Gabriel Tarque moves deeper into the museum with a dramatic flair, he is enjoying this. He smiles wide as his slaves are holding the guards hostage, “You will take me to the secret entrance. I know the kids are down there.” He says looking at James Milfred. Milfred is still being held at knife point by by Gordon Cochran who has tears running down his face as his body is forced to work for this mad man.
Milfred does his best to remain calm. He knows he is at the Voodoo Shaman's mercy. He forces a smile, “It won't do you any good.”
“Is that what you think?” He says with a knowledgeable voice. Gabriel walks carefully with his cane, making sure he shows off with his long jacket as he walks. He is playing this up. Gabriel is leading the way with Cochran holding James Milfred right next to him. Mosses Breaker and Alison Meya Are cuffed together with their legs chained to keep them from running away. Finally in the back is a meek man who seems to have been forced along. He looks at the captives with a remorseful eye but his defeated face shows that there is nothing he can do. Anton Rast has no more fight left in him.
Gabriel moves around the museum like he knows the place. He has seen the museum though many different eyes, the eyes of those he controls. This is the first time he was walked these halls on his own. He stops every few feet to look at a museum exhibit and give his own two cents, “What a hack.” he mutters looking at some of the older shows.
At the center of the museum is a smaller closed passage that separates the two main wings. There is a large picture of Valmont Sharp painted in a realistic style. The painting shows Sharp as a triumphant hero standing over a mound of slain beasts dressed in his white monster hunting attire. Gabriel swishes a large glob of spit in his mouth and then lodges the logy at Sharps head. It strikes him right in the forehead. “Kill Shot.” the voodoo priest says with a smile.
“We keep telling you there is nothing here.” Meya says. She has already told Gabriel the cover story but he does not buy it. “We are simply a reserve unit making sure no one unauthorized breaks into the museum. You know like the kids and that reporter from earlier.”
Gabriel twists his head around and smiles at her with white teeth, it is a cruel vindictive smile. “I am not stupid, I think that is clear.” Gabe turns away from her and walks over to a small statue, a bronze bust of Valmont's head. He touches the brim of the hat and pushes down. The large picture of Valmont raises up the wall and revels a staircase leading down stairs. “What I want is down there.” Gabriel Tarque leads his unwilling servants and even less willing prisoners down the metallic stairs that he has seen at least a dozen times though other eyes.
James Milfred as team leader was the only one with clearance to contact Cole if a worst case scenario occurred. The problem is he can't warn Cole and the others since he is at knife point by his communications officer. “Nash was right.” Before assigned to protect the museum James Milfred was trying to discover who might be under Tarque's control. Only now does it dawn on him how badly he failed. “Some one really high up is compromised.” He mutters to himself.
Tarque stops in front of the large steel door and the electronic lock system and looks at it. There is nothing he could do here, “Looks like this is as far as I go.” He sits down on the steps. “We should all sit, it will be a while before we gain entry.” He motions to Cochran to loosen his grip on Milfred's neck, “Kill him only he he tries something stupid.”
“Don't worry I won't.” Milfred mutters.
“Good, I need focus. Anton?”
When Gabe called him the nervous wreck of a man jumps up to his feet and scurries over. He does not waste any time, “Ye, yes sir?”
Gabriel Tarque fumbles his hands though his black coat and pulls out a large hand gun that dwarf's the black man's small hands. The shine of the gun shocks Rast who seems to almost jump out of his skin. Gabriel Points the gun at him glares at him with serous eyes, “Take this.” He flips the gun over and points the handle at Rast.
Anton Rast nervously grabs the gun and looks at it. His hand shakes and it looks like he might drop the gun as he tries to point it, “What? Whats this a... about?”
“You are going to take that gun and point it at that woman's head.” He looks at Meya.
“Sir?” Rast looks shocked, he does not like guns, he never shot one. “I don't understand.”
“Ain't it obvious?” Gabriel looks around at the others in the stair way. “I need you to protect me while I reach out and call someone. So go press that gun up to her head.” He watches as Rast stumbles over to the female security officer. “Yes that's right, up to the base of her skull. Now if she or the big guy try to play hero blow her brains out. I know your useless Rast but even you can handle that. And please make sure none of the blood lands on me. You know how much I hate blood.”
Anton Rast nods, his hands are sweaty and his trigger finger is twitching. If there was any fight left in Anton Rast he has to find it. This might be the man's final opportunity to free himself of Gabriel Tarque. That just makes him feel worse as he presses the gun up to Meya's forehead and keeps it there.
“Good now don't move it.” Tarque's voice is satisfied and sounds as smooth as silk. He closes his eyes and then his arms seem to start moving on their own as he digs though his pockets and starts making the necessary preparations. He pulls out a packet of black sand and spreads it in a circle around himself and then sits down in the center. He starts to chant in a long lost ancient language that he does not fully understand. “I am the servant of those who are beyond life and death. I am a vassal for your power and I call on for your help.” The black sand starts to glow and then bursts into black flames. Summoning one of his servants is easy when he is close by them but it is hard when there is distance between them, plus the magics in the sub basement of the museum are making harder. That is why he needs such a complex ritual to awaken his servant.
“I call on the entities for assistance to achieve your goals and mine.” Gabe's head twists back and his eyes flutter. They then fly open and have a slight yellow glow. “I call on my trump card. It is time. Come to the sub basement entrance, let me in. You cannot disobey me.”
Chris and others are watching the TV that was set to the Sharp show. Vargas has been located and attacking the compound so things are starting to get good. The attack at the gate was caught on video as was the death of the police officer. Since that moment most of the TVs were turned to the Sharp show and the small group lost all interest in books, video games, chess and annoying old ghosts.
“The shit has hit the fan.” Cole says not bothering to watch his language.
Chris does not respond. He was watched shows where his father's life was on the line in the past but this is the first time he knew the danger. Chris always believed his father was safe. He is scared, “Please be okay.” He mutters under his breath.
Cole places his hand on his friend's shoulder, “You're father is a professional, he will end this as quickly as possible.”
The TV is turned to the Sharp Monster Network which is currently on a commercial free mode. When the events reach their climax the Sharp Network can air shows uninterrupted. There is narration while the action is going on because the live recordings have limited sound. Normally it would be Cole or Alfred doing the narration but it's currently the female reporter for the Sharp show. “If you are just now joining us Vargas Thanatos has just broke unto Sharp manor. He jumped from a tree and crashed though a third story window.. We are now switching over to a life feed from the third floor of the manor until Valmont and his team show up to put an end to Vargas Thanatos.” There is a sense of confidence in the reporters voice, she has no reason to believe Sharp is in any real danger.
“He's in the house, no the staff?” Chris mutters.
Cole and Yosif look at each other and then back at Chris, “You don't have to worry.” Cole says calmly.
There is a loud scratchy howling sound and the sound of shattering glass and wood, they hear just enough to get a clue what is going on. T
he camera faces the hallway outside the left corridor of the third floor. There are no cameras in the rooms so they could not get a direct feed on Thanatos. After a few seconds Carter Fogal the head of the house staff walks over to the door with a gun in one hand and a radio in the other.
“Carter get out of there.” Chris says knowing he sounds like a fool.
“Carter knows the risk.” Yosif says calmly.
Chris looks at the old man, “Is he trained for this type of thing? Does he know what's really going on?”
“Carter knew the truth the moment the show became real. Valmont told the entire house hold staff at the time.” Yosif keeps one eye on the show and the other on Chris, “You know he's a skilled marksman right? You went to his competitions when you were younger. Well he trains the rest of the staff how to handle fire arms.”
Chris does remember going to Carter's competitions, he was impressed by the butler's marksmanship. Carter Fogal is a natural shot but refuses to use his skills for hunting, he's just a showman when it comes to guns. “I see.” That does not make Chris feel any better, this whole situation bothers him.
Carter Fogal is hugging the wall, he put his radio away and is pointing two guns at the door. A clawed hand busts though the door and Fogal fires a couple shots which causes Thanatos to howl in pain. Then he charges at the door with wild abandon.
“Get out of there, get out of there.” Chris mutters.
Charolette squeezes his hand, “Trust that he knows what he's doing and that your father knows what he is doing.”
“You guys are so calm.” Chris. “How do you do it?”
“We are use to it.” She response. “Right Cole.”
Cole's head is down, he is not looking at and TV set. He moves his hands over his eyes and starts to shake, “Ahhhhhhh.”
Chris and Yosif turn their attention to Cole. “Cole what's wrong.”
Cole's shaking increases, he opens his mouth tries to respond, “I am alright. I have a splitting headache.” He mutters. He slowly stands not looking at Chris, Charolette or Yosif, “I need a glass of water.” He walks over to the sink with stiff awkward movements.
Yosif raises in eyebrow and shifts his attention from the TV to Cole. On TV Vargas has just busted though the door and whacks Fogal with a very powerful blow. The camera focuses on him to show that he is still alive before turning the attention back on Vargas. There is then clear sound from a second source, “It is time to finish this Vargas! You are going down.” The camera switches over to a dramatic shot of Valmont sharp and his team ready to take down the wild wolf man.
Yosif however is no longer watching TV. His attention is focused on Cole whose behavior strikes him as strange. “Cole?” Yosif pushes down on his cane with both hands to pull up himself up. “Cole look at me.”
“What?” Cole's voice sounds forced, he does not look at Yosif. He swallows a couple aspirin and then shallows some water and then starts walking toward the door. “I need fresh air.” He still walks with an awkward robotic movement that puts Yosif on edge.
Now Chris turns his attention to Yosif, “Oh no.” He looks into Yosif's eyes and the frightened gleam in the old man's eyes confirms it. “Come on Charolette we have to get Cole.”
Charolette does not quite understand but senses that something is wrong, She jumps up and walks over to Cole, she and Chris grab him by the hand, “Cole what's going on?”
“Pin him.” Yosif yells.
“No that is not necessary.” Chris tries to look into his friend’s eyes but Cole keeps moving away so he does not give Chris direct eye contact. “Cole look at me tell me this is not what it looks like?”
“I am fine Chris.” Cole mutters trying to look away. However Chris gets a good look at his friend's eyes, they are red and bloodshot and seem to be looking beyond Chris.
“No you're not. You're being controlled.”
“Yes by Tarque.” the old man slowly walks over to Cole, “Hold him steady.”
Cole shakes his head, “No it's not true.” His voice flutters, like he is being forced to say this. “I am fine.” He then closes his eyes and puts his head down. He seems to have calmed down and then slowly opens his eyes, they are glowing yellow. A sly slasher smile appears on Cole's face, “You are very smart Yosif. Age has not diminished your skills.” It is Tarque speaking out of Cole's mouth. Cole throws Chris and Charolette off him with possessed strength. Chris hits the wall next to the door and Charolette is thrown at Yosif. The old man tumbles to the ground. Cole grabs for the door and slides it open, “Yes come to me my mind puppet.” Tarque's voice says out of Cole's mouth.
Charolette pulls herself off the ground and then grabs for Yosif's hand, “Sorry about that.” She says politely.
Reaching for his cane the old man smiles, “It's not your fault.” He pulls up with all his strength, taking her hand for extra support. “Damn I knew something was up, we have to stop him.”
Chris uses the wall for support as he pulls himself up. He landed shoulder first and it is stinging in pain. He quickly rotates his shoulder and elbow to make sure nothing is broken, “Ah that's smarts.” Nothing is broken but the pain is still intense. “I got Cole.” He says looking at Charolette, “You make sure Yosif is okay.”
“Got ya.” Charolette walks Yosif over to the couch, “You should rest here.” the old man was hurt the most and given his age should not try to stop Cole in his current state.
Yosif shakes his head, “I never expected this. The type of power Tarque has, no it is not natural.”
Chris runs out of Ustence Griffith's quarters and into the sub basement. It was only seconds since Cole knocked him to the wall and yet Cole is already nearly to the stairs. While in his staggering movements he seems to be walking very slowly he's actually moving very quickly. Chris goes into a half run to meet up with his friend, “Snap out of it Cole.” He grabs is friend by the hand and pulls him around.
“There, there is no snapping out.” Gabriel Tarque is no longer speaking though Cole and he seems to be trying to fight it now. “I am trying.” Cole slips out of Chris's grip and starts ascending up the stairs, “I have to let him in, don't you see that.”
“Him?” Chris realizes that Tarque is right behind that door. He grabs his friend again and tries to pull Cole away from the stairs, it does not work. Cole has always been stronger then Chris and he has worked out a lot since he officially joined the sharp show. Chris is no match for his friend.
He pulls Chris off him and throws him down, “Stay down Chris, run, hide.”
Chris tumbles as he hits the bottom of the stairs, his friend is trying not to hurt him. Chris realizes he can't stop Cole, “Damn it.” Chris just manages to stand by the time Cole begins to type in his security code.
Valmont has it set up so only he can open up the sub basement from the outside but that any one with the correct password can open it up from the inside. That includes Cole. He inputs his seven digit password before Chris takes a couple steps closer to him. “Pass code accepted, opening door. Please move away from the door.”
Cole moves back from the door and looks at Chris, his eyes are watery, “I am sorry.”
“And I am thankful.” A smooth voice responds as the large steel door opens. Gabriel Tarque descends the stairs followed by his zombi minion Gordon Cochran, three prisoners and a nervous man trailing behind them.
Chris is shocked seeing Anton Rast following this small group. While the shop keeper was weird he thought Rast was harmless. Still the man seemed to know more then he let on. “Rast?”
Gabriel Tarque frowns, “Rast?” He says with vile, “You're surprised to see Rast and not your nemesis?”
Chris shakes his head, “I don't know who you are.”
Gabe gives a slight nod, “Oh that's right we never met, silly me.” He takes out a small curved knife with a white bone handle from his jacket and puts it up to Chris's throat, it would be so easy to kill Chris right now if that was Tarque's style. “I am the one who has been pl
aguing your life these past few months. I am Gabriel Tarque.” He puts the knife away and then extends a hand, “Nice to meet you.”
Chris's eyes are wide with confusion, what is up with this strange black man. “What?” He does not shake the man's hand, “Why don't you just kill me?”
“Oh I will kill you eventually.” He takes out a packet of silver powder and takes a pinch of it between his fingers. He blows the power in Chris's face. Chris falls to the ground after a second, “I have other business first.”
Chris tries to move his arms and then his legs, he can't, “What did you do to me.” He mutters in a slurred voice.
“You can still speak? I did not expect that?” Tarque says with genuine surprise. “Anyway Paralyzing powder. you won't be moving for a while.” Tarque turns away from Chris, “Now if you excuse me I have business over here.” He walks away from Chris and heads over to the real museum exhibits.
Chapter Thirty Three
Valmont Sharp: Monster Hunter Page 35