“Sit down, for God’s sake,” David barked. “He’ll be here in a sec.”
Renee gave him a frustrated look, but relented enough to at least sit down for the moment.
Finally, they both heard the front door open and the voices of Ken and Benjy talking as they made their way to the kitchen.
Renee jumped up from the table and went to confront Benjy as he entered, but was stopped by a hand on her arm from David.
“Keep your head about you, girl. He will tell you everything if you just let him.”
Benjy walked in and sat down at the table, ready to talk as Ken left them to be alone. “I take it that it’s safe to talk in here?”
“Yeah,” David answered. “The kids have been taken to the rear of the house to get ready for bed. Let’s get this going before Renee has a heart attack or something.”
“I’m going to start with Trip. He was killed before I arrived in Colorado. Morgan and Hunter both said he was shot by one of the guards that accompanied two of my kind that were sent there to intercept them. I didn’t get all the details, but when we’re done here, Renee, I would strongly encourage you to go to Morgan, since I think she’s taking it the hardest.”
“I’ll do that, and I don’t want to sound cold here, but please tell me what had happened to Hope—as in right now.”
“First off, your sister’s safe. I know it’s hard to believe me at this time, but if it is the ones I think that got her, she’s in good hands. However, that being said, we’re still going to get her. I had a run-in with them a long time ago, back before World War Two; one of their people got really sick, and I was fortunate to run across her. I saved her life from a severe infection, and in return gained a place of honor amongst them, even though they knew I was a vampire. This group has a long-seated anger against my kind; in fact, they are the only other group that really knows what we are. My group was originally called the Neteru, meaning for lack of a better term, nature spirits or gods, from all the way back to ancient Egypt, before it was changed by Kane somewhere around the 1800s. These people that took Hope were created by sheer chance over two thousand years ago, and by the ones who created my creators’ fathers. They’ve stayed in hiding, almost completely, ever since, but have maintained their hate for the creatures that created them. They also might be one of our best hopes to fight the group that created me and help stop this plot of theirs.”
Renee was the first to speak up. “The history lesson was nice and all, but I’m ready to get my sister back now. Whomever or whatever these people are, I couldn’t care less.”
“Renee, I’ve told you many history lessons over the years, and you soaked them up like a sponge to water. The lessons I told you weren’t always the ones you would find in a book or at school. They were similar, but not the same. I told you the true history, not the retold and abridged history. Some of the lessons I was privileged to live through and give you an accurate portrayal of, were The American Revolution, The Civil War, World Wars I and II, to name a few. I got to witness those firsthand, while others I was able to verify through old records kept by my former masters. There is one of those that you always wanted me to tell you more about, but I always left you wanting more. Do you remember what that one was?”
Renee thought for a second and was about to speak the answer out loud when the realization hit that the answer was always in front of her. She lost the ability to speak for a moment as her mind raced to put all the pieces she’d always had back together. Almost as if she were ashamed of herself for not figuring it out sooner, she sat back in silence.
“Would someone tell me what just happened?” David blurted out. “That girl is never without an answer or a smartass comeback. I swear she reminds me more of her dad every day.”
Finally, Renee leaned forward and placed both arms on the table as she stared intently at Benjy. “Are you freaking kidding me? You’re telling me that my sister is an Amazon?”
“Yes, I am. The tests I ran on your grandfather back in the forties were based on the blood I acquired from them as a reward for helping save that girl, in the hopes of finding a way to make humans poisonous to my kind. I also took some DNA from the young girl I helped years earlier, when I wasn’t even aware of what she was, and your grandfather was the only one that I tried those DNA-laced samples on. That’s why I think Hope is the only one who was bit that had an adverse change. Something took in your grandfather and was passed down through the generations. The blood and DNA samples I took from your sister looked so familiar at first, and I had the originals stored in the warehouse in Mobile. I wanted to make sure before I told her, but somehow they were able to find out what I was up to and beat me there, and then they snatched Hope in Colorado.”
“So where do we find these Amazons?” Renee boldly asked.
“That’s where it’s going to be tricky. Their home is an island in the Bermuda Triangle, off the coast of Florida somewhere. I was only taken there once as my reward for saving the girl. As it turned out, she was also their queen’s daughter. I have a pretty good idea of where it will be, but it’s still a crap shoot finding the place. They will also be quite aware of our approach, too. They were pretty advanced back in the forties, so there’s no telling how far they’ve come since then.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. This is getting crazier by the second. Now you’re telling me we have high-tech advanced Amazons running around with a mad-on against vampires while we are fighting almost daily against zombies. What the hell’s next? Swamp creatures, Frankenstein’s monster, wer—?” David stopped and put his head down on the table. “I just don’t want to know anymore.”
“My friend, I know it’s a lot to take in, but this is all real. These terms and names being used all came about from tales that were twisted over the years until they were believed to be just that—tales. All those stories were brought out into being not just by some fanciful imagination, but by real encounters in the past. I myself took years to believe them, even though I was living as one. These Amazons are another by-product of what my former masters and their fathers had introduced into the world through their meddling from the shadows. That’s why I turned on them and started to try to find a way to stop them. I saw the danger they posed, and could no longer be a part of it. I accepted their offer out of fear of dying, as I knew I was nearing my end, and I wanted to continue my work making the world a better place. But I learned quickly that they had other plans, long term dire plans for the world. They don’t know what I’ve been up to or with whom. We have an opportunity to finally strike back, and just maybe the Amazons will be the key to doing it.” Benjy stopped to see if his explanation was helping David out at all.
David kept his head buried in his arms for a few more seconds before he sat up and stared over at Renee. “How are you so calm hearing all this? I’m about to crap myself over here.”
“It makes sense to me all of a sudden. That’s all I can say.” Renee turned to Benjy. “So what’s the plan then? When do we leave for Amazon Island?”
“I’ll be leaving tomorrow evening, with Morgan. I’m leaving Hunter here because of the Juggernaut we brought back, and because it’s not necessarily safe for a man to go with me there. Before you even think about demanding to go, the answer is no. You’re of the same bloodline as Hope. And if they find out that you have the potential to become one of them also, which we don’t know if you do, they might try to find some way to keep you there as well. You also need to stay here with your brother and the other little ones in case my kind finds this hiding spot. You know what we’re up against and how to fight them.” Benjy got up from the table.
Renee almost started to argue, but the validity of his argument was sound and she knew it. “Fine, you two go and get my sister back. I’ve lost enough already, and I need her if I’m to keep on going. I’m going to check on Patch and the others, but I would like to hear more about these Amazons later after everybody else is down.”
Benjy nodded and was about to head outside to che
ck on Hunter’s progress when the door opened and he walked inside. “How did everything go with Franky?”
“He should be good now. I sent him to patrol the perimeter for any slabs, so he would feel useful.” Hunter looked over at David and Renee. “What’ve you been able to tell them so far?”
“They know everything, and they are both taking it quite well, considering.” Benjy looked out the kitchen window for Franky.
“Well, that’s good, I guess. I’m going to see if I can find a bite to eat and try to get some sleep.” Hunter followed Renee out of the room.
“David, why don’t you come with me and let me introduce you to Franky?” Benjy turned and asked.
“Fine, I can’t say I’m not a little curious to meet him. That was one big dude you found. What did you call him? A Juggernaut?” David asked as he got up from the table. “Yeah, that’s as accurate a description for someone of his size as any. I do have a question, though. Why do y’all call him Franky? That name doesn’t fit someone of his size.”
“I’ll tell you as we go find him, but after your reaction at the table, I don’t think you’re going to like the answer,” Benjy said as they left the house.
Chapter 51
Hutch felt his legs being pulled, but couldn’t open his eyes to see what was tugging at them. He then felt himself getting picked up and tossed back down, hard, then everything went still for a moment. Then the shaking started, and he tried to open his eyes, but nothing was working. I must be paralyzed and they’re having a feeding frenzy on my body and I can’t feel it. He told himself he wasn’t going to open his eyes, no matter what; he didn’t want that to be the last thing he saw. Then he faded back out again.
The pain was what, finally, woke Hutch up. He felt it first in his legs, and then his arms and head joined in on the chorus. He remembered telling himself not to open his eyes, but he had to see what was causing such pain. He slowly opened one eye, but his vision was so blurry and his head throbbing so bad, that he couldn’t make out what was happening, so he closed his eye again and let the pain continue until once more, he mercifully passed out.
When he, finally, opened his eyes once more, he realized that the pain was gone and he just had a bad ache all over his body. He looked around and found he was in a house on a couch. He caught the scent of a wood-burning fire and looked over to find a fireplace actively going. “I’ll be damned, I made it to heaven,” he said out loud.
“Nope, not heaven,” a voice rang out.
“I knew it was too good to be true,” Hutch said as he looked for the voice in the room.
“Not there, either,” the voice replied, “but close enough, what with those monsters still out there.”
Hutch slowly sat up and found a young man sitting across the room from him with a rifle in his lap sipping a mug of something. “Where the hell am I then, and how did I get here?” he asked as he scanned the entirety of the room, trying to get his bearings straight.
“We’re about twenty miles north of Fargo. I was watching your demolition of the city and then saw you fall out of that building. I picked you up and threw you in the van you were so desperate to get to and rushed you back here. You’ve been out for four days. I managed to reset and splint your broken leg and arm,” the young man said as he brought a glass of water to Hutch.
“Well, that explains a lot. I thought they were eating me and I—” Hutch stopped in the middle of replying as he remembered something else from before his blackout. He quickly pulled up his right arm and examined his forearm for a bite mark. Instead, he found a large bruise.
“Yeah, I saw you get bitten, too, but when I checked it, I found it hadn’t broken the skin. When I went to check the slab that fell out the window with you, I found that it didn’t have any teeth. You have got to be the luckiest man on earth.”
“I don’t know what else to say, kid, but thanks for the rescue. If you hadn’t been there, I’d be a goner. By the way, name’s Hutch,” he said as he extended his good hand out in appreciation as he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Name’s Ray, but everybody calls me Wiley, like the coyote. And you’re welcome.”
Chapter 52
Renee was standing at the front door with Patch attached to her leg. They were watching as Benjy and Morgan loaded up into the SUV and got ready to leave. David was there in the middle of everything helping them, and Hunter was nowhere to be found.
Tori approached from behind, startling Renee when she spoke. “Why’re they leaving again?”
“They have to find my sister so she can chase the fireflies with me,” Patch answered.
Renee just grinned at the innocent answer and looked over at Tori. “That’s as close to accurate as it is.”
“I know there’s more you aren’t telling me, and I hope in time you will catch me up on everything. But I’ll wait if you’re not ready.” Tori turned and headed back to the kitchen where Brenda was cleaning up from supper. “Brenda and I will say some prayers for their journey.”
“Okay, thanks for that,” Renee said before she pried Patch off her leg. “Hey, big guy, why don’t you go and find the others and tell them that after Benjy leaves, I will take you outside to chase some fireflies for a little while.”
“Okay, but when Hope gets back, don’t tell her that we did. That’s supposed to be our thing,” Patch said as he ran to the back of the house.
Renee walked out and went straight up to Morgan to give her a hug before she left.
“What was that for?” Morgan asked.
“Just in case. I didn’t get to give one to Hope before she left this last time and might not get to ever again.”
“We’ll bring her back. She belongs here, not on an island away from you two. If they won’t let her go, we’ll take her,” Morgan answered as she slugged Renee in the arm before climbing into the vehicle.
David and Benjy talked on the other side for a minute longer before Benjy shook his hand and climbed in, giving Renee a nod as he did. “Don’t worry, we will return with her soon,” he said with a confident smile as he cranked up the truck and took off into the night.
David walked over to Renee as they disappeared and nudged her on the shoulder. “Take a breath. It’ll work out. Besides, if they don’t come back, at least you have Hunter to hang out with now,” he said with a smirk, knowing how much Hunter irritated her.
“Yeah, you’re right, I guess,” Renee answered as she didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
Turning to go into the house, when they got to the front steps, Renee broke the silence. “So, Benjy told me you almost fainted when you found out why they called the Juggernaut Franky.” She didn’t turn to see his reaction, knowing she had just gotten him back.
David stopped and put his head down, shaking it. “Just like her damn dad.”
Epilogue 1
Epilogue Chapter 1
Little Mary Met a Monster!
The stream’s water was cold and inviting on the warm day, and Mary couldn’t fight the urge to cool off in it any longer. She slipped her shoes and socks off and dipped a toe in the water to test it out. When the cool sensation hit her toe, she hiked up her dress and waded in up to her knees.
It was her tenth birthday, and she had to make sure she didn’t get the dress wet, since her father was taking her into town for the evening to pick out a present. She stood idly in the water, careful not to splash, and enjoyed the brief respite from the warmth of the day.
After several minutes, she tip-toed back out and went to grab her shoes and socks. As she picked up her second shoe, she fumbled it and accidently tossed it in to the stream. It quickly started to float out into the middle of the waterway. where it was much too deep to retrieve without getting her dress wet. She looked for a stick, but found nothing long enough to safely retrieve the escaping shoe. She knew her stepmother would have a fit if she lost the shoe, and her father would be mad if she returned home soaking wet, but she didn’t know which one would be the worse for her to dea
l with.
Angry at her clumsiness, she dropped to her knees and cried, because, for the moment, she didn’t know what else to do.
After several minutes of crying, she heard splashing in the water and lifted her head to see what was causing it. Walking into the water from the opposite bank of the stream was a large man. He was heading straight towards the floating shoe and was already almost waist deep in the water. As he got to the middle and grabbed the shoe, the water was almost up to his neck, and that was when she saw his face was horribly disfigured.
With the shoe in his hand he continued walking towards her, and the closer he got, the larger he got, and the more she saw that his disfigurement was not just limited to his face.
She knew she should’ve been frightened of the large man coming at her, but his eyes didn’t reflect the torment and anguish his body did. They seemed gentle, but with a hint that, if necessary, they could change at a moment’s notice. She watched as he got closer to exiting the water. He slowed down his pace and approached her very cautiously, as if, for some reason, he was scared of her.
Taking his last step out of the water, Mary realized she had never seen a man as large as he was in either height or girth. She didn’t think there was a doorway he wouldn’t have to duck his head down in order to enter, and no single door entrance that his shoulders wouldn’t touch both sides of the threshold. He was also sporting some very old scars on most of his body at almost every joint that was visible, including a large one that encircled his entire neck, almost as if his head had been removed and then reattached.
Mary froze as the hulk of a man stopped within a few feet of her and bent down, placing the shoe on the ground in front of her. As he stood back up, Mary, too, stood and offered a hand to the man, and a very quiet thank you.
Juggernaut (Humanity's Hope Book 2) Page 25
