Last Chance
Chapter 5
Hotshot
Three nights later Jack dimmed the lighting in the club and got himself a drink from behind the bar before opening the door. Four young men waited outside with guitar cases and drumsticks, a new band. Their obvious leader held out a hand. Jack pulled a small plastic bag of white powder out of his jacket pocket and threw it at the offending band member.
The guy was taller and broader than Jack, his hair shaggy and dark, and his face stretched tight, making him look angry. He handed the drugs to the drummer and stepped forward, grabbing Jack by the front of his shirt. The whole act was meant to be threatening.
"What the hell they got some scrawny son of a bitch like you watching the door for. Don't be a smartass, that's not all we were promised."
Jack scowled and pulled a roll of hundreds out of his pocket as well. The man grabbed the money and shoved Jack back into the doorway. Jack just stood there as the four men shoved their way past him and into the club.
He glanced around again only to have a tall Asian boy pop into his line of vision, cigarette dangling from his lips.
"Christ, Swifty!" He jumped back, surprised.
"We've got news." Swifty walked past Jack into the club as though he lived there rather than in Queens.
Jack closed the door and followed Swifty over to the bar. Blink, Combat, Shock and Cora sat around him.
"Well."
"Specs continued with the research on the chamber, you know, just to check up on everything about it that you don't know. Anyway, now we're certain it's the one they're using. Specs has some floor plans. Roman thinks it would be a good idea to have some of us go over, check it out."
"We can't all go! Roman's supposed to meet me here in a few hours, along with some of Brooklyn."
"All of us going would suck. And it's not as if I'm going to waste my time looking around some freaking cave. Specs thinks all we'll need is three or four people from each clan. Just have them at the docks at eleven. And send your boy to Brooklyn to tell them, huh?" He turned on his heel and strode back out the front door.
Jack did not even move to question the boy further. He turned to the rest of the group. "Blink, Shock, Cora, you three go, and bring Dice with you. Combat, I want you with me here tonight. Shock, take a walk over to Brooklyn."
"Dice?" Shock questioned, "If you say so Jack. I'll see you two in an hour."
As Blink and Cora dispersed Jack leaned in closer to Combat. "See the bass player?" He motioned to the band.
Combat nodded.
"He's mine." No one insulted Jack like that.
1
The groups that traveled and met had to be kept relatively small to avoid suspicion. Jack had called David, Combat, Ian and Itch to get out of working in the club for the night. He was less than surprised to see Pickpocket, Grock, and of course Loki accompanied Spot. Swifty and Roman came, as promised, as did Dutchy and Swinger. They would each distribute new information to their entire clans.
The ragtag group settled in the very meeting room Leith had settled the other adults into days earlier. Tonight Spot held all the cards, he knew things Jack didn't, or rather, Loki did.
If it was possible, Roman was even more uncomfortable than Jack. He shifted in his seat, off of his own turf and not supplying any information.
"I don't want to come across as insensitive, Loki, I know you were close to him," Roman finally said, "But, what exactly happened to him?"
"Noah was older than any of us. He was ancient like some of the elders. I think he was one of the first offspring of Tobias. I don't know how many of you remember a time before the adults all suspected us of being trouble, but that was when he thrived.
"Balthazar came for the last covenant meeting about a hundred and fifty, two hundred years ago. And you've all heard stories about Balthazar. He's one of the meanest vampires you'll ever meet, and he's pretty much the sire of every vampire, so he can do whatever he likes-"
"We know, get on with it," Swinger snapped.
Loki arched an eyebrow. "Touchy, touchy. Anyway, he tried to use Noah as a… well, a pet, I guess, while he was here. Let's just say Noah didn't take it well. He went after Balthazar and ended up killing two of Balthazar's bodyguards and injuring Balthazar enough that he had to go back to Rome. That is when the rumors about us being trouble started circulating."
"That long ago?" Itch asked, "Talk about holding a grudge. Noah just died, what, two months ago?"
"Three." Loki corrected. "He was stabbed in the middle of the night, straight through his heart with a stake."
Several of the table's inhabitants shuddered at the thought.
"They made it look like some slayer did it, used the same kind of stakes that one from the last decade did, unfinished oak."
"How do we know it wasn't just a slayer that got lucky?" David asked.
Loki looked at Spot. He grinned back at her.
"You see," she smirked, "the funny thing about humans is that they think there are several ways to keep a vampire away. Garlic, we know, does nothing. Sure, holy water burns as Chaise can tell you but it can't keep us away for long. But even the slayers still believe crosses keep us away."
"So?"
"Noah wore a silver cross. A slayer would have just left it because they wouldn't think anything of it. A vampire would have been sure to take it to keep humans from finding out about that myth. That cross is the only thing he was wearing that wouldn't have burned right along with him, and that cross was nowhere to be found after he died. A vampire killed him."
"Are you sure it was Balthazar?" Jack asked.
She turned to Jack, nettled by his question and sick of being the center of attention. "Well, that's when the rumors about us got even worse. Plus, didn't Leith tell you the same thing the other night, Jack. Didn't he tell you that it was Balthazar?"
Jack swallowed hard. "Let's move on, we have other things to talk about tonight."
1
Blink damned modern technology as they reached the island. Despite the late hour Liberty Island was lit up by all sorts of lights. And there were security guards, and Blink really hated having to sneak around.
"Okay Specs, we're not getting out of the boat until we know exactly where this entrance it. Now, explain it again, and everybody, listen."
"That set of stairs, straight ahead. Under the bushes to the right there should be a street drain. It's light enough that any of us should be able to pick it up."
"Should. Very reassuring, Specs."
"Trust me."
"Why are smart people so stupid?" Race asked suddenly.
"Well, Blink's a blonde so he's not actually smart, and all Specs' intelligence was sucked out by Ceja last time they saw each other." Rings explained.
The comments earned her several glares.
"Tell you what," Race suggested, "Blink and I will go over there, make sure this drain is there and then wave the rest of you over." Without waiting he grabbed Blink by the arm and dragged him out of the boat and across the grass. Indeed there was a street drain behind the bushes which was easily lifted to expose a polished marble staircase.
"Go wave to everyone else."
The group made their way down the stairs and into a dimly lit, circular hallway.
"Go to the right," Specs instructed.
The group moved slowly and walked for several minutes until they came to the set of doors. There had been some small doors along the walls, but none that seemed important. There were now two large doors in front of them, carved from dark wood and decorated with gold hinges, knockers, and handles.
"Well," Shock said, "I suppose this is it."
Specs handed the map to Elijah, who was scowling. He hadn't come with them willingly, wanting to remain uninvolved. Specs pulled open the doors and the group stood there for a moment in silence, observing the chamber in awe.
The room was gigantic, and to be honest the term chamber barely did it justice. It resembled an amphitheater in its size and setup. Every step, seat, and path was carved out of granite. The room could have fit well over twenty thousand vampires, many more than were coming to the covenant meeting. In the center of the room was a platform, more seating and a podium. There were ornate carvings on every wall and lush, dustless crimson carpets in the aisles.
"Heavenly father…" Elijah managed.
"He had nothing to do with this." Cora told him curtly.
"Ok," Specs began, regaining his composure. He walked further into the chamber and motioned to four other large doors. "There are five entrances to this room. There are ten entrances such as the one we came in through, all to the right of every staircase outside. Umm… legend says there is a secret entrance behind the platform, so that the speaker could escape if need be-"
"Robespierre," Blink explained, fondly remembering the days of the French Revolution, "to escape from the crowds that turned on you."
"We aren't sure exactly where this tunnel is located of where the tunnel comes out above ground. We'll have to find it before Balthazar gets to New York, but that isn't our objective tonight."
"We have an objective?" Dice asked. "You could have fooled me, what is it?"
Specs pointed above the seating. "The balconies, there's no seating up there, just a flat expanse of rock, a perfect place for us to hide and watch."
1
"I guess you're up David," Jack said. "Make me proud. Say something smart."
David gave Jack a withering glare. "There are going to be a lot of leaders from Europe and Asia here, as well as those from across the United States. Now, there are some of those living in Europe who are of importance to our cause. These are vampires we want to get on our side or that we want to be extra careful about."
"Balthazar's lackeys." Ian piped up, "Yeah, we know."
David nodded, "Malachi and Lucivar are dangerous." He held up a picture of a tough looking black man, a long scar from temple to jaw. "Malachi is violent. We're pretty sure Balthazar will have him prowling the streets while here. Avoid him at all costs. Don't forget, when Europeans were searching through Africa Malachi was one of those beasts they mentioned."
He held up a second photo. A neat looking Chinese man gazed back at them. Most of their group would dwarf the thin man. "Despite his looks Lucivar is dangerous as well. He is very powerful. A run in with either of them and you won't live."
"Is there going to be a point to any of this, other than avoid them?" Pickpocket asked.
"Of course," David replied.
"A play by play of the who's who in the peanut gallery?" Grock decided.
"Then please," Dutchy spoke loudly, "spare us the insignificant details and give us the short versions. Some of us would like to feed sometime tonight."
David looked annoyed at being interrupted and mocked, but he relented.
"Cass is the vampire leader in France. He is not dangerous, I mean, he's French. It shouldn't be too hard to convince him to back us as long as we have some solid appeal.
"Cian is from England, and he's old, almost as old as Balthazar. He's not stupid; he knows what is going on. Leith says he's already on our side.
"Archer is still sort of pissed off about the whole World War II incident. He refuses to ally himself with anyone except Italy, which unfortunately, screws us over.
"Chandra has control over many of the Middle Eastern countries. No one's sure about her thus far. She's not a nice vampire, that's to be sure. I don't think we'll be able to-"
He was interrupted by laughing.
"This is a serious problem!" Roman pointed out.
Spot shook his head. "Chandra and Tobias have this… thing."
"Oh." Roman grinned.
"Exactly." Spot smirked back.
"Moving on," David began again, "Ignacio is in Spain. From what I hear he's the descendant of some pope, highly religious. I was sort of hoping Elijah would be here and we could get him to play a role in this?" He looked around, hoping for someone to agree with him.
"We'll get him to do it." Swinger promised. "Just tell him where Balthazar lives and he'll do anything to help us beat him."
"Where is Balthazar from?" Combat asked.
Swinger gaped as some of the other exchanged uncertain glances.
"Italy!" she shouted, "You know, Rome, the holy city!"
"He lives directly under the Vatican." Swifty said calmly.
"Talk about irony," Itch muttered.
"Jarret is from India," David began again, before discussion of Balthazar could start. "He's reasonably new, so no one really knows much about him. He's new, though, that's good for us. That means that he's probably more liberal.
"Lucifer is from Egypt. We have no chance with him. He's the reason people believe all those stories about haunted tombs.
"Luka is from Russia, Czechoslovakia actually, but that's beside the point. He's not big on any of the New York leaders, but he's fair, and I know he isn't fond of Balthazar.
"Orion is from Greece. I can't find a lot of information on him-"
"Driu says he'll vouch for us." Roman put in, happy, for once, to know something that no one else did.
"Good. Then we have Quinn."
"Ireland." Spot said.
"Very good. He's on our side. He's already made it known. So is Soren who is here from Mongolia. He's holding a grudge against Lucivar. I don't really care what about, but don't try to get in the middle of it.
"I'm not going to say no one else's vote is unimportant because they all are. There are hundreds from across the United States and the rest of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. But these, these are the ones who are going to have influence over how everyone else votes."
"Well, assuming we can't convince Ignacio or Jarrett it's tied between the two groups, seven for and seven against." Pickpocket informed them form where he had been keeping score.
"Well, what does that mean? If we tied like that?" Itch asked.
"We're fucked."
It was the first thing Loki had said in over an hour.
1
"So, oh brilliant one," Nympho questioned, "How exactly are we supposed to get up to these balconies?"
The group had been searching the walls of the chamber for any clue as to a way of climbing up to their chosen perch.
Specs was puzzled. He looked over the papers in his hands. Along with the maps, he had also brought several pages of information. He scanned two pages and looked back at them helplessly. "It says there's a way up. 'Steps in the wall.' That is exactly what five of the sources say, 'steps in the wall.'"
"Well, it is quite obvious that there are no stairs in these walls." Nympho argued.
"That is because it says 'steps' not stairs, you twit."
They all turned to look at Cora. She was standing in one of the huge doorways to the chamber, a smirk across her lips. "I found it in case you're interested."
They followed her from the room and out into the halls. She walked to a point halfway between two of the doors. For about fifteen feet the wall was pocked with holes. It looked as if the wall had been worn away, but upon closer inspection one realized that these holes were actually steps, big enough for a hand or foot to fit in.
"You're brilliant." Blink told her.
"I know." She shrugged, "But I'm not climbing it first."
"I thought I was the brilliant one?" Shock snapped at the same time.
Blink ran a hand through his boyfriend's dark hair, which currently sported green tips. "Oohh… I like this color, is it new?"
"Don't avoid the accusation."
A seductive smirk crossed Blink's face. "You, my dear, are brilliant in an entirely different way. If you climb up that wall for me I'll let you remind me just how brilliant you are." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Shock didn't need any more prodding. He approached the wall and pulled himself up using higher hand holds. It took him less than a minute to scale the wall.
"Well," Race said as Blink began climbing the wall at a much slower pace, "I guess we should go and make sure there are handholds between all of the doors-"
"And catch those sinners!" Elijah backed up against the far wall. "Are you insane?"
Race exchanged a look with Specs and Rings, clearly asking how they put up with Elijah's sputtering on a regular basis. Then he spoke rather calmly, "Nympho, why don't you partner up with Elijah?"
"With pleasure!" A wide grin spread across Nympho's face. As he dragged Elijah off his first question echoed back. "So Padre, you're the equivalent of a priest, right? So does that mean you're celibate and shit?"
The mood was considerably lightened.
They split up and walked in other directions to scale each wall and make sure all the balconies were accessible. Race and Cora followed Elijah and Nympho and found Elijah bolting up the wall in a speed that would rival Shock's as Nympho fired off questions, each, of course, as inappropriate as the first.
Ceja started climbing the first wall in the opposite direction. She made it about three feet off the ground before she had to look around for a hand hold and somewhere to put her foot. Just as she removed her foot hands grabbed her from behind, knocking her off balance and forcing her to put her weight onto the person behind her. She and Specs both collided with the uncushioned floor of the corridor.
She immediately rolled over and straddled his stomach. "As much as I have missed you and appreciate your advances we do have work to do. You of all people know that."
"Balthazar won't be here for a week or so yet, we have plenty of time."
"Sometimes I don't know what to ma-"
She was interrupted when Rings and Dice came rushing back, having heard the impact with the floor. They both stopped head about six feet away. Rings crossed her arms over her chest and Dice glared.
"You have got to be kidding me. We're on the job here, you two." Dice growled. "Can't you knock her up later, Specs?"
Ceja's mood changed at that. "You're just jealous that you're not getting any." She leaned down and kissed Specs as if to prove her point and sat back up with a grin. "What, no comment from you Rings?"
"I am very happy with Kinks, thank you very much." She said.
They all knew she was biting back a comment, and she wouldn't last much longer.
She didn't.
"Though I do have to say it's very reminiscent of Bill and Monica. Hmmm… I wonder if anyone dusted that whore yet, either of them for that matter. Hmmm…" she turned and strode off pondering the thought. Dice followed her.
"When we get home I'll come back to Queens with you and you can try to impregnate me all you want." She climbed off of him despite protests. "Now, you climb."
The evening ended only a few minutes later with Elijah screaming, and then yelling prayers as loud as he could. The sound carried and echoed off the walls.
"What happened?" Race asked once most of them had returned to their original entrance.
Nympho had his hand clamped tightly over Elijah's mouth.
"Umm…" he glanced around, "Let's just say Blink and Shock aren't doing anything up on that balcony that god would approve of."
"Well, nothing worse that what Specs and Ceja were doing in the corridor, so don't worry about it." Dice patted Elijah on the back as his eyes grew even wider.
It was that moment that Blink and Shock chose to make their return, Shock pulling his shirt on over his head as they did so.
"Well," Blink returned to his worried self as if nothing had happened. At least we have good news to bring back. Let's go."
1
"Well obviously we're fucked," Jack snapped at Loki. "But Balthazar is more important than any of us, and he has his secrets. I mean, does anyone even know that much about him?"
No one jumped to say anything.
"Why'd we send all the smart people to Liberty Island?" Roman mused out loud.
"Well, I know some."
All eyes turned to Swifty.
"I guess you want to hear it."
Several nods and various looks were his response.
"Well, everyone knows that originally there were three vampires; two males, one female. This was back, in like, 500 AD, or something like that. Each one started their own line of offspring. Haraket was the only one successful in maintaining his line. The other two have mostly died out. Balthazar was one of the first descendents he created. Most of our makers are descendents of descendents of descendents. I think Leith is actually one of the few who were made directly by Haraket. I know Tobias is only a few down the line, and Driu isn't that far off either." He stopped to light a cigarette and inhaled deeply.
"Anyway, Haraket was killed long before most of us were made. I'd say very late seventeenth, or very early eighteenth century. Balthazar stepped in and took his position without really putting it to a vote. He's brutal so he gained power, and he really does have influence. Stupid bastard's smarter than a lot of other vampires.
"He lives under the Vatican only because of the rumors about vampires, holy water and crosses and all. If you ask me, stupidity like that could let humans figure out about us a hell of a lot easier than any stupid teenage pranks."
"Does your rambling have a point?" David asked.
Swifty gave him an odd look and blew a smoke ring into his face. "Yeah. It means we've got to do our homework to stay a step ahead of this guy. David, you, me, Specs and Blink have got to do our research. Jack, Roman, and Spot have to find out anything they can from the adults. We're going tot have to get them involved despite what they want us to do. Anything that any of us find our needs to be shared with everyone, immediately."
Jack's eyes were focused on the table, where he was picking at a splinter of wood with his nail. He could feel Swifty's eyes boring into him though.
"Everyone," Swifty continued, "needs to know everything about Balthazar, about Malachi and Lucivar, and whoever else we're concerned with."
"Jack Francis Kelly!" a hiss came from the doorway. "Leith is going to be back from hunting any minute and they are still here. Hurry up and get them out or it's going to be your ass." Athena stood in the doorway, hands on hips.
The other clans did not dare speak of their plans in front of one of the adults, at least not yet. They got up and left with only brief goodbyes to Jack, David, Combat, Ian or Itch.
"Haha… Francis." Spot laughed. "Wow, I'll be laughing over that one for a week or two."
"Go choke on holy water, Conlon." Jack growled.
1
Jack turned to the remaining vampires seated around the table. "I really don't like him."
"No one cares, Jack." Ian sighed.
"I don't trust him. Spot Conlon and Brooklyn. Ha!" Jack spat, "They'll turn on us the first chance they get."
"You do realize that they are in the exact same position and danger that we are, right?" Combat asked.
"Sure," Jack agreed with much difficulty. "But I still don't like Spot, and that Swifty kid, what a pain in the ass."
"He's right though." David shot Jack a look, "You still haven't told us a lot of what Leith told you. So, I highly suggest that you get your ass upstairs and type it all up and print it out so I can tell Specs and Blink that I found it online and no one accuses you of being a traitor."
"Yeah, and how do you plan on making me do that?"
"I'll tell Grace who fucked up the switchboard to the bar's lighting system."
"But that was you and Cora."
"Well, yes, but you see in Grace's eyes I can do no wrong." David batted his eyes in an expression of child-like innocence. "You on the other hand tend to cause trouble."
"You're ranking right up there with Spot right about now, Dave."
1
1
A/N: So yes, I know I haven't updated this in nearly a year. –Ducks rotten fruit- Really though, senior year sucked as far as time for writing went and there was no inspiration for this story. Then about two months ago I suddenly got bored and inspired in Behavioral Science and wrote up the plot and chapter break up for the entire story. There is a story, and it only took me about a week to write this chapter. I think Cavanaugh Park and my exempt from sanity storey are going to be on hold for a while so I can finish this.
Currently my laptop also does not have Microsoft word on it, and with three kids getting computer time on this computer is not easy. Once I have that and save all these files the chapters should come along more quickly.
Also, I adore Gothic Author and especially Sinhe for loving this story so much and being the only ones to review last night. Yeah, that's right, this is a guilt trip. Go review or I won't update and I'll sic Sinhe on you.
Hotshot