Night Howls (2 page)

Chapter 2

If it involves the bedroom and other people, really TMI

You’d think the residents of Night Owl City, at some point, would get used to seeing our group of misfits walking down the street. We still get more stares than I think we are worth. It might be that Clyde seems to be visibly bigger every time we leave the house, but even that should get old quick. Everyone knows what he is, it isn’t a big revelation he grows rapidly.

Some days, if I am looking to stir up trouble, I yell, “It’s the bat signal,” while pointing up into the sky. I then proceed to spread my wings and fly around the block. I don’t pay attention to current TV shows or movies, but I have been known to read a comic book in my day. It was when I was really bored so don’t judge me. I am working on ways to integrate other superheroes into my antics, but, so far,
Batman
is the only one I have tried out.

After Clyde waters his favorite tree, the only tree available for him within miles, we head back to my Suburban to make the trip to the movie set. With a group this large, we don’t have a lot of choices unless we want to take separate vehicles, which no one ever wants to do. They must really love my mad driving skills.

Now that Clyde is bigger, he doesn’t get to sit up in the front with me and whichever lucky guy rides shotgun. I say they are lucky because Clyde always gets revenge for him not being able to sit in the seat. There have been a lot of shoes turning up as chew toys or mistaken as a toilet. It is a good thing the guys aren’t crazy about their footwear, not that they could or would actually do anything to get back at Clyde. They know it would upset me, so they just buy new shoes when they need to and try to slip him extra pieces of meat to get on his good side.

Trying to teach Clyde manners is still slow going. He has stopped growling at everyone he sees, most of the time, and at least pretends to sleep in his own bed. A couple of times a week, I wake up to find him trying to cuddle with me, which is a lot harder for him since he has grown. He does his darndest, though. I kind of miss having his little body curled in next to mine.

“I am sure everyone else in the car knows where we are going, so someone needs to direct the mushroom amongst us,” I say climbing into the driver’s seat after getting Clyde settled in the seat behind me.

“They have things set up in Back Alley Business Park. If you head that way you can’t miss it,” Sebastian replies taking his seat next to me. I bet he thinks that since he will be out of town for the next couple of days, his shoes will be safe. I am pretty sure Clyde's memory is better than an elephant’s, so I figure a late night snack will be coming in the days ahead.

Back to the task at hand, I still cannot believe everyone thought I wouldn’t notice a bunch of extra humans milling around the town. My business has been doing pretty good, but not that good. I spend half of my time next to the local den of iniquity and I envision some of those humans are going to try to take a walk on the wild side, bringing them practically right to my door.

“Does anyone other than Jake know anything about these visitors?” I ask as I get our journey underway. With my lack of time spent in front of the television or in the movie theater, I doubt I will actually recognize any of the names they could give me. They may as well just list off a bunch of dead people, the names will mean that little to me.

“We have run scans on all of them. Supposedly, the director, the leading man, and the people funding the project are big names. Jake’s little girl toy is new to the scene and she is looking to make a name for herself. I expect she is going to have all sorts of stories for the tabloids about her doing it doggie style.” Alex replies.

“Too much information,” I say trying to wipe dirty images from my mind. Thankfully, I haven’t seen the girl yet, so the images are mostly generic.

“I think the majority of the crew is hoping to engage in as many fantasies as possible while they are in town. I have already been approached about hosting a party at Sins once they wrap up filming,” Sebastian supplies.

“And your answer to the request was?” Please prove to me I don't have a dummy for a mate, I think quickly to myself before he gives his answer.

“I don’t want to be responsible for a bunch of humans, who are most likely going to get themselves killed because they don’t know their limits. I told them it was best if they keep their party amongst their own species,” he replies clearly agitated even by the thought of having hordes of humans in his place of business.

Good. Taking in a show is one thing, but them actually trying to be a part of it would be crazy. It is doubtful the vamps in town would turn any of them down if they wanted to be dinner, but unless you are Jake, who really only has one teeny brain, no paranorm is going to get intimate with a human. We tend to have just a little too much energy for them and the bruises just won’t heal fast enough. That is what I hear anyway.

“Any ideas on why the Collective let them in?” It still doesn't make much sense to me. The human world may know about us freaks, but we still have many secrets we don't want getting out. Bringing in a crew with cameras doesn't seem like a very smart idea to me.

“I figure they have finally lost all touch with reality. It is the only explanation that makes a bit of sense,” Jonas offers from the backseat. As far as he is concerned, their grasp on reality has been nonexistent for a long time.

“It is a very odd move on their part. They don't do anything without a reason, though. I expect we will be enlightened soon enough. I don't think whatever it is will hurt us, so for now we just need to keep our eyes open,” Alex says.

I hope the visitors take one look at me and decide to give me a wide berth. I don’t think I look frightening enough to pull that off, but I can still dream. Too much exposure to humans gives me a rash. It is a rash only I can see and feel, but it is there and I like to try to avoid it.

“When exactly are you leaving, Sebby?” I have avoided asking the specific question as part of my tantrum. I have been trying my hardest to pretend there wasn't going to be a separation, but the weekend is fast approaching, so I have to prepare.

“It will most likely have to be right after this little errand. I need to get there early to make sure everything is set up properly and there are no issues with the lodging arrangements. A lot of these vampires that are coming in don't get along too well with each other, so there is a lot of shuffling that needs to be done.”

“I still don't see why you are making me stay behind. I am a vampire, too. I should get to come to your little party.” I know his reasons, since I have heard them fifty times over the last week or so, but I refuse to acknowledge them.

Sebastian sighs, probably wishing he would have recorded himself giving me his arguments the first time so he wouldn't have to repeat himself. “First, it is not a party. It is a meeting of all the vampires not choosing to be governed by the Collective. We make decisions on where our species is heading in the following year and appoint heads of the different regions. Vampires from all over the world will be flying in for this summit.

“It would not be an atmosphere I want you caught up in. There will be no doubt to these people that you aren't just a vampire and making all of them believe what you really are would be impossible when we don't even know your third nature. Next year, you will be able to join me. By then, your father will have told you what you are and we can build a stronger case for you being included in the craziness of the weekend.”

“I could have Ben just make me up some of that vampire boost potion, so the other vampires wouldn't sense anything else on me,” I provide. I haven't heard from Ben for a while, but he told me all I have to do is say his name and he will come running.

“Come on, Nyx,” Alex says from somewhere behind me. “We are going to have a great weekend alone without Sebastian. We can find some woods outside of town and go for a midnight stroll, just the two of us. Maybe I can show you what it is really like to do it doggie style.”

He must have that phrase on his mind. Maybe a couple of smacks to his head will remove it because that is so not happening. Well, the midnight stroll perhaps, but getting it on as wolves is not something I see transpiring anytime in the near future, or probably ever. Since he can read my mind, I don't even bother voicing my opinion aloud.

“Maybe one day,” he says not letting my thoughts drown all of his hopes. There tends to be a lot of wishful thinking done on his part.

“I cannot believe you are leaving me alone with him,” I tell Sebastian trying to change my tactic.

“You have your uncle around now to protect you. I am sure Walt won't let Alex do anything you don't want. Clyde will probably ensure that as well.”

Damn it. I just don't feel good about his leaving. I don't know what it is, but there is something just off about it and I want to either make him stay or convince him he needs to take me along. Maybe I can just follow after him and play his shadow for once.

“You do remember that you cannot do that anymore, right? I will know your plans and just make Alex tie you up to a bed. You can just envision the fun he would have with you in that position,”
Sebastian's voice says curling around my mind. Stupid new bond. I now not only have Alex's dirty mind to contend with in my head, but Sebastian has also started to intrude.

Rumor is this is the way bonds are supposed to work, but who wants anyone else to have the ability to roam around in their mind. I, being the lucky person I am, get not only one person able to do it, but two. If I think about it, I wouldn't doubt if Ben was also able to read me like a book. He seems to always know what I am thinking and can hear what the guys say when they communicate telepathically with me. It really is too much for one girl to take.

More and more each day, taking an ice pick to the noggin sounds like a good idea. Maybe after a lobotomy, they won't be able to get in. I have read in books that there should be a way for me to build walls to limit when they can sneak in and what information they are able to get out. I have been unsuccessful in actually making it work, though. I hope that with more practice it will eventually become a reality.

On the road ahead, I see a mess of trailers and people running around. I imagine I am in the right place, so I pull over into a parking spot and prepare myself for the joyous task of conversing with humans. I don't see any ambulances, so I think I made it in time before someone was turned into Swiss cheese.
I choose not to consider the fact that Night Owl City doesn't have any ambulances.

Chapter 3

Take that, you big buffoon

“Quiet on the set,” a man with a booming voice yells as we make our way towards the set. I see that he is yelling through a megaphone, so in reality he probably sounds like a troll. Trolls have really odd nasally voices. I have only met one of their species; maybe I am just making generalizations that aren’t true.

We reach the crowd watching a scene play out. It looks like the leading man is chasing a bad guy around their cutaway house. I have chased enough bad guys that it doesn’t really appeal to me and it looks ridiculously fake in my opinion. All the darting around the furniture is a little much. Dude, just jump over it and tackle the man.

When the leading man takes out a gun and aims it at the bad guy, I jump into motion. If they have my bullets in that gun, I cannot allow them to just kill each other. Sometimes I hate my annoying conscience.

With my speed, I am on the gun wielder in seconds and tackle him to the ground. A loud whoosh of air escapes his lips and I am pretty sure I have left a few bruises. Better discolored than dead, at least that is my way of thinking.

“What in the world is going on?” I hear someone shout as we make contact with the hard fake floor. Wow, the man really does sound like a troll. I was just joking when I originally thought that might be the case.

I wrestle the gun out of the guy’s hand and quickly flip it open to find my rounds in the chamber. The fact that it is the gun I was expecting to be delivered today made it pretty obvious what I was going to find. Seriously, they couldn’t tell those weren’t blanks? I close the chamber and stand up keeping the gun in my possession.

“Just who do you think you are, barging into my scene like that?” a very irate looking man with salt and pepper hair says towering over me. It is the troll and my guess is that he is the director.

As with most humans, I am not impressed. Sure, he is taller than me making him seem large, but a five-year-old can also loom over me. He is a bit on the portly side and has dark cocoa eyes to go with the graying hair.

“I am retrieving my property before you idiots kill each other,” I say walking over to Jake who is holding the box we brought with us. I take it away from him and shove it into the yelling man's hands. “Here are your handcuffs and blank ammunition. You might want to get a better prop person if you thought my rounds were blanks.”

For effect, I point my gun at an empty chair nearby that is free from bystanders and shoot at it. It basically disintegrates as my bullet and its pieces rip through it. Startled gasps are heard around the set. Just think of the noises they would have made if it hit a person. Larry from Tango Charlie would need to get a very good lawyer.

Having retrieved my goods, I am ready to leave, so I begin to guide my group back to our vehicle. I see Jake wink at someone and can only assume it is his girlfriend. I smack his arm to get him into motion. He can flirt on someone else's time.

“Wait,” a man's voice says running to catch up with us. Clyde doesn't like his approach and turns to growl causing the man to slow down.

I pause for a second, not even bothering to turn around. I know it is the man I tackled just from the scent that he is giving off. He doesn't immediately say anything else, so I am forced to prompt him. “I don't have all day. Speak, or I am out of here.”