Summer Dreams 5
Frank wasn't aware of anything being wrong until he found he was blind. Even though his eyes were open he couldn't see anything but darkness. For a long time he refused to believe it. Then slowly as the reality sunk in, panic began to work its way up his spine. Repeatedly he would touch his face and try anything he could to make it not true. Only to find that it was true.
"Stop panicking you are not blind. At least not permanently." A strong voice shouted to him and Frank realized he had been shouting for help. " Our man over dosed you on the tranquilizer. Your sight will return in a few hours, possibly days."
"Where I am? What have you done to me?" He shouted and was surprised when his voice didn't carry. That told him he was in a small room.
"You are in the care of the Senate Mr. Konhanek and as to what we have done....well it will be for your own good. So just sit back and don't give us any trouble."
"Who are you?" Frank wanted to see or at least touch something. But his body was completely numb.
There was a soft laugh and then a door clicked. Frank could feel the wash of cold air against his face and then a stillness fell over him. He was alone.
Kate watched the apartment building and tried to figure out what was going on. There was something wrong with the whole scene. The street was empty of pedestrians, Frank's car was still there and there was no sign of motion from inside. Looking again at her watch she shook her head Frank was now thirty minutes late for work. As she sat back against the seat her eyes began to burn again. The muscles of her chest ached with enough pain that she couldn't breathe. Lifting her hands she rubbed them over her eyes and sandy feeling was worse.
"Need a fix?" Her lungs closed at the sound of the oh so familiar voice that came from the backseat. " You are good Gone-Star, really good. But there is one weakness that will always haunt you."
Pulling in air she looked into the rearview mirror. " White Sand."
The man slid his arm around her neck the flesh of his wrist in front of her mouth. " Go ahead. I won't tell."
Every breath brought the warm scent of life to her. Wild cravings ate up her stomach and guts, clawing through her muscles and twisting around her brain. Kate drowned in the need and could do nothing about it. A shimmering of gold fell over her vision and she could taste the sweet pure air of oxygen.
"Now Kate," White Sand whispered in her mind. " Do what we sent you here for."
"What about Frank?"
He laughed, " Still worried about the human how...soft."
"Sandy I can't loose him. Please just tell me if he's okay." She turned and looked into the man's jade eyes. There was no emotion in them and there was nothing to show he cared. " The Senate have him in a holding block in the East Wing cell number B-5. If you want him returned alive then do your job or he will join you."
Kate closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep calming breath in. " It will be done by midnight."
"Good. We will see that the human is returned." White Sand got out of the car and walked down the block. He looked like any other guy walking down the street.
**
DeFalco had been a son of a bitch in his Unlife and Cameron was not sorry to see him leave. But he didn't like seeing that a human had done it. Sitting at his desk with no one around he flipped open the folder. Two pictures in black and white stared at him underneath was a document that detailed her life. He set her pictures out and glanced through the report. Had she been an average assassin he would not have cared. But she was Frank's niece. Cameron smiled at the thought that the bothersome cop had a weakness. Chances were good that if he could wipe out the girl the human cop would back off. Better yet, the girl was not under Luna's protection, she was open for attack. It was perfect and all too tempting.
**
Kate found that one hour to midnight and she was cold to the core. Her fingers and toes were numb and she could barely move enough to blink. She had been sitting atop that damn building for much too long. It was dark and promising to rain and despite the relatively warm air she could taste the damp cold. From her perch she could see the streets and the wash of busy night life below. With an hour left to complete her mission she still didn't have the energy to do it. They thought it was so easy for her, that it required absolutely no effort or thought. If only it was that easy. Closing her eyes again she could feel the empty pit that rested inside and knew that it would never work. The mission would not be completed unless she could find something to motivate her. Opening her eyes again she could see her uncles face. The mess of wavy brown hair that was never under control. The sharp features that were handsome and boyish at the same time. He had innocent eyes that were dark with knowledge. He was all that was left of her family. The human side of it any way. All the rest.....Kate slammed the walls down and shut the thoughts away.
Standing up she climbed down the side of the building and dropped to the ground. With moonlight at her back she walked through the alleyway to the back of the building. Trash cans that were overflowing were the only company besides shadows. As she came to the edge of the alley she was assaulted with the noise and life of the city. Kate flinched back as she slid her shades into place and took a breath inward. Stepping out, she filed her way through the packs of people, to the doors of the club. Pushing them open she forced herself to walk into the loud, raving depths of the darkness below.
**
Frank came to consciousness and stared into the green eyes of a platinum haired beauty. Blinking at the watery image of the woman made his head swim. He lay on the floor and stared at her for a long time.
"Good evening Detective." The woman spoke in a surprising deep voice. " Let me help you." Strong hands lifted him to a sitting position and removed the rope from his hands. " I believe you are a little confused."
"Where am I?" His voice cracked from dryness as he struggled to speak.
"The Senate holding block, more precisely in the East wing of their San Francisco office."
Frank stared at the blonde, "What is the Senate thing?"
The man smiled, " They are a darker side of Kindred, Detective. Sort of the black sheep in the family."
Frank let the man help him stand. " Are you part of the Kindred world?"
A wide smile revealed sharp fangs, " You could say that. I am more a freelance vampire. Contrary to what you think your niece is not a drug dealer."
"Then why all the bags in her duffel?" Frank staggered as they came to a set of narrow steps. " What is she doing here?"
"Kate is an assassin Detective, she has a rare gift that allows her to...move unseen. The items in her duffel were chemicals that Kate uses." The man pushed open a door to the left and it was a shower room. " Clean up and then we will see what happens."
"Wait." Frank took hold of the mans arm. " Could Kate end up dead?"
"Yes. Her gift consumes her if she uses it too often that leads to madness." The man looked away for a moment. " Quite often we have had to restrain her from killing herself."
"If she dies then you can't make her a vampire, right?" Frank saw him nod and stared at him. " Don't you care about that?"
The man shrugged, " Put aside the gift she possesses and she is just another human."
"What is her gift?" There was a long pause and Frank was unsure if the man would answer.
"Are you familiar with the character The Shadow?"
Frank smirked at the mention of the comic book hero, " He could cloud people's minds right?"
"Yes. Now imagine if you had the ability to erase their minds. To wipe clean even the deepest of memories and replace them."
"Kate can do that?" Frank arched a brow and shook his head. " No way."
"I would not lie about this Detective." The man pulled away and closed the door behind him. Leaving Frank alone in the massive shower chamber that could fit a dozen.
**
Kate went up the stairs at five minutes to midnight and looked around the VIP area. Her target sat back against the couch surrounded by girls who were underage. Kate made no cover about approaching him and he noticed her. His dark eyes taking on a note of curiosity as she paused at the edge of the couch.
"Can I help you?" He asked in a thick and warm accent.
"White Sand sent me over said you were looking for fun."
His eyes sparked bright as he waved the girls off and motioned her to the now empty couch. "Take a seat."
He watched her legs as she crossed them and moved his gaze along her thighs up to her chest. "So...What...How much will this cost me?"
"That depends on how much you want done." Kate moved her hands to run through her hair and he followed her. As his gaze swept up to follow her she caught his eyes.
Dropping her hands to his temples she lowered her shields and released the power. His mind opened to her and pain spread through her spinal cord and down her bones. The tortures of his mind filled hers and Kate found herself yanked down by cold hate and pain. The world emptied down to a swirling black wash of agony as Kate felt her heart stop. Just before she blacked out a single thought came to her. '
"Welcome to the world of Darkness Ms. Kohanek." Cameron's laughter filled her mind and Kate went limp in his arms.
Frank wasn't aware of anything being wrong until he found he was blind. Even though his eyes were open he couldn't see anything but darkness. For a long time he refused to believe it. Then slowly as the reality sunk in, panic began to work its way up his spine. Repeatedly he would touch his face and try anything he could to make it not true. Only to find that it was true.
"Stop panicking you are not blind. At least not permanently." A strong voice shouted to him and Frank realized he had been shouting for help. " Our man over dosed you on the tranquilizer. Your sight will return in a few hours, possibly days."
"Where I am? What have you done to me?" He shouted and was surprised when his voice didn't carry. That told him he was in a small room.
"You are in the care of the Senate Mr. Konhanek and as to what we have done....well it will be for your own good. So just sit back and don't give us any trouble."
"Who are you?" Frank wanted to see or at least touch something. But his body was completely numb.
There was a soft laugh and then a door clicked. Frank could feel the wash of cold air against his face and then a stillness fell over him. He was alone.
Kate watched the apartment building and tried to figure out what was going on. There was something wrong with the whole scene. The street was empty of pedestrians, Frank's car was still there and there was no sign of motion from inside. Looking again at her watch she shook her head Frank was now thirty minutes late for work. As she sat back against the seat her eyes began to burn again. The muscles of her chest ached with enough pain that she couldn't breathe. Lifting her hands she rubbed them over her eyes and sandy feeling was worse.
"Need a fix?" Her lungs closed at the sound of the oh so familiar voice that came from the backseat. " You are good Gone-Star, really good. But there is one weakness that will always haunt you."
Pulling in air she looked into the rearview mirror. " White Sand."
The man slid his arm around her neck the flesh of his wrist in front of her mouth. " Go ahead. I won't tell."
Every breath brought the warm scent of life to her. Wild cravings ate up her stomach and guts, clawing through her muscles and twisting around her brain. Kate drowned in the need and could do nothing about it. A shimmering of gold fell over her vision and she could taste the sweet pure air of oxygen.
"Now Kate," White Sand whispered in her mind. " Do what we sent you here for."
"What about Frank?"
He laughed, " Still worried about the human how...soft."
"Sandy I can't loose him. Please just tell me if he's okay." She turned and looked into the man's jade eyes. There was no emotion in them and there was nothing to show he cared. " The Senate have him in a holding block in the East Wing cell number B-5. If you want him returned alive then do your job or he will join you."
Kate closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep calming breath in. " It will be done by midnight."
"Good. We will see that the human is returned." White Sand got out of the car and walked down the block. He looked like any other guy walking down the street.
**
DeFalco had been a son of a bitch in his Unlife and Cameron was not sorry to see him leave. But he didn't like seeing that a human had done it. Sitting at his desk with no one around he flipped open the folder. Two pictures in black and white stared at him underneath was a document that detailed her life. He set her pictures out and glanced through the report. Had she been an average assassin he would not have cared. But she was Frank's niece. Cameron smiled at the thought that the bothersome cop had a weakness. Chances were good that if he could wipe out the girl the human cop would back off. Better yet, the girl was not under Luna's protection, she was open for attack. It was perfect and all too tempting.
**
Kate found that one hour to midnight and she was cold to the core. Her fingers and toes were numb and she could barely move enough to blink. She had been sitting atop that damn building for much too long. It was dark and promising to rain and despite the relatively warm air she could taste the damp cold. From her perch she could see the streets and the wash of busy night life below. With an hour left to complete her mission she still didn't have the energy to do it. They thought it was so easy for her, that it required absolutely no effort or thought. If only it was that easy. Closing her eyes again she could feel the empty pit that rested inside and knew that it would never work. The mission would not be completed unless she could find something to motivate her. Opening her eyes again she could see her uncles face. The mess of wavy brown hair that was never under control. The sharp features that were handsome and boyish at the same time. He had innocent eyes that were dark with knowledge. He was all that was left of her family. The human side of it any way. All the rest.....Kate slammed the walls down and shut the thoughts away.
Standing up she climbed down the side of the building and dropped to the ground. With moonlight at her back she walked through the alleyway to the back of the building. Trash cans that were overflowing were the only company besides shadows. As she came to the edge of the alley she was assaulted with the noise and life of the city. Kate flinched back as she slid her shades into place and took a breath inward. Stepping out, she filed her way through the packs of people, to the doors of the club. Pushing them open she forced herself to walk into the loud, raving depths of the darkness below.
**
Frank came to consciousness and stared into the green eyes of a platinum haired beauty. Blinking at the watery image of the woman made his head swim. He lay on the floor and stared at her for a long time.
"Good evening Detective." The woman spoke in a surprising deep voice. " Let me help you." Strong hands lifted him to a sitting position and removed the rope from his hands. " I believe you are a little confused."
"Where am I?" His voice cracked from dryness as he struggled to speak.
"The Senate holding block, more precisely in the East wing of their San Francisco office."
Frank stared at the blonde, "What is the Senate thing?"
The man smiled, " They are a darker side of Kindred, Detective. Sort of the black sheep in the family."
Frank let the man help him stand. " Are you part of the Kindred world?"
A wide smile revealed sharp fangs, " You could say that. I am more a freelance vampire. Contrary to what you think your niece is not a drug dealer."
"Then why all the bags in her duffel?" Frank staggered as they came to a set of narrow steps. " What is she doing here?"
"Kate is an assassin Detective, she has a rare gift that allows her to...move unseen. The items in her duffel were chemicals that Kate uses." The man pushed open a door to the left and it was a shower room. " Clean up and then we will see what happens."
"Wait." Frank took hold of the mans arm. " Could Kate end up dead?"
"Yes. Her gift consumes her if she uses it too often that leads to madness." The man looked away for a moment. " Quite often we have had to restrain her from killing herself."
"If she dies then you can't make her a vampire, right?" Frank saw him nod and stared at him. " Don't you care about that?"
The man shrugged, " Put aside the gift she possesses and she is just another human."
"What is her gift?" There was a long pause and Frank was unsure if the man would answer.
"Are you familiar with the character The Shadow?"
Frank smirked at the mention of the comic book hero, " He could cloud people's minds right?"
"Yes. Now imagine if you had the ability to erase their minds. To wipe clean even the deepest of memories and replace them."
"Kate can do that?" Frank arched a brow and shook his head. " No way."
"I would not lie about this Detective." The man pulled away and closed the door behind him. Leaving Frank alone in the massive shower chamber that could fit a dozen.
**
Kate went up the stairs at five minutes to midnight and looked around the VIP area. Her target sat back against the couch surrounded by girls who were underage. Kate made no cover about approaching him and he noticed her. His dark eyes taking on a note of curiosity as she paused at the edge of the couch.
"Can I help you?" He asked in a thick and warm accent.
"White Sand sent me over said you were looking for fun."
His eyes sparked bright as he waved the girls off and motioned her to the now empty couch. "Take a seat."
He watched her legs as she crossed them and moved his gaze along her thighs up to her chest. "So...What...How much will this cost me?"
"That depends on how much you want done." Kate moved her hands to run through her hair and he followed her. As his gaze swept up to follow her she caught his eyes.
Dropping her hands to his temples she lowered her shields and released the power. His mind opened to her and pain spread through her spinal cord and down her bones. The tortures of his mind filled hers and Kate found herself yanked down by cold hate and pain. The world emptied down to a swirling black wash of agony as Kate felt her heart stop. Just before she blacked out a single thought came to her. '
"Welcome to the world of Darkness Ms. Kohanek." Cameron's laughter filled her mind and Kate went limp in his arms.