A couple days have past since the show ended, the press around Sharp Monster Manner and Albern New Mexico started to leave. The town will in a couple weeks regain a sense of normalcy. The body of Vargas Thanatos was removed by the local morgue, cremated and despised of. Soon enough he will be forgotten. Remembered only as a serial killer with a mental illness and not an actual werewolf. The incident with Tarque would be explained as theft. As for how he controlled Cole and the others that would be blamed on drugs. Everyone involved in the show will stick to the same story. The police have to stick to that story.
Clean up went very quickly. Alfred Labrone and Carter Fogal handled all the details for repairs. Labrone was in charge of the over all operation while Carter knew who to call and what was needed to be fixed. Carter had a few broken ribs but was back to work the next day to watch over the house staff. The man refuses to take off from work, it's not in his character. There some damage to the fence that needed to be fixed and the whole electricity for the fence system needed to be repaired due to Thanatos charging it like a wild animal. Clean up for the grounds was done quickly once the bodies were moved out. The repairs for the inside of the house are moving slower but coming along smoothly.
The loss of life was minor, two Albern police officers and security officer lost their lives in the conflict. It should have been more then just three. There were lots of injuries though with fifteen people suffering from broken bones including Valmont Sharp. Sharp is recovering not only from the broken bones but the infection from the bite. While most of injured are in Albern's Hospital but not Valmont. Valmont Sharp is being treated in the Manor's medical facilities. The medical room is clean and orderly. The doctor on board, Ella Homestead has been in the employ of Sharp three years and she splits her time between Albern's Hospital and the manor. Right now she is Valmont's private physician. She is has just got done changing Valmont's bandages, "Looks like the infection is going away. I have never dealt with Werewolf bites before. They are nasty, I thought you were a goner for a while there."
Valmont smiles weakly, "I'm a survivor, it takes more then werewolf germs to finish me off." Ella is a good doctor and he was happy he let her in on his secrets. He needs people he can trust. She's easy on the eyes too.
As she walks over to the door Alfred, Wayte, Yosif and Chris walk in to see Valmont. Francois wanted to come but when he went to sleep shortly after the show ended and only woke up long enough to eat. Ella was against Francois using medication to counter the curse (something she does not fully understand) and only grudgingly created the medical elixir he used. She was surprised it worked at all. "Looks like your team is all here. So I will be on my way." Valmont nods and so she leaves, "Hi guys."
Nashton Wayte nods to her, "Hello there doctor." Nash does not see her blush at him as she scurries off.
Valmont is happy to see the three show up. “Well guys I would say the show was a success over all.”
Alfred is not surprised that Valmont is twisting the results in his favor, But to call this show a success? He has an indifferent look on his face while Wayte is smiling and Chris has a shocked look, “How could you see that as a success?”
“How could I not?” Valmont replies. “We are all alive are we not? That is a success in my book.”
Alfred groans at the use of the word book, “We took a horrible blow Val, the Book of Thoth is back in play.”
“We will deal with that when the time comes.” Valmont says nonchalantly. “It could be years before the book resurfaces. All we did was lose an edge. Besides having the book in our possession just painted a bulls eye on the manor. It was only a matter of time before the Foundation came after the book.” He sees that Yosif is nodding his head, “See Yosif knows what I'm saying.”
Al shakes his head “That is not the point.” Sometimes he hates being the rational one of the team, he knows all this, he has been learning from Yosif. “Tarque got away, he made a fool out of Wayte.”
“No one can make a fool out of Wayte.”
Wayte shakes his head, “Well Gabriel Tarque did. I hesitated, I should have fired the moment I realized his intentions. I could have stopped him.”
Valmont shakes his good hand, “Well I doubt he will ever use his right arm again. I saw what your bullet did to his hand.” Valmont starts laughing, “Gabe freaked out when you shot him and he saw his own blood. Man we have to exploit that weakness when we see him next. Anyway I still say this show was a success.” He turns to Alfred, “Tell me, how's your son doing?”
“Cole is fine, Yosif and myself are researching ways to deprogram him and the others. This black magic is unique and so far we have had no luck.”
“I have decided to put off my retirement for the time being” Yosif says continuing where Alfred left off. “I don't want to leave this unfinished. I care for Cole, and I feel responsible for Wayte's men. I also want to research a way to detect this control. We may have more spies in our mists. They won't even know they are spies.”
“Thank you old friend.” Valmont says smiling.
“Yes.” Alfred taps Yosif on the shoulder, “I appreciate it.”
“I can't leave a job incomplete and I want to help my friends.” The old man smiles, “My retirement can wait, this is important to me.”
“Okay now I want you two focusing your attention on Tarque's mind control.” Valmont feels the pain of his broken arm, he grabs the water siting on the near by table with his good arm and gulps down his pain medication. “Now I need to talk to Nash and my son.”
Valmont waits for Alfred and Yosif to leave before he speaks up, “Okay Chris I wanted you to be here for this. Nash has found something out about Sharon.”
Chris's attention turns to Nash, “Is it about Anton Rast?”
“Yes Rast, he has been very cooperative and he knows pretty much everything Tarque has been doing these past few months.” Rast is in the hospital recovering, the lawyer is malnourished and covered with bruises. Tarque tortured him and broke his body. “Anton Rast has incredible will power. It seems that breaking him completely became a hobby of Tarque's. The man was still fighting up until the last. He was willing to talk but most of it we already guessed.”
“Tarque kill my wife.”
“Yes. He took control of Sharon's mind over time and implanted commands in her mind to make it look like suicide. We are lucky that Tarque never got to Chris.”
Chris clears his throat, “I don't think he wanted to.”
“Quite right.” Nash agrees and looks over at Valmont, “Sharon was killed to scare you and get you to quit.”
Valmont shakes his head, “I can't quit now, not until Tarque is defeated.”
Nash laughs, “You're never going to quit.” He looks at Chris, “Your dad loves the job too much, of course he is getting self destructive because he hates how it hurts the ones he loves. Still if he quit now he would be bored to death in a month.”
This is the first Chris heard of this and is shocked, “Wait what self destructive? What did I miss?”
“Something about me playing up my negative qualities to make the audience hate me as much as I hate myself.” Valmont laughs, “It's a joke, I don't hate my role as a Monster Hunter and would not give it up.” Though he looks happy as he laughs there is a haunted look in his eyes.
Nash rolls his eyes, “Don't worry Chris.”
Chris looks at Nash and nods, “Okay. Anyway so Tarque killed my mom, took control of a couple of my friends and is still at large?”
“Pretty much and we really don't know how he is doing this.” Valmont tells his son, “As I told you the Gabriel Tarque I knew had no such powers. Clearly he entered a type of Faustian bargain with my enemies. Chris you remember how I told that the forces of darkness now see me as a threat.” Chris Nods, “Well they have no problem using people like Tarque to get to me. Tarque is more then willing to serve them if it elevates his ego.” While Valmont is trying to play up that this was a victory for himself and the show he has a somber look o
n his face. He failed to avenge his wife and it pains him. “You have my word Chris, Tarque will be stopped.”
“I believe you.” In the little time he has lived with his father he is starting to understand that he is a man of his word, and a man haunted by a sense of duty.
“Valmont I sent a team to Gibbins Voodoo Trinkets.” Nash says breaking five seconds of silence. “Anton Rast told me that Gibbins is Tarque. His shop was abandoned and empty, there were a few discarded trinkets laying around but nothing important and no evidence of where he went. Tarque owned the apartment above the store and a storage area in the basement, they were also empty. However we did find remains of animal blood and bones down there as well as chains connected to the back wall. The basement was where Vargas Thanatos was being held. I don't know how the neighbors never knew a howling wolf-man was next door to them. I'm sure it was magic though.”
Valmont looks down, “Well we knew Tarque would be long gone. I was just hoping we had a hint at where he went.”
“I will be focusing my resources on finding Tarque's location. The man is flashy and begs for attention.” Has throws Chris a 'does that remind you of anyone' glance and Chris laughs, “Anyway some one like him is going to draw attention sooner or later.”
“Someone like him would.” Then Valmont realizes they were laughing at him, “Hey.” However he is smiling and was not offended.
“Well you were acting a bit gloomy dad.”
“No I was not, I was keeping a positive attitude like I always do.”
Chris shakes his head, “You were faking it. If I could tell anyone who knows you could tell.”
Valmont laughs, “I guess you got me there.” He turns his attention to Nash, “So what's the game plan? Are you going to wait for Tarque to strike?”
“No sir.” Nash shakes his head, he already has an idea what he's going to do. “Gabriel Tarque is an enigma. I plan to find out as much about him as I can. I will use my government contacts to get as much background information on him as I can. Also I have men watching his known, well what should we call them, mind slaves? I have men watching them. I doubt he will contact them in person but you never know. Right now I'm grasping at straws. We did not know much about Tarque even when he was normal. We really should have required a background check for merchants it the shows, and a psyche check. Well too late now.”
Valmont nods, “I know you will do what you can.”
“Well if you excuse me I have to go.” Nash turns to the door, “It's time for another interview with Rast, there is still more information I can get out of him. Maybe Tarque told him something that could lead to the madman's location.” Nash then walks out.
Chris is now alone with his father and moves closer to his dad. Valmont's right shoulder is bandaged up where he was bitten and Chris can see the infected skin which is discolored. Valmont's right arm is in a sling and is swollen, “So all the injuries you and the others took on the show were real too?” Chris is trying to keep the mood light.
Valmont smiles, “Yeah pretty much, seriously Chris thanks for staying with me there is something I want to talk to you about.”
“Okay.” Chris is attentive.
“Do you want to do this? Do you want this to be your life? I can talk to Doctor Laumas if you like. I can see if they will watch you for a few years until you graduate High school.” Valmont stairs at his son's eyes and his holding back tears, he is scared.
Chris understands and nods, “No that's okay. Yes this won't be a normal life but I don't think I have a choice. If I tried to have a normal life would that stop me from being a target?”
Valmont shakes his head, “No.”
“I am safer if I'm here with people who can protect me.”
Valmont nods. “That's true.”
There is them a glimmer in Chris's eyes, “I would be even safer if you trained me to defend myself. If I was part of the team.”
Valmont frowns, “Now you're getting a bit ahead of yourself. Lets take this one step at a time. Though Chris I know Jason is in on my secret and that's fine you need a friend you can talk to. However I don't think it's wise to keep this from Ric. Maybe you should let him in on it. Secrets can rip apart friendships.”
Chris thinks about it for a second, “Yeah your right. I'm going to go now. You need to rest.” Chris walks out of the room leaving Valmont to himself.
Valmont scratches his chin with his good hand, “This is going to get worse before this gets better, Can I really risk Chris's life? Well he's right his life is at risk if he is with me or not. At least if he's close I can protect him. I guess that means I have to work him into my shows, Al won't like that. Though I think a son will be just the addition Valmont needs to become a more likable character in the show. Yes I can work with that.” Already Valmont is thinking of ways to work his son into the show and to adapt the show version of himself around it.
Epilogue
Valmont Sharp: Monster Hunter Page 40
