Vampire - Kiss Of Darkness Part 35

"He's convinced he was attacked by a vampire. Twice. The first time by a naked girl in the morgue, then in his room by a man in a doctor's whites."

"So he's conscious now? Is he allowed visitors?"

"It's up to the cops who gets in," the resident said.

Bryan thanked him. Mendez was on duty and let him past without comment.

"Hey, how are you doing?" Bryan asked.

The boy looked at him curiously. "Do I know you?"

"I'm a professor," Bryan explained. "I study ancient legends and beliefs-like vampires." "They exist," David said gravely.

"Yes," Bryan said.

David looked at him, stunned that someone finally believed him.

Bryan smiled. "No one else is ever going to believe you. I'd give it up, if you want to become a doctor."

Hayes shook his head. "You don't understand. I'm...petrified."

"Do everything they tell you and you'll be fine. The vampire who came after you is done here right now. He's moved on to his real target. They're pumping you full of new blood, so hang in there, and grow up to be a great doctor."

"That's...it?" David said.

"Well, it won't hurt you to eat a lot of garlic and keep religious symbols around your house."

"Like crosses?"

"Like whatever you believe in. Face it, whatever supreme power is out there, I'm pretty sure that in the end, what's going to be most important is how we treat one another while we're here on earth."

David stared at him blankly.

"You've got a real chance, kid. Use it," Bryan advised, then got up and headed toward the door.

"Hey, Professor? Are you going to be around? In case...in case I need some help?"

"Not for a while, actually. But don't worry. Someone will be watching over you."

He went back to Emergency and found out where they had taken Barry Larson, who wasn't in bad shape, suffering mostly from a concussion. He was amazingly happy as he greeted Bryan.

"I nearly stopped him. I tried, anyway."

"Good man," Bryan said.

"I've known something was going on at that house. I knew Big Jim knew it, too. No need to worry about me, though. I had my story down. I said I couldn't remember much, just that a really big guy broke in from the balcony and we tried to stop him." His face hardened. "'Course, Gareth will come out looking like a hero, dying to fight off a burglar, but that's okay, I guess."

After a few pleasantries, Bryan left. When he got back to Montresse House, Stacey was downstairs with Bobby, who still looked sh.e.l.l-shocked, but at least he was getting some colour back in his face. He looked at Bryan with weary eyes. "They're going to need a new maintenance man," he said dully.

"Yeah. Where is everyone?" Sean asked.

"Sean's been called back in. Niles Goolighan went wacko in his cell, attacked a guard. Most of the others are at Sean's place.

They're making arrangements." He hesitated. "They decided it's too dangerous to keep Mary at a house where there are children, so she'll be staying with a guy named Malone and his wife until it's all figured out. Jessica's upstairs," he said. "Resting."

"She's not resting. She's busy blaming herself for everything," Stacey contradicted.

"Thanks." Upstairs, he found Jessica pacing the floor in her room, which had been put back in some semblance of order. She stood still when he appeared and stared at him, as if holding her breath. Waiting.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Oh, G.o.d, Bryan!" She ran across the room to him, and he took her into his arms.

"All these years...Gareth came to me before I ever even moved here. A couple of punks trying to rob the manager of a convenience store, and he...saw me take them down. He told the cops then I'd just had a lucky break, coming up behind one and cracking him on the head with a bottle of wine. I was sure he'd seen the truth, but he was so convincing. A few months later he admitted that he knew what I was, but he said he wasn't afraid, he only wanted to help me. And he did. Bryan, he was with me for ten years. I left Stacey alone with him. I trusted him."

Helplessly, he smoothed her hair. "We all need to have faith in others. And sometimes we make mistakes." He hesitated. "Don't let it change you. I'm not saying that you don't have to be careful, but..." He lifted her chin. "Don't forget there is love out there, friends.h.i.+p, loyalty. You've got good friends. Big Jim, for one. And I have to admit, I really thought it might be him. And Barry. I'm pretty sure he's the real thing."

She smiled. "Go figure, huh?" She shook her head, then let out a deep sigh. "Sean went back to the station. Niles Goolighan attacked a guard."

"The Master intended to leave a mess in his wake, and I'd say he did a d.a.m.n fine job."

"I don't know what you mean."

"He's moved on. He's caused all the trouble here that he wanted. Now he wants us to follow him. He never intended to have a full-blown battle here. We're not on his turf. And we have no choice. We have to follow him."

"Follow him where?"

"Where this all started. Sometimes I don't believe myself it all happened. I don't believe I was once a man, a knight fighting for a king and a cause, in love with the king's illegitimate daughter. That's what he wants, Jessica. He wants to relive that day. We have to return to Scotland."

She backed away and stared at him.

"It will be a different battle. But," he added slowly, "the odds won't be quite as bad as I'd always expected."

"Oh?"

"I suppose there are a few good vampires out there."

She smiled and moved into his arms again.

"You need to get some rest," he said.

"We don't have time."

"Yes, we do."

She looked up at him. "A little physical activity always seems to help before a nap."

h.e.l.l, he hadn't been born yesterday. He kissed her, his lips light, infinitely tender. And he made love to her. Slowly, savoring every touch, whisper, glance between them. It wasn't until the end that they both gave way to the absolute pa.s.sion and desperation of arousal, climaxing together in a bond as sweet as any the far distant past had ever offered.

Afterward, she slept.

He rose. Downstairs, he found Bobby and Stacey cuddled together on one of the sofas.

"Jessica?" Stacey asked.

"Is sleeping," Bryan said.

"I'd kind of like to go see Sean, then..." Bobby hesitated, looking disbelievingly at Bryan. "Stacey's tried to explain it to me."

Bryan grimaced. "Bobby, you can get explanations for a lifetime-h.e.l.l, you can live several lifetimes-and still not really understand."

Bobby nodded. "I guess everyone needs to get some rest, but then we'll have to start making plans. And..." He barely missed a beat, then looked Bryan straight in the eyes. "We'll need all the help we can get."

Stacey smiled. "A major meeting. Here. Tonight. I'll see to it."

"I'll be here," Bobby said. "I won't fail again, I promise."

"You didn't fail, Bobby. And next time you'll be prepared. But nothing is going to happen here. I'm almost sure of it."

"I won't fail again," Bobby repeated.

Stacey curled her fingers around his hand, smiled grimly as she looked at Bryan. "We won't fail," she a.s.sured him.

Bryan shook his head. "I'm going to need you guys to provide support, and that's not because I don't trust you. But you're only human, like it or not. There's only so much you can do."

They both looked deflated, but Bobby only sighed and told Bryan, "Yeah. Sure. We'll make great babysitters."

Bryan found Sean Canady outside the entrance to the cells.

"How did you know I'd be here?" Sean asked him.

"Hunch," Bryan said. "Will you have trouble getting me in?"

"Usually I would have to pull some strings and do a lot of paperwork. But today...I don't think so. Come on."

Bryan followed close behind Sean as they made their way to the holding cell, filling the cop in on his theory about the final battle.

Sean a.s.sured the guards they pa.s.sed that he could handle things himself, though he shouldn't have been going in alone, much less with Bryan; it was totally against policy. But the guards were spooked. They didn't want anything to do with the entire area where Niles Goolighan was being kept.

Bryan remained out of sight when they first approached the cell. Goolighan grinned at Sean. The kid was covered in blood, His own? The guard's?

"Hey, piggy, piggy," Goolighan taunted in a singsong voice. "Come on in. I've the power now, and you're going to die." "You're a punk, Niles. Always were, always will be," Sean said.

Goolighan shook his head. "No. He kept his promise. He came to me."

"Who's that?" Sean asked, as if he weren't the least bit interested.

"The Prince of Darkness," Goolighan said delightedly.

"He's not the Prince of Darkness. Just a punk follower-like you, He's had a little more practice, that's all, and he isn't quite as dumb," Sean said.

"I'm not stupid. I'm going to be all-powerful. I'm his ally."

"No, Niles, you may have asked him in, but you're still a punk. Cal talked, by the way. We know all about the Web site, and we know how he gets to you a.s.sholes."

Goolighan didn't seem to be listening anymore. He was liked a crazed hyena, laughing, chortling. "I'll be there. I'll be at the great battle. Come on in, pig. I'm going to kill you. Then I'll die and come back and be at the battle when it rages."

"You'll be the best punk there, I bet," Sean told him. "Where will this battle take place?"

"What do you care? You'll be dead. Come on, pig. You can't resist. Get in here and try to kill me."

"You're right. I can't resist. But humor me, first. Where is it going to be?"

Niles started laughing as if that were the funniest thing he'd ever heard. "It will be so cool there, in the mists."

"He'll be waiting below the high tor, huh?"

Niles giggled again. "Not bad, piggy, piggy. It's the b.i.t.c.h he wants. He's wanted her all along. Wants to kill her. I think once he wanted to f.u.c.k her, but she was like all b.i.t.c.hes, wanting someone else. Some piece of highland s.h.i.+te." He gave the last the Scottish p.r.o.nunciation, then went into gales of laughter. "Ah, laddie." he said, doing a creditable Scottish accent, "he'll bastion himself in the MacDonnough ruins, that he will. He'll command the valley and the highlands. And then it will end for those who made his life-and death-a h.e.l.l."

"Great. Thanks," Sean said, turning the lock, stepping into the cell.

Bryan moved up behind him in the blink of an eye, and Niles saw him for the first time. He roared in sudden knowledge and fury.

Sean stepped back. There was no fight. Not really. Niles was a fool. He attacked Bryan, going straight for him, impaling himself on the small wooden stake Bryan held. He hadn't even needed to thrust it forward.

"I guess I'm going to have to answer a lot of questions," Sean said when it was over. "But I've done it before and, G.o.d help me, I'll probably do it again, somewhere down the line."

They both looked at Niles, crumpled on the floor.

"Rest in peace, you sorry punk," Sean murmured.

"There was nothing else we could do," Bryan told him.

"I know. It's just such a waste." Sean sighed, straightened. "Let's go."

This time they were all at the house on Bourbon Street.

They filled the kitchen, and at first glance they might have been any group of friends; Stacey and Bobby had gone to Sean and Maggie's to watch the children, but all the rest were there. Sean was explaining what had happened to Niles Goolighan.

"How did you explain killing him in his cell?" Jessica asked, pouring coffee for herself.

Sean hesitated for a moment. "I've had to explain far worse," he reminded her. "There wasn't a soul who didn't believe he'd attacked me. I said I was d.a.m.n lucky Bryan had a stake on him."

"A stake?" Jessica said. "And how did you explain Bryan carrying a stake?"

"Easy. A prop for his lectures," Sean said.