As I said before, I work for a covert branch of the CIA that doesn't exist, and Dr. Sam Abbott is my contact. Or, at least, that's the name I know him by. This branch is so secretive and covert that we are only called in times of dire emergency to do a job. It doesn't take many of us. Yes, don't be so shocked, I'm not the only one. Anyway, a few of us can go in without anyone knowing and create the devastation of a whole army. Ten of us can take down a human army with ease. Then, of course, humans take the credit. That suits me just fine, since our existence must remain secret.
Also, vampires are not made frivolously. For one thing, most of us do not want to take over the human race. Notice I said most. But every few years, a sadistic i***t comes along that wants to take over the human race and thinks he can rule the world. Then we're called in to take him, or her, down quietly. Does Hitler ring a bell? Another oxymoron. He wanted the perfect human race, but if they only knew what he was ... anyway, we were called in to make sure that the job was done correctly.
"Ms. Star?" the pretty receptionist asked, bringing me from my reverie. "Dr. Abbott will see you now." Dr. Abbott was the fifth human I've worked for within my time here. Although my bosses age and gradually die, never once have any of them asked me why I do not age. They already know.
"Very well." I nodded, giving her a gracious smile. She was used to seeing me now. I remember the first time I smiled at her five years ago. She was young and, even though we were both female, she staggered a bit.
"Ms. Starland," Dr. Abbott began, rising from his desk; a gentleman. "It's so good to see you again." He acted like he hadn't seen me in a while. This must be important.
"Likewise," I said, smiling. "And please, call me Abigail."
He didn't shake my hand. "Do you mind?" Dr. Abbott pulled a digital scanner from inside his desk.
"Not at all," I replied, smiling sweetly, then held out my hand. Any other human would have been dazzled, but he was unmoved, all business.
A moment later, the scanner glowed blue after he scanned my hand. A second later it beeped and he checked the reading. "You're clean."
I sat down politely in a stiff, wooden chair across from his high power desk and daintily crossed my legs. I was not impressed. "Let's cut the bullshit, Sam. What can I do for you?"
Dr. Abbott smiled. "I see you haven't changed, Star."
My sweet smile returned. "Abigail, please."
"As you wish," he said, clearly enjoying the dangerous exchange. He knew who I was and how dangerous I could be. "The reason why I've called you here today is that I need you for a secret mission."
"I kind of gathered that," I said, matter of fact. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't secretive and dangerous.
Again, he smiled. "And I need your ultimate discretion."
"Of course." I crossed my hands over my knees. To him, I didn't look a day over 16. In reality, I was changed when I was 18. I looked young for my age. "Let's cut to the chase, Sam. What's the job?"
Dr. Abbott laughed. "Patience never was one of your virtues."
"Among others," I replied, still smiling.
"Here's the deal," he began, running a hand through his salt and pepper hair, "I need you to be a bodyguard."
"Bodyguard?" I almost shouted. "I haven't been a bodyguard for years! Come now, Sam, I've been on covert missions, an assassin for the government, but a bodyguard?" It was too easy. I'd be bored stiff within the matter of a week.
"Yes, a bodyguard," Sam replied sternly.
"No," I said curtly, rising from my seat.
"Sit back down," Dr. Abbott directed, pointing to the chair.
"You're treading on dangerous ground," I said, my green eyes flaring as I pushed a lock of wavy brown hair away from my face.
"Please," Dr. Abbott replied a bit sarcastically, gesturing toward the chair.
I slowly sat down. After a moment of silence, I asked, "Who is it, anyway?" Maybe it was the president or a dignitary. Once, I had to pretend to infiltrate a drug cartel to be the bodyguard of a drug lord. He didn't live long.
Sam's grey eyes searched mine as I waited. He sighed. "He's my son."
"Your son?" I replied, getting to my feet. "Okay, I've heard enough."
"Star," he yelled, "sit down!"
Within a second, I was around his power desk with my hand on his throat. "Tread very carefully, Sam."
"Let him go," a male voice called out as he entered the room. It was a voice I knew well.
"Fredrick!" I shouted, surprised. He was the vampire who changed me during the Revolutionary War when I was dying. He saved my life and quickly became my mentor and friend, and had taken the place of my father since.
"Abby," Fredrick said with a smile. "They call me Rick now."
"Not Fred?" I asked, letting go of Dr. Abbott as if nothing had transpired.
"No, I never liked it," he said, moving to my side with lightning speed. "Rick is much more modern."
I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. I didn't have to worry about being careful hugging Fredrick, or Rick, as he now wanted to be called. A moment later, I released him, and walked at human speed to the front of the desk, while Dr. Abbott coughed and rubbed his throat.
"I wouldn't be asking you this if it weren't important," Dr. Abbott began. Then, I looked at Rick and he nodded. So, he was Abbott's bodyguard. Figures.
"Dr. Abbott here was just telling me about a job he wants me for," I explained to Rick.
"So I've heard," Rick replied. So, he was in on it.
I nodded, then turned my attention back to Abbott. "Why me? Why not one of your human CIA agents? Or, better yet, a Secret Service agent?"
"This matter has to be handled delicately," he replied, and then I understood.
"He doesn't know about this, does he?" I asked, putting the pieces together.
Abbott shook his head.
"And you don't want him to know about this, do you?"
"No."
"How old is he?"
"He's 18."
"High school?" I asked, incredulous, sinking back into my chair.
Rick suppressed a smile.
"You fit the bill," Dr. Abbott calmly replied.
"Meaning I look like I could be in high school," I finished. I looked at Rick, but he was no help. He just shrugged his shoulders, innocently suppressing a smile. I released my breath in a gust. "Why do you need me? Or someone like me?"
Dr. Abbott knew my meaning. "My son is in grave danger. They've found him."
I nodded, understanding. "The Others."
"Yes. Please protect him at all costs," Dr. Abbott continued, "but be discrete."
"Don't tell him," I added, understanding.
"And keep him alive at all costs and with any means at your disposal," Dr. Abbott continued, looking deeply into my eyes.
I understood. He knew what I was and what I could do. He was even willing for him to become a vampire if it was necessary to save him. "I understand."
"And one more thing," Dr. Abbott continued. "Never grab me like that again, if you want to live."
I raised an eyebrow, incredulous, and smiled sweetly. "Are you threatening me, Sam? Because I don't like to be threatened."
"Okay," Rick intervened. "That's enough."
"Just don't do it again," Dr. Abbott reinforced.
"Then don't order me around."
He nodded. "You haven't changed."
I sighed and sat back down again. "Who am I going in as?"
He knew exactly what I meant. I didn't mean a disguise; I was a shape shifter. A vampire shape shifter. That was why Dr. Abbott didn't shake my hand when I came in. A vampire shape shifter must touch the people they wish to impersonate to get their body print. If I wished, I could now impersonate him. That was also why he used the digital hand scanner on me when I came in. When I change into another person, only my fingerprints remain the same. The CIA developed the hand scanner to detect and determine the identity of fingerprints immediately. It was the only way he could be sure it was me and not an imposter.
"You'll be going in as yourself," Dr. Abbott answered.
I nodded, understanding. "What's my cover?"
"You're a high school student. You can choose your cover."
"Thank you." I nodded sweetly.
"And Rick will pose as your father."
"Oh, come now, Sam," I replied, crossing my arms. "I don't need a bodyguard."
"Not for you. For my son," Dr. Abbott supplied. "Rick will help you with your cover."
"Your son needs two bodyguards?" I asked, unable to believe the turn the assignment had taken.
"There will be more than one of them coming for him," Dr. Abbott replied. "And we don't know if any are ... well ... like you."
"Meaning, a shape shifter," I supplied, rolling my eyes. Great. I was going to babysit a teenage boy and didn't know how many or what exactly was coming after him, and I was to pose as a teenage girl with a father. I must be insane. "I'll do it. When do we leave?"
"Immediately," Dr. Abbott replied. It was certainly dangerous, probably entailing more danger than he revealed. I'd known Dr. Abbott for years and, despite our exchange, I liked him and trusted his judgment. It must have been very serious, indeed. "Rick will apprise you of the details on the way."
"On the way?" I asked Dr. Abbott, unbelieving. "He doesn't live here in Washington D.C.?"
"No," his faded grey eyes turned sad, "he lives with his mother and she's refusing protection."
"I see." It was serious. I thought for a moment, remembering the vow I took to preserve human life, and then I turned back to Abbott. "Sam, I'll take care of him. I promise."
He nodded, taking my hands into his. I already had his body print, after all. Then, Dr. Abbott looked directly into my bright green eyes with all the seriousness he could manage. "I'm counting on it."
I nodded, understanding. He wouldn't be sending us unless it was serious.
"We'd better be going," Rick said, interrupting my reverie. "We have a long ride ahead of us."
I nodded, squeezing Sam's hand one last time. And within moments, we were in Rick's black Mercedes GL450 SUV on our way to who knows where to be a bodyguard to a teenage boy I didn't know. God help me.
Aksara