much doubt they’d be going out on a night run for donuts,” she said.

“Hmm, donuts.” Josephine licked her lips as she started the van’s engine. “We going to stop by Al’s after this. Where’s House Eagle?”

“As low key House Eagle tries to be, they sure don’t seem to keep their headquarters location a secret,” said Telera.

“Typical vampire arrogance,” commented Josephine.

Telera gave the hunter a side glance for the irony before continuing. “Head to Presidio Heights,” she said.

The van peeled away from the curb they were parked at and drove off to House Eagle’s headquarters. Before they reached there, Josephine turned off the headlights so they could not be seen approaching. When they arrived, they spotted a doorless mustang that Telera recognized from their surveillance videos.

“Okay, park here. I am going to go put an extra tracker in their car,” said Telera.  When they parked next to the mustang, she started to exit the van as well as Josephine. “What are you doing?” she asked the hunter.

“I thought I go take a peek in that mansion over there,” said Josephine, thumbing the white building that stood out against the night.

“No, you are not,” protested Telera. “It’s too dangerous.”

Josephine shrugged and let out a hand. “I said, we watch them both. C’mon and give me one of your spy thingies. I’ll be in and out before you know it,” she assured.

At first Telera hesitated but relented. She wouldn’t be able to stop Josephine. “Put it somewhere and then just leave. No fighting,” she said. Her eyes trailed down to Josephine’s arm that was hurt during the last fight they were in. “Healed up?” she asked.

Josephine flexed her arm. “It’s all good,” she answered.

“Please, just be careful,” pleaded Telera.

“Likewise,” said Josephine. “I’ll be fine.”

Without another word, Josephine turned away and headed toward the mansion. As she got closer, she saw the mansion was surrounded by a moat of carefully trimmed tall bushes and trees. She stopped and slid into the shadow of a nearby tree when she saw a couple shadows move along the side of the mansion.

Guards. Damn. Now where can I sneak a peek? she thought.

 

Josephine scanned the edges of the mansion, and then her sight went up to the rooftops. The roof didn’t look as guarded, which she regarded as the master vampire must feel very confident or stupid to not have the roof protected.She pursed her lips. Even if the rooftops were cleared what to do about the two vampires roaming at the side of the mansion?

The hunter searched the inners of her jacket. Unlike the one she wore on her kill of Father George, this jacket had inside pockets and straps. They were filled with various vials, gadgets and even held an ancient looking kukri dagger, a gift from a former friend. She took out a round flat object and secured it to the tree next to her.

Then she covertly made her way around the mansion until she was on the other side. She watched the two shadows patrol around and when they were near the tree, she had planted the device, she pressed a remote button.

At first it seemed nothing had happened, but the shadows quickly ran off somewhere behind the tree with the device. Vampires are so easily tricked, she thought. The device she planted she knew shot marbled sized metal balls that emitted werewolf hormones. The two guards would  be hunting for werewolves that weren’t there for hours.

Josephine made her way to the wall. She took out a grappler attached with a rope. With one try, she swung the grappler up to the roof. The automatic claws dug into the roof. She tugged on the rope to make sure it was secure.

Satisfied, she climbed up the rope. She noted how every window she had come across had thick curtains. Not that she was surprised. Vampires are very aware of technology humanity can cook up with. With the advent of drones and night vision goggles, vampires had to be extra paranoid. Perhaps too paranoid. That was an advantage since they usually aren’t expecting an old fashion climb up the roof and spy.

Once she reached the roof, she pulled up the rope and set it aside. She would need it when she made her escape. She looked around and found a door that likely lead to an attic of sorts where she could then plant that spy gadget for Telera to tap in.

She went to the door. As her hand reached for the door knob, she stopped. The door had no lock. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Nothing. No vision. She waited a few minutes and still nothing. Since I am not being pulled, I guess I won’t die if I entered the door, she thought.She opened the door and took a step in.

***

            Leora and Elijah stood in front of the mansion. Two guards dressed in black suits stood like stone pillars with their arms at their sides. They regarded the pair with a steely gaze.

“We’re being expected,” said Elijah with an air of authority.

One of the guards nodded in acknowledgement while the other one spoke, “Master Elizabeth would like you two to know that any aggression or disrespect in the mansion would be met with an agonizing death.”

“A ‘nice to meet you’ wouldn’t have hurt,” said Leora under her breath.

Elijah elbowed her. “Just let me do the talking, okay,” he hissed.

“This way,” said one of the guards with a grunt

The door opened. Elijah and Leora followed the guards into the mansion. At first,  they entered the high vaulted foyer, and it was lined with priceless statues and expensive furniture. Leora almost didn’t hear Elijah urging her to keep walking as her eyes darted between paintings, statues and exquisitely trimmed miniature trees.

They were then led down a hallway until they entered an open space that gave an impression that it was bigger than the mansion outside. Above them was a high domed ceiling painted in a mural of a scene from the American Revolution. The floor was marbled and there were two columns of fluted pillars that led up to a grand staircase. At the bottom of the staircase awaited Elizabeth, dressed in a neck high black lace gown. Around her were ten other vampires, all who looked at the newcomers with a mix of curiosity and vehemency. A few of them Leora recognized as the ones that had confronted her before.

The guards led Leora and Elijah until they were several feet from Elizabeth.

“Stay close by,” said Elizabeth to her guards. Her eyes fell on Elijah and then shifted to Leora. “In case our guests here ignored my warning.”

Leora opened her mouth to protest the accusation but was stopped by another elbow from Elijah.

“Yes, Master,” said the guards who then turned and headed back to stand in front of the entrance of the hallway they had just come out of.

“Well, I am happy that you two arrived on time. I like punctual people,” said Elizabeth. “Any for some blood or wine. Both?”

“I do not mean to be rude, but you said you wanted to discuss something with us?” said Elijah. He crossed his arms.

“To the point. I expect no less from Carmen’s brood,” frowned Elizabeth. She then flicked her hair. “As you know, my House owns San Francisco--”

“Along with my coven and the Bloodmoons,” Elijah pointed out.

Elizabeth's jaws clenched. “Yes, we have a truce. Now let me continue. I don’t take kindly to vampires not from my House coming here. Even if your coven invited them,” she said. Her eyes narrowed at Leora. “But I am willing to make an exception if this young turned one can help me out.”

“What is it?” asked Leora. She shifted her feet. She was not comfortable with Elizabeth’s threatening gaze. Elijah elbowed her. His eyes demand that she follow their plan.

“What do you want Leora to do?” asked Elijah.

“There is going to be an auction. A particular scroll belonging to an Apollonian priest,  Abaris, is one of the items to be auctioned off. I want that and I want Leora to go get it for me in exchange that I let her be in my territory. Of course, she must abide by my house rules,” answered Elizabeth.

“So what’s so special about it, this scroll?” probed Elijah.

“Nothing special. I just like collecting old Greek artefacts.” Elizabeth smiled, showing her fangs.

Elijah wasn’t convinced. He could tell Elizabeth was a scheming type, and that scroll had to be special. He was about to further probe when Leora spoke.

“So why don’t you just go by yourself or send one of your people?” said Leora suddenly. She scanned the rows of vampires and wondered if this was how it was like to belong to a vampire house.

“That, young turned, is because the security, admittingly, is quite good. None that I have sent were successful,” said Elizabeth. “Let’s say, they have really good anti-vampire protocols.”

“Nothing special, huh. That’s some security for it,” commented Elijah.

Leora scrunched up her eyebrows and tilted her neck toward the top of the stairs. She was picking up some distant thrashing noises and yelling.

“It’s priceless. Now do we have a deal?” asked Elizabeth, who also turned toward the stairs.

“We’ll think about it,” said Elijah cooly.

There were murmurs among the other vampires, who all looked at each other and then toward the stairs.

Elizabeth held up a fist to quell the murmurs. “Please consider accepting. At least for your friends sake here, who seem to be attracting all sorts of trouble,” she smiled.

Elijah pursed his lips. “We’ll give you an answer by the week’s end,” he said.

“Of course,” said Elizabeth. She clapped her hands. She called out to the guards that had escorted Elijah and Leora. “Emmanuel and Henrique, lead them out!”

 

***

In the meantime that Leora and Elijah were conversing with Elizabeth, Josephine had found that the lockless roof door led to a hallway.

She had taken her time down the hallway, looking for a place to put Telera’s  spying device. The hallway was adorned with a row of paintings on both sides. All of them are people of vague familiarity from her history class in middle school. Her eyes perked up when she recognized George Washington in one of the paintings.

Is this the original? Josephine reached out to inspect it. If it was real, she was going to steal it. Vampires were always loaded with such antiques and she was all too happy to relieve them of it.

She had touched the frame when she noticed the gleam of a door off the glass surface over the painting. A door down the hallway would be the most expected thing. However, what caught her attention was that the door was slightly ajar.

Unprotected roof, lockless door, and now this? thought Josephine.

Curious as well as judging the master vampire, Elizabeth, as careless, Josephine approached the door quietly. She stopped and waited for a few moments. Assured that no visions came, she proceeded to open the door wider.

The room was filled with more antiques. There were furniture, more oil paintings and even a set of armor. Past the canopy bed was an ornate desk. A woman was sitting there busily polishing something metallic black with a piece of cloth.

A bedroom is a good place to stick Telera’s gadgets, she thought. Also, it’s only one vampire. Her eyes then spotted a glass case. That looks like a good place, she thought.

Josephine quietly entered the room and quickly slinked behind the glass display case that held a flintlock pistol and a tripod hat. She placed Telera’s device on the floor at the base of the glass case, taking particular care to nestle it between a spacing where the slight uneven case met the floor. No one would notice it here.

Time for the escape. She took out a pocket sized mirror and used it to see past the display case. She observed the back of the woman whose white hair was rolled into a haphazard braid.

From what Josephine could tell, the woman was slender but had some musculature bulk from what she can observe from the bare shoulders. The woman was pale with a grey-bluish tinge and wore a black tank top with tight black pants. Possibly yoga pants, but she wasn’t sure. The woman didn’t seem to have heard her. Good.

Josephine had put away her mirror when the woman stopped polishing and held up a sword.

“Are you going to hide there forever?” said the woman. Her voice was warm yet commanding.

Josephine clenched her jaw. Shit.

 

“I promise I won’t bite,” said the woman who then  turned to the display case that Josephine was hiding behind.

Josephine, planning on whipping around the glass case and shoot the woman, readied herself.

“That is a terrible place to hide. I commend you on your nerves. I could barely pick up your heartbeat. Now, will you stand, hunter?” continued the woman.

Josephine jerked up and turned around, pulling out her gun at the same time. Her eyes widened slightly now that she could see the vampire in full. She suppressed a gasp as her eyes trailed the twisted swirl patterned of skin that ran down half of the vampire's face and down the neck.

The vampire’s pale, bluish lips parted enough for a pair of fangs to poke out from a slight smile and light blue eyes danced with amusement. “You’ve never seen burned skin?” she said. She crossed one foot over her opposite knee before placing her—Josephine had to admit it was a pretty slick—sword across her thighs.

“Aren’t you afraid that I would shoot?” asked Josephine, her fingers twisting around the trigger of the gun. Logically, she should just shoot and run. In fact, she should have done like she planned to, but there was something about the vampire that she couldn’t quite put a finger on.

“If I thought you would, you would not be standing there let alone even enter my bedroom,” said the vampire. She cocked her head slightly. “Well, that and I’d chop your hands off before you pulled the trigger.”

Josephine smirked nervously. “You’re funny,” she said. No visions came. At least it was good to know the vampire wasn’t going to kill her, but that didn’t mean the vampire wasn’t serious about chopping her hands off. She can still lose her hands and live. Her visions wouldn’t show that.

The vampire pursed her lips a little. “Can I ask why you are here in my bedroom? In fact, in San Francisco at all? We’ve held our part in our agreement up so far,” she asked.

“Agreement?” responded Josephine. She was about to ask what the hell the vampire was talking about when she remembered what her former handler and Telera had told her about San Francisco. The very fact why, at least she believed, Father George was in the city in the first place. “Oh, that the, uh, Accords of—”

“The Accords of Sidreal,” finished the vampire, who then stood up with her sword casually at her side. “The agreement to leave us the fuck alone and we give you info on the European Council. Something tells me your bosses don’t know you are here.”

“Well, former bosses. I am sorta not with the Order,” said Josephine. She casually held out her gun to her side to mimic the vampire.

The vampire’s eyebrows lifted up. “Oh, so you’re a renegade,” said the vampire.

“Something like that,” smiled Josephine. She then blinked.

Suddenly, the vampire was not in front of the desk. Her back hand felt a strong pinpoint pressure, causing her to drop her gun. “Fuck!” she shouted. She turned to see the vampire now at her side and holding her hand. “How did you--”

“Nice gun,” said the vampire in a deadpan voice.

Josephine narrowed her eyes at the vampire and waited.

The vampire pursed her lips. “Why are you just staring at me?” she asked curiously.

Josephine grinned and, with her other arm, swung back an elbow.

But the vampire wasn’t there anymore and Josephine made an awkward twist in the air before tripping over herself and landed on the floor on her butt. “Goddamn, you’re like a silent fart," she complained.

The vampire appeared next to her gun. She frowned before crouching down and over Josephine’s gun. “I don’t think I smell but I agree with you about the silent part,” she said. She then tried to pick up Josephine’s gun. Her frown deepened, and she gripped the gun tighter. “Why doesn’t it move?” she asked.

“Cuz you’re not the chosen one,” answered Josephine.

The vampire arched an eyebrow before standing up. “I see. Then I’ll get the floor underneath,” she said. The vampire then stabbed her sword into the floor next to the gun.

“Kyaaaaah!” shouted Josephine and launched herself at the vampire but missed! She rolled on the floor, barely missing the sword impaled next to her gun. When she stopped, she realized she was staring up at the vampire.

Josephine struggled to move her arms but the vampire, now straddling over her, held them down. “How do you move so fast?” she asked. Usually, she could see a blur but this vampire was almost like she magically transports from one spot to the next.

“I just do,” said the vampire.

“Are you going to bite me and drink me dry?” said Josephine, continuing to struggle.

“No,” scoffed the vampire.

“Then why are you holding me down?” asked Josephine.

“Because you keep attacking me in my own bedroom,” said the vampire.

Josephine had no comeback with that. The vampire was technically right. She gave up the struggle and let her head rest on the floor. There must be a way I can get her, she thought. That was when she realized something about the vampire, what made her not shoot the vampire when she had the chance.

“You have really pretty eyes, y’know,” she said dreamily.

The vampire scrunched up her eyebrows. “What--,” started the vampire.

Josephine lifted her head up and put her lips over the vampire’s. She felt and heard the vampire gasped in surprise. I got her now! Whether it was for pleasure or for her plan, it didn’t matter. She let her kiss linger. She could feel the vampire’s grip over her relaxing just a little.

Then she made her move. She willed herself and, in her mind, called out to her gun. She didn’t need to see it but she could feel it move off the ground and flung itself to her hand. In one motion, she managed to free her gun arm and pressed the tip of the gun at the vampire’s chest.

The vampire hissed. “The gun flies too?”

Josephine grinned. “Of course. I am a hunter. Hmm, you’re not faster than a bullet or else you’d disappear by now,” she observed.

The vampire’s eyes narrowed. “Not at this close range,” she said spitefully.

“Good to know,” winked Josephine before using her other hand and body to flip over the vampire. Now she straddled the vampire. “Move your hands above your head,” she ordered.

The vampire let out a sigh as she moved her hands above her head. “This is embarrassing,” she said under her breath.

“Yeah, I would be,” chuckled Josephine. Then winked at the vampire. “I promise I won’t tell your friends.”

“Thanks,” said the vampire in her deadpan voice. “So, what now? You haven’t pulled the trigger.”

“Good question,” said Josephine. She quickly scanned the surrounding area. “You need to get an interior designer ‘cause your bedroom looks like a page from my middle school history book.”

“Noted,” said the vampire. “How about we start with why you are here?”

Josephine nodded. She couldn’t tell the truth that she was here to place a spy device for Telera. “Yes, okay, I admit it was because….” She wasn’t really good on making shit up on the spot. “You told me to?” she said absentmindedly.

The vampire scrunched up her eyebrows. “I don’t think we ever met,” she said.

“Maybe I was stalking you then?” joked Josephine.

The vampire’s eyes narrowed. “That’s bullshit. You’d know my name,” she responded.

Josephine grinned. The vampire looked cute pissed off despite the gnarled burned skin. “Of course, it’s Julie!” she teased.

“Do I look like a Julie?” snapped the vampire.

“Julie is a great name!” said Josephine indignantly. “I named my first pet that.”

“You don’t know my name. It’s Zea,” said the vampire.

“Oh hey, that’s a nice name. Kinda reminds me of Xena but your is without the ‘n’,” commented Josephine.

“That was a good show but let’s stay one point,” said Zea curtly.

“Alright alright, Ms. Grumpy,” said Josephine.

Zea rolled her eyes. “You have a gun pointed at my chest. Yes, I am grumpy. Who wouldn’t?” she said.

Josephine laughed but pressed the gun into Zea’s chest. She spoke with a slight threat. “Funny. So, Zea, what are you guys meeting Leora for?”

Zea cocked an eyebrow. “I see. Well, we’re asking your friend to do a favor for us,” she said.

“She’s not a friend. What’s the favor?” clarified Josephine.

“Go get us a scroll,” said Zea simply.

Josephine smirked. “That’s it? You could send anybody to do that.”

“We wanted your non-friend acquaintance to prove she’s not a threat to House Eagle. This simple task is for her to prove her intentions,” explained Zea.

Josephine pursed her lips. She didn't really believe Zea and most vampires were liars, anyway. A vibration from her wrist had her zoned onto the surface of her Apple watch. The words, “They left. Where R U?” appeared over the watch’s face.

“Uh, huh. Alright,” said Josephine. She had to leave but first there was something that had been bothering her for some time. “How did you guys find my hideout?” she asked.

“I followed you,” Zea answered.

Josephine narrowed her eyes and cocked her gun. “How?” she repeated.

Zea shrugged. “I stayed in the shadows and watched where you went from your apartment,” she said.

Then it dawned upon Josephine. “So that vampire wasn’t alone that night.”

“No, he wasn’t. Granted, I was following him at first,” said Zea. She looked down at the barrel of the gun and noticed it was inscribed with runes. She partially made out some words, but it didn’t quite make sense to her. “You haven’t pulled the trigger,” she said.

“You keep saying that. Did you expect me to?” smiled Josephine.

“It would be the best option. Well, if I were you, I would do that,” said Zea a matter-of-factly.

Josephine bent over and kissed Zea once again. She sighed when she parted.  “You have soft lips... I’ll tell you what. I am going to make a deal with you. Unless you want me to pull the trigger?” offered Josephine.

Zea looked down at the gun barrel before finally speaking. “What is that you want?” she asked.

“You let me leave in peace and I let you live. Simple enough,” answered Josephine.

“You’re not very good at making deals,” said Zea and wondered if it was a good idea what she was about to propose to the renegade hunter. “I don’t care what you do here, but I do care about you killing my fellow vampires in the city. I’ve let you slide so far but only because you haven’t killed one of us.”

“I dunno about that. I shot that one vampire, and I got a few handfuls at my hideout,” Josephine said as she recalled her rescue of Leora.

“They lived. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here over me with a gun over my chest,” said Zea.

“Hmph, you make it sound like you can take me out but I am here with my gun over you. Maybe I should just shoot you,” responded Josephine and went for a third kiss before Zea could respond. “So you want me to not kill your friends and you leave me alone?” she said huskily, finally parting.

“Yes,” said Zea slightly out of breath.

“What if your homies try to kill me?” Josephine asked.

“They won’t unless you tried to kill them,” answered Zea.

“Fair enough but just letting you know if they did try to kill me, I will kill them. Sounds fair?” added Josephine.

“I agree. I will warn them that,” nodded Zea.

Josephine searched Zea’s face. Partially because she was seeing if any visions popped up in case the vampire changed her mind decided to kill her. Also partially  was because, up close, those burns looked at least a few days old.

An average vampire would have recovered to perfect skin the next day. Those that didn’t were, as her old handler described, bottom feeders of vampire society. Bottom feeders were the weakest type of vampires having only the bare minimum abilities and those abilities were half as good as the average vampire.

Heck, the Order would use them as training for baby acolytes. However, after seeing Zea’s speed, she may have to rethink about these bottom feeders. Also Zea, if she closed one eye to not see the burned side, was ridiculously hot! 

Zea felt her cheeks burning up from Josephine’s gaze. Did the Hunter want something else? Or perhaps seal the deal physically? She cleared her throat. “So are you in agreement, hunter?” she asked.

“Yes,” answered Josephine. She pulled away from the vampire and stood up. She then tucked away her gun and let out her hand. “And my name is Josephine. In case you didn’t catch that with your stalking.”

Zea reached up and grabbed Josephine’s hand. For a second she felt the hunter’s strength and, somewhat worriedly, the potential for more. She let the Hunter pull her up. “I did,” she said.

“So you saw me in the shower then?” teased Josephine.

“No, I just watched outside of your building--” Zea stopped speaking and stood frozen in her position.

Josephine moved her hand away to reveal a round gadget with a needle end in the vampire’s skin. She had secretly retrieved the gadget from her inner pockets when she was putting away her gun. Vampires had a nervous system like all mammals. The paralyzation toxins in the gadget will immobilize for them for a short time. Even longer time with bottom feeders. “I just need a head start. It’ll wear off in an hour,” she said. She then lightly tapped Zea’s nose. “And remember, I didn’t kill you so you have to let me be. Bye stalker.”

She turned around and quickly left the room, leaving the vampire standing frozen in place.

Chapter 7 - The Decision

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