11: Adjustment
As Carl walked up to the mansion, the dark shadow that had been following Carl was pulling out his phone when another dark shadow crashed into him, sending him sprawling into the ground. Carl climbed over the fence not knowing this and made his way to the entrance and walked inside where a considerably pissed off Laura was sitting in a large regal looking chair in the front room. "Carl, where were you?" asked Laura in a demanding tone.
"I'm sorry Laura, but I had to see Joy. I needed to speak to her," Carl told her.
"Did you know that you were being followed?" asked Laura angrily
Carl's eyebrows raised in surprise as he said "No...I didn't. I'm really sorry, Laura,"
"Well, you had better not pull a stunt like that again. If you need to go out again Carl you need people to go with you. Your shadow could have taken you out at anytime he wanted. It's a good thing that Miranda still wants you alive," Laura said.
Carl became anxious as Laura continued to rage at him. "I am truly sorry, Laura. It won't happen again. I promise you that," Carl said.
"Good, make sure it stays that way, Carl," said Laura in a much more cool tone.
As Carl gratefully left the room, he passed Jake who said to him, "Don't worry Carl, we will make sure that Joy is safe. Laura has set up somebody to take over running your business. He's totally human and he's been given a message to give to Joy. He will watch her during the day,"
"Thanks for letting me know, Jake," said Carl as he passed.
Jake grimaced as he passed by and thought, 'Damn, completely human. Why did I say that? He's as human as I am,'
***
"Joy, you really need to go out for once, relax. You need it," Julie told her.
"I know, but there's just so much work to do. I'm still puzzled to as why he left me in charge," said Joy stressed.
"Because you work just as hard as he worked and he knew it. Come on and come relax with me. I have a day off tomorrow. I can come and help you work through this stuff if you'd like," Julie offered.
"Oh really?? That would be such a relief," said Joy as she dumped the entered customer forms into the filing cabinet.
"Come on, have a drink. Relax," Julie coaxed.
"Alright, I will," Joy agreed as she picked up her bag and locked the door to her office.
When she stepped outside and locked the office doors, two shadows in a black car looked up. One said "Jake, she's leaving."
"She's going somewhere. She might need our services tonight, Damien," Jake warned as he started the car and pulled out, following Joy and Julie to the near-by nightclub. As they got out and walked inside, Jake and Damien got out and followed them inside. Using their vampiric vision to track them, they settled down at a dark table at the back of the club.
***
After they had a few drinks, Julie and Joy were laughing at some joke that Julie had told. Julie then suddenly turned to Joy and asked, "So, what is Carl like in bed,"
Joy spat her drink out all over the bar top and managed to reply with a "What??"
Julie smirked at her and said "Come on, Joy. I've seen the looks you give each other. It must be really hot sex,"
"Its...good," Joy told her, not really wanting to brag about her sort of dead boyfriend.
"Come on, Joy, spill. It must be more then just good," Julie needled.
"He's good in bed and that's all I'm going to say," Joy says.
"Wow, he must be great in bed if you don't want to spill the beans," Julie said as Joy blushed.
After a little more time chatting, Joy looked at her watch and said, "Sorry, Julie. It's getting late and I need to go home to get some sleep,"
"Ok, sure. See you tomorrow," Julie replied as she turned to the crowd, checking out the men.
As Jake and Damien followed Joy from the club, when they noticed that two shapes had attached themselves to Joy, following her away from the club.
"Looks like she does need our services tonight. Ready, Jake?" asked Damien
"Yeah. Let's do this so she doesn't know we are here," Jake said.
"Yeah, that would be best," Damien said as they trailed the vampires that were following Joy.
They used their enhanced hearing to listen in on the vampires who were following her.
"Remember Markus wants Joy alive, Markoi," said one vampire in a Russian accent.
"Yes, I know, Vladmir. You don't have to keep repeating yourself," said Markoi in the same Russian accent.
They followed her down a narrow alley, still not aware that they were being followed.
Jake motioned to the roof of the buildings on the alley. Damien nodded and jumped up onto the roof silently. Jake also made the jump silently. They began to creep along the roofs of the buildings lining the alleyway, until they noticed that the vamps were getting ready to make their move.
Damien jumped off the roof and landed onto Vladmir, snapping his neck before he could react. Jake used the distraction Damien created and jumped onto Markoi, snapping his neck. When Vladmir began to stir, Damien smashed his fist into his chest impaling his heart with rib bones. Vladmir's eyes blazed open as he exploded and turned to ash. Jake copied this action rendering Markoi to dust.
Joy thought she heard a noise, but when she turned she saw nothing. She shrugged her shoulders and continued on, exiting the alleyway and got into a cab.
***
"Have you discovered what happened yet?" asked the Queen.
"Yes, your highness. It was silver oxide. We have also found glass fragments indicating that it was in a vial," said the investigator.
"Thank you for your report. It seems that we have a problem. I must consult with the council," the Queen said as she dismissed the investigator.
"Yes, my Queen," the investigator said as he bowed and left the room.
***
"My children, it has come to my attention that our newest addition, Miranda Hoeberk, attempted a blood binding ceremony. It seems it was her intention to instead of using the power to do the binding properly, she intended to steal the power. She has an old master working with her. The death of our brothers and sisters was no accident. One of Miranda's followers poisoned them with silver oxide," the Queen said as she addressed the council.
"What is going to be done about this?" asked one of the council members
"I am authorising the use of the Sabres to track down Miranda and her henchmen. This little rebellion needs to be put down quickly," the Queen said.
The council members clapped at her decision. "Now lets move on to other matters," the Queen ordered as she sat down at the head of the council table.
***
"Is everything ready Markus?" asked Miranda.
"Everything will go as planned, Miranda. The traps have been set, and now it is time to leave this place. Follow me, my dear," Markus said in his rich European accent.
Miranda had a cloak on with its hood covering her burnt face, so all she had to do was silently follow Markus outside of the chamber. They walked down through a twisted underground tunnel before they came to a locked door. Markus called out to the people on the other side, "I am here, open up,"
The door creaked open and a man with a dark hood and cloak stood there and said, "Welcome, Markus. We have everything set out,"
Miranda and Markus walked into a cavern like room with a high ceiling and brass torch holders hung out of the walls, giving the cavern a 'torture chamber' feel and look.
"I noticed your surprise, my dear. Don't worry I have been building up my followers for quite sometime now," Markus told her.
"Then it looks that we can implement our plans sooner," Miranda purrs.
"There are still many more months of preparation left, my love. The royal estate is heavily guarded even in the daylight," Markus warns her.
"Yes I know that, Markus. I have been there before," Miranda replies.
