Shorter had made many mistakes in his life, however forgetting his cellphone was now ranking as one of his biggest. Him and Nadia had left New York about two weeks ago to help take care of a cousin they didn't even know they had.
The poor girl gotten herself pregnant and was attempting to run away from her angry family and abusive boyfriend. With on one left to turn to she desperately consulted an old phone book that had the number of her estranged uncle. The number connected her to the Chang Dai restaurant where Nadia had picked up. After learning what happened she had consulted Shorter and both had decided to help. Nadia would go to a small town in Massachusetts where she has some friends who would take the unfortunate girl in. She would explain the girls' predicament and prepare a place for her to live. While she did that, Shorter would make his way to Boston to pick up their cosine and deliver her safely to that small town.
The plan went fairly well, excluding a few mishaps, and the girl was finally secured and safely hidden away. The whole trip took about two weeks, and in that time, Shorter had to lay low due to cousin's family's constant patrolling of the area and her boyfriend's connections to some neighboring gangs. Shorter got no information about the outside word during this time. When the girl had finally settled down in the small sea shore town, Shorter had relaxed thinking the worst of it was over. It was around then that he learned about the vampire pandemic occurring in New Your City. After hearing about it he quickly left Naida with her friends and had rushed back to New York City to make sure everything was fine there. He was met with a military blockade which took him almost four days to maneuver through.
Overall New York City hadn't changed to much. The nice thing about vampire pandemics were that people were only afraid after dark. During the day most people carried on with their businesses. Of course, there was still obvious signs of the pandemic. Most windows were boarded up or had bars in them. The amount of police roaming the streets had increased. There were missing and wanted posters hanging in store windows as well as public notices such as "Signs that someone is a vampire" or "Ten ways to protect your home," or "Ways to help a vampire's victim" all of them ending in a link to a website. There were also bulletin boards informing the public of the hot line that they could use if they had any information or suspicions about vampires.
The last difference were the people. Although this was one of the largest vampire pandemics, it was still relatively small compared to other kinds of illness pandemics. It was clear that many families were still not affect by it yet. It was always easy to tell those who were suffering. People who watched others suspiciously on the streets; glaring at anyone who got to close; or had their phone in their hand ready to dial in case they saw any proof that someone was a vampire. These people were most likely family or friends of a vampire victim. They became cold and suspicions, wanting either to save their loved ones or to get revenge on a loved one who died. Then there were other people who kept their heads down. These people didn't smile and avoided eye contact. They looked both miserable and guilty and withdrew from the general public. These were the people who knew someone who had become a vampire or, sometimes, was a vampire themselves and learned about it after recovery.
Shorter never really had anyone he greatly cared about die in a vampire pandemic. One of his neighbors during the last pandemic had become a vampire, however he didn't really know him, so it didn't actually affect him. As Shorter entered his gang's base to check on his men, it seemed that he had gotten lucky this time as well. His gang was all fine and none of them had been carted away by the police or found with bite marks on their necks. Shorter, feeling more at easy, sent a message to Ash to meet up in front of the library.
One look at Ash told Shorter that his luck had run out. Ash was a mess. His clothes and hair were disheveled, and his eyes had dark circles under them. His usual calm deminer was replaced by a jumpy, jittery one and he kept eying the people around his suspiciously. It was clear to Shorter that someone they knew had been attack.
"What happened." Shorter asked worriedly the second Ash got into earshot. "Who was attacked."
"Eiji," Ash croaked. "He was bitten about a week and a half ago." Shorter swore under his breath. That was a long time to be under the influence of a vampire's venom. He knew that Eiji be a mess right now.
"How often has he been bitten?" Shorter asked.
"Every night, I think." Ash said tiredly. Shorter gaped at him.
"Every night?!" he exclaimed. "How has no one caught the vampire yet? Have you been protecting Eiji?"
"You think I haven't been trying to protect him?" Ash snapped angrily. "I have no idea how the damn vampire is getting in the building or past my men." Shorter took a step back and put up his hands in defeat. Ash sighed, calming down, and rubbed his forehead
"Do you have any idea who it is?" he asked Ash when the later seemed calm enough.
"Eiji's story keeps changing." Ash said wearily. "One day he's a tall shorter haired Chinese man, the next a small middle-aged pale male with a scar on one eye. He says can't tell me or else someone's going to get hurt."
"He's being threatened?" Shorter asked his eye brows knitting together.
"Someone is." Ash said, "He says if he tells me anything someone will either get hurt or get killed. I can't question him anymore on it. I've tried to starve the vampire by putting the hideout in lockdown, but he still gets in… Like I said, don't know how he's doing it." Ash gave another long sigh. He paused for a moment and then began telling the whole story form the beginning. Shorter was quieted through all of it, letting Ash get it all off his chest. Finally, Ash finished speaking, looking even more tired than before. Shorter mind was spinning. It was clear that the vampire couldn't get in the building but that meant… Shorter hesitated not wanting to ask the next question. Ash noticed his pause.
"If you have an idea spill it." He snapped.
"Do you think…" Shorter started slowly "that it could be one of your men?" Ash shook his head.
"I doubt it." Ash said. "I've paired them into groups of two and told them to report any suspicious activities to me. Those who aren't on guard duty are locked in their rooms for the night. I have also been making nightly rounds and would catch anyone who was not at their post. During the day I've questioned each members of their group and compared their answers to their partner's. All the stories add up."
"If none of them are the vampire then…" Shorter bit his lip. "Maybe one of them are working with him?"
"Why would they do that?" Ash asked angrily.
"Because maybe it's one of their family members who bit Eiji." Shorter said. "Maybe he's the one threating Eiji to keep him quiet… You said your men were acting strange…Maybe more of them are on board?"
"Why would all my men team up with one of my guy's family member?" Ash asked frowning. "None of them know each other's family that well. And why would any of them choose a random guy over Eiji? They all like Eiji."
"Hmmmm." Shorter said frowning. "That's a good point…What are you planning to do next?"
"Stay up all night in Eiji's room again and catch the vampire." Ash said. "I closed off the vents. He can't pull a stunt like he did last night." Shorter eyed Ash. There was no way he would be able to pull another all-nighter. He looked ready to pass out. If he fell asleep while watching Eiji he would blame himself and become more aggressive. Shorter quickly started trying to think of alternate options.
"How about this. I stay up with Eiji and you get some rest tonight." Shorter suggested. "If the vampire shows his face, I'll wake you so you can deal with him yourself." Ash stared at Shorter then opened his mouth to argue but Shorter pressed on,
"Look if you keep this up, you're going to fail again. You can barely think straight. How are you going to figure this out if you can barely think? You're a genius I know. But you're letting your fear of losing Eiji cloud your mind. I know it's a real fear but it's not helping right now. You need a good night's sleep to straighten out your thoughts and come up with a plan. Besides how do you expect to fight this vampire in your state. I mean, come on man, you look like a gust of wind could knock you over! Let me hand this one, ok?"
If it was anyone else Shorter knew Ash wouldn't agree to it. If it was anyone else Ash would have snapped that they didn't know a damn thing about him and continue on his current plan. It was a sign of how much Ash trusted Shorter because his shoulders sagged, and he let out a long breath.
"Alright then." Ash muttered. "I'll take you up on your offer.
Ash wasn't kidding when heh said his men were acting strange. As Shorter walked down the hall, he noticed them whispering to each other. Whenever Shorter got into ear shot, they would stopped abruptly and watched him pass. The second Shorter was out of earshot again they began whispering more franticly. Shorter found himself feeling tense. He usually didn't feel this way around Ash's gang but there was something wrong with them. He wished that Ash was with him now, but he had sent Ash off to get some something to eat the second they had arrived at the base. As Shorter walked up the stairs, he noticed Alex and one of Ash's men arguing in harsh whispers. They didn't seem to notice him approaching.
"We don't know where he stands yet!" Alex was saying quietly.
"You're right and that's why he might do the wrong thing!" the other man said urgently.
"He won't be a problem." Alex snapped. "he's the same as us."
"No, he's not." The other man snarled his voice rising. "We don't-" Alex noticed Shorter on the stars and hit the other guy. The other gang member wields around to face Shorter. He turned pale and quickly scurried downstairs pass Shorter. Alex remained where he was standing rooted to the spot, watching Shorter closely.
"So," Shorter said coolly, "Ash told me what's been going on." Alex held his gaze for a minute more then looked down.
"Is that so." He muttered. "Are you here to help watch Eiji."
"Yeah," Shorter said watching his face for any reaction. Alex clenched his fists and looked away. Shorter's eyebrows furrowed. That was not a good sign. It was quiet for a moment then Shorter started moving again continued his journey upstairs.
"Whose side are you on?" Alex suddenly asked. Shorter paused on the top step.
"Sides?" he asked his voice icy. "Ash's, obviously." It was quiet for a moment then,
"I see."
"And who's side are you on?" Shorter asked turning to glare at Alex. Alex looked up at him in surprise.
"I'm on the boss's side…. always." He said. Shorter surveyed him. Alex's expression looked guilty and he couldn't help but not believe him.
"Care to tell me what's going on?" Shorter asked him coldly.
"Tomorrow." Alex said weakly.
"You'll tell me tomorrow?" Shorter asked rising an eyebrow. Alex shook his head.
"I won't need to." He said.
"Cut the charades!" Shorter barked. "Eiji's dying! Why are you playing at?" Before Alex could answer a weak voice from two doors over called.
"Shorter?"
Shorter recognized it as Eiji's voice. In the minute or so he had turned towards the sound, Alex had crept by him and slide down the stairs. Shorter turned to glare after him. He's questions Alex later, probably tomorrow since that was when he said he would be willing to talk. Turning his back on the stairs he walked down the hall to Eiji's room and cracked opened the door.
"Sorry did I wake you?" he asked entering the room. He took one look at Eiji and froze. His own imagination and Ash's description of Eiji had not prepared him for what he saw. Eiji skin looked grayish-white. Even from across the room Shorter could see the bite mark red against his pale skin. Eiji's thin chest rose weakly, each breathing looking like it caused him pain. His eye was big and more empty than usual. Under his eye were large dark circles. His fingers looked thin and boney. They trembled slightly as he moved them. He was propped up by a few pillows and covered up by blankets which made him look even smaller and more pitiful. Despite the large number of blankets, he was shivering, clearly still cold. To top off the image of a dying person he had an IV protruding from his arm, connected to a bag of blood on the wall.
"No, I was awake already." Eiji said pulling Shorter out of his horrified stare.
"I-I see." Shorter said. Eiji must have realized how bad he looked because he his face expression turned guilty.
"Sorry," he said horsey, "I know I look awful."
"You'll get better." Shorter promised confidently. "Trust me, between Ash and me, we'll find that vampire." Eiji looked unnerved.
"Where is Ash?" Eiji asked. "I haven't seen him all day."
"He's taking a break." Shorter said. "He needs food and a good night's sleep." Eiji's face lit up happily.
"So, he's finally taking care of himself. That's good." He said relieved. "How did you convince him to do so? I'm been trying to get him to take a break for the last week." Shorter felt a tug in his chest. It hurt him to see Eiji so weak and it made him happy to know he could still smile like that.
"I'm taking over guard duty tonight!" Shorter said proudly, "So you're completely safe." Eiji's smile froze.
"I see." He said sounding strained. Shorter picked up on his attitude. He didn't know why Eiji wasn't happy about that but right now he didn't want him to stop smiling. Shorter put on a mock sad expression
"Jeez, I'm so glad you're so excited Eiji." He said pouting.
"No, no!" Eiji said quickly, "I'm happy you're staying with me! I haven't been able to talk to you in a while." He smiled reassuringly. Shorter raised an eye brow and Eiji closed his eyes and sighed, any traces of his earlier happiness gone. Shorter wanted to say something to lighten the mood but Eiji seemed to be deep in thought. They lapsed into silence for a couple of minutes, Eiji with his eyes closed and Shorter watching him. After five minutes or so Shorter decided that Eiji must have fallen asleep. He was about to get up when Eiji spoke again.
"You…you care about Ash, right?"
"Of course." Shorter said confused.
"You have his back right" Eiji continued opening his eyes. "No matter what?"
"Yes…." Shorter said not liking where this was going.
"And you'll watch over him even if-"
"Please don't say 'even if I die'" Shorter said. "There's no reason you should think like that. You have time." Eiji opened his mouth again then closed it.
"Yeah your right." He said not meeting Shorter's eye.
It had been two hours since Shorter locked the door to Eiji's room. He was sitting on a stool where he could see both Eiji and the door. He had been worried that Eiji would be gloomy through the rest of the night, but he seemed to be in high spirts despite the potential vampire invasion. Eiji was chatting away happily telling him a story about when his family went to a mountain resort.
"Hot springs are such a weird concept." Shorter mutter. "Why would a bunch of guys want to go bath together?"
"It's not really bathing." Eiji said, "It's more just relaxing."
"Hmmm," Shorter said thoughtfully, "I still don't get it. Now if it was mix baths." Shorter grinned and Eiji rolled his eyes.
"Of course, you'd say that." He groaned. "So anyways I have been meaning to ask you. How was your trip to Boston?"
"It was…busy." Shorter said. "And none to pleasant."
"Oh?" Eiji said interestedly. "What happened?" Shorter started on his story about his long-lost cousin and everything that happened.
"I thought you were just visiting family!" Eiji gasped. "No wonder you were gone for so long."
"I would have been back sooner, but I didn't know that this was going on." Shorter said. "I didn't get any news until after the whole mess with my cousin was over."
"Didn't Ash call you?" Eiji asked frowning.
"I forgot my phone." He muttered. Eiji suddenly started jerking and curling up into a ball. Shorter jumped up worried that he might be having a seizure. After a few seconds however he realized that Eiji was laughing.
"That's why," he gasped out, "Ash was so mad."
"He was?" Shorter said perplexed slowly sinking back onto the stool.
"Oh yeah," Eiji said catching his breath and uncurling. "He must have tried to call you a day after you left. I didn't know what happened but Ash was swearing furiously and said he'd find a way to permanently attach your phone to your arm so you couldn't lose it."
"Huh," Shorter muttered. "Remind me to stay out of Ash's sight for a while." Eiji smirked and opened his mouth to reply when there was a knock of the door. Shorter jumped up from the stool again, facing the door and Eiji fell quiet, his face becoming stony.
"Who's there." Shorter demanded in a low voice, reaching into his back pocket for his gun.
"It's me." Ash's calm voice said from the other side. "I want to check on Eiji." Shorter let out his breath and dropped his hand.
"You scared me man." He grumbled as he unlocked the door. "Next time call me before you show up, that way I won't get a heart attack." The door swung open and Ash entered. Once he was over the threshold Shorter quickly glanced down the hall to make sure one else was coming and locked the door again.
"Hey Eiji," Ash purred. "You are feeling alright?" He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed smiling down at Eiji. "No big mean vampires trying to eat you?" Shorter frowned at his friend's comment. It seemed unnecessarily to mock Eiji about the vampire when he was already on edge.
"Knock it off Ash." Shorter said frowning. "Don't tease him like that. Are you trying to make him nervous?" Ash looked over at him a smug grin spreading across his face.
"Now, now we wouldn't want that." He said smoothly the grin growing even wider. "Why would I want to scare my precious Eiji?"
"Knock it off." Eiji snapped any traces of laugher gone. "Just tell him already."
"Tell me?" Shorter said confused. "What's going on?" Ash's smile grew until Shorter had a clear view of all his teeth. Shorter saw that two of Ash's teeth had become long and pointy. Shorter's blood ran cold.
"No," he said shortly, "No, it can't be you!" He his voice raised at the end and he slammed his hand into the wall. Ash threw back his head and gave a bone chilly laughed. Then he looked at Shorter, with cold malicious eyes. After moment of analyzing him he turned back to Eiji. He placed his hands on the Japanese's shoulders and leaned down his mouth opening.
"Stop!" Shorter yelled whipping out his gun and pointing it at Ash. Ash paused and closed his mouth. He turned to look at Shorter one eyebrow raised in amusement.
"You're going to shoot me?" he asked in mocked surprise. Then the surprise turned into smuggest. "You know you can't. You know if it comes between me or Eiji you'd choose me."
"Ash wouldn't want this." Shorter hissed, his hands trembling. "He would never want to hurt Eiji." Ash blinked at him a few times.
"You're right." He said dryly. "Ash wouldn't want this. So why don't you shoot me? You can burry me along side my brother. It's not like you knew me longer, fought beside me. It's not like we had any bond. That we would do anything for each other." He paused for dramatic effect and then continued. "Or where you just planning on telling my day self. Let his shoot his own brains out. It will be fun to watch and if he takes his own life you won't be blamed for it. Or maybe if you tell him he might starve himself to death. That way you can watch him slowly wasted away." In Shorter's head an image of his vampire neighbor appeared after he was found dead from starvation in his apartment. The man's eyes were wide and hollow, his skin a sickly yellowish color. The look of pain and exhaustion echoing in his pealing face. The pupils of his eyes dilated until there was only black.
Shorter gridded his teeth. He could never let Ash become that, but he also didn't want to watch Eiji die.
"Do you think it's better to watch Eiji slowly wasted away?" He snarled at vampire Ash. The blond gave him a fake pout.
"Well then." He said crossing his arms. "Who is it going to be? Me or Eiji? You can't have both." Shorter clenched the hand that was around his gun, his finger resting on the trigger. The room was silent, all eyes on him. Then, with the air of defeated, his arm dropped down. Bowing his head, he slumped back down on the stool. Ash watched him triumphantly.
"You're such a good friend." He smirked. He turned back to Eiji and loomed over him his mouth once again opened.
"You could have been nicer." Eiji scolded frowning. Ash paused again.
"Now why should I have done that?" he whispered moving his hand slowly across Eiji's throat. "I needed to get the message to him. He needed to make a choice." Shorter watched this exchange with growing horror.
Eiji knew.
He must have known the whole time. Their earlier conversation returned to him.
"You have his back right" Eiji said. "No matter what? And you'll watch over him even if-"
Eiji wasn't going to say, "If I die. He was going to say, "if he was evil" or "if he was a vampire." The sudden realization hit him like a stack of bricks. Eiji knew all this time what Ash was. It was why his story kept changing, why he wouldn't tell him anything. He knew and he had accept it, accepted the fact that he was going to die.
"Even so, you weren't this mean to the others." Eiji was saying.
"They're just sheep." Ash snorted. "Easily persuaded." Shorter watched this exchange in confusion. Who were the others? Was he talking about Ash's gang? Another conversation flashed in his mind.
"I'm on the boss's side…. always."
Alex had said that. He had asked Shorter who's side he was on. It wasn't Ash's or the vampire's side like he and day Ash thought. No, it was Ash's or Eiji's sides. The gang had chosen Ash. Shorter had chose Ash. Eiji has chose Ash. There was no one on Eiji's side. At that horrifying thought Shorter felt his stomach turn and he covered him mouth. In front of him, Ash had lowered his mouth again ready to bite.
Shorter looked away. He felt like a coward; a traitor. He couldn't choose Eiji's life over Ash's even though Ash would want him to. Ash would hate him if he knew, but he needed Ash, wanted him to be safe. Even so this betray hit him hard. How could he watch Eiji slowly die in front of him?
They sat there for a good thirty minutes. Vampire Ash with his teeth firmly clamped on Eiji's neck and Shorter facing away. Finally, Ash pulled away with a content sigh.
"Ah as delicious as always." Ash said fondly. He sat up and leaned back on the bed clearly enjoying the afterglow of his meal.
"Alright then!" He finally said. "Make sure to give him water. I don't want my day self to think anything suspicions happened."
"Is that what you've been telling your gang?" Shorter asked Ash still not looking at him.
"Of course." Ash said arrogantly, "I'm Ash Lynx. Who would choose Eiji over me?"
"Ash would." Shorter said and he could sense Vampire Ash stiffening.
"My day self is a fool." He hissed. "Letting someone like Eiji stick around even if it means having always to protect him?"
"I guess you don't like Eiji then." Shorter said glaring down at his feet.
"No, I don't have a problem with him." Ash said waving a hand dismissively. "But my day self doesn't ask for enough. Eiji is mine I should get what I want from him."
"So, you're arrogant and possessive." Shorter snapped finally looking at him to shot him a glare.
"It's two traits that Ash has." Vampire Ash said shrugging. "They just are amplified to an extreme at night." Shorter gritted his teeth. Why couldn't it be another trait that was amplified in Ash? Why those two?
"Eiji understands." Ash cooed stroking Eiji's cheek. "He understands that it doesn't matter how arrogant or possessive I am. He understands that it doesn't matter if I'm cruel or cold. He understands that if I don't get blood his precious day Ash, the one he loves with die painfully. He understands that. He loves Ash enough to die for him."
"Stop touching him" Shorter snapped. Ash looked over at him amused. He pulled his hand away from Eiji and pulled the blanket up to the Japanese's chin.
"I'm going back to bed." He said casually. "Thanks to you I got to take my time tonight. Usually I only get about ten to thirteen minutes. If I take too long, then Ash will notice, and that wouldn't be good. I only get the chance when Ash dozed off or collapsed. As far as he knows he was only out for a few minutes. So, thank you Shorter. Thank you for letting me have fun tonight." He shot Shorter a victorious smiling and slipped from the room.
Shorter stood there, staring at nothingness. He felt dead inside. Catch the vampire? What a joke. He was helping the vampire. Ash would be frantic tomorrow. He'd drive himself crazy trying to catch himself. The creaking of one of the gang member's feet while he patrolled brought Shorter back to his senses. He quietly went over and closed and locked the door again. It felt like a stupid thing to do. If Ash wanted to get in no one would stop him. All that locking the door really did was to keep up the illusion of security to trick day Ash. After the last lock was in place Shorter slowly made his way back to the bed and picked up the water bottle.