Ch. 10: The Fallen Crusader
"Would telling you for the third time that we can handle the situation convince you to turn back?" Mira asked, her golden eyes seeming to glow under the street lights.
"No it won't," Chief Beatcom replied.
"Ya can't get ridda us that easily, half-demon or not," Centipede added. Beside him, Landon rolled his eyes.
"You're getting yourselves involved in something dangerous; something you have no power to fight!" The werewolf stated.
"Landon, I do that for a living!"
"You go after humans, Chief," Mira reminded him. "Keep tagging along with us and you'll be begging to go after a mob boss."
"Inn't this guy supposed to be the same thing?" Centipede asked.
"Not anymore," Landon growled darkly.
Landon's response to Mira's visit had been expected: the werewolf was shocked but resolute. The knew what the strange man in the park was and what he was after; they knew that they had no choice but to go and meet with the one person who could help them. Unfortunately for the two supernaturals, both Chief Beatcom and centipede had insisted on coming with them. Beatcom insisted that it was his job to investigate any potential threats to the city and its people. Centipede had come after discussing the matter with his family, who concluded that one of their number should accompany Mira and Landon and as Centipede was beginning to immerse himself in the city's politics, he had been the one to volunteer. Now, as the small group approached the small house nestled between two apartment buildings, Mira stated,
"John the Blind, as he's called, isn't our enemy, but we should be on our guard nonetheless. Normally, our kind stay clear of people like him, but John has the information we need."
"And then some," a familiar voice added. A dark shape on the porch moved forward into the glow of the streetlight. Still dressed in black, Turner looked every inch the vampire that he was. He grinned, baring his fangs.
"Come to see my dad?"
"This guy is Turner's father?" Chief Beatcom shot a startled look at Mira.
"Yes. I was hoping that turner would be out hun… I was hoping that Turner wouldn't be here." The vampire's grin faded.
"Hey, no harm intended, Mira. You know that, right, Mira?"
"Sure. But we do need to see your father, Turner."
"I'll go get him." Turner darted back into the house and Landon snorted.
"That little leech is gonna get staked just to shut him up one of these nights."
"I thought these guys hated anything having to do with magic," Centipede noted. "What's the deal with Turner?" Mira shook her head.
"It's actually a really tragic story. Chief, remember the outbreak at the hospital two years ago?"
"The TB outbreak? Yeah, but what's that-" The Chief's eyes widened.
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"The story was a cover-up," Landon confirmed. "Three vampires broke into the children's ward and had a feast. The Crusaders, people like John, were called in and the vampires were destroyed. Unfortunately, as all the kids had been bitten, they were dealt with too."
"They killed those kids?" Mira nodded
"Sadly yes. If it's any consolation, their deaths were quick and painless. The only one who survived was Turner. His mom was a nurse and she begged her husband to save their only child. Despite his training as a Crusader, John relented and they took Turner home. John kept Turner inside and started researching a possible cure for vampirism. But then his wife was arrested for stealing blood from the hospital and-"
"Wait, wait, wait. That's why that woman was stealing blood."
"That's right. But what was she gonna say, Chief? That she had to bring it home so her son, who had recently become a vampire, could eat?" Landon shook his head. "Besides, would you have believed her?"
"It's just…"
"We warned you about getting involved any more than you had to," Mira reminded him.
"Guess we're slow learners," Centipede replied.
"And yet, that can be remedied," a deeper voice replied. The tapping of a cane was heard and then John the Blind approached.
The man was tall and well-built, with a head of thick black hair. He was dressed in the black robes of a crusader, with a clerical collar around his neck. And yet, it was easy to see that he was a broken man. He limped heavily and grasped a silver cane tightly to keep his balance. The clerical collar that circled his neck had been torn and looked pathetically limp. But the most prominent feature of the man was a thick black band wrapped around his eyes, with only two small holes allowed for vision. John the Blind indeed.
"Please follow me inside," he said. "We have little time, if Christoph has come."
The four followed John into the house, through a narrow hallway and finally into the kitchen, where a round table with six chairs set up around it waited. Turner was crouched in one of them and brightened when Mira approached the table, but quickly scowled when Landon sat between them.
"So, where to begin," John mused, sitting down."
"How about explaining what you so-called Crusaders really do?" Chief Beatocm replied with narrowed eyes.
"From your expression, I'll wager that Mira and Landon have told you about Turner. Killing gives me no pleasure, but at times it is necessary. As an officer of the law, you should know this." John sighed and shook his head.
"Crusaders are not hunters; we are an order dedicated to protecting human life. Back in olden times, when vampires and werewolves and whatnot weren't in hiding, certain people were trained to combat them. This small elite group were known as Crusaders and they still exist today."
"So, you don't go out an look fer things to kill?"
"No. Supernaturals have every right to live. It's when they attack humans mindlessly that we have to intervene."
"So, who is this Christoph?" Mira asked. John turned his face to her and behind the band, his eyes almost seemed to glimmer.
"It's funny that you of all people should ask me that, Mira Redmane. I would have thought you would have guessed by now. He's the man who murdered your father."