DAY 2

C

onnie came in early the next day, she was rested and full from the dance the following night, not one of her best nights, seeing as she didn’t take part in the dance but that would soon change three more days to go before full moon and hopefully the case would be over so she could partake in the dance without any hindrance. She was so deep in thought that she didn’t hear when Daniel came in until he sat in his chair and sighed heavily, she turned to look at his exhausted features.

                “Are you ok?” she asked, he shook his head” I just came back from debriefing the force” “You were debriefing the whole night?” she asked in shock. “No we were sparring, I was trying to teach the men how to handle the vamp and the kite if they should encounter it. “Let me guess it didn’t go well” “After two years of knowing that these things, creatures exist and are real in their world, you would think they would have gotten training are be at least open to the suggestion of it, but no they were all stubborn, and pigheaded saying that the methods they knew would be enough to keep them alive on the field” “And what did you tell them?” “I told them that their methods were antiquated and weak and that they would all be dead if they didn’t listen to me” “I figure that did not go over well with the men?” Daniel snorted,”Of course not they flat out decided not to take my advice so I gave up and left” “Daniel you have to understand that these men are terrified. They are now faced with things that they believe only existed in Hollywood. Now they have to believe and face our species and the mad humans on a daily basis, and they are not cut out for it, they are scared shitless, and they don’t want to learn new tricks because that would mean accepting the truth about the underworld.” “So what do you suggest? That I sit back and let these men get themselves killed? I don’t think I can do that Connie” “Of course not, but maybe you could try reaching them from another angle” “Like what?” “How about letting them teach you some of the moves they know and then you show them how their moves can be perfected to kill someone like us.” Daniel studied her for awhile, she really was an amazing woman and he wondered if she saw herself that way. “Ok I will give it a try thanks.” “No problem, anytime.” The ringing of the phone interrupted their conversation. Daniel answered it from his line. He shot up out of his chair and she reacted similarly from the shock on his face, she tried to catch the other side of the conversation, “We have a hit.” “Where?” Daniel asked, “Some guy called in a few minutes ago and gave a tip said he saw some strange things going on in a house when he was on a hiking trail the other day, he said he thought he saw a vampire.” “What! How?” “I don’t know but he also said the place smelt like if something was dead for a while.” “What is the address?” “It was up on Hacklettons Cliff, there aren’t any roads up there but he said he would show us where it is if we needed his help.” “Ok what’s his name and where do we pick him up?” “Mr. Pilgrim and he lives in Green Pond # 12 St. Andrew.” “Ok tell him we’ll be there in twenty minutes.” “What’s up?” Connie asked after Daniel hung up as she got her gear together, “We have a tip on a probable location for our sneak vamp and kite.” “Great lets go” they exited their office and Connie locked the door, they went down to the sublevel and got their car, they drove on to Station Hill and made their way on to the ABC highway. Daniel drove through the traffic quickly by using the lights and siren and made it to Mr. Pilgrim’s home in time. They got out the car and made their way up the drive to the door, Daniel was just about to ring the bell when the door opened to reveal a stout black man with a round middle, his afro was cut short in a tidy bob, and a cigar hung from his mouth.

                “Mr. Pilgrim? I’m Agent McGuire this is Agent DaVel. We were told that you were willing to guide us to the house you passed the other day.” “Am I going to get pay? “I am sure we can come to some agreement.”Daniel offered. Mr. Pilgrim nodded his head, turned to his right and picked up a shotgun, “That will not be necessary Mr. Pilgrim we are already armed.” “I ain’t picking dis up fah you, dis is for my protection.” “Again Mr. Pilgrim it is not required we are more than equipped to protect ourselves and you.” “If I can’t carry it I ain’t comin.” Connie touched Daniel’s arm and shook her head, “Ok Mr. Pilgrim we will do this your way, let’s go” Connie said. They took the country route driving through St. Joseph before going on to St. John, Mr. Pilgrim directed their path through a dirt road, when the car could go no further they got out and continued on foot.

                They were silent as they made their way up Hacklettons Cliff, they followed Mr. Pilgrim as they made their way through knee high bush and forest. It was very quiet and still as they walked along an uncharted path, Connie let down her shields as they walked touching the forest she brushed thoughts with the wildlife habitation in the immediate area, but she didn’t come upon anything unusual, though that didn’t mean they weren’t there, she told herself, she knew that vampire barely gave off a sent as they bedded down for the day, she was going to have to be extra vigilant. They had gone a few more paces when a scent of death hit them full on.

“It’s up dare” Mr. Pilgrim pointed to a small hut barely visible through the surrounding growth of plant life. Connie stopped breathing, thank God for her vampire skills though they were only half of what she was. “Wait here.”Daniel told Mr. Pilgrim as he and Connie move towards the house to get a better look. They made their way cautiously up the incline to the hut. Daniel stopped a few feet away and crouched behind a bolder covered with over growth. He wasn’t breathing either, though vampires didn’t have to breathe only when they wanted to taste the air or talk for long periods of times, most vampires breathed to appear human so as not to alert humans to their presence. “So what’s the plan?’ Connie asked, crouching beside him, he paused to look around her then took a breath, “Gosh that thing is awful” Daniel commented as he had to take a breath to talk. Connie nodded in agreement, “First things let’s turn on our locators to be safe.” The PEC inventors had created GPS locators as small as an ant and had them surgical placed in the hard gristle of the ear they were activated by touching the earring on the earlobe used as an intercom piece.  O’Neal had made it mandatory a year ago after a tragic accidents;  one of their officers out in the field was kidnapped and never found, not even the remains of his body,  that all PEC personnel was to be outfitted with these pieces and activate them upon engaging in any dangerous field work. Connie touched her earring lightly and activated the GPS. “Ok what next?” “We’ll make a full sweep around the perimeter before we go in.” Connie nodded, “Ok” “Did you pick up anything on our way here?” Daniel asked “No, but I haven’t try here as yet” “Ok give it a go then we’ll move.” Connie let down her shields one by one and hesitantly reached out to read the hut, at first she wasn’t touching anything then she got hit by a fist full of fowl thoughts of vulgar passion and death, she retracted and quickly replaced her shields, she breathed shakily for awhile then gather her thoughts and thought calm thoughts then turned her attentions towards Daniel.

                “I believe our vampire is asleep in there.” Connie said, Daniel nodded “Ok good what about the kite?” Connie tried again but got no reading that it was even there, she shook her head “Nothing, but it can still be here remember we aren’t really clear on what it is capable off.” Daniel nodded in agreement and understanding. “Ok you ready?” Connie took two deep breaths dragging in the foul smell deep in to her lungs she almost gagged but was able to keep it together. “Yes I am ready. Let’s go.”

                They stealthy made their way up towards the house; they stood with their back to the wall crouching under the window. Daniel held up his hand and counted down 1-2-3 go, he mouthed they separated and each took an opposite wall as they made their way around the house. Connie could hear Daniel’s cool precise breathing in her hair, coming through the com link. “I’m at the front and going in cover me.” “Ok.” She watched as he tested the door it gave way in his hand easily and swung open inward allowing them to see the first room in the house. It was dark and drab; it was obviously uninhabited for quite some time. The wood was being eaten by the termites and falling away they soon found out that the floor was rickety and uneven and kept noise when they walked on it. Daniel pointed to his eyes then down a pair of steps off to his right; Connie nodded in understanding and followed him closely as he made his way down the stairs.

                The floor boards creaked under their weight and groaned from the pressure, all this time Connie had her shields half way down to allow her to be aware of any movement from their sleeping friend. She stopped Daniel and pointed to her left to let him know that the vampire was there, he nodded ok. They changed direction and went to the left, Connie’s foot hit a trap door and she shone the light from her laser, which they had on and at the ready, on to the floor. Connie saw the handle and bent to open it, “Careful” Daniel implored her. She nodded; she took a deep breath and slowly opened the trap a made no noise on the way up, laying on the floor beneath the door was their vampire fast asleep.

                “He looks so damn peaceful” Connie commented “Well we know looks can be deceiving” “So what do you want to do, take him in our take him out?” Daniel pondered the question for awhile. He was about to answer when a scream of pain and fear rent the air and Connie fell to her knees in agony from experiencing the pain of the dying man. The scream woke the vampire and he shot up out of the trap and straight at them so fast that they barely got out the way.

                It turned around and came at them, Daniel charged and took it head on, Connie was still immobile on the floor trying to pull herself out of the abyss of pain and death of Mr. Pilgrim. “Connie! Connie Damn it answer me” she heard a grunt of pain and a sharp snap as bone was broken, as the vampire and Daniel fought on the floor a foot away from her, Connie tried to answer but could get no answer out, she tried to put her shields up to protect herself. She was able to put up enough to look up and take stock of what was going on in front of her, she reached out for her laser, which had been knocked out her hand as the vampire first dove for them, she grabbed aimed and fired just as it was about to take a bite out of Daniel’s neck. It hissed out in pain as smoke and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air, she wasn’t able to get a clear shot of his head to totally take him out due to the tears blurring her vision, but she was able to wound it, it hissed at her again and turned and ran out of the room. Daniel came over to her side, “Are you ok?” “Yes I’ll be fine. Go! Go after it; see if Mr. Pilgrim is ok. I’ll be there soon.” “Are you sure?” “Yes go now Daniel” Daniel ran up the stairs and out the door. Connie tried to stand up and stumbled. She placed her hands on the wall and slowly pulled herself up, she leaned against the wall panting from the exertion of getting up, she took a shaky step forward and almost fell again she held onto the wall for support. She closed her eyes and took three deep steadying breaths, opened them and took another determine step forward. She made it up the stairs and collapsed on the floor above them. She sat there for awhile thinking calming thoughts and trying to slow her breathing down.

                She listened to the forest and realized that everything had gone quite, too quite, almost deadly quite. Where is Daniel she thought, she couldn’t smell anything either. She got up slowly testing her strength, she looked around her, there was no one here, she was alone, and where was Daniel and Mr. Pilgrim? She moved towards the door. “Daniel! Mr. Pilgrim!” nothing, no answer, she made a move to open the door and a searing pain ripped through her defenses and straight to her brain, she fell in pain, her body could take no more not another attack and gave up. Gave her up to the darkness that always threatened to close in on her,  Connie felt herself falling down-down-down into the abyss of darkness with no way of stopping it, she lost herself in it.

                Connie awoke with a searing headache and the sound of her name vibrating in her head, she tried to open her eyes but it was difficult, instead she laid still and listened to the sounds assaulting her ears. “How long has she been out?” “I’m not sure I found her lying there about half an hour ago.” She recognized Daniel’s voice talking to another man, whose voice she could not place but it sounded very familiar. The raging pain in her head was making it impossible to form any relevant and coherent thoughts. She tried to open her eyes again and this time they begun to cooperate, she had them fully open to shut them again from the blare of the light shining through them which brought on another onslaught of searing pain to her head and she moaned. “Connie? Connie can you hear me? Are you awake?” Daniel asked coming closer, she tried to say something but her mouth was so parched and dry, she tried to swallow. “Water” it came out in a hoarse whisper. “I think she needs some water.” Daniel said. Jimmy brought him a bottle; Daniel took her head in his hand and propped it up as he brought the bottle to her mouth. She gulped the water down, “Slowly let her drink slowly, she has a concussion.” Jimmy warned, as soon as the water hit her mouth Connie gulped at the water and swallowed it greedily, but she was too fast, as quickly as it had gone down it came right back up. She turned her head, which caused her pain, and emptied her stomach unto the floor; she coughed as she almost strangled on her own vomit. She took three long breaths to steady her stomach. “Are you ok now?” Daniel asked, she begun to shake her head and hissed as she forgot about her headache, “Yes. Thanks.”

                Connie open her eyes and looked up into Daniel’s beautiful face, wow, she thought how could I have missed just how beautiful he is? She asked herself, those eyes that looked at her and made her melt inside Connie sighed, and those lips, those luscious lips that look good enough to devour. As Connie studied Daniel’s face she became unaware of her audience and the fact that her hand had come up to caress the side of Daniel’s face. Daniel stared in shock at the caress and outright showcase of affection that Connie was displaying, all be it totally unaware of her audience. I want to kiss those lips and taste them she thought, the moon fever burned to raging life in her body and spiked to a new level of pure heat, lust and passion. She brought her head up slowly on level with his; she looked into his eyes and saw amazement, shock and desire.  Connie closed her eyes and leaned into his lips. At the first contact of their lips Daniel went rigid. The fever in Connie’s body surged to life, making her bolder with the kiss and she deepened it as she tried to state the hunger that the fever had arisen in her.

                Someone coughed and cleared their throat and Connie was snapped back to the present, she pulled away from Daniel with eyes opened with shock, she covered her mouth with shock. They sat there staring at each other for awhile, “Well I hate to break up this love fest, but Connie assuming you are done can we get on with this investigation?” Connie turned her full attention to the speaker and gasped with shock and embarrassment, standing in front of her was their boss Mr. O’Neal. Oh shit I’m in for it now, Connie thought, never mix work with pleasure was always her rule. However Connie now had not only broken that rule but had done it all too willingly in front of her boss and as she looked around she realized a room full of PEC agents and operatives. “I’m…I’m sorry sir” she apologized looking away from him and blushing deeply, Daniel rose to his feet beside her and stretched out his hand to help her stand, she ignored it and got too her own feet, she swayed and Daniel reached out and grasped her arm in his hand to steady her. Connie didn’t, couldn’t look at Daniel, what she just did would certainly have an impact on their relationship in the near future.

“Can I get some blood?” Connie asked Jimmy who she knew kept a pack of refrigerated blood in his kit. “Sure” he rummaged around and pulled out a clear see through iv bag, Connie inhaled the blood allowing the scent to begin the process of her fangs elongating then sank her fangs into the blood and drank from it deeply, she repeated this process three time till she was full. Jimmy discarded the bag and they turned their attention towards O’Neal, “I’m really sorry about that boss” Connie apologized again she felt Daniel go stiff beside her, those probably were not the best choice of words to use. O’Neal held up his hand “No explanation necessary Agent DaVel, circumstances pending I understand your condition. While I don’t condone them, make sure it doesn’t happen frequently” he said with a slight smile, Connie blushed again “Yes sir.” “Right! Unto business. What happened?”

Daniel proceeded to inform O’Neal about the tip and the attack from the vampire and kite, Mr. Pilgrim had suffered irreversible damage to his body and was in intensive care at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. O’Neal listened to the report with a wary expression on his face. “Well it seems that we have met our match with this one. I want you to go home get some rest and be at headquarters bright and early tomorrow morning we have to stop this thing even if it means pooling all our resources.” “Yes sir” she Daniel said as one, O’Neal turned and looked at her. “Oh and Connie get a dance you look like hell” O’Neal ordered Connie blushed and a few snickers were heard around the hut.”, “Right away sir.” “Good see you at seven o’ clock tomorrow morning. Agent Crone escort Agent DaVel and McGuire to their car and make sure they get home, Jimmy you go as well.” “Yes sir” they replied.

All four of them made their way down Hackeltton’s Cliff silently, they got in the car. Daniel had hoped that they would be driving alone to question her about the kiss but now that they had company he didn’t think it would be appropriate our acceptable for Connie. Also it looked like she was trying to avoid talking to him so he let it drop and watch her closely as Jimmy and Warren drove her to Papa G’s bar then dropped him home. Before he went to sleep he promised himself that he will confront her about the kiss first thing tomorrow. Daniel went to sleep with the kiss still on his mind, filling his dreams of Connie and him together.