Available Darkness Season 2

winged horses.
    “Yes,” Judith said. “Those are my final memories of home. I’ve not been back in thousands of years.”
    “Thousands?” Abigail said, shocked. “How old are you?”
    “I stopped counting long ago,” Judith smiled. “How old are you?”
    “I’m almost 13. Well, I stopped growing when I was 11. So, I guess eleven.”
    “Do you like being 11?” Judith asked.
    Abigail looked at Talani who smiled sweetly, then back to Judith. “Not really. Everyone treats me like a kid.”
    “Yeah, I imagine that’s rough,” Judith said. “Given a choice, what age would you choose to be?”
    “I don’t know,” Abigail shrugged. Memories from Katya flashed through her mind — the girl’s twenty-first birthday in particular. A large party with many friends, a cute boyfriend who wore his hair long. He liked to laugh and loved her a lot. The party had been one of the most fun nights of Katya’s life, and memory said she thought of it almost every day.
    “I think I’d like to be maybe 20. Or 21?”
    Judith smiled, “Ah, yes, those are good years.”
    Abigail turned to Talani. “How old would you choose?”
    “I like being this age,” she said. “I’m young enough that people are still nice to me, and it’s easy to take advantage of nasty old men.” Talani laughed.
    Abigail joined her, though she didn’t think the comment was that funny.
    Judith asked, “Tell me, Abigail, what would you do if I said you don’t have to be 11 forever?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “What if I said you can choose your age?”
    “I can?” Abigail said. “Nobody ever told me that.”
    “Of course not,” Judith said. “Men who turn girls into vampires want to be needed. They don’t like when girls grow into women and find their independence. If they could have their way, they’d all keep us in boxes on shelves, serving only their purposes.”
    Abigail shook her head. “No, that’s not John. He loves me. He didn’t even want to turn me. He saved me after I died.”
    Judith smiled, “Well, perhaps he doesn’t know the spell.”
    “The spell?” Abigail asked.
    “The spell that allows us to alter our age. You can be any age you want to be, Abigail. Any age at all.”
    “How?” Abigail whispered.
    “I’m glad you asked,” Judith said, her smile growing wider, reminding Abigail of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland .

    * * * *

CHAPTER 5 — Hannah

    Hannah waited for Greg in the small office, furnished with a chair and desk, but no phone, computer, or any other sort of communication device. She wondered what sort of work was done in such an empty office. She considered opening the desk drawer to see if there was anything inside — perhaps the office was not yet assigned, or it was an office for field agents to temporarily use — but Hannah didn’t know if there were cameras, or if she was somehow being watched. She figured she was, so Hannah fought the urge to investigate, along with the one to nod off as her head grew heavy. She wasn’t sure what time it was, but they’d been there a few hours, and it felt late at night.
    Hannah was tired, hungry, and wanted to be anywhere other than the FBI building where Greg had brought her, a building which didn’t say FBI anywhere outside, but instead looked like any of the typical buildings Hannah filled with flowers each Monday for the week’s standing orders. Yet, inside everyone looked like agents, straight from a movie. Hannah was surprised to see the number of people who were working ridiculously late.
    Since their arrival, Greg had come and gone, being mostly gone, off talking to his bosses or doing God only knew what, while Hannah’s patience was turning to vapor. When he finally returned, Greg wasn’t alone.
    He stepped into the office behind one man and in front of another. The first man was about 10 years his senior, who he introduced as Commander Mike Mathews. The man’s jaw was chiseled like a G.I. Joe, though his body was short, and slightly soft. He looked like any number of asshole frat guys Hannah thought she remembered from college. He gave her a big fake smile as he extended his hand. “Hello,” he said. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”
    “Likewise,” Hannah said, shaking the man’s hand. She tried not to laugh as he showed how strong his handshake was. What a tool.
    The second man was older, tall, thin, and pale looking, with dark hair and darker circles blotting the skin beneath his nose. The tall man