Author's Note: Greetings everyone! Sorry that it's been a while since my last update, but I have a very good reason for this. The reason is that I've been waiting for a friend of mine to edit my chapters. She, however, has been a bit too long for my tastes, so I decided to post this chapter with my own editing.
Also, I must point out that I'm not sure if Lutherans in Germany refer to their pastors as a "priest" and address them as "Father." I know that they do in some other European Lutheran countries, but I'm not sure if Germany is one of them. So if I made a mistake then please forgive me. Above all, take care, and please continue to read and review!
Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women.
And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now at the hour of our death. Amen—
"The Hail Mary"
Seuche in Deutschland
Chapter IX
After he assisted the young man from the vampire's kiss, Lysander purchased some beer from a tavern and returned to his apartment. When he arrived, his younger brother was already there. The two shared their stories and drank Spaten.
When Lysander finished his beer to grab another he replied, "All I can say's that we're in some serious shit."
"I know. Whoever these vampires are they know us and our family history…Do you think they could be from Romania?"
"…I don't know…But wait!"
"Yes?"
"I thought…I thought I remember Dad saying once that vampires must rest in the earth they were buried in."
"Which means they can't be from Romania then."
"…No…not exactly."
"What do you mean, 'not exactly'?"
"Let me ask you a question, Cander."
"All right?"
"It'll be about our history."
"Fine, what's the question?"
"You told me once that you could faintly remember—even though you were only two—when Dad went to Austria."
"What about it?"
"Why did he go?"
"He went to battle…"
Lysander smiled. "Exactly."
"So the vampires could've taken Romanian soil in boxes and traveled to Prussia…But the only knowledge we have on them's the one I killed in the ghetto that mentioned something about 'legion'…Whatever that means."
"'Legion'…that name sounds familiar to me…Wait! I know where I've heard it before."
"Where's that?"
"In church, when the priest reads from the gospels. It's from a story where Jesus exorcises a demon out of a man. Mom gave me a Bible to take with me to Prussia, so I think I'm going to look for that passage."
Lysander opened the top drawer of a dresser near his bed and removed a Bible. Then he began to search through the gospels. "Found it! It's from St. Mark's Gospel."
"What does it say?"
"And they came over the straight of the sea into the country of Gerasens. And as he went out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the monuments a man with an unclean spirit. Who had dwelling in the tombs, and no man now could bind him, not even with chains. For having been often bound with fetters and chains, he had burst the chains, and broken the fetters in pieces, and no one could tame him. And he was always day and night in the monuments and in the mountains, crying and cutting himself with stones.
And seeing Jesus afar off, he ran and adored him. And crying with a loud voice he said, 'What have I do to with thee, Jesus the Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not.'
For he said unto him, 'Go out of the man, thou unclean spirit.' And he asked him, 'What is thy name?'
And he saith to him, 'My name is Legion, for we are many.' And he besought him much that he would not drive him away out of the country.
And there was there near the mountain a great herd of swine feeding. And the spirits besought him saying, 'Send us into the swine that we may enter into them.'
And Jesus immediately gave them leave. And the unclean spirits going out, entered into the swine. And the herd, with great violence was carried headlong into the sea, being about two thousand and were stifled in the sea. (Mark 5:1-13)"
"…So you think this 'Legion's' many demons?"
"…Maybe…I don't know…I wish Dad was here right now for questions like these."
"So do I, but we can always write him."
"I know…We may learn something more tomorrow."
"Like what?"
"Like that vampire that you killed…I'm sure that his decapitated body has already been reported to the authorities by now, and they'll identify him as someone whose body was stolen and then mutilated. It'll be in the paper tomorrow, and it'll provide some extra information for us."
"…I didn't think about that."
Lysander chuckled. "For someone so bright, you sure can be dense, Cander."
Alcander cocked his head—a gesture that stated he did not care about his brother's comment.
Lysander laughed, before he became serious again. "Well, that'll be the third thing we do tomorrow."
"The third?"
"Yes. The first thing that we're doing is going to church…"
"To church!"
"Yes, we were lucky that we weren't killed this evening. The second'll be to write letters to Dad, Christian, and Uncle Richter about what's happening in Berlin. And finally, we'll see if the paper reported on the vampire that you killed."
Immediately after Lysander finished his sentence a large clock chimed for midnight, and people began to shout with praise on the streets.
Lysander smiled at his brother, and raised his beer bottle next to his. "Happy 1824, Cander."
Early the next morning Lysander and Alcander—who was not hung-over—attended mass at the small Catholic Church near Lysander's apartment. New Years Day was the feast day of the Mother of God, and Lysander and Alcander thanked the Blessed Virgin for her intercession to Christ on their behalf last night; and after mass, Lysander and Alcander remained in the church to pray the rosary. When the two finally left the church, they returned to Lysander's apartment to write a series of letters.
01 January 1824
Happy New Year, Mom and Dad!
Sander and I've only been here for a day, but his worst fears were confirmed. Vampires are haunting the streets of Berlin, but that's not the worst of it. Last night Sander and I individually encountered some vampires. I was able to kill the one that confronted me, but before he died he left us with two messages. One was that he said he was affiliated with something called 'legion,' and he addressed me by my first and last name! Sander was unable to kill the vampire that he encountered, but she also knew his first name and that he was from Romania.
Sander recognized the term 'legion' from the New Testament—from the story where Jesus exorcises a demon in St. Mark's Gospel. Both of us wonder, however, if this 'legion' refers to many demons or to many vampires; and both of us wish that Dad were here to help us out.
Well, I guess that's all I have to say for now. It appears that Sander and I will be here in Prussia for a while, but hopefully we'll be home in time for Christmas.
Love you,
Alcander and Lysander
01 January 1824
Happy New Year Uncle Richter, Aunt Annette, Christian, and Sidra,
I pray that your New Years Eve was celebrated better in the village than mine or Cander's was celebrated in Prussia.
I have to tell you very bluntly that we have problems here. Last night, Cander and I confronted some vampires. And what makes it even more frightening is that both of these vampires knew our names; and the one that I encountered knew my nationality.
The only clue we have so far is the vampire that Cander killed (I was unable to kill mine) informed him that 'we're Legion.' I'm not sure what to make of it. When I first heard it, I thought of a passage from the New Testament where Jesus exorcises a demon, and I wondered if there's a connection?
Nevertheless, Cander and I are going to need Christian's help, and we pray that he'll leave for Berlin soon. Hopefully when he arrives we'll have some more information to give him. This evening's paper should have an article in it about that vampire Cander killed. More than likely, it'll have a name as to who this person was.
Please pray to Christian to come soon, and hopefully all of us will be back in Romania in time for Christmas.
Take care,
Lysander and Alcander
Around five that evening Lysander received his copy of the evening paper, and in the right column of the main page he discovered the headline, 'Man Found Decapitated Outside Jewish Ghetto.' The article read as follows:
1823 came to a close in a most gruesome manner outside the Jewish ghetto. Around ten that evening a man was found with his head severed from his body, and a large stab wound in his chest.
The spokesman for the Jewish community, Rabbi David Herschel, stated that the body was discovered shortly after a special service, which was held at the synagogue, ended; and the authorities were contacted immediately. At present time the victim's name will not be given, and an investigation is currently underway.
"Damn," replied Lysander. "I don't have time to wait for the paper to tell me what's going on; I need to know now! I guess I'm going to have to ask Ingo for help on this one."
Lysander and Alcander arrived at Ingo's home almost thirty minutes later.
"Lysander, how can I help you?"
Lysander showed Ingo the article in question. "I need to know exactly who this man was that was found decapitated."
"…Why do you care who it was?"
"Because it can lead to more information on whom these vampires are; that'll go over real well! Damn it! How can I answer this…"
"If I may speak for my brother, we believe that this corpse could've something to do with the disease that's been affecting this city."
"Good one, Cander! I can play off of those words…Yes, that's correct."
"What do you mean?" asked Ingo.
"What Cander means is that a dead body can lead to diseases. I'm not a doctor, but even I know that much."
Ingo paused. "Well, that's a good point, Lysander…But what I don't understand is, why does the person's name make any difference…Why does Tsar Alexander care?"
"It's dangerous to interpret the opinion of the Tsar sometimes, Ingo. If I was to write to him that I didn't bother to investigate this matter as much as I could've, how do you think he'd respond? …Plus, a name gives my brother and me a place to start with."
"…Well…I guess that's true…Here, why don't you let me write out the paper work that'll grant you access to the morgue. I'm certain that by now the mortician has identified the body."
"Thank you, Ingo."
Within another thirty minutes, Lysander and Alcander arrived at the morgue.
"I pray that we won't be here too long," began Lysander. "The sun has already set."
"I know, but hopefully the vampires'll keep a low-profile tonight; based on what we did last night…Plus, I don't want to be here too long either. I hate places that smell of death."
"Agreed."
The interior of the morgue was a dreary place—black curtains and all. But then again, a morgue is a house of death. The only positive features for some people were some paintings of Jesus and Bible passages about the resurrection.
"How can I help you?" the mortician asked.
"I'm Lysander Tepes, and this is my brother, Alcander."
Lysander and Alcander shook hands with the mortician before Lysander continued, "I'm a representative of the Wallachian Government, and I've with me a letter from Ingo Langheinrch, one of the magistrates to Prince Fredrick William."
Lysander handed the mortician the letter.
"Oh…I see," began the mortician. "You want to know about the decapitated man, who was brought here late last night."
"That's correct."
"Have you identified him?" asked Alcander.
"Indeed, but…"
"Yes?" replied Lysander.
"Well…this is going to sound strange, but that man has been here before."
"What do you mean?" responded Alcander.
"I mean that he was already dead."
Lysander and Alcander did their best to act surprised.
"More than likely somebody dug up his body and then desecrated it…Though I wouldn't be surprised when I learn who did it."
Lysander and Alcander presented the mortician with a look.
"You think you know who did it?" asked Lysander.
The mortician nodded. "You read where the body was found, didn't you?"
Lysander and Alcander nodded.
"Well, there's your answer."
"Wait a minute," began Alcander, "are you saying that you think the Jews did this?"
The mortician nodded again. "Absolutely! They probably stole his corpse, and used it for some bizarre ritual in their synagogue…I tell you, we should've followed Luther's advice on Judaism."
"Since neither me or my brother're Lutherans, could you tell us exactly what Martin Luther said regarding the Jews?" asked Lysander.
"Luther said that we should burn their synagogues and destroy their Talmud…"
"No wonder most Jews hate Christians," interjected Alcander.
"I mean, once Luther established a purer form of Christianity, which's no disrespect to you Catholics…"
"Right, it's only disrespectful to Jews," replied Lysander. "Actually, we're Orthodox, but that's insignificant."
"Oh, anyway, with this purer form of Christianity the Jews should've now embraced Christ as their Messiah and Savior. But the Jews, as they did in the first century, continue to reject Christ. And because of that, they should've been done away with. It's as Matthew declared in his gospel, the blood of Christ's upon them!"
"This man's a bigot! I don't believe I've ever heard Uncle Richter talk this bad about Jews, Catholics, or Protestants," said Alcander. "Well…look…everything you've said's all interesting, but can you tell us where this man was originally buried? Or where he was from?"
"I can tell you that he was buried in the churchyard behind St. Andrew's Lutheran Church. As for where he was from, I don't know. Why don't you ask the pastor of that church?"
"Thank you…Besides your bigoted comments, you've been a great help."
Berlin was a first of many things for the Tepes brothers. Until last night, they had never entered a Jewish ghetto, entered a synagogue, or even possibly met a Jew for that matter. And now, the brothers prepared to enter a Protestant church.
From the outside, St. Andrew's Lutheran Church looked similar to the Catholic churches the two of them had seen in the West. But the interior of the Lutheran Church was slightly different from either the Catholic churches or the Orthodox churches that Lysander and Alcander were raised in.
Inside the church, with the exception of the Virgin Mary holding Christ, there were no pictures of the saints—not even St. Andrew, the church's patron. The church did contain images along the walls—and in stain glass—from the life of Christ; and at the head of the church was a communion rail, crucifix, altar, nativity scene, and tabernacle.
"Where do we start?" asked Alcander.
"…Somewhere around here should be a book that records the deaths of people who attend this church."
"But we don't even have this person's name. How do we know that someone who died recently wasn't an old man?"
"…Damn."
"What?"
"I didn't think about that."
"So what should we do then?"
"…We'll have to find the priest and talk to him."
"The rectory's probably next door."
"Then we're going there."
The rectory next door looked no different on the outside than the rectory of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Orthodox Church in Lysander and Alcander's village.
"Sander…I'm curious about something."
"What's that, Cander?"
"Well…I've never talked to a Protestant priest before. How're we supposed to talk to them?"
Lysander chuckled. "It's a good thing that my friend, Luther, is a Lutheran—hence the name. Luther always referred to his priest as 'pastor' or 'reverend.' So I'm certain both'll work."
Lysander knocked on the rectory door and the minister answered. The Lutheran minister was a man in his middle fifties, with dark hair, eyes, and glasses.
"How can I help you?" asked the minister, warmly.
"Pastor, my name's Lysander Tepes and this is my brother, Alcander." The minister and the brother exchanged greetings. "And Pastor, I'm a representative of the Wallachian Government, which's part of Romania. We're here to ask you a very simple question."
"All right."
"Has anyone young died in your parish?"
"…Huh? …Why's that important?"
"We've been conducting an investigation on the epidemic that's affected the city," began Alcander. "And we understand that someone young—around my age—may've died from the disease, and we understand that he attended your church."
"Well…yes, there was a young man who was recently buried in the churchyard around your age, although his church attendance was very limited."
"Where did he live?"
"Two blocks away."
"Thank you…One last question if we may, Pastor?" asked Lysander
"Yes?"
"Has anyone else from your parish been ill?"
"…Yes…yes, there has been."
"Who's that?"
"A young man about sixteen-years-old. He lives in the same neighborhood as the other man in question."
"What's his name?"
"Stephen…Stephen Gutzke."
"Thank you."