He was a bit shocked when they arrived at the Natural History Museum, he been before with Claire on one of their first dates, but hadn’t been since. The more important thing, was the fact it was overrun with screaming children.
“There’s a Vampire in this building.” Hannibal smiled at him, as he waved his arm around the building. “Find them.”
“How?” The only thing he could hear was the yelling kids, tour guides giving the history Ahkmenrah for the tenth time, and parents crying in the corners.
“Find the void.” The Hunter patted him on the shoulder. “Rogues hide in crowds, they will use the flux of people to disappear. New York is filled with people, and you need to know when a Rogue is in your territory, before he attacks you.”
Mac nodded, it made sense, but sure as hell wasn’t going to be easy. He took a deep breath, turned on his heel, and began his own tour of the Museum. He studied people he past, trying to focus on their movements, if they were breathing, how fast their heartbeats were. There was one moment, he got distracted when he heard two heartbeats, one much softer than the other. He glanced over to see a young pregnant woman, sitting one of the benches resting while she rubbed her belly. He gave her a soft smile, asked her when she was due. She beamed at him, her excitement speeding up their heart rates. It was her first, and she just hoped her husband will be home from Afghanistan in time. Mac gave her one last smile, told her to take it easy then wandered back into the thick of screaming kids.
He was having no luck, finding anyone who didn’t have a heartbeat. He was wondering if Hannibal was fucking with him, and there was no Vampire. He had heard about the sitting in the meadow to listen for the wisp of a butterfly wing, only to realize there were no butterflies.
Mac found himself standing in front of the Wild West Diorama startled at how loud the silence was in the empty room. Likely to do with the fact it was an actual Diorama Room, and no one not even crying parents would be caught dead in a Diorama Room.
He stared at the small cowboy on a miniature horse, watching over a Roman Soldier that was in the stock. “Either something really weird happens in this Museum at night, or the employees are really really bored.” Mac couldn’t help the small chuckle as he pulled out his phone to take a picture, Danny would love it, and he had a feeling it would make Nick’s day also.
“At midnight everything comes to life.”
Mac glanced to the Security Guard who slid next to him, having heard his heartbeat loudly in the silence. He looked at the badge, then gave him a smile. Hannibal had mentioned Cecil in his ramblings, and that he had been a Chosen One for decades. “You would know this how?”
“I work the Night Shift, weird things happen.” His smile was captivating, especially for an older gentleman. He was tall, lanky and had the body of a dancer. The silver hair made him distinguished instead of old, and his blue eyes were filled with humor. Mac had a feeling Cecil could tell many stories of the museum and the people he saw. “Hannibal said you were wandering around, likely lost, and that I should find you and put you in the lost and found.”
“He’s an asshole.”
“Yep. Known him since I was a kid, and he saved my skinny ass from some teenage punks.” He smiled brightly. “And for your information, the employees are so bored they have contests to move things around just to see how long it takes the curator to notice.”
Mac laughed. “I should bring Danny by when there’s less kids. He would love this place.” He sat down on the curved bench, staring at Ancient Rome. “Still not sure how to find something that’s not there.”
“When I can’t find something I look for the place it’s not supposed to be.” Cecil sat next to him. “I’ve read about you, Detective Taylor. And you find the smallests pieces of evidence to convict murderers, so a lack of heartbeat shouldn’t be a problem.”
“It’s easy to find the missing piece, not as easy to find the piece that’s not missing.” He paused, having a realization on how loud the silence was when he entered the room. Maybe that was it, he should be listening for the loudness of silence … like when you realize that the void in the blood splatter was something the murderer moved – the void giving you a clue of what the item was. “Cecil, thank you that actually helped.”
“Your welcome. It’s nice to know my old man ramblings still have some use.” He gave Mac a nod and salute. “Stop by with your Mate, I’ll give you the private tour and show you all the cool stuff.”
“I think we’ll take you up on that.” He gave him a nod, then hurried out of the room and straight into the noise.
He focused not on the noise around him, but instead the blank spaces.
A few ended up being empty rooms. Mac had found himself in the Wild West section or maybe American History. There were stuffed dummies in blue and grey ready to fire over the room at the other. And then there was poor Sacagawea that had to deal with the two idiots who refused to ask for directions. Mac stopped in front of the display and wondered how many historical figures he’s only read about were still around as Vampires. He was pretty sure there were Vampires who fought in the Civil War, and likely other wars. He was essentially living with walking encyclopedias, despite the ramblings from Hannibal the stories from his time in Asia or out West were fascinating.
As he left the area, he discovered there were odd spaces throughout the building that ended up being a natural sound barrier, specifically Ankhmenrah’s display. The space behind the large 20ft Jackal statues absorbed sound, making it an almost perfect spot to hide.
But the only ones without a heartbeat in that area was Ahkmenrah, and himself.
When he wandered into the African Animal’s room and the sound of silence was intense, in the midst of a bunch of screaming kids.
There was a blonde woman sitting on the bench, staring at the Cachupin Monkeys. She held herself in a way that screamed power and influence. Her clothes were designer, but she wore them with grace not to show off. Her bag and shoes matched, also designer, but Mac could tell she enjoyed showing those off. He sat down next to her, giving her a small smile. “I hear you need to watch out for the monkeys, that they are thieving bastards.”
The blonde turned towards him, swishing her hair slightly as she smiled brightly at him. “Detective Taylor.”
“And you are?” He held out his hand, smiling brightly knowing that he had actually found the one Vampire in the museum.
“Zoe Morgan. I’m a friend of Blade’s, I owed him a favor.” She took his hand with a firm grip. “Though I should thank him, you’re quite handsome.”
“I have a Mate.”
Her nose scrunched slightly. “Damn all the hot ones are taken.” She laughed lightly. “Well I would like to meet this Mate at some point, is she here with you?”
“He. And I’ve got a feeling you know more than your letting on Ms. Morgan.” He gave her a contemplative look, this wasn’t a woman who walked into any situation without all the information, no matter how much of a favor she owed. “Especially, as I’ve seen you at the City Hall talking to the Mayor.”
She laughed opening, then grabbed her purse. “Mac, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship. Now, how about taking a gal for coffee, and you can tell me all about your Danny.”
Mac stood and held out his hand, not surprised by her elegance as she stood and took his arm. A few of the kids that were running around them, skidded to a halt when she gave them a disapproving look. Two of them, paused muttered they were sorry then walked off quietly. “From what Blade told me, he has Danny doing the same exercise, but in Time Square. I might have preferred the loud noise of the street that all these rugrats.”
Mac couldn’t help but agree.
As they made their way down the hallway towards the stairs, Mac noticed that Hannibal was focused on something in the lobby. He gave his excuses then made his way over to the Hunter, who was watching an older gentleman, who was busy with his phone and not paying attention to what was going on around him. He blinked, then straightened when he realized, there was no heartbeat.
“Not part of the lesson.” Hannibal answered Mac’s unasked question. “I’ve been watching him for about ten minutes. At first I was worried he was thinking of robbing the place, he kept looking at the security cameras, holding up his fingers then checking his phone. But realized that you would be pretty pathetic Rogue if you were planning on robbing this place.”
“Do you know who he is?” Mac watched him for a few moments, studying his movements and focusing in on what he was saying. It was as if he was asking someone questions, while moving around the area. “He seems to be conducting an experiment or a study of some kind with his phone?”
“What does your instincts say about him?” Hannibal glanced over to Mac, then back at the older man. “Especially considering that’s a high tech phone he’s got, not seen anything on the market like it. Stark has some stuff out, but nothing compared to that.”
“He’s someone to be terrified of, but not.” There was something about him that screamed more than the un-intrusive worker he was portraying. The suit was run of the mill, and the overcoat was standard beige. “Is he a Rogue?”
“No idea. Not every Vampire we meet is. He could be part of Tallikut, Serenity or hell even Sylum I don’t know everyone in the Clan especially being out of the city for thirty years. He doesn’t scream Rogue…”
Both men paused, when the Vampire turned around and looked directly at them.
“He’s dangerous but not something we need to worry about.” Hannibal didn’t look away, instead he smiled and gave him a tiny wave. “He knows we’re Hunters, and has no fucks to give us.”
The man gave them a smirk, turned and wandered out of the front door. Hannibal was pretty sure he would see him again one day.
Well now. Wasn’t that interesting?
Cecil! Not yet a Vampire at this point. And would the Vampire with the hi-tech phone be Harold?
Great chapter! Perhaps one of the older Vampires ought to write a book for the care, feeding and training of baby Vampires. LOL! It would be a best seller.
More, please?
—Naj 😀