Chapter 79
The decision had already been made for him, though, as James approached the narrow walkway. The two buildings on either side looked to be businesses of some sort. No one appeared to be in either building, and their grime covered windows were darkened, though no shades were drawn over them. There were a pair of windows in the alley as well, on either side, and James absently wondered if anyone was covering those potential exits.
He didn’t see the Vampire at first, but as they drew closer, a shadow drew his attention. There was movement behind the refuse bins, as there had been the last time they’d been in contact with each other. “Go get him,” Margie prodded, shoving him forward.
“Give me a moment, won’t you?” James protested, staggering forward. He straightened his jacket and made sure his bowler hat was still sitting atop his head correctly. With a deep breath, he stepped forward, this time on his own accord. “Come out now, won’t you?” he shouted. Margie broke into a fit of giggles behind him, and he heard Culpepper tell her to shush. James glanced back over his shoulder, giving her a stern look, before turning back to face the darkness.
He could see in the dark better than he had been able to before the change, but it was still difficult. It was only when the monster stirred that he could see his outline. Trying to sound more confident, he cleared his voice and shouted, “You there! We know you are here. Now, is the time to come out and fight.”
James advanced a bit further, watching as the shadow shifted. The Vampire seemed to be gaining his feet now, and as James drew closer, the figure began to back away, his hands out in front of him, as if he were attempting to wave his attacker off. James could see his long, dirty claws even from here. Visions from that night flashed before his eyes—watching as Margie sprinted after the monster, seeing the trolley strike her, her blood spilt all over the street, her cranium in pieces in his hands.
As his feelings morphed into anger, James launched himself at the Vampire. Perhaps seeing him coming, or possibly deciding to retreat anyhow, the monster took off down the alley, but James caught him by the ankle as he struck the pavement, landing hard on his stomach. His breath was knocked out of him, but he didn’t let go. Eventually, he gulped down some air and pulled himself up on top of the Vampire, hand over hand, as the bloodsucker fought to get away.
“Please, please,” the Vampire cried, his voice high-pitched and squeaky. “I haven’t done anything.”
“You have,” James argued. “You caused all of this. You took my life from me. If it weren’t for you, none of this would have happened.” His words were choppy, coming out in gasps as he struggled to gain a grip on the monster.
“Let me in!” Margie shouted from behind him, but James was fully on top of the monster now. He shoved him to the ground and pinned his flailing arms with his knees. A quick glance over his shoulder told him Culpepper was holding his sister back, though she struggled to get a piece of the fight.
“I didn’t…” the Vampire protested. If James could see anything behind his nearly-black, lifeless eyes, he thought it might be a plea for mercy, but it was hard to recognize any emotion at all in those decayed orbs.
James positioned his hands around the Vampire’s neck. “You did,” he contended. “I was a doctor.” He began to squeeze. “I was going to save a lot of people’s lives.” He squeezed harder and the black holes protruded from the monster’s face. “Now, you’ve taken all of that away from me.”
If the Vampire was trying to respond, none of it was audible. A few moments later, James’s hands broke through the resistance, and the Vampire’s head came off in his grip. As the body turned to ashes, James found himself sitting atop them on the dirty pavement, his hands in the same position though only grasping at gray powder. After realization kicked in, he brushed his hands off and stood, also running a hand down the knees of his trousers.
It was finished. The creature he’d feared for much of his life was gone now, nothing but a pile of ash floating off in the breeze. He wanted to feel relieved, vindicated somehow, but feelings of guilt and shame also clouded his mind. He’d ended the existence of another, and no matter how evil that being might have been, it no longer occupied space in this world at James’s hand.
“What have you done?” Margie shrieked, finally breaking away from their uncle and approaching him. “You didn’t even give me the opportunity. That monster had just as much of an effect on me as it did on you—more even. If it hadn’t been for that thing, I never would’ve nearly died.”
“And if it hadn’t been for me, you would’ve,” James reminded her, the anger seeping back into his voice.
“Oh, you like to hold that over my head, don’t you?” Margie shot back. “As if there was anything I could do about it. All you did was touch me!”
“You think that’s all there is to it?” he argued, taking a step toward her. “That it isn’t at all taxing? It is Margie.”
“Oh, poor baby, Jamie! Works his magic and has to take a nap!”
“Enough!” Culpepper shouted, stepping between them. “That’s quite enough! Margie, if I had wanted to let you into the fray, I’d have released you. Your brother needed this.” His harsh look made her drop her eyes, though James was sure this would not be the end of it. “Jamie, you’ve done it. You’ve defeated a Vampire in battle. I knew that you could. Now, it is time for your true journey to begin. I’m sending you to New York for a while, a short trip, but they can use your help there.”
James was shocked to hear the news, but he nodded. He’d already resolved himself to take some space from Margie. Maybe this is what they both needed. “When do I leave?” he asked.
“In the morning,” Culpepper replied. “If this works out, there will be other missions. You have a special talent, Jamie, one unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Now that you’re also capable of taking care of business on the battlefield, you have become more of a weapon than I can keep all to myself.”
James wanted to smile at the compliment, but the emotions lingered from taking the life. And Margie was still glowering at him. “Thank you, Uncle. If you think I can help, I’m happy to do so.” He righted his hat and followed the rest of the party back to headquarters, receiving congratulations from the others as they fell in line. He had no idea what might lay ahead for him, in New York City and beyond, but at least he could be his own man there and not have to live in the shadows of his sister or his uncle anymore.
