Morvicti Execution: A Morvicti Tale (A Morvicti Novel)

by Lee Swift

  “Mom!” She knelt down next to her.

  “Cassie, get my blood.”

  She rushed to the refrigerator. In the very back sat the brown plastic pitcher where her mom hid the bags of blood. To this day, Cassie still didn’t know where she got them. Grabbing one, she knelt back down by her mom, administering a few drops to her lips.

  The blood. It had been a big part of Cassie’s childhood. On “special” days, which her mother claimed had significance to their lineage, they would each drink a single drop from a chalice. But ceremony wasn’t the only time blood was consumed. Her mother believed in the healing power of human blood and gave it to her whenever she was ill or hurt. By the time Cassie was eleven, she refused to take a drop of the crimson liquid. So gruesome. But whatever doubts she had about the practice weren’t important now. Her mother believed, and that was all that mattered.

  Her mom’s cheeks brightened, giving her some faith that maybe the blood would work.

  “Cassie, my cell…in my apron pocket.”

  Fighting back the tears that were stinging her eyes, Cassie pulled out her mother’s phone. “I’ve got it, Mom. Don’t talk. I’m here.”

  “Call…Rom.” Her mother’s voice was weak, barely a whisper.

  Who is Rom?

  Her mom was slipping fast. “He’ll know…what to do.”

  “I will call him. I promise. But first I’m calling 911 to get you help.”

  “No, Cass.” Her mom reached up and touched her on the cheek. “The humans can’t help us.” Her words were barely intelligible, and Cassie had to lean down close to make them out. “Rom…help…danger.”

  “This is the 911 operator. What’s your emergency?”

  “The black masks…they found us.” Her mother’s eyes closed.

  No! This can’t be happening. “This is Officer Cassandra Wright of the SAPD. I’m at 318 Douglas Street. My mother needs an ambulance. She’s been hit in the chest with an axe. An intruder has killed my partner and attempted to kill me and my mother. Suspect is dead.”

  Her mom opened her eyes, and in what seemed to be a sharp moment of clarity, said, “Call Rom, Cassie.” And then she started choking…violently.

  “Mom, hold on. Help is on the way.”

  “Must sleep.” Her mother stopped breathing.

  “We need an ambulance, now! My mother’s not breathing.” Cassie checked her pulse but found none.

  She needed to do something. But what? With the axe protruding from her chest, CPR wasn’t possible, and her training had taught her that removing such a weapon could be fatal.

  The operator came through her cell’s speaker. “An ambulance and the sheriff are on the way. Stay on the line with me.”

  She bent over her mother, tears blurring her vision. “Please don’t leave me. Please, Mom. Live.”

  Again she checked for a pulse. Again she found none.

  “Where’s that damn ambulance?” she screamed into the phone.

  “Stay calm. They’re almost there. You should be able to hear them.”

  She listened to the sirens announcing the impending arrival of the first responders, but realized they would arrive too late.

  Her mom was dead and so was O’Malley. The only two people in the world that she loved. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she stood and returned the blood to her mother’s hiding place, not wanting to have to explain it to the sheriff when he arrived on scene. Loose lips sink ships, Cassie.

  As the loss crushed every part of her, Cassie glared at the killer responsible for her mom’s and O’Malley’s deaths. The bastard was dead, too, but that didn’t make her feel any better. His black mask was askew on his head, revealing a square jaw and thin lips covered in blood.

  Black mask? Is the blood O’Malley’s?

  She stared at the mask. It had two axes drawn in white on its crown.

  Oh God, it can’t be.

  She moved closer to the dead man, and when she saw his left hand Cassie felt her heart skip several beats. His palm had the same hue as hers and her mother’s. Pale violet.

  It’s true. It’s all true.

  She bent down next to her mother and once again checked for a pulse. If she could find one, and the tales about how the Morvicti slumbered to heal their bodies were true, she could get her mother back. But her heart had stopped. Her breathing ceased.

  She’s really gone.

  “They found us, Mom. You aren’t crazy.” An all-consuming guilt took hold of her. “Why didn’t I believe you? This is all my fault. I’m so sorry.” Her sobs shook her entire body.

  The sheriff and his deputies rushed in, weapons drawn. She knew all of them well because of the many times her mother had called 911 in the past.

  “He’s dead.” Her tone was level, though she wanted to scream…wanted to run, wanted to get as far away from this nightmare as possible.

  “Who’s dead?” the sheriff asked.

  “That man lying over there with the black mask. He killed my mother and my partner.”

  One of the deputies, a man she’d gone to high school with, stood next to the sheriff. “Where is your partner, Cassie?”

  “In the barn, but brace yourself. It’s gruesome.” She closed her eyes, trying to will the image of O’Malley’s decapitated body out of her mind. But it would never go away. Thanks to the hideous memory she owned, the bloodied corpse of the man who had been as close to a loving father as possible was branded in her mind forever.

  The deputy ran out the back.

  The sheriff helped her to a chair in the living room as the EMTs rushed in.

  It took them very little time to calmly tell her what she already knew. “I’m sorry, but your mother has passed.”

  Her mother was indeed dead.

  The sheriff put his arm around her. “I’m so sorry, Cassie.”

  As more officials arrived and the sheriff started asking her questions, Cassie’s mind swirled with an overwhelming grief and a million thoughts. She felt sick and lost. Alone and afraid. How many more of these black masks were out there? What would they do when their buddy didn’t return with her mom’s head?

  “What was unusual about the light being out by the barn?” the sheriff asked.

  “Mom always keeps it on at night. It’s on a timer.” Though she was able to answer all his questions, Cassie felt completely disconnected. Numb. It was as if she was watching a movie of herself. Like a bad dream. A nightmare.

  The sheriff wrote down the last of her answers on his notepad. “Cassie, you know how many times I’ve been called out to this house?”

  “I do.” Mom was always so afraid.

  “Do you think there’s a connection? Maybe your mother was being stalked all these years.”

  What would the sheriff think if she told him everything? My mother’s killer is a member of The Brotherhood of Purity who sees me as an abomination, something to be executed. The sheriff would think she was in shock—or just plain crazy. No way was she telling him everything. Too dangerous.

  So…she lied. “I just don’t know.”

  There would be more questions. Many more. Because even though she was off duty when she’d arrived at her mom’s home, she’d been in uniform and had fired her weapon, taking a man’s life.

  Not a man. A monster. A Morvicti.

  Cassie’s captain and the San Angelo Chief of Police walked into the living room together. One at a time, they hugged her.

  “Your officer is pretty shook up, fellas,” the sheriff told them. “But she’s hanging in there. The Rangers should be here shortly.”

  “Thanks for calling, Sheriff Tyler.” The chief shook hands with him. “We appreciate it.”

  Her captain nodded. “We need to be here for Cassie.”

  The next hour, she was vaguely aware of the constant activity around her. All her thoughts were focused on her mother and the incredible tales of the Morvicti. While the laws of the secret society didn’t condone the killing of those like Cassie, they also didn’t acknowledge th
e lineage of halfbloods. The Morvicti zealots, however, were willing to break their own laws, believing eradication of those who were not full blood was justified and a righteous calling. They were the ones who had taken the name, “The Brotherhood of Purity.”

  Everything her mother had ever told her was true. All of it.

  With the help of a few trusted family members—none of whom Cassie had ever met—her mother had gone into hiding when she’d gotten pregnant. But who was Rom? Was he related to her mother?

  Mom wanted me to call him. To get help.

  “The Rangers are here,” one of the deputies told the sheriff, his words pulling her back to the present.

  Three uniformed men walked into her mother’s home, but the one who her eyes landed on was Allen Wade, the man she’d shared coffee with just a few days ago. In charge, he already had on gloves, clearly anxious to get the investigation underway.

  The sheriff stood. “Hello, Ranger Wade.”

  “Sheriff Tyler.” The Ranger’s eyes locked with hers. “Sorry for your loss, Cassie. We’ll get this wrapped up as quickly as we can.”

  “Thank you, Allen.” Though she had only spent a little time with him, she was glad that he was the lead Ranger instead of a stranger.

  “I’m sorry, but I have to take your weapon and ask you a few questions.”

  “I understand.” Knowing the protocol, she stood and handed him her gun.

  The chief and her captain also stood, one on each side of her, as if protecting their own.

  They introduced themselves to Allen.

  “As you clearly know, Cassie, you must be relieved of duty until we finish this investigation.” He smiled but it didn’t put her at ease. “I’m sure it won’t take us long to complete our work and get you back on the job.”

  “Her partner and mother were just killed, Ranger.” Her captain’s tone had an edge to it. “Our department will give her all the time she needs regardless of when you finish.”

  “Of course.” Allen turned to his crew. “The M.E.’s team will be here shortly to transport the bodies to Lubbock.”

  Reality slammed her back into her body and the numbness vanished, replaced by the crushing sense of loss. “You’re taking my mother to Lubbock?”

  “That’s procedure, Cassie. I’m sure you’ll need to make funeral arrangements, so I’ll ask the M.E. to finish quickly. You should have your mom back in forty-eight hours.” Allen asked her a few more questions about what had happened.

  She repeated what she’d told the sheriff earlier, and again avoided sharing what she now knew to be true regarding the intruder. My mother’s murderer is Morvicti, a member of The Brotherhood of Purity.

  “Ranger, I’ve been called to Mrs. Wright’s home on numerous occasions.” The sheriff had been so patient with her mom, even when the rest of the police had chalked her calls up as pure and utter insanity. He was a good man. “She was afraid of her own shadow. We never found any indication of intruders until now, but I’m wondering if this creep was stalking her all this time.”

  Allen wrote on his notepad. “We’ll look into it.”

  “Stalker or not, the scumbag was taken out by this excellent police officer.” Her captain once again put his arm around her shoulders.

  O’Malley and the captain had been good friends, having served on the force since they were both rookies. So close, in fact, that the captain had named his son Chuck. Cassie could see on the captain’s face the grief they shared. He clearly was trying to comfort her to keep from falling apart himself.

  The sheriff rubbed his chin. “I’m trying to make some sense of why this tragedy occurred. Using an axe as a weapon is unusual. Perhaps this guy is a serial killer. Are there any unsolved murders involving an axe that the Rangers are working on?”

  Allen shook his head. “Sheriff, I can assure you that we will be revisiting all murders to see if there are any similarities.”

  “Any idea why the son of a bitch wore a black mask?”

  “Other than the fact that he didn’t want to be recognized,” Allen said flatly, “I doubt it stands for anything.”

  Part of her wanted to scream, to tell Allen and everyone in her mother’s home what the black mask really meant, but she kept quiet. They would never believe her, like she had never believed her mom.

  “Cassie, you’ve been through enough tonight. If I have more questions for you I’ll contact you later.” Allen placed one of his gloved hands on her shoulder. “I still have your number and address if I need to reach you. Please don’t make any plans to leave town in the next several days. I will stay in touch with you while I finish this investigation.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” On the verge of crying again, she somehow found the strength to keep the tears from falling and her voice steady. “As you said, I have a funeral to plan.”

  When the medical examiner’s team arrived, the captain led her to the porch. “You ready to leave, Cassie?”

  “I’m past ready. Yes. But my car is parked at the station. I came with O’Malley.”

  The captain’s tone was somber. “I’ll take you back to town.”

  “What about the chief?”

  “We came separately. Come with me.”

  Seeing his car next to O’Malley’s truck was difficult to look at.

  As they drove back to San Angelo, all she could see were mesquite trees and cactus when the lightning flashed all around them.

  The captain turned on the windshield wipers. “I spoke with Helen before I got to your mother’s house. We think you don’t need to be alone right now. Why don’t you spend the night in our guest room?”

  “Thank you for the offer, Captain, but I really just want to be alone.”

  “Okay, but if you need us just call, no matter what time.”

  Passing the steak house near Twin Buttes, she thought about how much had happened since she and O’Malley had pulled over the black Chevy Impala. That seemed like a lifetime ago, though it had only been hours.

  Turning away from the captain, she wiped her eyes. O’Malley had been so close to retiring…

  Back at headquarters, the captain tried again to convince her to stay with him and his wife. She thanked him, but declined.

  The ten-minute drive from the station to her apartment was filled with visions of her mother with an axe implanted in her chest, and O’Malley’s eyes…wide and fixed forever in his severed head.

  Because of the late hour, most of her neighbors were home with their vehicles taking up the majority of the parking spots. Since her complex didn’t assign any, she had to park two buildings away from her apartment. Normally, that wouldn’t have bothered her. But now she knew the black masks were real and she no longer possessed a gun. Glancing in every direction, she rushed to her place through the pouring rain.

  With trembling hands, she unlocked her door, shut and relocked it, and immediately collapsed to the floor, sobbing. “Oh, Mom, I’m so sorry. Why didn’t I believe you? None of this would have happened if I had.”

  Thinking about what O’Malley would do in this situation, she dried her eyes.

  First, he would arm himself.

  She walked into her bedroom and pulled out the gun she kept in her nightstand. The magazine was full.

  Second, he would double check the apartment.

  She inspected her closet, under her bed, everywhere. Finally, she made sure every window and door was locked and secure.

  Third, O’Malley would scan the area outside for any possible perps.

  She looked out her windows and didn’t see anyone. Who would be out in such a horrible storm? Only people who wanted her head.

  Her cell buzzed, making her jump. “Hello?”

  “Cassie, this is Helen.” The captain’s wife was a kind woman who brought cookies to the station for all the officers at least once a week.

  Had it really only been two days since O’Malley had secretly confiscated several chocolate chips for her from Helen’s latest plate? Despite the unspoken ru
le of “one cookie per officer,” O’Malley always stole extra for her, knowing how much she loved them. God, what am I going to do without him?

  “Cassie? Are you there?”

  “Yes, I was thinking about how much O’Malley enjoyed your cookies.”

  “We’re all going to miss him so much. You two were so close, and Chuck always thought of you as a daughter.” Helen’s voice shook with emotion. “Sweetie, are you sure you want to be by yourself tonight? I could put on a pot of coffee and stay up with you if you need to talk.”

  “It’s so very kind of you to offer, but I haven’t had a chance to process any of this. I really need to be alone for now, but I promise to take you up on that offer later.”

  “I understand, Cassie, but just know we’re here for you.”

  “Thank you.” Mom, some humans want to help.

  She put her phone away and then remembered her mother’s last request.

  She pulled out her mother’s phone and opened up the contacts. Scrolling down the R’s, she didn’t see a Rom, but did find a person by the name of “Romulus.” What a strange name. That had to be the man her mother had wanted her to call.

  She clicked on the name. It rang twice.

  “Seraphina?” The deep male voice was British with a slight Slavic accent. “Are you okay?”

  She wondered what country the man might be from. “This is her daughter. Are you Rom?”

  “I am. What happened?”

  She couldn’t bring herself to say out loud her mother was dead. “My mom was…attacked.”

  “Oh, no.” The shock and worry were evident in his voice.

  “She told me to call you, but I really don’t know why.”

  “Cassandra, I’m your mother’s cousin. I need you to tell me exactly what happened.”

  Through the tears, she told Romulus about the attacker and all that had gone down at her mother’s home. Her chest was on fire with both guilt and remorse when she finally was able to say, “My mom is dead.”

  “Did you give her blood?”

  “Yes. Just a few drops before she died.”