Author's Note: I highly recommend reading Part 1 of 'Hacking Has Consequences' before reading this episode. Both parts are excerpts from my novel titled 'Wages of Cyn', scheduled for publication in early 2025. This part of the story takes place 2 days after Cyn has been turned.
In the novel, Cyn spends those days learning about her new life, the changes she has undergone and those yet to come. I did not include those pages because much of that information is similar to what Katherine experienced in the 'A Vampire for Christmas' episodes available here, which I invite you to read as well. Examples are: how different levels of Vampire powers are achieved, feeding practices, Vampire aging versus humans. When this part of Cyn's story begins, she is headed back to her flat to retrieve sensitive items and hacking tools.
I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did writing. Comments are always welcome. It's good to know what succeeds, what doesn't and what might need more work. As always, thank you for taking the time to read my stories. The ratings and comments are encouraging and motivate me to write more and to share my musings.
We walked out into the night. My first Vampire night. Everything was so clear. It didn't feel like daylight but I could see into the shadows as if they were softly backlit. It was odd but exhilarating. I noticed Liana and Stephan looking at me and smiling.
"What?" I challenged.
"We forget after a while just how different the world looks through Vampire eyes compared to human eyes," said Stefan. "What do you think?"
"Weird, is what I think. Not bad weird. Everything looks the same but totally different. This will take some getting used to."
"It will," said Liana. "I have never lost my sense of wonder or my memories of what days and nights looked like over 300 years ago before I was turned. I don't think any of us do."
We piled into the limo and were soon at the airport. I got to see all the countryside I missed on my way to the house the first time. It was a pretty drive. I imagined how it would look in sunshine or in rain. I vowed to spend as much time in the light as I could when I was able.
The plane ride was relaxing. I spent most of the time fiddling with my new phone. Liana and Stefan were busy on their phones as well. The plane touched down sooner than I expected after the short flight. As we disembarked, there was a limo waiting by the stairs. We were quickly en route to my apartment.
"What do you think, Stefan? Wait in the car or come with us?"
"With, definitely. More secure. I want her within arm's reach. She learned a few blocking and striking moves yesterday, but full-on combat should it occur? She's not ready. I would prefer she be between us at all times."
"I concur," said Liana. "Cyn, when we go up or down stairs, you will walk between us. Same with going through doors. Got it?"
I nodded. Why did I feel so uneasy all of a sudden?
When we arrived, Stefan stepped out onto the sidewalk. He looked around carefully, then held out his hand for me to step out. I did and stood between him and the limo. We took a couple of steps then Liana got out. Stefan took the lead as we headed toward my building. He held the door open for Liana, then me. I live, lived I should say, in a fourth floor flat. We made our way up the stairs quickly but not at Vampire speed. I figured that was because of me and my lack of control over the changes in my body. I could hear people in their apartments, even was able to tell which shows they were watching. I caught bits of conversations that I could have eavesdropped on if I chose. When we got to my floor, Liana stopped and held out her hand as a signal for us to freeze.
There were noises coming from my flat. The telly was on. Behind that noise there was the sound of a woman whimpering. I could hear someone making grunting sounds and hear bedsprings creaking. There was definitely a man encouraging whatever activity was happening. It sounded like another man mumbling something as well. I was too busy trying to block out the telly to fully make out their words.
Liana whispered to me, "are you expecting someone to be here?"
"No. My friends Sean and Alicia drop by from time to time. She has a key. They would have texted if I wasn't here. Oh, right, my old phone was destroyed. Still, they would not be hosting anyone and would definitely NOT be using my bedroom."
"Stay behind us. When we get inside, move to a spot out of the way of anyone. Don't wait out here in the hallway. Give me your key. Stefan, when we get inside, you go right, I'll go left. Disable if you can. Kill if you must. Let's move."
Liana slipped the key in the lock. She opened the door quickly but under control. She and Stefan were in the room in the time it would take a human to blink. I was a step behind them. I was not prepared for the scene in front of me. There were two naked men standing in the main room. One was looking at the telly, remote in hand. The other was standing near the doorway to the bedroom. In the middle of the room was a dining table chair. Strapped to the chair was Sean, naked. He was not moving and he was covered in blood, with a rather large pool on the floor. I could see his throat had been cut. The room smelled of blood and piss.
Liana was on the guy with the remote before he saw her. I heard the sound of bones cracking and realized it was his hand. When she hit him on the back of the neck, his body went completely limp as he fell to the floor. The guy near the bedroom turned to look toward me just as Stefan reached him. A hard punch to the stomach followed by a blow to the head had that man on the floor. I rushed into the bedroom. I know they told me to stay back. But what I saw horrified me to the point it was either move or crumple to the floor crying.
Alicia was lying face down on my bed. Her hands were tied to the bedposts. She could only grunt since she had some balled up cloth shoved in her mouth. Her face had bruises and her eyes and lips were swollen. She was staring straight ahead and seemed completely out of it. The third man was fucking her like she was an animal. The commotion drew his attention and he stopped mid-thrust to try to ask what was happening. I grabbed his legs, pulled him off of Alicia and threw him onto the floor as easily as if he were a stuffed doll. I kicked him in the head, then his side several times and, finally, between his legs, hardest of all. I wanted to kill him. No. I wanted to break every bone in his fucking body and rip his nuts off and feed them to him.
It couldn't have been more than a few seconds until Liana grabbed me and pulled me off of him. Stefan raced to check on Alicia. At least she was still alive. Barely. Which was more than could be said for her rapist. I had broken his neck and a considerable number of bones. I wanted to rush to Alicia and comfort her. Liana held me tight as Stefan did something to Alicia which stopped her movement. He pulled the cloth from her mouth.
"Fuck, Stefan. Why did you kill her? She didn't do anything."
"Shh," whispered Liana. "She's not dead. Look, she's breathing. Stefan just rendered her unconcious so she couldn't see us, especially you. When we finish here, we'll take the two men you didn't kill with us to interrogate them. We'll call for police and medical services. They'll see that your friend gets to a hospital. As for the psychological damage, there's nothing we can do without exposing ourselves. She doesn't need that. We'll ensure she gets psychiatric care and all the therapy she'll need. She might not ever get over this but she will live. We'll see that she has round the clock protection for a while until we're sure she'll be safe."
I was no longer pissed. I was now completely broken. Looking at my friend, my heart was heavier than I ever remember. Stefan cut her free and covered her with a blanket. We went back into the main room and I screamed in anger and pain as I got a good look at Sean. Not only was his throat cut, but his face was a mass of bruises as were his sides. His toes were all swollen and bloody. A hammer lay on the floor beside him. It didn't take a genius to figure that one out. His fingers all stuck out at different angles. I started toward him. Liana held me back.
"He's gone, Cyn. Those bastard tortured him, then slaughtered him."
"Why? Why would thieves do that just because they stumbled on people being home during a robbery? What kind of animal does this?"
"This was not a home invasion. These are Hunters. Well, the one you beat to death is an ex-Hunter. I told you to stay away. What the hell, Cyn?"
"I didn't think. I just wanted him off Alicia. I didn't want to kill him. That's not true. Part of me did. I definitely wanted to hurt him. I didn't realize I was that strong. Damn, just two days. Will I get stronger and faster?"
"Much. We need to get what we came for and get out of here. I don't know if neighbors have called the police. Plus, the sooner your friend gets to the hospital, the better for her. I'm sorry you had to see this. I'm sorry for your friends. Let's sort this in the limo and on the plane, ok?"
I nodded but I couldn't stop crying and shaking. "Damn, Sean. I'm so sorry. It should have been me," I mumbled.
"If you had been here, it would have been," said Stefan. "Cyn, I want to take some of your stockings to tie these two up. Is that ok?"
"What? Sure, whatever, I'm not riding back with those fuckers in the car. If you're going to move them, do it fast. I just want to start kicking and breaking bones."
I moved to my cubby holes to collect data devices and documents I wanted to preserve. I grabbed my backpack and started stuffing things into it. I wanted to take some clothes and shoes but I didn't want to go back in the bedroom. I killed a man. As easily as I might step on a cockroach. Fuck. What kind of world is this?
