Order 26: Lies and Bewilderment
Skey's Dorm. Saturday. 6:00 A.M.
Skey woke slowly. Her body was still very sore, but it wasn't as bad. Outside, the sun was just rising and its light filtering through her curtains. The usual morning birds chirped. Thump, thump. Thump, thump. Skey could hear a heartbeat in her head. It took her a second or so to realize who's heartbeat it was. Her head tilted up and she could see Anderson fast asleep propped against the headboard. Beside her rosary sat his round framed glasses. He was totally knocked out. Skey moved to get up and get out of bed but something held her down. She realized his arm was around her. She shook him some but his mind did not yield. When he slept, he slept. She pushed the arm away gently and got out of bed. Skey's eyes flew open in alarm and she fell back on the bed, clasping tightly on her calf. A charlie horse of a cramp tightened her muscles so tight. She tried shaking her leg, massaging it though roughly, but nothing stopped it. She didn't want to thrash around on the bed on the account he was still there sound asleep. So instead she just dug her fingertips into it and waited for the pain to diminish. If going through that whole process wasn't painful enough, her muscles had to cramp up and be a pain in her ass too. Skey wondered. Could there be a day when nothing went wrong for once?
Anderson woke. First his dreams became disoriented until he saw nothing but black. His eyes opened to see skey sitting on the opposite edge of the bed clasping her calf. He grinned. Yes, the after effects were spontaneous cramping of the muscles. It wasn't anything new or life threatening. Thank God.
" Ye know, putting some ice on tha' mae help some."
Skey's back straightened as she went rigid. He expected she didn't know he woke up. The sleep was rubbed from his eyes before he put his glasses on. he missed out on the fun of hunting last night, but his student's need for him to be present overruled his desire to go gut some vampires.
" I didn't know you were awake."
"Ah jus woke up ae second ago. Ye dinna look like ye been up lang either."
" No. I was styill half asleep until this damned charlie horse cramp started in my leg! I tell you, if it's not one thing, it's another."
" Heheh, thas how the world works noo days. Ye can ne'er hae ae true, pleasant day."
Anderson pushed himself off the bed and straightened out his coat. Skey made an attempt to stand up but fell to the ground. It alarmed Anderson when he heard the thud against the floor. Skey got back up and climbed back in bed with a frown. He guessed it still bothered her she was rendered useless still yet. He came to her once more and patted her head.
" Dinna gie up on me noo. Hang in thaur. Ye made it through the hell in the lab, and through the hell O' yer past. Can ye bear it jus for ae couple more days?"
" Yeah, I can. (weak smile) I'll be fine...thanks."
This time he left for good. Anderson made his way down the hallways. During this time of the morning most of the Iscariot agents would be sleeping. Maxwell by now was probably a good deal worried where he had been during last night. Anderson knew it was a sin to lie, but it would be for the better. If Anderson was to tell Maxwell where he had really been, he would start jumping to conclusions. And Anderson would never hear the end of it for as long as he lived. Or for as long as Maxwell lived anyhow. The sun was rising fast into the dark sky and enlightening it. With its bathing of light the dotted stars begun to disappear. The waning half moon was still in the sky but fast camoflouging with the sun's light. The smell of dew on the grass and the crisp, light sense of the heat starting to absorb into his coat was refreshing. It's been weeks since he actually woke in the morning and was not too tired to enjoy it.
Maxwell's Office. 6:15 A.M.
The usual papaerwork sat on Maxwell's desk ready to be done. A steaming cup of coffee sat on a coaster on the polished wood desk. A TV was on and broadcasting news. This was how Father Maxwell started his morning. He hardly slept if at all. Everyone's sleep schedule had been screwed up badly, even his. The only time he did sleep was spontaneous intervels and those only lasted the most at an hour and a half. It was almost necessaryfor him to be up all the time. The pulled back curtains allowed the sun full access to the large office. It was a peaceful morning, one which Maxwell wished to not be disturbed. He was just about to take a sip of his untouched coffee then the doors of his office opened. Anderson stepped in and closed the door, then came to his desk. Maxwell stopped and sat his coffee down. Just some mornings weren't meant to be undisturbed...
" It's about time you show your face, Father Anderson. Where have you been! You went to visit Skey last night, didn't you? And you never came back. You didn't..."
" Nae! Dr. Fiels told me tae tak her back til her dorm room. Ah did so. Ah was feeling very tired efterwards so Ah decided tae go til bed maself."
" As God as my witness, Father Anderson, I would swear that woman is changing you far more than you can imagine. You act like a kid yourself now! You're more 'tame' than what you used to me. It's repulsive to see you resort to such unprofessional ways. Like a week ago when you were just lying out there in the Garden with her. What the hell were you thinking! I am telling you, you had better knock off this whole charade of being this Mr. Nice Guy to her!"
Maxwell saw Anderson's eye twitch. That was never a good sign when you were dealing with him. He slammed his hands flat onto the desk and leaned in.
" Dinna ye E'ER talk tae me like thon again! Ah've put ae lot O' years into working here! Ah will nae take crap like thon fae ye, Maxwell! Whit Ah sae is TRUTH! Gie me ae reason why Ah would e'er DARE tae lie til ye! Maybe ye would feel better aif ye took the stick oot O' yer ass and start acknowledging the agents' accomplishments instead O' barraging them anytime something is gaun wrong!"
Anderson threw a bayonet into the desk just inches from Maxwell's hand. Maxwell was left speechless. Right now wasn't the time to even try arguing with him in this state of mind. Anderson turned and left the room, slamming the doors on his way out. Now Maxwell breathed, afraid if he did before, he'd end up with a bayonet in his neck. The woman on the news continued her broadcasts and the sun continued to shine. The coffee in the mug trembled because of Maxwell's hand shaking against the desk. With a low growl, he tore the bayonet out of the desk and dropped it, letting it clatter to the floor. He took the mug in both hands, trying to steady his hands from the shivering. It only ended up wth him spilling coffee on his pants. the hot, scolding liquid burned his leg. He leapt out of his chair, the cup shattering to the floor as he yelled.
" Ah! Damn it!"
Basement of a Very Large building. 7:00 A.M.
Malakai was sitting in a wooden chair, holding a wine glass of blood. Vampires were all around him sleeping. He of course, could not sleep today. The time was becoming ripe for their plan to attack. Every day that neared, only excited the vampires further in their anticipation to attack the Vatican. Many friend vampires had been killed by the Iscariot Organization and some sought revenge. Malakai smirked. It was always good to have an army of vengeful power. When someone is powered by vengeance, they really can become a demon. Most vengeful people would stop at nothing to avenge whatever it was. Even in the face of death, they would bark and snap. People like that...usually didn't have anything left to live for. Much like these vampires. He was in anticipation as well but not for the same reasons as all of them. What he wanted, was Skey. And of course to beat the hell out of that one priest who had dared to interfere with him. He assured that the priest would suffer and would die just like his and the church's beloved idol, Jesus Christ. It would be fitting for a man to die like that. Especially a man like that priest, all of which who claim they are the people of God. The rest of the bloody contents were drained from the wine glass into Malakai's mouth. After finishing, he sat the glass down and took a walk through the many turns and winds of the basement. Pipes shuttered, boilers heated and it was muggy and humid as hell. But it was in the dark and this was the only place they could hide out for now. A few small windows that faced thwe alleyway were opened as to draw the heat out for his fellow vampires. And he who dared to try breaking into this apartment complex by slipping in through the windows, were damned. All they would be doing is committing suicide by slipping into the lion's den. But that wouldn't be the fact soon. Malakai picked Wednesday as the time to act upon his plan. Just like you would set a building on fire from the middle to make it burn down faster, setting the fire during the middle of the week, Malakai had hopes it would burn throughout the week into its past and into its future.
Skey's Dorm. 7:30 A.M.
Skey let the sun in for once. It was rejoicing to actually feel the sun this time and enjoy its warmth. In right hand she held her rosary and held both sides of her bible oen while she read. She was bedridden for the weekend until her muscles decided to heal. The least she could do is read and draw as much strength from the bible as she could. During these dark times, Skey felt she had to draw strength from anywhere she could imagine; spiritually or physically. She felt the darkness nipping at her heels and the pending doom that she dreamt wreaked on herself and Section XIII. It was so close and none of them knew. In fact, she even wondered how she knew. Every time, she would try to shake it off. The procedure of being turned into a regenerator must have made her lose a part of sanity. There could be no explanation. She refused to believe she was going crazy. Her fingertips rubbed her rosary beads together, letting the polished onyx beads roll back and forth. The bible closed and was placed on the bed. Sleep was overcoming her. Skey laid down on her stomach and cuddled up to a pillow, continuing to hold her rosary. Soon after settling in the bed and becoming comfortable, she begun to fall asleep...where a dream pursued her.
Skey watched again as the same dream happened. The same one since Malakai's visit. There she was with that cold looking vampire holding her so gently, both of them watching as vampires overran the Vatican and were killing all the women and men there. The flames of hell flickered in both of their eyes. Skey did nothing to stop it. Not even while vampires were hammering nails into Anderson and crucifying him. The vampires quoted bible quotes but with such vile mockery and ghoulish laughter following.
" WHERE'S YOUR GOD NOW, PRIEST? EH!"
Abrupt laughter trailed. The crucifix was hoisted up and strapped down, Anderson crucified on it painfully. The vampires didn't just do it like in the bible. Stakes indeed went through his wrists and feet, but they also staked him through the arms, through the torso and legs. Any amount of pain they could inflict, they did. Somehow Skey didn't believe that hurt him. What hurt him was her. Just like the Judas Iscariot, in this dream...she betrayed them all. And that hurt and pain in his eyes was the shame he felt for her. Just as Anderson's head hung in death, blood dripping from his mouth onto the burnt soil, the whole horror show was engulfed in flames. The flames calmed and again, that same old dream. Being held in the arms of a man with his coat or cloak flapping around the both of them. And the kiss Skey swore she could feel. But this man was warm unlike Malakai. This man held her close and firmly, giving the kiss with all the will of his heart. And she had returned the favor. And it was always during this part she was woke up either by her own will or someone. Skey's dream blacked out and she became conscious she was awake. Her eyes opened to see Dr. Fiels sitting on the side of her bed with a stethoscope and a clipboard. Anderson stood behind him, leaning against the wall but looking away with crossed arms...what was his problem. Dr. Fiels helped skey sit up.
" You feeling any better."
Remarkably, Skey did feel better with that slight nap.
" Yeah, I feel a bit better."
He checked her heartbeat and squeezed muscles in her arm here and there. He scribbled a few things down on a paper.
" Well! You've recovered quite fast. I wouldn't doubt you'd be ready for work. But first, we'll have to have tests done on you to see if this treatment worked. Now, don't get frightened, we're sure it all worked out fine but these tests are mandatory to confirm the procedure. I'll have to ask you and Anderson to cooperate with me on this, ok? Then you should be ready for work if you're feeling up to it."
Skey flexed he fingers and moved her legs. She was still a bit sore, but not as much as she was for the past week. Her stomach rumbled loudly, making Dr. Fiels laugh.
" After the tests, you'll be free to eat whatever you wish and considering the weight you loss, you may have to double your meals. now, come on. We don't have all night."
" Night?"
Skey looked out her window and indeed it was night. The half moon was rising up over the buildings. Skey blinked and rubbed her eyes in bewilderment. Did she really sleep that long?
