Vampire Miami by Philip Tucker

reported you? He’d
earn a bunch of credits and you’d be done.”
    “I know, I know.” Selah looked away. “Trust me.
I was kicking myself right after. I just don’t know how else to get
information. There’s so much I don’t know. What about this Dragon?
You know anything about him?”
    “Him? Like I said, he’s a big deal. He works
directly for Sawiskera. You know who that is?”
    Of course she did. The leader of the vampires,
the elusive king. He was as mysterious as he was fascinating, in
large part because people knew so little about him. There was only
one photograph of him online, taken in the nineteenth century, and
it showed a man of medium height in rough, homespun clothing, a
Native American with a dour, bronze face and eyes of such utter and
compelling night that even on a computer screen, it had given Selah
shivers. Sawiskera, said to be the most ancient of vampires, said
to have walked the US since before the first white men arrived, a
being of incredible power and potence.
    “Sure,” said Selah, “the main vampire guy.”
    “Right. So the Dragon works for him. He’s like
his right-hand man, or something. What he says is the law. He’s not
bad as far as vampires go. I’ve only seen him once or twice,
though, so who knows.”
    “I see.” The feel of hands on her hips, how he
had so easily matched her rhythm. Those dark eyes boring into her
soul in that small room with the drain in its center.
    “And … the Resistance? You know anything about
them?”
    Maria Elena shrugged, clearly not impressed.
“No, not really. I know they’re a bunch of nerdy guys who hide in
empty buildings and run around causing trouble. I don’t know what
they think telling the world that there are vampires in here will
accomplish. It’s not like people don’t know.”
    “Yeah,” said Selah, “but don’t you think what
they’re doing is important? Fighting for freedom and stuff?”
    Her friend made a face. “I mean, sure. If you
think things are going to change. If you think the government is
willing to start a whole new vampire war. Me? I don’t think that’s
going to happen. All the good guys got turned into vampires. Now
it’s just a pack of cowards running things in DC, and I don’t think
anything this ‘Resistance’ puts out will really make a difference.
Other than annoy the vamps and get people killed.”
    “I guess so,” said Selah.
    “I mean,” said Maria Elena, waving her arm
expansively, “think about it. Maybe if they were killing important
vampires and blowing shit up. But making movies? Writing speeches?
That’s never going to do nothing.”
    Selah frowned and looked away from her new
friend. It was hard to argue with her. The reality of what she’d
seen here on the Beach seemed much more compelling. A society of
sorts. People picking up their lives, somehow making do. Maybe she
was right.
    “Look. Tomorrow I’ll take you downtown to get an
ID. If you want one.”
    Selah considered it. “That would mean I’m part
of this, right?” She gestured back at the beach. “This world?”
    “Yeah,” said Maria Elena. “You register, you get
signed up, sure.”
    “I don’t know.” Selah looked down at her hands,
then out over the ocean. It was so beautiful. She felt a sudden
desire to swim out and float amongst the waves. Allow them to wash
the dry sweat from her skin. “I don’t know if I want to be part of
this. Part of this world you work in.”
    “Your call, chica . But you can’t earn
credits if you don’t have an ID. And no ID means no protection if
you ever get in trouble.”
    “I don’t know. I’ve got to think about it.”
    “Sure thing. We’re neighbors now. You just let
me know if you ever change your mind, OK?”
    “Sure,” said Selah, smiling. She touched her
pocket reflexively for her Omni, felt a lurch when she realized it
was gone. “Thanks.”
    “OK,” said Maria Elena. “Let’s get going. We
don’t want to miss that ride, and trust me, I know for