“The Liliana Cemetery is just a few blocks away. It’s much smaller, and still privately owned by the family. Liliana was a girl who got caught up with the curse of alcohol; her father tried what they now call ‘tough love’ on her and cut her off. She turned to prostitution and was very popular in Storyville. When she died, her father’s grief was horrible, and thus he created the cemetery just for her and then friends who died poor. It was held by the family for years and is now owned by a subsidiary company that just keeps up enough maintenance so that thecity doesn’t come down on them. Many of the graves are in ground, but there are still a few single above ground tombs, some incredible cemetery art, and special vaults in the cemetery and . . . turn left. We’re almost there!”
Angela did as she was directed, quickly pulling to the side of the road. The little cemetery was surrounded by a low stone fence. She decided it was better to park at the side and hop over the little fence than to announce their arrival by driving through the entry.
Angela took a moment to determine the layout of the cemetery. Most of the people buried here had been poor; the graves were mainly simple and in-ground burials. But the graveyard was also scattered with above-ground tombs, and there were a few rows of the vaults that had created the name for many of the cemeteries of “Cities of the Dead.”
One vault stood a bit back; and as she watched, Angela saw someone slip into the vault. She thought they were wearing green trousers and a matching shirt . . .
Just as many people in the medical field wore for their uniforms.
“That was her, the nurse or aide or whatever with the box, and I think . . . I think it may be some kind of equipment. You know, as the medical examiner was telling us—you, rather, since she didn’t see me!” Alain said.
“All right, let’s see what’s going on.”
Angela leapt over the little wall and quickly moved more deeply into the cemetery, reaching the wall of vaults where she could find cover until she knew just what she was up against.
“I was right,” Alain repeated. “Darkness is about to fall and everything around here—what there is—is closing and . . . something is happening! Can you see?”
“There’s not much light from the street, but there is the moon and look! On that tomb . . . that big tomb by the vault! Oh, my God!”
Between two rows of the vault there was a large, free standing above-ground tomb, one that evidently been planned for two people or two coffins. It was evidently old, and now was chipping, graying concrete. But it had been decorated with some kind of black flowers at the edges while it had been covered with a length of black silk.
People had emerged from the vault that she’d just seen the person enter. Now they were wearing capes, except that one of them was stumbling, helped between two of the others, while someone else was carrying someone who was evidently unconscious.
Angela controlled her urge to confront them immediately. She needed to see what was going on. She didn’t even know if the person was dead or alive.
They laid the non-moving person on the large expanse of the above ground tomb. It was a woman. The man who had set her down spread her hair out so that it stretched in long beautiful locks across the area where her head lay.
Then there was more light, because another of the caped figures stepped forward to light two lanterns, the old kind that had candles within them. Those were set at the foot of the old concrete tomb.
“Careful, careful,” Alain murmured.
“I know, I know . . . sh!”
The person, who had carried the woman now stretched out on the tomb, stood up . And the woman who had been helped along by others was led up to stand by the upper body of the woman on the tomb.
Then the man who had carried the woman to the slab threw out his arms and announced, “Lily Morgan! We are yourfriends, your family now. Those sworn to keep you alive; and thus, dear Lily, you must start. We have fixed your mouth that you might dine, and we will guide you to first taste the blood of this disbeliever!”
“That’s it!” Angela announced. She drew her weapon and stepped from the shelter of the tomb walls where she’d been hiding.
Alain was right behind her.
“Stop it! Stop it right now! FBI, and you’re all under arrest for murder and attempted murder!”
She strode angrily toward the group.
The staggering woman—apparently Lily Morgan, convinced that she’d been turned into a vampire—screamed and fell.
One of the cloaked figures turned to run.
“Stop!” Angela demanded. The figure did not do so. Shaking her head, she fired for the person’s calf.
She was a good aim; a scream brought the person down.
But to Angela’s surprise, the man who was apparently the leader of the pack began to laugh. And then two things happened at once.
Alain shouted out a warning.
“From the vault, there’s another!”
