by R. M. Garcia
“I do not fear him!” Gestapo yelled. “Do you think me incapable of defeating him!”
“No, my Führer, I would never think that!” Anna replied as she cowered. “I only wished to protect you.” She crawled over and kissed his boot, trying to appease him.
“I do not need protection. Have you the intelligence report on the Gottlieb girl?” Gestapo asked as he returned to his throne. It was made out of marble and inlaid with gold.
“Yes, my Führer!” Anna replied. She got up off the floor and retrieved the dossier.
“Very well, what do you have for me?”
“Abigail Gottlieb, she was eighteen when she was birthed into our noble house. She was subsequently sentenced to death, along with her blood father, Hulderich, for having impure blood. She eluded us for nearly five years until we discovered her hiding in Miami. A small executioner squad was organized by Commander Fedor von Beck. She was captured and used as a lure to draw out the Foundling leader, Espee. The operation was only marginally successful, and Abbie, as she was called, was killed, but Espee escaped. It is believed that Lazarus of Bethany assisted in her rescue. We lost five of our numbers including two highly valued operatives. She is survived by both parents and had no siblings. She had just over nine hundred dollars in her checking account when she met her mortal end. She had two very close friends: Kelly Monroe, who now works as a talent manager, and Trista Rogers, journalist for the Washington Post. From all accounts, she has not had any contact with either of them since she was birthed. We discovered that she kept a storage locker in her name near Chicago. We secured the contents. It contained a car, an old Volkswagen Thing. The expired registration was still in her parents’ name, but the title, which was discovered in the glove box, had been signed over, which led me to the most interesting fact we uncovered about her. There was a marriage certificate,” Anna said. “It was dated after she had been buried.”
“Interesting, she was married?” Gestapo asked. “To whom?”
“His name is Donato Guerrero. They were high school sweethearts. They were married in Niagara Falls several days after she fled.”
“Did you work up a dossier on this Donato?”
“Yes, I anticipated you wanting information on him.” Anna produced a second dossier. “Donato Guerrero, age twenty-four. His lost both of his parents by the time he was seventeen. His mother succumbed to cancer and his father to a violent crime. He received a large sum of money from two life insurance policies. He was emancipated through the court system. He invested his money and has made a handsome return on it, and he is now worth over ten million dollars.”
“Where is he now?”
“We do not know. He simply vanished when he fled with Abbie. A law firm handles all his legal matters. They filed and paid his taxes for the last several years, and until a few days ago, there had been no activity on any of his financials. Several weeks ago, he apparently resurfaced in Miami. He rented a mailbox and ordered a new ATM card.”
“Interesting,” Gestapo said and stroked his chin and wondered about this boy. “I will bet that he was helping her all along. Keeping her fed as they made their way to Tranquility.”
“The few reports we got on the girl did comment that she was indeed traveling with a male companion. Should I perform a complete work up on him?”
“No, I do not think he is of any importance. Simply keep an eye on his money. Any large transfers might lead us to Tranquility’s new location,” Gestapo ordered. “Dismissed.” Anna turned to exit, and as she did so, bumped into Frieda who had entered the chamber moments earlier. The contact knocked the dossiers out of her grasp and their contents fell and scattered on the floor.
Anna began picking up the contents of the folders and yelled, “You dummkopf!”
“My apologies, Anna,” Frieda said and kneeled down to help her pick up the scattered paperwork. She froze in place as she picked up one of the 8 × 10 photos. She held up the photo to Gestapo. “This is . . .”
CHAPTER 44
New Orleans
THE ORDER OF the Second Life was in full deployment mode. Every member had been summoned to New Orleans. One by one, they began to arrive in droves. They arrived by private plane, car, and even boats. Father Benitez was busy getting everyone ready for the upcoming conflict. All in total, 220 priests showed up; it was a smaller number than he had hoped. “Looks like this will be all of them,” Father Dominick said. “I don’t think any of the Europeans will be making it.”
“This will have to do,” Father Benitez said. “The Order is far too stretched out in Europe as it is. It is better that they remain there.”
“We’re going to be heavily outnumbered,” Father Dominick said. “I can’t wait!” Lazarus walked up to the pair.
“How are our numbers?” he asked.
“Less than we expected, but with the grace of God, more than we will need,” Father Benitez replied. “We have just over 250.”
“I sense that there are at least a thousand vampires in this city alone,” Lazarus said. “We are greatly outnumbered.”
“It’s not ideal, but we have fought at worse odds,” Father Benitez said.
“Remember Montclair, we were outnumbered ten to one, and we killed them to the last,” Father Dominick said.
“We killed one hundred of them and lost eight of ours,” Father Benitez recalled. “Yes, I remember it was a sad day.”
“Do not despair,” Lazarus said. “With Donnie on our side, I cannot foresee us losing.” The preparations continued through the day and into the night. A human courier arrived with a message for Lazarus. It was received outside of the warehouse where the order was preparing. “So he knows we are here. I figured we would not escape his attention for long.” He opened the letter and read it.
“What does it say?” Father Benitez asked.
“He wants to meet with me, and settle things either by negotiation or other less peaceful means,” he replied.
“What do we do?” Father Dominick asked.
“Nothing for now,” Lazarus replied. “We wait for Donnie. He should arrive tomorrow.”
***
Across the Gulf of Mexico, Donnie and the Foundlings were getting ready. “Now that’s a yacht!” Miguel exclaimed.
“Yeah, it came with the house,” Donnie said.
Miguel looked back at Donnie in disbelief and said, “Really?”
“No,” Donnie said smiling. “It’s chartered. You will sail through the Panama Canal and then head to Alaska. The captain and crew are aware of what you are, and have been paid an obscene amount of money to take you.”
“What do we do about blood?” Miguel asked.
“They have cows that will keep everyone fed,” Donnie replied. “They have transported vampires via sea before.”
“They have?” Miguel asked. “But...”
“Don’t worry,” Donnie said. “They have no idea you’re Foundlings, much less what a Foundling is. As far as they know, we are paying for a service they provide.”
“Right,” Miguel said. “Then I guess we better get going.”
“Good luck, and call me once you arrive,” Espee said.
“Si Jefa!” Miguel said and boarded the ship. Espee had a sinking feeling she would never see any of them again. She turned and walked to the car.
“We ready?” Nox asked.
“Yes, Gato!” Donnie said, imitating a comic book hero. “To the airport.”
“Yes, Brown Hornet!” Nox replied. Donnie laughed at his response. Damn that Nox always had a witty response. After a short drive, they arrived at the airport and boarded a private plane that Donnie had chartered. As the plane taxied for takeoff, Espee looked at Nox.
“Are we really doing this?” she asked.
“No turning back now,” Nox replied.
“Wake me when we get there,” Donnie said. “I need to check in.” Donnie leaned back in his chair and was asleep right away. Espee and Nox were surprised that he was out that quick. Donnie found himself on the
Eternal Plains. Unlike before, it was night time. He looked around to see if he could spot Abbie, but she was nowhere to be found. He began running to higher ground. As he jogged up a nearby hill, a large figure emerged over the hill. The bear was massive, easily twenty feet at the shoulder. Donnie froze in place, and their eyes locked.
“Half-dead,” the Great Bear said in a deep scratchy voice. “Your stench offends me. Leave my presence at once. You are not the one I hunt.”
“Make me fleabag,” Donnie said defiantly. The Great Bear laughed at Donnie.
“Pathetic half-dead,” the Great Bear replied. “You can do nothing to stop me. The golden hair will line my belly soon enough.”
“Over my all dead body,” Donnie replied. The Great Bear laughed once again.
“You amuse me half-dead,” the Great Bear said. “I will allow you to watch.”
“Watch what?” Donnie asked. The Great Bear began sniffing the air.
“She is near,” the Great Bear turned his massive head suddenly. “There.” Donnie’s gaze shifted to where the Great Bear was looking. He spotted Abbie riding Punu. Something was obviously wrong, Punu was favoring his left hindquarter, and Donnie could see that blood was caking down his leg. The Great Bear began running down the hill at an alarming pace. He never expected anything so big to move so fast.
“Look out Punu!” Donnie yelled. Punu looked up at the hill and spotted him and the Great Bear and redoubled his own speed. Donnie waited for the Great Bear to reach him and grabbed the behemoth. The Great Bear roared in anticipation of his kill. Donnie held on for dear life as the Great Bear easily dragged him along. Donnie’s weight made little difference to this creature. He was gaining speed as he ran down the hill.
“Donnie,” Abbie screamed. “Get out of here!” Donnie did not listen and started climbing the Great Bear’s coat.
“Unhand me!” the Great Bear demanded and attempted to buck him off, but Donnie maintained his hold.
“You’re mine!” Donnie yelled back and used his legs to deliver kicks to the Great Bear’s side. Donnie continued to climb and lash out with kicks as the Great Bear closed the distance between himself and Punu.
“Punu, you shall not escape me again!” the Great Bear cried out. Punu did not reply and concentrated on keeping his distance, but he was losing ground.
“Punu, he’s gaining!” Abbie cried out. The Great Bear’s stride was thunderous. It shook the earth like a stampede. Donnie continued to claw his way onto the Bear’s back and began riding him. He began raining down blows onto the beast’s back and spine, but his hide was simply too thick.
“Half-dead,” the Great Bear said. “This is of no concern to you. You are only making me angrier.”
“She means everything to me!” Donnie yelled out. “You cannot have her!” The Great Bear laughed again.
“In that case, I shall devour her slowly,” the Great Bear replied. Donnie began pulling himself closer to the Great Bear’s head. By the time he reached the beast’s head, he could easily see Punu and Abbie below. He began raining hammer fists onto the Great Bear’s head and tried to gouge at his eyes. Abbie looked back and shrieked.
“Donnie!” she cried. “Oh my god! What are you doing?”
“Whatever happens, don’t stop Punu!” Donnie cried out.
“So touching,” the Great Bear said. “I might shed a tear.” The Great Bear was almost within swiping distance of Punu. Every blow Donnie delivered had little to no effect, and the beast would close his eyes to avoid his fingers, and his skull felt like iron under his fists.
“Are you ready, half-dead?” the Great Bear asked. “Blood is about to be spilled.” The Great Bear lifted his large paw and began to bring it down on Abbie. Then suddenly, he roared out in agony and missed his strike. Donnie continued to sink his teeth deeper and deeper into the Great Bear’s ear. He shook his head about like a rabid animal. The Great Bear stopped in place and pawed at Donnie, trying anything to swat him off. Donnie locked his jaw and smiled as Punu widened the gap.
“Release me, half-dead!” the Great Bear yelled. He stood up on his hind legs and shook himself violently. Donnie was flung off the Great Bear and fell about thirty-five feet to the ground, a sizable piece of the Great Bear’s ear still in his mouth. It whirled around and brought his face around toward Donnie.
“How dare you!” the Great Bear yelled, outraged. “You bit me.” Donnie spit the piece of ear into his hand and stood up and met the Great Bear gaze.
“I told you she means everything to me,” Donnie said calmly. “If you don’t want your other ear bitten off, you will . . .” The Great Bear violently swatted Donnie with all his might, and pinned him to the ground.
“I should eat you,” the Great Bear said. “But your taste would be most foul.”
“Funny, you taste like chicken.” Donnie was being held down by the Bear’s weight but the massive blow had not injured him one bit. The Great Bear roared in anger.
“You disfigure me, and then you offend me?” the Great Bear asked. “What gives you the right to interfere with the natural order of things?”
“Let him up Wi-na-go,” Shadow Walker ordered.
“As you wish,” Wi-na-go said and removed his paw from Donnie’s chest.
“Donnie, what are you doing?” Shadow Walker asked.
“Protecting my wife,” Donnie said and placed his forehead against the Great Bear’s face. “Look here, you overgrown rug. You’re going to leave her alone.”
“You do not command me!” Wi-na-go replied and growled at Donnie intensely.
“You cannot harm him Wi-na-go,” Shadow Walker said.
“I know this,” Wi-na-go replied.
“But I can hurt him,” Donnie said. “Good!”
“Donnie, listen, we can discuss this,” Shadow Walker urged.
“No! No discussion!” Donnie yelled. “This is how it will go down. You leave Abbie and Punu alone.”
“And should I refuse?” Wi-na-go asked.
“Then I will come back and hunt you,” Donnie threatened. “I will take your other ear, your nose, your eyes. I will pry out your teeth and claws one by one.”
“Empty threats,” Wi-na-go replied. Donnie held up the piece of his ear up to his face.
“I may not be able to do it right away, but I’m immortal just like you,” he said, waiving the ear fragment in front of him. “Sooner or later, I’ll figure out a way to kill you. If you have any doubts, just look into my eyes.” Wi-na-go stared into Donnie’s eyes and then looked away.
“Agreed,” Wi-na-go said and began walking away. “One meal is not worth and eternity of nuisances, but you will owe me a favor.”
Donnie watched as the Great Bear slowly stomped away, “a favor?”
“In exchange for keeping her safe, you will do me a favor. Do you agree?” Wi-na-go turned and looked at Donnie.
“Don’t do it Donnie,” Shadow Walker advised.
“If you keep her safe, I will agree,” Donnie replied. “But nothing harms her while she is here.”
“The bargain is struck,” Wi-na-go said and trotted off.
“He will keep his word,” Shadow Walker said. “You will have to as well.”
“Shut up!” Donnie snapped. “You should have told me she was in this much trouble.”
“Donnie,” Shadow Walker said, trying to calm him. “Please calm yourself.”
“No!” Donnie cried out. His voice resonated and cracked the earth at his feet. Shadow Walker was thrown back. “I am getting really tired of being kept in the dark! This has to be a two way street.” Shadow Walker got up with a look of disbelief on his face.
“How did you do that, Donnie?” Shadow Walker asked.
“How should I know?” Donnie replied. “Just tell me one thing, what is the Great Bear?”
“He, like me, has many incarnations,” Shadow Walker said. “He is best recognized as the Grim Reaper.”
“I made a deal with the Angel of Death,” Donnie said. “Great.”
&n
bsp; “I tried to warn you.”
“So how many Gods are there?” Donnie asked. “Throw me a bone here.”
“One,” Shadow Walker said. “There has only ever been one.”
“But why have there been so many religions?”
“Mortals are imperfect, wonderfully imperfect,” Shadow Walker said. “The Creator’s message has always been misunderstood. Even after he sent his son to deliver his words, the message is still garbled.”
“Thus, all the different Christian denominations,” Donnie surmised.
“Exactly,” Shadow Walker said. “The Creator has been called many names, God, The Great Spirit, Zeus, Odin, but it has always been the Creator. Donnie took a deep breath and calmed himself.
“I have a job to do, so if you don’t mind, and since you haven’t bothered to teach me how, please send me back now.” Donnie woke up in his seat on the plane.
“I was just about to wake you,” Espee said.
“You were dreaming,” Nox said. Donnie sat up and was immediately in pain; several of his ribs were broken and were only now just beginning to heal. He opened his hand and there, in his palm was a mangled and bloody ear. Before his eyes, the ear dissolved into blood and was absorbed into his hand.
“It wasn’t a dream,” Donnie replied. The craft landed without any problems, and soon enough they were headed toward the address he had received from Lazarus. Donnie sat back in his seat and relaxed, “Shit.”
“What?” Espee asked.
“So many,” Donnie replied. “There are so many vampires here, unreal.”
“I think we’re screwed,” Nox said.
“This was your idea, remember that,” Espee said. They got off the plane and got into the taxi that was waiting for them. As they pulled up to the warehouse a half hour later, they immediately noticed that it was on fire. There were bodies of priests lying in pieces all over the lot. The driver slammed on his brakes and drew a cross over his body.
“This is as far as I go,” the driver said. “Either get out or stay, but decide now.”
“Open the trunk, we’re getting out,” Donnie replied. Donnie, Espee, and Nox got out of the car and removed his cedar chest from the trunk. The driver sped off as soon as he closed it.