by R. M. Garcia
“I have asked an old friend to help you,” Shadow Walker said. “He is willing to help you, but he wants something in return.”
“What?” Donnie asked.
“I don’t know exactly,” Shadow Walker said. “He won’t tell me, but I think it will be a hard choice to accept.”
“If it means saving Abbie,” Donnie said, “I’ll travel to hell and bitch slap Beelzebub.” Shadow Walker laughed, and for a moment, Donnie could swear he saw something on his back.
“What is his name? Your friend’s name?” he asked.
“I’ll see you soon, and don’t worry about Abbie. Your spirit guide is with her,” Shadow Walker replied. “As for my friend, he calls himself Russ these days.” Donnie began to ask another question, but his world went black.
CHAPTER 38
Lily
DONNIE WOKE UP and looked around. He was back in the theater. Russ, Shadow Walker said that his friend’s name was Russ. Could it be the same man that Lily was talking about? She said he was a priest. She could have answers for him, but was she still around? “Lily?”
“I’m leaving. Don’t worry,” she replied from the far end of the theater.
“Be nice.” Donnie looked around as he just heard Abbie’s voice.
“No, stay with me,” Donnie said.
“Really, I can stay with you?” she asked.
“I think I need you,” he replied.
“You need me? I thought you hated me,” she replied.
“Oh, I still hate . . .”
“BE NICE!”
“No, I never hated you, and I think Russ is important, and I need to ask you about him,” Donnie said. “What I can’t figure out is why did he save you?”
“Hey!” Lily said, offended. “I’m not that bad.”
“Not what I meant at all,” Donnie said as he wracked his brain.
“Oh, sorry,” Lily said.
“There has to be something else,” he said.
“Well, there was one thing,” Lily said. “Something Russ made me promise to do.”
“What was it?” Donnie asked intrigued.
“He said never to kill a human soul. No matter what,” Lily replied.
“Really,” Donnie continued to pace and walk in circles.
“He said it would stain my soul.”
“Wait, what, stain your soul? He said soul?” Donnie asked as he walked right up to Lily.
“Yeah, he said soul,” Lily said. “He was very serious about it too.”
“Have you ever killed anyone?” Donnie asked her.
“No, I never have. I swear.”
“That’s it!” Donnie said. “That’s why.”
“Why what is, Donnie?” Lily asked.
“Why they didn’t kill you when they found you?” Donnie said. “Your soul is still pure.”
“Well, not that pure,” Lily said.
“OK, farmer’s daughter. I don’t need to know how many rolls in the hay you have taken.”
“Oh, you were listening,” Lily said smiling. “I don’t get it then.”
“They need you to have a stain on your soul, a black spot,” Donnie said.
“Why?” Lily asked.
“I don’t know,” Donnie said. “But I’m fairly certain that they won’t kill you yet.”
“Hey, wait a second!” Lily said. “That’s what the voice said.” Donnie looked at her with an odd expression. “Voice on the phone, you Dodo.” Donnie took a step back as if her very words had hit him in the chest.
“No way,” Donnie said softly. Everything was connecting.
“What?” Lily asked.
“Never mind, what did the person on the phone say to you?” he asked.
“I told them I was hungry and on the verge of frenzying,” Lily replied. “I told them that I was afraid that I would kill someone. He said ‘good,’ and to go earn my black spot and that they would see me soon after.”
“Bingo,” Donnie said. “They want the Foundlings to commit murders.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Lily said. “What do they gain by that?”
“I have no idea,” Donnie said. “But I intend to find out.”
“So what are we going to do?” Lily asked.
“I’m going to find answers,” he replied.
“Can I come?” Lily asked.
“I don’t know why, but I think you’re a piece of the puzzle, a weird, loud, odd-shaped piece but a piece nonetheless.”
“Hey!” Lily objected.
“Be nice,” he again heard Abbie’s voice, Donnie laughed out loud.
“Let’s go,” Donnie said, and they walked out of the theater together. Donnie hailed a cab and made a few stops. He picked up his new debit card and withdrew some cash. They stopped by a store and picked up a fancy, new smartphone. After a lot of begging, he got one up for Lily as well. She began texting him immediately.
“I’m like two feet away,” Donnie said as he finished filling out the phone contracts.
“Unlimited texting plan sucker,” Lily replied and stuck out her tongue at Donnie. Their next stop was an upscale clothing store. Three thousand dollars later, both he and Lily had a spanking new wardrobe, and Lily got a huge purse. Their next stop was a hardware store. Donnie went in and came out in just a few minutes with a brown paper bag.
“Put these in your purse” Donnie said and handed her the brown bag.
“What are we doing, Donnie?” Lily asked as she emptied the contents of the paper bag into her purse.
“What, should we return the designer jeans and shoes?” Donnie asked.
“Not the shoes!” Lily said, clutching her bags.
“Now, what was the name of the fancy resort they brought you too?” Donnie asked.
“Why?” Lily asked a bit concerned.
“Because we’re going there,” Donnie replied.
“It was the new bagel or something like that,” Lily replied.
“Do you mean the New Berlin?” The taxi driver asked.
“Yeah, I think so,” she said.
“Yeah, that’s it. I remember it now too,” Donnie said, “sure has been a long time. Take us to the New Berlin.”
“Donnie, is it safe?” Lily asked quietly.
“Not a chance,” Donnie whispered back. “But what is good for the goose is good for the gander.”
“I’m not following you,” Lily said.
“Just follow my lead and act like you belong,” Donnie said. “Under no circumstances are you to act afraid.”
“But I am literally shaking in my boots already,” Lily said. “I’m not sure I can do this.”
“You will be fine,” Donnie assured. “They don’t want you dead, at least not yet.”
“Don’t do it Donnie, she’ll be killed.”
“I know what I’m doing, Abbie,” he replied. Lily looked at him, confused.
“Are you talking to her now? Is she in the car with us, is she a ghost?” Lily looked around with eyes wide. “Does she want revenge?”
“Yes, she does, but not on you . . .” Donnie leaned back and fell asleep. He opened his eyes and was looking up into the sky. Abbie was standing over him.
“What, you can summon me now?” he asked Abbie.
“No, they brought you.” Abbie gestured to the gathered tribe. Donnie stood up and looked at Shadow Walker, Rainchaser, Windcaller, Thunder Step, and Morning Glow. They were standing in a circle around him and looked displeased.
“What’s up, guys?” Donnie asked nonchalantly.
“What are you doing?” Shadow Walker asked, I commanded you to wait.
“I’m done playing by your rules,” Donnie replied. “I plan to shake things up.”
“You’re going to get yourself killed or worse,” Abbie said.
“You see, he cannot be trusted,” Thunder Step roared.
“He can be trusted!” Abbie yelled back at him. “You just need to train him.”
“Abbie, what have they told you? Do you know what is going on?” Don
nie looked at her, and she looked away.
“Yes, but I can’t tell you,” Abbie said. “It made me cry for days.”
“Wait, I just left you not three hours ago,” Donnie declared. “How could have days passed here?” Shadow Walker looked at the others and looked at Donnie.
“Let me explain, days here pass by much faster than in the living world,” Shadow Walker advised.
“You told me she has less than a week before . . . ” Donnie began.
“Your days, not our days,” Shadow Walker interrupted. “Gestapo is in the living world; it will take him time to find her missing.”
“You should show caution,” Morning Light advised. “You are far more important than you could imagine.” Donnie felt a sense of peace around her, her words soothed him. For a moment, she almost had him.
“No, I am still doing this,” Donnie replied. “So either spill it and tell me why I should stay put or get out of my way.”
“Donnie,” Abbie began.
“No, no, I have a week at most. I’m not going to wait. I’m not taking that chance.” Donnie was fuming now.
“If you insist on this course of action, we should train you first,” Rainchaser said.
“Mmm, but who shall go first?” Windcaller said. Donnie watched in bewilderment as they began arguing amongst themselves. He shook his head and looked at Shadow Walker.
“Send me back.”
“What? No, Donnie, they can help you. You will need their help!” Abbie said and walked over to him.
“They can’t make up their mind, so have them fetch me when they come to a consensus, until then, this powwow is pointless.” Donnie looked at the three gathered and fumed.
“You are right, Donnie,” Shadow Walker admitted. “We have argued endlessly.”
“So make up your mind,” Abbie demanded.
“It is not that easy,” Shadow Walker said. “There is much that needs to be considered, options that need to be weighed.”
“Not good enough,” she replied. “I’m going to tell him.”
“Yes,” Donnie said, making a fist, “finally.”
“No,” Shadow Walker pleaded. “You must not. It is still too soon. He won’t understand.”
“Then let me pick,” she offered.
“What?” Donnie wasn’t surprised that Abbie was taking charge in this manner.
“I pick one of you, and you train him,” Abbie said and crossed her arms defiantly. The Native American spirits looked at each other, and it seemed that they were communicating without speaking. After a brief moment, Shadow Walker looked at Abbie.
“Agreed, you may pick,” Shadow Walker said, “and, we will train.”
Abbie walked over to Thunder Step and looked him up and down and said, “You.”
“Why’d you pick him?” Donnie asked.
“He reminds me of my dad,” she replied.
“Good enough for me,” he replied. Thunder Step walked up to Donnie and placed his hand on his shoulder.
“You may regret this,” he said and smiled.
“Donnie, wait,” Abbie cried out.
“Yeah babe. Sorry, I almost forgot.” He walked over to Abbie and kissed her passionately. It wasn’t what she wanted to tell him, but she wasn’t about to stop him now.
“Whoa, I’m all hot and bothered now,” Abbie said as she fanned her face with her hand. “I need to tell you something.”
“I’m listening,” he replied, smiling.
“Lily, she’s important,” Abbie said and looked at Shadow Walker to see if it was OK to tell him that. Shadow Walker conceded and nodded his approval.
“I know she means a lot to you,” Donnie replied. “I can’t believe you’re still watching out for her after what she did to you.”
“Listen, if I can forgive her, you need to do the same. Promise me you will treat her like I treated her. Like the sister I never had.” Abbie looked into Donnie’s face, “Promise.”
“Fine, I promise you.” Donnie relented, “Because she’s important to you.”
“No, Donnie, she’s important to the world,” Abbie replied and watched as Donnie’s expression changed.
“Lily is important to the world?” Donnie thought she was playing a joke on him, but her expression was quite serious, “Really?”
“Yeah, so don’t let anything happen to her and be nice!” Abbie placed her hands on her hip, and she gave him her cute crooked little smile.
“Let’s do this,” Donnie said to Thunder Step, and they vanished from Abbie’s view.
“Where did they go?” she asked.
“They went to the training grounds,” Shadow Walker replied.
Lily tried to rouse Donnie as the cab rolled on. She jumped back when his eyes opened. He looked instantly tired. He put his fist to his mouth and coughed. Lily’s eyes grew wide when he expelled dust and dirt from his mouth.
“You’re such a cheater!” he called out as he looked at the roof of the cab. The cab driver looked perplexed but continued to drive after mumbling something about crazy Cubans.
“Donnie, what was that?” Lily asked, scared.
“Six weeks worth of getting my ass whooped, that’s what that was,” he replied angrily.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“Don’t try to right now.” Donnie looked at her. She looked like a lemur with her eyes wide. “Just know that Abbie forgives you, and I promise to take care of you.” He watched as her bottom lip trembled, and she reached over and hugged him.
“Thank you,” she said. “I feel so much better now. What about you?”
“Let’s just say I’m in a state of extreme agitation,” Donnie replied. The cab pulled up to the entrance of the resort, and the door was opened for them by a bellhop. Donnie and Lily got out after paying the cab driver and walked inside of the resort. The bellhops carried their bags closely behind them. They reached the front desk and were met by a young man. His name tag read Gerald.
“Do you have a reservation, sir?” Gerald asked.
“No, we do not,” Donnie replied. “I found myself having to come to Miami for business, and my wife had spoken so highly of her stay here that I simply had to visit.”
“It won’t be a problem, sir,” Gerald replied. “I have plenty of space available. How long will your stay be?”
“I am thinking two or three nights before my business is concluded,” Donnie replied. He noticed that Lily kept looking around as if she was expecting someone to spot her. He leaned over to her and whispered in her ear, “Settle down.”
“Will you need a villa or a suite?” Gerald asked.
“I’ll need one of your special rooms,” Donnie replied.
“Special rooms, sir?” Gerald asked a bit confused.
“I tan very easily and don’t like to be bothered by the morning sun,” Donnie replied.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I’m not sure what you mean,” Gerald replied.
“I’m sorry. Perhaps I was mistaken in coming here,” Donnie replied. “I was told this was a convenient place to rest for the day. I guess I’ll go stay at a motel then. I’ll be sure to mention it to the owner next time I see him.” Donnie turned and grabbed Lily’s hand and, to her eternal relief, began to walk away from the desk.
“Wait, sir,” Gerald said. “Who instructed you to come here?” Donnie grinned with satisfaction, turned around, and walked back to the desk, much to Lily’s chagrin.
“Like I said my wife stayed here a few years back, but the man who recommended a stay here was named Hulderich.” Donnie watched as Gerald simply blinked several times and turned pale. Donnie snapped his fingers in Gerald’s face several times to get his attention and break his blank stare.
“My apologies, sir,” Gerald said as he recovered. “May I ask your wife’s name?”
“Her name when she stayed here was Abbie Gottlieb.” Donnie did not think it would have been possible for anymore color to fade from the Gerald’s face. He was wrong.
“May I have a mom
ent, sir?” Gerald asked nervously. “I need to make a call.”
“I’m in no rush,” Donnie replied. He watched as Gerald picked up the phone and dialed. Donnie felt a buzzing in his pocket and pulled out his phone. There was a new text message. It was from Lily, and it simply read “OMG we are going to die.” Donnie grinned and replied back via text, “I won’t let anything happen to you, promise.” Gerald began speaking in German to whomever he was conversing with on the other line, and when he put down the phone, he missed the cradle a few times. Donnie could tell he was extremely nervous.
“I have a room ready for you on the top floor,” Gerald said.
“Excellent,” Donnie replied.
“I will have a steward take you up,” Gerald continued.
“Wonderful,” Donnie replied. “Please make arrangements for some refreshments to be brought to the room.”
“What is your name, sir?”
“Foundling,” Donnie said loudly. Lily started coughing after Donnie said it.
Gerald looked almost afraid to repeat it, “Foundling?”
“Yes, Mr. Donnie Foundling,” he replied. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to get to our room. I will come down later and fill out the registration card.”
“That’ll be fine, sir,” Gerald said. “Who’s your guest?”
“Interesting that you know that she’s not my wife, Gerald,” Donnie said. “I will make sure to speak to you about that very soon. She’s my little sister.” Gerald looked at Donnie’s tanned skin and long black hair, and then looked to Lily’s Caucasian complexion and red hair.
“Of course,” Gerald replied and was very relieved as two large men walked up to Donnie and Lily. Donnie could tell on sight that they were both vampires. Donnie read their name tags, Lars and Otto. They were both well over six feet tall and were extremely muscular. Lily’s eyes went wide when she saw them and began texting furiously. It was obvious that she recognized them. Otto reached for her phone, but Donnie grabbed his wrist before he took it from her.
“That’s not yours,” Donnie said as he held the man’s wrist in place. Otto began to struggle against Donnie’s grip. Donnie crushed his wrist, which brought Otto down to his knees. “Keep it up, and I will tear it off. I’m hungry, and I’m not in the best mood when I’m hungry.” Donnie released his grip of the wrist and took a step back.