by Gerald Lopez
“Do you kill at your hunts?”
“Yes, but only the worst of criminals.”
“What did William say to you?”
“He said he forgave me for what he knew I had to do and that it made him glad knowing I’d be the one to do it.”
“Did you forgive him for putting you in that position?”
“I did. It turned out to be such a profound moment with him in the woods that night. The madness hadn’t completely taken over yet and he could think and speak with purpose.”
“I’m glad you had that time with him.”
“He loves you and knows you love him. William told me so himself.”
“Can’t he fight against what’s happening to him?”
“No and if he could he wouldn’t, babe,” Samuel said.
“He doesn’t want to live, does he?”
“No,” Samuel said then reached for Rory’s hand and held it. “Veronique turned him a second too late. He saw his savior. The Christ welcome him to Heaven. William wants to go back there.”
Rory wept loudly and Samuel held him tightly wanting to take his pain away but knowing he couldn’t. The man had suffered so much in his life.
“Your tears aren’t because you’re sad,” Samuel said. “At least not all because you’re sad.”
“You’ve given me such a precious gift just now,” Rory said. “My son will live on after this. We’ll see each other again someday. I never completely knew what he had going on inside him. Sometimes he’d have fits of violence brought on by the drugs. There were times I didn’t know him or whether I thought he was good or evil because of some of the things he did. Now I know, my good, sweet little boy is still inside there.”
“Well, hello,” a voice said from the doorway of the bedroom.
Chapter 23
The time Arrives
“I’M CESARE. YOU must be Rory Baker. I see you inherited the green eyes. You two are still dressed so I’m not interrupting anything.”
“You’d have known if you were,” Samuel said. He felt Rory try to pull away but held him close. “Rory will be there when the time comes to deal with William.”
“Alright. It won’t be pretty, Rory.”
“I’m William’s father, it’s my duty to be there.”
“That’s an admirable way to think. Keep in mind that at this point your son’s mind is already gone.”
“Samuel has already made that clear and I saw it firsthand myself,” Rory said. “The William I knew is already gone, but I want to be there when his body is finally put to rest.”
“Then you will be,” Cesare said then turned to Samuel. “Janelle’s waiting outside. We’d like a few minutes alone to question William.”
“Take whatever time you need,” Samuel said. “We’ll meet you there. William’s already in a weakened state and hasn’t fed in a while. He shouldn’t give you a problem.”
Cesare pointed a finger at Samuel. “Never let your guard down, remember the sickness gives them more physical strength than usual. You must not underestimate them.”
“Understood,” Samuel said.
“It was nice meeting you, Rory,” Cesare said, then left.
“Cesare used to be a Roman soldier,” Samuel said. “He even got a glimpse of Jesus once.”
“He kind of looks like a Roman soldier still,” Rory said. “Why do they want to question William?”
“Question is the wrong word to use,” Samuel said. “They basically want to probe his mind to try and find out what the Gauthius cult is up to in the states.”
“I thought you already knew they were looking to dominate the vampires here.”
“We need details.” He got out of bed then helped Rory up. “Are you ready for this?”
“No, but I can handle it thanks to you.”
Again Samuel wanted to kiss Rory but willed himself not to. Instead he held his hand and squeezed it. With everything going on it wouldn’t have been fair or right to give into their feelings. Instead it would ruin their chances at a romance that was clearly blooming.
The two walked onto the porch where they’d left their footwear, then headed for the bunker followed by Amadeus. When they were under a grouping of large trees, Samuel stopped.
“Daddy and I planted these trees along with my younger brother. Rory, you were a good dad to William. I could see, hear, and feel that when he and I talked. You’re still being strong for him today and I think highly of that and of you. More than I’m capable of expressing.” He pointed toward a dense area of trees and bushes that surrounded a cement block building.
“That’s the bunker,” Rory said and gulped.
“William is chained up in there, drained, crazed, and hungry. It’ll be hard to look at him and I need you to stay out of arm’s reach of him. He’ll smell your blood and want a taste of it.”
Rory nodded his head nervously and Samuel hugged him.
“Cesare will come out and get us when they’re done,” Samuel said. “Let’s sit a while.” He sat down and leaned against a tree. Rory sat next to him.
“It’s nice and shady here,” Rory said. “I like these big live oak trees.”
“There are two acres of pecan trees further down on the property.”
“I’ve always liked gardening,” Rory said. “Now that I’m retired I have more time for it.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” Samuel said. “I have no green thumb at all.”
“These trees are doing well.”
“That’s because Daddy had two green thumbs,” Samuel said and chuckled.
Rory felt a breeze and jumped up startled by what he saw. In front of him was a beautiful Japanese woman wearing a short-sleeved red top and cropped pants.
“Rory, this is Janelle,” Samuel said. “She’s Cesare’s girlfriend and highly knowledgeable in warfare of all sorts as well as architecture. Janelle meet Rory.”
“Hello, Rory,” Janelle said then smiled and turned to Samuel. “Cesare would like your help for a few minutes.”
Samuel seemed to disappear before Rory’s eyes. Janelle petted Amadeus who sat next to Rory, then she leaned against the tree on the other side of Rory.
“He likes you, Rory,” Janelle said.
“Who?”
“Amadeus. He doesn’t like everyone. Dogs can be just as particular as people about who they choose to share time with.”
“Dogs are very intuitive,” Rory said. “I guess vampire dogs are even more so.”
“You were hoping I’d say Samuel likes you.”
“I’m guessing you probably didn’t need to read my mind to figure that one out,” Rory said.
“I didn’t—read your mind that is. It would’ve been rude of me to do so. And Samuel more than likes you. The feelings between the two of you are so strong they fill the air around us.”
“They can’t read our minds all the way in the bunker, can they?” Rory said and smiled.
“The bunker was made especially to block out everything and keep any noise or thoughts from getting out. We don’t want people calling for help from there. But if not for that it would be no problem for Cesare and Samuel to pick up on everything we were saying and feeling.”
“Did you and Cesare manage to learn anything from William?”
“Surprisingly enough, we found out a great deal of things from him,” Janelle said. “Deep inside his psyche William wanted to help us. We learned that the group operating in the states is a splinter group from the Gauthius cult. Everything they’ve done has been without the knowledge or permission of Paul Gauthius, their original leader.”
“Is that good or bad?” Rory said.
“Well, it means that the group isn’t as large as we’d originally thought. It also lets us know that the original, core Gauthius group has no desire to expand into the states. They prefer to stay isolated in Europe.”
“That’s good.”
“Yes it is. Rory, I’m sorry about your son. It’s obvious why the splinter group went after him
. He has a strong spirit, that’s what enabled him to help us. Through sheer force of will he’s been able to pass along important information.”
“Does that mean there’s a chance—”
“No, I’m sorry if I gave you the impression your son would survive his ailment,” Janelle said “Even while we probed his mind we could see his brain cells literally melting away. William doesn’t have long now.” She reached out and put her hand on Rory’s shoulder. “He loves you and he’s being strong and helping us because of you.”
“But love isn’t always strong enough to win out.”
“It all depends on your definition of winning. Every situation is different. In some people and some circumstances love can be a weakness, in others a strength.”
“Is my being here going to make Samuel stronger or weaker?”
“That’s up to the two of you. You both know what needs to happen. It’s how you treat one another afterward that will matter most. He’s scared you’ll reject him and you know that.”
“I also know it’s not possible for me to reject Samuel.”
“Yes… I can see that,” Janelle said.
Samuel suddenly reappeared along with Cesare.
“Vasilius is head of the splinter group,” Cesare said. “I didn’t think he had it in him.”
“The time has arrived, Rory,” Samuel said. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” Rory said then stood.
“Then hold on to me,” Samuel said and put his arms around Rory.
Rory held onto Samuel and everything around him went hazy. All he could see were spots of color and blurred shapes. When things cleared up again he found himself in front of the bunker’s steel door.
“We vampires can travel fast when speed is called for,” Samuel said. “Cesare and Janelle will be nearby if we need them. I’m here with you, don’t worry.” He opened the heavy door and helped Rory inside.
Nothing could’ve prepared Rory for what waited for him in the bunker.
Chapter 24
The Horror of it All
RORY COULD EASILY make out his son in the brightly lit room. His face and body were hollow and cadaverous-looking. He seemed older by at least twenty or thirty years as he lay in a heap on the floor.
“It’s OK, Daddy,” William said and looked Rory in the eyes.
His eyes had no color in them at all, they were almost white. But what suddenly hit Rory the strongest was the stench which reeked of decay. Rory began to gag and he quickly walked out of the room.
When Samuel heard the sound of Rory throwing up outside he went to him. Only seconds later he realized his mistake. The door to the bunker still hung open. He grabbed Rory and went back inside closing the door behind them. After gently pushing Rory to a far corner of the space, Samuel looked around. All of his senses were telling him something had gone amiss but he didn’t know what.
Rory looked at William who had his head down. Slowly William raised his head and flashed a smile at Rory that sent chills down his spine.
“Samuel!” Rory said. “Something’s wrong, Samuel!”
The words reached Samuel’s ears just as he spotted two dead field mice in the corner behind William. Before he knew it William had torn the chains holding his arms from the wall and had them wrapped around Samuel’s neck. The speed at which he moved had taken Samuel completely by surprise.
Rory reacted quickly to help Samuel. He spotted the sickle leaning against the wall and ran for it. Samuel had managed to kick William in the stomach sending him flying to the ceiling. Rory threw the sickle to Samuel but before he could do anything William had moved by Rory’s side.
“No!” Samuel shouted as he saw William tear at Rory’s neck with his fangs. “Look away, Rory!” Rory turned his head as Samuel used the sickle to chop William’s head off then cut his body into pieces. When he’d finished he turned to Rory.
Rory couldn’t breathe, he struggled to stay awake for Samuel’s sake. He had to help Samuel.
“Oh God, please don’t die Rory,” Samuel said as he used his fangs to rip away the flesh at his wrist. He let his blood drip down around the huge wound in Rory’s neck. Hopefully it would be enough to save him.
Samuel left Rory’s side long enough to open the bunker door and scream out in desperation. “Cesare! Cesare!”
Instantly Cesare was at Samuel’s side. He picked up Rory and took him outside. While Cesare and Samuel looked over Rory, Janelle appeared.
“We have unwelcome company coming,” Janelle said.
“It’s my fault,” Samuel said. “I left the bunker door open too long. Instinctively, Will summoned help.”
“How many?” Cesare said to Janelle as he held his newly torn wrist over Rory’s wound.
“We’ll need help,” Janelle said.
“Lucky we’re here then,” Rafael said as he and Roget appeared. “And by the looks of things we’re just in time.”
Vasilius appeared in front of them with vampires to the right and left of him.
“Stay with Rory, Janelle,” Cesare said. “Samuel and I have a score to settle.”
“I can’t keep my emotions out of this,” Samuel said to Cesare.
“Then unleash all your fury, my son,” Cesare said.
Samuel let out a battle cry then ran toward the invading group followed by Rafael, Roget, and Cesare. There was no holding back when Samuel reached the group. He used his fist to punch through one vampire’s chest and rip his heart out while his foot kicked another so hard it went through his chest cavity. Kicking the vampires body free from his leg, Samuel bent down and savagely bit his neck ripping half of it off in the process. Cesare and the others fury matched his own and their foes were falling quickly.
“Let me help finish things off,” a man’s voice said from above the fray.
“It’s Paul,” Roget said when a man in a black robe appeared floating in air above Vasilius.
Vasilius screamed out in terror as Paul used a gleaming silver sword to slice Vasilius’ head and body in two. By the time he was done, none of Vasilius’ group were left living.
“Let there be peace between our families now,” Paul said to Cesare.
“Let there be peace,” Cesare said.
Paul wiped his sword on the grass then disappeared.
“Cesare! Samuel!” Janelle said. “We’ve got to move Rory to the house!"
The first one to reach Rory was Cesare, who wasted no time picking him up and taking him to Samuel’s house.
RORY WOKE UP and found himself in Samuel’s bed looking into Janelle’s serene face. He tried to smile but felt like gagging. Instead he turned his face and spit into a bowl Janelle held there. He looked down and saw blood in the bowl.
“I’m dying,” Rory said.
“You’ve got twenty minutes at most,” Janelle said. “And you’ve also got an important decision to make.”
“What is that?”
“If your love is strong enough to live for someone who needs you. Cesare is here. Together he and Samuel can turn you into one of us. They think you’ll be able to handle being a vampire, but they’ll let you decide.”
Rory chuckled and spit up again. “I never… never asked the obvious question. How come you all can walk around during the day?”
“The sun could never kill us but exposure to it did make us weak,” Janelle said. “Because of that we used to sleep during the day.” She wiped Rory’s mouth with a warm, wet washcloth. “Usually we just slept in dark rooms with heavy drapes but sometimes we used coffins. There are vampire scientists who are constantly working on improving our lives. They found a cure to our weakness during the early twenties.”
“My grandchildren need me,” Rory said.
“Yes, they do,” Janelle said.
There was a knock on the door and it opened slightly.
“It’s Gerard, can I come in?”
Rory looked at Janelle and nodded his head.
“Come in,” Janelle said. “She got up from the bed and handed Gerard
the bowl and washcloth. She smiled warmly at Rory then left.
“That’s a nasty wound you have there, mate,” Gerard said then wiped at his eyes. “It takes a lot to make an Aussie cry, you bloody bastard.”
Rory reached for Gerard’s hand and held it. He also noticed Gerard holding a plastic grocery bag.
“They’re going to let you decide what you want to do,” Gerard said.
Rory tried to reply but got emotional and spit up in the bowl instead.
“If I don’t let them turn me I’ll die,” Rory said. “That’s what Janelle said.”
“That’s the fact of it, alright.”
“I don’t want to turn into one of those crazy ones like Will did. I’m already hurt and flawed.”
Gerard laughed. “You’re not the same kind of flawed as Will and the others. You’re just badly injured, dumb ass.”
Rory chuckled. “Are you sure I’ll be OK if I’m turned?”
“The flaws in the crazy vamps came from when and how they were turned. It wasn’t done right. Cesare is the strongest of us and he’ll be helping Samuel. There’s something else I need to tell you, Rory.”
Rory looked into Gerard’s eyes to see if he held back something. Instead he got a shocking and unexpected surprise.
Chapter 25
An Old Friend Revealed
“YOUR EYES,” RORY said. “Why do I feel like I’m seeing them for the first time and yet not the first time?”
“Because you’re remembering,” Gerard said. “I’m releasing the suggestion I put into your mind when you were just a young teenage boy.” He reached into the grocery bag he held, pulled out an old photo album, and handed it to Rory.
With his hand shaking and tears running down his face Rory took the photo album and opened it. The picture of Samuel from the sixties fell into his lap. All Rory could do was stare at Gerard.
“Samuel and I were driving through town when he felt your presence. The intense grief of a teenage boy, someone from his bloodline. It took me a minute longer to feel it, but I did. Samuel tries not to interfere in the lives of his family because his brother asked him not to long ago. But that day he glimpsed your heart. Because of the promise he made his brother he wouldn’t go to you himself, not then. But he sent me to help you.”