Blueblood 2: The World - 13. I Named Him Jerry

Chuck led Colin and me back to the terrace that overlooked the gardens. He looked as if he were pointing out things on the grounds.

“So, just look like I’m pointing at some things around the estate,” Chuck said calmly. “Now, look at the bluff to the northeast.” He passed a pair of binoculars to us. “Now, scan around, but look where I said.”

I pushed the binoculars away. “That’s okay. I see them.” And I could. Not only could I see better at night, but like some animals that can see things you never understood how they could, I saw two people looking through scopes at us. “A man and a woman; dressed like sightseers, but looking directly at us.”

“Do we go to them?” Chuck asked. “We can’t just let them watch.”

Colin nodded as he was looking also without the need for the binoculars. “What will they see?” He asked Chuck and me. “What they will see is people coming and going, a lot at night, but nothing extraordinary. If they suspect a crime, they’ll come.”

“If we find another vampire and bring it here?” I asked.

“We do it at night.” Colin shrugged. “It’s usually a covered container, but until we get more places to keep them, that won’t happen.” He smiled pulling me toward him and embraced me. “I’m just giving them something to see now.” He grinned at me kissing me gently. “We’ll just be careful and wait and see what they want.”

I slept early so that I would be awake that night with our new vampire. I came down as the sun was getting ready to set with the blood our new guest would crave. It didn’t take long before I saw him stir. George was ready, so was Alex and Willie. They were standing away to make sure he wouldn’t get out and cause damage. Colin came down shortly after the vampire woke up. Again, the vampire was looking around and hissing.

“Jerry,” I said to him. “That’s what I’m going to call you, rather than just the vampire.”

The response I got from him was the fangs showing.

“Yes, I know what you want.” I smiled and opened the container I brought. I held a bag of blood up. “Remember how to get it?” I asked as his eyes changed from aggressive to curious. “I showed you.” I pulled the bag up and showed the port where he would drink from. “I even heated it.” I shrugged. “Blood is blood, but we both know there’s nothing as satisfying as blood from a warm body,” I said as I walked closer, but kept my eyes on Jerry. “I won’t hurt you. You don’t have to hurt anyone.” I came closer.

“Devon,” Colin said softly, but clearly not liking I was getting closer.

“I’m okay,” I assured without looking back at Colin. “Here, Jerry. I’m giving the blood to you.”

The vampire I named Jerry held wonder in those eyes that so desperately needed moisture, reached out and took the bag quickly. He opened the port and the blood was pouring down his throat.

Colin walked up behind me. “Jerry?”

I chuckled. “I don’t want to call him that vampire.” I shrugged. “You know I like naming things.”

“And then what?” Colin asked.

I looked up at George. “George needs to oversee what happens, but I’m going to try to reach Jerry.”

“I got a message my equipment arrives tomorrow,” George said. “I’ll just watch tonight.”

After the first bag, I offered a second. Jerry looked surprised but took the bag without as much desperation. The other sad part was when Jerry had to go to the bathroom, he just went. He only pissed ammonia right now, but it still smelled. He was not a wild animal! He was a man that had something horrible happen to him.

“We need to treat him more like a person,” I said softly.

“He’s a monster,” Colin said.

“Because he was made to be one,” I said softly. “The venom is making him this way.” I turned to Colin and begged him to see. “He’s a victim.”

Colin nodded reluctantly. “I guess.”

“He was made a monster. Did he ask for it?” I asked them all.

“They always die!” George explained again. “If we caught them, they fought so hard, we had no choice.” He hoped I would understand. “Not all of the wild vampires become a vampire like this. They wouldn’t let us catch them.”

I nodded. “Sometimes they become overwhelmed by the venom, I know, but not this one.” I pointed to Jerry. “You saw for yourself, he has a venom in his blood that isn’t like the venom in our blood.” I pleaded again. “Stop seeing him as a monster. See him as a victim.” I said firmly. “I will try to reach him.”

Colin nodded as he walked to me. “Okay, we understand.” He hugged me.

The others left me with George and Jerry. I waited until Jerry had consumed another bag and gave him the third, but he turned his head. Even they knew when they’ve had enough. “Okay, are you listening?” I asked Jerry. What made me smile was his expression. He looked at me puzzled and cocked his head like he was trying to understand. “Am I making sense to you?” Jerry gave me another twist of his head. “You are listening to me, that I see.” I smiled coming closer, but still out of reach. “I just want to help you,” I said again. “Now that the hunger has been dealt with, maybe we can try to connect.”

I spent most of the night speaking with Jerry calmly and quietly. We did that quite a while, but then I noticed Jerry was getting sleepy. I rose smiling at Jerry. “Okay, I see you’re tired,” I said kneeling next to the cage. “I really want to help you, Jerry,” I said to him. “If you understood anything I said, please understand that. I’ll be back tonight.”

I got upstairs and went to the house. I stretched and yawned as I went in. I waited for Colin and the others to return from patrol. They had taken some of the other local vampires out to show them what to look for.

I wasn’t disappointed long. I heard them talking on their way toward the dining room.

“…it smelled like nothing I’ve smelled before.” Sarah was saying to Gabriella as they came around the doorway.

“It is so easy to follow once you pick it up,” Gabriella said to her. She looked up and saw me and smiled. “Hi, Devon!”

“Ladies.” I greeted back bowing slightly. “Did you have any luck?”

“We got the smell of one.” Sarah smiled. “Only we lost it in an abandoned mine.”

“We weren’t going to follow her in,” Gabriella said. “It was dark and dangerous.”

“But you know which one now,” I said. “Maybe we can get her tonight?”

Sarah shook her head. “It was more of a dodge from us.” She said. “An escape. It didn’t smell like she’d been there before.”

I heard other voices, one I knew very well and began smiling before I saw him. Colin walked in with Edwin and Matt. He looked up and smiled at me.

“We missed you!” Colin stated coming to hug me. Kissing me gently he smiled. “I missed you.” He said as his lips traveled over my lips and cheek.

“That’s good.” I grinned. “I missed you, too.”

“Did you and Jerry have a good night?” Colin asked.

I nodded. “He’s really not so bad.”

Colin looked puzzled. “Did he talk?”

I shook my head. “No, he was still mute, but I don’t think he could if he had something to say. We’ll find out later, but he seems very interested in what happens around him.”

Colin nodded. “You still believe he can be saved?”

I nodded. “I don’t see why not. Even with this other venom, he pays attention.” I shrugged. “I can’t believe there’s nothing we can’t do for him if we try.”

Colin smiled at me. “I’m sure we can.”

Chuck came in with Matt and Edwin. “Did you tell him?” Chuck asked Colin.

“I just came in,” Colin stated a little sourly. He looked at me. “We were followed.”

I stood away a little from Colin. “What? The same couple watching us?”

Chuck nodded. “I think so.” He frowned. “They used similar tactics we use with the FBI when tailing a suspect.”

Colin nodded. “I almost hope they did see what we were doing. If they saw us chasing a vampire…”

“Maybe we should go meet them,” I suggested.

Colin looked doubtful. “If they are affiliated with the government or agency working for the government, it might be good to have an ally with them. Or they could be something else.” He frowned. “Whatever they are, when they think they have something, we’ll see them.” Then he brightened. “I’m hungry.”

I laughed as I hugged him again. “I know. It’s been hours!” I said shaking my head. “We need to get you something to eat before you pass out!”

Even with me being a vampire, I didn’t have his appetite. I was glad he couldn’t really gain weight; otherwise, he’d be three hundred pounds! Food tasted good to me, but I didn’t relish eating as he did.

We went to bed for the morning. I woke up around 2 pm. Looking outside, I saw a truck being unloaded near the barn. George was talking to whoever was unloading the cargo and I didn’t need to hear him telling the men unloading to hear him instructing them to be careful. It was a good bit of equipment, but George would be happy now.

“We have to upgrade the barn,” I said smiling as I watched.

Colin came over behind me and looked as well. “He needs a sterile environment.”

I shrugged. “It can be done.” I smiled. “Jerry isn’t that sterile right now.”

Colin grinned. “You’re getting attached to Jerry.”

I looked at Colin surprised. “Well…yes. It isn’t his fault he is what he is.” I chuckled. “When his hunger is gone, he’s sort of…sweet.”

Colin was now surprised. “Sweet?”

“I sense he has intelligence,” I said simply. “The venom did something to his mind, but inside, he can be…almost funny.” I said turning to Colin. “He watches me and tries to understand. You can see it. He needs cleaning up, but once his blood hunger is done, he’s calm and pays attention.” I hugged Colin. “I look forward to what George finds out.”

“How are we getting him clean?” Colin asked.

“Well, that’s tonight,” I said. “We’ll be hooking up a shower in the storage area. Once his hunger is gone…” I held my hand out, “…and I’ll be careful. I’ll have people watching the whole time. I’ll get him in the shower and give him some clothes. He really does stink.”

“Are you still going to try to get venom from him?”

I nodded. “We’ll see if he’s cooperative.”

Colin nodded. “I’ll be there, too.”

I was going to say that wasn’t necessary, but Colin gave me the no arguments look. “Okay.” I kissed him gently. “Thanks for worrying.”

Colin smiled. “It’s my joy.” He kissed me. “You’re important to me.”

We had worked to get George his equipment set up. The main computer was upstairs in an area we had set aside and set apart from the barn by some clear plastic sheets that cut down the dust and dirt. Downstairs, he had cleaned up a lot of the area. They were installing a floor down there to help keep the dirt out. They had set up a shower for us to use. Not only for Jerry but should something potentially be hazardous that spilled, we could shower quickly, too. There was one of those portable toilets now. I came down with the bags of blood. I also carried some clothes I had gotten for him. Colin was right behind me.

Just like clockwork, as the sun began to set, I saw Jerry begin to stir. He could be a threat and I didn’t kid myself about that. He sat up and…well, we all stretch when we wake up. He did, too. Looking around like he was orienting himself to his surroundings, he hissed.

“Okay, Jerry,” I said calmly. “We’ll have no more of that.”

Jerry looked at me confused and his mouth opened and he hissed.

“Oh, stop it,” I said lightly as I would to someone who was being slightly annoying, but not really annoyed. If you never see a vampire look startled and surprised, it was sort of comical. I held up the container I had the blood in. “You don’t need to do that. I have what you need. I’m not scared of you.” I said scolding like you would a child. I chuckled. “I’m also not stupid.”

He stopped hissing as he looked at me. No one had ever reacted as I did. He began reaching through the bars.

“Of course, I’ll give it to you. Behave yourself.” I said. “No hissing,” I said opening the container. The blood was again heated to make it like body temperature. I walked closer to him. I glanced back at Colin and gave him the look that said for him not to react. In fact, Colin was smiling at what he’d seen. This time, Jerry simply took the bag and sat down opening the port himself and drank the blood. “Good, Jerry.”

George came in with Burke and Alex. “How is Jerry?” George asked smiling at what he was seeing.

“He’s doing well.” I nodded. “He woke up a little cranky, but he calmed down once he knew he was getting what he needed.” I looked back at Jerry. “I wonder if he’d let me shave him and cut his hair?”

Colin frowned. “You’ll need scissors or a knife to do that. I vote no.”

I chuckled and nodded. “Okay, I won’t do it tonight, but he might feel more human after a bath.”

After the second bag, Jerry calmed down a lot. He looked at me curiously.

“Jerry,” I said to him. “My name is Devon,” I said pointing to myself. I pointed to Colin. “This is Colin.” I waved at George. “That’s George.” Jerry followed what I said when I pointed. “Since I don’t know your name, I’m calling you Jerry, okay?” I did it again calling each by their name. “Who’s Colin?” Jerry looked at Colin. “Good. Who’s Devon?” He looked right at me. “You can learn.” I brightened. “Okay, Alex, Burke, Colin and I are going to ask you to do something.” I walked even closer to Jerry. I knew Colin was getting tense because I was too close to Jerry. I didn’t need to look at my husband to know that. “You stink,” I said holding my nose. I pointed to his clothes and held up the new clothes. “You need to take that off,” I said, demonstrating as it looked like I was taking my shirt off and then motioned for him to do the same. Jerry looked puzzled a moment and then looked down at himself. His hands went to his shirt. I nodded and he simply ripped it off. I grinned. “Good!” I did the same with the pants. His clothes were tatters, so all he did was rip them off as well. It was barely on from all the tears over the fabric. There was nothing sexually attractive about a naked bearded male vampire. He had what every male member of the human species had. “Is the shower ready?”

Alex nodded. “It’s ready.”

“Not cold or too hot,” I said. “I don’t want him startled.” I walked carefully to the cage door. “Be ready.” I had the key to the lock and unlocked the door. Removing the lock, I carefully opened the door of the cage. “Okay, Jerry. Let’s get you cleaned up.” I said holding out my hand to him. “You’ve fed and you should be calm now.” I smiled again to Jerry. “Trust me, Jerry,” I said as pleasantly as possible. “Come on.” I encouraged. Alex, Burke, and Colin were right there. I patted them on their shoulders. “These are friends. We all want you to be our friend. We won’t hurt you.” I said holding my hand closer to Jerry. Jerry looked at my hand and slowly reached out and took mine. His hand, like everything else about Jerry was filthy, but he came with me to the shower. It took about an hour to get him clean and to understand what he was to do with the soap, but when he was done, we got him dressed and back in the cage. I even had a cot set up for him. I smiled at Jerry. “You did well!” Then Jerry, to everyone’s surprise, smiled back! He smiled! He was still looking like a vampire, but he looked so different now. I could see that his eyes were dark. Probably brown and his hair was dark brown. There was no gray in his beard, he had been a young man. He had the musculature of a man that worked hard before he was turned. He was even somewhat hairy on the chest and where men were normally hairy.

“Can we get him to bite on this?” George asked me holding a specimen jar. It had the membrane on top to bite on. “I need that venom. You can probably convince him better than I can.”

I took the jar. “We want to help you, Jerry.” I demonstrated biting the membrane, but didn’t, of course. “Can you do that, Jerry?”

Jerry watched me, but he took the jar and did what I asked. I had never seen the venom, but now…fluid shot from his fangs and was astonished to see the clear yellow liquid gather at the bottom of the jar. Jerry looked at me as if to ask if this is what I wanted. I took the jar and gave it to George. “Thank you, Jerry.” I patted him on the shoulder.

George took the jar immediately to his computerized microscope and put it in.

“Jesus, Devon,” Colin said coming behind me. “I can’t believe how well this has gone.” He said marveling.

“Why wouldn’t it?” I looked at Colin. “He is a predator. He wakes up, but with no blood around for him to get, he hunts. He has to attack. Giving him the blood, he doesn’t have to hunt or attack.” I shook my head as I watched Jerry. “I think he was a nice man before.” I sighed. “I’ll be glad when we get him on the serum. Maybe I can get him to talk then.”

Colin put his arm around my waist. Jerry looked curious but didn’t react badly. “I just know he trusts you.”

“I hope so.” I grinned at Jerry. “But tomorrow, I cut his hair and trim up that beard.” Jerry smiled back! I already liked Jerry, but now I knew he had been a nice man. I was determined to get him back!

It was Wednesday afternoon when we were interrupted as we were eating an early dinner so I could work with Jerry and they could go patrolling. Colin was still staying with me. He was trusting Jerry more, but not enough to leave me alone with him.

Nigel came in the dining room followed by the man I had seen watching us. “There is someone here to see Mr. Addams.” He told us.

“I’m afraid Edward’s not available,” Edwin said standing from his place at the table. “Is there something we can help you with?”

The man was a…blondish-brown head of hair with blue eyes. Tall like Chuck. He was in his mid-thirties. “I’m David Burrows.” He pulled a badge out. “I work with Military Intelligence. I want to know what’s going on here.”

I looked at Colin. “Okay, here’s Mulder, where’s Scully?” I asked quietly Colin who had to hide his sudden amusement. He obviously watched the X-Files.

Edwin smiled. “Well, that’s a broad question. What specifically are you asking about?”

“Edward Addams is the owner,” David said.

“He is on the deed.” Edwin nodded. “I can answer any questions. My name is Edwin Dunning.” He came forward to the man and put his hand out.

“Who are all these people and what are they doing here?” Investigator Burrows asked, but shook Edwin’s hand.

“These are our friends,” Edwin said and proceeded to introduce us. Edwin turned to the investigator. “But I think you already knew who they were.” His eyes narrowed. “You’ve been observing us for a while.”

Colin stood. “I come from the United States. We are investing in Thornwood. Is that a problem?”

“You know we have been watching you?” The investigator asked.

“Let’s cut through the I know something, but not telling what part,” Colin said. “We’ll answer any question.”

The man nodded. “Okay, we’ve seen a lot of activity here recently. This is a place for wedding and parties, but I don’t see a lot of parties here. There was a shipment of equipment brought here. We saw the cargo and we know its medical equipment and computers. We need to know why.”

I stood up. “We’ll show you,” I said.

Colin turned to me. “Devon.” He said quietly.

“Colin, think about it.” I urged. “We only got this far because the FBI stepped in.” I waved at the investigator. “If he is Military Intelligence, be it MI 5 or 6 or whatever, we need the alliance.” I shrugged. “He can’t argue with what he sees.” I smiled at the man. “You’ll see and that’s when you’ll understand clearly.” I smiled. “We’re not a threat. We’re trying to help.”

The man nodded. “Okay.”

“We’d like to finish dinner if you don’t mind. Join us.” Edwin invited. “What brought your attention?”

The investigator sat. “We got a report about a group of Americans that was wandering around through towns up here.” He chuckled. “Some wild stories, but when we investigated…we got nothing. We began watching and…there you were.” He waved at Colin, me and the others. “And here you are.”

We went about our meal while the investigator sat patiently. Sarah and Matt came, looked puzzled at our new guest, but didn’t ask any questions. They all knew he was human.

It was just before sunset when I came to the investigator. I was carrying Jerry’s blood in the container. “Okay. It’s time.”

Colin came up behind me. “What you do after you find out, will decide many things.”

The man’s face held confusion when Colin said that.

“Do you want to call your partner to be sure you’ll be safe?” I asked.

His eyebrows rose. “No. She knows where I am.”

Chuck came up, he’d been there listening. “And ready to call for backup if needed.”

The investigator turned to Chuck. “Will it be needed?”

“No, but it’s what I would do.” Chuck smiled. “You need to listen and keep an open mind.”

There were a few of us that went to the barn. I pointed to the computer and other equipment on the ground floor. “Here is the computer you mentioned…the medical things also, but some of it's down here. Now, you’ll see why we need it.” I pushed the plastic aside and took him through to the door that led below. Taking the steps down, I led him in where George was working and had been since noon.

The investigator looked at the cage and the man lying on the cot. “What? Why is this man in a cage?”

George looked up and looked startled at the arrival of a stranger. “What the…”

I held my hand up to stop George. “You’re about to find out, Mr. Burrows.” I walked to the cage and smiled as Jerry was beginning to stir again. Only this time, he sniffed and sat up quickly. He looked directly at the investigator and hissed loud! His fangs were instantly showing. He was in full predator mode!

The investigator jumped back a little. “Oh, SHIT!!!!” He almost screamed.

Jerry threw himself against the bars and was now hissing constantly trying to get to the man.

“Jerry!” I said sternly. “Stop it!” Jerry looked at me and he did stop. I held the container of blood. “I have what you need. You can’t feed on him.” I motioned Jerry back. Jerry stopped hissing and backed up.

“What the hell is that!?” The investigator asked in wide-eyed shock. He had been reaching for his sidearm, but we had it removed when he came in. He was Military Intelligence; he could carry a gun in England.

“What do you think he is?” Colin asked simply. “He’s a vampire.”

The man looked at us as if we’d lost our minds. “A vampire!? That’s impossible.”

“Yet, there he is,” Colin said waving at Jerry.

“Kill it!” The man shouted urgently.

I stood in front of Jerry. “Absolutely not!!” I walked toward the investigator. “I forbid it! You won’t touch him! He’s only interested in you because you’re human and a target.”

The man looked at us, but his mind was working. “He didn’t react to you. Why?”

Colin smiled. “Because…” Colin began, “…we’re vampires, too.”

The investigator was now looking at all of us, absolutely stunned!