Tracking

It was a new feeling for me, only being able to go out at night, a vampire stereotype. Yet it was truly ironic that now, after almost a century of this life, that I fit it. I was back in Phoenix, retracing Victoria's steps. My first stop was the ballet studio. But there was a new building that replaced the one that Alice had so much fun burning down. Victoria must have been here, trying to find out what happened to James.

I stood at the corner and looked up to the stars, what stars could be seen through the city lights, when it came to me. The streetlight had a security camera on it. The camera wasn't there when the ballet studio burnt down, but maybe it was added immediately after, I had to find out.

It was nearly dawn when I got back to my hotel room. I would have to wait until dusk to visit city hall and find out exactly when the security camera was installed. I would have to break in to find out exactly what I needed to know. The daylight hours were spent on researching how to break in to city hall. Internet is defiantly the best invention of my life.

I found out what I needed to know with time to spare, which isn't good. Finding Victoria has taken my mind off of my still heart. But, when I have to wait my mind wanders, often lingering on the recent past, in a dreary town in Washington. It causes pain, and falters my resolve to stay away from her. Being in Phoenix is not helping, but I convinced myself that this way I'm protecting her from my world further.

The sun finally set and I headed downtown. People were leaving the building, a balding man and a middle age woman. I hid in an alleyway and listened to their conversation.

"How come we are always the last out?" The woman asked.

"Because we are the lowest paid," The man chuckled, "And the night guard is in there so we technically aren't the last one out."

"Oh, haha very funny, he makes more that us, I think. Well, see you tomorrow." The woman said, and walked away. The man also went to his car.

So there was one guard tonight, and the building was big. I could get in, find what I need, and be out before the guard would finish his rounds. My dismal luck was breaking.

I came in through the third story window, it wasn't alarmed, and mortal robbers would never have been able to climb up to that height. From the window I followed the hallway to a door labeled street security center. It was locked, but with my superior strength I broke the lock without setting off any alarms. The room was dark, and on three sides there was shelves of DVDs and portable hard drives, each labeled with a date and portable hard copy. I assumed these were only for emergencies since they were covered in dust. It was on the fourth wall of the room that I found what I was looking for.

The wall was covered with screens, four columns and four rows. In front of the wall was a desk with different controls, and a map of the city with each camera labeled. I quickly found the camera I was looking for. I typed into the first screen and pressed the archive button. The screen filled with dates and I typed in the date that we burnt down the studio. 'UNAVAILABLE' popped onto the screen. I tried the week after that, and I got a picture of the burnt remains of the ballet studio and a government official walking down a ladder after installing the camera. I began to fast forward the film.

The second day after the camera was installed I caught a glimpse of red hair moving impossibly fast into the burnt ruins. Ten minutes later the same glimpse of red came back of the screen running out of sight. I pulled up the camera on the corner she was headed for and found the fast red blur on this camera not a second later. I followed Victoria though the streets to the airport. She ran right to the terminal that was boarding flights to Texas.

Texas is my next stop.

***

I landed in Houston at ten o'clock on the next night. I was glad to be off the plane and tracking Victoria again. My heart was suffering again; I spent the whole fight arguing with myself on how to go on. It's becoming harder to stay away and convince myself that I'm protecting her, that it's better to protect her from afar then next to her. My resolve was fading, I had to become distracted and quickly.

I walked through the airport with determination. I had to find Victoria, and soon. As I reached the baggage check I sensed someone behind me, and following me. I walked out of the airport into the Houston night being followed. I walked into a park and stopped in the most secluded area waiting for my pursuer to show himself.

She did. Her features showed Mexican descent, her hair was black; her body slender; her skin was oddly pale; and her eyes were blood red. She was clearly a vampire, and I have seen her before, in my brother's memories.

"Maria" I said coolly.

She tilted her head, like a curious dog. "Have we met?" I don't remember him. Is he an old enemy?

"No, and I am not an enemy." She looked up alarmed, "I can read thoughts. Don't be alarmed, I have seen you before in the memories of another vampire."

Who? An Enemy, a friend, a deserter?

"A former friend, but that is all. I won't tell you who, for his privacy."

"Fine, I will not inquire further, but I like to know if a vampire is in my city, and why?" So why are you here, my golden eyed friend?

Maria might be of good use then. She would know if Victoria was here and why. "I'm looking for someone, another vampire, a red head, her name is Victoria."

Maria's thoughts flashed up a picture of Victoria's face. "Yes, I saw her. She just lost a mate, poor creature. She was a wreck, we hunted together and she said she felt better. After a few days she went on her way, to Brazil. Rio, I believe."

I sensed no deception in her thoughts. Maria told me what she thought was the truth, but she was hiding something in her mind. I had a location so whatever Maria was hiding was unimportant. I wanted to get Victoria and quickly.

"Thank you for your help," I said and turned to leave. If I got on the next flight to Rio I could be there tomorrow.

"Wait!" Maria called and ran up to me. "I don't recall that you even gave me your name."

"That's right." I said as I ran away. My next stop was Brazil.

Coming soon: Chapter 9 Phone Call

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