Chapter 15

Jerusalem

Heading downstairs, Abi and Ben peeked into the children's room to see they were both sound asleep. Abi felt a chill of horror goes through her. "They're not safe here," she said looking at Ben.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

She looked into his eyes. She didn't have to answer, he knew. "What do you want to do?" he asked wrapping his arms around her.

"Do you remember the place we used to hide at, where no one ever found us?"

Ben nodded smiling, "I sure do. Is that where you want me to take them?"

"Would you?" she asked, "And my grandparents as well?"

"I really don't want to leave you in the middle of a dangerous situation."

She looked up into his eyes. "Please Ben. When it comes to our children, I trust no one but you. Please take them to the safety of our childhood's hide out so I won't have to worry about them as well. It's secluded and no one will know you're there," she pleaded.

His response was to kiss her deeply and then he said, "Promise me you'll be careful and not take unnecessary risks?"

"I'll do my best," she said. "Get the children ready while I go talk to my grandparents. And I'm gonna ask Esther to go with you as well." She left him with the children and headed to her grandparents.

Abi knocked softly on the door. "Come in," she heard Joseph say.

"Hi grandpa," she said smiling.

"Hi Abi. Have you come to talk to your grandmother again?"

Abi just nodded.

"She feels so guilty Abi. Please don't be too hard on her. It breaks her heart, and mine."

Abi smiled at him then leaned and kissed his forehead.

Hanna stepped out of the bathroom and looked at the two of them.

Abi raised her head and informed them of her plan to get them and the children to safety.

"It's a safe house gran," she told her grandmother, "But before you go I need you to do something for me."

"I'll do anything for you my child," said Hanna.

"Good, because I need the key and the password."

"No," said Hanna firmly. "I can't do that Abi. It will only put you in more danger than you already are. It better stays with me. In fact I better stay here so I can give them the damn thing if needed."

"You'll be safe with Ben and Esther grandma. I'll be ok as well," she said a little impatient. "So I need the key and password, and I need them now." Her voice was firm and anxious.

Hanna looked at Abi then at Joseph. He returned her look and then spoke up. "You better do as Abi says dear."

Hanna gave up. She reached for a necklace that was around her neck and pulled it off. It had the key. Then she wrote the password on a piece of paper and handed it to Abi, who took them and put it in her pocket. "Now get ready to leave with Ben in a few minutes," and left.

She went downstairs and into the control room. "Esther," she said to the young woman, "I need you to get ready and go with Ben and my grandparents. He's taking them and the children someplace where, they'll be safe, but I want an extra watchful eye to help him."

"No problem," said Esther. She went into Abi's office. When she came back she had a gun at her waistband and a bag with a few more weapons.

"We're ready," Abi heard Ben say behind her. She turned to look at him.

"I love you so much," she said hugging him. "Be careful you're not followed, and take good care of them all. I'll call you when it is safe to come home." She squeezed his body to hers tightly almost refusing to let him go. She stared at the sleeping children then said, "God be with you," and turned her back so Ben won't see her teary eyes. She stood behind Ethaniel and asked, "So what have you managed to dig up?"

She heard Ben and the others leave the house.

Ethaniel didn't turn to her. He knew by her voice what he would see and how she hated to be caught in her weak moments. He pulled up three photos onto the big screen. "Meet Hans Muller, Friedrich Guenzl and Alfred Kainz," he said. "According to records they all died in a car bomb about 45 years ago. But it seems they were reborn."

"What does that mean?" asked Abi.

"Well, apparently, they each had a son that carried the same name as the father. But," he then uploaded three more photos onto the screen, "As you can see all sons have a striking resemblance to their fathers."

Abi stared at the photos for a while. "That's impossible," she said. "I can understand one son that resembles his father, but all three? No way."

"My thoughts exactly," said Ethaniel.

"Well if they were alive, they would have been in they're late 70s to mid 80s," said Mooli from the other side of the room.

"Those are the same man," said Abi.

"That's impossible," insisted Mooli. "They look in their 40s."

"So you think they made a pact with the dark side to stay young?" asked Ethaniel.

"Either that or they're immortals."

"Immortals," shrugged Mooli. "No one is immortal. It's impossible."

Both Abi and Ethaniel smiled. "Mooli, by now, you should have realized there is no such thing as impossible in our line of work," she said.

"So how do you kill an immortal?" he wondered.

"There is only one way," said Erik who was sitting quietly until now. "To cut of their head."

Mooli shivered.

"I'm afraid he's right," said Abi. "You can shoot them dead, but they will only be revived after a little time. Decapitation is the only way."

"So we will need swords," remarked Ethaniel.

"And guns," she said. "We can hurt them or kill them temporarily before taking their heads. No need to risk your life if you can simplify things."

"But how do we know if they are really immortals or just in deal with the dark side?" insisted Mooli.

Abi looked at him for a minute and said, "Trust me. I'll know."

And he did trust her so asked no more questions.

"Do we know where these people are at this time?" she asked Ethaniel.

"Two are in the USA, Portland to be exact. The third one arrived in Israel 3 days ago. I searched every hotel's guest lists all over Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, but there is no sign of him."

"That means they are ready to attack at any time," said Abi. "We better get ready for a fight then." She looked at her team members. "I trust you all and I know together we can face what comes, now I have to call my father and let him know this information," she said.

Portland

The guys continued walking through the dark tunnel, when suddenly, something shiny flashed in the air aimed at Derek. Nick was the first to see it and he immediately pushed Derek out of the way.

A sudden cry of pain was sounded from Nick's direction, and Derek stood next to him asking worried, "Nick, are you ok?"

"Yes," said Nick. "Damn thing just scratched me. I'll survive."

A movement was heard behind them and Nick held up his gun and said "You better freeze, or I'll blow your head off," to the person making the sound.

"Derek?" asked the voice, "Derek Rayne, is that really you?"

Derek pointed his flashlight into the speaker's face. "Daniel. Yes it's me. What the hell were you thinking off?"

"I'm sorry," said the young man. "I thought you were one of them."

"Them?" questioned Derek.

"Yes. I thought maybe you were with the one who attacked the house." He turned to Nick who in the meantime picked up the object that scratched him. "That's mine. I'm really sorry I hurt you Mr. Boyle. My deepest apologies."

"It's Nick, and don't mention it. I probably would have done the same."

"So Daniel, what are you doing down here?" asked Derek.

"They think I'm dead," he said.

Derek seemed confused, when the young man suddenly seemed to lose his balance and fell forward to his knees. At a closer look Derek saw he was wounded. Shot in his chest. The bullet went through his upper chest luckily just a little beneath the shoulder. But he was obviously loosing blood for some time now.

"Phillip, I think you better take Daniel outside and see he gets medical treatment," said Derek.

"No. Not until I tell you at least what I know about the situation," insisted the young man.

"Go ahead then."

"Ok, it all started yesterday. I was out at the shooting range. When I came back they were already in the house."

"How many are there?" inquired Nick.

"There are two men in there 40s, and I saw at least 7 militia guys. As soon as I enterethey grabbed me. I managed to get free of them and reached for my gun, but then I got shot."

"That was rather stupid," said Phillip.

"What they didn't know is that I was wearing a bullet proof vest. I always wear one when I'm out at the shooting range. Unfortunately one bullet hit me. Then they threw me in here presumed dead. I've been keeping an eye and ear on things. I can tell you they are torturing our precept. Asking him about some key and a password. I also can tell you they've been calling Israel a few times. I heard the name Hanna mentioned several times, and as far as I can tell, the house in Israel is probably going to be attacked soon, if not already."

Derek felt the blood run from his face. "Hanna, is my daughters grandmother. I'd better call Abi," he said.

Suddenly though, his cell phone started vibrating in his jacket. He picked it up.

"Hi dad," he heard his daughter's voice on the other side.

"Abi," he said urgency in his voice, "Is everything ok at your house?"

"For the moment yes, but I expect we will be attacked soon. Alex said you are in Portland. Is the house there under attack?" She asked although she already knew the answer.

"Yes. Abi, is there something you know that can shed some light about this mess?" he asked.

"In short, Hanna was in the legacy house in Berlin during WWII. She and Jacob hid something in a safety deposit box in Zurich after the war. Each of them has a key and a password for it. From what she said the sword of Alexander the great is hidden there. And you know the legend about it. How ever I now have Hanna's key and password."

"Yes I know of the legend," he said.

Abi took a deep breath then told him, "Dad, there is a possibility they are immortals."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Not until I see one of them in person, but they look exactly as they did 45 years ago."

"I'll take that into consideration," was his response. Then he whispered to her, "Be careful Abi."

"I will dad. I already sent Ben, my grandparents and the kids to a safe house. I think we can expect an attack at any minute. I have to go now." She paused then said whispering as well, "You take care of yourself as well, ok?"

"I will," he answered then shut the phone and put it back in his jacket.

"She's fine, but thinks their house will be under attack soon," said Derek to the others.

"Anything else you can tell us Daniel?" wondered Nick.

"The only thing that might help you is that there is a secret entrance to the house, beneath the basement's stairs, which is where this tunnel leads to."

"Good," said Derek. "Phillip, take him outside now and tell the police all this information. By the way," he suddenly remembered, "How did they get the house to age like that in 24 hours?"

"No magic there, just holographic projectors. They are surrounding the house. They activated them right after I got back. They also have heat and movement sensors all over the grounds, except for these tunnels."

"Thank you Daniel. Now go with father Callaghan."

"I guess that leave the three of us," said Kristin, speaking for the first time.

"I guess so," said Nick. "We better get a move on," he commented.

Soon they arrived at the basement. They heard voices from behind the door at the top of the stairs. "I don't like this," said Nick. "The odds and man power are against us."

"But we have the element of surprise on our side," said Derek.

They checked they're weapons and then went through the secret door.