Hamish couldn’t remember the last time he’d been at an airport, other than the one in DC where he’d boarded this plane a few hours ago. Airports were crowded and messy, and he could see no reason to ever leave his hometown anyway, unless of course, one wanted a fresh start, to go off in peace and form a Vampire army without anyone being the wiser.
He patiently waited his turn to step down the aisle, his carry-on bag in his hand. It was all he’d brought with him. A few changes of clothes, some toiletries, and all of the cash he had on hand, which was a considerable amount. It was easy to save up when one was an immortal with superpowers, after all.
“Have a nice day,” the stewardess said. Hamish nodded, noting she wasn’t bad looking. Maybe she could be his first lieutenant. If only he’d thought to change her in the restroom before the plane had landed. Ah, well. He’d have to find someone else for that role.
Stuck behind a family of four with two small children and a stroller that didn’t seem to want to roll up the ramp, Hamish grew slightly impatient, ready to get around them, get on with his plan. He wondered what Holland would think when she discovered she wasn’t the only one who wanted to rule the world. By the time she found out she had created a monster, it would be too late, and he’d already be in position to take LIGHTS out and establish himself as the true superior creature.
Finally, the family moved out of his way, and Hamish followed the signs toward the exit. The closer he got to the outside the world, the more his stomach began to churn. It had to be anticipation—thoughts of what was to come. He’d take a cab, find a hotel, get settled in, and then go out into the Los Angeles nightscape and wreak a little more havoc.
He was almost to the taxi stand when he noticed a couple wearing all black walking quickly in his direction. With his heart pounding, he tried to take deep breaths. There was no way they’d have traced him. It had to be a coincident, agents from another law enforcement group. Taking every precaution, he turned to walk the other direction and noticed two more, both men this time, wearing dark glasses in the middle of the airport.
Frantically, he spun around, looking for an exit. They were everywhere now, at least ten of them, maybe twelve, and they were closing fast.
Out of options, Hamish looked around for an out, anything he could do to escape capture. How had they figured out where he was, let alone who he was? There was only one thing he could think to do. Desperation overcame him. He dropped his bag and reached out, grabbing the next passerby, who just happened to be the mother from the little family he’d been stuck behind. The father and children stared at him for a moment, not understanding what was happening, but as he bared his fangs, all three of them began to scream, and the woman, who had yet to decipher she was his prisoner, tried to pull away from him, her blonde ponytail hitting him in the face several times.
It was annoying, but she was no match for him. He pulled her against his chest with one hand, the other hand tugging at the top of her head so that her neck was ripe for the taking. “Stay back!” he shouted as other travelers suddenly took note. Screaming, they ran, and dodged, and tried to get away. Somehow, LIGHTS had already managed to block off much of the hallway behind him so there were not nearly as many passengers down here as there should be. Those who were scrambling for the doors were collected by what appeared to be law enforcement agents. They’d already thought of everything.
“Dr. Stewart, let her go,” a tall, tanned man with dark hair said, stepping forward with his hands up and his gun in his holster. “We just want to talk to you.”
Another pair of agents swept in and pulled the husband and two screaming children to safety as the speaker took a few steps closer.
“I’ll turn her! I will!” Hamish shouted. He’d done enough of it lately, it no longer bothered him.
“We would prefer to take you in unharmed, Dr. Stewart, but if you move to infect that woman, I must tell you, the titanium bullet aimed at the back of your head will end you before you even get a chance.”
He was convincing. Hamish turned to see at least three Glocks aimed precisely where the agent had told him they would be. He wasn’t getting out of this. He weighed his options as the man continued.
“I’m Daniel Bower. I’m the Hunter Leader of California. Now, it is our understanding that you were involved in the incident last night in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. My boss, Cadence Findley, wants to speak with you. If we can get your full cooperation, I assure you, this will go much more smoothly than it will if you do something impulsive. Dr. Stewart, I know you’re not a stupid man. So... let that woman go, slowly walk this direction, and we’ll make sure your stay with us is as pleasant as possible.”
Hamish’s eyes darted around again. There was no way he was getting out of here. How they’d found him out, he had no idea, though the warning that had sounded in his head during the flight, the one he ignored, may have had something to do with it. Had Asteria turned him in?
It would be better to plead ignorance than to infect the woman and be ended right here in the airport. With a sigh, he let his hostage go, and a female agent ran in and carted her away. The next thing he knew, he was face down on a filthy linoleum floor, his arms pinned behind him, and a few of the agents were explaining how this was all a drill and the travelers would be on their way in just a moment. Even the woman he’d nearly killed seemed to think she’d agreed to participate in some sort of a police practice procedure.
Los Angeles was supposed to be the land of dreams. That’s why he’d chosen it as his destination, a place to start building his empire. From the back seat of an SUV, squeezed between two Guardians with guns trained on his head, Hamish Stewart realized his nightmare was just beginning.
