The Lightning Lord

by Anthony Faircloth

  “I say, Master Shipley, that was quite rude,” Persi said. “Please apologize, this instant.”

  “No ma’am, begging your pardon, but I will not kowtow to this ... thing.” Shipley said, and his tone was not that of the steward they knew. “It is an evil abomination and were these circumstances different, it would already be dead.”

  “Kill me, would you really?” the woman said. “And how would you do this, with your gun? You have heard that bullets do not affect us, yes?”

  “These are not normal bullets,” he said, a crooked smile rolling from the left side of his face to the other side.

  “Ah, the Sundowner round, yes, I have heard of these, they come from England- wood encased in a silver web, good against both my kind and the werekind. Yes, these would certainly do the job.”

  Her form blurred and faster than any living thing could move, she appeared next to the young man, “But you must be able to hit us.”

  Shipley tried to spin but the woman grabbed his arm and dislocated his elbow with a loud pop, causing him to drop the gun and scream. She pulled him into her embrace and spoke. “You will be silent now,” she said, and the soothing notes of her voice caused his eyes to roll up and he relaxed. She looked at the gun lying next to her feet, raised a moccasined foot, and brought it down, smashing the gun several inches into the soft woodland soil. She looked at the others as she removed her foot from the hole, “Let us leave it there while we speak, yes?”

  Persi nodded. “Captain, please do as Boots and holster your gun.”

  Grimm was hesitant but did as she requested.

  Historically speaking, there had been attacks of course, some by individual supernaturals, stuck in their prey/predator mind-set. Sometimes groups were whipped into frenzy by a charismatic leader painting a vision of a world without humans, but some were in retaliation for wrongs done to supernaturals. Where a human man was allowed to protect his family, were-people and Nightwalkers were not. Generally speaking, however, there had been no major attacks by supernaturals reported in the last ten years.

  “We were just finishing dinner, would you like something?” Persi asked.

  “No,” the woman said, still smiling.

  “Our Mr. Shipley is impetuous for certain, I apologize for his behavior.” Persi said, looking at his prone form. “Will he be okay?”

  “He will,” the woman answered, “though I should keep an eye on him while you are in our country. He has the smell of a hunter. Is he from the east, perhaps Massachusetts?” She looked around those gathered and saw a young man in steward attire nodding his head.

  “Newburyport, in the north of the state,” said the young man.

  “Yes, that area, which includes Salem I believe, is well-known to all supernaturals,” the woman said.

  Certainly, huge strides had been taken to draw humans away from ‘dark age thinking’ and into the age of reason. In the original thirteen colonies, werewolves and vampires were no longer actively hunted, per se, though old laws were still enforced and a supernatural was still not tolerated within fifteen miles of any human habitation. As well, feeding on a human was still met with complete and utter annihilation of the offender, the offender’s mates, offspring, and household. As people expanded west, many settlers began to feel they were inherently safer in the deep woods, or in the middle of the plains. They had not supposed supernaturals would go with them, nor did they know that many already lived there and had for several hundred years.

  The werewolves came down from Russia, while the vampires came up from Central America and Mexico, or at least that was what was taught in the more progressive schools, but right now, neither Persi nor Boots cared about the history, they were surrounded and knew the guns in their possession were useless.

  “My ...” Persi stopped and looked around at the crews for an instant then pointed to Boots. “mate, would like to speak with you, parle as some call it. Would you allow our crew to clean and repack while we do so?”

  The woman looked around while a breeze gently moved a wisp of her hair, then nodded.

  The agents began to move toward the ramp. “Could we offer you any type of refreshment?”

  “No, not yet,” she the woman grinned, showing her long feeding fangs.

  Boots understood what he supposed must equate to vampire humor, “Hmm, yes.

  “And we will speak here, not in your ship,” she said.

  “Very well,” Boots said, leading Persi back to the crates. “Then what is your name?”

  “Tamu,” she said. “It means rabbit.”

  “Yes,” Persi said, nodding. “Quick, stealthy, knows it surroundings ... when to feed and when to hide. Seen only in the dusk and dawn. It fits.”

  Tamu’s eyes narrowed and her head shook slightly. “No, not really. The meaning is different for the people of the night. To us, a rabbit is insignificant, nothing of consequence, food. It is why I was sent in to speak to you.”

  Boots considered. “So, you are not the leader of your people?”

  Tamu laughed aloud, “Hardly, the leaders sent in someone they could afford to lose should events transpire differently than what was predicted.”

  The breeze gusted and carried quiet whispering voices. Tamu stopped laughing and dropped her head. “The leaders do not waste our people, but they must consider the needs of the entire tribe,” she said as though making a disclaimer.

  “Understood,” Boots said. “In the war we did similar things, though the men we sent in first had a certain set of skills, more focused for stealth and intelligence gathering.”

  Again the breeze kicked up, rustling the pine needles above and carrying more whispers.

  Tamu smirked and rolled her eyes, “Yes, this is exactly the same.”

  Persi heard Tamu’s sarcasm.

  Nicholas brought a small wooden crate and sat it across from the large one on which Tamu sat. Persi nodded affirmation at the young man who nodded once before leaving. Persi and Boots sat.

  Tamu looked at Shipley. The man raised himself from the ground and moved to a spot on the ground next to her where he crouched. It was almost as if she had guided his path with her eyes.

  “I should like that power myself,” Persi said.

  Tamu only smiled.

  Nicholas and Joseph returned a minute later with whale oil lamps on posts. They drove the posts into the ground, and lit the lamps before returning to the ship.

  “So, is there a reason for this meeting, other than to respond to our little band infringing into your territory without permission,” Boots asked.

  “Does there need to be more reason?”

  “No, but it seems as though it is likely there is something more,” Persi said.

  Tamu was silent.

  The wind rose. “Tell them.” and “Ask them.” This time the whispers were louder and clearer.

  “Ask us what? Who are you and what do you want?” Persi asked.

  As an answer, several shapes formed around the perimeter of the clearing. Each figure was a young perfectly proportioned reflection of a beautiful aboriginal maiden or man, complete with ornate buckskins, and of course the glowing pale skin of a Nightwalker. In all there were thirteen, including Tamu.

  A young man stepped into the clearing and directed his gaze at Tamu. “You agreed.”

  “They are not to be trusted.” She looked at Shipley crouching next to her. “You saw.”

  “We saw, and we saw these two responded appropriately. Look,” he pointed to the ramp of the airship, “Do you see anyone with weapons?”

  Tamu looked at a patch of earth in front of her, then turned to Shipley. “Go,” she said quietly.

  Shipley’s eyes refocused and realizing he was next to his nemesis, he tumbled away screaming, then rolled up onto the balls of his feet, as if preparing for an attack. Seeing his death was not imminent, he stood and upon looking around, found himself encircled by many more vampires. It was more than he could take and he fainted.

  “Again, I am sorry for
his ignorance.” Persi said.

  Tamu shook her head but the young man nodded. “We are aware of what our presence can do. It is like waking up next to a panther skin. One might assume what is not true, and panic,” he said.

  “Yes, exactly.” Persi said.

  Captain Grimm appeared at the top of the ramp. Persi assumed he was taking count of the living. “Captain Grimm,” Boots yelled.

  The captain descended the ramp and entered the circle, slowing as the glow of the lanterns exposed the increased number of vampires. “Yes, sir.”

  “Please remove Mr. Shipley to his quarters. He is confined there until I have had a chance to speak with him.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “And,” Boots said, raising a finger, “Please inform Mr. Morris, he is promoted to Steward Second Class, and will take over Shipley’s duties until I have a better understanding of the latter’s mental ambiguities.”

  “It will be done, sir,” Grimm said. He strode to the young man, bent, and threw him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

  When they were up the ramp and out of sight, Boots stood and spoke to the assembly. “Now, let me ask again, what is it you want, for I assume there is nothing you need from us.”

  The vampires looked at the young man who had spoken. He had long black hair, pulled back and tied with a leather thong. Upon first glance he was he appeared as the others, but as Persi focused her intelligencer skills on the man she saw that though he wore the clothes of the indigenous peoples, he did not carry the ethnic markers of the Comanche, or any of the aboriginals he knew. He had large broad European features.

  “My name is John. I can speak for those gathered.” All nodded their consent. Tamu hesitated the finally nodded begrudgingly.

  He smiled, and stepped closer, spread his hands. “We represent a larger group of young Nightwalkers. We see and hear the world moving around us ...”

  “Moving past us,” someone said from the shadows.

  John smiled and looked at Boots. “You are correct in that we have no ‘need’ but what we want is our freedom. Freedom to wander the world. We want to be free from fear, the fear of a young, ignorant Shipley, shooting us in the back, or driving a stake into us, or burning us while we sleep. We want to see the amazing things happening, the technology, the art. We want a place in society, like our British brothers have. Why should we leave our country for this freedom, the country into which we were born? In short, we want to be accepted.”

  Persi looked at Boots and smiled. “Dear one, they merely want what all men want in the end, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

  “Yes, my dear, but unfortunately, it is easier dreamed of than asked for, and easier asked for than given.”

  Tamu spoke from her seat. “We would offer our loyalty and our skills, to the government, perhaps like an indenture. Say fifty years of service for open citizenship?”

  “Fifty years, is quite long,” Persi said.

  She smiled, “What is time to us?”

  “But there would need to be certain stipulations, allowances,” another young woman said.

  “Such as?” Boots asked.

  “We do not spy, assassinate or in any other way, work against supernaturals. This might be loosened in cases of unprovoked violence towards humans, but generally, we will not work against our kind.”

  “I suppose that makes sense, but tell me, what of the older supernaturals?”

  It was quiet.

  “Ahh, they don’t know of this action you are taking,” Persi said.

  Tamu smirked again. “They desire to remain hidden. They believe they can live off the buffalo and elk like our ancestors.” She motioned around the area. “We do not believe the same, we want to be part of a bigger world.”

  John spoke, “As Mr. Donne said, ‘No man is an island.’

  “Entire of itself?” Boots added.

  “As you say,” said John.

  “Well then,” Persi said, standing, “what is it you would like us to do?”

  John looked at each of the others, then turned to the agents. “We would like ...” He looked at Boots, then pointed to the Daedalus. “We would like a lift.”

  Chapter 18 – Vampires Make Their Request Known

  Persi blinked several times, as if her mind could only process these easiest of functions. “A lift, you mean literally, you want us to take you with us?”

  “I am Aiyana,” another woman spoke and stepped into the clearing. She was smaller, more petite but Persi saw well-developed muscles move below her radiant skin. Her hair was pulled back and captured with hoop made of beads and hummingbird feathers. “I think I can summarize. We want you to take us to Washington, to the head of the government of the United States. We want you to provide safe passage and arrange a secret meeting with your president so that we may present ourselves and our request. We have put a lot of thought into this over the last hundred years and believe we can offer a direction, and methods of achieving it with little to no resistance.”

  Persi and Boots stared at Aiyana as if she had just grown two heads. Boots finally spoke. “There are thirteen of you?

  They all nodded slowly, and simultaneously. It made the hair on the back of Persi’s neck stand up.

  “We are headed away from Washington at the moment. We actually work for the government and are on a mission, an investigation. We have been to Deadwood in the Dakotas, and Orlando in Florida, and now we are on course for ...”

  “The Rocky Mountains,” Tamu said.

  “Around Denver,” John said.

  Aiyana added, “Lightening,” deciding she would not be left out.

  Persi stood suddenly, shaking and rubbing her arms as if she could brush the goose bumps to the ground.

  “And you know this how?” Boots asked.

  They all smiled. “The Nightwalkers live all across this continent. We trade both goods and information. It appears we can show you our worth sooner than we thought.”

  Second Class Steward, Daniel Morris, moved down the ramp carrying a large tray containing two cups of steaming liquid, and thirteen small dessert bowls, filled with some type of berry sorbet, if the red color was an indicator.

  “Oh, Mr. Morris, thank you for your attentiveness.” Persi cooed. “I assume the tea is for Boots and I and the dessert is for our guests?”

  He nodded and walked up to each starting with Persi and Boots.

  “We are not much for ... dessert, young man,” Aiyana said, though she looked to be about his same age.

  Morris smiled. “It is a mixture of raw ground lamb and beef we bought in Orlando, Florida two days ago. It is slightly aged, and by human standards, quite good.”

  Aiyana’s hand reached for the dish then paused.

  “If they decide to allow you onboard, I assume I will need to feed you so I may as well start figuring it out now.” Morris said.

  John ate a bite and tapped the dish with the spoon. “It is quite good, thank you. There is something else included in it ... a spirit I think, whiskey?”

  Morris smiled and nodded, “Aged bourbon, just a hint.”

  “Well done,” said John.

  Morris nodded.

  “Thank you, Mr. Morris, your service is appreciated,” Boots said, “Now, upon your return, please tell the Captain we will be carrying guests with us for the remainder of the voyage.”

  “Yes, sir,” Morris said and turned to go then paused, a thought obviously working through his mind. He looked at John. “Sir, floating, I thought your kind could not float. Something about drifting outside your hive area.”

  John smiled, as did the others. “This is an attribute of the night people in Europe, whom are nearly always bound to a castle or manner house, except for the loners. We in the Americas have never been bound to a place, though we feel more comfortable with the earth beneath our feet. We shall be fine, perhaps mildly uncomfortable, but fine.”

  Morris nodded and removed himself and the empty cups and dishes to the s
hip.

  “When will we depart?” Tamu asked.

  “Tomorrow afternoon, if all goes well.” Boots said. “Frankly, I think we will be ready before then. Engineers have a most annoying habit of padding their estimations quite liberally. If we are not lifting before lunch I will be surprised.”

  “What type of accommodations can we ready for you?” Persia asked.

  Each vampire looked at the other and finally Aiyana spoke. “Nothing more than you need, though probably much less. No beds or rooms, we are most comfortable finding our own …” She paused, searching for the word. ‘nooks for sleeping.’ We will not need much more for food and we will bring some of our own rations. Other than that, a little water and ... I think that’s it.”

  “Will you stay with us tonight?” Boots asked.

  “No,” Tamu said quickly, “We will return tomorrow morning before the sun has risen, and take shelter in your ship then you may lift at your leisure.

  “What will happen when your elders discover you are gone?” Persi asked.

  “They will be highly disappointed,” said a voice from the darkness.

  The thirteen pulled together in the middle of the clearing, in an outward facing circle, with Persi and Boots in the center. Boots pulled his pistol, and Persi slid a knife from a hidden sheath in the wide leather belt around her waist. Almost as if shimmering into existence around the edge of the light radiating from the lamps, eight men and women, dressed in a similar fashion to the thirteen appeared. Persi felt a prickling on here skin and understood it emanated from the new arrivals. She began to perspire and realized these people were somehow generating an almost uncontrollable fear. Only her training and experience kept her from lifting her skirts and running for the ship.

  A beautiful woman stepped into the light, seeming to glow, not just from her skin as with John, Aiyana and the others, but the radiance gathered around her like a mist. Boots felt immediately drawn to her and as with Persi, only his training kept him from becoming immediately enthralled.

  “John, Aiyana, Tamu,” she said, “why are you pursuing this direction when we have already discussed it in counsel and rejected it?”