Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to L.J Smith, the plot belongs to me.
A/N Hey guys! Uhhh…I didn't get ANY reviews for the last chapter! I didn't think it was THAT bad! So for future reference, if you guys don't think this chapter isn't good enough to review, then perhaps this story isn't worth continuing………
Evil, aren't I? Hehehe…
Oh, and do you guys think I should change the title? It now has nothing to do w/the story, and to be frank, it's kind of getting on my nerves. Though if I did change it, it might be harder to find for those who are looking for it under its previous title. What do you think?
.
Tumultuous thunderheads rolled forebodingly over the late-afternoon sun, deadening the street and warehouses of the bay to dismal hues of gray, steel blue, and bruised violet. . The murky surf crashed furiously against the concrete bulkheads, sending sprays of saline water high into the air and permeating the air with the stinging odor of the Pacific Ocean. Artificial twilight swiftly descended over the wharf creating an eerie atmosphere. The odd passerby would glance apprehensively over their shoulder, or feel an anxious tightening between the shoulders, before scurrying hastily to their destination, oblivious to the silent exchange between the two shadows melded to the brick wall of a nearby building.
The two figures crouched in an alley littered with red chips and fallen bricks from the crumbling turn of the century cigarette factory. One sat back against the abrasive surface of the wall, it's hair nearly the same dusky red, but more vibrant and burnished; while it's companion tossed a brick from hand to hand effortlessly with an impatient scowl marring his exquisite features.
He's not coming, the dark one insisted .Yes he is, the redhead replied evenly, for the hundredth time.
He'll probably get there, see who he's dealing with, and hightail it out of there, the wussy he is. Morgead argued as he turned his glower to the street, waiting for someone, yet at the same time sure that they won't come.
Mike's dependable, even if he is vermin. He's not exactly new to this line of work you know. Countered Jez: snatching the piece of brick in mid air from Morgead, and beginning to mimic his previous game of toss. Jade-green eyes flickered under dark lashes to glance at the pale profile to his right. I'm pretty sure that's an oxymoron: calling this Mike dependable. But then, you're not exactly known for thinking things through properly. His hand darted through the air, a pale blur, and reclaimed his prize. Excuse me? You were the one who insisted on barging in and saving Raven, and carrying her away cave-man style once we'd gotten the information from Chester, no plan at all! And I'm not the one who gives pet names to inanimate objects; tell me, did you name your bed too? You two seem to be on awfully familiar terms, Jez retorted indignantly. Morgead groaned in exasperation as he turned to Jez, throwing the rock down to let it skitter a few feet to crash into a nearby trashcan.
"How many times do I have to tell you guys, I did not name the friggin' knife! It was just a one-time thing for dramatic effect! Okay? Are you able to get that through your thick skull?" He roared, clearly being worked into one of his Excited States by the relentless teasing of his fellow gang members. Jez remained sitting calmly, while she tipped her head to one side to gaze at him in amusement. This, however, was not good for his mood, and only added fuel to his fiery rant.
"What is it with you," he continued, now gesticulating wildly and causing a passing motorist to glance at him oddly. " First you're on my case about my preferred feeding habits, then it's my anger management, which, by the way is not a bad thing, because some people like to be around passionate individuals. Next it's my strategic abilities, and now, when I actually do something smart, you ridicule it! Will you just make up your mind? If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to slander my reputation in the eyes of the gang, so they'd be more likely to support you being leader!" His last comment finally elicited a response from Jez. She shot up in an amazingly fluid motion, eyes blazing with indignation at the insult to her honor. She opened her mouth to spit back an answer, but snapped it shut just as quickly, and slinked back against the shady wall. Morgead had heard the approaching footsteps too, and returned to his place next to her.
A shape swathed in wintry clothes shuffled hesitantly into the alley, its gaze dating about nervously, and passed unseeing over the two forms draped in shadow. It took off its knitted cap and unwound the scarf that had hid its lower face, revealing itself to be a man of about twenty years of age. He was of average build, average looks, average intelligence, all of which he found very useful in his line of work. Despite his mediocrity, he liked to think of himself as street smart; and right about then his street smarts were telling him to get the hell out of there; he was getting involved in a situation that shouldn't concern him, and would likely get him killed. He had taken this job because he liked to be on the winning side, or at least get paid by the winning side and not severely mutilated. This new gang, he believed had potential to fight and overthrow Santos' rule. Now, mind you, he didn't have an ambitious bone in his body, he would rather just get enough to pay the rent, and maybe get some porn movies after, nothing big. That's why he was here. See, in his reasoning, by helping this gang of upstarts, he could potentially set himself up with a nice, life –long contract, or however long his life would last, be it 5 years, or 50, though he doubted he'd be of much use at 70, maybe as a business front. Although he was having some misgivings now, to say the least. Some of the things he'd seen that day, and was sensing now, just weren't natural. He didn't like it. No sir, not at all. He walked further into the alley, coming just a few feet from where Jez and Morgead stood. Standing there, pulling his jacket tighter around him against the blustery storm, he felt his heart chilled just as much as his body was. He sure as hell did not want to be there. A few raindrops announced their presence with wet splashes on his hand, soon followed by a torrent of an icy downpour that clattered around him.
" Aww, shit." He moaned, replacing his now knitted cap and scarf over his now soaked head with numb fingers. " Screw this crap," he muttered as he began to walk back to the safety of the public street. Just as he turned, a clap of thunder resounded menacingly, like the ominous footsteps of a Titan. A blaze of light streaked across the sky, too fast for a human to follow, but a glorious display of light and color for the two vampires lounging nearby. In this illumination the man beheld those two creatures that were the cause of his uneasiness, their faces turned with rapture to the night sky, still dancing with electricity.
" Mother of God!" He yelled as he jumped sharply back, seeing as how his previous position had been but three feet from these uncanny beings. Two fair countenances turned to regard him with identical smirks. Their breathing was light, and their eyes burned with the same awesome power, or magick, that tore across the heavens like a deadly spear thrown from the hand of a mighty god.
" Michael," Jez greeted pleasantly, coming forward. Mike stared at her, wild-eyed, as his breath whooshed in and out through his nose, like a startled racehorse.
" You have information for us?" She continued, seemingly puzzled by his fright. As she came out of the shadows Mike's pulse slowed to normal. In the light (albeit dim) he was able to convince himself that it was just the storm, a trick of the light, she and her companion were just normal human beings who happened to be able to kill without remorse. Hopefully.
" R-Right," he answered as he gathered his wits and began to report what he'd gathered. " Your source was right, the address that you gave me led me to a warehouse about a half-mile from here. There are four guys. She's in the middle of the warehouse tied up with … I don't know… some kind of strange rope I guess. One-man guards her at all times, two are posted at the entrances, and one patrols the perimeter. You'll have a five-minute window before the patrol checks in with the guards."
Morgead nodded, pleased with this information. "Shouldn't be a problem, four humans against five of us." Mike chose to ignore that remark. He really didn't want to know. From what he'd seen, they might be some rouge, genetically engineered spooks for the government, and he really hated the government. He shifted his weight uneasily at that thought.
" But there's something you're not telling us," Morgead added shrewdly, moving to circle mike with sinuous grace.
Mike cracked before Morgead could do anything else, he wasn't a coward, he just really, really didn't like the government. " A-Alright, I didn't want to mention this 'cause I really don't want to get any more involved. I don't care who or what you are, okay? I just want to make some money and get out with my life. T-The girl, they shot her, stabbed her, all kinds of shit…." He paused, reluctant to go on, but upon meeting the gaze of the two vampires he rapidly finished. " Nothing happened, nothing at all. It didn't affect her! She just healed right up!"
Jez and Morgead's gazes locked in a silent tête-à-tête. They know now, we have to get her out of there. Jez insisted. Morgead agreed, but he sensed a larger predicament. They'll come after us too, Santos knows that we're not human; he'll be even more threatened by us than before. Jez thought for a moment. But not if we kill those guys first, they're the only ones who know. He nodded in concurrence, and then turned to Mike. I'll wipe him. A few moments passed with Mike wildly gazing at the two beings that, while he didn't know who they were, he was pretty sure they were clinically insane, and Morgead boring intensely at his mind. Morgead sighed in frustration, "I can't do it." Jez raised an eyebrow in contempt and amusement. "Having performance issues now are we?" She quipped.
" No, I mean he's resistant." He replied tersely. "Oh, let me try." She said, as she pushed him roughly aside. After a minute of Morgead watching Jez snort, stamp her feet at make other various indications of frustrations, Jez resolved to take care of the problem a different way.
"Well then, let's just kill him!" She reasoned as she jerked back his head.
"Jesus!" He shrieked to unsympathetic ears as he saw her fangs glittering in the dim light
Morgead's hand on her shoulder prevented her from biting. " We don't have time, we have to get over there now." At Jez's questioning gaze he added; " Pierce just contacted be. I gave him the coordinates earlier after Mike reported. He and Val went over there. Apparently, Thistle followed them, and ran into a room full of not four, but sixteen guys, all carrying enough ammo to be walking armories, and Val trailing after her. Now I know we can survive gunfire, but I doubt Uzi's and AK-14's would be good for a, well, weaker vampire like Thistle." Morgead finished and regarded the terrified human. "Leave him, he's not our biggest priority."
End of Chapter 5. Review please! I was going to make this chapter longer, but I didn't quite have the time.