Chapter 2: The Welcoming Committee
Mary took a quick glance around the waiting area. Even at this time of night Burlington International Airport was alive with activity. People rushed to get to their flights, families and friends waiting for their loved ones at the gates, security guards checking baggage and making frequent rounds throughout the airport. It wasn't as big or as flashy as LAX or O'Hare, but it was clean, efficient and safe.
The plane didn't arrive when it was scheduled and knowing that it had left the gate made Mary worry. Though the odds of something happening mid flight were statistically one in a thousand, there were other matters that worried her. At every five paces throughout the airport a Gangrel or a Brujah stood sentry, watching for signs of trouble. Near the gate where Mary waited were four more Ventrue armed with concealed weapons and reading newspapers, looking out the window, and generally trying to blend in with the mortal patrons.
Mary took out her cell phone and called Richard who was busy with the ski resort.
"Hi honey, it's me," She said.
"Hello Mary. Is Mr. Luna here yet?" There was a lot of background noise and Mary could tell Richard was in the lobby of the hotel. With mortal guests nearby it was important not to refer to one of their most distinguished guests by his title.
"No, and we've been waiting at this airport for hours. Is everything in top condition?"
"I've been cracking the whip at the ski lodge and the hotel all afternoon. Our supply orders were screwed up last week and we ended up short on toilet paper for the guests bathrooms. I just won't tolerate another mishap."
Mary chuckled as Richard paused to speak to someone. One of the Ventrue by the window signaled to Mary. The plane was approaching the terminal.
"Oh wonderful," she said. "Richard…Richard?"
"Yes sweetheart?"
"The plane is here. Make sure the rooms are ready. We'll be there in a few hours."
"You know you can count on me."
Mary kissed her hand and rubbed it on the receiver before hanging up. She held up a sign marked Luna in large black letters. Ten minutes later passengers poured through the gate. People rushed to meet their loved ones and gush over them with hugs and kisses. Businessmen and women were in a hurry to get to the baggage claim and be off to their hotels.
A man and a woman stepped out of the gate last. The man was raven haired and wore black khakis and a casual brown sweater. His carry on bag was slung over his shoulder and a long overcoat was draped over his right arm. He wasn't overly muscular but his physique was impressive to Mary and her clan mates. Walking beside him was a woman with long blond hair and a slim figure. She wore little makeup and she carried herself like a person who could get whatever she asked for. As the man approached Mary she smiled warmly.
"Welcome to Vermont, Mr. Luna," she said lowering the sign. "My husband and I are eager to have you as our guests."
"Thank you." Julian replied. "We're expecting our skis and some luggage."
"Of course, let me show you to the baggage claim."
"Wow Julian," the woman said. "Do they roll out the red carpet for you wherever you go?"
Julian laughed and put his arm around her shoulder as they walked.
"Vermonters are very friendly people," he explained. "I haven't been out here since my boyhood days, but the hospitality's the same."
Mary lead her guests to the baggage claim and signaled to the waiting Ventrue to follow them at a distance. The Brujah and Gangrel changed positions every so often to avoid suspicion but remained vigilant. When the prince and the primogen were safely in the limo and on their way to the resort they cleared out.
A few hours before dawn, another plane arrived from San Francisco. A man left the terminal carrying nothing but the clothes on his back and made his way for the car rental. There was a short line but the clerk was having a difficult time explaining to a customer why his credit card wasn't going through.
The matter was settled finally and he handed his reserve number and credit card to the clerk.
"Hello Mister…Cash is it?"
"That's right."
"Sorry about the long wait."
"Don't worry about it." Cash replied sympathetically. "Guys like that are a dime a dozen."
"Would you like the extra insurance?"
"Yes please."
The clerk tapped a few more keys on the computer, and handed Cash a key and a complimentary roadmap.
"Your car is the burnt red Ford in C-23."
"Thanks a lot. You have a great morning."
"You too, sir."
Cash strode out the exit and headed for his car. He didn't care much for the color, but frankly so long as it ran he couldn't complain. Once he got inside he pulled out an address he pulled off the Internet. The resort was about six miles southeast of Manchester. Cash was thankful for the roadmap.
Sean's apartment was in a renovated office building in West Rutland. The town was a small New England town, with a few small corner stores and a Price Chopper. There were two elementary schools in town, and the older students were bussed to the middle and high schools in Rutland. A freight yard sat below the bridge between Rutland and West Rutland, and as Sean drove over it he could feel the bridge tremble with the sound of a freight train nearing the end of its run.
Traffic was light this morning. Just the typical daily commuters on their way to work, and a few early risers setting out for a brisk morning jog. The roads and the sidewalks were refreshingly free of ice, and the weather report stated it would be a clear day with a low wind chill factor.
So long as it snows on Christmas Eve, Sean thought.
Sean drove around town for a few hours until the sky began losing its dark shade. Knowing he'd have to feed before the sun rose he found an empty spot at the WalMart plaza and parked. At the far end of the parking lot was a Price Chopper opened twenty-four hours. This early in the morning a few cashiers and the night clerks were the only people in the store. A security guard was also on duty tonight, a fellow Gangrel and Sean's lieutenant in the Rutland area. As Sean approached the store he could almost hear the surveillance cameras starting to "malfunction".
The cashier on duty was a woman in her sixties, and she eyed Sean suspiciously as he grabbed a basket from the rack. It was slightly suspicious seeing a fifteen year-old in the store this early, but it was a vacation day and it was almost six am. At the very least if he was picking up a few items he could explain away any suspicion by saying he was shopping for a sick relative.
A can of tuna, some Miracle Whip and mustard, a bottle of A1 sauce, a few boxes of cereal. He went to the meat department to get some beef, and also discovered some pretty good cuts of pork chops on sale.
Sick relative, yeah right, he thought. I look like I'm making dinner for four.
One of the stock clerks clocked out on his last break and went into the customer restroom. Sean left his items by the door, knowing that no one would grab it this early in the morning, and went in behind the clerk. He left a few minutes later, refreshed, flushing one of the urinals behind him to keep suspicion to a minimum. Then he went to the checkout with his basket.
The cashier lightened up a bit as she ran the items through the scanner. Sean made small talk with the night shift manager who bagged them.
"You're out rather early," she said. "My kids are usually in bed till ten on days like this."
"Nah, I'm always up early," Sean replied. "Gotta catch that worm you know."
"Do you have an Advantedge card?" The cashier asked, ringing up the meat last.
"Not on me, no."
"Okay, that'll be thirty-one, fifty-four."
Sean pulled two twenties out of his wallet and handed them to the cashier. She gave him his change and he wished them Merry Christmas.
The sun was just barely up over the horizon and the parking lot was bathed in a bright gold light. A few seagulls flew over the parking lot, landing every so often to pick up a piece of bagel or some other food. Sean put his groceries in the back seat and drove back to his apartment.
He wished his mother could see him now, living on his own, paying the rent, and buying his own groceries. It was amazing how such a mundane task could bring someone back to the human world. It amazed him even more how much Sean needed to be here at this time. Sure, he still needed the blood, and eventually he would need to return to his duties as primogen. But for now he was just as human as the rest of this city. Friends and family didn't die in the mortal world. They graduated high school, went off to college, got high paying jobs, and raised families. Some of them became famous and others were the average Dick and Janes.
Pfft, Sean thought. If mortals have it easier than Kindred I have a third arm.
Back in December of 2000 a trailer fire that took the lives of a well respected family. Though the fire could have happened to anyone, it was a result of human error, something Kindred were just as capable of after the Embrace as they were before it.
Sean sighed. Kyle was embraced the following month after Sean convinced James Reed of his usefulness to the Gangrel. January was going to be hard to get through.