After The End (12 page)

We exchanged smiles as I rose and tossed my
unused pillow at the vampire.

“Yes, Daemon, you should sleep; you two hens
have been clucking all day whilst some of us have been attempting
slumber.” interjected Cal from his mattress.

We apologized and I rushed outside. Once the
door shut behind me, the Roman’s hearty laughter rippled through
the heavy air.

The weeks that followed provided an inside
view of vampiric life; I found it surreal. Apparently, I wasn’t the
only one who’d presumed our fangy friends hit the dirt at dawn.
Chase actually walked into the cabin, saw Caelinus pacing one
afternoon, and walked back outside blinking rapidly and saying,

“Ok there’s a lot of weird stuff I’ve already
accepted, but sleepwalking vampires is too much and I’m too
tired.”

Sunny’s husband wandered over to the second
cabin while she and I laughed; dishwater splashed as a pot
cannon-balled from my hand into the washtub.

That evening our community discovered why the
Roman had been pacing. Cal stood near the radiating fire pit and
cleared his throat for attention. His protégé at his side beaming
with his chest puffed like a peacock.

“I have an announcement for the camp
patrons.”

The usual murmur died as focus was drawn to
the elder vampire. I nodded my enthusiasm and sat back to observe
his speech’s impact.

“Today Squirrel, Daemon, and I agreed that he
has become proficient enough in use of his abilities to patrol
untended from here on. Therefore, we believe that it would be in
our collective best interest for the two of us to alternate nights
on duty. We can patrol individually six days per week and use the
seventh for both defense and training together.

This would allow each of you more assistance
from our specific skills as well as give us a better chance to
interact on a personal level. Thus far our two species have
cooperated in this village but we have remained – with little
exception – detached socially.

There is currently minimal human/vampire
involvement other than donations. Obviously, we don’t have to be
best friends, but I would enjoy the opportunity to form more
intellectual and emotional bonds. There is more to life than just
surviving.”

Daemon scanned the crowd like a nervous groom
at his wedding when they ask for objections. Cal stood straight;
his body language projected calm, except for his eyes, which
flicked from place to place wildly. Michael raised his hand and
rose. My head tilted in amusement at the situation as much as at
Cal’s face. I couldn’t tell if the elder Undead was amused or just
bewildered.

“So, from now on, either you or Daemon will
be here with us at night?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The boy was prodded to continue by his little
sister.

“So, um, would you be able to tell us more
stories those nights you don’t hafta work? If you can’t it’s okay,
but you know all the cool war stories and all about other countries
and stuff.” He shuffled his feet uncomfortably, all eyes plastered
on him.

“It would be my pleasure to tell you and
Bobbi and Ellen stories. Does anyone else have any concerns about
this new arrangement; I promise, the adults are welcome at story
time as well.”

Laughter rang out and the boy resumed his
seat, satisfied that the tales would occur regularly. With no
further issues, Daemon swaggered out to begin his first solo shift
and Cal sat by the children. They listened intently as he regaled
them with the story of Romulus and Remus, dinner gradually
disappearing from their plates.

Randolph teased that the kids were getting
dinner and a show before stacking his dirty dishes and taking his
post at the gateway.

Most evenings began with both vamps for the
first hour, during which they increasingly participated in camp
talk and revelry. (Daemon’s jokes were banned until the kids went
to bed.) An evening almost a month after the Coffin Cabin was done,
as Daemon called it, I joined the gathering with my grilled otter
and roasted peppers, overhearing the debate as I sat down.

“There’s no way the Mummy is a better monster
flick; it’s just a wrapped up magical zombie, it’s not even gory or
anything. If we go zombie flicks, it’s either the Dawn of the Dead
remake or the original Night of the Living Dead. Personally though,
I prefer werewolf films; I’m sort of over the zombie thing
now.”

Sunny was arguing with one of the newer guys.
Her arms were wielded in conjunction with each word, swift and
precise as in combat.

The coed kid with a Gators tee shook his head
and sneered half his mouth in retort.

“Most werewolf movies aren’t that good. And
the Mummy is a classic. Besides, it’s creepy. A retro creepfest can
be way more entertaining than a stupid effects gimmick like with
werewolf flicks.”

I took the opportunity to stir the verbal
embers.

“Vampires make for cooler films. You get not
just classics like Dracula, but also great stories and effects. I
mean, look at Interview with the Vampire, The Lost Boys, and Queen
of the Damned; those movies rocked! Besides, vampires make for
better television. Maybe not something like Dracula: the series,
but True Blood or Forever Knight are definitely better than those
other monster shows.”

Several heads bobbed their assent or shook
off my debate emphatically. Chase stood and held his palms out to
the group.

“Okay, granted I liked the Twilight movies,
but…” he was cut off abruptly as the elder Undead was suddenly on
his feet.

Chase paused, startled by Cal’s appearance;
the Roman clenched his fists and snarled. His nostrils flared and
eyes glowed in the dancing shadows of the fire pit as he growled
out his rant.

“That Twilight crap is the most offensive,
insulting pile of horse shit I’ve ever experienced in two millennia
on this dusty rock. Real vampires don’t sparkle like a disco ball
and whine like babies to over-dramatic expressionless bitches. We
don’t go to high school over and over for eternity; that’s an
absurd waste of time and sanity. From what I can tell, no one wants
to go through matriculation the one time.”

Chase held up a hand in an attempt to slow
the tirade; Sunny pulled it to his side.

“And who the Hell would randomly decide to
become responsible for a dying brat without a decent reason? I’ve
never met anyone of my kind who was that big of a fool. That
horrible series tarnished the image of vampires. How can you claim
to actually like something as abysmal and insolent as Twilight? I
had thought you had some taste.”

Cal’s hands shook with rage as he stopped
pacing and yelling. He locked eyes on Sunny’s husband and he panted
from his avalanche of annoyance. Chase’s pink face turned a
burgundy. The air was thick as Chase opened and closed his mouth
several times before shrugging in surrender.

Sunny held her palm over her face and mumbled
to her husband.

“I told you not to tell people about
that.”

He just glanced at her and then back to the
infuriated vampire, his eyebrows lifted his eyes wider as he
muttered.

“Sorry?”

I’ve never been sure which person he was
apologizing to, but both exhaled deeply and accepted the concession
simultaneously. Chase looked at his feet while silence engulfed the
diners. Sunny resumed eating her fish, prompting the rest to follow
suit.

The Roman looked about and it seemed to dawn
on him how harsh his speech had been. His stance deflated and he
hung his head; his eyes dimmed as he turned away. The kids finished
their dinner and were rushing to clean their dishes when Cal sat
back down.

“I must ask forgiveness for my outburst.
Although the subject is very agitating for me on a personal level,
it was unacceptable for me to be so coarse, particularly in front
of the children. I hope that you can all excuse me this
incivility.”

The penitent vampire was almost knocked down
as Ellen abruptly hugged him. The energetic little princess both
forgave and scolded the Roman as she clung to his side.

“Of course we forgive you; that’s what you’re
supposed to do when a friend says sorry and really means it. But
you’re still in trouble for interrupting and using the bad
words.”

She released Cal and stepped back, her hands
at her hips and elbows sternly out at right angles.

“Now look Mr. Chase in the eye and say sorry
for talking during his turn and then you two shake hands. Then you
go to your room and think about why you were mean ‘til someone lets
you out.”

I never knew a seven-year-old could throw out
a Mom Glare until that instant. Caelinus awkwardly did as the diva
ordered and sulked away to his bed. As I sat stunned by the dinner
show, she signaled her two playmates and they merrily bounded away
to start a new activity. As the trio of youths left the silent mass
of grown-ups, Ellen shouted to us.

“In ten minutes, someone tell Cal he can come
out and tell us our stories, m’kay!”

I bobbed my head and laughed. We allowed the
powerful vampire to end his time out in accordance with the child’s
instructions. He still looked confused and ashamed when I paroled
him from his windowless cell.

“Cal, time out’s over.” I called from the
doorway. “The kids are ready for story time, but I think after that
your rehabilitation will be complete; just check in with your
parole officer first.” I couldn’t resist giving my pal a hard
time.

“Thank you. I think I have been adequately
humbled now, so you can stop vexing me. I think I’ll check on
Daemon once the little ones are in bed.”

Caelinus ambled off, a tiny smile playing
briefly across his pallid cheeks. Macho as he tried to be, it was
clear to me that the old fellow loved entertaining those
children.

Always having one vamp inside the fort eased
the trepidation that had been building. Everyone began seeing Cal
and Daemon as just two more people in our band of survivors. Each
night, we learned more about our immortal companions and the
imbedded fears dissipated. By the time the suffocating heat of
summer peaked, our hamlet in the ocean of decay felt like a
family.

During our late afternoon storm, Cal flew
into the camp with another person in tow. Carefully putting the
drenched person on the ground, the vampire shouted to the handful
of us under the food canopy.

“All is well, he is a familiar friend.”

The man shook the drizzle from his raincoat
and removed his wide-brimmed hat; enthusiastic smiles welcomed
him.

“Hi y’all, how’s it been here in old Nova
Nocte? Looks bigger since I was last here. Bit wetter than my last
visit, but least its washed ‘way all them love bugs. Fang boy here
already done give me a look over and took my new guns. I mooned him
good, just in case, heheh. Don’t suppose any of y’all missed
me?”

Forrest Jackson, AKA Bubba, helped himself to
a late supper of rice-thickened possum stew as he drawled out his
greeting.

Cal clapped Bubba on the back as Sunny and I
put away our weapons.

“Nice to see you back with us safely. I’ll
catch up with you tomorrow evening; I must get back to my vigil,
particularly given the information you have provided.”

The elder vampire set Bubba’s rifle and
pistol on the table along with a box of rounds, and took to the air
like a streak of lightning in reverse. Forrest waved his freshly
emptied spoon in reply. Sunny and I exchanged nervous glances; I
blurted out my worries first.

“Uh, Bubba, I’m glad you returned from your
adventuring safe and sound, but what info did you give Cal that
sent him shooting off to guard duty so enthusiastically?”

“Oh, yeah that; about fifteen miles from here
there was ‘nother camp set up outta a big condo complex and, one
morning last week, a big herd of murdering folks raided that camp
and ever’thin nearby they could take. Handful them bandits was
wearing Brazilian tourist shirts and was ramblin on while the boy
with them translated to Spanglish. The rest was all camo-dressed
macho types with guns-a-blazing.

They burnt the place down and staked a vamp
that was protectin the complex folks, then shot up or beat down the
humans. Drew a helluva lot of fleshies to the camp, so I scooted
out quick as deer and come back this way to check on y’all. Dunno
which way they gonna go next or even if they survived all them
roaming corpses, but figured we was all good friends so I ought to
put out the alert to be cautious.”

Sunny glanced at me as she responded.

“Thanks for the warning, Forrest. We’ll get
ready for attack just in case. I think we may have met some of that
group before.”

I choked down my fear around the lump in my
throat. I reluctantly considered the possibility that numerous
other survivors were now dead thanks to my earlier choice regarding
the Brazilian teens. I’d been unable to think of a better solution
after the misunderstanding that night. I probably should have
killed Maria and her friends then, I just didn’t want innocent
blood on my hands.

They’re not innocent anymore.

“Squirrel, you alright there? Yer face been
overcast since I told y’all the about them pillaging bastards in
town.” Bubba asked, shaking me from my reverie.

I blinked rapidly before the words sank in. I
became aware I was now the sleepy lion at the zoo; everyone watched
for me to do something interesting. I shoved the frog down my
narrowed gullet to force verbiage to my tongue.

“Yeah. Sorry, I just zoned out a minute. I’m
thinking up a temporary plan until we can have a town council in
the morning and iron out a solid arrangement.”

Several people nodded and leaned back. I took
it as encouragement to elaborate.

“We should start having two people as
sentries at the gate instead of one. Daemon and Cal could patrol
closer to the fort, as well. The vamps would also be the only ones
to deal with the Dead for now; anything with a pulse, they’d return
for backup.”