The Mourning Woods (The Tome of Bill Book 3)

by Rick Gualtieri

  “Kind of like druids in D&D?” I asked. As expected, that drew an eye-roll from Sally. Alex, however, just looked at me with a confused expression. Jeez, was I the only vampire on the planet who was into role playing? “It’s a game,” I explained.

  “I see,” he replied in a tone that suggested quite the opposite. “Alas, what we are talking about here is no game. Insulted and feeling threatened, the Grendel launched an all-out war against humanity.”

  “So where do the vampires come into this?”

  “An excellent question. Before humanity’s rise, we were different than we are now ... or so I am told. In fact, we were not entirely dissimilar to the Grendel at the time. However, something happened. Whether accidental or not, I do not know. What I do know is that we somehow became tied to the human race. Our spirits coexisted with and amongst theirs. It was the beginning of our kind as we know it today.”

  “I think I see,” replied Sally. “So when the apes began killing off our supply of junk food, we took offense.”

  “It goes deeper than that. In linking ourselves with humanity, as they thrived, so did we. We had no choice but to enter the fray against the Grendel. If human civilization had perished, we would have followed. Thus, for a time, we fought side by side with humankind as brothers.”

  “So what happened?”

  “Mesopotamia became a blood bath. At first, the Grendel were both stronger and more numerous. However, humanity spread quickly and learned even faster. They mastered tools and weapons. They built impregnable city states. In time, some mastered the use of magic as well. With our strength added to theirs, the sides became evenly matched.”

  “And?” Sally and I both asked, now entirely engrossed.

  “And it continued that way for a millennium until eventually all sides grew weary of the constant slaughter.”

  “All sides?” I asked.

  “Yes, for by then nearly all aspects of both the natural and unnatural world had been drawn into the fray on one side or the other. It was truly the first world war. Even human history, which is a dreadfully forgetful thing, remembers bits and pieces of it: the great flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, stories of the Nephilim, et cetera.”

  “So they worked it out?”

  “In a manner of speaking, yes. There was a great summit between the powers of the world, not unlike that which we are preparing for now. After nearly a year of deliberation and debate between the parties, the Humbaba Accord was signed.”

  “Humbaba?” I chuckled. “Sounds like some bizarre sexual position.”

  “Not that you would know,” Sally countered.

  “Bite me.”

  “Not even if I was up to date on my shots.”

  “Eh hem!” Alex cleared his throat, distracting us from our banter. “Thank you. Humbaba was the name of the Grendel leader at the time. It was he who originally proposed the terms of the treaty.”

  “So what were these terms?”

  “The entire treaty was several dozen scrolls in length. The main gist of it, though, was a dividing line. The Grendel would get the forests while our kind would stay within the confines of the cities. Humanity would be allowed to continue to build their civilizations as long as certain areas of spiritual significance to the Grendel were considered off limits.”

  “So in other words,” I offered, “vampires became the cool urban types, while the Bigfeet became the rubes.”

  “I am not sure I would put it quite that way, but essentially correct. The treaty was signed in blood, and aside from occasional isolated skirmishes, it has been respected ever since.”

  “So what changed?”

  Alex sighed. “Humanity. They have forgotten the lessons of the past. Creatures such as ourselves have been forced to step back and fade into the realm of superstition.”

  “So? It’s not like Bigfoot is exactly considered real either.”

  “That is not their concern. Perception is irrelevant. All that matters to the Grendel are that in the past few hundred years humanity’s forward march has gotten ever more aggressive. Forests are being cut down. Fields are paved over. The jungles are being burned away.”

  “Which has what to do with us?”

  “It has everything to do with us. We dwell within and amongst humanity. As they expand, so do we. Though relegated to the shadows, we have continued to thrive as humanity has grown. The Grendel are aware of mankind’s short memory and have been mostly tolerant of them. We, however, are immortal. They consider the fact that we allow humanity to grow unchecked to be a blatant disregard for the Accord. Ever since the Industrial Revolution began, there have been rumblings that some amongst the Grendel are actively accusing us of being in abeyance of the treaty.”

  “Oh.”

  “‘Oh’ does not even remotely cover it. The attack on the Khan was not just the latest in a series of clashes between us. It was meant to convey a message. By striking out at one of our ruling council, they have declared the treaty null and void. Open warfare could be declared at any time.”

  “And if that happens?” I ventured, already having a sneaking suspicion that the answer would not be good.

  “If that happens, then the veil will be lifted. All of humanity’s darkest nightmares will be revealed as reality. The world will become a battleground.”

  Vacation Daze

  I couldn’t help but have doubts about Alex’s sense of impending doom. Even if what he said was true and Sasquatches suddenly came charging out of the woods en masse, I had a hard time imagining the plot from Rise of the Planet of the Apes becoming a reality. I voiced as much to him.

  “You are correct at the most basic level,” he admitted. “The world has changed a great deal in five thousand years. Humanity’s capacity for destruction has grown exponentially. Many humans would die, but if it were only the Grendel waging war, then perhaps things would not be as dire as I make them out to be.”

  “Well then...”

  “But it is not only the Grendel. The old alliances are still in place. If the Grendel declare war, then it is possible that other factions could once again join the fray. Believe me, when I say there are powers far beyond what you could possibly comprehend out there. Some would be eager to make the world remember their existence.”

  “Such as?”

  “I very much doubt the citizens of this city would be too appreciative if Marduk and Tiamat were to suddenly do battle in Times Square.”

  I did a mental calculation of both their stats from the latest edition of the Monster Manual. Hmm, not cool.

  “Not to mention,” Sally added, “how long do you think it would be before the humans brought out the big firecrackers?”

  “Nukes?” I asked.

  “Bingo.”

  Alex nodded somberly. “Yes, there is that to take into consideration, too.”

  “How the hell did we get from Bigfoot attacking vampires to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome?” I asked skeptically.

  “I will admit,” said Alex, “that is most likely a worst case scenario. But still, it is in all our best interests to get up to the Northwest Territories and make sure that it never gets a chance to escalate to that point. If we do not, then our alternatives are...”

  “Wait a second. Did you say ‘Northwest Territories?’”

  “Yes.”

  “Where the fuck is that?”

  “Isn’t it in Canada?” Sally asked.

  “Yes,” Alex replied. “Northern Canada, to be precise.”

  “Why the fuck are they having peace talks in Canada, of all places? Couldn’t they pick somewhere more ... relevant?”

  “It is relevant to the Grendel. Ever since the First Coven reached out to discuss parley with our ancient enemies, the Grendel have been in active competition for a place to host the event.”

  “Competition?”

  “The Grendel are a spiritual race, thus they demanded the talks happen at a place that holds significance for them. However, they are also a caste-driven society that place
s heavy significance on both birth as well as strength of arms. Not only are the Territories home to one of the larger populations of the Grendel on this continent, but it is also the location of the Woods of Mourning, an ancestral burial ground that holds the remains of many of their fallen warriors. I don’t know exactly what transpired, but the chieftain of that area came out victorious. The honor is his to...”

  I started to chuckle.

  “Don’t do it, Bill,” Sally warned.

  “If I may ask...” Alex started.

  “Morning wood!” I let out, cackling. “Oh, that’s great. I bet their ancestors got a rise out of that one.”

  “I am afraid I do not...”

  “I’ll be sure not to let any boners slip during the peace conference,” I continued, still laughing.

  Alex turned to Sally, a confused look on his face. She replied, “Don’t ask. Just assume Bill is a retard. It’s easier that way.”

  Still looking confused, he simply replied, “If you say so.”

  Yeah, I think it's safe to say he was starting to have doubts about sending me.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  It was only later, after Alex had departed for his hotel, that I realized what deep shit I was in.

  I turned to Sally. “Didn’t he say that the last treaty took a year to hammer out?”

  “Something like that.”

  I slapped the palm of my hand against my forehead as realization hit. “Oh, fuck.”

  “What now?”

  “I only have two weeks of vacation.”

  “After all of that, the thing you’re most worried about is unpaid time off? We are so screwed.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  “Canada?” Ed asked. “This is a peace conference to decide the fate of the world ... and they’re having it in Canada?”

  “Pretty much what I said.”

  “Why can’t they ever do these things someplace nice, like the Bahamas?” Tom asked from his place on the couch.

  “Well, just off the top of my head, I’d guess sunny, ninety-degree beaches aren’t conducive to giant monkeys covered head to toe in foul smelling fur ... or vampires, for that matter.”

  “Guess I should start doing my research,” Tom said.

  “Research?”

  “Yep. Time to start eating Canadian bacon, drinking Molson, and finishing all of my sentences with ‘eh.’”

  That caused a chuckle amongst us.

  After it had passed, Ed said to me, “Idiotic or not, Tom does have a point about research.”

  “I’m all for a few beers.”

  “Not that,” he replied. “Well okay, not just that. I’m thinking we’d better start boning up on Bigfoot.”

  I started laughing again. When he questioned me, I told them about the whole Woods of Mourning thing. Soon we were all cracking up.

  Finally, Tom said, “Well then, this should be easy.”

  “How so?”

  “With Sally around, I don’t think pitching a tent will be a problem.”

  I laughed. “Just don’t let her hear you say that. She might break it off and feed it to Bigfoot.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Ed asked me two days later. He had barged into my bedroom/office to ask a question and found me staring at my monitor.

  “Dude, try knocking first!”

  “Please tell me you weren’t jerking off to ... what is that anyway?”

  “Research,” I replied distractedly, unable to take my eyes from the screen.

  “What the hell kind of research is this?”

  “Well, I decided to look up some info on Sasquatch.”

  “Sasquatch porn?”

  “Sasquatch erotica,” I corrected.

  “That’s wrong on so many levels.”

  “I agree. But when dealing with an unknown enemy, one should study them from all angles.”

  “I’m not sure some of those angles are even possible.”

  “Tell me about it. I guess Bigfoot likes them nubile. What did you want, anyway?”

  “For the life of me I can’t remember,” Ed stated. He sighed and then turned to leave. “Just wash your hands when you’re done, you fucking perv.”

  “Will do. Hey, want me to email you the link?”

  “Okay, sure,” he replied, closing the door behind him.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Soon after I had finished my ... err ... research, my cell rang. Hearing the tone, I immediately picked it up.

  “S’up, Sally?”

  “Hey, Bill.”

  Hearing a bit of an edge in her voice ... well okay, more of an edge than usual, I asked, “What’s the matter?”

  “Alex just sent me our travel arrangements.”

  “It was only a matter of time. Did he take care of Tom and Ed, like I asked?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Cool. Then when’s our flight?”

  “About that...”

  “Don’t tell me I’m booked freight again, Sally. I swear to God, if that’s the case I’m going to...”

  “No, it’s not that.”

  “Okay then, what is it?”

  “There is no flight.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. There’s no flight. We’re not flying.”

  “Then how are we getting there, magic?”

  “Car.”

  “Hold on a second,” I replied, quickly calling up Google Maps on my PC. “You do realize that it’s over two thousand fucking miles away, right?”

  “Don’t yell at me. Yes, I know that.”

  “Then can you explain to me why the hell we're driving across almost an entire fucking continent to get there?”

  “Complain to the Bigfeet. It was their idea.”

  “Why?”

  “According to Alex, since they’re hosting this thing, they get to set some of the ground rules. Apparently, not only do they hate civilization, but they can’t stand technology either. They consider it an affront against nature or some other bullshit. Stupid, shit-flinging assholes.”

  “Let me guess – airplanes are a great big affront to both nature and convenience, right?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “That makes no fucking sense. What do they think cars are, horses disguised with wheel wells?”

  “That was their concession to us. We’re allowed to drive in. However, flying would constitute a great offense to their chief, blah blah blah.”