Valmont Sharp: Monster Hunter

by David Raymond II

  Had Valmont Sharp knew that becoming a monster hunter would require this much work he might still be a soup opera actor. At the very least he would have turned down Luminare's offer and would just remain an actor playing a role. However this is the life fate handed him and so this is his world. His life has been a good one all things considered. He has plenty of money, a fun job, excitement, and lots of money so Valmont has to take the bad along with the good.

  He had gotten a call from Nashton Wayte at around six in the morning, the private detective was held over night before he was given his phone call. Valmont quickly paid for his friend's bail and was glad the plan worked. Valmont knows Wayte took a risk with the Thanatos situation last night and that Nash was against the idea of turning it into a show. If Nash had his way a silver bullet would have gone into Thanatos's black heart. “It's good to be the boss.” Valmont says from his office.

  Alfred Labrone and his son Cole enter Valmont's office around nine in the morning, the two were called in to help plan for the mission briefing but Alfred had this distressed look on his face. “How dare you Val? Are you really that greedy?”

  “What are you talking about?” Valmont acts shocked but really he knows what his friend is talking about, they have been though this before.

  “Don't play that game with me, you should have ordered Nash to kill Thanatos. Instead you gave that monster an invitation to trash your manor. It's one thing when we do these jobs to save a cursed town, or stop a mad monster on a killing rampage but to bring it to our door steps? There are people in Sharp Manor who have not signed up for this.”

  “All members of the staff have been briefed and warned about the possibility of such an attack when they were hired.” Valmont states as a matter of fact, “Also any staff member that does not feel safe can take a paid leave of absence until the situation at hand is dealt with.”

  “I'm not talking about your staff.” Alfred raises his voice, the aging black man is not known to get angry especially not at Valmont. However Valmont can be very infuriating when he is avoiding the obvious. “I'm talking about your son and Francois's daughter. My Cole here is part of the team and can hold his own in a fight but those two? They might know what's going on but they are not ready to experience it hands on.”

  “I agree.” Valmont says his his hands folded on his desk and his eyes closed. “They will be safe. I was serous when I told Francois they will be in the museum sub basement. It's the safest place in the manor, far safer then the panic room. I would send them away but honestly I believe they will be safer near by. My son is a target, I want him close by.”

  That answer did not please Alfred at all, “The museum sub basement? You plan to make two innocent teenagers prisoners in their own house for god knows how long until a werewolf busts though your doors? Are you mad?”

  Valmont was asking himself the same question, “Probably, don't I have to be mad to keep doing this job? Yeah I should have ordered Nash to kill Vargas I know that. Yes I know that I'm only doing this for the fame, and that I'm letting it hurt the ones I love.” It is well believed that Valmont is a strong steel trap that can't be broken. That is a lie, he is a fragile man on the verge of shattering. “Habits are hard to break.”

  “Uh Valmont, for the Museum sub basement do you plan to confine Chris and Charolette to the storm shelter?” Cole asks, he has an idea which is why Alfred brought him along.

  Valmont looks at Cole who he forgot was even in the room with him, “Yes I am it won't be glamorous but it has enough food for years.”

  “Well I think I have a better option. One you may have over looked.”

  This got Valmont's attention, “Tell me.”

  “Maybe we can use Ustence Griffith's entertainment room. The ghost has enough movies, games and room for a party of fifty. It will keep the three of us in touch with the show and keep us from getting bored.”

  Valmont contemplates that for a few seconds and rubs his beard with his right hand, “That would work, but would Griffith be okay with that? The only one he lets into his entertainment hall is Yosif and that’s only for a game of chess every once in a while.”

  “I already brought the idea up with Ustence, he has agreed.” Cole states, “He has a bit of a crush on Charlotte and agreed the moment I told him she will be there too.”

  “I see. Well we should get that ready before the meeting.” Valmont does not like the idea of locking his son up for what might be days but if Randal were to see his son and Charlotte well that would be worse. “Cole could you bring my son and Charlotte here?”

  “Sure.” Cole walks over to the door when it flies open.

  Nashton Wayte walks though the door with his hair still wet from a quick shower. He was released from the police station just an hour ago and he has spent the time rushing to get ready. His men had confirmed his theories and gave him a quick briefing so now he's here. He also called up Yosif and made the old man rush his butt down to the manor as well. Yosif is standing right behind him almost fading into the background, also beside him is Francois “Hold off on that Cole, take about a half hour to an hour before you return.”

  Cole nods and stops at the door as he twists and turns to avoid the energetic private investigator, “Is this something I should know?” He knows when Nash has something important and this is one of those times.

  Nash shakes his head, “No no this is classified stuff Cole. The less who know the better. Get gone.”

  “Hey Cole,” Valmont steaks up as the young man opes the door, “Have my son and Charlotte meet me in the dining room in an hour. I will discuss what going on to them over lunch.” Cole nods in agreement.

  Nash waits until Cole leaves and then slams the door and locks all three of the locks to the office, “Good good.”

  Francois walks over to a near by couch and falls down. He slowly cocks his head over to Nash envious of the man's energy, “What did you find out Nash?”

  “Last night during the encounter with Thanatos I sensed something strange, there was something wrong with his voice. There were times when I thought I heard a second voice speaking at the same time. It was a voice I knew but I did not know whose voice it was. It was all I could think about last night, I could not sleep.” Nash takes a seat on the other side of the desk from Valmont, he looks over as Alfred whose also sitting and at Yosif whose leaning on his cane. “My men spent the night examining the recordings while I was rotting in prison and they confirmed my suspicions.”

  “Get on with it.” Valmont says impatiently.

  “The voice was Gabriel Tarque. He was controlling Thanatos, he was making him talk. I have never seen mind control magic that strong.” Nash looks over at Yosif.

  “While it is not unheard of for a Voodoo priest being strong enough to completely control the minds and bodies of others I never imagined Gabriel Tarque would get that powerful. We know he's just a tool for our real foes yet to give him this much power? What are they thinking.”

  “Am I really that much of a threat to the balance?” Valmont says to himself. “Thanatos and Tarque working together. I guess Thanatos can't be too hard to control given that he's mindless. And making him talk, nice trick.”

  Nashton nods his head, “Now I'm thinking Randal and his officers only need to know about Thanatos. There is no reason to let him know about Tarque, so far Tarque has been very hands off, never showing his face. He won't change that now not since it has worked so well for him.”

  “Agreed. I guess should get going.” Valmont stands. “You all know what to do.” He looks over at Francois and sees that he is sound asleep. Valmont shakes his head and leaves.

  “Sequel time” Chris has to move the phone away from his ear as Ric is yelling like a crazed fan boy. “I can't believe it, that your father has brought back the Vargas Thanatos. I knew he would not end 2005 with a poor show like that ghost story. This is more like it.”

  “Ric stop.” Chris says to his friend very coldly.

  “What's wrong?”
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  “Vargas Thanatos is an actual serial killer.” Chris says calmly.

  Because they are talking three way Jason adds in, “That's what I have been telling him. Ric does not listen.”

  “That's the gimmick for the character right? I mean your father did not stop an actual serial killer any more then he stopped an actual werewolf. The serial killer/mental patient thing was just part of the show?” There is silence from both Chris and Jason, “Right?”

  “How dumb are you?” Jason says, “Do you read anything but fantasy novels and Sharp fan base news letters? Don't you read the newspaper?”

  “No one reads the newspaper anymore.” Ric responds.

  “What about watching the news, or even looking an Internet home page. I mean really how can you not know Vargas Thanatos is a real serial killer?” Chris says raising his voice. “Get a clue man.”

  Ric is stunned for a second, “I'm sorry, I really thought it was just the set up for a new Sharp show. Come on I'm not cold, so that man's really dead?”

  “Yeah and Vargas plans to kill more people until my father faces him.”

  There is a change in tone in Ric's voice, “So sorry man. That was insensitive of me. I mean here I am calling myself a Sharp fan and I don't even believe the truth when I hear it. Sorry I have to go.” Chris then hears Ric hang up the show.

  “Don't take offense, you know he was dropped on the head when he was a baby.”

  Chris laughs, “See this is why he can't know the truth.”

  “I know, I know. So Chris whats going on. From what I can gather the chief og police hates your father makes that clear in the TV interviews, I doubt there is going to be a Sharp show in Albern. Not one with a real serial killer.”

  “Jason the plan is to bait Vargas into attacking my father directly at the Sharp Manor. I really don't know the details but they want to get this done as soon as possible, to prevent more deaths then necessary. Oh and get this, he plans to turn it into a show. Because he can't have a Sharp show in Albern he's going to have a special show in his own house.”

  “I see, Ric would love that. I bet he records it.” Jason pauses for a second. “So your dad is going to put you in danger for what might be his greatest show ever? And to have a few lives.”

  “Apparently I will be perfectly safe. When all crap hits the fan me and Charlotte, that's Francois Luminare's daughter in case you have forgotten, well we will be gone. My father is sending me away.” At least that's what Chris hopes.

  “You sound disappointed?” Jason observes.

  “Well I would have liked to see the event unfold up close.. Really can you blame me for that. It's a curiosity to be honest.”

  Jason decided it was time to change the subject and Chris has given him the perfect choice, “So this Charlotte, do you like her?”

  Chris blushes, “It has only been two weeks I don't know her, she is cute, smart, likes role playing games, she is completely honest and a good person. I feel I can trust her and that she is the only person in that house I can trust. Yes I would say I like her but you never know.”

  “I see.” Jason on the other side of the line laughs, “I can tell you like her. Really your voice changes when you mention her name, your tone is brighter, you just seem like an all over different person, like how you were before your mother died.” Jason use to be not that in tune with emotions as well something has changed with him to. “Besides and I should know strange events can bring people together.”

  “So I take it things are still going fine with you and Sam?”

  “Better then fine apparently what she needed to get her voice back was not some charm but someone to help her gain her confidence back.” Jason says.

  “I take it that was you?”

  “Oh yeah, Erik is not pleased with that of course. But well his loss is my gain.” Jason then hears his father calling for him, “Hey we are going out to eat it seems, talk to you later.”

  Chris turns off the phone, and walks into the dining room, there Charolette and Cole are sitting at the table. Cole seems to have been waiting for him, “Hey Chris your dad is going to meet up with us here in a little while so sit down and lets chat until he gets here.

  As the staff of the manor and Nashton Wayte's security team prepares for the two o’clock meeting with the polices to discuss the over all situation Valmont met his son and Francois daughter at the dining hall. He had called the kitchen staff to make him a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and blueberry pancakes which were waiting for him at his seat. He sits down next to his food and sees that Chris and Charlotte are at the other side of the table, “Come over here I need to discuss something with you.”

  Chris and Charlotte move over closer to Valmont, Chris has the front page of the Albern Newspaper and is reading an interview with Chief Randal. Chris looks at his father with a confused look, “Are you going to send us away? I mean your bringing a murderous werewolf to your house right?”

  “Nothing gets by you.” Valmont says as he takes a forkful of eggs into his mouth. “Send you away though? I really don't want to do that. Yes I want to keep you out of danger but really the manor is the safest place for you.”

  “A killer werewolf dad. Also someone is trying to kill me to get to you.” Chris raises his voice a little and then calms down as Charlotte gives him a look.

  “You have every right to be mad. Let me finish. The manor is the safest place for you far safer then sending you away. However it would be wise to make it look like you were sent away. The three of you are going to camp out in the under area of the museum until this whole mess passes though.”

  Chris remembers the level of security needed to get into the Museum and also he remembers seeing what looked like a supply bunker and two bed rooms. “So we are going to be prisoners?”

  Valmont smiles a sad smile as he eats a slice of bacon, “Prisoners in a four star hotel if that makes you feel better. The museum area has a fully stocked kitchen and freezer, twenty people could live their and eat well for twenty years without worry. And you won't be cut off from entertainment or the outside world. Ustence has agreed to allow the three of you to use his entertainment room.”

  “I don't have much a choice here do I?” Chris looks at Charlotte hoping she will back him up, come up with some other idea because he has none. “We will truly be safe there?”

  Valmont smiles, “Safer then you would be anywhere else in the world. No one will get in and out unless they are one of the chosen few I completely trust. Only myself, Francois, Jocasta, Wayte, Alfred, and Cole could enter that place and even then only I can do it alone. Now Cole can open it from the inside at any time but he wouldn't do that until he gets the signal.”

  Valmont is clearly trying to make Chris and Charlotte feel better about this. Chris looks over at Charlotte who is smiling nervously, “And my father agrees with this?

  “Francois is behind this plan 100% of the way. Now there is a cover story.” He looks at his son, “This is what you should tell your friends. I know your telling Jason everything but please don't tell him the truth this time.”

  Chris nods his head slowly, “I got ya.”

  “As far as your friends know, as far as the press knows and as far as the Albern Police Department knows I sent the two of you to my house in Miami Florida.”

  “Wait you could have sent us to Miami?” Charlotte says, “And yet your not?”

  “Maybe some other time, you will be safer here. Please son I'm counting on you.”

  Chris smiles softly, “Sure lets do this.” He then stands up, “How long should I pack for?”

  “The bunker has a washer and dryer though I don't expect it to be more then two or three days.” Valmont has to choose his next words carefully as he does not want his son to know Tarque is behind Thanatos. “Thanatos will strike soon I can feel it. I just have to get everything ready before he does.” As Chris and Charlotte leave Valmont returns to his breakfast and finishes off those blueberry pancakes.

  Chapter Twen
ty Two