PUSATE: Episode 8
A board with a computer screen led to another dozen or so screens. These were imposed technologies implanted by people higher than Mr. Rogers. Of course these men were also named Mr. Rogers as all those involved in keeping the world balanced and safe shared the same name.
The imposed technology was interesting, but not perfect. The screens showed all creature activity. It showed the zones labeled “safe” which meant vampires were allowed to feel without fight. When “safe zones” popped up it worried Mr. Rogers because he wondered what kind of deals were made… because rule one was simple – creatures existed. And they weren’t going anywhere. In fact, if anything, their numbers grew with population. Certain “safe zones” were labeled as water, meaning ocean, even though land was present. The globe that all humans viewed was nothing but a lie. Dare a ship or boat find these bodies of land and come ashore, no survivors would emerge. Dare a satellite try and prove the globe wrong, that satellite would suffer an “unexpected error”.
This was the world behind the scenes – these big steps kept the little things in life going.
One thing technology could not control was human emotion.
Mr. Rogers didn’t see Asa on the screen until she stood in the parking lot staring from the shadows at the Old Man vampire.
If Mr. Rogers drank coffee that would have been the moment he spit it all over the screens.
Asa stared down an Old Man – the most ruthless and powerful vampire in existence. They had control, magic, and even technologies far beyond human understanding. Their name was a bit of a farce – not all Old Man vampires were old. And even those that appeared old were still stronger than the strongest sun walker or night seeker.
In other words, Asa was in a big mess.
Mr. Rogers leaned forward and licked his lips wondering what to say.
He pressed the button connected to Asa and felt a hand on his shoulder.
“This is beyond us now.”
Mr. Rogers nodded and sat back. Anger boiled and he wanted to scream. He was given the chance to run the greatest killer anyone had ever seen and now look – she was about to commit suicide.
“Thought she was the best?”
“She is,” Mr. Rogers said. “She’s had a time of reasoning and understanding and it’s been hard on her.”
The man scoffed.
Mr. Rogers mentally screams for Asa to run. But she wasn’t going to – not after everything that had been happening to her. He thought about the day the sun walker was sent to challenge Asa and Abby. They knew one of the two girls was the choice and the only way to know was to see who lived…
“Look at her,” the man said, “talking like a fool. To an Old Man. Do you know how hard this will be to fix?”
“There’s no fixing this,” Mr. Rogers said. “She’s doing what she wants right now… and we have to let her be…”
“Then let the war begin,” the man said. “I just hope you’re man enough to decide what’s best – stand by this failing killer or let her go and find a replacement…”
Mr. Rogers refused the idea – letting Asa go. He slammed his hands on the desk and cursed. He spun around ready to throw a punch but found nobody standing there.
Mr. Rogers cursed again – nothing was ever what it seemed. In life, in death – or here, the in between.
“Dammit Asa!” Mr. Rogers yelled. “What are you trying to prove?”
On the screen Mr. Rogers saw the Old Man had engaged in a brief struggle with Asa. Wherever Asa moved the Old Man knew and it was without a doubt that the vampire could have killed Asa.
But it didn’t… why?
Leverage.
Because of Asa they would have to deal with the Old Man and just like any other creature, the would want blood…
Mr. Rogers felt his compassion sink. He looked to the room length control panel and pressed a button. They called it “releasing the hounds” – the black shadows that took care of witnesses.
It wouldn’t help Asa to see this again, but Mr. Rogers needed to show her this was serious.
There can be no witnesses.
Ever.
If it were any other vampire hunter acting this foolish they’d be dead but lucky for Asa and Mr. Rogers they had each other – the greatest vampire and creature hunter to ever walk and the man that had found her.
“I’m sorry Asa,” Mr. Rogers said to the screen.
Asa wept on the screen.
“This won’t go away. I can feel it. And for all action – good or bad – a counter reaction will occur.”
Mr. Rogers slid down in his chair. He should have spoken to Asa but didn’t. He couldn’t do it – not with an honest voice.
In reality Mr. Rogers was terrified – Old Man vampires got what they wanted and the idea of actually killing one was next to impossible. In all his time Mr. Rogers had only seen one Old Man murdered and even those circumstances didn’t mean so much even though…
…Hours later the emotions were still fresh. Anger turned to pain and pain turned to guilt.
By the time Asa realized she was in trouble, it was too late. And her pleas to Mr. Rogers went unanswered.
Asa sat holding a piece of old world wood wondering how to kill an Old Man vampire…
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©2011 Jim Bronyaur
