Chapter 8
Mick covered Leni with another blanket he brought from upstairs. She slightly stirred as her body snuggled closer against Jack's still form on the couch.
He went to check the security of both the penthouse and his office for the third time, but realized that he never took the flight of stairs leading to the outdoor terrace. With his mini crossbow in one hand and his pistol tucked in the back of his jeans, he made his way up the steps.
The decay was heavy in the air even before he made it to the door, but it was a scent he was very familiar with.
Thank God Beth isn't here.
He opened the door and smiled at the figure standing by the wall. "I have to learn this trick because there was no way you could have gotten past me to get up here."
A redheaded woman with a curvaceous body fitting snugly in a matte gray outfit with low-hanging belt leaned against the wall. Her thigh-high black boots reflected the moonlight on the floor as she turned around.
"A very simple trick to learn, Mick," the Cleaner said. "For another time. I came in while you all were in your penthouse. Less confusion that way, keeping your guests from seeing me."
She walked over and poked Mick lightly in the chest with a finger. "And what is this I'm hearing out in the nation, Mick? You're dating a human? I thought your taste was a bit more ... refined."
Mick shrugged. "Come on now. You know how the system works. No kiss and tell."
The Cleaner feigned surprise. "Oh, put a spin on my words, why don't you?" She laughed as she looked out over the city.
"Josef told me what's going on with you and your client. Bad timing considering this new vampire floating around."
New? Josef obviously didn't tell her everything. "I couldn't have left even if we didn't have this problem. L.A.P.D.'s down in the lobby and on this floor specifically watching out for her."
"Really?" The Cleaner frowned. "There's no cop up here. In fact, I didn't see any cops when I came in the building. I did a walkthrough before I came upstairs."
Now it was Mick's turn to look troubled. He started to ask a question but his super sensitive hearing picked up the sound of a door being forcibly opened downstairs. He looked at the Cleaner who nodded back. "I heard it, too."
He raised his pistol and rushed to the door, the Cleaner hot on his heels with a .22 in her gloved hands. They took the steps as if they were not there and quickly moved into the penthouse where both came to a sudden stop at the sight before them.
The door to the penthouse was wide open. Leni and Jack were still asleep on the couch, their breathing pattern still regular and unaffected by the looming form of Lance as he casted an eerie shadow over the two humans.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Mick. You have a nasty habit of bringing home strays, do you. I'm tempted to know what flavor they are ... right now."
Mick and the Cleaner trained their weapons on the elder vampire. "Back away, Lance," growled Mick. "She has nothing to do with this."
Lance placed a single finger against his lips. "Quiet. You don't want to wake the baby with those hand cannons. And even as he's sleeping so soundly. But not to worry. A little something I sprinkled in the air will keep him and his mother from interrupting so we can talk freely."
Mick started to rush forward but Lance halted his approach with an upraised hand. "I wouldn't come any closer if I were you, St. John," he said, unsheathing a short sword covered by his long black coat. He placed it on the couch cushion a mere handful of inches from Leni and Jack. "You're going to answer a few questions for me. If I like your answers, then I will leave your quaint domicile intact and you will have nothing to fear from me."
He picked up his blade and pricked his thumb with its razor sharp edge, drawing a trickle of blood. "If your answers do not give me satisfaction, well," he smiled. "You remember that scientist and what I did to him, do you? Place your weapons on the floor and step away from them."
Mick looked over at the Cleaner and gave her a small nod. She bent down first and placed her pistol on the rug in front of her. Mick hooked the trigger guards of both weapons with his left index finger and began to lower himself to a crouch.
Lance rose from his seat with his blade extended from his left side. "That was almost too easy, St. John. I did not think you would bend."
Mick placed his weapons on the floor and straightened. "You really don't know me at all, Lance," he snarled, throwing his right hand out toward the vampire.
One of Mick's decorative stakes shot out of his sleeve, stabbing Lance in the wrist holding his short sword. Lance cried out in pain as his weapon fell from his hand and he staggered a few steps from the couch.
Spacing was all Mick needed. He launched himself at Lance, slamming him against the far wall while yelling at the Cleaner, "Get them out of here now!"
The Cleaner rushed over to Leni and Jack as Mick grabbed Lance by the throat and slammed him bodily to the floor twice. The impact stunned Lance just enough for Mick to cock his left wrist, exposing another stake. It slid into his hand and he grasped it while still holding on to Lance by his neck. He reared back, preparing to stab Lance in the chest.
But the elder vampire had other ideas. Lance deflected the blow with his right hand, causing Mick's stake to penetrate the floor. He brought his right hand up again across his body and hooked the back of Mick's neck, slamming his forehead several times into the floor beside him. The stake rolled out of a stunned Mick's hand.
Faster than even Mick thought possible, Lance swung his legs in the air to where he was now crouched over Mick. As an afterthought he glanced at his left wrist where Mick's first stake still protruded through the radius. He punched Mick in the back of his head before pulling the stake out.
"Well, St. John, I guess I'll have to get my answers from someone else," he growled as he grasped the back of Mick's neck. "I would just stake you but I want you to feel as much pain as I can bestow upon you ... before I take your head."
Mick felt the tip of the stake underneath his right ear. He braced for its impact, silently thankful that Beth wasn't there to witness his impending demise.
A demise which never came. Lance stiffened for several seconds and fell hard on top of Mick's back, unmoving except for short, jagged gasps. The stake he was preparing to stab Mick with slid out of his fingers onto the floor.
Mick slowly crawled from underneath Lance's inert form, completely in awe of what happened. When his vision finally cleared, he had no choice but to smile.
The Cleaner smiled back as she extended a hand down to Mick to help him to his feet. When he looked down at Lance, he saw another stake sticking out of the vampire's back. He almost laughed while rubbing his forehead.
"Where's Leni and the baby?"
"I carried them upstairs. They're fine. Whatever he used on them shouldn't have any lasting effects."
From seemingly out of nowhere she produced a cellphone and dialed a number. "It's me. I need you to send support squad Alpha to St. John's residence now. Yes, we're gonna need the heavy gear."
She hung up and toed Lance with a boot. "Normally we would just take them out to the desert at night and turn them to ash," she said.
"Except that this isn't normal." Mick picked up Lance's sword and knelt beside him, holding the blade against his throat. A thin line of blood began forming against the blade. "I am going to hate myself for this, though."
He straightened and looked back at the Cleaner. "He needs to stay alive."
The Cleaner was clearly surprised. "Mick, are you crazy? And after what he did not only just now but to all of us? He has endangered the lives of every vampire here in Los Angeles. He deserves to die."
"Look, nobody agrees with you more than me, but ... you have to trust me on this." Mick bent down to retrieve his pistol and mini crossbow. "What do you have to hold him?"
"You'll be surprised at what we do besides clean up, Mick," she said, a mischievous grin gracing her features. "But I'll tell you what. I'll back you if I could try something out real quick ..."
She pulled Mick by his arm into a deep kiss which he barely returned being as surprised as he was by her actions. When she finished and released him, she closed her eyes and licked her red lips as if tasting a new wine.
"Hmmm. Just as I imagined."
- Chapter 8 -
