He ran a frustrated hand through his long hair. “So, you're just going to give yourself up to him in exchange for their lives? Then what?”
“I am not without abilities, I will think of something.”
“This isn't exactly a plan, Luce. This is suicide.” He stood up though and didn't add anything else, just headed out the door to grab his weapons. He was right, I didn't have a plan and I needed one. Three vampires and a Nosferatin against an untold number of Jonathan's men. We may be familiar with the territory, but we sure as hell didn't have the upper hand. I needed an ace up my sleeve.
I grabbed my jacket from a nearby chair, pocketed my cell next to one of the two stakes already in situ inside and headed down the stairs and out towards the Land Rover parked in the drive. Samson and Marcus were already waiting, Matthias followed me out not long afterwards. All of the vampires were heavily armed, not just hidden beneath their clothes, concealed and tucked away, but strapped across their broad bodies and displayed with pride and no doubt, a little threat. Hell, if they weren't sworn to protect me, then I would have felt bloody threatened myself.
“Where to?” Marcus asked from the driver's seat. I'd grabbed the front passenger seat and Samson and Matthias had slipped in the rear.
“Newmarket,” I answered. He swung me a puzzled glance but started the vehicle anyway.
“What's in Newmarket?” Matthias asked from the rear.
Hopefully a friend, I thought quietly, but instead said aloud, “A bar. I need a drink.”
All three vampires looked at me as though I was mental, as though I had totally lost the plot.
I just smiled and tried to hold the laugh in, getting hysterical right now was not an option. But, I couldn't help thinking,
wait 'till you meet my friend.
Vampires and ghouls do not play well together. I was hoping Pete would make an exception, if the price was right.
I was also hoping, I had something worthy of payment.
Ghouls did not come not cheap.
The trip to
Guts and Glory
was relatively quick, although a fair bit of traffic on the road for a Thursday night, Marcus had the usual vampire driving skills; not only lightning quick reflexes and a heavy foot, but an uncanny ability to avoid traffic snarls and red lights. Dodging down side streets, taking the teeniest, tiniest gaps when presented and generally not having to stop once. It was impressive, if not a little uncomfortable from the front seat.
The entire time I watched wide eyed and nervously spun my wedding ring around my finger, as though the speed I turned the metal could counteract the speed in which we travelled. It didn't. Go figure.
We parked within walking distance of the bar. Newmarket, as usual, being busy but not clogged like the CBD near
Sensations
. It certainly had a whole different feel to it, although only a few kilometres from Queen Street, it was like a completely other world. I had never been a Newmarket groupie. The shopping was good, not just the boutique style shops, but also a nice selection of chain stores to offer an enticement to a wide variety of clientèle. And after dark, bars, bars and more bars.
Guts and Glory
is a sports bar. I would have preferred an English Pub or even one of those flash Wine Bars, I know very little about sports. The obligatory plasma TV always displays the most recent All Blacks rugby game, or sometimes a cricket match and on ladies night, the Silver Ferns playing netball. All of which are just games to me, nothing more. But to the patrons of
Guts and Glory
they are Mecca. This was a popular bar, but not just because of the the
huge
TV and not overly priced beer, but also because it was spotless, pristine, shiny like a brand new toy. Pete did not like a mess in his bar. In fact, if you were caught making a mess, you were lucky to just get evicted. Ghouls took punishment of misdemeanours to a whole new level.
Not that the average Joe knew Pete was a ghoul. Ghouls look like you and me, just well built, strong and quick to anger. Oh, and they like their meet raw, really raw, like practically running raw. Not that they tend to attack too many humans any more, they may not be vampires, but they firmly fall under the
Iunctio
's
rules and therefore under the Master of the City's rules. Ghouls are not allowed to attract attention to our world, so that means dead raw meat and no hunting.
They might grumble and bitch about the restrictions, but the flip side is they can blend in better this way and every ghoul likes to feel useful. A ghoul without purpose is a loose cannon waiting to go off. And my friend Pete here, is the employer of almost every ghoul in the city. Sure they all have
day
jobs, but Pete is their boss, they answer to him first and Michel second.
I've known Pete pretty much since I moved here. Not that he sought me out, like Michel did, I was just drawn to him. Similar to how I found Rick, my old Taniwha friend. I simply followed my nose and turned up on their doorsteps within days of shifting house. And although they didn't know what I was immediately, they both felt it; the difference, the supernatural thing that is me. And both of them, bless their souls, took me under their wings. Unfortunately Rick turned out to be a bad apple, but Pete has never let me down.
That may be because I'm a good bet. I pay well and I play by the rules. Pete's rules. Ghoul's rules. You see, ghouls are the information highway of a supernatural city. They are the eyes and ears of what's happening at any given time and every decent vampire hunter needs a good source of information. Pete is my man. It's just that his price can sometimes be high and ghouls don't accept hard cold cash. No, their currency is knowledge. And they definitely work on a
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours
philosophy.
So, it was with a little bit of trepidation that I led the way into
Guts and Glory
, three vampires at my back. Not only was I not sure if Pete would step outside his information exchange network for me, but I really didn't know how he'd take my companions. As I said, ghouls and vampires don't mix. But, I wasn't leaving them in the car. Protection, protection, protection.
The atmosphere in the bar shifted as soon as we entered, not that there were too many ghouls in the room, maybe about four or five, that I could sense, but enough to change the whole feel of the environment, to tip it out of whack. The Norms would have only felt a slight ominous shift in the attitudes of those around them, not enough to be alarmed by, but enough to make you want to maybe finish your beer and try out the new Irish Pub down the street. Vampires were bad for ghoul business, but only because the ghouls couldn't help reacting to their presence.
I approached the bar carefully, but purposefully. No point beating around the bush. Pete was behind the bar, his favourite spot, the other ghouls dotted here and there. I knew exactly where and how far away and I was betting the vampires behind me did too. I slipped onto a bar stool, my
M & M
guards standing either side behind me, backs to me and fronts to the bar, Samson looming over my shoulder, eyes on Pete. Jeez, Marcus and Matthias had recruited Samson, no longer just a tag team of two, this had progressed to a trio. I shook my head and suppressed the urge to say
down boys
.
Pete didn't waste time finishing with his current customer and sauntered over to me, not a care in the world. Maybe because he has an unprecedented accord with the Master of the City and no longer has to fear any of Michel's vampires controlling his ghouls. Vampires have the ability to command ghouls to do their bidding. Naturally this is a cause for concern for all ghouls, but because of me, Michel showed his softer side and gave Pete and the local ghouls freedom from such manipulation and control. No other ghoul in history has had that kind of exemption to the supernatural rules.
Pete really did still owe me for that one, but I was guessing he'd think the debt had been paid. Any new help would cost me.
“Hey, Pete,” I offered with a smile.
“Luce.” Pete's a man of little words. What's with all the barmen in my life, they so do not fit the normal bartender persona.
“Can I have a beer?”
“Your usual?” he asked, already pulling on the tap and filling up a crystal clear schooner. I just nodded.
He pushed the cold beverage across to me on a paper coaster and leaned nonchalantly on his elbow atop the bar.
“So, what's up, Hunter?”
Yeah, I kind of deserved that one. I tend to only visit if I am after something, but that's our relationship, there's no point denying it.
“The usual. I'm in trouble and could do with some help.”
Pete's eyes did a slow scan over the bodies of my entourage. “Hence the guards. Last time you were here, you just had one.”
I raised my eyebrows at him. “Michel is not a guard.”
“Yeah, but he'd die protecting you,” he replied and I didn't correct him. Michel would actually do everything in his power to stay alive, not out of any self preservation instinct, but because his death would mean mine. It wouldn't bother me too much, except for two reasons; one, I wasn't sure whether his life after death would be in the same location as mine and two, if I die, the Dark prevails. Either option not good enough to shake off this mortal (or in our case semi-immortal) coil. “So where is he?”
Right. Information exchange number one. “Are we on the books?” I asked. It always pays to get your cards out on the table when you start sharing knowledge with a ghoul. There's no point offering up information for free. They wouldn't hesitate to take it, but they'd think you pretty dumb for giving away something that may be precious. Ghouls liked dealing with savvy opponents, not pushovers.
He smiled appreciatively at me. “If you say.”
Good enough for me. “America, responding to a call to arms.”
Pete blinked slowly, just once and then stilled. “This is not common knowledge, Luce.” Michel had obviously kept that quiet. Pete would be wondering why his network of informants hadn't picked up a tasty bit of gossip such as this. I didn't for a second think that Pete wasn't aware that Michel was out of town, but the call to arms was my coup de grace. A bit earlier in the game than I had intended, but sometimes a shock and awe approach does wonders. And really, time was not on my side. My first hour was almost up and Jonathan would be getting testy.
“It's a recent development, in response to my kidnapping.”
“Jonathan,” he replied. His knowledge of my kidnapper did not surprise me at all. I nodded.
“Not a lot I can do for you in America, Luce. It's a closed shop. My boys are not welcome in amongst that riff-raff.” I guessed he was talking about the local ghouls. I didn't need clarification, America wasn't why I was here. I'd had to push the problem, or more to the point, the gnawing fear, of America, aside. I was trusting Michel to handle his end, my worrying would only make what I faced an impossible hurdle to climb.
“I'm more concerned with Auckland right now and that's where I'm hoping you'll fit in.” He shifted slightly, into a more comfortable position it looked like, but I didn't miss the inference, it was a clear,
I'm all ears, do tell
kind of move. “Jonathan is here, not in America facing off the call to arms.”
“The son of a bitch,” Pete muttered. “Cowardly bastard.” I whole heartedly agreed, but I knew Jonathan not manning up to his challenge was more of a disgraceful act to a ghoul. They may be bottom feeders on the supernatural ladder, but they were honourable ones.
“Where do we fit in?” Well, that was a promising question, the fact that Pete wasn't hedging any more meant I may have him on board already. No telling though, until I spilled the beans.
“He's got ten of Michel's vampires hostage at
Sensations
and he'll kill one an hour until I give myself up.”
Pete just looked at me for a good twenty seconds, then scratched at his short trimmed beard. He flashed his hand open, in a quick sign, something equivalent to a shrug. “Why would this be a concern for me? You wouldn't exchange yourself for ten vamps, Michel would not accept that.”
“I'm not Michel and these are good vampires. I will not let them die because of me.”
Pete took a deep breath in and blew it out long and slow. “You court danger, you do, Luce. Danger and mess and a whole shit-load of don't-want-to-know. But, I do owe you and I always pay my debts.” His big brown eyes caught mine, a flash of something else hidden in those deep sepia pools. “This will leave us even, Hunter.” I nodded, I hadn't expected to have had enough news to warrant his help, I had always known the price for his involvement in this would be bigger than any titbit of gossip I could provide. I was just relieved Pete felt obliged to pay back on the accord I had set up. I wasn't entirely sure if his involvement in the battle against Max had covered that debt or not. I guess it hadn't, or maybe he thought the ghouls aiding Michel was not really aiding me. This was a more honourable way to pay back that debt, something important to only me.
“How do you want to play this?” he asked.
“Distraction. Outside the bar, after I go in.” Matthias turned on that one, but before he could enter the argument, I gave him
the
look, the back-off-if-you-know-what's-good-for-you look and proceeded to give them all a run down on what I expected.
Once the details had been driven home, we took our leave. Time was almost up and although it would take Pete at least another 30 minutes to gather his ghouls and possibly another 30 to get them all to
Sensations
, I couldn't wait. A vampire, possibly one very close to me, was about to meet the final death. I was officially shit out of luck.
We headed towards Karangahape Road and
Sensations
in silence. I'd made it clear that only Samson and I would go in and the
M & M's
would remain hidden outside. I was betting on Jonathan not being aware of my personal guards, but Samson he would know of, so there was no point hiding him for now. He'd be my escort and Matthias and Marcus would be waiting for the ghouls and acting on the distraction when it was made. Them storming in from the outside may just provide enough chaos for Samson and me to perform a miraculous act of God knows what, to free those vampires and if not stake Jonathan, then at least, get the hell out of there.
We had no intention of parking at
Sensations
, so we stowed the Land Rover a block away and proceeded on foot. Within twenty metres of the premises I pulled up short. Not out of any concern of detection, nor because I desired to suddenly change the plan, but because I felt the pull. That blasted, inconvenient, why-friggin'-now, evil-lurks-in-my-city pull. What was with these arsehole rogues and chomping down right when I was already neck deep in the smelly stuff? An innocent needed help, potentially they could be killed. It is what I am, a saviour of the innocent from the deranged habits of the rogue vampire on the hunt. I couldn't ignore it, it would just get stronger and stronger and harder and harder to concentrate on what I was doing, but a quick glance at my watch told me I didn't have time. Five minutes and Jonathan would be calling my number. So. Innocent versus vampire. Who do you save?
My instincts told me the human. Hell, my inner monologue screamed it at me. But, my heart just couldn't believe a vampire was not as important as a Norm. Just because they are the undead evil creatures of the night, did not mean they didn't deserve to live. Not all of them were Dark and certainly not the vampires currently being held by Jonathan. Doug, Shane Smith, the others whose names I no doubt knew, but couldn't quite remember right now. None of them deserved to die either. So, what the fuck did I do?