I've decided to post a piece of fan fiction I wrote some time back.
It's set in Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter universe and my imagined events happen during The Killing Dance. It's told from Edward's POV, which was a challenge as Edward wasn't a major character for me.
I don't own anything. I wish I owned Jean-Claude... but that's a different story!
Death Takes a Detour
I told Anita on the phone I would arrive in St Louis tomorrow. I lied. I'm already here, sitting in my black nondescript rental car, watching her back. She's at a party at her lawyer friend Catherine’s house. Her new boyfriend is with her. I snort. Boyfriend. Right. How any human can date that monster is beyond me.
But I suspect Anita may be less than human these days. I warned her not to get too involved with the vampires and shape shifters, but would she listen? No! How else can she explain her OTHER boyfriend? He's dead for God’s sake! Well, I suppose undead is the politically correct term. But I'm not known for being tactful. That's Ted's department.
I shouldn't even be here. I'm supposed to be at a family retreat with Donna and the kids. But this will be more fun. I get to kill things; and if I'm really lucky, I may even be able to take out Anita's boyfriends in the process. Collateral damage. Anita will understand. We are more alike than she knows.
I'll have to make it up to Donna later though. I’m not looking forward to that. She's getting much too clingy and whiny, but I have needs and she lets me do what I please. Plus she and the kids are good cover for my other, less legal but infinitely more interesting, activities. But it’s getting increasingly harder for me to resist putting a bullet between her eyes. That scene she made before I left for St Louis was bad. She's lucky I'll be gone a while.
Anita is finally leaving the party. I wonder what took her so long. She was reasonably freaked when I told her about the contract on her life so I expected her to bolt out of the house immediately. But that woman is always unpredictable. Keeping her alive is going to be a full-time job. I may need some help. Maybe Harley... or Bernardo. But not Olaf. That guy is crazier than I am.
I decide to follow them back to her apartment before I proceed with the rest of my plan. The werewolf is with her so she already has some protection. I don't like preternaturals as a rule, but shape shifters make great cannon fodder.
I trust no one but myself in situations like this, so I won't leave her until she is safely indoors. Besides, I am not looking forward to what comes next; but I can’t put if off any longer... not if I want Anita safe.
The drive to her apartment is uneventful. I don't expect any trouble; only an idiot would try to take her out when she's inside a moving vehicle. Unless they use a bomb… But no one has been near her car since I arrived.
I maintain a safe distance between our cars and neither Anita nor the wolf is aware I am only a few cars behind them. They are too engrossed in their conversation to notice me. I'll have to talk to her about watching her own back. Distractions like this can get her killed!
We reach her apartment building soon enough. It's as familiar to me as my own place. I've blended into the shadows many times in the past waiting for Anita to show up. Everything looks quiet tonight. Even that annoying dog her neighbour has isn't barking. I can’t remember how many times I’ve wanted to shoot that infernal canine! He makes breaking into Anita's apartment more difficult than it has to be. I scan the car park slowly; everything looks clear.
I find a spot where I can watch her apartment. It's dark, but I can see well enough. I need her to be safely inside before I leave for Guilty Pleasures. Just the thought of voluntarily going into Blood Quarter at night makes me nervous. Not that I’ll ever admit it! But tonight, it is necessary.
I’m getting impatient. What's taking them so long? By my calculations, they should have been in the apartment by now. I hope they are not smooching in the hallway. I don’t have time for that!
I squint into the darkness, and then I hear a deafening boom. Shotgun! I reach for my weapon and walk deliberately towards the building. I keep my eyes trained on Anita's apartment and my ears peeled for the slightest noise. And then I hear it; a little pop. It's Anita's gun. I’d recognise that sound anywhere. She’s OK.
However, my relief is short-lived because seconds later, there’s another boom, followed by deathly silence. I sigh unhappily. I’d be so disappointed if that idiot managed to kill her. And with a shotgun! What was he thinking?
I move quickly but stealthily, using the shadows to conceal my approach. Once I’m inside, I plan to head directly for the stairs that will bring me to Anita’s apartment.
I’m almost at the building when I hear two more pops from the Browning. And then the screaming starts and lights come on all over the building. But I am only interested in one apartment. When Anita's lights come on, I see her silhouette moving around, a dark shadow against the curtains. That's something else we have to talk about, but not right now. The police will be here soon and I have a vampire to see before sunrise.
I get the heebie jeebies whenever I drive into the Blood District. I'm well known here; all the monsters fear me. I am Death, their death. I kill them for sport... and for huge amounts of money. You'd think they'd give me a wide berth, but there's always some dead or furry fool who thinks he can get me before I get him.
I drive straight through to Guilty Pleasures, a strip club owned by the Master of the City, head bloodsucker in St Louis. The impossibly well-muscled vampire bouncer lets me through with no argument. Apparently I’m expected.
Once inside the club, my ear drums are assaulted by loud music and screams from lusty women thronging the stage where an almost nude vampire is strutting his stuff. I shake my head incredulously. A vampire strip club. What will they think of next.
I am surprised when a cool hand lightly brushes my arm, but after years of practice and meditation, I am able to remain outwardly calm. This vampire tells me he is Robert, manager of Guilty Pleasures. I study him through narrowed eyes. He looks more like a stripper than a manager.
Robert relieves me of my gun and escorts me to the office in the back. I am not amused by this, but decide to let it go. I did not come here to kill anything; not tonight anyway. The vampire is careless though; he misses the knives hidden in my boots and the wire in my hair. When we reach the office, Robert knocks one time, opens the door for me, and then leaves. I take a deep breath and step inside. Here goes nothing.
"Monsieur Edward. Always a pleasure..." A soft silky voice from deeper in the room makes the hair on my arms stand on end. "And what brings Death to my doorstep?" The voice belongs to Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City of St Louis.
He glides towards me gracefully and stops just in front of me, a small smile on his lips. His face is the usual unreadable mask, but he is obviously waiting for me to make the next move. Don't tell me he wants to shake hands! I ignore him as much as I can. But he is not an easy creature to ignore. His clothes are ridiculous and his hair... the less said about that the better!
"I've come to talk to you about Anita." I say curtly. It’s short and sweet… and maybe a little rude, but I did not come here to make small talk.
"What about ma petite?" That awful nickname makes me cringe. It's bad enough she's dating him, but pet names are not her. I'm surprised she hasn’t killed him for that yet. Anita has a bit of a problem controlling her temper.
"Yes. I have been offered a contract to kill her." The vampire's eyes flash in anger. His blank mask vanishes and is replaced by something that looks a lot like concern. I raise an eyebrow. Is it possible he truly cares about Anita?
A mere second later, his mask is back in place. A regular person would have missed it, but I am a trained observer. The emotions that played briefly across the vampire’s face fascinate me. I’ve never seen a real expression from him before today. Not even when he was near death all those months ago.
When he speaks, his voice is a low and dangerous growl.
"And have you accepted this contract, monsieur?"
"I have come to protect her." He laughs; it’s a sinful sound that makes me shiver. I glare at him and the laughter dies away.
"Why have you come to me then?" He asks mockingly. "Surely you do not need MY help to do that." I almost walk out right then, but the look on his face earlier buys him a little slack. Maybe we can work together on this. I can always kill him later.
"I need information and I don't have time to screw around. They've already tried to kill her once tonight." His mask slips again and worry floods his eyes.
"Is she alright?" He whispers, fear tainting his words. So he DOES care. I was wrong about him... maybe.
"She's fine. She took care of the killer." He smiles softly to himself, clearly proud of Anita. This is bizarre.
"What kind of information?" The abrupt subject change is jarring, but I’m impressed by his ability to see the big picture and not dwell on things he can’t change. The worry in his eyes has been replaced with grim determination, and I know I made the right decision coming to him for help. I have a feeling Jean-Claude will do almost anything to protect Anita.
"I need to know what you plan for your date with Anita tomorrow." His eyes narrow as he considers my request. I hope he's not going to be difficult. There's not enough time for that. Apparently Jean-Claude comes to the same conclusion. He may be a lot of things, but stupid is not one of them.
"I will be escorting ma petite to the opening of Danse Macabre, my newest business venture.” He glides to his desk, picks up a card and hands to me. It’s an invitation to the opening of his new dance club in the heart of Blood Square. All the relevant details are there. I pocket the card and begin asking questions.
"Will there be a crowd?" I hate crowds. It’s almost impossible to find one lone killer in that din.
"Oui. We are expecting a crowd. The press has been invited. The mayor will be in attendance as well." He pauses, and then continues, speaking so quickly and softly I can barely hear him.
"You only need to ensure we reach the club without incident. Once inside, my people will protect her. She will be in your hands again when we leave." He shuts up and lets me think. This is complicated. Why couldn’t they just be going out for dinner?
I run several scenarios through my mind. If it was me, I wouldn't even dream of attacking her in a crowd. Too many things could go wrong. I would hit the car on the way back, when she's more relaxed and her guard is down... But other killers may not be so patient. I know many who would prefer to kill from a distance with a bomb. Which brings me to my next question.
"How will you get there?"
"My limo." Of course he would have one of those. Everything about him is over-the-top, so why would he settle for a mere car when he can have a limo?
“Do you trust your driver?”
“Oui. He is one of my people.” That’s good enough. For now.
"I want to check the car before you leave." He nods. “That’s it then. I have everything I need.”
"It is very late, monsieur; will you require accommodations for the night? There are several guest rooms at the Circus." Is he joking? Death having a sleepover in the Circus of the Damned? Has the Master of the City gone insane?
"I'll be fine. Are you worried about me?"
"Non. In truth, I am worried for my people." He says with a chuckle as I turn to leave.
"Monsieur?" I turn back. "Promise me no harm will come to her." His voice is calm, but there is turmoil in his eyes and his face is suddenly vulnerable.
"I promise to do my best."
"Under the circumstances, that is the best I can hope for. Merci. If there is anything else you need…"
“I’ll ask.” He turns to go back to his desk.
"Jean-Claude?"
"Oui?" I surprise both of us by sticking out my right hand. He looks at it for a moment, and then shakes it. His palm is warm and his grip is firm. I'm glad he doesn't try to crush my hand, or I would have to kill him.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." He nods and I leave, closing the door softly behind me.
