Eternal Service (18 page)

“What about a gunshot?” she asked.

“No. Bullets are either through–and–throughs or their bodies will expel any logged bullet. They have to bleed out in order to die. That’s why it usually takes a vampire to kill a vampire. Humans, as well as half–breeds, don’t have the strength to stake a vampire and ensure the stake remains in place until the last drop of blood spills out.”

Alex’s eyebrow furrowed as she sat for a moment deep in thought. “A captured vampire, subdued somehow, would be vulnerable enough for a human, or half–breed to kill.”

Dixon nodded. “True. If you can chain them in silver you would have a chance, especially since silver burns their flesh. But first you’d have to capture them.”

Thinking back to an earlier conversation, Alex blurted out, “Or fire.”

“What?”

“Fire can kill them as well,” Alex explained.

“Yes,” he nodded. “But we don’t issue you a flamethrower. It’s too dangerous of a weapon if civilians are nearby.” Dixon pointed to the remaining artifact on the table. “The only alternative is to paralyze them with this.” He held up a syringe. “A tranquilizer capable of taking down six charging rhinos. In theory, this shot should paralyze vampires.” As Alex reached for the syringe Dixon pulled it away. “This stuff will most likely kill you instantly if you accidentally inject yourself. If you use it against a vampire, it will paralyze them long enough to stake them to the point of their death. Although, it has been untried.”

Instinctively Alex pulled her hand back from the syringe of death and watched as Dixon put the syringe away.

The sobriety of the situation sunk in. She handed the dagger back to Dixon. “Do you think all of this is necessary?”

He snapped the box shut. “Nope. Not one bit. My dagger and original syringe have sat in my desk drawer for the last three decades. I never carry them. Well, after the first week I never carried them. Plus I was always afraid that, in the heat of battle, I could accidentally inject the tranquilizer into one of the team members mistaking it for a syringe of blood. I’m only required to give these items to you and prepare you in case you need to use them.”

Alex held no qualms about taking a life in combat. And, even though she had only just met Raymond, she didn’t like the idea of causing his death, even in the worst of circumstances. “I think I’ll be fine. We can leave the box in my desk here at work then.”

“That will be off the record. I’m just required to give the weapons to you.” He handed her the box. “I have a box, the President, Vice President, Secretary of State, Director of Homeland Security, and now you, all have similar boxes. The President also has a dozen or so letter openers in his office. It isn’t because he gets much snail mail. They are daggers hidden in plain sight, but he also agrees there is no danger from the vampires. He gets along just fine with the team.” He then added, “Remember, the Colony members cannot know about this talk.”

“Of course.”

“Now let’s drop this box off at your new desk and drive over to requisitions to get your remaining weapons.”

Alex spent the morning with federal security officials. Retina scans were performed, new picture IDs made, and access codes and files were given to her. Weapons, which included firearms, daggers, and a silver entwined whip, were issued. Now with full security clearance, she reviewed all of the computer files the government held on each member of the Colony as well as operational procedures surrounding them, the mansion in which they lived, and other important factors.

She thought it clever that the Colony had been classified as a private military hospital. She read information about blood deliveries and requisition forms for blood. The vampires lived at Fang Manor for free since it was government owned. Alex chuckled at the nickname as she read through the information. Another file had the security information about the mansion itself, which was very impressive. The place contained a mini-command center with all the bells and whistles, so many in fact that Alex wasn’t sure if NASA was as well equipped. The building stood three stories in height (plus a basement) and it also had considerable land acreage.

Alex scanned over another set of files and discovered an entire section on blood and sexual activity. The information noted an increased sexual appetite in the vampires immediately following a feeding of blood. Alex wondered if that was why Raymond shied away from eating in front of her. He had given mixed signals for days and she still didn’t know if he was interested in her or not. The files didn’t answer her questions; they just perplexed her more. And that angered her, so she helped herself to a glass of wine.

She glanced at the folders and opened the ones for each individual vampire. Over a dozen files existed for each member. She pulled up Raymond’s folder first and studied the files. He was born in 1801 … full transition done by 1828 … oldest vampire member of the Colony and is the highest ranking senior member … parents died in a fire … single parent to son Sterling, also a vampire … .

Alex jumped ahead and glanced through Sterling’s folder for his age. He was born in 1821. So much for Raymond being widowed recently, she thought. She continued reading Raymond’s file. “‘… older brother to Sulie … fought in the Civil War … founding member of the Colony … vampire sire to Mason Warner.’” So she was right. He had turned someone. Alex wondered why Raymond kept that information a secret. Surely he knew it would be in the files.

A list of aliases for Raymond existed. He owned several different passports and identities, military, CIA, FBI … at least a dozen different persona were current in the system. A file contained several defunct aliases which dated back over more than a hundred years. The man could literally disappear in a crowd with all his aliases and compelling ability. Of course, that was the idea.

There was no mention of a current wife, fiance, or girlfriend listed for Raymond. At least the files didn’t say he had one. Alex sighed. She needed to put Raymond in the do not touch category and get on with her assignment.

She noticed not a single picture of Raymond existed in the file except of the images on the IDs themselves. In some of the pictures he appeared as a young man, in others he was quite a bit older. No pictures existed on any IDs before digital photo technology came along. Instead of a picture of Raymond, there was another man’s image on those IDs. The compelling ability must prove very helpful in convincing someone the picture was actually who it should be of. The men on the IDs were nowhere near as good looking as Raymond, but then what man would be? He pushed every sexual button Alex had. Sex appeal poured from him like water from a faucet. Probably every woman he met had a similar reaction to him.

She got herself another glass of wine and focused her attention on the files. She discovered that Raymond’s work included security with the Departments of the Interior, Treasury, Commerce … the list went on and included FBI, CIA, even the IRS. Interesting. He functioned as a Federal Jack of all trades. Alex found a file sighting a list of accommodations and awards for the vampire as well.

Impressive. He’d fought in three American wars, took bullets while protecting President Benjamin Harrison, President Calvin Coolidge, and President Ford. What could this man not do?

Alex froze reading the next file of information. It referred to special abilities. Her expectations did not include any of the vampires having super powers. God. Extra sexy and gorgeous wasn’t enough? Could the man fly?

She opened the file and read, “‘… reading of mental patterns in humans tested at a distance of 40 feet … contact not needed to read humans, physical contact for reading vampires required … Thought patterns easily read without the need of touch on some humans … Testing of mental projection not substantiated except within his sister Sulie … can compel humans. Can compel vampires if physically in contact with them …’” The file went on and on.

She gasped. She had held his hand! Not just once but several times. Good Lord, she thought some pretty erotic things of him last night. She read the special abilities again. Did she read that right? “Does not have to be in physical contact to read mental patterns in humans.” All she had to be was in the room with him and he might be able to read her mind.

She remembered back to last night as she reclined in her chair. She seduced him over and over in her mind, especially when Raymond looked at her with those dark black eyes. He seemed on board with showing her his eyes, but, damn, could that have just been a reaction to the blood he consumed? Was he reading her mind and thinking she’d be easy to get into bed? Or was he interested in her? Could he have projected those thoughts into her head? Probably not.

She finished her wine, and considered pouring herself another glass but thought it best not to do so. She should remain level headed for her evening. Yes, that would be for the best. Alex knew her threshold was high in terms of alcohol, but didn’t want to push the her limits.

Scanning another page of the file, she continued reading about Raymond’s mind reading ability. She had spent the entire night lusting after a vampire, and if that wasn’t bad enough, he knew it. What was worse, he wasn’t even interested! Her face flushed with embarrassment. She lusted for him and as far as she could tell, he may have just been being polite. Damn it.

She then ran across the “No Bite” waiver. “Vampires/Immortals are restricted in biting humans. … Vampires are allowed to bite humans for medicinal purposes when their lives are in jeopardy … or when engaged in consensual sexual activity …” Signed Raymond Metcalf. She guessed there were similar files for all the other members of the Colony.

Alex shook her head. When she asked to see Raymond feed last night, he specifically mentioned that they feed by syringes. If she had offered him her vein, which she was sorely tempted to do, would that be a prelude to sex? OK, her mind did go there and it wanted to camp out … but this paper suggested that he could only bite her if he was dying or engaged in sex.

In the end, it didn’t matter anyway. He injected the syringe into his arm and kept his distance from her. But if Sulie hadn’t called about an emergency, Raymond might have ended up in her bed. That’s where she had wanted the evening to end.

Now that she gave it some thought, she didn’t remember the phone ringing. She also didn’t remember Raymond talking with Sulie over the phone. Her suspicions of being compelled were confirmed when a slight headache formed. She rubbed her temple. Yup. It was the same feeling as she had before. Maybe Raymond wanted to leave last night before the festivities began. He wanted an out for the evening and gave himself one. And, of course, she had bought it hook, line and sinker.

Plucking petals from a flower with the old “he loves me, he loves me not” was probably a better signal of how Raymond felt than the bits and pieces she was deciphering. The headache worsened and she helped herself to some more wine to wash down some Advil.

She flipped through the other folders and saw similar documents for each member of the Colony. She topped off her wineglass and started reading hours of information on her new team members. She reviewed their super power files so she wouldn’t be caught off guard anymore.

*****

Time was not on Alex’s side. She was running late and needed to look presentable when Raymond picked her up tonight. She was meeting the rest of the team. She wasn’t a vain woman, but she wanted to make a good first impression. She felt like she already knew them all to a certain extent because of the files she had read, but they didn’t know her one bit. Showing up looking like death warmed over was not the look she wanted.

She chuckled as she thought about the expression death warmed over. Just a short while ago, she thought Raymond was dead and soulless. Nope. Alive and patriotic seemed a better description. Standing from her desk, she felt dizzy. She took several deep breaths and made as straight of a line to the shower as she could.

After a quick shower, she walked into her closet. What to wear, what to wear? Jeans and button down? A dress? How formal is this going to be? Honestly, what do you wear when you know you’re going to meet a group of immortals? Panicking, she picked up the phone and called Dixon.

She dialed his number correctly on the second attempt.

“What should I wear tonight?” she asked when he picked up.

“Just be yourself. Be comfortable. Tonight won’t be dressy.” After a moment of silence, he added, “It’s after hours … think of it as a cocktail party where you will meet the team.”

She knew better than to ask a man. “OK. That doesn’t help Dixon. I’ll see you there later. Bye.”

She looked through her closet. Nothing felt right, especially as she remembered what Sulie had worn earlier. She didn’t want to be too fancy, but she didn’t want to look dressed down either. In fact, after Raymond had probably read her lustful thoughts the other night, and didn’t react to them, she decided to put on a dress that didn’t look too formal, but looked hot enough so Raymond would know what he was missing. The second part of her plan forbid her to think of anything sexy about him all night. She wasn’t sure that was even possible, but she certainly wouldn’t want to promote embarrassing thoughts tonight.

She was applying bright red lipstick when Raymond knocked on her door. “Don’t think sexy thoughts, don’t think sexy thoughts,” she reminded herself. “Be aloof and disconnected … and keep him drooling over your body in this dress,” she mentally scolded.