Bloodliner (7 page)

*****

 

Chapter 16

Mavis wasn't happy at all. She wished her stool would corkscrew through the truck stop floor and keep going, taking her with it.

Taking her away from Stanza and Jonah and the vampires and the greasy, bloody burger on the counter in front of her.

This is
not
medium well.

Normally, she would have sent the burger back, but she had a feeling the waiter slash cook would shove it down her throat if she tried. His bulging arms were tattooed with skulls and flames and spiders and swastikas...his eyes seethed with the knifetip glint of rage and danger...and the barbed piercings studding his cheeks and ears and jawline didn't help.

If Mavis had had to choose between facing him or a vampire, she thought she might choose the vampire.

Or is he a vampire, too?

Mavis watched him closely but couldn't tell. He didn't open his mouth much, so she couldn't see fangs. He didn't have wings, but maybe they only sprouted when needed.

How else can you spot a vampire, unless he goes for your throat?

The thought made Mavis nervous. As Stanza and Jonah chatted away beside her, she looked around the truck stop restaurant, wondering which of the customers might be vampires.

Anyone. Anyone might be.

Mavis shivered and buried her face in her hands.

I liked my old world better.

As she sat there like that, Stanza and Jonah's words seeped through her unhappy haze. They were still talking about going to England.

"What about passports?" said Jonah.

"My associate has already broken into your apartments," said Stanza, "obtained your passports and some of your clothes and things, and overnighted them to a post office box in Dallas. We'll pick them up on the way to Dallas/Fort Worth airport."

Mavis frowned.

Did she just say her associate broke into our apartments and stole our passports?

"Wait a minute," said Jonah. "Where did you get the money to pay this 'associate'?"

"Your parents, of course," said Stanza. "It's in the contract under 'travel expenses.'"

Jonah sighed. "There won't be any money left by the time we're done, will there?"

"It was a necessary expense," said Stanza. "We couldn't leave the country without a passport, but the vampires would be waiting for you if we went back to get it."

"I just...geez," said Jonah. "Would it kill you to check with me first?"

Suddenly, Mavis heard something hit the counter hard, and she lifted her face from her hands. She saw spilled coffee, jarred silverware, and Stanza's fist planted on the Formica countertop.

Somebody's got a temper.

"Just so you know," said Stanza, "I'm in charge here, Jonah. My contract says I get paid for keeping you alive...but it doesn't say you're my boss. It doesn't say I have to take your shit.

"If you don't like it, you're welcome to go solo." Stanza leaned closer, forcing Jonah to lean back into Mavis. "But good luck with the vampires when you're on your own, sweethearts. They've got your
scents
now."

With that, Stanza whirled away from them and stormed out of the restaurant.

Mavis watched her go. After the outburst, she liked Stanza a lot less...and yet, she knew Stanza was right.

If it's me versus the vampires on my own, I'm screwed.

That realization made Mavis change her mind about one thing.

I need to make friends with Jonah.

Not forever, of course. After all, she hadn't forgiven him and his family for ruining her life.

I just need to be his friend long enough to survive this nightmare.

With Jonah as an ally, Mavis would have leverage against Stanza. The fact was, Stanza
did
have to take Jonah's shit; without him, she wouldn't get paid.

Jonah might also provide the kind of backup that could keep Mavis alive if they found themselves Stanza-free at some point.

Now if I can just force myself to be nice to this guy instead of telling him what I really think of him and his family.

"I think she missed her meds," Mavis said to Jonah.

Jonah looked surprised, then smiled. "
Way
too much caffeine."

"Wow." Mavis blew out her breath. "What a day, huh?"

"Yeah," said Jonah. "It's tied with yesterday for the weirdest day of my life."

Mavis chuckled. At least he was easy enough to talk to. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard, after all.

"How about great-great grandma?" said Mavis. "I expected her to be more into Geritol than blood, y'know?"

"Better results than Geritol," said Jonah. "Born in 1848, and I'm pretty sure she could take me."

"What a freakshow." Mavis combed her fingers through her crimped red hair. "Welcome to the dark side. If my parishioners could see me now."

"The vampire-fighting pastor," said Jonah. "I wonder how they reacted to the mess we left at the church?"

"They probably think I'm dead," said Mavis. "Or a murderer. Or both. I don't even want to know."

Jonah sipped his coffee. "I doubt anyone's even missed me. My band and my boss have probably already replaced me."

"Tomorrow was supposed to be my big debut," said Mavis. "My first service as pastor of Desert Wind Presbyterian."

"No kidding." Jonah frowned as he stared into his coffee. "Today was my parents' funeral."

Mavis' mouth fell open. Sudden, searing shock roared through her.

"What?" she said. "They're...dead?"

"Three days ago," said Jonah. "They died in a car accident."

The surprise didn't let up for Mavis...and it was joined by anger. All this time, since joining Jonah and Stanza on the run, she'd imagined Jonah's parents were alive and well. She'd thought she could still tell them to their faces how much pain they'd caused her and how much she hated them for it.

There was a conversation she'd played out in her mind or in front of a mirror a million times...a conversation in which she finally let them have it for what they'd done to her. Now, she could never have that conversation the way she'd imagined.

I can't believe they're dead.

On the heels of her shock and anger, however, Mavis felt something else. It was something she almost hated herself for feeling, because it contradicted and diluted the anger.

It was sympathy. As much as she'd hated Jonah's parents, she couldn't help feeling a little sorry for Jonah.

I guess I've been in the ministry too long. I'm still a sucker for sob stories.

"I can't believe I missed the funeral," said Jonah. "I mean, I'm trying to make the best of things, right? After all, Mom and Dad hired Stanza and set up this whole search for my roots thing before they died. But still..." Jonah shook his head. "I feel pretty lousy."

Instinctively, Mavis reached toward him...then caught herself and pulled back.

Remember what his family did to you. Still, this is a golden opportunity to win him as an ally.

I mean an opportunity to minister to someone in need.

She put her hand on his shoulder.

"Listen," said Mavis. "The day isn't over yet."

Turning to the hostile waiter slash cook, Mavis raised her coffee mug. "Can I get this to go?"

*****

Outside, Mavis took Jonah to the farthest rear corner of the truck stop parking lot. A few bits of dried-up scrub bobbed in the breeze licking over the sandy soil beyond the tarmac.

Try not to think about how many truckers' dogs have peed here just today.

Mavis gave Jonah the Styrofoam cup of coffee, then bent down and scooped up a handful of dirt. "I know this isn't quite the same, but it's legit. You've got a real live pastor and everything."

Jonah scuffed his feet and scowled. "We'd better get back to Stanza."

Mavis ignored his suggestion. "We are gathered here today to pay tribute to two departed parents." She looked at Jonah and whispered, "What are their names?"

"Isaac and Caroline," said Jonah.

Mavis nodded. "Isaac and Caroline Ivory were taken from us too soon. Jonah, their son, will always love and miss them.

"It is never easy when we lose someone we care about. God's mysterious ways can seem arbitrary and cruel.

"But it is up to us to find the opportunities in times like this," said Mavis. "To keep moving and make sense of the struggle."

Mavis raised the handful of dirt. "In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, we commend to Almighty God our brother Isaac and sister Caroline, and we commit their bodies to the ground."

She loosened her grip and let the wind carry the dirt free in wispy swirls. "Ashes to ashes," she said. "Dust to dust. The Lord bless them and keep them. The Lord make his face to shine upon them and be gracious unto them and give them peace. Amen."

For a long moment, Jonah stared silently at the ground. Mavis watched him out of the corner of her eye, hoping for a good result.

Even though I hate what his family did to me, I haven't given up on my ministry. If the funeral lessened his suffering, I've done my job for now...and hopefully locked him in as an ally.

Finally, Jonah looked at her. "Thanks," he said.

"Sure." Mavis smiled.

"We'd better get back." With that, Jonah turned and started across the parking lot.

Mavis followed...and found herself stuck in an awkward moment. She wasn't quite sure how to keep the conversation going after conducting a mock funeral ceremony for her cousin's parents, whom she secretly hated.

Nice weather we're having, isn't it?

Finally, she settled on this, which she figured was as good as anything:

"I've always wanted to go to England."

*****

Part Two: England

Chapter 17

Someday, I want to come to England and actually
see
the place.

So far, on her travels through England with Stanza and Jonah, Mavis had missed all the great sights that she had always dreamed of seeing. Forget Big Ben and Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London and Saint Paul's Cathedral.

All she'd been able to see since arriving at Heathrow Airport was scenery zipping by the windows of taxis and trains. She'd had a constant feeling that historic and breathtaking attractions were passing her by, all within reach if only she could slow down for a second.

But Stanza wouldn't let her slow down. Stanza was in the biggest hurry of all time, dragging Mavis and Jonah along behind her like tin cans tied to the rear fender of a car. Which led Mavis to a question.

What's the hurry?

So the vampires were after them. Why should the vampires care if all Stanza, Mavis, and Jonah were doing was tracing family history? Why should they care, and why should family history research be so time-critical?

Back in the Desert Wind Presbyterian Church, when Mavis had asked what vampires had against family trees, Stanza had said it was "a long story."

I think I need to hear that story.

Mavis decided to make it a test of her alliance with Jonah. She convinced him to help her question Stanza as their train hurtled west away from London.

The alliance worked just fine. In fact, Jonah did most of the talking. "I don't get it," he said to Stanza, who was reading a paperback novel in the seat beside him. "Why would vampires want to stop us from tracing our family tree?"

Stanza's eyes flicked up from the book. "Who said they wanted to
stop
you?"

Jonah looked at Mavis with a puzzled expression. He knew she had the same exact look on her face.

Come to think of it, I don't remember.

"Back in the church," said Jonah. "Didn't you say that tracing my roots was our only chance?"

Stanza nodded. "I never said what it was your only chance
for
. And I certainly never said that vampires wanted to
stop
you."

Mavis searched her memory for something to contradict what Stanza was saying. She didn't find it.

"If anything, they might want the opposite," said Stanza.

"Why would they want the opposite?" said Mavis. "Why
wouldn't
they want us stopped?"

Stanza shrugged. "Maybe they want something," she said. "Something they can't get on their own."

"Like what?" said Mavis.

But Stanza had said all she was going to say on the subject. She fell silent and returned her eyes to her book.

As for Jonah, he was too busy gazing at Stanza to continue his part of the questioning.

Oh, no.
He likes her.

Mavis hadn't caught on until now, but there it was. From the way Jonah acted with Stanza, it was clear he had a crush on her.