by R. M. Garcia
“Nice house, Donnie, can I come in,” Lily asked.
“Yes, I invite you,” Donnie said, and Lily was able to enter. She began exploring the house right away. She ran upstairs and then came back down. Donnie went into his father’s office; it was the only room that had not been altered, except for a few toys that were scattered on the floor. Donnie got the impression that the house was still being actively used.
“Donnie, where do we sleep?” Lily asked. “Sun will be coming up soon, and there is a big bed in the master bedroom with a crib. The other room has a small child’s bed.”
“Basement,” Donnie replied. “It will have the least amount of sunlight coming in.” Donnie grabbed a few comforters from the closet and took them to the basement. While in the basement, he discovered his old sleeping bags and laid them out. He made two beds a dozen feet apart. Donnie let Lily feed from him once again before they went to sleep. After the feeding frenzy he had days ago, and feeding Lily twice, he still had blood to spare. Donnie and Lily lay down to sleep through the day. It was the deepest sleep Donnie had enjoyed in days.
Donnie woke up just before sundown and looked around. Lily had wiggled her way over next to him during the daysleep and was now comfortably nestled against him. It struck him, just how innocent she really was! He got up and covered her in the comforter and went upstairs. The sun was just beginning to set when there was a knock on the door. He opened the door and found two men standing on his porch. One was Father Benitez, and the other was a man in his late fifties.
“Donnie, this is the Grandmaster of our Order,” Father Benitez said. Donnie ushered them in and then kept looking around outside.
“What are you looking for, Donnie?” Father Benitez asked.
“Snipers,” he said and closed the door when he was satisfied that was not a big trap.
“So you’re the vampire that entered the church unfettered?” the man asked. He had a strange accent that Donnie could not place.
“Yeah, I guess,” he replied.
“You held a cross and were not harmed by holy water?” the man asked.
“Yeah, that’s right,” Donnie said as he motioned them to the living room.
“Is he the one, Grandmaster?” Father Benitez asked.
“I am not sure,” the Grandmaster replied. “There was to be another sign.” Donnie heard the basement door open as Lily walked out of the basement.
“We are not alone?” the Grandmaster asked.
“No, there is someone staying with me,” Donnie replied.
“It must be the other vampire that was in the car,” Father Benitez said.
“Ah, yes, I remember now,” the Grandmaster said. Lily, hearing people in the living room, walked over. She looked at Donnie and then at the priests and smiled.
“Hi Russ,” she said and walked over and hugged the Grandmaster warmly. Donnie was floored.
“Hello, child, it does my heart good to see you, and see you are still intact,” Russ said.
“You’re Russ?” Donnie asked. Russ looked over to Father Benitez and smiled.
“At last,” Russ said. “They have finally seen fit to release me.” Lily sat down next to Russ and looked at Donnie who was in a state of shock and awe.
“Yeah, this is Russ,” Lily replied and smiled.
“But,” Donnie said. “You help Foundlings find shelter.”
“That is correct,” Russ replied.
“And you’re the head of a vampire killing order of ninja priests?” Donnie asked.
“That too would be correct,” Russ replied.
“I’m so confused,” Donnie replied.
“Do not be, my son, for you are the answer to my unanswered prayers,” Russ said.
“Still lost over here,” Donnie said. “I was hoping to get some answers, but I only have more questions now.”
“Be still, my son,” Russ said. “All your questions will be answered. I promise you this, but I must first ask a favor of you.”
“You want a favor from me?” he asked.
“Yes, you must do something for me,” Russ said. “If you swear to me that you will do this task I ask of you, then in turn I will teach you everything you need to know.”
“What is this task?” Donnie asked.
“I cannot say yet, but I need your word, sir, that you will complete this task without hesitation,” Russ said. “Do not worry. The task will not endanger your immortal soul. You will commit no sin.”
“I have to agree to do something for you. But you are not going to tell me what it is, and it’s not a sin?” Donnie asked. “Do I have that right?”
“Correct,” Russ said.
“OK, I guess,” Donnie said.
“So you vow?” Russ asked.
“Yes, I do vow to complete your task, once I have been taught.” Donnie chose his word very carefully.
“Excellent,” Russ said. “We can begin then.”
“Do you know why you are here?” Russ asked.
“Duh,” Donnie said, “that’s why I’m talking to you.”
“They have told you next to nothing, typical,” Russ said, annoyed. “You are my replacement.”
“Wait, I don’t want to join the priesthood,” Donnie said, waiving his arms.
“No, you will not have to do that, unless you want to,” Russ said.
“Well, I don’t,” he said. “So what do you mean by replacement?”
“I was a horrible choice,” Russ said. “He loves us all so much. I did what I could, but my vision was just too narrow. I did not have a strong enough heart to do what needed to be done, so I gave up trying.”
“Not making any sense.” Donnie was sure Russ was insane.
“Let me start at the beginning,” Russ said. “My true name is Lazarus of Bethany, and I have lived as a vampire for over two thousand years.”
“Ha-ha, very funny,” Donnie said. “You expect me to believe that you are the Lazarus?”
“Who is Lazarus?” Lily asked.
“Lazarus was a man who died and who was then brought back to life by Jesus,” Donnie said and then paused, “No way.” How did he miss it, Donnie thought? He could see it clearly now. Lazarus smiled and looked over to Donnie.
“You knew Jesus?” Lily asked. “The Jesus?”
“Yes, I knew him very well,” Lazarus replied.
“What was he like?” Lily asked. Donnie looked at her suddenly.
“Lily!” Donnie said slightly laughing. Lazarus and even Father Benitez laughed at her innocent question.
“He was inspiring,” Lazarus said. “Donnie, remember this moment and hold it close to your heart. This is why we do what we do.”
“Do what?” Donnie asked.
“Kill the evil ones,” Lazarus said, “So that pure souls like hers do not fall prey to the sickness that are vampires.”
“So I am here to kill vampires?” Donnie asked. “That’s my purpose?”
“Yes,” Lazarus replied. “This is our divine duty.” Donnie contemplated this for a few moments.
“Sure, I’m game,” Donnie said. “But I need your help as well.”
“What do you need from me?” Lazarus asked.
“I need to free Abbie. Her soul is in danger.”
“So she was a vampire who has been destroyed?”
“Yes, we need to get her soul back,” Donnie said.
“Donnie, once her soul belongs to a Source, you cannot claim it back. You can only destroy that Source,” Lazarus explained.
“So let’s go take him out,” Donnie said.
“It is not that easy,” Lazarus said. “I tried to destroy a Source once, and I failed.”
“You were unable to do it?” Donnie asked.
“I tracked him for a 150 years and finally caught up to him in what is now known as New Zealand. We battled for five days and finally the Marked One defeated me.”
“Who’s the Marked One?” Donnie asked.
“He is the first vampire. He is also the one who committed the f
irst murder when he killed his brother Abel,” Lazarus replied.
“You went after what presumably is the oldest and strongest vampire in existence?” Donnie asked.
“Yes, to kill a snake, you sever its head,” Lazarus said. “So I tried to sever his.”
“So what happened next?” Donnie asked.
“I had failed, so I lost hope and stopped trying,” Lazarus replied.
“My paw always said you never go into a snake pit to kill a sidewinder,” Lily said. “You wait till it comes out.”
“So you quit, because you got your tail whipped?” Donnie asked. “Is that right?”
“Yes, but I created the order to help keep their numbers down, but I knew I didn’t have any fight left in me,” Lazarus admitted. “To my eternal shame, I must admit that they broke my spirit.”
“I don’t get you,” Donnie said. “You can’t just quit. I need your help.”
“I will give you all the training you will need,” Lazarus said. “Then you will perform my task.”
“How long will that take?” Donnie asked.
“No less than fifty years,” Lazarus replied.
“No! I don’t have that long! Abbie will be found and taken to hell well before that,” Donnie said. “I can’t allow that!”
“There is not much we can do about it,” Lazarus said. “It took me fifty years, just to learn what Uriel had to teach me, and I never mastered what Ariel had to teach me.”
“Who are you talking about?” Donnie asked. “Who trained you, and how long did it take?”
“Uriel, and I never completed my training,” Lazarus said. “But I can teach you what I know.”
“No deal!” Donnie said.
“You made a vow!” Lazarus said angrily, and the temperature in the room rose several degrees.
“If I refuse to learn from you, then I will not be obligated to do anything for you,” Donnie said.
“Your tongue is a glib as Lucifer’s,” Lazarus accused.
“Whatever! New deal, you help me fight this Gestapo dude, and I will do this mystery task for you,” Donnie said. “Take it or leave it. I’m going after him with or without you. If I’m dead, I can’t perform any tasks.”
“This is not what I came here for!” Lazarus said angrily. “Azrael! Azrael! I wilts speak to thee!” Lazarus simply vanished. Lily and Father Benitez looked around in astonishment.
“Where did he go?” Lily asked.
“I’m still not sure,” Father Benitez said. “He did this once before.”
“I see him,” Donnie said and got up and started walking toward Lazarus. Donnie could still see Lazarus; he appeared to be translucent and was walking around the house like a ghost. He seemed to be arguing with someone and was highly agitated. He continued walking around and through walls. Donnie got up and walked toward Lazarus, who then suddenly turned and marched toward Donnie, and walked through Donnie as if he had been unaware that Donnie was standing in his way. Lily and Father Benitez watched as Donnie vanished as well.
Donnie found himself in a great white-marbled hall. He looked down and was standing on a bed of fluffy clouds. No way, he said to himself. “Unacceptable!” Lazarus screamed from behind him. Donnie turned around to see Lazarus walking side by side with what he was sure was an angel. His wings were glorious, and Donnie listened to their conversation and was shocked. “You promised me he would help me!”
“I promised you that he would be willing to help you,” Azrael said. “If you refuse to tell me what you want from him, how can I promise you anything? But I suspect I know what you want.”
“He wants my help in destroying a Source,” Lazarus said. “You know just as well as I that no one has been able to accomplish this.”
“I really don’t think you have a choice,” Azrael said. “He loves that girl with all his heart and is willing to go to the brink of oblivion for her. You need to ask yourself how badly you want his help.”
“I am not a warrior. I was a stonecutter,” Lazarus said. “I cannot help him.”
“Yet you protected the son of Christ,” Azrael rebutted.
“That was different.”
“How was it dissimilar?”
“I loved him and would have done anything to protect him.”
“Is what Donnie does any different?”
“No, I guess not,” Lazarus said. “But I failed him. He died, and I still don’t understand his choice.”
“It was his choice. You never failed him. He died for the sins of man,” Azrael said. “He cleansed every living being of all their sins.”
“But why everyone?” Lazarus asked. “Why not just Christians? It is a question I have wanted answered for so long.”
“Lazarus, I have tried to explain it to you, but you refuse to see,” Azrael replied and placed a hand on Lazarus’s shoulder. “Open your mind, and you will answer you own question.”
“I am too old and too set in my ways,” Lazarus said. “The boy was my last chance.”
“Then help him,” Azrael said, “If he succeeds, he will grant your request.”
“How can you be so sure?” Lazarus asked.
“I keep my promises,” Donnie said. Lazarus and Azrael turned around. Donnie was surprised to look into Azrael’s face.
“How is he here?” Lazarus asked.
“He has developed a knack for going to places he is not supposed to venture into,” Azrael said. “Hello, Donnie.”
“Hello, Shadow Walker,” Donnie said. “Or is it Azrael?” Azrael smiled.
“It is both. We told you that we are many things,” Azrael said.
“I get it,” Donnie said. “It’s crystal clear to me now.” Donnie was amazed that he was standing before the Archangel Azrael, who had the same face as Shadow Walker. They were the same being, just in a different place.
“What does he speak of and why does he call you, one who walks in shadows?” Lazarus asked, and Azrael turned to him.
“It is what I have tried to show you over and over again,” Azrael said.
“Hey!” Donnie said. “I hate to be rude, I really do, but time is ticking. Are you going to help me Russ or not?”
“If I render aid, do you swear to do the favor I will ask of you?” Lazarus asked.
“Once we get her back,” Donnie said. “I will do as you ask, I so swear.”
“Then we have an accord,” Lazarus said. “I will help you.” Azrael looked at them both and then spread his angelic wings and flew away.
“So how do we get back?” Donnie asked.
“They really have taught you nothing?” Lazarus said.
“I’m a fast study,” Donnie replied. Lazarus smiled and placed his hand on Donnie’s shoulder. They reappeared in his living room, moments after they had left.
“Hey, you’re back,” Lily said.
“Miss me?” Donnie asked. Lily made a face and rolled her eyes.
“Prepare the Order,” Lazarus said to Father Benitez. “We go to war!”
CHAPTER 41
Gestapo Müller
IT WAS MAY 2, 1945, Berlin, Germany. A young officer ran as fast as he could. He could hear the sounds of warfare, a few blocks away, as he raced to the top floor of the building. His name was Leonhard, and he was the personal secretary to Major General Heinrich “Gestapo” Müller. He had just received news, news that needed to be delivered immediately. He almost tripped in his rush to deliver the message as a tank shell landed nearby. He reached the Third Reich Main Security Office of the federal chancellor’s office. Leonhard spotted Gestapo as he busily radioed commands to his police force in the streets of Berlin. He took a deep breath and walked up to Gestapo and saluted as he snapped the heels of his boots together. “Report,” Gestapo said as he turned to face the young man. Heinrich “Gestapo” Müller was a man of small stature but who commanded incredible respect. He had neatly cut black hair and thin lips. His gaze was cold and piercing, years of spying and espionage had given him the ability to sum up any situation or person within
seconds.
“The Führer is dead,” Leonhard said out loud. The activity in the room ceased instantly. Everyone began looking at Leonhard and Gestapo.
“How, are we breached?” Gestapo asked.
“By his own hand, Major General,” Leonhard said. “He used his pistol.”
“He brings us to this point and then takes his own life and leaves the Fatherland to the ravages of the Red Army!” Gestapo yelled. “Coward!” Everyone in the room was shocked by his remarks.
“What do we do, sir?” Leonhard asked.
“I haven’t the faintest intention of being taken prisoner by the Russians,” Gestapo said. “Neither should any of you. I know their Communists methods well, and you do not want to end up as their prisoner.”
“So what do we do?” A young woman asked.
“I have a plane waiting. I have enough room for three people,” Gestapo said. “I will fly to Munich and attempt to organize a counter offensive for the Fatherland. Berlin is lost to us. Who of you will follow me?” Gestapo looked around and no one said anything. Even his aide, Leonhard, was silent.
“So no one will follow me?” Gestapo asked.
“How do we get to the plane?” a young radio operator asked.
“We fight our way to it. Guns in hand, killing as many Russians as we can in the process,” Gestapo replied.
“That is madness,” the young woman said.
“Remember your words when you are being raped, by a hundred different Russian cocks,” Gestapo said coldly to the young woman. “Do you have any idea of what the Russians will do to a pretty little thing like you? Madness is staying here.”
“I will go with you, sir,” Leonhard said.
“Look at Leonhard, this is what a patriot looks like,” Gestapo said. He then looked with disgust at everyone else in the room, turned on his heels, and marched out of the office. He and Leonhard made their way to a munitions locker, and after arming themselves, exited the chancellery building. The Russians had most of Berlin surrounded, and there was rampant infighting in amongst the streets. Gestapo was unrelenting, and soon Leonhard and he had commandeered a Russian jeep. They pulled the dead Russian soldiers off the vehicle and donned their overcoats and hats and began driving toward the airstrip. After a few encounters and a quick firefight at a guard station, they had managed to bypass all of the Russian troops. Their ruse had worked. Gestapo even managed a smile as he enjoyed his success.
