Claude held the bell to prevent it from jingling as Jaja opened the door and they all stepped out into the cold night air.
The sounds of bugs and mosquitoes filled the air.
Jaja pulled up the collar of his jacket, Claude rubbed his two hands together. Jamie blew a misty breath out of his mouth.
Like shadows, the Vampires stayed inconspicuously at various places surrounding the Cafe. The men weren’t sure if they had known they were there. Jamie could count about 7 of them. There might be more of them around.
Claude walked up to one leaning on a street light pole. The vampire watched him with wary red glittering eyes. “Hello my friend.” Claude said. He placed a hand on the Vampire’s shoulder. Tension oozed out of the Vampire’s body.
“Why are you so tense?” With that, he drove a full fist into the vampire’s belly.
Air left the vamp’s body, as he doubled forward. Claude clamped his hands around the vamp’s neck and twisted sharply. The sound of twisted bone resonated in the air. A twisted neck won’t kill a Vampire but it would put them out for a couple of hours.
As they realised that their cover has been blown, the Vampires launched a full scale attack. Fangs extended and flashing.
Jamie met one of the Vampires that rushed at him head on. His elbows were extended. Bone meeting bone. Elbow meeting jaw. The vampire landed on his back. He kicked the neck of the Vampire, hard, just as another one grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and twisted him around.
Jaja was certainly having a good time. His claws were extended. His canines had become a little longer too. He had a Vampire bent backward across his body. The vampire’s neck were in the hook of Jaja’s arms. He tightened his arm and the sound of breaking neck sounded again. Another Vampires dashed at him. He caught that one on the neck with his outstretched hand. Just that his hand didn’t go around the Vampire’s neck but instead it went into it. He pulled the hand out. His fingers had circled the bone and throat of the Vampire and they all came out with his outstretched hand. Blood spurted and the vamp went down like a sack of potatoes.
Claude shoved a Vampire at his chest. That one stumbled back to meet with Jaja who simply gave the Vampire four wide smiles on his neck. Jaja sliced open his neck. Another one ran at Claude, Claude bent a bit, caught the Vampire and used the his fast momentum to fling the Vampire over his head and into an iron bar that was sticking from a wall.
Jamie twisted around with a scything elbow smash to the Vampire’s neck. The vampire’s head whipped to one side. Jamie let loose another punch to the vulnerable area on his throat. The blow lifted the vampire over his ground, and then two quick punches to his kidneys that sent the Vampire reeling backwards and into the hand of Jaja, who’s claws had sank into the Vampire’s back and tire out his heart.
They looked around and liked what they saw. None of them had even broken a sweat. Jaja whipped out a handkerchief and cleaned his hands carefully. They walked back into the cafe and settled down just as the teen girl came out, bearing a white tray with 3 cups of coffee.
“Here you go, sirs.” She placed the coffee on their table and went away too.
“I didn’t know you were a latent shifter.” Jamie said to Jaja. “It’s awesome. Where did you learn it?”
“Are you kidding me? Learn it?” Jaja laughed and sipped his coffee. “it’s a talent, Jamie boy. A talent.”
“But I’ve heard of wolves that learnt it.” Claude said.
“Only if their wolf agrees to it. If not, it does not matter how hard or long they try… they would not master it.”
Just then a black Jeep drove up to the cafe, manoeuvred around the sprawled out Vampires and a small man stepped out.
“That’s him. The Alpha Andrés.” Jaja muttered.
Alpha Andrés looked at the dead Vampires around that littered the Parking lot. He had a small smile to his face. The Alpha stepped into the Cafe. The little bell jingled and the teen girl started bustling out again.
“Get me a cup of coffee, Lola.” He said even before sitting down.
The three men stood up as Andrés approached. Andrés stopped at their table and bowed. They all shook hands and exchanged greetings.
“It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Alpha Jamie.” He said, looking directly at Jamie.
“Just Jamie, please. You’re also an Alpha.” Jamie replied. He gestured with his hands and everyone sat.
Andrés nodded, turned to Jaja and said, “It’s been a while, Jonas.”
Jaja laughed. “Don’t call me that, Andre.”
“How does everyone know you?” Claude asked.
“I’m popular. And everyone loves me.” Jaja said with flourish.
“You must be Mr. Beckham. Jason’s father.” Andrés said, looking at Claude.
“Yes. How are the boys?”
“Splendid, I must say. They are enjoying themselves. I had thought you would want to let them stay here for a while. To get away from Europe.”
“We had thought so too.” Jamie said.
“They are being threatened, Andre.” Jaja said.
“Threatened? By whom?”
Lola, the cafe waitress came out just then with Andre’s cup of coffee. The men remained silent until they were sure the girl was gone.
“You saw those ones outside.” Jaja nodded to the Vampires outside.
“They want the boys.” Andrés figured out.
“Yes.” Claude said, nodding.
“But why?”
“It’s a long story.” Jaja said. He stood up. “We should get going. We’ll talk en route.”
They all nodded.
Andrés dropped a bill on the table and led the men to his car where it was parked.
Claude stopped and eyed the parking lot. “Should we leave this place like this?”
Andrés stopped. He was half in the car already. “I’ll send some boys over here to check and clean up.” He said.
They all entered the massive Jeep. Jaja sat in the passenger seat. Andrés was driving. Jamie and Claude both sat at the back.
“An Elder vampire is after the boys.” Jamie said. When the car moved and eased into the slow traffic.
“An Elder? Which one?”
“Rosetta.” Jaja muttered.
“What did they do?”
“Killed Vampires.” Claude said. “apparently one of which was one of Rosetta’s favourite sons.”
“So now she wants their head.” Andrés said.
“Yes.” Claude replied.
“How did the get here?” Andrés asked.
“We were hoping you’d be able to tell us. They disappeared from home a while ago.” Claude said.
“They didn’t tell you?” Jamie asked.
“I haven’t asked, yet. I was going ask them tomorrow. If you hadn’t come.” Andrés met Jamie’s eye in the rear view mirror. “Why did you come?”
“They know the boys are here. We had hoped this place would be like a secret haven for them. But now, if they remain here, they’ll just be putting your family and pack in harm’s way and there’s no need for that.”
Andrés nodded but remained quiet.