Certain Dark Things(61)

CHAPTER

24

The dogs barked, announcing the arrival of people. Domingo stood up and approached the door, nervous. Atl had heard the noise too and she was sitting up, reaching for her jacket.

Quinto appeared and gave him a sheepish smile. He was carrying a backpack, which he set down on the floor. “Hey, Domingo,” he said, lifting his right hand in greeting.

“Hey?” Domingo asked, pressing his hands against the mesh door. “You lock me in this cage and you ‘hey’ me?”

“Look, dude, I didn’t have a choice. The Jackal was mighty curious about you after you went to find me at the party. He phoned me and I had to tell him.”

“Awesome.”

“Your girlfriend is still alive, ain’t she?” Quinto said. “Besides, you told me you were going to kill me with your damn dog. Fair is fair.”

Domingo curled his fingers around the mesh, staring at Quinto. Quinto bent down to unzip the backpack and rummaged in it; he found clean bandages, opened the little panel they used to feed the dogs, and handed them to Domingo.

“You need to change her dressing.”

Domingo scowled, but went to Atl’s side and began bandaging the wounds anew. The old dressings were completely soiled and useless, so he tossed them aside. When Domingo was done Quinto spoke again.

“You thirsty?” Quinto asked, holding up a flask. “I also have a sandwich for you, Domingo.”

“What if you poisoned them?” Domingo asked.

“Don’t be an idiot.”

Domingo grabbed the flask and the sandwich, and went back to Atl. Her hands were not steady enough to hold the flask, so he had to press it against her lips. When she was done drinking, he drank and took small bites from the sandwich.

“Who is the Jackal trading with?” Atl asked. She sat with her back against the wall and did not look at Quinto.

“I don’t know for sure. Rumors have been spreading that there was a vampire on the loose and some northern guy was willing to pay for her. And the dog.”

“Nick,” Atl whispered, and glanced up at Quinto. “When are the buyers coming?”

“I don’t know. They should be here soon enough. I’m just supposed to keep an eye on you and make sure you don’t die on us before they arrive.”

“How thoughtful. You know, if you let me go now, I won’t have to kill you,” Atl said.

“But I’d kill him,” the Jackal told her, stepping forward. He was wearing the flashy metallic jacket he loved and gray sweatpants.

Next to him stood Belén. She appeared utterly shocked. Two other men rounded out the party. These were the Jackal’s usual thugs and did not seem to find the scene before them particularly surprising.

“You’re the Jackal?” Atl asked.

“You got that right,” the Jackal said, looking smug. “Seems I’m famous. Did he tell you about that time I made him lick my boots?”

“Fuck you,” Domingo said, feeling his face grow warm.

“It was very fun. Maybe we can have some fun with you, too, sweetheart, although I have to say you’re not looking too hot.” The Jackal frowned. “Quinto, what the f*ck is this? They said they want her in one piece and she looks like shit. You sure she ain’t going to keel over and die? If she dies I’m cutting your balls.”

“No, don’t be thinking that. She should be able to make it.”

“I need blood,” Atl informed them. “I need it now.”

The Jackal gave Quinto a questioning look. “That true?”

“I don’t know! I’m not an expert in vampire medicine. What am I supposed to do, stop by the Red Cross for plasma?” Quinto said, looking at Domingo. “If she is really hungry there’s Do…”

Quinto trailed off, but Domingo understood well enough. The Jackal chuckled and his men smiled.

“What’s Nick paying for me?” Atl asked.

The Jackal shrugged and took out a toothpick, picking at his teeth. “Something or the other. Doesn’t matter.”

“I have money too.”

“Doesn’t look like it, sweetheart. I’ll stick with the guy who owns the Mercedes.”

“I’m Atl of the Iztac clan. You should let me go now. Immediately.”

The Jackal moved closer to the mesh door of their makeshift cell and wagged a finger at Atl. “Bitch, you ain’t going nowhere and if you know what’s good for you, you better shut your mouth before you harsh my mellow.”

There was a loud buzzing sound and the Jackal took out his phone while biting down on his toothpick. He pressed his ear against the phone and barked a loud yes, twice, then hung up.

“You guys keep an eye on her. I gotta go greet our friends.”

The Jackal walked away, giving them one of his screeching laughs. Domingo sat on the mattress and placed an arm around Atl’s shoulders. Her breathing had suddenly sped up, as though she were running. She began to cough again and then she was convulsing. Domingo had to let go of her because her body was contorting in such a violent fashion. He watched as she coughed again, spewing bile, and then she fell on her back. Her mouth was overflowing with blood.

“She’s choking,” he told Quinto. “She’s choking on her own blood.”