Corin & Angelique (After the Fall of Night)

by Sherri Claytor

  “She did this to me. The bitch.” Fulner pointed to his bandaged face.

  “We were all there,” Boldor reminded him.

  Lehndra laughed at the asinine fool then hissed, sending him scampering closer to Boldor for protection.

  “And I will do much worse than a few talon marks if you don’t pay attention and do as I say.” He shoved a sealed envelope at the man. “I want this delivered to von Vadim Estate without delay. It is to be placed in none other that his hand, understand?”

  “Perfectly.” Fulner noticed the Jaffler Farm logo marking the upper corner.

  He started for the door, keeping a safe distance away from Lehndra.

  “Wait, one other thing,” Boldor stopped him, approaching Angelique and cutting off a section of her hair with a pass of an extended nail. Then, ripping a strip of cloth from a nearby curtain, he secured the strands and handed it to Fulner. “Present this as well and tell him—till death do us part.”

  * * * *

  Tomes listened to the wolves howling in the surrounding woods, their forlorn echoes sending a shiver up his spine. Startled by the doorbell, he cursed, hoping it wasn’t the sheriff. Making his way to the entry, he started to open it, but thinking he should be cautious under the circumstances, he called out to see who was there.

  “Jerry Fulner, from the funeral home. I have a message for von Vadim.”

  Tomes unlocked the door and cracked it just far enough to view him, staker in hand. “Fulner,” he acknowledged in an unwelcome tone. “Are you alone?”

  “Yes. As I said, I’m here to deliver a message.”

  Tomes opened the door. “Adding a few more dirty deeds to your resume?”

  “I told you before, don’t shoot the messenger.”

  “Just hand over whatever it is he’s sent.”

  “It’s for von Vadim. I was instructed to place it in his hand. Only his.”

  “Well, Corin’s not here, so you’re going to have to leave it with me, or take it back to Boldor undelivered.” Tomes gave him his options.

  Fulner mumbled under his breath in indecision. “Okay, take it.” He shoved the bundle at him. “Just see that he gets it.”

  “What is this supposed to mean?” Tomes recognized Angelique’s hair.

  “Till death do us part.” Fulner took several steps back. “That’s what he said to tell von Vadim.”

  “Why, you worthless…. Where is she?” Tomes reached for Fulner, missing by mere inches.

  The director dashed for his car and Tomes attempted to pursue, but his sore body refused to cooperate.

  Stepping back inside, Tomes leaned against the inside of the door and tore open the envelope.

  Checkmate, von Vadim. It seems I am back in the game. Your little angel has once again played right into my hands.

  Same deal, same place. Come now or her life is mine. Make haste, for we end this tonight. Come dawn, this game is over!

  “Same deal, same place. The cemetery again.” Tomes knew what he had to do.

  He slapped the note down and gripped the staker. He’d lied to Corin about having plenty of nails, desperately wishing that weren’t the case. Frowning as he opened the chamber, he counted the last of his supply already loaded in the weapon—one, two…three. Nearly a hundred nails dwindled down to a measly three. He’d wasted them all. But there was nothing he could do now. What was done, was done, and what would be, would be.

  Tossing the strap of the sheath holding the machete over his shoulder, he hurried over to the key rack and scanned the titles above each one marking the automobiles they matched. Deciding on the ’66 Chevelle, he headed for a building just past the garage where Corin housed his classic cars. Someone had to go after Angel, and he had no idea where Corin was, or when he’d be back.

  According to the note, Tomes figured that come dawn, Boldor intended to kill her, or worse, change her. At present, he was her only hope. God help them.

  * * * *

  Sheriff Pierson watched the mansion from his previous stakeout position.

  “I don’t buy it for a second,” he thought back over Corin and Tomes’s story about Angelique leaving them stranded at the cemetery.

  Only the two of them had been in the ‘Vette when it entered the cemetery, yet a third person left in the car, racing out at a high speed, scarcely making the turn onto the main road. He’d attempted to follow, but a flat tire had ceased the chase.

  After changing the tire, he’d climbed back in the driver’s seat and headed down the narrow lane where he’d seen two figures walking toward him—Tomes Jaffler and Corin von Vadim.

  “What were you really up to out there?”

  Sheriff Pierson reached for his cup in the console and took a drink.

  “Now what is this?” He saw a car leaving the estate.

  Quick to follow, he soon realized that it was heading in the direction of the cemetery.

  “Not again. I hope it’s not rituals.” The prospect seemed likely with vampires involved.

  Thinking of the murdered victims, he couldn’t help wondering if von Vadim fed on those poor women the way he had on that cow in the field. It was unnerving knowing immortals resided amongst them—hungry, bloodthirsty nocturnal creatures, preying on the innocent. The situation was turning out to be more of a vampire hunt than a homicide investigation.

  Picturing a character in a comic book, he envisioned a caption, And Super Lawman lost his mind. With that came an image of him grabbing his head, eyes bulging out in lunacy.

  “I need a cigarette,” he groaned, shaking the picture from his mind.

  Pulling a pack of Marlboros from his front shirt pocket, he tapped one out and lit it. He took in a deep, comforting drag.

  “Get a grip, lawman, you’re as sane as the next guy,” he assured himself. But then again, that all depended on who the next guy was, didn’t it?

  * * * *

  Boldor shoved Lehndra toward the truck while dragging Angelique at his side.

  “Pity we can’t take the ‘Vette,” he groaned, “but it won’t seat three. This thing will have to do.” He ushered both women into the cab of the work truck, placing Angelique next to him, keeping his meal ticket close. “Don’t try anything,” he warned Lehndra, expecting her to attempt an escape at any given moment.

  Just as he’d suspected, about a mile from the farm, she made her move, suddenly dematerializing into vapor and slipping through the partially-opened passenger’s side window. Boldor screeched to a halt, but she was gone in a flash, fleeing into the fog-laden woods.

  “Lehndra!” he roared, unable to go after her for fear of losing his ransom.

  Swearing, he slammed his hands against the wheel, wishing now that he’d killed her when he had the chance. He’d never been one for sentiment, and he didn’t plan to start now. A few residual feelings wouldn’t stop him from taking her out when the time came. And if she messed things up for him this time, he wouldn’t just kill her, he’d make her suffer.

  * * * *

  Corin stood at the edge of a small clearing in his human form, contemplating heading back to the estate. He’d searched the woods and every unoccupied building in the area for Boldor, making no progress.

  “Who’s there?” He felt a presence and whirled around, finding a vapor moving in on him. It stopped about fifteen feet from him, and took form. He could hardly believe his eyes—the female immortal. “What have you done with Angelique?”

  “I’m afraid she’s no longer my captive.”

  “What’s happened to her? She’s not—”

  “Oh, she’s alive,” she cut him off. “But for how long, I can’t say. Boldor has her. Didn’t you get his message?”

  “Since your phone call, I’ve been out searching for him, trying to get that cursed charm you demanded. But without being able to sense him, it’s a useless endeavor.”

  “He certainly had no trouble finding me,” Lehndra informed him. “Luring me right to him, using the wolves as cover. A dirty trick.”

&nbs
p; “And now he has Angelique again. What was his message?”

  “He sent the one he calls ‘Director’ to deliver it to you at the estate. It said, Same deal, same place. Come now or her life is mine. And make haste, for we end this tonight. Come dawn, this game is over!” She remembered every word. “He’s on his way to the cemetery with the girl as we speak. I got away from him in the truck. He’s planning to pick right back up where he left off earlier, before I arrived and screwed everything up for him.”

  “The miserable….” he cursed under his breath. “He just won’t give up.”

  “There’s something else. With the note, he also sent a clipping of the girl’s hair. The man was to tell you, Till death do us part.”

  “He’s telling me that this won’t be over till one of us takes the other’s head.”

  Corin shape-shifted and took to the sky as a Great Horned Owl, his massive wings beating the air with such ferocity that the sound trailed behind him.

  “Oh, I’m not going to miss this,” Lehndra’s mouth curled upward. “When he takes you out, Karlot, and I know he will, the Heart will be mine for the taking. I’ll have my sweet revenge and both halves of the Clyth.”

  The female immortal transformed into a smaller night bird and followed a short distance behind, bound for the cemetery.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Fully Consumed

  Tomes caught sight of a vehicle moving in the darkness behind him. Had it been any other color but white, he might not have noticed it following with no headlights. Not caring for being spied on, he set a trap, hiding just inside the gate and catching Sheriff Pierson unaware when he entered the cemetery.

  “Why are you following me, Sheriff?” Tomes stepped into view just as Pierson passed, causing him to turn back in surprise.

  “I should be the one asking the questions, Mr. Jaffler. I knew there was a good chance you’d spot me, but I had to know what’s going on out here.”

  Wolves crying from the woods surrounding the cemetery momentarily captured both men’s attention.

  “Strange spot for hunting.” Pierson eyed the weapon in Tomes’s hand, along with the machete hanging behind him.

  “Whatever it is you’re thinking, I’m sure it’s wrong.”

  Remembering the sheriff’s prior comment suggesting that Corin only came out at night left Tomes wondering just how long he’d been watching them.

  “I know what he is.” Pierson said.

  “What who is, Sheriff?” Was he saying he knew about Corin…that he was a nightwalker?

  “Von Vadim, I’ve seen him. The marshal too. But why Black’s able to walk around in the daylight stumps me.”

  “What is it you’re saying?” Tomes didn’t want to confess anything, still not certain he knew they were immortals.

  “Vampires!” Sheriff Pierson shot the words at him. “I’ve seen von Vadim feed on the cows, and Black, I watched him change from man to animal—a wolf. I know what I saw. They’re not human.”

  “You’re right, Sheriff, they’re not human, they’re immortals. And Corin, he is a nightwalker. I take it you’ve been following us for quite a while?”

  “Not too long. Your green folder, the one filled with all of the vampire research, helped me put things together. Not to mention everything I’ve seen with my own two eyes.”

  “So, you’ve now resorted to breaking and entering? That folder was in my desk…in my house. A place you had no right to be.”

  “Just doing what had to be done,” Pierson admitted. “Sometimes the rules have to be bent a little.”

  “Or overlooked altogether?” Tomes retorted. “I’ll need it back. I have plans for that research. It’s going to make one gripping book…if I survive. But right now, you’d best prepare yourself, Sheriff, because there’s more going on here than anything in that folder could ever tell you. Angelique’s been captured by none other than your Jackson County killer, and before you ask, yes, he is a nightwalker.”

  “What is your involvement with von Vadim? Why do you cover for him, the killer who murdered your wife?”

  “Corin is not the killer. It’s another nightwalker called Boldor, and he’s a nasty one. In fact, he’s targeted Corin, holding Angelique hostage, using her as a bargaining chip,” Tomes explained. “Without Corin, we’d probably all be dead right now. It’s taken me a while to accept it, but his feelings are still very much human. Just like us, some immortals are good and some are bad.”

  A vehicle approached and Tomes pulled Sheriff Pierson into hiding. Crouching in the shadows behind some overgrowth, they watched it barrel through the gate.

  “That’s my truck!” Tomes caught a glimpse of Angelique as it passed. “All hell is about to break loose, Sheriff. If you value your life, I’d suggest you get out of here while you can.”

  Tomes started into the cemetery in pursuit of Boldor.

  “I’m not going anywhere, Jaffler.” Pierson rushed to catch up with him.

  “It’s your neck.” Tomes put no effort into stopping him, knowing it would be a waste of energy.

  Fog lingered over the area, thick, lying low to the ground. Cautious with their footing, they worked their way toward the center of the cemetery. Tomes noticed that the wolves seemed to be growing nearer, their howls now echoing out from the boundaries of the cemetery, closing in on them.

  “I’ve never encountered this kind of fog before,” Pierson said. “I can’t even see the ground. And what’s with the wolves?”

  “Quiet,” Tomes hushed him, squatting behind a headstone, motioning for him to do the same. “It’s Boldor.” He pointed out the fiend’s position a short distance in front of them.

  Boldor retrieved the sword he’d dropped earlier then turned and looked their way. “I know you’re here,” he called out.

  Tomes took a deep breath, stood, and stepped out from behind the gravestone.

  “You’re not alone. I sense another.”

  Pierson followed Tomes’s lead and revealed himself, but with his pistol drawn and aimed at the nightwalker’s chest.

  “That gun won’t do you any good,” Tomes told him. “He’s a nightwalker—the undead.”

  “I don’t care. I feel better knowing I have it.” Pierson refused to lower his aim.

  Boldor laughed. “Brought the law with you, lackey? Planning on making an arrest?”

  “I have other things in mind tonight. Are you okay, Angel?” he called to his sister.

  “I—” she started to answer, but Boldor yanked her head back, producing a yelp.

  “Lay off!” Tomes took several steps forward.

  At that moment, a large owl soared in, its wings spread wide. It landed a few feet from Tomes and shape-shifted into Corin. Lehndra, not far behind, touched down a short distance to their right and metamorphosed.

  Witnessing the immortals’ transformations, Sheriff Pierson stumbled back, nearly dropping his pistol.

  “Like I said, Sheriff,” Tomes looked at him. “All hell is about to break loose.”

  * * * *

  Corin faced Boldor, fire flashing in his eyes. “Same deal, same place.”

  “Yes.” Boldor’s gaze caught Lehndra. “Taking sides with the enemy?”

  “I’d side with Satan to see you pay, Karlot.”

  “I’ll take care of you later, my lover,” Boldor snarled. “And it won’t be painless.” He shifted his focus back to Corin. “I’m glad to see you made it, von Vadim. I was beginning to wonder if you’d sent these two pathetic mortals in your place.”

  “I fight my own battles.”

  “Same deal as before.” Boldor pointed to the headstone. “When your head hits this stone…you know the drill.”

  Corin looked into Angelique’s face, conveying the love he felt for her in an unspoken whisper. Then seeing the pain in her eyes, he forced his gaze away and proceeded to the gravestone. With no hesitation, he dropped onto all fours and lowered his head over the top edge of the stone, ready for execution.

  “No, Corin
!” Angelique cried out, but Boldor gave her a firm yank.

  The nightwalker writhed toward Corin, pulling Angelique along with one hand while eagerly gripping the sword in the other. She fought against his hold, creating a diversion, but when Corin attempted a maneuver, Boldor turned the blade to her throat.

  “Keep your place or it’s her head instead,” he threatened.

  “Don’t hurt her.” Corin fell back into place, his eyes locking with Angelique’s tearful stare.

  “Please, Corin. I won’t let you sacrifice yourself for me. I could never live with that.”

  He looked away, unable to bear her heartache. “You’ll have to let her go to finish the job,” Corin told Boldor, cocking his head to focus on the devil’s thin, miserable face, knowing he’d need both hands to make the strike. “Go ahead. Take your swing!” he pressed, wanting him to release his hold on Angelique.

  “Wait! Don’t—” Tomes called out.

  “Stay out of this,” Corin cut him off, Angelique’s sobs ripping him apart.

  “Now take your swing!” He fixed his attention on Boldor. “Take it before I change my mind!”

  Making his move, Boldor shoved Angelique away from him, raised the sword high, and came down with a powerful strike, but the blade, intended to sever Corin’s head, missing him by millimeters, striking nothing but stone.

  “Run, Angel!” Tomes saw she was dazed from striking her head against a statue and rushed toward her.

  “I’m okay,” she met him halfway. “We need to help Corin.”

  Corin motioned to Tomes to get her to the sideline.

  “This is his fight, Angel. I think he can handle it.”

  “Your swing wasn’t quick enough, Boldor. Unfortunate…for you.” Corin turned the tables on the nightwalker. “And now, as you said, we end this tonight.”

  Boldor allowed his inner monster to emerge as he advanced on Corin, swinging again, striking another headstone with such force that it snapped the blade in half. Enraged, he threw the weapon to the ground and zeroed in on Angelique’s position.