Keiko waved her hand in a dismissive manner, “I get it. I would have done the same for my Master,” she replied, putting on the shirt and taking the water. She downed the entire bottle in less than one minute. Desmond excused himself to help Gia with the clean-up. Keiko and Angel were finally alone.
“I’m not in trouble. WE are in trouble. We are in some big shit. I had to get to you before they did,” expressed Keiko.
“They? Who are they?” asked Angel.
“The Leaders,” responded Keiko.
Angel’s heart dropped. She knew this day would come, but she thought she would have found more of her kind by then.
“Where is Anu?” asked Angel anxiously.
“The Leaders attacked Master Anu’s mansion three days ago. They sent some supernaturals to do their dirty work―not vampires but something worse. I’m not sure what they were. These creatures managed to slaughter everyone in the house and burn the house to the ground.”
Angel gasped and held her hands to her mouth. Tears instantly rolled down her cheeks. “Oh my God, Chum Chum and the human servants?” she asked between tears.
“I believe Chum Chum has been taken hostage. He is a demon and is worth more alive than dead. However, all the human servants and many V guards are dead. The only survivors are Greg the pilot, Andrew, and me. We survived because the day the Leaders attacked was the same day Andrew was being sworn in as Master to his line. We flew to Texas that day. I was to report back to the Master after Andrew’s ceremony, but I couldn’t reach him. Hours later the Master communicated with me. He was inside my head, a power I’ve never experienced him use or knew he had. Master Anu said that creatures came crashing into the house killing anything that moved. The guards tried their best to protect the house, but these creatures moved as fast as Vs but were stronger. Master Anu and Sammy fought to the end and tried to protect as many of his people as he could. He said the creatures came in groups of dozens, and one body had two heads and four arms―something he had never seen before. Master Anu chopped off the heads of as many creatures as he could; but no matter how many he killed, more continued to come. In the end, and for the first time in his vampire existence, the Master was defeated.”
Angel took a seat and held her head in her hands. Gia and Desmond stood motionless by the entrance of the dining room, listening to Keiko’s entire story. Gia walked over to Angel to comfort her. She wrapped her silky arms around, reassuring her that things will be alright. Angel pulled herself together, knowing she had to do something. “Do you know where they are?” she asked.
“They were taken to the Leaders’ place.”
“Where is that?” asked Desmond
“Switzerland,” replied Keiko.
Keiko continued to explain things in detail, not skipping a beat. “The Leaders had been watching Anu for years. They knew about his research, his mission to find the missing angel, and his goal to overthrow them. They knew about the serum he had that kills any supernatural on contact. They knew almost everything. And for this, he has been charged with treason and sentenced to his true death.”
Angel took a deep breath and exhaled. She wiped her tears and faced Keiko as she continued speaking. “The Master told me to find you. He said he wants you to run. The Leaders are looking for you. They have a bounty on our heads for conspiring to overthrow the vampire law and their existence. They are offering twenty million dollars to the first V that brings our heads in a box and thirty million for whoever brings them your wings.”
Angel didn’t seem phased by the bounty, but it did explain why Keiko changed her appearance. Keiko dug in her denim jeans and pulled out a bloody envelope. “I’m sorry it looks like this. I promise you, it was more presentable before I got shot,” she said, apologizing for the condition of her note. “Master Anu knows you can protect yourself, and he also knows you can protect what is left of his line. He wanted me to give this to you.”
Angel opened the envelope and read the document that had her name on his estate. Anu was giving her forty million dollars, along with his plane, investments, and Keiko. Angel looked up at Keiko, flabbergasted.
“Yes, you have officially inherited me. Even after I protested and told him I would die finding him, he refused and told me to do what I am told. I must give myself to you, for it is my father’s dying wish,” said Keiko sadly. Keiko knelt down to bow, but Angel wouldn’t allow it. She quickly yanked Keiko up.
“No!” exclaimed Angel angrily.
Keiko was surprised by her reaction.
“I’m not accepting his ‘will’ and I’m not running. Bounty or not; I’m not going to let some asshole vampires scare me. If you love your father any more than I, Keiko, you will honor him and die trying to save him as you said. I’m going after him, and I’m not giving up without a fight.”
Keiko was pleased and excited, “I’m with you, Angel. I’m with you till the end!”
Angel turned to Gia and Desmond, “We’re going to take a trip, and we are going to need some help.”
“Are we going after Master Anu?” asked Gia, concerned.
“Yes! Yes we are. However, this fight isn’t all about Anu. It’s also about us,” stated Angel piecing the puzzle together. “Anu once told me that the Leaders end goal is to take over the world. They want to eliminate other supernaturals and enslave the humans, naturally making Vs the dominant species. However, us, angels, are standing in their way. They cannot enslave the humans if I’m still here. Capturing Anu is the leverage they have over me. They know I will come for him. We’ll be walking into a trap.”
“What do you suggest?” questioned Keiko.
Nothing was going to stop Angel from raiding the Leaders’ compound. She didn’t have a solid plan yet, and she really wasn’t going to devise one. In her experience, plans never worked out in her favor.
“Nothing, If it’s me that they want. Then it is me they will get,” she mysteriously stated.
As Gia and Desmond prepared for their mission, Keiko stared at a picture of Maggie and Jesse that hung on the kitchen wall. It showed Jesse presenting Maggie with her birthday cake. Maggie was extremely happy and had her hands covering her mouth in amazement. She was still wearing the butterfly locket Keiko gave her. Jesse was holding the cake, smiling brightly. Keiko touched the picture, thinking about all the memories she had with Maggie. Maggie was such an amazing kid, she missed her dearly. Keiko looked down at her hand and began rubbing the silver ring with a butterfly design on her index finger. The ring matched the butterfly locket Maggie wore in the photo.
“She looks so happy. How is she?” Keiko asked with tears in her eyes.
“She’s good. She just turned eight, an honor roll student, and loves music. She never takes off the locket you gave her, but she finally stopped asking about you. I guess she figured when you’re ready to talk, you will come back.”
“I never wanted to say goodbye to her. I never met anyone like me, and having Maggie around was refreshing. Not to mention she is such a cool kid.”
“I know, Keiko,” agreed Angel.
“The Master felt it was best to let you guys live your lives. He said if we held on to you, you wouldn’t be able to move on with your mission. So, we let you be,” said Keiko.
“I understand, I think. It’s over now. Let’s just focus on getting him back. I’m going to pack, and I have to call Jenny to let her know what’s going on. Do you need anything else from me?” asked Angel sincerely. Keiko held back her tears, her emotions were so overwhelming that Angel had to shield her out.
“No, I’m fine. Thank you. I’ll call Andrew and tell him to expect us soon. What better person to have by our side now than Andrew, the former smelly guard,” said Keiko, lightening the mood.
“Former smelly?” questioned Angel. She could never forget Andrew’s stench, and to hear that it’s his former smell piqued Angel’s interest.
“You’ll see,” answered Keiko.
Angel walked into her bedroom and began packing. Switzerland this ti
me of year was cold, so she tried to find as many thick sweaters as possible. As she meticulously sorted through her clothing, she heard a light knock on her door. “Come in,” she called, still focused on her packing. Keiko entered, hoping she was not intruding. She took a second to appreciate the decor of Angel’s comfortable bedroom. Her grey carpeting matched the heavy drapes and comforter perfectly. Keiko admired her mirrored vanity, thinking to herself how she had always wanted one. Angel broke Keiko’s trance when she asked her if there was something she needed. Keiko snapped herself back into reality, walked up to Angel, and embraced her again.
“Hey, it’s okay. What’s this for?” asked Angel, uneasily, not sure what to think.
“I’m sorry for everything, Angel,” confessed Keiko, letting go of the embrace and facing her. Angel looked at Keiko intently. “Even after all the evil things I did to you, you’re still willing to help me. I was wrong about you. In my head, I made you out to be this terrible person. I called you a selfish snob. I talked crap about you to my father. I guess a part of me was jealous that he was occupying his time with someone else, especially someone who I thought wasn’t good enough for him. I feel as if I may have contributed to his decision of letting you go. When he first told me that he was going to abort the mission, I didn’t protest. I didn’t even try to convince him or redirect his focus on the big picture. I just let him vent and make a final decision. I listened and did nothing. If I would have objected or if I would have reasoned…
“Anu would NOT have been swayed,” Angel interrupted. “Listen, Keiko, we both know Anu. He didn’t become a great Master by letting someone influence his decisions. He chose a course and stuck with it, even though the outcome may not have been what he desired. So, don’t beat yourself up because you feel you could have prevented this. Nothing would have changed. Anu knew he was waving meat inside the lion’s den; it was a matter of time before the lion came to eat.”
Keiko remained silent, hanging on Angel’s words. She sighed in relief. “You’re right. My father is stubborn.”
“Yep, well now it’s time to bail the stubborn old Vampire out,” said Angel, smiling and placing her arm around Keiko. Keiko returned the smile and leaned her head on Angel’s shoulder.
16
Switzerland
The flight to Zurich was long but smooth. It was snowing but nothing so terrible that it affected their travel. During the flight, Angel kept admiring the décor of the jet. She figured if she focused on something other than saving Anu, it would help her feel less nervous. The truth was, she didn’t know what she was walking into or at what cost. The jet’s cabin was almost like sitting in a cozy living room. The cream-colored leather chairs, beige carpet, mini bar, and small HDTVs made a person’s travel experience luxurious. Angel wondered if maybe one day she should invest in her own private jet. That way, she could travel freely, in style, without the hassle of dealing with other passengers. Then she remembered she could always fly herself places, but the slightest thought of doing that made her feel tired.
Angel sat on a soft leather reclining chair at an oak table opposite Keiko and now, Master Andrew. Mastership had a positive effect on Andrew. He was no longer the dirty, slimy, smelly guard he once was. He was now shaved, groomed, and dressed immaculately in a designer suit and shoes and smelled of top-shelf cologne. He was extremely handsome, with nice smooth white skin, a lean bone structure, and defined cheekbones. He had cleaned up very well. Andrew had the biggest deepest blue eyes, a shadow trimmed beard connected to a goatee, and dark hair kept neatly combed. He stood 6’0 tall with a muscular build. He was almost as handsome as Anu. Andrew even improved his teeth; they were no longer missing. Angel couldn’t help but compliment him on his newly-found success and dashing appearance.
Andrew had only been Master for a short time and had already sent three of his top Vs on a mission to scope out the Leaders’ location. He was making sure to strategize every possible angle. Andrew needed to have the advantage of infiltrating the Leaders’ place, not the other way around. Deep down, he felt that he was walking into his true death; no one in their right mind had ever gone against the Leaders. This was a complete suicide mission, and he knew it.
Keiko, Andrew, and Angel were testing the computers and equipment they brought, along with the help of Angel’s newly found angels. Angel hand-picked a small group of her kind specifically to assist with certain roles during the mission. Aside from bringing Desmond and Gia, Angel also recruited Pierre and the three sisters she saved in Kentucky―three sisters that incredibly fascinated her. Each angel was unique, and Angel could not wait for them to show off their abilities.
After setting up their computers and testing their GPS watches and covert earpieces, Angel noticed Pierre in conversation with Keiko and Andrew, while Gia and Desmond were diligently looking at a map with the three Kentucky sisters. Pierre spoke with a hard-French accent. His suave chocolate skin and dark eyes attracted the curiosity of many. Pierre was charming and could hold the attention of a gerbil.
Angel walked over and politely included herself in the discussion. “What’s new?”
“Oh, nothing here. Keiko and Andrew were asking how you found me,” said Pierre in his cool French accent.
The story was quite entertaining to tell. During one of Gia's and Desmond's many “around-the-world travels,” they stumbled into a café for a cup of coffee and a baguette in Paris and were shocked by what they saw. Pierre, an angel, was busing tables, carrying a tray of dishes as if he was as human as the people around him. While humans could not see his actual form, Desmond and Gia were blown away. Pierre dropped his tray, stunned, and ran over to them, relieved to finally see someone of his species. He thought he was the last of his kind. Meeting Gia and Desmond was the best day of life. He no longer lived alone and in fear, Queen Guardian was finally back.
“Paris isn’t a bad place to hide out,” said Keiko.
“Now, no; but centuries ago, it was a nightmare. I think I died in my human form more than five times, twice by the hands of the same man,” stated Pierre.
Andrew chuckled, “I know what you mean, I had my arm cut off by the same person three times. I finally killed him with my good arm,” he joked, holding his left arm up. Pierre looked on confused.
“If you cut off a V’s body part, it can grow back. Lucky bastards,” explained Keiko.
“Sérieusement?” asked Pierre.
“Yes, seriously,” responded Angel. “They are quite the lucky species,” she added.
Pierre examined Andrew's arm, intrigued. “Wow!”
“So, tell me, Pierre. What can you do? Or do we all have to find out later on?” asked Keiko, curious to know what all the angels had up their sleeves.
“Pierre has the ability to slow down time,” answered Gia. She walked over to Keiko and handed her a black-knitted skully. Keiko put the cap on her head; she looked more boyish with the hat on now that her hair was cut shorter. The three Kentucky sisters all positioned themselves to listen to the chatter. Gia wasn’t one to say much, she did more listening and observing than constant babbling. However, when she did speak, it was always filled with facts rather than personal opinions. “The three sisters over there,” she said, pointing to the women sitting idly on the leather couch, “The twins can create an impenetrable force shield and are genius computer hackers, while the pin-up model has the gift of illusion. She can make you see things that are not even there.”
Keiko and Andrew stared at the three girls. Abby, Sidney and ILucy smiled and waved in unison, giggling. Andrew waved back as Keiko nudged him to stop. The girls were a colorful bunch. They had a unique style of dressing and warm personalities. Abby and Sidney were identical twins and were older than ILucy. They were in their early twenties and enjoyed dressing in a Kurt Cobain grunge look of baggy jeans, tight rocker shirts, and Converse sneakers. If it were not for them styling their hair differently, it would be impossible to tell them apart. Sidney’s hair was long and straight to her waist; it was dyed
dark blue-black with bright pink tips at the ends. Abby also had her hair a hard-black color, but she wore it shoulder length in a wild curly style with big black glasses. They both stood at the same height and weight, 5’6” 125lbs. Both girls loved accessories; they had nose rings and several bracelets and necklaces. With the gift of mind retention, the girls were able to learn any skill and master it within minutes. Sidney and Abby picked up the skills of computer coding and hacking. They could develop software, overwrite programs, and hack into any security system without being detected. They were excellent at computer spying and claimed they hadn’t yet met a system they couldn’t tap into.
ILucy, also known as Illy, was the youngest sister and the strongest. At eighteen, she was the exact replica of a pin-up girl who enjoyed vintage clothing and 1940s hairdos. She wore her bleached blonde hair in an old-fashioned style and sported plush pink lipstick. Her skin was flawless, and she was incredibly beautiful. Illy stood out mainly because she was the most stylish in appearance and brightened up a room with her huge smile and bright hazel eyes. There was something about her that had people gawking in awe. She wore a clingy green, long sleeve dress with snow boots. Angel admired how perfectly-tailored her dress was. Even though Illy was the most beautiful, she was also the most dangerous.
Illy’s illusion focused on a person’s worst fears. In one of her demonstrations, she had Desmond believe he was drowning in a rushing river. Everyone else could see that nothing was happening, but his eyes saw something completely different and turned to pure terror. Desmond was flapping his wings violently in an attempt to pull himself up. He waved his arms and shouted for someone to save him. Gia was so distraught that she ordered Illy to stop. After it was over, Desmond claimed that the river was consuming him. He panicked as he tried to fly away but couldn’t because the current was so strong. It was when he saw the waterfall that he screamed for help; but by then, the illusion was gone.
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