City of Night: Odonata, #1

By Jessica Zellman

Vampires have nightmares too, and they come in the form of an Odonata.

Katrina Templair gave up her human life to become an Odonata—a vampire killer. She's never regretted it, and she keeps looking for one in particular.

When she inadvertently rescues Abbey Marquez from a vampire attack, she realizes two things: one, she's close; and two, Abbey is the clingy sort.

But Abbey has good information to pass along: the vamps in Los Angeles have become organized human traffickers, and the club they use is a good front.

Determined to stop them once and for all, Katrina gears up for the fight of her un-life. And she vows that she'll take the vampires out no matter the cost.

City of Night is the first book in the Odonata Vampire Series.

This title contains strong language, sexual situationas, some evil vampire on human violence and perfectly justified Odonata on vampire violence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dragonfly Pens
• Release date: Sep 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9780984987221

Book preview

Chapter 1

As I glided into the alley, I watched my prey and waited for my body to catch up with the rest of me. This was always a moment of vulnerability, the disconnection between myself and my physical form. When my body closed the last distance, it pushed me forward a step. The human spotted me first. Her large brown eyes stopped darting around and latched onto mine—an instant before the vampire caught my scent.

I touched the vampire’s shoulder, and my fire flowed into her. Her skin charred and split open. A wave of hunger swept over me, and I knelt to feed. Vampires decomposed quickly, so I had to rush before the warmth dissipated.

When I finished, only the vampire’s bones remained. I nudged them with my foot. They disintegrated. The bloodlust faded as reality bombarded my senses. The odor of spoiled vegetables rose from the nearby dumpster, mixing with the slick scent of cooking oil from a restaurant close by. The human smelled like sweet, fruity perfume, laced with the sharp tang of fear. She gaped at me.

Hey, are you okay? I asked. She was short, so I leaned down to see her face. Hello? I waved my hand in front of her dark, vacant eyes. Shit.

Usually the humans ran away. Sometimes they stayed, and I told them some story about a mugger who ran when he saw me approach. They always bought it. Humans accepted the mundane over the bizarre every time.

Yet how could I explain anything when this human didn’t seem to hear a thing I said?

She carried a small purse. I considered going through it to find out where she lived, but decided against it. With my luck she would come out of her daze right then, and scream that she was being robbed.

My inner debate ended when I sensed another vampire nearby. He felt older than the female I’d just consumed, more powerful, and much larger. Fear sliced through me, followed by anticipation. I’d had the misfortune of meeting a vamp like that back in the sixties. A lot had changed since then. If this was the same vampire, his days were numbered. I would find him and watch him burn right alongside his sicko sidekick and their master. A shame I couldn’t mete out slow and painful deaths, because that was what they deserved.

I wanted to stalk him, but I had the human to worry about. I grabbed her arm. Come on.

She followed, moving quickly when I dragged her and stopping when I stopped. We reached a corner. Where do you live? I asked.

She stared at me.

Do you have a car? Nothing. There’s a bus stop right over there. Or I’ll find a taxi if you don’t like the bus? Even if getting a cab in Hollywood was next to impossible.

Still nothing.

Oh, bloody hell, I muttered. The human just stared.

I didn’t take in refugees. Ever. Wes—my mentor, of sorts—was out to save every human he came across. That part of his philosophy had never rubbed off on me. Humans had their uses, but more often than not they got in the way. This one was proving to be a nuisance. I walked her over to the bus stop and left her on the bench. You’ll be fine, I said. But when I walked away, she followed me like a lost puppy.

I am not a dog person.

I crossed the street to a café. Of course, she followed me. How about some coffee? I asked. Or tea? With honey? You know, comforting, calming... Oh, forget it.

I ordered a latte, a hot chocolate and two double fudge brownies. Chocolate could fix anything. Well... make that anything but one totally freaked out human. She made no move toward the drinks or the brownies. I drank the hot chocolate and downed a brownie in two bites.

Are you going to eat that? I asked, pointing to the other one. She just stared. Okay then. I ate that brownie too and found a lid for the latte. This is ridiculous, I muttered.

Fortunately, I had my car tonight, instead of my bike. I guided her into the passenger seat and muttered curses for a solid ten minutes. She didn’t respond to that either. Dropping her at a shelter felt like the wrong thing to do. What if she started screeching about vampires? They’d lock her in a rubber room.

Finally, I tried conversation. There’s that Chinese custom that once you save someone’s life, you’re responsible for that person—but no one actually believes that, do they? I glanced at her. Okay, maybe the Chinese do, but you’re not Chinese and neither am I, right? She looked Central American to me, but I had stopped paying attention to female humans back in the seventies. Surely you have a home, or someplace where you’d be more comfortable sleeping this off? No answer. I turned onto my street.

What’s that old saying? No good deed goes unpunished? Yeah, that’s the one.

She snapped out of her daze the moment we entered my house. It was late, and I was tired. I could feel my strength draining. Despite that, I’d be conscious for a while longer. Quite a while longer, if she was incapable of shutting up—which I suspected was the case.

Wow, this is a nice place. A lot of windows though, she said, looking around. Do you have a service come and clean them? I hate cleaning windows. I always leave streaks. She wandered over to the glass doors and peered out into my courtyard. Doesn’t the sun wake you? Or are you a morning person? I’ve always been a night person, myself. Where are we anyway? I don’t recognize this part of town.

When she paused for breath, I asked, Why do you ask questions and not wait for an answer?

Oh, sorry. I guess I was babbling.

Indeed.

It’s just that I think I’m still in shock. Yeah, that’s it.

"No, you were in shock. You were silent. This is hardly the same thing. Quite the opposite." I wondered if she could lower her voice an octave or two. It lanced right through my brain. I looked around for something to calm me, but the kitties weren’t about. They were probably hiding from the noisy intruder. My cats are accustomed to me, and I’m quiet.

I-I guess I talk a lot when I’m...

Nervous? I suggested. She sat on the edge of the chair. She looked ready to jump up and run away—as if she had a chance of getting past me. There’s no need. I’m not like her. You don’t appeal to me.

It was a vampire. That thing that had me.

Yes.

And you killed it.

Yes.

And—and ate it.

I almost smiled, but that would have frightened her more. Yes. However, I’m not interested in eating you.

So what are you?

I... am tired, I said. I didn’t want to have this conversation, not with her, not with any human. Why she even remembered the bloodsucker was beyond me. Most humans block that sort of thing out. They explain away what they cannot understand and stay in their safe little worlds, oblivious to all the harmful things that lurk in the shadows.

You’re welcome to use the guest room. Go down the hall, second door on the left. Make yourself comfortable. If you still wish to have this conversation in the morning, we’ll discuss it then.

But...

Those big brown eyes were just too much. You’re safe here. I promise, I said. Goodnight.

She nodded slowly. G’night.

Pre-dawn light woke me. I tried to get up without disturbing the kitties too much, but I’m always sluggish and awkward in the morning. I used to get chilled during the night. I used to fight sleep and the dreams I knew would follow. Then I discovered the magic of cats. Zak, Wes’s partner in life and everything else, had returned home one afternoon and dropped a tiny ball of gray fluff in my lap. See if that helps any, he’d said.

It helped. Cats exuded relaxation and peace. The gray kitten with his gray eyes simply demanded the name Gandalf. He soothed my nerves, and his warm, soft presence comforted me while I slept. Galadriel, a beautiful seal point ragdoll, came a year later. Five years after that I returned to California, and another ragdoll kitten pounced on my affections and would not let go.

That kitten, though she was hardly a kitten anymore, slept on the top of my head like a furry hat. She mewed at me as I moved, so I gave her an affectionate pat. Silly Arwen, I said softly.

Sun salutations were always the best part of my day. I stretched out on the floor and waited impatiently for those warm, life-giving rays to touch my skin. I hated nighttime. Even more, I hated dark rainy days when the sun was blocked from my sight. This day dawned clear and bright, with just a few thin clouds breaking up the blue. Perfect. After a while, my cats joined me in my patch of light. They stretched and lounged on my black mat, so they, too, could absorb the warmth. I felt life seep into my pores. My own inner heat pulsed and grew in reply.

Hours later, I sat at the bistro table in my courtyard so I could soak up more sun. An impertinent question interrupted my breakfast.

You eat real food? I thought you only ate vampires!

So she still remembered the vampire. How was that? The memory should have shaken her world enough to drive her insane. Unless she was insane already. Hmm. Do you eat only cows? Or rice? Or eggs? Humans are omnivores, as well.

Are vampires omnivores?

No.

So what are you?

An omnivore. I waved a piece of bacon at her. If you’d like some, there’s more warming in the oven. Help yourself.

She frowned. Thanks, but I’m a vegetarian.

Oh, right.

What does that mean?

I forgot. I should have made muffins or something. Sorry, I don’t have company very often.

I don’t understand. How did you forget? I didn’t tell you.

No, but-- I sighed. Do you really want to know this?

Her dark eyes grew large, but she nodded.

Humans taste... different, depending on what they eat. You prefer to eat healthy food instead of fried crap. Vampires are the same way. Some prefer health-conscious humans to those with sludge in their veins.

So I-I’m more appetizing to vampires because I care about my health?

Not all vampires, just some who care about-- Fear drained the color from her face. You might want to sit down. She fell back into the chair. Finally, a normal reaction. Put your head between your knees. Do you want some water?

Her hand trembled as she accepted the glass. Slowly, color returned to her cheeks. I’m sorry. I—this is all new to me.

I realize that. I’ve messed up your happy little world, haven’t I?

She frowned at me. It wasn’t that happy anyway. I just never thought about something wanting to eat me. I mean, maybe a shark or a bear or a lion or something, but this is too weird.

I understood. Humans believe they’re at the top of the food chain until they learn about vampires. Vampires consider themselves to be the ultimate predators, but they aren’t. I fought a grin and lost. I am.

And you don’t eat humans, she said.

No.

That’s good. You know, since I’m a kind of health food and all that.

Should I tell her I preferred vampires who preferred humans who ate health food? I decided not.

So what are you again?

I’m an Odonata.

That’s a dragonfly. She managed a weak smile at my surprise. I studied entomology for a while.

The dragonflies are named for us. They eat bloodsucking mosquitoes, which prey on human and animal blood. We eat vampires, which prey on human and animal blood.

That explains the water garden, she said, taking a moment to look around my courtyard and at the two ponds that took up most of the space. Do you have a name?

Wow, my manners were definitely slipping. Yes. Sorry. I’m Katrina Templair.

Abelina Marquez. But everyone calls me Abbey. She thought a moment. Our names rhyme. Abelina and Katrina. We could be in a song. She laughed.

Is there anyone you need to call? To let them know that you’re all right, or why you didn’t come home last night?

Something passed over Abbey’s face. No, I live alone, and it’s my day off. She looked troubled.

What? I asked.

I just realized if that... vampire... had killed me, no one would even realize I was missing.

Welcome to my world. For the most part, I was also alone. I had my parents--as I sometimes referred to Wes and Zak, the Odonata who made me—but we communicated once a week at best. It would probably take two weeks or more for anyone to notice if I went missing. It was one of the reasons I had automatic feeders and water fountains for my cats. Judging from the look on Abbey’s face, she was not accustomed to being on her own. I waited for her to say more on the subject, but she didn’t. Instead, she peered at my shoulders.

Do you have wings?

No.

So you can’t fly.

Not exactly.

What does that mean?

I pointed to a dragonfly perched on a lotus leaf a few feet from where we sat. There’s one. Watch it. This was one of the many reasons I had a waterscape in my courtyard. I enjoyed my kinship with the dragonflies and wanted to give them a place to breed. The iridescent blue creature rose as if obliging me. See how it moves? How it slices through the air, but can stop and reverse on a dime? When I catch a scent, I do that. I glide through the scent trail until I find the source. It’s not a physical flight, but once I know where it is, I move there physically.

That’s what happened last night, Abbey said. You appeared out of nowhere. I thought I just missed you coming down the alley. I was sort of distracted, after all, but you really did just sort of step out of nowhere.

You remember that? I’ve often wondered what it looks like to someone else.

Yeah, the...vampire...had me pinned against the wall. I knew there was something odd about her! I should learn to listen to my instincts. Anyway, it was just the two of us. I couldn’t believe any of it was actually happening, even when I saw her fangs. What’s up with that, anyway? She was like a freaking shark!

Worse, I agreed. Vampires in movies had nice, neat, pointy canines. Vampires in the real world had two long rows of front teeth that extended for feeding. The upper and lower fangs interlaced like fingers. Humans expecting to only suffer two little pinholes in their necks always got a rude awakening. As if the reality of the teeth wasn’t bad enough, there were some weird elements to vamp saliva. It contained a steroid and growth hormone, which made the wound close and the skin knit back together. The only way for them to keep feeding was to keep biting, gnawing at the wound. The pain was ridiculous. I wish I wasn’t speaking from experience.

She came at my throat, and I was like ‘you gotta be kidding me.’ I remember looking around for the cameras. I thought I was being punk’d, you know?

I had no clue what she was talking about. That last bit had to be a foreign language.

And then all of a sudden, you arrived. Like you stepped out of the brick wall. Kirk and Spock did that on Star Trek once. I can’t remember the episode. My brother would know.

You have a brother?

Abbey’s face closed down. Four.

She obviously didn’t want to talk about this, so I changed the subject. You said the vampire seemed nice. Did she lure you into the alley?

Kind of. Is this important? I mean, you killed her. She can’t come back, right? Fear clouded her face at the mere possibility.

No, she’s dust. What was left of her anyway. It’s good to know their tactics. ‘Know your enemy.’

Abbey nodded slowly. I was in line to get into that club on Sunset, After Hours. Have you been?

I had not.

I saw a flyer that made it sound like a fun place, and I needed a night out. I guess locals don’t go there. It seemed kind of touristy. There was this long line and the bouncer would pick people a few at a time and let them past the ropes. She was in line too. We got to talking. Her name was Haley. And then the bouncer at the door picked us to go in.

Did you have to wait long? Some instinct told me this was important.

Yeah, a while. We talked to pass the time. I told her I’m new in town. Abbey frowned. Come to think of it, I told her an awful lot. I think I was just happy to have someone to talk to, you know? It’s been hard moving here and getting to know anyone. Most people look right through me like I don’t even exist. But Haley seemed interested. I never dreamed she wanted me for a snack.

I continued, keeping my voice calm and quiet, So you told her you were new in town, and alone. Perhaps you told her enough that she knew you wouldn’t be missed?

Tears brimmed in those deep brown eyes. Shit. I didn’t mean it that way, I said, but it was too little, too late.

I get that I’m a loser, okay? Abbey spat. Everyone’s rubbed that in my face since the day I got here.

Great, a hysterical human. I was thinking tactically. There have been incidents of tourists going missing lately. Not many, but I’m wondering how many don’t get reported. Lots of people run away to try for the California dream. This place has a pull. Natural or magical, it exists. And it makes sense for vampires to hunt humans carefully, to see how likely it is that someone else will come looking. Do you understand? She nodded and sniffled. So you went in the club, I prompted.

Yeah. I thought the line was because they hadn’t opened yet. When I realized it was a Studio Fifty-four thing, I didn’t think I would ever get in. I mean, I’m not exactly the Hollywood type.

I looked at her, taking in her small frame, dark hair, tanned skin. You’re too short, I agreed.

I’m too Mexican, she said.

Was Haley the Hollywood type? I tried, but couldn’t remember what the vampire looked like.

Abbey thought about it. No, not really. She looked like she was from the Midwest, Illinois or something. I think she had freckles. How does a vampire get freckles?

They look however they did when they changed. They’re in stasis, so they can dye their hair or cut it—but it won’t grow back. If a human has a tattoo, and she becomes a vampire, that tattoo doesn’t fade or disappear. If a vampire got a tattoo, it would disappear because the cells would return to their original state.

I thought they would be pale from never seeing the sun.

I shook my head. It doesn’t work that way. If you became a vampire, you would keep your skin tone.

I guess you don’t tan then either. I knew what she meant. I had always been fair. Pale was a more accurate word. Before, when I was a foolish and vain human, I spent hours trying to get my skin even a fraction as tan as Abbey’s.

What a wasted endeavor that was.

No, my body reacts to the sun. My skin does not.

Dragonflies can’t move until the sunlight hits them. Are you like that too?

This could be dangerous ground, talking about my strengths and weaknesses—but humans are no threat, so I answered. Similar. I get much of my energy from sunlight. That’s how I kill vampires by touch.

Abbey’s lips parted and her eyes widened. I thought I imagined that part. You sort of—I mean, you cooked the vampire before you...

I wasn’t going to eat her raw.

For a second, Abbey looked stunned and horrified. Then she collapsed into helpless giggles.

Chapter 2

W hat was the club like? I asked, as much to silence Abbey’s uncontrolled laughter as to hear the answer.

Oh, I don’t know. She shrugged. The usual dim lights and loud music. I didn’t like it. All of her former mirth disappeared. It felt wrong—like, threatening. I thought I was just nervous, not fitting in around here and all, but now I wonder if that was it at all. Remember how I said I knew there was something odd about Haley? Well, that’s how that whole place felt. The bartender, the DJ, even a lot of the people on the dance floor, they creeped me out. I had one drink, and before I finished it, I wanted to leave. Haley didn’t want to, but I had to get out, so she went with me. Then we turned down that alley, and you know the rest.

I studied my human guest. Was she a sensitive? Could she tell when vampires were near? It might explain why she remembered the incident instead of blocking it out. This club, After Hours, would require further investigation. It could be a gang, and I hadn’t taken out a gang in quite a while. It was an appealing thought.

What are you thinking about? Abbey asked.

Food. So, you have a job?

Yes, I have a job, she said, with more than a little attitude.

What do you do? Lots of people in this area didn’t work—unless one considered shopping a career choice.

I work at the health food bakery in a strip mall. I’m new, so I work the afternoon shift. They only let the experienced bakers handle the morning rush. She looked around. What about you?

I own a landscaping company.

You’re a landscaper? Clearly, she didn’t believe me.

I’d worked on a landscaping crew for a while. I’d enjoyed working in the sunshine. I hadn’t enjoyed the guys on the crew gaping at my body every time I moved. Working on a road crew had been the same thing in a different setting. No one cared that I had great endurance and lots of energy. They just saw my curves.

No, I design the water features. I motioned to the two ponds, and the stream connecting them. "My contractor sends me