American Blood: A Vampire's Story (16 page)

A single guard waited for her when she emerged.

“Hello, William,” she said.

“Uh, okay, just let me know if you need anything.”

“I don’t know, do you want to feed me tonight?” she half-teased and continued down to the observation platform.

Halfway down Calida stopped. She could sense that the Director was inside waiting for her as the agent had said. Calida took several more steps and looked through the glass at the Director sitting in a chair a discrete distance away from the doorway with his back to her. Everything about the man was always measured so she stopped hesitating, walked right in, and sat down on a bed that had replaced the cot.

“You shouldn’t have.”

“And you disappoint me,” the Director said, lighting his pipe. “You nearly made a mess of things.”

“Did I?” Calida grinned. “But I had nothing to do with the boat. You sent me into a trap you little bastard.”

The Director let out a long puff of smoke. “Possibly, but it is a dangerous business we’re in.”

“I’m lucky everything grows back.”

“Ooh yes, my dear, I’ve seen the pictures of your face . . . gruesome damage to be sure.”

Calida didn’t respond and just looked at him with unwavering hatred.

The Director leaned forward on his cane. “Leaving the man at the motel was quite clever, I must admit. You forced the agency to deal with it . . . I would say you did this purposely.”

“I’m glad you appreciated it.”

“Yes.”

“Why are you here?”

“Why indeed,” he replied. “Now that our pleasantries are over you can tell me what you’ve learned.”

Calida bit into her lower lip and outwardly sighed. “Your Pashtun friend, Husaam, is right now returning to Kandahar. You have all the information you need, so again, what are you doing here?”

The Director took his pipe out of his mouth and held it by the bowl. Calida noticed the pipe shaking from a hand tremor. “I need you to explain why you were unable to detect the presence of the hidden explosive,” he replied. “Tell me what happened.”

“I sensed there was a danger . . . I just didn’t have enough time.”

“That certainly isn’t good enough, and it won’t be good enough.”

“For what?”

“My dear Calida,” the Director began, condescendingly, “in one week you are going to be sent to a place where women have no practical rights and tribal law governs the land. It is a country of religious obsessions, rampant distrust, murders, rape, assassinations—retributions are merely standards of living.”

“I’ve been to this region before,” Calida said, her apathy clear. “I’ve spent long years there and watched the beginning of their paranoia spread. Don’t waste your time trying to lecture me about things you have only an ignorant grasp of.”

“Yes, yes, I do forget your age at times.”

Calida tensed. She placed her feet on the concrete and put her hands out to her sides gripping the edge of the mattress. “You knew all along about the explosives.”

“What does it matter?”

“This was another one of your tests . . . is that it? You made me take Christopher . . . and nearly got me killed just to see if I would be able to read the minds of those two fanatics.”

“Did I not inform you that there would be training involved with your employment here?” the Director replied, with mock indignation.

“What you say and what is reality are two separate things,” Calida responded.

“Aren’t you clever,” he replied. “Now listen and learn. The agency had an operative placed within their group that was able to inform us of their plans. He was a valuable asset, a native Pashto educated in the west. His business associates wanted to eliminate him because his drug gang would not allow them to sell to other rival gangs. It all comes down to money in the end. It is the way of this world, yes?”

“Not the way of mine,” Calida said. “And if I had discovered the explosive, what did you expect me to do about it?”

“Simply to carry out your instructions,” he replied. “You actually did quite well, you know. You easily made contact with our now deceased heroin dealer and retrieved the information we needed to place you in Pakistan at the right time and place.” The Director paused and tapped out his burnt pipe ashes on the floor. “And the west coast authorities are under the opinion that a gang squabble got out of control. So your tracks were neatly covered, my dear. It all worked out as I had expected.”

Calida looked at him and shook her head. “Your mind is sick,” she said, disgustedly. “And there’s only one cure for you.”

“I am in no need of any cure from you and let’s not have a repeat of your vampire bravado, Agent Villena,” the Director said, tapping his cane on the concrete.

Calida relaxed and sighed. “So now I’m trapped in here until you need to have someone killed again.”

“Who said anything about you being trapped? You may go take a stroll if you wish . . . but don’t forget that we know where you are at all times. If you leave a quarter mile circle, which has this building at its center, you’ll only receive a brief ten second warning to return before . . . the end.”

“And I’ll always have escorts?”

“Yes, yes, you’ll always be under close supervision, of course,” the Director replied. “You were brought here because, well, it really is the safest place for you during the day and it happens to be where your bottle is setup.” The Director pointed his cane at the feeding machine.

“How do I know there won’t be another one of your tests waiting for me the second I step outside?”

“I assure you that nothing is planned for you,” the Director said. “But why don’t you just read my mind and find out for yourself.”

“I’d rather you explode my head,” Calida said.

“I can, at any moment.” The Director smiled. “It is time to discuss your next assignment.”

“No, I’ve talked enough to you.” Calida stood up and walked over to her dresser where several towels had been neatly folded and stacked. “Get out. I’ve showered for you once already.”

The Director stood up and came closer to Calida who reflexively stepped backward until she was against the rear wall of her cell. She felt the beginning tingle of the device in her head.

“I will allow you this brief respite, my dear,” the Director said. “But tomorrow you and I will be having a long talk. So please do whatever you must to prepare yourself. Shower, brush your hair, take a mid-night walk, or drink blood. I shall, of course, expect your complete cooperation and attention.” The Director came to a stop at the outside range of the implant’s warning zone. “I don’t have time to show you anymore patience. The powers that be grow restless.” And he turned away from her and walked out of her cell.

R
yan ordered Professor Balken out of the lab and back to his quarters for some rest. The old scientist had been in the lab for twenty straight hours when Ryan discovered him asleep at the CRAIC. Ryan had come to a realization that the man was brilliant, even at his advanced age, but what Ryan didn’t need was to baby-sit the man and make sure he regularly ate and slept.

By 9:00 PM, Ryan felt tired. Staring at computer displays and performing the tedium of genetic research was not only a strain on his eyes, but his mind and body as well. He got up from his workstation and did the nightly check on the HeliScopes. The control console indicated that both systems were running within nominal specifications, although system two showed a slight fluctuation in one of its detectors. Ryan brought up the detector’s interface and decided the slight increase in noise from the baseline wasn’t anything that needed immediate attention.

Finished with the maintenance check he noted the equipment log and raised his hands above his head. His back was stiff from being hunched over all day. He turned away from the control console and decided to go back to his quarters. He needed rest so he could get a fresh start tomorrow morning. But when he looked toward the front of the laboratory Ryan did a double take. Calida stood by the entrance, watching him.

“So this is where you spend your time?” she asked.

Ryan fought a grave internal conflict. One part of his mind screamed for him to run, another merely reassured him that he had lived a decent life.

“You have nothing to say to me?” Calida asked. “Or would you feel better if I was chained to the floor?”

“Just tell me why you’re here,” Ryan finally got out.

Calida began to walk around the lab. “Is all of this for me?”

Ryan swallowed. “Most of it.”

“You can relax, Ryan,” Calida said. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Why should I believe you? Christopher was left alone with you and now he's dead.”

Calida let out a sigh and said, “I’ve been responsible for many deaths. But his wasn’t my fault.”

“I’ve seen the video.”

“Then it must be true.”

“Why did you do it?

A look of frustration appeared on Calida’s face. “I didn’t want to harm him. I didn’t have a choice.”

“You’re not making any sense,” Ryan said.

“Nothing about it does.”

“So where did you go?”

“To the west coast.”

“Why?”

“For . . . for some fun and dancing.”

“And who did you kill?”

“Does that matter?”

“Yeah, it does.”

Calida strolled between two opposing lab benches, allowing the fingers of her right hand to glide along one of the long grey tops.

“So you can just go anywhere you please now?” Ryan asked, and he fought the urge to move away as Calida came to the end of the first set of benches and turned onto his aisle.

“I can go anywhere, within reason,” she replied. “And I have to behave. Is this a problem for you?” Calida walked to where Ryan stood and jumped backward onto the bench across from the one he leaned against.

Ryan was now less than eight feet from Calida who slowly swung her legs as she sat on the edge of the bench. Only air separated them.

“Why are you here?” he asked.

“That little lunatic said I could take a stroll if I wanted. So I did.”

Ryan couldn’t stop staring at Calida. Her vibrant, dark brown hair shimmered with a deep red when it moved. Her skin glowed with the olive complexion of the Mediterranean. Her eyes were that same amazing blue that he understood to be her real color. She wore a pair of low-cut jeans, black leather sandals, and a simple green, short-sleeved blouse.

“Don’t put too much trust in that man,” Ryan said and he looked away from her. “He’s even more dangerous than—than you.”

“So I’ve discovered.”

Ryan took a deep breath. “Look, when you talk I can see your fangs.”

“Maybe when I’m around you I don’t worry about it.”

“Maybe I do.”

Calida closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and smiled. “Better?”

A minute passed and Ryan allowed himself to relax. He sat up on the bench behind him. “You know, I’ve actually missed you the last few days,” he said.

Calida looked down at the floor. “Why did you miss me?”

“I don’t know. I was worried that you might . . . .” Ryan shrugged. “Nothing makes any sense to me anymore . . . about you.”

“I wanted to see you before I left, but I wasn’t allowed.”

Ryan nodded. “I don’t know what they have planned for you, Calida, but it worries me. You shouldn’t be used for any of their purposes.”

She raised her eyes at the sound of her name. “They want me to kill someone, someone important, but they haven’t told me who it is.”

“So that’s it?” Ryan asked. “They’re using you as an assassin?”

“Isn’t that what this place teaches people to do? Kill?”

“Yeah, I guess that’s what they do here.”

“Then why did you come here to work with them?”

“It’s not that simple.” Ryan defensively shook his head. “At first I figured they needed me as a scientist to help them with their research into your kind.”

“Vampires?” Calida asked. “It’s okay, it doesn’t bite if you say it.”

“Thanks, but I don’t believe that is the real reason anymore.”

“What’s the real reason?” Calida asked with her head tilted to the side. “What do you think now?”

“I think all of their effort for the last few years was for one thing. They wanted you.”

“And you helped them.”

Ryan nodded.

“That insane little man is coming to see me again, tomorrow,” Calida said, her face expressionless.

“With all of the time and money they’ve put into getting you it must be something big,” Ryan said.

“All I know is that it’s all about one man,” Calida said.  “There is somebody they want killed, and they believe I’m the only one who can do it.”

“Do you know where you’re going?”

“Afghanistan.”

“Christ.” Ryan looked past Calida as a male agent entered the lab.

“It’s time to go back,” the agent said.

Calida looked at the agent and nodded. “It was nice talking to you Doctor Ryan.” She jumped down from the bench, walked past the agent, and disappeared through the entrance.

Ryan stared at the entrance for a long while after she left and wondered who the government wanted Calida to assassinate in Afghanistan. He asked himself why did they need a vampire to kill someone in Afghanistan. He went over it many times in his mind, but he kept coming up with the same name.

“By definition, a government has no conscience. Sometimes it has a policy, but nothing more.”

—
Albert Camus
, French Philosopher

R
yan and Siri received instructions to meet the Director in Calida’s cell at 5:15 AM, Tuesday morning. Both got to the cell early and were now waiting for the Director. Calida sat on a chair next to her bed talking to Siri. Ryan performed maintenance on the feeding apparatus and so far he had checked the pumps for proper operation and replaced the tubing. He removed the mouthpiece on Calida’s end and inspected it. The metal valve imbedded in the plastic had been compressed as if squeezed in a vise.

“Can you take it easy on these things?” he asked. “This is the second one I’ve replaced in two days. I’m starting to think you’re doing it on purpose.”

Calida glanced at him and shrugged.

“I’d like to get a bite measurement on you and see how much force you can make.”

Calida still didn’t say anything to him and looked toward the observation window.

“I wonder if you bite harder than a crocodile,” Ryan said aloud, to himself. “I’ve heard they have the highest bite force of any animal.”

“So you think of me as an animal?” Calida asked as she finally responded to him.

“You always know how I’m thinking of you . . . right? But we’re all animals.”

“And so we are,” the Director said, entering the room. William had followed the Director into the cell. He setup a chair just inside of the open door and then left. The Director eased himself down onto the chair with his cane and opened up a folder he was carrying. Without looking up he asked, “So why have I asked everyone here?”

Ryan sat down on one of the chairs by the feeding apparatus and swiveled it toward the Director. “I’m sure I won’t like it.”

“Certainly not a concern for me, or this agency,” the Director said.

“Why are we here?” Ryan asked.

“This project—the bringing of Miss Villena into our protection for your subsequent research—has been funded by the highest levels of our government. And yes, the science is important, but I fear it will have to become a secondary consideration at this time.”

“Secondary to what?” Siri asked.

“My good Doctor Lei, an opportunity is nearing that this country must take advantage of. And this opportunity requires Miss Villena’s unique talents.”

“Why all the coy speech?” Calida asked. “What do you bastards want me to do now?”

“Two-thousand-years-old and such a charming command of English.”

“What
do
you want with her?”

“Calm down, Doctor Ryan. We only want her to perform her duty, as any of you would, in service to her country.”

“I must have missed a step,” Ryan said. “Since when is this her country?”

“Since she took the oath of citizenship and contractually signed with this agency,” the Director replied.

Ryan stared at Calida who looked at her fingernails. “Why didn’t you say anything about this to me, or Siri?”

“Like you said, we’re all animals, but I’m the only one kept in a cage.”

“Miss Villena made the only choice available under the circumstances,” the Director said.

“You promised me that our research would come first,” Siri said, raising her voice. “Why is this promise being broken when we have gained her trust and we're learning so much? We might find ways to help her?”

The Director calmly reached inside his suit and appeared to fondle something. “Trust, Doctor Lei? How much trust would you like to place in her? She’s a killer, and shall always be a killer. Or have you already forgotten that she devoured poor Christopher?”

Calida leaned forward in her chair, but before she could say anything, she reached upward with both hands and grabbed her head for several seconds.

“Can’t you see there’s something wrong with her?” Ryan asked.

“She’s been having these—these seizures.” Siri got up from her chair and sat next to Calida. “We need to find out why before she goes anywhere else.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Doctors. She has more control over these moments than you give her credit for. Isn’t that right dear?”

“What do you want from me?”

“As I said, an opportunity has arisen,” the Director replied. “This country has invested, well, to be honest, it has spent nearly a trillion dollars in the fight against its enemies since September 2001.”

“I’m not surprised that you’ve mentioned the money before the thousands of soldiers that have been killed,” Ryan said.

“Money, equipment, lives, all wasted to be sure, and all because of a single man,” the Director said. “When all is reduced to its simplest cause a single man bears the responsibility for these evils.”

“This is all about him?” Ryan asked.

“You had us capture her just to kill a terrorist,” Siri asked. “That was your plan all along?”

“The plan has always been to protect this country,” the Director replied. “Each of you, and myself included, are instruments to be used toward that end. Must I remind you of your oath to this agency and your contractual obligations?”

“The contract seems pretty one sided at the moment,” Ryan said.

“As has been your bank account,” the Director said, stabbing his cane toward Ryan. “I don’t recall ever seeing any refusals of deposit from your financial institutions, isn’t that right?”

Ryan looked away.

“How am I supposed to get close enough to your terrorist?” Calida asked. “Haven’t you tried to kill him since those two buildings fell?”

“Yes, yes, we have tried and failed, yet been so close so many times, but we must put an end to this matter once and for all.”

“What are you forcing me to do?”

The Director took out his pipe and filled it with tobacco but didn’t light it. “You shall take on the appearance of a young daughter of a Pashtun warlord called the
Sardar
from a tribal area that straddles both Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

“Is that all?”

“This area is known as the Pashtun Belt,” the Director continued. “And since you are fluent in Pashto, and most of the other regional dialects, this should be easy for you to accomplish.”

“This is crazy,” Ryan said. “All you’re going to accomplish is getting her killed.”

“Ooh, I’m sure she appreciates your concern,” the Director said. “But don’t forget that she is a vampire after all. I’m sure she’ll find excellent feeding where she is being sent. The Belt’s social structures have all but disintegrated and this lawlessness will work to her advantage.”

“So I’ll be a Pashtun woman in a
tabar
. And will I also be wearing a
burqa
? Not all tribes observe this custom.”

“Yes, certainly, this
Sardar
follows the most conservative traditions.”

“How am I going to find your terrorist?”

“You shall be taken to the tribal areas where you will be transported across the border to the mountains west of Quetta in Pakistan.”

“But she can only move around at night,” Ryan said.

“Oh, but you underestimate her,” the Director said. “This creature sitting here before us has survived nearly two millennia without seeing the light of day. And she terrorized this region at one time for nearly a hundred years, isn’t that right my dear?”

“You’re giving me too much credit,” Calida replied. “I know this area of the world.”

“It was really Doctor Lei’s research into your history that formed the basis for this remarkable plan,” the Director said.

Siri lowered her head and sat back down on her chair. “You misled me—you’ve been manipulating me all along.”

“That is an unkind thing to say, Doctor Lei. Upon Miss Villena’s successful return your studies may continue.”

“You believe the information I took from Husaam is going to lead you to him, don’t you?”

“Over the past four years the agency has had under close surveillance the extended family of an important Pashtun
Sardar
who is receiving arms and munitions from the Taliban. To help pay for these arms and gain favor, the warlord will be giving three of his daughters to the Taliban as servants to the
Amir
.”

“It’s a barbaric practice,” Siri said.

“It is an old tradition in these tribal areas to use daughters as payment for debts and other needs,” the Director said. “This particular
Sardar
has many daughters.”

“Who’s this Husaam?” Ryan asked.

“He is the eldest son of this
Sardar
and will be at this arranged meeting.”

“Husaam and his father are meeting the
Amir al-Mu’minin
.” Calida said.

“So you have told us,” the Director said. “You were very explicit that
Amir al-Mu’minin
is the title of the other person to be present during this meeting, I believe.”

“That was the name in his mind.”

“And do you know who this name refers to?” the Director asked.

“It means ‘leader of the faithful’.”

“Ooh yes, it does have that meaning, but this particular
Amir
is none other than the leader of the Taliban.”

Ryan stood up. “Fun and dancing . . . that’s where you went?” he directed at Calida.

“After seven years of missing your mark,” Calida began, ignoring Ryan, “why put so much trust into what is inside Husaam’s mind?”

“Ah, why, you ask,” the Director answered. “This Husaam has quickly gained the favor of the
Amir
. His father is trying to position his son into the Taliban leadership. Husaam has brought in great sums of money through his crafty selling of opium and heroin. The hit on the yacht, agent Villena, was a test for Husaam to prove to the
Amir
that he is a worthy follower.”

“It sounds as if you already knew about this meeting before you sent Calida to read this Husaam’s mind,” Siri said. “So why did you send her in the first place?”

“Thank you, Doctor Lei,” the Director said and put his pipe in his mouth and lit the tobacco. “You always see what is important.”

“Can you bring me up to speed?” Ryan asked.

“Doctor Ryan, we know that the meeting is to take place, but we don’t know when or where.”

“How are you going to find that out?” Ryan asked.

“I’m sure Agent Villena can explain it,” the Director replied. “It’s all very simple, really.”

“It was all about getting me to touch Husaam,” Calida said. “Everything else was a diversion. You risked getting me killed just so I could touch Husaam and be able to read his thoughts from anywhere.”

“Now that you’ve imprinted with him you’ll have the strongest possible telepathic link.” The Director smiled and took a long draw from his pipe.

“The prions . . . .” Siri sighed.

“Hold it,” Ryan said. “There’s a flaw in your plan. All this does is allow her to read his thoughts at a distance. It doesn’t tell you where the real target is.”

“That is why you must be present at this meeting,” the Director instructed Calida. “You must be one of the three daughters being given away and find a way to make physical contact—to imprint—with the
Amir
.”

Calida shook her head. “A tribal Pashtun woman would never touch a man outside of her family. It would be too obvious and could get the woman raped, or killed by her own family.”

“Possibly, but the
Amir
has the same character flaw that most men have,” the Director said.

“And that is?” Ryan asked.

“He is merely a man, and she is a most beautiful woman.”

“I don’t care what she is, or what her abilities are,” Ryan began. “Sending her in alone to touch this
Amir
so you and the government can save face is crazy.”

“She’s not being sent in alone,” the Director said.  “You’re going with her.”

Ryan got to his feet. “What good would I do? I can’t speak the language and I don’t know their customs—I’d stick out!”

“No, Ryan must stay here,” Calida said. “I’ll do this, but not with him.”

“The risk is too great,” Siri said.

“My good Doctors, you both have invested all your efforts, and not to mention your reputations, into studying this creature. I am merely allowing you to have a more vested interest in her safe return.”

“I’m not a field agent,” Ryan said. “Remember what happened the last time I was in the field?”

“This time you won’t be exposed to any immediate danger, Doctor Ryan. You will be under the protection of a Special Ops team that has been working this area.”

“If you have operatives already in place what do you need me for?”

“You shall be responsible for the tracking system same as last time. And let us pray it works better than before. You wouldn’t want to be responsible for getting any more people killed, of course.”

“You rushed me,” Ryan said. “The system wasn’t ready for the field.”

“Not to worry,” the Director said. “It has since been properly field tested.”

“It has? When?”

“That’s not important now,” the Director said waving his cane. “In addition to the tracking system you shall also serve as a telepathic link to her.”

“So Calida must imprint with Ryan?” Siri asked.

“She hasn’t already done so?”

Ryan turned and looked at Calida. “Well?”

“I only get a weak touch from you when you’re not close,” Calida said.

“But enough to make me forget those pills.”

“I never passed the little messengers to you. I can read you and show you things if we are close. If I can’t see you it becomes difficult.”

“Then you must imprint with him,” the Director said.

Ryan looked at Calida. He didn’t move.

“Is it that you’re afraid to touch her?” the Director asked.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” Calida said. “He’ll just have to find someone else.”

“You’re being offered the chance to help her, so make your decision quickly. I have another volunteer waiting outside.”

Ryan didn’t know what frightened him more: allowing Calida even more intimate access to his thoughts or going to the Afghan-Pakistan border. He took a breath and walked up to Calida.

She stood up right in front of him and said, “Once we’re joined there is no going back . . . do you really want this?”