The Foundlings: Book One of the Urban Fantasy Paranormal Vampire Series, The Foundlings

by R. M. Garcia

  “Right this way, sir,” Lars said coldly. As they entered the elevator, Donnie’s phone buzzed multiple times. He looked over to Lily who was in a state of sheer panic. He could see that Otto had a hand on her arm. Donnie waited until the elevator began its ascent up to the top floor.

  “Would you mind taking your good hand off her, Otto,” Donnie asked. “She doesn’t like to be manhandled.”

  “I don’t know what you’re trying to do by bringing a Foundling here, but we’ve been given orders,” Lars said.

  “I promise you both that unless you unhand her by the time I count to three, you will be both piles of black sand before we reach the top floor.” Donnie turned to the men and bared his fangs and yelled, “One . . . two.” The elevator reached the second floor, and the bell chimed as they went past it. The men did nothing but hold their ground. “Three.” They reached the third floor. Donnie stared intensely at the men and unbuttoned his one-thousand-dollar suit jacket. Otto looked into Donnie’s eyes and released Lily. She moved behind him in the elevator. “Too late, you had until three.” Donnie smiled. The doors opened up onto the top floor. Donnie and Lily were cleaning black sand off their clothes.

  “It’s in my mouth,” Lily said, “So gross.” Lily looked out into the hall and shrieked. Before them were at least thirty vampires. Lily moved behind Donnie again as he walked out.

  “What is the meaning of this?” a woman said as she walked up to the front of the assembled mob. Frieda took one look at Donnie and shrieked, turned, and ran. “Kill him!”

  CHAPTER 39

  The New Berlin

  IT WAS TOO late. Donnie was among them in a flash. He reached out and grabbed Frieda by the back of her scalp and pulled her back. The Reich soldiers began pounding and beating on him, trying to break his hold on her, but he had a death grip on her. “Protect Frieda!” One of the soldiers cried out, and they began piling on Donnie. Lily huddled against a corner and watched Donnie fight. Lily had never seen such brutality. He was like a bull that was only seeing red, and that red was Frieda’s long curly hair.

  “I prayed I’d find you here, you fucking bitch!” Donnie roared. “Your ass is mine now!” Donnie kept pulling her closer with every burst of strength. Half of the men were trying to push Donnie down and the other half were trying to pull Frieda loose and neither group was winning. Frieda pulled as hard as she could and screamed as her skin ripped. Blood sprayed on the ceiling as Frieda’s scalp came loose in Donnie’s hand.

  “If I have to, I’ll take you piece by piece!” Donnie yelled. Frieda didn’t look back as she ran down the hall.

  “Make sure he doesn’t leave this floor!” Frieda yelled as she turned a corner. The men piled onto him and began striking him with fists and kicks. Donnie kept flailing away, and every monstrous blow knocked one of his defenders through walls, down the hall, or up onto the roof through the ceiling. Lily thought he looked like a cheerleader waving around a gold pom-pom.

  “Hold this for me,” Donnie tossed the bloody scalp over to Lily. It landed on her feet, and she jumped back against the wall.

  “Not my shoes!” she cried out. Donnie got serious now and started killing with single blows. He quickly noticed that the Reich there could barely make their bodies as hard as stone, and the ones that could, had weak spots, a head but not the neck, and the arms but not the chest. He tore through them easily. They were far less formidable than Hans or Hulderich had been. Donnie killed the last one of the Reich soldiers and began to sense for more.

  “What are you doing, Donnie?” Lily asked as she ran up next to him and grabbed his hand.

  “Shhh, I’m looking for more,” Donnie said, “The roof!” Donnie jumped straight up through a hole dragging Lily with him. On the roof, he spotted a helicopter on a landing pad. Donnie watched as it took off and headed northwest. He was too late, Frieda had escaped again.

  “Damn, she got away again,” Donnie said.

  “Are there any more Reich?” Lily asked still a little unsure.

  “No more, they are all dead,” he answered quietly.

  “What do we do now?

  “We destroy this place.”

  “What? How do we do that?”

  “The flares in your purse,” Donnie said. Donnie walked over to the wall and hit the fire alarm. They began making their way floor by floor, yelling fire! Donnie would toss a flare in the hall once he was sure it was empty. The resort was pleasantly devoid of many patrons. The largest concentration of guests was in the restaurant and club, and they were evacuated quickly. Donnie and Lily made their way swiftly out of the resort. There were hundreds of onlookers outside; they were composed of mainly hotel guests, club patrons, and staff. Smoke was bellowing from the roof and several windows. Security was pushing the crowd back and establishing a perimeter. In less than five minutes, the fire department showed up. The firemen went through the entire building and cleared every room. By the time they came out, every flare had been extinguished and the small fires contained.

  “It didn’t work,” Lily said. “It didn’t burn down.”

  “I never intended to burn it down,” he replied. “I just needed the firemen to make sure it was empty. Lily looked over to Donnie and saw that his nose was bleeding, and he was concentrating on something.”

  “Donnie, are you OK?” Lily began to hear stonework break. She turned around and looked at the New Berlin and could see that pieces of the ornate sides were falling off. Then suddenly half of the building sank into the earth.

  “It’s a sinkhole!” The firemen began to yell and ran away from the building. “Everyone get back!” Lily watched astonished as the entire resort crumbled and sank forty feet into the earth.

  “Whoa!” Lily said.

  “I know kung fu,” Donnie said barely above a whisper. He looked drained and needed her help to stand. Lily placed his arm around her and helped support his weight. “Thanks.”

  “No problem, partner,” Lily said.

  “So it’s partner now?” he asked.

  “Is it too soon?” Lily asked. Donnie turned around and just shook his head. They walked down the driveway and hailed a cab. Donnie laid back and closed his eyes.

  “Where are you heading?” the cab driver asked. Donnie gave the intersection closest to the theater.

  “Why are we going back there?” Lily asked.

  “I need to get a few things,” he replied. The cab brought them back to SW Sixth Avenue, and they got out and made their way back into the old theater. Donnie’s strength had returned, and he was looking to be himself again. He gathered up two things, the vase and the chain.

  “We could have taken those with us,” Lily pointed out.

  “Better this way,” he replied. “We can go now.”

  “Where are you going, Donnie?” Espee asked as she walked out from the shadows. Donnie was genuinely surprised and almost dropped the vase. He had sensed the area for vampires before getting out of the cab and it was clear.

  “Where did you come from?” Lily asked.

  “Never you mind. I thought I told you to leave Miami,” Espee said to Lily.

  “She’s with me,” Donnie said.

  “You bounce back fast, how long has she been dead?” Espee asked and did not try to hide the sarcasms in her voice.

  “You bitch!” Lily yelled. “It’s not like that! How dare you! He loved her so much, and she loved him completely. I could never ever take her place, nor would I try! You didn’t know them at all, did you? Did you?” Donnie leaned back against a wall and looked at Lily, surprised.

  “So what is it?” Espee asked.

  “While you were hiding, we kicked some serious Reich ass!” Lily continued.

  “You did?” Espee asked looking at Lily.

  “Well, it was mostly Donnie, but I helped,” Lily replied with a big smile.

  “What did you do Donnie, and why is she still around?” Espee asked. Donnie walked up to Espee and looked her up and down.

  “I declared war,” Donnie
replied. “And she’s a piece of the puzzle. I was told to protect her.”

  “Donnie, she betrayed us,” Espee said. “She was responsible for giving Abbie up to our enemies.”

  “No, Espee,” Donnie said. “I blame you for that, it was your fault. Lily never felt safe, so how could she trust us to protect her.”

  “Wait, that’s not fair,” Espee said. “I did my best.”

  “They played your fears against us and against Lily,” Donnie said. “They used the same fear against Abbie, but tonight, I gave them a real reason to be afraid. A bitter taste of fear right back.”

  “Darn straight!” Lily cheered.

  “What did you do exactly?” Espee asked.

  “I went into their safe little home and brought it down,” he replied.

  “Brought it down?” Espee asked.

  “He made a huge, I mean, wicked big sinkhole and gobbled up the resort,” Lily said. “It’s on the news, I’m sure.”

  “Donnie, you didn’t,” Espee said in shock. “They will redouble their presence here and take us all out!”

  “War is war, Espee,” Donnie looked her in the eyes. “You’re either in or out.”

  “You’re mad!” Espee yelled. “You have doomed us all!”

  “Maybe, but tonight we can walk the streets unafraid.” Donnie had a strange look of confidence to him that Espee had not seen before; he was different somehow, utterly determined.

  “What happens when they come back?” Espee asked. “What then?”

  “We beat them back,” Lily said.

  “Right,” Donnie said.

  “What about her,” Espee asked, “why’s she so important?”

  “I think I know why the Reich didn’t kill her.” Donnie replied.

  “Tell me,” Espee said.

  “She has never killed anyone,” Donnie said. “No human has died by her hand.”

  “So what does that have to do with anything?” she asked.

  “I don’t know, at least not yet,” Donnie said. “I just feel it’s important.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Espee asked.

  “Faith,” Donnie replied, “Plain and simple faith.”

  “God abandoned us a long time ago Donnie,” Espee said. “You’re chasing a fairy tale.”

  “No, you’re wrong. He’s closer than you think,” Donnie replied. “You need to stop living eternally in fear.”

  “It has kept me alive for eleven hundred years,” Espee replied.

  “Wow! Are you really that old?” Lily asked.

  “Yes, I am,” Espee said. “So my opinion should count for something.”

  “So tell me oh wise and ancient, Espee, have any of your Foundlings lived half as long? How about one-third or even one-quarter? Tell me honestly, Espee, how old is the oldest elder under you?”

  “What does that matter?” Espee asked.

  “How old!?” Donnie snapped. Espee said and lowered her head in shame. “You see, even though they keep dying, they keep placing their faith in you, faith. How can you give anyone hope, when you have none yourself.”

  “Puto!” Espee yelled and turned around.

  “Have you ever run into a priest named Russ?” Donnie asked.

  “There are rumors about a priest that helps Foundlings, but I have never met him,” Espee replied.

  “How much truth is behind that rumor?” Donnie asked.

  “Lily’s story is not unique,” Espee replied. “I know of over one hundred Foundlings that can make a similar claim.”

  “Wait, he rescues Foundlings?” Donnie asked, confused.

  “Yes, and he somehow always finds us and delivers new Foundlings to whatever den he finds himself close to.” Espee looked perplexed as she just remembered something.

  “What is it?” Donnie asked.

  “He has been doing this for a long time,” she said.

  “How long has he been at it?” Donnie asked.

  “I don’t know . . . decades . . . maybe more,” Espee replied.

  “And that never seemed odd to you?” Donnie looked at Espee with a quizzical look.

  “No, he wasn’t a threat, so I never thought too hard about him. He has never spoken to me or wanted to meet me, yet he has been dropping orphans at my doorstep for years.

  “He brings them to you?” Donnie asked, “Right to where you are hiding?”

  “Yes,” Espee paused afterward as Donnie’s meaning hit her. “How is he finding me?”

  “No idea,” Donnie said. “But I need to find him.”

  “He comes and goes from Foundling dens. I can put a feeler out for him,” Espee said. “I don’t know how he can help you.”

  “Please do so,” Donnie said and then turned to Lily. “Let’s go, partner.”

  “Where are you going?” Espee asked.

  “I need to go home,” Donne replied.

  “Are you coming back, and how can I contact you?” Espee asked. Donnie handed Espee his phone.

  “I will call you, or you can call Lily. It’s the only number programmed into that phone.”

  “How long will you be away?” she asked.

  “No more than a few days I think, unless you find him,” Donnie replied. Espee nodded and left. Donnie and Lily spent the night in a motel, and on the next night, they took another cab this time to the airport. From there, Donnie chartered a private plane that flew them directly to New Jersey. He ordered a few things in mid-flight.

  “I have never been to New Jersey,” Lily said. “Is it pretty?” Donnie chuckled.

  “It has its charms, like any other place,” he replied.

  “Why do you have to go home?” Lily asked.

  “I made a promise, and I intend to keep it before it’s too late.”

  “What promise?” Lily asked. Donnie didn’t reply, and Lily took his silence as a sign that she should stop asking questions. They landed in Newark three hours later and got into their waiting limousine. Soon they were on their way. Lily could tell Donnie was fighting back tears as they drove from the airport.

  “This visit has to do something with Abbie, right?” Lily said. “Abbie was very lucky to have you. She always said that you always took good care of her.”

  “I was the lucky one, because however brief our time was, I got to have her. She was the stronger of us two.”

  “What’s in this box?” Lily asked picking up a small cardboard box that was waiting in on the limo.

  “Open it, but be careful with it,” Donnie replied. Lily ripped the box open and inside found an urn.

  “It’s for her remains?” Lily asked.

  “Yes,” Donnie replied solemnly.

  “Can I help you pour them in?” Lily asked.

  “Not while the car is moving, but when we get there, sure, I think she would like that,” he replied. They continued to travel for over an hour and finally stopped in front of a house.

  “We are here, sir,” the driver said.

  “Thank you,” Donnie replied. He and Lily carefully poured the entire contents of the vase into the ornate urn. Donnie reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and opened it. He produced a diamond and dropped it into the urn.

  “Is that the diamond from her ring?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Donnie said and closed the top. “Stay here.” Donnie got out and walked up the walkway. He reached the door and took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

  “Who lives here?” Lily asked.

  “I told you to stay in the car,” Donnie said. He was too distracted as to what he was going to say and didn’t notice that she had run up behind him.

  “I thought you were talking to the driver,” Lily replied.

  “You know very well I meant you, now go back,” Donnie ordered as the door opened. Donnie turned and was face-to-face with Johan.

  “Donnie?” Johan said. “How long has it been? Camille! Donnie is here!”

  “Too long, Johan,” Donnie said. “I’m truly sorry to bother you this late.”

 
“No it’s fine. Please come in, both of you,” Johan said.

  “No, she stays in the limo,” Donnie said.

  “Nonsense,” Johan said. “Don’t be ashamed of her. Please bring in your . . . wife?”

  “She’s not my wife,” Donnie replied and bit his tongue and shot Lily a cold stare. “She needs to stay outside.” Camille came rushing out of the kitchen and pushed Johan aside and hugged Donnie warmly.

  “I missed you, son,” Camille said as tears streamed down her face. Donnie returned the hug right away.

  “Is this your mom, Donnie?” Lily asked.

  “Johan and Camille Gottlieb,” Johan said, extending his hand out to Lily, “and you are . . . ?”

  “No one,” Donnie interrupted. “She’s not staying.”

  “Donato, do not be rude in my house,” Camille scolded. “She may come in.”

  “I’m sorry, Camille. This is Lily,” Donnie said. “She’s an associate.”

  “We’re partners,” Lily said smiling.

  “Very good, please come in. I can warm up some dinner if you like.” Camille offered as she pulled Donnie inside. Donnie remembered how good her cooking was, and regretted not being able to partake in a warm bowl. Lily walked in behind him wide-eyed and excited. They moved to the living room and sat down.

  “So tell us, Donnie. What have you been up to?” Johan asked. “By the look of your fine clothes, I’d say you’re doing very well.”

  “This is going to be so much harder now,” Donnie said. “Thanks, Lily.”

  “What did I do?” she asked defensively.

  “This is Camille and Johan. They are Abbie’s parents,” Donnie said, looking at her.

  “Oh!” Lily suddenly realized where they were. “Oh!”

  “So, please, I beg you,” Donnie said. “Keep your mouth shut.”

  “Donnie, why are you treating her like this?” Camille demanded.

  “I’m sorry, Camille, but she has a tendency to speak before thinking,” Donnie replied. “I have something very important to tell you. It’s going to be hard on you both. I need to tell you carefully.”

  “Wait, they don’t know?” Lily asked.

  “No. That’s why I’m here,” Donnie replied. “Please, be quiet, just try it for once you might like it.”