| Chapter 14 Tomorrow came to soon. Brian woke early, just as the sun was rising. He tried desperately to fall back to sleep, but to no avail. So, begrudgingly, he got up and showered, shaved and got dressed. Now he stood in front of the full length mirror. He wasn't sure what you were suppose to wear to go to the Network. He opted for comfort, tennis shoes, jeans, a t-shirt with a long sleeved shirt over that. If he needed to change, he'd have plenty of time. Tracy wouldn't be up for hours yet. He decided to spend his time exploring the house and surrounding grounds. If he was going to be staying there, it only seemed right to know where things were. He started on the floor he was on, having seen the first and second floors the night before. Every room was a bedroom. Each one elegantly decorated in different woods and colors. Brian marveled at the amount of money it had to have taken to build and furnish the house. He passed by Tracy's closed door, the slightest hint of butterflies in his stomach as he did so. He knew he was feeling her inside the room. But even though he knew that, it was still a strange feeling to him. One he wasn't sure he would get used to. He climbed the stairs to the forth floor, running his fingers along the banister. He stopped for a moment and glanced down the floors. It was a long way down, and he quickly moved away from the railing. Instead, he glanced up, seeing there was only one more floor. "Wow, five floors," he said to himself as he crested the stairs and headed to the first room he found. More bedrooms. He nosed around the forth floor for a while, then ascended to the top floor. The fifth floor contained a huge office, complete with it's own bathroom. It had a board room, and smaller meeting rooms, outfitted with all the latest computers. He moved from room to room, finally walking into the main office. The desk was enormous, dark cherry wood, polished so much it literally glowed. He moved around it, pulling the leather chair out and sitting down. He felt small behind such a monstrosity. A few files were stacked neatly next to the flat screen monitor. He picked one up and peeked inside. He opened it up and started thumbing through it when he saw his own name. It was a small background on him. How he'd been bitten, and by who. Then a background of his life up until that point, complete with pictures of him and his family. He closed that folder and went to the next. It was older, the edges worn with use and years. It was larger too. He opened it up and was stunned to see a picture of himself. He picked it up, noting it was on the old tin type. This couldn't be him, the picture was way to old. Setting the picture aside he read the first page. It was Theophilus. Brian looked at the picture again, his own eyes staring back at him. Chills ran down his spine, and he felt as if he could vomit at any moment. "Mr. Brian, you're up early," Nancy said as she entered the room. Brian jumped, quickly placing the picture back in its folder and returning it to its place. "Um, good morning," he said, standing up. Nancy smiled at him, "Morning. Are you hungry? I can fix something for you," she offered, as she went about dusting the office. Brian couldn't figure out why she was dusting, there was nothing to dust. Everything was spotless. "I can fix something if your to busy," he said, "I don't want to be a bother." Nancy stopped her work and looked up at him, "My boy, you are no bother. It's been a long time since this house has seen a guest, it is a pleasure to attend to you." Brian blushed, a smile crossing his face, "Thanks. Um well in that case, I am a little bit hungry." Nancy beamed, as she gestured for him to follow her, "Well, tell me what you like to eat, and you shall have it." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie bit his lip, thumping his fingers on the table as he waited. He knew this wasn't going to be pleasant, so he chose a public place. Kevin couldn't very well take out his anger and frustration over Brian being gone on him when there were witnesses could he? Don't answer that. Anyway, he sat in the hotel restaurant, waiting for Kevin, Nick and A.J. to show up. He sat up a little straighter when he saw all three walk through the door at the same time. Nick had a bruise on his cheek that didn't come from the fight the day before. Howie wondered if he'd gotten it last night, at where ever it was he went to. The three sat down and the waitress came over and took their orders, quickly returning with the coffee. "So," Kevin said, "Where's Bri?" Howie took a deep breath, "Well, that's why I called. He's gone." All three stared at him. "What do you mean gone? Gone where?" Kevin nearly yelled. "He um, I'm not sure where. He called me last night, said something came up and he needed to leave and take care of it. I asked him what was wrong, and he wouldn't say. Just said that it was personal and asked me to let you guys know," Howie said, all in one breath. Nick looked hurt, and stared into his coffee cup. Howie wished that they had planned this better, and had Brian call Nick and tell him, but they just didn't think of it. "He didn't say where he was going at all?" A.J. asked. Howie shook his head, "No. I got the feeling he didn't want us to know." Kevin pulled his cell phone out and dialed his cousin's number, instantly getting his voice mail. "Damn, he's got his phone turned off," he muttered, quickly dialing another number. "Who are you calling?" Nick asked. "Aunt Jackie," Kevin answered. Howie reached across the table and grabbed the phone, hanging it up, "Kev, I don't think she knows either. Don't worry her." Kevin stared at him for a moment, "You know more than you're telling us." Howie sat the phone on the table and took a long sip of his hot tea. "Well?" A.J. asked, "Do you?" Howie shook his head, "No. I only know what he told me ... that he needed to leave for a while and take of some personal stuff, that's all." "How am I gonna explain this to management?" Kevin asked, "Brian's never bailed on his responsibility before." "Just tell them that he's sick and the doctor ordered him on bed rest for a while and he'll be back when he's better," Nick offered. "He was sick starting out, it could work," Howie said. A.J. cleared his throat, "Guys, what if he really is sick and he's not telling us?" "He would tell us if it was serious," Kevin said. Nick shook his head, "No Kev, he wouldn't. I knew about his heart before any of you did, even his family. He knew about it a long time before he told you, and the only reason he told you then was because the surgery was unavoidable at that point." "Damn, what if he's having problems again?" A.J. asked, concern washing over him. "Well, I'm sure we're just jumping to conclusions here," Howie said. The four exchanged glances. "Well fuck," Kevin said, leaning back into the booth. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian sat in the kitchen watching as Nancy happily cooked him breakfast. For some reason she reminded him of Mother Hubord, he wasn't sure why. "So Mr. Brian, how long have you known Miss Tracy," she asked. "Um, not long, about a week. She's um, helping me out with a few things," he answered, not sure how much he should say. He didn't know if Nancy knew about him or even about Tracy for that matter. "So your sire abandoned you?" she asked. Ok, she knew. Brian shifted uncomfortably on the bar stool he was sitting on, "Um, I guess you could say that." She sat his eggs and bacon in front of him, "Well, it's their loss. You seem like a nice young gentleman, I don't know who in their right mind wouldn't want to keep you." Brian looked down at his plate. He wasn't sure what to say to that. "I'm sorry Mr. Brian, I've offended you," Nancy said. "No, it's not that. I just um ... I'm not used to talking about it," he explained. She nodded, "I understand. It's scary at first, especially without a sire to help you." Brian took a bite of his eggs, "Are you one also?" Nancy laughed, "Oh no my dear. All human here, but I've seen my share of vampires. Could write a book I could." Brian smiled, "I bet. So do you stay here alone when Tracy's not here?" Nancy set about cleaning the kitchen, "No dear. There's Trent the driver, and Mark the grounds keeper, and Lana, she runs the office when Miss Tracy is out. Then there are the babies ..." "Babies?" Brian asked, his mouth full. "Yes, when you've finished I'll take you out and show you. They patrol the grounds, keep away unwanted guests," she said. "Oh, Ok," he said, still not sure what the babies where. "So how did you come to work for Tracy?" Brian asked, feeling more at ease. "Oh now that's a story," Nancy laughed, walking over and sitting next to him, "My mother worked for her. I grew up in this very house," she grinned. "Really?" Brian asked, amazed. "Yes sir, of course back then there where more people around. All the bedrooms used to be taken, and of course Mr. Jason was here then too," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "Jason? Who's that?" Brian asked, a little anxious. Nancy patted his hand, "I'll let Miss Tracy tell you. I've overstepped my bounds a little I'm afraid, but I miss him too." Brian stared at her confused, but didn't want to push. The look in her eyes told him not to. "So, I took my mothers job, and in time my daughter will take mine," Nancy finished. "You have a daughter?" Brian asked. "Oh yes, she's away at college, but soon she'll have her degree and then come back here to help Lana with the business and take some of my responsibilities as well," Nancy answered. Brian scooped up the last of his food and ate it, "So you said there where other people here, but I didn't see anyone else in the house." "Miss Tracy gave them the week off. I believe she felt you would be more comfortable with less people around," she said. "Oh, I see," he said, getting up. He walked over to the sink and rinsed his plate before putting it into the dishwasher. Nancy smiled at him, "And you clean up after yourself too. I'll have to see what I can do to get Miss Tracy to keep you." Brian blushed, as Nancy walked over and nudged him, "I'm kidding my dear. Now follow me and we'll meet the babies." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick sat in Kevin's room, listening while Kevin gave management Brian's reason for leaving. He could tell by the look on his face they weren't happy. But Kevin being Kevin, was able to make them see his way on things, and soon the conversation was over. Kevin hung up the phone, "You need something for that?", he asked, gesturing to Nick's bruised cheek. "Naw, I'm Ok," he said. Kevin sat down, "Well if you had listened to what I said and not gone all cowboy you wouldn't have got it." Nick looked down at the bedspread, picking at a string, "I know, I just got excited." "Nick, excited can get you dead. This isn't one of your games that you can pause or redo. If you screw up, you can get hurt, even killed," Kevin told him sternly. Nick sighed, "I know, I'm sorry." "Don't let it happen again," Kevin said, "That's why they pair new one's with the more experienced. Watch and learn, and maybe you won't get killed." "But I'm good already," Nick protested. Kevin sighed, "You're good. You have a natural talent for it, but you have to know what you're doing. You have to know what they're capable of, and learn to anticipate their actions. We don't have the speed they do, if you can't be a step ahead of them, you're toast." Nick nodded, "I know." "Good, tonight, same time then," Kevin said. Nick's eyes lit up, "Another hunt?" Kevin shook his head, "Meeting at headquarters. Must be important it's mandatory." "Sounds interesting," Nick said with a smile. Kevin chuckled at his enthusiasm, "Yeah, it does." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian followed Nancy into the back yard. Although he wouldn't call it a yard, it was to big. He wasn't sure how many acres the land stretched, but it had to be a lot. He marveled at the manicured grass, the Victorian gardens, followed by a maze of well trimmed hedges. Suddenly Nancy whistled, high and shrill, "Come here babies! Come on!" she yelled, her hand cupped to her mouth. She glanced at Brian, "Sorry dear, didn't mean to startle you." Brian smiled, trying not to laugh. Who knew Mother Hubord had a whistle that could shatter glass and ear drums on demand? He watched as several large creatures came running towards them from all sides. Brian glanced around nervously, not sure where to be, or what was coming at him. He stepped a little closer to Nancy. "Oh don't worry, they're harmless once they know you," she assured him as the creatures slowed a few feet from them, trotting up. Brian grinned as he was surrounded by no less than a dozen Irish Wolf Hounds. Every one of them wanted to come and sniff him. He held his hands out. "Babies this is Mr. Brian," Nancy said, giving them each a pat on the head, "He's our guest and has free reign over the grounds, understand?" Several of the dogs barked, wagging their tails. "Do they understand you?" Brian asked. Nancy smiled, "As much as a dog graced by a vampire can. They are very obedient, and now that they've met you, you can wonder to your hearts content." "Um, what would they have done if I wondered out here and didn't meet them first?" he asked. Nancy gave him a mischievous grin, "You probably don't want to know." Brian looked down at the dogs, then back up to Nancy. She was right, he didn't want to know. "I think I'll take a walk and look around a bit," he said. "Very good Mr. Brian," Nancy said, turning back towards the house, "Miss Tracy will be up by three, and I'll be in the house if you need anything." "Thanks Nancy," Brian said, turning toward the pack of dogs, "Well come on babies, show me around," he said, walking with them to the back of the property. Chapter 15 |