Chapter Seven

"It took us a while to realize he was gone, but he never showed up at HQ, and when we went to his hideaway he wasn't there." Patrick explained.

"How can you be sure that he went after Romulus?" Celeb asked.

"Well, where else would he be?"

"Do we have any idea where Romulus even is?" Anna added?

I answered this time. "No, though it shouldn't be too hard to find out. He doesn't keep a low profile. He'll still have a hold on The Cave too."

"What if Anthony gets to him first? We have no idea how long he's been planning this, he could have been collecting information for days already, just waiting till the time was right?"

"Well then let's move fast. First thing's first, though I hate to admit it."

"West 47th?" Celeb answered me. I nodded.


The events of last Autumn's battle had made no effect on the area. The "punks" of the north side had decided to lay off and keep to their own territory, for the time being at least, and the "thugs" of the south side took over again, no worse for wear, if slightly smaller in number.

They hung around identically to the local gangs. It has been a survival technique of vampires for ages to associate with the less reputable peoples. In the bad parts of this city, as long as a body looks like its the victim of gang violence or a drug overdose, nobody questions it, no one even asks for an autopsy.

The conflict between the 'punks' of Milwaukee Ave, and the 'thugs' of West 47th was because the south side had more crime; therefore, more prey, less questions. It was a semi-usual occurrence for one to invade the other.

The moment we showed up we were met with a greeting party.

"Well, well, well," said a vampire who looked like a cross between Vin Deisel and Wesley Snipes. "What do we have here. Please, inform me why a bunch of blue-bloods like yourselves would visit a lowly bunch of blood-sucking sons of bitches like us." Calling us "blue-bloods" was their idea of being clever.

"Anthony went looking for Romulus. We need to know where to find him." I demanded.

"Shit. How the hell should I know where to find that punk bitch? He don't come 'round here."

"You know who could tell us something?"

"Fuck, I dunno." He said, distractedly pulling the toothpick he’d been chewing on out of his mouth and pulling off a sliver before chewing on it again.

"Bullshit, both you and I know that a fly can't shit around here without you knowing about it. Now I'd be willing to believe that you don't know what trouble Anthony is getting himself into at this very moment, but you surely know someone he would have needed to talk to in order find what he's looking for. Who's he been talking to?"

He smiled at me. "You know your shit. Okay. That fucker's been looking to get sun-kissed running around after that fancy looking fucker Romulus and his nancy boys that came and fucked our shit up last season. Like I said, he don't come 'round here, so I didn't see much of him, but I know he was asking some of my boys about The Cave."

"Any help?"

"Naw, we too smart 'round here to go fucking with business that don't want to be fucked with." He paused for a second, pulling the toothpick out of his mouth again. "But them rainbow-haired bitches up north ain't that clever. Sent him up to their club to go bug the shit outta them instead."

I turned around slowly, smirking to my companions.

“Who’s that new little traitor you got wi’chu? You got back up bitches now?” he added. “Anthony goes missing and you already got a new little bloodhound before the sun comes up?”

I turned back to face him again. “He’s here on his own accord. You know not everyone’s as lucky as your little crew to see real live Elves in the flesh. Consider him an ambassador.”

“Shit, I’d be happier if I didn’t know y’all blue-bloods were around, but I guess there ain’t shit I can do about it, huh? Don’t forget what you are!” he shouted to Jack “You think you’re some angel. You ain’t! You’re a beast! Embrace it! You think you get redemption by rollin' with them? There's no such thing as redemption or perdition. Repent and embrace oblivion, delight in sin and live forever!"”

We ignored them and walked on. Jack paused and looked curiously at the other vampires, but not disturbed. He finally turned and followed when I walked past him.


We were uptown before the hour was out. The sight on Milwaukee Ave. was quite a different one. Music still blared, but instead of everyone sitting around socializing, everyone was active, skateboarding, parkour; doing tricks that only their supernatural agility could pull off. Vampiresses danced on cars, swigging back champagne bottles filled with what I could smell as bank blood; blood with anticoagulants in them made the blood thinner, and could give vampires a sort of buzz.

A group of them stopped and stared when they saw us; one ran off, most likely to alert someone. The staring group herded together, taking the defensive stance as we approached.

"We need information." Celeb declared. None of them said a word. None of them even blinked. They stood still as statues, not even breathing, the only movement was that of their eyes, focusing on every aspect of our approach.

More vampires had gathered now. The W47th vampires were more cocksure, and therefore less hostile towards us. But the Milwaukee Ave. vampires didn't trust us a bit.

"We need to know where Anthony is." Anna said, stepping close beside Celeb. She always had a skill for being non-confrontational.

"Anthony is not here." A young looking vampire, walking up through the defensive line, answered us. The rest of the vampires relaxed some, but still kept a guard up.

"Do you know where we can find him? We fear that he's gone after Romulus."

"Why should it matter? If he has gone to meet his death, that's his own business."

"We have our reasons."

The young vampire sized us up. "If you want information, you will need to see Mademoiselle X."

He lead us to an Irish bar that was pretty much empty save for a few old regulars. We walked all the way into the back, where in a small dark corner, a young vampiress sat, dressed in 40's style high fashion stirring a glass of cheap whiskey with her finger, surrounded by four young beautiful looking humans with bite marks on their necks.

When we approached her table, the vampire gestured us towards her and walked away.

"Why are you here?" she asked us with an air of annoyance.

"Where's Anthony?"

She looked up at us and laughed. "Why do you care what that little bitch is up to? He's a prick and a pain in the ass, why bother with him?"

"We have our reasons." I was starting to feel like a recording.

"Come, sit down, have a drink for God's sake." She shooed two of her companions to make room for us to join her. "Ew, not that one. You're vampire companion needs a bath and some new clothes. You can wait at the kids table with my friends, if you can keep your teeth to yourself. As for you..." she said pointing a finger at Patrick, "You can come sit next to me. Come on... don't be afraid. I promise I won't bite." She smiled wide, highlighting those dagger pointed I-teeth. Patrick slid in next to her extremely nervously. I slid in on the other side of him and Anna and Celeb behind me.

Mlle. X snapped her long fingers and a waiter strolled up. “Drinks for my friends. Something strong. Whiskey sours?” The waiter nodded and went off to get the drinks. “So, tell me. Why could you possible be interested in that pathetic little thing that mopes about complaining all the time. All the revenge and contempt, it’s positively nauseating. I know, he was turned against his will, I get that, I really do, but give it up already! Shit happens, the world keeps turning, and really he didn’t get such a bad deal out of it in the end, now did he?”

Patrick shifted uncomfortably in his seat. I placed my hand on his to stop him.

“We’re not interested in him. We’re interested in Romulus. We don’t like him here any more than you guys do, but Anthony going after him will only ruin things for everyone.”

Her demeanor changed to that of one more serious. “Hmm. Well yes, that is true. Damn him! He has no business being here. We’re not ambitious and we don’t fuck with anyone. He’s just causing trouble!”

“That’s what Romulus does. He causes trouble. Chicago is ‘attainable’. He figures he can start here, and build up. But one thing at a time. If we don’t get to Anthony soon, he may end up telling Romulus things we don’t want him to know. What did he say to you when he met with you?”

“Nothing much. Just kept gritting his teeth and trying to look all intimidating as he asked me all sorts of questions about The Cave. He was taken there once, but there’s no way he could get in there on his own.”

“So he did go to The Cave? Is Romulus there?”

“Romulus is always there. But he is also always very well protected. Very well. There’s no way in hell that he could get up to him. He’d have to lure him out, make Romulus truly believe that he’d won. But there’s no way a baby like Anthony has the skills to outsmart one of the worlds oldest vampires. He’ll get eaten alive... literally!”

“Well, that’s good news for us at least. Chances are it will take a good long time for Anthony to even get close to Romulus. Most likely, he’ll take one good look at him and turn him away.” I commented.

“Oh for sure! If there’s one thing you can count on, Romulus likes to toy with his prey. He’ll keep turning Anthony away time and time again, playing hard to get. Anthony will go insane.” Mlle. X laughed again. “What an idiot.”

The waiter came with our drinks. Patrick downed his in one, wincing at the burn.

“I apologize for our rudeness, but we need to go now if we are going to retrieve Anthony before he does anything irreparable.”

“Aww. Well do come by again. And bring your friend.” She added, petting Patrick’s head. “The vampire sir can come again as well, if he cleans up.”

I collected our youths and we left, the other of Mlle. X’s companions filling in our empty seats.