there. Well, stake wasn’t the right word, even though they’d function just fine for staking vampires. They were also useful for sticking angry werewolves, the large dose of silver often incapacitating them. A sharp stick made of pure silver was never not useful. That’s why I carried two.
Brutus found them and hesitated once he realized they were under my shirt. If I’d meant him any harm, his hesitation would have cost him. In the end, he tugged up my shirt, pulled the stakes free and handed them off to one of his assistant goons. Then, he used a meaty palm to tug me away from the car. He pointed down the walk. “Let’s go.”
I walked down the driveway, leaving my car behind, flanked on either side and behind by a suit. On the roof, the form I’d seen earlier stood up, revealing I’d been correct in assuming he was an expertly positioned sniper. Unlike the others, though, he wasn’t dressed in a snazzy suit. He was wearing a cap and tan, lightweight body armor, the kind I would have expected to see in the deserts of Afghanistan or Iraq rather than Texas. As he shifted, I was able to make out the emblem on his chest: a bright red fleur-de-lis.
I didn’t get too good of a look at him because the big house beyond the little guard post caught my eye. Two stories tall, the sprawling mansion was modeled after a Spanish hacienda, though it wasn’t as big or grand as the one I’d seen earlier on TV. Warm reds, vibrant blues and pristine whites colored the roof, doors, and walkways. The main house was a perfect contradiction of curves and sharp angles, each one in an architectural tug of war against the other and yet somehow working along with it.
Brutus led me up to an arched entry way where we paused to radio ahead. While I waited, I noticed the windows were all fake. Oh, the glass was real enough but, behind each, there was only a walkway and not a whole house. The house proper was one of those custom built homes, guaranteed to keep out every shred of UV light.
See, the old adage about vampires bursting into flames in the sunlight…Well, it wasn’t exactly true. They could go out but, depending on their diet and how long it had been since they last fed, most were extremely sensitive to sunlight. Even brief periods in the sun led to a sunburn. Extended exposure caused sun poisoning. But I’d never known one to burst into flames or die in the light of dawn. And, with a steady diet of human blood, they could sit out in the sun all day long with few adverse effects. Still, since there was no telling how long was too long, most vampires avoided sunlight altogether. Unless they had no other choice, vampires preferred a nocturnal lifestyle.
My guides moved forward and I went with them into the house. The inside was just as lavish as the outside. Narrow corridors ensured we were never more than one abreast and copious windows facing the outside terrace guaranteed I was never out of a sniper’s scope. I saw a few more security guards inside with the same emblem on their chests, usually standing next to doors or patrolling hallways.
This must be the private security Robbie mentioned, I thought. Seems odd she would surround herself with bodyguards if she wasn’t expecting trouble.
Brutus and company led me to an arched doorway at the end of a second corridor. One of the security guys pushed the door open for me. He gave me an old fashioned tip of his cap as I walked by. “Ma’am,” he said in the form of an acknowledgment.
The room beyond was a standard meeting room, much like the one I’d left behind at the precinct in Paint Rock…only nicer. The table was long and black with a glass polished top. Set in the middle was a high-end computer with a heads up display projecting on a screen of rotating clear glass. The chairs were plush red and had arm rests and a reclining feature.
At the head of the table sat a red haired vixen with eyes of burning coal. She wore a smart looking black blazer with a matching
Brutus found them and hesitated once he realized they were under my shirt. If I’d meant him any harm, his hesitation would have cost him. In the end, he tugged up my shirt, pulled the stakes free and handed them off to one of his assistant goons. Then, he used a meaty palm to tug me away from the car. He pointed down the walk. “Let’s go.”
I walked down the driveway, leaving my car behind, flanked on either side and behind by a suit. On the roof, the form I’d seen earlier stood up, revealing I’d been correct in assuming he was an expertly positioned sniper. Unlike the others, though, he wasn’t dressed in a snazzy suit. He was wearing a cap and tan, lightweight body armor, the kind I would have expected to see in the deserts of Afghanistan or Iraq rather than Texas. As he shifted, I was able to make out the emblem on his chest: a bright red fleur-de-lis.
I didn’t get too good of a look at him because the big house beyond the little guard post caught my eye. Two stories tall, the sprawling mansion was modeled after a Spanish hacienda, though it wasn’t as big or grand as the one I’d seen earlier on TV. Warm reds, vibrant blues and pristine whites colored the roof, doors, and walkways. The main house was a perfect contradiction of curves and sharp angles, each one in an architectural tug of war against the other and yet somehow working along with it.
Brutus led me up to an arched entry way where we paused to radio ahead. While I waited, I noticed the windows were all fake. Oh, the glass was real enough but, behind each, there was only a walkway and not a whole house. The house proper was one of those custom built homes, guaranteed to keep out every shred of UV light.
See, the old adage about vampires bursting into flames in the sunlight…Well, it wasn’t exactly true. They could go out but, depending on their diet and how long it had been since they last fed, most were extremely sensitive to sunlight. Even brief periods in the sun led to a sunburn. Extended exposure caused sun poisoning. But I’d never known one to burst into flames or die in the light of dawn. And, with a steady diet of human blood, they could sit out in the sun all day long with few adverse effects. Still, since there was no telling how long was too long, most vampires avoided sunlight altogether. Unless they had no other choice, vampires preferred a nocturnal lifestyle.
My guides moved forward and I went with them into the house. The inside was just as lavish as the outside. Narrow corridors ensured we were never more than one abreast and copious windows facing the outside terrace guaranteed I was never out of a sniper’s scope. I saw a few more security guards inside with the same emblem on their chests, usually standing next to doors or patrolling hallways.
This must be the private security Robbie mentioned, I thought. Seems odd she would surround herself with bodyguards if she wasn’t expecting trouble.
Brutus and company led me to an arched doorway at the end of a second corridor. One of the security guys pushed the door open for me. He gave me an old fashioned tip of his cap as I walked by. “Ma’am,” he said in the form of an acknowledgment.
The room beyond was a standard meeting room, much like the one I’d left behind at the precinct in Paint Rock…only nicer. The table was long and black with a glass polished top. Set in the middle was a high-end computer with a heads up display projecting on a screen of rotating clear glass. The chairs were plush red and had arm rests and a reclining feature.
At the head of the table sat a red haired vixen with eyes of burning coal. She wore a smart looking black blazer with a matching
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