veryone continued to look up toward the sky. “That was Sage trying to contact us,” Anna said. “Maybe she’ll try again,” Cody said. “At least she’s still alive,” Daniel said. They heard a loud knock at the door. “That’s them,” Anna said. “We didn’t have to summon them after all.” “Sage did.” Everyone left from the roof
as Cristian continued to stare at Samuel with a growing unease, wondering what secret he’s keeping. They all stood at the entrance as Anna opened the door.
Vampires of all ages and ethnicities were arriving as she ushered them in.
Cristian stared in astonishment at the diverse vampires. Some were dressed in business suits, others casual, some in professional uniforms, and the rest in gothic clothing. Once they were inside, Anna brought them to an empty room large enough to hold two hundred people. They waited in silence as she and the rest of the coven headed toward the end of the room to face the crowd.
“Thank you for coming,” Anna said. “We saw the lights in the sky and we knew that the queen was in trouble,” one of the vampires said. “Hey, isn’t that the vampire the queen was with the night we arrived in town…,” Billy whispered to Cody. “It is,” Pedro said with irritation, remembering that night. Cristian looked into the crowd to see who they were talking about and his eyes came upon a bald man with a strong build. He bristled realizing that Sage and this vampire had had a physical encounter. He began to wonder if Samuel was among the ones she’d had an encounter with. “Yes, the queen is in great danger,” Anna replied. “Earlier tonight, she was taken by the hunter Pearson.” The crowd began to murmur and whisper amongst themselves.
Anna held up her hand to silence them. “We need your help to find her,” she said. “We can’t do this alone. Anything you may see or hear will be beneficial in bringing her back unharmed. The queen will be forever indebted to you for your service. Remember this hunter will not take her to a known location. He probably took her somewhere where there is isolation, so look for things out of the ordinary. The sun will be rising soon, so we will probably have to put the search on hold until sundown.”
“We will do all we can to find the queen,” the bald vampire said. Cristian chewed his lip, fighting against his jealousy.
Sage mustered her strength to remove the garlic necklace from her neck and flung it against the wall. Sitting up slowly, she looked around at her surroundings. She saw rows of pews covered with dust and cobwebs. She also noticed stained-glass windows. Some were shattered, but one window was still intact with a depiction of hands in prayer. She realized she was in a church that had long since been abandoned. As she turned her head, a large rusting cross immediately repelled her. “Still alive?” a voice asked as footsteps creaked across the wooden floors. Pearson appeared in the moonlight with a piece of the kilt torn off and wrapped around his head with dried blood crusted on it. “It is stated that whatsoever eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off,” he said like an executioner reading a death edict to the condemned.
“Leviticus the seventh chapter and the twenty-seventh verse, although you didn’t exactly quote it right,” Sage replied. “You know the bible?” he asked, surprised. “Of course,” Sage said, “I wasn’t always a vampire.” She recalled when she was fifteen living in Egypt, she had insisted on visiting the tombs of the ancients alone without the servants, even though her father persisted. She wanted to go alone, and she was tired of having her every move monitored. So she left with her knapsack and a parasol to protect her from the scorching sun, and went on her way.
As she was headed toward the tombs, a woman with twinkling eyes and a smile as bright as sunshine approached her. She was wearing a straw hat to protect her fair complexion and a sky blue dress. She told Sage that she had good news and placed a black book in her hands. “What is it?” Sage asked. “This tells the story of the good news,” the woman smiled. “Have a wonderful day,” she said, waving good-bye and walking away. “But,” Sage said. She looked around for the woman and she had vanished.
Staring at the mysterious book, Sage quickly tucked it inside her knapsack as she continued on her way.
Once she was home, Sage sat on her bed, large enough to fit five people, and took out the black book from her knapsack. She opened it and discovered that it was a bible. Not just any bible but the holy bible. She began to read it with enthusiasm. She found that she had an insatiable appetite for this fascinating book and couldn’t put it down. She read and reread the entire book, intrigued by the stories of valor such as David and Goliath, the stories of sacrifice and love such as Abraham and Isaac. The wisdom of King Solomon and the life of Jesus Christ, starting with his immaculate conception, the miracles he performed, his horrifying death, and glorious resurrection. She had a thirst for this book like dry land that thirsts for rain. Whenever she was away, she would hide the book under her feather pillows so that her father wouldn’t discover it. One afternoon, she jumped on her bed and reached under her pillow to read the book again only to discover it was gone. Horrified, she searched her room over and over trying to find her book. “It’s gone,” her father said standing at the door. “I had it burned,” he said. “Why?” she asked. “Why would you read that book of fairytales?” he said.
“There is no God,” he sneered. “If he does exist and he is a God of love, then why is there suffering?” he asked, not expecting an answer. “Why is there hatred for people of other races and cultures if we are all made in his image?” Sage opened her mouth to respond, but was unable to give an answer to his question. “Just as I thought,” Jacob said with a smirk on his face as though he had obtained some unspoken victory. “You don’t know.”
“I shouldn’t be surprised that you would know scriptures,” Rafael said, bringing Sage back to the present. “Then you know why I have to destroy you,” he said. “Nothing personal, but this is my duty.” Sage began to chuckle. “What’s so funny, vampire?” he asked. “I’ve seen this happen time and time again,” she said.
“What?” he snapped. “The hunter becomes the hunted,” she said. “I don’t care that the police are looking for me,” Rafael retorted. “I’ll be long gone after I destroy you.” “That’s not what I meant,” Sage said. “You are becoming the embodiment of the very thing you want to destroy.” “Come again?” Rafael asked. “You get a rush from the kill just as a vampire gets a rush from hunting their prey,” she said. “You have a bloodlust.”
“Shut up!” he yelled throwing holy water on her. She recoiled in pain as the water burned her skin like acid. “Vampires—all of them are evil,” he snarled. “You say vampires are evil,” Sage said, grimacing in pain. “I’ve seen humans commit acts of evil against each other that would make even the vilest vampire tame in comparison. You see, humans have an affinity for building things up only to destroy them. It’s as though it’s in your nature—” she said, “you can’t help yourself. Now this planet that we both call home is in peril due to humans’ lust for power and control. Neither one of our species will be around if this planet dies because we’ll all be extinct.” Rafael started to laugh. Sage glared at him. “I don’t believe it,” he said, “a vampire with a bleeding heart.” He roared with laughter, enjoying the pun.
“John will be released from the hospital within hours,” Lisa said checking the time. “I’ll go pick him up,” Billy volunteered. “I’ll go get a change of clothes for him from his room,” she said. She entered his room and opened the drawer to take out a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt along with a denim jacket. She saw his laptop halfway closed as she was headed toward the door. Curious, she lifted it up to sneak a look at his mysterious writing. “What’s this!” she said crinkling her eyebrow. “Why is he writing about vampires?” “What’s wrong?” Cody asked as Lisa returned frowning. “Nothing,” she said. Cody and Billy exchanged looks as Billy took the clothes. “I’ll be back,” he said. “Okay, Lisa what’s bothering you?” Cody asked. “I wasn’t being nosy,” Lisa said quickly. “But I saw something on John’s laptop that I think you should see.” They both headed toward John’s room.
Anna and Pedro were still talking to the vampires who lingered, when Samuel excused himself to retire to his room. Cristian, seizing the opportunity to confront him, yelled for him to wait. “Yes, Cristian?” Samuel asked curiously. “We need to talk,” Cristian said. “We can speak on the roof if you’d like,” Samuel said. “Fine,” Cristian replied. Once on the roof, Samuel waited for Cristian to speak, watching him pace the floor back and forth. “You and Sage are close,” he began. “Yes,” Samuel replied. “We’ve known each other for a long time—you know that.” “That I do,” Cristian snapped. Samuel was taken aback by Cristian’s haughty attitude.
Deciding to cut to the chase, Cristian asked, “Do you know each other in the biblical sense?” Samuel opened and closed his mouth swallowing hard. “I’m waiting,” Cristian said as he felt his anger growing faster than a sandstorm in a desert. “This was before you were even born,” Samuel finally replied.
“So I’m guessing that the answer to my question is yes,” Cristian said, his eyes turning red as scarlet. Samuel remained silent. “Sage told me that she was intimate with vampires, but that was only for physical enjoyment.” “But I’ve watched you both when you’ve been in each other’s company and the way you look at her.” “This was more than just a physical connection,” he said, “There was an emotional connection as well.” “What I’m asking you, is do you love her?” he said, his lip trembling.
Not wanting to lie to Cristian, Samuel uttered softly, “Yes.” Cristian took a sharp breath. “I only realized my feelings for Sage when we were in Prague,” Samuel replied. “I never wanted to do anything that would hinder your relationship. I encouraged Sage to try to work things out with you.”
“Oh, so you can conveniently relieve your guilty conscience?” Cristian said.
“No,” Samuel said. “I don’t feel guilty for something that happened long before you came into this world,” he said. Cristian chuckled.
He stared at Samuel with his slender build, long hair, and effeminate features. “I look at you and you seem so delicate,” he said tauntingly. “I’m hardly delicate,” Samuel said angrily with a stare that could wither a bed of flowers.
“I’m only going to say this once, so listen well,” Cristian said. “Sage chose me and I’m a part of her life for now and for always.” “Got it.”
“Loud and clear,” Samuel said. Cristian turned and walked out the door.
Billy arrived in John’s room giving him the change of clothes. “Lisa,” John asked. Billy nodded his head smiling. “I saw the lights last night,” John said. “It was Queen V,” Billy said, “I’ll tell you more about it later.”
Randi came into the room unexpectedly. She stared at Billy now in his usual black attire and at John. “I was just checking on you,” she said. “I’m fine,” John said. “The doctor will soon sign the release papers so you can go,” she said. “I’ll come back later.” “Okay,” he shrugged. She felt unnerved, sensing Billy’s eyes following her every move. “Okay,” she said leaving the room. “She’s hiding something,” Billy said. “You’re right,” John replied. “She’s helping Rafael.”
“Is she now…,” Billy said. “She asked me if I knew him, which was a dead giveaway.” Billy nodded his head. “I need some confirmation first,” he said.
Once John signed the release papers, Billy walked beside him as he was wheeled out into the lobby. “How are we…,” he started. “I’m driving,” Billy said. He whispered against John’s ear, “I couldn’t risk flying, because then there’ll be tales of men flying around New York City.” John laughed. They walked over to a midnight blue Mercedes. “How did you...,” John asked. “I borrowed it, don’t worry,” Billy said.
As Billy adjusted the rearview mirror, he saw Randi exit the hospital looking in their direction. “This should be fun,” he said popping a CD into the CD player. “We have company,” Billy motioned to John as he looked in the mirror and saw Randi pulling out from the driveway. “This song is perfect for this occasion,” Billy said as the song began to blare from the speakers. He turned up the volume while they drove down the street. “I know you’re all things eighties,” John yelled.
Unable to hear himself think, he turned down the volume. “I’m surprised that you have CDs,” he said. “Of course, I have CDs,” Billy quipped. “I just thought you would be into cassettes.”
Billy howled with laughter. “Cassettes,” he said. “You think because I’m a vampire I don’t know about CDs, iPods, or MP3s?” he asked. John chuckled. They stopped at a stoplight and Randi pulled up behind them. “Fasten your seatbelt,” Billy said. “I’m almost scared to ask what you’re about to do,” John said. Billy pressed the accelerator and the tires screeched as he ran the red light. Randi ran the red light, nearly causing an accident following them. “She’s still behind us,” John said looking out the rear window. Billy turned sharply around the corner. “Doggone it,” Randi said as she lost them. Minutes later, she saw the Mercedes driving in the opposite direction as she drove down an alley and turned the car around to follow it. After following the car for a few blocks, the car pulled over to the side of the road and the irate driver exited the car. “Why are you following me?” the man with gray hair and a suit said. “I’m sorry, I thought you were someone I knew,” she said apologetically.
Billy and John, laughing at their cleverness, entered the loft.