“Gibbs!” a beautiful young woman with dark pigtails exclaimed, rushing to embrace Gibbs as he entered the forensics lab. “To what do I owe this unexpected visit? Wait! Was there something…” she rushed to her workstation and began frantically tapping keys.
“You’re fine, Abby,” Gibbs said, smiling. “I’m just here to talk.”
“Wow, I’ll feel special,” Abby said, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek.
“What can you tell me about vampires?” Gibbs asked, almost embarrassed. Abby searched his look, wondering whether to tell the truth or spout the fiction most of the world believed.
“What exactly are you asking,” Abby asked, fishing for more information. Gibbs leveled a look at her that spoke volumes without words. “Oh, of course. Well, there are lots of theories about vampires and other creatures of the night, but most of them are just stories.”
“Most of them?” Gibbs continued to question.
“Right.” Abby spun around in her chair and began tapping keys. “I’ve prepared some information for you in the event a situation ever came up. You see, there are preternatural beings and they do live among us...”
“And you never felt the need to share this information with me because…?”
“Because I didn’t think we would ever need it,” Abby answered. “Gibbs, they aren’t evil. They’re just people. And they’re a very exclusive group. They don’t want to risk exposure. They have nothing to gain from one of their own going on some sort of killing spree. The fact is, I’ve never even heard of an actual murder being committed by a preternatural creature, outside of fiction.”
“Are you saying that vampires don’t drink human blood?” he asked, frustrated.
“Well, of course they do…” Abby said, seeing where the conversation was going. “But they can only feed from someone who is willing. And they don’t kill people by drinking their blood.” She spun around in her chair to face him. “I knew this guy one time…”
“Abs, I just want to know the facts,” Gibbs interrupted.
“Right.” Abby retrieved the document from her printer. “Here you go! Everything you ever wanted to know about the preternatural. Let me know if you have any questions!” she shouted to Gibbs back, as he was already leaving the room.
* * *
“I think we should wait for Gibbs,” Tony protested. Noah gave him a long look.
“I’m not waiting,” he said, leaving no room for argument.
“I think I hate that guy,” Tony said, after Noah entered the interrogation room. Maggie chucked.
“You’re just jealous, Tony,” Ziva said, watching to see how the newcomer will choose to interrogate the suspect.
“What’s to be jealous of, Ziva? He’s a tough-guy wannabe with a bad attitude and no authority,” Tony said, frustrated.
“Wannabe?” Ziva questioned. “Somehow, I don’t think so.”
They watched as Agent Diamond sat at the other side of the table and just watched Mr. Barnes with a very intense look. It appeared he was just waiting him out or making him nervous, both of which can be very effective interrogation techniques.
“Does he really think that will work with this guy?” Tony asked, incredulously. “Gibbs couldn’t even get him to crack.”
“Just think, Tony, if this doesn’t work, I get to try,” Ziva said, with a knowing smile.
“Don’t kill him, Ziva, just make him talk,” Tony warned.
“I don’t leave marks, Tony,” Ziva replied, “usually.”
The suspect had become visibly uncomfortable, and was sweating and shifting in his seat.
“Here we go,” Maggie said, smiling.
The team watched, mouths agape, as Clyde Barnes confessed to each murder one by one, including how he had made each of the murders look as if the perpetrator was a vampire.
“Wait a minute,” McGee questioned. “I thought you said the deaths were assumed to be from natural causes?”
“They were after we finished the cover up,” Maggie responded, eyebrow raised. Noticing all eyes were on her, she continued. “You can see why we couldn’t let this information get out. The general public isn’t ready to be aware of the existence of vampires. Modern fiction has warped the idea of the preternatural into something dark and evil. Given, it is something the world in general has no knowledge of, but that doesn’t make it evil. We would be hard-pressed to convince the world of the truth about these people.”
* * *
Gibbs grabbed his fourth cup of coffee of the day and headed for his desk with the printout Abby had given him. He was having a difficult time wrapping his mind around the idea of all this. His world had always revolved around what could be proven, what evidence he could see, what Ducky and Abby could prove and what he felt in his gut. All he felt in his gut now was uneasiness. He didn’t like being on the outside. Sure, he was the first to admit he was lacking in knowledge of certain things like technology and forensics, but that’s why you have people like Tim and Abby on your team. But this… this was too much for him. He took a moment to peruse the information, for about the fiftieth time.
PRETERNATURAL BEINGS
Kinds of Beings
Vampires
Werewolves
Ghosts
Seers
Vampires
Vampires drink blood to survive. They are stronger than humans, but not generally faster. They live forever, or until they are executed. Vampires have different telepathic abilities, which vary from person to person. Most exhibit pheromones for physical attraction to the opposite sex. They can be killed only in any of the following ways: burned or decapitated. A vampire can only drink from a human who is willing. They typically surround themselves with an entourage of companions, usually of the opposite sex, for feeding. Marks left from a vampire bite fade quickly, usually within ten to twelve hours. A new vampire is made when a human pledges secrecy, is introduced to the ways and customs of vampires and lives for a minimum two years with a vampire mentor as a human companion. Once the human dies, the vampire mentor can make the human a vampire by raising him telepathically. The human retains his memories and personality, and takes on the form of the stage of human life of his or her choice. No person can be made a vampire against his will.
Common myths about vampires include: Sunlight issues (they can walk in the day like anyone else). They sleep in coffins (some do, but only because they want to). A stake through the heart will kill them. They don’t like garlic (they can eat or drink whatever they want). Crosses and holy water are good wards against them (Vampires aren’t demonic spirits reviving the dead. They aren’t evil in and of themselves. These items have no effect.) They make new vampires with bites.
Werewolves
Werewolves can change from human to wolf form and back at will. They have extremely enhanced senses of smell, hearing and sight in both forms, but especially in wolf form. They are much stronger than humans, but only in wolf form. They are typically tired after changing forms. They age very slowly; the average life span of a werewolf is about 700 years. They experience rapid healing and regeneration, but can be killed in the same manner as a normal human. Lycanthropy is inherited. New werewolves are born, not “made”. Werewolves are raised in family groups. They can first change forms within two years of puberty. The actual age varies on a case by case basis.
Common myths about werewolves include: they eat people (most werewolves don’t eat while in wolf form at all). The change is affected by moon phases (there is nothing related to the moon in the life of a werewolf. They can change at will, but are never required to change.) They take on the personalities of wolves. They live like wolves in packs, fighting for alpha leadership and hunting animals in the woods. They make new werewolves with attacks. Silver bullets are needed to kill them. (You can kill a werewolf by any kind of immediate kill shot. Most werewolves don’t die from illness, disease or non-fatal wounds as they heal very quickly.) Werewolves have to struggle against a natural bloodlust and fighting instinct (changing into wolf form does not ascribe the traits of a wolf to the werewolf. They still have the mind and emotions.)
Ghosts
Ghosts live in a place to which they were closely tied before death. They are visible to any preternatural being, or certain humans who are sensitive to ghosts. They are there because something has not been finished, or because they choose to be. They can walk through walls or teleport at will, but it must be somewhere they were familiar with during life. They cannot touch a human without consent. Ghosts cannot knock over, pick up or in any way interact with a tangible object. Not everyone who dies becomes a ghost, and it isn’t really known why.
Common myths about ghosts include: They are being kept from permanent rest (they are usually content, as they choose the place where they live).
Seers
Seers can sense other beings of any kind. They can communicate with beings of any kind, usually telepathically with ghosts, vampires or other seers. They can enter the dreams of others with consent, or under extreme circumstances. This ability is inherited and cannot be transferred.
As there isn’t a lot of lore surrounding seers, there aren’t many common myths.
Author's Chapter Notes:
The story continues