Mere Mortal by Katie Roman

  ~*~*~

  A man leaned over me when my thoughts gathered again. I vaguely recalled the ride to the hospital, but somewhere my memories stopped making sense. This was real though. A man, not just any man, but Simon, hovered over me. Beside me a machine beeped.

  “Doctor?” I rasped. Hoping a nurse would come in.

  “Doctor Simon, Miss Dunmore.” He inspected my head closely. “You have some stitches and a clean break in your arm.” I held up a casted arm. When had that happened? “You've been kinda of loopy for a few hours. It's about two am now.”

  “Where's Bridget? What did you do to her?”

  “You'll join her soon enough.” He went to the door and closed it. “I understand there was another woman in the bar.” He smiled, showing his extended canines.

  “You wanted her. You made Jessica to try to get to her.”

  “Smart girl. I'm surprised you didn't break given the circumstances. No. Instead you overcame your fear of a powerful vampire like Agacia to keep your loyalty and her file. I reward loyalty and punish failure.” He ran a tongue over his extended teeth.

  I lived through all this only to die in a hospital. I guess it was convenient the morgue was in the building. “I know her pretty well. She's fled Chicago and she won't tell you where she's going. You no longer have any information to give.” His hand grabbed my shoulder and pushed me into the bed. He snapped his fingers. Melvin came out of the bathroom. “I'm sorry about this, Miss Dunmore.”

  Melvin bent over me. He extended his own teeth. Simon presented my wrist to him. The sting of teeth dug into my wrist. As my blood flowed ash covered my wrist. Melvin tried to pull up. Simon pushed his head down, making sure he didn't break his hold. Melvin grayed around the edges. My heart slowed. My vision faded. All this only to die.