The Damascus Chronicles

by Dominic R. Daniels

  Franco crept upstairs to the Godfather’s bedroom, where he was sleeping, while downstairs Garcia and Phillips rigged the explosives to the boiler room beneath the mansion.

  “In 10 minutes this place is history,” Garcia chuckled wickedly.

  “Come on, let’s get to the truck,” said Phillips.

  As Franco entered the Godfather’s bedroom, he saw that Bobby Scarfo was also in the room. Bobby was the Godfather’s favorite nephew, a good man and loyal to the end. He was in his forties and quite fearless, dressed to kill in a sharp suit.

  “Don’t even think about it,” said Bobby holding up his Magnum.

  “But how!” Franco exploded.

  “The Godfather has never trusted you; he had a bug put on you while you were beaten up,” said Bobby.

  “It doesn’t matter, because in five minutes this place will be blown to bits,” said Franco. He leaped through the window, landing on top of the perfectly positioned truck. It sped off into the night. Bobby picked up Godfather Scarfo and jumped through the window onto a car that Bobby had signaled with his auto drive key. Using the auto drive Bobby got the car to a safe location as the dynamite destroyed the Godfather’s mansion.

  “That was too close, my boy,” said Godfather Scarfo.

  “I have to hide you in a special location,” said Bobby.

  “No, an old mobster like me is not afraid to die. I’m prepared for hell anyway,” said Godfather Scarfo.

  “We’ll meet with our contact, Mr. Cragwell; he’ll be able to help us,” Bobby replied. They drove off to Cragwell’s office to talk.

  Phillips had just arrived at his private office to rest after a job well done when he received a call. “Mr. Scarfo, yes I understand, right away, I’ll meet you immediately. Please come in,” Phillips spoke into the phone.

  He changed into his disguise with a black wig, mustache, and beard. A half-hour later Bobby and the Godfather arrived in front of Phillips’ office. “It’s show time,” said Phillips under his breath, as Bobby and Godfather Scarfo entered the office. “Ah, gentlemen what can I do for you this evening?” asked Phillips with a Russian accent, shaking Bobby’s hand.

  “We need to purchase a special property for my uncle here,” said Bobby.

  “But of course. I believe I have the perfect one set up for your business.”

  “You do?” said Bobby.

  “Please direct your attention to the center of the wooden cube base in the middle of the room.” Phillips pushing a button on a remote that had a model pop up from the cube base’s lid, showing a miniature of a weapon installation and safe house outside of the Las Vegas area.

  “Impressive,” said Godfather Scarfo in awe. “ Titanium alloy installation, unbreakable, with weapon caches perfect for pest control and a private safe house underneath the foundation. Our organization provides services to the government and private individuals for defense purposes,” Phillips explained.

  “How much?” Bobby asked.

  “Five million.”

  “Done,” said Godfather Scarfo, handing Phillips a check.

  “Here are the keys,” Phillips offered.

  After the Scarfos had left, Phillips looked at the check with greedy eyes. “Forget Franco. I don’t need his help; with this I can retire. But Garcia will come in handy.” Phillips smiled wickedly.

  In the car, Bobby had a hunch that something wasn’t right.

  “What’s wrong, nephew?” asked Godfather Scarfo.

  “Something isn’t right. Cragwell figured out too quickly that we were in need of a protective location. I don’t trust this guy,” said Bobby. “You’re right. Lucky for us, I never use real checks,” said Godfather Scarfo.

  “I better tell Michael about this,” thought Bobby as he drove on to an old warehouse in which he could hide the Godfather. After dropping off the Godfather and calling bodyguards to protect his uncle, Bobby proceeded to Michael’s pad.

  Back at Michael’s pad, Serena, Jackie, Anthony, and Michael were discussing a way to end the war with the Scarfos just as Bobby knocked on the door. Michael opened the door in surprise. “Bobby what are you doing here?”

  Jackie rose in anger as he spotted Bobby. “What the hell is he doing here!”

  “I did not come here to argue with you Jackie. This problem is far more serious,” said Bobby.

  “Cut the crap Jackie. Bobby is a friend of Isabelle and any friend of hers is always a friend of mine. What’s wrong Bobby?” asked Michael. “Franco nearly whacked my uncle and he destroyed the mansion,” Bobby Scarfo reported.

  “I knew the old man couldn’t stop Franco,” said Anthony, upset.

  “Apparently Franco has been the cause behind this mob war between both our families,” said Jackie.

  “Things have gotten too dangerous. Franco must have had spies to have been able to get to us both like this,” said Michael.

  “What do we do now?” asked Serena.

  “We all must inform the Don immediately,” Jackie decided. They raced off in Bobby’s car to the Terrace Tower.

  “Just wondering – have you been visited by anyone doing money transfers lately?” Bobby Scarfo asked.

  “Yes, we have; every week a guy by the name of Riffman, a Russian, stops by. He’s always wearing a gold ring with a crescent hammer. Why do you ask?” said Jackie.

  “We too have a Russian working for us as well, in money and defense transfer contracts. The guy’s name is Cragwell and he also wears the same kind of ring,” said Bobby. On hearing this Michael flashed back in his mind and remembered the ring that Riffman was wearing the night he came in to collect the protection money. “Did he have a scar on his left eye?” asked Michael.

  “Yes,” Bobby replied.

  “That settles it then, it’s the same guy. We’ve been had,” said Jackie.

  “I bet it was also the same guy we saw with Franco at the warehouse weapons deal,” Serena chipped in.

  “It must be, but we still don’t know who the guy really is,” said Michael as they arrived at the Terrace Tower.

  In the Don’s office Michael and company gathered and laid out the whole story. After hearing this the Don looked quite stern, his hands clenched up to his chin in deep thought. “I have come to a decision and it’s one I regret having to make. As of right this moment, we must all go into hiding. Franco Scarfo has been able to gain much information on both our organizations and he has more advanced firepower than us,” Don Felice decided.

  “You can’t mean it?” interrupted Jackie.

  “Yes. I hate to say it, but we must all go our separate ways, for now. It is too dangerous; this could bring the Feds down on us, and I’m sure the police commissioner has already contacted them,” concluded Don Felice.

  “So that’s it, we hide like roaches,” interjected Michael.

  “Yes son, that’s what we must do until we can find a way to expose Franco and his operation to the media. If we can find a way to do that, Franco’s days will be over,” said Don Felice. With looks of sad defeat they all shook hands and departed each other’s company.

  Chapter 33: “New Allies and Friends”

  As Michael and Serena sped off for home, Michael grew fed up with the actions of the Don. “How do you like that? The Don just expects us to hide under a rock until things are all better; it makes me damn sick.”

  “I suppose he’s only trying to protect his family. Didn’t you tell me one time that the ‘family’ is your family?” asked Serena.

  “You’re right, he’s only trying to look out for our welfare,” said Michael. “However, that still doesn’t fix how we’re going to beat Franco at his game.” Michael was frustrated and driving fast.

  “Well, I think I might know some people who can help us,” said Serena confidently.

  “Who?”

  “The Coven.”

  “The what?” Michael asked as Serena gave him a wicked smile, her lovely eyebrows arching coyly. “They might actually need our help, from what I’ve been told by the o
ther vampires in the city,” said Serena.

  “How come you didn’t tell me about this before?” asked a surprised Michael.

  “I forgot to tell you, sorry,” said Serena.

  “Where is this coven located? I take it that it’s somewhere dark and mysterious.”

  “Baby, you watch too many movies. It’s at the newly appointed Vladimir skyscraper downtown, the financial headquarters of the Zoratus Enterprises Corporation. There are actually many covens in the city, but this one is the largest.”

  “Vlad, for the Impaler, right?”

  “Right,” said Serena.

  “Oh please.” Michael was annoyed by the cheesiness of the name, and Serena chuckled as they sped off to the Vladimir skyscraper.

  During the last 20 years, Las Vegas had been transformed into looking more like the vast closeness of New York and Los Angeles with its new monstrous skyscrapers and vast bullet train systems. The only thing that has stayed connected to the past was the Strip, even with the gigantic buildings that now towered over the old casinos and resorts. The Strip’s nickname was now “Old Vegas”.

  After parking the car in a nearby lot, Serena and Michael proceeded to the front entrance of the colossal building. The doorman, who was a vampire, recognized the small symbol on Serena’s neck, a vampiric seal of the Zoratus family. After being admitted Serena and Michael proceeded to the center of the lobby where a large, transparent, tubular elevator waited for them; they entered and shot up to the two-hundredth floor, where they would meet a force of mystery.

  In a large circular office, with blue drapes and walls decorated in medieval art and weapons, sat a man in a blue cloak, a crucifix around his neck. He wore a silk-cuffed shirt, a red tie and the vampiric seal embroidered on the back of his vestments. His hair was long and as white as a glacier and his eyes burned with bluish fire. His face was aged, wrinkles upon wrinkles, along with scars from endless years of battle. A true Italian and crusader of his faith.

  The man was speaking with his eldest son, Darius. Darius was a man whose black hair was sharp as spikes; he was dressed in black leather pants and boots, with an Edwardian vest and black tie. He was half Italian and Romanian.

  “Father, why do we waste such time on humans? They do not understand us and fear us,” Darius asked.

  “My son, these times have grown dark for our family’s bloodline. Our kind is turning to side with our enemy. They have given up their belief in the promise of the Lord, of which the angel Gabriel spoke to me. We need new human allies to aid us in the Great Test, especially if we want to end the war,” replied the old man.

  “It has been a waste of time, seven centuries to be exact. We should be looking out forour own interests” replied Darius.

  “Son, if you think this is a waste of time, understand this: the Great Test was difficult in my time and so it will be among this generation of our family,” said the old man.

  “But how long, for how long, father? What of the future of our species; we are being depleted in number by slayers and by society. We should preserve our kind, not find a way to reform it,” Darius pressed.

  ”Until all of Reynard Desbode’s forces and the Society have been crushed. It is then that we will be free from our plight,” said the old man.

  “Shall I go see Marko then?” asked Darius.

  “Yes Darius, go report to Marko; he will provide the information you need for your next mission,” said the old man.

  “Yes father,” replied Darius, bowing in respect and left room.

  Darius went to report to Marko and his sister Marianna. Julius’s oldest daughter. “Foolish boy,” said Julius under his breath.

  Marko, the chief chemist and robotics engineer of Zoratus Enterprises, was hard at work on his newest creations. Marianna was looking at plant samples making medical serums. Marko was Julius’s blood brother. Though ancient as a elder of the Zoratus vampire coven, Marko was an expert and master in technical weapons development with a firm regard to his work.

  “How’s it going?” asked Darius, putting on his metaphorical mask.

  “Fine, I just isolated the enzymes in these plants,” said Marianna, mesmerized, her eyes locked into the lens of her microscope.

  “What are you going to use it for?” asked Darius, actually a little interested.

  “Antitoxins. The last raid we were in was a nasty one,” said Marianna.

  “Listen, I was wondering Marianna, why do you still want to help out the old man?”

  “Because, I love him, he is our father after all.”

  “Don’t give me that. Is it because of love or duty to honor?”

  “Why bother me with these petty questions? Shouldn’t you be preparing the strike team for the next attack?” said Marianna, annoyed now.

  “It’s not them I’m worried about; it’s me I’m starting to be concerned with. I’m tired of this futility,” said Darius.

  “We all chose to serve Father because we desire peace with the humans; in redeeming ourselves, we renew the soul,” said Marianna loyally. She was a strong and noble warrior to her clan and beautiful, with eastern Asian eyes, long braided black hair, and peach colored pouty lips. She was dressed in a black PVC outfit. First born, of Julius’s children. Half Japanese and half Italian.

  “I hate you defending that ideology. We should be accepted for what we are, as vampires; we should not bend to the laws and ways of humanity. We live longer, fight stronger, and are a lot a better in bed, thank you,” said Darius, annoying his sister with his arrogance.

  “Stop your bickering! Both of you are interrupting my thoughts,” said Marko.

  “What’ve you been up to?” asked Darius.

  “I have been making you a new weapon to use on the Dark Society’s new soldiers, so pay attention. Come here and try this out,” commanded Marko.

  Pulling off his welding mask, he turned off his welding torch and sprayed a coolant on the weapon. “Well?” asked Darius. Marko rolled up his sleeves, removing a chain machine gun glove from a small stand. “Hold out your arm,” instructed Marko.

  “What?” Darius asked, concerned.

  “Trust me.” Marko fit the robotic glove on Darius’s left arm. Finding the trigger tips on his fingers, Darius fired away as the machine gun glove shot rounds of thermite that burned through a test metal, melting holes straight through. “What is the compound?” asked Darius.

  “Simple thermite bombs. I was able to protect the weapon from melting with a new alloy I’ve been developing, we got a lot power here in a little package,” said Marko.

  “You’re a genius after all.”

  “I know, I know. Now prepare the men for the attack.”

  “Thanks,” said Darius as he left to continue training the men in his underground compound. Marko just shook his head at the young vampire. “He does not understand the importance of what we are doing,” said Marko.

  “He will eventually. We’re trying to reestablish the alignment of our spies and the others in what was agreed upon by the elders of the council,” said Marianna as she continued to review her reports.

  Serena knocked on the main chamber door but the old man had sensed who it was. “Serena my child, come in, come give an old man a hug,” the old man smiling.

  “Grandfather,” said Serena as they hugged.

  “It’s good to see you,” said the old vampire, smiling at his granddaughter. Michael looked at the old man with a feeling of curiosity. He didn’t have much understanding of his new vampiric nature.

  “A new lover you have, a handsome and fearless one,” said the old man sternly.

  “Julius Zoratus, I presume,” said Michael as he shook the old man’s hand.

  “My great-granddaughter did well to choose you,” said Zoratus.

  “Save the formalities and let’s get down to business,” said Michael.

  “He is bold and forward,” said Zoratus to Serena.

  “We have come in need of assistance,” said Michael.

  “Alliance must
be earned, young man. I know what you desire, there is no need to ask,” replied Zoratus.

  “What?” Michael felt insulted.

  “Our organization is not like the mafia that you ruthlessly kill for,” said Zoratus.

  “But I thought that all vampires killed ruthlessly to survive,” Michael boldly answered back.

  “We only take what we need to survive, and we don’t kill anymore to feed; these days, a donor can freely give us his or her blood to sustain us, which is why we are in development of new chemical serums to make up the difference,” Zoratus explained.

  “Serena tells me that you also own all the blood banks and hospitals in the city,” said Michael.

  “Our corporation does own the blood banks and hospitals. We also use them to trace the infected ones, in order to protect our kind from exploitation by outsiders,” said Julius. “Okay then, I’ll spare the details on us and let’s get to your contact, Jackie Santerini, who you work for, and the Santerini Family.”

  “How do you know that?” asked Michael.

  “Our global organization has many links to key individuals and our contacts in city have told us much about your former background and who you work with,” said Julius.

  “Get to the point then; what do I have to do to win your trust?”

  “Impatience will get you nowhere, young vampire,” warned Zoratus.

  “Spare me the sermon, please,” said Michael.

  “Michael,” said Serena, upset at her lover’s rudeness.

  “Forgive me,” said Michael quickly.

  “You are forgiven. Now let me bring you to the initiation counsel. There is much to discuss,” said Zoratus.

  They entered a chamber through the bookcase in the grand library, which was stacked to great heights with old books; a mountain of knowledge towered in the large room. Michael was in awe; he had never seen a library this size before.

  “Glad you like the library,” said Lord Zoratus. “It’s beautiful,” replied Michael.

  “I’m also glad to see your pompous friend respects knowledge,” chuckled Lord Zoratus to Serena.