Order 19: Good News or Bad News?
Malakai was faster than what Skey saw him before! Anderson wasn't doing a bad job of keeping up though. Skey wanted to jump in and help, but that would have been a very stupid thing to do. She would have ended up getting seriously hurt. At least with Anderson...she didn't have to worry about anyone dying. Again she witnessed his dancing technique in battle. Side step, slash, turn, Step in, stab, step in, stab...back step, back step, block, slash. Malakai was perfect with his own moves and you would think that these two warriors, were equal in skill. Neither could land a hit on one another and neither could out do the other in manuveuring skill. When their blades clashed, the sound would vibrate in Skey's head. The slicing metal against metal rang so loud and hurting. Skey wanted to shout stop over and over. Skey knew better. Once Anderson engaged in a fight with a vampire, he wouldn't stop. Even now she could see the happy smirk he wore as he fought Malakai. Then Malakai pulled a cheap shot. He elbows Anderson hard in his stomach when he got in close, then came up hard with an upper cut. Anderson lost his grip on the bayonets and the rhythm, the dance broke down and became distorted. And Malakai took the hilt of the sword in both hands, grabbed hard and swung down at Anderson with all his vampiric might. Anderson rolled sideways just in time before he was cut in two. Anderson drew three bayonets from his sleeve and threw them into Malakai. The blades burned his skin, and he showed that fact by screaming from the pain. It didn't stop him. The sword didn't fall from his hands and the rage in Malakai had peaked higher. The sword came cutting down in a swift angle, but Anderson was able to get to his feet now and fend Malakai off. Again both went head to head in combat, but there was an opening Malakai saw. He stabbed in with the broad sword. It went through Anderson's stomach without a problem. Skey screamed out and when Malakai looked up, his eyes were wide and still maniacal. Anderson was still standing but still worn a bit. Being shot in the head then ran through the stomach by a demonic sword were a bit different from one another. Malakai walked away and approached the standing Skey. No one watched them from the tall buildings and no one dawned themselves on the streets to witness him.
"STOP YA FREAK! DINNA GO NEAR HER! SKEY! GET OOT O' HERE!"
Before Skey could turn to follow Anderson's orders, Malakai grabbed her by the nape of the neck. She kicked and struggled, demanding Malakai to let her go. Bayonets cut through the air and found their way into Malakai's back. He hissed and turned around, staring coldly at Anderson.
" You will stay out of this, priest. If you know what's good for you."
Skey fought to turn around and see. Sure enough Anderson stood defiantly, the street lights' aura gleaming off his glasses dangerously. Two large bayonets were held in his hands and his teeth were clenched in such unspeakable anger. skey had seen how Anderson snapped and become one crazy vampire hunter. But this look he had, it was so much more different. There was an emotion behind it besides the simple pleasure to be on a hunt. Skey didn't want to be thought of as weak now. She backkicked hard and managed to kick him good in the privates. Once he released her, she spun around and back kicked him with her heel. Malakai backed off and stared at her in utter disbelief.
" Skey, don't be like that...here (holds out his hand) come with me. Leave that pathetic priest behind and come live with me. We'll dance all night, and laugh all night! It'll be a grand event, my darling."
Skey had made her decision when she was on London. And it wasn't going to change. Skey withdrew her swords and prepared herself to duel Malakai. He showed he was hurt and didn't take a step to attack her. Sirens were heard not too far away. Malakai growled and leapt up onto a roof and was gone. Skey rushed to the middle of the street to Anderson's side. He stood straight, but she could tell he was in pain from being ran through so viciously. Anderson sour look said a lot about how he felt now. Being nearly outdone by that vampire hurt a lot more than just his stmoach. Skey could see his pride was hurt as well. And the worse thing to ever have to deal with is Anderson when he thinks or knows he was outdone. So as to not provoke any of his anger to her direction she simlpy stood there and waited for him to regain his composure before they walked back to the Vatican. Some police cars were starting to show up down the road. the lights cast all kinds of swirling colors on the buildings it passed. Anderson grabbed her wrist and both headed off down an alley as to not be found by the police. They stopped near some trash cans and a large dumpster. Anderson growled and turned, punching into a solid brick wall. Skey clenched her teeth and winced in fear.
" Thon damned freak will pae for tha'! Ah swear..."
" Father Anderson...let's get back to the Vatican. Please..."
Anderson shot her an angered look but he lost the rage when he saw how timid and fearful she was now and not of the vampire. But himself. That was the last thing he wanted was for his own student to be deathly afraid of him. And why should he focus his anger on her? She wasn't the one who ran a sword through his stomach! Skey took a step to him now after seeing him calm down and put her eyes on the wound in his stomach. Then she tilted her head back to look to his eyes.
" You'll be ok, right?"
" Heh, O' course! (sighed and patted her head) they didnae mak me ae regenerator for nothing. Ah'm specialized tae tak such attacks. Noo, come on. Let's heid back and report in."
Maxwell's Office. 11:00 P.M.
Both of them sat down and waited for Maxwell to get off the phone to some Arch-Bishop. By judging the volume of the voice on the other end, the Arch-bishop was frightened about something. Yumie and Heinkel stood by and waited for any more orders. With Maxwell writing down what the Arch-bishop was talking about, they may just have another order to carry out. Skey was thinking about Malakai yet again and what that vampire said about her dream. Malakai only got stronger each time they fought him. What if next time he put all his strength and vampiric tricks into it? She knew well about Anderson's regenerating abilities, but if Malakai was to go berserk, like in that book she was looking at, Skey feared even Anderson wouldn't be able to match him. And if that was to happen, what was there to say about the rest of Europe and overall, the world? That other vampire. He was in love with Malakai! Jealous too of how she was able to attract Malakai's attention and devoted love. What he said about her dream too made a lot of sense but at the same time it couldn't. Given where she was and her job, emotions weren't suppose to get in the way.
" Ugh, it seems you get one after another of vampire sightings. The numbers are growing out of control...Heinkel! Yumie! (hands them what he wrote down) Find it, and take it out. (they leave) Now, Skey you reported in killing a vampire with white hair, right? Yet, Father Anderson you were dueling with another vampire that hadn't been spotted."
Both complied with nods.
" Was it Malakai?"
" Aye, it was."
Maxwell leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. There was so much to deal with at the moment. He finally got some information though about this vampire Malakai. He took out a manila folder from a top drawer in the dark oak desk and threw it out in front of him on the desktop. He folded his hands and leaned in and spoke to them about this.
" We finally gathered some information about this vampire. Malakai is an ancient vampire through and through. A true Nosferatu. He was reported dead. Over 2,000 years ago. And I can guarantee you after so many years, he's grown unbelievingly strong and very aware of his powers. I want you both to stop being so careless and start considering the possibilites of his strength. And since he's taken a liking to Skey, we may have to use you Skey, as bait for him. Once we destroy this demon, all other vampires created from his bite or even from his fledgling's bite, will die."
skey wasn't too happy to hear them having to use her as bait, but if it meant getting rid of that vampire, then she would do it willingly. Maxwell looked to her and stood up slowly, coming out from behind his desk full of stacks of papers.
" I need you to step outside the room for a second. I need to have a discussion with Father Anderson."
Skey would have liked to protest, but she remembered her last conversation with Maxwell. She desired to prove him wrong. Without one word from her, Skey stood up and left the room. Course, it didn't stop her from sitting outside the room and listening in!
Maxwell took a seat atop his desk and tried to find the right words. Father Maxwell had been speaking with the Arch-bishops in the Vatican and even the other Cardinals about Skey. Many had considered of changing Skey, of making her just like Anderson. Maxwell had profusely opposed such ever considering such a ridiculous thing. She was still in training with Father Anderson and still a bit of a child. To consider making her a regenerator was perposterous. But this is why he needed to talk to Anderson. He was Skey's guardian basically, and only he knows whether or not she would be ready for such scientific stresses on her body and mentality.
" I've been talking with the Cardinals and Arch-bishops in the Vatican about Skey, Anderson. They have been studying your reports on Skey. Even I must admit she has grown from since you first brought her in here. She's still a brat at times and shows little or no regard to superiors, but nonetheless, she is a strong fighter. Heh, sometimes she even reminds me of you. But...what they have been considering is taking Skey and putting her through what they did to you. In other words, they want to make her a regenerator. One of the top elite fighters like you, Anderson. I of course, protested, but they want to rest this on your opinion because you're her teacher and basically...her guardian."
As if fighting Malakai didn't piss him off enough, Anderson had to come back to hear about Cardinals and Arch-bishops wanting to perform those horrifying and sadistic scientific experiments again and on his own pupil. Those bastards didn't understand what kind of stress those 'treatments' do on a person's body and mind. With how fragile Skey's mind is already, doing that to her would put her over the edge and they would possibly lose her forever. For Anderson, it was out of the question and since hearing about this, he even feared letting Skey around the Cardinals now. There was no pressure for an answer cause his answer was a firm one.
" Nae, Ah will nae let them dae tha' til her. Ye a' put me through hell daun thon til me. Ah am nae gaun let them dae tha'. The bunch will hae tae get through me and Ah tell ye, they widnae."
Anderson stood up out of the forest green and brown chair. He didn't want to hear anymore of it.
" Well, I want you and Skey to rest up well then. We have visitors tomorrow."
" Eh? Whit dae ye meen by tha', Maxwell?"
Maxwell slid off the desk and walked around it, then sat down in his office chair. He leaned back and put his hands behind his head. Anderson's inquiring voice suggested concern and he had a right to be. Maxwell didn't like the news either but they had to deal with it.
" No one told you when you came back? For shame. Well, Sir Integra gave me a call and she is coming here to have a face-to-face meeting with me. Not to mentions she is bringing your 'best friend' with her. Aren't you happy?"
Anderson chuckled with the widest grin.
" Aye, Ah am. Let tha' freak come."
