Midnight Shadow

Chapter 13 - Hide and Seek

Memphis itself wasn't actually big. I'd lived in really large cities and I've lived in cities that were very high population. Memphis was in the middle. It wasn't huge but it wasn't town sized either.  Midtown Memphis, or the historical district, is just east of downtown. It was an interesting place. The feel of the neighborhood changes from street to street. Some of them look like quaint little lanes that a human would be totally comfortable walking down at midnight and a street over would have you bolting your doors at nine pm.

There is a lot of history here. Well manicured lawns stretch out in front of mid century houses that look like they should be in magazines are often flanked by homes that appear to be ready for the next police raid. It isn't large but many people live there. Long time residents mingle with college students; young families mingle with the eternally trendy. It's also dark enough in many places to be very appealing for vampires, wolves, shades and the other creatures making Memphis their home. It's the perfect stepping stone to any other part of the city.

I walked through the Cooper-Young district of Midtown eying the crowds of people assembled as the bar scene dwindled for the night. Every where small packs of friends migrated from one club to the next talking loudly and having a good time, yelling across the street to one another, laughing, and making plans. It was definitely the holiday season. Swimming in a river of carefree joy and mild inebriation, I sifted through the crowd searching for the tell tale signs of her presence. Even now on the crowded sidewalks I knew if she'd been here I would know immediately. I was so attuned to her now it wouldn't be hard at all. I scanned through the crowds tuning out the raucous laughter and hazy emotions that frequented this time of night when I saw the slightest flicker of silver across the street to my right.

Got you!  I thought to myself.... It had been too easy! Cars moved up and down Cooper Ave as I searched across the street. I heard her giggle in my head before I actually saw her tucked in between buildings out of the light.

You didn't think it would be that easy did you? She giggled in to my mind again. Her mood dominated my senses as she looked at me again with a laugh. I was in the middle of a crowd of people, helpless, having to move at normal speed and she knew it. No, it wasn't over... it was just beginning. With a sly wink, she blew me a kiss and darted into the darkness. I crossed the street quickly trying to track her but she was too quick. I could only tell she'd moved west, toward downtown.

I crept further down the alley and heard a couple of voices around the corner. "You see that little red head a minute ago?" slurred a drunken voice.

"Oh yeah, hot little number huh? Wouldn't mind meeting her back here again" a voice responded. It took every bit of control I had to silence my growl. It was easy to forget that humans could have evil intentions. Especially, drunken humans. I needed to go before I heard anything more. Scaring two humans in the middle of a dark alley at night wouldn't do me any good. With a quick look around I made certain there was no one in sight and bolted west through the darkness.

It took only moments to get downtown from here, even being careful of humans and traffic cameras. Once again, I walked down Union Ave listening to the music and crowds two blocks down on Beale street. The party may be dwindling in midtown but there was no such let down here in the heart of the city. It was 1:30am but every light at street level was still burning bright. Buildings, restaurants, and bars all moving as if it was the middle of the afternoon. It would be harder to move quickly but the same was true for her. Excitement coursed through me but not from the surrounding crowds, it was my own. I rarely got to use all my senses in a place like this. It was like hunting without the impending pain. I felt, excited and liberated. The fact that I was hunting the woman I most wanted to be with in the world certainly helped.