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

by R. M. Garcia

  CHAPTER 42

  Legacy

  FATHER BENITEZ WAS busy speaking on his phone. Donnie could hear that he was speaking purely in Latin. Lazarus wrote out an address on a piece of paper and handed it to Donnie. “This address is to a warehouse that we have available to us. Meet me there in three days.” Lazarus handed the note to Donnie and nodded.

  “Three days, what do I do until then?” Donnie asked.

  “Get ready, gather your strength, and prepare yourself,” Lazarus replied as he took stock of Donnie. Even with Donnie’s aid, he was still not sure if Gestapo could be defeated. “A bit of prayer couldn’t hurt either.”

  “You seem worried,” Donnie could tell that Lazarus was concerned.

  “Of all the Bloodlines, the Reich is by far the most organized,” Lazarus said. “Gestapo is perhaps the most ambitious of any of the Sources. We try to keep track of their activities as best as we can, but they shade themselves well.”

  Donnie wondered what Lazarus meant. “Ambitious, how?”

  “The United States is divided among the Sources. Each state provides them with income to further their activities. Gestapo began with only one state assigned to him, and he has increased his territory to five states now,” Lazarus explained.

  “What do they do with these states?” he asked. “I mean what is the purpose of controlling states?”

  “Money, power, and corruption,” Lazarus explained. “They control everything from the governmental infrastructure to all illegal activities. They make money on both sides of the fence.”

  “So you are telling me that they control the cops and robbers in every state.” Donnie was getting a clearer picture of his enemy. He was just a big criminal, nothing more than a thug. “That paints a whole different picture.”

  “No, not every state, not yet,” Lazarus said. “Of the fifty states they control, just over thirty.” Lazarus smiled. “We have managed to take back a state here and there.”

  “How do you compete?” Donnie wondered how the order made any headway against the Sources. “I mean, if they are making all this money left and right, how do a handful of priests make a difference?”

  “We are backed by the Catholic Church,” Lazarus replied. “So financially we can match them easily. It is in soldiers that we have trouble.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “A man lives for so long, he gets old, and then gets weaker,” Lazarus replied with a solemn look on his face. “A vampire never falters with age, they actually get stronger. Also with that age comes experience. It is getting harder and harder to combat them. Far too many young priests have fallen to our enemy already, and I don’t see an end anywhere in sight.”

  “I can see why you got discouraged.”

  “My fall had nothing to do with the Order’s losses,” Lazarus said.

  “What then?” Donnie wanted to know what happened to him. He said that they broke him. How did they crush him so utterly?

  “That is a story for another time. Just remember that our enemy is pure evil, and they will do everything to crush you. If they can’t do it physically, they will attack your spirit and your heart.” Lazarus closed his eyes, and Donnie could tell he was remembering something or someone. “You must never waver, or they will vanquish you as well.”

  “I’ll keep that in my mind.” Donnie’s need to make sure Abbie was free became a little more urgent. After going over the details with Father Benitez, Lazarus walked out to the car. Father Benitez walked up to Donnie.

  “Thank you,” Father Benitez said to Donnie.

  Donnie was not sure why Father Bennie was thanking him and asked, “For what?”

  “For bringing him back, back into the fight,” Father Benitez replied. “We need him to win this war.”

  “I’m doing this for purely selfish reasons. You shouldn’t thank me.” Donnie felt a bit of shame. There was a lot at stake, and all he wanted was Abbie back.

  “Saving a soul, no matter what the reason, is never selfish,” Father Benitez assured and placed his arms on Donnie’s shoulders. “What you do now will help countless more in the future.”

  “I’m actually starting to feel a bit scared now,” Donnie admitted. “What if we fail?”

  “With God and Lazarus on our side, how can victory elude us?” Father Benitez said smiling. “But if you need a little more inspiration, I brought you something.”

  “What?” Donnie asked. Father Benitez walked out onto the porch and motioned to a large cedar chest that was sitting on the porch. He handed Donnie a key.

  “It belonged to your father,” Father Benitez explained. “I think he would want you to have its contents now.”

  “What’s in it?”

  “Some of his belongings,” Father Benitez replied. “He asked me to hold onto them and said that someday he might need them again. I think today is that day.” Father Benitez turned and walked down the porch steps toward the car. “I have your e-mail. I will start sending you tactical data right away.” Donnie just smiled as Father Benitez and Lazarus drove away. He found it quite odd that a priest used the term tactical data.

  “What’s in the chest, Donnie?” Lily asked.

  “Don’t know, take one end and we’ll open it inside.” They brought the heavy chest inside, and Donnie unlocked it. He paused for a moment before opening it.

  “Well, what are you waiting for?” Lily asked.

  “This belonged to my dad. I had such a clear picture of him all my life, but now finding out that he was a warrior ninja death priest. I’m a bit scared to look inside.”

  “He was a good man, right?” she asked gently.

  “Yeah, he sure was.”

  “Did he die fighting evil?” Lily asked. Donnie smiled at her question.

  “Yes, I guess he did.”

  “Then there’s no reason to be afraid to look is there?” Lily’s simple way of thinking was once again right on. Donnie took a deep breath and opened the chest. Inside, he found some clothes, an overly heavy black leather trench coat and several crosses, knives, and vials. Each blade was adorned with crosses and looked to be made of silver. One look inside, and Lily quickly backed up.

  “OK, maybe I was wrong,” Lily said. “I think I will go upstairs and watch some TV, OK?”

  “Yeah, fine.” Donnie was completely distracted; he continued to pull items out of the chest. Everything was of exceptional craftsmanship. He soon discovered that the random items in the chest were not so random at all. Donnie continued to pull everything out of the chest. After a while, Lily heard heavy footsteps coming up the stairs, she waited to see what was making so much noise. Donnie stepped in to the doorway of the master bedroom.

  “What do you think?” Donnie modeled for Lily. She took one look at Donnie and began laughing hysterically. She couldn’t control herself to the point that she started snorting in between her laughs. She stopped laughing for a moment and looked at him.

  “Turn around,” she ordered. Donnie obliged and turned around; he finished his turn as Lily started laughing and snorting at him once again. She lost her balance and rolled right off the bed.

  “Oh, come on! Admit it, my dad had style.” Donnie was disappointed that she didn’t feel that the completed outfit looked as cool as he did. Donnie had pulled everything out of the chest and figured out it was a uniform. The black leather trench coat was lined with steel plates and had multiple sheaths built into its inside lining. Donnie managed to sheath half a dozen blades inside. The black leather pants also had a similar design and function, they were padded and he found a few slits into which a blade easily slid. The bandoleer held an assortment of vials and pockets. Under the sleeves of the jacket, he was wearing two leather greaves that each held more blades. They were also steel-plated. Donnie assumed they were meant to block blows. A pair of heavy steel-toed combat boots finished the look.

  “I gotta take a picture,” Lily said as she reached for her phone and snapped a shot of him.

  “Fine, laugh it up,” Donni
e said, annoyed. He turned around and went back downstairs. Despite Lily’s laughter, Donnie felt that the outfit fit him perfectly. He had always seen his father as physically bigger, but now he was starting to realize that they would have been the same size now. He undressed and placed everything back into the chest. Lily came down after a while.

  “Hey, Donnie, I’m sorry for laughing, but leather pants, come on.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Donnie said. “It’s pretty over the top.”

  “All you would have needed was one of those big hats and . . .” Lily’s mouth dropped as Donnie produced a black leather witch hunter hat and held it up. She just stood there lock-jawed. “Oh, wow. Maybe, if you had worn the hat.”

  “You would still be upstairs, giggling and snorting.” Donnie placed the hat onto her head and pulled it down over her eyes. “It’s all right, I’m not mad.”

  “Good, so what do we do next?” Lily removed the hat and placed it on top of the chest.

  “I’m trying to figure that out. I think I need to get you to a den.”

  “What? No! I’m with you until the end.” Lily was serious but she had zero-combat experience or training. She panicked back at the New Berlin. She was not ready to fight anything.

  “I think this is the end,” Donnie said. “From here on out everything becomes deadly, and you’re not trained for combat.”

  “I want to help,” she said. “I need to make up for what I did.”

  “I really think your role in this is done for now.” Donnie remembered what he promised Abbie. “Taking you any further, will only get you killed.”

  “What, so you’re just going to abandon me?” Lily asked as her lower lip began to tremble.

  “No way, partner,” Donnie said as he hugged her. “I just have to do this part alone. Do you understand?”

  “I don’t want to go away, there has to be a way I can help,” Lily pleaded.

  “You can’t join the fight, Lily.” Donnie picked up her chin and looked into her eyes. “I don’t think I can protect you from so many.”

  “But you took me into the resort, and we had no problems.”

  “I know, but I always knew exactly how many vampires I was dealing within the resort,” Donnie said. “Who knows how many they will throw at us now?”

  “I don’t trust Espee to take care of me.”

  “I want to send you to Tranquility, to Alaska.” Donnie was sure she would be well taken care of there, but he didn’t know where it was.

  “That’s so far,” Lily said. “There has to be a way I can help.”

  “I can’t leave you here.”

  “Please, Donnie,” Lily begged. “I did get some training from Abbie, not much, but I can take care of myself.” Donnie took a seat at the table and started to think.

  “Let me think on it some more, but if I can’t figure anything else out, you go to Alaska agreed?”

  “OK, if that’s the best you can do. I will go.” Lily went back upstairs. Donnie walked into the office and turned on the laptop. He began making flight arrangements for himself and checking on others for Lily. Nonstop flights to Alaska were few and far between. Without him to watch over her, it seemed less and less like a good idea.

  “Donnie,” Abbie’s voice called out to him softly. Donnie looked around, closed his eyes, and tried to relax. Within moments, he had slipped onto the Eternal Plains. It was morning, and the day had just begun there. “Abbie,” Donnie called out.

  “Over here,” Abbie called back. Donnie turned around and was pleasantly surprised. Abbie was standing next to a small pond. She was dressed in Native American skins, and her hair was tied in golden ponytails. Donnie thought she looked hot. He ran over to her and kissed her.

  “Wow, you look great!” Donnie couldn’t take his eyes off her, and Abbie noticed his appreciation for her skimpy outfit.

  “Thank you,” she said as she caressed his face and brushed his hair away from his face.

  “Is everything all right? Are you safe? I mean, why did you call me back?”

  “I’m fine babe. I just wanted to see you.”

  “OK Smokinghontass, you have me now.” Donnie wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. “Whatever shall we do to pass the time?”

  “I would love nothing better than to jump you and tear off your clothes with my teeth, but we can’t,” she said as Donnie pouted his bottom lip. “I saw that you are having trouble and . . .”

  “You saw?” Donnie interrupted. “What did you see?”

  “Everything since you left me with Punu.”

  Donnie was intrigued and asked, “How?” Abbie walked over to the pond and dipped her finger in the water. Donnie walked over and could see Lily reflected in the surface. She was lying on the bed in the master bedroom and was flipping through channels.

  “I can see anyone from here,” she said. “Punu showed me how.”

  “That’s awesome.” Donnie smiled. “Is this how you called me?”

  “I really wasn’t sure you would hear me, but after Punu explained everything to me, I figured I would give it a shot,” she replied, “and it worked.”

  “This is great!” Donnie exclaimed. “I can come back here anytime, and you can keep an eye on me.” Abbie turned around and took a few steps away from him.

  “The Great Bear was nearby a few nights ago, but we were able to avoid him.”

  “A few nights ago, but?”

  “Remember, Donnie, time passes differently here,” she reminded. “I have been here for about two weeks.”

  “But it hasn’t even been a day yet,” he said wide-eyed. “I have to wait another three days before I meet up with Lazarus, what if . . . ?” Abbie planted a kiss on Donnie’s lips and hugged him. They shared an embrace, and then Abbie looked at him.

  “I’ll be fine,” she assured. “Punu is really fast, and the Great Bear is slow.”

  “Where is Punu?” he asked and looked around. “I thought he was supposed to be watching you?”

  “He’s nearby,” Abbie said. “I just needed a little time alone with you, but we will have to start moving again soon.”

  “I’m so glad to see you again.” Donnie looked deeply into her eyes.

  “Me too, but I wish you would have worn the leather pants a bit longer,” Abbie said, smiling. “Nice ass.”

  “So is that why you called me here?” Donnie asked, smiling.

  “You looked like you needed a little pep talk, so here it is,” Abbie said. “I love you. I love you with everything that I am. I feel torn in half when you’re not nearby. I know you’re doing your best for me, but if things don’t work out. I need you to promise me that you will keep trying and never quit.”

  “I promise,” he said. “But . . .”

  “Even if it means sacrificing me,” she said. “Promise me that you will never quit.”

  “I promise, but I don’t understand why you’re saying this to me? What aren’t you telling me?” he asked. Abbie placed her head on her favorite spot on his chest and listened to his heart beat.

  “Nothing,” she replied after a few moments. “They were right you know?”

  Donnie placed his arms around her and held her close, “Right about what?”

  “Lily is important, more than you know,” Abbie said. “I see that she has grown on you finally.”

  “Like a fungus.” Donnie smiled. “Like a green smelly moldy fungus.”

  “Stop it, you be nice,” Abbie scolded and closed her eyes. Tears were flowing from her eyes now. “She looks to you for her protection now. You need to watch out for her. I know you like her.”

  “There is absolutely nothing between us. If you think there is,” Donnie said. “She is like a . . .”

  “Little sister,” Abbie finished. “You just keep treating her like my little sister and everything will be fine.”

  “I still keep getting the feeling that you are holding something back from me.”

  “It’s nothing,” she said. “Now get ready. You ha
ve a lot to do. I’ll be watching you when I can.” Abbie shoved Donnie into the pond. Donnie hit the water and barely made a ripple as he traveled back to the world of the living.

  “It’s nothing I can tell you, not yet.” Abbie turned around to face Punu.

  “It would have been too much for him,” Punu said. “You did the right thing.”

  “Did I?” she asked. “You should just give it to him straight, he can handle it.”

  “Are you sure?” Punu replied. “I’m not. When you died, he crawled up into a ball and almost died. If you tell him the truth, and he fails, I fear he will break.”

  “He’s stronger than all of you think,” Abbie said. “Everything you have purposely put him through, it would have broken lesser men.”

  “I know it may seem harsh,” Punu said. “Do you know why steel is stronger than iron? Because it is forged, it is tempered.”

  “So he’s to walk through fire now?” she asked sarcastically.

  “I explained the rules to you,” Punu reminded.

  “Well, I think they’re bullshit!” Abbie screamed. “Free will, what a crock, the true game is who can manipulate who the best.”

  “It is not a game,” Punu said. “It is a war of numbers, and right now, evil is gaining strength much too fast.” Donnie woke up. He had fallen asleep at the keyboard. One look at the clock on the screen confirmed that he had been gone only a few moments. He finished booking his flights and ordered a car for next day. Abbie had indeed helped him. He had a clear head now and was ready for anything. He even figured out what to do with Lily.

  CHAPTER 43

  Miami Is Mine

  DONNIE LANDED IN Miami just after sunset. After renting a car, he went straight to the site where the New Berlin once stood. He arrived on the property to find it mostly devoid of people. A few resort employees were still walking around. Several mobile homes had been parked on the property to act as makeshift offices. Donnie continued to watch until he sensed several vampires nearby as they were approaching the resort. A produce truck rolled up to the gate and drove in. Donnie found it odd that they were still getting fruits and vegetables delivered. He watched as the entire contents of the truck was off-loaded and placed into one of the mobile homes. The boxes obviously did not contain produce. Donnie spotted three vampires emerge from the truck as well, they had the look and feel of the Reich. To Donnie’s disappointment, Frieda was not among them; he did spot Gerald on the property and decided to act. He drove his rented SUV up the driveway and exited the vehicle. Upon being spotted right away, one of the Reich moved up to intercept him.