The Damascus Chronicles

by Dominic R. Daniels

  Just as another ninja was preparing to shoot, Rocko pushed Danny out of the way and took a dart in the chest.

  “Rocko!” screamed Danny, helping Rocko up and pulling out the dart. Flipping to attack behind them came a ninja, ready to cut off their heads; Serena zipped in behind him and slit his throat with her claws, ripping his head off as blood spouted onto Rocko and Danny, who were petrified by the violence. Darius and Marianna finished off the others, impaling them on with the decorative spikes that hung on the walls.

  In an instant the fight was over and the whole place was soaked in blood.

  “Well that was fun,” panted Rocko.

  “Quick Suki, go the herb room, he’s been poisoned!” yelled Lao.

  “Poisoned!” panicked Rocko.

  Suki ran into another room, and grabbing a bottle named Dragon’s Blood from a shelf, and raced back to Rocko.

  “Drink this, it will help you sleep,” instructed Suki. Rocko obeyed, downing the antidote; he then passed out.

  “Will he live?” asked Michael.

  “He’s going to be fine; he just needs to absorb the antidote through his system. Bring him to my room. He can rest there,” Lao ordered.

  “Scarlet!” said Serena running to her cousin. Darius came over to pick her up. “Just out, she can’t fight in this condition,” said Darius; he disappeared into the shadows then quickly reappeared. “Don’t worry, I took the kid home,” said he explained.

  “What about the police?” said Serena.

  “Don’t worry this dojo is soundproof. We just need to get rid of the bodies,” Lao said. As he said this, the bodies went up in black flames and smoke, dissolved to nothing.

  “What the hell is going on here!” demanded Serena.

  “Shadow agents, Triad shadow agents,” said Darius.

  “The Triads have joined with the Dark Society; only that creep Jubel and the black-robed guy on the rooftop could have done this!” said Michael.

  “My son,” said Lao sadly.

  “What?” Michael exclaimed.

  “It has already begun,” said Lao.

  “Their power is great,” Suki agreed.

  “I need to kill him!” said Michael.

  “You’ll get your chance,” said Darius.

  “Everyone all right?” asked Marianna.

  “What do we do?” said Danny.

  “Find the Triads and kill them, what else,” Darius scoffed.

  “Go and find any leads you can. Watch your backs, all of you; here, take these walkie-talkies and these pocket computers. Your target’s picture is stored on it,” said Lao, handing the others the devices.

  “What about me?” asked Michael.

  “You stay here and I will have you fully trained in four days.”

  “That’s too long. The Triads will have found the book by then,” Michael protested.

  “Very well; two days,” agreed Lao. “The rest of you will have my little friends to help you locate the statue.”

  “What friends?” asked Michael.

  Lao turned his attention to the study. “Chow Ling! Kung Kung, come here!” he ordered. Out from the curtains flew a little creature no bigger than a man’s hand, with the head and body of a woman, gray skin, and wings that were like a hawk’s. It landed on Lao’s arm like a well-trained bird.

  “I don’t believe this, it can’t be!” said Serena.

  “I don’t see anything; it looks like an ordinary bird,” said Danny.

  “No, you can’t see its true visage because you’re human,” said Suki as she tossed Danny a pendent.

  “Put it on and you will see.” Danny obeyed.

  “Oh shit,” said Danny, truly seeing the pint-sized beauty.

  “What is it?” Michael asked, also seeing the creature for what it was.

  “A Yosei, also known as a fairy. Its ears will be your ears, and its sight will become your sight,” said Lao.

  “Is he smart?” asked Darius.

  “She, actually. Chow Ling is brilliant, not just intelligent,” said Lao. Chow Ling gave a little cheep, folding her little arms, and then danced for joy in Lao’s hand, like a ballerina.

  “Cute,” said Michael. Kung Kung then strutted into the room; a giant Siamese cat with the body of a young cougar, the claws of a lion, and nine tails of a leopard. The cat jumped on Michael in excitement, licking Michael’s face. “Shit!”

  “Easy Boy! Easy Boy,” yelled Lao, grabbing the great cat. “He seems to like you Damascus,” Lao chuckled.

  “I can see that, now get this thing off me!” commanded Michael. Lao pulled the friendly feline off his so-called victim.

  “Kung Kung has a superior sense of smell; he can track anything. He can also aid you with his unique ability to shape shift,” said Suki picking up a piece of the shreds of a ninja’s torn garment from the floor. Kung Kung inspected the torn cloth, sniffing it carefully. His eyes turned a hellish green and he let out an ominous scream, ready to pursue. “Now then; my friends will aid you. Command them to follow you and they will. They will look like normal animals to humans so do not worry; only the supernatural can see them. Split into teams in the city and seek out the Triads in lower downtown, mid town, and here in the Oriental district. If you find a Japanese vampire by the name of Mohachi Yung, who owns a few businesses in those areas, you will then find where they have taken the statue,” instructed Lao.

  “Who is he?” asked Serena.

  “The Triad’s boss,” said Lao. They all left with the creatures to guide them, except for Michael and Rocko, who stayed behind.

  Chapter 52: Stewards of Swords

  After everyone had left the dojo, Michael and Lao remained alone in the tea room to talk. As they sat on comfortable pillows, they drank sake together. “Tell me everything, everything I need to know to kill this guy, this Jubel,” said Michael.

  “He’s no man. He’s a devil,” Lao cautioned.

  “You said he was your son.”

  “He was my adopted son at one time, yes,” said Lao.

  “Was?”

  #8221;Before I came to America, I trained the man you met. Jubel was my favorite student. He was the most deadly martial artist in all of Japan, an agent to the government. When shadow agents came one night to kill my daughter and I, Jubel prevented the assassination. I was proud to see a man with such honor. From that night on, he was made my son. For five years I trained him, taught him, and even loved him as my own,” said Lao sadly. “What happened later?”

  “Late one night a man in a black robe came to our koryu school. He and Jubel talked. Jubel asked the man to leave, but the man attacked Jubel, and cursed him with a black orb. The poison of hatred consumed Jubel’s mind. That was the man you spoke of earlier, Alazar Desbode, the son of my greatest enemy.”

  “So Alazar Desbode was the one who turned Jubel into a killing machine.”

  “Yes, and there has been no way to save him. He can’t be killed as long as his soul is aligned with the dark forces that have merged with him.”

  “Maybe I can even the odds. Somehow I have to try,” said Michael as Suki came into the room, pouring a fresh pot of green tea into cups for Michael and her father.

  “I have prayed to Buddha that he will be set free, but my prayers have never been answered,” said Lao, feeling guilt for Jubel.

  “I believe in you Michael, I want you to know that,” said Suki smiling.

  We shall see, we shall see,” said Lao firmly as he puffed on his Chinese pipe.

  “I wonder what the future holds for us all,” mused Michael.

  “Your worst fear is your destiny. To destroy your fear you must face your destiny,” said Lao firmly.

  The clock struck twelve and Lao had gone to retire for the night; Michael stood on the rooftop with the moon shining high above him. Michael focused his mind on thinking of a way to kill Jubel and find the statue.

  Suki came up not knowing he was there. “What are you doing up here?” she asked.

  “Thinking how stupid I
was to get myself mixed up in all of this mess,” said Michael.

  “Don’t doubt yourself Michael. I see you have a warrior spirit,” said Suki.

  “Prophecies, vampires, mystical creatures; I’ve forgotten what normal life is like, just a normal, average life,” said Michael.

  “But they need you out there. Isn’t that why you’ve now chosen to help innocent people?”

  “You know, I used to believe that, the hero thing I mean, back in CIA; I used to believe in honor, justice and integrity. But when I got into the trade with the Family, all hell broke loose, and look at me now.”

  “Then change it. Use who you are now to make a difference. Just because you became what you are on the outside does not mean you have to be it within. You can be the hero you once were if you choose it. Look inside your heart. You can atone for your past mistakes you made by helping others.”

  Michael turned to Suki. “You’re right; I can make a difference if I choose to.”

  “You can,” said Suki.

  All Michael could feel was grief for the terrible things he had done in his life, and for a moment he thought to himself, “Can I really be forgiven?”

  Suki saw his sadness and kissed him on the cheek to say goodnight.

  The next day Michael awoke to his training. The windows were shut tight; lanterns brought light to the dojo where he would train with Lao. Michael dressed himself in a traditional Japanese black robe and fastened sandals on his feet; he wrapped his ankles and hands with bands. Lao came into the room dressed in a red kimono holding a wooden practice katana in its sheath. Lao tossed Michael a practice sword, and the two both bowed to each other in respect and prepared to fight.

  “Now then; Bushido is the way of the warrior. To defeat your foes you must become one with your sword, every breath you take, every step you make, every sound you hear, to become one in balance, discipline, spirit, heart. Your sword will become your reason for living. This is the essence and soul of a Samurai. Do this and you will be able to defeat any adversary.”

  “Let’s just fight already,” said Michael. “Attack,” commanded Lao. Michael lunged onward. Lao side stepped and knocked Michael down with his Kendo.

  “Get up,” ordered Lao.

  “All right man, this is getting old,” sassed Michael.

  “Slow, attack slowly; feel the blade and let your opponent make the first move, then strike,” said Lao. “Now again!”

  Michael watched Lao’s eyes move and his body turn, and then blocked the attack perfectly.

  “Well done,” said Lao. “Again, mimic the way I move, the motions I make, follow my eyes, and watch my hands.”

  Lao circled the room with the motions of a skilled dancer. Michael followed cautiously and exactly.

  “Attack!” shouted Lao. The two began to match each other’s movements and strokes of their blades. Michael grew more experienced in handling his sword, learning when to attack and when to keep his guard.

  “Very good!” commended Lao after hours of intense training.

  “So am I ready?” asked Michael.

  “When the stars fall to the middle kingdom, so it will be,” said Lao.

  Michael grew impatient and lunged at Lao in frustration. Lao jumped kicked his opponent in the face, knocking him down. Michael spat up blood as a tooth fell out, a new one forming behind it.

  “You have the will to fight and the resistance to pain, yet you miss the most important lesson of all,” said Lao shaking his head in disappointment. Wiping a drop blood from his face, Michael snapped, “What then!”

  “Balance and control,” replied Lao calmly, helping his pupil from off the ground.

  “I’m in full control,” argued Michael.

  “You think you are, but your anger is your weakness. Conquer your anger and you will defeat your foe,” said Lao.

  “I’m tired of your proverbs,” said Michael. “Proverbs are a part of wisdom,” said Lao.

  “All right, I’ll try,” said Michael.

  “Good. Now go and rest; we have trained enough for tonight,” said Lao. Michael bowed good night to his sensei.

  Then Suki took Michael into the bathhouse. “You did well today,” said Suki as she undressed Michael and saw the deep scars on his body.

  “What are you doing!” said Michael.

  “Don’t be afraid; I’m not going to hurt you. I’m just going to clean your cuts. You took a nasty fall earlier,” said Suki as she led Michael to sit in a hot Japanese bath she had prepared for him. The water was filled with red rose petals. They filled the entire room with their scent of peace and sensuality.

  “Aaah, damn it. Your father worked me over good,” said Michael grunting in pain. His body was very sore and badly bruised.

  “He has that effect on his students at times,” said Suki, smiling as she lit lanterns in the dim room.

  “So tell me, how does a pretty girl like you get caught up in all of this?” Michael asked as he sunk into the steamy water, relaxing.

  “It’s in my blood, that’s all,” said Suki as she changed into her evening kimono behind the screen in the room. “Now close your eyes,” she said.

  “What are you doing?” asked Michael with his eyes closed; he could hear Suki dipping her legs into the bath with him. Suki removed the bow that was clipped in her scented black hair. Michael opened his eyes to see a very beautiful creature before him; Suki was dressed in light violet lingerie covered by her see-through magenta kimono. Her breasts were round and full, her skin was soft, and her eyes shone radiantly like a rare jewel in the candlelight.

  “Now then, let’s take care of you,” said Suki, bathing Michael with a warm cloth.

  “Sorry, I just feel a little nervous,” said Michael.

  “In our culture men come first. Just enjoy this, relax, and let me work my magic on you tonight,” said Suki. She cleaned his bleeding wounds with oils and herbs and her soft delicate hands caressed Michael’s raw skin with a gentle touch.

  “Suki thank you, that feels so good,” sighed Michael.

  “I knew you would like it. I used to do this for Yoshiro all the time,” said Suki calmly as she massaged Michael’s back.

  “Who was he?” asked Michael.

  “Just a man I loved, a long time ago,” said Suki.

  “Listen, tell me something Suki, why do you believe in me?” asked Michael.

  “Because I can see that through all your tough exterior and your bravado, you’re a caring person; you’re not evil inside. You wish to redeem your mistakes by helping people you don’t even know. These are the ways of honor.”

  “You’re a sweet girl.”

  Suki turned to Michael and looked him in the eyes. She was about to kiss him, but Michael stopped her, shaking his head. “I can’t,” he said reluctantly.

  Suki looked at him and smiled. “It’s all right, I understand.”

  The two dried off and then went off to bed in different rooms for the night.

  Across town, the other vampires searched through the ravaged tenements of the Oriental district, while their human companions searched in the lower district for the fat corrupted bastard known as Mohachi Yung, a snake and wolf all at the same time. Yung was infamous for his technique of killing his victims by ripping out their lungs and eating their eyes after they were dead, believing that it would give him great spiritual insight and power. Yung was also one of Vegas’s largest suppliers of heroin and kroova, a synthetic blood hallucinogen for clubbing vampires.

  “What the hell are we doing here? Michael gets to play Kabuki, and we’re out searching for one of Vegas’ most notorious drug kingpins,” complained Serena.

  “Our job, that’s what. Lao wants us to find Yung, we’ll find Yung,” said Danny firmly.

  “Team Nightmare to Team Vamp over!” called Danny over his walkie-talkie.

  “Team Vamp here, over,” replied Darius on his walkie-talkie.

  “Have you sighted the target? Over,” said Danny.

  “That’s a negativ
e, Team Nightmare,” replied Darius.

  “Damn it,” said Danny in disgust.

  “Where are you located?” asked Danny.

  “The south side of the Oriental District; we have Kung Kung sniffing out the area for Triads. Too bad we couldn’t get trace on this guy. How about your end?” Darius asked. Darius wiped the sweat off his brow as he held his walkie-talkie.

  “Chow Ling has been surveying the sky. Wait a minute; I see something through her vision,” said Darius looking into the distance.

  “What! What is it?” shouted Danny.

  “Down below on Sing Way, there is a long black limousine driving up to the Raiko business building. The chauffer is opening up the door. I see a large bald Japanese man in a white tuxedo with dark glasses and a long black beard exiting the car, with several bodyguards in identical black suits,” said Darius.

  Danny transmitted the image of the target to Darius’ pocket computer. “That’s him,” said Darius. “Get him!” yelled Danny over his walkie-talkie. Darius whistled loudly to Chow-Ling to alert Kung Kung. Chow-Ling let out a terrifying scream, which Kung Kung heard instantly. The ghostly cat’s eyes inflamed in burning orange as he shape shifted into a monstrous feline. Danny and Serena jumped on top of him, and with an ear-shattering scream Kung Kung ran at super sonic speed to intercept the target. “Stupid cat, slow down! Slow down, you’re going to get us killed!” screamed Serena as the beast leaped along the rooftops of the Oriental district at fantastic speeds.

  Mohachi greeting his contact when they heard the clamor. “What the hell was that!” said the contact.

  “Get Mr. Yung out of here!” yelled one man.

  “Oh my God!” screamed another.

  People on the street scrambled in panic. The massive cat shot forth from the shadows of the high rise rooftops, morphing into the form of a Byakokasha the hybrid flying demon cat, whose black and white stripes resembled those of a white tiger. Kung Kung swooped down straight toward Mochachi, who was frozen with terror.