Kill Wilson (Petersburg Vampires) (3 page)

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The rest of the drive to Seattle was uneventful. They
stopped during the day at an out of the way motel, covering the windows with
the blackout curtains they always carried with them. In Seattle, they arranged
to drive their car on the ferry at night, and were asleep in their stateroom
when the boat departed early in the morning. It was a three day trip to their
destination, and when the boat docked in Petersburg, it was just past dusk.
Riley drove the car off the boat, and the three set out to discover what the
town offered.

It didn’t take them long to determine there wasn’t much
to Petersburg. It was a small town on a small island, one main road leading
around the land mass. The downtown was quaint, having not changed a lot in the
past hundred years or so.

Riley drove slowly down the main road, no other traffic
on the street, although there were a few people out and about. He pulled the
car to the curb in front of the Harbor Bar, and turned to Danner. “Looks like
the only place in town,” he chuckled.

“Yeah, let’s try it, maybe someone will know how to find
this guy,” Danner said.

The three walked into the bar, finding the place crowded
with a menagerie of young and old, native Alaskans and college age tourist.
There was a long wooden bar to their left as they entered, the room opening
toward the back into a cavernous area with several tables and chairs and pool
tables, most occupied. Danner headed to the back, finding a place in a corner.

The guys were dressed like most of the other customers;
jeans, boots, and flannel shirts, the uniform of Alaskan men. Amp was slumming
a bit, wearing a pair of black yoga pants hugging her like a second skin, and a
white
hoodie
several sizes too big. She looked like
somebody’s hot little sister, not a customer in an Alaskan bar.

“What can I get you guys?” a pretty girl asked.

“Uh, three Buds,” Riley answered.
“Longnecks,
no glasses.”

“How old are you, honey?” the girl asked Amp.

“21,” Amp answered, her focus on the waitress, catching
her eyes and holding them.

“Right, I thought so,” the girl replied, turning and
going to the bar to fetch the three beers.

As they were waiting on their beers, Amp walked further
back into the bar towards the pool tables. In the far corner, five men and
three young women were sitting around two tables pulled together, several empty
pitchers littering the table, the group loud and having a good time. The girls,
no more than 18 or 19, were sitting on laps, smiles on their faces. It took Amp
but a second to recognize the five men as vampire, the three girls as human.
Amp was surprised at the one who spoke first. He was about thirty, black
horn-rim glasses, and a shaved head.

A geek, Amp thought, although when he spoke
she
quickly reevaluated.

“”Hey pretty girl, you’re welcome at our table,” he
began, his stare telling Amp he recognized her as vampire.

Standing, dumping the girl from his lap, the man suddenly
appeared anything but the geek Amp had first envisioned. He was built solid,
his arms cords of muscles. His jeans were tight, his t-shirt tighter, the thin
waist building upward to a strong chest and thick neck. This one was not
somebody to mess with, Amp thought.

“Come on, we don’t bite,” the man chuckled, waving his
hand to invite Amp closer. “Well, maybe sometimes,” he added with a chuckle.
“My names Ernie.
This is Will, H.D., Doc, and Little John.
And you are new to Petersburg?”

“Hey, I’m Amp. My friends and I are just here for a short
time.”

“Have a beer, Amp. We’re doing what we do best, nothing
of substance.
Kinda
our code of conduct.”

The other’s laughed, each one relaxed, confident in their
place in the world, Amp thought. These vamps reminded Amp a lot of her friends.
They were laid back, not excitable or angry, just chilling. Good stuff, she
thought.

“Thanks,” she said, sliding into an empty chair. “Are you
guys from here?” She was hoping these five were part of the coven Danner was
visiting. They were, at least to her initial evaluation, the type of vamps she
could relate to.

“
Naw
…just
visiting.
We live in Washington State, Skagit Valley. We come up here a few times a year,
just to sample the fruits of the town,” Ernie laughed.

When the barmaid returned with the beers, she placed the
order in front of Danner, picking up the twenty he had laid on the table.

“I’ll get your change,” she said.

“No change,” he answered. “Can I ask you something?”

She smiled at the good looking man. “Anything you want,”
she said, thinking these were two of the best looking guys she had seen for a
while.

“You from here?”

“Yep, grew up in Petersburg, my Daddy runs a fishing
boat, the Orca, and I work it with him some. I’m supposed to go to Gonzaga next
year, but still having my doubts.
How come?”

“I was wondering
,
do you know a
man named Beryl Wilson. I heard he lived in Petersburg, and we just got in
tonight, so we haven’t had a chance to find him.”

“Oh sure, funny sort of guy.
He’s nice enough bordering on the creepy side. He comes in here sometimes, has
a regular crew of guys with him. Good
tippers,
and
they don’t ever make any trouble, which is a huge plus.”

As she talked, the front door banged open, and four men
walked through it, each dressed for the Alaskan springtime.

“Speak of the devil,” the girl said, watching the men
move through the room. “He’s the one in front.” She didn’t need to tell Danner
who the man
was,
he had felt the vamp’s auras even
before they had entered the bar. The air was heavy, the 12 vampires in the
establishment feeling the almost electric charge in the atmosphere.

 
The waitress moved
off to another table, leaving Danner to stare at his sire, a man he hadn’t seen
for over two hundred years.

Beryl Wilson was tall and thin, a good looking man.
Danner knew Wilson had a penchant for young males. The three vampires
surrounding him all fit the mode. They were all late teens or early twenties,
each one handsome although possessing a noticeable softness to their carriage.
Danner wasn’t fooled though. He knew many vamps preferred gay or bi sex, but
the sexual inclination didn’t in any manner weaken them.

Wilson approached the table, looking first at Riley, dismissing
him as though he were invisible. His eyes focused on Danner, his mind probing
his child, trying to get a hold of the younger vampire. Finally, realizing
Danner was much stronger mentally than he had surmised, he smiled with his
mouth, his eyes as hard as granite.

“My name is Wilson. Who are you?” he asked, Danner taken
aback the man didn’t know one of his own.

Riley was on high alert, not sure what to expect; only
something was certainly out of kilter, the look on Danner’s face one of shock.

“
I’m
 
Danner
Gray. Is there something I can
do for you…or are you just being friendly?”

Wilson hesitated, realizing he had been one-upped. By the
angry look on his face, it was obvious he didn’t like it.

“You’ll forgive me, Mr. Gray, but somewhere along the
line I have lost track of many members of my flock,” Wilson answered.
“Danner?
Of course, I’m so glad to see you again, Danner. Thank
you for answering my call. It truly is important you are here. We have a little
problem, and I put out a plea for all of my children.”

He’s charming, Danner thought.
Charming
and full of shit.
He doesn’t have a little problem, he looks nervous as
hell, scared even.

“I’m hoping whatever it is you
need
from me can
be quick. My friends and I are expected somewhere in a couple
of days, and we don’t want to be late. Would you care to explain this little
shout out of yours?”

The vampire on Beryl’s right moved a step closer to
Danner, a menacing look on his face, his body language intimidating. He was
bigger than Wilson, maybe six foot three, 200 pounds.
A blond
with longish hair; anger contorting his handsome face.

“I suggest you show my sire the respect he deserves,” the
blonde hissed.

Danner felt the danger in the air, both from Wilson’s boy
as well as from Riley.

“Wilson, I suggest you get this child under control,”
Danner said evenly, his voice low. “We are not looking for a confrontation. We
have traveled several thousand miles to find whatever it is you called me for,
but if you or your minions think for one minute we will kowtow to anyone,
including you…you are sadly mistaken. If you have something to speak to me
about, then I suggest we go somewhere and talk. But if I feel the least bit
threatened, the talk will cease, and we will be on our way. This is the courtesy
I show. Try to understand; respect in my world is earned.”

“I am your sire, Danner Gray, reason enough to respect
me,” the man said in the same low voice.

“Sorry, but robbing me of my humanity, turning me,
abusing me with your
perversions.and
throwing me on
the street to fend for myself two months into my life…is no foundation for
respect. True story, Wilson, I feel contempt for you, and all vampires that use
their power for personal gratification. I think it’s time for us to go. This
was a mistake.”

Danner stood, followed by Riley, the seven vampires
staring at each other, the rest of the bar patrons unaware they were sitting
ringside for a possible death battle.

In the back of the room, the other
table
of vampires were
listening to the conversation with their exceptional
hearing. As Danner and Riley stood, Amp pushed back from the table and stood,
ready to throw herself into the fray if anyone moved. She noticed not one of
the other five made any move of support.

“Danner, I apologize for this lack of communication. I
would very much like you and your friend to be my guest, at least for the
night. I guarantee your safety at my home, and we will be able to talk about my
problems. Tomorrow you will be able to rest, again under my guarantee of
safety. Then if it is your desire, you can leave on the next ferry. But I beg
you, hear me out tonight.”

His mind working on all the angles, Danner’s chief
concern was whether he could trust the older vampire. Wilson had given his
guarantee, and in the vampire community, this was a solemn oath. Danner had
never heard of a vampire who had broken a guarantee of safety. In the end, his
curiosity convinced him to go.

“Fine, we accept your hospitality…and your guarantee of
our safety.” Looking at his two friends, he noticed Amp had a tiny smile on her
face, while Riley had his shit-kicker expression. They were both ready for
action, and Danner knew they would welcome a good fight.

“Thank you, Danner. Do you have a vehicle, or will you be
riding with us?”

“We’ll follow you,” Danner answered, waiting for Wilson
to lead the way out the door.

“That’s my cue,” Amp said, smiling at her new friends.
“Hope I see you guys again.”

The vampire Will, who had not spoken yet, looked
seriously at Amp before she walked away. “Don’t turn your back on those
people,” he said softly. “They’re pretty extreme…we stay away from them. Guys
are almost militant or something.”

“Yeah,” Doc continued. “A house full of fags…reminds me
of
inbreds
. We do everything we can to steer away
from them. Just don’t trust anything they say, little girl.”

“Thanks, guys. We’ll be careful. This should be short and
sweet.”

Once inside their car, Danner turned and faced Riley and
Amp. “Guy is a little radical,” he chuckled.

“That was just weird,” Amp replied. “Those guys are as
strange as anyone I’ve ever seen. Did the little sissy with him think he was
scaring anyone?”

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Beryl Wilson was more than 400 years old, and the vampire
lord hadn’t survived four centuries without a multitude of plans and counter plans
to control any eventuality. He had lived his vampire life concerned with two
priorities…power and self gratification.

The Wilson clan had been living in the Alaskan region for
more than a hundred years, mainly because the overcast skies provided a comfort
to the sensitive skin of vampires.
There
 
was
also the fact Wilson had been
running from the vampire establishment, and Alaska was a compromise. He was out
of the way from the mainstream of vampire existence. Wilson was an outcast, as
low on the vampire chain as one could get. He was not recognized as anything
but scum, a parasite. For hundreds of years, Wilson had been creating vampires
as sport, turning people for his personal enjoyment, and when he was finished,
throwing them away to fend for themselves. This practice went against every
edict of vampire diktat.

By locating to a desolate area in Alaska, Wilson had
proved the adage: out of sight, out of mind. He had kept a low profile, at the
same time continuing his unethical practices. But for the past 50 years,
Wilson’s paranoia was well founded. He knew someday an established and powerful
vampire clan would come after him, and his entire resources and focus has been
to build up his defenses. Surrounding himself with the children who were loyal
to him was not enough. Wilson knew he needed an army.

Wilson’s home was situated far off the road, not noticeable
to the sparse traffic. The expansive estate was at the same time tasteful and
extravagant, a far cry from the apartments and cheap motels Danner’s trio was
accustomed to. As they entered the front doors, they were met by Wilson, several
of his overzealous boy toys, and a beautiful woman.

“Welcome to my home,” Wilson said, stepping aside to
allow the trio to enter. They stood in an entryway, the floor gray marble, the
walls velvet tapestry, giving the impression of old world genteelness. “May I introduce
my life companion, Miriam?
 
My dear, this
is Danner
Gray,
and his two friends…”

“ Anne
Marie
and Riley,” Danner finished, not wishing to embarrass anyone, knowing the older
vampire had not caught his friend’s names in the bar.

“We are so glad you have come to stay with us,” the woman
said.

Tall and very pale skinned, Miriam had shoulder length
blonde hair, parted in the middle. Her makeup was perfect, as was her deep
purple dress. She is beautiful, Danner thought, at the same time wondering why
a man like Wilson had a female companion. She’s not vampire, he realized, but
the rest would have to wait for later. The entourage moved into a larger,
beautiful living area, Wilson showing his guests where to sit. He turned and
spoke directly to Danner.

“Might I get anyone a drink?” he asked politely.

The three guests shook their heads, each curious to what
was coming from this unlikable man.

“I have been here in Alaska for many years, Danner, and
we…my clan and I, have built a comfortable life, away from the hectic pace of
the lower 48. Thanks to some extremely talented computer operators, and a brilliant
financial advisor, we do well in Petersburg. We leave the local population
alone. When we hunt we go either farther north in the state, or we travel to
Seattle or Vancouver.”

As he said this, he nodded toward Miriam, who smiled back
at the acknowledgement.

“After all of this time keeping to ourselves, staying out
of vampire affairs and politics, we find ourselves threatened by a clan from the
south. If the rumors and reports from my friends are correct, my little empire
here is ripe for a takeover, which as we all know, leaves nothing for the
loser…including their lives. This is the reason I sent out a telepathic message
to all of my children, and why you find yourself sitting here in my home. I
need your help to sustain what is mine.”

Danner’s face looked as though it were carved in stone.
His dark eyes were the only indication of his anger. Amp and Riley knew he was pissed.
They kept their mouths shut but were alert for trouble.

“Let me get this right, Wilson. Your little empire is
going to get sacked, you’re going to
 
 
lose your head, along with the rest of
these…whatever you call them, your crew, and you called me to help you? This
after the way you turned me, abused me, and then pitched me out like a sack of
trash? You want me to fight for your miserable life?”

The silence was deafening, the air thick with menace,
every vamp in the room prepared to do violence. Danner and Wilson stared at
each other, neither willing to break the contact.

“
Danner,
let me try to help you
understand.”

It was the woman Miriam who finally broke the spell,
Danner turning his angry eyes away from Wilson and looking at the human.

“The problem we are anticipating, what Beryl thinks is
going to happen, is the chance we are going to come under attack because we are
out of the way, quiet and law abiding. Danner, Beryl gave you a great gift,
gave you eternity. Don’t you see, we are going to lose everything we have
worked for, and all Beryl asks is your support. He needs you, Danner. What a
marvelous way for you to repay his generous gift of your life. Do you
understand?”

Riley looked at Amp, rolling his eyes, knowing the human
had hit on a very sore subject with his friend. She could not have known her
argument for Danner’s help could not have been more poorly scripted.

Finally, Danner answered, looking at Wilson as he spoke.
“If you are attacked by another clan, it is because you are weak. Allowing this
woman, this human, to speak for you, to argue on your behalf, proves you are
weaker than I could ever have imagined. You have guaranteed our safety, and I
expect the guarantee to be adhered to. We will pass on your offer of lodging
and be on our way.”

Without another word, Danner, Riley and Amp stood. They
knew there would be no action against them. A vampire’s word of safety was his
strongest bond, and they had no doubt Wilson would abide by his word. Silently
the three filed out of the room, moved to the front door, and out of the house.