Tomorrow's Dead: The Julia Poe Vampire Chronicles, page 4
“What about dinner?” asked Habib, an Iranian American who was the head chef of the Biltmore. “I prepared your favorite vegetarian dishes.” Poe had impressed the man by gobbling down his concoctions years back, and he forever loved the little warrior.
Poe reddened. “Sure, Habib. Maybe I can come down in an hour. I’m feeling a little weird right now.”
“Sure. Poe. Sure.”
“Thanks, Habib,” she said, hugging the cook with bushy eyebrows. She followed up with a kiss. Before she could make for the door, Maple asked, “Are you ill, Poe?”
Poe shook her head. “Nah, just seasick. Hey, do you have some time to talk tonight, Maple?”
Maple, who had been turned when she was 50 years old, nodded in her quiet way.
To Poe’s surprise, Maclemar didn’t follow. Sainvire pressed the button on the gilded elevator and waited for the door to open. Piper pulled at Sainvire’s neck-length hair and screeched, “Kaleb! Kaleb! Kaleb!”
Poe was relieved when the door opened and Sainvire punched the button for the seventh floor. “Very classy, this place,” said Poe for having nothing important to say.
“Yes. I used it as my offices years ago if you remember.”
“Yup. That I do. I contemplated blowing it up with you in it.”
They turned right at the hall and approached Room 702. Sainvire unlocked the door and held it open for Poe. Penny’s throaty whimper and wagging tail greeted her. Poe couldn’t help it; she got down on her knees and hugged her loyal friend. Penny’s was the only familiar face she cared about at that point. “Good girl, Penny Pen! I love you, doggy!”
Poe was startled when young Piper walked with drunken legs toward her dog. Penny’s tail stopped wagging, but she stood her ground. The girl tapped Penny’s head and said, “Good dog.”
The weary traveler smiled a genuine smile for the first time since coming Downtown. “That kid talks funny. Must’ve learned it from you.”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Sainvire nodded in defeat. “That’s why no one listens to me. I think I may have to borrow Piper’s high-pitched screams to get everyone’s attention.”
Poe shrugged. “That’s what you get for being a saint, mister.”
Sainvire took a step for a better view of Poe’s upturned face. “I never wanted to be a saint. Hell, I’m not even religious.”
“Just like I never wanted to be a superhero. And I’m no longer one if you haven’t heard yet. Lost my cape and can’t shoot straight anymore. A disgrace, really.” She looked around the spacious room that very much resembled a hotel suite. “Wow. It’s like I’m on vacation from my perfect island.”
“Sorry for taking you away from Catalina, Poe. I’m simply desperate right now.” Sainvire’s gray eyes looked so pained that Poe had to turn away. “Every faction needs to be convinced that they’re an important part of the equation, and we all have to come together if this new society is going to succeed.”
Poe narrowed her eyes. “Listen. I’m here, okay? I don’t need to be convinced how dire the situation is. Everything is life and death with you. That’s why you’re so damn unhappy. I’m sorry that getting this city back on its feet is your burden, but really, Kaleb, you can just walk away. It’s that easy.” The words from her mouth surprised Poe. The vampire who owned her heart could’ve chosen her instead of political intrigue. They could’ve been living the life in a mountain hideaway. Anywhere away from conflict.
Sainvire touched her face with the back of his hand, savoring the softness of her skin, and traced the angled five-inch scar with his index finger. “All the time I think about starting over. But I can’t. The thought of you on your island would be the only light in my dark tunnel, Poe. I think about you to keep hope alive in my chest. I love you more than anything, and I feel like a damn heel for choosing you last all the time.”
“How do you think I feel?” said Poe, laughing bitterly and turning away from his touch. “By the time you can pencil me in your daily planner, I’ll be 70 and sagging. But you know what? Doesn’t matter. After what Trench did to me, the thought of a relationship makes me retch. No matter how much I love you, the feel of your cold dead flesh would probably make my skin crawl.” She was being nasty, but she didn’t care.
“It’s probably for the best then,” the master vampire coolly said. “Maclemar will probably have a better chance of thawing your heart since his flesh isn’t cold or dead.”
“Maybe,” said Poe, turning catty. “At least he never forgot me. He visited me and comforted me during the hardest moments of my life. For that he deserves my love and my loyalty.”
Sainvire gently took Poe’s face in his hands and kissed her lips that seemed to have parted on their own. The two kissed deeply with the unmistakable sadness of an opportunity lost forever. The lovers had only shared one night of pleasure together and had since been separated by circumstances beyond their control. Poe cleared her throat when the kiss ended. “Your hair has grown, and you have stubble. You look like a serial killer.”
“Thanks, sweet Julia. You’re looking marvelous yourself,” said the vampire, amused. “Straight talker to the last, eh?”
“Learned it from Sister Ann, you know.” She brushed his dark hair with her fingers. “I’ll always love you, Kaleb, but my days of waiting for you are over.”
Sainvire kissed the top of her head. He and Maclemar were similar in many ways. “I know, my love. I don’t expect you to wait around. Be happy with Maclemar. He’s a good man.”
Poe hugged Sainvire’s waist and fought back tears but failed. “Why do you have to be so goddamned good all the time? I love you so much that I wanted to die from want of seeing you. And don’t pass me on to Maclemar again. You make me feel cheap.”
All the vampire could do was apologize, and all Poe could do was resent him for being so damn altruistic.
***
Because Poe had become deliberate in her actions, her youthful clumsiness and filthy mouth lessened noticeably. No longer was she easily provoked (unless her dog was involved), nor was she quick to inflict pain for a slight. Habib watched the young woman eating his creation with aplomb in contrast to the engulfing way Poe had dined years back like there was no tomorrow. She forked hummus, grilled eggplant, and mushroom spaghetti in her mouth like a proper lady. She also didn’t pay heed to the gawking eyes and whispering mouths in the 24-hour cafeteria.
“Here, Pen,” she whispered to Penny who sat guardedly by her leg. She placed a plate of deboned chicken on the floor. Animals weren’t normally allowed in the cafeteria, but Habib made an exception for Poe’s companion who refused to leave her side.
“So how did you say you got all this food?” asked Poe to a lively Habib.
“The Christian farmers in the Valley have an agreement with Sainvire. These vampires throughout history declined human blood and settled with drinking animal blood. They supplied human cattle with food for master vampires, but they were against enslavement in general. Toiling the fields to feed humanity was their calling. With the new arrangements, these vampires are happy to send over the best meat, fruit, and vegetables to restore strength to poor humans,” explained Habib. “Sainvire sends them vats of Plasmacore, of course. They also have an agreement allowing rehabilitation of certain humans at the farms.”
“Good for everyone,” Poe mumbled, popping a slice of papaya in her mouth. “And what about the Los Angelenos? How do they fare with the new government?”
“There’s no government yet,” said Habib, scratching his balding head. “That’s the problem. City vampires are hated by both humans and revolutionary vampires. Everyone hates human leeches who stooged for vampires in the olden days. Many admire Sainvire, but more than a few prefer he gives up his ad hoc power. What will happen when Sainvire steps down without a replacement? Chaos, my friend. In any case, some things are in decay and some are up and up.”
“I haven’t been outside. I don’t know how things are.”
“We usually have quiet all around except when ODs are murdered.”
Poe put her fork down. “What’s an OD again?”
Habib pushed a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice to her. “That’s what we call Old Dead who participated in the enslavement of humans.”
Poe thought about the vampires wearing tunics with crosses and narrowed her eyes. They must be the new dead behind the murders. Before she could ask any more questions, a scream ricocheted in the 600-strong cafeteria. From habit, Poe unsheathed her gun and stood up quickly. The metal folding chair she had been sitting on clanged to the floor.
A woman with wild, curly hair ran toward her, belting out the squeakiest of screams. Poe hardly recognized her friend wearing a tight-fitting pink tank top and low-rise mini-skirt. A wide-eyed girl behind the hysterical woman was carrying her coat.
“Poe! I can’t believe it! Finally you’re here,” Michelle cried. “I missed you so much!” The pretty hazel-eyed woman with a belly button piercing hugged Poe after she resheathed her gun.
Poe grinned and clapped Michelle’s powerful back. It was apparent that Michelle had been working out. “I missed you, too, Michelle! Good to see you.”
“I can’t wait to tell you all the shit that’s been happening in DT. Everything’s so fucked!”
Poe nodded. “Yes. Habib and Maclemar have been telling me a little.”
Michelle slapped Habib’s back. He didn’t seem to appreciate the abrasive gesture. Before Michelle could say more, Poe walked over to the little girl of about 10 holding Michelle’s large coat like a tiny servant. “Is that you, Percy?”
“Hi, Poe,” said the girl with brown hair and solemn eyes. “You remember me?”
Poe took Michelle’s coat from the girl’s arm and draped it over a seat. She pinched the girl lightly on the cheek. Percy smiled, transforming her naturally mournful eyes, and embraced Poe tightly. “I knew you’d come back. We missed you so much!”
“I missed you, too.” Poe had rescued the girl from the clutches of baby vamps inside the Metro tunnels, and Percy had suffered from hero worship ever since. “You’re still looking out for Chops?”
“Yes. She’s waiting outside the cafeteria. Habib won’t let her in here,” Percy said, whispering the last bit in case the chef could hear her.
“Thanks for dinner, Habib! C’mon, Michelle. I want to see old Chops.”
When Poe last saw Chops, she was a pint-size piglet. Now the animal was near four feet long and weighed about as much as she. “Holy shit! What in the world have you been feeding her?”
“Habib’s cafeteria scraps,” answered Percy. “She’s pretty cute, isn’t she?”
“Sure is. I think Penny recognizes her.” They watched Penny sniff the rotund animal with interest.
“They’re pals again,” said Michelle. The two animals did indeed seem like old friends after a couple of smell tests.
“Where do you keep her?”
“In my room. She’s my friend just like Penny is yours.”
Poe kissed the girl fondly on the cheek. “You’re a good kid, Percy. And I’m glad I’m back.” For the first time since returning Downtown, Poe felt a glimmer of hope. She didn’t know what it was about Percy, but she was drawn to the girl. Perhaps her youth and having to deal with bullshit vampire politics at age 10 made the difference. Percy reminded Poe of herself, and she vowed to clear up the wrongs and teach Percy the skills she knew before leaving for Catalina.
***
Michelle walked Poe and her dog to the fifteenth floor to Maple’s suite. “She’s been working like a mad hatter to clean Downtown, keep the peace, and teach useful skills to lost souls. You know she used to be a mechanic, right?” Poe nodded. “But you know she’s bummed about Perla. She doesn’t show it, of course. You know how she is.”
Poe frowned at the athletic girl she’d trained in Muay Thai at the farm in Gilroy and asked, “What the hell happened? They were so in love. I mean, Perla had Sainvire turn Maple into a vampire after the Gray Armageddon.”
“I didn’t know that,” said Michelle.
“Not many do, so keep it under your hat.”
“You can count on me, boss. Here’s her room. Good luck.” The young women hugged, and Michelle couldn’t help but ask, “Is true you can’t shoot?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Poe turned away from her friend who looked crestfallen and walked briskly away. Feeling depleted, Poe knocked on Maple’s door. An oversized man wearing a polka dot sweater opened the door and swung at her with a Phillips screwdriver.
Her body responded automatically by deflecting the man’s punch with her left arm and hitting him in the throat. To keep the man down, Poe kicked his left leg under him and shoved his face on the floor. Within those seconds one of her wrist knives had unfolded.
“Stop! Poe, for the love of God, he’s one of us.” Maple kneeled in front of the man and removed Poe’s grip on his head by prying away her fingers one by protesting one. The vampire killer heard sobbing from the man, and Maple cradled his head. “What the hell are you thinking?”
The girl glanced up at the Y-vein circulating dead liquid through her lined forehead. She was more than a bit annoyed. “He attacked me. You saw, right?”
“Yes, but he’s special,” said Maple with care, wiping the tears from the big toothy man with the bottom of her shirt.
“Yeah, special in the head,” said Poe disbelievingly. Just as the words left her mouth, she noticed the man’s slack mouth and childlike gaze.
“Julia Poe! We will not start labeling people in this new society of ours. You should be ashamed!” She helped the 40-year-old with a 10-year-old’s mind to his feet and sent him on his way. “Thank you for replacing the wall plates, Jonah. You did a good job. Tomorrow we’ll work on changing light bulbs.”
“Okay, Maple. But your friend’s no good. I was just funning,” said the big man with resentment, wiping his wet face. “I don’t like you, you witch!”
“Well she’s new here, love. Now go on.” Poe’s anger waned. She was trying to defend herself, but it was wrong to call people names. Her parents would’ve been up in arms at what she had said. The old ignorant, filth-mouth Julia Poe hadn’t been eradicated after all.
Maple, wearing a purple shirt and brown corduroy pants, embraced the small vampire killer who had shaken the old order with her sheer fortitude. “Welcome, Poe. Let’s forget all that with Jonah. You don’t know how glad we are that you’re back.”
Poe sat on the neatly made bed facing Maple, thinking about the intellectually disabled man she’d just downed and shook him out of her head. “I don’t really know how much I can change things around here, Maple. I nearly killed a friendly a minute ago. In many ways, I’m still broken by Trench, and I’ve lost my balance.” She rarely spoke about her three-month imprisonment with Quillon Trench, a master vampire that liked to play games, torture, and humiliate.
“I know it was hell, Poe. I’m so sorry about what happened to you. But if you only knew what your presence means in this city.”
“Do people really care?”
“You’ve been here less than 24 hours, and the crime rate has already crashed,” said Maple. She leaned to pat Penny, who was sitting on the carpet and looking as though she was participating in the conversation. “Everyone fears you. ODs, newly formed vamps, humans, and halfdead respect you. You represent destruction and in many ways, hope. You’ve rescued most of the people in this city, and they have your complete loyalty. Vampires know you only kill when you need to. Even locked up leeches who raped and tortured blood slaves are waiting and hoping you’ll speak up for them.”
“That’s a tall order for someone who’s been out of the picture,” the girl proclaimed, swatting the beads of sweat from her nose that had been bothering her since Jonah.
“You’re telling me,” said Maple with a sigh.
“What do they plan to do with the leeches?” asked Poe. She despised the men and women who had worked for vampires in exchange for their lives and a steady stream of narcotics. They cared for their human cattle while the undead slept, impregnated comatose women who’d been raped multiple times, and harvested blood.
“The Tunics want to execute them. Sainvire is looking for a way to avoid vendetta killing. He reminds us that almost everyone was guilty of one thing or another and that if we want the new society to survive, we must learn to tolerate the intolerable.”
“Idealistic as ever, that man,” grumbled Poe. “But what about Perla? How come she’s the leader of the Tunics?”
Maple reached for Penny and lifted her to the bed. “She woke up once we got to Los Angeles. She hardly spoke to me. Just stared into the ceiling when she wasn’t writing in her journal. One day she said I was filth and decided to leave me. She moved to one of the loft buildings on Spring Street. I was told later that she paid a vampire to turn her into an undead. Ever since then she’s been recruiting ex-cattle to become vampires. They want to protect what’s left of humanity and eliminate leeches and ODs who’ve harvested and drunk blood from humans. The Tunics are now 90-strong and growing. Many join because sleeping on cots for years left a lot of people weak with anemia and bone ailments. They’re hoping to feel strong again.”
“What does she want from me?”
Maple continued to massage Penny behind the ear. “She wants you to be one of them.”
Poe swallowed wrong and began coughing. Me a vampire? “No way!”
CHAPTER 4
JOSEPH PLAYFULLY TUGGED HER ponytail as she was about to spoon fruity oatmeal into her mouth. Poe considered the Filipino undead with an eternally amused face a brother. The vampire was Sainvire’s best friend and one of the speediest vamps now living in DT.
“Hey, you freak!” she complained half-heartedly. “I could’ve spilled my only nice shirt. Not wise to look puked on for my first diplomatic mission.” She wore a black button-up shirt with white ruffle lapels tucked in fitted gray slacks and black high-top Converse.
