I'm back at last, sorry for the long delay between chapters. Real life is intruding on my writing time and I hope things clear up soon. In the meantime, here is what happens when Mick and company go after the assassin vampire in Mexico. And Coraline might be receiving some bad news soon.
Chapter 18
The place was smoky and dark, and Mick was disgusted by the smells of humanity at its worst.
Glad Beth wasn't with him, he made his way through the drunken derelicts, scenting for a vampire. The only reason his wife stayed away was the vampire they were hunting would recognize her scent and they didn't want to spook him.
Earlier, they showed the drawing of the vamp around town with Guillermo translating and Mick distributing dollars. Their pursuit led from Los Angeles to Mexico, north of Puerto Vallarta to Las Juntas, then inland away from the bright lights of the tourist areas. They ended up at a shack that turned out to be a local bar. Why the vampire came here was unknown, but Mick didn't care. He would find this killer and make him talk.
Mick fingered the short stake he had in his pocket, slipping it into his sleeve. He knew once he scented the vamp, his quarry would also smell him and be on guard. Guillermo had gone in ahead and Mick could hear him speaking in Spanish with the customers.
Mick looked around the dark, hazy room and the stench overpowered him for a moment. Shaking his head, he sniffed again, catching the faint smell of vamp. Pulling out one of the pictures, he showed it around, while Guillermo assured the men they were not la policía, as evidenced by Mick's generous distribution of American money.
One drunken human smiled when he took the dollars, and said in broken English, "Yeah señor, I see him, okay."
Guillermo moved in and spoke rapidly, listening to responses from the man. Mick stood by quietly, picking up a few words but relying on his friend to get the information.
With a nod, Guillermo indicated they should leave the small building. Once outside, Guillermo moved them down into a dirty alley.
"What did you find out?"
"This vamp comes in occasionally and drinks tequila. He doesn't speak Spanish very well and gives some of the men extra money to get bar girls for him."
"Does he kill them?" Mick asked, frowning.
Guillermo shrugged. "Don't know. Sometimes they don't come back, but that's not unusual with the girls, so the men don't worry. Besides, the vamp pays well—and in American. The only reason the human said anything to me is that he's broke and wants our bribe to give to his wife."
Mick thought over this information and said, "Let's watch the place until dawn, then get back. If he doesn't show up, our scents should be gone by tomorrow night and we can come back then."
Nodding, Guillermo jumped up onto the roof of a nearby brick building, which was the only solid place in the neighborhood. Mick followed, settling down to survey the area.
Two days before, the group, including Mick, Beth, Guillermo and James had arrived on Josef's jet. It had been stocked with weapons, supplies and blood. The three human pilots were housed at a deluxe hotel in Puerto Vallarta, and took turns being on-call for the trip back.
The problem of finding a safe place for the vampires to stay in a strange city with no Cleaners was overcome by Josef's decision to buy a popular restaurant in the downtown district. He made sure the place had walk-in freezers and Wi-Fi. Overpaying the owners, he promised to keep them on as managers, but closed down the establishment for supposed repairs. The employees were given full pay for a month and told to clean out the freezers and take the food for their families.
When the vampires landed at the local airport, two rented SUVs were waiting for them. For the moment, they left the weapons on the jet and sent the human pilots to their hotel. They located the closed restaurant and set up their headquarters.
Beth was pleased the building seemed spotlessly clean and examined the freezers. They had moveable shelves which were quickly pulled out to leave room for the vampires to sleep. After the trip, they all got some rest in the freezers on the portable cots they brought with them.
When they woke, Mick checked his messages and had some info from Rider about where the assassin might have gone. They left to check out the area around the restaurant. James and Beth went back to the airport to gather the armaments they brought.
Beth set up the weapons in a closet in case any humans came into the building. James brought her a glass of blood and they were refreshing themselves when Mick and Guillermo returned.
Leaving Guillermo to lock the doors, he followed Beth's scent and found her in the main part of the restaurant, sitting at one of the tables, with both she and James hunched over their laptops.
Beth looked up and gave her husband a bright smile. "Hi, Mick. Any luck?"
He bent down and gave her a brushing kiss on her forehead. "I think so. G and I found a dive bar, and I scented a vamp. We showed the drawing around and some of the humans recognized him."
"Great," Beth exclaimed.
"They said he only shows up maybe once a week," Guillermo continued.
"So we need to stake out the place," Beth said.
Mick looked at her, knowing she wouldn't like what he was going to say. "Sweetheart, you can't be there. He knows your scent and it might tip him off."
"But he'll smell me on you and Guillermo," she replied, trying to convince him.
"That's why they need to take him out as soon as they can," James said.
Beth thought a moment, and then gave the men a sour look. "All right. I'll stay far enough away so he can't tell I'm there."
Nodding, Mick was conciliatory. "You and James can be nearby if we need backup."
James could see that Mick was trying to appease his wife. Glad that he was dating a Cleaner whom he didn't have to worry about, he said, "We can hang back with the heavy artillery if it's needed."
Placated, Beth said, "All right. But when we catch this guy, I get first crack at him."
Understood, Mick responded. He didn't know if he was proud of Beth's fierceness, or relieved she wouldn't be tempted to jump on the vamp prematurely.
Guillermo checked his watch and said, "Time to get some sleep while we can."
James nodded, shutting down the computers. Mick sent Josef a quick text updating his friend on their status while Beth went to the freezer. James and Guillermo had one, and Mick and Beth took the smaller frozen compartment.
Mick came in, shutting the metal door behind him. Beth turned to him with a raised eyebrow. The single light cast a yellow tinge in the room. "You take me to the most romantic places, Mr. St. John."
Giving her the half-smile he knew she loved, he swept her up into his arms. Nuzzling her neck, he said, "It doesn't matter where we are love, you are always the center of my life."
Beth melted into his arms for a moment before she took charge and bit him on the neck. He responded with a low growl and slammed her up against the metal wall of the freezer, pressing his body against her. He loved it when she got aggressive and the freezing room was the perfect place to let out his vampire.
With his eyes silvered and his fangs out, Mick ripped her tee shirt with his teeth, leaving Beth with the passing thought that she was glad she'd brought more clothes. Then all consciousness was swept away by Mick's assault on her bare skin and she responded by stripping him of his shirt and scraping his chest with her own fangs.
Quickly divesting themselves of the rest of their garments, Mick returned her to the icy wall and Beth, though enjoying the cold, was worried about what James and Guillermo might hear in the freezer next door.
"Mick, we're not at the loft. We have neighbors."
He paused in biting of her neck, the meaning of her words breaking through to his lust-filled mind.
With a wicked smile, he threw one of the blankets they brought to cover the floor. "If you don't want them to hear, you have to be quiet, sweetheart."
Beth's eyes changed and she growled softly. "I think you're the one who needs to be quiet, Mr. St. John," and she sank down in front of him with an impish grin.
Mick groaned and wondered if he would survive the night.
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The next evening after dark saw Guillermo and Mick staking out the cheap saloon from the roof of the next building. Beth and James were several blocks away, hidden in an alley. They had backpacks with extra weapons and silver loads. James had provided them with earbuds so they could communicate if they weren't too far apart. James had privately assured Mick he wouldn't let anything happen to Beth. Even though it went against his nature, James was content to stay in the background on this hunt knowing that Beth's safety was paramount to both Mick and Josef.
Guillermo gave Mick a sidelong glance. "You know, you told Beth not to come because this guy could scent her. But man, after last night he could smell her on you a mile away."
Mick scowled while Guillermo reigned in his laughter. He was actually a little envious of his friend's relationship with the beautiful blond. He worked with Beth on the blood donation centers and knew without a doubt she was forever committed to Mick.
Just then, they saw a figure keeping to the shadows approach the entrance to the ramshackle bar. He was too far for the vampires to scent.
"I think that might be him," Guillermo said, in the vampire undertone.
Mick nodded and jumped down off the roof, followed by his friend.
Knowing there was only one door in and out of the shack, Mick said, "Go in and speak Spanish to the humans. It will throw him off until he scents you. I'll wait out here."
Guillermo nodded and made his way to the entrance. Within a minute, the stranger burst out of the door, with Guillermo following close behind. Mick had his stake ready, but the assassin moved so quickly, Mick was unable to get a hold on him.
Guillermo streaked by and Mick took up the chase. They soon entered the jungle, which was so tightly grown that it was impossible to traverse on foot.
With the vamp's scent still strong, both Mick and Guillermo found themselves bogged down by the thick undergrowth. Without hesitation, they pulled themselves up and started to move into the upper tree limbs. I'm not going to tell Beth I'm running through the branches like Tarzan, Mick thought. Ignoring the scratches from the trees and using his sense of smell, he was sure they were gaining on the vampire. Guillermo had split off and was trying to out-flank the assassin.
Mick could hear James in his ear asking, what's going on? "Did you find him?"
Concentrating on the vamp's scent, Mick growled, "He's on the run into the jungle. It's too thick for any weapons here. We're up in the tree limbs."
"What can we do?" Beth asked, her voice sputtered through the radio.
"Stay by the car and be ready with the silver cuffs," Mick huffed as he dodged a scraping branch.
Even though it was pitch black and late at night, it was still hot and humid. Ignoring his discomfort, Mick continued through the blackness and Guillermo said, "I'm almost on him." Mick heard his friend grunt and then silence.
Damn, he swore to himself. He stopped stock still and scented the air. Off to the left he could smell his friend and he made his way through the branches at vampire speed, not caring about any abrasions. In a small space of open ground, he saw Guillermo with another vampire, locked in combat, fangs out and snarling loudly. He could smell blood and with a quick move, Mick pulled out a stake from his pocket and jumped down on the vamp, impaling him in the back, immobilizing him.
Carefully rolling the vampire off Guillermo, Mick offered him a hand up. "You okay?"
"He got me with a knife in my leg, but it's not silver," Guillermo growled. "I didn't have enough room to take him out." He gave the paralyzed vampire a kick. "Cabrón," he spat. "The bastard ruined my jeans."
Mick hid a smile and commented, "Charge some new ones to Josef." Mick pulled up the killer, throwing him over his shoulder, making sure the stake was in place. His friend was still healing, but able to slash through the jungle undergrowth to make their way back to civilization. With their sense of smell, they were able to find their way.
"Beth?"
"Yes Mick?" he heard her breathless answer.
"We've got him, sweetheart. We're on our way back."
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, but it's gonna take us a while to get through the undergrowth. You might have some blood ready, G took a knife cut."
"Is it serious?"
Guillermo answered, "Nah, don't worry, it's almost healed."
"All right. Do you know where you are?" James asked.
Mick stopped a moment and scented the air. He could smell humans off to his right. "I'm not sure where we'll get out of the trees. I'll let you know."
"Right," James said through the earpiece.
Both Mick and Guillermo concentrated on following the tenuous link they had on civilization, finally coming out on a dirt track. Since Mick was still carrying the staked vampire, his friend worked his phone and managed to get a GPS location.
"James?" Guillermo activated his earbud.
"Yes?"
"We're clear. I'm sending you our location. Get here as soon as you can."
"We're in the car and we'll find you."
Within fifteen minutes, Mick and Guillermo heard the sounds of an engine. They signaled James, and he stopped the SUV. James got out and opened the back of the vehicle and Mick loaded the assassin, making sure the stake was still keeping him paralyzed. Beth ran around the car, throwing herself at her husband.
"Mick," she breathed in his scent. "You're all right."
He chuckled, "Of course, sweetheart."
Now that her concern about Mick had been satisfied, she took in the scent of the other vampire. She glared at the back of the SUV and said, "Yes, that's one of the vamps that took us."
Both James and Guillermo stood near them. "Good," James grinned. "I'd hate to have to throw him back."
Mick smirked and got on his mobile phone to call the pilots. They needed to return to Los Angeles and get some answers.
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The elegant vampire looked out of the window with distaste. Even though it was raining, he hated being in Paris—a city of barbarians, according to his lights.
He was born the illegitimate son of the Duke of Cumberland in London in 1752, and was turned in his mid-twenties by a Russian vampire who frequented the English Court. As with many who had a less than stellar background, he was more rigid in his observance of protocol than the current Queen.
At present he called himself Mr. Kensington for business, but Lord Kensington among the vampires. He was a long-time member of the British Council and had been drafted (much to his disgust) to take over the Paris Council after the debacle with the so-called Comte du Plessis had left the French and European vampires in disarray.
It had been many months and no Elders from the European vampires were prepared to take over leadership. Sighing, Lord Kensington reasoned that was why the Comte was able to gain power in the first place. Kensington had been in charge of the Euro vamps for a while now and was thoroughly weary of it. Most of the vampires were from old families, with wealth and age behind them. Their egos would not allow them to work together. It was becoming clear that the European vampires would have to be governed.
As with any authority, physical back up was needed. Since most of the former Cleaners were implicated with the traitor vampire, Lord Kensington drew from the Cleaners all over the world to fill the positions left open. Most Cleaners from obscure areas were happy to move to Paris, and Kensington chose an experienced Cleaner from Russia to head the crew. Her second-in-command was German and between the two of them, he had no worries that discipline would be the order of the day.
Kensington sighed and picked up some paperwork on the desk. After reading for a few moments, he frowned and called for his assistant.
The vampire, who had been his valet, batman and aide for a century, entered the room. "Yes, my Lord?" he enquired, respectfully.
Kensington suppressed a smile. The two of them had been through wars, hunters and dealing with the modern world together but the servant would always maintain the deference of the 1700's.
"Samuel, I've come across a report that someone is selling some type of drug on the internet that affects vampires."
The manservant sniffed in response. "The Internet? For vampires, my lord? Surely not."
"It is clear if you know what to look for. I perused the website and wish to ascertain who is behind this. It may be harmless, but if it is not…."
"I understand, my Lord," Samuel bowed.
"Utilize all our resources. It may be harmless, but we have had too many problems to allow the humans to focus on us."
"It will be as you wish, My Lord. We have two dedicated information specialists in London who have the experience we need."
Kensington nodded, "Good, have them proceed immediately. I want to know who is responsible."
With a bow, Samuel left the room.
Lord Kensington got up and went to the refrigerator under the bar. He poured himself a blood and single malt and sat in the large chair facing the windows. The rain raced in tracks down the glass as the light dimmed outside. He was formulating a plan which would negate the need for a European Council in Paris, and center all the power in London. Since the vampires here were reluctant to take charge of them, it was up to those who could. And as soon as he found out who was selling strange supplements to their kind, he would take care of that also.
Standing, Kensington straightened his tie, and decided he would go to one of the more discrete vampire clubs. It was populated by expatriates from the British Empire. There would also be the delicious freshies and he could get a good meal. He had confidence Samuel would find out who was behind any problems and Kensington would take care of it.
TBC
It could be that Coraline isn't as safe as she thinks. What will Mick and Beth find when they get the killer back to LA?
Thanks for staying with the story; I will never leave a tale incomplete, even if it takes me a while to put out another chapter.