Galen's Destiny

Chapter 1-5

Galen got lucky and found a parking space only two blocks from the cathedral. As he walked toward it, he found he was scanning the area for anyone who seemed—strange. “Of course half the people who hang around here at this time of night are strange,” he said under his breath.

When the cathedral came into view, he moved quickly across Colfax, wondering if Luc would be there as promised. He was—standing by the front steps—and Galen joined him.

Without preamble, as he began to walk east up Colfax, Luc said, “This is a prime hunting ground for them, given the fact dealers, prostitutes, and the homeless hang around the area.”

“And hello to you too,” Galen replied.

Luc glanced at him momentarily, smiling slightly. “Sorry. When I’m on the hunt I tend to focus on what I’m doing.”

For the next half hour or so, Luc led the way up and down various alleys between Colfax and Sixteenth. Galen realized he was seeing a part of the city he didn’t know existed—all dark squalor and depravity. He stayed close to Luc while they walked past people buying, selling, and using drugs. Too often, in Galen’s opinion, they came upon johns being serviced by kids barely into their teens. In no case did they pay Galen and Luc the least bit of attention.

It was getting late, and Galen was about to tell Luc he’d had it with his tour of the circles of hell, when Luc turned down another alley and came to a halt. He pointed, putting a finger to his lips to caution Galen to be silent.

Ahead of them, halfway down the alley, Galen saw a dark shape. For a second it vanished, only to reappear farther down the alley by a pair of what Galen though were homeless people, huddled by a dumpster. The figure stood, looking down at the pair, then grabbed one of them, hauling him to his feet. There was a muffled cry of surprise before the figure—Galen now saw it was a man—took shape in the darkness of the alley. The man gripped his victim’s chin, forcing his head back.

Seconds later, Luc was beside them, holding, much to Galen’s shock, a short sword that glimmered in the dim light from the street. With one swift movement, Luc swung the sword, separating the attacker’s head from his body. Instantly the attacker disintegrated. As Galen watched, Luc said something to the two homeless people, locking his gaze on each one as he spoke.

“Now do you believe?” Luc said, appearing at Galen’s side again.

“I…” was all Galen could say while he tried to assimilate what had happened.

“One vampire bites the dust—and becomes dust,” Luc told him with a dry smile.

“They couldn’t see him until it was too late?” Galen asked.

“Nope. No one but the two of us knew he was there.”

“That’s…I’m having a hard time believing…”

“That what you saw really happened?”

“Yeah. Where the hell did the sword come from? You didn’t have it a minute ago.”

“This?” Luc reached over his shoulder. When he brought his hand back into view he was holding his sword. “It’s invisible, as is the sheath, until I need it.”

“Nice trick.” Galen held out his hand and Luc gave him the sword. “It’s definitely real enough.”

“What? You thought it was a figment of your imagination?”

“Honestly, if I wasn’t holding it, and hadn’t seen you decapitate the vampire and him turning to dust, I’d think I was high on some of the drugs they sell around here. Hell, maybe I am.”

“No, Galen, this is all real. Vampires are real. And so are we—you and I.”

“Fearless vampire hunters?” Galen shivered. “This is…How did I…?”

“Are you ready to leave?” Luc asked.

“Unless you’re planning on finding more of them, hell yes.”

“It’s not like the city is teeming with them. Or at least not with ones who are killers,” Luc told him as they left the alley. “In this day and age, most vampires are baggers.”

“Are what?” Galen asked, still trying to come to grips with the fact he now believed everything Luc had told him.

“They get their blood in bags, from blood banks set up specifically for them. Oh, don’t go looking for one. They don’t have signs over the doors. But they do exist.”

“I suppose it’s a good thing they do.” Galen shuddered. “How the hell am I going to tell Mom?”

“I would suggest you don’t,” Luc told him dryly.

“Yeah. She might freak.”

“You think?”

Galen almost smiled before saying, “Now what?”

“Now, you go home. Tomorrow, we’ll get together again and I’ll take you to meet my mentor.”

“When? I do have a job and I’m not about to lose it. I need the money.”

“You get off at seven, the way you did tonight?”

“Yes.”

“All right. You know the Hornet?”

Galen laughed. “Of course. I live in the neighborhood. Everyone in the area knows it.”

“Figured. I’ll see you there at seven-thirty.”

By then, they were close to the cathedral. When Galen told him where he’d parked, Luc said he was off in the other direction so they parted company with Luc’s admonition that Galen was not to stand him up the next night.

* * * *

Galen drove home on auto-pilot, his mind awhirl with what he had seen, and learned.

I know it was real. I saw it happen. But damn. Vampires? And I’m supposed to be a dhampir?

“I can just see it,” he muttered. “Me, walking down the street with a sword on my back, chasing after things only I can see. Cutting their heads off.” He shivered at that idea. “But I will meet Luc tomorrow night, if for no other reason than to see what this mentor of his has to say. Unless he’s real convincing…” Galen wasn’t certain what he’d do if the man was. Learn how to be a dhampir? Okay, not be one since Luc says I am. How to do whatever dhampir do? Get my own sword? Is that like a Boy Scout merit badge? He chuckled at the idea, envisioning himself standing in front of the mentor while the man…Nope. He’ll make me kneel, then tap me on each shoulder with the sword, like being knighted. He broke out laughing at the image, realizing when he did that he was home.

His mother’s car wasn’t in the driveway, which was a relief. He wasn’t certain how he’d explain coming home much later than usual. Hurrying inside, he stopped long enough to fix a sandwich and a glass of milk. Taking them upstairs with him, he ate while undressing, took a shower, then fell into bed.

For a time, sleep didn’t come. He kept seeing the death of the vampire and how it had disintegrated when Luc severed its head from its shoulders. Could I do that? I suppose, if it was him or the life of an innocent victim. What about the ones who drink bagged blood? Will they be fair game too? It didn’t sound like it from what Luc said. Was the one I saw when Mom and I went to dinner a good guy or a bad one? And how do I tell if I run into one who isn’t attacking someone?

All those and more questions swirled through his head, along with the fact that this might, probably would, play hell with the life he’d envisioned for himself before meeting Luc. If I spend my nights looking for vampires, how the hell will I have time to study and…everything? I guess I’ll figure it out, somehow. I’ll have to, won’t I? Eventually, sleep came—thankfully without dreams or nightmares.