The Short Goodbye

Well, that's that.

The story is concluded, there is peace in the valley, or at least in Arbor Woods. Evil, in the form of Lazarus Gorey, has been vanquished.

Thank you to any and all who have read this blog.

Now I will take this pile of...pages that I've written and polish it up, make it publishable and make it an enjoyable read.

I plan to expand the story in places that need it, give meatier roles to some characters that I've enjoyed writing, add a bunch of stuff, hack away a bunch of other stuff that I don't think worked well, and in the end come up with an astounding work of great genius. Or perhaps simply a story that was fun for me to write, which will hopefully translate into something fun to read.

If the mood strikes me, and I think it will, I will post updates on my progress.

Goodbye for now.

Chapter 47 - Aftermath

    The rope secured to the high, strong tree limb was made from coarse hemp, and had the look of a relic from a centuries old shipwreck, which indeed it was. At the end of the rope was a noose, fitted around a bony neck. It was snug enough to hold up the skeletal frame, but not so tight as to snap the bones.

    “That’s a very realistic looking skeleton,” Maria said as she stood in the front yard of what had once been the home of Lazarus Gorey.

    “Thank you. It looks real because it is real,” Augusta replied. “It’s Lazarus. Apparently, werewolves don’t eat bones, only flesh and organs, that sort of thing. Shall we go inside and have a cocktail?”

    Halloween marked the grand opening of the Bloodsucker’s B & B, as Augusta was calling it. To mark the occasion of her turning Gorey’s old home into a bed and breakfast with a haunted house theme, Augusta was having an open house. Guests mingled in the great room sipping merlot or wandered the property, where they encountered Frankenstein monsters and ghouls and mummies, all of whom were serving appetizers and other refreshments.

    The two women took their drinks up to the deck and looked down at the spot where Lazarus had plummeted to his demise. Children were playing croquet there now, using a ball with a skull painted on it.

    “I really like what you’ve done with this place,” Maria told Augusta as they sat on wicker chairs. “The haunted house thing is a great idea. How did you come up with it?”

    “Well, when Laz met his untimely death,” both women laughed, then Augusta continued, “I inherited the house. I had made sure everything was in my name, the house, the company, everything. Anyway, I had to do something with my time, and I always wanted to run a b&b, so I did it. I had always dreamed of a quaint home somewhere in New England, but the former home and laboratory of an evil vampire works too.”

    “What about the company headquarters?”

    “Donated it to the forest preserve district. They’re going to raze the building and let the property return to its natural prairie state.”

    “That was a good thing you did, donating the property.”

    Augusta chuckled. “I am wonderful. Of course, I took a sizable deduction on my taxes.”

    “I wish I could have talked Martin into coming with me,” Maria said, “but he wanted to work. James is showing him how to run the store, and when the time comes, the two of them will own it together.”

    “Seems like the whole experience changed him for the better. Does Molly still work there?”

    “Yep. Bulldog too. He wanted to be close to Molly and I got tired of him begging me for a job, so I hired him as a security guard.”

    “You need a security guard in Arbor Woods?”

    Maria shook her head and smiled. “No. Mostly he stocks shelves and helps clean up in the cafe, but I tell him his official title is chief of security. It makes him happy.”

    “That’s good of you. You know, Archie manages my books. He’s pretty sharp with money. Who knew?”

    The two sat and sipped their drinks, enjoying the sunshine and the unseasonably warm weather. Suddenly, there was a howl, long and loud. Voices drifted up from the yard. “You know, that’s a very realistic looking wolf.” “Jimmy, now come on, Jimmy, don’t try to ride the doggy. It’s not a horse you know.”

    The women peered down to see Colette in her werewolf form, stretched out while small children petted her or rubbed her tummy when she rolled on her back.

    Incredulous at the sight of the proud and strong wolf woman being poked and prodded by sticky fingered tykes, Maria asked, “How on earth did you talk her into doing that?”
   
    “She said she wanted to help. Colette is actually very good with children. She hasn’t tried to eat one yet.”

    A shadow appeared over the women’s shoulders. From behind them came a thick, and very fake, Transylvanian accent. “Such pretty necks. It would be my pleasure to bite them.”

    They turned to find Adriana dressed as a mistress of the dark. The form fitting black dress parted in the front to reveal a sizable amount of cleavage, her fingernails were alternately painted black or blood red, and fake blood trickled from garishly red lips. The stiletto heeled shoes caused her to be six inches taller than normal. The jet black wig was warm and caused beads of sweat to form on her forehead.

    “When I hired her, I told her to keep it toned down,” Augusta said to Maria, “and this is how she showed up.”
   
    “Just giving the people what they want,” Adriana told them with a wink.

    The sun slowly lowered itself, yet the afternoon remained warm. People wandered about, chatting and laughing, children squealed, a werewolf howled happily. A sense of peace and contentment had returned to Arbor Woods.

Chapter 46 - The Proposal

    “Is this going to hurt?” Martin asked as he lie on an operating table.

    “I’m already done,” Augusta replied as she removed the needle from Martin’s arm.

    Surprised at the speed with which Augusta worked and the lack of pain, he lifted his head to look at his arm. “Wow. You have a good touch.”

    Augusta smiled, gave him a wink and said, “I know.” She then swapped the old needle for a clean new one, attaching it to the vial filled with Martin’s blood.

    “Are you sure this will work?” Bulldog asked in a tone somewhere between pleading and demanding.

    “Am I positive beyond the shadow of a doubt? No, of course not. It’s the best shot we’ve got though.” She smiled again. “Pardon the pun.” Bulldog rolled his eyes and sighed with resignation. He felt helpless and hated having to stand by and watch others work.

 Augusta quickly eased the needle into Molly’s arm and began to empty its contents into her vein. When the last of Martin’s blood flowed into Molly, Augusta withdrew the needle, looked up and said, “All we can do now is wait.” It struck her that this was a tired expression, used on countless medical TV shows, but at this moment she could think of nothing else to say, and it seemed to give a measure of comfort to the worried Bulldog.

    On the opposite table, Martin had fallen asleep and began to softly snore while everyone else gathered around Molly. “How long do you think it will take before we know if it’s working?” Archie asked.

    Augusta gave a slight shrug. “It’s hard to say. I’ve never done this before. I’m not sure anybody has.” She looked at Adriana. “How long did it take you to become ill after you bit Martin?”

    “It was almost immediate. The big sissy passed out and I started vomiting. It was within the first day that I lost my appetite for blood.”

    “Well,” Augusta said, “the good thing is that we were able to give Molly the antidote, or whatever Martin’s blood is, not too long after she was bitten. Hopefully the quick response time will make it easier to counteract Laz’s bite.”

    “It would be awful if she became a vampire,” Bulldog said.

    “Tell me about it.” The feeble voice emanated from Molly.

    Augusta shouted, “Hey! It’s working.”

    “You sound surprised,” Colette said. “I always had faith in you.”

    “Thanks.”

    Holding Molly’s hand tightly, Bulldog asked her how she was feeling.

    “I’ve never been hung-over, but I’ll bet it’s similar to this.” Her voice was getting stronger as she spoke. “My head hurts, I’m a little nauseous and shaky, but other than that I feel okay.”

    “Thank God,” Bulldog said. He leaned in close and whispered to her, “You don’t think you’re a vampire, do you? Do you feel like biting anyone on the neck?” She looked at him as if he were insane.

    “I just had to ask,” he said sheepishly. “I’ve been so worried about you. I wouldn’t know what to do if...”

    “You were worried about me? You tried to arrest me numerous times. Why are you holding my hand anyway?” She tried to shake him off, but he only held her tighter.

    “That arrest stuff is all behind us now, Molly.”

    “Yeah, especially since you’re not really a vampire cop anymore,” Colette chimed in.

    Bulldog ignored her. “I’ve been thinking about us, Molly. I have to admit, I think I’m in love with you.”

    All activity in the lab ceased as all eyes turned to Bulldog and Molly. There was silence save for Martin’s snoring.

    Molly looked up at Bulldog, her face expressionless. Then she burst out laughing.
“You’re old enough to be my father. Heck, I think you’re older than Daddy. You’ve been hit in the head too many times. Mr. Bulldog.”

    He bit his lip and nodded. “True, I have had a lot of concussions lately. Still, don’t you think you could love an old man like me? I mean, I’m really only middle-aged. And I’ve kept myself fit.” Molly let loose a loud burst of laughter again.

    Concerned that perhaps Bulldog had finally lost his mind, Maria said, “Maybe we should let Molly get some rest. She’s been through a lot.”

     “Maria’s right. We should let Molly sleep,” Augusta said as pried Bulldog’s hand from Molly’s.

    “I guess I wouldn’t mind a nap,” Molly said as she lay her head back down on the pillow.

    The last person to leave the lab shut the lights off. Molly drifted off as Martin fell into a deep sleep and dreamt of Little Johnny’s Mini-Choco-Cakes.

Chapter 45 - Lazarus Not Rising

    Augusta passed through the large and spacious master bedroom on the top floor of the house. A sliding glass door led to the deck. She stepped out, putting her feet down slowly and softly, letting her eyes adjust to the dark night.

    The presence of Lazarus, heavy, ominous, seemed to envelop Augusta, yet she felt no fear. She felt flush with confidence, as if a bright new day was about to begin.

    Back straight, head held high, Augusta walked toward the railing that ran all along the edge of the deck, then leaned lightly against it. She breathed in the night air, filled her lungs with it, then exhaled. She was calm, relaxed even.

    “My equipment is missing.” The voice of Lazarus, deep and low, came from the other end of the rooftop, from dark shadows that kept him hidden from her sight. “Hard to call in my rescue helicopter without a radio. My cell phone seems to be missing from my jacket as well.”

    “I sold the radio and gave back the cell,” Augusta replied, with a slight tone of happiness in her voice. “Your company, well, our company, is out of money. I sold the helicopter, too. Even if I hadn’t, the pilot was long gone. Hadn’t been paid in months. Your business acumen that you say you’ve had all these centuries, it seems to have deserted you.”

    Lazarus stepped out of the shadows and the moon hit him like a spotlight. His eyes emitted a strange yellow light. His skin looked grey.

    “My dear, dear Augusta,” he said softly, “you are obviously deranged. So sad. I prized you for your intelligence as well as your great beauty. It is very possible I could have been wrong about you. That just proves that no one is perfect, not even a genius like me.”

    Augusta snorted, a short, spiteful sound to accentuate her contempt for him. “Some genius. The company would have been bankrupt if I hadn’t sold off most of its assets. And you, Mr. Genius, didn’t even realize I was doing it.”

    Lazarus shrugged and sighed. “I’ve been busy with other things lately, you know, little things, like planning world domination. I didn’t keep an eye on you because I trusted you.” He sighed again, then continued. “Perhaps we weren’t doing as well as I had hoped, but this plan, this brilliant plan that I came up with, is going to solve everything. As we speak, my minions are unleashing bloody chaos the world over. It’s only a matter of time before governments the world over come on bended knee to beg me for my services. I will have the cure for their ills, and then I will begin my walk down the path of fortune and fame. I will conquer the world.”

    Augusta snorted again. “Stop doing that,” Lazarus cried as he took a few steps in her direction. “A true lady doesn’t make barnyard sounds.”

    “Whatever.” Augusta stretched her arms out along the railing. “I looked into those chaos spreading minions of yours. Quite the organization you pieced together. Losers, drunkards, derelicts, drug addicts, every last one of them. I ordered them to stand down, and they couldn’t even remember what it was they were supposed to be doing. Instead of walking the path to success, you would have stumbled like a fool in the alley of failure.” Augusta smiled at her clever turn of phrase, and thought to herself that she should write her memoir one day.

    Lazarus made a grunting noise, shook his head. “No, no, no. You’re a liar.” He shut his eyes tight, ran a large hand over his face, then spoke in a pleading voice. “Why are you talking like this? We could have done such great things together.” He opened his eyes to look at her. The moonlight accentuated her beauty, and he temporarily melted for her again. “I really thought you were the one. Now I’m alone again.”

    Pausing a moment to get back to being his evil self, he drew a deep breath, then drew a knife from within his jacket. “Vampires are a special breed of creature. We tread the earth for eternity. Not everyone deserves that. You and I could have been king and queen of the dark world. You’ve squandered that opportunity with your foolish talk and your idiotic behavior.”
   
    Lazarus became more animated as he spoke. “I still have some respect for you though. That’s why I want to take care of you myself, rather than leaving the job of removing you from the vampire world to some faceless lackey.” He looked at Augusta a long time without moving a muscle. She didn’t take her eyes off him. Finally, he spoke again. “I could tear you to pieces with my bare hands and let vultures feast on your flesh.” He gestured with the knife. “This is much more personal though, because you and I have a history. I’ll plunge this ancient blade into your heart, quickly, then watch you fade away. Your death at my hand is my final gift to you.”

    Augusta sniffed the air. “What’s that smell? Oh, it’s more tired old bullshit from a tired old vampire whose time is up.”

    Cocking his head like a dog who doesn’t understand what he’s being told, he spoke in a tone of voice somewhere between hurt and blinding rage. “What did you say to me?”

    “I said, meet the new boss, you old bastard. I’m not the same as the old boss. I’m smarter, stronger and faster than you ever were.”

    He stared at her in disbelief. “Women. You’re all nuts.” Then he lunged at her.

    The swiftness with which Augusta stepped aside surprised Lazarus. He had hit the railing exactly between the cuts that Augusta had made, then painted over. It easily gave way to a man of his girth.
   
    Before he could even begin to think of a way to save himself, before he could scream in terror or in rage, Lazarus plummeted to the ground. He landed so hard he made a two inch deep impression in the turf. He was still conscious, but couldn’t move or think yet. All was quiet, all was still. Without thinking what he would do if he could stand, Lazarus attempted to raise himself.

    Before he could do that, the werewolves pounced. The back yard was filled with them, every one of them large, ferocious and hungry. They had parted their ranks to make a space for Lazarus to fall into. After he landed, they waited to make sure he was immobile, then quickly they set upon him, tearing at every inch of his flesh. Augusta peered over the edge of the rooftop to see the evil vampire being ripped apart. She felt a sense of relief.

    She turned away from the feeding frenzy below her to find Colette had joined her on the roof. “It pays to have friends in the werewolf community, doesn’t it?” she asked Augusta.

    “Yes, it does,” Augusta replied as she bent to wipe Colette’s muzzle. “You had a bit of flesh hanging there. I hope you had enough to eat.”

    “Oh, yeah,” Colette replied. “Got his liver. You know, a lot of people don’t care for liver, but I love it. Besides, a girl needs her iron. I don’t like to take supplements.”

    Augusta nodded. “Neither do I. Still won’t eat liver though.” She bent again and gave Colette a hug. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done. Getting your friends here, and getting the villagers to come to the house.”

    “It was my pleasure. Glad I could help. Never did like that Lazarus guy. He was never nice to my people, or my wolves, or whatever.”

    “He was a monumental jerk. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go save Molly.”

    “Is Phil still in the house? I should tell tell him what I’ve been up to. He gets worried.”

    “He’s still here. Let’s go.”

    The sound of flesh being torn from the bone and wolf lips smacking as Lazarus was being chewed out of existence filled the air as Augusta and Colette left the rooftop and made their way to the laboratory.

Chapter 44 - Chickens in a Barnyard

    “What the hell is wrong with all you people?” Augusta hissed as everyone convened in the great hall. “I told you to stay put for your own good, and what do you do? The minute I turn my back, you start scrambling around like chickens in a barnyard.  I didn’t realize I needed to watch you all constantly.”

    Bulldog, still feeling a little sluggish after being shrouded then almost knocked unconscious by Lazarus, said, “We have to follow them. I can’t let him take Molly and turn her...” His voice trailed off.

    Augusta looked at him incredulously. “No. No one is going anywhere. You disobeyed me and now Molly is paying the price. Do you people not understand that Lazarus is a powerful vampire? He may be off his rocker, but that doesn’t mean he can’t kick your asses, or worse. Let me deal with him. I’ve got to get to the roof. I can stop him there. Now will you listen to me and stay put?”

    No one spoke. It was Officer Wembley who broke the silence. “Okay, we’ll stay here.”

    Augusta said, “Good. Don’t move until I tell you to.” She took the steps two at a time. Hearing an unusual amount of commotion behind her, she paused and turned. Bulldog and Wembley, James and Maria, Martin, Adriana and Archie were all following her.

    Exasperated, Augusta said, “This is not what I call staying put.” She rolled her eyes, then said, “All right, fine, we can all go, but for heaven’s sake, stay behind me and stay out of my way.” The group gave her breathing room as they followed her up the ornate staircase.

    It was on the landing near the top floor that they found Molly’s body. She lay with her arms and legs splayed as if she had been violently thrown down. There was a trickle of blood from bite marks on her neck, and her breathing was shallow and irregular. Her eyes were open, but vacant of any apprehension.

    Bulldog’s face turned white as he knelt in the blood and cradled Molly’s head in his hands. “Oh, Molly, you can’t die on me. I need you to live.”

    Augusta stood near Molly, looked down at her, then turned her gaze on the others. “We can fix this,” she said, “but for once, I need everyone to listen to me. You all need to go down to the lab. Bulldog, Wembley, carry Molly and lie her down on one of the operating tables. Maria, get a bandage on her neck wound. Martin, get yourself on a table next to the one Molly is on.”

    “Me? Why me?”

    “Because I said so. Just make yourself comfortable and I’ll be down as soon as I can take care of my business. No one follows me, no exceptions. Do as I tell you.”

    Silently, they all nodded, then proceeded to carry Molly downstairs.

    Augusta went the other direction, heading up to the stairway that led to the roof.

Chapter 43 - Molly

    To Molly, the staircase was a blur of sensations: the deep reds and gold of the carpets and Victorian-era wallpaper meshed together like the indistinct colors of an Impressionist painting; the aromas of dark, old wood and floral bouquets set upon antique tables filled her head; the sound of air rushing past her was like that of a tornado, and her heart beat pounded like a thousand drums.

    Her mind racing, she managed to focus on the facts. She was out of weapons, out of ideas, and nearly out of hope. If Molly could only get Lazarus to stop for a few seconds, she might be able to think of something, anything. She needed a way to destroy him.

    “You know, I’d rather be dead than go anywhere with you.”

    She blurted it out impulsively, but the words brought Lazarus to a screeching halt. He stood like a statue on a landing near the top floor of the house. At first, he didn’t let go of her, nor did he say anything, he simply stared straight ahead.

    His face became ashen and his shoulders sagged as he let go of Molly, then gently pushed her away. He realized now that his dream of a family was over, at least a family with Molly.

    “I have no desire to hurt you,” he said quietly. “I have an enormous amount of respect for you. You’re not like other people nowadays, soft and weak. You were obviously born of a warrior class. In a different time, you would have been Joan of Arc.”

    His jaw was slack and his eyes were half closed as he looked at her with sadness. Then, with no warning, a metamorphoses. His face tightened, his eyes became wide and red, the pupils nothing more than black pinpoints. He opened his mouth ever so slightly to reveal razor sharp fangs.

    “I had such high hopes for you, Molly, for us,” he said, “but if you’d rather be dead...”

Chapter 42 - The Villagers

    “Unhand the lady, Lazarus.”

    One arm firmly around Molly’s shoulders, Lazarus tilted his head back and roared with laughter. When the laughter faded to mere chuckles, he managed to speak. “Oh, Archie, you are the living end. ‘Unhand the lady.’ You’ve been watching too many old movies. Tell me. do you still have a crush on Errol Flynn?” In the wink of an eye, his face became serious, menacing. “What the hell are you people doing wandering around my house? You are supposed to be securely attached to your chairs.”

    “Is that an English crossbow imbedded in the china cabinet?” Adriana asked. “Kind of an unusual display, don’t you think?”

    At the other entrance to the dining room was Bulldog, hoping Lazarus wouldn’t notice him as he tiptoed in. He carried a fancy sword he had found along the way and planned to ram it into the heart of the big creep who was holding Molly captive in his arms.

    Lazarus was no mood for surprises, nor was he distracted by anyone or anything. With great speed and agility, he whirled around, grabbed the sword by its blade and flung it on the table, never for a second releasing Molly from his grip. Blood trickled from hand but quickly slowed, then halted. He had always been a quick healer. Having failed at stabbing Laz, in a blind fury Bulldog rushed him. With ease and agility, the big vampire knocked Bulldog to the floor, where he hit his head yet again. Bulldog didn’t lose consciousness, but lay where he fell, clutching his head and moaning.

    Eyeing the sword, which was shaped similar to a scimitar, Lazarus said, “A falchion? Really? Who uses one of these to kill a vampire? This isn’t Elizabethan England.” He was almost shouting. “That’s it, I don’t want anybody in my ancient armaments collection anymore. Those are very valuable items that I spent a great deal of time curating over the years, over the centuries, really.” A look of disappointment on his face, he turned to Augusta. “I thought you were going to shroud these interlopers until we could deal with them later. Obviously, you need to work on your shroud management. You told me you had everything taken care of.” He shook his head. “I just don’t understand what you’re thinking sometimes. Actually, I never do. I’ve never been able to read your thoughts. I can’t read Molly’s either. Hmm, interesting.”

    Lazarus appeared perplexed and thoughtful for a moment, until he said, “All right, we need to get this show on the road. Augusta, my dear, I trust you to put a secure shroud on all of these people, including those lurking in the great room.” Indeed, Maria, James and Officer Wembley had stayed behind, hoping for Bulldog’s success. The thud of his head hitting the floor was not reassuring.

    “Please, honey, be focused, eyes on the prize, that sort of thing,” Lazarus continued. “I don’t want to have to deal with them anymore tonight. Better yet, perhaps we should finish them off right here and now.” His eyes narrowed as he spoke, he cocked his head to one side, then asked, “What is that noise? It’s like a low hum. Where is it coming from? I thought Arbor Woods was supposed to be a quiet town.”

    Stepping over Bulldog, dragging Molly with him, Lazarus brushed past the threesome in the great room, and pulled open the front door. “Huh. That’s something you don’t see every day. Haven’t had one of these come after me since Transylvania in the early ‘20s. The 1820s, that is. I must say, I’m flattered.”

    Milling about the front yard, standing all along the sidewalk and street for as far as Lazarus could see, were townspeople. The hum he heard was their murmuring, a low, menacing sound. Each and every person there held a flaming torch in his or her hand. When they saw the evil vampire at the door, their murmuring grew louder, yet they remained still, as if waiting for an order from an unseen leader.   

     He gazed down at Molly, smiled and said, “At least I assume they’re here for me. I don’t mean to be presumptuous. They could be here to see you. Are they friends of yours?”

    Laz didn’t wait for an answer. Running toward the stairs, he shouted out over his shoulder, “When you’re done, Augusta, meet me on the roof. We’re getting out of here.”

Chapter 41 - My Aim is True

    The arrow Molly launched flew straight and true yet missed it’s target, the heart of Lazarus Gorey. Quicker than the blink of an eye, Lazarus lifted his arm and caught the arrow mid-flight. 

    “Shit,” Molly said, then she blushed as swearing was something she was taught a lady didn’t do.

    “I see you found my antique archery collection,” Lazarus said, studying the arrow’s head. “Looks like my bodkin is rusty.”

    “Sounds like a personal problem.”

    Lazarus feigned laughter. “Funny.” He threw the arrow on the floor as he walked slowly toward Molly. He didn’t want to spook her, then have to chase her, and possibly hurt her accidentally. He wanted Molly alive and well, to soon be immortalized. “I’m surprised you chose the English crossbow. That’s a big weapon for a petite gal such as yourself. Being so large, one would think you would find it hard to handle.”

    “I was in a hurry so I grabbed the first thing I could.”

    “Still, you were very accurate. You must be an accomplished archer.”

    “Captain of my high school archery team,” Molly said in a flat tone.

    Lazarus nodded. “I believe it. There was probably nothing you couldn’t do well.” Eyes filled with admiration, Lazarus paused to look at her. “You have nerves of steel to do what you did, taking a shot at me like that, knowing full well it could have been suicidal. It won’t be, though. Quite the opposite. Ah, my dear Molly, you are a warrior. I like that. No, I love that.”

    He moved closer to her. Molly swung the large bow at him. Lazarus snatched it from her hands and threw it aside. It smashed the glass doors of a cabinet filled with ceramic mugs from medieval Germany. The mugs teetered, then spilled out, clattering on the floor.

    “That’s the spirit,” he said. No longer feeling any fear, Molly glared at him. If a hateful stare could have killed, Lazarus would have dropped dead on the spot. He took no notice of the hate and reached up, touched her cheek lightly with his hand.

    “I have to say,” he almost whispered, “I really admire you. You’re like the daughter I never had.”

    Molly continued to glare at him, wondering what was on his mind.

    A voice came from the other end of the room. “What is all this racket, Lazarus?” Augusta stood in the doorway, surveying the wreckage in the dining room.

    Lazarus turned, putting his arm around Molly’s shoulders, partly out of affection, partly to keep her from running.

    “It seems we have an interloper,” Lazarus said. Augusta looked blankly at Molly, not wanting to let on that, not only had she had seen Molly earlier, she had imprisoned her in a closet. Not one to easily disguise her feelings, Molly gave Augusta the same hateful look she gave Lazarus, but said nothing.

    “Sorry about all the noise, my dear,” he continued, “I may have broken a few things. Totally my fault, honey. I got carried away. This one here tried to kill me. English longbow, can you believe it? She’s got spunk.” He looked down at Molly. “Do the kids still use words like spunk?” Molly simply looked at him without replying. “Well, whatever.”

    Lazarus dragged Molly along as he walked toward Augusta. “Honey, I know you don’t want to have children. I don’t blame you, you don’t want to ruin that figure, but tell me, how do you feel about adopting? I mean, look at her.” He squeezed her shoulders tightly. “She’d make a great daughter.”

    Molly looked up at him. “Are you fucking nuts?”

    Lazarus took a fatherly tone with her. “Now, sweetie, let’s watch the potty mouth.” To Augusta he said, “See how I handled that? I’d be a great dad. That’s the thing about fathering, you have to know how to deal with situations when the child gets a little out of line.” He squeezed Molly’s shoulders again, causing her to wince. “This will be so wonderful, being a family as we take over the world. Tell me honestly, Augusta, what do you think?”
   
    She thought he was seriously losing his grip on reality. Perhaps being the most evil vampire in the world had taken some sort of toll on his mental health. Having tried to remain expressionless while Lazarus spewed out his absurd idea of adopting a girl who just attempted to murder him with his own bow and arrow, Augusta now showed a warm, comforting smile. Wanting to assure him that everything was all right, she said, “Laz, I think that’s a great idea. I will, of course, have to get to know her. Once I do though, I’m sure I’ll love her as much as you do.”

    “That’s great, sweetheart, just great.” He leaned close to Augusta and whispered conspiratorially, “One of us will have to turn her, you know. As the father, I think it should be me. You don’t think that’s creepy, do you?”

    Great, Augusta thought, he wants to turn the vampire slayer into a vampire. “No, honey,” she said through a fake smile, “it’s not creepy at all. There will be time enough for that later, though. Right now, we should go check on Archie and the others.”

    “You won’t have to go far to check on them,” Lazarus said, looking past her. “They’re standing right behind you.”

Chapter 40 - Unshrouded

    “I think Molly is in trouble.” Bulldog felt as if he had just awakened from a dream. He swept away the cobwebs from his brain and his eyes became clear and bright again.

    “I think Molly is in trouble,” he repeated. The others in the room looked at him with blank expressions. “We need to find her. She’s here in the house somewhere.”

    James sat slouched down on a couch, his feet up on an ottoman. “I thought we were supposed to stay here,” he said. “Besides, I’m really comfortable, and this program on TV is really interesting.”

    “The TV’s not on, James,” Bulldog told him.

    James stared hard at the flatscreen. “Huh. So it isn’t,” he replied. “I must really be high.”

    Maria shook her head. “No, it’s this vampire shroud thing. Augusta put us under some sort of spell.”

    Bulldog jumped to his feet. “The spell is easily broken if you focus hard enough. Well, maybe not easily broken, but still, it’s doable.”

    “He’s right,” Phil said. Sitting next to James on the couch, the officer gave him a little nudge on the shoulder. “C’mon, James, let’s get up.” To Bulldog he said, “What makes you think Molly is here?”

    “It’s just a feeling that came over me all of a sudden. I was happily shrouded when an image of her appeared in my head. She seemed frightened. She’s here in the house, I just know it. We need to find her fast before something happens to her. Do you think we should split up, Phil, have everybody search in different directions?”

    “Oh, no, we’re not doing that.” James interjected. “That’s what people do in horror movies, and then one by one some kid in a hockey mask kills them with a meat cleaver or a chain saw or something. I say we stick together.”

    “I think James is right,” Maria said. “There’s power in numbers.”

    “Okay, we stay together,” Phil said. “Bulldog, do you have any feeling as to where Molly might be?”

    “When I saw Molly in my mind, it’s seemed like she was by a table and chairs. And there was a bow and arrow, too.”

    “A bow and arrow? Okay,” Phil said. “Let’s start with finding the dining room.”

Chapter 39 - Whispers

    Once again, Adriana looked down at the restraints that bound her arms to the chair, and once again she couldn’t think of a way to free herself.  She turned her head toward Archie. He sat dejected and listless, his chin resting on his chest, staring at the floor.

    “Hey, mister mopey pants,” Adriana hissed at him, hoping not to be heard by Lazarus, “wake up. Maybe someone’s here to save us.”

    “Wish I could do something to save us,” he murmured.

    “Well, why isn’t there something you can do? Can’t you think of something? You’re an ancient vampire, too. Come up with a plan, man.”

    “I’m hungry,” Martin said.

    Adriana glared at him. “You’re always hungry,” she said. “You know, this isn’t the time to be thinking of yourself. You should be helping your pops think of a way to get us out of this.”

    “Why are you whispering?” Martin asked. “You sound so angry. Are you upset about something?”

    Eyes wide with disbelief, Adriana said, “Upset? Of course I’m upset. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but a big, fat evil, vampire has imprisoned us in his laboratory and is using us as guinea pigs. At least, he’s using you. He hasn’t done anything to me yet. Anyway, I’m whispering because I don’t want Lazarus to hear us.”

    Martin nodded his head. “That’s smart.”

    Archie lifted his head and spoke. “You know, not only do we need to escape, but we need to figure out how to stop that army of vampires Laz has ordered to go on a rampage.”

    “Can’t you send them a message, old man?” Adriana said. “Send your thoughts out to call off the operation. You’re his brother, maybe they’ll think it’s him giving the order. Try to sound bossy, mentally speaking.”

    “I’m not sure it’s that simple,” Archie said.

    “Not sure what’s that simple?” Augusta had come in through another entrance at the far end of the lab. “Why are we all whispering?”

    “We’re trying to figure out a way to stop the vampire legions around the world from spreading horror and whatnot,” Martin said.

    Adriana looked at him as she would a dog that had just left her a “gift” on the carpet. “Way to go. You know she’s in cahoots with Lazarus,right?”

    “Oh, that’s okay,” Augusta said. “Laz talks as if he’s in charge of everything, but the reality is that he put me in command of his legions. In fact, I’m already in charge of much of what goes on in his company. Anyway, my word is final, and I’ve ordered the blood sucking hordes of the world to stand down.”
     
    Archie perked up when he heart that. “Why did you do that?”

    “I have my reasons.” She walked over to the floored door. Surveying the damage, she immediately thought that Molly had escaped. “I see we’ve had some excitement.”

    “Yeah, it got our attention,” Adriana said. “Your boyfriend went off to find out who did that.”

    “He’s not really my boyfriend,” Augusta said. “It’s more of a working relationship.”

    “That’s not the impression I get,” Archie said, sounding a little hurt.

    “Oh, Arch, don’t be such a baby.” Augusta worried that Molly was going to try to kill Lazarus, but only end up getting hurt herself. Hurt, or something much worse. “I should probably find out what’s going on.”

    “Hey, Miss Augusta,” Adriana said, “you seem like a nice lady and all, how about getting us out of these restraints?”

    Augusta stood and looked at the three lab rats, pondering the ramifications of setting them free. “Here’s the deal,” she finally told them, “I have a plan. For it to work, you guys need to stay here and keep quiet. I’m going to loosen these restraints so you can get out if you need to, but I really need you stay here in your seats. If Laz comes back, pretend you're still bound to the chairs.”

    “Augusta, tell us what the hell is going on,” Archie demanded.

    “What’s going on,” Augusta replied, “is that I’m trying to keep you safe while I take care of my business. When the time comes for you to know what’s what, or if I need your help, which I just might, then I’ll clue you in. So sit tight. Hopefully everything will work out.”

    “I don’t know why,” Adriana said, “but I trust you. Sort of.”

    “Good enough for me,” Augusta replied.

    “I’m still hungry,” Martin said.

    Behind the tables covered in test tubes and machinery, up against a wall, was a cabinet covered in decals that read, “Warning! Radioactive material! Keep out!” Opening it, Augusta revealed shelves that were empty save for a loaf of bread and a jar of chunky peanut butter. Scooping a large blob of peanut butter out of the jar with her fingers, Augusta walked over to Martin, told him to open wide (which he did) and filled his mouth with peanut butter.

    “That ought to keep you busy for a while,” she said, wiping her fingers on his shirt.

Chapter 38 - This Chapter Has No Name

    All eyes in the laboratory turned toward the fallen door. A plume of smoke rose above a scorched mark at the bottom of the door. There was a smell of gunpowder and burnt flower in the air.

    “Well, that was completely unnecessary,” Lazarus said to no one in particular. “It’s not like I didn’t know you were in the house.” Hearing this, his captives looked at each other as if Laz was losing his mind. Stepping over the still smoldering door, Lazarus said over his shoulder, “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

    Lazarus passed the broken frame and strode confidently through the dim, smoky hallway. At its end was a swinging door leading to the kitchen. He passed through it and  began to speak, quietly, calmly.

    “Was an explosion really necessary, Molly? It is Molly, isn’t it? We haven’t been properly introduced. You weren’t at the house when we came calling on Martin, but they mentioned you. I assumed you would show up here. You’re a hunter. I knew you couldn’t pass on a chance to bag the biggest prey of all. At this very moment, though, just who is the hunter, and who is the hunted?”

    Lazarus paused by the kitchen island where Molly had made the small device she used to blow open the lab door. “You didn’t clean up after yourself. You’re a naughty kitten. And that’s all you are, a kitten. So young.” He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.

    “Did you think the smoke would mask your scent? It’s sandalwood, isn’t it? Lovely. Brings back wonderful memories. One of Joseph Kennedy’s mistresses wore sandalwood. Met her when he and I ran whiskey out of Ireland during Prohibition. She was a fun girl. Those were good times.” He chuckled softly. “You can tell how nostalgic that aroma makes me.”

    He breathed in again, eyes half closed. “Even without your lovely scent, I could find you. There’s no where you could hide from me, not in this house, not anywhere really, but especially here in my own home, there’s no escape. I know you’re near, so very, very close to me. I can hear the blood flowing through your veins. I can almost taste it, the sweet, tangy blood of youth.”

    Lazarus lowered his head, stared at the swinging door that led from the kitchen to the dining room. “There’s no need to worry, Molly, no reason to fear me or what’s going to happen. You have an extraordinary life ahead of you. Soon enough, you’ll thank me.”

    In an instant, Lazarus laid his large hand upon the dining room door. Molly stood at the other end of the room. When she saw the door begin to open, she released her grip on the bow string and the arrow flew from its rest.

Chapter 37 - All Mod Cons

    In the front room of the grand old Victorian home, Lazarus and Archie were nowhere to be seen. They had disappeared, leaving no trace of their whereabouts.
   
    Wembley and Bulldog, Maria and James were immobile, an odd fog shrouding their brains. They may have stood like that for five minutes, or five hours. There was no concept of time for people in their state.

    Shaking his head slightly to rid himself of his mental cobwebs, James asked with thickened speech, “What just happened?”

    “I don’t know,” Maria said, feeling equally fuzzy. “Are you okay?”

    “I feel funny,” James responded, “and I don’t know why.”

    “I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before,” Phil said. In a few seconds, the fog lifted somewhat, and they were able to move, each of them taking tentative steps.

    “Where’s Archie?” Maria asked. “Did Lazarus take him?”

    “I’m not sure what’s going on,” Phil said. “I feel like I’m under the influence of something, I just don’t know what.”

    “It’s a mental shroud,” Bulldog said. “Vampires use it to cloud people’s minds, confuse them, or influence them to do something they wouldn’t normally do. I’m surprised you don’t know about that stuff Wembley.”

    Rubbing his forehead, Phil responded, “I’ve heard of the mental shroud, but I’ve never been lucky enough to receive one. We don’t normally have too much vampire trouble in Arbor Woods.”

    “Well, we’ve got to try to fight off the shroud’s effects. For instance, I’m feeling drawn towards the basement, but I know nothing good ever happens in basements.”

    “I agree wholeheartedly,” James said. “I don’t wanna go down to the basement.”

    “And yet, we’re all looking for a way to get to there, aren’t we?” Maria asked.

    “Seems to be the case,” Phil responded as he walked out of the living room and into the hallway. Forces beyond his control pulled him in the direction of an open door at the end of the hall. The others followed. As they neared the door, light flickered to life over a staircase just past the door that led downward.

    “I know this is a bad idea, but I don’t seem able to stop myself,” James said.

    At the bottom of the stairs, more lights came on. They stood in the middle of a very nicely furnished basement. In the corner was a bar area, a billiard table off to one side. Surrounding them were chairs and sofas, a coffee table, shelves overflowing with books and on one wall a large flat screen TV, a small stereo on a low table beneath that.
Having expected to meet a bloody end in a dank pit, the foursome looked in wonder at all the creature comforts.

    “Make yourselves at home.” As if from thin air, Augusta appeared in their midst. “I want you to make yourselves comfortable, but you already know that, or are at least starting to get the idea.” Speaking half to herself, she said, “I’m really liking this mental shroud thing. It’s very cool, and I am so good at it.”

    She walked around the large room, pointing out the fully stocked refrigerator, the remote controls for the TV and stereo. “Please, if you use any of the electronic equipment, keep the sound as low as possible, and no billiard playing. Too noisy. We don’t want anyone to know you’re here.”

    Bulldog fought through the shroud long enough to ask if Molly was here, if she was safe.

    Augusta focused her attention on him, trying extra special hard to make sure he got cloudy again and stayed that way. “Molly is fine,” she said to Bulldog. “She’s in the house and she’s safe.”

    “Aren’t you supposed to be in cahoots with the evil fat guy?” James asked.

    “He’s not fat,” Augusta said, “he’s just big boned. He is evil though.”

    “We thought you were leading us to our deaths,” Maria said.

    “Yeah, well, that may have been the plan once upon a time,” Augusta responded, “but plans change. Right now, what I want is for all of you to stay here, keep quiet, and do not leave until I tell you it’s safe to do so. Understood?”

    Each person nodded, mumbled something affirmative. Then, in the blink of an eye, Augusta was gone.

Chapter 36 - Revelations

    “Mr. Van Buren, I see that you’ve recovered,” Lazarus said as he walked into the lab, Archie slung over one shoulder, and noticed that Martin had regained consciousness.

    Groggy eyed, Martin looked up at them, wondering what was happening. “Archie? He’s got you, too?”

    “Do you think you could call me ‘dad’?” Archie asked as Lazarus shoved him down into a chair.

    “No.”

    “Fair enough. I just thought it would be nice if I could call you ‘son,’ that’s all.”

    “We’ll see how things go,” Martin replied, perking up a bit.

    With a swiftness that made his movements barely visible to those watching, Lazarus strapped Archie to the chair, then pulled up his sleeve to reveal a pale, bony arm that would receive the injection of vampire reversal serum. Suddenly, he stopped what he was doing, a quizzical look on his face. He turned in the direction of a crunching sound.

    “What’s that crunching sound? Martin, are you eating something?”

    Unable to speak with a full mouth, Martin nodded.

    “What in heaven’s name are you eating?”

    Martin swallowed, then answered, “Popcorn.”

    Incredulous, Lazarus asked, “Popcorn? Where did you get popcorn?

    “I had some in my pants pocket.”

    “You’re strapped to the chair. How could you get popcorn out of your pants pocket and into your mouth?”

    “It wasn’t easy.”

    Lazarus had no idea how to respond to this food eating machine that he had brought into his home, so he decided to concentrate on other matters.

    “I’ve looked at your blood tests. They indicate a dangerously high level of cholesterol, and your tricglyceride numbers are off the charts, yet your blood pressure and pulse are normal. You remain a medical mystery. Still, I believe your blood can be helpful to me. We’re going to inject Archie here with it, observe him, see what happens. I feel that he will lose his vampire instincts.”

    Adriana studied the big man’s face. “I’m confused,” she said. “Why would you want to rid the world of vampires? These are your people.”

    “The world will never be fully rid of them. I’m merely providing a choice. I’m giving the world genuine free will.”

    “Always had a God complex,” Archie muttered.

    Lazarus glared at him. “I’m simply a blood sucking fiend with a good business sense.”

    “What about your minions?” Adriana asked. “Will you give them genuine free will, or keep them as your slaves?”

    His head tilted back as Lazarus roared with laughter. “They are hardly slaves. More like a well paid army. What I have in my employ are legions of vampires, well educated, well trained, physically and mentally fit, and loyal, of course, only to me.”

    Martin was aghast at the idea of this lunatic taking over the world by using his own blood as a tool of conquest.

    “You know there’s people looking for me,” Martin said with a tone of anger.

    “Us, Martin, they’re looking for us,” Adriana said. “What am I, invisible here?”

    He looked over at her. “Sorry. I meant us. Archie too.” Martin turned his attention back to Lazarus. “They’ll find me, us, and they certainly aren’t going to let you get away with this scheme of yours.”

    “I’m not too worried about that little group of misfits stopping me. Augusta will take care of them.”

    “By ‘take care of them,’ do you mean something like giving them snacks and warm blankets, or ‘take care of them’ like in a gangster movie?” Adriana asked.

    Lazarus offered a slight smile, and said, “Not so much a gangster movie as a terribly bloody, violent horror film.”

    “I was kind of hoping they would get snacks and warm blankets,” Adriana said.

    Martin felt fear rise from his toes to the tip of his head. “My mother is with them. I just know it.”  He looked at Lazarus with a helpless sort of hatred. “I won’t let you hurt her.”

    “There’s nothing you can do to stop me.” Lazarus Gorey’s demeanor became placid. “Augusta will take care of them and then I will deal with you people. Not only that, but I’ve already communicated with my legions to put my plan into operation.”

    “Why would you do that now?” Adriana asked. “You don’t know for sure that the serum will work.”

    “True,” Lazarus replied, “but patience is not one of my virtues.”

    “You don’t have any virtues,” Archie said.

    Adriana, frustrated and angry now, yelled at the old vampire strapped in the chair. “Archie, can’t you do something? Use your mental powers to stop those blood sucking storm troopers. You’ve been around as long as this fat bastard, you should be just as strong.”

    “Should be,” Lazarus chuckled, “but isn’t. Saving the day, that’s just not his style, is it, Archie?”

    Archie looked down at the floor. “Still bitter, after all these years. Centuries have passed and you haven’t let go. That’s just not healthy.”

    Lazarus appeared malevolent. “What do you know about healthy, you quack, you fraud? You didn’t live up to your Hippocratic oath as a doctor, and you didn’t live up to all the good that a vampire could have done. You let her die.”

    Archie looked up at Lazarus with weary eyes filled with the pain of an ancient wound.“She wanted to go, Laz. She didn’t want to be one of us. She was very sick and very tired, and her time on this earth had come to an end. She was a normal, and normals die. That happens. You have to accept that. Sooner or later you just have to accept that.”

    “Who died? What the heck are two guys talking about?” Adriana asked.

    Lazarus wheeled around. “He let our mother die a horrible, miserable death. He could have turned her. That would have saved her, but instead he just let her die.”

    Stunned, Martin and Adriana were momentarily silent. Finally, Adriana asked the obvious. “You mean you two are brothers?”

    Martin looked at Archie. “You mean this evil son-of-a-bitch is my uncle?”

    Archie nodded. “I’m afraid so, Martin.”

    Martin was bewildered by this new information. “That’s just great. A vampire dad, and an evil vampire uncle.”

    “Hey,” Archie said, half smiling, his eyes moistening, “you called me dad.”

    “Well, technically speaking, it is a fact. You are my father.”

    “Father and son,” Lazarus sneered. “Finally, both of you will be good for something.” He turned and fussed about with syringes and blood filled vials.

    Adriana asked Archie, “What happened to your mother?”

    “She had what we used to call consumption. It was pulmonary tuberculosis. This was the 1500s...”

    “Jesus Christ, you are old,” Adriana interrupted.

    “Yeah, anyway, back then people died young. I had been wandering the countryside, doing what vampires do, and when I came home, I found Mother was sick, very sick, beyond the medical help of the day.”

    Without looking up from his work, Lazarus spoke through gritted teeth. “You could have helped her. You chose not to.”

    Archie continued. “Mother knew what I had become. She knew I was a vampire and could transform her into one, possibly saving her life, although probably not. Mother was pretty far gone by then. She didn’t want to be turned though. She said it was unnatural, a human living forever like that, eating blood, as she put it. Mother made a choice. I felt I had to respect it. Laz disagreed. He wanted to save her no matter what, even if she didn’t want to be saved.”

    “Why didn’t he put the bite on her then?” Adriana asked.

    “Laz was still a normal, or as normal as he ever was,” Archie said. “When I refused to intervene, he went running off to look for some other blood sucker to do the job. He found one all right, up in the North Country. Turned Laz, then sent him packing. By the time he got home, Mother was gone. At least we were able to give her a decent Christian burial. More than we’ll ever get.”

    “Where was your father while all of this was going on?” Martin inquired.

    “We have different fathers, so we’re only half-brothers. Never knew who our fathers were. Neither of them stuck around. Sixteenth century England wasn’t such a great place. It sucked really. Lots of poverty, lots of fighting, and dirt and mud were everywhere. Very messy. We live in much cleaner times now, thank goodness.”

    Lazarus turned from the table. “Enough reminiscing. There’s work to be done. Archie, I hope you’re not as squeamish about getting shots as your son here, although I do remember you had hemophobia.”

    “Been over that for hundreds of years now,” Archie said.

    “Well, goody for you.”

    “Do you really think you’re going to get away with all of this?” Martin asked.

    “Oh yes, yes indeed. I think I will, as always, be very successful. By this time tomorrow, my legions will have loosed a bloody chaos all around the world. Then I can begin to make my fortune.”

    Lazarus was about to inject Archie with the serum when the laboratory door came flying off it’s hinges, landing on the floor with a dull thud.

Chapter 35 - Out of the Closet

    The silence surrounding Molly was broken by the skittering of large paws on a wooden floor. The sound stopped where Molly sat in darkness, struggling with bindings on her wrists and ankles that refused to come undone. Then there were loud snuffling noises. What on earth is that, she wondered.

    Colette stood in a long, semi-dark hallway, staring at the door behind which Molly sat. “Is there somebody in there?” Colette asked.

    Her mouth bound with duct tape, Molly attempted to make an “uh-hmm” sound as loudly as she possibly could.

    “Are you tied up? Do you need help?” Again, Molly responded with an emphatic “uh-hmm.”

    “Okay, give me a minute. I have to get me some opposable thumbs, then I can help you.”

    Molly was not sure what to make of that statement, but she was glad that someone had found her, and could hopefully release her. While she sat in the dark, in what turned out to be a small closet with nothing more than a World War I Army trench coat and some dusty board games, Molly listened to the sounds in the hallway.

    There were a few low moans, followed by a resounding thump on the floor, then all went quiet. After a minute, she heard a tug at the door handle. “Damn thing’s locked. Hang on, I need something to pick the lock with. Wish I had my purse with me.”

    Molly heard the sound of bare feet wandering off, then returning. “This ought to do it,” Colette said as she shoved a butter knife into the doorjamb to pop open the lock.

    Opening the door, the dim light of the hall revealed the bound and gagged Molly hunched on the floor. “This may hurt a bit,” she said as she bent over and quickly ripped away the tape that covered Molly’s mouth. Molly drew a deep breath, then said, “Oh, thank you. I hated the feel of that damn tape. I thought I was going to suffocate.”

    “No problem,” Colette said as she removed the blindfold from Molly’s eyes. Molly blinked twice, saw that the woman kneeling in front of her, working to undo her bindings, was wearing nothing at all, then blinked again.

    “Why are you naked?” Molly asked.

    “You’re welcome,” Colette replied.

    “What?”

    “I just freed you from captivity.”

    “Oh.” Molly blushed slightly. “Thank you. I appreciate that very much, I really do.” She sat and rubbed her wrists where the rope had been. “But, seriously, why are you naked?”

    “It’s a long story, honey. Are you Molly?”

    “Yes, how did you know?”

    Colette stood, helped Molly get to her feet, and extended her hand. “I’m Colette. Nice to meet you. Anyway, your friend Bulldog is upstairs somewhere.”

    “I wouldn’t say he’s my friend. We haven’t always gotten along. Do you know where he is?”

    “He’s wandering around the house with Phil, I mean, Officer Wembley, and Maria Van Buren. They’re looking for Martin and Adriana. That big old vampire fella has them hidden in the house somewhere.” Colette looked Molly up and down. “You’re kinda petite for a vampire slayer, but whatever. I guess you can handle yourself, other than when you get tied up and shoved in a closet.”

    Anger rose up in Molly. “I was chloroformed. Not too happy about that. I’m going to go find them.”

    “Then what?”

    “Not sure. That bitch with the chloroform took my gun. You coming with me?” she asked as she made her way down the hall.

    “Nope. Got some things to do, people to meet, that sort of thing.”

    Molly stopped and turned, still looking puzzled by Colette’s lack of clothing. “There’s a long coat in the closet if you want it. Might be kind of musty though. It looks old.”

    “Not gonna need it. I’ll catch up with you later.”

    The women walked off in opposite directions.

Chapter 34 - Arrival

    Phil’s foot moved quickly from the gas pedal to the brake and back again as he raced his police department’s only vehicle down the narrow side streets of Arbor Woods. Beside him sat Bulldog Armstrong. Firmly planted on his lap was Colette, head hanging out the window, tongue hanging out of her mouth.

    “I really don’t think there’s enough room in this vehicle for five people and a wolf,” Bulldog said as he inhaled tufts of Colette’s fur into his mouth. She ignored him and continued to draw in the sulphur aroma that now just barely lingered in the night air.

    Without bringing her head inside, Colette hollered directions at Phil. “Okay, turn right up here. Yeah, we’re headed in the right direction. Another right up here and it shouldn’t be too far.”

    Phil sped along, turning corners as quickly as he could without flipping over the SUV. Swaying with every turn, Maria and James sat in the back seat, peering through the windows, watching the darkened houses speed by. Between them sat Archie, grasping for something to hold on to.

    “Get your hands off me, old man,” Maria said without looking at him.

    “I’ve got to hold on to something, else I’ll fall out of the car,” Archie pleaded.

    “Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Maria responded.

    “Stop,” Colette shouted. “This is it. The aroma fades away here.” She pulled her head back inside, glanced at Bulldog and said, “Now that wasn’t so bad, was it baby?”

    The car had yet to come to a halt when Bulldog threw the door open. Before he could finish saying, “Get the hell off me,” Colette had darted out, promptly found the nearest tree, and lifted a leg. Looking back at the others as they exited the car, she said, “I know this ain’t lady-like, but this is how I pee, at least when I’m a wolf. Whew, I feel better now. Let’s go kick some ass or rescue some people or something.” Her tail wagged furiously.

    The group gathered on the sidewalk, pausing to look at the house. “Doesn’t exactly look like the lair of an evil genius, does it?” James asked. “Looks more like someone’s trying to get on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens.”

    “Okay, we need some sort of a plan,” Phil said. “Colette, are you okay?”

    The she-wolf had made her way to one of the large bushes on the side of the house to lift her leg again. “Sorry, I had a lot of coffee today. I think I’m all right now. So what are we doing?”

    “We’re trying to figure out a way in without being noticed,” Phil answered.

    “How about we just use the front door.” Maria was standing on the porch, about to knock when Bulldog said, “Don’t do that. We can’t just walk in like we’re here for a cup of tea.”

    “Why not?” Maria responded. “You have to figure they’ll be expecting us. Do you really believe that they would think we weren’t going to come after them?”

    “The front door could be booby trapped.”

    Maria ignored him and decided to try the doorknob. It turned in her hand and the door opened.
   
    “Really, does no one lock their doors in this town?” Bulldog asked.

    “I told you, Arbor Woods is a very safe place,” Phil said.

    James rolled his eyes. “Except for all the vampires that apparently call this town home, some of whom seem to be criminally insane.”

    Phil shrugged, said, “No place is perfect,” then went up the porch stairs. “Well, we might as well go in. Let’s stick together. Colette, come over here by me.”

    Phil entered the front room, searching without success for a light switch. When they were all in the room the front door slammed closed behind them. At first there was total darkness, then lights in the corners of the room slowly came to life, revealing Lazarus Gorey sitting in a modern leather recliner, his feet propped on the ottoman. Not exactly Victorian, but elegant and tasteful.

    “How lovely of you all to pay me a visit,” Lazarus said.

    “Is that an Eames?” James asked, his eyes wide with wonderment and envy.

    “It is indeed, young man,” Lazarus said. “It’s a prototype, given to me by Ray herself.” He chuckled, added, “I think she had a thing for me.”

    “She must have,” James said as he approached slowly, as if nearing some sort of sacred relic. “It’s beautiful. It must be worth a fortune.”

    “I’m sure that it is, but its monetary value doesn’t concern me. I have enough money. Besides, I would never part with this chair. I love it.” Lazarus leveled his gaze at Phil. “But we’re not here to talk about chairs, are we?”

    Phil assumed a John Wayne stance, a hip thrust to one side, arms hanging relaxed, as if he might need to quickly draw a pistol. “No, I guess we’re not.” His eyes narrowed as he tried to fathom what Lazarus was going to do next.

    “I’m glad you’re all here,” Lazarus said, “especially you, Archie.”

    Surprised, Archie asked, “Me? Since when are you ever glad to see me?”

    “Well, usually never, but tonight is an exception. I need you, my old friend.” With no apparent effort on his part, in an instant Lazarus was standing directly in front of Archie. “Old boy, I’ve known you a long time. We go back centuries.” The big man beast began to circle the slender, gentle vampire. “Things have worked out for me quite well over the course of my life. For you, things have been a little tougher.”
   
    “I haven’t got any complaints,” Archie said, turning his head to cast a suspicious glance at the big man. He had the feeling of being stalked.

    “I know you, Archie, I know how you tick. You’ve never been entirely comfortable being a vampire. All the feeding, the centuries of blood letting, it was never a life you really settled into. The constant search for new conquests, it tired you out, it wore you down. You are tired now, aren’t you, physically and mentally? For years now, ever since your divorce from the lovely Mrs. Van Buren here, you thought you would just go off and wait to die. Life and death don’t always work out the way we want them to. Isn’t that right, Arch?”

    Lazarus was in front of Archie again. “There was always a part of you that wanted to return to a mortals life. You wanted everything to be normal, normal love and normal sex, normal aging and normal death. You wanted your existence to come to an end in the old fashioned way, sitting in a rocker on a porch somewhere, waiting for that big gripper to claim you.”

    With a sneer, Lazarus said, “You wanted to be just like everybody else. You weren’t fit to be immortal.”

    He put his face close to Archie’s. “I can help you with your desire to be mortal again. I can make it happen.”

    Archie looked at him for a moment. “Your breath stinks. Try brushing your fangs once in a while.”

    Lazarus drew his head back and smiled. “You always did try to put up a tough front. But that’s not who you really are. You’re a normal trapped inside a vampire body. I can help you get back to who you really are.”

    “What if I’m not interested?”
   
    “You have absolutely no choice in the matter.”