Stepping into the barber shop felt like walking into a different world, a pocket dimension where timed ticked by a little slower. Where you could sit down and take a break from life. Hal caught sight of Leo at the back of the shop, with a customer. Looking at him working made Hal realize what a world of a difference separated the two of them. Leo was the type of man who worked hard all day and didn't complain. Hal was the type of man who made others work for him.
Despite the fact that he was living with an unstable vampire and had to prepare himself for a werewolf change that night, Leo looked happy. Hal found that he couldn't speak or move. He couldn't bring himself to ruin what little happiness Leo held in his heart by telling him of his two past friends who were about to go on a murderous spree. No, Hal had to do this alone.
But Leo spotted him standing there, and came over.
"Hal, I didn't expect you to come here. Is something wrong?"
"I just..." Hal had to think fast. "I ran out of things to do back home. Everything's been aligned properly or put away and now I'm restless."
"Maybe you could help around here, then? You know, use the broom every now and then or straighten out the combs."
Hal glanced around at the various people chatting and walking about. There was no way he would agree to stay there.
"No, never mind" he said, shaking his head "I'll go back to the flat."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. I'll be fine."
Hal turned to walk out of the shop.
"Hal?" Leo asked.
The vampire looked at him.
"I'll be back a little after sunrise" Leo said. Hal nodded, wondering what it would be like to spend an entire night by himself. With no voice of reason. He hoped it wouldn't mean he could fall off the wagon.
Hal exited the shop. He felt very anxious as soon as the door shut behind him. Having betrayed those of the same species as him meant his connections had become scarce. He was alone. But not completely. Hal knew that he had one more person he trusted. Even though she wasn't exactly still alive, per se.
Lady Mary had been bored out of her skull all the day, so she jumped to her feet as soon as she heard the doorbell ringing. But she didn't expect to find Hal on the other side of the door. He had made it a point to come visit every few years – almost at precisely the same date - but now it just seemed too soon. Mary straightened up both her dress and her pose before letting him in.
"Didn't expect to see you here quite so soon since your last visit, Lord Harry" she said, bowing.
"I know this must be a massive imposition on you - and I apologize - but I need your help."
Mary attempted to been her excitement hidden. "What exactly can I do for you?"
"Some vampires are planning to kill tonight, and I have to stop them."
"And these lads who you speak of, who are they?"
"I know you're more than aware of my nefarious past." Hal paused. "They used to be my friends."
Mary was jumping for joy inside. Vampires going on a rampage. People about to get killed. It all sounded way too much fun. She cleared her throat, and tried to look concerned.
"I know it's a horrible imposition, and that it's not becoming to ask something like this of a lady, but it is for a good cause."
"So you want us to rush in that building and stake these vampires?"
"Oh, no" Hal said, horrified, "I would never ask you to do something so brutish. No, I just need a few stakes. I know you still have plenty left over after..." Hal realized this wasn't the best time to bring up her death. Especially since he had caused it.
Mary's excitement suddenly deflated, but she kept up her pose and mannerisms. She wondered if she could somehow sneak after Hal once he left and try to get a peek of those vampires getting killed. Life had become just too dull for her.
"Are you sure I can't come along?" she asked, "I could try and scare them off, convince them the house is haunted."
"It is too dangerous" Hal said, shaking his head, "especially since they can see you."
Mary sighed inwardly and went to get the stakes. She wondered if it all wouldn't be easier to just come clean about her boring life and how much she had become to hate acting posh. But when she came back to hand him the stakes, Mary took a look at Hal's and spark in his eye that promised the safety of people of Essex from supernaturals. And all of this because she had helped him get back on the straight and narrow.
"I vastly appreciate this" Hal said.
Lady Mary nodded and then bowed again. Maybe acting like this around him every few years wasn't so bad after all.
Hal quickly walked through the streets of Southend, wondering if he'd make it on time to stop whatever William was planning to do. The sun had already set, which mean that Leo was officially out for the night. Hal had to deal with his own problem by himself. Or so he thought.
He was standing across the street from the house William had indicated, when he felt someone walk over. He turned around.
"What are you doing here?" he asked Pearl.
"Could ask you the same thing" she said, frowning. "I live in this neighborhood."
"You don't live in that house, in particular, do you?" he asked, angling his head.
"Like I could afford something like that with my paycheck? I'm a waitress in a crappy little café."
Good, Hal thought. At least she wouldn't need to be more involved than she already was.
"Say, how come you didn't come by the café this evening?" Pearl asked suddenly.
Hal frowned. "Me?"
"Not you, you daft man, you and Leo."
"He's busy with work" Hal said quickly.
"He's a barber. How exactly can he bring his work back home?"
"The truth is that he's got a family emergency."
"Oh. Well why didn't you say so in the first place?"
It seemed like every answer would just make her ask more questions. Hal rubbed his temples, trying to keep his head from exploding.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Pearl asked "You stalking someone?"
Hal sighed. "Look, I am trying to keep two bad men from inside that house over there from hurting some people and the reason I'm doing it is because I used to know these men. Now, do you have anymore questions or can I get on with it?"
Pearl stood speechless for a moment. Then she suddenly turned round and started walking.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"To call the police."
"You can't do that."
Pearl turned to face him. "A couple of men are about to hurt someone and you're telling me I can't call the police?"
"You can't tell a soul about this. It will only hurt Leo."
"What are you talking about?"
"Leo used to know these people as well, and if the police gets involved, they'll drag him into this."
"But he's innocent" Pearl said.
"Yes."
The woman seemed to be thinking, making a decision in her head. She then leaned over and picked up the purse she had dropped. "Alright. Where are these men?"
Hal felt like someone had dropped a piano on his head. "I'm sorry, what?"
"If these blokes are going to hurt someone, then you'll need someone to help you stop them."
Hal placed a hand in front of her. "You're not coming along."
"Of course I am."
"No, you're not. This is too dangerous."
"If this concerns Leo, then you'll bet your arse it concerns me too."
"Why are you being so stubborn about this, you've only met the man a few days ago."
She stuck her chin out at him. "I'm a very good judge of character."
Hal almost found himself caving and letting her in on the plan. But then his conscience reminded him that this was a normal woman who had no business finding out about supernaturals. Especially when she was so chatty and could easily let the entire city know in a matter of hours. He firmly shook his head at her.
"If you think you can keep me here then I must've hit your head much harder than I thought" Pearl said.
"Maybe you can help me" Hal said, starting to concoct a fake plan for her to hear. "You see, I need to get inside that house and talk to those people. I'll try and appeal to their common sense, and if that won't work, then they'll attempt to run away. That's where you come in."
Pearl nodded. "I'll make sure they understand what it means to be a proper citizen. If not, then I'll just hit them till they'll see nothing but stars."
"Of course" Hal said, unconvincing, "solid plan."
They had decided that Pearl would stay outside, keeping an eye on the streets, while Hal went inside. Despite the stakes he was carrying and even the centuries of experience he had, Hal was nervous. It was quite a while since he had had to fight someone of his own kind.
He thought back to Pearl and how determined she seemed, much more than him. Hal was glad that he had managed to keep her out of harm's way. He hoped Leo would be proud of that.
Hal carefully creeped around the house and settled for entering through the back door leading into the kitchen. His plan was simple. Just catch them by surprise. Some of the vampires would call it cowardly to simply stake someone in the back like that, but Hal knew he would be outnumbered. William wouldn't come alone. Hal took a deep breath and checked the stakes he kept in his coat pocket one more time. He walked inside.
The kitchen was empty and held no interest, so he moved on. The house seemed to be sunk in darkness, with only a few spare lights that hadn't been broken throwing shadows on the walls. Hal almost tripped into the living room, but managed to save himself at the last minute.
"Hal!" William's voice greeted him, and Hal had to take another look around the room to realize where he was.
"Where've you been?" William went on, "Hope you don't mind if we started without you."
Hal stared around the living room and tried to get his eyes to focus. The furniture had been toppled over in places. And on the sofa there was the body of a young woman. She had been completely drained. Hal froze in place. He was too late.
"She was pretty fidgety, so we couldn't wait for you. But don't worry, we saved you some of it" William added. He held out a simple bottle filled with liquid. The house was sunk in shadows, but Hal knew there was blood in there. He could smell it.
"This is kind of a disappointment" Henry pitched in from somewhere nearby, "we thought there would be more residents in here for sure."
William nodded. "Especially in this nice, big house. But it's never too late to try another place." He paused, noticing Hal hadn't moved or said anything since his arrival. "Are you alright?"
Hal just stared ahead, at the mess the two had created. The walls and floors were streaked with blood. But the bottle William was holding was the most mesmerizing object in the room.
William gave Henry a subtle signal, and the other vampire slowly moved around the room, so he could position himself behind Hal. Because what Hal hadn't realized was that the furniture had been toppled over to hide the fact that two table legs had been broken off. And made into stakes. Henry quietly moved himself into position, holding one of the stakes.
"Been a while since you've fed, hasn't it?" William asked.
Hal tried to snap out of it. "What do you mean?"
"I knew there was something off about you when we met earlier. I just thought it was the city air. I hate it, myself. But no, it wasn't that. You're just not feeding, are you, Hal?"
This was a trap, Hal thought, but why would William try to have him killed? Why now?
"Cutler didn't sent you to bring me back, did he?" Hal asked, cautious.
"This isn't about him" William said, "Cutler couldn't put together a proper plan even if hit him in that forehead of his. No, this is bigger than him. This is about power and who deserves to hold it."
Hal stood rooted to the spot and listened. Because, in the middle of William's speech, he could swear he heard the front door opening. He just hoped it hadn't been because of Pearl.
"You've held the power for such a long time, Hal" William said, "but there are those of us who think it isn't fair. So I've decided to take matters into my own hands."
Hal opened his mouth to say something, but found that he was speechless when the living room door burst open. Two werewolves rushed in from behind William, causing both vampires to stop targeting each other.
Hal took advantage of the chaos and he suddenly turned. He ended up hitting Henry in the nose with his elbow, and the young vampire dropped his stake. Hal picked it up quickly and used it to drive the stake through Henry's shoulder, pinning him to the wall behind him.
"I always hated people with the same name as me" Hal said before running off.
Behind him, Hal could hear Henry's screams, as the werewolves were closing in. He couldn't hear William at all, which meant he had successfully run off, leaving his ally behind.
Back outside, Hal spotted Pearl, who was looking very impatient.
"Well, what happened in there?" she asked.
Hal simply grabbed her elbow and started running off along with her. He was grateful that Pearl hadn't commented or asked anything after that and simply trusted him that things had went pear-shaped and they had to be out of there as fast as possible. He had no idea who the two werewolves were or why they were running free through the city like that. A stray thought told him that maybe it was Crawford. But things still didn't completely add up. Who could have told him that vampires would be there?
But what Hal couldn't understand above all else was why, in the midst of chaos, he had stopped to pick up the bottle of blood William had dropped.