by RL Edinger
Chloe was ecstatic at even this slight progress. She recognized the look etched on her dad’s face. It was the look of him in full deductive reasoning mode. Chloe was sure her dad was pouring over all of the events that had transpired since the Higgins family was murdered. She saw the intensity in her dad’s eyes; as if he were searching for clues at that very moment. Once in a while, Andrew paused to take a drink from his cup. He still said nothing.
Roxanne sat there quietly, watching Andrew drink his coffee. She had never seen such a look of intensity on his face like that before. Roxanne hoped to get some kind of reading off of the psychic energy in the room.
She closed her eyes to concentrate. At first there was nothing, but soon psychic images in the room started to come into focus. Roxanne saw images of bodies in a house. She cringed and her heart started to beat at a quickened pace when Roxanne saw the message written in blood on the wall. Roxanne watched Andrew walk through the house as he discovered the bodies. She sensed the anger that built up inside of him; the despair. Roxanne opened her eyes again. She saw that Andrew stared at her directly. It was as if he had given her the vision.
Andrew finished his coffee and stood up. He looked at the two of them.
“Call Peter and have him put Storm in protective custody,” Andrew finally said. “I have my appointment with Wyatt and will return later.” Andrew gave them a look not to follow him. Chloe and Roxanne remained behind. He left the room.
The room was devoid of any bright colors. The table and chairs were of the same gray that was the room. Even the pitcher of ice water and its companion glasses looked pastey white.
Wyatt entered the room, bound in handcuffs and leg chains, and escorted by two burly looking jailers. One of them pulled a chair out and pushed Wyatt down on it and the other secured the leg chains to a hook on the floor. Wyatt would be going nowhere anytime soon. Now he had to wait.
Andrew entered the room a few minutes later. He shook the jailers’ hands and joked around with them. They spent several minutes in their conversation. Then the jailers left and told Andrew they would be right outside. Andrew thanked them and took his place at the table opposite of Wyatt. Andrew placed his briefcase on the table and opened it. He took out a file folder filled with papers and set it down in front of him. Andrew stood up and removed his overcoat and hung it across the back of his chair. He retook his seat. Andrew opened the file folder.
“You are presently being treated for Renfield’s Syndrome,” Andrew read from the sheet of paper. “Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Wyatt answered. It was an easy question, but not what he had expected.
“And who was your doctor?” Andrew asked.
“Doctor Claudia Straussman,” Wyatt complied.
“How long have you been undergoing treatment?” Andrew continued.
“Since I was very young,” Wyatt replied. He could no longer stand it and asked, “Why are you asking me these stupid questions. What do you really want to know? Huh?” Wyatt gave Andrew a dirty look, “I know what you want to know. You want to know if I did kill Storm’s family, right.” Wyatt leaned closer and folded his arms in front of him on the table. “Well, I didn’t do it and neither did the Knights. But you know that already don’t you? So why are you dancing around?”
“Who told you to get out of the country and go to Gothica?” Andrew closed the folder. He pushed it aside and leaned in the same way as Wyatt had just done. Their faces were just inches apart. Andrew’s eyes were intense, purposeful. “Who was it Wyatt?”
“Doctor Straussman, Claudia, told me she got a call from Ana,” Wyatt explained. “She told Claudia that we did not need that kind of attention for the Knights. She also said that the public had become more aware of our presence and we might have to disappear like back in the 1800’s.”
“Did you know about the Knights of VanHelsing’s book?” Andrew switched the subject.
“Maybe,” Wyatt leaned back now. He shrugged. “It was said that the only one to see the book, if it were real, would be a VanHelsing and no one else. That way only one person knew of our secret identities and the number of ‘kills’ we had.”
“Why were you excommunicated from the clan?” Andrew switched again.
“For not following the laws of the clan,” Wyatt cursed. “They were stupid rules anyway. I mean come on. One of them was we could only feed off the blood of the ones deemed acceptable by the clan. With my disease, I could not always wait for our blood feasts. Sometimes the urge came on so strong I had to have it. Well, when Ravenclaw found out this, he was enraged and so were the ruling council. They met and had me excommunicated. Storm’s father was on the council. Sure I was angry at him, but not enough to kill him or the others.”
“How did you get involved with the Knights?” Andrew asked now.
“One night I was with a group and we were having a blood feast,” Wyatt recounted for Andrew. “Well, all of a sudden the slayers broke in and attacked us.” Wyatt stopped and lowered his head. Andrew gave Wyatt a few minutes to collect himself.
“They killed everyone but you, right?”
“Yeah, even the blood dolls,” Wyatt added.
“So why did you want to become part of them, if it bothered you that they killed all of these young people?” Andrew was curious.
“I had no choice,” Wyatt sniffed. “It was either join the order, or be killed. And well I was angry at Mister Higgins and the others for kicking me out of the clan. Besides, it was way cooler to be a slayer.”
“Do you have any idea who else would want the Higgins family dead?” Andrew asked. He took a glass and filled it with water. Andrew passed the glass to Wyatt, who thanked him and took a drink of the refreshing water. Andrew took the other glass and poured himself some water. It tasted really good.
“I don’t know,” Wyatt answered. “Except for the Knights of VanHelsing, probably no one else.” Wyatt stopped to take another drink. He went on. “The Knights and the descendents of Vlad the Impaler have been enemies for centuries.”
“Were there any quarrels in the clan that you were aware of?” Andrew took another drink.
“No,” Wyatt started, but stopped to think for a moment. He had a puzzled look as he thought deeply. Andrew sat there patiently. Soon Wyatt continued, “There was this one time when this author from Chicago came to interview Ravenclaw and the rest of us for her book.” Wyatt looked at Andrew, “She was the one who flew the copter. What was her name again?”
“Kara Sadler,” Andrew provided the answer.
“Yeah her,” Wyatt snapped his fingers. “Anyway she wanted to interview Ravenclaw all alone, so they went into his study and shut the door. Well, the others left, but I stayed behind and listened at the door.”
“What did you hear?” Andrew put the glass down and leaned closer.
“Well, she said she had just returned from Germany,” Wyatt answered. He stopped to take another drink. He continued, “The problem was Ravenclaw discovered me at the door and kicked me out of the house.”
“This was all before you were kicked out of the clan?” Andrew clarified.
“No,” Wyatt laughed. “I had managed to sneak into the house. There were so many of us, that no one even noticed me. I pretended to do the same when the others left, but snuck back in a few minutes later.”
I have enough for now.” Andrew stood to leave.
“What are you going to do with the book?” Wyatt looked very worried.
“You have no ‘kills’ in the book.” Andrew put the folder in his briefcase and closed it. He gave Wyatt a reassuring look, “And you had nothing to do with the Higgins family murders. I am going to ask the judge to dismiss the charges.” Andrew smiled now, “And your mom should be very happy about that.”
“What about Claudia and the other two Knights,” Wyatt asked.
“I’m sorry,” Andrew apologized. He had forgotten that Wyatt had no knowledge that they were killed. Andrew sat back down, “I’m sorry Wyatt, but last night Claudia and t
he others were killed.”
“What!” Wyatt cried out in disbelief. “How?”
“Last night, they were attacked and killed at a blood feast,” Andrew explained. “They were going to make a kill.” Andrew stopped to drink some more water. He needed to collect his thoughts to explain the rest to Wyatt. He continued, “What they didn’t realize was that it was a trap. They were tortured and killed by the group of teenagers.”
“Tell me how was possible,” Wyatt retorted. “You know how well they are trained. So tell me how did a bunch of kids overpower three trained killers, huh?”
“They couldn’t,” Andrew agreed. “You and I both know that. They had to have had help.”
“I can’t talk about it anymore.” Wyatt shook his head. “I just want to go, okay?”
Andrew called the jailers. They quickly entered the room and released Wyatt’s leg chains from the hook. “I will talk to the judge,” Andrew reassured Wyatt as he was lead out of the room. “You should be home by the end of the day.” Wyatt smiled and mouthed ‘thank you’ to Andrew, who gathered up his briefcase and left through the other doorway.
Storm yawned and stretched as she opened her eyes. She sat straight up and was confused at her surroundings for several minutes. The furniture, the fireplace, and everything else were unfamiliar. Where was she? Storm soon remembered she was in Andrew’s house.
Storm tossed aside the blanket and was about to leave the room, when Chloe came in with a tray. “I hope you are hungry,” Chloe smiled.
“I’m not hungry.” Storm sat back down and covered up with the blanket.
Chloe set the tray on the coffee table and removed the cover. A waft of flavorful steam rose from the pancakes and sausages. It engulfed Storm with its inviting aroma. Storm eyed up the food, and in fact she was starving. Storm looked to Chloe for approval, who nodded that it was okay, so she immediately dug in. Chloe watched as Storm hungrily devoured the food. Chloe just sat there in awe. Soon Storm was done and pushed the tray away. She settled back on the couch.
“Is Mister Knight here?” Storm inquired.
“No, he went to interview Wyatt at the jail,” Chloe informed her.
“What about me?” Storm worriedly asked.
“What do you mean?” Chloe asked. She got up and joined Storm on the couch. “Did you do something wrong?”
“Well, it’s just that, urn what happened last night,” Storm muttered.
“What did happen last night?” Chloe asked.
“Something terrible,” Storm confessed.
“What?” Chloe pressed for an answer.
“We killed those people last night.” Storm buried her face in her hands, overcome with shame. “We tortured them…they begged for mercy, but…”
“But what,” Chloe took hold of Storm by the shoulders and forced her to uncover her face. Chloe stared at Storm, “Who was there? Tell me, Storm.”
“The members of the council were there!” Storm blurted out. She broke free of Chloe’s grasp and buried her face again.
“Who is the council?” Chloe questioned.
“Ravenclaw and the rest of the heads of the households,” Storm spoke through her covered face. “It was a trap and we were the bait.”
“What do you mean a trap?” Chloe was sharp towards Storm.
“Ravenclaw had me call them!” Storm uncovered her face and screamed at Chloe. “He…He had me pretend to be one of their informants and tell them of this blood feast that was planned at my abandoned home. Ravenclaw knew that the Knights could not resist and would be there to attack us.” Storm sobbed as she went on, “He…he knew they would come; he counted on it. He said that it was the beginning of retribution for all the centuries that the Knights had hunted our kind.”
“How did he know who they were and how to call them?” Chloe was almost too afraid to ask, but had to know.
“Ravenclaw mentioned something about a book with the names of our enemies,” Storm answered Chloe.
“How did he get the book?” Chloe demanded.
“I..I don’t know,” Storm answered back.
“Dear God,” Chloe lamented.
Andrew opened the front door and walked into the foyer. He set his briefcase down and took off his overcoat. He put is coat away in the hall closet and closed the door. Andrew grabbed his briefcase and headed towards the kitchen. When he walked past the family room, Andrew saw Chloe and Storm in the middle of a conversation. He decided to join them. When Chloe saw her dad, she jumped up and walked over to him.
“How could you?” Chloe started punching her dad. Andrew dropped the briefcase and grabbed her by the arms.
“How could I what?” Andrew was confused.
“You gave him the book,” Chloe broke free of her dad’s grasp, turned and sat down. Andrew immediately followed her and sat down. He glanced from Storm to his daughter. They each had an accusing expression on their faces.
“What are you talking about?” Andrew demanded. “The Knights of VanHelsing book,” Chloe shouted loudly. “You promised to turn it over make sure justice was done. Not any more killings!”
“I never gave any one the book,” Andrew said in his defense.
“Tell him Storm.” Chloe looked to her for help. “Tell him what you told me.”
“What are you talking about?” Andrew was even more confused.
“Mister Ravenclaw was the one who told us he got the names of the Knights from a book,” Storm recounted for Andrew. She was trembling, “He told us he was going to kill every one of them.”
Andrew took off quickly and ran upstairs to the library. He kicked open the door and rushed over to the shelf on the left side of the window. The book that Andrew had hoped was there was now gone! Andrew felt sick and dropped to his knees. Someone in the house took the book.
Andrew rose and headed for the room Nick and Kara had used. He didn’t bother to knock and just burst in. Nick was taking a nap on the bed. Andrew’s sudden intrusion startled him. Nick bolted straight up and let loose a tirade of profanities.
“Where’s Kara?” Andrew was angry.
“She had to go back to Chicago for a few days, why?” Nick explained. “Why?”
“The book is missing,” Andrew bellowed.
“You think Kara took it?” Nick scoffed. “No way would she do that.”
“Last night three Knights of VanHelsing were killed right here in Bayport,” Andrew sat on the bed, defeated. He looked at Nick and continued, “It was a trap that they walked right into, not suspecting a thing. Storm said that Vlad Ravenclaw had gotten their real names from the book I recovered from Gothica castle.”
“Holy Sh—” Nick whistled. He was defensive again, “No way that Kara took the book and give it to the creepy vampire guy. She would not do it.” Nick felt sick now. He was suddenly unsettled and looked at Andrew, “She did take the book. F—.”
“We need to get that book back,” Andrew stood.
“How?” Nick asked.
“Dad!” they heard Chloe shout from the bottom of the stairs. “Come quick!”
Andrew and Nick both went down stairs. They went to the family room, but Chloe and Storm were not there. “In the kitchen,” Chloe shouted. Nick and Andrew went to the kitchen. Chloe had the television on. She and Storm were watching the local morning news program. The news anchor came on after a commercial and announced a breaking new’s story. She shared that in Bayport County, there had been suscpicious killings last evening. She added that the authorities were baffled and had no leads as to who was responsible for the slayings. Chloe and the others turned their attention from the screen and looked at Andrew. He just stared at the television with a blank expression on his face. He did not move or say a word.
“Dad?” Chloe asked softly.
Andrew turned and walked out of the kitchen. His lust for revenge and justice had gone terribly wrong. Andrew walked down the hallway. He so desperately wanted to put an end to the Knights of VanHelsing, that the Higgins family deaths took second plac
e. Andrew ascended the stairs and went to his room. He was beaten.
The church was filled with mourners. There were civilians dressed in traditional black attire and law enforcement personnel in their dress uniforms. In front of the chapel was Talia’s flag draped casket. There was a photo of Talia in her Sheriffs uniform, on top of her casket. Father Michael stood somberly at the pulpit and looked out across the vastness of tearful faces. The sun was shining brightly through the narrow stained glass windows and cast its light and warmth for all. But it brilliance and pleasurable warmth paled in comparison to the tearful and somber remorse of those in the church.
Peter and Lisa sat next to Chloe. She had on a simple black dress. Peter nervously played with his tie and played with buttons of his black suit. Next to Chloe were Roxanne and Nick. Each was dressed in solemn black attire. The one who should have been there with them, Andrew, was missing. As far as the others knew, he was still locked away brooding in his room.
As the Father Michael spoke, Peter could hear weeping from behind, which in turn caused him to wipe the tears from his own eyes. Lisa was resting her head on Peter’s shoulder holding a handkerchief in one hand while holding his with the other. Roxanne was just sitting there quietly, staring at the casket. Nick sat there as if staring off into space. He was still in shock over Kara’s apparent betrayal. It really pissed him off that all this time she had been able to fool them all; him especially.
With all eyes now focused on the Father Michael, Andrew slipped quietly through the doors and sat down in the back. He easily slipped into the back pew. He wore a white rose on his suit of black. Andrew smiled briefly at the woman seated next to him.
Once Father Michael was finished, he asked if anyone wanted to say something about Talia. Andrew watched and waited to see if any one was going to step forward. He waited for several minutes. When no one came forward, Andrew decided to go.
Andrew got up and walked to the front of the church. When he got to the front, Chloe and the others were shocked to see him. Andrew took his place at the pulpit. He was about to speak, when Andrew caught a glimpse of Vlad Ravenclaw slip in and take a seat in the back where he had just been. Andrew drew a deep breath.