This is the direct sequel to "Meet the Bodyguard" from Meet the Reinforcements. The story features my own OC's, including the six new mercenaries (Rocketeer, Assassin, Outlaw, Weatherman, Femme Fatale, and Bodyguard). Mr. Ingram is also included in the story.

I'll still be posting more chapters for Meet the Reinforcements while working on Guardians of Tara-lorium.

Chapter One

WORDS OF WARNING

Year = 1850

Elizabeth could only watch as Zephaniah Mann lay on his bed. Old and sterile, the man was just about ready to leave the earth. Just yesterday, he finished writing his will and testament. All he could do now was lie on his bed, close his eyes, and take deep breaths.

He slowly opened his eyes and whispered, "I would like to be alone for awhile."

Elizabeth nodded and left his bedroom. When she closed the door, she glanced over her shoulder to see Redmond Mann standing in the hallway. He held a frown on his face.

Elizabeth asked, "What brings you here?"

Redmond murmured, "I just want to have a little talk with my father."

"He doesn't want any company as of now."

"I need to speak to him about his will."

"You must not have heard me the first time. He wants some peace and quiet. You can talk to him later."

Redmond's voice grew hoarse. "You still forget that I am his son."

"And you still forget that you should respect your father's decisions, like this one."

Redmond shook his head and left the hallway. Elizabeth stood still for a few seconds more before she, too, left the hallway and walked down the stairs.

Downstairs, she found Silas Mann sitting in the living room, smoking a pipe. She felt like doing the same thing. She opened the front door to Mann Manor and walked outside. She stood on the porch as she lit her cigarette. She looked up in the night sky. The stars gave off a luminous gleam as they surrounded the crescent moon. The lights from inside the manor illuminated a small portion of the silent region. As she slowly inhaled and exhaled smoke from her cigarette, Elizabeth reflected on her acceptance of new responsibilities and new challenges. She had just received a large fraction of Zephaniah Mann's territory. She also had the task of taking over his accounts and his documents. She didn't have to worry about anything. She knew what to do with Zephaniah's possessions.

The front door opened, and Silas Mann appeared on the porch alongside her.

"Silent night, isn't it?"

Elizabeth replied, "Yes…yes, indeed."

Silas gave a long sigh. "I am deeply concerned."

"About what?"

"Zephaniah made the wrong decision. He shouldn't have split the land for his sons."

Elizabeth nodded. "I predict a long hard battle between Blutarch and Redmond."

"I hope they ease their quarrel in a much short time than I expect."

After a few seconds of silence, Silas asked, "Did Zephaniah mention anything else about his property?"

"No, he did not."

"What about his associates? Did he say anything about them?"

"Why are you so interested?"

"You know that my brother and I always trust each other. We never keep secrets from each other…but I have this uneasy feeling that he knows something that I do not."

"Perhaps it's just your paranoia seeping in."

"I can't be too sure about that. A few of his associates seemed very peculiar."

Something in the shadows caught Elizabeth's attention. She caught a glimpse of what looked like a human figure. It stood away from the light in Mann Manor.

Silas noticed her prolonged silence. "What is it?"

She whispered, "There is someone out there."

Silas stared at the darkness. He could see the hidden figure as well.

He called out, "Who goes there? Show yourself!"

The hidden figure moved closer into the light. Elizabeth and Silas watched as the stranger revealed himself. He wore a black-colored cape. He took off his hat, and Elizabeth and Silas could see that he had brown hair of medium length. He looked to have been in his mid to late 30's. Elizabeth didn't recognize him as any of Zephaniah's associates.

Silas asked, "Who are you?"

The stranger replied, "I'm a friend of Zephaniah."

Elizabeth exhaled a long plume of smoke. "I do not recognize you."

"I know that he doesn't talk of me much."

Silas uttered, "You don't look like someone from his workstation."

The stranger took a few more steps forward. "That is because I'm not a member of his organization."

"Care to introduce yourself?"

The strange kept calm. "My name is Ezekiel. I want to talk with Zephaniah."

The front door opened, and Barnabas Hale appeared alongside Silas and Elizabeth. He held a rifle in his hand.

"Is this lad causing you any trouble?"

Silas shook his head. "No, he is just here to visit my brother…or so it seems."

He asked Ezekiel, "Why do you want to see him?"

Ezekiel stood still. "I want to talk to him about our business affairs."

Elizabeth raised a hand. "The man doesn't want any company right now. You will have to leave."

"I must speak with him now."

Barnabas raised his rifle. "Did you not hear the lady? Zephaniah wants to be alone."

"When matters are important, it is wise to offer immediate information in spite of temporary silence."

Elizabeth replied, "Then tell us what Zephaniah needs to know, and we shall give him the news."

Ezekiel shook his head. "This is secret information."

Barnabas looked amused. "Oh, is it?"

Ezekiel began to look impatient. "I don't have time for nonsense. I must speak with him now."

Elizabeth stomped on her cigarette. "You should visit again in the morning."

"I don't think I'll have the chance in the morning."

"Listen, Ezekiel, you have no choice but to give us the information that Zephaniah needs."

Barnabas grunted. "And besides, I'm starting to have my doubts about you."

Ezekiel took a few steps back. "The information I'm providing is crucial."

Silas asked, "How crucial can it be?"

"You don't understand."

Barnabas blurted, "Go on, Ezekiel! Get out of here! Just wait until morning."

"I don't have time to see him in the morning."

"Then, just wait for tomorrow afternoon."

Ezekiel looked up at the manor before looking down again and saying, "You don't know what you are dealing with."

Silas raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"When you have the chance…tell Zephaniah that he was right and I was wrong."

"And that's it?"

"Tell him…"

Ezekiel turned around and walked away. He disappeared into the shadows.

Barnabas lowered his rifle. "What was that about?"

Elizabeth remained fixated on the darkness beyond the manor. "Did you see the look of fear on his face?"

"All I saw was the face of a loon."

Barnabas and Silas walked back inside the manor. Elizabeth stayed put, with her gaze still set on the shadows.

The three of them didn't even tell Zephaniah about Ezekiel's unexpected arrival. They decided to wait until morning. At midnight, everyone went to bed, except Barnabas, who kept watch from inside the manor in case Ezekiel paid another unexpected visit. Zephaniah kept his eyes open. His bedroom had been engulfed in natural gloom. The only light came from between the curtains. He could feel it. He could feel his end approaching. He welcomed it. He prepared to leave the earth in peace.

A sudden creaking noise distracted his anticipation. He looked to see his bedroom door slowly opening and closing.

He tried to speak out, "…W-who's there?"

He could see a human figure in the darkness.

"Who are you?"

"…It is only me."

The figure walked towards Zephaniah and revealed himself in the partial light.

"Ulysses? Is that you?"

The man in the darkness smiled. "Yes, I am here."

"What do you want?"

"I'd like to show you something."

Zephaniah could see Ulysses brandishing a dagger from his coat pocket.

"…W-what are you doing?"

Ulysses kept smiling. "This is our latest achievement."

Ulysses slit his thumb and a small trail of blood poured out from his newly made wound.

Zephaniah was a bit confused. "Why did you do that?"

"To prove a point."

Ulysses lit a match and held it at his injured thumb. All of a sudden, the blood began to glow a whitish-blue. It was so bright that it almost illuminated the entire spot where the dying old man lay.

Zephaniah's eyes widened.

Ulysses whispered, "We now understand its power."

Zephaniah's amazement caused him to draw his last breath and close his eyes for the final time.

TO BE CONTINUED…