Chapter 10 - Feelings from a Distance

It's a pretty standard evening for a Friday. Weekends are a bit different from weekdays because you get some locals in as well as the holidaymakers. It's not often a problem, but sometimes there's a bit of irritation if the local lads think the others are trying to be too flash. Truth is, there's not a lot of money around here. Sure, there're jobs, but not the way you get in the cities. I know I'm lucky to have found something at all, and the money's not up to much. Used to be that it was a cheap place to live too, but not any more. Now, houses are being bought up as holiday homes and the locals can't afford to buy. Inevitably, it hits the younger ones hard when they're stuck living at home for longer than they want to, often doing the sorts of jobs that they know aren't going anywhere.

So, I'm standing, watching. I spend a lot of time doing that, but what isn't obvious is that I'm doing more than watching. Along with this new-and-improved body comes a sense sort of like I had as a vamp, but it seems more general. I can feel emotions. With strangers it's not that big a deal, so I've got to concentrate on it. Only becomes really obvious when it's on a bigger scale. Nervousness doesn't give me much of a sensation. Terror I spot in a flash. The boss has said a time or two that I have a nose for spotting trouble before it gets out of hand, but I don't think he has any idea how I do it. Not that I'm complaining, 'cos it keeps me in this job. The Monastery's the biggest club in the town, and it's also got a reputation for being the safest, and it's my job to make sure it stays that way. Like the boss says, if the girls don't feel safe, they won't come. And if there aren't any girls, then the lads aren't going to come either. Anyway, I'm getting this niggling feeling, so I'm casting around, trying to spot its source. I soon realise it's coming from outside, so I make my way out to the car park, quickly spotting the cause.

I recognise the girl right away. She's a regular – Mandy, I think, comes here with some friends most weekends. I suspect she's younger than she looks, but she sticks to soft drinks so the boss hasn't said anything. The bloke is one I saw her dancing with earlier. He's not local – London by his accent, and a rugby player if I'm any judge. Dressed like he's got some money too. Exactly the sort that's going to catch the eye of someone like her.

He's telling her to get into his car, and she's trying to get away, but he's holding on to her. She's just a slip of a thing too. Reminds me of Dawn but maybe not so tall, and that memory doesn't do anything to help my rapidly escalating anger.

"Girl told you to leave her alone," I tell him, my hand on his shoulder.

"What's it to you?" he demands, grabbing her tighter with one arm.

"I'm responsible for security at the Monastery, and that includes ensuring our regulars feel safe here. Now, if you don't let her go, I'll have to call the police."

He draws himself up to his full height in an attempt to intimidate me. And he's over six feet. Well over. Built like a tank too, but there's some flab among the muscle. He obviously expects me to be wary of him now, but then, he doesn't know me.

"Look, mate. I've been with her for hours. She came out here with me knowing what I had in mind. Just decided to be difficult – probably wants to get something out of it. Nothing for you to worry about, so why don't you just go on inside and we'll leave."

"You leave if you wish, but the girl isn't leaving with you unless she wants to."

I turn to her, her eyes are big, expecting me to save her.

"What do you want to do? Leave with him, or go back inside?"

"Go back," she says quickly. "He just said it was too hot in there and he needed some air. He didn't mention anything else until we got out here."

"Right." She seems a little unsteady on her feet, and her speech is just a little slurred.

I place a hand on the wrist of the arm that's holding her and squeeze gently. "Let her go please, Sir," I request. My words are polite enough, but my tone is as full of menace as I can manage.

His expression changes when I squeeze, and his grip on the girl is loosened. What can I say? I've got a strong, manly grip. She immediately runs towards the building.

I turn to see her safely inside and he takes the opportunity to do exactly as I hoped he would. He tries to hit me, but I deflect his hand and get in a punch of my own. He reels and falls backwards. While he's on the ground, I pull a radio from my pocket and press the button on it. "Call the police, please," I request when I get a reply.

Idiot on the ground sits himself up, still rubbing his chin.

"Good, you get the police here," he threatens. "Then I'll tell them how you assaulted me."

I glance behind me at the security cameras. I made absolutely sure they got a good view of what happened.

"Reckon the tape'll tell a different story," I answer. His eyes follow mine to the cameras, taking in their positions. "You tried to hit me first. I was just protecting myself against someone who's a lot bigger than I am. And I'm sure they'll want to know all about what happened with Mandy."

That stops him. "Look, it's not like I was doing anything she didn't want. Nothing for the police to get involved with."

"How about her drinks? You been spiking them for her?"

Now, that got a look of panic. His eyes look down and I've got all the proof I need.

"So what if I did? I know you're not supposed to bring in your own drink, but it's hardly a police matter, now is it?"

"It is if she's not eighteen."

"What d'ya mean? Course she's eighteen."

"Don't know, not for sure, but I don't think she is. Never orders anything but coke or orange juice for herself. Bar staff'll back me up on that. So, if she tests positive, we'll know where it came from, won't we?"

Of course, he tried to leave, and I had to stop him. Didn't do much damage, really. Far less than he deserved, but the police would have to haul me in too if I'd given him what he deserved. By the time the police have taken him away, and we make sure Mandy's on her way home in a cab, it isn't long till closing time.

And then I realise that the niggle hasn't gone – at least, not entirely. Nothing to see inside, so I send out my sense wider, and realised it's Buffy. I go straight upstairs and call home, relieved to hear her voice. She tells me what happened, but assures me she's fine. I go and find the boss, explain that something's happened at home, and he tells me to leave, that everything's under control.

I drive back faster than I should, but there's no one around and my reflexes are better than most. Once inside, I check Buffy and Zara, make sure they're ok, then sit Buffy down to get her to tell me the whole story. By the time she's finished, I'm feeling sick. When we met some vamps that was fine. It's how we used to be. Knowing that there were some vamps so close to home – to Zara – that's different. It could just be that vamps are attracted to the Slayer, I mean, they are, know it from a personal angle, but I'm worried it's more than that, and I know the same thing has occurred to Buffy. It could be that Blar has found us, and therefore, that he's found Zara. And that's a prospect that makes my blood run colder than it ever did while I was a vampire.