Chapter 16 #2
With nonchalance I found strange, Richard took a sip of tea.
“My attacker came from behind, which is why I hadn’t seen him.
I screamed as he latched on to my neck. Sampson acted quickly, stabbing my attacker through the heart.
We carried knives with us, you see, because of the threat from rival bootleggers. ”
“Did he die? The vampire?” I could see no point in continuing to play dumb.
“He did eventually. Sampson and I panicked. We ran into the speakeasy and told our story. We were dismissed as two youngsters telling tall tales, despite our clothes being covered in blood. The owner, a malicious crime boss you did not want to antagonize, thought we’d drank his rum.
The only way we were able to save our hides was by taking the group onto the street where the vampire had attacked.
” Richard chuckled. “Of course, if you’ve ever seen a vampire die, you’ll know why this didn’t help our cause. ”
“Because he’d already begun to decompose?”
“Exactly. Had it not been for the fangs, I doubt anyone would have believed us. But there they were, glinting on the street. I kept them.”
He lifted his arms, showing me his cufflinks. They weren’t opals after all, but fangs. He was flaunting them like trophies.
“As it turned out, the crime boss was an occult aficionado. So were a few of his customers. He ushered us into his office along with the other men, and we were treated like two tribesmen who’d put down a lion that had been terrorizing a village.
They told us to describe the attack.” Richard smiled sheepishly.
“We may have embellished slightly, but the crux of the story was true. We’d killed a vampire where they had failed. ”
“What do you mean, where they had failed? Did they know about the existence of vampires?”
“They did. As I would come to learn, they were exotic hunters.”
“You mean . . . vampire hunters?”
Richard took another sip of tea and then gingerly set down the cup. “Vampire hunters, sure, but also hunters of other lethal creatures: cobras, crocodiles, polar bears, sharks, hippos. Vampires, however, were the ultimate score.”
Score? I felt sick.
“Impressed by our bravery, the crime boss asked us to work for him exclusively. Of course, when a mobster ‘asks’ you to work for him, it’s not really an invitation. Sampson and I couldn’t refuse.”
I was still unsure how any of this related to why they were there, and I was growing impatient.
He continued, “I started to make a lot of money, which both frightened and pleased my parents. As I grew older, I became trusted by the mobster, who treated me more like a son than an employee. My family had grown distant with me because of my crime affiliations, so I was closer to my boss than my own father.” Richard didn’t seem too unsettled by this, not being close with his family, which explained a lot about how Tilly was treated.
“When I turned eighteen, my boss inducted me into a hunting society he belonged to. It was a gentleman’s club, of sorts.
It had been running for a very long time, since the days of George Washington.
It was a worldwide organization, with members as far away as South Africa, Australia, Russia, and all over Europe .
. .” He trailed off and provided me a bland look.
“I assume you know what worldwide means. It was not only comprised of criminals, understand. There were many legitimate members in the group who were prominent public figures: politicians, small business owners, and even a few tycoons. We’d get together, drink, gamble, and discuss politics, etcetera.
We’d also discuss something else. Can you guess what that is, Olivia? ”
I shook my head, not because I didn’t know, but because I wasn’t sure that I wanted to know.
“Though our views on politics varied, we were all in agreement about immortals. Vampires, as you are aware, are dangerous and useless to humans. They don’t provide any benefit to humanity whatsoever.”
I ground my fist into my thigh to keep myself calm, as I could feel my temper flaring. “What benefits could they provide?”
“For starters, they could take out the trash.” He sniffed.
“They could cleanse the ghettos, make our streets safe again by draining the homeless, eradicate those with disease and mental illness. They could purge the world of the lazy, the weak, the poor, the stupid—those who aren’t contributing to the betterment of mankind.
Think of how advanced civilization would be if vampires had spent their time on earth removing undesirables.
Think of how much better off we’d all be. ”
I was too shocked to speak. I looked at Maxine, who was enthusiastically nodding in agreement. I couldn’t believe that I was related to these hideous human beings.
“It would be beneficial for both parties. They’d get blood and we’d get a better planet.” Richard sighed. “But vampires do no such thing, do they? Instead, they go to blood banks and take the easy way out.”
“The blood banks were how we found out you’re a supporter of our cause. So at least they’ve been good for one thing,” Maxine told me.
I frowned. “A supporter . . . of . . . your cause?”
Maxine leaned forward and winked like we were sharing a secret. “We have contacts on the inside.”
I was so lost. “The inside of what?” Were my great-grandparents completely nuts or what?
Richard folded his arms across his chest, aggravated. “We’d waste a lot less time if you stopped playing games, young lady. You gave your blood to eradicate vampirism. The serum?”
Maxine added, “What we can’t figure out is why it stopped being made. We’re hoping you could shed some light on that for us.”
“No-no-no-no,” I chanted, flabbergasted.
“That wasn’t . . . No. You guys have it wrong.
I didn’t volunteer to make the serum. My blood was used without my knowledge.
” Translation: I am absolutely, undeniably, unequivocally not on the same page as you crazy-ass bigots.
I’m not even in the same book—or library—as you two.
Maxine and Richard exchanged a secret look that made me nervous.
Starting to piece it together, I said, “Is that why you’ve come here? You think I hate vampires like you do and want them wiped off the planet?”
Richard straightened. “We don’t hate vampires any more than we hate poisonous spiders or mosquitos. We simply recognize their threat and do not feel they are a benefit to humanity. Thus, they should be eradicated.”
“So, what, you gave me a million dollars because you thought I’d join your hunting club?”
“No, darling, we gave you the money because you are our great-granddaughter and we’ve missed you,” Maxine simpered.
Right.
“We also hope,” Richard said, “that you’ll give us some of your blood.”
“Why would you want my blood?”
“Haven’t you figured it out?” Maxine asked cheerily. “We want to start making the serum again.”
Well, that wasn’t good. “Why?”
Richard clucked his tongue. “Why isn’t important, Olivia. What is important is your willingness to help us. That isn’t very much to ask, is it? A bit of your blood in exchange for one million dollars?”
“So, there it is. You were bribing me. Isn’t that nice?” I stared at them coldly, folding my arms across my chest. “I’m sorry, I can’t give you my blood. I don’t share your beliefs about vampires—or much of anything else. I’ll give you your money back, if that’s what you want.”
“Pardon me,” Maxine said, reaching her tiny hand into her dress pocket to extract a cell phone. She squinted at the screen, then quickly fired off a text. Probably talking shit about me, like I cared.
I didn’t waste my energy trying to change their outlook on the world or vampires. What would be the point? When people were as full of hate as these two, they were beyond reason.
Maxine nodded at Richard and then they stood.
Despite the Nolans being insane hatemongers, I felt kind of bad. They were still family—the only family I had left. I’d learned nothing about my background beyond Richard’s questionable activities.
“You don’t have to leave,” I said, chasing after them like an ankle-biting Chihuahua as they strode for the door. “I wasn’t throwing you out. I just don’t want to give you my blood.”
“I’m afraid we must be going,” Richard said, which brought me relief. At least this way my conscience would be clear. I’d tried to get to know them, but they’d declined.
I stood there awkwardly, not sure if I should hug them goodbye, try to make plans for a future visit that would never happen, or ask them if they wanted me to cut a check for their million dollars. I kept it simple and opened the door for them.
“It was great to finally meet you,” I lied.
Richard and Maxine said nothing, their gazes fixed over my shoulder. I turned around and gasped when I noticed the scowling man standing on the doorstep. He had to be almost seven feet tall. In his hand was a syringe filled with yellowish liquid.
“We’re so sorry about this, Olivia,” Maxine said.
And then came the sting in my neck.