“What’s not wise about it?”I asked.
“Let me rephrase the situation: A boat captained by a vampire, filled with the Biologically Impaired and other vampires, has disappeared, with nary a trace.What could be powerful enough to contain the strength of the collective?”
A ton of scenarios played themselves out in my head.None seemed good.
“What do you think?”I asked.“Any guesses?Are, uh.Cryptids real?Maybe it was a Kraken or something.”
“I only hope it was something as mindless as a beast,” Brother Al said.“Eddie and Vic are two people I know can be counted on in a pinch.I’ll have to invite them.You, on the other hand…”
“Hey.I can handle it.I’ll have you know.I faced a crazy ex-girlfriend vampire from the very roof of this Cathedral.”
“If I recall correctly, when I arrived, you were hanging over the edge.I was the one that saved you.”
“Yeah, well.”I paused.“You were saying earlier we needed to go on more dates, the three of us.”
“Oh yes, romantic tension simmering behind the scenes of a rescue mission.Very intelligent.I don’t see how that could go wrong at all.I’m afraid you’ll have to stay here.”
“You can’t keep treating me like this,” I said.
“Like what?Like a human?Like a mortal?Someone who has a life still to lose?”
“Yeah,” I said uncertainly.“Like that.”
“You are too valuable to lose on a mission such as this,” Brother Al said.“That’s the final word I’ll hear about it.”
“Hold on,” I said.“You know we have corporate out at my work right now.I’ve been busting my ass trying to cover up you guys’ drama.Trying to spin it.You know the Deadie infestation?I have a guy I’m trying to put off from investigating that.If I can get some footage of your wrecked cargo ship, I can spin some kind of story we can run.That’ll give you an extra week or two to cover your tracks in case someone gets serious.”
“Humans documenting a… pardon the crudeness… zombie uprising.Of course.Why wouldn’t they?You know, even five decades ago, it was so much easier to hide all this.I curse this digital age.Surely, though—surely you can’t find some other story?”
“My gut’s telling me to go with this one,” I said.
“You’re as relentless as a terrier,” Brother Al said.
“Ah, but they’re little and cute, too.”
Brother Al laughed.
“Fine.On your own head be it, however.I shall give you a very stiff ‘I told you so’ if I have to rescue you from the arms of a giant squid.”
“I’ll keep myself hidden,” I said.
“Go on.Get out of here before I change my mind.”
“Yes, Brother Al,” I said.
Chapter4
Brother Al informed both of my boyfriends about our mutual field trip, and we were given a day to prepare.It was an Eddie night, by my schedule—I came home from the Cathedral, and there he was, relaxed, reading a book on philosophy, smoking a cigarette on the porch in just his underwear.
He looked up at me, amber eyes seeming to stake me to the spot, and grinned.His caramel skin glistened in the dying sun.I tried not to immediately jump him.
“You heard about the boat trip, right?”I asked.
“It’ll be really relaxing,” Eddie said.“A good excuse to get away for a little bit, anyway.”
“You’re not worried about any danger?”
“No,” Eddie said, laughing.“Listen, I know that Captain Brother Al hired.He’s kind of a mess.Worms in his brain.I’m sure he just stopped off at the wrong port.”
