Vampires and Angels April Michelle Richards

A pair of luminous gray eyes searched the foggy streets of the Tenderloin. The owner of those strange eyes flowed through the crowds, ignoring the homeless, the dealers, and the street walkers. And, the crowd ignored him.

He smiled as he found a young fair haired boy in a gaudy dress and spindly heels and a "biker bitch", who stood unseen behind him.

"Boy, Juana, you sure get the tough cases. Who'dcha piss off this time?" The young man laughed. Juana sighed and rolled her eyes. "No, lemme guess. You ticked off the boss's son. Um, he wanted to date you and you told him what to do with himself and his mother."

"Way off base, Max. I request these jobs, you know that. I knew just where these kids are coming from. I was there once." Juana stroked the boy's hair. "So, what brings you down here?"

"To feed, what else. Do you have any recommendations?" Max flicked his long, brown hair out of his eyes. Max was a handsome young man in his late teens.

"Howzabout his John. He's a real creep. Some rich senator, I think." Juana sighed. "Just your type, right?"

"Yeah. Is that him now?" Max pointed to the black limo that pulled up beside them.

"Yeah. Let's go with him. I've had it with the way he treats poor Billy." Juana gritted her teeth. Even mad, she was still a pretty Hispanic girl with dark curls.

"After you, milady." Max offered her his hand. They climbed on top of the limo and held on. "So, your boss doesn't mind that you and I are friends? Or, does he even know?"

"He knows. And, he knows that you've helped me on a few cases. As long as you don't bother our clients, he won't complain. But, if you ever touch one of the clients..." Juana mimed a stake being driven through her heart. Max winced.

"I really wish you wouldn't do that." He rubbed his chest. "It give me heart burn."

"Sorry." Juana blushed.

"Where are we going? We're in Nob Hill." Max looked around. The Tenderloin's shabby streets vanished and had been replaced with luxurious mansions.

"We must be going to his place. His wife must be out of town." Juana growled.

Suddenly, the limo stopped and Billy and the senator entered the house.

"Bold S.O.B." Max commented. "Taking the boy through the front door like that." He bared a pair of fangs.

"Shall we go in?" Juana jumped off the car.

"I gotta be invited in, you know that." Max looked in the window. "Can you go in and influence the butler to let me in?"

"Why don'tcha do it yourself?"

"I'm weak. I haven't fed in a while. Please?" Max tried to look innocent and helpless. It sent Juana into fits of laughter.

"Alright. Hold on a minute." Juana slipped into the house. In a few minutes, the butler had the door open.

"Come in, Max. Come in." The butler said in a hushed voice.

"Make sure he doesn't remember me." Max hissed.

"Ok, ok! ¡Vamanos! The senator's got Billy in the master bedroom. Follow me!" Juana floated up the steps. They could hear faint whimpers in the distance.

"Right behindcha!"

The closer the pair got to the master bedroom, the louder the whimpers became. By the time they were in the sitting room, the whimpers were howls of pain. Max and Juana peered through the door. The senator had the young boy chained to the bed and was whipping him. Blood had already drenched the sheets.

"Bastard." Max muttered. "Get Billy out of here and I'll take care of the senator. I don't think he'll be running for reelection after tonight."

"Right."

Max snuck up behind the senator and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. The man was instantly paralyzed. Juana unchained the boy and vanished from the room. Max let himself be seen by the senator.

"Good God!" The senator gasped.

"I wouldn't ask Him for help. He turns His back on your kind." Max tightened his grip.

"What do you want?"

"Your life. But, first, you'll write a little note for me. I'll tell you what to say. Use that nice stationary over there. The one with the gold leaf accents. I like it. And, use your Mont Blanc pen. Very good. Now, I, Senator John Carry, do hereby apologize to my family, friends, peers, and constituents for my great sins against them. I admit to willing engaging in illegal sexual acts with minors and with boy prostitutes behind my wife's back. I am truly sorry for this gross betrayal of trust placed in me. I cannot bear to live with my sins. Please, forgive me. John Carry." Max turned to the senator. "Didcha get all of that?"

"Yes." Senator Carry swallowed. "Is that all?"

"Yes. Now put it in the envelope and address it to your wife." Once the senator had completed this task, Max pulled him closer. His fangs had lengthened and were throbbing with hunger. He sunk them into the senator's neck and began to feed. The man couldn't break Max's hold over him. Max continued to feed until the senator's heart stopped beating. Then, Max found a elegantly carved dagger and cut the senator's throat and wrists. Max wiped his prints off the handle and placed it in the senator's stiffening fingers. As he slipped out of the window, he heard the soul of the senator crying as dark, shadowy figures snatched it and pulled it through the floors.

Max met Juana outside the hospital.

"How's Billy?"

"Fine. He's gonna be put with a foster home. I, uh, sorta planted the name of the my old neighbors in the minds of the social workers. I know they'll take good care of him."

"Good. Shall we go for a walk. The night's still young." Max held out his hand. And, vampire and angel strolled down to docks.