Again, it was Tommy who interceded. “Stop!” he shouted as he lifted Ron and chucked him halfway across the living room. It had happened so fast Ron was throwing punches into the air before he realized his target was out of range. He quickly started to make his way back to me. Blood ran down my face, some from open wounds on me, some from Ron’s knuckles where he’d split them. I think my nose was broken, I had a tooth or two loose, and my jaw hurt like hell.
“He brought this upon me, upon us all!” Ron could not have yelled any louder. “I need to kill the cancer before it destroys us all.”
My head came up at that; he wasn’t just getting frustration out, he planned on killing me. Would I have defended myself if I’d known that? I decided I wouldn’t have. I could be killed—there was no doubt about that—but odds were he’d break all of his knuckles and both hands before he’d be able to do that with his fists. Sure, I’d look like a bloody pulp. I’d feel like shit, but I wouldn’t die. Besides, I felt like I truly deserved it.
“What exactly did he bring upon us?” Tommy asked. In contrast to my brother, he was calm. Stern, but calm.
Ron had no desire to match Tommy’s demeanor. If anything, he raised it up a notch. “Are you serious? He’s brought death to us. Not just zombies but vampires. Everything he touches dies on the vine. He’s killed my brother, my father, my daughter, and now his plague of existence has killed my wife!” He lunged, nearly getting past Tommy. I stood still, awaiting my fate.
“He has killed none of them. The zombies are no more his fault than they are yours.”
“And what of the vampires!?” Spittle flew from his lips.
“They are as much his fault as they are yours.”
Ron struggled against that iron-like grip of Tommy for a few moments before he finally turned and looked at the boy. Rage faded to confusion.
“Eliza, my sister, was a product of a Talbot.”
I’d never told anyone that. I guess it really wasn’t my secret to harbor; not sure why I kept it in. Guilt, shame? When she died, I figured, wrongly, that the secret died with her. Or at least one more witness was gone. The truth had been down to Tommy and me, and apparently, he thought it was time to share.
“What the fuck are you talking about? He led her straight to us!”
“That is not the truth, Ron. If she had killed Mike, she would have made her way to your home soon enough. If anything, your brother bought you a chance. Would you have been able to defend against her had you not known?”
What Tommy was neglecting to say was that I wouldn’t have stood a chance, either, if not for him. I knew what he was doing, though, trying to put me in as bright a light as possible.
“Half of my family is dead!”
“Yet, half is alive. Nothing can be done for those who have left. Those that are still here will need you now more than ever.”
“It wasn’t Eliza that took my wife away from me.”
“And it wasn’t Mike, Ron. It was the zombies.”
Ron didn’t seem to like the fact that the focus of his anger was misdirected. That in all reality, there was nothing or nobody that he could turn that intense hatred onto. It was a feeling of utter impotence, one in which there was no blue pill big enough to get rid of. By this time, my nose had stopped bleeding. I could even feel the cartilage begin to slide back into place. It sounded like someone was making popcorn on my face. I was starting to garner attention, and I’d had enough for the rest of the day, week maybe.
“We done?” I asked my brother. He said nothing. That was about as good as it was going to get, at least for now. Just about all of the inhabitants of the house were there with a couple of exceptions. Of course, it had to be Trip that broke the silence while I left the room.
“Bravo, bravo!” he said, stepping into the middle of the room. “They just don’t put good drama like that on television anymore. The acting, the make-up, the scene … perfection. I predict a couple of Bonies being awarded for this performance.”
I was nearly out of ear-shot as I heard Tommy talking about Victor Talbot and how he changed over Eliza. When he’d done that deed he’d then indoctrinated her into an existence of cruelty.
BT followed me out. Tracy, thankfully, had not been one of the people present. I think she was out by Nancy’s grave with Ron’s youngest. No saying how it would have turned out if she had been there. Either she would have urged him on, getting in a few licks for all the shit I’d done to her or, more likely, she would have tried to stop him. I’ve taken a beating or two before, and I’m sure this life hasn’t quite finished doling them out for me, but if he had ever touched Tracy in anger, his children would be orphaned; I’m not sure I could have stopped myself. So I knew the place he was coming from, even if it had gone astray.
“Your face looks like hamburger. You all right?”
“I’ll be fine,” I choked out. I was as close to tears as one could be without actually producing fluid.
“I came late, man. I would have stopped him.”
“He needed to get it out.”
“Jesus, not on you. Not that way. He’s your brother.”
I walked into the bathroom. BT stood in the doorway. He was right, my face indeed looked like torn up, bloody shreds of meat. I turned the faucet on and did my best to get my swollen countenance into the stream. It stung before freezing under the cold. It’s worth noting because not all of you will have been this lucky in the apocalypse. We got our water from a well, and it was pumped by a generator that used a variety of fuels including solar power to operate.
“You should put some disinfectant on that.”
I stood up to look at him.
“Right, forgot.”
I was in about as much danger of getting an infection as I was of being dragged off by faeries. Wait, I take that back; little miss demigod doesn’t need any more fuel for her imagination. I stripped off my shirt. It did not have the recuperative powers I had, and if Tracy saw the copious amounts of bloodstains on it, she’d have a fairly good idea I’d gotten into some sort of trouble.
“You know you really don’t need to be in here with me. Right?”
“What if you need help finding something?”
“Did you really just make a dick joke?”
“I thought it might help.”
“You have a skewed version of altruism.” I showed him the exit before closing the door.
“What now, Mike?” he asked.
I examined a deep bruise on my right side. Ron may have cracked a rib.
“I don’t know, BT. I have no idea what happens next.”
“I meant with you. Are you going to stay? Whatever you decide, I’m with you. I want you to know that.”
I winced as I raised my arm over my head. Definitely cracked.
“You all right in there? Sounds like you just found it and you’re not too happy with the results.”
“Really, man? Again?”
“I’m sorry. I’m stressed out, and I learned this stupid tactic from you. If there’s anyone to blame, it’s you.”
“That seems to be the theme of the day.”
“Aw shit, man. I didn’t mean it like that.”
I gripped the sides of the sink and let my head hang a bit. “I know, I know. I’m sorry.”
“Where is he?” I heard Tracy asking from the next room over. Apparently, news had traveled down the grapevine.
“If you say, ‘Looking for his penis,’ you and I are going to have words.”
“Why would I say something like that?” BT asked innocently. “He’s in there.”
“How is he?” I heard her whisper.
“Not too good.” BT answered.
“He’s fine, and he has bat fucking ears, remember?” I opened the door.
Tracy winced when she saw me. “Does it hurt?” She reached a tentative hand up.
I instinctively pulled back. “I don’t think touching it is going to make it feel any better.” I told her, tenderly grabbing her hand to stop its progr
ess.
* * *
***
* * *
The next few days were somber. According to Trip, the next episode in the Talbot saga was just as gripping, as Tommy discussed Eliza’s origins with Ron and what would have happened had I not shown up. And even if Ron had somehow dealt with her, Payne and her cohorts still would have shown. Nothing would have changed except the death count, which Tommy told him would have been considerably higher. If the damn vamps weren’t still out there, I would have gathered up my family and left. On an intellectual level, Ron had heard and even understood Tommy’s words. On an emotional level, I was the portent of death for his family. No matter how much time passed, he would always harbor some resentment toward me. The only thing that could alleviate some of that would be my departure. I’d give him that relief in a heartbeat if I didn’t think my actions would bring more harm to those who stayed behind. And life on the road was no place for Nicole, especially since there was now a baby to deal with.
We’d stay; I’d stay. I could deal with his glaring eyes and hateful stares for the added safety I could offer. At least that was what I hoped. If push came to shove, I don’t know who was going to stop them if they decided to come in. I’m convinced there isn’t anyone mortal, or nearly immortal, that Tommy couldn’t take on, one on one. Three on one is a different matter. BT and I, for all our strengths, were amateurs at best, stepping onto a pro field. All of us together, maybe we stood a chance, maybe. We’d get an idea soon enough about that though. The day started off as putridly disgusting as the previous one, smell-wise, I mean. The zombies had pulled back. They had not departed. It was a siege of sorts. I mean, we had plenty of resources to hold out, but they could do so indefinitely. Advantage: zombies.
It was warm for a late fall day. The trees, oblivious to the carnage around them, were a spectacular variety of hues. Deep ambers, lush reds, golden yellows. Tourists would be about losing their minds right now with the views while local gift shops and motels dotted along the coast raked in the last real seasonal money of the year. Oh, to be one of those people with hardly a care in the world, except where to take the kids for dinner. I was standing on the deck, looking out to the trees, not really seeing anything. It was quiet. I’d like to say too quiet, or I sensed something. But nope, I was drifting around lazily in the ghost of vacations past. Tommy caught the scent of something amiss.
“Mr. T, where’s your brother?”
It took me a moment to shake away the sight of my eight-year-old daughter waving around a huge overpriced stuffed animal moose and begging if she could have it. Forty dollars had seemed a steep price to pay for momentary happiness. Right now, I’d pay forty thousand for it.
“Ron? He stays as far away from me as he can.” I don’t even think it was anything conscious on his part. I walked into a room; he walked out. If I was there, he wouldn’t be, simple as that. I’d taken to eating outside so that he could have people around him during meal times.
“I’m asking about Gary.” Tommy said.
“I haven’t seen him. You check the basement?”
“I’ve checked everywhere. I need to know where he is.”
Tommy seemed panicked, and if he felt the need to panic, I think I did as well. It didn’t help when Riley came out on the deck with us. She was looking off to the side. Her fur was bristled, and a long, low growl rumbled through her chest, into her throat and out her muzzle. We’d discussed the need to stay inside the house or on the deck and always visible to another person while the vampires were around. They were supernatural beings; we needed to be on a constant vigil. We’d had to double the guards and stay on high alert. I’d known through previous combat that it is difficult to keep up this level of security. Sure, for a little while you stay on your toes, a mouse farts a hundred yards away and you grip your rifle expecting trouble. After a week of pulling extra shifts and nothing happening, a bear could drop a difficult deuce ten feet away and you’ll yawn. We’d definitely entered the complacency stage of danger alert.
My heart sank when we heard the opening chords to “Living on a Prayer.” Not that I didn’t enjoy the song, but it was coming from Gary’s tree stand, a place we’d expressly forbid him from going. It had not been a fun argument, and apparently not an effective one either.
“Mike, it’s my fortrees of solitude. It’s the only place I can get away and pretend none of this is real.” he’d argued.
“Fortrees?”
“My home, my spelling.”
“I get it, Gary, I do. I wish we all could do what we wanted to. But it’s too dangerous right now.” He nodded at all the appropriate times, so I’d thought he was listening. Now, I’m not so sure. Was probably bobbing his head to a tune playing inside of there.
Tommy, Riley and myself rushed over to the far side of the deck as more of the song drifted over the landscape. It was nearly impossible due to leaf cover to see much of the tree stand. That was another thing I’d asked him to do previously—cut back some of the branches.
“How private would it be if everyone could see?”
“What the hell are you doing in there that you need so much privacy?”
He’d shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed.
“Just use the bathroom, like everyone else.” I’d said bluntly.
“I’m not doing that.”
“Ummm, yeah, me neither,” I’d assured him, saying it like he’d brought up the subject and not me. “Then what the hell are you doing?”
“I like to sing”
“Okay.”
“And dance.”
“Now you’re getting a little weird.”
“It’s what I like to do.”
“Any chance you dance better than you sing?”
“Doubtful, that’s why I like—”
“To be in private. Yeah, definitely get that. Us Talbots have about as much rhythm as sneakers in a dryer.”
“Mike, that doesn’t even make sense.”
“Sure it does. They just randomly clunk around inside there.”
He stopped to think about it for a second. “Oh, okay, I guess you’re right.”
“Gary?” I called out tentatively for my brother.
There was no response except for an increase in volume to the song. Drifting among the treetops like that, it was creepier than I would have imagined a Bon Jovi song could be. As per usual, multiple things happened at once, although, knowing our adversary, that had been the design. I could hear Henry barking loudly downstairs and then a scream, Meredith maybe. I was half turning when Tommy’s hand shot out and grabbed my shoulder, turning me back around. Gary was visible; he was being held upside down by his ankle, below the canopy. He was limp as if he were unconscious. I refused to believe it was because he was dead, but he was pale, oh so fucking pale. The screams downstairs grew in pitch. I was torn in indecision on where to go first.
“I’ll handle her.” Tommy said, pointing to the tree stand. He hopped over the railing and landed below. I was back in the house and heading to the basement. BT was on the staircase just ahead of me. We didn’t bother to ask each other what was going on. Someone needed help, and that was all that mattered at the moment. I’d like to say I was prepared for what I saw, but really, why would you ever have scenarios running through your mind where two vampires are terrorizing your family? I mean, if you did, then you have other issues. Meredith was with her brother, Dizz and Sty were on the far side of the room. Monopoly pieces were strewn all over the place. Meredith had a hand cannon out, waving it back and forth between the two women. Henry was in between the kids and the vamps. I gotta admit the dog looked savage with his head hanging low, a growling so deep I could feel it in my chest. Long ribbons of drool hung from both sides of his snarling mouth. Long, glistening canines were exposed.
BT and I pulled up short right at the entryway. The room was locked in an electrically charged atmosphere, and we were both afraid that adding our presence would alter the dynamics in an unfavorable way.
; The red-haired vampire turned to me. I’d forgotten the ethereal beauty they possess. My mind, I think any mind, has great difficulty correlating how something so intensely magnificent could be so utterly devoid of goodness. But what better way to hide a predatory evilness than through a mask of magnificence?
“Victor?” she asked, her eyes clouded for a moment, a look of ecstasy and confusion comingled for a moment. “No, alas no, but you are of the blood.” She smiled.
“Of the blood,” the other echoed.
“Meredith, you guys need to come this way.” I had my rifle out and pointed. I did not look away from who I imagined was Payne. I was pretty convinced that to do so would spell my doom.
“Meredith? You are of the Talbot bloodline as well. Yes … I can feel it as it beats quickly through your veins.” She licked her canines.
“Through veins,” the other vampire said.
“Who’s the parrot?” I asked, trying to get Payne to stop thinking about blood, but that was like getting Henry to stop thinking about cookies.
The parrot-y vampire hissed at me.
“Do not move!” Payne shouted to Meredith, although she never took her eyes from me. “You killed our dearest Eliza?” she asked.