Walking along the street Jeremy had no fear of things that go bump in the night, no fear of things that are said to be myth.
Impossible things… He had just gotten off of work and was heading back home to Amy isman His part time girl friend.
Stopping at the light pole he thought he saw something but decided it was just a cat or a dog or something jogging across the street crossing his cigarette hanging at his mouth after he made it to the other side he slipped in some dark liquid “oil?” he thought, he realized he had dropped his smoke and reached for a new one he put it to his mouth and struck his match the second it sparked a harsh wind erupted from down the street. He saw an ally and half ran to it, it seemed to him that the wind stopped he struck another match and light the cigarette and turned to walk out the ally when he realized he couldn’t see anything.
“What the fuck!” he cried out. In an instant he was on the ground some heavy weight on top of him, his arms pinned to the ground, he tried to get up but to no avail.
“Relax, it won’t hurt…” said a voice dripping with malicious intent.
“Get off of…” he said but was cut off he couldn’t speak any more. His voice had left him somehow.
He felt cold air on his neck he felt the pressure of two sharp pointed teeth against his neck. He waited for the pain the death he began to cry his mouth open in silent screams of fear hate and pain.
The teeth pierced his neck he felt his life leaving him draining into the figures mouth.
The weight on top of him began to writhe with near pleasure, its head bobbing as he drank Jeremy’s blood.
The “thing” had stopped it raised its head to the night and Jeremy felt his own blood droplets on his face he felt weak and tired he began to drift off to sleep he last moments consisted of a feelings of being dragged, of being cold, of dying, of his head being ripped from his body.
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Zoe Levin, walked down the street for the hundredth time, retracing the steps of the man whose body had been found hours before, “he had to have gone this way…but where was he going?” she muttered to herself.
The case was puzzling, one man drained completely of blood left decapitated in an alleyway.
She stopped and flashed her Scotland Yard badge to a cab driver attempting to get to his cab before she could stop him. He was in his 50s balding and overweight. “Zoe Levin Scotland yard, were you working last night?” she asked in a firm voice.
“No, no I don’t work around here.” the man quickly, trying once again to reach his cab.
“Do you know the penalty for lying to a police officer?” she asked looking him straight in the eye.
The man stopped his pointless efforts to reach the safety of his cab. “I was working yes…” he finally conceded. “Did you see this man at all?” she said holding up a picture of the mans head which poorly hid his severed neck line. “Oh my god…” the man said covering his mouth.
“Did you see him?” she said more forcefully. “yes I saw him, I see him all the time he works around the corner I picked him up sometimes.” the man said a slight quiver in his voice “Did you know him personally?” she said putting the picture back in her coat pocket. “No not really we spoke a few times, but silly little chit chat…” he said clearly hoping this would end soon. “Did you know his name?” she asked putting her hands in her pockets clicking the tape recorder on. “Uhhh… maybe I think it was john…Jake….something with a J I really can’t remember, I am just an old man after all.” the man said genuinely.
“Very well, do you know where he worked?” She said stepping close to make sure the tape caught everything. “Ummm OH yes at the sandwich shop, I remember because they have the best…” he said but was cut off by a motion of her hand. “That will be all thank you.” she said and walked off with out a second glance at the man. She was Grabbing at straws, there seemed to be no clues at all to the culprit. She decided the next best course of action would be to speak to the mans former employer.
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She steeped into small family run sandwich shop and walked to the counter looking at the highly bored teenager. Holding up her badge she said “Zoe Levin, Scotland Yard, I wish to speak with the owner.”
The teenager looked her up and down and finally turned and yelled in to the kitchen “OI Dave, some copper here to speak with ya” “bloody hell I could have done that.” she thought to herself an small old man walked out and hit the teenager behind the head “how many times to I have to tell you no yelling?” said the man who appeared to be in his late 60s, small thin and pale.
She raised her eyebrow slightly and said “are you the owner” the man looked at her and said “yes miss I am, can I help you?” he said in a kindly manner of a grandfather.
“I need to speak with you about the murder of one of your employee’s.” she said producing the picture of the severed head “COOL!” the teenager cried the instant he saw the head. “SHOW SOME RESPECT WHY DON’T YOU!” said the owner. “Can we go some where more peaceful?” she said putting the picture away from the eyes of the teenager. “Yes please come.” he said stepping aside to open a small door for her.
“I must apologize for Kevin, he is. Undisciplined…” said the man with a look over his shoulder at the Boy.
“Its quite all right, I need to ask some questions about this man.” she said taking a seat at a small table.
“Yes, I understand. Would you like some Tea?” asked David. “No thank you just the information”
“Yes well suit yourself, his name was Jeremy Skelton he worked her for oh id say 2 years.” he said while pouring a cup of Tea. “Do you have any files on him that I could see?” she asked “oh heavens no I don’t keep things like that its all in here.” he said tapping his temple, and taking a seat at the small table. “I see well I need to know everything.” she said “ah well yes, let’s see where to start… OH yes well he was from Leeds I know that yes and he was 22 years old tall good looking he always had a Different girl dropping him off for work.” he said sipping his tea. “Did you know the names of any of these girls?” she asked hopefully
“I’m sorry but no I don’t. Well I do remember one…umm yes it was Amy yes that’s It.” said the man while he added at least four lumps to his tea. “Do you know where he lived?” she asked the tape recorder still running in her pocket. “ummm…oh yes it was just around the block yes ummm grove and Bedford street yes that’s it I remember because one time I took him some food when he was sick.” she furrowed her brow and asked “did any one have grudge against him, maybe want him dead?’ “Not that I know, he was a nice boy. Well nice man.” David said drinking more of his tea.
“And do you have anything else to add?” she asked..
“No I am afraid that is all I know about him he was rather secretive didn’t talk much.” He said draining his cup of tea. “Thank you very much, umm I don’t suppose the boy would know anything.” she said hoping the teenager at the counter didn’t. “Oh no he just started two days ago.” he said quickly.
“Yes well thank you very much, If I am in need of you I will contact you.” she said with a nod of her head.
“Good bye take care now.” said the man as he watched her walk out the door.”
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Standing outside of the shop she looked around the street “killers often return to the scene of a crime…”
She thought to herself. She looked at everyone. Mostly senior citizens out for a day of shopping or young lovers out for lunch. She herself didn’t seem to fit into either category. She was single married to the job late 20s tall with black hair and green eyes. “Thanks mum…” she thought sorely remembering one of the few things her mother had given her. Her father was a policeman she dreamed as a little girl to be one too. She thought of graduation day when he gave a speech, it was after all was only fitting the highest decorated officer in all of Scotland yard history would give a speech to the green rookies whose heads were filled with dreams of “cracking the big one” or “catching al Capone” as it was said often. She reached for her cell phone and dialled Ned her assistant, “Zoe Levin’s desk how I may help you?” asked the Irish voice on the other end of the phone.
“This is Zoe Ned, the name of our Vic is Jeremy Skelton,also I need to know if the lab has found anything yet.” she said rounding the corner where the C.S.I.s were still ciphering though the “trace” evidence. “No I have not heard from them at all yet.” he said after a moment. “Damn them, all right call me the moment they get back with me, and Ned Drop the cute act. She said playfully “didn’t know I was being cute…” he replied coyly “ill be in the office in about 30 minute’s ok.” she said and hung up her phone.
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She walked in and was greeted by a grinning Ned with an arm full of files. “Lab got back eh?” she said unhappily. “What’s the matter thought you wanted this?” Ned said dropping the files on her desk “all right what have we got?” she sighed leafing through the files “everything there was some blood left on the ground and in his hair.” Ned said quickly, she looked at him with her eye brow raised “hanging around the lab rats too much Ned.” she said returning to the files “can’t help my self.” Ned said taking up a seat.
“I like the cool toys they have.” he said looking into the corner of her office “yeah but we get guns…” she said playing with him. “Ha, there’s the Zoe I know and put up with.” he said with a smile
“What’s that supposed to mean” she said without looking up from her files on Blood contamination.
“I don’t know lately it seems you’ve been too focused too much on work, got to have a little fun right?”
She chuckled “I know I know, but I have nothing else to do.” throwing the file aside and rubbing her eyes.
“Yeah well you can’t have time if you don’t make time right?” he said getting up and taking a cup “I’m goanna get some tea you want some?” he said waving the cup in the air. “No no I’m fine…” she mumbled returning to her stack of files. “Ok ill see you at lunch…or dinner when ever.” he said and walked out closing the door to give her some privacy. She lay back throwing the files which she had memorized already.
She looked at the Diplomas on the wall. Oxford graduate with honours, Police academy graduate with honours, masters in psychology, crime theory, crime reconstruction, aced every test in the academy passed the test for Scotland Yard first try.
“But still not smart enough to figure this out….” she thought grimly She went over the files a dozen more times. Soon enough it was midnight and she decided to go home.
Getting up from her desk she put on her coat and rubbed the spot on her side where her badge had pinched her. Walking outside she cleared her throat to wake a sleeping Ned. “Time to go home Ned.” she said and walked to the elevator she looked at him and raised her hand wiggling her fingers saying good bye.
When she got to the lobby she nodded at the Doorman who also happened to be the guard.
She put on her coat and went for her car, she got in and started the car the radio blared some kind of heavy metal rock that she couldn’t help but nod her head to.
She drove for a few minutes and got to the intersection, she looked left to her flat and then right to the alleyway where Jeremy had been killed. Something told her to go to the Ally.
She hesitated for a moment, and hitting the steering wheel.
She turn right parked her car and shut it down. She reached into the glove compartment and grabs another clip for her Glock. She clicked the safety off and holstered the weapon. She opened the door and got out closeting and locking the door. She walked down the street ignoring the hookers and drug dealers that lined the streets “one day I am taking a whole task force down here…” she got to the alleyway and went inside her hand went to her side she walked to the end and her curiosity satisfied she turned and instantly had the wind knocked out of her. She was pinned to a wall her feet dangling hitting the wall behind her “Let me go..” she tried to say but her voice cut off half way though she couldn’t speak any more, “fear…I smell…fear, it will make your blood sweeter than you can imagine….” said a voice she almost stopped struggling for a moment as though what he said put her at ease...made her want him to drink her blood.
But she quickly came to her senses and in a burst of strength and speed she yelled out later she would realize her voice suddenly returned she sent a kick to the man using the wall for leverage, she hit the ground with a thud and got quickly up before the man could recover. she pulled her gun and aimed at the mans head “POLICE, PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD AND GET DOWN ON THE GROUND!” she yelled at him
To her surprise he kept coming at her walking slowly and purposely toward her he raised the gun an inch or two in a threatening motion, “DO AS I SAID!” she yelled.
In a flash he was behind her holding her by the neck “you’re a brave girl…I maybe wont kill you….maybe.” said the voice her gun was still held in the air she thought quickly and she raised her foot and slammed it into his crotch to her great surprise he wasn’t fazed at all “what the hell is he?!” she thought to herself, “I’m not human, Zoe…” said the man. She didn’t have time to wonder how he knew her name. she put her gun behind her head directly to his temple “Put me down or ill blow you head off!” she said grinding the gun into his temple to make her point clear “you wont shoot me…you cant shoo….” he said but was cut off by the bullet ripping through his head.
She was dropped to her feet she feel to her knees and instantly she got up her gun trained on the man on the ground, moonlight hit the man and revealed his features a long thing rigged jaw line sharp blood red eyes…that blinked at her… “”how in the hell?!” she thought quickly he stood up the moonlight still showing the gaping hole in his head reforming slowly his brain bubbling up skin and bone covering it hair growing to the exact length of the rest of his hair.
She began to breath very quickly, he walked over to her and grabbed the gun she couldn’t move anymore.
“you have become a thorn in my side, in all my years I have never had someone fight so bravely…I would turn you but it will be so much more fun killing you…” he said intensely.
He walked closer to her and grabbed her gun destroying it in his hand, tossing it aside he grabbed her by the throat she went limp “you will die slowly and painfully…” she wept and prayed to god for mercy.
He brought her closer and he put his mouth to her throat his pointed teeth pressing against her skin, she waited breathlessly for him to pierce the skin. In a split second her eyes burst open her motor skills returning she grabbed him by the hair and wrenched his head back, and hit punched him with all her strength he grunted with pain and dropped her to the ground she then leapt up and sent a flying kick to his face teeth went flying, he fell back a few feet and hit the wall “ok think archaic…how do you kill a vampire…?” She thought he came back at her with speed inhuman he kicked her in the stomached and she bent over before he could strike again she sent an uppercut to his face and sent him to the ground.
She looked around and saw a pallet against the wall she ran over and kicked it hard breaking off a piece of wood, she grabbed it before she could drive it into him he had her from behind she could hear him softly hissing she raised the piece of wood and sent it into his stomached he dropped her and started to groan it wasn’t in his heart thought she grabbed another piece of wood and drove it in to his heart he screamed with pain she ran and grabbed her gun as he advanced on her she raised her gun and fired sending the make shift stake deeper into his heart she sent seventeen rounds through him the steak passing out his back, she stopped and reloaded her gun and fired another eighteen rounds into him he was on the ground writhing in pain she looked at him and saw his eyes change colour from red to black to green to purple to red again.
His body began to burn, smoke rose from his chest like a fire was in his heart he looked at her with respect “you…are….” he said at last “I’m what?!” she yelled at him he gun still aimed at his chest “what am I, what!” she yelled his body evaporated in grey smoke that smelled of copper.
She attempted to walk out of the ally she fell against the ally way and slumped to the ground.
She nearly fired her gun at the sound of her cell phone ringing.
Fearfully she answered it, “he…hhello…” she said carefully weary of what might come from the other end.
“Hello Miss Levin, my name is Mr.Price. I wish to speak with you about what happened tonight.”
She was puzzled, she didn’t know what to make of what was happening, “how…how did you know about that?” she asked “oh, I wouldn’t worry myself with that if I was you miss Levin. I will have one of my people meet with you tonight, around the corner you will see a small Restaurant I will look closed but the door will be unlocked, please go in and wait for my man there. That will be all good night.” the man said hanging up.
She stared at her phone in her hand and was puzzled but looked over at the place where she had killed the…the “Vampire?” She thought. She got up and put her gun away and walked out as calmly as her nerves would allow.
She saw a restauarant with a closed sign in the window but there was a light on inside.
She walked up and knocked in the door, no one answered her. She pushed on the door and it opened she went in and sat down and pulled her gun.
She sat for quite awhile waiting she looked at the clock which read two am she was about to leave when the bells on the door rang and a man walked in.
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“NED?!” she yelled quizzically “ZOE!” she ran to him and hugged him “what are you doing here?”
She asked “I’m with the Organization.” he said as he walked to the table.
“the what?” she said still standing at the door. “come sit ill explain everything.”
She walked carefully to the table and sat across from Ned. “ok..” she said eyeing Ned the way her father thought her years ago. “Relax Zoe.” Ned said with a laugh “they thought It would be easier if a friend explained it to you.” he said seriously “see…friend” he said slowly putting a hand on his chest.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “ok so what is the organization?” she asked him “first you’re going to need some background.” he said “the Tempest organization, as we call it now a days was formed centuries ago, our purpose is to hunt and destroy Uphir Lychy.” he said reaching for a cigarette. “uphir what now?” she asked “uphir lychy or Wicked Vampire, most Vampires are evil and seek to overthrow humans as the dominate species, they believe that since they feed off of us we are nothing to them we are slaves cattle.”
She was having a hard time believing this “that cant be true, cant be real Vampires don’t exist their a myth.”
“heh, that’s what they all say, Vampires are very real Zoe. you’ve seen for yourself.” he said adding
“you even killed one without training or special weapons, I observed the whole thing from the roof.”
She tried her best to not be angry with him but could not hold back the rage “why didn’t you help me then, eh?!” she cried “I could have been killed!” he looked at her calmly “I would never let that happen to you Zoe, you know that.” something in his voice softened her heart, she sat down and asked him to continue
“most of our members have been since birth, or by family, like my father was a member, his father and his father. You see?” He said “I guess but I was raised to believe that vampires don’t exist, there are myths to scare children…” he looked at her and said “you said that already, I know this is hard to take but you have to believe me and even if you don’t look at what happened not one hour ago.” he said with a puff of his cigarette. She sat and thought and slowly it dawned on her, all that had happened the murder the…vampire in the ally all added up. “so vampires are real, so why do you want to talk to me to debrief me tell me it never happed I dreamt the whole thing?” she said mostly to herself.
“no, I am here to offer you a job.” he said as he put out his cigarette.
“what, a job, but why I’m just a Police officer not some vampire slayer.” she said with slight anger in her voice. “heh, actually your mother was a member, why do you think she was never around.”
She looked down and thought, everything seemed to add up but it was still hard to believe.
“any way the job is up if you want it, you are a shoe in but you will have to take some tests.
Call me in the morning and ill take you to the Office.” he said standing up giving her a blank business card.
“there’s no number here its blank….” she said but realized he had already left.
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She stood up and walked out her legs a little wobbly, she walked to her car and got in she started the car and heard a Radio DJ saying “this is Raze, prince of the black night. This last song goes to al the dark children who have returned from the hunt.” she turned it off and decided to go home.
She drove back to her flat and got out, slowly she walked to her door.
She opened her door and walked in she saw the answering machine beeping and decided to ignore it and went to the bed room she took off her coat and threw it on the bed. She walked to the bathroom and looked at her self in the mirror, she had a small cut under her eye and some bruises around her neck.
She tuned on the faucet and splashed her face with cold water.. Grabbing a towel she wiped her face dry and went back the bedroom and collapsed on the bed she feel asleep almost instantly.
She Woke with a Start, looked at the clock which read six pm, “damn, Ned!” she said and searched her jacket for the card he had given her, not think as to how she would call if the card was blank.
She pulled out the card and it was still blank “Damn it.” she cursed.
She decided to wait till later and see if he called her. After two hours she began to worry she decided to call her office at Scotland yard. She reached for the phone and dialled her office after a moment someone answered the phone “Zoe Levin, can I help you?” she was taken aback for a moment and said “yes may I speak to Zoe Levin?” after a moment the other women said “this is She.” she quickly hung up the phone and threw it on the bed as she stood up and went to her living room, she paced up and down looking at the number on Ned’s card, it took her a moment to realized what she had just seen she dashed to the table and read the number and ran to her room for the phone and dialled the number, after a moment the sound of a fax machine answered her she thought it must be some kind of trick and waited.
After a few minutes a voice said “please enter Pass code now.” she looked at the card and saw nothing that looked like a Pass code, she rubbed the card, blew on it and then she had a wild thought when it was on the table it was right next to a lamp it had been there for most of the Day, she dropped the phone and reached into her pocket and produced a lighter and began to burn the card.
The flame burned White then purple then green and finally black. And then suddenly the fire went out completely leaving a new card with a four digit number on it. She picked up the phone and quickly dialled in the number. After a few tense moments the voice said “transferring.” she breathed a Sigh of relief.
“you have reached the Tempest organization, please state the name of who you wish to speak with.”
She hesitated for a moment finally said Ned Lott.
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After a few Seconds of Silence the voice said “your call has been received thank you good bye.”
She yelled in to the phone “No, you cant hang up on me!” then she Jumped up at a Knock on her door.
She grabbed her gun and walked to the Door. “Who is it?” She asked “the dali lama.” said a sarcastic voice she got to the door and looked though the peep hole at a Short Blonde man with many piercing.
“who are you?” she shouted “im with Tempest, im hear to take you to the HQ.” said the man putting a cigarette out on her door frame. She carefully opened the door and put the gun to his head “do it” he said looking at her straight in the eye. She put away her gun and said “let me get my coat.” and went and grabbed her coat and badge. When she got to the door them man said “god you take a long time, come on lets go”
He started walking to the elevator , and pressed down to the basement.
“so you’re the new Hopeful huh?” he said without looking at her “a what?” She asked he groaned and said “a hopeful someone who hopes to join the Organization.” she looked at him ready to shoot him.
“were here.” he said stepping out into the underground parking garage.
Walking to a black car he said “get in and try not to scratch the leather.” she opened the door and sat down he turned the key and Heavy metal music blared out of the speakers. He began to bang his head to the music and back out at the same time. “can you turn it down please” she said but he was lost in the music
After several gruelling hours of driving the reached a Victorian manor and pulled into their garage.
Getting out she said “is this the Head quarters for the Tempest Organization?” he looked at her and said “no McDonalds decided it wanted something Bigger to house the Big Mac.” he sarcastically.
“right then” she said looking at him coldly, they walked to the main door and he knocked on the heavy white wood doors. A butler answered and said “ah yes miss Levin we have been expecting you, ill imagine you have lots of questions please come in.” he said gesturing to the main room.
A rather fat man walked up and said “Gil, get out of my house.” to the blonde “hey fuck you!” exclaimed Gil
He turned and walked out. The fat man walked up to her and said “hello miss Levin, I am Mr. Price.”
Walking deeper into the house he said to her “this is just a temporary Housing till our old Headquarters Is repaired.” she looked around at the furniture and Walls and guessed this house was at least 200 years old.
“what happened to the old Head quarters?” she asked “oh some rouge vampires got loose inside and wrecked the place it will take a few more weeks to repair” he said as though it was nothing.
She remember the woman on the phone claimed to be Her “I have a question, who was that at Scotland yard, she said she was me?” she asked him Quickly “oh that yes will its only temporary your training will take sometime and we will need a cover while you are absent.” she looked at his back as though he was insane “wont my friends notice?” she said as more a statement than a question. “oh heavens no she’s a shape shifter she looks and sounds exactly like you.” she was taken aback by this.
“ah here we are, this will be your hoe for the next few months.” he said gesturing to the Large bed room
“umm I still haven’t agreed to this.” she pointed out to Mr. Price “oh I am sorry I was informed that you had, hmm yes well you shall speak with Mr. Lott about that.” he said “you mean Ned, where is he?” she asked.
“I`m right here Zoe don’t fret.” said Ned walking to her from inside the Room.
“Ned we have to talk Now.” she said firmly. “I know I know all in due time come now we shall speak in my office.” he sad and begin walking to a small door just behind her which lead to another Door and Another.
“here we are.” he said at last, he walked into a beautifully decorated Room with Antique chairs and desks.
“what is going on Ned I thought I got to sleep on this?” she said taking a seat. “yes well I am sorry but it was best to bring you here where you cant ell anyone, Vampires may be real but the public doesn’t need to know as of yet.” he said Taking a cigar from a small humidifier on his desk. but for now you should go to sleep we will finish this in the morning." She stood and went to the door but stopped and asked "what if i dont want to Join?" he looked at her and said "but you already have." she went out of the room and barely found the room she had been given she Went and took a shower and when she came out she found Fresh clothes on the Bed and a nighte to sleep in, she put on the nghte which fit perfectly and tried to sleep but kept tossing and Turing, thoughts of the night before played in her mind after about an hour she drifted of in to a dreamless sleep.