Tomorrow's Dead: The Julia Poe Vampire Chronicles, page 14
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Events were proceeding too flawlessly. Something horrendous was bound to happen, and the City Guardians found it in the form of a freckled San Diego vampire escapee by the name of Charles. He was the vamp who divulged the location of the two orphanages to the Guardians. He was now and always had been, according to a woman he worked with in San Diego, a spy for Peter Nesbitt.
“And why do you come forward now?” asked Sainvire in the small conference room on the third floor of the Biltmore. “If you know these things, you must be a spy yourself.”
Victoria, a chubby vampire with a calming face nodded. “We’re from San Francisco originally. When Nesbitt last visited San Diego in June he left us there and instructed us to try to make our way to Los Angeles by any possible means. When you dropped those flyers, we found our chance.”
“Why are you telling us this?” asked Poe. She didn’t want trouble. She wanted the children to have a memorable Christmas. In fact she wanted a wonderful Christmas for herself. Maclemar would’ve wanted it so.
“Nesbitt said you people were demented and rabid rebels and you deserved to be exterminated for stealing cattle. He despised you two especially,” she pointed at Poe and Sainvire. “You killed his apprentice, Trench. Since I’ve been here, I’ve been impressed by the community you’ve built. I was rooting for your society because I miss the old world. This whole Christmas thing and the smiling faces of children made me question my loyalty to the ironfisted rule of the San Francisco Council. Most vampires if they were honest with themselves hate milking human blood to survive, but we didn’t know there was another way. Whoever talked about Plasmacore in public would’ve been tortured. Despite that, vampires have started making their own food, Plasmacore, and they feel the difference. Sick blood from cattle starves vampires.
“Believe it or not, there’s an underground movement in San Francisco started by ex-hippies to only drink your concoction. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but in Santa Cruz Plasmacore is the only thing they drink now. They call themselves the Core. They nurse liberated humans, bring them back to health, and later fold them into their dissident society when they awake. Their numbers are growing everyday. Peter Nesbitt’s threats to his people are eroding these days as human cattle die or are stolen away.
“As for me, I’m telling you about Charles because I want to be part of your city. I’m tired of working for a vampire without any morals. He believes he’s above everyone because he came from old blood. Nobody cares. I mean, look at you, Sainvire. You have powers never seen before, and a lowly whore turned you.”
“Yes. He’s a son of a bitch alright,” said Joseph, ribbing his friend who shook his head in offense. “So where’s Charles now?”
“Charles meets Nesbitt’s people every Thursday at the old Greyhound terminal on 7th and Alameda. He tells them the new rulings your new council passes, especially rulings about the air raid watch. Unlike your camp, only a handful of Nesbitt’s people can fly because most of them had been destroyed by Miss Poe two years back. If they’re going to fly through the city, they want a quiet affair.”
“How many choppers do they have?” asked Michelle, looking fierce in a cleavage-popping top and tight red pants.
“I think about eight or nine. They haven’t trained as many flyers as you guys.”
“Any guns mounted on them?” pursued the head of security.
“I think all of them have mounted fire power.”
“What time are they meeting?” asked Jenna who was carefully doodling on a pad of paper.
“They always meet at eight, but Charles shows up early to scout around first.”
Sainvire rose from his chair and said, “We thank you for telling us about this, Victoria. If we confirm what you said, we’ll consider you a part of our city because you care enough to stop Nesbitt. However, may I ask you one thing?”
“Of course,” said the vampire spy.
“Why did you help us locate the orphanages in San Diego?”
“Charles suggested it so we would be beyond reproach.”
“Thank you, Victoria. If you could please excuse us, we need time for discussion.”
All eyes were on the awkward vampire as she left the conference room. The meeting participants consisted of Sainvire, Poe, Jenna, Ed, Rufus, Joseph, Maple, Perla, and Danby.
“My instincts may be turned about, but I believe the young lady was telling the truth,” said Danby, the ex-custodian.
Jenna sat up and tossed her doodle pad to Rufus. “Feel the same here, John. But I think one of us should leave now to eavesdrop on Charles. You have 15 minutes until contact, Kaleb, so I suggest you skedaddle while we talk some more. Don’t do anything to him. We might need him to send false signals.”
“Alright. I’m off. Anyone want to come along? I’ve just had my supper, and I can fly at least two.” Every head shook their head with smirks on their faces.
Poe raised her hand like a schoolgirl. “I want to see this jackass in action.” She cracked her neck and shoulders in preparation of the flight. “C’mon, Sainvire. Let’s jump out the window.” And they did.
She’d never experienced anything as exhilarating and frightening as flying with Kaleb Sainvire. Not only did flying make her feel like she was a real superhero, but she got the chance to be truly alone with the extremely busy head of the Guardians of the City. Nothing had pumped her blood since Maclemar left her. He was her anchor. She often slipped into grief coma unless she was working to fight the enemy or keeping close to Kaleb Sainvire. Poe hugged him tighter until her lips brushed his cold neck. She didn’t know how it slipped out, but she spoke her thoughts out loud.
“I love you too, Poe,” said Sainvire. He kissed the top of her head.
“I didn’t mean to say that,” she said, guiltily thinking of Maclemar.
“I know. But thank you just the same. And sadly we have to postpone our talk. I see Charles pacing and having a conversation with himself.”
Sainvire lowered them onto the flat roof of the Greyhound building, a safe distance from Charles but in range of Sainvire’s sensitive ears. Poe was on her stomach watching the pathetic pantomime of the spy. She shivered at the cold breeze that slapped her face. Sainvire, on his side, stared at Poe. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. He reached out to caress her cheek. “If I could reset time, I’d live with you in your old bunker with Penny and your diverse collection of movies.”
Poe pinched the vampire’s nose and shook her head. “You were an idiot.”
“I know it.” Sainvire’s face turned serious. “I’m really sorry about Maclemar. He was a stellar man. He loved you with his life.”
Poe looked away, tears forming in her eyes. She hated people seeing her cry. “I’m sorry, too. I miss him so much. Especially his sense of humor and his cooking.”
Sainvire didn’t stop looking at Charles, and within moments two men wearing fatigues shook hands with him.
Poe couldn’t hear a thing. Her eyes oscillated between Sainvire and the three vampires below. The meeting took no more than ten minutes, and the two watched Charles walk back toward the Downtown center. They went on their way themselves.
“What did they say?”
“They’re planning to disrupt our Christmas celebration to lower morale. That’s basically it. They can’t really hurt the children. They’re marked for future blood supply. Our spy only gave the date, but the planning is up to Nesbitt.”
“Assholes!” said Poe. Her fury turned to annoyance when Sainvire started laughing. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. Your anger is something to behold. It energizes you.”
“I guess so if it starts a laughing fest!” She tried to turn away in exasperation, but he didn’t let her. He rolled her to her back and draped one long leg over her lower body, pinning her. “I want you back, Julia Poe,” he said in his gravelly voice. “I want you so badly that I want to gouge my eyes out so I won’t see you anymore,” he gritted. His lips hovered too closely to her mouth.
Poe looked into his eyes, illuminated by the bright moon. “You’ve never really had me. You left me to fend for myself after each assignment. I remember our big cattle rescue. You headed on to the Central Valley and left me half-beaten to death to return Downtown and mend on my own. Then after what Trench did to me, you left me in Catalina. You didn’t even visit me. You’ve always chosen your cause, Kaleb. Over me. Maclemar put me first.”
“You’re right, of course. I despise myself for that. You’re the only love I’ve ever known, and I let you down. I’ll try my best to change my ways. Once this city understands they don’t really need me, I promise to be with you for keeps.”
“I’ll be 90 by then. Quit living in fantasyland. Not only that, Maclemar’s constantly on my mind. You have no idea how much I miss him.” Sainvire’s countenance appeared so sad that Poe felt pity for him. The vampire had shouldered the weight of the world on his misshapen shoulder. Ancients, humans, vampires, and halfdead looked to him for protection. His leadership rebuilt Downtown Los Angeles. Without Sainvire’s tenaciousness to free cattle and provide a sense of security, Downtown would never have thrived.
Poe had a personal issue with kissing another man when her partner was recently entombed below the Cathedral of Angels. But then again, she grew up without rules, and her heart told her that she loved two men and she couldn’t help herself. She raised her head and kissed Sainvire’s mouth, allowing their tongues to reacquaint after all these years. The cold roof dug at her back, but she didn’t care. She wanted her vampire, and it had been a long four years.
When their lips parted, Sainvire was silent. “I’ll make it up to you, Poe. I love you so much, and I’ve done you so many wrongs.”
Poe shook her head and told him they should go. They flew back to the hotel without saying a word. They entered through the same conference room window where the assembled group had grown. Michelle was standing with Jenna when everyone hushed as they joined the assembly.
Sainvire described what he’d heard and lowered the collective spirit of the room. “Christmas, they say. They want to destroy what we’ve built.”
Jenna looked fierce when she said, “Not gonna happen. Christmas is set. We’ve got to figure out how we can foil the Grinch’s plans.” No wonder the vampire is a popular leader, thought Poe.
“How about we formally approve an attack on San Francisco sometime in December?” said Michelle. “Chuck can pass the info along. They wouldn’t think of flying their helis our way.”
“That’s actually a good idea,” said Danby.
“I like it. Ballsy enough for you, Jenna?” asked Joseph.
“It’s delicious.”
“I think a small group of us should go to San Francisco and get in contact with the underground. There’s sure to be a bunch of hippies and insurgents to help us blow up their helicopters and other transports,” said Poe with determination.
The girl’s idea met the sound of crickets. Nobody spoke for a full minute until Morales, who was able to get away from the sick ward said, “Brilliant idea, Poe. But you realize it’s a suicide mission?”
Poe looked at her Converse. “Sure. But Christmas is important, and some of us have more lives than others,” she said. She needed to relieve her guilt. She needed Christmas to happen. Maclemar loved Christmas. “I can go by myself. Maybe you can drop me off as close as you can, Rufus. I can pretend to be a man with a mustache. A custodian maybe.”
Joseph shook his head. “At home you have a little girl, a pig, and a dog. And you can’t leave my teething goddaughter!”
Poe bit her lower lip. “Listen. I used to love Christmas. I want everyone to have that feeling again. I know I can do this. I have 20 lives. And if you do lose me, it won’t be such a loss. There are tons of you with more important jobs than me.”
“That’s bullshit, Poe,” said Joseph rather angrily. “You’re as important as anyone in this town. You symbolize hope, and you have a little niece that I want you see grow up, dammit!”
She’d never seen easygoing Joseph so pissed off before.
Morales picked up where Joseph left off and screamed at her. “I’ve patched you up one too many times, and I’m tired of it. You’re not leaving this city, Julia Poe.”
Quiet Maple followed with, “Don’t be stupid, Poe. They have at least fifteen hundred residents in San Francisco.”
Perla and Michelle further pointed out the foolishness of her idea and implored her to zip up about it. Poe hardly knew Danby, but even he voiced his misgivings. Only Rufus said something positive. “I think she can do it. She’s a superhero. I can fly her to the Mission District. Nobody ever goes there. Vamps think it’s too ethnic.”
The group screamed a collective “shut up” at Rufus who quickly retreated to his corner. Jenna resumed doodling on the notepad. “Like Rufus, I think it’s a good idea for a couple of us to infiltrate them like they’ve infiltrated us. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Poe.”
Another level of quiet descended. Joseph, who had been eyeing a pensive Sainvire by the window, muttered, “Fuck me.” He sighed. “What do you think about all this, Sainvire? You okay for Poe to go to San Francisco dressed like a man with a mustache? Maybe we give her some Coppertone self-tanning lotion to make her pass for a custodian?”
Sainvire lifted his head from the fascinating table stain he was staring at and shrugged. “It’s a good idea. But I don’t think Poe is the right person for the job.”
“And why is that?” asked Rufus.
“She was shot in the chest not even two years ago. And I want her back. I want her safe.”
Most in the room groaned. Michelle yelled, “Love is a messy thing!”
Poe covered her face with her hands to hide her embarrassment. “Maclemar passed just six weeks ago, vampire.”
“I can wait,” said Sainvire without an ounce of shame. “But you will be my priority from now on, Poe. This I swear to everyone here.”
Nobody spoke. Awkward only chipped the surface to describe the situation. Many believed Poe was getting what she finally deserved – the attention of the vampire she’d loved for ages.
Poe couldn’t take it anymore and punched a hole through the faux wood paneling on the wall. She bit down the sharp pain on her left hand. “Don’t swear about anything, Sainvire. I don’t trust you. I’m going to San Francisco whether you donkey sacks approve or not.”
Poe stormed off, leaving a room full of stunned participants of all brackets.
“Makes sense,” said Joseph, leaning his hip against the table. He had a tremendous smile meant for Sainvire. “Let the girl have what she wants or she’ll shoot you in the nuts so other women can’t have you.”
CHAPTER 10
JOSEPH HAD MADE A good point about chemical tanning lotion. Poe and Percy scoured ten Downtown pharmacies in search of the liniment that would make her darker. The past couple of days had been awful. Her friends had taken her aside to lecture about her impulsive and hard-headed character. Joseph and Morales were the worst, actually cursing which they’d never done before. “You little shit,” roared Morales. “You got shot in the chest not so long ago. I was crying like a dry dolphin while stitching your chest. Grow up! You’re not a superhero like some people claim. You’re an impulsive brat that needs to get locked up in the city jail.”
“Fucking right,” added Joseph. “You alone in San Francisco? What the hell can you accomplish?”
Poe sniffed back a tear and perused the pharmacy shelves with a flashlight. They used to serve delicious Thrifty ice cream at Rite-Aid. Most of the shelves were empty, and she was losing hope.
“Is this it?” asked Percy as she pulled Penny in a Radio Flyer wagon through the empty aisles. The nearly recovered dog had been languishing at home and whined constantly. Morales said Penny couldn’t walk long distances yet because her ribs hadn’t healed completely. She was an old dog, and her bones took longer to mend. Chops snorted around the scavenged pharmacy.
“Maybe. Hopefully. I’m tired of this treasure hunt,” said Poe. The brand was called Brown Your Bad Self. “Let’s get out of here. We’re late for our salon appointment.” They had planned to walk to a remodeled beauty salon on 6th Street.
“People have been saying you’re ready for Sainvire to be your boyfriend,” broached Percy nervously.
“Exaggeration. Embellishment,” she lied. “Sainvire was my first love. He doesn’t have time for me. He takes politics and intrigue over me, and I won’t have that again. Anyway, if I took Sainvire seriously, what kind of person would that make me when Maclemar is still warm in the crypt?”
“Everyone knows you loved Sainvire first. And some people are getting religious on you. Some are saying that because you’ve been spending so much time with the vampire. Gossip makes them feel better. What’s a harlot?”
“Percy, I love you, but you can’t ask me questions right now because I’m pretty stressed out. I’m going to disappear soon, and I might not be back for a long time. Can you look out for Chops and Penny, and visit Maclemar for me? Tell him he has my heart, okay?”
“Sure. But rumor is they’re not gonna allow your flight to happen. You might be doing this for nothing.”
“I heard the same garbage, kid. Don’t worry about it. I got ideas of my own.” Her friends had turned against her and were trying to sabotage her mission.
Percy blinked away the tears in her eyes. “Poe, maybe they’re right. I don’t think you should go. I think you want to go on this suicide mission on purpose because Downtown isn’t enough for you. Me, Penny, and Chops aren’t enough for you. You have too much pride to take Sainvire back.”
Before Poe could say anything, the girl pulled the Radio Flyer out the cracked glass doors of the drugstore.
