Between Angels and Vampires

HUNTED

three heavy knocks

echoed through one of the alleys of London. While he waited, Lucious shoved his hands in his pockets. A quick look over her shoulder told her there was no one else around. He wrinkled his nose. The stench of rotting meat invaded his keen sense of smell from a large, half-open dumpster a few feet away. He didn't care what or who was inside.

Lucious glanced at the metal door. He took his hand out of his pocket, ready to knock again when he heard heavy locks being shifted on the other side.

About time, he thought and straightened his posture.

The door opened a fraction. “Why did you come here?”

Lucious scowled at the cramped space. Half a short, dark-skinned vampire's face was the only thing visible. “It was you who called me here.” He forced the door open. “Tell me what’s going on.”

The lean, stooped man studied him with eyes as dark as the dark alley he was in. “You know exactly what's going on!” Phil said, stepping out of the way.

Lucious walked into the drab gray-walled office and collapsed into a chair. The soles of her boots stuck to the linoleum. Beside his foot, he noticed a bloodstain and wondered who had angered the old man enough to bleed here.

“You are the informant, Phil, so get on with it.”

When five bolts clicked into place, Phil walked over to his desk and settled back into his leather seat. He laced his fingers through the pile of newspapers and looked at Lucious as if looking for something.

Undaunted, Lucious returned the gesture. He didn't care how old Phil was or how influential he was. What mattered was the information he had stumbled upon.

Phil ran a shaky hand over his bald head. "You don't know the Council is looking for you, do you?"

If her heart could beat, it would stop once more. "Because I?"

"I don't know. No explanation was given. If you are discovered, you must be brought to them.

Lucious pinched the bridge of his nose. What did the all-powerful Council want with him? As far as he knew, he obeyed common law. There were no plausible reasons for his summons. “You said you found a new trail.

With a nod, Phil responded, “You're a fool not to run when you heard the words 'Board' and 'looking for you' in the same sentence. But I will consider the need to find your lord's killers. After all, you helped me clean up some of my messes.

The old vampire rummaged through a pile of coffee-stained papers on his cluttered desk. Not an inch of the surface could be seen under the heaps of papers, materials and manila folders.

Does he still remember the original color of his furniture?

Phil smiled and took a note from the stack. He offered it to Lucious, who reached into the pocket of his leather jacket and produced a small velvet case.

“I hope she likes it,” Lucious said.

Phil switched to the box and hid it in his desk drawer. “She always does.”

Rising to his full height, Lucious hid the information. He didn't dare dream that this was the last time he had to hunt down the hunters responsible for Anna's death. “Are you sure the information is correct this time?”

“It's been over a century, Lucious. No one saw this coming and we've exhausted all avenues. I am only as good as the information provided.”

"You are right."

He turned to leave when Phil added, “Watch out for Council dogs. They never fail in their hunts.

With a nod, Lucious left. He had little time to find out who the person named on the note was.

Hearing footsteps, he walked to the nearest phone shop. One of the halogen lights flickered on and off, but none of the humans inside noticed.

The girl serving customers couldn't have been older than twenty-five. A bright smile graced his lips as he entered. Her dead, bleached hair swayed back and forth as she bounced, reeking of cheap cigarettes and overpowering perfume. "How can I help you?"

Her sharp tone brought on a headache he didn't have time for. “I need the cheapest phone you have.”

The saleswoman pursed her lips. The seconds passed. She finally ran to the wall decorated with different mobiles. She pointed to four bulky models. “They range from ten to fifty pounds. Which would you like?

Lucious longed for the conversation to be over, so he wouldn't have to take her outside and silence her harpy screeches. He wasn't hungry from his recent feeding, but his voice pierced his sanity.

He took two fifty-pound notes out of his pocket. “I have informed you of what I need, child.”

She made a face. “No need to be an i***t, man.”

Lucious examined the orange interior. The shipping customers were gone and he was alone with this insolent human. He lifted her face, gaining her attention. Her body relaxed as their gazes met. Being undead had its perks. One was the ability to influence weak-willed humans to do his bidding.

A blue glow escaped his irises, intensifying the effect of his hold on her mental state. With minute force, his will to fight shattered. Once he was sure of his control, he pulled away from her.

“Give me the cheapest, human. The rest you can put as credit.”

He handed her the money and she hurried off, eager to please him. When she returned, he left the store and copied the minimum number of contacts onto his new phone. He took the battery out of his old device and disposed of it in the nearest trash can. Elders had countless ways to track. He wasn't about to give up without a fight.

He dialed the only person he could trust, and his friend picked up after the first ring.

“Alexander, it's me.”

There was a heavy sigh from the other end. "Where are you?"

He scanned the dark alleyways he passed. “Still in London. I have a new lead.

"You are crazy? The Council wants you captured and you're wandering the streets not caring?

Lucious smiled at his friend's concern. "Don't worry. If this information is correct, I can finally relax. Anna will have her peace.

“And if it isn’t and you get caught, what happens?” Rapid typing accompanied Alexander's words. “Look, I can put you on a private jet, and you can be quiet at my club for a while.”

"I can not go. Not yet. And if-"

“Come here, and I will track down your new lead myself.”

“I have to do this alone. I'll meet you as soon as you're ready. Lucious ended the call when he heard the beginnings of an angry response.

Tucking the phone into his back pocket, he headed for his hiding place. Over the century, he learned that staying in one place for too long only brought trouble. The elders weren't the only people who wanted him found. He wouldn't be surprised if the one who put him on his radar was someone he pissed off.

With his vampiric speed, he fled through the dark alleys and into some buildings in case he was followed. Having arrived at his apartment, the weather continued to thin out the night sky.

And that. He took out the piece of paper that had burned in his pocket since leaving Phil's office and read the name. His shoulders slumped. It didn't ring a bell. Once everyone close to Anna was crossed off the list, the names became a generic label. What did he expect?

Lucious walked over to the refrigerator, opened the heavy door, and grabbed a beer. He took off the lid. Taking a sip of the icy contents, he collapsed onto his torn up divan to mull things over.

A strange floral scent enveloped him, invading his mental shields with strange energy. Her right hand tensed around the bottle and the other shot to her aching stomach. He doubled over in pain and slid to the ground. The bottle exploded in his firm grip, and he grunted as the glass cut his hand. Beer mixed with his blood, staining an already dirty rug beneath him.

The stranger's energy receded, leaving behind a unique connection.

He rose into a sitting position and rubbed his stomach. The pain subsided as quickly as it came. He didn't like it. Many vampires swore the Council had witches working for them. The two races did not see eye to eye at times, but there were a few outlaws willing to break the rules of their community to benefit themselves.

He took out his disposable phone and dialed Alexander. Once again, his friend answered without delay.

“Do you know any witches in my neighborhood?” Lucius asked.

"What happened?"

“Something I didn't expect.”

Alexander sighed. “Were you also cursed by a witch?”

Lucious burst out laughing. The way things were going today, it wouldn't surprise him if that was the next objective. "No, I'm just being tracked by one."

“I'm glad you've kept your sense of humor, old friend, but the time is not right for that.”

Lucious got up. Looking at the ruined beer bottle on the floor, he pondered whether it was worth opening another one. “So, can you help me or not?”

Alexander mumbled something in Russian, and the sound of laptop keys came over the speaker. “Sorry, the only witch who could help us is here.”

“You're not saying that to get me to come, are you?” A noise behind the door made him stop. This building wasn't very populated, and he made sure no one lived on the same floor as him. He turned off the phone and slipped it into his back pocket. Light-footed, Lucious approached the door, listening for movement outside.

When he reached the door, it came loose from its hinges. A fraction of a second passed and he was pinned to the ground by a vampire worthy of being a professional fighter.

A cold, hard object pressed against his side, and he stopped struggling. The dogs carried weaponry with silver ammunition which, in the wrong place, was a death sentence for any of their kind.

Today is not a good day .

“Lucious Ellwood, you are required to attend your trial tomorrow, and I am here to escort you.” The vampire grabbed Lucious's throat. “Any attempt to fight me will result in your immediate execution.”

Lucious kept most of his body as still as possible. Meanwhile, he used his free hand to search nearby. His fingers found the broken bottle and grabbed it by the neck.

“Am I clear?”

"Perfectly." Lucious got up and mid-roll plunged the jagged edge right into the dog's chest. The sound of breaking bone overrode the blast of the intruder's weapon.

A scream came out of the man's mouth as he walked away. His back hit the wall and, with shaking hands, he reached for the glass bottle protruding from his ribcage as he tried to aim his pistol.

Lucious didn't bother to stick around and wait. Where there was one dog, there could be another.

A curse fell from his lips and he fled the building. He ran until fatigue overcame him and his calves burned. There wouldn't be a single place where he would be welcome now that even Alexander had heard the news. He was dead meat to the rest of the vampire community.

Lucious leaned against the side of an office building and contemplated his next move. He had two options: abandon his trail and find out why the elders were after him, or stay and try to dodge the Council as he continued his search. Neither option appealed to him.

He slammed his fist into the wall, causing jagged red slivers of brick to fall. The bottle cut had already healed and was replaced by a new layer of skin. No other choice remained. For the last time, he took his phone out of his pocket and texted Alexander: I accept your offer. I

Lucius boarded Alexander's private jet as the sun climbed over the horizon. At least the weather was on their side, hiding the hideous lightning bolts behind stormy gray clouds.

A pretty flight attendant swayed her hips in her tight skirt as she escorted him to his seat. She handed him a smartphone and an envelope with his name on it.

He took the offered items and dropped into the leather chair where he ripped open the side of the envelope.

“Would you like to feed, Mr. Ellwood?” she asked, pulling her ebony curls away from her neck.

His throat went dry and the pain in his stomach told him it was empty. I should have finished my beer.

The woman slid into his lap, extending her neck like an offering. Her spicy scent invaded her senses. Placing her palms on his shoulders, she moved closer until she was inches from his lips.

Using the pad of his thumb to stroke her jugular, he brought the pulsing vein close to the surface, making her moan and dig her nails into his jacket. Uncomfortable in his seat, he shifted. A silver glint near his neck alerted him.

He pushed the girl away, throwing her to the ground with a loud thud.

“You should have behaved, Mr. Ellwood!” She lunged at him with a syringe in her left hand.

He grabbed her wrists, pulling them over her head.

"Bastard!" she screamed, not stopping her struggle as he pulled the sharp object from her hand and threw it away.

The pilot ran out of the cockpit. “Is something wrong back here?”

Lucious barely contained his laughter as he glanced at the panicked human peering out from behind the separating curtain with his mouth hanging open.

The flight attendant took Lucious' distraction as an opportunity and kicked him in the crown jewels.

Electric agony rippled through his lower half as he doubled over. Black spots marred his vision as he struggled to keep his upright position. His nostrils flared. Aside from the pain between his legs, he focused on his growing anger.

The girl crawled on all fours towards the syringe.

"I think" - Lucious took a handful of her dark hair and lifted his head to meet her eyes - "I'm going to have that dinner you so kindly offered." He bit down on her neck, not caring if he was hurting her.

She screamed and thrashed in his arms as he sucked her lifeblood into him. A rumble escaped his throat. This human tasted like cigarette ash and dirt, ruining its sweetness.

Once he drained it, he tossed its lifeless husk to one side.

“Sir, ar-are you okay?” asked the pilot as he wiped his palms on his black pants.

Lucious raised an eyebrow at the question. Alexander had a knack for hiring odd employees, some more murderous than others. “As well as I can.”

The pilot walked back into the cockpit on shaky legs, giving Lucious the peace and quiet he craved.

In the envelope, he found a card in Alexander's cursive handwriting. A sentence in black ink stood out against the white paper: Beware the flight attendant.

Lucious pinched the bridge of his nose. His friend sure had a bizarre sense of humor. Exhausted after the ordeal, he closed his eyes. He felt the connection that tugged at his gut. But for some reason, the further he got away from England, the more excited he got.

Lucius woke up to the loud ringing beside him. The time on her phone's glowing screen said it was ten minutes past 6 pm.

He muttered a greeting and studied their whereabouts. He was in a hotel room, lying on the bed next to a set of closed pink polka dot curtains. It was dark enough that he had to squint to see where the door was. The pilot must have brought him here after he fell asleep. With the hounds on his tail and the exhaustive search for his father's killer, he opened himself up to attack.

“I think you're still alive,” Alexander said.

“Next time you send me a gift like that, call me first. There was no time to read your beautiful handwriting during your attempt to kill me.

Alexander laughed. "I didn't send it, but I had my suspicions." His amusement is gone. “It's time for you to get up. I arranged for you to meet the witch.

Lucious put on his black leather jacket. “Tell me where and when.”

Much of Dublin has remained the same. Humans hated change as much as vampires did. The more the world morphed into something new, the harder it was to fit any race or such was its interpretation.

He stopped at the traffic light. The pain in his stomach returned, so he tried to rub it better, but it made no difference. He ignored it looking straight ahead. A handful of people across the street were looking at him, mostly women of different ages, but one stood out. His brown eyes dissected her soul, and when he forced a smile, she looked away like a guilty thief.

The light changed to green and he approached where the girl would pass. Head down, she bumped into him, and he caught her. The moment his hands landed on her shoulders, the pain stopped and her fingers tingled with strange energy.

What is she?

She assessed him with wide eyes. They didn't belong to a well-trained witch he expected to meet. This was a girl who was no older than twenty. There was no way she possessed the power to track him from another country. Then again, she could be part of the local Circle.

The wind blew, filling his nostrils with its floral scent, and he knew he wasn't mistaken.

She turned away from him and ran past.

The car on her left honked, letting her know the light had changed.

Without further ado, Lucious followed. Innocent or not, she had created a connection he didn't need. If the Council reached her first, she could easily locate them. He couldn't allow that.

The girl glanced over her shoulder occasionally. His caution didn't bother him. Hiding in the dark was something he got used to when hunting his prey.

As soon as she reached a bus stop, she placed her hand on her chest as if trying to calm her heart. There was nothing of note for her. She wore simple clothes: jeans and an anorak. Running into a*****e, she bumped into a burly man. A flurry of apologies came out of her mouth, and she kept her head down. She walked around the store to meet the clerk, handed something over and ran outside to catch the bus.

Lucious waited for the bus to pass. He entered the busy store, approaching the clerk with long strides.

A teenager behind the counter asked, "Do you need help?"

He focused on the boy's eyes, and the teenager's expression relaxed.

“Give what the robin gave you.”

The teenager produced some stapled sheets of paper labeled 'CV'.

Sitting on the nearby park bench, he flipped through her resume. She was nineteen - a child. She had given her contact details but no address - smart girl. He scanned the pages for anything else that might give him an idea of what she was like. To his dismay, there was no more useful information, so he saved her phone number.

Lucius arrived at the private property belonging to one of his oldest friends. He stopped at the three-story Victorian mansion that Alexander had converted into a nightclub in the mid-19th century. A red neon sign above the entrance had curved letters molded into the words 'Russian Roulette' radiating the place like a Christmas tree in this dark hour.

He approached the front of the line where a security guard was guarding the club's front door. “I'm here to see Alexander.”

The man whose name tag said 'Dean' appraised him with a glance. "And you are?"

"Expected. Be a good guy and walk away.

His patience wearing thin, Lucious released his mental shields. He let his energy out and tightened it around the bouncer. An extra century of life gave a vampire more power over the young.

Dean noticed the intrusion and took an uncertain step back. He waved Lucious through. "I hope you're not here to cause trouble."

Lucious ignored him and went inside. Things haven't changed much since the last visit. The plum-colored reception room looked darker with spaced low-voltage bulbs recessed into the ceiling. The loud rumble of rock music guided him to where Tanya, Alexander's only daughter, sat with a fashion magazine in her lap.

Without looking up, she pointed at the price list on the wall.

“Tanya, where is he?”

She put down her copy of Vogue at the sound of his voice and jumped out of her chair. Without warning, she pounced on him, trapping him in a tight hug.

"I missed you. You haven't called forever,” she whispered into his ear.

Lucious released his arms and stepped out of reach. “I'm sorry, I've been busy.”

Tossing her blonde hair back, she pouted. “That's what everyone says.”

When he didn't offer anything, she sighed and pointed down the hall to her left. “He should be in his office. You know the way.

He headed for the door, and she grabbed his arm. Her palm pressed against his chest and her long nails dug into the leather of his jacket. However, he felt nothing when she flirted with him. No matter how many years have passed, he hasn't accumulated romantic feelings for her.

"Come see me after you're done or if you need anything." She blinked.

Lucious wanted to get rid of her and go to Alexander. Fighting that impulse, he gave her a light kiss on the cheek.

“I will, love,” he whispered back.

“You are so provocative,” she said, walking back to her desk.

Lucious took the opportunity to find Alexander's office. He followed a long, dimly lit hallway lined with posters of bands he had no interest in. As soon as he reached the steel door at the end of the windowless path, he stopped.

Raising his hand, he knocked once. The sound reverberated through the thick metal. Upon hearing an invitation, he entered the room and groaned in annoyance at Alexander's intimate scene.

Alexander was known to have multiple partners in bed. Today was no different. A thin, pale man rested between two equally n***d women on a king-size bed.

Lucious turned his attention to the interior of the office. The ebony desk was spilling over with papers, more posters and swings. Black marble tiles gleamed under their booted feet. They contrasted with the ivory furniture in the room. Those were the only two shades that Alexander approved of – something that existed outside the standard range of colors, like vampires among humans.

“Don't be shy,” said Alexander. “You can come and join us if you like.”

Lucious shook his head and dropped into an armchair across from the table.

Alexander whispered something to the girls, and they got out of bed. He found a pair of white pants on the floor and put them on. Once half-dressed, he nudged a short-haired brunette in the side. “Allow me to treat you to dinner, then.”

The young woman looked over her shoulder at Alexander as if asking permission.

With a semi-interested expression, Lucious watched her gliding towards him. She looked way too young to be here. On his lean body, he counted a dozen bite marks and grimaced.

Lucious raised his hand in protest. "No thanks. I already ate.”

The brunette ran her hands over her small breasts. “Are you sure, dear?”

"Quite." He dismissed the human, shifting his attention to Alexander. "We need to talk."

His friend ran his fingers through his short platinum hair. Light gray eyes appraised Lucious from beneath his dark brows. He barked something in Italian and the girls scattered to get their clothes. It wasn't long before they were running out of the office, muttering their displeasure under their breath.

As Alexander approached, Lucious tried to recall their last encounter. Although he visited Ireland a decade ago, he did not pass through the club. His interest was in the lead he was chasing and which, in the end, got him nowhere. The last time they spoke face to face was nearly fifty years ago, when things took a turn for the worse with Zafira - a time best forgotten.

Lucious rose from his chair and extended his hand in a handshake. "It's been a long time."

“It sure does.” Alexander ignored her hand and pulled Lucious into a tight hug. “As usual, all manners and awkwardness. You Brits need to learn to relax more.

Motionless from the embrace, Lucious patted Alexander on the back.

Alexander chuckled and released him without another word. He opened the liquor cabinet on his desk. “Should I bother offering you another drink?”

“I think I need this after everything that's been going on.”

“And, what's going on?” Alexander found two crystal glasses in his second drawer, filled them halfway with amber alcohol from a bottle, and handed one to him.

“Looks like you already know.”

“If I knew better, I wouldn't risk my immunity to hide a fugitive from Eliza and the rest of the Council. Come with me."

They walked through a set of double doors into a spacious living room. Its walls were hidden by bookcases and ancient daggers resting in their glass cases.

Alexander sat down on the white leather Chesterfield sofa. "I'm listening."

Lucious accepted the invitation and relaxed into an armchair across from him. He placed his drink on the glass coffee table and clasped his hands over his stomach. “Where do you want me to start?”

“Why not start with why didn't you go to the witch you wanted to see? I hear a rant about how I've wasted her time and that she's about to curse us out.

"It's because I found her."

Alexander's dark brows drew together. “Found who?”

“The witch, or whatever she is, who created the connection between us.” He remembered how she had looked, almost too innocent for her own good.

"Which is? Did you let her go?”

Lucius smiled. “I got her name and phone number.”

Alexander swallowed his favorite poison. “To be honest, I don't know why you didn't take her with you. I would have influenced her and f****d her until she told me who she was working for.

“I don't like children, Alexander.”

Alexander's eyebrows shot up. “Um, a young witch with tracking spell skills? This I have to see.

“It's not a tracking spell. It's something else.”

"Okay, I'll bite." Alexander lifted his laptop from the seat next to him and cradled it in his lap. “Tell me her details and I'll see what I can find out about her.”

Lucious did as instructed. While his friend worked on his computer, he finished his whiskey.

Ten minutes passed and Alexander let out a heavy sigh. “She doesn't belong to any Wiccan Circles in the databases I have. She's a… student and it's almost normal.

“Almost normal?”

“Looks like our little witch had a lot of therapy as a child, but her records are sealed. I cannot access this information from here. Do you want me to send someone to retrieve the data?

Lucious rubbed his chin with interest. “Why don't we ask her in person? I have an idea."