“According to the note, Dr. Rowe knows we are on to him, so he took Alyssa in the night for more insurance,” Mark explained as he tossed the rag and the note on the table in front of Dominic and Josh. “The rag has chloroform on it. He wants Dominic to meet him, alone, at the office I was casing.”
Dominic immediately got up and said, “Fine…I’ll go get dressed.”
“You can’t go alone; he’ll kill you,” Josh said.
“Besides, he took my Alyssa, he’s going to have to deal with me too,” Mark said adamantly.
“He can compel all of you, don’t you see? We don’t have the advantage of surprise anymore. He’ll kill Alyssa and Bernard if I don’t go alone,” Dominic said.
“He’ll kill them whether you go alone or not, at least you’ll have backup,” Mark argued.
“Mark, my brave boy, I appreciate the sentiment, but Dean, Julianna, me, and maybe Josh, because of his telepathic abilities, are the only ones he can’t compel and he’s stronger than all of us put together because of his age. There’s no sense in us all getting killed. If I can get in and distract him long enough, maybe Dean could sneak in and get Alyssa and Bernard to safety. Julianna called early this morning; she’s found a possible cure in the book for the boys that she was going to tell Donaldson about this morning, so she won’t be able to help us,” Dominic explained.
“She’s going to the hospital? She said she couldn’t handle that. Why can’t she just call him?” Josh asked.
“She said it was necessary for her to be there, but she wouldn’t say why. She’s the only one that has nearly any chance against Dr. Rowe. It’s suicide for anyone else to go,” Dominic said. “I must do this. There is no other way.”
“But you said yourself you don’t have a chance at surviving. What purpose would it serve?” Josh argued. “We’ll just have to fight him again after he kills you.”
“It gives you the opportunity to fight another day is what it gives you, and it saves Bernard and Alyssa. If Julianna can cure the boys, then you have four more vampires to fight along with a werewolf and a witch. You lose one to gain six and that gives you a better chance at defeating him for good,” Dominic said.
“I don’t like this plan,” Melanie cried into Josh’s shoulder. He comforted her by pulling her close to him and wrapping his arms around her.
“Neither do I,” Sally said, holding back tears as she held onto Dean for dear life. “Can’t we use vervain to keep him from compelling us?”
“My sweet girls, I appreciate your concerns, but the survival of this family is more important than one old vampire. There’s no mention in the prophecy of a father leading his boys into battle – no, it says ‘the four brothers will defeat the dark one’ and right now most of the four are out of commission. This must be done. I won’t allow anyone else to be in danger. Dean? If you will, I would be very thankful to you if you would free the others and see them to safety while I distract Dr. Rowe,” Dominic said.
“It would be an honor,” Dean answered.
“Good. Can you be ready in fifteen minutes?” Dominic asked, and Katarina clung to him in tears. “I’d like to say my goodbyes to Katarina and Josh in private.”
“Sure. No problem. I’ll meet you in the foyer,” Dean replied.
“No, wait just a minute,” Mark said. “You are not going without me. What would Alyssa say if I didn’t come to rescue her?”
“You’ll do as I ask, Mark, or I will compel you to do so, and don’t think I can’t do it. Alyssa will understand. She loves you and she knows what’s at stake. Now don’t argue with me; I have goodbyes to make,” Dominic said more sternly than any one of them had ever heard him speak. He was dead serious and EVERYONE knew it. Dean, Sally, Katarina, and Dominic left the room, leaving the rest dumbfounded.
*****
Up in his room, Dominic consoled a crying Katarina. “Sweetheart, don’t cry. I know we didn’t get to spend much time together, but I cherish the time we have had. We found one another after so much time and we both got to know the product of our love, Josh. I’m a happy man. Most men don’t get half of that in a full life time. I feel incredibly blessed and very grateful.”
“It’s not enough, Niky. I’ve only just found you. I want so much more,” Katarina cried.
“I know, my sweet Kat. I do too, but it’s up to you to watch our son become the great man I know he will be. I will always be with you in him, and in your heart. I love you, my sweet Kat. I have now for thirty years, and though it was from afar for most of it, it doesn’t make it any less wonderful. Anton and Josh will see to it that you will never want for anything. You will tell Anton for me, that I did this for him and Josh, won’t you? And tell him how much I love him?” Dominic said.
She couldn’t speak. Too many emotions kept throbbing though her brain ready to explode into sobbing that she was desperately trying to hold back. “I love you,” was all she could say and all he needed to hear. He wrapped her in his strong arms and kissed her desperately and deeply. Tears spilled from his eyes as he ripped himself away from her suddenly, knowing if he didn’t do it at that point he would never be brave enough to do it at all. He didn’t look back as he closed the door behind him; leaning against it he took a deep breath. He could hear the sobbing from within and it ripped at his heart as he continued down the hall to leave a note on Anton’s pillow.
*****
As Dominic came out of Anton’s room, he ran into Josh in the hallway. “Josh, may I speak to you?” Dominic said. Josh nodded and entered Anton’s room solemnly.
Dominic closed the door behind them and turned towards a waiting Josh. “Josh, I just wanted to say how proud I am to have found out you are my son. I know we didn’t get much time to get to know one another, but I’m grateful for what time we had.”
“Me too,” Josh said.
“I wish you all the love and happiness I have for what I think is going to be a pretty wonderful life with Melanie. I’m glad I got to know her. She holds a very special place in my heart. I hope you will let Katarina be a part of your life. You won’t regret it, I’m sure. I’ve made provisions for you and Anton that should keep you and your families pleasantly comfortable. I’ve left some last words for Anton.” He pointed towards the bed and the note on the pillow.
“I guess that’s it. You’ll make sure Devon and Blake know how much I love them?” Dominic said.
Josh hugged him hard and said, “I will. Thanks for everything, Dad. I love you!”
Dominic’s eyes stung from the tears that formed there. “I love you too, Son. Don’t you ever forget it.” He patted him hard on the back and tore himself away from Josh. He smiled and left the room. He made his way down the stairs to all the somber faces waiting for him.
He shook Mark’s hand and Mark pulled him in for a hard hug and a pat on the back. Melanie latched on to him as she sobbed silently into his chest. He kissed the top of her head and she reached up and kissed his cheek and said, “I miss you already, love you!”
“I love you too, sweetheart. Take care of Josh for me,” Dominic said and she nodded.
Sally was next and she bear-hugged him and kissed his cheek. He stroked her cheek and brushed away a tear from her beautiful green eyes. “Take care of yourself, my sweet little witch. Give my love to Darby, Rowan, and Julianna.”
“I will,” Sally said.
He glanced up the stairs to see Josh consoling Katarina, and from behind them, the portrait of his lost wife staring down at him. He smiled as he and Dean left, shutting the door behind them.
Chapter Twenty Six
Once Josh got Katarina calmed down with a cup of tea in bed with Melanie to watch after her, he went down to the study to talk with Mark.
“This stinks,” Mark said.
“No kidding,” Josh said as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
“Who are you calling?” Mark asked.
“Julianna. If she knows what’s going on maybe she can help,” Josh said as he dialed.
&nbs
p; “Good thinking,” Mark said.
“Julianna?” Josh said.
“Yes,” she answered.
“It’s Josh. We’ve got trouble.”
“What’s wrong?” Julianna asked.
“Alyssa was abducted by Dr. Rowe sometime last night and he’s demanded Dominic meet him alone at the office on Harbor Drive,” Josh explained.
“Dr. Rowe will kill him,” Julianna said.
“He knows that. He’s forbidden us to follow him. His hope is that he can distract Dr. Rowe long enough for Dean to get Alyssa and Bernard to safety,” Josh told her.
“But that’s suicide. Dr. Rowe will annihilate him. Dominic’s not strong enough to take on someone as old as Dr. Rowe,” Julianna said.
“He’s already said his goodbyes to Katarina and me. He knows he’s not coming back. He said that his death will allow us to get Alyssa and Bernard to safety and whatever you had planned to help Devon, Blake, and Anton. Then all of us can go up against him as a whole family. What is it that you are planning, anyway?” Josh asked.
“I found a passage in one of the books that will reverse the effects of the Deadman’s Blood,” she said.
“How long will it take?” he asked.
“I’ve no idea, that’s why I came to talk to Donaldson,” she answered.
“What’s it entail?” Josh asked.
“It’s complicated, but if I read it right, it should pull them right out of the coma,” Julianna said.
“Do you need to be there for this to happen? Dad could really use your help,” Josh pleaded.
“I’m sorry, Josh, really I am, but the process has already been started,” Julianna said apologetically.
“Don’t be sorry, you’re doing all you can on that end and I’m truly grateful; I just really don’t want to lose my dad in the process. I just found him, you know,” Josh said sadly.
“I do know, Josh. I’d be there in an instant if I could. When did he leave?” she asked.
“About five minutes ago. Do what you have to do! If you can join us when it’s done, please do so,” Josh said.
“Join you? You’re not thinking of going are you?” she said with concern.
“We can’t sit here and do nothing, Julianna. Anton would never forgive me if he knew I let him go,” Josh said.
“He most certainly would forgive you. You don’t seem to understand the power Dr. Rowe has. I can’t even fathom it, but at least I have combat experience. Most of you are human; he’ll be able to compel you and use you to fight Dominic. You aren’t strong enough, Josh. I’m sure Dominic explained this to you,” she said.
“I can’t let him die like that, Julianna. Sally said something about vervain keeping him from being able to compel us,” Josh said.
“Not someone as old as Dr. Rowe, Josh. Vervain isn’t strong enough alone. In fact I’m not sure a stake in the heart would do anything but slow him down. If you are absolutely going to do this against my advice, then have Sally use vervain AND wolfsbane, and anything else she can think of to add to the concoction. Also, I believe Mark has an arsenal of fast shooting crossbows and whatever he tied me up with. Maybe instead of twine he could make it into some kind of net. Your best ammunition is surprise. He doesn’t know about these new powers you’ve acquired. Use it against him. I won’t let you down, Josh. I will be there as soon as I can.”
“Thanks, Julianna,” Josh said then closed the phone.
*****
“Mark, can you go find everyone and tell them to meet us in here? And go get your vampire arsenal…everything you have,” Josh instructed.
“Yeah. Right away,” Mark said.
After a few minutes everyone had filed into the room.
“Look…I know Dad doesn’t want us involved and by no means will I ask you to risk your lives, but Mark and I are going. I’m not willing to let him go in there to die. I spoke with Julianna and she has found a way, from one of the books we brought back from the Archives, to reverse the effects of the Deadman’s Blood. She didn’t go into detail but they’ve already started the procedure and she’s somehow involved with whatever the procedure is so she can’t help us. She said she would come as soon as she could, but she didn’t know when that would be.
“Sally…can you put together something with a heaping dose of vervain, and Julianna suggested adding wolfsbane and any other vampire deterrent you’ve got to keep him from compelling us?” Josh asked.
“I can try, but I don’t know if I can make anything strong enough to keep him out of our heads. I’ll try my best though,” Sally said.
“Good. I wish Blake were here to tell me if this might work, but remember when we took on Dimitri and I linked Blake, Devon, Dean, and Anton telepathically?” Josh said.
There were nods from everyone around the room except Katarina. “I’m wondering if I can’t be a battery again to make your new powers more powerful, at least the psychic powers - like a power boost. Like Alyssa’s power of levitation, Sally’s speaking with the dead, Dean’s empathic abilities,” Josh said.
“I don’t understand,” Melanie said. “How are our psychic abilities going to help in a case like this?”
“Julianna suggested since we don’t have strength and fighting expertise against such an old vampire, that we use what we do have. He doesn’t know about our new abilities so we use that against him.”
“But how does speaking with the dead help in a battle?” Sally asked.
“Well, what I’m hoping is if I can give your power a boost and maybe we could all see the dead around us. Even if it is just a flash or a few seconds, it would definitely be distracting and unnerving. That is, if you are willing to go,” Josh said.
“Definitely. It will certainly be shocking for everyone to see. I’m still a little shocked when it happens. Maybe I could ask Sophia, and Mr. And Mrs. Bloomington to come with us to make sure there will be a showing,” Sally added.
“I’m hoping I can do the same with Dean and maybe he can push a sense of fear on Dr. Rowe. Maybe even boost Alyssa’s ability to levitate. With her floating around, an empath flooding him with fear, and the dead distracting him, maybe we can debilitate him enough that Dominic can kill him.
“But I will warn you, Julianna said a vampire that old won’t be killed with a stake in the heart. She wasn’t sure what would kill him. Mark, she suggested using that twine you made that you and Anton tied her up with and make some kind of netting with that to slow him down, as well as your multiple shot crossbows. I was thinking we could use that stuff you used on the arrows to kill Libby,” Josh said.
“Oh yeah, Yew seed poison. Bernard and I made it together. I think I can remember how to make it. Melanie, do you think you and Katarina can make some kind of net while I crush and boil up some Yew seed?” Mark asked.
“Anything we can do to help, definitely,” Melanie said and Katarina nodded.
“I’ll get started on making something to keep Dr. Rowe from compelling us,” Sally said.
“We don’t have much time. We’ll meet back here with whatever we have in twenty minutes. I don’t think Dominic can hold his ground for too long on his own,” Josh said.
They all nodded. “So we’re in agreement? We’re going to do this despite the consequences?” he asked.
They all nodded without hesitation.
“Thanks, everyone. I know if they could, my brother and my cousins would thank you too.”
Chapter Twenty Seven
Dominic arrived at 1408 Harbor Drive after dropping off Dean a couple of blocks away. It was a shabby building, even for this part of town. Rust oozed through the paint like the building was bleeding. It seems appropriate for a place to die, Dominic thought to himself. It had rained during the night and the ground was still puddled with water, garbage, and mud.
Dominic made his way to the door. He took a deep breath, sensing the man that had visited his home so many times inside. He entered the office in one smooth movement to find it empty. There was an open door leading to what D
ominic figured might be a warehouse. He made his way to the open door and saw three familiar faces.
It was a fairly empty warehouse, dimly lit with what looked to be only one row of lights. A table sat in the middle of the large warehouse looking rather insignificant in the large area. Tied to a pole in chairs back to back were Alyssa and Bernard. Bernard looked awful - bruised and battered, and Dominic felt a wave of guilt flood over him as he saw his good friend looking so tattered and hurt. Alyssa had a cut on her lip that was largely swollen and bleeding along with some other bruising, and both were unconscious.
In front of his prisoners, maybe ten yards or so, was Michael Rowe casually sitting on the corner of the table, arms crossed over his chest, smiling smugly.
“Dominic. Good of you to come,” he said.
“It’s not like you gave anyone a choice, Michael,” Dominic answered.
“True, but I’m sure your friends will appreciate the sentiment.” He swept one arm toward his prisoners as if he were Vanna White revealing a new letter on Wheel of Fortune. Dominic then made his way to within ten feet of Dr. Rowe.
“Why are you doing this, Michael?” Dominic asked.
“Why? Pride, honor, family, money…you pick. They’re all applicable,” he said.
“But I’ve never been anything but a friend to you; why would you want to kill my family?” Dominic asked.
“It’s nothing personal against you, specifically, Dominic. You mean as much to me as say a fly! I’ve been killing or at least orchestrating the killing of Larsens for centuries. Although I will say, you were probably the smartest of the whole lot. I was beginning to think the Blood Diamond was lost for good and a facet of my plan ruined, but Alyssa here spilled the beans with a little rough housing and a little browsing around in her head. Seems you’ve been very busy, Dominic.”
“Why don’t you just let Bernard and Alyssa go? They’ve served their purpose,” Dominic implored.
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