Chapter 19

By Carycomic

Chapter 19.

One hundred and fourteen years earlier, "Mr. Trick" had been Corporal Patrick Raymond of the Ninth U. S. Cavalry. Husband to Lenore Raymond, and partner of their troop's chief scout, Sergeant James Lonefeather. That is until they were selected for what their fort's commanding general had called a "clandestine operation."

The Apache raids led by the infamous war chief Geronimo, from south of the border, had become intolerable to the army's higher-ups in Washington. Even more intolerable was Mexico City's incessant refusal to allow uniformed American soldiers on Mexican soil, even for a joint operation. So, instead, a troop of buffalo soldiers would enter Mexico disguised as civilian scalphunters. The general had even taken the liberty of hiring two genuine scalphunters- -Tector and Lyle Gorch- -to act as guides! But, Lonefeather had refused to work with the redneck Gorches, and demonstrated his resolve, to that effect, . . .

. . .by punching out his troop captain.

Consequently, Corporal Raymond became chief scout while Lonefeather remained behind in the guard house. That, however, turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the man who would become "Lord Bowler." Because, while encamped for the night, three days after entering Mexico, the troop was attacked. Though, not by Apaches.

The attackers were vampires! More specifically; members of the Tlacique (or "Blood Jaguar") sect of the Setite Clan. And, the only ones not drained entirely dry were Cpl. Raymond and the Gorches. All three were Embraced, instead; in Raymond's case, by a seductive vampiress named Lissa. The two of them spent the ensuing fifteen years as a couple. Following which, they went their separate ways. Lissa to South America. And Raymond back to the United States. . .as a member of the Order of Teraka.

It was working for the latter that eventually led him to cross paths with Deputy Director Benson of the CIA. And, his imposture of Herman Cromwell, for more than two years, had been the longest he had ever stayed in one place. But, if Angel now had his way?

It would be the place Mr. Trick got his ash kicked.

Angel had recognized the trademark feline growl of a Tlacique right away. He had heard it, once before, when a small pack of Blood Jaguars had interrupted a private fight between himself and that old purple-puss, Boone, during the Roaring Twenties! So, the instant Mr. Trick had made his melodramatic threat, Angel kicked open the closet door while simultaneously putting on his "game face."

He then sized up the scene before him quicker than any human brain could make sense of it.

The blonde detective, Lockley, had been pushed to the carpeted office floor, landing flat on her back. Her S&W semi-auto in her right hand. At the same time, the Newcomer called Francisco had been pushed against the back wall of the office! With the former desperately seeking to keep Trick's clawed hands away from his throat. . .and gradually failing.

"TLACIQUE!" Angel yelled, at the top of his lungs, even as he ran forward.

The ploy worked. The shout made Trick look over his left shoulder. Giving Francisco the perfect opportunity to chance counter-attacking with a right-handed heel-of-the-palm strike! This, in turn, made Trick fly backward into his office desk. When sprang back on to his feet, preparing to return to the attack, he found Angel standing between him and his intended targets.

"Who the frig are you?!" demanded the African-American vampire.

"You might say I'm their guardian 'Angel,' " quipped the erstwhile Scourge of Europe.

The pun was not lost on Trick.

"Heh! I've heard of you. The Caitiff with a soul! How's that workin' out for you, these days?"

"Better than it will for you if you don't haul ass out of here."

"Sorry! I've got a contract to fulfill. These two are askin' way too many questions."

"Sort of goes with their job descriptions," Angel countered: "They _are_ cops, you know."

"Correction. They _were_!"

As soon as those two words were out of his mouth, Trick lunged forward, once again. And, Angel sprang forward to meet him. Consequently, the two of them collided in mid-air! With Angel using his slightly greater momentum to bring Trick down to the ground beneath him. That, in turn, allowed Angel to pin the younger vampire to the ground with his left hand. While, at the same time, he raised his right arm. . .

. . .and released the spring-loaded wooden stake hidden within that particular sleeve of his long coat.

Yet, before Angel could impale his intended target's heart, Trick was able to use the slight change in his captor's posture to raise his legs up beneath him. Subsequently employing them as a makeshift catapult to send Angel flying back towards the Newcomer! As a result, both of them went crashing through the office wall into the vast BNA waiting room beyond. That, in turn, led to screams of fright issuing from the throats of humans and Tenctonese alike. Meanwhile, Trick had turned his attention back to Lockley. . .who emptied half her nine millimeter ammo clip into him.

Unfortunately, for her, all he did was stagger back a few steps.

"Dang, girl! You _are_ a feisty one. But, I don't mind. That'll make your blood taste all the sweeter."

Unfortunately, for him, she received help from a most unexpected quarter.

With a startlingly loud breaking of glass (followed by the metallic scrape-on-scrape of the drawn Venetian blinds), a familiar figure came crashing through the office window. A figure dressed like a ninja. . .and armed with twin silver battle axes.

Vanessa Helsing threw those axes at Trick, one right after the other. Only to watch as he effortlessly caught both of them in his own hands!

"HA! So much for the Big Bad Slayer From Outer Space. You wait right there, girl. You're next!"

"I don't think so," replied Angel, even as he impaled Trick from behind.

The latter had time for only blood-curdling roar of frustration before literally going "poof."

"Hey, Angel!" exclaimed Vanessa as she retrieved her axes. "Long time/no see."

"Van?! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I got an airlift from a rather handsome Newcomer, named Willy Nilly, who let me bungee-jump from his helicopter. How about you?"

"Let's save this discussion for my office. I'll call Doyle and have him bring. . ."

"You're not going anywhere!" Kate Lockely interrupted him (aiming her handgun at Vanessa as she did so).

"I must concur," added George, pointing his Beretta at Angel. "You two are under arrest for questioning in connection with. . ."

"All your questions will be answered in short order, Sergeant Francisco," replied a new voice. "Just as soon as you two stand down."

Kate turned her head to the left and looked through the gaping hole in the office wall. There, in a semi-circle behind George's back, she saw seven men dressed similarly to Vanessa. Only, these ninjas were not carrying silver battle axes. They were armed with Steyr AUG's, instead! And, the barrel of each one. . .

. . .was aimed right at the Newcomer.

tbc

NEXT UP: Q & A.