Vampire Cadet (4 page)

After parking the jeep, she strode into the warehouse and tossed the keys on the desk. “What is it?”

“He used one of the cell phones twice today.”

Excitement rippled through her. “Did you track him?”

“I managed to get his general location but the duration of the call was too short for me to get him pinned down exactly to one particular place.”

“Damn, Bryce! That doesn’t help us much.”

He remained cool. “Actually, it does. Look here.” He put a map on the desk and beckoned her to take a closer look. “This is the first place where the call originated from.”

She curled her upper lip as she looked at the map. “That’s in the middle of a forest, for Christ’s sake. What’s he doing there? Taking a bloody walk?”

“Looks like it. Or maybe he has made his base camp there. These forests are extensive. No one really goes there, apart from hikers who stick to the hiking paths. Living there is actually a brilliant idea because he wouldn’t have to worry about nosy neighbors. It’s a perfect place to assemble a bomb.”

She chewed on her bottom lip as she considered his theory. It made sense. “What about the second call?”

“Came from the same area. About here. That’s ten kilometers apart, roughly.”

“Right! But it’s the same forest so maybe he does have a base there.” She considered her options. If she wanted to canvass an area of that size, she would need an army. Not only did she not have such resources at her disposal but also even if she did, it would be impossible to cover the entire forest before he managed to escape. If he had indeed made his camp there, it was a brilliant move because he could make a quick getaway from many directions if he as much as got a hint that there was trouble coming his way. “Did you record his conversations?”

“Yes. I’ll play it back for you.” He hit a button on his computer keyboard. The screen came to life and she heard Ra’ad voice coming from the speakers. She trembled with excitement at the sound. She was so close to catching him, and yet, he always managed to elude her.

The calls were indeed short. All he said was, “I’ll be at the appointed place tonight. Don’t be late and bring the merchandise.”

Bryce played the other conversation.

“Did you find it?” said Ra’ad.

The person on the other end said, “No. It’s not available in the market.”

“I’ll find another source,” said Ra'ad before hanging up.

Shannon ran her fingers on her jaw. “Not much to go on.”

“It’s good to know that he is still searching for all the parts. The bomb is not finished as yet, so we have time yet. I’m also tracking the people he talked to. Maybe we could find a new lead there.”

So much for good news. “Right.” She sighed.” She had hoped for better, but Bryce had given her more than all her assistants put together so that was something to be grateful for. It wasn’t his fault that Ra’ad was extremely elusive and clever. He didn’t leave any gaps which they could take advantage of. “You’ve done a good job. Let’s hope he calls again. I don’t think we can go blindly into the forest and hope to catch him napping under the shade of a tree.”

  “No, indeed we can’t,” he said in a voice that contained a tone she couldn’t identify.

She glanced at Bryce and was surprised to find him staring at her.  “What?”

“Did you notice the time lag between the two calls?” He tapped his pen on another paper which showed a graph.

Shannon cocked her head. “Two minutes apart. So what?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t it humanly impossible to be in two different places that are ten kilometers apart within a time span of a hundred and twenty seconds?”

“So what are you saying? One of them wasn’t him.”

“No. That was him. I’ve matched the two voice patterns against the recording of his voice that was in army’s database. There is no doubt that it was him.”

“So maybe he used a vehicle?”

“In that forest? And which vehicle takes that less a time. He was traveling as fast a car on a high speed lane.”

She crossed her arms. “What are you suggesting? Was he on a helicopter?”

“He was on the ground, running.”

“Have you lost your mind, Bryce?” Shannon moved away to pace the room. “Is the stress of the job finally getting to you? Do you need a break?” She kept her tone deliberately mocking to throw him off that trail, but he was like a blood hound that had smelled his prey.

Bryce stood. “There is only explanation for his unnatural speed.”

“What? That he is superman?” she said with a sardonic lilt to her voice.

Bryce pressed another button on his computer and a video began to play. “This is a recording of him taken two years ago at Iraq’s airport. See here.” He put his finger on Ra’ad as he strode out of the terminal. “Look at him closely. He is casting no shadow.” Bryce pressed another button and the screen froze at that particular point.

Anxious as she was by his observations, Shannon tried to gloss over the facts. “It’s probably a trick of the light. In any case, how is that relevant to anything? Don’t waste your time on matters that won’t help us catch him.” She turned dismissively. “When you find something useful, call me. I’m going out again.”

“Wait, Shannon.” There was a note of authority in his voice that hadn’t been there before. “Look at Ra’ad here and then see this image that was taken five years ago.” With another click on the keyboard, he brought out another picture. “He hasn’t aged at all. I bet if I see his picture from ten years ago, I would find him looking the same.”

“Alright. So he’s got good skin or an amazing plastic surgeon.”

“I don’t think that is the case. Did you hear about some strange incidences about the first gulf war in which Ra’ad participated as an Iraqi soldier? A few of our men were found dead, drained of all blood, in the desert. I’ve got copies of the reports.”

Shannon resisted the urge to gnash her teeth. She didn’t like where this was going. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I’ll tell. Have you ever heard of a particular kind of vampire called Al’Feratu? It’s said these vampires are able to walk in the sun but they never cast shadows.”

Shannon raised an eyebrow. “Have you lost your mind, Bryce? Vampires? I didn’t hire you to write fairy tales.” She walked away. Damn it! He was too smart for his own good.

As she reached the door, he called her. “Shannon! I find it equally puzzling to note that you also don’t cast any shadows in the sun.” She stopped and turned to face him. “Not only are you impossibly beautiful, I also haven’t seen you eat or drink anything since I came here. Are you a vampire, Shannon?”

It would have taken no more than a second to reach him, clutch his neck, and break it with her powerful fingers. She’d protected her secret for so long and he’d unraveled it within days. She really should kill him before he exposed her to anyone. But Shannon hadn’t resorted to unnecessary violence in the past fifty years. Just because she was stronger than every other person she met didn’t mean she wanted to take advantage of that situation. Her moral compass, despite being a vampire, was very strong.

“I am,” she admitted. He was quite persistent and it was clear that nothing would satisfy him until she told him the truth. “I would request you to please not tell this to anyone. It’s important for my survival. If people knew about it, I would have to disappear and start all over again in a new place under another identity.” 

He considered her for a long time, his eyes boring into hers. “I promise not to tell anyone. You could have killed me for finding out the truth. Why didn’t you?”

“Killing isn’t an easy option for me, Bryce. I don’t like taking human lives at the blink of an eye.” She walked back towards him, pleased that he seemed to be reacting well to her revelation. “If you were scared that I might kill you, why did you confront me with the truth?”

“I took a chance.” He shrugged. “Did you know that Ra’ad was a vampire?”

“No, not until you showed me the time lapse between the two phone calls.” She admitted. How could she have missed such an obvious truth? No wonder it had been nearly impossible for anyone to catch him. He’d powers at his disposal that normal people couldn’t even dream about.

“Shannon, you know how I told you that I am always the butt of a joke among my colleagues? Now, it seems you can offer me a solution.” He stood. “Can you turn me so that I could also become strong and powerful like you?”

Shannon couldn’t believe what he was saying. Was he serious? “You want to become a vampire? An undead? Drinker of blood?”

“Yes,” he nodded emphatically. “I want it more than anything else I have ever wanted in my life.”

“You might think that eternal life is a blessing, but it’s a curse. I’m five hundred and twenty-four years old, and believe me, there are very few things that interest me in the world. It’s a life of eternal tedium.”

“I don’t care. It’s my choice, and I want it.”

“It’s not your choice.” She was annoyed at his cavalier attitude. “I refuse to do it.”

“Do you know how hard it is to know that you’re the only one among your friends who can’t run for miles, or lift heavy weights, or even shoot straight? This life is a curse. And you’re my only hope. Give me the powers I so desire, please Shannon. I beg you.”

She wiped a hand across her brow. How could she not help him? “If it is strength you are after…I’ve a more unusual solution.”

“What?”

“I don’t know if you will be able to do it. It’s not easy. You will have to become my donor while we have sex. I will feed on you while our senses are fully exchanged and it will transfer some of my powers into you.”

He blinked rapidly as if he couldn’t quite believe she had said it. “You’ll feed on me while we…have sex?”

“Yes.” Shannon grinned. “Are you up for the task, Bryce?”

He ripped open his shirt and raised his leg to tug off his shoe. “I’m always up for sex with you, Shannon. That’s like my wildest fantasy coming true.”

“Now?” She was surprised by his enthusiasm. “Don’t you want to take some time off to think about it? It could be dangerous. If I was to lose control and drain you…”

“I trust you. There is nothing to think about. I get to feel your naked body in my arms and attain new powers. It’s like a dream come true.”

Shannon opened the buttons of her shirt. She dropped it to the ground. “Come on then.” With a leap, she went to the next room. When he came into the hall, she was already naked and on the bed. Although Shannon had strict personal standards about feeding on other human beings, Bryce’s offer to allow him to feed on him made her salivate with desire. It had been too long since she drank human blood.

It would be absolutely delightful to taste it again, but she would have to be careful that she didn’t drain him fully. She didn’t want his death on her conscience. As Bryce took off his clothes, Shannon turned to watch him. Her eyebrows rose as she saw the size of his dick. His shaft was big, wide, and already erect.

“This might actually be more interesting than I thought,” she muttered as he jumped on the bed, straddling her, his knees on both sides of her legs.

His hands slid up her ribcage to her smooth, creamy breasts. His fingers brushed across her nipples as he gazed down at her in admiration. “You’re the most beautiful creature that I ever saw.”

She put her hands on his thighs, enjoying the way his muscles flexed under her touch. “Show me how much you want me, Bryce?”

His head dipped and he took her nipple in his mouth, sucking the soft bud until it became stiff and aroused. More than the pleasure, it was the scent and promise of his blood that filled her with hot need. She could smell it as it ran through his veins and pumped his heart. Its tantalizing aroma made her mouth water. Bright coils of desperate need undulated in her body. Shannon sucked in a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She needed him to be gripped in throes of passion while she fed on him.

While he caressed her nipple with his tongue, his other hand squeezed her breast. As his fingers dug into her flesh, the dual sword of pain and pleasure ripped through every cell and nerve. His hard shaft pressed against her stomach, the tip of it already wet with his need. When he lifted his head, Shannon gripped his hips and flipped him over.

Her center was already moistened and warm, ready to take him in. With one sharp thrust, she impaled herself on his cock. He moaned loudly as she took him deep inside her until his pelvic ground against hers. Bending down, Shannon rubbed her lips against his throat where his pulse beat frantically. Her nostrils flared at the bouquet of scents that swept through her; the warmth of the blood, the saltiness of his skin. Her breath hitched in her throat as she fought to maintain control.

Eager to drive him over the lip of insanity, Shannon began to move her hips. Bryce groaned and his eyes closed as he matched her rhythm. His nails dug into her back, urging her to move harder, faster. Waves of intense desire rippled through her belly, tugging at her to take the first bite. Shannon licked his throat and the thirst was like a burn inside her. She trailed a line of kisses down his shoulder and took his skin between her teeth. As she tugged, a few drops of blood oozed out. Bryce moaned. She sighed with pleasure and licked the precious drops with the tip of her tongue, enjoying the metallic, rustic taste of it.