by Chris Lange
This tense, cat and mouse like silence might have lasted awhile if not for her father’s intervention. Vampire or not, Raphael didn’t seem to impress him more than any human being on this earth.
“Out with it, young man,” her dad said, “don’t keep us hanging. What have you found out? Do we stand a chance?”
All the people around the table leaned a little forward. When Raphael started talking in a low, compelling voice, everybody listened with rapt attention. Even Garrett forgot to furrow his brow.
“The news isn’t good,” the vampire said. “They’re about three hundred gathered in the biggest warehouse on the North side of the docks. They keep watch at all times. They’ve been killing humans to feed and they’ll carry on.”
“Damn them!” Jake Cooper’s outcry startled her, and when he banged his glass on the table Jessica flinched. “This doesn’t make any sense. If that gang killed so many people, how come no bodies have been found?”
“Good point, gunslinger,” Raphael said. With a light akin to respect in his eyes, he appraised Jake for long seconds before answering the question.
“It didn’t take me long to assess the situation. Something is wrong with that bunch of vampires. I can’t say for sure but it looks like a disease. They’re extremely aggressive, and all they do is rant, rave, and feed. I believe only a handful of them arrived in London not long ago, yet the disease is spreading fast.”
Raphael paused, the whole group hanging on his every word. For an undead citizen cut off from the main sources of communication and supposed to enjoy a lonely life, he sure knew how to enthrall an audience.
“Every person they’ve killed since then,” Raphael continued, “instantly turned into a vampire. That shouldn’t be because changing a human doesn’t work that way. I’ve never heard of anything like it, yet I saw it happen.”
“Jesus.” Jessica’s exclamation sounded like a whine. She inhaled a sharp breath before she stared at Raphael. “You must be wrong. What you’re saying is impossible.”
“You’ll be the judge of that very soon, lady huntress.”
Recalling Jessica’s promise to let Raphael go once the fight was over, Tracy still wasn’t sure the woman would keep her word not to harm her guardian vampire, or literally jump down his throat at the first chance she got.
Yet Jessica’s gaze softened and a slight tinge of red colored her cheekbones when he called her ‘lady huntress.’ In spite of her job and her hate for his kind, Raphael’s charm was getting to Jessica.
The exchange caused Jake to grab his girlfriend’s hand and draw it to his lap. So the bad boy from the Old West also had a tendency to become jealous. The fantastic news was Jessica wouldn’t think of destroying Raphael now that she’d met and studied him. A breath of fresh air in an otherwise stuffy atmosphere.
Sitting beside Garrett, Andrew started to fidget at the end of the bench before he finally decided to intervene. “What about the master vampire?”
“I didn’t have enough time to find out what that master’s plans are,” Raphael replied, “but I’d venture he’s breeding an army. He’s supposed to harangue his crowd when he gets there so I left just before he arrived. Given that I was the only one unaffected by the disease, I thought he might pick me out. There was no point in staying anyway because his name was mentioned several times and I know who he is.”
Six heads leaned in, but Raphael didn’t elaborate. He really had a flair for dramatics. Had he existed in her century, she’d have signed him up for acting class.
Impatient, her father moved his hands, palms up. “Well, who is he?”
Raphael tilted his head. “That insane gang of bloodsuckers calls him Master Khrull. He’s a master all right, but unfortunately not a vampire.”
A hubbub of excited exclamations interrupted him. Shouts of ‘What the hell?’ and ‘Are you out of your mind?’ broke the quiet atmosphere of their gathering, startled and flushed faces directed at Raphael.
Pretty quickly, Garrett held a hand up to hush the confused noise of many voices. “Please, let him speak.”
The excitement died down at his request. With a barely formed nod, the vampire showed his appraisal. “Let’s just say that if the word ‘human’ can be applied in Khrull’s case, then I guess he’s human. However no bullet, blade, or any kind of weapon will destroy him. Khrull can’t die because he’s an immortal.”
Eyes wide, mouth open, Tracy looked at Raphael. “What the heck? An immortal, are you sure?”
When he nodded, she turned to her father, a slow smile lifting her lips. “Gee, Dad, don’t you just love this world?”
He didn’t look as eager to meet an immortal, human or not, as he took his glasses off. “If that creature can’t be killed,” her father said with a scientific and enquiring tone, “we’ll just have to try driving him off. This isn’t an easy situation, but in any case, our job is to destroy as many mad vampires as we can. The rest is up to God.”
“Well said, sir.” Jake agreed loudly to be noticed above the noisy disturbance created by several voices, all trying to be heard. “So what’s the strategy?”
Raphael squared his shoulders. “As soon as this meeting is over, I’ll go back into their lair to set the warehouse on fire. With any luck, some of them will burn before they have time to run outside. That’s when you enter the game.”
He had obviously thought the situation through and imagined various options. He looked at the six of them in turn, his eyes settling a little longer on the gunslinger, Jessica and Garrett.
“There’s an abandoned building on the other side of the docks,” Raphael continued. “If you all take up position, say about ten feet apart from each other, you can form a firing squad. With the fire going on, the burning, the screaming, and the fear, the vampires should be so confused that you’ll gun them down in no time.”
Andrew sprang up with unchecked anticipation in his gaze, unable to hide his excitement any longer. “That’s a brilliant plan. Dear Lord, I wouldn’t like to be your enemy.”
Garrett nodded in appreciation of the vampire’s strategy, although a worried wrinkle sliced his forehead. “A valid scheme, indeed. However, the master may not merely stand there with his arms dangling at his sides.”
Good point, especially since a raging inferno wouldn’t phase out the bastard.
Once more, Raphael concurred. “I know, and I’m quite certain I won’t be able to hurt him. The best I can do is stall him for as long as necessary.”
Jessica pushed her chair back, as if she believed they were wasting precious time. “Let’s do it,” she said. “None of us will come up with a better idea anyway and if you ask me . . . It’s time to kill.”
Raphael acknowledged her enthusiasm with a tilt of his head, and her usually fair complexion took on a new shade of pink.
“That is indeed very brave of you, lady huntress,” he said, “but please tell me, how many gunners are you?”
“With Jake, Garrett, Andrew, William, and myself, five I believe.”
Oh, yeah, what were the odds? So even Jessica left her out of the action again. But she’d been expecting this for a while now. Raphael had to ask about their numbers at some point and it was high time she unveiled her own little scheme.
Whatever they believed, there was no way for them to keep her out, short of knocking her unconscious. Besides, she feared so much for Garrett, and for all of them, that she needed to be there.
Standing, Tracy stared at Jessica. “Actually, Jess, it’s six. I’m coming with you.”
Her father banged the table with the flat of his hand. They all stared at him as he grumbled in a rough voice. “We’ve been over this before, Tracy. Let’s not start again, shall we?”
“I agree, Dad, and I have no intention of arguing. Instead, I’ll just say this. Your great strategy hangs solely on R
aphael lighting the warehouse on fire. How are you going to achieve this without him?”
Brow furrowing, her father pushed his glasses up his nose. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
She placed a gentle hand on her guardian vampire’s arm and smiled at him before answering her dad. “I mean my friend here won’t help us unless you agree to let me come. No Raphael, no killing.”
Apart from the vampire, her short but well-delivered speech stupefied the whole group. They hadn’t expected such a devious trick from her. While she observed their astonished expressions, her insides tickled with satisfaction.
Andrew and Jake grinned. Her dad shot her a furious, frustrated glance and Jessica cocked her head. “I have the perfect outfit for you, Tracy, if Garrett lets go of it.”
Across the table, Garrett looked mad, too. Maybe because she played him as well as the others, but more likely because of her hand lying on Raphael’s wrist. Even though Garrett couldn’t stop staring at her fingers, he remained silent.
Then the vampire’s words settled the issue. “It will be as Tracy wishes.”
Chapter 15
Raphael took with him the small blue can her father handed him, supposedly very effective to turn a dwindling fire into a raging inferno. Just another of her dad’s well-guarded secrets.
Before her guardian vampire left the garden house, she warned him to be careful and to watch all sides. She didn’t want him shot by mistake in the chaos about to arise, as the immortal wouldn’t go down easily.
The members of The Circle were ready to set off a few minutes later. When she came out of the small room wearing Jessica’s outfit, Jake and Andrew whistled in appreciation. The black, tight-fitting, leather ensemble clung to her like a second skin, reminding her of Catwoman.
Having never heard of the female super hero, the men nonetheless gaped at her with a particular male twinkle in their eyes. Garrett sat further back and did nothing but stare, his gaze on fire.
Once they all reached the docks without mishap, they sneaked single file into the huge, abandoned building opposite the enemy’s lair. She squinted to discern anything, the near darkness not helping.
About twenty vampires stood guard outside the warehouse, clustered in small groups of three and four, probably waiting for the end of their new leader’s speech. They didn’t look like raving lunatics, but distance and darkness could be misleading.
And not a sign of Raphael.
With her dad in the lead and Jessica right behind her, The Circle took up position along the many broken windows of the abandoned building, about ten feet apart from each other as Raphael had instructed.
Courtesy of Jake Cooper who came to London heavily equipped, they all carried several rifles, guns, and loads of ammunition he called ‘special silver bullets.’ Except Tracy whom Garrett dragged along to the last window available. “Stay here, Miss Richardson.”
“Yeah, like I wanna go somewhere else.”
His furious look pierced her stomach. How come fighters lost their sense of humor right before a memorable battle?
He kept her close by before ordering her to duck and take cover in the corner of two walls. Pointing to a small door a few feet away, he also told her to get out that way if things turned nasty.
She’d bragged earlier, but she didn’t mean to fire a single shot. She’d never handled a gun, had no clue as to aiming, hitting, and reloading, and she didn’t give a shit. She only wanted to be close to Garrett, and she’d be quite content huddling in the corner, having a peek from time to time.
Raphael didn’t waste his time. Before she had the presence of mind to duck, a vicious whoosh engulfed the night. A fiery orange glow illuminated the dark sky as the warehouse went up in flames. Her dad’s secret can truly worked miracles. Flames feasting on the walls and roof, the shooting began.
Vampires burst out of the burning warehouse, caught off guard and totally panicked, running in all directions. They collapsed by the dozen, their bodies quickly littering the ground, hacked down by silver bullets.
More poured out of the building despite the racket of weapons, most of them on fire, only to fall on the battlefield. Chopped down before they could realize what was happening, they died in mere seconds.
Then came the screeching. Still trapped in the raging blaze the warehouse had become, the remaining dying vampires screamed their pain. Burning, tortured, a few of them managed to pass the door. They were also shot one by one and thank God, no longer alive to fuel the horrible shrieking.
She winced, hands pressed against her ears to shut off this unbearable agony, riveted to the bloody inferno before her eyes. Since the shooting started, she’d frantically scanned the perimeter in search of Raphael.
Although she hadn’t caught sight of him outside, a sudden feeling of dread overwhelmed her. Where was he now that he’d accomplished his assignment? Killing his brethren? Stalling the immortal? How could he ever do that in the midst of empowered flames, scorching heat, and charred bodies?
Against all odds, more vampires climbed out the windows. She heard guns being reloaded and the firing raged anew. While her friends were totally focused on their task, she edged toward the small door. She was of no use in here anyway and she needed to take a better look.
She sneaked outside to find herself in a narrow, stinking alleyway that opened out onto the battlefield. She pressed her back against the decrepit wall of the building and stayed in the shadows while observing her surroundings. Although she had a larger view, she still couldn’t spot Raphael.
Damn, where was he?
At the other end of the warehouse, coming from a different direction than the fire, she spotted a group of four vampires rounding the corner. They were going for the door and they’d sneak up on her friends.
She ran back to the small door, barged inside, and saw the bloodsuckers already edging toward Jessica. Although the huntress fired like a man, she obviously seemed to them the closest and easiest prey.
“Jess, watch out!” Tracy shouted.
Her scream urged Jessica to swivel on her feet. Rifle in hand, she cut down two of them before throwing down her empty weapon. Jake heard the shots, looked at his girlfriend, and abandoned his position.
Jessica obviously sensed his intention because, as she produced a long knife from her belt, she shouted at him, “Jake, no! Keep on shooting, I’ve got these two.”
Although he didn’t appear convinced, Jake resumed his former position but kept glancing sideways.
The two remaining insane creatures smirked. Unruffled by their companions’ abrupt deaths, they advanced toward Jessica to circle her. Did they know that silver bullets killed them, but blades didn’t?
Light on her feet, Jessica pointed her knife at them while a grin stretched her lips. “Come on, suckers, let’s have it.”
Watching them pounce on the huntress, Tracy hesitated only for a brief moment. She was no match for this kind of lunatic, but her friend now stood on very dangerous ground. She swallowed and crossed the warehouse toward Jessica.
As she reached mid-point, Garrett spotted her movement. “Tracy, get back to the corner. Now!”
His order stopped her.
Jake Cooper’s divided attention didn’t play in The Circle’s favor and she knew they might lose the battle if Garrett ceased firing in order to protect her. While she felt torn between wanting to help and using common sense, Andrew jumped to the rescue.
He discarded his empty gun, sprang toward the closest vampire, and sent him sprawling to the ground. Seeing his brother’s bold move, Garrett gestured her to retreat to the corner, then he got back to the slaughter outside. She backed away to the small door, never ceasing to watch Jessica.
The huntress used the distraction provided by Andrew to outmaneuver her opponent. With a grunt, she rammed her knife into his
stomach. He groaned from the vicious blow. In pain, he nevertheless managed to grab Jessica’s hair and twist it with such wickedness that he brought her to her knees.
At the same time, Andrew’s enemy got back on his feet. He leapt at the young man and gripped his throat to cut his windpipe. When Andrew punched him in the guts, they both lost their balance. They crashed to the ground and, swept along by the momentum, rolled entangled toward the gunslinger.
Whether Jake heard the shuffle right behind him or his woman’s cry of pain as the enemy yanked her hair, he whirled round. He looked irritated more than worried as he took the remaining step between him and the grappling bodies, pressed his Colt to the back of the vampire’s head, and shot him at point blank range.
The deafening noise made her wince, and the bloodsucker’s brain exploding turned her stomach upside down. Somehow, a quiet evening working at the gallery suddenly appeared like heaven on earth.
Jake immediately straightened up, hauled Andrew to his feet, gave him a quick, meaningful look while tilting his head toward Jessica, and went back to the window to gun down more vampires.
Garrett’s brother got the meaning. He picked up the gun off the floor, reloaded it, and strode to the bloodsucker. He aimed while walking, arm outstretched, features as cold as a seasoned gunslinger.
Yet he lacked experience and came too close. His new opponent let go of Jessica to jump on him before he had a chance to fire. They collided hard, the vampire staying on his feet while Andrew went down again.
He uttered a groan as he landed heavily, the gun flying out of his hand. Defenseless, he threw his hands forward in an attempt to ward off the next attack. He didn’t have to. Jessica’s shot echoed throughout the warehouse and the vampire above him collapsed, blood gushing out of the hole in his chest.
