IN THE SHADOWS

Chapter 3: Just Animals

“No."

Vivian pulled her black trench coat over her tattered, black sweatshirt and leather leggings, each thigh strapped with a knife and one more in the back of her knee-high boot. Sliding the blade into the sheath over her shoulder, Vivian leaped up the side of the wall onto the sidewalk and followed the river down to the subway station.

Maybe another time, another place, she will kill the vampire named Everett. Knowing his name, thinking it, would make it harder. He'd humanized himself, which was against everything she was taught. These were creatures, animals, not humans in any way. She'd convinced herself of that in training, seeing each kill as she did those deer as a child. Just animals. Her kills had a purpose now as they did then. She was keeping the world safe from these animals, at least that's what they told her.

But now, she wasn't sure of anything.

Stepping out of the subway station in Brixton, Vivian could feel him behind her, following her as she disappeared into the shadows of the alleyway. She thought about leading him into a trap, but Vivian was intrigued. She could never agree to partner with a vampire, but she'd been researching these attacks for months, following the vampires in London, only to learn that they had nothing to do with the increase in human deaths.

Today was her first encounter with whatever the hell that was that rose from the waters of the Thames River. While the vampire seemed to know what it was, Vivian could still not allow herself to be drawn in by his golden eyes, soothing voice, and powerful hypnotic skills. It was an ancient trait, one possessed by vampires that arose centuries ago, meaning that Everett was no ordinary vampire, which might explain his level of control.

Most vampires were uncontrollable, which led to increased violent deaths, often blamed on gang wars, but Vivian knew the truth. Having been assigned to London, immediately Vivian felt as if these deaths were different. Missing the classic signs of vampirism, she noticed distinct differences in each death she investigated, leading her to believe that none of these deaths were connected to a single type of creature. Vivian, just like Everett it would seem, was brought to London by that very thing - unexplainable deaths.

At the end of the alleyway, there was a single, dim light casting a yellow glow over a black, windowless door. Vivian paused briefly, wondering if the vampire would follow her into the bar or if he'd understand the risks. Even if he did, Vivian worried that he didn't care. Just talking to each other broke numerous rules on both sides. But going off his offer to team up, he didn't seem to care about the rules.

Slipping into the corner booth, Vivian waited. The bar was mostly empty, as it always is this time of night in South London. Only the drunks were left at this point, which is the only reason Vivian stopped at this place. With the vampire on her heels, she couldn't go back home, but she had to go somewhere and this was the only place that came to mind.

When the beer hit the table, the glass mug overflowing with golden liquid, Vivian didn't even have to look up to know it was the vampire.

“What do you want?"

“You left without finishing our conversation."

“I disagree." Vivian pulled the mug to her mouth, feeling the ice on her warm lips before taking a long sip. The vampire seamlessly moved into the booth. Vivian slumped into the corner of the booth, while he remained rigged, his hands folded properly over the table as he stared at her chugging down the beer. “I'd like you to truly consider my offer. I think you will find-"

“I did and my answer is still no," Vivian interjected, her beer landing as firm as her words.

“I think you are underestimating my value."

“Enlighten me."

“I am a vampire, as I am sure you know. I also know you are a hunter." Vivian's eyes shifted around the bar, but no one was listening or even paying them attention. The closest person to them was passed out on the bar, his snores echoing in unison with the music from the jukebox in the corner that might be as old as the vampire, Vivian thought.

“These creatures that are emerging, you've been researching them, correct?" Vivian didn't answer, she didn't have to. “I've been following them as well, trying to figure out why after all this time they are back."

“A curse," Vivian blurted out.

“Are you sure?" She had his attention, but she felt conflicted. Vivian studied ancient mythology, becoming obsessed with it as a way to escape her training, telling herself she was picked to be a god. A protector of the human race.

“No, but it fits," she shrugged, too caught up in the idea of it all. Her mind had been swirling since that creature emerged from the waters, her theories forming as quickly as she disproved them, but this theory might hold some merit. “Did you know that in 2003 a grave was uncovered in Greece? Five cursed tablets were dug up, along with the remains of an unidentified woman."

“Where are these tablets now?"

Vivian led back, giving her own mind time to catch up with her thoughts before deciding whether or not to continue to reveal her theory to this stranger, this vampire. This was a very dangerous game she was playing.

“A professor was studying them at the Piraeus Museum last I heard, but that was years ago."

“We should go there." Vivian narrowed her eyes, wondering if she could divulge the truth to him. Her better judgment had caught up with her and she bit her lip. She'd already revealed too much.

“My work is in London." Vivian took down the last sips of the beer and stood up. “But you should go."

“Wait." His fingers curled around her wrist, as Vivian glared into the flames dancing in his eyes, his body pressing close to her own. “I have seen other creatures like this." Vivian could practically smell the bait he was dangling in front of her face. “Could these tablets be bringing them back?"

“Curses are just words, nothing more."

“We both know that's not true." Vivian was aware that vampires were cursed humans. A powerful witch bestowed an insatiable lust on her betraying lover, cursing him to need the blood of others and nothing else. Never to die. Never to age or gain gratification through death. That particular curse had manifested into more than words chanted over a fire. “Could these tablets hold a curse to raise these creatures from the depths?"

“You mean the dead. These creatures don't exist anymore. These tablets would have to raise them from the dead, not the depths," Vivian argued, failing to release that she'd taken the bait.

“That is where you are wrong. These creatures have always been here, just trapped."

“No, that's not possible."

“As I said, anything is possible."

“Let's say you are right, these tablets held words that could cause these creatures to rise from the depths of their prison, or death even, who would do that?"

“So you have reconsidered my offer then?"

“No, I have not -" Suddenly the door opened, the glow of the flickering lamplight cascading throughout the bar, illuminating how intimately close Everett and Vivian were in that moment.

Without words, Vivian slipped her wrist from his grasp. Moving into the shadows, Vivian watched as the men approached Everett. She couldn't hear their words, but they acted as if they knew each other. This was too risky, Vivian thought. She had to go. Taking the unknown tunnel dug out during the days of prohibition, Vivian found herself on the isolated, dreary streets of London just blocks away from her loft.

Everett looked as if he would be occupied for some time in the bar. While she could've used the information he had to help her solve this mystery, she was resolved that he'd be killed in the bar that night.

But still, she checked before slipping through her apartment door.