NEWBORN: Book One of the Newborn Trilogy (18 page)

“It’s not coming,” I say. “If you leave I can
start.”

Oh come on, Gabriel! Tell me how much you’d
love for me to come and I will. That’s all I require! I swear!

“You are coming,” Gabriel tells me. Finality
in his voice. “So down that glass or leave it. The forest
calls.”

The forest? What could the forest want with
me?

“Should I bring an umbrella or my raincoat?”
I ask uncertainly, peeping through the window. Clear skies. Oh,
that’s right.

“No need,” Gabriel says airily. “I can deal
with rain.”

Oh can you, now?

Sighing my resignation, I stand up. “Okay,
I’ll come,” I tell him. “This better be worth it, Gabriel. I should
be reading
Sordello
.”

“Studying was never going to happen.”

I scowl but don’t contradict him. He knows me
too well. Without a word, I pass his satisfied smile and go to the
bathroom, grabbing my perfume on the way out. It’s tempting to
spray his face.

Checking myself in the mirror, I see a
harassed girl. At least her headache is gone and she looks pretty.
Pale skin peeps around locks of straight brown hair. Taking my
contacts out, I soak them in faucet water and replace them. For the
second I don’t have them in I’m shocked by the ferocity of my eyes.
I look downright fevered.

* * *

The day outside is as clear and peaceful as I
left it. Approaching late afternoon, the sky reveals a tint. The
sight is beautiful to behold above the far off trees, sugaring our
eyes with the promise of autumn.

Dorm building C is near the northerly tree
fringe. If you press on in a northwest direction you hit Eld Inlet
and the scenic, secluded little beach. You know. The one where I
almost died. We strike off due west, following the tree fringe.

Gabriel walks alongside me, his thoughts
stowed. I glance at him, at the hand rising to brush his blond hair
to the side of his forehead. At the casual way his cordovan robes
fall around him as he walks. There’s a competency about him I can’t
place. A confident knowing in his movements.

“You’re quiet,” he says.

“So are you,” I reply.

He’s silent for a moment. “I’m thinking.”

“About what?” I have a guess.

“Vampires,” he answers. I was right. “Or
a
vampire, I should say. Nora, have I told you why I’m
here?”

I stare into turquoise eyes. “Of course,” I
answer. Has he forgotten already? He doesn’t seem to find our
conversations memorable. “You are here to kill vampires,” I tell
him. “You told me.”

“Yes, but specifically,” he follows up. “Did
I
specifically
tell you why I’m here in Olympia?”

“I thought that’s why.”

“That
is
why,” he says. “Broadly
speaking. The Bureau of Beast Control sent me here to hunt
vampires. But also to find a specific vampire who is the first
Newborn vampire in a long time. The werewolf clans around the
Olympic Peninsula have to
some
extent done their job of
protecting humans. Human attacks have become rare. But one was
recently reported in Washington, and the Bureau of Beast Control
believes the new vampire will likely head for the Olympic
Peninsula.”

I blink my confusion. “I don’t understand,” I
tell him. “Why should the Bureau care if there’s one more vampire?
Why is that reason enough to send you here when the werewolves have
it under control?”

Gabriel frowns. “Obviously they don’t,” he
remarks, “if a human has been attacked. For each state there’s a
vampire limit the Bureau of Beast Control deems cannot be exceeded.
Washington State, while always vampire infested because of the
Peninsula, has fallen short of the limit till now. Till this most
recent Newborn. The Bureau sent me to sort the situation out. Kill
the Newborn,” he adds, cracking his knuckles.

“Why do you have to kill the Newborn?” I ask
nervously. “Can’t you kill any vampire you come across until the
limit is no longer exceeded?”

Gabriel shakes his head. “Newborns, Nora, are
among the most deadly of vampires. They have a tendency to get
terribly, terribly thirsty. If there is a Newborn in the area, he
must
die.”

I shudder. The expression on Gabriel’s face
is crazed. Frightening. Best distract him. “What is the limit,
anyway?”

“Twelve vampires,” he answers, “for
Washington State. The limit is set by the Bureau and depends on the
geography and size of the region. Washington has been at twelve
forever. The coven up north has a history of killing the thirteenth
vampire to keep the Bureau away. They fear us,” he says with
satisfaction. “I guess thirteen got away this time. Now they will
feel my wrath.”

“You’re going to kill more of them?”

Turquoise eyes are aflame. “Do you know me at
all, Nora?” he asks, but doesn’t wait for an answer. “I have a
license to kill, maim, and torture sub Purids – that’s any living
thing that’s not a Purid blood wizard or witch – given to me by the
Bureau of Beast Control. It means I can kill all the vampires I
want,” he says, looking delighted. “I intend to! I want to kill
them all, Nora. Not just the Newborn.
All
of them.”

Blood is running cold through my veins. The
force of his hate is enveloping our steps. I feel it in the ground.
I feel it in the air. I feel it inside me, pumping through me like
my own, chilled blood.

“I’m sure not
all
vampires are bad,” I
say. “Think about it. Not all could have wanted to become vampires.
For some it was an accident – they got bitten and couldn’t help it.
Do they deserve to die?”

“Yes,” Gabriel answers at once, not missing a
beat. “There is no such thing as an innocent vampire. Almost all of
them have attacked a human. Whether they are smart enough to finish
the human off or let him become the thirteenth vampire is a
different matter. Lack of oversight is stupidity. Vampires are
beyond stupid, Nora – they’re an evil, wretched, parasitical
creation! Our world must be rid of them!”

I shake my head. “You’re a hypocrite.”

“How?” he asks in frustration, gazing over at
me, eyes flashing. “How am I a hypocrite?”

“When we were going to the beach,” I begin,
“you told me you think it’s terrible the Puridite Movement has made
efforts to segregate wizards from Immags. You said it’s imperative
for the races to join or else wizards will die out in the United
States. Yet here you are denouncing a separate race for their
supposed failings! For their unwilled victimization! How can you
not see it?”

“That’s different!” Gabriel says angrily.
“Immags are not beasts. They are lesser than wizards, but –”

“Oh, I see!” I exclaim, stopping and raising
my voice to match his. “We humans
are
lesser thans? I guess
we’re included in that ‘sub Purid’ category of creature you have a
license to kill, maim, and torture?”

“You are, actually,” Gabriel says. “But I
didn’t mean –”

I’m not listening. He’s clearly lost his
head. “I think I finally get you,” I tell him. “Every other
creature – Immag, vampire, werewolf – is subordinate to your race.
You really believe that, don’t you?”

We stare each other down.

“Yes,” he says.

Closing my eyes, I shake my head. “You’re
wrong,” I say. “You’re so wrong, Gabriel.” I turn away. “I’m going
home.”

“Wait!” Gabriel says, catching my arm. “I
didn’t mean… I’m sorry, Nora!”

His turquoise eyes are apologetic. Mine are
unforgiving. “You’re a bigot,” I tell him. “Admit you’re a fucking
bigot and I’ll stay.”

Gabriel gestures wildly, upset. “I –
you
– fine!” he says, flustered. “Fine! I’m a bigot! Have it
your way! Will you stay now?”

I’m trying not to appear too pleased. “For
the time being,” I say. “No promises later. Now take me to whoever
we’re meeting. I’m losing patience with you!”

He’s eyeing me warily. “No more talk of
dominant races, I promise.”

“Hey!”

“I said
dominant
– not better than!”
he states quickly, a trace of a smile gracing his lips. “Relax,
Nora!”

“You’re the one who needs to relax,” I tell
him. “Relax your excitement for murderous rampages. You sound like
a lunatic, Gabriel.”

He guides me forward. I let him despite being
incensed by his comments about Immags. For the time being I let it
go, because I am curious about whom we’re going to meet. Could it
be another wizard? Or a witch – he said
she
. I can’t know.
My excitement is unrestrained as we press on.

The tree fringe is long and winding. To the
left are school buildings and students bothering to travel on
designated walkways. We’re too cool for that. I glimpse Red Square
coming up. Here’s where we turn right if we’re going to the beach.
Evidently we’re not going to the beach.

Silence. Gabriel is in a ponderous mood.
Maybe he’s punishing me for my outburst. I don’t blame him – I did
call him a bigot. He
is
a bigot. Still, my heart reaches out
for my stoically silent companion.

Reaching my hand, I take his. It tenses on
contact, then relaxes to the feeling of my touch. I gaze into
turquoise eyes, my own forgiving. Offering me a sideways grin,
Gabriel shakes his head and continues on, his hand calmly and
contently holding mine. I’m so glad he didn’t pull away.

Passing the Daniel J. Evans library, we
arrive at the western-most tree fringe. Here Gabriel stops and
pulls his hand from mine to swipe his blond hair to the side of his
forehead. I gaze around, puzzled.

Why did he bring me here?

“I dare say I’ve brought you to meet somebody
you’ve already met,” Gabriel says. “I want to reinforce the point
we wizards are crafty creatures –
not
disabled, like you so
callously suggested. When you inferred wizards need magic to right
a handicap I took it personally, Nora. We’re here to disprove
you.”

“Gabriel,” I sigh, “I didn’t mean –”

“It’s okay,” he interrupts, holding up his
hand. “I know you didn’t. I wanted to show you, anyway.”

Sticking fingers in his mouth, he adjusts
them before letting forth a long, low whistle. The sound is eerie.
It makes me want to run for fear a monster will arrive. My fears
are misplaced. A monster does not arrive. But an animal does.

Merrifeather, the snowy white owl, comes
swooping out of the trees to rest on Gabriel’s outstretched arm.
Turning to face me with the owl firmly planted, Gabriel beams at
me. “Expecting someone else?”

“Merrifeather?” I gasp in surprise, staring
into huge amber eyes. “Merrifeather is who you brought me to
see?”

Nodding once, Gabriel reaches into the pocket
of his cordovan robes and pushes his wand aside to find some owl
treats. “For a while I was keeping her cooped up in my room,” he
explains. “Letting her fly at night. But you know Merri – she hates
hunting at night. You’re a weird owl, aren’t you?” he asks her
adoringly, stroking her snowy feathers. “Yes you are! Yes you
are!”

Staring at them together, I almost want to
laugh. I hold it back. Instead, I approach the owl gingerly and pet
her fine feathers. “So now you’re letting her be a free owl?” I ask
him. “Or do you collect her every night?”

“Free owl,” he answers. “Except when I need
her.” He feeds her an owl treat, which she hastily gobbles up.

“What do you mean?”

His boyish charm seems replenished by the owl
– the deadly, murderous Gabriel of ten minutes ago nowhere in
sight. “I’m glad you asked me,” he says. “Merri is an example of
the
genius
of wizards. She is nothing less than a trained
hunting owl. She’s brilliant at finding vampires. She tells me
where they are,” he adds delightedly. “Comes in use when your
stupid Bureau gives you a broken Vampass.”

Amber eyes close as I pet her feathers. “Does
she also
hate
vampires?” I ask, stressing the word. “Animals
can’t be as unjust as wizards.”

“She doesn’t hate them like I do,” Gabriel
says, unabashed. “She doesn’t like them, either. She’s too adept at
finding them for me for that,” he explains. “Merri’s also a
Releaser, indirectly speaking.”

“How does she find them?” I wonder aloud. “I
guess flight helps.”

Swiping his blond hair to the side of his
forehead, he nods. “Flight helps. But there are other ways.
Vampires have a strong scent and she picks it up. Oh, and their
eyes are a dead giveaway. Obvious.”

I wonder how many vampire murders
Merrifeather has assisted Gabriel in committing. Actually, I don’t
want to think about it. Unpleasant to think a creature so beautiful
and appearing so gentle could be so vicious. Putting it from my
mind, I ask, “Why are vampire killers called Releasers?”

“Simple,” Gabriel says. “We
release
a
vampire’s soul into the void to go where it will. Free it of its
wretched cage. Our title came under scrutiny after the Puridite
Movement. Many argued vampires don’t have a soul, so it can’t be
released. I happen to agree, but I’m not making a fuss about
it.”

“It’s kind of insensitive,” I tell him.

He laughs, making Merri’s head swivel around.
“Insensitive?” he repeats. “I think vampires are more incensed by
being killed in droves than by the title of their killers. But who
cares. They get what they deserve.”

He says it with no reserve, no self doubt,
and no inclination that he might be wrong.

Sounding a low hoot, Merri launches from her
master’s arm. She flies into the trees before circling back slowly.
Gabriel is staring at his owl, the expression on his face one of
impulsive excitement.

“What is it?”

“She wants us to follow her. She’s found
something.”

I gasp the autumn air. “A vampire?”

“Could be,” he answers. “Probably. She rarely
leads me to anything else. I told her to look around.”

I feel hot. The blood running through my
veins boiling. I’m no stranger to this feeling. Excitement! It’s
coursing through me, lighting my every synapse. The possibility of
this new frontier is upon me, and I can’t wait to see what I’ll
find. Or what will find me! Eyes alight, I stare into
Gabriel’s.