Chapter 5

Algernon looked out the glass doors of the library. Or were they glass? Or instead just some clear plastic? He'd never bothered to check. In any case, that transparent barrier was the only thing standing between him and the cold night air.

How he hated the cold night air. It made his skin crawl. Or it would have, if he had bothered to set foot outside.

"'Scuse me." One of the library patients said, a bit groggy. Algernon turned and let him exit. As he opened the door, the cold air entered, stinging Algernon's skin.

Tonight was lucky. People had been staying up late tonight. Five or six people had fallen asleep while reading or working. That was a great deal more fortunate than Algernon usually had. But it had made him nervous. Suppose if someone had seen him in the act? That was a fear he had always had.

He slipped his hand into his pocket, grabbing the vial and bringing it up to his eyes. It was empty. He'd used up the last of the healing fluid. Not good. He'd have to make more of it, but the ingredients weren't due for another two days.

Not too much of a problem, though. He'd just have someone run an errand to the pharmacy to get the necessary ingredients. Though that was worrisome, too. Suppose he got caught forging prescriptions?

He was treading on thin ice. Any one slip-up could ruin everything – someone waking up while he was feeding, someone catching him, someone trying to donate blood, him opening his mouth too wide and showing his fangs, someone realizing his forgery, someone asking some inconvenient questions. Or imagine if he stumbled and fell, and had to be hospitalized?

Any other vampire could deal with those issues. They had the cunning, the power, the ruthlessness, or the money, to deal with those snaps. They could afford to be reckless. Sir Roderick Morgan could afford to be reckless. Algernon could not. His mind was not particularly sharp, his body frail, and his funds mediocre, and his ethics were what many vampires would call a hindrance.

There was a knock on the door. Algernon's head snapped up. It was a (Oh, for the love of God, not another one, he thought) vampire.

He was positively boyish-looking, like one of the people on those weekday-night sitcoms they show reruns of for three-quarters of the year. He was dressed nicely, in all black, as though he was going to a concert. Around his neck there was a small chain, with an upside-down cross. He was smiling pleasantly.

"May I come in?" he asked, being sure to mouth it in an exaggerated manner.

Algernon sighed irritably, and would probably have said no, if another patron hadn't exited. This left the vampire able to walk in freely. Again, Algernon winced as he felt the cold night air.

"Good evening, Algernon." The stranger said.

"I don't know who you are." Algernon said. "And I doubt you know who I am, so don't address me as though I'm familiar."

"Oh, I can look up who's in charge of a place." The vampire said. "On my nightly walks, I've passed this library. I've noticed a fair bit of activity. Some vampires and werewolves have been stopping here, ranging from Sir Roderick Morgan to some members of the local werewolf pack. It's made me curious."

"I'd probably be curious, too, if I wasn't so annoyed." Algernon said, walking over to his desk. "What do you want? Library's closing."

"Nothing." The stranger said. "Just wanted to talk. The name's Lucas." He said, extending his hand.

"Talk about what?" Algernon said gruffly, not shaking his hand.

"Well, about you." Lucas said. "You're a bit of a loner. Generally been under the radar, for the most part. All we knew was that the patrons of this library were somebody's flock."

"Good to hear that you know. You can't have any." Algernon said.

"That's not I'm here about…" Lucas said. This was not a particularly pleasant conversation. After a pause, he spoke again. "You've been entertaining some dangerous company."

"I noticed." Algernon said.

"'Scuse me?" Another library patron asked, coming up to him with a book. "I'd like to check this out?"

"Sure." Algernon said. "Card?" She produced the card. Algernon scanned the card and the book (Bridge of Birds), and stamped the card on the inside of the book. "Due in three weeks."

"Thank you." The patron said, leaving.

"Best keep our voices low." Lucas said.

"Or not use them at all." Algernon said.

"I take it I'm not welcome, then." Lucas said, turning to leave. "But if you need anything, I'm always available. I'm the pastor over at the church down the street."

Algernon let out a laugh. Lucas left. Algernon looked around, and called out. "Library's closed! Everyone go home!"

Some slight stirring as the last few people who had been asleep got up from their tables and left.

And then Algernon was left alone in his library, as usual.