Darkness of day, p.16
Darkness of Day, page 16
“You think you can cut the vampire talk?” Daniel said. “It’s kinda giving me the creeps.”
For whatever reason, this made Jelani chuckle. “Sorry.”
A woman with long brown hair tied into two braids on either side of her head walked by with a pug on a leash. The little dog stopped and started sniffing the grass. Catching the cue, the woman reached into her pocket and pulled out a small plastic sack and stuck her hand in it.
“That’s exactly why I don’t want a dog,” Jelani said as they watched the woman wait for the dog to finish its business. “When I was a kid, I didn’t even like it on the end of my shovel. I can’t imagine the only thing separating my hand from the dump that dog is taking, is plastic bag.”
Daniel snickered at that. “You’ve appointed yourself as our guardian angel, then?”
“Hardly an angel,” Jelani said. “But I’ll be watching over you all. As best I can, anyway.”
As soon as the woman and her pug continued on their way, a man walked by. On a leash trotting next to him was a gray and white schnauzer. The dog glanced at them with dark eyes and a downturned mouth. Jelani smiled at the dog.
“Get that little guy a tweed suit jacket and a pipe, and he’ll have the ‘dignified old man’ look perfectly.”
Daniel laughed, and his heart lightened a little bit more at his friend’s familiar humor.
“It’s true,” Jelani said, staring after the dog. “They look like old men.”
“Where do you come up with this stuff?” Daniel asked. “Dogs that look like old men, afghan dogs that you call monkey dogs?”
Jelani rolled his eyes. “First of all,” he pointed in the direction the schnauzer and man had gone, “those dogs look like old men, I don’t care what you say. Second, I was a little kid when I used to be terrified of afghans. Back then, I thought they looked like monkey dogs. I was a strange kid. I won’t deny it.”
Daniel pointed in the direction the woman had gone. “And your description of pugs?”
Jelani tilted his head at him. “Are you really going to tell me that those dogs aren’t snorting, farting little sausages?”
Daniel laughed again. “You win, man, you win. But keep that to yourself. You know Wen wants to get one.”
“Why?” Jelani asked. If it had been the normal Jelani, he might have wrinkled his nose.
“She loves the little bastards.”
“Just get her a miniature pig. Less funny looking.”
Daniel shook his head. “Seems like there’s still a little of the old Jelani in there.”
“I hope that’ll be true in a few weeks or a month, or a year.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“I told you already—”
“Not that,” Daniel interrupted. “I know what you said you’re planning to do right now, but I’m talking about in the future. Let’s say you manage to get rid of Remy, and through some miracle, we’re not bothered by any more Hunters. Will you try to go back to life as close to normal as you can?”
“I don’t know. It’s only been a short time since I’ve arisen …” he glanced at Daniel, “woken up, again. Things are changing in me. I’m not going to lie to you. A lot of the things that would have been important to me just one month ago are not, anymore.”
“Are you planning on staying in Vancouver?”
“I’d like to.”
They were dancing around the most important topic aside from survival, he knew it. Daniel finally took a deep breath and decided to jump right in. “And Alisha?”
Jelani leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know.”
“Have your feelings changed at all?”
Jelani shook his head. “No. I still feel the same, but I don’t know what can happen now, if anything. I don’t know much about my new existence yet, but I’m learning. I don’t know if I can be with her, or if she’d even want to be with me now that I am what I am.”
“She loves you.”
“I know. But I’m not the same person. Not exactly.”
“She plays the tough role,” Daniel said, “because she’s just being careful. I’m telling you that she is really right there with you, man. She loves you. The whole time you were gone, she slept very little, and when Saaya came to give us updates, there were a couple times when I thought she was about to get in Saaya’s face.” Jelani tensed, and Daniel put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it. Wen and I were always there. I’ll also have to admit that, despite her being somewhat detached from our worries or our situation, Saaya does seem to have some small measure of sympathy. That she actually went out of her way to communicate with us about you says a lot.”
“It says she probably didn’t want to hear my incessant whining about all of you if she didn’t,” Jelani said.
“I admit the girl isn’t the easiest to be around,” Daniel said, “but I think you may not give her enough credit.”
Jelani shrugged. “Maybe. She’s been helping me out a lot, but I think there’s a price attached I’ll have to pay later.”
“The whole time, Alisha kept trying to convince Saaya to take her to see you.”
“That might not have been a good idea.”
“I agree.”
“There’s something else,” Jelani said.
Dread settled over Daniel’s shoulders like a cloak. “What could possibly make any of this worse?”
“When I was at that outdoor rave I told you about, this thing happened where everyone raised their hands and stared at the sky. At the moon.”
“What’s so strange about that?”
“To your eyes, it would have been an extra bright moon. My eyes saw that brightness, but with an orange tint.”
“Orange?”
Jelani nodded. “I’ve spoken to Saaya about it, and this is called a Hunter’s Moon. During this hunter’s moon cycle, vampires have a variety of reactions. Some become stronger, some more wild. The thirst is stronger in some, while others experience heightened senses and awareness. It only happens every so many years.”
Daniel stared at him. “So, what you’re saying is?”
“That you should stay inside as much as possible at night. Knowing that this cycle has been going on since our initial ordeal, I’m amazed that we’re all still alive.”
“I thought only werewolves were affected by the moon,” Daniel said.
“There’s the grand irony,” Jelani replied. “For all that the two like to snub each other, the similarities between vampires and lycans make it almost laughable.”
Daniel noticed Jelani still referred to vampires as something apart from himself. His heart broke for his friend. “How long will this hunter’s moon cycle last?”
“I don’t know. I’m hoping it won’t be much longer. It’s not like it can last forever.” A woman walked by and glanced at Jelani, then at Daniel, and her lips thinned into a half-smile. Jelani stared at her with such hard intensity that she sniffed and shook her head, continuing on.
“What the hell was that all about?” Daniel asked.
“Likely she thought that I was planning to take you somewhere and kill you. Maybe she thought to join in.”
Daniel was growing tired of getting terror chills. “So you’re telling me that was a vampire that walked by just then?”
“There are more around than you think. The funny thing is, it’s the Hunters, and the pureblood leaders of the covens that keep everything in check. If a lot of the shaquora like her were left unchecked, they’d kill and feed without any kind of tact, and there would be chaos.”
Daniel’s head was spinning. “Makes me wonder how many of the girls I’ve dated were vampires.”
“Remember Lisa?” Jelani said. “The one who worked the early evening shift and only ever got off at night? The one that was always doing something on her day off till night?”
Daniel’s mouth slowly fell open.
“Yeah,” Jelani said. “Knowing what we do now, I’m betting she walks the night.”
“Ho … ly … shit,” Daniel whispered. “She invited me to her house one night, and the only reason I didn’t go was because I had to work.”
“The job saved your life, homeboy.”
Daniel just stared out at the water, wondering how many times he’d come close to dying in his life. Sharing the world with vampires. I still can’t believe this.
“Makes you a little paranoid, doesn’t it?” Jelani said.
“Nothing you have to worry about anymore,” Daniel replied.
“How’s Wen?” Jelani asked.
“Putting on a strong smiling face.”
“And worried sick.”
Daniel nodded. “And worried sick.”
“Don’t ever forget how lucky you are.”
Daniel frowned at him. “You talk like a single guy with no hope.”
“That’s because I’m a single guy with no hope.”
“Quit being dramatic, man. I don’t think Alisha is looking to just chuck everything and start dating again. Once you get this all resolved, you can come talk to her.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible.”
“Why not?”
“Would you be able to live with Wen in this situation?” Jelani looked straight at him. “Could you watch her age and eventually die, while you remain the same?” He closed his eyes and opened them again, looking at the ground. I don’t think I can do that.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Daniel tried to imagine living such a life with Wen. It was not a pleasant thought.
Jelani stood. “Come on. Let’s get you back home.”
“Thanks. I have to tell you, though that this whole bodyguard thing has me feeling like someone who can’t take care of himself.”
“You can’t. Not really.”
“Thanks for making me feel better.”
“We’ve survived this long mostly out of luck, man.” Jelani raised a hand and let it fall. “I wish I could tell you something better, but that’s what it is. Once I get this mess straightened out, maybe things can get back to a semblance of how they were.”
They stopped at their apartment and stood for a while, each wrapped in his own thoughts. Finally, Daniel asked, “What the plan?”
Jelani stared out at the mountains. “You don’t want to know.”
24
Atop a nearby building Jelani waited until his best friend went back inside their condo. For a while he remained where he was, lost in dark thoughts. He wished he could go inside and see Alisha again, but that might not be a good idea. The future was uncertain, and Jelani wasn’t sure he trusted himself. Trusted himself how?
Jelani’s thoughts held him on that rooftop long into the night. Below, the occasional couple or solitary person went for a nighttime stroll on the lamplit boardwalk. One couple stopped to lean on the rail and gaze out at the dark ocean. On the other side of the walkway, tree limbs swayed in the ocean breeze. Jelani imagined those branches as the arms and curled fingers of a predator slinking their way toward the oblivious pair.
He shook his head. “I’ve got to get away from here.”
The sound of audible footsteps approaching had Jelani spinning on his heels, daggers instantly in his hands. After a moment of recognition he relaxed. “Hello, Kafeel.” The towering shadow stared at him in response. Jelani tucked his blades back into his pants.
“You should find something to strap to your body to sheath those in.” Kafeel nodded to Jelani’s side. “Stuffing knives in your pants isn’t efficient.”
Jelani’s mouth fell open. He couldn’t think of a single instance when he’d heard the big man speak this much. Now he was practically making conversation. “I’ll look into it.”
“Do what you will, or don’t.”
Jelani blinked. “Brotha, conversation with you is kinda like a verbal kick in the nuts. You know that?” What looked like a hint of a smile came and went.
“Are all vampires so devoid of emotion?” Jelani asked.
“Not necessarily, but we don’t emote in the same manner as a human.”
“Seems like you don’t emote at all.”
“Says a newly turned human.”
“Hardly a human.”
“Hardly a vampire.”
The soft chirp of a killdeer pierced the darkness of a lawn somewhere below the building. The only answer came in the soft murmur of the ocean, as the tide bumped against the rocky shore.
Jelani frowned. “So what am I, then, if I’m hardly a vampire?”
“A child in transition. If you survive, you would be unique in some ways.”
“Why wouldn’t I survive?”
“I don’t have time for your insatiable curiosity.”
Jelani laughed, though there was no mirth in the situation. “You don’t have time? You’re immortal.”
“My patience is not.”
“Okay man, okay.” Jelani jabbed a thumb in the direction of Stanley Park. “You know about the um … situation back there?”
This time, Kafeel let out a little chuckle. It was the most ominous sound Jelani had ever heard. “Few who walk the night do not know about that. Less than three full nights old, and you are already quite infamous.”
So much for a low profile. “I guess I’m in the crosshairs of every vampire in town then?”
“Perhaps, perhaps not.” Kafeel moved to stand beside him and looked down at the boardwalk. “It might happen that a cowardly shaquora might try to drive a silver knife through your back, if you are an oblivious fool.” His eyes flicked in Jelani’s direction, then back down at the boardwalk and the people milling about. “I do not believe you’re oblivious.”
“Thanks,” Jelani said dryly.
“You should be more concerned about Hunters,” he continued. “You dispatched six that night. If you are lucky, the coven in which they belong will not discover that it was you.”
Once again, Jelani’s mouth fell open. “How do you know about that?”
Kafeel’s only response was a microscopic grin.
Jelani cleared his throat. “I don’t think I was recognized.”
“Impossible for you to know,” Kafeel responded. “Likely, they will connect the deaths of the six Hunters with your attack at the Reverence.”
“Reverence? I thought it was called a dark rock, or something like that.”
“What you saw was a mix of the two. When large numbers of shaquora converge upon one location to observe a full Hunter’s Moon, they call it Reverence. Purebloods call it foolish.”
“Looked like a party to me,” Jelani said. “You purebloods prefer sitting on couches with wine and stuffy shirts?”
“Purebloods prefer anonymity, which a Reverence endangers. That is why those Hunters you killed were there. To keep humans from stumbling upon it, and keep any shaquora who become too enraptured from wandering loose and attacking humans.”
Jelani nodded. “Fair enough. And what about Ancestors and their families?”
“We prefer anonymity from all. Few purebloods know we still exist. Turned vampires even less so. You are one of the few who have been turned, who know of our existence at all.”
“Should I feel privileged?”
“You should feel careful,” Kafeel looked down at him. “As I said. We prefer anonymity.”
“Gotcha,” Jelani replied. He looked at the building where he had lived for years. The light to his apartment was on. Daniel and the girls were probably watching a movie or something. Jelani would have given anything in the world to be there right now enjoying a good movie with dinner and a hot drink, sitting on the sofa with the woman he loved curled up next to him.”
“Engaging in the human habit of wanting what you cannot have?” Kafeel asked.
“Engaging in the act of wanting what I already had,” Jelani clarified, not appreciating the sarcasm.
“How much of your new immortality will you spend lamenting this former life?”
The lavender glow crept into Jelani’s eyes. “Oh, not very long at all. I can only think about what I’ve lost and what I’ve been made into for so long before I’m ready to do some hunting of my own.” He looked up into Kafeel’s hard eyes.
“A dream career, my perfect girl, freedom to live and work wherever I wanted. I worked my ass off to get to where I was and one of those parasites,” he pointed at a vampire walking down the boardwalk in the middle of a crowd of humans, “took everything from me and made me a predator of my own species. Former species. Whatever.”
He stared at the vampire below their perch and his lavender eyes smoldered. With his newly enhanced senses, Jelani smelled the man’s cologne even from his position so high up. Armando Spice Collection. He flirted with a woman who it turned out, lives in the building next to his. He said all the right things, offered a charismatic smile at just the right time. The woman likely would die this night.
“When I finally catch up to that slippery muthafucka I’m going to make sure he feels every tiny second of his un-creation. I want him to have time to remember every bit of the long life his pureblood ass enjoyed before I take it from him.”
The towering vampire looked down at him, clearly unimpressed with the speech. “The pursuit of revenge is more enjoyable than revenge itself.”
“What, then?” Jelani demanded. “Just turn the other cheek? Be thankful for my new ‘gifts’?”
Kafeel turned away, heading toward the opposite end of the roof. “Find a purpose that will carry you past the day of reckoning.”
“Maybe I’ll just go for a walk in the sun.” He barely heard a chuckle before Kafeel spoke again.
“That, you could do, little fledgling. That, you could do.”
25
Remy couldn’t remember the last time he wanted to take a woman to his bed yet rip her apart at the same time. Seeing Melinda, his newest re-creation staring defiantly into his eyes, made him want to do just that.
“If I had a way to bring Jelani to you, you know I would.” Her voice was so sweet, so earnest. So mocking.
Remy’s upper lip curled. She was lying of course. And what frustrated him even more was that the bitch was smart. She knew how to speak without actually alerting his mind to the lie. She couldn’t hide her encounter with Jelani from him, but she could lie about what had happened. That she was somehow able to so control her emotions to limit Remy’s ability to read her infuriated him.
