(31) Trevor Wallace – Dhampir

“You have to be kidding.” Pete glares at Mychael. Angry. 

“Hold on.” Holding up my hand. “I can answer that. Did it once. But real slow.” Shrugging when they look at me. “To my bastard father. Beside the point though. It can be done but it would be tricky. You drink bagged blood, right?” Looking at Vik.

He’s smiling tightly. “I do. That just might work.”

“No way, now how. There has to be a better alternative.” Pete’s on his feet now. Pacing.

“If you can think of one let us know.” Vik chuckles low.

Pete turns. Scowling. Then smiles slightly. Nods. “Give me a week and maybe I can. But we don’t have that long,” he adds. Looking at me.

“No we don’t. I have to ‘kill’ him soon and then let the Vampyre know I have, though I think he’ll be well aware of it. Which means we’ll be cutting a real fine line here. I’ll have to drain Vik and bolt and hope the Vampyre follows me rather than sticking around to gloat. Then you two will have to start feeding him the blood before pretend becomes reality.”

“When do we do this?” Mychael asks.

“Tomorrow night.” Vik and I answer. Vik points out. “I need to order more blood first.”

“That would be a damned good idea,” Pete mutters. It’s obvious he’s not happy with this whole idea. Especially when he adds, “How do we know this isn’t all a trick so you can kill Vik and get away free and clear?”

“Because I don’t have to play games like that. If I wanted him dead I’d just do it. It’s what I do. And do well.”

“You’ve played your own games with him before,” Pete points out.

“Played. But that was then. We reached a truce as he pointed out. I’m not inhuman. Well I am but not that way. I honor my commitments even to a Vampyre. When I make them. And you can believe that or not as you wish.”

Seems he decides to for the moment. He nods once.

“OK. Let’s do it this way. Because it makes more sense given how I work. What time do you usually wake up Vik?” He tells me. “Good. But you can be awakened early if necessary?” A nod from him. “Then I’ll be here half an hour before sunset. Where’s your…Never mind, I know.” His lovers frown at that even though they know that I do. That I’ve been inside the house before. “I’ll go to your bedroom. You two be there, too, with the blood. I’ll take it from there.”

“If you try anything Trevor,” Pete growls. Mychael puts a hand on his shoulder. But his look at me says he agrees.

“Then you kill me. I’m not invincible. Not by a long shot. Just cleverer than the average Vampyre when it comes to taking the bastards out.” Glancing at Vik. “Sorry, but you know how I feel about your kind.”

“Not a problem,” he replies. “Just don’t forget we’re trying to help get your friend back while you’re doing your thing. And I just had an idea. After you kill me you run and Pete goes after you. He’s well trained and can make it look realistic. That way you’ll have backup, if you need it. Let’s just hope this Vampyre brings your friend with him. I have a feeling he will, if only to kill him in front of you, if he thinks you haven’t done as he’s ordered.”

I blow out a long breath. Look at Pete. “OK, that works.” He nods. A man of few words I think. “See you all tomorrow evening then.” Getting up. Going to the wall of their yard. Turning back to them. “And let’s pray this works.”

Vik smiles. “It will.”

(30) Trevor Wallace – Dhampir

My question doesn’t seem to faze Vik or his lovers. They look at each other. Nod. Like they’re reading each others minds. Or Vik’s talking to them. Maybe he is. Maybe they just know each other that well. Not asking right now.

Vik chuckles. “I’d like that better than you actually killing me, so sure, we’ll put our heads together and figure something out. Did he ask for some kind of proof that I’m dead?”

I shake my head. “Nope. Just that I do the deed.”

“Not good. That means he’s powerful enough to know when I die. Maybe just by reading your mind when you go back to him.” Vik frowns. “By the way, how are you supposed to let him know when you’re done?”

“He didn’t say. And he can’t read my mind. No Vampyre can do that to a Dhampir.” I stand. Look around just in case. Not that Vik couldn’t sense if the other Vampyre was around. Or could he? I ask.

“I might be able to. I honestly have no idea as I’ve never met any other Vampyres."

The other two move closer. Take seats.

Pete is watching me like a hawk. Asks, “What does he look like?”

“Tall. Aristocratic.” Frowning. “Dressed modern but like he wasn’t comfortable with that. Reddish hair worn long but pulled back.” Closing my eyes to picture all of him. “Sharp nose, thin lips. Damn, if Del was here he could draw him.”

“So let’s get him here.”

Opening my eyes, looking at him. “We can’t. He’s the one the bastard took.”

Vik must see something. In my face, my eyes. “We’ll get him back for you Trevor.” Said softly.

“Not for me, for him. He doesn’t deserve to be caught up in this bastard's games.” Not willing to admit to them he’s more than just a friend. Maybe. Dropping that. Moving on. “How do I kill you without really killing you?”

“Now that’s a good question, especially since I’d rather not really die. But he’s going to have to think I have.” Vik taps his fingers on his knee.

Mychael, the quiet one, must be the brains. He comes up with an idea. “This sounds sick and not sure it would work, but what if Vik was drained of blood. How much would it take before he seemed to be dead?”

(29) Trevor Wallace – Dhampir

Vik and his…lovers are out in their backyard. The grill is hot, the steaks just about ready to go on, it looks like, when I say, from the top of the wall “Got one for me?”

I jump down, holding my hands out to show I'm not armed.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Vik asks. He takes a quick glance at Pete and Mychael. Gives a small shake of his head to let them know to stand down. At least until they knew why I'm here and why I’ve chosen this way to arrive.

I hold my ground, eyes flicking over each of them. “Technically, I’m supposed to be killing you,” I finally reply to Vik.

“I thought we’d been over that and called a truce of sorts.” Vik tenses, just in case.

“We have, and we did.” I take two steps toward them. “I’ve been sent by someone else who seems to want you dead.”

Vik frowns. “Who?”

“He didn’t bother to leave his name.” I drop down on to one of the chairs. “But he has a friend of mine he’s holding captive until he knows I’ve completed the job. I have two days.”

“Vampyre, or human,” Mychael asks, relaxing his stance.

“Vampyre, and old, from the feeling I got off him.”

“Why the hell would an old Vampyre want me dead?" Vik says. "Technically I’m still a fledgling and my Sire is long gone, two years truly dead thanks to…someone.”

I cock an eyebrow but don't ask. “He didn’t tell me why. Just do it or my friend dies. ‘Horribly’ as he put it. I don’t want that on my conscience. And yes, believe it or not I do have one.”

“Never really doubted it despite the games you were playing. Not after our talk.” Vik sits down in the chair beside me. “So the question is, are you going to do as he ordered?”

“That depends on you and your…what do I call them? Lovers?”

“That works though they do have names. How does it depend on us?”

I looked at Mychael and Pete then back at Vik. “Can we come up with something that makes it look as if I did take you out?”

(28) Trevor Wallace – Dhampir

Out of the city for a week. Finding an old Vampyre I’ve been searching for. Killing him. Finally.

Back now. Racing up the stairs. Knocking on Del’s door.

It opens. I unsheathe my sword. Glaring at the creature standing there.

“If you’ve done anything to harm him.”

Knowing he isn’t here at Del's request.

He smiles. His fangs flashing long and sharp. Dangerous.

“He is in a safe place, for now, although he might not agree. If you do as I request I might let him leave unharmed. You have two days, Dhampir. There’s one of my kind I want dead. but for me to slay him would bring more trouble down on my head than I am willing to endure. You, on the other hand, can do it for me without causing raised eyebrows among those who know me.”

He is still smiling. An evil one that makes me want to take his life. Such as it is. I know he’s unable to read my thoughts. But my face. I school it to show no emotion. But unsuccessfully it seems.

He laughs. “Kill me and he will die quite a horrible death. I’ll tell you no more than that. If he means anything to you, and I believe he does, it would behoove you to do my bidding. Two days. Here is where you’ll find my enemy.” Handing me a slip of paper.

“And his name?”

“Vik.”

(27) Trevor Wallace – Dhampir

(Del)

I can’t believe what Trev did. I’m going to be, well not famous but at least someone else will see my work besides me and him. Of course that doesn’t mean that anyone will like it. But damn.

I signed the contract and with his help took more of my pieces to the shop, even some more of the paintings. He was funny. He kept looking at the paintings, trying to pretend that maybe he liked them after all but I could tell he didn’t. I hope it’s just him. Time will tell I guess.

I like him. He’s fun to be with though I don’t think I’ll ever tell him that. He’s got this ‘don’t touch me’ attitude he puts on when he doesn’t know I’m around, or when we’re out in public. He rarely smiles which is too bad because it makes him look more human when he does.

Yes, I know he’s human, well half human technically. But he acts like he’s got only one reason to live and that’s to kill the Vampyres, so that part of him comes out too much. Sometimes even when we’re together. I watch him eyeing everyone when we go out to grab something to eat. I know he has that sword of his with him. And I know if he sees one he’ll forget I’m even there in his need to go after the creature and kill it.

I also know, though he’s never told me, that he sleeps with anyone he can snag. My kind, tourists, any one he goes after that will let him. And hell, who wouldn’t let him? He’s sexy as hell and when he lets his guard down a nice man as well. Again, nothing I’d ever tell him to his face. I don’t want him thinking I like him as more than a friend because that’s all he’ll ever be.

I don’t want a man in my life, not that way. I never met one that wasn’t either a bastard, a cheat, or out to get what they could from me. Except…maybe...him. But I know if I let my guard down too much around him he’ll leave. He’ll have his way with me and then leave because men do that with hookers—male or female.

So we’re just friends. And we’ll remain so until one or the other of us move out of here. And who knows, it might be me if my art work sells. Move out and perhaps even go back to finish school. Dream on, I know, but still, it could happen.