MIDNIGHT FLY

Chapter Four

The little white lines in the middle of the road blurred by as I tried to piece the directions to Cassie's house together from memory. Okay, take a left hand turn up at the third red light. Go down Norris road until I see a small brick house with a brick mailbox. Okay, easy to find, right?

My hands paraded around the wheel when the third light turned green. I turned left just like she told me to do days before. Last Friday I think. Yeah. Aight. One house, white with yellow trimming. Second house, two story house with a little dog yelping at my tires. I don't think Cassie would have a dog. Third house, has to be it. I slowly drove the car easily onto the gravel. I turned off the ignition, pulling the key out. I placed it in my pocket and opened my door. My feet froze in midair with my butt still on my seat when my paranoia overcame me. Was there someone out there? I swear I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was either behind the bushes or the tree. Should I leave the car? No. I started pulling my feet back into the car when I saw the movement again. My hand pressed hard against the horn. No reaction from the house. I did it again, only longer. A shadow in front of the window. Yes, she's here. I honked again until I saw Cassie's face surface from behind the front door. Her hair was all ruffled up from sleep. It must be extremely late at night. She's a fucking bat. Does she have time to sleep?

She was rubbing her eyes as she slowly stepped off the small two-step concrete porch. Her cute little bunny rabbit shoes matched her pajamas. She had on a short sleeved blue colored shirt with little bunny heads printed across the entire thing. Her shorts reached down to her knees. They were loose enough to fit both her and I comfortably in them. Yet, they still were cute on her.

The closer she came to me the more I realized that someone else was out there. Watching in the shadows. Did they follow me here? Were they already here before I drove up? Ahh, so many questions.

When I first looked into Cassie's eyes I saw a sleep ridden blue. The second time, I saw a more alert, sensitive, beautiful baby blue.

A smile was placed graciously on her face. I swear, that smile is permanent. She must sleep with it.

"Sara, it's nice to see you." She glared in through my driver side window that was rolled down. My eyes were pacing from side to side. Cautious or paranoid. It all means a longer life.

"Hi, I wanted to tell you," I continued to search around, "I'm leaving tomorrow for St. Louis."

"Why?" Her smile shown radiantly against her perfectly tanned skin.

"Necromancing business."

She nodded while placing her left elbow through the window seal.

"How long will you be gone?"

"I have no idea. I'm leaving at ten A.M. I was hoping you could take care of the bats for me."

Her smile cornered to the left side of her face while she thought. "Yes, I'll keep them in check for you."

My eyes were back to the tree swaying in the wind.

"What's wrong?"

"Someone's out there."

She looked behind her. "Maybe it's a dog."

"Can't you smell other animals?"

She thought about it for a second. "No, only other lycanthropes."

"Well fuck."

Her smile faded a notch.

"I think they were surrounding your house, Cassie. They didn't follow me here."

"They?"

"I think there's more than one."

"Want me to call the police?"

"I don't think the police want anything more to do with me tonight."

"What happened?"

"I killed Andromeda."

Her left eyebrow jumped up quickly in surprise. "She attacked first?"

"Bingo."

I pushed her off my Jeep and slowly stepped out. I took out my gun, holding it in my left hand. My right is out of the running for a while. My grip with my left isn't that steady, but I can shoot with it if I aim right. Might not touch the heart, but I'd get a lung.

"The police after you?" My eyes looked back at her, my body was still forward just incase something happened.

"I have to go in for questioning tomorrow at six in the morning. I have to leave there before ten, so they best get their shit straight."

She nodded again. Her face turned to the tree and shrub to our side. My eyes searched the yard for any sudden movements to happen again. There was still nothing. Who's out there? Cassie walked to the front of my Jeep. The shadow crept out from the side of Cassie's house. I raised my gun, pointing it at the shadow.

The voice that flowed from the dark lips was deep and hoarse.

"Are you Sara?"

"Who the fuck is you?"

"I am Jacob."

"Wanna explain more?"

"I'm a vampire. Isaiah sent me here."

"Who the fuck is Isaiah?"

He stepped out from the shadows revealing a gorgeous six-feet tall, muscular body. He had dirty blonde hair that looked more brownish. His eyes were dark under the moon. His left hand reached out into midair. I dropped my hand and gun to my side.

"He is my master. He is the master of this city."

"Well good for him. Why were you following me?"

"Isaiah calls for you."

"Tell Isaiah to kiss my ass."

His face looked down to the ground. He shook it while laughing. "He will not be pleased."

"Too fucking bad."

Another shadow revealed itself from the bushes. He was also six feet tall and muscular with short black hair and dark eyes. Latin? His voice trailed down my spine like a feather sliding across my skin.

I smiled. "We have orders to bring you to him tonight."

"Too bad."

He ran up to me as quick as lightning. Jacob's voice was harsh as he scolded him. "Back away Noah."

Noah's face was full of hate as his eye burned through me. "I will not die for her."

I rolled my eyes and smiled at him. His face gave me a stern look that reflected his eyes. Hate is such a strong emotion. "Vampire boy, I won't go anywhere with you. You can go screw yourself."

His hands encircled my face. He caught hold of my shirt, pulling me closer to him. "You will come! Even if I have to hurt you to get you there."

"Cassie, did he just threaten me?"

I looked over at her to see her smile. "I think so Sara."

I stared into his brown eyes, smiling. "No one threatens me and goes free Noah."

He let go of me so quickly that I fell back against my Jeep. Jacob walked closer to Noah. He put his hand on his back. He began to soothe Noah by whispering in his ear. I looked over at Cassie to see her staring at Jacob.

I turned around and opened my Jeep door. Jacob stormed up to me. "You can't leave!"

"I can do whatever the hell I please."

He pulled open my door, grabbed my right hand, and jerked me out of the truck. I screamed as I immediately went for my gun. He hurt my fucking hand.

He looked down at me trying to hypnotize me. I put my gun in my right hand and pointed my middle finger at him. He took hold of my hand, trying to squeeze it. I fought his strength, slowly and unsteadily raising my gun to his stomach. I pulled the trigger, blowing a large hole into his chest. He pulled his arm back, resting it inside the hole. He quickly fell to the ground in a fetal position. Blood was pouring out in back of him. His heart lay out on the side of him.

I dropped my right hand to my side, almost losing grip of my gun. Shit, that hand is really hurt. I put the gun back into my left. I raised it at Noah, waiting for his reaction. His eyes were wide with fear. His breathing was rapid. He looked back from my gun to Jacob.

"You gonna leave yet?"

"Why did you shoot him?" His lips were quivering. His hands were rubbing against each other.

"He hurt my right arm."

"I can't leave until I bring you."

"I'm not going anywhere."

He stood there thinking for a few minutes while he watched his friend die. His eyes looked to the ground beside him. I thought vampires could take this shit.

He stepped back from Jacob, shook his head, turned around, and started to run. Both Cassie and I kept our eyes on him until he left. I didn't trust him. My eyes followed him until he disappeared into the night, becoming once again a shadowed existence.

Cassie's voice brought me back to reality. "What are we going to do with Jacob here?"

"Wanna eat him?"

She bent over him and started laughing. "Vampires aren't that tasty."

"Fuck. You think someone called the police?"

"Nope, no one cares around this town. That's why I live here."

"Well that's good. Call the police. Might as well face my charges."

"No, you go. I'll make up some story."

I stepped back into my Jeep, thinking it over. I smiled at her and started the Jeep. "Bye Cassie. Good luck with the flying creeps."

She laughed. "Good luck with your necromancing business."

"Aight." I pulled out of the gravel road and headed for home. Now let's see if I can remember the directions. Well, it's quite simple. Two blocks down from psychoville, three roads past being murdered, and two houses away from dying. My life is just one big jigsaw puzzle. And fuck, I'm losing almost all the main pieces.