~*~*~
I crept back into the office. I wasn't interested in seeing anyone. I caught a glimpse of myself in my reflection on the door and I looked frazzled. My face was white and when I stopped moving my hands shook slightly. My coworkers would know I was upset and would ask questions if they saw me. I didn't want to answer anything.
Though there was one thing I had to do. I refused to be locked into the role of case worker for the creepy twins.
Sean was in his office poring over something. He had his hands buried into his hair, looking like he was ready to rip it out. I knocked on the open door to make sure I wasn't disrupting him too much by entering.
“You know what sucks?” he said by way of greeting, not looking up. “Pack boundaries. Werewolves in packs are always furious at other pack werewolves for crossing boundary lines without permission. And everyone is mad at loners for being able to move freely.” He held up some of the papers before him, finally making eye contact. He shook his paperwork at me like I could do anything about it. “There's like, eighty complaints here. Before the BSB we just used to beat the crap out of the offender. Now, as their own personal form of punishment for the rules the BSB lay down, werewolves are filing complaints about everything!”
He paused his tirade long enough to take a breath. He dropped the papers back onto his desk, folding his hands before him. “Come in, sit down, the fit has passed.”
I sauntered in and sunk into the chair across from him. The chair, unlike my folding chairs, was padded in the seat and back, with high arm rests. My jeans scraped against the faux leather, making an uncomfortable squeaky noise. I fidgeted trying to get situated.
I looked down to get an idea of what he worked on. The top complaint accused one B. Hernandez of the Niles Pack of walking into a grocery store located in the vicinity of the Lake County Pack. I had a headache just looking at it.
“You look like...” I figured he wanted to say “shit” but he settled for “Really tired.” He smiled softly.
“I'd like to be taken off the Klein siblings.”
He raised an eyebrow. Any trace of good humor vanished from his face. “That doesn't sound like you.”
“We just didn't click. We had some major personality differences.” I could see it all over Sean's face. He wasn't buying it.
I liked people. And people liked me. I had never had an issue with any of my coworkers or clients. Angie was the only one and she was just ornery and it wasn't because of me. Sean knew this. My other office mates knew this.
“Personality differences,” he repeated, trying to bring sense to the words. They were bouncing around in his mind, looking for a foothold. “Well, I guess you could take the Patel couple from Brent, if he is willing to pass off his clients like that. He’s only had one meeting with them, so it’s not like he’s attached. We'll discuss it in our daily meeting tomorrow.” He stopped talking.
He waited for me to elaborate. I had no intention of doing so. I gave him a half smile, trying to erase the worry from my face.
“Tomorrow then,” he said again.
I thanked him as I left. Brent would trade with me. Brent was a football player, all shoulders and no neck. He'd been in the army for five years. He took no crap from anyone. He could withstand Jessica and Melvin.
I walked back to my office feeling slightly better. This would all be sorted out tomorrow. I opened the door to my office and nearly jumped out of my skin.
Jessica sat on my desk, rifling through some files. I had been warned to keep my drawers locked, but I figured while I was in the building they were safe. It was physically impossible for me to be more than fifty feet away at any given time.
“Excuse you!” My unease from Jessica's earlier grip momentarily lost. I was offended. She had the gall to look through the personal files of my clients. I crossed the room in two steps and pulled the files from her. The corner she held ripped in the process. I looked down. It was for my client Johnny Tran.
“You can't be looking through these!” I shook the ripped papers in her face.
She knocked them clear of my hand. Papers flew out all over the floor. The red ink of my “Cleared” stamp, the raised seal of the notaries, pictures of the goat Johnny kept, all floated to the floor for Jessica to look at. I bent down to pick them up before she could see anymore.
“Who even let you in? You can't come in without being invited!”
“The sign said I was welcome.”
It was a stupid question for me to ask. All BSB buildings had a sign stating “Vampires Welcome” or “Vampires may enter”. Apparently it was enough of an invitation into the offices to satisfy the old rules. It invited them in without someone having to stand outside welcoming vampire after vampire in.
“Who said you could come into my office?” I knew the answer as I asked it. Our night receptionist, May. She's a few years older than me. She lets everyone in, giving them exact directions to whatever office they wanted. Every one of us had had an encounter with someone we didn't want to because May liked to help people. We all hoped she had learned something from last month’s mauling, but no. Not our sweet, trusting May.
“What do you want?” I shoved Johnny's papers into a new folder. Got to my feet and put them in my filing cabinet. I locked it quickly.
I walked around my desk and slid into my chair. Jessica swiveled around, sitting cross legged in front of me.
“I'm looking for a friend. Or I should say a friend of a friend. Johanna says you know her.” I made a face that I hoped showed my disdain. Jessica noted it and continued. “Her name's Agacia.”
I blinked. “I don't know anyone by that name.” I was going to have some strong words with Johanna very soon about this nosey, aggressive vampire she turned. “So, you better leave.”
I wanted nothing more than to get my crucifix from my desk, brandish it in Jessica's face and cry “begone foul demon!” I didn't have the guts to wield a cross or a stake or a gun loaded with a silver bullet. I was a marshmallow. Any Other could smell it.
“She sometimes goes by the name Agatha, sometimes even Angie.” She struck a chord with me and she knew it. I could feel my face giving away the knowledge that I did know an Angie.
Some vampires move in groups. Like werewolves have packs or witches have covens. Then there are those who limit contact. Angie was one who limited contact. I could see Johanna taking young, willing protégés, but I didn't see Angie doing that. I couldn’t even see Angie entertaining the idea of offering a hand in friendship to anyone.
“I'm trying to locate my friend. Can you help me?” The cold that I had been greeted with earlier was replaced by a sweet tone. If I was a man I imagined Jessica would bat her eyes and stick out her breasts to entice me. She just softened her tone with me, trying to lull me into her confidence.
“I'm afraid I can't give any personal information without written consent.” Maybe I am just a puny human, but by golly I still followed the rules.
“But, it's really important,” Jessica attempted a pout. The effect was somewhat lost because all I could focus on were her teeth. She hadn't bothered to retract them. Her canines stuck out, into her now protruding bottom lip, giving her the look of a severe, deadly overbite.
“I'll need to discuss the matter with Angie.” I grabbed a piece of stationary from my desk drawer and pushed it her way. “If she agrees I can give her your phone number if you write and sign that you agree to allow her that access.” Then you can have a vampiric sleepover and braid each others’ hair.
Jessica eyed the paper with a look of disdain that would have caused the paper to shrivel and die if it had been alive. “I'll just wait until you talk to her.” Jessica leaned forward.
I didn't like the closeness. I was especially uncomfortable because I knew she was a new turn that wanted human blood already. She couldn’t possibly have enough control of her senses to pull back if her bloodlust tried to take over.
Her face was flawless; her eyes startlin
gly beautiful even in the fluorescent lighting of my office. I focused on her chin. Control came from the eyes and I wouldn't be caught in her trap.
“It's very important I contact my friend. I met her last year. She told me to look her up if I was ever turned.”
“There are rules to follow.” I concentrated hard on that chin. I wondered if it had been scarred when she was human. If it was subject to pimples or zits. If little blond hairs ever sprang up. I willed myself not to look up. It's what Jessica wanted me to do. I could feel my resolve weakening. Vampires secrete pheromones kind of like a pheromone trap attracts flies. It helps create willing victims.
Jessica moved, her finger touching me under the chin. She lifted my head so I was forced to make eye contact. Her eyes were an astonishing blue-green, like the waters in the Caribbean. Calm now, but with the promise of a storm over the horizon.
“About that file...” she said, her voice dripping honey into my ears. I could feel my fingers itching to grab Angie’s file and pour her secrets on the desk. Those beautiful ethereal eyes held mine in focus. If I blinked they would be gone and their magnificence lost to me.
“Samantha?” I blinked. The spell broke. I jerked my chin away from Jessica’s finger that still held my chin up. I narrowed my eyes at her for a split second before turning my attention to the doorway.
“Hey Patrice!” I waved my coworker into the office.
She leaned in my doorway. Her black skirt and pink blouse were wrinkled from sitting too long at her desk. Her black hair was pulled into a pony tail. She looked mad.
Jessica moved off the desk. “Hello,” she said. She hid the hate in her voice, but I could read it in her body language. Her hip was cocked and she had a hand on it. Even with her back turned to me I knew she wore a scowl.
“I was just coming to grab Samantha for a conference call. And you are…?” Patrice's brown eyes took in Jessica. Her loathing for the newly turned vampire came out with each blink.
“Jessica. Samantha's newest client.”
“Uh huh. Well Jessica, is your business concluded? It is an important call.”
Jessica looked over her shoulder at me, baring all her teeth in a mirthless smile. I felt all the colors in my face evacuate, leaving me cold all over. She nodded a good-bye and floated out of the room. Her beauty and grace shone through her threatening nature.
“What the hell was that?”
I liked Patrice a lot. I met her when she trained me, showed me the ropes. Before Others revealed she'd been a social worker with a family full of vampires. She kept their secret and was happy to do so. She was perfect for a position in the BSB. She was not much younger than my mother. Time had been kind to her. A few wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. A few grays lacing their way through her roots. She had a little sag and a paunch from having a few kids.
“Just having a few problems.”
“I heard you talking to Sean about 'personality differences'.”
“You mean you were eavesdropping on Sean?” I knew it was the truth. Everyone's business was her business. I benefited normally. She always shared gossip with me. This was the first time I was the subject of her gossip. Bummer.
“Call it what you want. So, you okay?”
If she knew I was having problems she knew Sean was doing most of the solving. I flushed a little. I didn't want to appear like a simpering little girl. It was bad enough I already felt like one.
“Yeah. That was nothing.”
“Didn't exactly look like nothing.” Patrice plopped down on my desk, giving me the once over. “She looked like she wanted a snack and Samantha Dunmore was on the menu.”
“Personality differences, you know.”
“If you say so, but let me give you a bit of advice. Poke her in the eyes next time.”
“Pardon?”
“Having speed and strength is useless if you can't see.” She smiled. Her grin was mischievous. I smiled back in spite of myself. “My cousin attacked me once after turning. My two thumbs stopped him real quick.”
I met her cousin once at a company party. He was respectful and well-mannered. I guess if Patrice had gouged my eyes, I'd behave too.
“It can't be all that bad.” I didn't respond. “Newly turned vampires almost always want to live the fantasy of seducing quivering young ladies. It's part of their genetic make-up or something.” I didn't quite believe that, but I still remained quiet. “Poke her in the eyes and be done with it.”
I wanted to believe Patrice. She'd had to deal with vampires since 1983. Her cousin had been turned, then her best friend. If her cousin attacked her, maybe it was just a new turn thing, an instinct of sorts. I was ready to convince myself I just needed to stand up to Jessica when I remembered her insistence at seeing Angie's file. That couldn't have been an instinct. I allowed a genial smile to escape. I didn't want to have Patrice thinking I was a terrified little girl.
“Thanks, Patrice.”
“Cheer up, Samantha. She'll back off soon.” She picked up a pen and twirled it in her fingers. “I'll walk you to your car tonight. I'll teach you how to gouge out eyes.” She got up, patted my shoulder and left.
Three
I nearly died of a heart attack at eleven the next morning. There was a warm pressure on my chest and hot breath on my face. After kicking out from under the covers a stinky little dog tongue licked my face. My Welsh Corgi, Sasha, sat on me. It was easy to forget the previous night's events with the tan and white splotched dog giving kisses all over my face.
I lived off of Montrose in the Portage Park area. I shared a two-flat with a college friend, Chris. We inhabited the bottom floor and a young Polish couple lived above us.
Chris had been one of my closest friends since college. He taught me to play guitar and I tutored him. We began living together when my boyfriend moved on and I could no longer afford rent and his girlfriend unceremoniously threw him out. It was a good deal and unlike some of my former roommates I never had to worry about Chris leaving a huge mess for me to clean up or skipping his half of the rent.
Pushing Sasha off, I got out of bed and shuffled into the kitchen. There was enough sunlight that Chris hadn't bothered to turn on the light. He was fiddling around on his laptop, invading some village or another in his online video game.
“Good morning!” he said around a huge piece of banana bread. He had a quarter of the loaf I had baked the day before on his plate. Crumbs were all over the table. “Want to play? I could use some help. Everyone is being an asshat this morning.”
Chris was short and stocky like a dwarf, maybe that's why he always played as a tall and graceful elf in online games. He didn't bother with a beard though or much hair at all. Instead of allowing his sparse hair to grow in a horseshoe formation he just shaved it. “I know you want to. You can use my account...”
I shrugged. I learned to love video games because of Chris, but his dedication was admirable. Online games were almost like a job to him, but for me they were ways to waste away the hours with friends when there was nothing else to do.
“Let me get my workout in and we'll pillage and burn stuff.”
I padded back to my room, slightly more awake than I had been. I slipped into my gray running shorts and a faded pink t-shirt. I laced up my running shoes. I liked to take at least ten minutes to stretch, but it didn't always happen. I took Sasha with me on my runs and she liked to jump all over me while I loosened up my muscles.
“If I get injured, you'll have to get help,” I said to her. If my dog had to perform a Lassie-like feat and bring back help, I'd be doomed.
Sufficiently loosened up I attached Sasha to her leash. Outside was a little chilly, but I counted any day without frost as a victory. I walked up the block for a few minutes before getting into my run. These days I generally manage an eight minute mile. Today I only had the energy for a ten minute mile. My mind was still troubled by Jessica's visit to my office.
Sasha lopped alongside me. Her mouth hung open, s
tupidly happy with the morning run. As I ran I envisioned myself as a tough, ass-kicking, vampire hunter. Those that preyed on the weak and scared met with the business end of my stake. It was a good thing the sun was out because if I ran into Jessica I'd teach her a lesson.
I became so engrossed in the fantasy I pushed my one mile run to two. I began running faster. I was a brave huntress, reigning down justice on the undead. An image of Jessica's blue-green eyes flashed before me. The feeling of being powerless as she worked her will over me covered me like a second skin. I stopped. Sasha pulled on the leash, trying to continue her run. She looked back at me, brown, puppy eyes begging for more.
“Come on. Time to go home.” The fantasy shattered at the memory of those eyes. I wasn't a huntress. I was nothing more than a scared office worker.
I trudged home. I kept hold of the leash, but I didn't rein Sasha in. She ran back and forth in front of me, catching this scent and that. I was tired again when we got home.
Chris had set my laptop up on the kitchen table across from him. At least in the online world I could be a force to be reckoned with.