Forrest Wollinsky: Vampire Hunter [Book 2]: Blood Mists of London
Page 28
“I didn’t realize you had even brought it, but I’m thankful you did.”
He stepped into the adjoining room.
About a half hour after we had dressed, we were in the underground tunnels outside of Albert’s lair. When we entered his chambers, he sat on his throne with Varak swaddled in a wool blanket. He cradled the child. As he stared at us, he held no emotion on his face.
“Have you decided what we should do with this child?” I asked.
The five were-rat boys were captivated by Varak.
He glanced down at Varak and nodded. “But it requires your help.”
“What?” Jacques said.
“You must take him to Freiburg to the Archbishop,” Albert replied. “But tell no one what he is, especially not the Archbishop.”
“You want him taken to a cathedral?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“In the hopes that his nurturing under holy guidance with alter his destined path.”
“Do you think it will make a difference?”
“Only time will tell. At this present moment, can you offer any solution other than death? We’ve already stated none of us are willing to perform such an atrocity.”
I shook my head. “No. Aren’t you afraid that the bishop might discover what he truly is? If he does, he might kill the child.”
Albert shrugged. “It’s not something any of us could do.”
“There’s the chance he discovers what Varak is and not kill him. But you know that even within the cathedrals, there are those who do evil deeds and their souls are tarnished by iniquities.”
“I agree, Forrest, but with what we know and have decided, we have no other resolution. It’s a risk we have to take, for now.”
“Matilda and I are journeying to America,” Jacques said. He glanced at me. “We’re not going that direction.”
Albert stared at him for a long while. “I see. And you, Forrest?”
“My father and I can take him.”
Albert cocked a brow. “But you don’t want to?”
“Necessity overrides my wants,” I replied. “We have to place him somewhere safe, and provided the archbishop is the correct person to educate Varak, we will travel there.”
“I appreciate your sacrifice, but I insist you and your Father don’t make this trip alone. Your father is burdened with his own ailments. It is not fair to ask that you provide the complete care of an infant when you are a child yourself.” He handed me a rolled piece of parchment. “The details of where to find her are written on this. Madeline will care for Varak along your journey and make certain his needs are met. You are to keep her and Varak safe to the best of your abilities. Also, a man in London owes me several favors and will provide you with a horse and wagon and a driver, so you won’t have to invest your own money for fare.”
Albert stood and strolled to me. He held out Varak and placed him into my arms. Holding the child was awkward, but staring into the boy’s strange eyes was eerie and sent chills down my spine because I knew what was behind them.
Before I turned to leave with Jacques, Albert said, “It has been a pleasure and an honor to fight by your side, all of you. I expect our paths will cross again in the future, Forrest, as your destiny will no doubt return you to London, perhaps only in passing. And when it does, don’t be hesitant to visit. You’re always welcome here.”
***
When Jacques and I returned to the inn, Father was outraged that I had offered to take the child to Freiburg. Well, he was more outraged that he was included in the journey but settled down when he learned we had transportation and a woman to watch Varak along the way.
Matilda had dressed and what few belongings she wished to take to America were already packed. Father and I accompanied them to the ship where Rusk and the other two werewolves were waiting. The man Luther had infected didn’t survive the night.
Jacques extended his hand to me. I firmly shook it and pulled him close for a fierce hug. “Never let your guard down, Forrest. As I’ve told you before, your reputation will continue to expand. You will have enemies who are people you’ve never met or slighted, but they will want you dead. I wish our paths weren’t parting, but destiny calls me elsewhere since . . . Matilda is carrying my child.”
I pulled back and stared into his eyes. He smiled and nodded.
“Congratulations, cousin,” I said with a grin.
“If it’s a boy, I think Micah is an excellent name.”
“Thank you for your guidance and training. I already ache from your absence.”
Jacques squeezed my shoulder. “You’ll do fine, Forrest. You have your father and Hunter’s insight and guidance that’s more valuable than anything else I can teach you.”
“Can I ask you something?”
He nodded.
“Have you decided to take leadership of the pack?”
“For now. Rusk and the other two, Yuri and Denis, have begged me to be their Alpha. But with a child on the way, I want to put distance between us and any other wolves that might be like Luther. An ocean apart is more comforting than remaining in London.”
“Be safe,” I said, fighting my burning tears.
Jacques smiled. “Until we met again.”
Father and I watched them take their belongings up the ramp to the ship. After they boarded, we walked to the horse and coach. Varak slept in Madeline’s arms inside the coach. She was in her forties, slender, with a smile that brightened even my father’s darkest mood. Within minutes of being introduced, he seemed smitten by her, asking her continuous questions or telling her funny stories just to hear her laugh.
At times, I seemed invisible, but it didn’t bother me. I rather enjoyed time to stare out the window to take in the countryside and think. I was glad to be leaving London since I had no idea what vampire had turned Esmeralda and the child’s nurse. The vampire was an enemy, but he never made his presence directly known to me. Since we had slain Raginwulf, perhaps he or she was content with our accomplishment and happy that we were departing.
While I was glad to be leaving, my destiny with Varak displeased me. I didn’t feel any urgency to be overly protective of this half-blood. By delivering him to the archbishop, I was only prolonging the inevitable. Regardless of how far our journey was, I didn’t see how to avoid my constant worry about how Varak’s future and my destiny would eventually reach an unavoidable conflict of epic proportions. Our paths would cross again, and the outcome wouldn’t be pleasant.
The innocence in his sky-blue eyes was temporary, and in time, I’d come to discover a ruthless coldness behind those eyes that would haunt me for ages to come, provided I lived long enough.
An ominous feeling overtook me, making my stomach twist. I didn’t know if the approaching danger would meet us before we delivered the child to the archbishop or afterwards. But something horrible was coming and Death rode alongside it, seeking me. Jacques was correct. I already had enemies that wanted me dead, and instead of fleeing like a man with commonsense, I was heading toward them.
No one had ever told me that the life of a Vampire Hunter was easy. Of course, I never expected it to be. My plan was to kill the vampires before they killed me, even though I was greatly outnumbered. I’m sure their plans held different end results, but Fate had yet to deal her cards. I never liked to get ahead of the game, but only a fool never planned various strategies for survival. I wasn’t one of those fools.
The End
Other Books by Leonard D. Hilley II:
Sci-fi thrillers:
Predators of Darkness: Aftermath
Beyond the Darkness
The Game of Pawns
Death’s Valley
The Deimos Virus: Target Earth [June 2016]
Epic Fantasy:
Shawndirea [Book One of The Chronicles of Aetheaon]
Lady Squire: Dawn’s Ascension [Book Two of The Chronicles of Aetheaon]
Devils Den [YA/Fantasy]
Paranormal/UF:
Succubus: Shadows of the Beast
Forrest Wollinsky: Vampire Hunter
Forrest Wollinsky: Blood Mists of London
Forrest Wollinsky: Volume Three [Forthcoming]