Gifted
It had been over a week of Henry's and I relationship when I had decided to take a look into his comic books. After leaving his place one night I went to a comic book store to look through his comics. I was skimming through one of them when one of the guys that worked there, and had been starring at me approached. He said something that I couldn't make out at all so I said the first things that came to mind. "Not really" I said unsurely. With this he turned and walked away back to his colleague. I glanced at the two of them before getting tapped on the shoulder. I turned around to see Henry standing behind me looking at a book himself.
"I can sign that if you'd like" he told me.
"Are you stalking me" I laughed.
"It's Wednesday" he answered like that explained everything.
"And that what stalking day" I asked. He went to say something but one of the workers walked up. I looked over at him curiously.
"It's the day the new comics come in" he said. He than turned to Henry respectfully. "Mr. Fitzroy" he said bowing his head slightly.
"We'll take that too" Henry responded grabbing one of his books from my hand and giving it to the worker. The worker took it and bowed as he back away. "So what made you so interested in graphic novels all of a sudden" he asked backing me into a bookshelf lightly.
"Well I figured if we were going to be together I should know more about you" I admitted.
"I would have told you anything you wanted to know" he told me.
"See people tell you what they want you to believe, these things tell me who you are" I said ducking under his left arm and looking back through the shelves of books. Within a second I got tapped on the shoulder by Henry. I sighed again before looking back over.
A detective brain at work again" he said with a smile on his face. "Is that what it's like being in a relationship with you coffee and interrogation in the morning" he asked though I was afraid he was angry at me.
"What's the matter afraid you couldn't stand the scrutiny" I asked after a pause. He looked down at a book himself before looking me straight in the eyes.
"I've lived long enough that I don't have to answer to anyone." He said.
"And that's what it's like being in a relationship with you" I said wrapping my arms around his waist slightly.
"Fine read my books sniff into the secrets of my inner life but be careful how dead you dig Lizzie it might be a touch ride" he said before backing away from me and walking away. At that moment I felt like he was really angry at me. I paused for a minute before darting after him.
"Hold those for a minute" I told the cashier before darting outside the side door where he exited. I exited into an empty alleyway. I looked around knowing he was still there. "Henry I know your there" I called into the dark eerie alleyway. Suddenly I got grabbed from behind causing me to jump and start struggling instinctively. I quickly spun around to see Henry. He held me a fair distance away until I realized who it was. He than let go of me and watched me curiously. "What's the matter" I asked him knowing something was bothering him.
"You don't trust me" he told me.
"Pardon" I asked.
"You want to know everything about me but not from me, from my books" he told me.
"I've always been a more visual person than audible" I told him taking a step forward and touching his arm lightly.
"I know but I just fell that you don't fully trust me" me told me.
"I trust you with my life" I told him.
"Really" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"Really" I answered.
"That why won't you let me feed from you since that time in the skate park" he asked me. At this I looked down nervously finally I breathed in before answering.
"Because it felt weird almost painful" I admitted. With these words shock and than anger ripped across his face. At first I thought it was anger at me than I realized it was at himself. He than slowly and cautiously took a step forward until he was against me and than forced me to take a step back until I was locked against a hard Henry and an even harder alleyway wall.
"I was dieing, I was in a frenzy it usually isn't like that" he told me looking down at me sadly. "At the time I wasn't thinking about how hard I bit or how hard I sucked I just knew I needed blood and you were willing" he tried to explain to me. I watched his mouth carefully reading into his lips, he wasn't lying and he was truly sad.
"Alright than" I said pulling my hair back allowing myself to trust him.
"Pardon" he asked.
"I'll prove you trust me if you prove you're telling the truth" I told him. He looked down at me for a minute before slowly leaning down. He paused inches away from my neck to the point where I could feel his breath on my neck. "I want you to" I whispered. Just than light burned into the alleyway as one of the workers opened the side door. He automatically froze at the door. I saw Henry spin around at him causing me to reach out to him trying to calm him.
"Um miss you're um stuff did you still want it" he asked nervously and unclearly.
"Ah, yah sure sorry we just got kind of tied up" I said flattening my shirt nervously as Henry stepped back. I than followed the worker back inside to see the door close with Henry still out there. Once I got my stuff and went back out he was gone not just hiding.
The second Vicki and I walked into work the next morning we got cornered by Coreen. "Guess what" she asked.
"No" Vicki responded.
"Close your eyes" Coreen said anyway picking up a paper. We gave her a look which caused her to flash up the paper. All I saw was a queen size cotton sale. "Isn't it assume" she asked.
"What's so assume about a queen size cotton sale" I asked.
"Not that this" she said flipping the paper. I read it than looked at Vicki expectantly.
"No case to strange" Vicki asked "supernatural and the cult our specialty".
"Yeah" Coreen answered.
"No, we didn't ask you to do this we're not Ghostbusters" Vicki said.
"Hey they had a lot of clients and so do we, your 10:30 waiting" she told us.
"Mother of god please tell us it's not going to be another trip into the twilight zone" I begged out loud. With that I followed Vicki into the office.
"This Steve he's just a regular guy right no nothing freaky" Vicki asked looking down at the picture in her hand before over at the elderly lady across the table from us.
"He's a mechanic he likes old cars" she answered.
"And he just took off" I asked uncomfortable about the subject of fathers "no forwarding address no contact information" she asked.
"When I asked Selest why he left she said it was none of my business" she answered.
"Well when people run it's usually because there's people chasing them" Vicki said. "Did Steve have any bad habits, women, cards, drugs" Vicki asked.
"I don't know what went on between Steve and my daughter but from what I saw he was a good man" she answered. "Now that Selest's gone Sarah's all alone and she needs her father" she told us "Before I was sick I could have looked after her she has school and daycare and I just don't know what would have happened." She finished.
"And we have to ask you do you think that there's any possibility that Steve might have had something to do with your daughters murder" I asked.
"I don't think he could have hurt Selest" she answered.
"Alright we will look into it but I can start with the vintage cars that's probably a good place ah, and I need you to tell me anything about Ch Jefferies" she asked.
Later that day we ended up going to the police office to watch a video tap of the girl. "I don't remember the girl said. "Mom went in the other room and she called me and than there was screaming. I didn't hear anybody nobody else was there" she said.
"She's lying about that last part" I told the police in the room and Mike before continuing to listen.
"There's just one and I didn't hear anybody" she lied again. "I just heard mommy than I ran out and she was bleeding and that's all I know" she lied.
"The kid's hiding something" I stated again.
"She's upset" the other lady tried.
"What about cause of death" Vicki asked.
"Deep incisions" she answered.
"Like stab wounds" I asked.
"No more like teeth and claw marks" Mike answered.
"From what dogs and animals" Vicki asked.
"Those were the first thought the front door was open when we got there, burglary was also a possibility" the other lady said.
"There was no sign of an intrusion" Vicki stated.
"She could have left the door open" the lady tried.
"Do you leave your door open that late" I asked.
"Sarah mention her dad" Vicki asked Mike. In response Mike looked over at the other lady.
"Split over a year ago" she told us.
"Did you run him, murders a lot cheaper than alimony" Vicki asked.
"They always this intense" she asked Mike.
"Oh this is just warming up" Mike answered.
"There was no alimony, no history of violence, the guy didn't even shoot for hesitation" she than said.
"He deserted his family he has issues and sometimes people with issues solve them by getting other people dead" I growled.
"As far as I'm concerned the guy isn't even on the radar for this, you want to find him to take care of the girl knock yourselves out just remember you're not investigating a homicide here" she taunted me before walking out.
"What is she so bitchy about" Vicki asked.
"I wonder" Mike said looking down thinking I could still read him. "You two okay with this case you got" he than asked us.
"Standard missing persons" Vicki lied.
"So um, run away dads they don't push your buttons anymore" he asked.
"How could they there were never there" Vicki lied before walking out.
"Her therapist must be thrilled" Mike told me.
"Back off Mike" was all I said before following her.
That evening we went to Ch Jefferson to talk to her teachers. "Sarah's a very special girl I'm happy where we have her" the principle said.
"Well hopefully we can get her hooked up with her dad soon" Vicki said.
"It's no problem for us to put her up almost half our students live here" he told us.
"Aren't some of these kids a little young to be in boarding school" I asked.
"There parents all recognize their children's talents at an early age" he said signifying us to sit down. 'They understood that enrolling them in the Club Cab would be the best way to fully realize those talents" he said sitting down as well.
"I saw your website it's gifted children so this is a little Einstein academy" Vicki asked.
"Some of our students are virtually writers, scientists, mathematician. We have one ten year old boy that can work out Fulcrums faster than a calculator and recall pie to 22 thousand decimal places." He told us.
"And what's Sarah's gifts" I asked.
"She's an artist, her drawing show a grasp of imagination, proportion and composition well beyond her age" he said handing Vicki a file.
"Did her dad ever come and visit her" Vicki asked looking down at the pictures.
"You mean since he abandoned her and her mom" he asked.
"You're not a fan" Vicki asked.
"It was something of a negative exiguous always rising from what Sarah called school, hallways fighting and breaking the rules." He answered.
"Well I guess some men are not supposed to be fathers" Vicki said. "Did Selest say why she was moving them out of town" Vicki than asked.
"Well I assumed it was for work I had given her some recommendation for schools out west" he said. Just than he turned to the door to see a black lady with Sarah. "Ah this is Laura Sarah's art teacher" he said pointing to the lady. "She and Sarah have a special relationship" he said.
'I'm very lucky Sarah made a painting for my room today" Laura said.
"Sarah these are Miss Vicki Nelson and Miss Lizzie Nelson they want to talk to you" the principle said. "Laura and I are going to be just you over there" he said pointing over to the side of the room. Sarah nodded as she went and sat at the seat across from her.
"Tell you what, if I can call you Sarah you can call us Vicki and Liz" Vicki said.
"Okay" Sarah answered.
"So do you like it here at the academy" I asked.
"It's good all my friends are here" she answered.
"Well it's good to have friends, everybody needs someone to look out for them" Vicki said "How about your dad, think you could go live with him".
"Daddy doesn't want me" Sarah answered.
"Did he ever come by when your mom wasn't around" Vicki asked.
"No" she answered.
"He ever call" Vicki asked.
"I told you, he hates me" Sarah says leaning closer.
"You know it might feel like that but I bet he doesn't hate you" I told her.
"He left because I was bad" Sarah said.
"Don't say that, that's not true. I'm sure your dad doesn't hate you" I told her.
"Come on, who could hate you" Vicki asked.
"I want to go to my room" Sarah suddenly said getting up and leaving. Laura quickly followed behind her.
"Her father really did a number on her, she thinks it's her fault the guy took off" Vicki stated.
"All children idolize their parents and when a parent abandons them they often absorb the blame" the principle said.
"So what else do you know about Steve Jeffers" I asked.
That night I returned to Henry's apartment trying to calm my nerves. I found myself being slightly horny that night so the second he opened the door I kissed him. We made it into the bed before he pulled away and laid down next to me looking at me worriedly. "What's the matter" he asked me.
"I need to forget about the case for now, alright" I told him.
"You know there is another way I could make you forget" he told me moving my hair around my neck slightly with a look of thirst in his eyes.
"You haven't fed tonight" I noticed.
"You didn't exactly give me time" Henry answered looking over at the sky that still had a hint of light in it. I response I moved myself down the bed over so my neck was next to his mouth and pushed my hair away. I noticed how he went to pull away so I grabbed his hair lightly keeping him their.
"I want you to" I told him. Instead of doing what I expected him to he pulled away looking me in the eyes with worry.
"You don't have to do this, you don't have to prove yourself to me" he told me.
"I want to prove myself to me" I told him biting my lip nervously. He nodded before speaking.
"Are you sure about this because once we do this there's no going back" he told me.
"I've given you my blood before Henry, I trust you" I told him. With this he nodded and started lowering his head back to me. Suddenly I felt a light almost unnoticeable pinch before a feeling of warmth and arousal coursed through my body. I couldn't fight my instincts as I pushed my head back giving him more room to me. Suddenly he pulled away looking slightly angry. In response he reached for his cell phone on the side of the bed.
"Fitzroy" he said baring his teeth in anger. As he listened to the other end he whipped his mouth slightly. "Yah she's here" he said. "Alright give us 20 minutes" he said before hanging up.
"Vicki" I asked.
"Yah she needs us back on the case at the murder scene" he told me.
"So much for forgetting about the case" I sighed.
"We'll finish this later if you want" he asked.
"Or we could finish it now" I suggested. This caused him to smile before sitting up.
"So I see it wasn't completely horrible" he told me.
"Not completely" I laughed sitting up and kissing him lightly. We started to get into it until suddenly he pushed me away.
"As much as I'd love to finish this Vicki's waiting" he told me.
"Yah you're right" I sighed.
We met her outside the house before entering it. I crouched under the police tap to see the living room looking normal. "So you think the father told the mother where he was staying" Henry asked.
"Well when guys bail they don't usually worry about staying on the Christmas card list" Vicki answered.
"As a guy I might resent that" Henry said.
"Really you always strike me as the long term commitment type" Vicki asked as Henry crouched down. At this he looked over at me questioning my questioning stare.
"I'm the definition of long term" he answered quickly standing up.
"If he didn't tell his wife where he was living what exactly are we doing here" I asked.
"Well even if he didn't tell her he might have left something" Vicki answered walking into the kitchen and turning the light on. Henry and I walked in after her until suddenly he stopped starring at the blood stained carpet.
"You okay" I asked noticing his stare.
"It's the blood" Henry answered.
"Not making you sick is it" Vicki asked stupidly. At this question I gave her the look.
"Just hungry" he answered pulling his gaze away.
"Well maybe we can fix that later" I suggested.
"What" Vicki asked?
"Nothing" I quickly answered.
"Rightum, do you smell anything else you know can you sniff out who did this" Vicki asked.
"I'm a vampire, not a blood hound" Henry answered.
"Okay well we are looking for anything he might have sent her" I told them trying to change the subject.
"A picture, a card" Vicki agreed. Just than she kneeled down in front of a pile of mail and started going through it. She stopped at a large envelope and pulled out a picture.
"Henry look at this" I said drawing his attention over here. As he went to kneel down he quickly pulled away as he looked at the picture.
"Vivid imagination" he said looking at the picture. On the paper was an orange looking monster standing over a dead woman that looked like Celeste and a little girl in the back. "What do you expect from a girl who just lost her mother" Henry asked.
"This was dated a week before mom died" Vicki told us as she gave a us a concerned look before taking a picture.
After this we went to the coroners to take a look at the body. "Hi, I'm glad you're still here" Vicki said.
"I work whenever my clients need me" the coroner answered "I see I'm not the only one who's switch to the night shift" she continued walking over to Henry that was looking in a bottle.
"I wonder if I might ask you a few questions about the Celeste Jefferies murder" I asked.
"Well it was quite abnormal frankly I was beginning to wonder when you were going to ask me about it" she told me "a real conundrum" she finished. "At first I thought it was a creature or creatures" she told us.
"What do you mean dogs or something" I asked.
"Well only if they've started breeding dogs that don't shed and leave no trace of saliva in their bites" she answered.
"Didn't the police find that strange" Henry asked.
"The police are trained to ignore things that are too strange you used to" she said nodding to Vicki.
"Well lets just pretend that I don't find anything too strange these days" Vicki said.
"What's your best guess" I asked.
"Nothing anyone could arrest" she answered after looking Henry over.
"So there are no leads" Vicki asked.
"Well I know that whoever or whatever did it was scared or angry otherwise it would have stopped when she was dead" she told us.
"Could something like this have killed her" Henry asked showing her the picture.
"If it existed, does it" she said. With this Henry gave us a look before walking out.
"Thanks for your help Régime" I told her as I followed him out. "Why did you show that to her" I asked Henry.
"Big teeth and claws shown eating mom, for my money this isn't a drawing, it's a crime scene photo" Henry answered.
"Alright you place your bet on the boogie man I'm going with dad" Vicki told us.
"You know I had lunch with the boogie man last week" Henry joked.
"Really how is he, I haven't seen him since I was five" Vicki teased.
"I so deserve a bonus" Coreen said suddenly walking in.
"We pay you" Vicki asked.
"I checked every classic car restore in the city and found Sarah's father, he works at Vineyard Vintage on Maplewood.
"Wow, you are good" Vicki said "you know at this rate I can take a vacation" Vicki asked.
"What about my bonus" Coreen whined.
"I'll bring you a t-shirt from Jamaica" Vicki answered.
"What do you think of this" I asked showing Coreen the pitucre.
"Well it looks like some kids got an active imagination" Coreen answered.
"No I mean this could it be anything supernatural" I asked pointing the orange monster.
"I don't know Sasquah maybe last time I checked they weren't orange though" she answered.
"Get on the net, see if you can find anything that even remotely resembles this" Vicki told her "while I'm going to go check on our honest to god flesh and blood suspect" Vicki said.
We walked into a car shop to see a man leaning over a car engine. "Steven James Jefferies" I asked.
"Who are you" he asked.
"We're here about your wife" Vicki answered.
"I didn't hurt Celeste" he said standing up and walking towards us.
'We didn't ask" Vicki said not believing him though he told the truth "the guilty denials always entertaining.
"My ex-wife is dead police obviously don't like exes" he told us. Just than another man caught Steve's attention as he turned around for a second.
"Hey, Danny where was I last Saturday Night" he asked the man.
"You were answering Ultimate Fighting at the Bracey with the rest of the team why" the man answered.
"Nothing, I'll be out in a couple of minutes" Steve answered starring us down "so now what you gonna arrest me" he asked.
"Who says I'm a cop" Vicki answered.
"Than why are we talking here" he asked.
"We're private Investigators your mothering law hired me. She wants you to come home and take care of Sarah" I answered.
"Tell Emily to find somebody else, I can't help her" he answered before walking away.
"You're the kid's father" I called after him. He ignored me and continued walking. I kicked the closest car trying to release some of my anger.
That evening we went back to the school and talked to Sarah again. "I told you he doesn't want me, I made him go away" Sarah told us.
"Kids don't make grownups do anything" Vicki tried.
"Our dad left when we were little too" I told her.
"It's true, you know sometimes grownups they just leave and it's not your fault okay" Vicki agreed.
"You know I hated my dad after he left" I admitted.
"You still hate him" Sarah asked.
"Well we're not nominating him for father of the year anytime soon" I answered.
"Did your dad ever hurt you or your mom" Vicki asked.
"No why are you saying that" Sarah answered.
"Can I go back" Sarah asked the principle.
"Just one more thing" I asked taking the picture out. "No that's Buttercup" she answered picking up an orange stuffed animal. "See Buttercup wouldn't hurt anybody" she told us. With this she nodded and walked away with the principle.
After this we went to talk to Sarah's art teacher Laura. "Laura" I asked.
"Vicki and Lizzie right" she asked.
"Yah you mind if we ask you about Sarah's art" Vicki asked.
"Sure, she's got a great eye" Laura said.
"You sent this to her mom a few days ago" I said taking out the picture.
"Maybe this is a bad idea" Laura said "excuse me".
"You also called her father I think" Vicki asked "Steve called here and talked to someone" she continued.
"It wasn't Sarah, and I don't think it was Cobb" I told her.
"I was worried about her, I am worried she's been drawing things like that for a few months, I spoke to both her mom and her dad" Laura told us.
"Did this have something to do with why her mom was moving them" Vicki asked
"I think so, she wanted to give Sarah a change in scenery, I thought it was a good idea" she told us.
"And the dad" Vicki asked.
"It was like he already knew what was going on with her and it kinda seemed like he didn't care" she told us.
"Yah I kinda got that feeling too" I whispered.
"Was there anything going on that had you worried beside the picture" Vicki asked.
"It wasn't just a picture, it was pictures" she asked showing us a pile of blood y pictures. "When I first saw these I knew she was gifted" she told us "I showed them to Mr. Cobb and he agreed he even made her one of his special students" she told us.
"Special students" I asked.
"He take a special interest in the brightest and most talented kids. For him it's all about letting kids talents take them as far as they can go" she told us. "The pictures started getting more and more violent" she finished.
"Could these represent her dad some kind of abuse" Vicki asked.
"I don't know I'm not a sociologist is just wanted somebody to get her some help" she answered. Just than the lights started flickering as things started to shack.
"What's that" Vicki asked.
"I, I don't know" Laura answered. Just than lights exploded as a reddish yet transparent person appeared in the middle of the room. It walked towards us knocking me and Vicki to the side like we were dolls. Laura made a dark for the door but got hit by a light as she fell to the ground.
Within a few minutes the paramedics took Laura out in a stretched with a neck brace covering her mouth. Just as she was being taken out Mike ran up to us. "Hey you come to accident scenes now" Vicki asked.
"The paramedics called and said that you two were involved, what happened" he answered.
"Well see here's where we're going to have a problem" Vicki said "cause I could tell you but" she said.
"I'm not going to believe you right" Mike asked. With this we shrugged in response. "Why do you always take that attitude with me these days" he asked.
"Okay a giant transparent creature appeared in the room smashed us to the floor and nailed Laura to the light fixture" Vicki said.
"You know a woman almost died here, this isn't a joke" Mike said.
"I'm serious" she told him.
"What like all of your cases now are something out of the crypt of terror" he smiled "I assume Fitzroy has something to do with this" he asked.
"Henry has nothing to do with this he wasn't even here" I defended.
"He is now" Mike told us looking over my shoulder. I turned around to see Henry standing up the flight of stairs. With this Mike walked away as Henry appeared by my side.
"A break down in police relations" Henry said.
"Yah more like a meltdown" I answered.
After this Henry, Vicki and I returned to talk to the father. We walked into the shop to see him underneath a car working on its bottom. "You're wasting your time, I told you I'm done with Sarah" Steve told us.
"You know she's a kid not a poker game, you don't just get to fold your hand when you don't like it" Vicki told him.
"You have no idea what's going on, stay out of it" he told her.
"You know I lay awake at night praying that one day that'll be my style so far it hasn't happened" I told him.
"You don't know her, beside I couldn't help riding her Celeste wouldn't let me" he told us.
"So you and your wife had some problems big deal everyone does, when you have a kid you are suppose to be there for them" Vicki told him putting the picture down in front of him.
"You people deserve what's coming to you" he told us "get out of here". With this he tried to push past Henry put he stopped him pushing him back.
"Sarah's teacher was almost murdered by something tonight and I think you know who or what it was. Now these ladies here are trying to help you" he said looking at Vicki and I. "I'm in the middle of them, I advise you be nice" Henry convinced at Steve took a step back.
"Alright you want to know what it is, why not, it's not like you'll believe me anyway" he said before pulling up his shirt to show three long, deep scratch marks.
"What did this" Henry asked.
"It was Sarah" he answered.
"You know you can start making sense anytime now" I told him.
"You ever had an imaginary friend" he asked.
"Yah the kind that lived in a castle and came for tea parties, not any that did that" Vicki answered.
"Well Sarah's did, even when she was a baby things started happening, stuff would shack around her, fall off shelves or even just break. Celeste thought it was Poltergeist like the movie, I know crazy right" he explained.
"You'd be surprised" Henry responded.
"Go on" I told him as Vicki rolled her eyes.
"But as she got older and stuff happened she'd say her doll did it" he told us.
"Buttercup" I responded.
"So what is she cycic" Vicki asked.
"Telekinetic" Henry corrected.
"Yah that's what Cobb said it was here head master" Steve said.
"We met him" I told him.
"We found him through a cytologist we were taking Sarah to" Steve told us. "He said he could help us, he said she was gifted. At first it was great things stopped breaking Sarah seemed happy and than it all changed, whenever Sarah wanted something Buttercup would just take it and whatever power she had just kept getting stronger" he told us.
"It doesn't exactly sound like the school helped much" Henry noted.
"I told Cobb what was happening and he said it was all under control I wanted to take Sarah out of the school, Celeste fought me. Cobb had her all messed up too. Than one night I come home, Sarah's crashed the kitchen, I barely survived so yah I think I know what killed Celeste but who's going to believe me" he said.
"I think you're standing with the whole club" Henry said.
"You know Celeste was planning to take Sarah out of that school" I told him.
"I knew it would turn on her too if only she'd listened to me sooner" he said.
"But you can still help Sarah" I told him.
"She'll be fine her and that thing" Steve answered.
"No, if what you're saying about that school is true she is in danger" Henry told him.
"We need you to take her back" I told him.
"She almost killed me once before I'm not going back for more" he told me.
"So what you're going to let Cobb turn her into a killer what kind of father are you" I snapped.
"Not a very good one I guess, sorry" he answered before pushing by.
"You know what you call me when you grow a conscious" Vicki told him as he walked by her.
"Son of a bitch" I growled kicking a car.
"So what now, not exactly child services is about to handle" Henry asked.
"No it's the kind of thing parents are suppose to be responsible for" I told him "this guy is leaving his kid high and dry".
"He has his reasons" Henry told me.
"Yah they all have their reasons don't they" I told him walking up to him.
"His wife rejected him, his daughter almost killed him Steve isn't the same guy as your father" he told me. At these words I looked down sadly. He touched my chin causing me to look at him. "Look everybody's got their father issues, hell mine took me 300 years to get over" Henry comforted me. These words caused me to smile and laugh a little bit.
"I was totally just calling you" Coreen said the second Vicki and I walked in the room the next evening.
"Here we are" I said.
"Steve Jefferson just called he said to tell you that you were right he said he's going to get his daughter" Coreen told us.
"What" I gasped.
"He said he was on his way, you put the family back together. Happy ending right" Coreen smiled.
"Either that or I just sent a man to his death" I said dialing Henry's number. Answering machine the screen read tauntingly. "Hi Henry it's me I really need you right now Sarah's dad is on his way to the school, Vicki and I've got to get there and stop him before he does something stupid. Please, please, please, please, please meet us their, bye" I begged the machine.
As we walked into the school minutes after dusk someone snuck up on me. The second their hand touched my shoulder I threw them against the wall. I quickly realized it was Steve but kept him their as a warning. "Nine out of ten people who do that report that it was a bad idea" I told him.
"Trying to stop you from getting yourself killed" Vicki answered the deaf question as I pushed off him.
"I don't need your help" Steve told us turning around.
"Actually I think you do" Vicki answered "come on now let's go get your daughter" Vicki said leading us onwards. We turned a corner to see Cobb about to enter a room. Vicki quickly pushed her fighting stick in front of his face before saying "let's talk gifted kids".
"Miss Nelson, Miss Nelson, Mr. Jefferies I sure Sarah would love to see you" Cobb tried to say.
"Let's go" I answered pushing him in a head. We followed him through multiple little rooms before entering a large room where Sarah sat in looking through a telescope.
"Daddy" Sarah smiled.
"I'm here to take you home" Steve explained.
"Sarah" Cobb said making Sarah freeze mid step "He's here to take Buttercup away" he lied. With these words Sarah darted back to her stuffed animal grabbing it tightly as the lights started to flicker threateningly.
"Sarah no" I tried but she ignored me as things got worse.
"I'm only doing what's best for Sarah" Cobb told us, sad thing was he believed it.
"By turning her into a killer" Vicki asked.
"She's not a killer" he denied.
"Buttercup s right" Vicki said.
"Buttercup is very special" Cobb answered.
"There is no Buttercup" Steve argued.
"There is what Sarah believes can sink reality quantum physics bares this out" he told us.
"You're a quantum nut job" I growled "Sarah lives in the real world".
"The real world is what destroys a child's beliefs and the potential that accompanies them" Cobb told me "I will let Sarah keep Buttercup alive and he will give her power that few people can even imagine" he told us.
"With you advising her right" Vicki asked.
"No a chance" Steve suddenly said pulling out a gun from his pocket. Sarah and Cobb jumped back at things got even worse. "Come on honey let's get out of here" he said.
"Look what he's doing Sarah he wants to hurt Buttercup" Cobb encouraged.
"Steve put the gun down" I told him.
"Stop it you shouldn't do that" Sarah cried clearly as things continued to plummet. Just than the orange colored clear monster from before started flashing around us as it knocked Steve to the side.
"Sarah your dad just wants to help" Vicki tried.
"No he doesn't, he had a gun, that's bad. You're bad too" Sarah argued as Vicki and I got pushed to the floor. Just than I looked at the door to see Mike and Henry storm in, Mike with his gun drawn.
"Mike put the gun down" I told him. With this Mike approached Vicki as Henry suddenly appeared in front of Cobb. He pushed him against the wall as he chocked him angrily. "Henry no, nobody hurt anybody" I told him. At this he turned to me as I noticed he was in full vampire mode and angry. With in second he turned back to Cobb baring his teeth. "Sarah that's not what we're suppose to do right" I asked her as she closed her eyes and pulled the doll closer. With these words I got pushed to the side as Henry pushed Cobb harder.
"Come on you don't want to do this tell Buttercup to stop" Vicki said as I looked up at her. Just than she too got pushed to the ground beside me.
"Sarah don't let Buttercup do this" Steve said putting the gun down "you can control hi, don't let him control you".
"I don't have to listen to you Mr. Cobb said so" Sarah answered.
"Sarah I love you, I just want to take you home" Steve told her.
"Sarah listen I talked to your dad, he loves you, you have to forgive him" I told Sarah getting up slowly.
"You said you didn't forgive your dad" Sarah reminded me.
"Your dad came back" I told her.
"He's right there, he loves you and he's going to take you home" Vicki agreed. With these words Sarah's eyes darted between Vicki, Steve and I before suddenly turning to Cobb.
"You lied, Buttercup didn't do those things, I did" she suddenly realized looking at Cobb as everything suddenly stopped "it was me all the time and I didn't stop it" she told him. With this Sarah looked down sadly as Henry let go of Cob and walked over to me looking me over carefully.
"You okay" he asked. I nodded as he glanced at Mike and headed outside.
"You two okay" Mike asked us seeming more worried about Vicki.
Vicki nodded saying "yah, man family reunions are a bitch".
"That's what I've been telling you" I agreed. With this Mike arrested Cobb as we headed out of the school. I watched Mike and Vicki take Cobb out as I turned back to Sarah and her dad to see her push the doll of Buttercup away.
"It's gonna be okay Sarah" I comforted her. With this Steve pulled his daughter into a hug as I started to walk away. With this I walked outside to see mike a good foot off the ground as Henry held him up and Vicki tried uselessly to convince Henry to let him go. "Henry no! Henry please put him down" I cried running up "Oh god, please Henry" I cried stopping beside him to see him slowly lowering him down while he still bared his vampire teeth at him. Suddenly he pushed Mike away as he turned and walked a few feet away. Vicki immediately walked over to Mike's side as I watched Henry for a minute.
"Mike it's not what you think" Vicki said the second Mike turned to me.
"What this, you two knew this" Mike asked pointing at Henry.
"It's not all Graham Stouffer and" I went to say.
"What, what he's Casper the friendly vampire" Mike asked as I noticed Henry approach him again looking ready to pounce but human. "What the hell are you doing with him Vicki" Mike asked.
"We work together" Henry answered.
"Yah and what about you, what else" Mike asked looking at me questioningly.
"Mike it has been a really long day" I told him turning to walk away not wanting to answer that question. As I walked I noticed no one was following me so I quickly hailed a cab and sighed as I got in. Sure wasn't the way I wanted this day to go I thought to myself. "Next conversation should be interesting" I whispered to myself.