Now is the time, Valmont thinks to himself. He also knows there is a chance that nothing will happen but he can just feel that Thanatos is about to strike. Valmont is standing in full costume with Nashton Wayte and Victor Randal next two him. They are standing in the front hall of the manor next to the stairs, the same place the show started days ago. Valmont walks back and forth while looking at his watch, “Okay people lets do this.” He says as the time hits six.
Adam who is behind the camera raises his hand, “We are go in five, four...” and then just uses his fingers for three two and one.
“I know that you the audience is sick of waiting.” Valmont says calmly his body turned away from the camera. He then spins around, “So am I. I am use to more action then this, the waiting game is not my style.”
Alfred who normally would be right next to Valmont is off to the side with his arms folded and giving Valmont a judgmental glare. He is hoping that Valmont plays this right and does not act the way he has lately, “Be humble Val.” He mutters to himself.
“Nashton and Victor, have you guys found anything out? Anything hint about Thanatos?” Valmont says to the men next to him.
Randal is honestly shocked, even though he was told that he might have to do a little acting for the audience over the Thanatos thing he was expecting Valmont to steal the show. He memorized the lines and knows why he has to say them, the audience has to be lead to believe we know Thanatos is on his way and that the epic conclusion is upon us. “Thanatos has been spotted.” Victor Randal hates saying that lie but forces it out.
Nash is a bit more use to lying on camera having been a part of Sharp's show for years and playing his part in more then a couple government coverups. Behind the three men are pictures of wild animals torn up by what looks like a wild beast, claw marks, and teeth marks that look like a mix of human and wolf. “There is a trail of dead animals leading toward the Sharp Manor which could have only been made by a werewolf. While Thanatos himself has not been spotted he is the only one who could have caused such a mess.” In reality it's an elaborate setup constructed by the special effects team.
The images behind him change showing a map of the area and pinned locations of where the dead animals were. “With the information gathered by security personal.” Wayte starts to point out, “We estimate that Thanatos will be here by the end of the night. Because of this we have to be on our guard.”
Victor is wondering why he is even here, Nash could give the whole presentation by himself. “Security is in place and a nonstop search for Thanatos is already underway. If we do everything right he should be stopped before Valmont even has a chance to confront him.” Victor smiles at Valmont as he says the last part.
“You would love that.” Valmont responds, he is happy the chief of police seems to be enjoying himself. “If someone else to stops Thanatos and I don't that's my loss. Too bad your going to be with me.
“The look on your face when it goes down will be all I need.” Is Victor enjoying himself? Really he does not even know right now.
Valmont steps in front of the camera as Nash and Victor take a few steps back, “From this moment on we will be giving you nonstop coverage of the show. There will be no more breaks. Even if Thanatos does not attack for another forty hours we will be ready and waiting for him. However I don't expect this to take that long.” Valmont flashes a smile and raises his hands, he raises his voice a few decimals and gets really dramatic, “I expect that with in twelve hours Thanatos will be taken down by my hand.” Lowering his hand he grasps the white and silver cane with the wolf decorations on it. It looks like he is going to do something with it but he just puts it on his belt.
“Now I would like to say a couple more things. First Yosif Jocasta has left us early on important business. He will still be part of the show for this final act but his role has changed. Now because of that lets welcome back Alfred Labrone who will once again be by my side.”
Labrone who was out of view of the camera nods his head and walks on screen, he shakes Valmont's hand and then hugs him, “Thank you friend, being narrator is not enough for me anymore. I like having a more active role.”
“Don't sweat it. I never expected you to take a back seat.” Valmont pats his friend on the back then looks at the camera, he points at the camera or to be more exact the Camera man, “Adam Alexander.” The Camera man looks up and is surprised, “Can you come over here.”
As Adam walks closer to Valmont someone else take over as cameraman. Adam is visibly shaken, not sure what is going on, “Yes.” He says looking at Valmont.
“This man, Adam Alexander is a very good camera man who has been with the Sharp Monster Network for nine now and has been at a few of my shows.. I have kept an eye on the man and I was impressed with his work.” Valmont offers Adam his hand and shakes it vigorously, “For the rest of the show he will be my personal cameraman and will follow my every step and record my every action.” Valmont has done this with cameramen he has liked in the past and always loves seeing their reaction
“Sir I would be honored.” Adam says in a very respectful manner.
Valmont smiles, “Please call me Valmont.” And shakes the kids hand again.
Adam eagerly walks away and hastily picks up a portable camera. He quickly turns it on and walks back to Valmont's side, “Okay I'm ready.”
The feed from the front entrance camera shuts off and the main feed switches to Adam's camera. “Stick with me and you will be safe.”
“Safe?” Adam is perplexed how is being with Valmont safe, he's the target here he's the one the wolf man is after. Still the kid looks at Valmont and sees unfathomable confidence, Valmont truly believes Adam is safe by his side and Adam is inclined to believe it. “Thank you for this opportunity, I will not let you down.”
“See that you don't.” Valmont walks down the main hall, heading in the direction of study, “Now come on I have a few things to do before that monster gets here. I have to get ready for an epic showdown.”
Chris is sitting watching a game of chess between Ustence and Yosif, no it's not the same chess game from before. Chris has been watching the game for the last five minutes and says nothing. He merely watches as the two men make move after move, walking back and forth. It does not seem to be bothering Yosif but the ghost is getting more frustrated by the second. The ghost's color shifts and he starts to turn a bright shade of red. He makes a move with one of his pawns a bad move because he is paying more attention to Chris then to the game. Yosif takes advantage of the ghost's bad move and take the pawn with one of his own, “Check.”
The ghost seems to have steam coming out of his head and he brightens to a shade of dark red. He then turns to Chris and his face becomes transparent and stares at the kid with a skull like face. “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” He screams at the top of his lungs with green ectoplasmic goo flying out of his mouth.
Chris wipes off the goop with his hand and throws it to the ground, “I was just watching your game.”
“Chess is a game that requires total concentration you nitwit.” Ustence says, his voice vile sounding. “I'm done. I hate this company.” The ghost fades away, “I will be back when these kids leave.”
Chris has to stop himself from smiling, he sits down and controls the tone of his voice as best as he could, “Anyone sitting here?”
“Go ahead we can finish this game.” Yosif looks into Chris's eyes and reads his expression, “You planned that?”
“I though it was worth a try. I knew Ustence has a short temper I just wanted to see if I could get him to leave.”
“You could have just asked.” The ghost's voice said resonating from everywhere at the same time.
“You would not have listened stubborn old ghost.” Yosif responds, “Face it this was the most effective way to get you to leave.” The ghost has no response. “So Chris want to start a new game or finish this one?”
“I don't want to play. Actually I want to talk. I have something important I want to descuss.�
�� Chris starts setting up the pieces back to where they belong for the next game.
Yosif nods softly in agreement, “I figured as much. So what is it?”
“You said your here for my protection, from what exactly? Thanatos could care less about me, From what I understand he is targeting my father and everyone else is collateral.” Yosif nods his head in agreement, “With dear old dad making himself such a prime target I doubt Thanatos will make it anywhere near the museum. Yet your here to give me extra protection. From what? Who?”
“I think you know Chris.” The old man clearly does not want to give the answer. His sighs and looks at his hands, “We believe that Gabriel Tarque is working with Thanatos.”
That did not surprise Chris at all. “I see, and you and my father think that he will come after me at the same time as the attack on my father by Thanatos?”
“Yes but probably not Tarque himself. The man does not seem to like to get dirty.” The old man coughs a couple times and then wipes his face with his sleeve, “Yeah that's it.”
“So that's why your here? But how would Gabriel be able to get in here? He or his agent. This place is sealed tight right and unless one of my father's closest men is under Gabe's sway. Is something like that even possible?”
The old man looks at Chris with his dark knowing eyes. It is a glare filled with knowledge and fear. “You just answered it. Anyone could be under his control and not even know it. I don't know the what powers Gabriel Tarque even has or what limits he was given. I do know he has a knack for controlling people.” Yosif hates not knowing something. The man has spent a life time trying to understand the unknown. “Your father is not taking any chances. We must be prepared for everything.”
“I see. This does not make me feel better.” Chris looks over at Cole and Charlotte who are watching the Sharp show. “Do you have any idea who it is? I know what to look for yet I have not seen anything strange. Not from you, Alfred, Francois, Nash or my father.”
“Yes we would be the prime targets, that's true.” The old man looks up at the ceiling and drifts into thought. “I don't want to point fingers at anyone.” He thinks about the symptoms, “From what I understand the zombi symptoms, I call them zombi as that feels like the right voodoo term. It is not just used for the walking dead you know. Anyway the symptoms are drifting into space with unblinking eyes, staring at their target and for the victim to have no memory of doing that. Nope none of us have experienced those symptoms. However I don't think we would if we were compromised.”
“Why is that?” Chris asks.
“If, now lets say if.” Yosif eyes wonder for a second and then his attention focuses back on Chris, he is in his hypothesizing mode right now. “If Tarque were to gain control over someone high up in the Sharp organization he would be wise to do a through job. Do a good enough job so that his pawn would not show any symptoms. A sleeper if you will one only to be activated when given the command. He would not be a zombi until activated by Tarque.”
“A sleeper?” Chris mumbles to himself. “Makes sense.” Chris then starts laughing, “If it's you I'm screwed.”
Jocasta nods and the serous old can smiles, Chris loves the old man's smile. “Honestly I doubt any of us are compromised. However what do I know I have no real sixth sense I just get these vague feelings. Sometimes they are not very helpful.”
Book Four: Show time
Chapter Twenty Nine
Valmont Sharp: Monster Hunter Page 31