The Vampire Council: Case File:1 (13 page)

‘I’m not lying. I was at work.’ Jeff’s entire body begins to shake. He knows he can’t keep this lie up.

‘I phoned your work Jeff. They said they hadn’t seen you all day and that you’ve been out of the office quite a lot the past few weeks. What are you hiding from me?’ Tears begin to fill Jade’s eyes. As her mind begins to swirl around with thoughts of what he might be up to behind her back.

Jeff clenches his fists as he hears the love of his life begin to cry. There’s nothing he can do. He’s frozen on the other side of the living room. Staring into the floor beneath his feet. The feeling of not even being able to look at his wife and
comfort her hurts him more than the lies he’s told. ‘Jade. Please. You have to believe me.’ Jeff begins to plead. With every passing second, the hunger for blood is growing within him. Jeff is fighting every urge from his body which tells him to attack his wife.
Never. As much as you want her. You’re not having her. She has nothing to do with this.
His head begins to pound once more this time with more force. The pain is unbearable, Jeff can hardly keep himself up as his legs shake uncontrollably. There’s a moment of silence.

‘Who’s Tessa?’ Jade asks holding herself steady as she wipes away her tears.

Suddenly the shaking in Jeff’s body stops. He is frozen solid like a statue. All he can hear is the pounding of his heart and the thoughts in his head.
Wait, what? How does she know about Tessa? This scenario is getting far too complicated. I can’t think of a way out of this. Not one she won’t see through anyway. What is this fresh hell I’m in?
‘Who did you say again?’ Jeff asks still looking at the ground.
Great. As she explains what she thinks she knows, maybe I can come up with a believable excuse.

‘Tessa, Jeff. Who is she? I know you’ve been seeing her behind my back.’ Jade pronounces this as though it’s what she whole heartedly believes is the truth. As much as she wishes it wasn’t. It’s the only explanation she could think of. Tears stream down her cheeks once more as the thought of her husband cheating her fills her head.

             
Fuck! I knew that’s what she would think. Got it.
‘Tessa? She’s a new client I’m working with.’ Jeff states with an honest inflection in his voice. As this answer lingers in the air between them, Jeff lets out a silent sigh believing that put an end to this.

‘I’ve seen your phone Jeff. You left it here the other day. You have multiple texts from this woman saying she needs to see as quickly as possible. One even asking if I was home. In which you replied I wasn’t and that she could come round.’ Jade’s voice becomes louder again as anger fills her body. ‘Did you fuck some random slut in our bed? The same bed in which we make love. The same bed in which our daughter was conceived. The same bed you share with the one woman you devoted yourself to for the rest of your life.’ Jade breaks down into a concoction of anger and sadness. ‘And do you want to know the most hurtful thing of all is?’ Jade waits in silence for a moment hoping to get a reaction from Jeff who is still frozen beyond the doorway. ‘You can’t even look at your wife and tell her the truth.’

What is happening here? I never agreed to any of this.
Jeff’s body starts to shake again as he clenches his fists tighter. Anger starts to control him.
This isn’t part of the deal! How am I meant to keep this second life a secret from my family? It’s just not possible. I’ve thought through every variable. If I want to have just a single ounce of hope of keeping Jade, keeping Lisa. There’s only one logical path to take.
In pure confusion and anger Jeff shouts as he raises his head sharply, ‘This is the truth!’

Jade quickly looks up at Jeff and slowly begins to back away further from her husband, as the darkness of his eyes scares her to death. She mutters quietly as she cannot control the feelings in her head to form an audible sentence.

Jeff slowly walks towards his terrified wife. ‘This is going to sound ridiculous and made up. But you have to believe me, because it’s the truth.’

Jade’s arm quivers as she points to Jeff’s mouth. ‘Your teeth.’ She lowers her arm slowly. ‘Your eyes.’ Her voice even more shaky than her arm.

‘I’m a vampire Jade.’ Jeff cannot believe that those words just exited from his lips as he slowly walks towards her. Jade bumps into the sofa behind her which causes her to fall onto it. She curls up in the corner with fear in her eyes. Jeff stops as to try not to scare her even more. ‘I’m not going to lie to you anymore.’ Jeff takes a deep breath before he continues. ‘I was kidnapped by an underground organization called The Vampire Council. Against my will and without my knowledge I was turned into this thing. This retched evil monster you see before you. I had no choice but to stay with the group. If I were to attempt to leave I would’ve been killed. And I couldn’t do that to you. And Lisa. I know that sounds ridiculous but you have to believe me.’ Jade just stares at him with wide eyes. ‘I’m not cheating on you. I love you with everything I have. I could never do that to you. Tessa is another vampire. She’s not part of this organization so she contacts me through my mobile. She is technically a client and I’m helping her with a case. Please Jade, this is all true. Please believe me.’ Jeff begs as he begins to feel weak but growing with hunger.

‘I believe you.’ Jade says softly through her fear. ‘Just. Just please get rid of it.’ Jade sobs at the sight of her husband’s jet black eyes.

‘I can’t. I’ve lost control over it. I need to feed this side of me before I can regain control.’ The mention of blood sends his body into a frenzy, his arm quickly reaches out to Jade but with force Jeff pulls it back. And drops to his knees as the fight within himself begins.
I said never. She will not be harmed, especially not by me.

The sight of what’s happening to Jeff in front of her sends Jade into a panic. She becomes hysterical. ‘Jeff what the fuck is going on?’ She screams in terror.

‘I’m losing strength. Please. Jade take Lisa and get out of here now!’ Jeff barks the order at her. ‘You can’t be around me right now, go somewhere, anywhere, just get away from me.’ Jeff lets out a huge hiss as his fangs are fully revealed and his body leaps towards Jade on the sofa.

Jade lets loose a deafening scream of terror as she desperately throws herself to the floor to evade Jeff’s attack. Jeff continues to fight his vampire side. ‘Jade, hurry. Be safe. Don’t tell anyone. Get
Lisa, get out, and don’t mention a thing to anyone. If word gets out that you know… I don’t want to think about what will happen to you.’ Jeff grabs tightly to the back of the sofa and struggles to keep himself there as his vampire side fights against him for his wife’s blood.

‘Ok.’ Quivers Jade as she quickly gets up running into the hallway slamming the living room behind her.

Jeff’s arms give way and he slams into the floor as the force of his body flings forward. ‘Jade! Hurry!’ Jeff lets out a scream of agony as he rives in pain on the living room floor. The smell of both Jade’s and Lisa’s blood fill the air which in turn makes it harder for Jeff to fight against the hunger. Suddenly he hears the front door open, then slam shut as Jade locks the door hoping to keep Jeff trapped inside. Jeff rolls on his back to see Jade quickly run past the living room window holding Lisa tightly in her arms.
Thank God they’re safe. But this. This curse. Has ruined everything!
In a fit of anger Jeff jumps to his feet and begins to smash up his living room. Punching through cabinets. Kicking in his television smashing the screen into nothing but shards of glass. He walks over to the door. As he grabs the handle he pulls the door completely off its hinges and throws it behind him into the living room. He senses the smell of blood somewhere in his house. Then he remembers. Lisa’s pet puppy he bought her last Christmas. He rushes up the stairs and kicks down Lisa’s bedroom door. The puppy frightened by the door jumps from Lisa’s bed and cowers in the corner of the room. At this point the hunger has fully taken over. Jeff has no control over his actions. His one and only goal is to feed. He slowly heads towards the puppy. The puppy begins to bark and growl as Jeff draws closer. The puppy gets a sudden urge of courage and decides to leap at Jeff with all intention to bite his face. Within a split second Jeff catches the puppy around its neck. The puppy kicks away at Jeff’s arm in hope he will let go. But Jeff grabs hold of its two back legs and stretches it out in front of himself like a rack of ribs. He slams his face into the dog’s body ripping a chunk of flesh from its back, fur and all. The puppy lets out one final whimper before Jeff devours the blood and meat from its body.

CHAPTER 18:

FATE IS SEALED

J
acqueline sits comfortably on her throne behind the desk in her office. On the desk in front of her are a bunch of papers in which she carefully looks at and organises into separate folders. As she is busy dealing with paper work her hands are full so she has a lit cigarette burning in the ashtray on her desk to keep the smell of tobacco smoke in the air around her. Her mind has become scrambled with information read from these sheets, she’s finding it hard to think straight. A knock on her door breaks the deep concentration. ‘Enter.’ Without raising her eye line from the paperwork she peaks.

Vaelen enters and shuts the door behind him. As he makes his way to Jacqueline’s desk his footsteps echo and bounce off the cold stone walls. ‘Excuse me for the interruption.’ Vaelen bows his head.

Jacqueline quickly looks up to see Vaelen in this position. ‘Vaelen. There’s no one around. Quit being so formal.’ She looks back down at her papers.

Vaelen raises his head and looks at Jacqueline deep in work. ‘I know you have a lot on your plate but I was hoping we could discuss the best cause of action to take care of the rogue drug ring operation.’ He suggests in a calm manner.

‘I guess I can put this on hold for a moment.’ Jacqueline states as she leans back into her throne and lets out a sigh as she reaches for the lit cigarette and proceeds to take a drag from it. She exhales. ‘I’ve been wanting that ever since I lit it.’

‘Must be hard work preparing everything,’ Vaelen said with a hint of compassion in his voice.

‘No use sympathising with me Vaelen, just feel lucky that you’re not the one going in front of the high council.’ Jacqueline smirks.

Vaelen laughs. ‘Yeah. Instead you have me working out in the field getting my hands dirty.’

Jacqueline inhales more smoke before speaking. ‘Whether it’s out on the field or sat behind a desk. We all get our hands dirty.’ On hearing this Vaelen looks down to the floor.

‘I guess you’re right.’ He says now looking back at Jacqueline.

‘Right so what is it you wanted to discuss?’ Jacqueline asks.

‘Our plan of action for the drug ring operation.’

‘Hmmm. Anything you have in mind?’ Jacqueline wants Vaelen to think as her brain has fried.

‘I was thinking this would be a good opportunity for the rookies to put their training to the test.’ Vaelen knew this idea was too far-fetched.

Jacqueline is shocked by this idea. ‘You best be kidding?’

‘I’m not Jacqueline. They’ve shown promise recently. Within training, their first mission and the interrogation.’

Jacqueline slams her fist onto her desk, ‘that interrogation was a shambles. Or did you forget that you were the one who retrieved the information from our prisoner.’

‘That may be so. But surely they proved they have what it takes. Have you seen the recent
reports I wrote? Vaelen asks desperately trying to convince Jacqueline that this is a good idea.

‘I did. You speak very highly of them both in the reports and now here in front of me. You best not be going soft Vaelen. Your job title is to train and observe new recruits. Not treat them like friends and protect them. If they can’t survive on their own then they’re not worthy of joining our organization.’ Jacqueline’s voice was cold and brutal.

Vaelen steps back in shock. He cannot believe how she is acting. ‘But Jacqueline. In the reports. Their stats are high.’

‘Humph. Yes this is true. But least you forget the girl. She hasn’t even changed form yet. What use will she be in a crisis situation?’ Jacqueline asks calming down slightly.

‘Yes she hasn’t changed yet. But she shows full honour to the council and strangely her gun and combat skills are unmatched by both Jeff and Will. Give her any weapon and she’ll be fine.’ Vaelen smiles as he believes this may have clinched it for him.

A pause of silence as Jacqueline thinks over Vaelen’s proposal. Her head in her hands, hunched over her desk, pushing her paperwork with her elbows. ‘Fine. Let them do it.’ She composes herself. Sat upright she moves her papers and folders back into place.

‘Shall we say, two days’ time, nineteen hundred hours? That way then your meeting with the council will be out of the way.’ Vaelen proposes.

‘Yes. Have them storm the warehouse and find out who’s in charge.’ Jacqueline looks down at her hands placed in her lap. They’re shaking. ‘I’m sorry Vaelen. For snapping like that. It’s just…’

‘You’re stressed and over worked preparing for the meeting. I understand.’

Jacqueline looks toward Vaelen and the smile on his face fills her heart with happiness. She smiles back. ‘Thank you Vaelen. Please come closer.’ Jacqueline pats the arm of her throne indicating for Vaelen to take a seat on the arm rest, he does so. Vaelen looks at the papers spread across the desk.