by Night, H. T.
I got word out that I wanted all Mani to take a hike for the night, so the kids could enjoy a party, vampire-free.
I still had a lot of strong pull among most Mani. And Carni, for that matter. Both vampires and werewolves knew what I had done years earlier to try to help. Most gave me the respect I’d earned. But, there were still some naysayers.
But on this night, it was a good old-fashioned, alcohol-free birthday party. I wasn’t stupid. I knew most of the party guys would arrive drunk. But there was no way I would enable underage drinking.
I wanted my sons to have a wild, fun time and they brought their entire senior class back to the house to celebrate their birthday. There are about a hundred kids. After all, they did go to a small private school now. Although my sons were as prestigious as they were, as far as I could tell, it was an immortal-free party from the start. Except for Tommy, the werewolf, who was their godfather and, next to me, loved them the most.
The boys, surprisingly, had made lots of friends over the last two years. Being handsome, blonde twins helped. Joshua definitely took advantage of his looks. He liked the ladies, and just like his dad, the ladies liked him.
The person who concerned me in the female department was Jason. Jason had earned straight A’s for two years. He had won All State in football and baseball. And not one time had he ever mentioned an interest in a girl.
Because he was so asexual, it was easy for others to think he might be gay. I thought Jason was just different than the rest of us and if anyone ever even hinted about his disinterest in girls, I would counter with the reply that Jason was reserved and respectful, and that he was serious about his studies. All of that was true. He was nearly eighteen years old and he’d never been disobedient. Even when he fell out of the tree, he was just doing what Tommy and I wanted him to do when he was five, climbing up that tree, trying to beat his brother to the top.
When that is the worst thing that you ever did in your life, go wild climbing a tree and falling out of it, that was pretty remarkable in my view. I considered my own youth, some of it quite misspent on selfish pursuits, some that I would have been ashamed for anyone to know.
It was scary, though, how calm, clear and honest that boy was. This party was my way of telling Jason and his brother how much I loved them. I wanted them to invite friends and have a great time with some great food and make memories with their friends that would last a lifetime.
Where Jason was uninterested in pursuing girls, Joshua made up for both of them. Going to a co-ed private school definitely had its benefits if you were a good-looking, young lad wanting some attention.
So, this party was mine and Lena’s gift to our boys. I had to admit that Brock’s son being so ill and Jason’s refusal to heal him did concern me. Brock had already tried to take me out a few months back, sending ten ravens to intimidate me and that night, I gave as good as I got—they were taught a lesson by the Great White Eagle.
His purpose was that he wanted me to strong-arm my son into healing his. Jason refused, and I stood by his decision. Jason’s healing had been put on hold since we enrolled him in school. As far as I knew, he did not do it at all in the two years that he and Joshua went to school in California.
To be honest, I knew what was prophesied about my own son. The more I tried to steer him away from his true destiny, the more I felt I might be disrupting the laws of fate and the will of the Triat.
But tonight, it was about my two six-foot two, light-blond haired, blue-eyed boys. Except for Lena, they were my world.
Both were smarter than the average eighteen year old. Jason’s test scores were off the charts. But Joshua was no slouch either. He was never good at math and science. He was more verbal and literal and he excelled at reading and writing. His sense of humor was right up there with mine and Tommy’s. He had that grand and rare gift that I thought of as “bro banter.”
On the flip side, there was Jason, who didn’t have much of a sense of humor, but Joshua swore he was very funny, behind closed doors. I’m not saying the kid didn’t laugh, but what he laughed at were the genuine pleasures of this world. His laughter was more of a celebration of life, and in a weird way, it was one of the things that made me believe he was closer to the Triat than I was. It was funny to me that something as simple as laughter could make me think that, but signs came in weird ways.
At the moment, all the teens were in the back yard swimming in the heated pool at the old place in Victorville. Lena and I barbequed for them. It was top-of-the-line fixings and all of the kids were ravenous from playing nighttime water polo and swimming, and just from being young and active.
I was planning on some special guests showing up. Yari, Wyatt and Hector were supposed to make it to the party, later. It was going to be like old times and good times, back at the house where we had all bonded in the beginning. Otherwise, everyone else at the party was Tandra, except for my best friend, Tommy the werewolf.
The place was definitely looking a little different with so many tanned Tandra swimming in the pool. Sion and Tommy showed up when we did. That’s why they were my very best friends. Loyal as hell, both of them.
I asked Tommy about Yomaida, but she was doing her own thing that night. Tommy said he saw her every so often, but he was not forthcoming with details about their relationship and I didn’t press him. Nor did he press me about the details of my relationship with Lena. He could see for himself, I was sure, the rift between Lena and me that we tried to politely cover up with conversation and smiles over the boys’ heads.
We started the party right when it got dark and turned on the pool lights, lighting up the water with arms and legs and water polo balls and pool toys. My kids now were comfortable with the reason why it was a nighttime swim party. Both of them, on some level, had come to terms with the hard facts that both of their parents were both vampires and mortal.
Joshua was the life of the party, doing flips off the diving board. Girls liked him and all his guy friends seemed to idolize him, too. He had a perpetual smile, which kept many female eyes on him. In my younger days, and before marriage, I had garnered many such admiring gazes from females who adored my abs, my pecs, and my dazzling smile.
Jason was a lot shyer. He sat in the Jacuzzi by himself. He seemed a bit uncomfortable having such a giant bash thrown in his honor.
I walked over to Jason and sat next to my son. I slipped off my shoes and joined him. I dropped just my legs in.
“Ah, this feels good. I gotta get one of these for the castle back in Helena.”
“Hey, Dad. Thanks for the party.”
“Why don’t you try to enjoy it more?”
“You mean like Joshua? Joshua is about the spotlight. That’s why he was the star quarterback.”
“You were his favorite receiver.”
“I’d better be. I had the best hands on the team.”
“You had a great year, son. Both in football and baseball. You did hit better than Joshua in baseball.”
“We were one and two in batting in the whole county. My batting average was only three points higher than his.”
“Trust me when I tell you, son, Joshua wanted that title more than you know and you edged him out.”
“Dad, I love you, but what is the purpose of any of this?”
“This what?”
“This constant comparison of Joshua and me, like we are supposed to achieve the same heights and do everything equally.”
“I just want you to go enjoy your party like...”
“Like Joshua is. Dad, you know that’s not me. Please stop trying to make us be alike. We are twins and it is hard enough to assert our own individuality without the constant comparison by you and Mom. We are our own unique selves.”
“There are some fascinating cool people here. They are all here for you. Both of you.”
“I know.”
“I’m just saying that sometimes shy comes across as arrogant. Try to mingle. Speak like you are having fun.”
�
��Hey, Pops,” Tommy yelled. “Look who just arrived.”
It was Wyatt, Yari and Hector. It had been a few years since I had seen any of them. I was overjoyed. The old guard had arrived.
They were inside the house so I went inside through the back.
“Why, if it isn’t the original Children of the Night,” I said to my three dear friends.
“Josiah, great to see you,” Wyatt said.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” I walked over and gave Wyatt a big bear hug.
“Seriously, Wyatt gets the first hug?” Yari laughed. “What’s a girl gotta do to have this forty-something man give me some sugar?”
“Do I look forty-something?” I asked, concerned.
“Not at all,” Hector said. “What you look like is a dad who is throwing a birthday party.”
Tommy walked over as I gave Yari a big giant hug. She kissed my cheek.
“Uh-oh, don’t let Lena see that.”
“It’s been many years since Josiah and I ever had a thing. And trust me,” as she lifted her little pinky, “it wasn’t much of anything.”
“Hey,” I said, mock affronted at the gesture.
“Kidding, kidding, we all know you would make Secretariat jealous.”
“That’s taking it too far...Sea Biscuit, maybe.” I joked.
“It’s good to see you, Josiah.”
“How long has it been, Yari?” I asked.
“A couple of years, at least. What’s going on?”
“A lot. You have no idea.”
“How’s Brock doing, running the other island?”
“I have purposely kept you guys out of it, but he and I aren’t that friendly. As a matter of fact, he’d like to see me dead.”
“What?” Wyatt asked.
“Jason refused to heal his son.”
“That wasn’t your fault,” Yari said. “If you can’t heal him, then it’s the Triat’s will.”
“It’s not like that, Yari. Jason can heal anyone at any time. He has his own rules.”
“Which are what?” Wyatt asked.
“Jason is able to see the people’s lives that he lays his hands on for healing.”
“And...?” Yari asked.
“Jason laid his hands on Brock’s child when he was five years old and suffering from a sickness that was deep inside him. What Jason saw was the future. That little boy was going to grow up to be worse than Krull. Jason refused to heal him.”
“Wow, that’s interesting,” Wyatt said. “Where are the boys?”
“They are in the back with their friends. Go say hi.”
When we got to the back yard, Sion was now on the grill. “Hey, Josiah, go get Jason. I special-made him a triple-decker hamburger just the way he liked it when he was a kid.”
Wyatt, Hector, and Yari all said their hellos to Sion.
“Hey, Tommy,” I said. “Go find Jason and tell him to get his antisocial butt out here.”
“He’s not in the back yard,” Tommy said.
“Then he’s inside. Never mind,” I said. “I’ll go get him. I’ll drag him by the ear back to the party if I have to.”
I went inside the big house in Victorville. I checked every room, even the bathrooms. There was no sign of Jason.
I went to the front yard and still...no sign of my son. I was now feeling a bit nervous. I headed back into the house. This time, in more of a panic, I checked every room, even the closets. I went to the back yard and Jason was nowhere to be found.
Now complete fear took over my body. I panicked like never before. My heart was pounding so hard that the tips of my fingers hurt, my ears were ringing, and I tasted the metallic flavor of adrenaline in my saliva.
I yelled out, “Has anyone seen Jason Reign?” Everyone kind of shook their heads.
But a girl in the Jacuzzi said that Jason said he was going to dry off and sit in the front yard.
So, once again, I returned to the front yard. Jason wasn’t anywhere.
“Dad, what’s wrong?” Joshua said.
“Jason’s missing.”
“What do you mean, he’s missing?”
“I mean he’s not here.”
“He’s always here. He was just here a little bit ago. Where would he go?”
“I don’t know, son. I don’t know.”
My gut was telling me that Brock had something to do with this. What I needed to do was have my vampire friends all transition and scope out nearby areas, just in case he went for a walk.
Chapter Twenty-four
I fell on my knees in the front yard of the old Victorville white house. I knew in my gut that having Jason missing wasn’t good. My spidey-senses were tingling and chills ripped down my spine like someone was dragging icicles over my skin. This was the closest I would come to a panic attack, but I had to hold myself together. We needed to find Jason. We needed to find him as soon as possible and I needed to concentrate on how to do that...
I went back into the house, and with my old crew, I called a meeting in the conference room.
Most of my friends had always understood that Jason was different: a little bit shy, a little bit to himself and smart as hell. This was going to be the first time I was going to tell them what the Deity had told me, about Jason, so many years ago.
I brought Sion, Tommy, Wyatt, Hector and Yari into the conference room and purposely left Lena in the back yard to mind the party. I didn’t want to worry her about her son, not yet, if I could help it.
Now that I had a roomful of my dearest friends around me, I began to tell them all that the Deity had told me, and how Jason was truly the Chosen One because he would die, an innocent lamb.
“Wait a minute,” Tommy said. “Are you telling me the Triat are going to let him be sacrificed?”
“That’s what is prophesied.”
“Oh, hell no!” Tommy said.
“I agree with Tommy. What does his death accomplish?” Yari asked. “I mean, if he’s going to die a martyr’s death, then what is he doing it for?”
“He’s going to do it for the Mani,” I said. “He’s bridging our souls closer to the Creator. We chose our paths when we decided to be vampires. It separated us from the Creator. Jason’s innocence will bridge us back so we can have a relationship with the Creator of the universe.”
The room was quiet. It was a deep moment for everyone to take in.
“Josiah, with all due respect, it pains me to say this out loud, but if what you say is true, shouldn’t we let destiny take its course?” Yari asked.
“No. He’s my son and I’m not ready to lose him. Not yet. Not on this night.”
Again, the room was quiet.
“I think we need one more person in this room,” Tommy said. “Someone a lot physically stronger who knows Jason even better than you.”
“Joshua?”
“He needs to be here. He’s old enough.”
“They turned eighteen today.” I didn’t know if it was the right thing to do. What I did know was that Joshua knew someone had taken his brother, and that he would start his own search party.
“Let me go get him,” I said. I left the conference room quietly and went to the back yard. Joshua was in the pool talking to a couple of girls, both of whom had flirty expressions on their faces and looked up at me guiltily as I walked up.
I leaned down a little, not missing that Joshua also had a good view of cleavage in bikinis. “Sorry, girls. Joshua, I need to talk to you right now. Grab a towel and meet me inside.”
When Joshua got inside the house, I pulled him into one of the rooms where nobody was hanging out.
“What’s going on, Dad?” Joshua said.
“We’re going to have to shut down the party. We have a big problem.”
“What happened?”
“Jason’s missing and I think Brock is behind it.”
“What makes you think he’s missing and why would Brock take him?”
“I will fill you in with the details, but this party needs to end. Ple
ase tell everyone there was an emergency, but do not tell anyone Jason is missing.”
“They’re gonna notice that he is missing when they say goodbye. It is our birthday party.”
“Make some excuse about why he isn’t there to say goodbye.”
“Okay. Does Mom know?”
“I’ll tell her if we can’t find him shortly. Let me tell her.”
Joshua nodded and went outside, his face creased with worry.
My mind was only on one thing: having my son returned to me safely. This was no joke. It had been years since I had to take on a task like this.
But in my core, I knew this was what had been prophesied. At least that’s what they thought, but even prophecies could be overturned—my son wasn’t ready to die. And I was sure as hell not ready to watch him die.
So, I would do everything in my power to find and return him to his mother.
Now, it was time to find my son.
Tommy and Joshua stayed on foot because they couldn’t transition into birds like the rest of us.
Regardless, my friends Yari scoped Victorville—every inch of it—from the sky but there was no sign of Jason.
So, now we needed a plan. My son Jason had gotten snatched up at his eighteenth birthday party, right out from under my nose. Anyone who would dare to challenge me after all I had been through had a huge set of balls and believed in some way that he could beat me.
I hadn’t had a challenge like this in years. I needed to keep my eyes focused on the love for my son. I had had many challenges through the years, but nothing had been this blatantly personal. Jason’s disappearance had Brock Houston’s fingerprints all over it. But I needed to be sure.
I immediately put Sion on the case. He jumped on his laptop and went into the conference room and went to work to see what he could figure out. The rest of us waited. I knew each second was one second longer that my son would be subjected to whatever they were doing to him by whoever had taken him. That thought alone was enough to make me want to go berserk and manhandle anyone who had taken him. I might even kill again, but I hoped I wouldn’t have to.
