by Mark Stewart
CRAIG OPENED his front door. Almost immediately the inside light hanging from the middle of the lounge room ceiling went out, plunging the room into darkness. Haleton followed Amber into the room. Craig groped the tall visitor using a strong grip on the arm.
"Do you understand in the vampire brain of yours how irritating it is when all the lights go out, and I have to walk about in a darkened room?" growled Craig.
"It is necessary that I remain in the dark."
"Listen, fella; I'll put up with you for Amber's sake, I just don't have to like you."
"Craig, enough," jeered Amber.
The lad raised his hands, walked back to the door, kicking it shut.
"Have you thought of anything which might help us to discover how to obtain the antidote?" asked Amber.
"Not a thing," replied Craig. "I've been having a bit of trouble concentrating since Crompton grabbed me."
Amber glared at him. "Suck it up, Craig. You have to start thinking. We need all the help we can get."
"Time's short," added Haleton.
Craig walked past him to Amber's side. "Garlic is the only idea I can think of."
"Garlic?" echoed Haleton and Amber in unison.
"It makes sense. Vampire movies can't be wrong!"
"You watch too much TV," complained Amber, pointing a long thin finger at him. "I sure hope you're genuine in wanting to help William."
"I'd do anything to help you find the antidote."
"Good, start thinking."
"Okay, I will. Have you discovered any new facts?" asked Craig.
"The only real clue we have are the numbers. '777'," admitted Amber.
"We only have ninety minutes left to discover the password and the antidote," said Haleton.
Craig walked out of the room towards his bedroom.
"Where do you think, you're going?" yelled Amber. She started to follow when Haleton placed his hand her shoulder.
"Allow me to talk to Craig."
Not waiting for Amber's permission, he marched up to Craig, tapping him on the shoulder.
"Leave me be."
"I think you and I need to have a lightning talk."
"Okay Vamps, spill your guts."
"If we can't find the antidote in ninety minutes you and Amber will never see me again. Do you want your actions on your conscience for the remainder of your life? Bear in mind if you don't try to help, Amber will probably never speak to you again."
"I guess you're right. I apologize. It's just that I'm jealous."
"Don't be. Somewhere out there in this big world is the exact person for you."
Craig chuckled. "Amber said the same thing."
"They are wise words from a young lady."
"Do you love her?"
"Yes, my whole heart loves her."
"Can I ask if she'll always be in safe hands?"
"Yes."
Craig stood to full height and said abruptly. "I relinquish my love for Amber which has built up in my heart to allow you to move in and sweep her off her feet."
"If Amber heard your statement what do you think she'd say?" quizzed Haleton.
"She doesn't love me enough."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Amber loves you. It's time for me to graciously bow out of her life."
"Take my advice. Don't go too far. One of these days she might come looking for you."
"I'm not sure if you mean it or you're just humoring me, but thank you. There is one thing. Let me warn you, if you even hurt a single hair on Amber's head, I'll hunt you down and smash your nose."
"Are you sure it's possible?"
"I know what you are. If the only thing I do is scare you into thinking I might be watching you from a distance; I go to my grave knowing I did my best. At my funeral, maybe Amber will shed a tear for me."
"I'll take your warning onboard. I don't want you to be my enemy. If I don't find the antidote in time and I'm sucked into another year, I want you to look after Amber for me."
"Thank you. It will be my pleasure," announced Craig.
Haleton gave the man a friendly slap on the shoulder. He and Craig walked back up the hall and into the lounge where they found Amber sitting on a dark blue beanbag, sobbing. Haleton knelt at her feet. He studied her closed eyelids.
"It is okay, Craig will find the answer."
Amber lifted her head to stare at Haleton. "I love you so much I don't want to lose you."
"It'll be okay. We have to put our trust in Craig."
"I'll start going through what we know again. There has to be an answer. I feel it's staring me in the face," advised Craig.
Amber felt a fresh round of hope devouring her. She wrapped her arms around Haleton's neck. He slid his lips across her wet cheek and found her lips.
Craig watched the pair kissing before pacing the floor deep in thought. He suddenly stopped. Snapping his fingers, he shouted. The two love birds jumped.
"I think I know how to find the password so we can retrieve the formula for the vampire antidote."
"Tell us," insisted Amber.
"The numbers '777' are the key. You said those numbers were inscribed everywhere in the coffin."
"Maybe they mean nothing more than an ex-priest wanting God's number to be buried alongside him when he died," interrupted Amber.
"It's a good theory, but, I have another. Come on; we've no time to lose. We need to get to the church across the street."
"How will we find the answer to the curse in a church?" asked Amber.
"It's all about the numbers '777.'" Craig switched his attention to Haleton. "Entering a church won't affect you in any way?"
"Of course not; it only happens in the movies."
"So holy ground will do nothing to you?"
Haleton snorted. "Craig, you do watch too much TV."
"We just can't open the front door of a church and waltz down the carpet to the altar unannounced," warned Amber. "We need a valid reason to enter the church in the first place."
"I believe if we look up the seventh book of the Bible, we'll know the password," explained Craig.
Haleton and Amber were both wearing a blank look.
"You said the password must be something which never changes."
Amber started nodding. Her dancing pupils gave away the fact, she was excited over what Craig had discovered. "I believe you might be onto something solid."
"What else has come through the centuries; particularly from 1749AD to the year 2010AD which can't be stolen, destroyed or tampered with? I have to add, how can anyone be expected to guard something which is priceless to no one, except Haleton? If someone who knew nothing of the curse discovered the password, they might accidently get rid of the antidote or change it," said Craig.
"It makes a lot of sense," said Haleton. "No one would suspect the antidote is in the seventh book of the Bible. The only thing I'm not sure of is we won't know if the antidote works until the last second."
"If we discover it in time we will know," explained Craig.
"How can we be sure it will be permanent?" asked Amber. "Another horrid thought I'm thinking of is what if Crompton is lurking about watching our every move hoping we'll lead him to the antidote? He could steal the formula before we have a chance to stop him."
"It'll be a total disaster," blurted Haleton. "If we don't find the password in time we'll never have to worry about Crompton or his plans to steal it or even if the antidote works or not."
Amber checked her watch. She flashed Haleton a look of dread. "We only have eighty-minutes remaining."
Amber and Craig sprinted out into the sunshine while Haleton blended in with their shadows as they ran across the road towards the church on the corner. Haleton arrived first, easily slipping through the crack underneath the main doors, materializing on the inside. He turned the large brass key in the lock, swinging the door open wide enough to allow Amber and Craig to slip through the gap.
The marble floor and high ceiling made the entrance feel cool. The f
lame of a large candle in the middle of the small round side table danced wildly in the sudden disturbance. The small group marched across the threshold and entered the main room. Amber led the way by walking briskly down the red carpet towards the altar. The noise from the key turning in the lock brought the priest into the chapel carrying a baseball bat. He didn't look happy.
"Sir, violence won't be necessary. We're here to ask for your urgent help," called Haleton, holding his hand up.
The priest glanced at Amber before raising the baseball bat to shoulder height. "If the girl's hurt she needs to go to the hospital. As for you two blokes, if you take one more step, I'll be forced to start swinging. Believe me, when I tell you I coach a junior league team. I know how to hit."
"Sir, please, put the bat down," urged Craig. "We've come in search of answers." He raised his hands as if surrendering his soul.
"I'm not injured," mentioned Amber. Walking up to the priest she painted a friendly smile on her face.
"You're not here to steal anything?"
"Never," insisted Haleton. He strolled along the red carpet to stand next to Amber. Outstretching his hand, he stated. "I'm William Haleton. The young lady is Amber Cantala. The other young man is Craig Benyon."
Each of the group shook the hand of the priest. They breathed a sigh of relief when he leaned the baseball bat against the sidewall.
Craig blurted excitedly. "I need to read a Bible."
"Surely it's not the reason you broke into the church?" asked the priest. "We have mass here every Sunday, 10:00am sharp."
"We don't have that much time," hinted Haleton. "I'll explain it later when we have more time."
"Would you mind if I open the Bible on the altar?" asked Craig, pointing.
The priest wore a doubtful look.
"Please, Sir, this is extremely important."
"This isn't a prank?"
"No," said Amber.
"Please be careful turning the pages."
"I will," replied Craig. He stepped onto the altar and opened the large Bible.
"Could I make a suggestion?" confessed the priest.
Craig looked up. He'd already flipped over at least a dozen pages.
"Allow me to find what you're looking for. I don't want the pages damaged."
Haleton signaled for Craig to step away.
The priest positioned himself behind the Bible. "What do you want to read?"
"The seventh book of the Bible," suggested Craig.
"The book of Judges?" asked the priest. Turning to the page, he started to read.
"We need to know the seventh verse of the seventh chapter of the seventh book," interrupted Craig.
"It's the strangest thing I've ever heard anyone say. It sounds like you want to make a mockery of the church."
Haleton leaned towards the priest. "Good Sir, what is your name?"
The priest swiped his reading glasses from the bridge of his nose. "I'm Father Tuxen."
"You are indeed a kind man. On behalf of my friends, I'd like to thank-you for helping us. We mean no disrespect in any way."
Tuxen fell silent, deep in thought. "You can call me Peter. If you don't mind me saying, I'm on edge because of the costume you are wearing. Do you need to find a word or sentence from the Bible to enter a masquerade ball?"
"It's a long story," interrupted Amber.
"A very long story," added Craig.
"Sir, I can assure you our presence here is on the level. Everything will be explained, in due time. Speaking of which; I now have exactly sixty-seven minutes remaining," groaned Haleton.
"What will happen after sixty-eight minutes?"
"Sir, I have no time to explain. Please, the words to the verse. I need you to find them," urged Haleton.
Peter Tuxen used his index finger to scroll down the page. It came to a stop on the seventh verse. He cleared his throat. His voice changed to an official tone. He sounded like he was about to read to the congregation.
"The Lord said to Gideon, by the three hundred men who drank at the water using their hands I will save you."
Craig yelled at the top of his voice. "The verse is exactly what we came for."
"God will save you?" exclaimed Tuxen. "I don't understand what's transpiring here. I think the three of you should leave. You have outstayed your welcome."
Amber stared at Craig. "Don't tell me Crompton has a gang of three hundred?" she whipped.
"He could have," said Haleton.
Craig resembled someone who looked to be bursting at the seams to open a birthday present. "Gideon is the password."
Tuxen lifted his hand to begin massaging his right temple. "Please tell me what's going on?"
"Thank you for your patience. On behalf of my friends, I have to ask for you to wait a little longer for the explanation. Trust me the answer is worth the wait. Do you have a computer we could use for a minute?" asked Amber.
"I was hoping you might suggest you were going to leave my church."
"Soon," admitted Haleton.
"I have a computer in my ready room. It's on a go-slow strike at the moment. I can never get the thing working properly," moaned Tuxen.
Craig looked the priest in the eyes. "If I could borrow the machine for what I need maybe I might be able to fix it for you."
"Sounds like a fair exchange. Son, if you could fix it and I had the authority, I'd make you a Saint. Be my guest. The computer is in the room on your left."
The group quickly entered the residence of Peter Tuxen.
Craig switched off the overhead light, spied the computer at a side table and got to work. He stabbed several keys before reaching into his top pocket.
"I never go anywhere without my home grown anti-virus. It won't completely fix the problems. When I've more time, I'm positive I'll have her working more effectively than when she was new."
He plugged the USB into one of the two front ports. Almost instantly the first of many viruses were eliminated from the machine.
Inside two minutes the computer doubled its speed. Craig used the name 'Macularta' to find the website and typed the word 'Gideon' to open it. He sat waiting for confirmation the password might have been successful.
Clapping his hands together, Tuxen boasted a huge grin. He looked ready to kiss the computer.
"This machine has never worked this fast. A lovely young woman donated it to the church after she bought a new one six months ago. I thought it might have been a blessing until I tried to use it."
Craig shook his head as he went back to staring at the monitor.
Haleton checked his watch. "Forty-five minutes."
"You young people do sound like you're in a hurry," said Tuxen.
"We are," replied Amber.
"Before you go, could you explain why you wanted the lights off in the church and in particular, this room?" asked Tuxen.
"It is part of the explanation," said Haleton. "If Craig is successful, I beg you to have an open mind."
Tuxen's brow wrinkled. A few beads of sweat formed on his balding head. "I'm not sure I like where this is heading!"
Craig made a cat leap from behind the computer monitor up ending his chair. Excitement plastered over his face. "I did it," he screamed. "I knew I was on the correct path, but I needed to control myself just in case I happened to be wrong."
Amber and Haleton rushed to his side, viewing his findings from over his shoulder. The only evidence the computer had started to do anything; the cursor suddenly changed into an egg timer.
Amber raised her eyebrows, glancing at Craig. "Are you positive you broke into the website? Looking at the monitor I have my doubts."
"Wait for it," hinted Craig. He picked the chair up off the floor and sat staring at the monitor. "Come on, come on," he whispered at the computer. "Enlighten me."
Haleton checked his watch. "If the information doesn't come through the blank screen soon it'll be too late."
"How many minutes remaining?" Amber asked.
"Not enough," he repli
ed. "We have exactly forty minutes."
"We're out of time," said Amber. "Craig, you gave it a good try."
"The game is not finished, until the final siren sounds," hissed Craig.
He wore a distinct look Amber had never seen before. She kissed the top of his head. "You have the determination to be anything you want. I'm proud to have you as a friend."
Craig's face flushed crimson. He hunched over the computer to hide his apparent embarrassment.
The monitor lit. A second later the website opened. Craig immediately started to read the words.
"This message has been passed down through generations from the year 1749AD and is for William Haleton from your friend Macularta. I live in hope it is you Haleton who is reading this letter and not Crompton or a single member of his gang which totals at least three-hundred. Allow me to be the first to say congratulations in discovering the password. Rose-a-lee Cantala believes the following recipe is correct.
One-cup, measure, of each of the following:
Holy water, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic clove, one drop of blood from your soul mate.
After mixing the potion, you have to be standing at the church altar holding the hands of your wife-to-be. You have to recite the last line of the book titled. 'The Blood Red Rose."
Craig grinned at Amber before switching his attention to Haleton. His smile was wider than his ego. "I told you garlic has to be used to get rid of a vampire."
Tuxen back stepped away from the group. "Are you all vampires?" he asked. His voice trembling.
"No," Amber stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "Only William Haleton is. Peter, we don't want any trouble. We're not here to give you any grief."
"Girl, you've succeeded in doing the opposite. Besides, there is no such thing as vampires."
"Sorry to correct the theory," blurted Amber.
Haleton stared into the priest's eyes. "You have to keep whatever happens in this church a secret. No one must ever find out about any of this. Please, you must agree."
"I need to sit," moaned Tuxen.
Amber escorted him to a chair and attempted to relay in a short-detailed story about what was going on. Haleton walked over to help fill in some of the details.
"I'll do what you ask of me. I'll keep your secret inside my head. I'll never utter a word of this to any living person. I vow to take it to my grave. Besides, who'd believe me?" said Tuxen.
"Thank you," whispered Amber.
"Time is short we need to go shopping," Haleton said. "We have exactly forty minutes remaining."
"Let me help," suggested Tuxen, standing. "I have everything you need in the cupboard above my kitchen bench, except the book."
"We should be able to find the book across the street in the library!" squealed Amber.
"You have saved us over an hour's delay," hinted Haleton.
"Go, go," said the priest, waving his hands at the group. "By the time you return, everything will be ready for the marriage ceremony. Craig can mix the formula while I find my marriage robe. Don't forget you have to bring back a witness to sign the marriage certificate."
Amber looked puzzled. "Why?" she asked.
"It's only in case there is a lawful snag at a later date. If I'm ever asked; I can say it wasn't a forced wedding."
Haleton grinned at Amber. She smiled back.
"Will you two get going?" urged Craig. "You keep mentioning the number of minutes remaining, and there you stand, wasting, what precious little time that remains."
"You have a valid point," said Haleton.
Amber and Haleton sprinted for the main door of the church. Haleton stopped in his tracks as the door opened.
"Sunlight, my demise," he whispered.
Amber put her hand on his shoulder. "Stay here. When I return, I'll have the book in my hand. Even if I have to drag a person across the street using my teeth, I'll have a witness."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN