“Yeah, the Van Helsings. I heard that. They’re only in the large cities, though. Never fancied seeing London anyway.”
“They’ve had their powers extended, just a few weeks ago.”
“We’ve been around for a long time,” Atl said. “We’ll be around for a while longer.”
“You’ve also been hunted for a long time. For a reason.”
Mother had told her that in the old days, before the Europeans washed up on the coast of Veracruz, when her kind were priestesses, the Great Temple ran red with rivulets of blood, offerings of hearts and heads to the gods. The bodies of sacrificial victims tumbled down the steps of the temple. The people below stabbed, pierced, and bled themselves in sacrifice. They were not a plague, nor vermin, nor common killers that hid in the shadows. Not the Tlahuelpocmimi. Not her family.
“So we have been hunted,” Atl replied coolly. “Yet despite your greater numbers, you humans haven’t quite figured out how to get rid of us.”
“One of these days, maybe.”
Atl decided she did not want to get into this conversation. It would lead nowhere and she was tired.
“I’ll need two sets of IDs,” Atl said instead.
“Will he also be going with you?” Elisa pointed at Domingo, who was sitting very still and quiet in his chair.
Atl glanced at the boy. “Yes. He’s human, though.”
“I can tell. Do you have a passport?” Elisa asked.
“No, I don’t, miss,” Domingo said politely.
“He has no fixed address,” Atl said.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Domingo, miss.”
“Domingo, if you go south with this girl you might get into a lot of trouble.”
Elisa again sounded like a schoolteacher when she spoke, warning a kid about the dangers of doing drugs. Atl scoffed.
“I’d like to see Guatemala. If it’s okay with you,” Domingo replied.
Elisa nodded. Her expression was skeptical. She let out a bitter sigh. “Stand against the wall; I need to take your photo.”
Atl went first, her eyes wide open as the flash went off. Then it was Domingo’s turn. Elisa muttered to herself and sat behind her desk again, shaking her head.
“I need to get in touch with someone,” Elisa said. “Will you two be all right until next Thursday?”
“Yes,” Atl replied. “What time should we come back?”
“Not here. There’s a bar in Plaza Garibaldi, the Tenampa. Meet me at ten.”
“We will.”
Elisa tapped her fingers against the desk. Their meeting had clearly concluded and Atl pushed her chair back.
“Who killed her?” Elisa asked, just as Atl opened the door.
“Godoy,” she said.
Elisa nodded gravely. She didn’t ask anything else and Atl walked toward the elevator, one hand in her pocket, the other on the dog’s leash.
On the subway she thought of axolotls and her mother’s head, delivered in a cooler.
Hide, Atl. Hide, Izel whispered in her ear.
CHAPTER
15
The ride back was quiet. Atl kept her head down in the subway. Sometimes she would close her eyes and Domingo would think she was asleep, but then a sudden movement would jolt her and she’d snap her eyes open. When they reached her apartment Atl walked straight toward the bedroom, flopping upon the bed and pressing her hands against her face. Her dog padded in behind her, lying down at the foot of the bed. Domingo hovered at the door, not knowing if he was allowed inside.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Do you want some of that tea?”
She did not reply. Domingo put the kettle on to boil. He found the sugar, the tea, and picked two mugs. One of them was chipped, a hairline crack running down a side of it. He dragged his thumb over the crack. When the tea was ready, he walked back to her room.
He knelt by the bed, a cup in his hands, and looked at her. With her eyes closed, Atl’s features seemed to soften, like a switchblade that has yet to snap out. He guessed he should have been afraid of Atl, but he wasn’t. The terror wasn’t there. It was as simple as that. He supposed he was foolish, but couldn’t be bothered to worry. Not yet, at least.
Domingo bit his lower lip, wondering if he should wake her up. He extended his right hand, his fingertips resting upon her shoulder.