Yeah, yeah that's enough thinking for now. If I do anymore I'll end up giving myself a headache, or wearing a hole into the floor with my pacing. Which ever comes first. Let's see, what to pick for this evenings attire…I stride over to my dresser and just pick out whatever I happen to touch first. Basic black, I think that will do for tonight. Hey, I fit right in with the vampires. Well, excusing the fact that they are quite dead and I'm not. I thank any and every deity out there for that. In my inane opinion, it would really suck all to Hell being turned into one of the blood sucking corpses that are the walking dead. Who here agrees with me? Those of you in that crowd who think it would be fun…What drugs are you on? Even those who volunteered for the change more often than not regret it. I know; I've seen it many an occasion in the time I've come to know their world.
I finish getting dressed, but decide to leave out the weapons tonight. It's close enough to the full moon that if I need a weapon, I can grow my own. As I have said before there are a few fringe benefits to being a freak on nature. Who needs knives when you can become a nine-foot snarling death beast at will? True, it's not exactly the best thing to do in a crowded city like New York, but no normal or unenlightened human is going to see if I restrict any transformations to the vampire club I'm headed to. I don't think I'm even going to fuss with a trench coat tonight. It confines my movements anyway. Wait a second, why am I so suddenly at ease? This is like me…I'm the champion of all paranoia. Where is this sense of comfort coming from?
Then it hits me like a cinder block to the back of the head. That dream last night…I think it was more than it seemed to be. I don't know of much to explain it other than legends I've read in some of the books my adopted family kept. They spoke of elementals that sometimes passed through people's dreams. From what I know I thought they couldn't really have any influence in the world unless they were somehow bound. If I remember correctly it was something like fire in was bound in blood, earth in flesh, and air in breath. Water, well, water wasn't usually bound. There is not a lot of information in those books, and even less written on actual encounters. The only encounters with any sort of documentation would be with the fire elemental Leona, and the air elemental Mim, Mistress of Ice. Who wants to bet that it was Mim who spoke to me? Yeah, I'd stake my money on that too.
Gah! I'm driving myself insane over trying to figure this all out. I can't have that now can I? I sorta need to be able to think lucidly and keep my wits about me when going out to play with vampires. Particularly vampires named Aubrey who would stab you in the back if given the chance. He probably wouldn't do it since I'm on a job for him, but you never know. Unlike vampires, I can't read minds so how am I supposed to know what goes on in his head?
It barely takes any thought to mist myself from my room in Salem to the ally ways of New York City. I head down the block to where the Viper resides hidden from the busier parts of the city. Not many humans wander into this part of town after the sun sets below the horizon of skyscrapers for fear of muggers. In this place muggers are not the only things they need to be afraid of. Being killed or worse is a very real possibility here. Raz was caught in an ally such as this when she was changed. It wasn't this far into the city, but you get the idea. As I continue down the streets there is no sound of life save for my breathing and the sound of my boots again the wet pavement. See, I was right. There was some rain that was on the way. There isn't much light except for the bit that the dying light bulb of a street gives off feebly into the night. It gives the cracked blacktop a slick and smooth appearance. Illusion is all it is. It's just a small trick of the fading golden light. I doubt when that bulb goes anyone is going to bother to replace it. The core of this city has been crumbling in quality for years, and not much is going to stop that steady decline. I suppose that's why vampires like it in places such as these. The forgotten allies of the cities are theirs to own and control. All of it set away from the prying eyes of humans who might get suspicious.
I finally stop dawdling and reach the end of the ally. The bright strobe lights of The Viper flash from behind the steel door. Opening it up my sensitive hearing is hit by what just seems like a lot of mindless noise. I think the artist could be identified if one tried hard enough to listen, but it wasn't likely. Yeash…how vampires could stand music being played at such a loud decibel was way over my head. It hurt my ears enough for the short amounts of time I spent in places like this. If it wasn't for the fact that they heal almost instantly being exposed to that sort of noise would make 'em go deaf!
I chuckle to myself at that thought. A deaf vampire…now that would be funny! Well, okay maybe it would be more of a laugh if a vampire had no sense of smell, but that's not what I'm debating now is it? As much as it helps lighten the amount of stress I have this isn't exactly a time for jokes. Some seriousness is requires if I'm going to command any respect. I'm only nineteen, and while that is nearly an adult by human standards…I'm just barely coming to a point of having any sort of notice among vampires. To most of them, the years I have lived are but a blink of an eye. I don't exactly blame some of them either, 'cause if I were say three thousand, five thousand years old I'd think of someone my age to be a child.
I keep my thoughts from staying to far by paying attention to my surroundings and the vampires in the room. So far I have a good track record for alking through heavy vampire territory unchallenged, but there is always some fledgling that may decide they want to have a whack at me. That's never the most fun thing in the world but it happens. Heh, and they call me a foolish child! At least I don't usually run headlong into something before I know what's going to happen! The advice look before you lead often applies. I may have that slight insanity that every hunter has for coming into this line of work but I'm not a total nutcase thank. Common sense is a lovely thing meant to be used. Without it, I wonder how one would survive night to night. That's the only reason I'm still around.
The room isn't quite as crowded as it was on my last visit, but I spot a familiar face other than Aubrey's. She also happens to be sitting right next to him. Yea…what fun, Jessica just has to be here. Aubrey's little girlfriend is the most annoying person I have yet to meet! If it weren't for the fact that Aubrey would have a spaz attack I'd have clawed her to shreds the first time she ticked me off. You think I'm a smart-ass, go look at her for a while.
Aubrey sights me immediately, but I know her was aware of my presence before I even set foot into the club. He is wearing a nondescript red T-shirt and the usual pair of black jeans. Jessica almost mirrors him in her choice of dress except her shirt is one of those like you'd see in Hot Topic. It has a decal type thing that said "I leave bite marks" across the front.
Aubrey's deep gaze meets mine as I approach the table. He gestures toward a chair, and I shake my head in refusal. No, I'm not going to have a seat, not while she's there.
"Being the stubborn one tonight?" Jessica asks me sarcastically. For crying out loud she could at least wait a bit till she decided to drive me insane! I growl at her in annoyance, baring crystalline fangs.
"Sonia…" Aubrey warns me in a low tone. I'll back off for now, but I'm not going to take this all night long!
"I'll behave Aubrey," I head Jessica snicker as I speak," As long as she does." I finish while glaring daggers in Jessica's direction.
"Children," Aubrey says in annoyance at us both," Play nicely will you?" Jessica and I continue to stare each other down, but eventually she concedes and leans against Aubrey's shoulder.
Gag me with a spoon!
"All right asked me to come, so tell all. Neither of us has all night…" I trail off as Jessica looks as she's about to speak, but Aubrey silences her.
"True, so why don't we begin on any progress that has been made shall we?" This is the one part I hate about my job…Coming to your employer with little to report. There is that bit about Rahab sneaking into my dreams, but that's my business. What to say, what to say?