The smoke cleared, and Mestiphles entered with his personal breeze. The invisible wind continued through the castle and dampened all the surrounding flames. Victoria paused in the courtyard door and squinted at the wondrous dampener, but Elizabeth shoved her onward.
"What is going on in there?” Sarah covered her eyes and looked up at the fading smoke and flame free turrets.
"It's Mestiphles,” Ann suspected correctly.
Mestiphles clapped, Antonio straightened, and Lilith put her arms at her sides.
"You two gave me a gold's worth of show tonight!"
Lilith smiled and straightened her shoulders, but Antonio grimaced at her.
"You.” Mestiphles turned on his heel and faced Antonio. “For once, you did what you where supposed to do."
"I did?"
"Lilith.” Mestiphles looked at her. “I gave you the opportunity to redeem yourself, but your ambitious nature has failed you once again."
He waved his hand, and his supernatural breeze blew again.
"Mestiphles! I knew you could not be trusted. You tricked me. You said—Nooooo!"
A swirl of wind and white light wrapped around Lilith, and Antonio shielded his eyes. The light fell, and she was gone.
Mestiphles sighed. “Must I test you so, Antonio?"
He looked crossly at Mestiphles. “You did trick us."
"These are turbulent times. You were not doing all you are capable of,” Mestiphles said. An ethereal bell rang in the distance, and he looked over his shoulder.
"I must attend Lilith's sentencing.” He shook hands with Antonio.
"This is it?” Antonio asked, disbelieving.
"I had my doubts, Antonio, but your coven rallied around you. Even the wayward ones.” Mestiphles backed away as the eternal bell rang again. “That is why I picked you."
He backed farther away and faded into the darkness. He waved and disappeared.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 45
The Professor's forty-year-old office building, 2000.
The crackled glass window of the Professor's office revealed Theodore's shadowy figure behind the backward letters on the door. The entrance opened, and he reached in and flicked on the lights.
"It's not much, but I think they will be safe here.” The Professor looked around the room. His desk was cluttered with papers and computer equipment, and the shelves were crammed with books and antiques.
"I don't like splitting our forces.” Theodore laid Slava down on the leather couch. He hadn't worked with the Professor here in quite some time. “But now they don't have any informers."
Victoria and Catrina squeezed through the doorway together. Not fully healed from her neck wound, Catrina spoke hoarsely. “I'll stay and look after him."
Caine entered behind them and slouched on the leather settee. The Professor cringed at the squishing fabric, but Theodore smiled at the old man's stuffy English ways. He looked out the window at Angelo, waiting far below in the Professor's car. He pulled the curtains and checked his watch. “We should be leaving soon."
The Professor stood ready to lock the door. Theodore shuffled into the hallway as Caine followed.
"Wait.” Victoria turned back and sat down on the soft leather chair. She closed her eyes, but Catrina smirked and turned away. Victoria shook and writhed. A brief mist inched out of her chest, ascended to the ceiling, and disappeared.
She slowly opened her eyes, and Caine stepped closer. Victoria stood, looked at the ceiling, and walked bewitched past him. He put his arm around her, and the Professor shut the door.
The trip downstairs was uneventful, and Caine put Victoria in the back seat next to the Professor. Theodore popped open the trunk.
"Caine."
"No.” He reached for the car door.
Angelo looked in the driver side mirror. “Let's go."
"It will be daylight by the time we get to the flat,” Theodore reminded him.
Caine put one leg into the trunk, ducked, and folded himself into the second backseat.
"Why couldn't I just be that dog again and sit on Victoria's lap?"
Theodore slammed the lid on Caine's whining. He sat in the passenger's seat and glared at the silent Victoria. The Professor adjusted his glasses, and Angelo shifted the car down the road. Theodore eyed Victoria's reflection in his window. She looked at the cars speeding past them, unmoved by the weaving and whizzing, nor Angelo's driving.
* * * *
The wine glasses clanged together as Pamela and Angelo toasted carefully. Samantha was not looking forward to this taste.
"Where did you get this?” Pamela sipped from her glass. “I feel queasy."
"How long did we wait behind that meat counter before Lilith showed up?” Angelo perched on the arm of the couch beside Samantha. “A little ingenuity goes a long way."
Theodore set his glass on the end table. “Let's not turn in a victory just yet.” Samantha swallowed some of Angelo's concoction, then set it down on the coffee table.
"Relax, Samantha.” Victoria said. “It's only animal blood."
"It speaks.” Angelo teased, but she heeded him not. Instead, she rocked slowly in the rocking chair. The Professor remained by the door, content not to get his cup of tea involved. The door swung open, and Caine stomped into the room.
"Where have you been?” Samantha asked. He plopped down on the couch next to her.
"Someone left me in the trunk of his car since this morning."
Theodore blushed, but Caine turned to the Professor. “Sorry about the car."
The Professor nodded for the dismissal of the subject and brought his cup to his lips, but he paused briefly and looked back at Caine. Samantha smiled as Angelo handed him a glass of his specialty.
"My apologies."
Caine glanced at Victoria. “She's still acting funky?"
"Only a few words here and there,” Pamela told him. “I like her better this way."
"I heard that,” Victoria interrupted. “I'm not deaf, you know."
"You said I.” Samantha sat up as the Professor set down his cup and saucer. She continued, “Until now, you've only spoken in the plural."
"Gaston is not here. I left him at the office to keep an eye on things."
"That misty thing that came out of your body didn't look like it had an eye,” Caine observed.
Victoria stood up and dropped her glass. Mist circled around her, then disappeared into her pores. Angelo jumped and moved away from the splashing drink.
"I take it back. I take it back,” Caine mumbled.
"Something is happening,” Victoria trembled. The Professor dared to inch closer.
"What is wrong?” Theodore followed her as she paced. Pamela got up and backed away, and Samantha shifted on the couch.
"Catrina tried to stop her, but she grabbed her, and then, Slava was just laying there. Catrina tried to do something, but..."
"What happened to Slava?” Pamela demanded. She grabbed Victoria by the arms and held her still.
"They are dead. Everyone at the office."
Pamela let her go. “We should never have left them there. They weren't safer away from us!"
Victoria fell back into the chair. “I got back as fast as I could. She knew I was there."
"Gaston?” Samantha kneeled by the rocker, and Victoria responded to the name. “How did Lilith know you were there?"
"I don't know. Lilith waited ‘till nightfall. I could do nothing to stop her."
"It's all right,” Samantha calmed. “Gaston, is there any way Lilith could track you here?"
Victoria panted. “Rain."
"He's in the Professor's vault. That's the only place that could hold him,” Theodore answered.
"I assure you, he cannot have escaped to reveal our location to the Lilithan,” the Professor interceded.
"Rain.” She jumped up and pushed Theodore aside. “Get out of my way."
"That's Victoria.” Angelo smiled as Caine cleared out of her way.
Victoria went to the Professor. “Lilith can track Rain. We think you better lead us down to that vault."
The Professor stepped out the door, and the Welshire procession followed him downstairs. The lower level was like a museum, with busts on pedestals and lighted paintings. The Professor pulled on one of his fancy tassels; the decorative drapes parted, and behind the curtains lay the wheel to the vault.
"I keep my more valuable artifacts here instead of on display.” The Professor turned the wheel. “I only hope your friend has a love of fine art."
The lock came undone, and a fizz of air ran out. The door opened, and the light in the vault brightened. Rain stood waiting inside. His eyes glazed and his teeth extended. Victoria eyed him.
"Angelo, go get Rain some of your mix."
Angelo backed slowly away, and Rain zipped for Victoria. He grabbed her, pulled Victoria tightly against him, and dug his nails into her neck. The Professor again shifted his glasses.
"So, this is Rain.” Caine sized him up. His new eyes changed and his young fangs grew longer. “Nice to see you with your eyes open."
Rain grunted. Undeterred, Caine grabbed Victoria and punched Rain in the stomach. Theodore jumped onto him and wrestled with the angry vampire. It took all he had to keep Rain's arms clenched and under control.
"Here.” Angelo hurried with a full glass of his animal Pina Colada. He waved the glass in front of Rain. “You have to be good if you want something to drink."
Rain calmed, and Angelo inched closer. He opened his mouth and let Angelo empty the drink. Theodore let go, and Rain stayed still. His fangs retreated, and his swirling eyes returned to brown. Samantha stepped forward from her vantage point among the statues and art.
"Rain, you must tell us how Lilith is tracking you."
Rain remained silent, and Samantha looked to Theodore for the next course of action.
"You drank her blood,” Victoria peered into Rain's mind “It's just like being one of them."
"You're a half-breed!” Caine chuckled.
"I'm a full-blooded Kiowa."
"Then, you're a half-breed vampire, Injun."
"That is why we couldn't sense him until he was on the tip of our nose.” Victoria crossed her arms over her chest “There was nothing wrong with us. Rain's under her control now."
"Is that true?” Samantha asked. The Professor looked back and forth and observed.
"Jessica, Slava, and Catrina.” Theodore listed the names for Rain.
"She bit me. What do you want to know? I'll tell you everything."
"I told you this guy was a traitor,” Caine said.
"Who are you?” Rain asked.
"I'm a guy who can't rest when there's a double agent under my roof."
"We don't have time for this.” Samantha tried to cool them. “I'm sure Lilith must be on her way here."
"Lilith is on her way, indeed,” Rain confirmed.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 46
Michael pressed his foot down on the gas pedal. The light turned green, and the car rolled onward. Stephanie sat quietly in the passenger's seat. Night allowed their promotion to the front seat as Lilith's chauffeurs.
"Wait.” Lilith leaned closer to the front seat. She kept the unwilling couple docile and under control. “Stop here."
Michael pulled over on a gravel road and shut off the ignition. Mary exited on her side and came around to Lilith. They stood at the open car door and looked back at the Professor's building. It rose easily into view from down the street. Lilith took in where Michael had stopped—an entranceway of a cemetery.
"Perfect."
"We are outnumbered,” Mary told her.
"Nonsense.” Lilith smirked. “That Caine is too weak to do anything. They lug that human brain around with them, and it would be in their best interests to keep an eye on Rain at all times."
* * * *
Rain sat at the head of the Professor's fancy table. The Welshires sat along either side and stared intently at him, unlike the Professor, who kept his distance and sat at the other end of the table. Rain squinted and tried to pinpoint Lilith with his weak connections.
"Can you see anything at all?” Samantha asked.
"A car."
"Great,” Victoria mumbled. “That's just great. A car."
"They've stopped.” He hesitated. “They're getting out."
"Who?” Theodore asked.
"Lilith and Mary."
"What is around them?” Samantha asked. “A street sign? A landmark?"
"Saint Thomas."
"Great,” Victoria mumbled again.
"That could be any number of places,” Theodore said.
Samantha reiterated, “Can you be more specific?"
"A church."
"What would Lilith be doing in a church?” Angelo questioned.
"There could be fifty Saint Thomas Churches in this city,” Theodore said restlessly.
"By George!” The Professor stood. “Saint Thomas Cemetery down the street!"
Samantha opened the door and stepped onto the sidewalk. Theodore and Angelo quickly flanked her. Rain followed them, and Victoria and Caine sauntered in time behind him. Pamela road shotgun, and the Professor trudged behind the line. The Welshire procession marched down the post-midnight street.
Samantha stopped outside the open cemetery gates and eyed Lilith's parked car.
"Where is she?” Theodore questioned. Angelo looked in the car.
"They're in the cemetery,” Rain reported.
"How did you figure out that one?” Victoria boldly walked through the gate.
"Look out!” Rain screamed.
Mary jumped out of the darkness and swatted at Victoria. Angelo grabbed Caine. They took cover behind Lilith's car, and Pamela ducked below the trunk with them. Victoria fell to the ground and covered her gashed neck. Samantha and Theodore ran to one side of the gate, and Rain to the other. Mary roared loudly and looked around for someone to grab next.
Caine jumped through the car's open window. He shifted gears, and the wheels spun. Smoke from the exhaust blew in Pamela's face, and Caine was off. He ran the car right into Mary, and she screeched. Her face smashed on the windshield with a squish. Caine tried not to look but floored the gas pedal. Mary rammed her fist through the windshield and latched her bloody hand around Caine's throat. He lost control of the car, and it spun off the gravel road and onto the cropped cemetery grass. The car ran over a small headstone and jerked Caine from Mary's grasp.
He kept his foot on the gas. He looked out the window to see ahead. Caine smiled and put the pedal all the way to the floor. Mary turned and saw the hard wall of a mausoleum racing toward her. Caine reached for the seatbelt and buckled himself in. Mary screamed and braced her hands. The speeding car rammed into the mausoleum. The metal hood folded and severed Mary between the car parts.
* * * *
Samantha saw the taillights and steam rising from the car crash. Theodore and Victoria rushed through the graveyard, but Lilith stood back behind a tree and watched the Welshires come out into the open one by one.
"Let's even up the score."
She let her supernatural powers control her arm. A beam of light shot out and swept across the cemetery. It struck Angelo, and he disappeared. The beam passed to Pamela, leaving nothing where she had stood.
"What was that?” Angelo's question echoed in the void.
"Where are we?” Pamela stayed close to him.
"Stay back.” Angelo backed away. “Stay away from me!"
Pamela backed against a wall. Black slimy hands reached around and grabbed her. “No!” she screamed. “No!"
The ethereal hands covered her mouth and pulled her down into the dark abyss.
Samantha blinked and readjusted her eyes to the night. “What just happened?"
"Your friends appear to be missing,” the Professor confirmed out of breath behind her. “We must tell the others."
Theodore grabbed the car door and
ripped it from the factory frame.
"Is he dead?” Rain questioned eagerly. Victoria pushed him away and leaned inside the car.
"An injury like this should not kill him, even at his age.” Theodore turned Caine's head and saw the gash on his temple. He carefully undid the seatbelt and inched him out of the car. “Nursemaid to the nursemaid."
"Lilith took them.” Samantha approached the car. “Pamela and Angelo!"
"Your friends have disappeared,” the Professor better informed them. “I suspect she wanted to better her chances against us."
"Why didn't she make us all poof, disappear?” Victoria asked.
"That would be too easy for her.” Theodore laid Caine down on the ground. “She likes to make it difficult for us."
"She likes to play,” Rain shared. “It's a chance to impress Mestiphles."
"Lilith turned Michael and Stephanie just to play games with me.” Samantha looked to the left and to the right, but she didn't see them.
"What'd I miss?” Caine stirred. “Oh, shit."
Lilith stood before them.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 47
Michael and Stephanie walked on either side of Lilith as she piped, “Lovely evening, don't you agree?"
Victoria started for them, but Theodore held her back. Lilith laughed, but Victoria controlled herself. She focused sternly on her, and the misty spirit of Gaston darted across the graveyard and struck Lilith.
Momentarily free from her control, Michael and Stephanie sprinted in opposite directions. Caine leaped up and ran after Stephanie. Healing and always ready to chase a woman, he caught her and knocked the reluctant Lilithan to the ground. Rain lashed out and cornered Michael.
Lilith fell to the ground, and the apparition darted back into Victoria. She relaxed in Theodore's arms, and he let her go. Lilith shook off the effects and prepared a ball of fire in her hand.
A bolt of lightning shot down and struck the headstone near her. The smoke and fog of broken stone cleared, and Mestiphles leaned on the crooked headstone with his usual smirk. Lilith let the sparks in her palm die to smoke, and the Professor adjusted his glasses.
The Vampire Family Page 17