by Bo Luellen
David pulled off his work gloves, “How can you know that? This thing hasn’t spoken a word of English since we got her.”
Basten tapped his wrinkled neck with his index finger, “The bite marks always stay after a person has been turned. There are no bite marks on this one, so she was born to darkness. The Adze vampire isn’t the most physically powerful, but they are some of the most astute spellcasters in all the clans. Mr. Booth struggles with the morals of my methods. Let me assure you both, what we are doing to her is a thimble compared to the oceans of torment Ms. Lanyon’s daughters are going through.”
David looked up at the shriveled body, “It’s been hours since the sun went down. Why hasn’t Marcus shown up to collect her?”
Baston winced and rubbed his chest, “I don’t know. Something must be keeping him occupied.”
Thomas grabbed the old man’s arm and helped him to his bucket, “Your spirit is strong, I’ll give you that, but your aura is lifting. It won’t be long now. You should prepare yourself.”
The elder lifted his chin, “I’m fine! Fine enough to get this job done and then tend to my kleinzoon’s training.”
Nicolaas ran over and gave his grandfather a drink of water from a canteen. Thomas and David locked eyes, and the druid shook his head. David thought about his own Uncle Enrich and wondered if this was a glimpse into the suffering he would go through.
Thomas walked over to the Wal-Mart bags David had brought in earlier, “What’s in these?”
David was grateful for the distraction from his thoughts. He set them up on a workbench and took out four Super Soaker toy water guns. They were of various sizes, and he picked up a bright yellow one that had an orange tank on top.
Basten coughed, “What in God’s name are you doing with those?”
David dunked one in the coconut and palm oil mixture, as Basten got up and shambled over to him, “Toys! You bring toys to a fight with the forces of evil? We Van Helsing’s have been laying low the undead for hundreds of years. Our methods have been handed down from father to son. I will not dishonor their memory with childish games.”
Keller turned towards the front door and pumped the lever to pressurize the air inside. With a squeeze of the trigger, a blast of coconut water launched out and splattered against the wooden door. In a matter of seconds, the rotted planks were a dark grey from the moisture. He released the trigger and turned to the surprised Van Helsing with a satisfied grin.
Basten paused for a moment then pointed his cane at the other water guns, “I want the big one.”
The night wore on, as they sat in the four corners of the barn and held watch over the surrounding pasture through cracks in the walls. The floodlights Nicolaas had installed on the exterior of the barn gave them illumination and line of sight for almost fifty yards in all directions. The fatigue of a week’s worth of sleepless nights was settling in on David, and he had trouble focusing.
Thomas crept over to David and knelt on the ground beside him, “This is pointless. We’ve seen these things can turn into fireflies, and who knows what else they can do. Do you really think this old barn will keep them out.”
David shrugged, “The old man’s been right so far, and we’re the best shot Amanda’s got at getting her kids back in one piece.”
The druid held up a small water pistol, “Those inspirational words mean so much to the guy with the smallest gun!”
David smirked, “I mean…”
Basten called out from his corner, “It’s starting.”
The fully regenerated vampiric girl spoke up for the first time, “My mother is here.”
Thomas marched over towards the tank, “You speak English? Here I tried to learn Ewe so I could understand you.”
The girl’s head snapped around to him as he continued, “What’s your name?”
She gave him the same innocent look that was on her face at the Preserve, “I miss my mommy. My name’s…”
Thomas interrupted, “Oh, wait. I don’t give a shit.”
She shrieked in anger as her eyes turned pitch black, “I’m going to see your insides, Thomas Booth! I’m going to drain your children to death, and I will end your line!”
Booth sniffed and replied, “I have kids? I mean, it’s possible. I took a lot of chances.”
The vampire hissed, “Brave Thomas Booth, you put up so many false fronts. You might have held me prisoner, in your home, but you did invite me in. Your mortal wards were annoying, but it didn’t stop me from peering into your mind while you slept.”
David gave him a hard stare as Thomas admitted, “Okay, I did nod off a few times on guard duty.”
The child’s voice seemed to purr as she continued, “Of course you were tired. Life has never been kind to you. The rough life of an orphan in Muskogee took its toll. You never knew who your parents were. They gave you up because, in truth, you were a burden to them. Then you were handed off to three different families. Each more repulsed by you than the next. Determined little Thomas. You went to college and even tried to do big things. You learned the hard truth about life. That the people you loved cared more about themselves than you, and why not? You’re a sore that festers.”
David walked up to Thomas, “Dude, don’t listen to this shit. She’s trying to get in your head.”
The druid pulled away and walked closer, as she continued, “Still, you chose to live alone, to isolate yourself and find happiness in plants and trees rather than humans. You provide cannabis to the sick and dying because they can’t afford it. In truth, you’ve forced their friendship because they love the relief from the pain, not you. You worship anything that can’t run away from you.”
Basten yelled at Thomas, “Fool! She’s trying to distract you! Get back to your posts, the both of you!”
Thomas looked confounded, and the vampire revealed, “You won’t be alone for much longer. My mother is coming. When she gets here, I’ll kill your friends while you watch, and then I’ll make you my pet. I’ll drain you of life every day and set you about doing my bidding. Then when I’m done with you, I’ll suck out your soul and leave your corpse for the rats. How would you like it if I made your life a living hell?”
Booth’s blank stare broke as he pushed up his glasses, “That’s a generous offer, but I’m not quite ready for marriage. I don’t want you to stop looking for love.”
He gave her the middle finger, as the creature hissed and struggled against the netting. Thomas lumbered past David towards his lookout point, and he wondered if what she said was true. There was precious little he knew about the druid, other than he lived in a greenhouse.
Outside, the sound of a pop startled him. David, he ran to a crack in the wooden slats and looked out towards the road. Standing out beside his pickup was a slender black woman with an elegant form-fitting purple dress on. The floodlights shined down on her, as she slowly sauntered up towards the barn door. The cold wind blew her long curly hair, and David couldn’t help but be transfixed by her unearthly allure.
The sound of another pop snapped him out of his trance. He scanned behind her and saw the left side of his truck, lowering to the ground. The sound of air hissing filled him with dread as he knew his truck tires were being flattened. He cursed to himself as the giggling of two little girls came from his vehicle.
The captive vampire looked over at Thomas, “My new sisters are here, too! They will be so glad to see you, Thomas Booth. Lady Violet has told them all about how you helped get their mother involved in the dealings of the Brotherhood. They know you’re just as responsible for their human father’s death and want to settle their blood debt.”
Thomas walked over next to David, who remarked, “If these things have turned Amanda’s kids into vampires…”
The druid pumped up the compressor to his water gun, “Yeah, it will make Mother’s Day awkward. Let’s just work one problem at a time. First, we get them, then we figure what comes next.”
Basten shuffled over and opened the large double doors, �
��Greetings, I’m Basten Van Helsing. I wish to address the clan leader, Marcus Holmes.”
The Lanyon girls appeared from behind David’s truck. The ten-year-old Nancy was dressed in all white, wearing a simple dress with a white bow in her hair. The twelve-year-old April contrasted her sister and wore gothic-looking jeans and a ripped shirt. A chorus of anguished crying came from both of the children, and they ran towards the dark-skinned woman.
Latching onto her leg, the lady announced, “Our dearest Marcus has left this world. I’m the Lady Violet Holmes, and I now speak as the head of the Adze clan in America. May I come in so we might discuss a truce?”
Basten snickered, “I’ve played my part in this drama before. I refuse. Although, you’ve caught me in a generous mood. I’m willing to listen to your proposal, but you will do so from out there.”
The sounds of people laughing rode the wind from all directions. The tin roof exploded with the sound of feet walking across its length. David and Thomas shared a look of horror, as the rooftop newcomers drummed on the metal and jeered.
Basten looked back and found Violet had moved to the edge of the barn’s door in an instant, “I smell death on you old man. Don’t take these fools with you.”
He leaned on his cane and stood up straight, “State your proposal.”
David couldn’t help but stay transfixed on Violet’s curves as she replied, “You have my daughter, Clare. I want her back. She is all I have left of my Marcus. I don’t want to lose a daughter and a husband in the same week.”
Basten ground his teeth for a moment, “A trade then. You lift the curse of vampirism from Nancy and April Lanyon. As the leader of your clan, you have that power.”
The Lanyon girls both screamed in protest as the old man continued, “In return, we will hand over Clare Holmes to you. Both parties will uphold a parting truce. I agree not to hunt your clan for the rest of my life, and you promise not to do the same towards us.”
A resounding chorus of objections came from a half a dozen rooftop voices. Blood tears streamed out the two teenage girls’ black eyes as they flew into the air. Dust swirled underneath them, and the wind whipped up to match their rage. Their hair shot around in chaos, and they screamed out in Ewe at Violet. The scene went on for several seconds until the newly appointed Lady of the Adze clan held up her left hand. The unseen clamors far above halted immediately. The Lanyons whimpered and ceased their caterwauling, as the pair floated down and landed softly on the cold dirt. Violet held out her arms, and the two hugged her tight with wails of misery.
The cold wind the Lanyon sisters had conjured swept in from outside and sent a chill down his back. David kept his eye on Basten, and suddenly realized how ridiculous it was that he had a toy in his hand. At the same time, a coven of bloodsucking magicians stalked around outside. A wave of anxiety swept over him, and he felt his breath shorten. The power of Violet elicited memories of the superwoman from his nightmares. He staggered back away from Thomas and slammed, back first, into the wall of the barn. He fell to the ground with pain stretching up into his chest.
David hyperventilated as Basten ordered, “Thomas, see to our friend.”
He felt a hot poker jabbing into his sternum, as he writhed on the ground, searching for a position that would bring relief. David’s fingers tingled, and he lost his grip on the toy gun. No matter how he moved, he couldn’t get comfortable. Booth grabbed him by the jacket and pulled him to a sitting position.
Nicolaas squatted beside them, “What’s wrong with him?”
Thomas struggled to keep the big man upright, “He’s had anxiety since the Battle at the Preserve.”
The young Van Helsing shook his head, “He shouldn’t have come then if he couldn’t handle it.”
The druid grabbed him by the collar, “Hey, smartass. How about you worry about your grandfather, and I’ll take care of this?”
As Nicolaas retreated to his grandfather, Thomas grabbed David’s shoulders, “Hey! I need you to focus on me!”
He clenched his chest and gasped, “My arm hurts! I’m having... a heart attack!”
Thomas reached in his belt pouch and pulled out a small clear vial. He unstopped the corked top and applied a few drops to his index finger. Before David could object, the druid smeared it on his upper lip.
The sweet smell overwhelmed his senses, as Thomas remarked, “This is Lemon balm. Take slow deep breaths and concentrate on the smell. You’re having a panic attack, not a heart attack. Your arm is hurting because you’re hyperventilating. I need you to realize that and breathe with me.”
As Thomas helped him to calm down, Violet told Basten, “I do not accept your terms. We Adze have a tradition of blood for blood. If one of us falls, then we take payment. I can’t let you walk away with both my adopted daughters, while only getting my Clare back.”
Basten stabbed his cane into the ground and protested, “This rule can be bent. I suggest that you...”
The air around Violet seemed to vibrate with her anger, “Blood for blood! I will need another for the trade.”
David’s breathing was slowing, but he was covered in sweat. He felt like his body had just run a race. Slowly, Thomas helped him up to his feet and handed him his water gun. The two joined Nicolaas behind Basten and raised their weapons at the trio of vampires outside their door. For the first time, he got a good look at Violet up close. Her eyes were pitch black, and compound insect-like eyes shined against the floodlights above. An almost magical glow surrounded her, inviting him to hang on her every word.
Basten finished deliberating, “Then you can take your daughter and me. That will satisfy blood debt.”
Nicolaas lowered his gun and grabbed his grandfather’s shoulder, “No! You can’t go!”
Basten’s old eyes swelled with tears, “Kleinzoon, you must understand that the Van Helsings serve humanity. Ours is one of sacrifice and dedication. This is a good trade. We get the Lanyons back, and you stay safe.”
Nicolaas latched onto his thick black coat, “No! You can’t go! I don’t know what to do! I’m not ready for you to leave!”
Basten’s boney hand patted his grandson’s, “You are more ready than I was at your age. Never forget that you’re a Van Helsing and that I love you!”
Nicolaas buried his head in his elder’s coat, as Basten announced, “I offer myself and your daughter to you. In exchange, we demand that April and Nancy Lanyon be freed.”
Basten gripped the younger man by the wrist, “Before I go, you must understand two things! First, and most importantly, they intend to turn me into one of them. I will become a willing follower of the darkness, a villain that stalks the night and preys on the innocent. You must hunt me down, and kill me. Second, my daughter and your father were never killed in a car accident.”
The young man’s mouth went wide, “But you told me...”
Tears ran down both of their faces, “My Kleinzoon, you weren’t ready to hear the awful truth. It was better to let you believe a lie than to know the awful truth. My Nicolaas , your father was killed while hunting these creatures, and your mother… I had to hunt down my own child and put a stake through her heart.”
Violet’s smooth voice interrupted, “Oh, how you have caused your family to suffer. Why do you Van Helsings throw your lives away? You are a deer pitching itself in front of the lion. We feed on the herds of the valley before your death and well after. If you only knew how little your efforts meant, I suspect you might drive a stake through your own heart for the hurt and pain brought to your family in vain.”
The pain in Basten’s face turned to anger, “It is never a lost cause to fight the legions of darkness. It is in that fight that humanity shines the brightest. My grandson will shine brighter than any other Van Helsing has. I agree to your conditions, harlot. I invite you in.”
Booth pulled David back as Violet glided off the ground and through the doorway. The Lanyon daughters fell to the ground in anguish over their impending freedom from undeath. The vampire flo
ated up to her captured daughter and spoke some words in Ewe. The netting unraveled and loosened. Within seconds, Clare spilled out into Violet’s arms, and the two gently landed on the dirt floor of the barn. She spoke to the girl in Ewe and held her tight. The demonic creature returned to full strength and once again looked like the innocent child they had found in the Preserve.
Violet finally stood up, and the Lanyon daughters ran inside the barn. The three children embraced one another, and Clare joined in their protests. David ducked as the pounding overhead began again.
The new Lady of the clan held up her hand and ushered in dead silence. She spoke a few phrases in Latin, and the Lanyons hit the ground like a stiff board. Clare stepped back with bloody streams going down her cheeks. Violet continued her incantations as a black mist raised out of their mouths and ears. The pair lay unmoving as the last of the black cloud collected in the air above them. The incantation ceased, and the dark fog above them suddenly turned solid, then fell on top of the girls. David and Thomas scampered back as the once magical mist was now dark earth and scattered over the floor. The unconscious Lanyons’ pale skin poked through the layer of dirt that covered their faces. David felt his mind whirl with the impossible nature of it all. Before his eyes, their skin turned flush again, and their canines retracted back to regular size.
Basten stepped between the sisters and Violet, “Are they free of your curse?”
Violet nodded, “They are free of the Vampiric gift, but not loose of my sorcery. They are still my children and, while I can’t take them with me, they still have access to the dark arts. One day they will seek me out and rejoin my clan. Blood for blood. Now Basten Van Helsing, you will join my coven and give to me all your secrets. Vampires will be rid of your nuisance once and for all.”
Basten stepped closer to her, “You will find my will stronger than you bargained for, witch! Now, we leave in peace, just as we...”
