by Jones, L. A.
They stopped trekking up the mountain and Tavis leaned against a tree. "So what's new name going to be?"
Jaxon stood still for a few seconds before announcing, "Dunc! I have always liked the name Dunc."
Tavis nodded his approval.
Jaxon looked Tavis's shoulder and shouted, "Hey Henry, get your ass over here."
Henry waited until the mother bird flew towards the bird's nest. As she dive-bombed towards him, intent on protecting her babies, Henry reached out and caught her in mid air. He clutched the struggling bird hand and leapt back down to the ground. He kept staring at the bird as he walked back to the others.
Jaxon repeated Tavis's question and explanation. "So what's it going to be little brother? What's your new name?"
Henry still stared at the bird until the bird locked gazes with him. Her own black eyes meeting his. He smiled before chomping off her head. He crushed the rest of her body as he chewed.
Tavis and Jaxon didn't look fazed as they awaited his answer.
He swallowed and spat out a feather.
"Well?" Tavis snapped.
"Korrigan," Henry finally said, "call me Korrigan from now on."
He then turned back around and smiled gleefully as he saw another bird. "Ooh a bluejay. My favorite!"
Tavis and Dunc laughed as he chased after it.
As they started trudging again was when Dunc asked, "what about last names?"
"Well since we are now brothers, why not call ourselves the McAlester brothers?" Tavis suggested.
Dunc stood still to consider it. "The McAlester brothers eh? Huh! I like it."
Sic Semper Tyanris, Tavis thought to himself as he flicked out his switchblade. It was a dainty thing with a pearl handle and a very shiny blade. He had this thing since the sixties and it was his most treasured possession. Ironic that what he treasured was something that he had bought during his years as a vampire. Maybe not too ironic considering my life as a human wasn't that great. He readjusted his glasses as he sat up and batted away strands of his dirty blonde hair. He thought back to his time as the Sovereign's "solider" so to speak; still picking his fingers with his beloved blade. He gritted his teeth remembering the yoke he had been placed under. Which is really a bit of an understatement considering how I was treated. The solider drills, the discipline, and the punishments. I couldn't even take a piss without the Sovereign's permission.
He gritted his teeth and his grip on the blade tightened. It is amazing how I was finally able to get out. If you could call it that. Blackmailing Keon wasn't an easy thing to do but I had accomplished it. I had killed two birds with one stone by getting him to agree to fake my own death. One) it helped me achieve my freedom and two) it made sure that Keon would help keep me out of the Sovereign's reach. There was only one downside to it and that was the fact that Keon knows I am still alive. Furthermore, he was able to track Tavis's movements so whenever he went Keon still found him. His pocket vibrated and Tavis closed the switchblade to plunge his free hand into his jeans. Speak of the devil, he pulled out his Android phone and saw that he had received an email, what does that bastard want now?
He read the lengthy email with great reluctance. However, by the time he had finished his narrowed eyes had widened dramatically.
Tavis burst into the hotel room while brandishing his phone. "Hey bros! Heads up."
The room was a step up from the dirty bench he had just been laying on but not that much. The place reeked of booze, the wall paper was peeling, and carpet was stained. The bed sheets were frayed and the pillows even had patches on them.
Dunc was flipping through a Hustler magazine with his headphones on. He wore a Grateful Dead t-shirt, long black ripped jeans, and blue striped Vans. Tavis could hear a bit of Dunc's music and the shower running.
He then sighed and yanked the headphones off of Dunc.
"Hey! What the hell?!" Dunc sat up and tried to wrench the headphones back. "What is your problem man?"
Tavis yanked the headphones away further. "Yo! Korrigan! Get out here already."
"I am in the shower!"
"I don't care," Tavis bellowed, "get out here now."
They both heard a loud sigh and a silvery squeak which was soon followed by a loud banging of the bathroom door. From out of the steamy room emerged a muscular guy with a white towel wrapped around his waist. He was drying his hair with another when he muttered, "what?"
Tavis grinned broadly. "I got great news."
"Yeah?" Dunc inquired.
"Yeah," Tavis stated, "we are going to Salem."
Korrigan dropped the towel. "Wait what? Salem? As in Salem, MA?"
Tavis nodded.
Dunc, however, just shrugged. "Why do we need to go to that crappy place?"
Tavis handed him his cell. "This is why."
Dunc rolled his eyes before reading the email. His reaction then became like that of Tavis's. "Is this for real?" He cried before jumping to his feet.
Tavis just nodded while Dunc gasped in disbelief.
"How can you be so sure?" He finally asked.
Tavis shrugged, reluctantly. "This is why we are going to Salem. We need to make sure that what Keon says is true."
"Keon?" Korrigan spat, "your old slave driver? Oh I am sorry I guess the proper term is commander."
Tavis brushed aside the sarcasm. "It doesn't matter. Yes, Keon and I had our...differences in the past but he knows he can't boss me around anymore."
Korrigan crossed his arms. "So what? This new info is a sign of good will or something?"
Tavis couldn't help but chuckle. "No but even after forty years he still knows my goals in life."
"You mean," Dunc said while cracking his knuckles, "establishing ourselves as our own power."
Tavis shrugged. "More or less."
Korrigan's arms were still crossed. "So what? We follow this piece of info and actually believe that your foe wants to help us?"
Tavis exhaled a breath through his nose. "In all honesty Korrigan, I don't think we have a choice?"
"What do you mean?"
"See for yourself little bro!" Dunc tossed the phone to Korrigan.
He barely managed to catch it with his wet fingers. Tavis twitched as the water drops from Korrigan's hair dropped onto his phone's screen.
Korrigan practically gasped after reading the last line. "Are you serious?"
"We don't know Korrigan," Dunc said as he got up and went to his side. He peered over his wet shoulder at the touchscreen. "There is a chance that this is just a hoax..."
"However," Tavis interrupted, "do we really want to take that chance? If its real...well." He shrugged.
"If its real," Dunc added as he leaned in and whispered into Korrigan's ear, "then you won't be alone anymore. You will finally have found someone as freaky as you!"
Korrigan dropped the phone and slammed his fist into Dunc's face. As soon as Dunc hit the wall, Korrigan gripped his throat. Several seconds later, there was a smell of burning flesh.
"Hey!" Tavis ran forward and laid a hand on Korrigan's shoulder. "None of that."
Korrigan dropped his hand and Dunc fell to the floor. He gingerly touched his wound while looking up at Korrigan's smoking hand.
"C'mon Henry," Tavis whispered, "think about it. Yes, we have no reason to trust Keon but really do we have a choice? We have a chance to not only seize one of the greatest weapons of all time but to also finally show you that you are not the last."
He dropped his voice to a whisper, "who knows? You might even get a bride out of it."
This was enough to make Korrigan clench his fist. Amazingly, the smoke stopped emerging his hand as soon as he did. He then brushed Tavis's hand aside and went to the bathroom but not before muttering, "my name is not Henry, not anymore, it is Korrigan."
Tavis looked at Dunc through narrow eyes. "Must you always antagonize him?"
Dunc chuckled as he stood up. "I have known him longer so I think I am entitled."
Tavis couldn't argue against th
is.
And still continues to this day, Tavis thought to himself, yet now we have a brand new quest to compete. The quest to rid the world of our tyrant and make ourselves the new power to control the world of the Vampires. Sic Semper Tyanris! Thus always to tyrants.
Chapter Two
“They hunted down and killed every last witch,” Mr. Dayton’s words echoed throughout the air.
“He means genocide,” Ross said. “Genocide, genocide.”
Aradia shrunk and the air grew thick, hot, and stifling.
“Every…” Aradia stated in disbelief.
“Or so they thought,” Mr. Dayton concluded, his words vague and far off. The air was soup now, hot and thick, like clam chowder, and she was drowning. The room was gone and she was at the bottom of the sea, alone, but still the conversation burned through her.
There was no one there, but all eyes rested on Aradia.
“They couldn’t!” she resisted. “The Nazis tried this and failed.”
“The hidden race tried it and did not fail,” Mr. Dayton replied, “but for one survivor.”
“That would make me…” she sputtered.
“Yes, Aradia,” his words danced around her like a colorful rope. “You are alone. You are the last of your kind. You are the last witch.”
“I’m not the last!” Aradia shot forward, banging her face into the bus seat in front of her. The student sitting there, a chubby boy a year older than she was, turned and shot her a nasty glare.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, wiping the drool from her chin. He didn’t reply and turned forward again. Aradia found it ironic that she couldn’t sleep at night, but couldn’t stay awake during the day. It was all backwards.
"It's not true. I am not the last. I am not alone, I'm not..." Aradia whispered to herself repeatedly for the remainder of the bus ride. Her human bus mates ignored her, and her hidden bus mates gave her space. No matter how she tried to focus on her mantra, her mind was plagued by questions.
It had been nearly two weeks since she had learned the truth about her legacy. At first, she’d done well. Surprisingly well. Her mother had been concerned, actually, because of how easily she seemed to take the revelation. However, with the excitement of the tribunal, the ongoing investigation, and general aftermath of the Vampire Murders, it had been easy to bury her feelings.
Then the adrenaline began to fade and Aradia’s mood had fallen hard. For the last several days, she’d been in a funk so deep she didn’t see any way out. Despite the enormous outpouring of concern from her friends and strangers alike, for she was now something of a celebrity, she had remained quiet and withdrawn throughout the last several days. She seemed almost comatose in her classes, ate by herself, and quickly became the last student picked for dodgeball in gym.
During a free period she was inspired by a sudden idea, and for the first time in three days, she felt like she might have some recourse. She rushed to the library, found an empty workstation with a computer, and Googled “Salem Witch Trials.” About a quarter of a second later, she had 916,000 results.
This, Aradia hoped almost feebly, might give me the answers I need.
“So, you hear Aradia and Dax haven’t even spoken since the big showdown with the Vampire Murderer?” Saul asked. He leaned casually against a light post outside the school library. Through the window he had a somewhat obstructed, but workable view of Aradia at her workstation.
“No I haven’t?” Keon replied, pacing like a caged tiger. “And I prefer to keep it that way.”
Saul sighed. “Our assignment is to observe the last witch. You are never going to excel if you don't fully commit. Listening to the gossip about her will help.”
“This high school drama sickens me,” Keon muttered. “Besides, our assignment is not going to last much longer. I can assure you of that.”
Saul straightened up immediately. "What do you mean?"
Keon chuckled. “You’ve done well in recent days, watching the last witch. I had my own orders from the Sovereign, and I’ve done well too.”
“What did you do, Keon?” Saul dared to ask.
“Precisely what the Sovereign asked. I spread the word about the last witch.” Keon's grin grew wider and more sinister. “There is a definitely an upside to working for the Sovereign as long as I have.”
“What upside is that?” Saul inquired further, certain he wouldn’t like the answer.
“The opportunity to meet… interesting individuals, individuals with desire for power and who are willing to do anything, including truly reckless shit, in order to acquire it,” Keon answered.
"Morning everybody!" Mr. Gillard shouted as he barreled into class. He slammed his briefcase onto the table and hurriedly shrugged off his dark brown coat.
Mr. Garibaldi Gillard had been at Salem High for more than four years. He was short with light brown skin that hinted at a Hispanic origin with a graying beard and a cropped head of hair. His every day clothes consisted of different colored polo shirts, khakis, and brown loafers. Today, he wore a light green polo shirt, and clean light brown khakis.
"Sorry I am late," Mr. Gillard semi-shouted out of the corner of his mouth as he dug through his briefcase, "but my car got stolen." "Again!" He added bitterly.
Aradia covered her mouth to hide her smirk. It was no secret that Mr. Gillard lived in a very sketchy neighborhood and his car getting stolen seemed like an every day occurrence. Nevertheless, he always made it to class ready with their assignments and his materials much to Aradia's and the rest of the students' disappointment. Mr. Gillard brandished papers as he boomed to the class, "today we will be discussing the governments' problem of unsolved crimes."
He explained the assignment as he passed out the papers, "you will all work in pairs, and find one unsolved crime that has occurred recently. The crime must have occurred in America in the last two years. After finding documented proof of the crime, you will write a two page essay, double spaced with information properly cited, of why you think the crime has gone unsolved. Do not forget to discuss what we have learned on class so far. For example, discuss topics such as federal and state laws and jurisdiction."
A hand shot up from amongst the sea of students just as Mr. Gillard faced them. "Yes Rhonda?"
"What does federal law have to do with unsolved crime? I thought the Feds only deal with international stuff."
Mr. Gillard hung his head heavily. "Are any of you aware of the Natalee Holloway case?"
Many of the students nodded while others just rolled their eyes.
"Although she was an American citizen she disappeared overseas and there was rumor of foul play. There were those who argued that because it happened in Aruba, the United States Government held no jurisdiction therefore they had no authority to go in and investigate her disappearance. Many argue that if Holloway's case had been declared a federal crime there was a possibility that the investigation would not have been botched and her body may have been found."
"Didn't they arrest some guy for the crime?" Aradia squinted to try to see the student who just spoke.
Mr. Gillard nodded. "However, most of the evidence the Aruba officials collected were substantial and it wasn't until he was arrested for killing another girl at a casino when they finally threw him in jail."
"So wait," Rhonda argued, "you mean if this guy hadn't killed another person he would have gotten away with Natalee's murder?"
Mr. Gillard sighed. "Yes."
Aradia tried her best to act normal in spite of feeling depressed about the latest information in her life. The last thing she needed, or so she thought, was her best gal pal being worried about her.
"So what case should we pick?" Aradia asked Rhonda cheerfully who, in turn, just shrugged nonchalantly.
Their government class had been their first class of the day and at Salem High the first class was always followed by a twenty minute break. Mr. Gillard had allowed them to pick their own partners by the end of class. It was a no-brainer that Aradia and Rhonda would
chose to be each other's partners. What hadn't been was the unsolved case they would chose for their assignment. It was no surprise Aradia wanted to get a head start on their assignment and suggested they spend the break in the library. It was due in two weeks and she was eager to improve her G.P.A. In fact, besides her goal to find out more about her people, her other goal was to pass her sophomore year with straight B's. Judging by the grades she got in her freshman year even her parents would tell her that such a goal seemed unrealistic. Nevertheless, Aradia decided to try and for the last minute and a half she and Rhonda had sat in the library researching topics. Aradia at the computer and Rhonda looking through their textbook.
Rhonda, however, with her 3.0 GPA didn't seem too involved or concerned. She kept staring out the window of the library at the gloomy weather gathering outside.
Aradia reached over and tapped her friend on the shoulder. "Hello? Earth to Rhonda! Come in Rhonda!"
"Hmm?" Rhonda, with her chin in her hand, turned slowly.
Aradia rolled her eyes and turned to face her. Thank god for rolling chairs. "Okay what is it? You have been acting all mopey since class ended? What's up with you Ron? What's the matter?"
At first, Rhonda didn't say anything but then she sighed and said, "I am thinking about the Natalee Holloway case."
Aradia groaned and slapped her palm against her face. "I don't think Mr. Gillard will allow us to chose the example he gave for our assignment."
Rhonda hastily shook her head. "No! No! That's not it. That is not what I am talking about."
Aradia raised her face and an eyebrow.
Rhonda pressed her hands together and lowered her head. She said, taking a deep breath and sighing, "don't you think it's disgusting that a guy could kill a girl in cold blood and get away with it?"
Aradia shifted her gaze to the left. "It happens Ron. You should know that. Hell! You would be surprised how often such a thing occurs."
