Heart of Ice
The second I walked into the office the next day I saw Coreen trying to keep control a homeless person. I looked over t Vicki questioningly as she said "Hey I know you, this is the pan handle queen of Young and Carlton" Vicki stated.
"Yah and you were the only decent cop on that beat, yah I work Yorkville now, less coins mores bills" she told her. "Annie Howard word on the street is that you went private, I looked you up" she told us.
"Well I hate to break this to you but if you're going door to door you might have picked the wrong door" I told her.
"My friend Francine was killed last night people just keep getting killed" she told us.
"How do you know they're being killed" Vicki asked her taking a seat next to her.
"Some of them would just disappear and last night I heard Francine screaming and than she was gone too" she told us.
"How many people are we talking about here" I asked
"Frankie, Tyrell and Lynda" she started listing "Four at least maybe more" she finally answered.
"Okay Annie we have to call the police" Vicki said standing up and heading for the phone.
"You were a cop you know that they're not going to listen to us" Annie argued to Vicki.
"Maybe they'll listen to you, Vicki I don't know which one of us is going to be next. I can pay you some of us hooked in and we got almost 100 bucks" she told us handing over a pile of bills and coins.
"It's okay I'll open an account" Coreen said. "Do you want me to take it" Coreen asked as she took the money from Vicki's full hands.
"Right, ah take a big breath" I told her trying to calm Annie down "and we're just going to start from the beginning" I told her.
Later on we headed out to the area where Annie held residence to see a small tent and a few things. "She lived here" I asked.
"Francine didn't like crowds actually she didn't like individuals either, not a people person" Annie answered.
"Did you notice anyone new around the park lately anyone on or off their meds" Vicki asked.
"People are in and out, on and off" Annie answered.
"What about anyone that might have had a specific beef with her" I asked.
"Not with her or any of the others" Annie answered "It's just someone who likes hurting people" she told us as we kneeled down beside the nearly empty tent.
"Where's her stuff" I asked.
"She had some good stuff man" Annie answered "some things almost new".
"If something happened to her that's evidence" Vicki asked almost to quickly for me to read.
"Nobody killed her for it if that's what you're getting at" she told her.
"Annie look I believe you I just need some kind of proof that someone took her" Vicki told her as I stood up and started to look around.
"What's this" I asked looking down at the wet area of leaves that were al in a certain direction.
"It looks like drag marks" Vicki answered following it as well. We followed it down to an abandoned drain system. Annie pointed to a bag father down the system. "That's the kind of evidence we need" Vicki stated. With this Annie went to pick it up but I quickly stopped her.
"No, don't touch that you don't want your finger prints on that" I told her.
That evening I went over to Henry hoping for some kind of help with the sewer system. I walked in to see him working on his graphic novels. I stood over him know he knew I was there and waited till he turned his head ever so slightly so I could read him and spoke. "Do you know what it's like to draw with someone reading over your shoulder" he asked me.
"It makes you want to stop working and discuss my case" I asked.
"I have a deadline, if this book isn't into the printers by the end of the month my editor's going to kill me, again" he said throwing his pencil to the side in frustration and looking at me.
"So much for a timeless existence as one of the children of the night" I told him
"Welcome to the 21st century" he answered before continuing with his work.
"Look Henry these people need are help" I told him.
"Another day at the office" he answered barely addible from the side of his face.
"What the little prince doesn't help the homeless" I asked rudely. With this I saw his hand waver before his head shot up and he looked me straight in the eyes.
"I wondered Europe for years after the Great War, I know what it's like to have nothing" Henry told me. With this he looked down at his papers before finally putting his pencil down and turning towards me again. "What do you need" he asked.
"Well I've called the police in on this but I just think that a vampires nose for blood will find things in the sewer that they will miss" I answered.
"Sewer" he asked "well you didn't say anything about a sewer" he stated leaning towards me teasingly.
"That's because I was saving the best for last" I told him putting my hand on his cheek subconsciously. Within less than a second I realized he was leaning forward up towards my lip so I quickly pulled away. "I need to meet Annie at the coffee shop around the corner, but I will call you later" I remembered.
"I'm going alone" he asked his body lean following me.
I walked into the police office t see Vicki and Annie sitting at Mike's desk admiring a picture while Mike sat there looking bored and annoyed. Just than I saw Annie put the picture down giving Mike an "if looks could kill" look. 'I picked his up at the park, it's Francine's it's covered in blood" I told Mike. With this Annie suddenly got up and Vicki and her headed over to the side.
"Yah and it's covered in blood and you have no victim" Mike told me.
"I have half a dozen witnesses that herd screams" I stated uncomfortable on the hearing subject.
"Lizzie, come on you've talked to Vicki you know how this is going to play out. Even if I get a statement by the time I need her in court she's going to be gone, she going to be on something, she's going to be off her meds" Mike told me.
"Mike I just handed you a bloody bag" I reminded him "Annie says there are 4 people missing maybe more we might be dealing with a serial killer" I told him.
"Or this Francine women decided to move into the sewer cut herself on a grate or she OD" Mike said suddenly stopping and looking down. I glanced over to see Crowley start walking away again. "Look Liz I just have a really full case load right now okay" Mike lied.
'Okay than give me someone who can spare an hour" I told him.
"I can't sell this" Mike told me.
"Send out a uniform at least to bag and tag the evidence" I argued.
"Why don't you handle it" he asked me.
"Fine, loan me the forensic team and I'll get right on it" I told him angrily and sarcastically.
"Alright you know what I'll make a deal with you, okay" Mike stated. I will help you with your case if you help me with mine" Mike offered though I knew there was something he wasn't telling me.
"Still need us for the tough stuff huh" I asked.
"There's something I want to show you, follow me" he told me standing up. I looked over to Annie and Vicki who looked at me questioningly.
"5 minutes" I hand signalled. With this I followed Mike into the empty coroner's room guessingly. The second we entered Mike pulled down a sheet revealing a dead woman with two familiar puncture marks on her neck. "This isn't Henry he doesn't do this" I told Mike pulling the sheet back over her face.
"Oh really, fang boy doesn't eat" Mike asked.
"He doesn't kill" I answered him from experience.
"He tell you that" Mike asked not realizing where I was speaking from. With these words I fell silent which was all the info Mike needed. "You've never even asked him have you" Mike asked.
"I trust him" I told Mike. His caused Mike to laugh falsely before speaking.
"Who are you and what have you done with Lizzie Nelson" he asked sarcastically.
"Henry is not a killer" I told him firmly.
"No" he asked before saying the two questions I feared most. "And how do you know so much about his drinking habits" before pausing. "How many times has he sucked you blood Vicki" he finally asked. At these words I fidgeted uneasily.
"Do you really want to know" I asked. "More than once" I roundly answered.
"Are you insane" Mike asked.
"The first time was when he was dying" I told him.
"Any idea who he was with two nights ago" he asked me as I thought back.
"Two nights ago he was with me" I answered.
"All night" Mike asked.
"Most of it" I told him.
"Well I hope I never need you as an alibi" Mike stated. "Listen and read I got a body with two puncture wounds, no blood and no sign of struggle even if I didn't believe in vampires I'd be thinking vampire" Mike told me. "So help me out here Liz, is it Henry your new "partner" or are we talking about some kind of blood sucking convention in town" he asked.
"Maybe it's a wannabe or a cult, maybe it's another demon" I offered.
"Okay fine, if Henry didn't do this than he won't mind helping me out will he" Mike asked pushing my fears.
"I sure hoe not" I whispered.
What the hells a Wendigo" Vicki asked.
"Hunger, pure hunger" the aboriginal man across from us said.
"It doesn't happen to drink blood does it" I tried to ask but fell quiet when I felt Henry's questioning eyes fell on me.
"It eats your flesh, cracks you bones sucks out the marrow" he answered.
"They'll teach their own" Henry said.
"So what is it than some kind of animal" Vicki asked.
"Some say Wendigo was lost man in the woods, cannibal spirit came into him kept him alive, killing other lost souls he'd meet, killed Francine" he answered.
"How do you know that" Vicki asked.
"Did you see it" I asked
"We met before" he answered. "When I was ten my father took me out to shot a deer, there was no deer. There was a sound like the wind yet not like the wind" he told us. "My father went to meet it and that's when it took him, that's when I saw it and it saw me" he continued. "I grabbed a branch out of the fire to keep it back but it never came for me" he told us. "Next day they found my fathers bones" he finished. "Do you believe in destiny Ms. Nelson" he asked.
"Not a big fan" I answered.
"My people say when you see Wendigo you're marked for death no matter how far you run it'll find you" he told us.
"You can't believe it followed you here" Henry said.
"Maybe it just moved here for better hunting" he answered before getting up to leave. "But maybe if it had of killed me back than all these other people would still be alive" he told us turning back around. With this Vicki walked up to him saying something that I couldn't read but I could defiantly read his words. "I like it outside it's my home" he responded to Vicki before turning and walking out.
"Do you two believe him" Vicki asked.
"He wasn't lying" I told her.
"I believe that he believes it" Henry answered.
"Great aboriginal cannibal spirits infesting city ravines" Vicki stated.
"Maybe he's got the right idea, maybe somebody should put up a hunting party." Henry stated surprising me.
"That's the spirit" I told him.
"Actually us not being the somebody I was referring to" he told me. "My book still has four pages that need inking the police can handle this Lizzie, Vicki" he told us.
"Okay Mike did say he would look into it for me" I said knowing I had my half of the deal to do.
"Good" Henry said seeming surprised too.
"I had to make a little deal though" I told him. "He's got a body, puncture wounds on the neck, no blood he wants to talk to you about it" I said feeling my bravery quickly fade as I saw Henry's happiness plummet.
"Imagine that" Henry stated.
"Henry you're the only vampire he know" Vicki backed me up. Just than Henry was directly in front of me starring down at me angrily.
"What do you think" He asked.
"That you didn't do it, it's just a conversation nothing to worry about" I told him.
"That's what my father said to Ana Boolean right before he took her head" he told me walking away.
The next evening was highly tense and aggravated. "How do we do this, do you hit me with phone book until I confess" Henry asked Mick.
"Yah if you like" Mike answered taking off her coat. "You ever meet her" Mike asked pointing the picture of the dead girl.
"She's not exactly my type" Henry answered truthfully.
"Oh and what exactly is your type Henry O negative." Mike asked as Henry stood up at the challenge before turning away.
"Mike what are you doing he's trying to help" I asked him.
"That a vampire bite" Mike asked ignoring me.
"It might be" he answered turning back around.
"It might be or is" Mike asked.
"I told you already I've never met her" Henry told him.
"Any other vampires in town I should know about" Mike asked.
"We don't all belong to the same book club" Henry answered. "Now I've answered your questions are we done" Henry asked.
"Not quite" Mike answered. Before throwing another pile of folders on the table. "Any of these ladies look familiar" he asked.
"What is this you going to try and pin every cold case in the file on him" Vicki asked.
"No just the ones I think he might actually have done" Mike answered standing up after opening all the files.
"If I'm going to kill someone I'm not going to be that sloppy about it" Henry said an obvious threat to him.
"Really, maybe it's an accident huh" Mike offered. "You know ah, you start going at it things get a little to frisky before you know it" Mike told him.
"If I take the life I remember it" Henry told Mike.
"Let's test that shall we" Mike stated.
"You know what Mike this is enough" I stated standing up myself. "he's answered your questions" I finished but Mike picked up photo anyway.
"Delphine" Henry remembered.
"Old friend" Mike asked.
"Where'd you get this" Henry asked.
"You first, did you kill her" Mike asked.
"Yes" Henry answered as I felt my world crumble down. "And now unless you want to try to charge me with something that happened in 1944 we're done here" Henry told him walking away.
With this Vicki, and a still angry Henry and I went back to the sewer to see if we could find anything else. When we got out of the car Henry stopped at the door looking around distrustfully. "Don't worry Annie will watch your ride" Vicki stated. Henry gave no answer but started walking ahead.
"Henry" I asked without an answer. "Are you ever going to talk to me again" I asked.
"Are you going to tell me why you had Celluci do your dirty work" Henry asked turning back around on me.
"No he told me he just wanted to ask me about the girl he found the other night I had no idea he was going to ambush you" I defended myself. "Who was the women in the old photo" I asked after a long pause.
"It was a long time ago" he answered.
"What about those other women though" Vicki asked "If you didn't know them why not just say so" she finished.
"Who says I didn't know them" Henry asked though he was just trying to scare us. As I walked past Vicki I noticed she said something I wasn't suppose to see. "Maybe Mike was right" she whispered. With this we followed Henry down the sewer trying to see any signs of life. Suddenly Henry reached out stopping me from moving. Just than he spun around to see the Aboriginal from before. "You should go back" Henry told him.
"It's my fight" he complained. Just than Henry's head spun back around facing the other way.
"What is it" I asked.
"Death" he answered. With this we continued into a larger room filled with piles of skeletons
"Oh god" I gasped. Vicki went over and picked up a dirty jacket before suddenly Henry spun around turning vampire. With this I looked at the exit to see it blocked by large, white, disfigured man. Henry got pushed to the side as Peter broke from our grasp. Just as he dropped his torch the monster went after him dragging his body away. I followed Vicki out of the sewer hoping to find something but finding nothing. "Why did it let us go" I asked finally looking over at Henry to see him looking weak and holding his neck.
"It has its food" Henry answered. Vicki must have said something because she started to head back in. Just than Henry removed his hand to show his neck ripped and torn at.
"What's the matter you're not healing" I asked.
"I lost too much blood I need to feed" Henry answered. With out even thinking twice about it I pulled down my sleeve and pushed it at him only to have him push it away. "I wasn't asking, I'll drop you tow down town" he told us heading for the car.
"No Peter says that once this thing sees you you're marked for death" Vicki stated.
"What does that mean we have a new stalker" I asked.
"That's one version" Coreen answered.
"Great before you know it the supernatural types are going to have to line up to take a shot at us" I added pointing at Vicki and I.
"Henry too you guys should stick together" Coreen added.
"That's a bit complicated right now" I told her.
"Is there anything else on the Aboriginal connection" Vicki asked.
"What's Peter's heritage" she asked.
"You know I never thought to ask. What difference does that make now" Vicki finished.
"The Wendigo has over 60 names and twice as many stories about how it is and why and how to stop it" Coreen told us. "If it is Peter's Wendigo maybe I can narrow down the options all the myths are culturally specific" she finished.
"Okay best guess how do we kill this thing" I asked.
"We need to try silver bullets" Coreen answered.
"Come on even I know that's werewolf thing" Vicki stated.
"A lot of cultures believe that silver has mystic properties, I've got a documented case from 1864 where the Ojibwa went hunting for the Wendigo with silver bullets" Coreen explained.
"They have documented cases" Vicki asked.
"How cool is that" Coreen answered.
"Well I guess I'll be melting down grandma's bracelet tonight" I said.
"Also a lot of cultures believe that Wendigo's hearts are made of ice or turn to ice or freeze some people say that's a metaphor but there are stories about burning Wedigos or boiling them alive" she said as it clicked.
"Wait that's it when Peter was little he hid by the fire when Francine was killed Annie was by the fire it's afraid of fire" I told them. "It didn't go after Peter until after he dropped his torch" I continued.
"That's why it lives up north it can't stand the heat" Coreen said.
"Well that's great all we need now is a flamethrower" Vicki joked.
"Done, all I'll need is an hour" Coreen said surprising me. "I made one last year for a party" she finished.
"Of course you did" Vicki said.
That night I went to Henry's to see him looking healed and less angry for a second. "You look better have a nice dinner" I asked.
"The bodies in the next room if you'd like to take a look" Henry said angrily.
"Yah I'll take your word for it" I cringed. "Listen Henry we got to go back" I told him.
"Into the sewer to kill an unkillable spirit' he said.
"Unless you have a better idea" I asked.
"Not going into the sewer" he offered. "This isn't your problem Lizzie" he told me.
"Henry I have an obligation" I told him.
"One hundred dollars that's all it takes to risk your life" Henry asked.
"Actually it was ninety-eight dollars and fifty eight cents" I corrected. "look Henry it killed Peter and it's going to keep killing, I mean who's going to go out there and stop it, the police aren't going to go near this" I asked.
"Why does it have to be you" Henry asked.
"There are things out there that people can't or won't see now that I've seen them I'm not just going to walk away" I answered him.
"You know how I survived 500 years" he asked.
"Mega dosses of vitamin C and complete danger avoidance" I guessed.
"Picking my battles" he answered.
"Than if I were you I would put your coat on because if Peter was right the Wendigo seeing us means we are firmly on the entree section of his menu" I told him.
"One doesn't win an argument with you" he went to ask but I put up my hand stopping him.
"Don't even bother" I told him.
That night when we got to the sewer I tested the flame thrower on a near by tree before looking over at a starring Vicki and Henry. "If I had any doubt about your plan see that certainly delays them" Henry told me as I burned a second tree.
"Bring on the Wendigo" Vicki stated.
"I better let you lead I don't think I can trust my back anymore" he stated.
"Henry don't do this I don't judge you" I whinnied.
"How generous than what does it matter what I've done my life is my business I drink blood or I die" he told me.
"You choice to be a vampire" Vicki told him.
"I choice to give my life to be with the women I loved I choice to experience 100s of years of human history and every time I feed I am choosing to live" he told us. "What is your choice Vicki" he asked her. At these words I turned around and walked away down into the sewer. As we walked down I paused as I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Why don't you just ask me what you really want to know" Henry asked me.
"What is it that I really want to know" I asked looking away momentarily.
"About the women in the photo Delphine" he answered.
"I'm not sure I want to know" I admitted.
"She asked me to turn her and I did" he answered causing me to stop moving. "But you have to understand I have killed people and I will kill again it is part of who and what I am. I was raised to be a king, I learned the art of war when children today are learning to color" he explained.
"I thought I had a dysfunctional childhood" I thought out loud.
"I killed for my country and I killed for honour and when I met Christina I became much more intimate with death" he told me.
"Couldn't you control it or something" I asked slowly walking forward.
"When you turn you don't see people anymore, you see prey. I spent a long time learning to control my impulses but I'm not human Lizzie, and every once and awhile some bodies got to die" he told me as Vicki looked back at us with a new unknown determination. As we turned a corner I asked the first question that came to my mind.
"You going to be able to smell him right" I asked.
"Maybe" he answered.
"Think reassuring face" I told him.
"This is your plan" he reminded me.
"You're the one that was learning military strategy in his diapers you must have some ideas" Vicki teased.
"I'm not the one that needs to be worried Vicki it's not my blood he'll be able to smell" he said leaning towards me.
"Good work on the reassuring face" I told him just as we entered the larger room. "It's not here" I said continually looking around.
"It's here" Henry told us. Just than the Wendigo dropped from the ceiling meters away from me. I blasted fire at it but suddenly the flamethrower decided to stop.
"Not working" I cried as it darted at me. Before I could react though I found Henry standing in front of me. Henry kept its attention before turning towards me momentarily.
"Use the electricity light it up" Henry ordered. Vicki went to pull the electrical pipe out until I stopped her realizing Henry was still in the water.
"Get out of the water" I cried.
"Do it" Henry argued just as Vicki pulled out the wire. At that very second Henry fell out of the water as the Wendigo flew backwards.
"You okay" I asked running over to him.
"Fine" he answered pushing me off. Just than I looked over to see the Wendigo standing up again.
"You got to be kidding me" I asked as Henry pushed me behind him. Just than it got at shot at a few times before blowing up.
"Mike" I asked.
"How did you" Vicki asked.
"Silver bullets, Coreen said they'd come in handy" he answered.
"Mike" Vicki asked.
"Yes Vicki" Mike responded answering a question I didn't know of.
"What are you doing here" I asked.
"I have something, for Henry" he answered looking over at him. With this he walked over to Henry and pressed something against his chest which caused him to gasp in pain and press against the wall. When I tried to go after them Vicki held me back forcefully. As Henry fell to the ground Vicki let me go but mike kept me back.
"What did you do" I cried. Just than I noticed older men walk into my vision. I noticed Henry try to pull away from him but couldn't from the pain. "What did you do" I snapped at him.
"Henry has killed too many people" Mike answered. With this I took a step towards the man but stopped when he pulled out a gun.
"You let him go" I ordered him.
"The vampire's whore you think I haven't seems the devils marks" he asked me. "Sorry detective" he said to Mike as I looked back at him.
"This isn't part of our deal" Vicki said which surprised me that she was apart of this too. I glared at her for a minute before turning back
"What are you doing to him" I asked.
"If you care about this creature do as I stay" he answered. "Give me you gun and lock those gates with your handcuffs" he told Mike.
"Mike don't" I said looking down at Henry who looked in severe pain. Mike reluctantly threw his gun down as he closed the bars and locked them. "You bastored" I growled. He ignored me completely but spoke to Mike again.
"The key" he told him. With this Mike threw the key at him as the man bent down and picked up Henry and dragged him away. Once he was out of sight I felt Mike put his hand n my shoulder but I pulled myself away. I than felt Vicki grabbed my hand before I turned to them.
"Don't say a word" I snarled as the tears took over.
