Ok, I haven't written anything in a shamefully long time. Really shameful. So I decided to start doing a little fan-fiction again to get back in practice. Appreciate any feed back given on plot, style or whatever jumps out at you. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this first chapter.
FYI: Story is set for a bit after The Thirst.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Not even my car ;p
His brother had only been gone about twenty minutes before Edgar gave up on fixing his truck. The damned thing was always acting up and having spent most of their lives around comic books rather than garages neither brother had little if any inclination toward mechanics. Not that they regretted it. Their time had been spent on more practical tasks. Still it was a pain. Deciding to walk away from the project to cool down before the wrenches started flying Edgar now sat hunched over the old grey desk they used for record keeping, double checking the expense ledger.
This was actually his brother's job, Alan was much better with the book keeping but it was a better option then breaking something else they couldn't afford to have fixed. Money wasn't tight but who can afford to squander it only needless expenditures . Surprisingly their daytime venture was actually turning into a booming business, the town seemed to have an abundance of unwanted critters crawling around. Those of the day and night verity. In fact if it wasn't for the monster hunting the guys might have made a decent profit but each were content enough with the means to continue doing their civic duty.
Crunching footsteps from the unpaved driveway signaled someone was approaching. Edgar's eyes snapped up to the clock with a frown. Alan had left maybe twenty minutes ago in their one good vehicle to pick up dinner. Right now he should just be getting to the pizza shop. He'd either run into trouble or even worse a break down. Great. Two mechanical nightmares.
"Whats the matter, bro?" he called out, pushing away from the desk,"Something wrong with the-"
Edgar stopped abruptly when he saw the unfamiliar figure standing at the edge of the two car garage. She was young, maybe twenty five, clad in tight denim jeans and a crimson cami. Her long black hair hung freely, the loss curls shining in the bright overhead lights and framing her round face like a dark halo. The girl was a picture of beauty but that mattered little where he was concerned. Edgar didn't like strangers showing up unannounced especially not after night fall.
The notion must have shown in his face for the hesitant smile she wore now melted.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean…does Alan live here? Alan Frog?"
"Alan?" he said surprised from his brooding silence.
"Yes. Do you know him?"
At this Edgar snorted. Before tonight he'd been certain he knew Alan better than anyone on the planet but how his reclusive and often shy little brother had become acquainted with this mystery beauty before him he couldn't begin to fathom. He hated to admit it but he was curious.
"I ought to. Been stuck with him as long as I can remember," he replied and when she still looked confused," I'm his brother."
Again her face brightened and she graced him with a smile that seemed to stretch from ear to ear. It was genuine and innocent enough to be a child's smile making Edgar think twice about her age, that smile made the girl seem years younger. In spite of her unannounced presence he felt himself relaxing a little.
"How do you know Alan?"
"Oh, he helped me out a tight spot a few years back."
"Tight spot, huh?"
She nodded her eyes searching the garage as if Alan might be hiding in the shadows, finally stopping on the old truck, its raised hood a beacon.
"Trouble?"
Edgar grunted in disgust just thinking about it, "Always."
"Mind if I take a look?"
Before he could answer she sauntered over, picking up the grease stained rag that hung haphazardly half in the engine. She peered in looking inquisitively, reaching a tentative hand in every now and then to do things Edgar couldn't see. He didn't speak but moved a little closer, unsure of what she was trying to do.
"You know anything about this stuff or are you just pla-"
The woman leaned back to get a better look at Edgar with a dead stare that shut him up. She smirked, playful again as she hoisted herself up on the front bumper to get a better look. They carried on that way for about five minutes. One with her nose in a dirty engine, the other doing something he was all too good at. Waiting.
"Go ahead and tryin' fire it up."
"Soon as you get your head out of there."
A musical laugh, almost as charming as her smile, echoed out from under the hood. She simply raised her hand, index finger extended, and twirled it in a get going motion. Edgar grunted but yanked the drivers side door open and hopped into the seat. There was a moment of hesitation, images of what an explosion would do to that pretty smile he'd already become accustomed to flashed in his mind's eye. Her hand appeared again making that impatient twirling gesture. No guts, no glory. He turned the key.
*Rraa*Rraa*Rraa*
The hand flattened and waved a few times in indication for him to stop. It quickly disappeared only to pop back into sight a few moments later with a thumbs up. No hesitation this time. Edgar turned the key and felt a small pang of surprise when the engine fired.
He had to laugh, even offering up his own croaked smirk as the woman slammed the hood down and pranced over to the window, wiping her hands on the rag.
"Where'd you learn that?"
"A lady never reveals her secrets, Edgar."
"How'd you know my name," he asked feeling his guard raise against her. He'd never introduced himself.
"You're brother," she cried laughing with surprise," You were all he talked about."
Edgar killed the engine but sat a moment longer mauling over what this unknown women had said. There was no way Alan could have had some secret adventure that he didn't know about. Not unless it had been in that year he'd run away. After they'd turned him. The brothers had never spoken about where he'd gone or what he'd done but Edgar intended to have a long conversation when he returned.
"You got a name?"
"Bidella Cross, I know, freaky name," she said rolling her eyes as if she'd explained this a million times," Some great, great ex-twice removed grandftather's sister's name. Or something like that. You can just call me Ella."
Once again Edgar found himself unable to stop the smirk that pulled at the corners of his mouth. It made him uneasy but he couldn't help himself. Whether or not he could trust this girl was irrelevant, Bidella had an infectious charm about her.
"Well Ms. Cross, Alan went to town awhile back but he should be home soon. He'd better be. I'm starving. If you feel like fixing anything else while we wait, I won't stop you."
"Sorry, only the demonstration is free," she said with a flirtatious wink.
"Settle for dinner?"
She sighed dramatically," I suppose that will do."
They didn't have long to wait. Bidella was seated atop a stole she'd drug over, slowly smoking a clove cigarette that had the garage smelling like cinnamon when a car pulled into the drive. She turned her head, billowing a cloud of scented blue smoke into the air, hand raising to shield her eyes from the sudden light. That was when Edgar saw it, just for a fraction of a second but that was all the veteran vampire hunter needed. The lights had caught a reflection in her dark eyes, suddenly turning them yellow as if she was a cat or something else that hunted at night.
The headlights clicked off leaving Bidella momentarily blinded. Edgar made his move pushing off of the truck he'd been leaning against for speed while unsheathing the palm sized steak he always carried in his pocket. You never knew when you'd need one. She was his, the girl would be dead before she realized she'd picked the wrong guy to fuck with. His hand was almost on her shoulder when his brother cried out.
"Edgar, NO!"
Suddenly Bidella was gone. Vanished as if she had never really been in the garage. Edgar took a few stumbling steps to recover before rounding angrily on his brother. He'd just interfered with a kill yet he was looking to the skies as if star gazing. This night was getting weirder with each passing minute. It was time to get some straight answers.