Darkness in Daylight John O. Roberts Normal John O. Roberts 2 175 2001-10-12T21:51:00Z 2001-10-12T21:51:00Z 3 1196 6822 Home 56 13 8377 9.3821 0 0

Darkness in Daylight

Ch. 7

THE DEN

            Robert sensed a familiar presence outside his church; a smile crept across his face. Hello, you old imbecile! He projected into the mind of the being.

            Stop talking about yourself, fool. Came the reply you sicken me!

            It was the traditional greeting between Robert and Silver: insults. They were very good friends, but truly enjoyed insulting one another.

            Why don't you come inside? It's not too far into the service...

            Silver's reply was a negative. You know why I hate churches...

            You know my beliefs on that matter. It was an old argument between the two: The damnation of vampires. Silver claimed that their souls were torn from them the moment their throats were pierced by the fangs of their Dark Parents, and the number of times that they had to kill would damn any soul to eternal hell.

            Robert's view was quite different. For one thing, no matter what happens to your soul, it doesn't belong to you anyway, so how can it be stolen? For another, he hadn't become a vampire voluntarily. In fact, Silver had fought it as hard as he could. Now that he was a vampire, he could hardly help it any more than a human could help being human. Suicide was a worse sin than being a vampire, in Robert's point of view.

              But that wouldn't get Silver inside a church. His final argument always was: "I have a reputation to keep." Robert's reply to that always was: "I'm sure Sil, I'm sure."

            After the service, Father Robert was expected to teach Sunday school for the High school children, always an interesting duty. However, this time, it might be a bit more interesting. He tested the air around him for nonhuman auras. Yes, the witches again. Young Caryn always had something to say about the concept of damnation, a subject that Robert only once in a while got tired of.

            But who's that new boy with her? Robert gazed at them as they walked down the hallway towards the Sunday school rooms. He checked the boy's aura...and got a faint surprise.

            So, that's why you're here. He sent to Silver. Stalking a poor boy? Going to change that one?

            Yes. In time.

            Unless he kills you.

            Silver laughed in Robert's mind. Yes, unless he kills me.

            I wouldn't underestimate this one. Robert warned his old friend. He looks quite powerful, for a human, that is.

            His thoughts were cut short as is daughter poked him in the arm

            "Come on, Dad!" Feuer said impatiently. "You've got a class to teach!"

            Raven hadn't ever been in a Sunday school before. He'd gone to Saturday School once for fighting on school grounds... ("The other guy started it! I swear!") But never to a religious class.

            They started off by sitting down in a room painted in various colors, with large golden letters across the walls proclaiming: What Would Jesus Do?

            Father Robert, who taught the class, entered the room a few minutes later. He smiled at the class. "Well, a few new faces! I remember your name; I think..."He pointed towards a girl with short cut red hair. "Hmmm, I'm not sure..."

            "Cut it out, Dad." The red haired girl made a face at her father.

            So, Father Robert began asking everyone to tell him their names and something interesting about themselves so that he'd be able to remember them.

            When it came time for Raven to say his name, he'd zoned into hyperspace. Caryn elbowed him sharply in the ribs. "Say your name, stupid!" She hissed.

            He sat up straight with a jerk. "What? You wish to know my name? Well, I shall tell you now! I am he who speaks to underwater microorganisms! I am the one who can jump three centimeters into the air and still break an ankle! I am Vengeance! I am the Night! I am...." He paused for effect, and looked around at the incredibly confused faces of his peers.

            "I'm Raven and I'm from Pennsylvania."

            The whole room blinked collectively.

            Raven sat back in his chair, satisfied that he had thoroughly begun his reputation as a completely 'out there' person.

            Father Robert lifted an eyebrow. "Okay...well then."

            The class began talking about Family. Raven zoned out for a while until someone made a comment that snapped him out of it.

            "Yeah, well, you know. Blood is thicker than water."

            The boy lifted his head and said, "Yeah, it sure is. But, you know, so's toothpaste."

            A brief pause. Caryn snorted.

            Raven zoned out.

            He didn't come out of hyperspace until the end of class, when he had to say goodbye to his dad.

            "Why do you have to go to California?" he whined. "This is stupid! I don't wanna stay with my aunts! Caryn told me that Dominique might be there!"

            His father sighed. "Raven, I'd really rather not be going to California, but my mother's gotten sick. I have to go."

            "I thought it was some sort of super-confidential intel thing."

            "Nah. I got myself out of that one." Andrew grinned. "But, it looks like I've got to go anyway. My boss was pleased..."

            "Whatever. I'm not." Raven crossed his arms and sulked.

            His father caught him in a bear hug. "Don't worry, Rave. I won't be gone long. If Aunty Dominique scares you too much, give your friend Tyler a call."

            "Nah. I'd rather just run away into the forest again."

            Andrew smiled, waved, and got into the taxi that would take him to the airport. He called through the window; "I'll see you when I get back, Raven!!! Love you!"

            Raven was slightly startled. His dad hadn't actually said that since he was in second grade.

            That means he knows I'm in for hell at Aunt Tertia's house. He thought pessimistically.

            Silver watched as Raven's father left. He then transported himself instantly to New Mayhem to go back to sleep.

            But, of course, something had to keep him from doing that.

            It was Shi, a Semi* from who-knows-where. Shi was a blind mystic/warrior, and often served as a bounty hunter, or a mercenary. She was standing in the middle of Silvers room, and staring straight at him.

            "I bring you a warning, Undead Master." It was Shi's custom to call all vampires' Undead Masters or Mistresses. "Those who we thought were dead are not."

            "What do you mean by that, Shi?" Silver's temper was short, and he was in no mood to deal with Shi's riddles, despite the fact that the fragile looking woman could kill him with a single movement.

            Her sightless eyes zeroed in on his exactly. "The Den is back."

            Silver took a step backwards in shock. This was worse news than expected. "The Den of the Real? The ones who tried to destroy all other beings besides humans and themselves?" When Shi gave an affirmative-sounding hum, he shook his head. "I could have sworn Seite and I killed them all..."

            "You did not. They are back, and they aren't going to wait for very long. They will attack soon."

            Silver growled. "No. Poor planning was always the Den's weak point before, they'll make sure that their plans are secure, and, considering the size needed to make even the smallest scratch in the population of supernatural beings, that will take a very long time."

            "You are correct, but my Demon contacts say that they might be enlisting the help of a being that the Demons simply call the Enemy."

            Silver shook his head again; trying to relieve the dull pounding that had suddenly set into it. Shi seemed to understand this, and said softly, "You are in no shape to deal with any more of this kind of news right now, Undead Master. You must get some rest." She spun around, her silvery robe billowing out behind her. "I will wait for you in Nyeusigrube. We can discus our plans there. Bring along any being of power, except for Seite. Don't bring Seite."

            Before Silver could ask her why not, she was gone.

            He lay back and stared at the ceiling. The Den. He thought to himself. If they're back, then we'll need to get organized, and soon.

            With that thought, he fell asleep.

            As Shi left Silver's home in New Mayhem, she felt an odd sense of satisfaction. Things were going according to her plan.

            She would get her revenge on the Den soon enough.

            *Semi-human. Often referring to top class warriors and mystics who've achieved near-immortal/legendary status. If you watch Outlaw Star, Suzuka would be a good example of a Semi.

AN. Ok, I'm sure the end of that was plenty confusing. If you are lost, E-mail me and I'll explain it. If you really don't want to...fine, be that way! Everything will tie together later...