Asking for Help Part III

Vicki opened her eyes and turned toward Henry as she heard Mike unlock the apartment door. Henry opened his eyes soon after saying, "Go greet Mike, but give me a kiss first." and held out his arms. They lingered over the kiss until Henry said, "It's going to be hard night for us, maybe several hard nights before this is done. We'll be together every step of the way. Don't forget, nothing can ever separate us."

Vicki gave him one more quick kiss, got up and dressed in dark clothes meant for action. She went into the living room and saw Mike sitting in Henry's chair with his head bent forward almost touching his knees. "Mike? Can I get you something?" She stood watching as he straightened up.

He shook his head no and said, "I found more bodies today. Fresh, including a child still warm to the touch. I had to call it in. Crowley tried to climb down my throat for not having back up with me." He gave a grim smile and said, "God it felt good to tell the bitch to shut up and walk away. As I left, the medical examiner and crime scene investigators showed up. I didn't find anything resembling a vampire but a pile of old rags that smelled worse than a open cesspool. If they're there they won't be found today."

Henry stood in the doorway listening before he spoke, "They're there. The rags and bodies are bait. This is a declaration of war between vampires. Did you get the stuff I asked for?"

Mike held up a canvas bag as Vicki looked over to him and said, "How can you be so sure?"

Henry didn't speak until he had walked to the kitchen, asking if anyone wanted anything as he fixed his nightly glass of water. He came back with a beer for Mike and a glass of water for Vicki. "I've seen this happen before. I was living in Europe. There's mountain ranges with hidden villages and the living is so primitive you would think it was the dark ages. I've fought them before and I've run from them before. The best we can hope for is to drive them away and alert all the honorable vampires to protect their territories."

Mike said, "Why don't we kill them and be done with it?"

Henry looked at Mike, then Vicki, who was nodding her head in agreement, "We can't get them all. The leader has already established another warren. By the time they make a declaration the core will have moved on and the expendables will be left behind."

Vicki spoke, "Why can't we hunt down the leader; surely he made some mistake, left a trail we can follow?"

"We could spend several lifetimes trying, or we can keep our area clear and alert others to do the same. This is not like fighting a country. This is an insidious, hidden evil, that moves from place to place taunting and teasing. Sudden flare-ups of evil that will die back down when its source is close to being discovered. Very like Astaroth, but this particular evil is vampire."

Mike opened his mouth when he was buzzed by a light. He swatted at it as he heard a high pitched hum.

Vicki and Henry nodded then made high pitched noises of their own.

Mike asked, "What's that?"

Vicki laughed saying, "Tinkerbell."

Elemental buzzed and Henry said, "Not Tinkerbell."

Henry looked slightly annoyed at Vicki as he said to Mike, "Help comes in all sizes and all forms. This is another form of help." He nodded a dismissal and Elemental buzzed into the bedroom. "There are more than six vampires in the warehouse hidden under the flooring. We'll make plans to attack them just before dawn."

Mike thought it over then asked, "What about you and Vicki? You won't be able to get back here in time."

Vicki understood what Henry was thinking and spoke up, "We kill them as they try to get back to their lairs. Just before dawn they'll be desperate and careless."

Mike repeated, "What about you two?"

Henry held Vicki's hand and said, "You'll have to keep us safe until night."

Mike started swearing under his breath slowly and elegantly in Italian then said aloud, "I hate, no, loathe you both. Dump on me again. I already made the choice to let you live. Now you're going to make me responsible for your safety."

Henry let his eyes darken and spoke, "If you have a better plan, please feel free to share it."

Mike leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes, "I don't have any plan. It's up to the superhero to keep humanity safe. Until you, plain ordinary murder was the extent of the evil in my life."

Vicki's eyes silvered as she heard Mike's verbal attack on Henry with her voice every bit as low as

Henry's she warned, "Don't go there Mike." Her eyes returned to their gray-green color as she controlled her anger, "Let's see what you brought. We're wasting time. We need a battle plan."

The trio huddled close and discussed the best way to eliminate vampires. Mike then worked out how he would keep them safe for the day. He called his brother-in-law and made arrangements to meet up with Henry and Vicki two hours before dawn and with that he left the couple to get ready, which evolved another quick meal for the both of them. With hunger out of the way, their anger could be used to full advantage.

Mike pulled up to the apartment and Henry and Vicki came out and got in, sharing the front seat of a paneled truck with Mike. Vicki snarled and Mike said, "It's Molly's husband's work van. It's completely dark in the back. Come up with something better or shut up."

Henry could smell Mike's fear and didn't blame him one bit for snapping at Vicki. He understood Mike was scared for all three of them. He placed a hand on Vicki's arm before she could start snarling again, and said to Mike, "This works. Let's get it done."

They drove to the warehouse in silence. Vicki had one hand on Henry's knee and the other on Mike's. She had wanted them to work together, but she hadn't thought it would be this dangerous.

Both men knew they had to fight their own battles and allow Vicki to fight hers, but it was hard living with an independent woman. Neither one even dared to suggest she stay behind and both were grateful to have her fighting at their side.

As he parked near the warehouse Mike took a bottle of Vick's Vapo Rub out of his pocket and handed it to Vicki saying, "Remember our first autopsy? This helped get us through. Henry, it might help you too."

Vicki took the little blue bottle opened it and dabbed some under her nose. Henry did the same and said, "Thank you. This is something I would never have thought of." The strong scent of eucalyptus helped block the stench of evil and death as they walked toward the building wrapped in crime scene tape.

Vicki said, "It looks like the crime team extended the perimeter."

Henry handed Vicki his father's sword as Mike held a cross and a huge spray bottle of Holy Water, while Henry held a cross bow. Henry's cross bow had been up in the attic with a collection of weapons he had obtained over the years. Each had several sharpened wooden stakes tucked in their waist bands. Holy water and crosses hung around the trio's necks. It was time. It was now and they were as ready as they could be.

The door of the warehouse opened and a strikingly handsome creature dressed in pure white stepped out, "Henry, so good of you to come. Dressed in black I see. Ah, have you convinced your friends I'm the evil one? Why look, I'm dressed in white." He smiled then stepped back into the darkness.

Vicki stopped eyes silvered and fanged she said, "You know him?"

Henry's eyes blackened and his fangs were more visible than ever, "You could say that. We've fought before. I lost, but escaped. Most of my friends weren't so lucky. He's not here. That's one of his favorite tricks to lure us forward. The attack will come from the sides. NOW!"

Mike turned to his left and held up his cross and holy water. Vicki turned 180 degrees to decapitate the one coming up from behind. Henry shot a wooden bolt from the crossbow at the enemy on his right. Each of the three fought for themselves and for their friends. Henry's count of 6 was off by 12. Vicki sliced the air with her sword and when she connected, removed head, leg or arm of her opponent. Anything less than removal of the head and the enemy continued to fight. The splash of holy water or sight of the blessed cross kept Mike relatively safe. Henry's bolts, when penetrating a heart, caused disintegration. As the battle, raged each of the three sustained wounds to arms, face, and sides. The evil ones fought with vicious determination until the sky started to lighten. Henry yelled for Mike and Vicki to fall back towards the van. When close, Henry and Vicki covered their eyes as Henry yelled even louder, "NOW Elemental." Mike shoved the two vampires into the back of the van as there was a great flare of light and the evil vampires sizzled and fell into dust. He got into the van and drove away without looking back.

He drove until he came to Molly's house and parked the van under the car port. Since Henry and Vicki had helped Molly, she understood they were special to Mike and didn't ask questions. He cleaned his wounds, ate breakfast and asked that Molly keep her kids and husband from opening the van. He fell on his nephew's bed and fell into a deep dreamless sleep that lasted until close to sunset, rising he drove back to the apartment and waited until the last rays faded from the sky before opening the back of the van.

He held his breath before looking in to see the two vampires sitting up and smiling. He growled in relief, "Get out of there. I need to return the van."

Vicki slid forward and got out first saying, "I'm happy to see you too."

Henry came out close behind, "You did well. It was an honor to fight beside you."

Mike stared at Henry saying, "Cut the crap. Are we going back to check the damage?"

Henry said, "I'm sure you did some checking today, didn't you?"

Mike looked away then said, "Yes. I made a call to one of my buddies while driving over here. No fresh bodies but lots of dust all over the place. The creepy feeling is gone too. How can you be sure it's over?"

Henry shook his head in sorrow, "It's not over. This was a skirmish. However our little piece of the world will be safe for a time. Vindictus doesn't like staying in one place very long. He plays these games for the fun of it. Next time, next place another vampire will be invited to play. Now if you will excuse us, Vicki and I need showers and fresh clothes."

Mike looked down at his bandaged hands and felt the slice in his side and asked, "What happened to your wounds."

Vicki smiled and spoke, "That's one advantage to being vampire. We heal fast when we feed."

Mike looked at both of them and asked, "When did you have a chance to feed?" Thought a moment when he saw Vicki and Henry exchange glances said, "Oh," and left.

Vicki watched him drive off and said, "Can we keep Elemental around?"

Henry smiled and said, "If you like."

Elemental glowed softly and hummed, "Thank you."