“Yes, Queen. We are here and hear you loud and clear,” answered Sidney.
“Everything alright on your end? We’re all alive over here. Over.”
“Yep. Everything is clear. We have a shield around the plane, so nothing is coming near it. Even if those creatures had gotten close, they would have burned to a crisp.”
“Great, glad to hear it. Keep an eye out. We are going to make our way to shelter.”
“We are watching the place like a hawk. Just one thing―we got a glimpse of, what I think, was the Leader,” said Sidney.
“Seriously?”
“Yes, this man was wearing a red long cloak. I couldn’t get a good look at his face because his head was down. But when he walked past one of the camera shots, the screen crackled, even our shield wobbled. I don’t have a good feeling about this. Something tells me the Leaders may be too powerful for us.”
Sidney’s words echoed in Angel’s ears as she looked over at Keiko. Everyone was wearing earpieces; they all heard what was said. Angel disregarded Sidney’s last comment. She desperately wanted to fight and put an end to everything. She should have chosen her last words wisely; but instead, she added a comment that made herself sound disturbed. “Good. I’ll make sure to kill that fucker first and drink his blood myself. Let’s go, everyone. We need to get cleaned up and rested. We'll need all our strength for tomorrow’s battle,” said Angel.
Everyone exited the terminal bloody, tired, and anxious for what the next night would bring.
17
The Place to Get to Know Someone is on a Road Trip
The very next night Angel and the team traveled four hours outside of Zurich toward the mountains with Master Andrew driving the van. It was snowy but not as cold as it should have been for the amount of snow falling. Although Pierre seemed used to the cold weather, the rest of them cursed the day snow was ever invented. Desmond cussed it the hardest. Coming from Australia with its constantly hot and sunny climate, his golden tan had turned pale, his skin dry and rough. The temperature change made his lips feel cracked and burned. He licked his lips so much that it annoyed Illy, and she handed him a Chapstick. Gracious for the offer, he smeared it on, feeling relief when his lips stopped scorching. He could feel the tingling of the medicated ointment refreshing the skin. “Ahhhhh...Thank you, Kiss of Death,” he smiled and sighed happily.
Illy giggled, remembering his comment from the previous night. “You’re welcome. No woman likes a man licking his lips that much unless he’s LL COOL J,” she stated.
“Who’s LL COOL J?” replied Desmond
“You don’t know who LL COOL J is?” asked Gia, surprised. “He is only one of the best rappers in the mid ‘80s and early ‘90s and starred in plenty of major movies. He's a legend,” she praised sounding like a faithful fan.
“Huh, is that so? So if he is such a legend, why haven’t I ever heard of the guy? Oh, I know, because he’s not very famous; and I bet you are the only one, other than Kiss of Death over there that’s heard of him,” replied Desmond, sounding jealous.
Keiko joined in the conversation, needing to entertain herself. “Well, that’s not true, Desmond. I’ve even heard of him, and I’ve been living under a rock for a while.”
“Yeah, LL Cool J held a concert in Paris years ago. We loved him,” chimed Pierre.
Angel and Andrew both looked at each other and smiled. “So, this is the best conversation we have on a road trip? We talk about LL Cool J?” asked Andrew, directing the question to Angel.
“Oh, let them chat about LL if it helps to ease their anxiety. I had to block out their emotions because they were getting so antsy. Besides the best time to get to know someone is on a road trip.”
Andrew laughed lowly, then decided to add to the conversation. “I saw Any Given Sunday; LL Cool J was in that movie.”
“Yeah, and Al Pacino. Man, I love Al Pacino. Have you seen Scarface, Andrew?” added Pierre, excited to finally start a conversation more his speed.
“Yes, I did. Sometimes I swear the writers thought of me when they wrote that movie,” said Andrew
“Oh, yeah, how come? Were you a big drug lord in your past life?” asked Pierre.
“No, but I was, and still am, as ruthless and more fearless as Al Pacino’s character.” Andrew’s comment interested Illy. She glanced over at him driving and admired his rough hands on the steering wheel. She looked at his shoulders and could see the muscles rippling under his suit. He looked as if he had years of experience in swordplay and heavy shielding. Illy stared off, imagining Andrew in Viking gear running through a field shirtless, with his muscles bulging and his chest sweaty. She could see his hair blowing in the wind while he brandished his sword and screamed barbaric obscenities. Andrew lowered his sword as a woman approached from the opposite direction, walking seductively, her hair blonde, and falling to her waist. She wore an extremely sheer gown that complemented her figure perfectly and her lips were the brightest shade of pink. Illy walked closer to Andrew and wrapped her hands around him passionately. They gazed at each other…until the sound of laughter interrupted her steamy daydream.
Illy snapped back to reality. Gia, who was sitting behind her laughing uncontrollably, broke the conversation in the car. “What’s so funny?” asked Desmond. “I’m...” Gia could not contain herself as she tried to speak, but more laughter erupted between her words. Everyone looked around, confused.
Keiko grew annoyed. “If you don’t stop and tell us what the joke is about, I swear I’m going to make you fly the rest of the way.”
“Wait, I know that laugh. You read someone’s thoughts,” said Desmond. Gia slowed her laughter, only to erupt again.
“Alright, who was it and what was it?” chuckled Desmond.
Illy began to turn beat red. Gia pointed at Illy, and everyone in the van started to tease her.
“If you even think about repeating my thoughts, I swear I will make sure that every time you close your eyes you think you are being swallowed by SHIT,” said Illy, threatening Gia. Gia gained her composure and inhaled, trying desperately to remain calm.
“I’m so sorry, Illy. I didn’t mean to impose, but I heard your inner voice over everyone’s chatter. That loudness sucked me right into your private thoughts.”
“Arrrggghhh, dammit Gia, excuse me. But we are about to walk into a war, and I don’t know if I’m coming out alive. I think I’m entitled to a little action in my own flipping head,” said Illy, irritable.
“Again, I’m sorry Illy, I really am. I never impose, honestly. But it was too loud for me not to. It was as if you were talking directly into my ear. I couldn’t help but listen and when I get sucked into a mind, I can actually see the picture. It enters my brain as if I’m watching TV. I am really, really sorry,” said Gia, apologetically.
“Great, not only did you hear me, but you saw me, too?” Illy crouched down in her seat feeling humiliated.
“Yeah…but, if it accounts for anything, you have quite the imagination,” smiled Gia.
“Arrrggghhh, alright. Next time just try to get the hell out of my head. Find an exit or something,” said Illy.
“Now I’m curious. So, who were you fantasizing about?” Desmond teasingly asked. Illy looked at Desmond, rolled her eyes, and ignored his question.
“I’m flattered if it was about me. I tend to have that effect on women,” said Desmond teasing.
“Well, how do you know she wasn’t thinking about me? Women love French men, especially the accent,” Pierre smiled genuinely at Keiko and Illy. Keiko shook her head in pity and Illy stared blankly at Pierre.
Angel signaled to Andrew, trying quietly to get his attention. She pointed to him and said quietly in a childlike whisper, “It was you, hahaha, it was you.” Andrew chuckled and tried to shoo Angel’s hands away.
“You two boys have got the fantasy wrong. It was me she was fantasizing about. Women can’t resist us Vs. It’s something about our bite that has them loving and begging us for more,” said Andr
ew confidently.
“Welp, not sure I can argue with that,” said Angel, agreeing. Everyone erupted in laughter as Andrew stared at Illy through the rearview mirror. Illy caught his stare and turned away. Her face flushed in pure embarrassment.
The rest of the drive held the chatter of them getting to know each other on a personal level. Illy confessed she was really twenty-one and not eighteen. Because Illy stopped physically aging at eighteen, her sister came up with the idea of stopping her age, as well. Andrew chimed in, saying that if he had stopped his age, he would have been in his late twenties; but he couldn’t fully remember. He was sure, however, that he was over five hundred and twelve years old. Keiko finally confessed that Pilot Greg was the love of her life; she felt silly when everyone said in unison, “We already knew that!”
Pierre confessed he thought his power was the most useless thing he inherited. He didn’t understand how slowing time was beneficial until he realized that he used it constantly during his human form so he would never be late for work. Everyone was amused by his stories of how he slowed time for every little thing, even to get the last doughnut at the bakery shop. “They never saw me coming,” he said proudly.
Andrew shared with the group the story of his human days, his wife, and his children. He said he fought fearlessly until the day his human self died. He explained to the group the reason why he tortured himself throughout the years and how Master Anu felt it was time to heal. “Aggg, thank God you listened. It only took you, geez, 500 years. I couldn’t stomach your stench anymore. We used to ask the servants to spray air freshener every time you walked by,” said Keiko.
“It was ridiculous, I will admit,” said Andrew. He admitted that expunging the pain was revitalizing, and how after he cleansed himself, his gums regenerated, and he grew new teeth. “I was wondering where you got teeth from,” remarked Angel.
“Vs have to allow themselves to heal. If we don’t, we can stay in that broken form until we give our bodies permission,” said Andrew.
Angel told the team her biggest confession. “I should have stayed with Master Anu and loved him as he wanted. Together we would have found my missing angels and defeated the Leaders, or at least died trying.” Everyone remained silent.
“Sometimes love doesn’t see too clearly,” said Keiko, placing her hand on Angel’s shoulder. With only twenty minutes left to their destination, they drove the rest of the way in silence, anticipating what was coming next.
18
Is That All You Got?
The Leaders were believed to be staying inside a castle-like building on the edge of Cliff Caroline. The building was built in 1670 as a bunker to protect Christina of Sweden. After her death, the place was used as a hideout for other Kings and Queens seeking asylum. Now, the Leaders were using the building as their headquarters. The building could not be found on a tourist map or Google search. Angel managed to find the building thanks to Master Andrew’s faithful trackers.
“I may not have gained the most fearless line, but I’ve gained plenty of intelligent Vs and the best trackers in our existence,” said Andrew. The trackers reported that the Leaders are a tribe of three powerful Vs and are protected by several of their kind. Tonight, Angel was determined to put an end to them all.
Angel and the team drove halfway up Mount Caroline and parked in a secluded area in the woods. Once everyone stepped out, all of the angels began removing their shirts and slipping on long sleeves shirts that tied around the neck and waist which gave them space for their wings to emerge without ruining their clothing. Desmond was the only one that opted out. The fabric would “wear him down,” he explained. So, he decided that showing his six-pack abs and chiseled pecs was going to be his weapon of choice.
Angel touched her earpiece and called out Sidney, making sure she hadn't lost range. “Sidney, are you there? Over.”
Sidney responded without hesitation. “Go for Sidney!”
“All’s well?” asked Angel.
“All silent―too silent,” replied Sidney. “There has been no activity in the house, just the same old guards. I did manage to catch one of them roaming in and out of a door under the main stairs. I’m not sure if that’s a place where they are keeping prisoners. Abby and I double checked to make sure that we hacked into all the cameras in the house, and we did. But if that’s a basement; we don’t have eyes down there,” said Sidney.
“Copy,” said Angel.
Keiko zipped up her black leather coat and began warming her hands with her leather gloves. She looked around the dark woods, keeping an eye out for any alarming sounds, until she remembered something her father once said. “Angel, my father always told me that the Leaders were assumed to be indestructible.”
“He also said that every supernatural has its weakness. We just have to find what it is,” replied Angel.
“What if we can’t?” asked Keiko, concerned.
“We can’t think like that. I’m sure we will get through this,” said Angel, reassuringly.
“So, what’s the plan?” interrupted Pierre.
“We can fly to the sky and pay a surprise visit from the roof,” suggested Desmond, strategizing.
“Abby to everyone, Abby to everyone. The roof is no go, I repeat the roof is A. NO. GO.” Everyone looked at each other for answers.
“What’s wrong with the roof,” asked Angel through her earpiece.
“There are Vamps on the roof armed with what looks like”…. Abby’s voice trailed off then resurfaced as she examined her computer screen. “A bazooka?” questioned Abby.
“A BAZOOKA?” everyone repeated in unison. Angel almost fell over, giggling in surprise. Keiko chuckled also as they held each other up from toppling over in laughter.
“I’m quite fascinated by how you two find this amusing. But can we be serious? We have a mission to attend to,” interrupted Andrew.
“I’m sorry, it’s just unbelievable how they go through unnecessary measures to stop us,” said Angel. “Like come on, a bazooka! Seriously?” continued Angel.
Andrew shook his head from side to side then managed to redirect the group’s focus. “Alright, plan B. We’ll walk to the front door and knock.”
“WHAT!” exclaimed everyone again in unison.
“I think maybe you received too many blows on the head over the years,” said Keiko, sarcastically.
“I don’t see why we need a fancy plan if we’re killing them anyway. I say we do it old school and knock on the front door and go full force,” said Andrew.
“Okay, if they answer? Then what? We ask them to borrow sugar?” mocked Keiko, no longer amused.
“As a strategic commander for my entire existence, I know my plan is feasible. We just have to execute it effectively. The front door is the best access point for a good fight,” said Andrew, removing his suit jacket and tie and rolling up his sleeves to his elbows, revealing tattoos of roman numerals on his forearm.
Before Angel could explore Andrew’s idea, Sidney interjected the banter by speaking anxiously through their earpieces. “Queen, something is happening inside the house. Illy, grab your phone, I’m sending you a link to live stream the video of the activity.” Illy pulled out her phone from the pocket of her denim jeans and displayed the screen for all to see. Everyone huddled and watched in anticipation as the Leaders’ guards dragged Anu and Sammy’s bodies through a hallway and out the front door. “The next shot is coming from the satellite. The screen is going to glitch in a bit, but you’ll get a clear view of the outside in a few seconds,” said Sidney.
“Oh my,” said Keiko gasping her hands to her mouth. “Sammy is alive!” The next scene was disturbing and not for the faint of heart. The guards began viciously beating Anu and Sammy, kicking and bashing them with batons. Anu and Sammy were spitting out blood and trying desperately to block the blows, but to no avail. One V went as far as to bend Sammy’s arm all the way back and pull it out of its socket. Gia cringed at the sight and covered her eyes on Desmond’s shoulder.
“NOOOOOOOOO!” Keiko's eyes flowed with tears, running crimson down her cheeks, something Angel thought only Vs could do. The guards continued their beatings even as Anu grasped his neck, trying to staunch the bleeding. Noticing what the Master was attempting, one of the guards grabbed Anu’s hand and pulled it forward. Another guard swung his machete and cruelly chopped his hand off. They picked up the hand and slapped Anu with it. Anu fell on his back. On the screen, they saw Anu convulsing in agony, and Sammy trying to fight back with his broken arm. It was no use, both men were outnumbered and were being pummelled from all angles. The Leaders’ guard took Anu’s bloody hand and stuffed it into his back pocket. The beatings finally stopped, and the guards dragged the brutally-stricken bodies back into the building.
“NOOOOooooo. Fatherrrrrr…I WILL KILL THEM ALL!” shouted Keiko, kicking a nearby tree and knocking it down. “I WILL TEAR THEIR FUCKING BALLS OFF.” Everyone looked at Keiko as a blind rage consumed her.
“I’ve never seen her that angry,” said Andrew.
Keiko’s fiery eyes remained crimson and her face flushed purple. Smoke developed around her and she screamed in a voice that was unrecognizable. Her hands and hair grew long, and she screamed out in pain, holding her head in her hands. The smoke caused everyone to cough and left an indescribable odor. There was a loud booming noise that caused the crows in the trees to fly away in fear. When the smoke finally evaporated, Keiko was gone.
“Fuck, where did she go?” asked Angel frantically.
Andrew looked around, confused. “I don’t know, I’ve never seen her do that,” he said, surprised.
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