by Joe Fowler
“You two are so close it is ridiculous. I really don’t know who would win in a fight between you.” Rosalyn stated.
“He will always win. I would make it look good. If I saw I was going to win, I would make a subtle mistake that he would capitalize on. Maybe he would know, maybe not, but I would always want him to be considered the toughest even if I could beat him.” Josh drained his beer as we watched a now human Seth shaking hands with the soldiers.
“I actually felt bad for a minute earlier when we switched places. My pile of bodies wasn’t nearly as big as yours.” My statement gave the desired result. Rosalyn and Josh laughed as we started to relax.
“I’ve been around a long time but that’s the first time I ever heard of ‘pile envy’.” Rosalyn kept the laughter going.
The joking was made easier as we watched an emergency transport pick up the soldiers. The transport was surely sent knowing Seth would clear the area. That little bit of watchfulness was still needed since Seth didn’t leave with them. We all knew he was being left behind to continue killing what vampires he could find.
I looked at the clock and saw it was after four so he wouldn’t have too long before the sun rose. We couldn’t watch him anymore since the one doing the filming left with the transport. If it had been anyone other than Seth, we would have been very worried. Not only was he the toughest but he was very wise as well. He would not take any chances that could put himself at too much risk.
“I know he of all people can take care of himself but I would feel better if we were there with him.” I voiced my worry.
“I feel the same. He will take what precautions are necessary though. I will call him later while you guys are sleeping. Hopefully he will be out of there once it is safe for the soldiers to return.” Josh said.
We didn’t talk about Seth any more. We mostly watched as other cities were shown. Fires raged through the poorer districts of India and China. Rome and Madrid were being methodically cleared. London was still a problem but it was improving progressively. While there were still problem cities, the vampire plague was being overcome.
Rio was almost a forgotten city now. The news reported that no communications had come from Rio in days. The last reports received were desperate cries for help. I wondered if that would be our next destination, since Paris was basically done now.
“What’s the plan for tomorrow? More sweeps to be sure Paris is habitable again? Or do we move on and let the military handle it from here?” I asked.
“It’s hard to say. When I talk to Seth I will know more.” Josh went and got our next round of beer.
“We will probably end up in Rio soon. Something has to be done there.” Rosalyn stated the obvious.
“That’s what I was just thinking. I am trying not to worry about it though. It couldn’t be worse than what we handled earlier.” I felt confident in saying that.
“I don’t know of any old ones there. It doesn’t mean there won’t be, I just don’t know of any.” Rosalyn cuddled up to me. She seemed ready for bed. It sounded okay to me too.
We had our room ready so we could just get in bed for some much needed rest. As vampires we don’t get physically tired but we do get mentally drained. These last few days certainly fit into the draining category. I kissed Rosalyn’s head as the sun rose and sleep overtook me.
Chapter 21
We woke to the sound of rain outside and Seth in the living room. While I usually like the sound of rain, it was Seth’s voice that made Rosalyn and I get up a little faster than normal. I took a short moment to wonder if this could be a bad thing. Maybe something was wrong. Well, one way to find out.
“Seth, good to see you. What brings you to Paris?” Rosalyn asked as we walked into the room. Josh brought us a beer.
“I was headed here last night but got rerouted to Germany. Josh tells me you guys could have used a hand last night. If they hadn’t changed plans at the last minute, I would have been here to help.” Seth explained.
“We saw the news from Berlin. It looks like they needed you there. We had it rough but we made it.” Rosalyn responded.
“I was mainly coming to try and speed things up so we can head to Brazil. From what Josh said about last night, the main problem is solved and there is only clean up duty left here. Did the three of you really face around a thousand vampires?” Seth sounded like that was a little more than he could believe.
“The street out in front of this building was shoulder to shoulder as far as you could see in both directions. There were more waiting to enter the street, there just wasn’t any room.” I said trying to describe it to him.
“Not to mention the four, two thousand year olds that were threatening us as well.” Rosalyn added.
“Austin, I’ve been meaning to ask you. How did you spot that first attack from the suit guy?” Josh asked me.
“It was more luck than anything. I saw a blur and a disturbance through the crowd as I was fighting. I saw it again almost immediately, only closer. I shouted as soon as I realized what it was. I was really lucky to have that last warning so I could duck. I thought I was still going to die after I shouted the warning since I couldn’t turn to fight him. I was too busy with the ones in front of me when you said it was done.”
“Damn. You guys were in a dogfight alright. I hate I missed it.” Seth lamented.
“You should have seen the body pile Josh left behind. He ended up switching places with me because the pile of bodies was keeping the vampires from being able to attack him. Even with the rotting and decay they were stacked over chest deep in some places.” I was shaking my head with a smile. “Rosalyn was taking out more than her share as well. I spent the last part of the fight mostly watching them and looking out for the last two old ones.”
“Don’t forget to tell him the part where you saved my life. Helen, one of the old ones, had snuck in while I was fighting through the young ones. She stabbed me before I realized she was there. I cried out but couldn’t recover in time. I was expecting the killing blow but instead I turned to see her eyes bulging. She spun toward Austin and gave me my chance to take her head.” Rosalyn seemed to like that I had gotten to save her.
“Josh had to save me right after. I was struggling to catch back up to all the ones attacking me when Josh throws a dead vampire into them knocking them back momentarily so I could gather myself.” I admitted.
“That sounds like one of those all-time epic fights. Now I really wish I had been here.” Seth said.
“It would have been too easy with all four of us.” Josh laughed. “This way Jimmy will get to hear a couple of interesting stories instead of one big easy one.”
“What are you expecting Brazil to be like?” I asked Seth.
“As bad as you can imagine. The latest reports say the vampires are burning the homes of the humans that remain to get what blood they can. They are getting hungry and there are way too many of them now. Rio will be a hell of a fight every night. Josh and I will need to take out as many of them during the day as we can.” Seth took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I know I said I would try for some time off after Paris but Rio can’t wait. We need to make one last sweep tonight to see if we have done enough for the soldiers to take over. Then were on a plane to Rio or as near as we dare go with a human flight crew.”
“Well, it needs to be done. If everyone is ready, I guess we should get started.” Josh said reluctantly.
We took the SUV for a trip through what Rosalyn expected to be the worst remaining parts of Paris. Three times we came across large enough groups to warrant attention. With Seth, Josh, and Rosalyn leading the way, I felt completely unnecessary. We may have killed as many as two hundred or so on our sweep before we decided to head on to the airport. The rain stopped on the way.
“There will still be vampires here for years to come but the human soldiers can handle what’s left well enough.” Seth decreed.
“If Rio is going to be worse than this was, then I’m glad you’ll be there
to help, Seth.” Rosalyn said.
“Especially since Austin might need blood. Keith warned me about letting my blood be drank. We were lucky to have run into the old woman and Beth, or Austin would have been in a bind. We should have prepared better.” Josh was right.
“Have you been able to control how much you take yet?” Seth asked me.
“Yes, at least so far. I still wanted Rosalyn and/or Josh there each time but I stopped on my own. I think I can handle it now.” I hoped.
“If anything, he needs to take a little more when he drinks. It might keep him sated a little longer.” Rosalyn smiled and added, “Of course we’ll try to keep him out of the sun this time. That might be helpful.”
“What? Oh yes, you said something about trying to get that phone. How did that happen?” Seth asked with wide eyes.
We related the story about the cellphone as we drove to the airport. The roads were empty except for us. The airport followed suit. We were happy to see the airport had remained vampire free. Some of the humans had returned temporarily to refuel our plane for us. We drove straight to the plane itself. There was a stair ramp leading up to the door. Seth had been too concerned for their safety to leave the plane’s crew at a terminal gate where a vamp might force entry.
“We’re ready for Rio, Susan. You guys get us as close as you can.” Seth instructed the stewardess.
“I take it we might have to land somewhere else in South America.” Josh stated. “Could we do what we did in Paris? Land during the day and let the plane refuel and leave right after Rosalyn and Austin can get off?”
“No. We don’t have the refueling crew and we have to keep this flight crew out of harm’s way. The President basically gave me this plane with the only stipulation of not letting this crew be put in any danger. We can land in Sao Paulo if we have to. We could drive from there or hire a helicopter.” Seth informed us.
The plane took off with us discussing landing spots. Personally, I was more concerned with what we would find in Rio. Rio had around six million people from what I remembered. If the vampires turned as many as I feared then we were in for a long stay.
According to the reports we saw on the news, only a small percentage of the population had escaped Rio after the second night. I was baffled. The people caught outside after dark the first night or two, I could excuse. Why the people didn’t drive away during daylight hours over the next few days, is something I couldn’t understand.
“Seth, why didn’t more people leave Rio during the day? I kept hearing about most of the population being killed. Why would they stay?” I asked since I couldn’t find the answers on my own.
“The vampires there were smart. They took out the roads and bridges the first and second nights. They did all they could to make sure the people had nowhere to go. They even guarded the main boat docks. Of course, the airport fell quickly as well. Before communication was cut off, reports were coming in about people being turned instead of killed. Their numbers could very easily be in the hundred thousands, though I don’t expect it to be that bad.” Seth’s words quieted the rest of us.
This would be a hellish experience. We might be facing thousands each night and not make a dent in their numbers for weeks. Rosalyn squeezed my hand and gave me a sad smile. Her beauty would keep me going if nothing else did. I smiled back.
“I was thinking of using a helicopter to get us there since the roads were destroyed and blocked on the outskirts of the city. The electricity is off in the city, along with the water service.” Seth continued to add to the fun. I needed to hear but wanted to tell him to shut up already. “Between dead bodies and backed up sewage, not to mention the rotting food, the smell will be very hard to stand.”
“It needs to be done.” I said aloud by mistake. I was trying to think positively and the words spilled out.
“Exactly. If we knew there weren’t still humans alive there, the city would be fire bombed. It was being considered to the point they were about to take a vote. The President was meeting with as many world leaders as they could gather at the time. I became enraged at the thought of killing the innocent humans that had survived up to this point. I told them that I would take you three and we would clear the city and save the humans still alive. Some of them were angry because they wanted us to help their countries instead of a lost cause like Rio. I told them point blank, if they firebombed Rio de Janeiro, I wouldn’t help any of them. I told them I would tell you three to stop helping them as well.” Seth was angry all over again. “They didn’t like it but they listened. Most of them were pissed because they would need to do the work themselves. Their own military would have to take the risks instead of a few Americans. The President backed me up one hundred percent. That was the day he gave me this plane and told me to go where I thought we were needed most.”
“Wow. A politician doing the right thing. I am starting to like the President,” Josh said with a shake of the head.
“He has been doing the right things. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first but he seems intelligent and he actually cares.” Seth added in. He was the one who was spending a lot of time with him.
The flight continued with more talking of what to expect. We decided to try to start in the center and work our way outward. We wanted to drive the vampires away from the surviving humans. Seth and Josh would have the worst time of things. They would be working day and night. Since communications with Rio had been out, we weren’t sure if there were ghouls there or not.
Rosalyn and I went to the sun protected part of the plane. It was early for us to go to bed but we both seemed to need it. We went through the motions of having sex but neither was into it. I think we needed the contact more than the pleasure. We spent the rest of the predawn time holding each other.
Chapter 22
We woke to find ourselves in Sao Paulo. Seth had arranged a helicopter to take us to Rio de Janeiro. We left immediately after Rosalyn and I were ready. The ride was choppy and uncomfortable but it was much better than driving would have been. I don’t know how long it took, but the anticipation made it seem like forever. The pilot landed us on the roof of a tall building and took off as soon as we were out the door. I didn’t blame him, this was not a good place to be.
“Everybody ready for some fun?” Seth asked teasingly. I wasn’t sure if fun was the appropriate word, even in a joking manner.
“Maybe we can make a competition out of it. See who can kill the most vampires.” Josh suggested.
“Only if mine and Austin’s totals are added together against each of you.” Rosalyn wanted an advantage.
“That isn’t very fair.” Seth said before adding, “Although, Josh and I will be working during the day as well.”
“That’s true. Game on then.” Josh agreed as he turned and kicked the door in leading to the stairs.
We each took turns floor by floor on the way down. Each would dart through the hallways opening the doors and checking all rooms. The average was two vampires per floor. When we reached the ground floor there were a few more for each of us. After the first building, Rosalyn and I were ahead by one vampire. Now we just had the rest of Rio to go. Piece of cake.
There were bodies in the streets. Some places were worse than others, but there was the smell of death that you couldn’t escape. The more we saw the more we wanted to kill the vampires who did this.
The smell of werewolves raises instant alert to all vampires. I remembered the first time I smelled one in the Walmart parking lot. I didn’t know what I was smelling but I knew to be on alert. Even through the smell of rotting garbage and dead bodies that was prominent here, Seth’s and Josh’s scent drew every vampire in the immediate area. We hadn’t been out of the building more than ten seconds when the first wave attacked.
The attacks were coming in spurts which made it easier for us. These vampires had gone unchecked since this whole thing started. They hadn’t planned for us so they came at us piecemeal instead of in force. While it was much easier, it was also
slower. At this rate we would be here for a year.
“Maybe we should split up.” Josh said in his super creepy black bigfoot voice. He stared at Seth for a few seconds and I realized they were talking telepathically. Seth seemed to agree with Josh.
“Maybe meet somewhere just before dawn?” Rosalyn offered.
“Good thought. We can meet back here before the sun rises.” The rest of us agreed with the spooky voiced one and we split up.
Seth headed west, Josh south, and we headed east. Rosalyn and I would be staying together on this trip. Neither of us wanted a repeat of Paris. We went a block or so before running into a small group of vamps. We jumped right in and killed them. We were spotted by others who seemed happy enough to replace their buddies in the fight. We ended up going through around sixty before we were forced to move on to another area.
This became our routine. We moved from one area to the next killing whatever moved. There weren’t any really large groups like we expected. The bodies of the dead humans were hard to look at. The smell was harder to handle than the fighting at this point. Rosalyn and I decided to head north a bit to see if we could find bigger groups to kill. It worked.
We found a decent size group and were in the middle of killing them when their friends arrived. Rosalyn and I handled them and were about to move on when we were attacked by a group of ghouls. This was my first time fighting them and I was a bit nervous as they approached.
“They are much slower but don’t let them get their hands on you. When you go for the head, swing harder. Their skin is a little tough to get through.” Rosalyn highlighted the important things for me.
