Vampire Sunrise

The Blood Distillery

The security guy without a gun on me did as I asked and opened the basement door. My wolf baggage leaked all over the floor as I entered, but I didn't care. A human, most likely, Chester was on the other side of the closed door to my right. I smelled the blood alcohol reeking from the cracks at the top and bottom of the door.

I also heard three other distinct heartbeats. Two of them seemed to have a human rhythm; the other was much more faint and slow. The abnormal heartbeat had roughly half as many beats with much less resistance. It was a slow wet flutter.

The other human-like heartbeat was from a female, making her way closer but not yet in view. She had on flowery perfume and jingling jewelry. The most characteristic heartbeat was much farther northeast of where I was and stationary.

Through a cracked closet door to my left, I saw tactical gear and coats. This foyer had a ceiling of about ten feet high and decorated with the expected Victorian-style motif that consisted of classic black and white photos with antique furniture and fluffy handcrafted rugs. The basement had a musty smell, probably because it was hard to keep water out of lower levels in New Orleans.

Just ahead, I saw a larger reception-type room adorned with two stark white couches and a chair, along with walls covered in elaborate red wallpaper. A chandelier hung in the middle of the room, designating its formality. In a previous life, this basement could have been a dentist's office or taxidermy.

"Want me to put him over there?" I asked the now pale man in fatigues that opened the basement door. He nodded, and I walked forward, depositing the raggedly breathing half-werewolf body on a stark white couch. Marcus had already started changing back to his former shape. I guessed shifting would help him heal.

A beautiful blond entered the room. She had milky white skin and yellow eyes with flowing blond hair down to her mid-back. Her eyes were the same color as Marcus's before the shift, a dull yellow that didn't glow. She was about my height and build, except normal and not altered as I was. She certainly could pass for a human where I never could again.

She stood still for a few seconds without speaking, observing the room. After assessing the situation, the well-dressed woman said, "Shoot her in the head!"

She didn't wolf out as I expected; instead, her eyes started to water. She hurried over to Marcus; her jewelry jingled with every step. She caressed his half-beast face and then put her ear on his chest listened to his heart as I thought a lover would. She looked up from Marcus and over at me coldly.

"Kill her now," she commanded.

"Victoria, I don't think we can help you with that. Not that we are disobeying you, we just can't because she's not human." The man that opened the door for me said.

"Hello, Sir Chester," I said without turning around. I guessed Chester came out of his room to see what was going on.

"Madam Alice, it is quite unexpected to see you here on this now auspicious evening. Christina is resting, but I can get you a cup of tea if the hour is not too late," Chester said.

Victoria's eyes narrowed, "How in the hell do you know this woman, Chester?"

Chester replied, "Alice is a friend and frequent passerby who enjoys the sound of Christina almost daily."

"So, you brought her here to kill us?"

I interrupted and said, "Victoria, Chester had no idea I followed him. What he said is true. I love listening to him play, but I smelled something more than alcohol earlier today when he took a swig from his flask. I smelled blood and assumed Chester got mixed up in something that could hurt him. I have no idea why I took an interest in finding out more, but here we are, and that's the truth."