The Devil's Belt Vengeance Is Mine

by Garry E. Lewis

  Standing off in the swamp watching at a distance, Lucifer

  and his Master Wolf watch as the Bernard brothers go up against the brotherhood of Wolves. Richard and Cheri screaming out the

  cabin door, “Get back in here you boys, you’re out numbered!”

  Lucifer turns to his Master wolf and says, “Do what you will to the Bernard brothers and the Priest, but let Richard and the

  Cajun girl escape. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes Dark Lord.” The Master wolf says.

  Then Lucifer says, “When your finished eating your prey tonight, I want you to bite Mr. Devine’s girlfriend; turn her then

  take her home to Salem and drop her off. I will see that she remembers nothing of this trip. Then I will set my trap for Mr. Devine.” Lucifer says smiling, as his eyes glisten in the reflection of the full moon, as a wicked grin comes upon his face, “I will have my revenge once and for all! Mr. Devine is about to pay dearly for crossing me.” Lucifer says.

  The loud cry of the Bernard brothers echoes through the swamp, “YEEEEEE Haw, we’re going to kick some Werewolf ass!”

  The Bernard brothers were able to cut the heads off of three of the brotherhood members, but then they were over come; outnumbered as Cheri, Father Petri and Richard fired their shotguns trying to keep the hoard back off the Bernard brothers.

  A silence soon fell around the cabin as the brotherhood dragged off what was left of the Bernard brothers into the swamp never to be seen again.

  Father Petri, unable to contain himself any longer, darts from the cabin chasing after them firing his shotgun as he disappears into the swamp. Richard and Cheri hear his blood curdling screams as he is over powered and killed as well.

  Richard and Cheri step back inside the cabin securing the

  door. Both of them slump to the floor, tears in their eyes, trying

  hard not to think about what has happened to the Bernard brothers and Father Petri. Soon they fall asleep from exhaustion.

  Hours later, they awaken to the sounds of birds chirping outside the cabin windows, as sun rays stream through the cabin through the cracks of the boarded windows. Other than the sounds of nature, there is a quiet calm in the air. Peace once more restored

  to the swamp.

  Richard slowly gets up walks to front door of the cabin,

  opening the door, he steps out onto the front porch and gazes out towards the swamp. Cheri approaches him from behind, as they stand gazing outside watching a large Gator bask in the sunlight near the river bank.

  Finding it hard to imagine anything had taken place at all last night. But then they remember the Bernard brothers and Father Petri as their screams echoed in their heads. Then reality of the past evening became all to clear.

  Slowly they turn and head back into the cabin. As they sit

  down at the kitchen table, Richard pours him and Cheri a fresh cup of coffee he had made earlier when first arising.

  They sit starring across the table at each other, Richard lights a small cigar and Cheri pulls out her corn cob pipe, much like the one her father Pierre had, and lights the tobacco inside the bowl and takes a long draw off the stem, blowing the smoke towards the ceiling. Then Richard speaks up and says, “Now what do we do?”

  Cheri says, “We pack some supplies and get clear of this swamp.”

  Richard says, “Live to fight another day?”

  Cheri says, “No, we simply regroup and make our plans to

  rescue your girlfriend Susie from the Master Werewolf.”

  “What if we’re too late?” Richard asks.

  “What if we’re not,” Cheri says. “We have to try Richard.”

  “I agree,” Richard says. “Let’s get some supplies packed and get the hell out of here. Then as you said, we’ll regroup and

  plan our strategy.”

  Soon they have their back packs full and Richard and Cheri head out the cabin door towards the swamp. Cheri says, “We have to make it back to Father Petri’s boat. Come, it’s this way.” Richard follows as Cheri leads the way back to Father Petri’s boat.

  Off in the distance unseen, stands Lucifer and his Master

  Werewolf, now in human form. They watch as Cheri and Richard disappear into the swamp. Lucifer turns and says, “You’ve told the others to allow them to leave?”

  “Yes,” The Master wolf says. “Just as you instructed Dark

  Lord.”

  Lucifer says, “Good, now remember what I said, when you

  drop Susie off at her place in Salem I want you to stick around till it’s time to attack, understood?” Lucifer asks.

  “I understand Dark Lord; I’ve already bit and turned her. The bite mark has already healed, so she is completely unaware of

  my attacking her last night.”

  “Good,” Lucifer says, as he smiles. “The pieces of my plan

  for revenge are falling into place.” His eyes glowing light hot embers.

  Soon Cheri and Richard come to the spot where Father Petri’s boat was hidden, but looking around they found no trace

  of it. “Where did the boat go?” Cheri asks.

  Richard says, “The brotherhood must of found it and sunk it in the swamp.”

  “Now what do we do?” Cheri says.

  Richard says, “Do you hear that?”

  “It sounds like another boat approaching.” Replies Cheri.

  “We better hide,” Richard says. “It could be the brotherhood looking for us!” Cheri and Richard duck down behind an old tree that had long rotted out and fell onto the bank.

  Soon a large boat appears and standing on the upper deck

  is Pierre scanning the bank with binoculars. Cheri peeks over the top of the log where they are hiding, and recognizing her father turns to Richard and says, “It’s Papa!”

  Richard says, “Wait, how do we know he’s not working with them?”

  Cheri says, “We don’t, but it’s a chance we’ll have to take.”

  Cheri stands up and waves at her father.

  Pierre spots her and yells, “Thank God daughter, I’ve been

  looking all over for you!” Pierre steers his boat to the bank, stopping his boat short he yells at Cheri, “I can’t bring her any closer or I’ll run her aground, you’ll have to wade out to me!”

  Pierre shouts.

  “Ok Papa!” Cheri yells. Turning to Richard Cheri says,

  “Come on Richard, let’s go!”

  Richard stands up and he and Cheri make their way down to the bank and begin wading out to Pierre’s boat. Cheri reminds Richard to go slow as not to disturb the water very much as they do not want to attract Gators to them!

  Richard says, “Sure thing.” They finally come along side of

  the boat and Pierre reaches down and pulls them up to the deck.

  Cheri looks at her father and asks, “Papa, where did you get

  this nice boat?”

  “People hire me to take them on tours,” He says. “The money has been rolling in, all the tourist, they pay me to show them the Bayou and the Gators.”

  Richard frowns and says, “Do they hire you to betray them

  as well you old bastard?”

  Pierre looks at Richard and says, “I’m sorry Mr. Devine, how was I to know these men meant you harm!”

  “Because they have my nephew you crazy old coot, or was

  the money so good you forgot!” Richard yells.

  “Yes, but see how I help you now.” Pierre says. “I’m trying

  to show you how sorry I am.”

  “Whatever,” Richard says. “I still don’t trust you, you, old

  Cajun you!”

  Pierre smiles and says, “I have some Bourbon on board Mr.

  Devine, have some it will take the chill of the night air away. She’s getting dark we need to head back in to the docks, no.”

  Cheri says, “We need to head to the docks, yes!” Cheri pours her and Richard a tin cup of Bourbon.

  Richard looks down
into his cup and says, “You haven’t

  spiked it again have you; you old coot!”

  “No,” Pierre says. “It’s good, here look I’ll have a drink with you to prove to you it’s ok.” Pierre grabs the bottle from Cheri and tips it back swallowing a big gulp. Wiping his mouth Pierre says, “You see, she is safe to drink, I drink too.”

  Richard says, “Well whatever, just get us back to the docks.” Pierre steers the boat away from bank and they head back into the night.

  Meanwhile, back at the compound, Lucifer instructs his

  Master wolf saying, “It’s time to prepare Susie for her trip back home.” He hands Jamie a small vial of liquid and says to him; “Here, slip this into Susie’s water glass. It will render her

  unconscious until you get her back to Salem. Leave her on the bed at her apartment, then try to rent yourself a room close to hers, or better yet, close to Richards house. Then when the time is right, I’ll have you attack.” Lucifer says as an evil grin comes across his face his eyes glowing a fiery red.

  Jamie smiles and says, “You got it Dark Lord!” Jamie turns

  and heads back to the compound to pay a visit to Susie. “She’s probably starving by now,” Jamie says smiling. “I’ll toss her some Bernard brother meat to chew on, no maybe some Father Petri meat instead.” Laughing as he heads towards her shed he says, “Then after she’s eaten, I’ll slip her the drug and we’ll head for Missouri.” Jamie thinks to himself.

  It’s late at night when Pierre steers his boat towards the docks, coming along side after killing the engine, he jumps onto the dock from his deck and starts securing the boat. He offers his daughter Cheri his hand helping her onto the dock, Richard in turn follows.

  Now back on dry land Richard says, “Well I guess I owe you an apology, after all, you did rescue us from the brotherhood in the end.”

  Pierre says, “Think nothing of it my friend, I’m sorry I

  caused you some trouble back there. But really, I had no idea that you were in danger, I turned around for a second next thing I knew they had taken you!”

  Cheri says, “Just a misunderstanding on your part Papa, it’s

  forgotten. Thanks for the ride in.”

  “You’re welcome my daughter, glad I could help you and

  your friend.”

  Cheri asks, “Richard, do you have a room near by?”

  “Yes, my Jeeps parked up here. Come on, I’ll give you a ride into town.” Richard says.

  Cheri says, “Maybe for safety sake, we should stay together tonight.” Richard, concerned about what Susie would say, hesitates then he realizes maybe Cheri is right, the brotherhood may come looking for them.

  CHAPTER SIX

  As they reach Richard’s Jeep, Richard unlocks the drivers

  door not noticing Susie’s car parked over in an alleyway nearby. Cheri and Richard drive away heading back into town.

  Meanwhile, at the New Orleans bus station, not to far from

  where Cheri and Richard are, Jamie carries Susie onto the bus headed for Missouri. The bus driver gives Jamie and odd look, Jamie smiles and says, “She’s drunk as hell, I’m taking her home, afraid something bad might happen to her if I was to leave her here in this condition.”

  “I understand.” The bus driver says. “That’s damn nice of

  you, are you her boyfriend?”

  “One of her class mates, just making sure she gets home to

  her parents safe and sound.” Jamie says.

  The bus driver says, “Boy, the world could use more people

  like you in this day an age, anyone else would have taken advantage of her. That’s damn nice of you. Once you get seated with her we’ll head out down the road.”

  “Thanks.” Jamie says. He bends down placing Susie, who is still unconscious, into the seat next to the window as he takes the isle seat next to her.

  Two older ladies sitting behind him whisper to each other,

  “What a nice young man.” Jamie smiles thinking to himself, if they only knew.

  The bus driver pulls out onto the main road and they soon

  disappear down the interstate.

  Meanwhile Richard and Cheri pull up in front of Richards hotel on Bourbon street. Richard gets out walks around and opens the door for Cheri, she smiles and says, “Well what a gentleman.” Richard hands Cheri her pack as he reaches in grabbing his and locks the doors on his jeep as they head into the hotel.

  Soon they approach Richard’s hotel room. Richard unlocks

  the door and they go inside. Cheri says, “I have to have a shower I smell like a pig!”

  Richard says, “Go right ahead, I’ll fix us some lunch while

  you shower.”

  Cheri starts stripping off her clothes as she heads for the bathroom. Richard stands with his mouth open hardly believing what he’s seeing, but unable to take his eyes off of Cheri none the less.

  Cheri peeks over her now bare shoulder, smiling at Richard

  and winking saying, “Like what you see Mr. Devine?”

  Richard clears his throat and with a red face asks Cheri, “How about soup and sandwich, sound good to you?”

  She laughs and says, “See, I told you men are funny.” As she slowly closes the bathroom door, giving Richard time to take in her entire nakedness. Richard thinks to himself, God I hope I wasn’t drooling to much, she is beautiful! Richard hears the shower water being turned on.

  Cheri yells out, “Care to join me Richard?”

  Richard, red faced and a little surprised, yells back, “Maybe

  I better not I have to fix us some lunch.”

  Cheri standing under the shower smiles and yells back,

  “Don’t say I never gave you a chance.” As she giggles, thinking to herself, he is so cute and so shy!

  Richard standing in the kitchen gulping down a beer meanwhile is saying to himself, “You are so stupid, Susie would

  never have to find out! I’m so stupid, stupid, stupid!”

  After awhile Richard hears the bathroom door open and out

  walks Cheri in a short bath robe revealing her beautiful tanned thighs. Once again, she teasingly looks over her shoulder at Richard as she heads for the bedroom saying, “Richard, care to join me?”

  “Huh?” Richard says. “I have lunch ready.” Embarrassed

  once more by Cheri’s flirtatious mood.

  Cheri once more giggles and says, “You men are so silly.”

  Richard thinks to himself, no, I just don’t want my Johnson

  cut off while I’m sleeping, because if Susie ever found out I was cheating on her that’s probably what she’d do to me. I’d be pissing in a plastic bag attached to my side. Richard shivers at the thought of it.

  He returns his attention to the soup and sandwiches he’s prepared for him and Cheri and yells, “Lunch is ready.”

  Cheri comes out of the bed room fully dressed in blue jeans, barefooted, and a halter top that reveals more cleavage then Richard needs to see.

  Sitting across the table from Cheri, Richard finds it hard to keep his attention on his meal. As Cheri sits eating, smiling at

  Richard the whole time, while leaning across the table watching Richard squirm in his seat, it was the highlight of her meal.

  As Richard and Cheri sit across from each other eating their sandwiches, Cheri gazes into Richards eyes and winks at him and smiles. Richard unable to hold back his hormones any longer suddenly jumps up. Cheri seeing the look of wild passion in his eyes slowly stands up as well.

  Suddenly Richard walks over to Cheri and picks her up in his arms. Cheri smiles and says, “Now you’re talking big daddy.” Richard carries her to the bed room.

  Kicking the door shut behind them he tosses Cheri onto the bed as he jumps in right behind her. Both of them kneeling facing each other as they start tearing at each others clothing. Soon they are under the covers having wild passionate sex.

  Meanwhile, back in Salem Missouri, a bus pulls into the bus depot an
d stepping on his air brakes the driver announces, “Salem. For those who are not getting off here, we’ll take a half hour lunch break while they refuel the bus. For those who are getting off here, thank you for riding Greyhound and I hope you

  enjoyed the trip.”

  Awaking, Jamie looks over at Susie. Seeing that she is still unconscious, Jamie picks her up and carries her off the bus. The driver seeing this offers to help Jamie with their bags, Jamie thanks him as the driver sets the bags inside the terminal for Jamie.

  The driver says, “There you go fellow, well you got her home. There’s payphones inside where you can call for a cab.”

  “Thank you,” Jamie says. “I appreciate that.”

  The driver says, “Oh hell, you got your hands full, let me use my cell phone, I’ll call one for you.”

  “Thanks again.” Jamie says. It isn’t long before a cab pulls

  up in front of the bus station, the driver gets out and loads Jamie and Susie’s bags into the trunk and off they head to Susie’s apartment.

  Soon after the cab pulls up in front of her apartment. Jamie

  had found, looking through Susie’s purse, her drivers license with her address on it and had given it to the cabby. Getting out of the car with Susie in his arms, the cabby offers to carry their bags into the apartment. Having done so, Jamie gives him a tip; the driver thanks him then turns and leaves.

  Jamie lays Susie on her bed. He looks down at her smiling

  and says, “Well happy hunting dear, next time the moon turns full, which will be soon now.” With that Jamie turns and walks out of her apartment locking the door behind him, having left her keys on the kitchen table.

  Two hours go by and Susie slowly begins to wake up. She

  looks around and realizes she’s back in her own apartment in Salem, wondering if she had simply dreamed of going to New

  Orleans?

  Shaking her head she thinks to herself, wow I must have got really plastered down there, I don’t remember a damn thing

  about last night. Maybe Richard brought me home.