18 KiB
Chapter 5
The sun was high in the sky now. The overcast sky seemed to be brightening now as the lake shimmered with the suns glow. The inside of the house seemed to brighten under the sun. Abraham was rather impressed by the appearance of it…it hardly seemed like a house of monsters and ghouls any more. Solomon continued to stare up at Abraham, expecting him to speak up. Abraham was slightly nervous. Solomon had told him to stop digging into the fate of Katie, and he had disobeyed…but now Solomon was saying that he had wanted Abraham to do it? How did that make any sense? "I…I don't understand…you actually wanted me to investigate the disappearance of Katie?" Abraham asked. Solomon nodded. "Yes, I did." "Then…why did you try to stop me earlier?" Solomon just laughed hardily at him. "I wasn't trying to stop you…I only was trying to strengthen your resolve and feed your curiosity." Solomon explained. "I wanted to see how far you would be willing to go to find out the truth about her…and I must say that I'm impressed with your resolve. Now…share what you've learned with me…and I'll try to fill in the blanks for you." Abraham smiled, happy that he wasn't in any trouble.
"Well…here's what I've pieced together…" Abraham began. He walked over to the couch next to Solomon's arm chair and sat down as he spoke. "Katie was a monster here, just like you all. She lived in my room up until a week ago when she was kidnapped. None of you know who kidnapped her or how, but your suspicions point to some sort of new weapon that humans developed for the purpose of capturing monsters. This weapon is unknown and everyone is terrified of it…and supposedly, only Asher stands a chance of finding her, so that's why he goes out all the time looking for her." Abraham finished speaking and Solomon only smiled in amusement. "I dare say, my boy…you could make a fine detective." Solomon laughed. "You have done an excellent job of digging up the truth…although you missed a few key details." "That's what I wanted to bring up." Abraham said quickly. "Michelle gave me a clue…but I don't understand its meaning. I'm sure that I could figure out more if I just knew what the clue was." "What was this clue?" Solomon asked encouragingly. "She said that I was looking in the wrong places. She told me to try looking at where the problem began." When he said the last word, Solomon sighed and shook his head. "Not 'where it began'…she said 'when it begins'." Solomon whispered. "Why does that make a difference?" Abraham asked. Solomon tutted to himself and leaned back. "It's a riddle, Abraham…everything makes a difference in a riddle." "So, what does it mean? Where does she want me to look?" Abraham pressed. Solomon set down his book and folded his arms across his chest.
"She said you were looking in the wrong PLACE, Abraham…but she tells you to look WHEN it begins. This is implying a moment in time that something starts…not a location. Her clue is a moment in time." Solomon corrected. Abraham gasped and slapped his own forehead in realization. "Okay, so the clue is a certain time…but what time does she mean?" Abraham asked. Solomon closed his eyes and his brow furrowed. He seemed deep in thought. He was grinning though…and he was chuckling to himself. "I can't hold your hand the whole way, young inspector…try and figure it out yourself." Abraham nodded and he began to think hard. He now knew, thanks to the two key words place and when that Michelle's clue was a point in time…and her other clue was the word begins. "The time period she's talking about is talking about when something begins…not when something began. So if something begins that means that it happens repeatedly right?" Abraham pressed. Solomon nodded reassuringly. "You're correct." Abraham continued to ponder and consider everything….his mind was on overdrive as he thought hard about this clue. "She said when the problem begins…so…she means that the problem…began at a certain time of day, right?!" Solomon didn't answer but his smile widened a little. Abraham was excited. He was closing in on the answer. He then saw it! The question he had been missing! Michelle had given him a question to figure out…not just a riddle! "She said that I should look to when the problem begins. The problem was that Katie was kidnapped, and begins implies that it was a time of day…so now the only thing I need to discover is…." He leaned forward and faced Solomon seriously, a grin across his face. "At what time of day did Katie go missing?" Solomon let out a laugh and clapped his hands happily. "My boy you did it!" He cried. "Well done…you've figured out the riddle." Abraham couldn't hold back a big smile. He had never been praised by a ghost before…but it felt strangely nice. Solomon chuckled and nodded his head. "Asher discovered Katie's room to be empty at dawn that morning. That was the moment our problem began. You could also make the argument that the dawn is the beginning of a problem for all monsters, as most monsters are nocturnal creatures. But you came to that answer in a most clever way…I'll have to praise Michelle later for coming up with such a good riddle." "But what does it tell me?" Abraham asked. "I mean…so I know the time of day she was taken…what does that tell me?" Solomon's smile faded and he looked down at his feet. "It tells you…who we believe to be Katie's abductors." Solomon said coldly. "How?" Abraham asked. Solomon opened his mouth to speak when suddenly, there was a crash. Abraham and Solomon spun to see Tamil burst into the room. His pale eyes were wild and he was breathing heavily.
"People…coming….this….way!" He panted in exhaustion. Solomon rose to his feet, as did Abraham. "We'll continue this later, Abraham…right now I need your help!" Solomon barked. He spun to face Tamil. "How many are there, and how far away?" "There are three…all in fancy suits. They 3 minutes…away." Tamil gasped. Solomon nodded. "Then we still have time…Go find Michelle and tell her to meet me at the front door, then go to Calypso and instruct her to dry herself off and get inside, immediately!" Tamil turned and rushed out the door to do as he was told. Abraham quickly jumped in. "What about me, sir?" Abraham asked. Solomon glanced at him and smirked. "I think I have a new job for you boy…but you'll have to play along with Michelle." Solomon quickly walked to the front of the house, with Abraham close behind him. Not 30 seconds later, Michelle was at the front door, looking dirty and frantic. "I'm here! Tamil told me what's happening. What's the plan?!" Solomon turned from her and reached into a closet by the stairs. He pulled out two baseball gloves and tossed them to Michelle and Abraham. He then handed Abraham a baseball. "You know how to handle this Michelle…do what you have to. Just don't let them inside the house until I've given the all clear." Solomon said fiercely. Michelle nodded and grabbed Abraham by the hand. "What's he talking about?!" Abraham shouted. "I don't understand what we're doing." Michelle didn't respond, instead she ran to the front yard and made Abraham stand in place. She then backed away from him and held up the glove like a baseball player would. "What does it look like we're doing, bro? Just two siblings playing catch, right?" Abraham stared at her in confusion and disbelief. Bro? Siblings? Catch? What was this all about? However, he thought back to how Solomon had told him to play along with Michelle…so that's what he did. He picked up the ball and threw it at Michelle. Her reflexes were flawless as she snatched the ball out of the air and chucked it back for Abraham.
"Excuse us." Abraham and Michelle stopped and turned around. Walking down the yard were three men in very formal business attire. They looked like lawyers or people of some sort of political authority. They smiled as they walked closer. Michelle grinned and waved kindly. Abraham's jaw almost dropped in her sudden change in attitude and demeanor! "Hello, there!" Michelle cried out girlishly. "Hi." Abraham responded nervously. The strangers nodded and one of them leaned down to look Abraham in the eyes. "What are you kids up to?" He asked. Michelle walked forward and put her arm around my shoulders playfully. "Just playing catch…you wanna join in?" The man shook his head, but never lost his smile. "Actually, we're here on business...is your father around?" Abraham started to speak up that they were orphans, but Michelle broke in first. "Oh, dad isn't feeling too well at the moment. The doctor says it's the flue, but if you asked me, dad's too tough for the flu bug. Still…doctor says he needs rest. If you'd like to leave a message, I'll see that he gets it." Abraham couldn't believe just how convincing Michelle sounded! It was as if she had been born as two different people. Her lie sounded so natural that he himself almost believed her. The adults looked from one to the other, clearly unsure as to what to do. The one in front coughed and shook his head. "I'm afraid that we have to speak to your father personally…it's about the house." He pulled out a folder from inside of his coat. "I'm afraid that he needs to see these." Michelle's face suddenly darkened. Abraham could feel anger building up behind her face. "I told you…he's not feeling well. Why don't you come back later?" "We can't, kid…now if you'll…" The lawyer stopped talking and looked up to the house. Michelle and Abraham spun to look and he couldn't help but stare. Walking towards them, up the lawn was a figure. He had on a dark hood covering his head and a leather jacket over that. His hands were stashed in the pockets of his dark jeans and his boots squished loudly in the wet grass. Abraham couldn't quite make out his face…but he was too short to be Solomon…and too tall to be Tamil. Who was it?
"Hello, are you the father of these children?" "Not really, more of a big brother." The figure said. "As my kid sister probably told you, the old man doesn't want any visitors today…so you're going to have to leave and comeback later." Abraham recognized the voice…it was Asher! But it was the middle of the day, what was he doing out here?! The lawyer seemed unfazed by Asher's remark. "Listen, young man," the man said fiercely, "you're probably too young to understand the details of this, but our client is very interested in this property, and seeing as how the original owner has long sense passed away, and no will has been presented…we are here to…to…" Asher raised his head up slightly so that his face could just barely be seen…and Abraham couldn't help but squirm when he saw Asher's eyes. "…To do what, exactly?" Asher asked. The lawyer tried to speak…but he seemed tongue tied. He couldn't pull his gaze away…it was like his eyes were locked on Ashers. Abraham looked up at Ashers eyes and….it was unbelievable! Abraham suddenly felt an unbelievable peace wash over his body! He felt so warm…so happy! It was like nothing he had ever felt before! He's muscles relaxed and his body felt so pleasant! He couldn't look away from Asher's glowing, crimson eyes! He would do anything for him! Whatever he was told, he would do without hesitation! Why did he feel like this?! What was wrong with him? "Nothing is wrong." It was Asher's voice! It was so clear…so deep in his mind that he couldn't possibly ignore it. It wasn't just a sentence…it was a command! It was law! "Nothing…is wrong…?" Abraham muttered. What was wrong? Who cared!? If he said that there was nothing wrong, then the wrong never existed! "Everything is fine." "Everything is…fine." Abraham repeated stupidly.
"Abraham, ABRAHAM!" Suddenly, Abraham felt his body being jerked back to reality, his eyes were being covered by Michelle. What had just happened?! He looked up and saw that Michelle was protecting his eyes. "What…I don't…" "Never look directly at Asher's eyes when he does that!" Michelle hissed. Abraham was about to ask why…but he quickly realized that he didn't need to. He turned to look up at the scene before him. The three lawyers were standing slack…as if their muscles had fallen asleep and they were only just barely standing up. They couldn't look away from Asher, whose eyes were boring into theirs. They must have been trapped under his gaze like he had been! "What happened to me?" Abraham asked. "The same thing that's happening to them!" Michelle hissed, indicating the zombie like lawyers. "What's he done to them?" Abraham whispered. "Are they under some kind of…obedience spell…or some kind of love beam?" "It's vampire hypnosis." Michelle explained. "Asher has the power to manipulate the mind and memories of other people using his gaze. Problem is, it affects anyone who gazes at his eyes. You're lucky I was here, or you'd be as brain dead as our guests here!" Abraham nodded as Michelle spoke. He knew that vampires were powerful creatures…and he knew that Asher was strong even before he knew that Asher was a vampire…but he had no idea just how strong Asher really was. What other powers did Asher have that he didn't know about? In fact, what powers and skills did the others have that he wasn't aware of? They were monsters after all. As he thought these things, the scene before him continued to unfold.
"I'm afraid that your services are no longer required here, gentlemen." Asher said in that same deep and hypnotizing voice. "Please leave immediately…and do not darken our doorstep again." Abraham knew all too well what those lawyers must have been feeling…and if he was right, then he knew what would happen next. The lawyers, still as stiff as boards smiled strangely and nodded. "Yes," they muttered, "we'll leave immediately." Abraham caught a glimpse of Asher's face…and he saw that Asher was grinning…exposing his fangs. "Excellent…now go." With these last words, the lawyers turned on their heels and started marching away quickly…they couldn't wait to follow through with their orders. Once they were well out of sight, Asher groaned and turned to walk back towards the house.
"Nice work, Asher." Michelle said kindly with a smirk. Asher grunted in response. "I'm going back to bed…being out in the sun is exhausting…even with my body covered." Abraham watched him walk towards the house and couldn't help but feel a great deal of respect and a small hint of fear. Asher was definitely a creature not to cross. No wonder everyone thought he was the only one to save Katie. "The sun is fatal to Asher," Michelle explained, "he can't take direct sunlight or he'll burn. If he wants to go outside in the sun, he has to cover himself in clothing to keep from being burned….but even doing that weakens him. That's why he seems so gloomy. Normally he's not quite that sullen." Abraham nodded. "By the way, nice job today…you played your part well." "Um…what exactly did I do besides get caught in Asher's gaze?" Abraham asked. "Asher's job is to protect this house…and keep people away. However, during the day, he has to sleep, since I was the only one who could appear human during the day, I keep an eye on things during the day…and sometimes I have to pretend to be someone I'm not to make them leave." "Oh, I see." Abraham said, starting to understand her work a little bit better. "That's why you said we were brother and sister…you were trying to sell the illusion." Michelle nodded. "You catch on quick." She laughed. "Now, I have more work to get done…go inside and tell the old man that the coast is clear." She turned on her heals and walked off, leaving Abraham to go back to the house alone.
"Asher's back in bed…I assume everything went well?" Solomon asked. Abraham walked inside and flopped down on the couch. Abraham looked to him and then moaned. "I'm still so new to all of this…it's a lot to take in at once." "I assume that you saw Asher use his powers?" "Saw? I fell victim to it." Abraham moaned. Solomon chuckled and smiled. "Well, no need to worry. I always get lawyers and realtors around here…looking to take this house and sell it." Solomon explained. "Why though? You still live here." "My soul does…but my body is currently buried in a local cemetery." Solomon laughed. "I'm afraid that after my death, several people were very interested in purchasing my land and home…but I could never part with it." "Didn't you leave it to anyone?" Abraham asked. Solomon nodded in reply…but his face seemed to fall a little. "My son…William." He said. "I left it all to him…but he doesn't know this." "Why not?" Abraham asked. "What would you say if your father told you that you had just inherited a house full of misfit monsters who have no home of their own?" Abraham grimaced at the thought. "Good…point." Abraham said. "Besides…hopefully I can one day tell him about this place…if I just knew where to find him." Solomon seemed a little distracted at this point. It was like he was talking more to the house that Abraham now. While he didn't want to break the moment…Abraham still wanted to know something…and he had to know it now.
"Solomon, sir…" Abraham muttered, "before that incident outside…you said that the time of day Katie was kidnapped was a clue to her abductors." Solomon nodded darkly and there was a look of anger and concern in his face. "It's not just a clue boy…it's who they are." He said coldly. "They call themselves the Dawn Bringers. They are an organization of the most efficient and ruthless monster hunters, that have been causing hell for all supernatural creatures for centuries. They use weapons and tactics that we not only fear, but we find to be inhuman! The reason why I said I wasn't sure if her abductors were human is because I'm not sure if they meet that qualification…they're more like monsters themselves." There was a deafening silence that fell over the room as Solomon spoke these words. It was like the warm house suddenly went cold…and that a strange and eerie sadness had over taken them. "And you think…they took Katie?" Abraham asked. "Son…I know that they took her."