Free MisStaked by J. Morgan Page A

sleep-number jobs. If it was good enough for the Bionic Woman, it was good enough for him.
    Lewis found Leopold staring out the window. The elder vampire was dressed in a paisley frock-coat with matching pantaloons that must have come from Prince's closet, circa 1986. The man seriously needed to get a total makeover expert on his case or at the very least a straight guy with some Dockers.
    "Leo, my man. You, all right?” Lewis asked, falling into a chair.
    "Yes, Lewis, I am fine. I was just looking at the city. Soon, the Mother will rise and all this will be ours. It is a lofty thing, is it not?"
    "If you say so,” Lewis answered, more than a little bored by the subject.
    "I didn't hear you come in this morning. I trust you had a productive night?” The question had become a nightly ritual between the two and meant nothing. Lewis knew by now Leopold asked to be civil, but could care less how the younger vampire spent his nights, as long as he was around when the older vamp needed him.
    "Kinda what I need to talk to you about. I think I found your sacrifice.” Lewis grinned.
    "You jest. How could you find the impossible? I have had agents scouring the globe in search of this myth for decades, and you sit there and tell me in the span of a single night you have done what they have been unable to do.” Leopold twisted in his chair, letting out an amused chuckle.
    "What can I say? It's a black thing,” Lewis said, idly cleaning his fingernails.
    "Pray, tell me of this apparition,” Leopold demanded, “and it better not be you snacking on another crack-head and having visions of the Virgin Mary again."
    "You're not going to let that go, are you?” Lewis snarled.
    "Of course not. Tell me about your mystery virgin before I grow bored with the whole affair."
    Lewis had to fight the instinct to bitch-slap the vampire. He counted to ten, then began to speak, “I saw this cat at this little club up on the east side. He smelled so pure I though I was going cheese myself."
    "Then, why is he not laying at my feet?"
    "He had some muscle with him. He was protected,” Lewis explained. “It was some chick, but she was not some chick, if you know what I mean."
    "No, I don't know what you mean. Please feel free to explain to me how some ‘chick’ stopped you from getting me what I want.” Leopold bared his fangs and approached the younger vampire.
    "She had the power, man. The crazy chick smelled all wrong, like a wet dog or something. I swear she knew what I was. I could hear her talking to me, in here.” Lewis pointed to his head. “She warned me to back off. Take it from me. The chick is bad mojo, Boss Man."
    "Bad mojo? Did you just say bad mojo? Is this some bad movie? Did you at least have the sense to track them down?” Leopold yelled, throwing a spray of spittle into Lewis’ face.
    "Man, you better tone yo’ freak down, before I throw down on yo’ ass.” Lewis jumped up into Leopold's face. “Ain't no honky gonna get in my face talking shit, and in case you're wondering, honky includes you."
    Leopold backed away. Lewis was right. The elder vampire was losing his cool but contributed it all the pressure he'd been under. The Mother's awakening was so close, but without the sacrifice it meant nothing. Besides Lewis was his friend, his only friend. Perhaps the time had come to stalk a psychiatrist. A little Prozac in his diet might be just the thing to calm his frazzled nerves.
    "I apologize, my friend. It's just, we're so close,” Leopold said, softly.
    "S’ alright, Man. We all gotta blow off steam every once in awhile, but watch it next time."
    "Let me start this again. Do you think you can find this man again?"
    "Man, he smells so good it'd be hard for him to hide in this city. All I need is to catch the scent, and then I'm on him like white on rice,” Lewis assured the old vampire.
    "Good. My other plan is going into action on Monday as scheduled.” Leopold beamed.
    "So, the doc went for it, huh?” Lewis said,