The Vampire's Photograph by Kevin Emerson

Author:Kevin Emerson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497602007
Publisher: Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller

Chapter 11

A Memory Revealed

OLIVER MADE HIS WAY across town, staying out of the sewers and avoiding popular vampire spots like the stone troll, the roller coaster at Seattle Center, or any of the parks and ball fields. He hadn’t told his parents where he would be all evening. Since it was a Saturday, he didn’t need to, but Phlox probably expected him home for lunch around midnight. And missing that wouldn’t really be a big deal, unless of course his parents knew about the incident at the Underground. If they did, then they might even be out looking for him now. He kept under the trees, wary of bats or owls that might be occupied. And if his parents somehow didn’t know, then he’d still need to be home by dinner, but not before.

As he walked along, Oliver took a moment to gaze at the amulet around his neck. So far, it had not seemed to provide any protection. Of course, Désirée hadn’t mentioned what kind of protection it offered. And who exactly did he need protection from? I need protection from myself, thought Oliver darkly. After all, he was the one who’d gotten his photo taken in the first place, who brought humans into the Underground.

Just after midnight, he headed for Emalie’s house. The upstairs was silent, the basement dark. Oliver circled around to the basement door and silently let himself inside. He weaved through the boxes, but paused just before he reached Emalie’s darkroom space.

“I’m here,” Oliver murmured.

“Wha!” There was a thud as Dean’s head hit a shelf.

“Shhhh!” Emalie hissed.

The red light flicked on. Emalie was getting up from a sleeping bag that had been laid out on the floor. Dean was rubbing his head. “Man, you’re quiet,” he muttered, still eyeing Oliver with a bit of mistrust.

“Come on,” Emalie said seriously. “Before my dad wakes up. Not that he will.”

“I think he’s down for the count,” Dean offered. He sounded like he was trying to be sympathetic. Oliver watched Emalie for a reaction, but she didn’t have one.

Oliver stepped beside her at the counter by the sink. Dean peered over their shoulders. Oliver produced the slim black bottle. The cap had a dropper, which Oliver squeezed as he lifted it off. Emalie held the negative between her fingers.

“You see the spot?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah.” Oliver squeezed a tiny drop of the shimmering silver liquid onto the blurry form in the right side of the negative. There was a slight hiss of steam as the liquid seemed to evaporate. In a moment, it was gone. The negative looked the same.

“That’s it?” Dean asked.

“I think so.” Oliver shrugged.

“Let’s see if it worked,” Emalie said, and slid the negative into the top of the enlarger. A metal arm held the negative beneath a lightbulb, suspended over a white surface, where Emalie placed a blank sheet of photo paper. She flicked a switch, sending a beam of normal light through the negative and onto the paper. After a moment, she turned it off, then moved the paper into the sink, dropping it into the first tray of liquid.

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