Hard Bargain

Cyprian and his vampires grabbed a few bags before we left his office. “Give her the keys to your rental car, and she will return it,” Cordelia said to Adrienne as she passed one of the human familiars.

“Papers are in the glove box,” she said as she handed it over.

We walked across to the garage, loading up in his black Cadillac SUV. The gas-guzzling tank was fifteen years old, built before Federal standards took away the size and power from later versions. The bench seats gave us plenty of room to get comfortable. “How are we going to coordinate this,” I asked them. “You need to make it look like a war, but not too big of one?”

“That’s the idea,” Cyprian said. “Your werewolves need to rescue the two wolves. Anyone else at the building is a casualty of war; they will either be vampires or familiars. Alexander would not trust anyone else to hold them.”

“You will run into Maximillian for sure, maybe one or two other junior vampires, based on the tapes Emily provided,” Cordelia said. “Hit it hard and get out of there, because Alexander and any remaining Coven members can be there in fifteen minutes. The alarm will go out as soon as they scent you, or the first door opens.”

It made sense. “How are you going to do this, Luna?”

“I’ll make sure the rescue gets done quickly and quietly. We’ll be long gone before reinforcements arrive.” She had that smile to her that said she had something up her sleeve. “Technology has improved a little since the last war. I’ll tell you later.”

She was no fun. “What am I supposed to do?”

“You are the distraction,” Cyprian said. “You need to meet with him in the morning at his office to ensure he is AT his office when we attack. If he is in the building with the captives, your attack might fail.” I could see that; having two or more powerful Vampires on Mantled blood would be a disaster, no matter how many wolves we throw at them. I spent the rest of the short drive thinking of what I would say, and then I stepped behind the hangar when we reached the airfield and made the call.

“Vicki, this is a surprise,” Alexander said as he answered.

“I need your help,” I said. “My Alpha and my parents can’t figure out who is behind the attacks, and I can’t live like this anymore!” I started crying as he calmed me down. “You have contacts that my family doesn’t. I need the hitman stopped, and the person behind it dead.”

“My help comes with a price,” he said.

“I understand that. I’m getting on a redeye to Boston right now, on my way to Woods Hole to film some additional segments for the shark documentary. I can stop by your office at eight in the morning if you can see me. We can discuss your price then,” I said.

“Eight will be fine. I look forward to seeing you, Vicki. I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you, too. Goodnight, Alexander.” I hung up and walked back to the others as they finished loading into the Learjet. “Eight o’clock at his office,” I told them as I sat down.

“Good,” Cyprian responded. “Now, take this, and I’ll explain what you need to do when you meet.” He handed me a small bundle inside a Ziplock bag. I looked at it for a second before realizing what it was. “Open the bag and let it drop in there, that will keep any scents but yours from attaching.” I did so, zipping up my purse after it was in the bottom of the bag.

It took almost an hour to finish the planning, and I slept for the rest of the flight.

Cyprian had an Uber waiting for me when we arrived, while Pack vehicles picked up everyone else. Adrienne and the vampires rode in the same car, with the wolves giving them a wide berth. The airport had a locker room with a shower, and I scrubbed the scent of vampire off my skin and hair before putting on clean clothes and tossing the old ones. They were gone when I came back out, so my ride took me downtown.

I arrived early enough to stop at a café for breakfast. I was thankful no one recognized me sleep-deprived, bruised, and starving. I had two breakfast croissants with egg, cheese, and sausage, plus a large orange juice. I wanted to get my fluids up for later.

I walked into his office building just before eight and took the elevator to his floor. Emily met me at the elevator. “Welcome back, Vicki. Master Alexander will see you now,” she said without emotion. She walked me to the door and opened it, remaining outside as she closed it.

“Vicki,” Alexander said as he came around his desk. “Sit, please.”

I did, and I thought about James nearly dying until I let out a sniffle. Alexander had a handkerchief out in an instant, and I used it to dry the tears from my eyes. “I know one thing you want from me, and I’ll give it, but not the same way. You weren’t honest with me about the effects of drinking from my neck, were you?”

He at least pretended to look contrite. “No, but I didn’t want to scare you off. I’m sure they told you the effects would wear off in time.”

“They did, but now you'll only get the bottled version.” I opened my purse and retrieved the kit. I used a disposable alcohol pad to prep my left arm, then removed the needle cap and inserted it into a vein. The blood bag I left on the floor, the tube turning red as it started to fill the bag.

His mood changed when he smelled the blood, and he forced himself to go back behind the desk. I smiled as I saw the effect it had on him. “Finding the people after you will not be easy,” he said. “I will have to devote time and money to the search, and I will need to call in favors. None of this is cheap.”

“I have money,” I said.

He waved his hand. “I will make more money off investments during this conversation than you are worth, Vicki. Money does not interest me. The things I am looking for are worth more than money.”

“My blood?”

He nodded. “Among other things. I will require much more than that bag, Vicki.”

“I will give you one like this every six weeks for a year,” I said. “I can’t give blood more often than that.”

“Two years,” he said. I gulped and nodded my assent. “I don’t want it delivered by FedEx, either. I will send my jet for you, and we will enjoy dinner and drinks together while you make your payment. I wish to enjoy your company as well as your blood, Vicki.”

“IF you find them and eliminate them,” I said. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. My Mom is going to be furious with me.”

“I’m not going to hurt you, Vicki. I like you, and I want to see what you become. The world is a better place with you in it.” He smiled at me as I looked down. The bag was nearly full. “Oh, one last thing,” he said.

“What?” Did he want my firstborn child?

“I would like you to sign this for me,” he said. He reached behind a bureau and pulled out a framed copy of the poster showing me on my hands and knees after saving the boy.

“Of course,” I said. I took a Sharpie out of my purse before he set the frame in my lap. My dear Alexander, thank you for everything. Your Sharkbabe, Vicki.” I put the pen away and handed him back the poster. “I think it’s full now,” I said as I lifted the blood bag. I used the clamp in the kit to close the tube, then pulled the needle out and held a pad over it.

“Let me,” Alexander said. He moved the pad aside and gently kissed the needle site. His saliva instantly healed it. “Exquisite,” he said as he licked the blood off his lips.

I wrapped the bag up and handed it to him. “I need to meet my driver and head down to the Cape,” I said. “Thank you, Alexander. I hope you call me with news soon.” I sent a text saying I was ready to leave but wasn’t to my driver. Instead, the message told the new Killington Pack Alpha that it was time for the assault to begin.

“I will put all my resources on this,” Alexander said. “Have a good trip.” I walked out just as his phone rang.

Emily greeted me at the reception area. “How did it go?”

“We’ll find out shortly.”

Her phone started to buzz; looking at it, she frowned. “It’s an emergency message to meet in the parking garage,” she said.

“What’s going on,” the receptionist asked as she grabbed her purse.

“I don’t know.” I heard a scream from inside the office, and the sound of furniture breaking. Emily rushed inside the office, freezing when she saw what was happening.

I was right behind her.

Alexander was on the floor, the blood bag I had just given him in his hand. Some of my blood covered his face and lips, but it was bubbling violently like an acidic reaction and blistering his skin. He screamed as he tried to wipe it off to no avail, the flesh coming with it. He started coughing violently, sending blackened chunks of flesh flying out of his mouth.

The receptionist fainted as she looked at her dying master.

“Help…. Me….”

Emily looked at me, her eyebrow rising before she nodded respectfully to me. Walking over to the wall, she took down a katana and drew the blade. “It’s your kill if you want it,” she said.

I did.

Alexander tried to raise his hand, but the sanguinarine in my blood was eating his body from the inside. The deadly toxin is derived from the bloodroot plant and was already inside the bag when I added my blood to it. “This ends with you,” I said.

He closed his eyes before the razor-sharp blade separated his head from his body.

I cleaned the blade on his five-thousand-dollar suit coat, then held it out to Emily. “No, it’s yours now,” she said. “It’s priceless, forged by Japanese Master Masamune around 1300. Consider it a down payment on your share of the antiques in this office.”

My phone dinged. “Retrieved”

I looked around, not wanting to stay. “I’ll trust you to divide these things equitably and ship my portion to me in Coronado, Master Emily,” I said. “My people have retrieved the captive werewolves, and we will all leave your territory now.”

“That would be best. I’d hate to have war break out.”

I barely held the laugh in. “Thank you for your trust in me, Emily. I won’t forget it.”

“You played your part perfectly,” she said. “I cannot be blamed for the actions of a werewolf, after all. It was foolish of the Master to have you in his office alone. With Alexander and Maximillian dead, I must step up and lead.”

“Goodbye, Master Emily.” I walked out of the room, leaving her with the body. I saw a light blanket over the back of an antique chair in the reception area; I wrapped the Japanese sword in it. I didn’t need to attract the attention of the police or the Uber driver.

Twenty minutes later, I was out of vampire territory. My face broke into a wide smile.

I’d done it.