The Helsing Society II

Early morning, and trucks rolled into town.

Soldiers marched in, taking up residence on every corner, every street, and beginning to patrol every public building. Jessica Brenton stood on top of her house and watched them roll into town. Inside the mansion on the hill, three windows were opened and a boy leaned out of each one. Dracula watched from the safety of his crypt.

In a mobile HQ, Agent Black looked out the window and watched the vehicles move in. With a scowl, he strode over to the field telephone.

:[

The mansion on the cliff top had the iron gate firmly closed and chained shut. Inside the mansion itself, the vampire was up late for him. He was agitated. The three teenage boys in the room with him were just as tense as he was. Vince sat in the easy chair, scowl firmly in place. Howard and Frank were on the sofa. Frank was hunched in on himself while Howard fidgeted with a loose thread.

'So, the Helsing Society just rolls in and does a military take-over of the city and nobody's kicking up a fuss?' Howard asked.

It didn't seem right to him. Military movements did not just randomly roll into town without warning. Howard would think people would at least be alarmed. That sort of thing was severe and seemed totally unnecessary to him. How could it be that everyone was just going about their business as if nothing was happening?

'Because they've covered it up as being legitimate,' Big D said as he paced in front of the boys. He pulled a face. 'And they aren't interfering in the humans' day-to-day lives, so most are dismissing it. They'll still only be able to hold it for a few days.'

'A few days too many,' Vince pointed out. 'That's probably all they need.'

Big D glared at him. 'Don't even think about it, boy.'

Vince folded his arms and slouched down in his chair.

'Well, what are we supposed to do?' Vince asked. 'Just sit here and wait for them to find us?'

'They won't find us,' Dracula said.

'You've had us close and chain the gates,' Vince pointed out. 'I think they might grow suspicious of that.'

Dracula frowned. 'Just make sure not to use any lights at night. They'll eventually come to the conclusion that the house is abandoned.'

'Without transforming?' Vince shook his head. 'And that's also assuming they weren't in the area before. That's assuming they haven't seen the gates wide open other days.'

'On which days, they'd have never seen anyone moving around the place.'

'We hope,' Vince said pointedly.

Howard watched the argument between them like a game of tennis. He hoped Big D was right, but he was afraid Vince was. Sure, he didn't remember his parents being killed by these guys, but they were the ones to do it. They could kill a pair of wolf-people, a pair of patchwork monsters, and one vampire of Dracula's bloodline. That was nothing short of horrifying.

Then Frank, who'd been silent until this moment, spoke up.

'C-can they actually do this?' Frank asked. 'I mean, is th-th-that legal?'

:[

The field telephone rang.

The meeting room had been full of people. All of the field leaders had gathered to talk over the problem. They had never found out who these H-S people were. They just hoped the main headquarters could find out. The men all turned and watched as Agent Black picked the telephone up.

'Agent Black.'

'Black, this is Director Peterson.'

Black raised his eyebrows. 'I wasn't expecting a personal response from you, sir. I trust you've looked over the situation yourself.'

'Yes. And we've confirmed that the insignia you've described is not found in any of our databases.'

'Then must I assume they are not a legitimate authority.'

'They are not. However, we did find an obscure reference linked to the underworld.'

'So, they're a criminal faction.'

'We believe so. Earliest records have been found in the late 1800s. Usually, their insignia was spotted and then entire families would be found dead in or vanished from whatever home was surrounded.'

'So, they're escalating? Taking up a militant presence in a city?'

'Obviously, Black. Your orders are as follows: treat this like a takeover by a terrorist cell.'

'Yes, sir.'

:[

Alex Pryce nodded to himself.

Everything was going according to plan. They had set up in the city with only a few raised eyebrows. But, because they didn't interfere with people going about their day-to-day business, no one said a thing. They just got a few curious looks. And that would fade in time. Although Alex could admit they wouldn't have long.

Vi walked up behind him.

'Everything is ready, Alex.'

'The warehouse?'

'All set up and awaiting the catch. Good idea on your part, making it look like our main base in the city.'

Alex nodded and smiled. 'The car?'

'It's ready, and the men are ready to. I'll go with them to get her, of course.'

'Yes. We don't want her to think we're kidnapping her or anything. And you're sure Miss Brenton can be talked around this time.'

'Monsters are alarming to look at. She's never seen any. The mere sight of them, I am sure, will convince her.'

'True enough.' Alex nodded. 'And you're sure she'll leave the house in time?'

'She has no reason to coop herself up inside. And she likes going for walks.'

'Did she tell you that, or did our men tell you that?'

'Our men did.'

Alex nodded. 'All right. Go and pick her up.'

:[

Jess stepped out of the secret passageway.

She clicked the Seer's Shackle onto her wrist. It glowed warm. It was almost time to leave the house and go. Sitting down on the edge of her bed, Jess toed off her shoes and exchanged them for a pair of solid boots. Most of her clothes wouldn't matter but if she had to be running around and fighting, she wanted sensible footwear.

She also wanted her hair up and out of her face. Jess stood up and walked over to her dresser. She grabbed her brush and a hair tie. In a moment, she had her hair pulled up in a ponytail. Nodding to herself, she grabbed her jacket and walked down the stairs. This was it. She was going to not only make a break from the Helsing Society, but she was going to make a powerful statement that would cement her as an enemy to them.

'Where are you going?' her mother asked.

'For a walk.' Jess walked out the front door and off of the property.

You better be ready, Jess. Merle took off from her perch and flew after her.

:[

'But Big D said it'd only be a few days,' Frank pointed out.

'Like I said, a few days too many,' Vince responded. 'What are they gonna do in the meantime?'

'I gotta admit,' Howard said. 'He's got a point. We might not have those few days to wait.'

'It still seems so…overwhelming.'

Vince narrowed his eyes. His mother snarled, then screamed. His father fell heavily over him, protecting him. He was killed, despite being human. Rage twisted in his gut. He'd always known who'd done it, who'd taken his parents away from him. Most kids had stranger danger. Vince had gotten stranger danger and Helsing Society danger.

Even if Big D wasn't saying it, he'd know it wouldn't be so simple as waiting them out.

They had to actually go and do something!

'A-a-all right.' Frank swallowed. 'But where are they hiding?'

'Well, it'll be somewhere where they've got a strong presence,' Drak said. 'The best thing we can do right now is go out and take a look around the city.'

'Won't they recognise us by our faces?' Howard asked.

'Hm,' Vince mused on it for a while. 'I've got an idea. Come on. Follow me.'