Yesterday, Obra towed Blade's damaged van to the auto shop, but that doesn't mean we were left without a means of transportation. Erica somehow managed to get her hands on an old, sickly yellow Ford. Another van.
It seems that she and her mentor have some kind of affection for this type of vehicle, though I fully understand that their preference is based on capacity. The more vampire-hunting gear they can fit inside, the better! They'd drive something bigger if they could, but vans are great because they attract way less attention than, say, a truck in the middle of New York, hehe.
Erica parked the new-old car by the side of the road, rummaged through her pockets, and handed me a phone.
"Here, take it," she said. "Call me if you need anything."
"Are you worried about me?" I asked, smiling as I took the gift. It certainly wouldn't be unnecessary.
"I don't like this coincidence," Erica shrugged.
Here, I fully agreed with her. Just yesterday, I'd heard from Spidey about several vampire attacks around Columbia University, and today, I'm walking right into it.
It's obvious that I'm not here to catch Morbius alive, though. He looked tough enough not to be interested in boys, and I'm not particularly motivated to catch him. I have my own plans for this place.
"I'll try not to attract trouble," I said. "But there's not much I can control."
"I'll be nearby," Blade said. "I'll set up an ambush."
Erica was absolutely sure that wherever a fledgling appeared, and she thought of Morbius exactly that way — a freshly turned vampire — the one who turned him would also be lurking around. I couldn't tell her that things might be a little more complicated and interesting in this case.
I had no chance to explain what I knew, and even if I did, it wouldn't change anything. What would it change if she found out that Morbius was the result of pure science, and had nothing to do with traditional vampires? She already knows that this particular specimen is extremely unusual and strange, since not every member of their kind can fly, so the hunter would be cautious enough as it is.
I slipped out of the car and waited for the bright yellow van to disappear around the corner before looking around. Columbia University was one of the most prestigious institutions in the Big Apple, and it was part of a group of old and famous universities proudly calling themselves the Ivy League. Honestly, I couldn't care less about all that pomp; I wasn't here to apply for admission. Although, the thought was amusing.
I took my time admiring the architecture and the location of the buildings. The large square in the center was clearly used for various ceremonies and student gatherings. What immediately caught my eye were the lawns, precisely trimmed, where groups of students lounged in typical movie fashion.
I have no idea how they manage to ignore the scorching sun overhead, but they certainly reinforced the image of traditional America in my mind. If I could just make it to one of those famous drunken parties thrown by the fraternities, I'd be a truly happy man!
The central building of the university was distinctive and recognizable, and I was sure they printed postcards and city guides with it on the cover. The tall columns and the overall design of the building made it look like some ancient Greek temple! I imagine no deity would object if their believers dedicated such a structure to them.
According to our earlier agreement, I was supposed to meet here, but since I arrived a little earlier, I saw no reason to bake in the sun sitting on the steps leading to the building. Instead, I asked the first student I saw where the library was located.
To borrow a book, I needed a student ID. Guessing this would be the case, I resorted to a sneaky trick and shamelessly begged the old lady in charge of the dusty scholarly works to let me borrow a book. I just batted my eyelashes a little and sniffled, adding that I had forgotten my documents at home. I admit, it was a low blow, but what else was I supposed to do to pass the time?
Promising to return the monograph "On Genetic Mutations" by Xavier in an hour, I went looking for a nice spot in the shade, though honestly, I wasn't picky.
Surprisingly, Professor H's book was very different from what I expected. It was clear that she didn't focus on mutants — which the universe is known for. The book debunked myths and gave a general overview of mutations as a phenomenon.
It could easily be classified as popular science, meaning it wasn't just for medical students but also for a broad audience with little to no prior knowledge of the subject.
For instance, did you know that blue eyes are the result of a mutation in the HERC2 gene, which reduces melanin production in the iris? According to genetic research, this mutation appeared about 6-10 thousand years ago.
In fact, it's the simplest form of mutation — nothing like a third arm or a second head. Mutations are actually much closer to us than we think. The emergence and thriving of Homo sapiens as a species is the result of a series of spontaneous mutations in response to external factors.
So, in a way, we're all mutants, and there's no getting around that. What's more, we're still mutating, albeit slowly, adapting to our environment and living conditions. Evolution is the result of beneficial mutations.
"Marius!" someone's bright voice suddenly shouted, forcing me to set the book down at the most interesting part.