Usual disclaimers. Don't own 'em, wish I did. Permission to archive
granted to any Dark Perk, all others must ask.

Mutual Acquaintances

By: Cousin Mary (Jenkins) 10-98

As soon as Tracy entered the Church, she knew that something was
wrong. Even from the door she could see the flicker candlelight and
smell the melting wax, and she knew Vachon was still out of town. But
much more unsettling than that, was that she could almost 'feel' a
presence inside the Church. A peculiar prickling sensation along the
back of her mind, it was a strangely familiar sensation, like right
before Vachon would jump out at her, only slightly different.

Moving with practiced ease, Tracy silently pulled her gun and crept
towards the main chamber. She didn't have to look very hard before she
saw him; there, sitting in the front pew was a man she'd thought long
since dead, the Inca. 

Tracy straightened her stance slightly and drew a shallow breath,
pressing herself against the interior doorframe. At first she wasn't
sure what to do, he hadn't noticed her yet, maybe she should just
leave? 

But suddenly he turned and looked at her. He didn't say anything, but
his eyes were dark. Darker even than Vachon's, and twice as haunted.

Sighing, Tracy re-holstered her gun. "Waiting for Vachon?" She asked
lightly.

"Yes." 

She looked around the dark church, as if she expected the former
Conquistador to be hiding behind the vestibule. Of course he wasn't.
She would have felt him. 

Tracy walked slowly and deliberately down the aisle, she curbed the
impulse to cross herself and slid into the pew beside him. Casually,
yet careful to keep her eyes on anything except the vampire next to
her, she commented, "I thought you were dead."

The Inca turned in his seat and stared at her profile, "And I thought
you knew nothing of the Spaniard." 

"That was before," Tracy shrugged and glanced at him, "This is now." 

"Yes." He nodded, as if that were a very deep sentiment. "As for my
death," The Inca mimicked her shrug, "Rumors of my untimely demise
were-"

"Greatly exaggerated?" Tracy finished for him with a small smile.
"Funny, I thought you blew up into itsy-bitsy little undead pieces."

That earned her a slightly amused look. "No."

"No." Tracy repeated, then turned her gaze back to the pulpit. 

"Why are you here Tracy Vetter?" The Inca asked after several moments
of silence.

Tracy shrugged, "Saw the light on, thought maybe Vachon was back
early."

"Back? Did he go somewhere?" The Inca frowned.

"Vegas, with Screed." Tracy rubbed her hands together briskly, it sure
was cold in here tonight. "They're supposed to be back around next
Tuesday."

"He told you this?" The Inca looked at her incredulously.

Tracy straightened, "You think he lied?"

"No," He shook his head, "It's just not like the Spaniard to make such
promises."

"Oh," Tracy turned back to again ponder the pulpit.

Again, a strained silence fell between them.

"You've changed him," The man beside her said suddenly.

"What?!" Tracy twisted around to face him. "What do you mean by that?"

"I have heard things." The Inca stated, as if that explained
everything.

"What 'things,'" Tracy's eyes narrowed.

"He…helps you." The Inca said slowly, "Acts as he always should have.
Protects the innocent, punishes the guilty. You brought that out in
him, as I never could."

Tracy gave the Inca a considering look, "I don't think that's entirely
true." She sighed and leaned back in the pew heavily. 

As the Inca made no comment, Tracy tried to explain, "He does it…more
as a hobby than anything else." She closed her eyes and sighed again,
"To impress me."

Another beat of silence.

"You are wise beyond your years Tracy Vetter," The Inca mumbled.

"No, just realistic," She said, then, realizing she was telling this
to what most would consider a mythical creature, added with a slightly
lopsided grin, "Well, as much as I can be." 

The Inca said nothing at that, but rose to his feet and turned to face
her.

Tracy had to crane her neck to look up at him. Some part of her knew
she should be afraid, after all, he was a bloodsucking fiend. But on
the other hand, was there ever a more noble vampire than the Inca? His
quest was…well, very much what she'd dedicated her own life to, wasn't
it? She found she couldn't fear him, so she just calmly stared up into
his unfathomable eyes and waited for him to make the next move. Like a
chess game between two equally matched players, she waited, her mind
at the ready. 

He stared back at her for a long while but in the end all he said was,
"Until we meet again Tracy Vetter." He bowed to her slightly, then
launched himself into the air, disappearing into the darken rafters
above, to exit through the bell tower high above Tracy supposed. 

"'Til next we meet." Tracy echoed. She climbed to her feet and pulled
her coat around herself tightly. She stared up into the darkness for a
moment, before moving silently towards the door. There she paused and
glanced back over her shoulder. With another sigh, this one filled
with a sort of tolerant amusement, she turned and walked back into the
main room. Then she began extinguishing the candles the Inca had lit,
unaware of the eyes staring down at her from above.

>>>>>>>>>

Yes, there will be a sequel! No need to ask! Send all comments and
reasons I should stop messing with the church to anteros@juno.com