Chapter Six

Operation Leslie

The rest of Saturday was spent discussing what rumors were false.

It turns out almost ninety nine point nine percent of the rumors about vampires were lies. There were actually very few truths.

Matt made a list of the few rumors that were real:

Vampires Really Do/Are…

1.… have super strength and super speed.

2.…need to drink blood.

3.…alluring.

4.…super rich.

5.…eat human food.

6.…good liars.

7.…cold.

8.…good in bed ;)

I read them, and saw that these were most of the rumors I believed, except about eating human food. I thought they hated human food, but apparently, human food like tacos, enchiladas, stake (extra rare), pasta, etc., were part of a normal diet.

I couldn't help but laugh at the last one. And not because of the "good in bed," but because of the smiley in the end.

Victoria drove me home, which in car, took about five minutes.

"So, you and Zacky…how do you feel?" she asked, looking at me, and not at the road. I knew by then that vampires can spread their -our- attention to several things at once, and weren't easily distracted. It still made me feel like she was going to crash. But of course, I wasn't about to say anything.

"I feel…hopeful, I guess," I said. I didn't know how I felt. Just that we were going to see if things worked out.

"Well. You sure aren't romantic," she said.

"What about you? What do you tell Alex?" It was a long shot, but not that long. I can usually pick up these kinds of signals. Just never when they're meant for me, except in two cases, which I don't need repeat.

She looked taken aback. "What

"No offense, but it's kind of obvious. And anyway, it seems like you two aren't that serious, like you guys want to make believe," I said, not hesitating. What could she do to me? I was equal to her.

"True. An act for all the people in school. You won't believe how many people will hit on us - er, not trying to be cocky or anything, if you know what I mean," she said, quickly.

"Yea. I know what you mean. I do have a question. Why is it that you were against me turning vampire?"

"Ah. Leslie. She's an important asset to the Coven, and if she left - because of you - I would have left too. We have known each other since when we were humans."

"And, how long ago was that?"

"About the time Colon discovered America," she said, looking for a reaction.

I raise my eyebrows. "So how did you guys come to America?"

"Well, we're Italian, and believed in Colon from the first time we heard about his back then radical ideas. When Spain granted him the money needed for the expedition, we went along. We were the first Italian girls in America. Of course, no one would ever know that, since we disappeared right after. Taken hostage by Native Americans that passed by every ten years around those villages to feed on that certain village, and we got unlucky. And, here we are," she said. It seemed like she has said this story many times before, no doubt because of the many alliances she has made throughout the centuries.

"So, you are around six hundred years old?" -- nod -- "wow. What about the rest of them?"

"Zacky and them? Lets see. I know the least about Zacky, but you might find out more than I ever could. But Dusting and Matt were friends from the nineteen fifties. Dustin was a "square," while Matt was a "greaser." You could see that in their personalities. But Matt taught Dustin a lot of the greaser ways. Leslie…she is hippie. Seventies. Alex and Con…I think they are just a bit younger than me. So they are probably from the eighteen hundreds. But you ask Zacky, and report. I have told you what I know of them. Girl vampires have to stick together. Of course, it will not appear so, since in so many cases, like this one, there will be more boys than girls in any coven. But that is why. Boy vampires…change their minds easily," said Victoria, looking at me sideways, as if I would deny it. I didn't. Manny had taught me that.

"Are you telling me to be careful of Zacky?" I asked, neutrally.

"Well, not necessarily untrusting, but don't let yourself be too caught on with him. I don't know much about him. I don't know when he was created. Well. I'm wrong with this Cult. Con, Alex, and maybe Zacky, depending on his age, of course, are from the old times, so they usually are serious about their relationships."

"Then why is Alex with you?" She was lying about Alex and her not being serious.

She blushed. Lightly. Hardly noticeable, except that I heard her blood rushing to her face. No doubt she would have been as red as a tomato six hundred years ago.

"Don't worry about it. No harm done. So, you being much older than even them, you must be serious about the relationship. Or is it that you have been a vampire long enough to not really make relationships?"

"Well, for a while, the latter, but after I met Alex, I felt a real relationship, like you and Zacky. When you were with Manny…he…you…the relationship wasn't as strong. Trust me," she said, when it looked like I was going to object, which I wasn't. "He was able to live day to day without seeing you. But for me and Alex…I have to see him every day--" she stopped short, as if she told me more than she had ever intended. Girl vampires have to stick together, eh?

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. You want a blood sacrifice to prove it?"

She laughed. "I guess I can trust you. I have to see him every day, and he has to see me every day. If I wasn't sixteen when they turned me, I would have married him." And she stayed silent for a long time. I know she was having a hard time saying this. I wouldn't have said it, not even thought it in fear that my face would reveal it. She was brave.

"But enough of that. I asked about you. How do you feel with Zacky?"

Despite what she had revealed to me, I couldn't tell her how much I was trying to figure out how I felt about him. I was going to say a half truth, but saw the mess the last one put me in, so I told the truth. The entire truth.

"I feel like he's the one I have been waiting for my whole life, and that Manny was just…an obstacle. And I feel bad for thinking that, because I was willing to die for Manny. I was willing to lose my sanity for Manny," I took a deep breath. I was going to say something I never admitted, even in thought. "I lost both my life and my sanity, but where was he?

"With Zacky, I feel like I have a chance." Done. Like that. The unexplainable was explained.

"I know what you mean. You know, I was in the same situation before turning too. I was in love with Colon's captain, who was like ten years older than me. Of course, it was ok to dig guys older than you back then. But when I met Alex, who was only a year or so older than me, I knew that even though what the captain and I felt was mutual until I met Alex, Alex was someone that if he went away from my life, I would not cry, but I would miss him, and if I ever saw him again, I would throw myself at him, begging me to take me back. Sound familiar?"

"Not really. But I know what you mean," I said. I had the feeling she was exaggerating things, in case my feelings were stronger than hers.

"Ha. You're quick to catch on," she said, knowing when she bluffed that I would know—well the not crying part.

"Well, what do you know. We're in front of your house. Be careful in there. The person who died in there used to be our boss. And he died not very happy with us."

"Huh?"

"We had a boss, two hundred years ago. Dustin and Matt will say he was their boss too, because anyone in our Cult is somehow hated by the old bastard. Don't push him. And I know you want to tell your kid brother. He will know. Children are smart like that. Tell him when you know he won't judge you. You'll know, instinctively, just like you'll know how to lie. But back to Malvoro. Be careful. He knows how to manipulate vampires. Oh. One thing for sure. Zacky is more than two hundred years old. I met him through this boss."

"You did? So I'm going out with an old perv?" I ask, joking. Well. She catches on too.

"Ahaha. Yes. I would say he might be older than me, since he seems to know many languages, even dead ones. That would explain why he knows Spanish, English, Italian, French…etc."

"Then why is he in Spanish class?"

"He's excellent with accents. Better than all the drama classes combined into one person."

"You praise him a lot," I said, with no hint of jealousy. I fooled her there. She did not catch it. But I can be extremely jealous.

She laughed. "When you know someone for two hundred years, like Alex, Con, and Zacky, you tend to find things you can praise them for. This Cult is the only cult I have grown close to," she said matter-of-factly. "Can Leslie call you? I'm sure she'll want to discuss this situation."

"Oh. For sure. When can she call me? I want to fix this as soon as possible too."

"She can call you the minute you touch your door step. She can hear that, if I tell her to concentrate."

"Alright. I'm going to take a shower first though. I'm not sure if I smell dead or something, but I won't risk it."

"Alright. Don't take too long. She plans to leave the Cult. And like I said, if she leaves, I leave." I knew she wouldn't want to leave Alex, but like Jenovicia from Bad Girls said "Bros Before Hos." Not that Alex is a ho. I would hope not.

"Alright. She won't listen to you, huh?"

"No. Which is why I convinced her to talk to you as soon as you were home, or got comfortable at home. I'll tell her to call you in two hours. Be ready by then. Bye Raechel," she said. I was walking to the door while she was telling me, but I heard everything like she was talking right next to me.

"Bye," I said, softly. No doubt she heard.

As soon as I got out of the shower and was clothed and comfortable, the phone rang. I picked up, right when I heard the telephone line jacking up.

"Leslie," I said.

"Raechel," she said.

"Leslie," I repeated.

"Raechel," and with that we both cracked up. Why? Who knows. Maybe because we were immature about who was going to start the conversation. I decided to start it first.

"We obviously need to talk about a certain plan Zacky has in mind for some time now," I said.

"No doubt. I just need to know if it's true." I knew what she meant. If it was true that I had no feelings for Manny, and my feelings were only for Zacky.

"Look, I can guarantee you. I have no personal interest in getting Manny back. I know everything now."

"Yes. I know. Victoria told me. But how can I be sure you're not using Zacky to get to Manny? It's not Manny I'm worried about as much as Zacky. I have known him for two hun-"

"I know. And no. I don't get into a relationship unless I am up for a serious one."

"How can I know that for sure?"

"Leslie," I sighed. "I care for Zacky. A lot. I had decided that I would never again fall for a boy, but Zacky changed my mind. I know it didn't take much, but what I'm trying to say is that he managed to go through the obstacle I set up for him. I can see myself with him when cars hover, and when genetics are synthetically made, and when man finds the Garden of Eden."

"Nerdy."

Gah. I know. I said the first thoughts that came into my head, and they were more embarrassing than what Victoria and I talked about combined.

"Nerdy. So…I believe you. Think you can come for a meeting today? The Theater?"

I was excited that I knew the code name for the humongous house I just came from without anyone telling me.

"Yea. One question: What is the name of the other coven?"

"What?"

"Hmmm. Must have been an empty house…" I said, not sure anymore if this was the secret I wasn't supposed to tell to any other soul -or lack thereof.

"Maybe. Dustin likes to show off, and say things are his, when in reality, they're someone else's. Look. I know there is another coven for Zacky and the others, and Victoria and myself don't know about its location. That we know. What we can't know, is its location. And if we find out, by anyone, we are to tell Zacky. And I don't know if you know, but he is one vampire you don't want to mess with. Dustin and Matt are lucky to not have seen that side of him, since we didn't need to fight as mush during the fifties."

"I know."

"Wow. He really is ruthless. You know he liked you from the first time he laid eyes on you, right?" This felt like gossiping. But hey, I'm still - was - just recently human.

"I had a feeling something like that was going on," I said. Which is the truth.

She heard it, since she went on, "I'm starting to think he only talked to you like that when you were still human. To see if you were willing to trust him. Who knows. I don't know how old he really is. No one seems to know. Not even Victoria, and she's an excellent information gatherer." I added that mentally. Don't bother love. You gather what you don't know about her. By the way. I am from Marco Polo's time, the thirteenth century. You can tell Victoria and Leslie that, if you want.

How it was he heard me thinking is a mystery, but maybe I just slacked off in closing my mind. I won't tell them. I like knowing something about you that no one else knows. How is it that you have not turned one person for all these…eight hundred years?

Easy. Kill them before they have the chance, or tell them to go to sleep when they feel like closing their eyes. Close your mind. I don't think they want me hearing this.

And I closed my mind. No doubt he was testing me to see if I actually would, but I knew secret-telling when it happened.

"I see,' I say, without any interruption to the flow of the conversation. I was glad I am now a vampire. I could concentrate on more than one thing at a time.

"Yes," she said wearily. Could she know I was lying? No. Victoria herself said that I would know what lies to say, and I knew how to pick out a lie from the truth, if enough evidence was given to me.

"Well, I have to go. I must feed. Bye Raechel. I'll see you tonight," and with that, Leslie hung up.

Nine vampires. Nine chances. Nine problems. No doubt the meeting would start at nine. How to leave without my baby brother not noticing. Something clicked. Now was the perfect chance to tell my kid brother what I am now.