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The story so far...
Louie Greenthorpe is a vampire. He is living in the Greenthorpe Mansion,
on the outskirts of the town of Greenthorpe. He is the subject of local ghost stories.
Some children decide to explore the mansion, but run for their lives when they catch
a glimpse of Louie. Majo, a wandering jeweller, meets them and goes to investigate
the mansion. She meets Louie and feels like she trusts him, but is horrified when she
learns that he is a vampire. While trying to escape, she trips and hits her head,
losing consciousness. Outside, one of the children's fathers, Theodore Thatcher,
arrives. He learns of Majo, and enters the mansion to make sure she is okay.
Louie is leaning over Majo's body, and Theodore assumes the worst. In the ensuing struggle,
Louie kills Thatcher, and hides the body before Majo regains consciousness. When she does,
she finds herself unharmed and realises she can trust Louie. Louie decides he must leave
Greenthorpe, and the two depart together.
Kaz is a mercenary, and goes on a mission to steal data from a military base.
He is the bait, and flies his ship above the base, dropping bombs while his comrades
carry out the theft. The base's nuclear reactors explode, sending his ship hurtling to
the ground. When he regains consciousness, he sees his comrades are happy. When they realise
he is alive, one of them offers to kill him for a share in his wages. Kaz kills them.
Kaz goes on a vengeful killing spree against the Carrotus military. On one
morning-after-the-night-before, he wakes up to see a bag of money, indicating that he has been
hired.
Jargon Random is technomancer: he combines engineering with sorcery. He lives on
Diamondus, where a war is raging. One morning John Radin, a friend from his Order,
arrives at his door and tells him they must flee. The city is being invaded. Jargon
grabs his autocaster and some food, and leaves with John.
Tony Waterbeck, renowned racing pilot, is practicing one day when he sets off an old
Shellian defence system. Some Shellian fighters respond, and pursue him around the galaxy.
He decides to head for Carrotus in the hope that they will destroy his assailants.
when he gets there he finds he has to maneuvre through the Carrotus asteroid belt.
With his attention thus diverted, a Shellian shot hits his left wing, sending him
plummeting towards Carrotus. He crashes in an empty field just outside Greenthorpe.
He heads for a building he can see in the distance.
Verity works in a Tavern on Diamondus, for a rabbit named Eddie. Secretly, she is also
working for him as a hacker, supporting one side in the Diamondus War. Her town is a dangerous
place. Nobody knows who is on which side, and food is hard to come by. Every day, she thinks
about the poison in her medicine cabinet. She is on the edge of despair.
Tier is an Arcania Zombie. He is effectively invincible, but it takes a while for
missing body parts to grow back. He must feed on the living to prevent himself from rotting.
He prowls around Carrotus, looking for prey.
Thomas Bradhurst, a Greenthorpe councillor, receives a letter from a company wishing
to establish a factory in Greenthorpe. He finds out the land they want is held in a trust,
and sets off for Orleton to talk to the trustees. He is told that the land can only be sold
once the trust has passed to an heir. He leaves for the Carrotus Central Records Office
to find an heir. The trustees, not wanting to lose the profitable Greenthorpe estate, send
some thugs after him. They ambush Tom in a forest. He escapes, but trips, rolls down
a slope, hits his head, and loses consciousness.
Unfortunately, Theodore Thatcher has become a vampire. A TV crew and a group of marines
arrive at the mansion to investigate the rumours, and are devoured. The video makes it onto
the internet, where it is found by Schism. Schism is an organisation that preserves the
Masquerade, the system by which the general public is kept unaware of the existence of
supernatural creatures. Alexander Garand, a Schism agent, is sent to sort out the problem.
On his way to Greenthorpe, he is attacked by werewolves.
Diallo Kalu, a resident of Muckamok, receives an unsettling call from a telemarketer.
He subsequently gets into a fight in which he shoots his opponent in the leg. He calls an
ambulance. Diallo does not appear in the story again.
An unknown female rabbit is staying at an underground "monastery". There is
unpleasantness in her past, including her sister having developed a poison called Jade Dawn.
In small amounts, it dulls the senses. When aged and mixed with water, it causes severe
bodily damage. It is eventually banned, to be replaced by Cherry Blossom (see ch. 2).
When she first arrived at the monastery, she was disturbed by nightmares, and woke up
screaming. Eventually, she forgets who she is.
One restless night, she goes to the waters from which they all drink. She throws
herself in, and an undercurrent carries her to a seperate cavern, where Jade Dawn is being
poured into the water by three of her siblings. The Jade Dawn is eating away at her,
and they pour a substance over her to neutralise it. She escapes and tries to warn the other
siblings, but they do not believe her. She escapes into a lift to the surface, but a
Jade bomb is thrown after her. She reaches the surface mutilated and blind.
Icarus and Naomi were once lovers. Icarus was accused of killing his family.
Though he was found innocent, Naomi's father forbade her ever to see Icarus again.
Icarus and Naomi meet again on Carrotus. Icarus has been smuggling refugees away
from Diamondus. Naomi agrees to help him with one more trip, before he is to settle down with
her on Carrotus.
Jesse Aimon witnesses his house burning to the ground, his family inside. He refuses
help from his neighbour, Miss Savon, whom he knows to be a spy. Presumably, she started the
fire. Dawn comes, and Jesse leaves.
ShaH-li Felenzo Orbonzen is hired by Andrew Ricarden asa bodyguard. He is attempting
to exploit dreempipes fuel. Neither character appears in the story again.
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The story so far...
Louie and Majo learn of the severity of the Diamondus war and the impending arrival of refugees on
Carrotus.
King Jazz announces that Carrotus will not become involved in the war. He also announces that refugees
will be able to go to Medieval, Carrotus' first moon, and that camps will be set up in the Peddleburg woods,
to the north of New Carrotus, and to the north of Oakloma.
Louie decides that his mansion should be used to house refugees. He learns that Greenthorpe's council
has voted to tear down the mansion. He and Majo return to Greenthorpe to visit Thomas Bradhurst. They arrive
to find that Tom has left, but are attended to by Gary Parker, candidate for the governorship of Peddleburg.
Louie and Majo are apprehended by two of Gary's thugs. There is a violent struggle, in front of a hall full
of people. Louie gains the upper hand and learns who sent them. He and Majo steal two horses and head to
Orleton. On the way, they find and rescue Tom. They set off for Prestbury.
Normal transport between Diamondus and Carrotus ceases. Refugee ships are all that will be making the
journey from now on.
Kaz enters the employ of a battle-scarred individual, probably a rabbit. He is sent on a mission
with a turtle who he nicknames "burnt". His left arm is mummified, the other is burnt. They plan to divide
an alliance of gangs by framing one side for a Jade Dawn attack on the other. They go to Crystallis to get
the Jade Dawn, and end up leaving with the mutialated rabbit from chapter 10. They arrive at a city on
Carrotus where they abandon her before staging the attack.
Jargon Random and John Radin get into fight at the spaceport, then steal a private shuttle and escape
Diamondus.
Tony Waterbeck briefly explores the Greenthorpe mansion before heading into town. In a tavern called
"The Crooked Carrot", he asks if there are any spaceports nearby. He is directed to Oakloma. He leaves, and on
the way comes across Louie, Majo and Tom (Continuity issue: He finds them in the place they have just left).
Verity's lover Raphael comes to her tavern. He brings with him two blue lizards and a grimy rabbit, all
armed with fusion lasers. They kill Eddie. The rabbit tries to kill Verity, but Raphael intervenes. He is
killed.
A month later, Verity locks up her apartment and heads for a spaceport. In exchange for fixing their
computers, she hitches a ride with Icarus and Naomi. They are not sure whether or not to trust her.
Michelle, whose brother was killed a few days previously by a vampire in Greenthorpe, comes across
Tier. When she finds out that he can kill vampires, she gets him to accompany her. She persuades him to
infect her, so that she too becomes an Arcania Zombie. They attend her brother's funeral before trying to find
his killer.
Susan Bradhurst is ushered to a Greenthorpe Council meeting where they discuss the deaths of the TV crew
and the marines, and the appearance of Louie at the town hall. They agree that the Greenthorpe mansion is in
urgent need of demolition.
Tom wakes to find himself in a hotel room with Louie, Majo and Tony. He finds out that Louie is a vampire,
and is forced to accept that vampires exist. He is told of Louie's desired use of the Greenthorpe mansion,
and agrees to help. They return to Greenthorpe.
Susan and Tony investigate the site of the proposed Peddleburg refugee camp, and discover signs warning
of radioactivity. Tom finds a loophole allowing Louie to claim ownership of his mansion. Louie goes to the
mansion to deal with Theodore, and a struggle ensues.
The mutilated rabbit from chapters 10 and 15 is found by Erditine, who agrees to take her to Pneum
Arlik. Erditine names her Neoma and takes her to the Mills of the Giants. There, Neoma feels a stone gateway
and remembers that she knows this place. There had been magic creatures there. Erditine is killed by
a creature Neoma is unable see. The creature says it will kill her, but first cures her blindness.
Verity has now fixed the computers and they are on their way. Icarus is sloshed. Their ship comes under
attack.
Jesse is arrested under a false (but still weak) charge. The police are evidently corrupt, and when Jesse
tries to leave there is a scuffle. A fire starts and Jesse escapes. The building is consumed by flames, and
Jesse leaves.
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The story so far...
We learn that Louie was "killed" by a vampire called Estella.
Louie wins the fight with Theodore, finally decapitating him. He rescues Alexander Garand. When Alexander
learns who he is, he points his gun at him. The gun is loaded with miniature stakes. He changes his mind,
and Louie knocks him unconscious.
Gary Parker arranges a fake job interview with a young lady, who he kills. It turns out he is a vampire.
Jargon and John arrive on Carrotus and part ways. Jargon uses his autocaster to make a companion
robot from his old robot's CPU and crashed spaceship junk.
Verity realises that Naomi's ship is trapped in a synthetic orbit around Diamondus, the apparent distance
of the planet a mere projection. They return to the surface of Carrotus. They see the burnt-out shell of the
police station in which Jesse was held captive. They go to a tavern (The Marinated Pearl) where they are
approached by Jesse. Verity thinks that he is Jonathan, Jesse's father, and is somewhat less than pleased to
see him.
Michelle and Tier come across a dead werewolf and a guy who tries to kill them with a "cookie cutter".
Tier kills him. Tier eats the werewolf and Michelle eats the guy. They head off for Greenthorpe again,
and eventually reach the mansion.
Gary kills his grandmother, who has been donating money to his campaign from her secret stash.
Louie takes Alexander to the Bradhursts' house. Louie tells him that Theodore has been dealt with.
Alexander tells them of the Masquerade.
While they are cleaning up the mess at the Greenthorpe mansion, Michelle arrives. She demands to see
her brother's killer, and learns that he is dead and buried.
The creature makes life very unpleasant for Neoma. Something tears through Neoma's skin, and the creature
forces Neoma to look at the words she has carved: Her name, "Estella". Neoma remembers that she had once been
called Yakira. Two creatures, one white, one brazen, appear and fight. Something emerges from the surrounding
forest and engulfs Estella. The next thing Estella knows, she is running towards Greenthorpe mansion.
Jesse's father was a general, who has done something unforgivable towards Verity and some unspecified
others. Verity is forced to accept that Jesse may not be Jonathan. Icarus realises that Jesse was involved in
the police station fire. Verity reveals that Jonathan was responsible for the deaths of Eddie and Raphael.
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Chapter 31: Atrocity makes the heart grow yonder
Through darkness he wandered across the fields outside of town.
Everything was new and fresh. Feelings of self-hatred were mixed with pleasure.
Innocence was hanging from the corners of his mouth.
He was responsible for the death of a young woman and liable to make the same mistake again. Over and over
until it drove him crazy.
Estella followed him. The dry grass tickled the bottom of her feet, but this was not the source of the grin that had been resting on her face since the moment of Louies rising from the grave. She brought eternal life to him. Her favourite creature of all.
He often broke down and cried. "Tears of joy because he sees everything much clearer now."
She would place his head in her lap and gently stroke the tips of his ears.
Confusion clouded his mind. Had she blessed him with the purest gift of all or had she made him stand near the edge of hell and given him the last push.
He hated her, but he couldn't think of anyone he would rather be with than her.
She was his mother, his murderess and his lover all in one.
"Sleep, my baby. And wake up tomorrow to find me at your side."
She wouldn't leave him for the world.
He woke up the next morning and there she was. Bathing in the lake outside of Greenthorpe mansion. The sun was reflected in the tiny drops of water that hang from her fur.
Her fur was of the purest white he had ever seen and it gave her an angelic look.
He knew that she was no angel though, she was far supreme to any supernatural being.
Because she was his, and his alone.
Louie entered the body of water and could feel more then he had ever felt.
He could feel every single drop of water and he slowly moved over to Estella.
And they unified.
They spend every moment of the following months together.
Dancing, talking, hunting, feeding, unifying. Until they came
The voices of Louie's victims came back to haunt him.
Many a rabbit had lost their lives to him. He could hear they're cries in the night.
When Estella's body brushed against his and she was fast asleep.
She kept him going for a while. But the number of voices grew and it was not long before they consumed him. He could not take this life and they would never again give him peace of mind.
Until he had lost everything that he had taken from them.
Estella was everything he had and he was everything she had.
But when he was away from her, he found peace.
He would often hide in the forest surrounding Greenthorpe and he would stay away for hours.
Leaving Estella alone in the mansion. Everything changed from that time on.
He would often ignore her. Hurting himself more then she would ever know.
Louie tried to hate her, but he knew he could never do that. And so did she.
But she loved him and therefore she knew she had no choice.
When he woke up one morning, she was gone. Estella had left a little note on her pillow.
"Dear lover,
Nothing in the world can describe the pain I will be in for the rest of my life, but to stay here with you would be intolerable cruelty. I should never have done this to you.
It is to late to regret my actions but I must face the consequences for them alone.
By the time you read this, I will be reduced to dust. And the wind will carry me across the lands. Know that in spirit I will always be with you. And know that you are the only man I have ever loved. Never forget me, for I will never forget you.
I love you dearest,
Estella."
The note fell from Louies hand and found its final resting place by the foot of the grand piano. The house gave him no comfort.
Estella had left him all alone in this new world and it swallowed him whole.
He knew not what to do and with the image of Estella in mind he sank into a comfortable chair. Feeding off of rats an thinking of nothing but her for years and years to come
* * *
"Many of you have found jobs thanks to me. Others made promises that I've fulfilled.
Where others talk about a better life for all of our furred friends. I delivered.
And I will continue to do so if you have faith in me. Vote not for those who will give you five more years of promises. Vote for the person that already fulfilled dozens."
Thomas shook his head and took another sip of his ale.
He looked around the room. Strange characters had filled his house lately and the place was a mess. His lovely wife was preparing dinner in the kitchen.
Lately he felt more and more estranged from her. She turned out to be such a strong and confident woman, who was not surprised by anything and had an answer to everything.
He had been up to his nose in books about these strange creatures.
They were in front of him and he could still hardly believe his eyes.
The vampire and the zombie were involved in a deep conversation. Vampire
Zombie?
Alexander Garand sat in front of him. Recently attacked by a werewolf. A werewolf?
He still couldn't believe this. But he had more to worry about.
Parker was running for governor. And he was sure to win the elections.
"That man can't be trusted. The more power he gets, the darker things will get."
Alexander did not speak much, but when he did, people listened.
"He has connections with the underworld. They worship him, even the werewolves are afraid of him." He shuddered. And so did Louie.
Werewolves were the biggest thread to his kind. A war had been going on between they're kinds for ages. No one knew exactly how it started, but most people believe that it was because Ronahin, the first werewolf had bitten the head off of Kaijn, the first vampire.
Them being afraid of Parker was troublesome. To say the least.
Tony and Louie got up. "We're going to walk over to the mansion. See how things are progressing. Does anyone care to join?"
Thomas was the only one who nodded, the rest rather stayed home for dinner.
"Let me get my coat."
* * *
Parker sat down on his office chair and told his secretary that she could go home today.
She was a good girl, he almost felt sorry for her. He turned the television on and was pleased to hear the news. He immediately picked up the phone and dialled the number to the Cholmondely & Smith office.
"Cholmondely here." The old rabbit on the other end spoke.
"Hey there old man, it's Parker. Turn on your TV and watch the latest news."
The old rabbit did as he was told. He wouldn't dare to ignore Parker's order.
"
Hilda Parkers body was found this morning.
Her death came unexpected. She recovered not to long ago from an illness and had no health problems we know of
"
He did it, he killed the old bat. He's going to make a fortune now.
"Congratulations Gary." Cholmondely said coldly. "That makes you a multi-millionaire."
Gary smirked. He hadn't been this pleased in a long time.
"It's only the first step in the big plan." Gary said.
"Contact them. Tell them to come to Carrotus."
Cholmondely scratched his chin nervously. "Sure thing Gary, anything to help you."
Parker put down the phone. They would crawl through the dust for him. Soon, they all will.
* * *
Tony looked around the dining room, it was unrecognisable.
The curtains had been torn down and the antiquities had been removed.
They must be storing them somewhere else. Many cloths lay on the floor.
Uncomfortable but welcome beds for the many refugees that would arrive the next morning.
"Satisfied?" Thomas asked Louie.
He nodded. "I hope they didn't break anything while moving it though."
The three of them walked around the house, the place was sure a lot more colourful and fresh then it had been before. Several men and women were still cleaning the place up.
Removing old tapestry, cleaning the walls and hard wooden floors.
"They're doing a great job." Thomas said.
"You've been here for ages, you could've cleaned." Tony said jokingly.
At first he wasn't sure Louie got the joke or not, but then he remembered he had never seen a smile on his face. "I think wed best head back, dinner is probably ready and Susan has put some great effort into it. He said to break the silence that followed.
The three men left the mansion but stopped cold in their tracks.
The mutilated body of a young female lay only several meters away.
Dry lumps of blood stuck to her fur and it looked as if she had a difficult time breathing.
Without saying a word to each other, the three men approached her.
"Are you alright?" Thomas asked, trying to make his voice sound calm and nurturing.
Whether it was his voice or the girls fear they didn't know. But she cowered at the mere sight of them. "Do not touch me, please leave. Please do not hurt me." Blood streamed down from her lips as she spoke, her voice was so soft. As if she spoke with the voice of a little child.
Whoever had done this to her had broken her spirit.
"Poor girl, she's lost it." Tony whispered. He could be so subtle.
She didn't reply, she tried to crawl away from them burying her bloody fingers in the soft grass. Thomas noticed that an exceptional amount of blood seemed to drip down from underneath her body. We have to get her to Susan before she bleeds to death. He said determined. "Whether she wants to or not is not important right now. We need to get her to my place if we want to save her life." Tony and Louie both looked at each other.
"What did you have in mind?" The first one said.
Yakiras spirit realized that she had struggled enough for one day.
Her body wanted to continue escaping from the potential evildoers.
But she could not go on any longer. She rested on one of her arms and collapsed.
"I guess that makes it a lot easier." Louie said with an indifferent tone to his voice.
Thomas squatted down next to her and rolled her over onto her back.
"Alright Tony, you grab her legs and
" He stopped right in the middle of his sentence.
Several letters had been spelled out across the cloth on her chest.
He looked over at Louie, as if he would somehow magically have an answer.
It looks like he did. "Estella Bane
This can't be."
"You know who did this to her?" Tony asked. Louie had never seen him this angry before.
He was impressed with Tony, who hadn't thought highly off before.
But here he was standing, face to face with a vampire at least 15 times his age. And with an attitude. "She turned me into this
thing." After all of this time, he stilled found it difficult to call himself a vampire. They werent exactly known for they're calm and friendly nature.
"Let's get this girl to the house first, he can tell us later." Thomas said to Tony, trying to calm him down and bring his attention back to the more important matters at hand.
"What happened?" Alexander said as he opened the door. "Who is this?"
"We do not know, we found her at the mansion. Poor girl has been pretty roughed up."
Tony said as he and Thomas placed her down on the couch.
Susan looked after her and healed her wounds. "It looks like something has attacked her eyes as well. What kind of monster could do this to her?"
"A friend of Louies apparently." Tony said.
Yakira opened her eyes quickly, she could hardly see anything.
Several figures were surrounding her, she looked into the face of one of them.
She grabbed his hand. "Tell them not to hurt me." She said, before she drifted of again.
Her hand slid out of Louie's who seemed dumbstruck for a moment.
He felt something soar through his body. Something he had not felt in a long time and then leaned over to her and whispered in her ear to make sure that no one else would hear him.
"No one will as long as I'm around."
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Chapter 32: Lucky Numbers
Icarus and Verity worked at the glowing blue screens together all night, taking their alternate shifts sleeping. Verity squinted at the papers laid out before her. In the dark of the early morning, the bare light bulb hurt her eyes, but she kept working. There had to be a way to make this happen. Getting off Diamondus was their only hope.
Getting to Carrotus was her only hope.
Icarus, hunched over a cup of coffee, slid a stack of papers onto the floor and shoved his paws into his eyes, rubbing tiredly.
"It's going to work," he said. "I've got it."
Verity looked up from her computer screen.
"Tetracolyhydroxide," Icarus garbled.
"Gesundheit," Verity offered, "That's a mouthful."
"It's the stuff we need. It's a composite, completely blocks magnetic pull to and from any magnetically attractive material. It was apparently first used- and made 'famous', if you will- in the craft that broke the land speed record on Medivo in 3761." Icarus muttered this from the dark, shuffling printed pages.
"Of course," Verity concurred. "Medivo has an iron core. It's molten, but the magnetics are much stronger than on, say, Carrotus, with a molten rock core. If the craft was demagnetized, it would practically float on the surface of the planet."
A sleepy Naomi entered the hull of the shuttle. "So where do we get enough of this to coat the shuttle?" Icarus shook his head. "I have no idea. It says on this site that it's a ...controlled substance... wait, that can't be right." He clicked, frowning at the screen.
"Tetracolyhydroxide is also used as a--"
"-- hallucinagen," Jesse said, coming into the room as well.
"Um, what he said," Icarus finished.
"The form used as a drug is the purest form of the composite," Jesse said sitting down beside the screens on the opposing side of the room. "Plus, because it's illegal, probably the only form you are going to be able to get. Govermental consent and all that crap- they require permissions signed by sixteen heads of state and four federal vouchers and what have you, to use for strictly monitored experiments and designs. The ship that broke the last land speed record on Medivo was confiscated."
"I remember it, " Verity said, suddenly distant. "I was only a little girl. Six maybe."
"I didn't know you lived on Medivo," Naomi said gently, but Verity shook her head, "I left twenty, twenty-one years ago, when my parents died." she changed the subject abruptly, turning to the white rabbit. "You seem to know enough about it," she said, her forehead creased.
"A hit is a liquid gram," Jesse continued, uncomfortable under Verity's vicious green stare, "and a hit costs about as much as Queen Eva's diamond. Rest her soul, " he added in reverence. Looking around the cockpit, he concluded- "I'd say you'll need about two gallons to paint this ship."
There was a small silence.
"So um... can you get it for us?" ventured Naomi.
"Yeah, sure, no problem." Jesse smiled, the first time they had seen his face without sadness shrouding it.
Later that afternoon, Verity stayed alone to watch the ship while Icarus and Naomi went to buy supplies. Jesse was still gone, having galloped off as soon as the sun came up to find what they needed. Verity was still disgruntled at Icarus's choice to bring that white rabbit with them. She would never be off her guard. But he was right in that ...Jesse, as he insisted upon calling himself, was well acquainted with the illegal side of this area. He'd found them what they needed, all right, and it was thanks to Naomi not exactly being the worst off in monetary terms that they were almost ready to try again.
Carrotus or bust. There was only one problem.
Sitting in the small cockpit of the shuttle, she gazed out the tinted windshield and shoved her hands into the pockets of her scuffed leather jacket. In one pocket, she touched the vial that she carried with her to this day, still the same six drops of poison. Give me sign, she would say at night, when she was young, That I can end this now.
In the other, she delicately fingered a soft, worn page. There was a name scribbled on the blue-lined notebook sheet, faded with the year that it had traveled with her, but still clear, her mentor's handwriting familiar forming the unfamiliar name.
"it's your choice, Verity," Eddie had told her that night in the back room of the bar.
She missed the bar, missed bartending. What had happened to that? She remembered smiling at the familiar faces and asking carefully selected questions of the unrecognizable ones.
She remembered Raphael entering the bar and the thrill she always felt when she saw the tabby cat's face looking back at her.
There was a thrill of anger and hate coupling with the love now when she saw Raphael's face in her head, just as she couldn't look at the face of the white rabbit insisting that he was not Jonathan.
Verity admitted deep down inside her that he was too young, that the rabbit who blasted the cavern into Eddie's chest had been at least ten years older than her.
But that changed nothing, and she clenched her paw around the paper in her pocket.
"He'll make you into a machine," Eddie had told her.
"You'll never have your own life back."
She withdrew her paw from the pocket and looked at the crumpled paper.
"Are you willing to give up your soul for what you believe in? Don't think lightly on this, Verity."
But Verity's decision was no longer based on choice and it was clear as the war waged what she had to do. She unfurled that paper and read the name, though she had long since memorized it.
"He's a vampire," said Eddie's voice in your head, "If you let him bite you, you'll have it all. You will be able to do what you want. You will have the power to change this world. But you will also spend the rest of your days with the devil himself living inside you, and even if you end the war, you will fight him for eternity. I'm giving you his name because you are the only rabbit I have ever known who I know has the strength to face off against hell itself."
Louie Greenthorpe.
Verity stalked to the back of the ship to clean her RF for the sixth time that day.
Naomi and Icarus walked through the village, paws clasped, but without speaking. As the days passed there seemed less to say than when the black rabbit had first seen the love of his childhood laughing in the bar that night.
She spoke eventually- "Are we doing the right thing?"
Icarus nodded without hesitation.
"I'm sad when I think about my father," Naomi said, "Even though I know this is better, I wish it didn't always have to be one way or the other. I wish we could be happy all together. When I go back, how do I know he'll even look at me? I just don't..." she stopped as Icarus pressed his cold paw to her lips.
"I knew your father well, " he said, caressing the soft fur on her worried face, "and you are his daughter, Naomi. He loves you."
He held her paws with his and leaned down to her. "But so do I." He looked into her eyes.
"We're so young, Icarus," Naomi said into his ear.
"The war will make us old soon enough," said Icarus, and wrapped his arms around her thin, muscular body. "We are ageless now." On tiptoe, Naomi placed her lips on his, warm and deep. He closed his eyes as he kissed her, but even so a tear escaped them to slide down his cheek.
When he kissed her he relived every moment of their past and every dream of their future, and there was more pain than possible to take, but when he kissed her, at the same time he knew he could bear it and with it whatever the future might bring.
"Be careful with that, little man, " said the burly, tattooed lizard, slouching over the filthy counter housing a glass cased selection of plastic exposives. "I don't know what you're planning with all that tetra, but I hope to hell you're not using it all by your lonesome." He raised a hairless eyebrow.
"It's metal, Reg, " Jesse tossed back, "there's more to do with this than funnel it into my brain through my eyes." He gingerly hefted the canvas sack onto his shoulder, feeling the mercurial liquid fluid heavily inside the temperature controlled canisters.
"I guess I probably won't be seeing you back for a while, then."
"I hope not." Jesse flashed a grin. "This should cover our debts." He tossed a small, rattling tupperware container onto the wooden counter. Reg's scaly forehead crinkled as he pried off the top. "The hell..."
"Take care of those," Jesse said, turning and opening the door, leaving the lizard, tail twitching, gazing at the handful of white, pastel-tinted Carrotian gems.
As the door closed behind the teenager's slim white back, the lizard narrowed his yellow eyes.
"Hmmph," he grunted, and heaved his beer belly off the counter to reach for the grubby telephone on the wall behind him.
It was late that night when the four creatures assembled in the now-familiar corner of the pub they'd frequented for the past week. A rain was beginning to fall over the swaying sign -Marinated Pearl- as Jesse, the last to arrive, slithered inside. The grainy jukebox drowned their voices from outsiders.
"It's all there," Jesse confirmed, nodding at the canvas satchel he'd dropped at their feet.
"It's going to work, " Icarus announced tiredly. "The anti-magnetic coating painted on the shuttle's hull, antennae and controls will prevent the artificial gravitational pull that's holding us in orbit, allowing a supercession of the 80-kilometer force field that's placed to spray the false imagery into our monitors-
"At least, we think it's 80 kilometers. that's all the airspace outside of a given land mass that a government can hold," Naomi uttered a little bitterly into her cider.
"When we hit the estimated 80 kay barrier, we'll see the planet behind us, and we'll be out of mesospheric control of the Diamondian government.
There's just one problem."
"Security?" Naomi queried. 'They're not going to just let us fly off the planet when they see we're not in the Orbit, right?"
"But even so you're flying an f-wing ST-9063, "Jesse said, "even the built in weaponry is adequate, with shields and all. My father flew an f-wing when I was young and if we've got a good pilot-"
Verity narrowed her eyes at Jesse, but said nothing.
"Naomi's as good as they come when we're talking about flying," Icarus said idly, and Naomi smiled at him.
"I believe it," Jesse said, "But I'm just saying that we shouldn't have a problem, with a gunner and a pilot, getting out of their- legal - range in enough time."
"Well, that is sort of the issue," said Verity, stirring a vodka and lime.
"Using the tetra to demagnetize the ship prevents all outside impulsion to affect the ship. Unfortunately, it also prevents any similar impulses to escape. In essence it will de-locate the ship, make it near to impossible to pinpoint, and thus when painted, the ship will be like a dead thing, no pull, no weight, no heat.
It'll disable the shields, " she said. "I've tried to figure out a way to technologically delete that side effect, but where computers and guns don't figure, I'm afraid I don't do much good, and if there is an answer out there- I know Icarus has looked too- we can't find it. Even if we place an externally located force field generator on the outer surface of the ship, the shielding will just bounce around because the anti-magnetism makes the ship undetectable. The force will just slide off and deflect into space. "
"Anything else?" said Naomi.
"Nope, everything else is cool." Icarus rolled his eyes.
"Lets do it then. " Jesse leaned forward over the table. "We've only got one shot at this and I don't know about you all but I'd rather die trying."
"No one's going to die, " Verity said forcefully, exhaustedly, "We're all going to Carrotus."
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Chapter 33
"Okay then, what about fire? I've seen that used lots in movies, maybe-"
Tier smiled grimly. "Hold out your hand then." Michelle did as she was told. Calmly Tier picked up the small lighter by the table, lit it, and held it beneath an outstretched digit, after a few seconds it blackened, a short while later the sulfurous smell of singed fur permeated the air. Michelle removed her hand and stared at it, where the flame had flickered was barely charred, as they watched the fur regrew. "You're moist, as in, mostly water, you're gonna need one hell of a fire to do anything, and believe me I know, besides, this condition comes with instincts, if she knows it'll kill her, they'll take over."
He stared at the group, it was quite a cozy setting; everyone clustered around the fireplace, deep in discussion about Michelles condition. Theyd considered everything, from crushing to freezing, fire to magic, and every time theyd come to him, asked, and been disappointed. If there was a way to end his condition, he hadnt found it in a thousand years, but they never gave in, it was a characteristic of the living.
Tier walked off, leaving the group in further discussion. Michelle had taken a shine to the vampire, and they spent a lot of time talking, which was only to be expected, they were in the same situation, more or less. She hadn't had to go through the hell of regular feeding, the estrangement, lack of sleep, but she knew what was coming, she had immortality and all its horrors to face. They'd tried to talk to him of course, since he had a lot more experience, but the conversations always died, ebbing away into those uncomfortable silences, he knew he could never tell them what it was like, they were too alive to understand.
He smirked, a vampire? Too alive? I bet that hadn't been said too often. He sighed, it sounded like someone squashing a wet sock, and went back to work. Work, he was good at that, just as long as he had something to do, no matter what, or how long it'd take he'd get it done, even if it took a hundred years, literally.
"Hey, thought you might want these, take a bit of filling out of course."
Tier turned to face the rabbit behind him. His mind flickered a bit, ah yes, Thomas, the one who read books. He stared at the rabbits outstretched hand.
"Citizenship papers? What for?"
"Well, I just thought-"
"That I might want to vote? When everything will be the same in a hundred years? And I'll be around to see it? Hell, why not? Who's the guy you want to win?
Tier spent the next half hour filling out the forms, it was just something else to do, people got all excited about the most insignificant things, he'd seen good government, and bad, and all that really mattered was that everything came to an end, eventually. After that he went back to rebuilding the wall, then clearing out the basement. As he worked his mind plodded on thinking of the upcoming civil war. It seemed everyone was always fighting one another, no sooner had the last battle finished before people were rushing off to another. He remembered...
A red sky, not sunset, but at night, fire from the ground spiraling into the air. The world was thick with noise, and blood and life. The dog was ahead of him, then behind, slumping to the ground, a rabbit on his left, a quick swipe and nothing more. They were too busy fighting each other to notice the red streak of death that cut through their ranks. Another there, and there, slash! Stab! Feed whenever possible, the battlefield filled with those like himself, but alive, at least for now. Shots rang out, he felt pressure, but moved on, no need to stop, no need to think, this was home.
Michelle stared up at the ceiling and counted the cracks in it for the hundredth time. Geez, even the vampire could sleep, this was going to take some getting used to. She felt something, in that strange way she'd got used to in the last few days, sitting up slowly she saw a rat, black and sleek nibbling her big toe. They never ate anything living she noticed, at least if it was bigger than them. She let it get about halfway through before almost unconsciously swiping out at it and biting it in two. Hell, why not? Apparently this was her future diet. She'd tried normal food; it made her sick just to put it in her mouth, even raw steak tasted foul. It had to be living. She'd already got the nickname 'rattrap', something she was oddly proud of.
She sat back and let her mind wander, exploring her new ability to detect life. She could see in her mind the little lights, each one a rabbit or rat, scuttling about their own business. She could even see Louie, a different.. shade? Taste maybe? But asleep all the same, lucky sod. She felt around, assigning names to the specks, feeling rather oddly like an invisible spy. There was a rat nest, young ones in it too, have to see about that tomorrow, over there was Thomas, with his wife, more late night reading, and there were the refugees, the first early arrivals, and the place hadn't even been cleaned up yet! She sighed, so much to do, so much activity, she'd never been good with people, because she'd never had the chance to meet any. This was all so new, so exciting, for now her condition could wait, it wasn't like many people notived, or cared, several had been forced to eat rats themselves, most were just glad of a warm place to stay. She named every single one she could remember, recalling her brief talks with them during the past day.
She focused on that one speck, currently in the basement, the only one her instincts said 'like me' the only life signature she wouldn't attack no matter how hungry she got, the others... There was something out in the forest; it pricked her mind, another taste of life, no several, a group. She focused muzzily on it; watched figures half a mile away meet, interact and then disperse. She wondered idly what they had been; she'd spent a lot of time in the woods, all her life. She'd been expected to be able to work since she'd been five, and had spent many hours before that repairing family equipment in the hut, even more so after mother had died. They tracked down the bandit together, her and father, the werewolves had found what they left, and thats what he had deserved. Werewolves, was that them? She held on to this thought; there were said to be some around, she'd have to start stalking the woods, her new condition offered, possibilities, there were rewards, father could use the money.
She lay back and thought of sunny forest days until the soft dawn light told her it was time to get up. People would be wanting breakfast, and she was a good cook.
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Chapter 34: Transition
They had begun to arrive. Refugee centres had sprung up all over Carrotus. Provincial governments, city executives and village councils from east to west, from pole to pole, had arranged accomodation on a scale that dwarfed King Jazz's proposals. The new Greenthorpe Mansion Refuge was among the least accessible, but still they came. The Carrotus Interior Ministry had set up a database to try to fairly distribute the newcomers among the various centres, but it was proving to be next to impossible to administer. Diamondus was emptying, and Carrotus was a popular destination.
Gary Parker smiled as he watched the latest news bulletin on the situation. There would be so many people who, for whatever reason, would fall through the cracks of the system. So many people who would not be missed.
"So, let me get this straight," said Tony. "The vampires hate the werewolves because the first werewolf killed the first vampire, Kaijin."
Tony, Alexander, Tom and Susan were taking a rest in the library. They had been hard at work all day, helping the refugees settle in.
"'Killed' may not be the most appropriate term, but yes," replied Alexander.
"It certainly seems like the vampires have the moral high ground," said Tom.
"Creatures of the night, dear," interjected Susan. "I don't think the moral high ground really matters to them."
"Besides, that's just their side of the story," said Alexander. "Werewolves think Ronahin, the first werewolf, was framed. There's even a theory that Kaijin faked his own death."
"So he may still be alive?" asked Tony.
"I doubt it. If he is, he's been very well hidden for thousands of years. Anyway, it's not that important right now. Our intelligence suggests most vampires and werewolves on Carrotus have formed an alliance. There's a strong feeling that they're not going to have to compete so much for prey."
"With that pleasant thought in mind, I'm afraid I have to go," said Susan. They said their goodbyes, She kissed Tom, and then she was gone. Tony turned to Tom.
"What about you, shouldn't you be out campaigning?"
"Parker's ahead in the polls, he has the sympathy vote from the death of his aunt to look forward to, and the election's tomorrow. There's not much I can do."
"But if he gets elected..."
"I know."
As Susan walked down Old Main Street, she noticed a few dark glances from passers-by. Not everyone approved of the company she was keeping these days. Word had got out, as it would in a small community, that she was consorting with vampires. Most people accepted that Louie was good, but there were many who didn't believe a vampire could ever be anything more than a monster. She reached home and went up to Yakira's room. Louie was there, removing her bandages, applying the lotion, then redressing the wounds. Susan had been uneasy at first about leaving Louie with Yakira as her bleeding could have been too great a temptation. Louie, however, would not leave her side. At least Majo was there.
"How is she?" asked Susan.
"She hasn't moved or said anything since you left. I think her pulse may be steadying, though," replied Majo. "How are the people at the refuge?"
"The injured ones were treated in Oakloma, and only a few of those need post-operative care. But there are a few who are showing symptoms of delayed symptoms of Diamondus Green Vine poisoning. They were stowaways in a ship carrying the stuff, but they wouldn't admit it to the authorities in Oakloma."
"But they told you?"
"They were coughing up bile, they didn't have much choice."
"You were able to cure them, though, right?"
"Yes. But we'll be run out of medical supplies quite soon if we keep getting this many sick people."
* * *
"And now we go live to Greenthorpe, where Gary Parker is waiting for the reults from his hometown."
The screen changed from the presenter's face to the Greenthorpe council chamber. The councillor's benches were covered in neat stacks of ballots, and small groups of anxious locals were milling around.
"And, indeed, waiting for the results from across the province. But right now the Greenthorpe Returning Officer is stepping up to..."
His voice faded out and Councillor Dalton read out the results. A cheer went up from half of the room, and the screen changed to show Gary Parker's reaction.
"An interesting result from Greenthorpe. Gary Parker has lost to Felicity Jadsworth, getting only 35.3 percent of the vote," commented one of the co-presenters. "If he wins, this will certainly overshadow his governorship."
Gary Parker looked devastated. The screen returned to the presenter.
"We'll get an interview with him as soon as we can. Meanwhile, over to Quillanham, which Mr. Parker is widely expected to carry. If you've just joined us, Gary Parker is in the lead, but has lost in his hometown. Felicity Jadsworth is currently in second place, but Halen Neilson could still pull ahead to join Parker in the second round."
Gary solemnly got into his car, and asked his driver to take him to his campaign headquarters.
"How did the count go, sir?" asked the driver.
"Badly." He glanced up at the rear-view mirror and confirmed that the driver had no reflection. "Not that it matters. It's one small town in a huge province. It's an embarassment, but if I feign a bit of humility over it for a few days, it'll be fine."
Tom had just got home from the count. There was nobody around on the ground floor, so he went up to Yakira's room. He opened the door to see Susan and their houseguests clustered around Yakira's bed.
"Hello. How's..."
Susan interrupted. "Ssssh!"
Only then did he hear her patient trying to speak.
"Bit... better."
"Is there any part of your body you can't feel?" asked Susan.
"No... Hurts ev... rywhere."
"What can we call you?"
"Yyyak... ira."
"Yakira," said Louie. "What happened to you?"
Susan reprimanded him. "Medical questions only!"
Yakira coughed. "'Sss okay."
Louie leaned closer. Yakira let out a guttural sound as she tried to continue.
The Screen returned to the face of the presenter. "And it's official, there will be no second round. Gary Parker has an absolute majority, and is Peddleburg's next governor."
"Es...Estella."
Louie froze.
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Chapter 35: Perilous Proceedings
"We go now, live, to the campaigning base for the Parker administration. Gary what do you thin..."
Tony flipped off the screen as the room filled with a melancholia. It had seemed for a while that the election was going to be a clear defeat for Parker, but the results were simple and plain to see. The group seemed to be distracted momentarily from Yakira to let the news sink in. Tom paced around shaking his head, with Susan patting his back in a vain attempt of comfort. Tony still seemed fairly lost in this new setting, and stayed at Yakira's side for lack of a better idea. Alexander's green-blue pupils dilated as he imagined the implications of an undead overlord in power. Nervously, he pushed up his silver-rimmed glasses. Tier and Michelle were withdrawn to each other, quietly whispering. Louie braced himself on the foot of Yakira's bed, staring straight down. Majo held her hand to her face with one finger pressed lightly against her lips. Yakira was drawing pained and short breaths, while coughing occasionally.
A loud snapping noise erupted in the room, to which everyone was taken completely by surprise. Majo, looking excited, had snapped her fingers.
"I got it. Why don't we just kill Gary Parker?" she proposed. "He's just one rabbit. With a lot of influence. We easily have the power to take him down."
Louie scoffed and shook his head. The unexpected reminder of Estella's existence, and the fact that she was so close now, made him sick. He felt his blood hammering away in his neck. He cocked his head to look back at Majo now. "We, meaning myself, do not have to power to face off the legions of very angry followers, living and dead, that will be triggered against us if we even so much as think of doing that. Let's leave political assassinations to the paid professionals." Louie finished bitingly.
Majo was taken aback. She drew her right paw up to her chest in a gesture of surprise. Inwardly, she had been expecting full support for her plan. The idea seemed decent enough. "You're forgetting about Alexander. Schism will cover up the murder, right?" She had turned to Alexander and looked up at him hopefully. Alexander paused briefly before giving his own reply.
"What makes you think I want to help you? Or anybody here for that matter. My job here is done and I didn't have to lift a finger. A vampire with a massive bounty on his scalp is in the same room as me. And if that wasn't valid enough, your predicament in no way affects me." Alexander smirked and shot a glance at Louie. "Personally, I think your troubles would be easier solved if I killed this guy and got out of here." Louie was in disbelief at this. He couldn't imagine what would trigger Alexander to say that. He opened his mouth, remembering to bare a couple of teeth, and was about to browbeat Alexander in return.
"You have a lot of gall." Susan uttered. She had turned away from Tom on the other side of the room, and began to walk up towards Alexander, finger raised. Louie snapped his mouth shut and looked at Susan. "The nerve of you, to come into our house and threaten our friend like that. We gave you our hospitality, and he even spared you your life." She was yelling at this point, barely inches from Alexander.
"Why I oughtta-" She stopped for a second, quivering with fury, and then whipped her paw across Alexander's face with a satisfying slap. Alexander's head was turned slightly to the right with a very surprised expression. Nobody had expected Susan to be capable of that level of anger. The whole room feel into an unsettling silence again, spare for Yakira's uneasy breathing.
"I think...she needs help." Tony timidly submitted. The tension of the environment ebbed as people began to remember Yakira's pain. Susan's face turned utterly pale as her head drew towards the ground. Tom sprung up to guide her into a chair.
"We're doing the best we can." Louie grunted. He relaxed his arms and let them fall to his side. Michelle got up and quietly hurried herself to the kitchen. Louie took to the back porch. He pushed open the sliding glass door, and leaned against the railing with both arms. He let his anger flow out from his body as he tried to cool down from the heat of the moment, but it was ineffective. His anger towards Alexander quickly manifested itself into his anger at Estella. Ever since Yakira arrived, he had felt something about her. Pity, perhaps, but it was unimportant until now. All of her problems, they stemmed from Estella Bane. Curse that name, Louie thought, as he slapped his palm down on the railing. Susan was working on re-applying Yakira's bandages up in Yakira's bedroom, like she did thrice a day, and Louie felt the urge to help her. But something was holding him back. Louie was anchored by some indescribable emotion that prevented him from walking over to aid her. It was a combination of his feelings against Estella, and the disturbance he felt about Yakira. Susan came down into the living room, and looked outside at Louie. He was pre-occupied in his own thoughts and wouldn't have seen her anyway. After a moment, she took a seat by Tom's side
Up in Yakira's room by her bed, Tony was standing there, his mind reeling. He felt around behind him for a place to sit, and grasped the seat of a chair. He drew it up next to Yakira's bed and fell into it. He had just diverted a crisis. The last thing the group needed was in-fighting. Tony let the thought of Mayo's plan sink in a little bit. To kill a prestigious leader of both the living and the dead? It seemed an almost unthinkable plot. But still, he couldn't help toy with the idea of it. That hero's mentality; he could almost taste the satisfaction now. He couldn't help but smile a bit while fathoming the plot, the rewards, the banquets in his name. His facial expression must have seemed vastly out of line for the current mood, as Majo gave him a queer look. Noticing this, Tony quickly wiped the smile from his face and began to focus on the situation at hand. He let his vision drop onto the broken rabbit next to him, and he felt her pain inside himself. Tony began to feel a bit disturbed, and was compelled to do something. He reached out with his paw and placed it on her shoulder.
"Are you still awake?" he asked quietly.
Yakira's eyes slid open. She looked back at Tony's nervous face.
"Y...yess. Is there some...something you needed to..to ask me?" she queried. Tony thought for a second, and then said no.
"I just wanted to tell you that you're safe now, from wherever you came from and whatever hurt you so badly." Tony declared "Louie and I are gonna make sure of that." Yakira smiled at this thought, giving Tony a sense of reassurance, before her eyes shut once more. Tony felt slightly at ease again.
Susan Bradhurst, though looking quite flustered, was sitting upright on a couch under a window with Tom trying to comfort her by her side. He repeatedly stroked her arm and asked how she was doing.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. I just got myself carried away a bit for a moment." she answered. Susan looked around for a second, and then leaned in to Tom's ear. In a whisper, she continued.
"But the nerve of that man. I swear."
Tom felt hesitant before saying what was on his mind. He let in a good breath and then spoke.
"We need him though. If we want to kill Parker."
Susan pushed Tom away and looked struck in shock. "You're not serious, are you?"
"In all honesty, it needs to be done. And why not by people we've only you know, just met? It's imperative that we get him out of power as soon as possible. Who knows what he might do with that position. We can't run that risk." Tom asserted.
"I am agog." Susan stammered. "In all my days I would never consider you one to even think about doing something like that. I never should have let you surround yourself with this horror show."
Tom looked away from Susan's eyes. He couldn't belive himself either. Susan bowed her head and placed her paw on Tom's.
Alexander was checking his person to make sure that he still had everything he came with. He reached into his coat's inner pocket, and felt around, counting to himself. One...two...three syringes of Silver nitrate. Injected into an artery, the chemical would easily kill a rabbit, and spell a very excruciating death for a vampire. He felt his face and ran his fingers across his slightly uncomfortable stubble. He pushed up his glasses, and then ascertained that the rest of his belongings must be up in the room they placed him in. He walked up the stairs and walked up to his bedside. Much to Alexander's relief, his crossbow was still intact. He picked it up, and felt the incredibly heavy Rocktree wood in his arms. He hefted it, grasped the strap, and slung it around his shoulder, letting it rest on his back. Alexander then bent over to pick up another piece of his equipment, a simple combat knife. However, he was still missing his most prized possession. He felt around under the bed for it nervously. Finally, he felt his fingers grasp it's wooden handle. He pulled it out, and held it in front of him to bask in it's glory. Alexander placed his pipe firmly in between his lips and began to dig around in his pocket for a small parcel of tobacco.
"I didn't take you for a smoker."
Majo's voice came as an unexpected surprise to Alexander. She was standing in the doorframe with one arm rested against it, leaning in. Alexander paused to give her a dirty look.
"Nothing helps you get through the hard times like and addiction." he uttered, and then drew out a small bag of tobacco. He ripped it open and filled up his pipe.
"Does that make you feel badass or something stupid like that?" she asked. Alexander gave no reply, instead he lit up and inhaled deeply.
"It's a shame that second hand smoke stuff is so terrible, because what I'm breathing in is great stuff." Alexander mocked. Majo rolled her eyes and set her paws on her hips. She walked in farther to Alexander's room, and stood across the bed from him.
"I was hoping-" she started. "That I would reconsider your proposition?" Alexander finished. "No deal. Besides, I highly doubt I'm welcome with your pack any more." he released a small plume of smoke with each syllable, and then took in another long breath with one hand lightly supporting the end of his pipe. Outside on the staircase, Louie was creeping up to eavesdrop. He began to listen at the edge of the hallway.
"Pack eh? You make us sound like dogs. And after all that time we spent working together to give a home to those Diamondus war refugees, and you still want to break away from us and go back home? What happened to companionship?" Majo accused. Alexander exhaled another cloud of smoke, and then removed his pipe to talk again.
"My job here is finished. Nothing more, nothing less." Alexander stated in a definite manner. Majo threw up her arms while turning and walking away.
"You're impossible. Honestly. Think about it this way. When you go back and talk to Schism, they'll probably just make it your next mission to kill Parker anyway." Majo said, tying to coax Alexander to her side. However, Alexander still remained defiant. He placed his pipe back into his mouth and smoked again.
"My business is with killing the undead, not with killing a political figure head." Alexander declared. Majo's head was searching for an argument to this point, but before she could find one, Alexander had started heading towards the doorway. Louie tensed, and began crouching while laying flat against the wall. He waited.
"I'm almost flattered that you want my help. But sadly, I just can't see why I should have anything to do with you." Alexander finalized, and then continued to head towards the door. Louie sunk back farther into the shadows in preparation. Alexander walked out of the door, merely inches from Louie's jaws. He turned and walked down the stairs. Louie shot up almost instantaneously, and entered the room with Majo.
"We're not going to kill Parker. What ever the hell made you think that was a good idea, you had better cut it out. Plus we've got a much bigger problem on our hands now. Yakira, that girl. Estella tore her to shreds just to send me an ultimatum."
"Oh, so that explains your inability to stay in the room with her. You're scared, aren't you Louie?" Majo derived.
"Of Estella, no." Louie replied nonchalantly and totally dodging what Majo was trying to get him to say. "I'm not scared. I'm angry. I want to know why she's trying to destroy me. And that girl probably didn't deserve to be Estella's vessel of misplaced anger. All I feel is hatred towards her now." Louie was now talking in a low hiss. Majo felt defeated inwardly. For the second time, she had tried to drive at something with Louie, only to be rebuffed. She was attempting to unearth empathy in him, but realized that Louie was more undead than ever before, and growing colder, at least towards her. She almost began to feel jealous that Louie's attention was spread across the board now that they had settled in with Tom and Susan and everyone else, and that she was no longer under his vigilant eye.
"Cold, calculating vampire." she replied with a bitter tact. Majo immediately felt childish for chiding Louie like that. She tried to cover-up what she said by mentioning Parker again quickly, but didn't listen to his reply. Inside, her brain was racked with one massive dilemma. Why did she lash out at Louie like that? What had made her get so upset about him? Did she love Louie?
Tier walked out from the room where everyone was gathered and down into the kitchen to find Michelle. He stepped onto the tiled floor and leaved up against a counter. Michelle was racing from station to station preparing a platter of what looked like rat omelettes. Tier smiled a wicked looking, but sincere, half smile.
"You're not cooking for yourself. Did you forget that or something, Michelle?" he taunted. Michelle looked down at the food she had prepared between her mitts.
"I...I guess you're right." Michelle set down the tray on the counter next to Tier's arm. He took the liberty of grabbing one and taking a monstrous bite out of it.
"I'm nervous about these people. I'm just trying to earn my keep with them right now." Michelle admitted. Tier finished swallowing before opting to speak, minding his manners of course.
"They're not too bad. They're hospitable enough. But when you're acting like a vagrant, it's best not to be too picky." Tier commented. His paw was moving around wildly as he spoke, making small gestures and sending egg and rat meat everywhere.
"Great, now you've made a mess too." Michelle sighed. As she bent over to pick up some of the scraps, she continued talking. "I guess the vampire one is alright. Louie was his name." Tier laughed at this statement.
"Don't get too attached. Especially to a fickle minded vampire who's more powerful than you. As our kind says, let the vampire deal with the vampire troubles. All this masquerade crap does is slow one down."
Michelle laid her paws against the edge of the counter and gripped down with her fingers.
"That Parker is spelling out trouble for us, isn't he?" She asked. Tier shoved the remaining slab of food into his mouth, and licked his digits.
"What's gotten into you and suddenly caring about the affairs of vampires? You need to become a bit more detached from the world of humans. You're dead, remember?" Tier said while giving Michelle a light tap on the arm over the counter. Although a reassuring gesture, Michelle was slightly unsettled by the fact that she could feel her bones slightly cave with the pressure of Tier's paw. Her body was still decaying, and she was far from used to this new sensation.
Tony was sitting alone at Yakira's bedside. He felt a bit sick. Of all of the people he was with, why did it seem like he was the only person who cared about her well being still, he wondered. Tony banished the thought though, realizing that so much has happened recently, and that they're already doing the best they can do. He almost began to feel guilty. Everyone was going through some personal drama at this point, and he didn't have anything to occupy himself. Except for this girl's troubles. He reached over with his left paw to pull up the sheets closer around her neck. He grabbed the hem of the spread, and felt a slight irritation on his skin. He let the sheet fall out of his grasp, and looked at his paw quizzically. A light powdery film had collected on his fingers, and it was making his skin itch. Tony left Yakira's room and made his way down to the kitchen to wash it off his hand. Michelle and Tier were still talking when he entered.
"Hey, where is the sink? I've got to wash this stuff off." Tony asked, preoccupied by holding his wrist. The irritation was turning into a terrible pain.
"It's over there." Michelle said with a head jerk. She resumed talking to Tier. "I wonder..what's going to happen to use next? Are we going to sta-"
She was interrupted by an unholy cry of pain. Tony had withdrawn his hand from the running water and was holding it above his head. Blood flowed freely from gouges that had etched themselves deep into his skin.
"What the hell? What happened?" Tier bellowed. He locked eyes with Michelle for a minute, whom mirrored his expression of confusion and fear. They both rushed over to Tony and tried to restrain him, whom all the while was screaming.
At this point, Susan had made her way into the kitchen. She began to announce that everyone was to go up to the living room, but quickly began to shout and run over to the scene that was unfolding in the kitchen.
"His arm...it looks like Yakira's." She commented in disbelief. "The ointment we use is up in her room. Michelle, run up and get it, and be swift." she commanded.
"I don't care if you think it'll work. It's way too dangerous, and no way in hell am I going to work with that nutcase who's trying to kill me." Louie shouted. Majo had her arms crossed, and had a look of fire in her eyes.
"And what is so much more dangerous than Parker coming into power anyway? It could be the start of...uhh...a civil war. Or at least an open war against the undead. And why risk it?" Majo yelled back. Michelle suddenly burst into the room at this point. She looked around confused, and then embarrassed. She drew her paws up to cover her mouth as she gasped.
"I'm so sorry." she stammered. She pivoted and was about to step back into the hallway, before Louie called out to her.
"It's fine. What's going on? You seem to be very upset by something." he questioned. Michelle stopped moving and dictated over her shoulder that they would have to go to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Alexander was in the living room of the Bradhurst house, stopping his exit long enough to thank Tom for his generosity.
"It was no trouble. Besides, this town has certainly entered an empathetic spirit, what with all of the giving to the refugees, no?" Out of the blue, their conversation was decimated by the sound of Tony's cry of pain. Tom drew his paws up to his ears, and all color left Alexander's face. In pure silence, they both dashed as quickly as they could to the source of the sound, joining the entire party minus Yakira, for obvious reasons, and Michelle, who was entering right behind them. She forced her way up to Tony, who had been held down into a chair and his paw was thrashing around. He was pressing down with his right paw on his wrist to try and keep it from moving. Susan was kneeling by his side, clutching the armrest. Michelle forced her way past the onlookers, and began applying the lotion onto his lacerated hand. Tony winched in pain, but the affects of it's application began to take in, and his arm started to relax, but still occasionally twitch. Susan took the bandages that Michelle was holding out of the crux of her arm, and prepared them.
"Thanks." Tony said with a gasp after Michelle had finished rubbing in the ointment. She turned a color that put red to shame when she realized that she was still holding on to his paw, and stepped back.
"No problem." she said quickly, and retreated back to Tier's side.
Louie was standing side by side with Alexander towards the back of the crowd around Tony, and leaned over.
"What the hell do you think caused that?". Alexander's mind ran through every possible substance he could think of, and came up blank. He gave a frightened no, and then began to sort out mentally what was going on.
"(-), do you think Yakira is cursed? Her wounds aren't healing, and now it's spread onto Tony." Louie suggested.
"Don't kid yourself. You would've been able to sniff out a curse on her a mile away." Alexander submitted bluntly. This statement however, shocked both of them back into remembering exactly what the other person was. Louie pushed the feeling aside, and tried to make light of the situation.
"And I'm sure with your experience, you could have told us that from the start."
And as such, the seeds of an awkward friendship, or at the very least mutual respect, were sown in an unsettling moment.
A silence grew between them, and Alexander took the time to walk up and ask Susan what had happened.
"I...don't know. He was washing his hands and suddenly, his left one began to be sliced apart by it."
Alexander looked down around his feet, and lifted his leg up a little to see beneath it and realized that Tony's blood was indeed pooling on the tiles below. He stepped back into a dry spot on the floor, and looked up again. Tony was in the chair, now looking comfortable but shaky. He repeatedly rubbed his left arm, either out of nervousness or for relief.. Susan had gotten up and was holding Tom in a long embrace. Michelle was glancing up into Tier, who was staring straight ahead towards nothing in particular. Majo was leaning against a counter lost in a trance of though. Louie stood alone at the end of the room near the doorway. In the center of the kitchen stood Alexander, taking one last puff on his pipe, and pondering their next move. Everyone was quiet. But Michelle became restless. Her ability to see life forms was acting up in an alarming manner. Finally, she had to say something.
"I think all need to talk. Let's find a nice place to sit." she expressed, and to which the whole silently agreed.
After the group had taken their seats and settled into the living room, Susan was the person directing the meeting.
"Let's all relax and try to think what is going on. Maybe make a list of some sort." She said from the couch at the end of the room. All of the furniture had been arranged in a circle to accommodate the impromptu council. Tom sat beside her, resting against the arm of the couch. Across the room from them was Louie on a window seat next to Majo. In a recliner to their left, Tier was sunk in a half-listening state. Alexander was one more over from Tier in a fold-out chair. Tony was seated to the right of Louie, his paw bandaged up and with a glove covering it all. Lastly, between him and Tom was Michelle, fidgeting around and unable to sit down, instead swaying incessantly. Susan continued to address the group.
"Yakira is in a very serious condition, but she is stable, and will remain that way probably. We're doing the best we can for her. So long as we continue to provide a healthy environment for her, she will recover slowly but surely. Tony's injuries are minor and will heal rather soon."
Susan paused for a moment. Tom, who had been feeling a bit usurped as master of the house, decided to control the direction at this point.
"Gary Parker has taken the position of governor now. He's gaining political prestige at a massive rate. He's a substantial leader of all walks of life now, and a man as shady as he in power...I don't know what will come of this." Tom quivered. The rest of the people in the room remained still, giving Tom cue to continue.
"The idea of killing him is out of the question as of this moment. But mayhaps..it'll come to that someday." Tom appealed. Susan tried to inconspicuously shoot Tom the evil eye, but he evaded meeting her look. Undaunted, Susan directed the discussion to other topics.
"Michelle, why do you look so rattled dear? Is something the matter?" she asked. Michelle wasn't expecting being thrust into the center of attention, and thus awkwardly began to clear her throat.
"I...uhh...ahem. I have this thing, where I can see...uhh, people. What I mean is that-" she shuddered. Thankfully, Tier interrupted her at this point.
"What she's trying to say is that her ability to see life forces has been acting up considerably, and in a greviously distressing manner. Namely that hundreds of bodies are closing in on this village as we speak, and are already encircling it." he finished. Without missing a beat, Louie's eyes gleaned.
"Are they rabbits, or-" he began to ask.
"Nope. Werewolves." Tier answered. "And they look in the mood for trouble." he added. Alexander looked surprised, and then smacked his forehead.
"Oh crap. I must have lured them here when I ran into their pack earlier." he grieved.
Tier gave a hearty laugh.
"No pack is this big. Plus their movements...they're acting like an army, not a group of hunters." he ascertained. Tom stood up to take charge.
"We have to warn the town. I'm going to leave right now to try and shout out for a call to arms. Louie, Alexander, Michelle and...uhh... Tier. Get ready, you've all probably got a fight to look forward to." he ordered. Tom turned and grabbed a jacket off of a coat rack, and burst outside of his house. Tony got up and went the other direction towards the stairs to the bedrooms.
"What're you doing? You're injured." Susan said, getting up to usher him back to his seat.
"I'm going to my pistol. You can't stop me from a good fight." he said defiantly. Susan gave up and retracted back onto her couch. Alexander walked up to her and spoke.
"Don't worry. You're work is cut out for you. If there truly are hundreds of werewolves out there, there will be much blood and injured for you to handle when the day is through." Alexander walked outside the door following Tom and disappearing from sight. Susan crossed her hands in her lap, feeling utterly helpless against the dawning chaos.
Alexander was walking along the dirt path up to town at a hurried pace without trying to look too urgent by running. Louie and Tony were close behind, while Tier and Michelle hadn't left yet. They were making their way up to the mansion, where the greater bulk of the people in the town were clustered and unaware. Louie and Tony jogged up to fall in line with Alexander as he started to ascend the large grassy knoll up to the mansion. Louie's mind filled with the realization that this was going to be where most of the upcoming foray would occur. That the grass of his own house was the be watered in blood.
"Can you still fight?" Alexander grunted to Tony, who was carrying a compact version of the standard blaster pistol in his right, non-dominant paw. His other one had been bandaged up almost to the point of immobility.
Tony shrugged. "How hard could it be?" he replied, while wondering to himself how good of a shot he was right handed. Alexander turned back to inspect Tony at this point. He looked up and down, from Tony's head to feet.
"You may have won a few bar fights in your time, racer. But when it comes to the undead, you're a total newbie. I don't want you to be a liability, and I don't think it's in your best interest to die today." Alexander berated after finishing his judgment.
"You certainly take your work seriously." Tony miffed. His grip on the blaster tightened a bit, as Alexander's words began to fill him with a self-doubt.
Louie broke the run-in up before it could get out of hand. The trio was almost at the door to the mansion. "Stop. We make our stand here." he dictated. "You two need to go inside and inform the inhabitants of what is about to happen. Make sure they don't panic."
Tony and Alexander glared at each other for a second, before confirming their order and walking inside. Louie remained standing outside of the entry-way with his arms folded defiantly over his chest. He waited until a breeze flitted by, and sniffed deeply. Trace scents of blood and rot lingered in the air. The a small crunch was heard from the undergrowth to Louie's left A small mammal? Squirrel maybe, or. Louie knew better. He darted over into the trees, and grabbed a werewolf by the scruff of his neck. He twisted him around to stare at Louie directly in the eyes.
"Found you." Louie hissed. The werewolf's eyes filled with panic. Louie felt his fangs growing in his mouth. The urge to bite was whispering softly to him; tempting.
"Leave us to do our business. There are an uncountable number of my brothers and sisters in these woods behind me. If I don't report back, they'll know something has happened. And believe you me, their revenge with be painful and deadly." the werewolf said in an attempt at intimidation. Louie rebutted.
"I'll revel in their dismemberment." he paused just long enough to let it sink but short enough so that the werewolf couldn't reply.
"Why are you here?" Louie asked, and he jerked his other paw, nail outstretched, like a knife into the werewolf's belly. The werewolf jerked around, and then gasped for a breath.
"Let's just say that we're serving a higher cause than our own selfish packs now." he said. With that, he thrust his left foot into Louie's sternum, sending him fly backwards in surprise while letting his grip go. The werewolf howled and panted at Louie, before scampering away back into the woods. Louie laid on the grass for a moment. That kick much more out of him than it should have. He rolled back up into a standing position, and glared into the woods.
Simultaneously, Alexander was inside the mansion. He had let Tony do the talking, as he might have seemed a recognizable figure with a more charismatic nature, and instead chose to lean on the inside hallway spanning from the door to the area where most of the refugees were settled in. Tony had attracted a large crowd around him as he vividly explained what was going to happen to a mass of grim faces. Alexander realized the enormity of what must be happening to them. The recent destruction of everything they had every had, and now they weren't even safe. However, nothing seemed to answer, in Alexander's mind, why he was still here. He didn't care about the lives of everyone he had met. But he still felt a very strong attraction to stay with them and support them. Or at least protect them. Susan was right, they had given him everything, including his own life. And he still remembered the face that he woke up to the first morning he arrived, and how he was struck breathless in a heart beat. Alexander buried his thoughts suddenly as deep as he could muster, realized that he had to focus on the situation at hand. Tony had finished talking to the refugees, came up to Alexander, and said "They're ready, let's go.". The two exited and met up with Louie who was standing just outside the door now. He made no effort to hide the blood soaked claw, and made a shot at Alexander.
"You're still here? What appeals to the big bad hunter to stick around with us?" Alexander smiled and gave a smug reply.
"Ten coins for every pelt I bring back when off duty.".
About five minutes later, Tom had wound his way into town square. Rabbits were walking past going about their daily business. A couple had taken a seat on the giant fountain that dominated the square. Beyond them, a shop owner was sweeping his stoop. In Tom's mind's eye, he saw the fountain in rubble and blood soaking into the golden cobblestone and dust beneath his feet. Tom swallowed and climbed onto the lip of the fountain.
"My fellow rabbits." he bellowed. The entirety of the people nearby locked their eyes on Tom. He was on the spot now. "Hear my call. Do you strive to be a part of a cause that needs you more than ever before? I urge all of the vigilante in each of us to my side. Our heart beat's are mimicking the sound of the footsteps of fire, destruction, and death which clamor to our little town. An insurmountable darkness is encroaching on our lands to reduce it to ashes. I beseech all of you to join up arms by my side, and strike a blow deep into the heart of despair, and fight off these blasted, twisted concoctions of evil."
The crowd was hesitant. Tom's heart sunk as he wasn't met by thunderous applause or raised fists at all. All hope felt lost, when suddenly a voice rung clear above the din.
"What are we waiting around for? We need to make a stand, both for ourselves and for the refugees." Tom smiled. Susan was right in the nick of time. The group's attitude shifted, and and a flame of resolve spread through the crowd, dancing in each of their hearts, compelling them to stay and dare fate. They quickly were shouting plans, yells of valor, and began to run to every which way to stir up the entire town. Tom smiled in front of the teeming mass, inspecting his handiwork before stepping down to find Susan. She had separated herself and was standing next to a bench with her paws crossed in front of herself, beaming.
"You certainly still know how to rile a crowd. You had them eating out of your hand." She said, clasping her arms around him.
"Without your addition, it would have been a miserable failure." Tom replied. Susan looked down and to the right while still smiling.
"Every great leader needs an activist to promote him." She maintained. Tom simpered affectionately.
"Nobody better than you." he said, and pressed his lips against hers tenderly.
Tier and Michelle were standing outside on the path leading up to the Bradhurst estate. Tier was hanging back at the doorway.
"Are you sure you want to stay here?" Michelle asked with a quiver in her voice.
Tier gave a very certain reply. "Yes. You will be fine. What better way to find out if you can hold your own than your first battle? And besides. I need to stay here and watch over Yakira." Michelle looked down at her feet and felt the dust beneath them.
"Fine. I guess I'll head over there right away. Don't want to keep them waiting. Oh Susan. I didn't see you coming."
Susan had returned from the rabble rouse and was making her way back home again without Tom.
"Yes, I'm opening my house up as a home for the injured again. I have to clean up and make sure everything is ready for the rush. Will you be staying here Tier? I'd love to have some company. Tom is in his leader of the land mood. You should see him, strutting around like a king, airs and all. I think he's up with Louie and the others preparing for the assault. Looks like you're going to go meet up with them."
"Yes missus Bradhurst." Michelle affirmed with utmost respect. Tier shrugged his shoulders.
"I'll be glad to help you. I'm at your service." he said coyly. Susan smiled.
"Good. I wish you all the best of luck Michelle. Oh and bring back our boys safely, alright?"
Michelle met up with Tom, Louie, Alexander, and Tony at the foot of Greenthorpe mansion turned haven for the war victims. Susan was right. Tom was prancing around with his shoulders raised and chin held high. She chuckled at the fact that she knew him so well. Tom caught notice of Michelle's arrival and gave a heart felt greeting.
"Ah, hello Michelle. I didn't fancy seeing you joining us here. Thirsting for glory, perhaps?" Michelle couldn't help but smile at his carrying on.
"Why yes, commander. In fact, I heard it that you were quite the man of words down with the people." she lilted falling right into her part and boosting his ego. Tom's eyes lit up.
"Oh ho, most definitely. I must have turned a hundred men, maybe more, down there. They are just straining at the leash, ready to take their shot." he delivered, internally bursting with a sense of pride.
He continued. "I'm sure Louie and the others would be more than happy to know you're here, so why not settle in with them? I'm sure they've got plenty of jobs to occupy you." Michelle bowed her head, and then worked her way over to Louie, who was busy tentatively setting up snap traps for their unknown enemies. This was it, she thought to herself.
It was a most intense day of hard labor, crafting traps and building a gun barricade for the minute men to make their stand in. Slowly, the mansion's peaceful but dilapidated demeanor changed into a menacing fortress overlooking the town. The wooden fence around it's yard was torn down and used instead to construct a gun barricade that half-circled the hill, ready to fill up with eager vigilantes. Bear traps and trip wires had been supplied by zealous townspeople, and were being put to use all around the mansion. It was nightfall by the time it was all said and done. Torches had been propped up every few feet to help them all see. Tom, Louie, Alexander, Tony, and Michelle were seated around a campfire made behind the barricade in a small alcove that had been dug into the hill. The flame's light danced across people's faces and the moist dirt wall behind them. Everyone except Louie was relaxing, almost meditating, to prepare them for the fight. Louie was poking his head out of the alcove to look up.
"(-). A full moon." he cursed. Tony sighed.
"Are you serious? Ahhh crap." he moaned. Tony looked over at Tom, who seemed to be in a trance. Louie laughed at Tony.
"It gets worse. They're already here." The people in the group all looked at Louie in disbelief. He was pointing outside of the alcove towards a figure in the darkness, a bestial silhouette was in front of the empty barricade, standing tall. He seemed to be waiting.
"Go on general." Michelle urged, her voice shaky and meek. Tom felt queasy the whole walk up to the figure. Tonight he would discover whatever higher power had in store for him. He grabbed a torch from the barricade as he walked around it. Each step felt like a million pound weight on him. However, he kept his resolve, and walked up to face their envoy. As he approached, the light revealed to him a very shadowy looking werewolf. His fur was grey with eons of life beneath him, a very old werewolf he must have been. His left eye was lame and had rolled to the back of his eye lid. Or maybe it was a glass eye. It drew in a raspy breath and then taunted Tom.
"Hahaha..." It's voice personifying decay. "The town of Greenthorpe lays asleep and comfortable in their beds, yet you're still here? Not quite the fight my gentlemen were expecting." he finished. Every word spoken was heavy in the air. He gave a very wheezy cough.
"I have a few tricks up my sleeve. You've all fallen into a trap. My troops have encircled the entire forest, and will be creeping up behind your bandits as we speak." Tom declared with confidence.
"I see. Then I'll just start the attack now so you'll have to play..catch-up." the decrepit beast insinuated. He reached into his cloak and slowly drew out a large red flag. As he raised it above his head, faces sprung out of the underbrush surrounding the mansion. Tom ran back to the barricade, torch in hand, and saw Louie and the others taking a defensive stance. Louie turned back at Tom and almost menacingly demanded to know where their allies were.
"I'll have to run down to the village to get them." Tom said. With that, he ran back up without hearing what Louie or the others had to say.
Gary Parker rest the phone back on the receiver as an advisor opened the door to his office. The advisor looked very up tight and angry. He came over to speak to Parker over the desk in the room.
"All I have to ask is what the hell do you think you're doing?"
Parker's face was devoid of humanity at this point. He started speaking in a very machiavellian, almost ungodly tone.
"I will not have it any other way. The fools. They embarrassed me. They gave a full around slap to my face. Betrayed politically by my home town. Well, all I can say is that if you sign up for the wrong outfit, you get what you deserve. Do you know what I mean? By the end of tonight, Greenthorpe will burn. And all those refugees won't be missed. They've already probably slipped through the cracks and go uncounted for. Nobody will notice their disappearance until it's far too late. And then you know what I'll do next? I'll use it to further my political career. I'll just keep on using the empathy of the oh so terrible events that happen to me and just ride my way to the top. The beauty if it is that nobody knows what I did tonight." Parker reveled. He turned menacingly to the advisor.
"Not even you." Parker loomed over the advisor, fangs coming to bare.
I'm not cut out to be a general. Tom said that to himself over and over again as he ran down to the village. He had been disillusioned. Nobody came to help build the barricade. Nobody helped set up traps. Nobody was up on the hill, guns poised to kill. Tom cursed himself, a tear running down his cheek. He had been holding out on hundreds of his friends at his side on that hill, but he didn't persuade a single heart to his cause. As Tom pushed open the creeky iron gate to the grounds, he saw just further down the path lights in the town square. Perhaps people were there. Tom practically lept down, but well before he even made it, he had slowed to a jog. Then a trot. Finally, when he reached the fountain at town square, he was walking. Four people were huddling around a fire one of which was female. She looked up at Tom and bit her lip.
"I'm sorry. It looks like we're the only ones who came to you." she said.
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The life and death of Gary Parker
Everything that is evil starts out as something good.
“Gary? Where are you Gary?”
Several childeren where playing their favorit game, hide and seek.
It’s funny how something as simple as that can entertain us so in our younger days.
“This isn’t funny anymore Gary, please come here.” Meya shouted. “I’m going to tell your aunt about this and you’ll be in trouble.” She paused to see if he would respond to this threat, but he didn’t. “I swear, I’ll do it.” But she knew that Gary wouldn’t believe her if she heard him. She was to fond of him to tell on him and get him into trouble.
She’d have to miss him for days if she’d tell on him. And who would she play with then?
Marcus, who she had found in less then a minute because he was to fat to fit in the barrel he tried to hide in. Or Reglia, who always pulled her ears if Gary wasn’t looking.
Timmy wasn’t to bad, he was a little quiet ever since the kids went on an adventure that took them to Greenthorpe mansion. Nobody knows what he saw and nobody ever asks him for it.
Somethings are best left unknown and even though they were still young, they knew this was one of those things.
“Gary?” Reglia shouted. She was starting to get worried as well. She knew that he liked a joke but this had gone on long enough now. “Let’s go look for him.” Marcus said lazily.
Even talking costed him to much energy and it didn’t look like he was going to get out from underneath that tree even though he suggested to go look for Gary.
“What do you think we’ve been doing lardhead?” Reglia said. “This game is called hide and SEEK for a reason, geek.” Meya giggled.
“He may be a lardhead but he is right.” Timmy said. “It’s getting dark and if we don’t get home in time our parents will start to get worried.”
Marcus wanted to get up, but after a few sighs and puffs he decided that it was best for him to stay behind in case Gary came back.
Reglia gave him a soft kick against his big behind and shook her head. “One day you’ll sit still forever because you’d be too fat to get up.” Timmy smiled.
He thought she was pretty, two golden brown pony tails were hanging down her shoulders and her eyes would sparkle if she made one of these mean comments. He enjoyed hearing her voice, he had enjoyed it ever since they started to play together. The people in town called them ‘The little pack.’ Wherever they went. They always went together.
If only they had stayed together this time…
“Gary? Where are you Gary.”
Dear Meya, if his feelings could be described for her in adult terms, they’d be called love.
But how does a child call those feelings? All the signs were there.
The blushy cheeks underneath his fur when she talked to him. The way he teased her to hide what he really felt. It’s funny how little rabbits at that age did that to show a girl they liked her. His dad always said that he would never understand a woman, but he could imagine that it was just as hard for women to understand them.
He walked a little further into the cave he had discovered.
Gary was looking for a good place to hide and stumbled over something underneath the grass.
When he looked to see what it was that made him stumble he noticed a hole in the ground, just big enough for a small rabbit to squeeze through.
In the eyes of an adult, his next move would have been one of great courage or stupidity.
But in the eyes of a child, it was the perfect hiding place.
A narrow tunnel crawled through the thick and dark earth towards the north. Several strange crystals in the sides of the tunnel lit everything up so that he could see where he was going.
His mind told him to stay put but he decided to ignore the good advice and he wandered on.
“I’m going to tell your aunt…” Sweet Meya. ‘I know you won’t’ He thought to himself.
He reached the end of the tunnel and entered a massive cave underneath the earth. Lit up by hundreds of Crystals. He stood there in awe over the size of this cave.
A cold stream of wind playfully teased his earlobes. He didn’t know why and he knew he should not do this. But he took a few steps into the cave and stepped into a small stream of icy cold water. His foot blocked up the path of the water like a dam and it felt like the cold water bit in his feet. But he was to bedazzled to feel anything.
This was how the archeologists must have felt when they discovered the grave of king Nozz. The first king of the old times that had united the rabbits of Carrotus.
The air in here was thick and smelled sour, could he have been the first person that had entered this cave in thousands of years or more maybe. He could have even been the very first person that entered this cage since the beginning of time. His imagination seemed to have no limits, but he soon found out that his last assumption wasn’t correct when he noticed a drawing on the far wall.
“He must’ve dissapeared somewhere around here.” Timmy said.
The sun was setting over the treetops now it would not be long untill it would be dark. An hour, maybe less.They all searched down the area in which Gary had dissapeared, inch by inch. Untill Meya noticed a hole underneath a patch of grass.
It seemed that Gary hadn’t covered up his little secret as well as he hoped he had.
“Here, look.” One of his wristbands was resting in the sand.
Timmy, Meya and Reglia were all looking at eachother. They looked rather scared.
“Gary?” Meya said. Softer then before, scarder then before.
The drawing depicted the monsteresque form of a man, thick black lines where drawn over him. As if he was locked in a cage.
Gary was drawn to it’s eyes, as if the drawing had placed an enchantment upon him.
‘Touch me Gary, touch me and free me. Please Gary I’ve been alone for ages.’
The drawing had gotten inside of his head. The young rabbit’s mouth hang open and a small stream of drool fell from the corner of his mouth.
A muffled “Yes…”. Barely audible escaped from his lips and he brought his fingers to the drawing. ‘Good boy. You’ll be rewarded Gary, you’ll be a rich man. I’ll give you everything you want Gary, free me.’ The monsters voice was so friendly and calm it was soothing and it was not long before his fingers touched the cold rock.
Gary’s heart stopped, for a second, for a minute. For one brief period of time he had lost all track of time. It felt like an eternity of pain and anger soared through him.
He did not scream, he could not scream. The monster was his throat, the monster was his head, his eyes, his ears. And then, all of a sudden. Everything seemed to go back to normal.
“Gary, you scared us. Didn’t you hear me? I called out your name.”
The young boy turned around and looked straight into Timmy’s eyes.
All colour left Timmy’s face. He had looked into the eyes of a monster before and it had left him crippled. He wasn’t sure what too say and decided that it was best not to say anything at all. It had helped him out before.
Gary gave the two girls a big hug and then turned his back on them to look at Timmy.
He grinned and placed his pointer finger on his lip. His eyes glowing.
‘This could be the start of a beautiful friendship Gary.’
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Chapter 36
As Jesse fled far from his homeland, other events were taking place.
The fires had died down in the police station, leaving smoldering heaps of debris within the gutted building. Firefighters had come and gone, speaking vaguely about beginning the work of salvage soon. The media hounds came also, describing the fire as an act of terror, emphasizing the depravity of an enemy that would do such things. The death of one officer and injury of another became yet another political tool, a weapon of a different sort in the war.
Adrian sat in an uncomfortable metal-framed chair, bandaged hands wrapped around a thick ceramic coffee mug. He stared fixedly down at the waterstains marking the cheap pasteboard table in front of him. Across from him, looking equally uncomfortable, sat an elderly-looking rabbit, fidgiting and looking frequently at the clock that adorned the otherwise bare wall.
Adrian shifted his attention to that wall. It might have been white once, but was yellowed with age and grime. Cleaner streaks, carved through the dirt by water, marked where the roof leaked. The paint peeled near the ceiling. Bare, dirty lightbulbs adorned the ceiling, casting a distinctly yellow light over the room. The lighting did not flatter the other rabbit, making him look even older and wearier. It sparked off of Adrian's dark fur.
Adrian's companion cleared his throat rustily, clearly hoping to break the awkward silence but instead making it even more awkward. The old relic ought to have been retired years ago, Adrian thought uncharitably. He had been answering the same questions for the past half-hour, and was in a decidedly uncharitable mood.
"So," the aging rabbit said unctuously, clasping his pudgy hands on the table in front of him. He leaned forwards, making the chair creak dangerously. Adrian entertained thoughts of the overburdened chair collapsing beneath the substantial weight of his interrogator, depositing the ineffectual idiot in an undignified heap on the floor.
"So," the other repeated again, the chair having held up despite Adrian's fantasies to the contrary. "Can you describe your attacker once more for me?"
Adrian lifted chilly, pale eyes to the other's weak face. He had described Jesse, in detail, four times already, losing more patience with each repetition. Now he was past anger, feeling only numbness. He was tired, so very tired of this. Something must have shown on his face, for the other swallowed with some difficulty and repeated the question. Adrian deliberated, looking down into his still-full cup. His wintery eyes lifted again.
"No," he said thoughtfully. No inflection betrayed the emotion he might have felt. His back hurt. The bandages felt wet again. His hands still bled, freely though infrequently. He suspected that they were bleeding again. "No ... I do believe I'm done for today," he said, making a token effort at politeness. If anything, it frightened the other rabbit all the more. Adrian rose from the rickety chair and gently set the cup down on the table.
"We're not finished, Adrian," the other told him. Adrian smiled humorlessly.
"That's where you're wrong," he said. "We are. Good day." He turned and walked out of the room. The dented metal door shut behind him with a satisfying finality.
Adrian walked aimlessly, seeking only to leave the run-down hospital behind. His thoughts centered on the cause of his current woes, Jesse.
Adrian was an experienced spymaster. He had directed numerous operations, and executed countless others on his own. He was not stupid, nor careless, but he had to admit that he had seriously erred with Jesse. Syamin's loss was more than acceptable; had the moronic officer not died in the fire, Adrian would have seen him executed for his fumbling.
Even Syamin's disastrous error could have been rectified. But somehow, somehow, a boy ten years Adrian's junior had not only defied them, but fought and escaped him. And that was not acceptable
Adrian was not satisfied with the promises he had recieved, that Jesse would be found and dealt with. He had been a government agent for too long to rely on the empty words of his employers. If it was to be done properly, he would have to do it himself.
He found himself at the ruined station. His hands ached. He really shouldn't have been walking yet, but the pain in his feet wasn't so bad. He would have to watch how he moved; the burnt stripes across his back were newly healed and would break open easily. The fire had left Adrian badly hurt, skin completely charred in places. The hospital had patched him up but the pain still lingered. Another indignity that Jesse had to answer for. And he would answer.
Adrian's cell rang. He answered it without taking his eyes from the ruins.
"Adrian."
"Adrian, I heard what happened. Are you all right?" The tinny voice, full of over-done concern, belonged to the man who had been Adrian's handler in the government. The spymaster had worked without him for the past six years.
"Raspen. I assume you have a good reason for contacting me."
"Look, Adrian, I know we didn't part on the best of terms -"
Adrian snorted. Their parting words had been less than civilized. He still seethed inwardly when he considered how Raspen had abandoned him to the wolves, so to speak, at the height of an operation.
"- but I'm calling you onto a job."
"I'm already on a job. Get yourself another operative."
"Not anymore. They're pulling you off and putting you on a different one. Low-profile. In case this guy comes after you."
"Oh, sure. Now tell me the real why."
"You have too much publicity up there," Raspen almost shouted. "We both know it, Adrian! You can't operate as efficiently."
"And what about the kid?"
"Forget Jesse. We'll deal with him. You screwed up, Adrian. Now you get to work it off."
Adrian snarled wordlessly. Raspen's words had been anticipated.
"Screw you, Raspen. I'll deal with Jesse myself."
"Not happening. We'll do what it takes to bring you in, Adrian, if we have to."
"Try it," Adrian said, feeling an icy calm settle over him. "I dare you to."
"Threats don't work, Adrian. It's over for you, my friend."
"Spare me the melodramatics. I will deal with Jesse."
"Adrian -"
Adrian snapped the phone shut and pocketed it. It began to ring again, insistently. He ignored it.
It was time to deal with Jesse.
The roads were clear as Adrian left the town behind, at the wheel of a "borrowed" police vehicle. He would have to ditch it soon, it was too easily traced. He ran a thumb over the fresh bandages on his hands, which had stopped bleeding finally.
He intended to know who exactly Jesse was before he traced the boy's steps. Knowing his enemy would give him ways to anticipate and get at Jesse, so that he could silence the boy. Adrian was a perfectionist. Leaving an error like Jesse unrectified was unimaginable.
He flipped his cellphone open and stiffly thumbed in a number, glancing frequently at the mirror. There would be no pursuit for some time, Adrian being the only surviving agent in the town. Demyas would have his hands full, and explaining why he was chasing his superior would take time.
The phone rang without answer. Finally, a recording came on.
"Hi, you've reached Fierro Dembarra. I'm not in right now, but if you'll leave your name and number, I'll get back to you." The standard voicemail greeting. Adrial swore but didn't hang up.
"Fierro, it's Adrian. Call me ASAP. No official channels." He ended the call and dialled another number.
Two rings and a breathy female voice said, "hello?"
"Hayley, it's Adrian," he said calmly. "Can you talk?"
"Adrian," she said, losing her breathiness in record time. "It's been a while. Go for it."
"I need an ID on someone." He described Jesse briefly to Hayley, who remained attentively silent. "He may be in trouble with the law," he added. "No official channels, Hayley."
Hayley was quiet for a moment. "You gone rogue, Adrian?" she asked, a strange tone to her voice.
"In a sense," Adrian said. "Unofficial assignment. I need this fast."
"I'll call you when I have it," Hayley assured him. Adrian thanked her and hug up.
Other agents would have lied to Hayley and assured her that they were still clean. Adrian knew better. His contact system was built on mutual trust. One lie found out, and it invariably would be, would muddy the waters, break the trust, and Adrian would suddenly find himself unable to trust the information he was being fed. He expected Fierro to ask the same question. He would answer similarly.
Adrian had one more call to make. Fierro and Hayley were excellent informants and would get back to him soon, but more needed to be done to give him time. Flipping open his phone one last time, he punched in a 12-digit number from memory and listened to it ring.
On the fifth ring, the phone was picked up on the other end in silence.
"It's Adrian," the spymaster said quietly. "I need your help."
"You screwed up," the other said quietly, in a soft androgynous voice.
"Yes," Adrian admitted. "I need you to keep my trail clean."
"You know what I require."
"I'll see what I can do. I'll fill you in later on my plans. Call me when the pursuit starts and keep me updated."
The other did not have to reassure Adrian that it would be done. There was a brief pause and then the reciever was gently replaced in the cradle and the line went dead.
Adrian hung up and drove on.
That night Jesse dreamed, and as he did his sleep became restless and light, for the face that haunted his dreams was the face of Jonathan.
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