Last Chance
Chapter 9
Hotshot
The reports back from Ceja, Blink and Skittery's watch were rather uneventful, just as the first night had been. Balthazar made moves to appease Cian, Chandra, and Orion. They were still very sly, and anyone not aware of his political motivations would have taken it as the normal business of such a council.
In all actuality the three made a rather good team. Ceja and Blink were able to keep Skittery in line, though without Dutchy he was less than half the threat. In turn, Skittery helped to keep them entertained and as promised, soaked up information like a sponge. Even after the council members had left the three of them remained sitting on the ledge, looking out over the empty space, and reminiscing about times past. Skittery talked about being made by Dutchy, who had been turned by Specs. The two boys then turned to telling horror stories about Specs, who had been quite a bit of trouble before the turn of the last century. Thus they proved how little Ceja knew about him, seeing as she had heard none of the stories before.
They parted ways at the docks, each retreating back in the direction of their own homes.
There was to be no meeting by the council the following night; that was the most important piece of information they gathered. Roman was surprised, though certain something important would be brought up the night after that.
But since the chamber was going to be empty it would make a good meeting place for them the next night. After all, the visitors may have caught on to them if they had remained meeting in alternating boroughs. The chamber was empty and unguarded so there was no reason not to meet there. Besides it was neutral ground.
And with Spot and Jack both in their stubborn glory they were going to need neutral ground.
1
Each borough took a separate boat out to Liberty Island. The Queens borough was rather on edge on their boat ride. Mina and Swinger, as usual, were the beginning of their undoing.
"I'm sorry, but we made those laws for a reason," Mina was saying, "even in dangerous times we should still abide by them."
"So what?" Swinger shot back with a challenging gleam in her eye. "Okay, Spot broke a rule, but laws don't typically apply as strictly in times of crisis."
"We're not exactly in a time of crisis yet," Snitch pointed out, causing his girlfriend to glare daggers at him.
"Exactly," Mina said with a triumphant grin, "Balthazar hasn't specifically targeted us yet. The other leaders aren't looking at us with pity. The point is that Spot is an egotistical, arrogant bastard. He thinks he's above the rules. This isn't the only time he's said it."
"And what does that make Jack?" Specs asked sardonically. "You know he hates Spot. If it had been anyone else he would have dragged them inside and accused them in front of everyone. That's what we do, remember, hold our own court to deal out punishment."
"That's funny, isn't Ceja in Spot's line," Mina mused, "She tell you to say that Specsie boy?"
"Wow, that was a low one." Skittery muttered to no one in particular.
Specs did not even flinch at the insinuation. "I've been capable of my own conscious thought and opinions since long before she was born. That hasn't changed just because her leader's being a jackass. Jack though, I mean Snoddy is in his gang, aren't you still with him?"
Mina shot back another of her not so nice remarks and pretty soon the majority of them were involved in the argument.
Roman was sitting at the stern of the boat with an ever growing frown crossing his face. This was not going to end well. Swifty was sitting nearby with an amused look across his face. Finally, as the volume of the argument reached its peak Roman stood up and walked into the middle of the fray.
"Enough!" he yelled.
Everyone went silent.
"We already have one fight between Brooklyn and Manhattan, do we really need to get involved in this? No, we need to be the neutral third party that helps to get this resolved. I don't care what your opinion is; you will not speak of the subject to anyone. I mean, for all we know Jack and Spot have forgiven each other. If nothing else we have to keep them from fighting with each other which, need I remind you, will endanger all of us. Got that?"
His ranting was not helped by Swifty's cackles, which began as soon as he mentioned the possibility of forgiveness between Spot and Jack.
He turned to stare at the Asian boy, who could not seem to get himself under control.
Nevertheless the argument ended and the boat went nearly silent. The two opposing sides of the argument stood on opposite sides of the boat, glaring at one another.
Brooklyn's forces were already in the chamber when they arrived, most of them lounging around in the first few rows of seating or sitting on the edge of the stage. Spot was sitting with Race, Pickpocket, and Loki, all of whom looked a bit uncomfortable and wary.
Spot looked deathly calm. That, if nothing else, worried Roman immensely.
He knew Spot.
Spot did not do calm.
Those in favor of Spot mingled with the Brooklynites while those who were on Jack's side sat separately. Roman could feel a headache beginning just between his eyes. Way to make it obvious.
He was the first one to notice Jack walk in leading the rest of Manhattan. He looked just as angry as ever, though he was clenching his fists and trying to remain in control of his anger. Maybe Swifty had been too quick to judge Jack's limits. Roman elbowed his friend and nodded in Jack's direction.
"I give him five minutes, maximum," Swifty commented without so much as glancing in Jack's direction.
That was when Spot noticed Jack and stood up. He walked quickly to meet Jack halfway, the three he had been sitting with followed closely, afraid of an altercation. Roman and Swifty jumped up as well, Skittery and Dutchy right behind them to help hold off a fight.
Spot and Jack stopped walking, leaving a few feet between them. The whole place was silent, all eyes on the group at the center of the room.
Spot pulled a medical bag out of the pack he was carrying. It was marked with a red stripe. Roman was not sure what a red stripe meant in Brooklyn. He knew that in Queens it meant the blood was O negative. Spot offered the bag to Jack.
"Circa 1981," he said. That was all; he offered no apology or reason, only presented Jack with the blood.
Jack accepted the bag. Once the light hit it Pickpocket let out an unmanly shriek from behind the Brooklyn leader.
"Spot, what the hell are you doing?" He darted forward and grabbed the bag away from Jack, taking the pack from Spot and throwing it away from them. "What is wrong with you?" he snapped.
"What the hell?" Jack interjected before Spot could reply. Both he and Spot glared at Pickpocket.
Roman arched an eyebrow; he was a bit curious as to why Pickpocket would do something like that when it seemed that Spot was apologizing with an offering.
Pickpocket directed his answer at Roman more than Jack, though he did warn Jack's friends to hold him back with a glance.
"I don't know what the red line means in Manhattan or Queens but in Brooklyn it is the marker for infected blood. This one is AIDS." Pickpocket glared at his friend as Jack's clenched fists only tightened. He was trying very hard not to attempt to kill Spot right now.
AIDS infected blood would not kill Jack, but it would make him very sick. It would make him so sick that he would not be able to impose any kind of threat against Spot for quite a while.
This was not going to go well.
"What are you playing at?" Jack snapped at Spot.
"Trying to give you the hint that we have bigger things to worry about than your pride," Spot said calmly.
Jack took one slow step forward.
"Roman, check his pockets." David warned.
"Traitor." Roman barely heard Jack hiss it at David.
Sure enough there was something of interest in Jack's pocket, a sharpened stake.
Well this was wonderful, Spot wanted Jack injured and Jack wanted Spot dead. It could have been worse. If things had been the opposite Jack may have ended up dead. Spot was infinitely better at hiding things than Jack was.
"Listen to me, both of you," Roman said through clenched teeth. "In fact, all of you listen to me. Spot, you know the rules as well as anyone. We are not in immediate danger yet so there is no excuse to breach them. After this is over, be sure to know you will be held accountable for your actions. And Jack, you completely overreacted. You know we hold our own court of impartial third parties to decide what to do in situations like this. You should have waited for Queens to arrive before you went making accusations and putting opinions in peoples' heads. If it had been anyone else than Spot you would not have reacted like that. And Spot, you are not the most important person here. I don't care how much you two hate each other; you will put it aside until the right time."
"Wow Roman, look at you going and appeasing everyone. You almost sound like Balthazar," Jack grumbled in return.
"Wouldn't be surprised if you were related to him, you're awful good at keeping secrets," Spot suggested. "And trying to give yourself power."
"How the hell do I do that?"
"You say who should come out here the nights of the covenant's meetings," Jack said, "And your guy is the one keeping track of all the information."
"That's stupid. I like things organized; I like them to run smoothly. You two can struggle over power all you want; I just want things to not get fucked up to the point where we're all in danger."
"Well it's a bit late for that," Spot said, "Tobias told me that they're starting discussion about us tomorrow."
"Where did Tobias get information like that?" Jack asked.
Spot glared right back at him, "From Leith, I wonder where he got it."
Roman wanted to shove Jack's stake right through Spot's heart at that moment. It was well known that no one really trusted Leith, but did he have to go and vocalize it.
"You know what?" Swifty interrupted them all. "We're not going to get anywhere without starting some huge fight tonight so why don't we all just go home and calm down and send appropriate people up here tomorrow night."
Had the argument come from anyone else it would have been pushed aside, but Swifty had that air about him that he was not really part of any one group. Even Roman did not quite feel a kinship to him all the time.
That was what they did, if for no other reason than to avoid an all-out war between the three lines.
1
Racetrack stalked along through Brooklyn after the failed meeting. He was absolutely famished, and the fact that things had gone so horribly had put him in quite a bitter mood. Plus, Grock was following him; that would piss anyone off.
"I am not a fucking piece of meat!" he snapped loudly, "so would you stop stalking me."
Grock walked calmly out from behind the corner and matched his pace to walk beside him.
"Man was Jack a lousy bastard tonight," she commented.
Racetrack grimaced. This was not exactly his idea of good conversation for the rest of his night.
"Yeah, well Spot wasn't exactly seen in his best light either. If he had thought for two seconds about where he was before he killed that girl…" Race trailed off for a moment, thinking. "When this whole thing is over he's going to regret it."
"When has regret ever done anyone any fucking good!" Grock snapped.
Race stopped in his tracks and turned to look Grock in the eyes. Their bright red color were such a sharp contrast to her pale face, set in a serious stance. He stared for a moment before he broke into a grin.
"Spaz."
"Bitch." She replied. She started to walk again, "You have to admit though, Jack was being an utter jackass tonight."
The insult never got old, and Race shook his head. "Yeah, he was. He nodded down the road, "C'mon, I'm hungry"
She shook her head as a crash down the alley behind them echoed off the brick walls. "You go; I'll catch up with you later."
"Whoever that is sounds awful big," Racetrack warned.
"Good," she snapped, "After tonight I could use a challenge." She disappeared down the alley before he could warn her further.
Race picked up his pace and jogged down the street. His hunger felt as though it had increased sevenfold since he had stopped to chat with Grock. He was not even aware of where exactly in Brooklyn he was. He certainly was not near the clubs he usually ate at. He walked back into an alley behind an old restaurant and waited.
Sure enough the back door opened shortly after. The man who walked out the back door was big and older than he. Race did not care. He launched himself at the man, fangs bared. The momentum helped him knock the man to the ground, and soon after he had lost enough blood that he stopped fighting.
Race completely drained the man and surveyed the scene once he felt full. It had been a messy kill; there was blood everywhere. He used a pocket knife to slice the man's neck open further so it looked like a mugging gone bad. There was a good hundred and fifty dollars in his wallet that found a new home in Racetrack's pocket.
He was the first one home, and went immediately upstairs to change out of his bloodied clothes. When he returned to the first floor Spot was back and nursing a drink.
"You want to come with me tomorrow night?" he asked.
"Not particularly." Race answered.
"Good, consider yourself drafted."
"How about I'll go again after you apologize to Jack?"
"Can't do that."
"Why not?"
"'Cause it's never going to happen."
"You can be a real bastard sometimes Spot," Race said as Isadora dropped a bottle of something in front of him.
"So you're coming?" Spot asked.
Race took a long pull on his drink. "Yeah, I'm coming."
1
"Movie?" Skittery asked Dutchy as they stepped off of the boat. "Or do you have plans with Chaise."
"Movie sounds great," Dutchy agreed, "As long as we eat first, I'm famished."
"Hmm… where's a good place to find food this time of night?"
"The movie theater," Dutchy suggested. There should be a movie just getting out as we get there to pick up our tickets."
"Cheap food!" Skittery pumped one fist into the air as they turned the corner from the harbor.
"Sometimes I question your sanity."
"Says the blonde," Skittery argued back.
"I am not a dumb blonde!" Dutchy argued.
"Yes you are," Skittery replied.
"Am not!"
"Are too."
"Am not!"
And so their argument persisted on their short walk to the movie theater. Once they arrived the two walked around the back where the movies let out, first picking up a flier with movie times posted on it. The early showing of the horror movie they decided to see let out only a few minutes later. Skittery and Dutchy leaned against the opposite wall, passing a cigarette back and forth between them as not to look suspicious.
One of the last kids out of the theater was dressed in a dark, hooded sweatshirt and had a small line of kohl lining his eyes. A pair of headphones hung around his neck.
Dutchy's face lit up, "Him!"
"The emo kid?" Skittery asked, "Why him?"
Dutchy shrugged. "Look at him. He kind of reminds me of you, which means he tastes good."
"Uhh thanks…" Skittery tilted his head, "I think."
However, Dutchy did not hear him. He was running after the kid, yelling for him to come back. Stupidly the boy turned around and that was it. He followed Dutchy back into the dark alley. The two boys walked out with just enough time to grab tickets and drinks before their movie started.
"So what's your take on the Jack versus Spot thing?" Dutchy asked, stealing Skittery's popcorn as they walked home a few hours later.
"Well," Skittery stole his popcorn back with an annoyed look, "Personally, I think Jack is kind of a stubborn ass, and Spot is too arrogant for his own good. I don't really care much either way. I think if anyone would actually get punished for killing in another borough it would be you and me."
"Yeah," Dutchy agreed, "We're pretty stupid sometimes. Last time I really didn't know we were in Manhattan."
"Me either!" Skittery agreed. "But yeah, no way in hell they are forgiving each other before one of them ends up in umm… hell."
Dutchy laughed at Skittery's poor analogy.
"Or unless someone else dies," Skittery added.
"We're smarter than that."
"Well some of us are."
Dutchy rolled his eyes. "How many times have we had this argument this week? I am not a dumb blonde!"
"If you say so."
"Skittery!"
"Dutchy!" Skittery mimicked, a slow grin spreading across his face as he pushed open the door to the bar.
1
Shock and Blink had skipped going hunting altogether. Instead they were curled up in Blink's bed while they had some privacy. Everyone else tended to barge in without knocking when they wanted to talk to one boy of the other.
"You know, I really do like the green tips," Blink commented, his hands combing through Shock's thick hair. "They're kind of kinky."
Shock lazily opened one eye, "What?"
"I dunno. I mean, the red looked good, and the bleached blonde was perfect last summer, but damn, the green is just hot."
"You have the most fucked up taste."
"Hey, I chose you didn't I?"
"Touché."
"BLINK!" The yell came from downstairs.
Blink rolled his eye and got up out of bed, pulling on his boxers. Just as he reached the door Jack yelled again, this time from a closer location.
Blink opened the door and yelled back, "I'm coming!" He turned back to Shock. "I'll be back as soon as I can. You want anything?"
Shock shrugged, "Something cold."
Blink shut the door behind him and started downstairs to deal with whatever panic attack Jack was currently having and get himself a beer. Shock fumbled on the bedside table for the remote to the stereo. He had to turn it on, the silent room crept him out.
He opened his eyes again as the door swung open and slammed shut. Blink tossed him a cold beer bottle and opened the other, draining half of it before he took a seat on the edge of the bed.
Shock drained the entire drink before looking at Blink. "Maybe we should have gone hunting. Oh well, we can always go tomorrow night."
"You can go tomorrow night," Blink mumbled as he collapsed across the end of the bed, setting his drink on the floor. "Jack's being pissy about Specs knowing more than any of us. I have to go with him tomorrow night."
"Are you joking?"
"I wish I was." Blink groaned.
"Tell him you have better plans."
"I tried that, you didn't hear the crash when he threw the chair at me."
"Umm… no."
Blink ran his hands through his disheveled hair before reaching under the bed. Trying to talk sense into Jack always put him in the mood for rough sex. He pulled out two items and changed the subject with ease.
"So, round two? Take your pick, handcuffs or a blindfold?"
Shock smirked.
1
Jack was up before the sun set the next night. He was dragging Blink along with him and planned to be gone as soon as possible. He had eaten very well the night before and wanted to make sure they were the first ones at the boat.
As he turned around to walk out of the foyer and go upstairs to wake Blink he walked directly into Leith.
"You're certainly up early." Leith commented.
"Blink and I are going somewhere tonight." He said. Leith knew what he meant.
"I don't think so," Leith replied.
Jack's eyes went wide. "You said you wouldn't until tomorrow."
"I changed my mind."
Jack tried to sprint away. If he could get upstairs quickly Leith would not chase him and he and Blink could probably get away. Unfortunately Leith had quick reflexes. He caught Jack by the arm and pulled him back sharply.
"Let me go." Jack tried to free his arm.
"Jack, don't make this more difficult than it has to be." Leith dragged him into his small office and shoved him against the wall before digging his fangs into Jack's tender neck.
The next thing Jack knew Blink was shaking him awake.
"Jack! Jack! C'mon, we're going to be late."
Jack lashed out at Blink before bringing his hands to his head. This felt like a horrible hangover.
"We're going to-"
"Take Combat. I'm not up for it tonight."
Blink frowned but retreated to the door, "I'll make sure someone brings you up something to eat."
Jack did not even hear him.
Specs and Snitch were untying the boat when Blink and Combat finally reached the harbor. Spot was sitting atop a post, watching for them. A confused look crossed his face.
"Kelly too afraid to show?" He smirked.
Combat opened his mouth to refute the claim but Blink kicked him hard in the shin to keep him quiet. Both boys just climbed into the boat with greetings for Racetrack, Specs and Snitch.
The six of them were barely situated when the first of the adult vampires entered the chamber. The procession was quick and it seemed that more were in attendance than usual. The boys were silent, watching and waiting for everything to begin.
Balthazar was the last to enter the chamber. There was a smug smile across his face and a renewed spring in his step.
Snitch muttered a derogatory term at his general existence. Coming from the normally benevolent boy it sounded rather dark. They could not help but agree.
"Brethren," Balthazar greeted them, "I would like to bring up an event which occurred last time I visited New York. While we were in discussion, Leith, Tobias, Driu and I, planning this very meeting a teenage vampire was killed.
"Now, I know every division of vampires has a fair number of teenagers in existence. However, New York, it seems, has more than any others. Many more. At the opening ceremony I counted more than fifty.
"These children may well be good kids, but the matter stands. They are very likely to be caught, very likely to be killed, and very likely to reveal us to the world. They fight with their leaders and argue amongst each other. I have been doing a lot of thinking, and I think that after the young man, Noah's, death only blocks from his own home it is only best that something be done to keep such tragedy from happening again."
"What are you proposing?" The owner of the voice could not be quickly located, but it was none of the New York leaders.
"I would propose their removal from New York, to someplace more remote, at the very least. Perhaps split them up between our less popular areas in Europe."
"And at the most?"
"At the most would be an extermination."
There was an immediate uproar and surge of noise at the end of Balthazar's comment.
He held up his hands for silence, "I know the idea is foreign. We do not kill our own kind; that is law. If it comes down to the decision however, I am more than willing to sacrifice a small number of our population to save the whole. I would rather first remove them to Rome or Africa where our numbers are smaller and attempt to restrain them under a tighter leash."
"You certainly cannot think to make this decision without their input." Tobias was the speaker.
"Of course not." Balthazar admitted though he looked surprised by the intrusion, "Though I am not certain how to approach the topic."
"We shall invite a small representation," Leith stood as he spoke, "Perhaps two or three, enough for a proper representative body. Give them the facts, the options, and allow them to prove themselves with a defense"
Balthazar nodded. What else could he do under the circumstances? "How long would be appropriate to give them?"
"A week, perhaps more. Let them start to attend as of tomorrow as we go through this and other topics. As a whole they will take care of themselves."
"Very well." Balthazar looked slightly defeated, "Shall we save any other topics for the coming days then?"
There was a murmur of consent among the masses.
"Dismissed for the night," Balthazar agreed.
The group filed out quickly and the place echoed a loud silence back at the six remaining figures.
1
A/N: Sinhe. Gothic Author. I love you. It's updated. Please don't kill me.
As for anyone else reading this. I'm home for the summer. I don't have a job yet so maybe I can get though another chapter of this in the coming weeks. Though I really, really, do need to find a permanent beta. While I'm at it I'll thank Misprint again for doing the previous chapter. Ok, that is all.
Review or there will be no more updates!
Who am I kidding, Sinhe and GA always leave reviews and they're the only ones who really care.
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Hotshot