by Ren Hamilton
Juris’s face lost a bit of its anguish, but he still looked suspicious. “Describe Klee to me. Tell me what he looks like.”
Patrick crouched in front of Juris. “He looks like the rest of you freaks.”
Juris sneered. “You could have speculated that through deductive reasoning. Give me details.”
“His hair was your color. He looks more like you than he does the others, but his features are more delicate. Baby face.”
Juris appeared to be considering this, but he still didn’t look convinced. Robin spoke up. “He was yelling something in another language. Shep made him say it in English, then they gave him a pain killer.”
Juris’s eyes widened. “What was he yelling?”
“Flesh,” Robin answered. “Plefura or something like that.”
Juris let out a long breath and nodded. “Plefarr.”
“Yes. That’s it.”
Juris looked at Robin and nodded. “Thank you,” he said quietly as fat tears streamed down his face. “Thank you.”
Robin’s face softened as Juris wept, and it made Patrick want to scream. He got off of the floor and approached her. “Don’t be fooled by the sentiment, Robin. It doesn’t redeem him. The only thing these freaks care about is each other. Everyone else, including the lot of us, they’d kill in an instant without remorse.”
Robin shrugged. “At least they care about something.”
“I want to be moved out of this church,” Juris demanded, his tone vile again.
“Sorry. No can do,” Litner said.
Juris stared at them all for a long time. His gaze lingered on Copie. “Fine. May I at least have some chocolate now, young one?”
Copie looked at Father Carbone, who nodded his approval. Copie grabbed the bag of Kisses and approached Juris unabashedly. He’d spent a good deal of time with the prisoner now, and he was no longer afraid. He unwrapped two kisses and held them out in front of Juris’s mouth. “Open up.”
In one fluid motion, Juris hunched his body down then pressed his knees out, snapping the steel ropes that held him below the waist. His upper body was still secured to the chair, but he was able to thrust his legs upward and catch Copie around the neck, holding him in a scissor lock between his knees.
Patrick went diving forward to help Copie. Juris twisted his knees a little and Copie whimpered. “I wouldn’t, Obrien. Come any closer and I snap his neck.” Copie groaned as Juris squeezed his legs tighter.
Agent Litner had drawn his gun and was pointing it at Juris. “Let him go, Juris.”
“You can shoot me, lawman, but not before I snap his neck. Untie me and take the cuffs off.”
“I can’t do that, Juris. Just let him go.”
“Not until you make a concession. I want to be moved out of this church. I want to be held elsewhere.”
“Fine. I can have you moved to a new location within twenty-four hours.”
“You have two hours. And I want more chocolate and brandy.”
“Well,” Litner said, stony as ever, “that’s a bit out of my job description, but I’m sure the priest can accommodate you. Now let Copie go.”
“You best keep your word.” He unlocked his knees and Copie dropped to the floor.
Robin ran to Copie, who was shaken but not harmed. Litner quickly re-tied Juris’s legs, doubling up the steel ropes. Juris did not fight him. “Copie, all right?” Litner asked.
“He is alive,” Juris said. “I kept my part of the bargain. Do you keep your promises?”
Litner finished securing the ropes and stepped back. “All right, Juris. I can’t say you’ve been a treat, but you’ve been more cooperative than usual today. I’ll have you moved to a new location as soon as possible. Father Carbone will get you your chocolate and brandy.”
Father Carbone crossed his arms stubbornly. “I didn’t agree to that.”
“Get the man, or whatever he is, his brandy, Father Carbone. Patrick, you need to come with me. We have a mission to prepare you for.” Litner headed for the stairs. The rest of the company followed closely behind him. They had all had enough of the basement, and of Juris.
“Let’s go, Patrick,” Litner demanded when they got up to the kitchen.
Patrick looked at Robin. He wanted to say so much to her, but he wasn’t sure where they stood. So much had happened, and he was afraid she might be regretting the kiss they shared on the way to Pearl Chasm. Much to his delight, she ran to him and they fell into a deep passionate kiss. They broke the kiss and he hugged her. “Be careful,” she said. “You owe me a real date.”
“I’ll come back in one piece. I promise,” he said, clinging to her, not wanting to let go.
The rest of them looked on sheepishly. Father Carbone grinned. Even Litner raised a quizzical eyebrow. “When did you two start sucking face?” Copie asked bluntly.
“So you know, Robin,” Litner said, “I’m going to have Patrick tell Shep that he has to come back to Boston once a week for a consulting job. This may not be necessary if he can get the crop sample the first week, but we just can’t be sure. We’ll use that time for briefings, since we can’t risk contacting him by phone once he’s moved out there. Patrick, let’s get moving. I want to get this damn thing figured out and have it over with.”
Father Carbone walked Litner and Patrick outside and watched them drive off. He gazed at the passing traffic for several minutes after they’d gone. He was not anxious to go back inside, where something inhuman sat quietly hostile in his basement.
Chapter Thirty
“I want to go out! Are you listening to me?” Joey threw another hunk of cheese. Shep continued to tap away at the computer as the cheese bounced off his shoulder and joined the other pieces on the floor around his chair. Joey’s tirade had been going on for nearly an hour, and Shep’s patience was wearing thin.
“For the last time Joey, you cannot leave the house. It’s too risky. Oh, and please stop pelting me with cheese. You’re being immature.”
“I am going to lose my shit if I don’t get out of this house, Shepherd.”
Shep sighed and turned to Joey, who sat sideways in a leather recliner. He picked up another piece of cheese from the tray and tossed it across the room where it bounced off of Shep’s temple. “I want to go out!”
“Did you or did you not get shot last week? Have you forgotten so soon? Do you know what I’ve been doing for the last two hours?”
“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me, and I’m sure it’s going to be very boring.”
“Let me enlighten you,” Shep said. “I’ve been scouring social media and the hundreds of websites and articles that have cropped up in your honor. Aside from the ones calling for your death, you also have stalkers now, most of them women who are intent on finding you so that they may bear your children. If we go out in public you could cause a riot, get killed, or both.”
Joey pouted and kicked the tray of hors d’oeuvres off the end table with a loud clang, making a catastrophic mess on the floor. Shep could scarcely blame him for going stir crazy. He’d kept him completely under guard since the shooting. He’d even had the followers come inside the house to hear Joey’s sermons in the library. He knew his measures were extreme, but these were extreme times, and if something happened to Joey, Shep’s entire purpose would be defeated. He would not let that happen.
“I can’t stay in this house forever, Shep. Why can’t we go out and have a couple of drinks? God, what I wouldn’t give for a night at Monty’s.”
“Do you want to ruin all we’ve worked for so you can have a couple tequila slammers?”
Joey crossed his arms in defiance. “I don’t care about the booze. I can drink here if I want. I need to see people. Real People! Not these zombies we’ve got living out in the fields. I need socialization and live music. And women! I need to see lots of women!”
Shep logged out of the computer and stood up. “Listen, boy wonder, you have to be patient. This is a very critical time. Once the crop is harvested and
the product is dispersed, we can all relax. Eventually Obrien will be here, and you’ll be able to roam around as you please. And if it’s women you want, Kelinda is naked in the Jacuzzi as we speak.”
Joey made a sour face. “I don’t want her. She’s changed. She’s just another zombie now.”
“She’s a zombie because of you, you idiot. May I remind you that we could have avoided all this if you’d just let me kill her? You pleaded for her life.”
“You can kill her now if you want. I don’t care anymore.”
“Well it’s too late now! Her parents know she’s out here!” Shep shook his head. “This is all irrelevant.”
Years of planning, and Joey chose now to fall apart on him. It was bad enough that Obrien hadn’t come through yet. He could not lose control of Joey too. Part of Joey’s behavior was due to the fact that Shep kept him drunk nearly twenty-four hours a day, but that couldn’t be helped. Alcohol was the only thing that calmed the fear in his blood. Except for Obrien of course, but the stupid prick was still holding out on them.
As though reading his thoughts, Joey said, “I miss Obrien.” His face was sad and wistful.
Shep stormed over. “Oh stop that! You do not miss Obrien. Your blood misses him, that’s all.”
Joey shook his head. “It’s not just that. I think I actually miss him, Shep. Obrien listened to me, you know? He laughed at my jokes. He didn’t treat me like a hand puppet, the way you do.”
“Oh boo hoo. Your ego misses Obrien, that’s all.”
“You don’t miss him? Not even a little?”
Shep was silent for a moment. “Enough, Joey. Are you forgetting that I put your soul to sleep? You don’t have any feelings, therefore you cannot possibly miss Obrien.”
“That’s why I’m asking. If a deadhead like me can miss our friend, then you must feel at least something about it.”
“I feel annoyance. But he will be here, mark my words. He will come not because of any love for you or me. But because the blood running through his veins instructs him to.”
Joey stood. “Oh really? Then why isn’t he here? Huh? Why isn’t it working, Mr. Plan-of-the-Century?”
“Obrien will come around! It’s just taking a little longer than I anticipated. He will be here soon, and he’ll be behaving like a trained dog!”
Joey yawned deliberately.
“Joseph Pierre Duvaine, are you listening to me?”
“I want to go out, Shep.”
“Oh, mother of mercy.” Shep threw his hands in the air, walking away.
“I’ll wear a disguise. Please? You can get the brothers to protect me. And Russell.”
Shep shook his head.
“Why not?” Joey pushed, whining like a toddler.
“Because Juris is missing, Klee is too weak yet, and Margol has welts all over one side of his face. He looks like he won third place in an acid fight.”
“What? Why?”
“Long story.”
“And what about geek boy?”
“Russell is staying in and cleaning the basement tonight. He’s being punished for trying to peek at me while I was in the shower.”
A grin spread across Joey’s face, and he bit his lower lip to stifle his laughter.
“Yes, yes. Very funny,” Shep said. “We had to have a little talk about consent.”
Joey shook his head. “Man, you are so mean to that guy. You should really back off. I’ve seen the look in his eye lately. The guy is going to snap.”
“And why is this relevant?”
“I like Russell.” Joey shrugged. “He’s the only one who will play video games with me.”
“I like Russell too. But everyone living in this house needs to understand that I’m in charge, and my word is the last word. He doesn’t like it? He can leave.”
“He’s not gonna leave. He’s in love with you.”
“Then he’ll abide by the rules here.”
Joey got up and circled the room, rubbing his hands thoughtfully. Suddenly he brightened, and turned to Shep. “Hey! What about the followers? We can get some of the followers in the field to come with us! God knows they’ll do whatever we say, and some of those guys are huge! We can take Devin and Carlos. Come on Shep. Cut me some slack. I’m dying here.”
Shep was too exasperated to stay angry. He supposed he would have to agree to this, if only to maintain Joey’s sanity, and his own if Joey kept riding him. Joey was right about Devin and Carlos. They were big guys. They’d both been high school football players, and worked as athletic trainers before joining the church. And they were ominous looking. They’d recently shaved their hair into Mohawks and died them bright pink, seemingly as a tribute to Kelinda, who they viewed as some sort of goddess. Regardless of their reasons, the result was two large, fairly scary looking men. They would make formidable bodyguards.
“Fine,” Shep said finally.
Joey did a double take. “Really? Do you mean it?’
“We can go out for a little while Joey, but I make the arrangements. I say where, I say how, and when I say it’s time to go home, I don’t want to hear any arguing.”
Joey squealed with delight and danced about. “I’m going out! I’m going out! I’m going out!”
“Call out to the guest house and get Devin and Carlos over here. I’ll round up Margol and Allisto. We’ll need their strength if things get out of hand. By the way, you’re looking a little ripe, boy wonder. I’d hit the shower if I were you. I know you’re out of touch, but I’m fairly sure women still prefer men who bathe.”
Joey ran his fingers through his disheveled black hair. “I was going for that Jesus of Nazareth look. I hear the messiahs only bathed once a month, baptisms aside.”
“Oh, you’re a fucking riot, Joey.”
Joey took off down the hall. Shep went to find the brothers, shaking his head and muttering. “The things you have to put up with when you’re trying to take over the world.”
****
Shep gathered Allisto and Margol in the downstairs den. They were quickly joined by Joey and the two followers, Carlos and Devin, who immediately professed what a great honor it was to be chosen as Joey’s protection. Their hot pink Mohawks stuck up like frightened feather dusters atop their otherwise bald heads. Shep wondered if they might ironically serve to draw more attention to the group instead of deterring it. But he supposed as long as people were gawking at them and not Joey, it was all right.
Shep called ahead to a bar called The Island Hut and spoke with the owner, who was most cooperative. He promised Shep security and crowd control, and Shep promised him a ‘contribution’ for his efforts. Joey smiled when he saw Allisto and Margol, who’d vigorously cleaned themselves up. Their heads were a mass of rebel curls, but they were clean and sharply dressed. “Hey! You guys look great!” Joey’s smile dropped when Margol tuned to face him.
At Shep’s instruction, Margol had put flesh colored ointment on the bulbous candle burns that covered one side of his face, but the ointment did not serve well to hide the angry-looking welts he’d received in his altercation with Father Bello.
“Holy shit!” Joey said, staring at Margol without a bit of candor. “What the hell happened to you?”
“Got baptized by fire,” Margol answered sheepishly.
Joey shook his head. “Bummer, man.”
Shep clapped his hands to get the small crowd’s attention. “Okay, listen up people. We’re going out tonight, and I need you to act as bodyguards. I realize this is not what you signed on for, but due to circumstances beyond my control, this is the way it has to be.”
“We don’t mind at all, Shepherd!” Devin exclaimed. Carlos was quick to add his agreement. Shep thanked them. He was secretly repulsed by their incessant zombie ass kissing, but if their ass kissing would help keep Joey safe, so be it.
“Margol and Allisto, the same rules apply tonight as whenever you go out in public. Don’t do anything to draw attention. Try to be as human as possible, okay?”
�
��Where are we going?” Allisto asked.
“To a beach club to see a band.”
Margol raised his hand, but Shep immediately cut him off. “Please don’t ask me why, just do as I say.” Margol put his hand down. Shep continued. “The bar is within walking distance from the house. I want Devin to walk on Joey’s right, and Carlos and Allisto to walk on Joey’s left. I’ll take up the front, and Margol will cover the rear. We’ll cut through the back woods to avoid the main center of town. This should bring us out by the gazebo, leaving thirty feet or so to actually walk along the sidewalk. We should be fine. But that doesn’t mean we can relax. I want you all on full alert. No one gets near Joey. Understood?”
They all nodded.
“Here, put this on.” Shep tossed Joey a long black cape with a hood.
Joey caught it and held it up, sneering. “I’m not wearing this. I thought we were supposed to be laying low tonight.”
“The hood will mask your face. Just put it on, Joey.”
Joey took a long swig off the rum bottle he’d been carrying around. “Okay. Whatever.” He threw the black cape over his shoulders. It looked stunning on him. He was freshly showered and his black hair fell soft and sleek around his cheekbones. The cape emphasized the stark whiteness of his silk shirt, which he wore with dark jeans and black boots. Joey’s wolf blue eyes darted around the room when he realized that everyone was staring at him. “What? Do I have spinach in my teeth or something?”
Joey’s magnetism was emphasized by the unnatural blood, but his beauty was all his own. Even Shep had to stop and stare. The brothers, who rarely noticed anything, particularly fashion, gazed at Joey with open awe. “May we wear capes also?” Allisto asked.
Shep shrugged. “Sure. But you’re not going to look like that in them.” Shep worried as he studied Joey in all his enchanting splendor. He had the distinct feeling this was not going to be an uneventful night. “Okay. Let’s get this over with.”
* * * *
Patrick peered through the binoculars, squinting to see in the foggy darkness. He squatted behind a rock, intent on spying until he formulated a plan. He couldn’t exactly walk up to the door, ring the bell and say, “Hi honey, I’m home.” He had a perfect view of the back deck but could see nothing of the goings on inside the house. Shep and his matching creatures were nowhere in sight. Then suddenly his luck changed.