12 KiB
Chapter 29
The whole day passed by in peace, as if nothing had or would happen. Abraham occasionally would look back at the club behind him, checking to make sure everyone was okay. Ashley was still asleep under the umbrella, her body tanning from the sun, despite her efforts. Tamil sat beside Katie who was reading a magazine to him that she’d taken from the gas station. Though it was a woman’s clothing magazine, he seemed attentive, as if someone giving him attention was enough. Calypso sat with Annie who was helping her fill water bottles so that everyone would have something to drink. Sarah, unable to fit into a bus seat, just sat in the far back of the bus, watching cars pass by and humming to herself some strange song that Abraham had never heard before. Michelle sat behind Abraham, with her hand on the drivers seat and watching his progress. The night was falling and her eyes were more keen than Abrahams. She could better see road signs and where to go.
“Take the next right…we should end up on a dirt road that leads to our home.” She whispered. Abraham complied and turned, leading them off the paved road and onto a dirt pathway. It was like he’d driven onto the road less traveled as the top of the bus kept getting scrapped by low hanging tree limbs and the ground was soft from rained on mud. The bus moved slowly through the forest until at last the familiar light of a house was up ahead….the cottage! It was their home at last! As they drew closer, Annie ran to the front of the bus and looked out the window. “That’s your home?” She asked. “Yes it is!” Sarah giggled from the back. “And guys, it’ll feel so good to be home, right?” Everyone seemed to nod their response…except for Tamil, who had a very serious look on his blank face. He was gripping the seat in front of him in a fearful manner. Something was troubling the young mummy, and Abraham could see it. “What’s wrong, Tamil?” “Something…very wrong.” He said. “I just…feel something is wrong.” “Yeah…” Asher said, sitting up and throwing the umbrella aside. With the sun down now, he could become himself again. “I feel it too. Everyone gather to the back of the bus…we’re going to approach this cautiously.” There was a terrified hush that fell over the group. Asher jumped off the bus first and helped everyone down as well. As Abraham looked at the cottage, everything did look normal…but slowly a chill fell over his spine as well. Indeed, he understood what Tamil meant. There was something not right about the air…something was out of place. It was like the dripping faucet in the bathroom, or the slight chip in the paint on the wall…something so small, yet something very noticeable. “What do you suppo-” “Hush…” Asher whispered. He drew his pistol and loaded it. “Everyone…follow behind me, but keep some distance. If I yell run, all of you get out of the house.” “Right.” Came the response.
Asher entered the house silently and with such stealth that Abraham had to check once or twice to make sure he still had eyes on him. The house seemed in one piece…everything seemed nice and tidey and in its place. Solomon must have cleaned it up a bit. As they made their way through the entry hall, they came to the den…and there stood Solomon, facing the back door, with his back to them. Asher held out his hand for everyone to stay back as he moved closer to the ghostly figure that was his old friend. “Hey…Solomon, are you okay?” “Asher?” Solomon spun around to see Asher behind him, but Abraham felt his heart stop cold when he saw the look of fear on his face. “Old man, what happened!?” Asher demanded. “Get out of here, Asher! Run while you still-” POW “AAAAAAAAH!” Solomon crashed to the ground as something heavy struck him. As he hit the ground, he vanished in a whisp of smoke. Asher leaped away in horror and saw salt splattered along the ground. “Salt rounds!?” Asher cried. “That’s right, blood sucker.”
The entire club turned their heads to the kitchen door where out walked a man they’d never seen, and looked like something out of a Halloween dress shop. He wore a grungy and dirty trench coat with a long brimmed hat. A scraggly beard covered most of his face and he had the coldest blue eyes you’d ever seen. In his gloved hand was a pistol that was aimed where Solomon had been. In his hand he held a piece of paper with a nail in his finger. There was a crossbow on his back, a rifle, a sword, and about 5 different knifes on his belt. He stank of salt and some kind of blood. Were there blood stains on his coat? “A hunter?” Asher demanded. “Are you with the Dawn Bringers?” “Once.” The man scoffed. “But they lost their honor and their dignity by bringing in that vampire, Drake to be their lap dog. They’ve forgotten what it means to hunt the filth of this world. I no longer serve alongside those weaklings. That said, tailing them has given me great information on this club…in particular how to locate you…and kill you.” As he spoke he took the paper and nailed it to the door behind him. As he did, Asher suddenly trembled and he hand to lean against the couch next to him. He looked…tired! He looked weaker and sluggish! What had just happened!? “Y-you son of a-” “Save your breath, vampire.” The man growled. “Because soon you will not take another.” “ASHER!” Michelle ran forward and tried to reach Asher, who was no struggling to even stand. However, as she got close, there was a flash of light, Michelle screamed and flew backwards, clutching her hand. “WHAT THE HELL JUST-” “It’s a spiritual barrier.” The man explained. “When I arrived here, I took the liberty of placing those barrier pages on each entrance and exit to this room. No monster can get in or out once it is set. Any supernatural creature within this barrier cannot get out, and they are stripped of their power. In this room, only humans have the power.” Michell grimaced and tried to push against the invisible barrier, but was met with the same result. “We can’t get through! Asher! Asher!!” Michelle screamed. Abraham looked around and saw that every entrance and exit was covered by a paper similar to the one that the man had carried before. This was the barrier! The pages all together kept Asher in and drained him of strength. Who was this guy? He’d planned this all out to the letter! How did he know where they were? How was he so well prepared? “I’ll kick your ASS!” Asher aimed his gun at Morgan and fired twice. Morgan was out of the way moments before the trigger was pulled and he kicked at Asher. Asher blocked with his forearm, but he was straining to even do this. It was like his body weighed a ton to him! He was so sluggish and weak, it hurt to see him like this! What kind of power did this barrier have over him!? Asher again made a move to shoot Morgan, or to at least hold him off, but Morgan wrenched the gun from Asher’s hand, struck him across the face, and kicked him into the wall. “STOP IT!” Calypso screamed. Michelle again ran at the barrier, but was blown back. Tamil was shuddering in a corner, feeling powerless as Sarah could only stand back and comfort Annie, who now was crying like a baby. She was scared…and with good reason. Katie was shaking with something…was it rage or fear? It was hard to tell. But whatever she was feeling, Abraham knew what he was feeling: Horror. For the first time in a long time, Abraham felt true horror at the sight before him. But it was not a monster that terrified him…it was this man. What true irony…to be scared of the man instead of the monster.
“My name is Morgan. Arthur Morgan. I am the last face you shall ever see vampire. When you are done, I shall deal with your friends as well.” He explained to the groaning and bleeding Asher. He pulled his cross bow and loaded it with a silver tipped arrow. Asher acted quickly and tried to charge Morgan, but his speed was pitiful in his weakened state. Morgan dodged, pulled the bolt from his bow, and strike Asher in the chest with it. “AAAAAAAAAAH!” Asher roared in pain and fell back, blood seeping from his chest. He wasn’t regenerating! He really had lost his power! He fell backwards and lay on his back, clutching his wound. It must have been some time since he’d been in such pain. Morgan got down on his knees and pulled out dagger, the blade made of blessed silver. He raised it over his head and began to murmer under his breath. “E nomine padre…” He began his prayer. “He’s going to kill him!” Calypso screamed, trying to fight her way past Sarah and Katie, who were holding her back. “Michelle, save him!” “I can’t do a thing!” Michelle shouted back. Suddenly Abraham’s eyes widened. “But I can!” Abraham ran with all his might at the doorway and…passed clean through it! Morgan stopped his chanting and looked up in surprise. “You are…” “Yeah, I’m a human!” Abraham shouted back. “But I’m also part of the Monster Club!” Abraham grabbed the nearest parchment and ripped it from the doorframe…and instantly a calm hush fell over the room…it was like a viel had been lifted. With the paper missing, the barrier was incomplete…and a new strength returned to Asher. “DAMN YOU!” Morgan raised his dagger again and brought it down on Asher.
It was too late.
Asher’s body exploded into thrashing and screaming bats and shadows, lashing at Morgan and reassembling themselves into Asher’s fully healed body. He was snarling furiously as he aimed his gun at Morgan’s head. Michelle ran in after Abraham and stood behind Asher. Morgan dared not move as he was being stared down by Asher and the others. He was outnumbered….and without the help of his barrier, there was no prayer for him now. “It’s over, Morgan.” Michelle shouted. “Not quite.” Morgan shouted. He grabbed a small pouch and threw it at Asher. It exploded in his face and Asher screamed as a smelly powder struck his face…powder that smelled like garlic! “Asher!” Michelle and the others turned to Asher quickly as he fell over, growling and trying to rub the powder off of his face. As he did, Morgan took off running for the exit. “We should go after him!” Katie cried. “He knows where we live so he’ll surely come back.” “NEVER MIND THAT!” Everyone turned around to see Solomon reappear. The salt had only knocked him from the room for a brief period, but he was back and looking even more terrified. “No need to worry, Solomon.” Asher said with a painful smile. “We took care of that hunter bastard. Morgan’s running for the hills.” “THAT’S NOT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO WARN YOU ABOUT! GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE NOW! HE’S RIGGED BOMBS UNDER THE FOUNDATION! GET OUT NOW!!”
The club barely had time to react…most didn’t even feel the sensation of the heat and the impact. The thunderous roar of an explosion filled their ears, their senses, and their bodies. Abraham felt himself knocked off his feet by a massive eruption of power, flames, and force. He could only make out brief glimpses of the others. Asher had his arms around Annie and was yanking her towards the door…Tamil was in Sarah and Katie’s grip as the threw him to the other end of the house. Michelle and Calypso were caught in mid sprint as wood and mortar shot around them like gunfire. The club was blasted off of their feet, into the air, and out of the house. Soon, all of Abraham’s world turned black. He saw no more. His final thoughts before slipping into unconsciousness were as weak as his vision: “What happened…what happened to my family?”