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Eight: Assistant

Shortly after finding Dr Forest Fredericks sat in his own office wondering what to do next. Willis had gone with the doctor to make sure she was okay leaving him at the precinct to decide upon a course of action. The thing was he couldn't. There didn't seem to be a clear course, then fate intervened when the phone rang, it was Dr Forest's assistant Molly.

"Fredericks."

"Er... Hi Detective Fredericks this is Molly, Dr Forest's assistant. I was wondering what was going on as I can't get into the morgue at the moment and was told you'd had it sealed off."

Fredericks smiled to himself. "I did. Come to my office and we can talk." He glanced at the clock he was risking his partner walking in on this but he needed to have a "chat" with this Molly. Maybe he could finally get some answers.

"Ok. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Good." He hung up and glanced at the clock again. Where was Phillips? Wasn't like her to be late. Still gave him more time to prepare for a round of good cop bad cop, albeit without the good cop to balance things out.

Maya meanwhile was still at home memories of that night rushing through her mind, well memories of the ecstasy she felt. The intense pleasure, the overwhelming assault on her senses. How could she go back to work after experiencing that? Work was... work was nothing in comparison. There was no pleasure in being given orders, shuffling paper, dealing with that obnoxious partner of hers. She was going to quit.

Willis waited in the reception area of the hospital hoping for some good news. Dr Forest had not been given much chance of survival but the doctors here were hoping the blood transfusion would be enough. Willis hadn't felt like this since his wife gave birth. It wasn't a nice feeling. He hoped no complications arose this time.

Fredericks gave Molly a smile as she entered his office he noted she was wearing a shirt whose collar hid her neck. Why these people chose to mark their accomplices in such a manner was beyond him. Just keeping up the vampire thing he supposed, sure made the bad guys easy to spot with all these neck hiding pieces of clothing.

"Molly. Perhaps I should explain the situation to you." He said getting out of his chair and making it look like he was pulling one out for her.

"If you would be so kind." She smiled, it was a sweet smile but it soon turned to a look of fear as he knocked her to the ground and pinned her there while drawing his gun and placing it against her head.

"Good. Now I have your full attention I have a few questions to ask."

Vladimir wasn't at all surprised when Maya knocked on the door to the club, in fact he'd been expecting it.

"Ah. The lovely Detective Phillips. Come to ask me more questions?"

"It's just Maya now Vlad. I'm quitting my job."

"Oh? And why are you doing that?" He allowed her in and closed the door behind them before slipping an arm around her shoulders.

"Well, I just don't think it's me anymore. I don't suit police work."

"Understandable my dear Maya. What do you intend to do now?"

"I hadn't thought about that. I just wanted to tell you."

"What about your partner Detective Fredericks wasn't it?"

"Yes and I don't know. He's always wanted to work alone."

"I mean have you told him yet?"

"No. He'll find out though. I emailed my resignation letter to the chief and sent him a copy as well."

"Do you not think it impolite to inform him in such a manner my dear? Would not a face to face meeting be better?"

She sighed. "I guess you're right but he's such a jerk to me. Never even calls me by my first name. It's always Phillips this, Phillips that. I hated that."

Vlad kissed her softly and she felt all her cares just melt away. "I understand my dear. Do not let it bother you I'm sure he will get him comeuppance one day."

"Now Molly. I know you've been tampering with records and falsifying reports. Care to explain?"

Molly looked at him wide eyed. "I-I-I don't know what you mean."

"Don't play dumb with me Molly." He cocked the gun. "Or this could end messily."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Try me."

She swallowed then took a deep breath. "I...." She paused.

"Yes?"

"I think you should get off me now Detective Fredericks."

He blinked. "What?"

"I said I think you should get off me now Detective."

"Why should I? You're not going anywhere until I get some answers."

"I warned you." She pushed upwards and threw him off of her with ease. He found himself slamming into his filing cabinets with enough force to knock the wind out of him. He held his gun tightly, clinging to it for dear life. He watched as she stood up and smiled at him revealing her fangs. Was he right all along? But it was daytime? What the fuck was going on? She started to approach him, still smiling. He raised the gun and pointed it at her.

"Put the gun down detective."

Fredericks felt his arm relax and he did indeed start to put the gun down.

"No!" He shouted fighting the urge to put it down. Something about the way she was talking to him. The words... they made him feel at ease... told him to relax.... "NO!" He pulled the trigger once, twice a third time. He saw all three shots hit Molly square in the chest. She stepped backwards a little with the force of each shot but merely shook her head and looked disappointed.

"You should have listened to me detective. I'm not going to hurt you."

The words were like poisoned honey, sweet yet deadly. He fought to ignore the feeling washing over him and threw the gun at her. That at least made her flinch and whatever hold she had over him vanished. He'd made her lose her concentration. He picked himself up and ran towards the window. She smiled still watching him.

"You cannot escape detective. Soon you too will be ours."

He wasn't listening he dived headfirst through the window thanking the heavens that his office was on the first floor as he did so.

Nine: Decisions

Fredericks collapsed in an alley several blocks from the precinct. He was breathing heavily after virtually sprinting all the way. He looked back around the corner and was relieved to see no signs of pursuit. He allowed himself a breather, time to catch his breath. His mind was still racing. What the fuck had happened back there? Molly had thrown him across the office. Plus there was the fact he'd shot her three times in the chest with no effect whatsoever.

"What the fuck is going on here? What the FUCKING FUCK is going on!!!"

Willis was woken up by one of the hospital doctors.

"Detective?"

"Uhh. What?"

"It's about the patient you brought in. Dr... Jessica Forest."

"What about her?" He forced himself awake. This could be important.

"She's no longer in her room."

"What!?"

"We checked on her a few minutes ago."

"Where the hell is she?"

"We've no idea. There's no way she could have left by herself. Security is reviewing the tapes right now."

"I want to be there Doctor."

"Certainly detective. Right this way."

Willis followed the doctor to the main security room. The head of hospital security was there reviewing the surveillance tapes of the ward Dr Forest had been in. He turned around and nodded to the doctor who left them alone. The horse then offered a hand.

"Harry Smith head of hospital security. You'd be detective Willis."

Willis shook his hand. "Yes. Found anything yet?"

"Not yet. Take a seat." He motioned to the chair next to him. Willis sat and looked at the monitor watching the tape.

"She was discovered gone a few minutes ago so I'm backchecking the tape. Wait." He paused the tape as the door to Dr Forest's room opened revealing... no one. "What?"

Willis looked equally as confused. "You telling me the invisible fur took her?"

Harry checked the time on the tape counter. "Few minutes before we discovered her gone. But... there's nothing."

"So we got nothing except a missing patient. That's just fucking great."

"I don't understand it any more than you do Detective. Tapes don't lie though."

"So who opened the door?"

Harry shrugged. "No idea."

"You got men walking the halls of this place right?"

"Yeah."

"Well let's ask some of them."

He nodded. "Best idea we've got I guess."

"Yeah."

Fredericks picked himself up. He supposed that the best idea he had for now was to meet up with Johnny then head over to the hospital to see how Dr Forest was doing. It wasn't much but it was something. Naturally Johnny had other ideas.

"Hey Rabbit. Look like shit."

"Fuck. Johnny. Do you follow me everywhere?"

"Someone has to keep you out of trouble."

"Where the fuck were you back there!?"

"You whine like a mule. You're still alive."

"Barely. Now what the fuck's going on?"

"Vampires."

"But..."

"This isn't a horror movie Rabbit. It's real."

"But..."

"Yeah your butt is nice but stop thinking about your own ass Rabbit. You need help. I know just where to look."

"What about Willis and Dr Forest?"

"The Doctor is lost to you. Your friend will soon join her."

"What? You.... I..."

"Come Rabbit. It is time for you learn more about the darkness you now face."

Willis was at home after hours of coming up with nothing. He couldn't take this anymore. It was time to end things. He was in the locked room in his house, the one he wouldn't even let his wife in. He'd sent her to her sisters. He looked around the room, the equipment here would make any SWAT team jump for joy. Assault rifles, grenade launchers, shotguns. If it was for sale in Crimson city, legally or otherwise, he'd bought it.

"Time to play Rambo."

"Where the hell are you taking me Johnny?"

"To see someone who knows a lot more about this stuff than even I."

"Like you know anything."

"I know more than you, but I am merely a scout in this war."

"War? What are you talking about?"

"You will find out soon."

Fredericks gave an exasperated sigh. He wasn't getting anywhere. Time to just shut up and go along for the ride. He followed Johnny through the backstreets of the city looking at all the odd shops and homes that littered the dark byways he never ventured in as a norm. It was an interesting tour of the underbelly of Crimson city. Eventually Johnny stopped in front of a small shop. The name "Wyrd of the World" adorned the sign and the window was full of all sorts of strange artifacts the likes of which Fredericks had never seen before.

"We're here Rabbit. Sarah will see you inside."

"Who?"

"Go inside Rabbit. You will have your answers soon enough."

Fredericks shrugged and went inside the store. The inside was smoky, but it wasn't the usual cigarette smoke of the bars Fredericks went to, this smoke had a sweet fragrance to it.

"It is jasmine incense Detective."

"Huh? What?"

"Welcome to my store Detective. You wish for information on Vampires yes?"

"How... are you Sarah?"

"I am indeed." There was a rustling sound and Fredericks saw a female raccoon walk through a bead curtain. She was quite young and fairly attractive. She gave him a warm smile. "You did come here for information."

"Johnny brought me he said..."

"I know of him. If he brought you to learn then you have been chosen."

"Chosen?"

"I have said too much. Here." She handed him a large black book. The words "Encyclopedia Mythica" were written on the front in gold lettering.

Fredericks took the book. "Chosen?"

She smiled. "Johnny will explain."

"But..."

"You may leave now Detective."

He sighed. None of this was making any sense at all. Chosen? Some strange book? He stepped back outside to find that Johnny was gone.

"Great. Fucking great. Now what do I do?"