THE PREDESTINATION

"The city had been trapped in darkness for weeks. No sun. No rain. Just a frozen sky.

This had led to many theories from global warming to government controlled weather experiments.

Lighting up my second cigarette I ignored my distorted reflection in the broken library glass window. Instead I leaned heavily against the grey pebble dashed stone wall kicking an empty gin bottle out of the way As it rolled along the concrete it reminded me of the handwritten guidebook that I would give it to my mother once she was herself again. I wanted her to read about the dreaded  repetitive hiccupped burp that accompanied the ‘I ‘shouldn’t exist' rant to bring back her beloved first born. Thank goodness I had inherited my father's faith even if he had discovered it later in life 

As I  blew yet another puff of smoke into the cold air my eyes wandered to the abandoned  pub opposite. 

 Colorful graffiti that had been sprayed  on the blacked out  windows in an angry neon technicolour had  now lost their rebellious meaning. Somehow I could sense the squatters were warm and comfortable in the cellar.

 All these newly designed buildings the council had spent millions constructing with  their modern art,glass facades and  green shrubbery  now lay scattered across the city center, victims of the storm that had ravaged the region for  over  a fortnight.

I patted the library wall affectionately. This old girl had  not only survived  but  provided much needed shelter. Me and my dad had been the first volunteers with warm blankets,  hot drinks, and comforting words. I  had even waded through flooded properties searching for whatever I could salvage for the owners.

 Nature's cruel reminder  was  this permanent darkness that cocooned the city. It was almost as if the sun itself had witnessed the worst of humanity here and was refusing to shine.

Motionless  dark clouds continued to hang their heads in shame but refused to weep in fear it would break the city again. 

My daydreams were getting harder to maintain with this what I had dubbed ‘weatherpause”

Yet they were all I had left now. 

Opening my eyes I saw him standing in front of me. Wearing a   black beanie,dark blue  denim jacket with matching t-shirt and jeans he was clutching a paper coffee cup. His smile was warm and rather familiar. 

  It took me a few minutes to acknowledge that this time he was real. Usually I wouldn't bother with such a deeply handsome man who was obviously way out of my league but there was something about the intense colour of his eyes.

“Don't be distracted by kind words or a pretty face” My brother's advice echoed through every memory “ Remember - poker face…Aim for the knees. An attack from behind - elbows to the stomach. Knee to the groin”

 “ I wonder if you can be of assistance. I am looking for The Predestination."  His words tugged at my heartstrings as if they were playing a harp 

" I will show you." My cheeks reddened as I stubbed out my cigarette. " What I mean to say is if you are new to the area one wrong turn and you could run into one of the street gangs so it's best you have protection"

"Well how can I say no if you are offering to look after my body?. Are you sure though?" He smiled 

“Oh I can handle myself. Can you…handle me…yourself.” I stumbled over my words and hastily stared into the window  behind me at the empty cafe silently cursing my ridiculous nerves. “I'm Odette by the way."

 "You are most kind Odette " He kissed the back of my hand gently. “I'm Manny”

As we walked  along the silent streets. I couldn't help but stare at him.  This sudden wave of attraction should have felt strange or unnerving but this was an almost déjà vu sensation. There was more chance of The Easter Bunny riding Rudolf the Red Nosed reindeer in with 3.30 from Newcastle than me believing in such hippy dippy nonsense.

"The Predestination is a Grade A listed building that somehow managed to survive any damage from the recent flood."  I rambled desperately hoping I sounded interesting.

Manny smiled. "For the record you are."

" I'm  what now?" 

"Interesting. Truth is I knew where The Predestination was. I just wanted an excuse to talk to you."

"Really? Why?" I asked 

 as we reached the club 

"Well you're an attractive woman I had to ask you out." Manny winked as my cheeks reddened

"You don't waste any time do you?." I giggled.

" Beautiful Lady I would be honored if you would meet with me here this evening around 7.30"

My heart pounded as I nodded my head.

Manny leant forward kissing me gently on the cheek. My knees buckled in delight.

I was still thinking about Manny as  I stared out of the bus window on the way home. The fog hugged the horizon but refused to move on obscuring the approaching sunset 

Letting out a deep sigh I realised this  was yet another thing that required motherly advice    

 If only  my brother hadn't suddenly decided to go full on Bat Out of Hell.

“ I hate what I  am turning into.” His words spun around my head again. “If I stay I can't guarantee your safety. Remember everything I have taught you. The city needs The Masked Vigilante. Embrace it and how different you are. It's your Super Power. Trust your instincts even if they are saying that you need to drive a stake through my heart.” 

The red tint in his eyes still haunted my sleep 

"I love you." I thought as I imagined him sitting next to me “ I got blamed for that daft dog escaping from the kitchen and peeing on the  brand new red leather sofa. The mutt is obviously Houdini in canine form but in mother s eyes  I had trained the damn thing to cock its leg. I know there've been times I have caused problems but that was a distraction tactic so our parents wouldn't concentrate on where you were. Mind you I reckon Dad knew… On a lighter note I met someone today. I'm going on an actual date! I'm terrified because I'm not terrified if that makes sense.”

Suddenly my mother ‘s words gatecrashed through my brain as I recalled her gin soaked breath “ .Why don't you streetwalk out of here and find your brother?!  Look at you! jeopardising your dad's position in the church just by existing”

My mother had spent so many years hoping my father would come to his senses and leave the church  

They never spoke much about my brother’ s  fifth birthday either. My father had only spoken of it as ‘The Day He Met God’ and he hadn't touched a drop of alcohol since

 My mother, however  spent  most of her days sitting in a makeshift beauty salon  with the other loose tongued  blue rinsed ladies sipping on G and Ts

The identity of  The Masked Vigilante was the major topic of conversation.

Chinese Whispers  had now joined their gossip party about a roadside serial killer. His methods of torture swirled along with the rest of the hot air from  the hair dryers.  The bodies were obviously from the over flooded graveyards  but my mother's common sense remained  at the bottom of a glass. 

As the bus juddered to halt. I realised it was my stop. 

"I  need to think. What am I going to wear?" I 

sighed excited at the thought of the night ahead.

 "Manny so wants to give you a damn good …!"I jumped as the words took me by surprise. "Don't think of such things." I reminded myself sternly yet the daydream of Manny hovering above me lingered as if was already a reality 

 I inhaled nervously as I stumbled through the front door. The house was unusually silent 

As I walked into the kitchen I noticed the answer machine light was flashing. 

" We will be back on Saturday night. Keep the dog in the kitchen ."

 "A couple of nights in a luxury country hotel  you just happened to win in a raffle again? - yeah right and I'm Cleopatra! My dad will no doubt forgive you until he sees that credit card bill. Do you really believe a bit of role playing will save your crumbling marriage?  Have you ever thought it might be the  drinking, bad attitude and gossiping?" I rolled my eyes before realizing what this turn of events actually meant.

Nervously I checked my reflection in the bar mirror for the upteenth time.   

"You can do this! You have been on dates before." I sighed  as I adjusted the   bustier on my shimmering black dress.

Saturday nights out  felt like a different life.

Staggering  towards the kebab shop arms linked singing drunken versions of pop classics belonged to a different ,happier, more carefree world 

 " Stop being so melcony." I chastised myself as I grabbed my drink.  Walking over to the nearest table I sat down and waited. 

The lights dimmed as the candles flickered in time to the mellow  sounds of the piano and saxophone.

Manny appeared wearing a long pastel blue silk coat on top of a  white shirt with extra long sleeves which complimented his leather trousers and wide brimmed black boots. His black hair was tied back with a long black lace bow  

As he sat down next to me I couldn't help but gaze into his greeny blue eyes.

 I didn't know anything about jazz, except that it was supposed to be cool and sophisticated. 

Manny however could easily name the musicians, the songs, the styles and the influences. It was obvious how he enjoyed the music that spoke to his soul. 

As he told me about the history of jazz, the different genres, the instruments and the legends I became intoxicated by his polite London accent.

As the sound of smooth saxophone and soft piano keys filled my veins, Manny  extended his hand as an invitation to dance. 

I  accepted and followed him to the empty floor.

Feeling a surge of excitement we started to move together, our bodies in sync with the beat. 

As he held  me close,I felt his hand  on my  waist and his breath upon my neck.  

 Responding to his gentle touch and  firm grip I  looked into his eyes and saw the spark of attraction that had ignited between us.

Manny  whispered softly into my ear."I need you."

"Do you now? " I teased. 

"Don't play games with me, Masked Vigilante." His fangs glistened longing for blood.

"You do know I could kill you right here right now." I cooed seductively. 

"Oh please! I could drink the whole room dry before you could lay a fingernail on me."

"Yet here we are dancing. Tell me Sir. Is this to lure me into a false sense of security  or are you intending on seducing me with words?"

"You want words? How about these? Your brother on his fifth birthday. Looking out  his bedroom window. Your dad was staggering along the path a bit tipsy. What  happened next is something that your brother  still won't  acknowledge.  Needless to say your dad survived the incident with a torn shirt, a black eye and some cracked ribs. The problem? Your brother was destined to witness his father's demise and become the Masked Vigilante. His life was spared to stop your brother from donning that persona."

"They obviously don't know my brother very well. Oh!" I gasped in shock. "All that interference caused an anomaly” Tears of realization stung  my eyes.  “I'm not meant to exist. Explains a lot.” 

Manny pulled me even closer. "Odette, you do exist." He stroked the side of my face." Have you noticed something? I should be  draining you of your blood.”

“ I'm meant to be fighting you. Why can't I do that? I should be at least be angry with you for manipulating my timeline with that parlor trick of yours but I'm not”

"It was all part of the plan so I could lure you here and… " Manny sighed, pointing at his fangs.

 " A candlelit room at Marylebone Mansion.” I sighed trembling,”A new identity and by the look of things an amazing wardrobe. A war rages under our feet  older than time itself. The prize is control of the Underworld.   The hybrid -  who can dance within the veil of the night and sing along to the dawn chorus.  Such a being yields so much knowledge and power that it could rule both worlds with ease. Sleeper cells were created throughout time to find this hybrid or its creator. Yet the debate to kill or capture caused division. So there is one sect literally out for blood while the other wants a more diplomatic approach.

How am I doing so far?” I smiled at him. “They  plucked you out of your timeline, robbed you of your true identity. Placed you here ready and waiting to be activated”

"That isn't …" Manny gasped

"Possible? Well check this out " I winked 

Suddenly the room fell silent. The patrons were frozen in place, their expressions locked in time.

“I can't even stake you through the heart.” My voice trembled in confusion and fear. “What voodoo is this?”

“Love” Manny murmured as our eyes locked together in a hypnotic hysteria.

Our lips trembled before surrendering to a long deep french kiss.

Our feet began to hover above the dance floor.  I  tilted my head to one side as his fangs gently penetrated  the skin on my soft willing neck. His left hand gently caressed the bite mark allowing the warm red liquid to flow across his palm

Grabbing his hand I slowly and seductively licked his fingers, swallowing my own blood before gently biting him on the wrist. The taste  of him made my whole body tingle with a deeply erotic delight.

My back  arched with the intensity of my new found  senses  

 As our hearts beat out a Paso Doble  I wrapped my arms around his neck. 

Suddenly Manny was in charge. I followed his lead, my body twisting  and turning.Moving higher and higher into the air Our movements became sharp and precise  

 Manny stood tall, his arms outstretched, while I wrapped myself around him. We held the pose for a moment, before moving on to the next.

 Standing close together, our bodies pressed against each other. We gazed into each other's eyes as our hearts pounded  even faster. I could sense the approaching climax as our bodies intertwined in a moment of electrifying connection

As we slowly adjusted ourselves to this new beginning  we slowly landed back onto the dance floor 

Time continued as if nothing had happened.

"I'm starving." My tongue flicked over my newly acquired fangs, the hunger burning through me like wildfire.

Manny watched me, equal parts admiration and caution. "There’s so much for you to try. Can you smell that fine wine?"

I closed my eyes, letting the world shift around me, feeling the pull of something deeper, something written in my blood. I knew exactly where we needed to go.

Manny tensed. "You're not serious. We can't feast there." He laughed, but there was hesitation in his voice. "It’s reckless."

I smiled, feeling the power settle into my bones, into my being. I had never been more certain of anything.

I kissed him, slow and deliberate. "They made us, my love. Time for them to learn the consequences of the hybrid.”