Galen's Destiny

Chapter 1-4

“Mr. Dane?”

Galen paused, on his way to his car. It had been a long day, especially since he’d had to deal with a couple of irate customers who didn’t understand why they had to leave their computers when all they needed was ‘A simple fix’. He was not in the mood to deal with what he presumed, even though he was obviously off work now, was yet another customer who wanted something.

“I don’t mean to bother you,” the man said. “But I wanted to catch you before you got home. What I have to say to you is better done somewhere other than there.”

That piqued Galen’s interest, but not in a good way. “So you’re accosting me in a public parking lot instead?”

“Not accosting. Just asking for a few moments of your time. If you wish, we can go—” the man glanced around, “—over there.” He pointed to a restaurant at the far side of the lot.

“I’m not hungry, and if I were, I’d prefer to go home to eat, without you following me,” Galen replied forcefully. “So, if you don’t mind, I will.”

“This has to do with your father, and your heritage,” the man told him quietly.

“Since I don’t know who my father is, and neither does my mother, I rather doubt that.”

The man nodded. “I don’t know his name, but I know what he is.”

“Uh-huh. Look, whatever kind of game you’re playing, go find someone else to hassle. I’m not interested.”

“Answer one question for me. In the last two days, have you thought at any point that you saw someone who wasn’t there? Who wasn’t visible?”

Galen almost said ‘no’, then changed his mind—because what happened on his birthday, when he and his mother had gone to dinner, still bothered him on some primal level—as he thought of it. “Perhaps,” he equivocated.

The man nodded. “I’m not surprised you don’t want to admit it. I wouldn’t if I were in your place. Which—” he smiled dryly, “—I was, a few years back.”

“Uh-huh.”

The man moved closer, leaning against the hood of Galen’s car. “I know you think this is…weird…spooky. That I’ve giving you some bizarre pick-up line. By the way, that wouldn’t happen, because I’m straight.”

“What makes you think I’m not,” Galen replied defensively.

“For the same reason that I know a lot of other things about you. You turned eighteen the day before yesterday. You start college in a few days. You’re stronger and can move faster than the average young man with your build. You were conceived in New Orleans.”

“How the hell do you know all that,” Galen spat out, torn between anger and fear.

“Why don’t we go—” the man paused, then pointed, “—over to that park, and I’ll explain. Before you try to tell me your mother’s waiting dinner for you, I know she’s working the evening shift at the hospital this month.”

Galen studied the man. He was not much taller than Galen’s five eleven, and like him, he was slender, although his hair was a dark blond. If Galen had to guess, he’d place him at around thirty years of age. “Before I say yes or no, who are you?”

“My name is Lucien, though most people call me Luc. Lucien Merle.”

“French?”

“Yes.”

“So was my father. No, I take that back. Mom thought he might be, from his name—or Cajun.”

“Possible. Did she…” Luc paused. “If you don’t mind.” He nodded toward the park.

Galen shrugged, wondering why he was willing to do this. Curiosity, he supposed. And it was public enough, even though it was getting dark, that he felt he’d be safe. If not—well as Luc had pointed out, Galen had speed on his side.

Luc pushed off the car, striding toward their destination, with Galen following behind. They found a bench beside the retaining wall separating the park from the highway.

“All right,” Galen said, sitting. “What’s this all about? Why do you know everything about me?” He had a thought and voiced it. “I’m not a crook, and I don’t hang with anyone who is, so I doubt you’re a cop trying to get me to rat someone out.”

“No. I’m far from that in a lot of ways.” Luc settled on the other end of the bench from Galen. “All right, let me preface this by saying you’re not going to believe anything I tell you. At least not at first.”

Galen rolled his eyes. “Then why bother?”

“Because it’s important—for your safety and the safety of the people of this city.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Just listen if you would, and decide when I’ve finished whether I’m telling the truth.”

“I guess there’s no harm in that. But keep your distance.”

“I shall,” Luc replied. “Now, down to the nitty-gritty as they say. Do you believe in the supernatural?”

Galen snorted. “No.” Then he hesitated. “Well…what happened a couple of nights ago was spooky but…”

“Tell me, please.”

“I thought I saw, or more felt, someone watching me.”

“And?”

“A man was there in the parking lot for maybe a second. And then he wasn’t. I figured it was just my imagination. You know—shadows thrown by a car’s headlights which looked like a person. I mean that’s all it could have been. And a few minutes later, the same guy—maybe—on the street. For just a second.”

“Then how do you explain the feeling of being watched?”

“As I said—imagination.”

“Understandable. Next question. Have you ever felt you were different from everyone else?”

Galen grinned, albeit barely. “Other than the fact I’m gay? Somehow, I don’t think that’s what you mean.”

“What else?”

“As you pointed out, I’m stronger and faster than anyone I know, even though I look like a ninety-pound weakling.”

“You don’t, you know. True, you’re not The Rock, but you’re well-built and it shows.”

Galen frowned. “I thought you said you weren’t gay. That sure sounded like a pick-up line to me.”

Luc chuckled. “Believe me, I’m not. I was only pointing out a fact, which, apparently, you don’t believe or are unaware of. That said, when did you begin to realize your powers?”

“My powers?” Galen laughed. When Luc asked why he’d laughed, Galen told him about how he’d compared himself to some superhero who didn’t know they were one—yet. “As to your question, I guess around the time I turned thirteen.”

“In other words, when you reached puberty. That’s not surprising.”

“Was to me,” Galen replied. “I went from being a puny kid to a guy who could move my bed without any help. And if you saw my bed you’d know that takes some strength. It’s one of those with a heavy base with drawers. And I was good enough to make the track team, though I didn’t try to until I was in high school.”

“How did you feel about all that?”

Galen grimaced. “Strange at first, I suppose, until I got used to the fact. Now, well, it’s just me.”

“Indeed it is, and it comes from who or what your father is.”

“You keep saying ‘what’, like he’s someone special and…and different.”

“He is.” Luc ran his hand along the back of the bench. To Galen it appeared as if he was debating what to say next. Finally, Luc asked, “Do you know what a dhampir is?”

“Yeah. D’s one,” Galen replied with a laugh. “Vampire Hunter D. So’s Blade. What’s that got to do with my father?”

“Do you remember, from either of those movies, how they’re created?”

Galen frowned before shaking his head. “I’m not sure.”

“When a vampire impregnates a human female, the result of that union is a dhampir.”

Galen snorted. “If you think I’d believe my father was a vampire and I’m one of these dhampir things, you’re crazy. That only happens in movies, and video games. Not in real life.”

“This is real life, Galen,” Luc said softly. “You, me, all this—” he swept his arm around, “—is real.”

“Right,” Galen replied derisively. “So now I’m supposed to drop everything and run around hunting down vampires—which by the way are no more real than dhampir.”

“Are you certain? What if the man you saw was a vampire? Only a dhampir can see them when they’re invisible.”

Galen tapped his forehead. “Imagination, Luc. A strange shadow, my imagining it was a person for a second before it disappeared.”

“The one on the sidewalk couldn’t have been a shadow,” Luc pointed out.

“I…suppose. But still…Come on, Luc. A vampire? Here in Denver? This isn’t some…some horror movie.”

“No, it’s not. And, yes. More vampires than you might think, although most of them are benign.”

Shaking his head, Galen got to his feet. “This has been interesting, in a ‘you’re plumb crazy’ kind of way, Luc. But I’m not buying into it. Why you’re doing this—why you picked me—is anyone’s guess. Whatever the reason…” He shrugged.

“I didn’t pick you. Fate did when your mother met your father. I’m sure, for the vampire, it was just one night of pleasure. If he had known the result, you and I wouldn’t be talking because he would have destroyed you as soon as you were born.”

“What?” Galen sat again. “Why?”

“If you knew there was someone out there destined to eliminate you and your kind, wouldn’t you kill them if you could? Live and let live doesn’t apply when a vampire sires a half-human child.”

“Great,” Galen said caustically. “Okay, I have a question for you.”

Luc lifted an eyebrow. “Only one?”

Ignoring his reply, Galen said, “If I really did see a vampire, and I’m not admitting for a second it’s possible, wouldn’t he have known what I was?”

“Possibly, but doubtful. He would have to be quite old, to sense you were anything but human. You, on the other hand, can see vampires even if they’re invisible or shielding.”

“Then why haven’t I been seeing them all the time? That is, if there are such things, which I doubt.”

“You had to turn eighteen before you gained that ability. The strength and speed came at puberty so you’d be acclimated to them before your real powers kicked in. At least that’s how it was explained to me by my mentor.”

“So you’re telling me you’re a dhampir.”

“I am.”

“Is that how you found me? You run around looking for kids who are super strong and fast? That should keep you real busy,” Galen said scathingly.

“Not quite. It was pure luck. I was on the trail of the vampire you saw. I could tell from your reaction that you had picked up on his presence despite the fact he was invisible. I dealt with him and then returned to the restaurant in time to follow you and your mother home. Once I knew who you were, I did my research.”

“Lucky me,” Galen muttered. He leaned back, looking hard at Luc. “Okay, what other powers am I supposed to have?” he asked sardonically.

“You’ll live longer than a normal human. You’ll heal from any but the most severe damage within hours. You can see with greater clarity than the average human, even in the dark. The same with hearing and smell. You now have enhanced memory.”

“That’ll come in handy in school.”

Luc smiled. “Undoubtedly. You can control other people, but since you’re half vampire, a true vampire won’t be able to control you.”

“That’s good to know,” Galen said dryly.

“It sounds as if you’re beginning to believe me.”

Galen spread his hands. “Not believe, but I don’t quite disbelieve either.”

“Do you trust me enough to let me show you something?”

“Here?”

“We’d have better luck close to downtown.”

“Meaning you think you can find a vampire there and prove to me I can see them and they’re real.”

“Exactly.”

Galen checked the time. “Mom won’t be home for another couple of hours. If we can do it now…”

“We can. I suspect you’d rather take your car than drive with me, so why don’t we meet in front of the cathedral on Colfax?”

“Sure.”

Luc chuckled. “You agreed awfully readily. Will you really show up?”

“Yep. If for no other reason than to watch you to try to prove the unprovable.”