This Is Where I Want To Be

28. Introducing Marcus

Louis

Sita and I had been driving like crazy, and the hour it took to reach the city felt like an eternity, “I just came from here,” Sita said out of the blue.

“Why were you in the city?”

“Divorced… Starting over.”

“Really! That’s not what I wanted to hear… So, you obviously know about Chris and Juliet?”

She seemed stunned, “Why aren’t you hitting the road after Friday?”

“Not really against polyandry,” Sita couldn’t seem more shocked. I smiled.

“You can’t think Chris would stand for that. He didn’t cheat on me for three years.”

That thought wiped my smile away, “Chris can’t even remember what happened Friday. And before that… he rejected her up to the last minute. If you showed up two hours earlier… None of this would have happened…! What was it that you couldn’t get over?”

“Why haven’t you gotten married in the last two hundred years, Louis?”

“Don’t get me wrong. But you don’t seem like the sentimental type, Sita. You have a guy totally devoted to you.”

“Had…” she said softly.

The conversation died down after that. I wasn’t going to pry and had no desire to know what she was thinking… or why she couldn’t sleep with Chris.

“When we get there. We will have to search the basement and find the car. Hopefully, he will run for it, dump the bag, and flee. If you have to manifest, the basement is the safest place. Let me find him inside the hotel.”

“I’ll follow your lead,” an instant camaraderie formed, knowing how serious the situation was. Sita pointed at a building as the GPS directed us to the garage’s entry. There were 3 floors of basement parking.

“Let’s see… Maybe the lowest level. No one parks there,” she shrugged.

There was little light in the dark space of the parking area. They flickered to attention as we drove down the lane. It wasn’t as big as the other levels, and only a few cars were parked. The options were limited, and finding a set of keys on the wheel didn’t take long. I had to repark the rental in a spot where he couldn’t just speed out. I positioned my car in front of it to ensure he couldn’t escape at all. “We need him alive….” Sita nodded in my direction, “Be careful… I don’t think you’ll be able to take him on. But the baby takes precedence.”

I had a sick sense of dread in my stomach. Something felt off. Everything seemed way too easy. Jacklin gave me the right club at the right time. I found everything too convenient, “What is it, Louis?”

“Weed.”

The place was a logistical mess. It wasn’t only a brothel or a high-end hotel with benefits. There were so many floors, and one was dedicated to a club. The massive dance floor filled with women and men made it almost impossible to move around. The dance music was too loud and not my style. I couldn’t bypass any of it because cubicles with couches ran along the walls on all sides of the floor. Unfortunately, the doors Jacklin said I had to get to were staring at me on the other side of the room—guarded by bouncers. I hoped they knew I was coming and would let me through. I gave my name, and they spoke to someone through an earpiece.

“Enjoy,” Each opened a door, and I walked through. Jacklin was either really hands-on or had good staff. On the other side was a small lobby. Bouquets of flowers stood everywhere in pots on stands. A table decorated with more in one corner. The elegance continued; the floor was marble, and the walls were painted a soft yellow. A massive waterfall softly fell over a wall of glass behind the reception area. It didn’t disappoint the standard the hotel was trying to maintain.

“Welcome, Mr. Du Pont,” the woman standing in front of the water welcomed me. She was clad in an off-shoulder sequenced dress. It wasn’t the hotel’s reception; it was a private floor. “To my left is the restaurant,” she gestured with an outstretched hand, “And a bar area where you will surely find some company tonight.”

Her eyes lingered on me a little too long. I raised an eyebrow, reading her thoughts, “Thank You. Any news about the client Jacklin arranged for me to meet?”

“He has not checked in, but I will inform you when he does. Please have a drink on the house.”

I tapped the counter’s surface, reading her name tag, “Thank you, Claire.” She winked at me. I chuckled, casting my eyes down. I wished Juliet was there. She would be so jealous. She could also have used her invisibility to do some recon because how was I supposed to go about doing everything? There was nothing for it. I had to get a girl, go to a room, and get some answers. Maybe even get a jump on the guy. If he saw me down there, it wouldn’t have worked anyway. Juliet had told me that Mr. Tailored was given access to the whole place and used service elevators. Jacklin was making me run around in circles and wasting time. Mr. Tailored was paying a lot of money; maybe she wanted to appease me and not give him up. There would be a fight. I was pumping myself up for it. He was just as old as me, but infected vampires were said to have a little bit of an advantage; stronger, faster, and almost unbreakable.

I sat at the bar beside a woman and got down to it, “Are you free? Or are you waiting?” I asked.

“Waiting… Sorry. But I would happily accompany you if you could wait an hour.”

“I’m in a bit of a rush… Can you perhaps point me toward your best friend in need of some money?” She smiled and pointed her red-painted nail toward a redhead in a booth. The lady eagerly waved me over. It didn’t take long, and Louisa and I walked past Claire. She pouted her lips, disappointed that I didn’t choose her, but smiled at the redhead in my arms. Claire handed me a room keycard. I told her to call me if she had any good news. As Louisa and I entered the elevator, I took a selfie with my new date and sent it to Juliet.

Me { This could have been you… Not a date! Just cover! }

Juliet { Sorry, eating. Talk later. Dracula Emoji and a blood drop Emoji }

Smelling Louisa next to me as a meal seemed like a good idea. I could’ve left Jacklin with a headache if she had stabbed me in the back. It took forever to get to the seventh floor. Louisa led me down the carpeted hall and unlocked a room door. Once she was inside, I listened for a moment, wondering if I would be able to hear anything—nothing. That hotel was a bit more soundproof, and hearing the cub wasn’t going to happen. That was if I was even on the right floor.

I followed Louisa into the room and messaged Sita at the same time.

Me { Anything? }

Sita { Nothing yet... Hiding. Anything on your end? }

Me { Making progress. Hold on… Be careful. Hide better }

I closed the door. Had to scare Louisa a little with my vampire face, my strength, and my impeccable manners before she knew I wasn’t mucking about. Questioned her about all the regulars the women were complaining about. “He is tall, well dressed, and his hair is flatly gelled onto his head… Come on… this has to already give you a name.”

She laughed, “You’re kidding. You just described every old guy in here.”

“He’s not old. Thirty-something. Very handsome and doesn’t mess around. In and out quick. Regular for the last month... More than others.” Louisa’s facial future changed. Bingo! She wanted to say but changed her mind, “I will give you a chance to live… This is really important to my… girlfriend. She is into all that vigilante stuff and justice… World peace and everything. This guy owes her some answers.”

“Ruth. My friend downstairs. The one you sat next to first... Her client is coming. For the last month… Twice a week.”

“That has to be him… What room?”

“Two flights up. Room 923.”

“You have any bondage I can tie you up with?” Louisa flinched inwardly but tried to keep face, “So, you don’t ruin this for me?”

“Top drawer,” she sighed, “You wouldn’t believe me if I said I wouldn’t spill my guts.”

I chuckled, “No, sorry. I wasn’t born yesterday,” I laughed at my own joke. I was really bored without Juliet. Wanted to make things right with her. Talk to her and tell her everything. I tied Louisa’s hands and feet and put her next to the bed on the floor, and then tied her to the headboard, “I will make sure you get paid double for the whole night. Really sorry! This is kinda life or death.”

Now I just had to wait for Claire to phone. She did but gave me the wrong information; kinda sus again. But I would rather be prepared if it was a trap of some kind. I made my way to the ninth floor—I trusted Louisa more than Jacklin and Claire. The elevator door dinged when it opened. I heard Ruth’s voice, “What’s in the bag? Sounds like a puppy.” Wrong question to ask Ruth. I listened to the slap and a cry of protest.

“No Questions,” I heard a man say. It had to be him. It seemed to work because she followed him anyway. Stupid Ruth. I took it as the perfect opportunity. I walked past them. Ruth was holding her cheek.

“You just hit this woman?” I asked, putting my hands on his chest.

When Rodrigo met my eyes, he recognized me immediately. I wondered if he would. He tried to be fast, but I was a little faster. I got the bag from him and tossed it to Ruth. She surprisingly didn’t let the bag fall while I kept him busy.

“If I were you, I would run. Not want to go into a room with this guy.” Ruth was hesitating, “Down in the basement. Last level. Blond. Well dressed. Give her the bag and tell her to go in my car and floor it.” When I manifested, Ruth screamed, which made Rodrigo attack her, trying to get the bag back. I warded him off. We were both trained to fight. It was evident from the way he moved. Wonder where he got that from? I yelled again when Ruth stood motionless. That time, adding screeching to get her into action. It seemed to put humans in their place, and she ran for it. “Remember, it’s the third-floor basement, Ruth!” I didn’t know if she would go or if she would get the bouncers. Or what would happen, but that was further than I expected us to get. All I had to do was keep Rodrigo busy until Sita called me.

“Who is funding you?” I was trying to talk to him while he advanced at me.

“Does it matter?”

“Oh wow, he speaks. Will I actually get some answers tonight?”

“I don’t know. Let’s see if you can keep up with doing both,” Rodrigo fought well in his suit and kept fixing his jacket whenever possible. I used these moments to ask him something.

“What did you give my girlfriend, and how long does she have?”

“Little Juliet… not feeling so well? Poor thing was courageous but stupid.”

“You know what? I tell her that every day. Not to her face, but she keeps doing things that are just really….”

He smiled, “Stupid.”

I nodded. Rodrigo’s boxing was good, but his fancy shoes kept slipping on the carpet. When we both realized, I smiled. He glared at me. We heard the familiar ping of the elevator coming up. We glanced at the indicator that showed it was coming to the ninth floor.

“Quickly! Tell me what I can give her to make her better?”

He chuckled, “Nothing! All you born Vampires are putting off the inevitable of facing extinction as well… Make sure she doesn’t bite you when she starts turning.”

I wouldn’t say I liked his tone. I had seconds left. When I attacked that time, I didn’t hold back and put him on his ass, pinning him using all my strength. He groaned in pain as I twisted his arm into an uncomfortable position.

“There is a cure, of course….” he croaked out, “But only I have it.”

“How long does she have?”

“Two years with her dose and her age.”

I sighed with relief, “Then you will have to come with me so we can sort this out peacefully. I will let Juliet decide what to do with you.”

The elevator was coming up the last two floors. Stunned at the voice I heard coming up the shaft, I pulled back and let Mr. Tailored go, reading the thoughts of the man about to walk out. Rodrigo didn’t understand and took a deep whiff. His already grey features turned stark white, and Mr. Tailored made a run for it. I was stock-still… not knowing what to do. It was too late anyway; the doors opened, and I figured knowing was better than being in the dark.

***

Marcus

I had heard about Rodrigo from Jacklin and got in a helicopter to go and find him. He had been one of my biggest mistakes… The other one was— Juliet. My father had not forgiven me for either. Daily, my estimation went down in his eyes. The last few years had been the worst because losing the Farrow family from the compound was a significant loss. My father took it personally; he felt he had not put me in my place enough and that I was making decisions where I had no business making them.

The dark skyline came into view, and the helipad on the hotel’s roof became more prominent as the pilot landed. Two of my men and I jumped out. Our steps were quick to get out of the way. The manager ushered us through two big glass doors that slid open. Inside the hotel, I didn’t even pull myself together as I always felt I had to. My guards ran for the elevator. When I reached it, the doors were already opening. I was highly strung and kept tapping my leg, willing the box to move faster. A town car was ready to pick us up outside, and we left immediately. Nervous and, at the same time, excited. I drank some water and chucked the bottle back into the cup holder in the door. My gaze kept drifting from looking out one window to another. The streets were quiet, and we were moving rather swiftly, but my regrets kept haunting me.

Reports began circulating a few weeks ago about an infected vampire running around outside the compound. Samuel himself made inquiries, and that is how we found out he was planning something against the creatures who created him. My father’s rage kindled all over, blaming me for letting him escape so long ago. It seemed like our Spaniard had gone off the rails, and it was my problem to find him. He had been gone for so long I had forgotten about him. Rodrigo’s hobby was catching and killing baby werewolves, and with their population so low, he was bound to surface. Hearing what he was planning gave me nightmares. Only thinking about him succeeding in his endeavor was a catastrophe not only for the compound but for the planet. Although he wanted revenge, and I get that, this plan he had in mind was beyond the norm.

The first night I came to see Jacklin was about a week after the whole story came out. She had told me of the French vampire who had made a scene trying to find Rodrigo. He said that he had heard the cub in the bag and his girlfriend had gone after the infected herself. How anyone could do that… was strange. Jacklin also said the girls’ parents joined the French guy in her office a few minutes later after killing all her guards. It was weird that anyone, let alone a girl, would follow Rodrigo… It took only a few seconds before that stone-cold face flashed before my eyes. The one that was so set against me.

Juliet was almost out of high school at that time… Only a few months if she didn’t skip grades… So, I thought it could possibly be her. Liam and Cindy would die for her and fit the description of the parents. I smiled, thinking about her… She would be the only one away from the compound who would care enough about someone else, let alone a werewolf. The whole thing had her stubbornness written all over it. And for the first time in three years, my stomach was in knots. That entire month, I searched tirelessly and came up with nothing. Vampires were scattered all over; keeping track of them was a full-time job. The compound had to make money, so Qadir gave some of them the choice of leaving. Jacklin? I don’t know how she got out, being a woman, running the club scene, the hotels, and the brothels.

But going into exile from the compound meant you didn’t want to be found. In the beginning… I didn’t want to see Juliet either… I was a little broken after they left… I couldn’t face her like that. I was scared to death that whatever Rodrigo was doing had ended up making Juliet the same. It wasn’t like I could call Samuel and ask him if his niece had turned into a Zombie. But we didn’t hear anything else… It reassured me that she had made it. And when the news of the saved werewolf cub reached us… I was proud of her. My suspicions were confirmed when the news quickly circulated about the young vampire girl playing the heroin. I listened to men retell the story to my father. He had not put two and two together. I had that stupid smile on my face and relished the fact that Juliet and I were connected. I might have gone about it the wrong way—No! I didn’t have a choice… And if I ever had another opportunity. I would’ve done anything to fix our relationship like I was trying to do at that moment.

Finding Rodrigo was now not only for my father but also for Juliet’s sake. If she was really concerned about the werewolves… I thought that maybe I could climb back into her good graces. So, that night was crucial to me. We reached the hotel. Another manager met us and escorted us to wherever we needed to be. She was wearing a grey dress suit with black high heels. When one sees the bottom reception area, you would never think the building was one big club of illegal activity. I had been there before, and particular floors needed an invitation. That night, I needed an escort throughout. I picked up my phone and rode another elevator to the ninth floor, where we needed to be. Kubra was on the other side of the line, giving me feedback about how far he was with the rest of my entourage. He was the only other vampire who knew how much that night meant to me, and he sounded as agitated as I felt. Everybody else was relaxed and just doing their jobs.

Jacklin had called me quickly, telling me that the French guy was moving; another cub was taken, and he was asking for information. He was heading to one of our hotels at that moment. I couldn’t believe my luck. Kubra and I set out immediately, hoping I would not only find Rodrigo but maybe catch a glimpse of Juliet. If she was with this new boyfriend, jealousy would have to wait. It felt too good to be true as if Jacklin was behind Rodrigo in some way. He would never be that careless if she was not using him. But I didn’t care, and when the elevator doors opened, I hastily wanted to exit. The two bodyguards with me held out their arms when they saw someone standing to the right of the landing.

“Open up, you idiots!” I pushed past them.

When I stepped out, I was face to face with a stranger. He was crushing his cell phone in his hand. No, he wasn’t only crushing it; he let it fall on the floor and was trampling on its remains. For the second time in three years, I had that stupid smile on my face. Thanked the universe and felt the tiniest sliver of hope that I might be closer to Juliet than I had been in years. But I would have to lure her out—she wasn’t going to be an easy catch.

***

Louis

I heard Marcus’s voice on the phone. His thoughts as they rode up the shaft. My fist instinctively closed around my phone. I had confirmed it was him as he called off his men. When I saw his face, I dropped my phone and crushed it. That face and figure that emerged from the elevator was one I thought I’d never see. One that flashed in Juliet’s memory many times every day. I had never seen him in person… He seemed a little bit crueler than Juliet gave him credit for. His Middle Eastern features were distinctive, as were his dark skin and dark brown eyes. When he looked at me and saw my foot—the smile on his face made me pause. That feeling in the pit of my stomach sent a flare of regret up my throat. He wasn’t stupid. In seconds figured out what was going on, knew exactly who I was and who I was protecting. Optimistic eyes scanned the little lobby area. Disappointment clouded his eyes as quickly as they had lit up. The scowl was back in full force. Marcus didn’t see the prize he wanted.

There was almost a constant sadness on his countenance. The full-trimmed beard lined his jaw, chin, and mouth. It didn’t make him look any friendlier. He screamed power and would be a formidable opponent. Above all that, Marcus was attractive. Thinly built like Chris and me. No muscles… Stupid Juliet! She had a type. The only thing he didn’t have was my easy smile. But Chris was also very serious, with an arched pull on his lips… like everything in life bothered him and made him think. All of us were mysterious. Number one on her list of who could possibly be good enough… Even Marcus’s clothes were stylish. He wore a long dark jacket over a dark polo sweater. Dark jeans and black shoes. Luckily, that day, I wore the total opposite of him. Light colors rather than my usual blues and blacks.

The way Juliet remembered him wasn’t quite like that. In her flashes of him, his hair was long, and he mostly wore a long-sleeved white Kurta with pants. There, he was much more Western. It seemed like he hadn’t given up on his prize. Making changes, Marcus? I was being dramatic, crushing the phone, but I didn’t want Juliet to even hear his voice. He was why Jacklin wasn’t reprimanded; under the ultimatum, she would inform him of any news of me and his prize. Was it only business for her? She knew about Juliet… I didn’t think she knew who Juliet really was or what she looked like. And if I was Marcus… I wouldn’t have spoken of Juliet… especially to Jacklin.