Page 108 of The Neighborhood Vampire

She turned and pushed the button to roll down the back window, so Guinevere could make a rapid escape. Alice grabbed her black bag and witch’s hat resting in the passenger seat. She was about to open the door when a gentle tap on her shoulder caught her attention.Twice more the broom handle tapped her. Alice gave two taps back, opened the door, and exited the SUV.

The rain had long since stopped, leaving the earthly sent of petrichor lingering in the air. She flung the bag over her shoulder and put on her hat. She tugged on the brim a few times to ensure the slightly curved, wool hat was in its proper place. Alice removed two wooden stakes, fashioned from the remains of Galahad’s broom handle from her black bag. She clutched both in her hands and strode toward the nightclub. She picked up speed with every step, nearly breaking into a sprint to reach the building.

Alice ducked behind parked cars, keeping them between her and the building. The curtains were drawn. A new one was draped over the window she had shattered earlier in the night. There was no movement, at least none she observed. She moved from car to car, hunched down to not be seen. Once she ran out of cars, she sprinted to the corner of the building and stopped.

The street in front of her was silent, quiet. An occasional car would drive past, but there were no unusual movements on the street. Alice peered around the corner. Two vampires, both sizable brutes dressed in black, stood guard outside the entrance.

Alice pulled back and placed her back to the wall. She clutched both wooden stakes in her hand, raising them up to her chest. She took deep breaths, trying to soothe her beating heart. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, and malice shone in her eyes. She took one more deep breath, held it, and exhaled, allowing her body to relax.

For Hugo.

She lunged around the corner and whistled. The guards spun around to face her. One closed in on Alice, while the other pinched a microphone clipped to his black shirt.

Alice didn’t think, she didn’t question, she didn’t hesitate. She hurled one stake at the charging vampire, swiftly reloaded her right hand, and flung the second stake at the other. The stakes soared through the air, hurtling toward their targets. The vampiressidestepped the path of the stakes, as they continued their assault. Alice snapped her fingers. The wooden stakes course corrected and hit their intended targets with precision.

Both pierced the vampires’ chests, turning them to dust. The wooden stakes bounced off the cement sidewalk. Alice snapped her fingers on both hands, and the stakes returned to her. She strode with confidence, eyes on the door handle. She snapped a finger, while holding the wooden stake. The door flew open. More vampires spilled into the night air.

Alice was ready for them. She struck the first one in the chest, sending him to an ash strewn grave. A hand snared the sleeve of Alice’s black tailcoat, attempting to pull her inside. Alice lurched in, surprising the vampire, and struck him in the chest. Alice spun, pirouetting on one foot, stabbing another would be assailant. With her fluid movements, she unleashed her dance-inspired techniques to swiftly dispatch the first wave of vampires.

More rushed in from the back. Alice flung the stakes into her coat pockets and delved her left hand back into her black bag, searching for something hidden within its depths. She produced a handful of sharp splinters and hurled them at the attackers. As she focused on the oncoming vampires’ chests, she could see the glint of their fangs and snapped both of her fingers. The sharp splinters effortlessly tore through them, causing them to collapse like a fragile house of cards as they turned to dust.

“Sylvia!” Alice shouted, still near the entrance. “Let’s finish this.”

Clapping emanated from the balcony. Not in congratulations, but to mock Alice. In the dim light, Alice found her query. The clapping built into a thunderous applause before stopping on one magnanimous clap. Standing at the balcony railing, wearing her crimson coat and pointing her clapped hands at Alice, was Sylvia Savino.

“You survived. A pity. I had such great plans for my new pet,” Sylvia said.

“You took everything from me!” Alice yelled.

“Consider us even,” Sylvia replied.

Alice let out a barbaric yawp and threw the wooden stake at Sylvia like a diminutive javelin. She spun around, transferring the stake to her other hand, and threw the second. She snapped her fingers. Both stakes raced toward Sylvia’s chest.

Sylvia stood her ground. The stakes floated in the air, inches from Sylvia’s chest, as if some unseen force held them. Anarcaneunseen force.

She glared at Alice. “Do you think I wouldn’t be prepared for you this time?” Sylvia asked. “You’ll have to do more than stab me in the heart if you want to kill me.”

The wooden stakes floated past Sylvia and fell to the ground.

“How?” Alice asked.

“You might have taken my new pet from me, but I’d like to introduce you to my original pet. I believe you know her,” Sylvia said. She turned to someone standing behind her. “Sam, please don’t be shy and come say hello.”

Alice’s mouth dropped. The blonde hair. The rolled-up sleeves showing off her forearm tattoos. She was unmistakable. The sight of her former lover standing next to Sylvia overwhelmed Alice in a state of shock and horror, left at a loss for words. All thoughts escaped her. Her shoulders drooped. She took a step back toward the entrance.

“I have to say, she’s been most helpful in my little operation here,” Sylvia toyed with Alice. She turned to Sam. “Go say hello.”

Sam turned, heading for the stairs.

“Over the railing,” Sylvia commanded. “I like the more dramatic entrance.”

Sam turned back, placed her hands on the railing, and leapt over. She landed on her feet on the floor below, crouching down to catch herself. She held there for a moment and rose to meet Alice.

“Hello, Alice,” Sam said in a monotone voice. Her eyes were red like Hugo’s. “I’m so glad you could join us.”

“Join is a . . . subjective term,” Sylvia said from above. “Joining me is off the table, but I’ll give you two options.”

Alice shifted her weight forward, turning her back foot. She focused on Sam, then Sylvia, and finally back to Sam.

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