“Tell me how was possible,” Wyatt retorted. “You know how well they are trained. So tell me how did a bunch of kids overpower three trained killers, huh?”
“They couldn’t,” Andrew agreed. “You and I both know that. They had to have had help.”
“I can’t talk about it anymore.” Wyatt shook his head. “I just want to go, okay?”
Andrew called the jailers. They quickly entered the room and released Wyatt’s leg chains from the hook. “I will talk to the judge,” Andrew reassured Wyatt as he was lead out of the room. “You should be home by the end of the day.” Wyatt smiled and mouthed ‘thank you’ to Andrew, who gathered up his briefcase and left through the other doorway.
Storm yawned and stretched as she opened her eyes. She sat straight up and was confused at her surroundings for several minutes. The furniture, the fireplace, and everything else were unfamiliar. Where was she? Storm soon remembered she was in Andrew’s house.
Storm tossed aside the blanket and was about to leave the room, when Chloe came in with a tray. “I hope you are hungry,” Chloe smiled.
“I’m not hungry.” Storm sat back down and covered up with the blanket.
Chloe set the tray on the coffee table and removed the cover. A waft of flavorful steam rose from the pancakes and sausages. It engulfed Storm with its inviting aroma. Storm eyed up the food, and in fact she was starving. Storm looked to Chloe for approval, who nodded that it was okay, so she immediately dug in. Chloe watched as Storm hungrily devoured the food. Chloe just sat there in awe. Soon Storm was done and pushed the tray away. She settled back on the couch.
“Is Mister Knight here?” Storm inquired.
“No, he went to interview Wyatt at the jail,” Chloe informed her.
“What about me?” Storm worriedly asked.
“What do you mean?” Chloe asked. She got up and joined Storm on the couch. “Did you do something wrong?”
“Well, it’s just that, urn what happened last night,” Storm muttered.
“What did happen last night?” Chloe asked.
“Something terrible,” Storm confessed.
“What?” Chloe pressed for an answer.
“We killed those people last night.” Storm buried her face in her hands, overcome with shame. “We tortured them…they begged for mercy, but…”
“But what,” Chloe took hold of Storm by the shoulders and forced her to uncover her face. Chloe stared at Storm, “Who was there? Tell me, Storm.”
“The members of the council were there!” Storm blurted out. She broke free of Chloe’s grasp and buried her face again.
“Who is the council?” Chloe questioned.
“Ravenclaw and the rest of the heads of the households,” Storm spoke through her covered face. “It was a trap and we were the bait.”
“What do you mean a trap?” Chloe was sharp towards Storm.
“Ravenclaw had me call them!” Storm uncovered her face and screamed at Chloe. “He…He had me pretend to be one of their informants and tell them of this blood feast that was planned at my abandoned home. Ravenclaw knew that the Knights could not resist and would be there to attack us.” Storm sobbed as she went on, “He…he knew they would come; he counted on it. He said that it was the beginning of retribution for all the centuries that the Knights had hunted our kind.”
“How did he know who they were and how to call them?” Chloe was almost too afraid to ask, but had to know.
“Ravenclaw mentioned something about a book with the names of our enemies,” Storm answered Chloe.
“How did he get the book?” Chloe demanded.
“I..I don’t know,” Storm answered back.
“Dear God,” Chloe lamented.
Andrew opened the front door and walked into the foyer. He set his briefcase down and took off his overcoat. He put is coat away in the hall closet and closed the door. Andrew grabbed his briefcase and headed towards the kitchen. When he walked past the family room, Andrew saw Chloe and Storm in the middle of a conversation. He decided to join them. When Chloe saw her dad, she jumped up and walked over to him.
“How could you?” Chloe started punching her dad. Andrew dropped the briefcase and grabbed her by the arms.
“How could I what?” Andrew was confused.
“You gave him the book,” Chloe broke free of her dad’s grasp, turned and sat down. Andrew immediately followed her and sat down. He glanced from Storm to his daughter. They each had an accusing expression on their faces.
“What are you talking about?” Andrew demanded. “The Knights of VanHelsing book,” Chloe shouted loudly. “You promised to turn it over make sure justice was done. Not any more killings!”
“I never gave any one the book,” Andrew said in his defense.
“Tell him Storm.” Chloe looked to her for help. “Tell him what you told me.”
“What are you talking about?” Andrew was even more confused.
“Mister Ravenclaw was the one who told us he got the names of the Knights from a book,” Storm recounted for Andrew. She was trembling, “He told us he was going to kill every one of them.”
Andrew took off quickly and ran upstairs to the library. He kicked open the door and rushed over to the shelf on the left side of the window. The book that Andrew had hoped was there was now gone! Andrew felt sick and dropped to his knees. Someone in the house took the book.
Andrew rose and headed for the room Nick and Kara had used. He didn’t bother to knock and just burst in. Nick was taking a nap on the bed. Andrew’s sudden intrusion startled him. Nick bolted straight up and let loose a tirade of profanities.
“Where’s Kara?” Andrew was angry.
“She had to go back to Chicago for a few days, why?” Nick explained. “Why?”
“The book is missing,” Andrew bellowed.
“You think Kara took it?” Nick scoffed. “No way would she do that.”
“Last night three Knights of VanHelsing were killed right here in Bayport,” Andrew sat on the bed, defeated. He looked at Nick and continued, “It was a trap that they walked right into, not suspecting a thing. Storm said that Vlad Ravenclaw had gotten their real names from the book I recovered from Gothica castle.”
“Holy Sh-” Nick whistled. He was defensive again, “No way that Kara took the book and give it to the creepy vampire guy. She would not do it.” Nick felt sick now. He was suddenly unsettled and looked at Andrew, “She did take the book. F-.”
“We need to get that book back,” Andrew stood.
“How?” Nick asked.
“Dad!” they heard Chloe shout from the bottom of the stairs. “Come quick!”
Andrew and Nick both went down stairs. They went to the family room, but Chloe and Storm were not there. “In the kitchen,” Chloe shouted. Nick and Andrew went to the kitchen. Chloe had the television on. She and Storm were watching the local morning news program. The news anchor came on after a commercial and announced a breaking new’s story. She shared that in Bayport County, there had been suscpicious killings last evening. She added that the authorities were baffled and had no leads as to who was responsible for the slayings. Chloe and the others turned their attention from the screen and looked at Andrew. He just stared at the television with a blank expression on his face. He did not move or say a word.
“Dad?” Chloe asked softly.
Andrew turned and walked out of the kitchen. His lust for revenge and justice had gone terribly wrong. Andrew walked down the hallway. He so desperately wanted to put an end to the Knights of VanHelsing, that the Higgins family deaths took second place. Andrew ascended the stairs and went to his room. He was beaten.
The church was filled with mourners. There were civilians dressed in traditional black attire and law enforcement personnel in their dress uniforms. In front of the chapel was Talia’s flag draped casket. There was a photo of Talia in her Sheriffs uniform, on top of her casket. Father Michael stood somberly at the pulpit and looked out across the vastness of tearful faces. The sun was shining brightly through the narrow stained glass windows and cast its light and warmth for all. But it brilliance and pleasurable warmth paled in comparison to the tearful and somber remorse of those in the church.