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| Chapter Six: Beyond the Grave | |||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||
| Late in the night - by the cemetery - the door to the crypt slowly was forced open from the inside. Calloway tripped on a raised stone - and just barely avoided getting shot! He rolled over and took cover behind a marble tombstone. | |||||||||||
| "You put up a merry chase assassin. But I am afraid that your run - shall end here," a voice stated. Calloway peeked out from behind the tombstone and saw two well-dressed vampires and a small gang of retainers. | |||||||||||
| "Want us to get him boss?' one of the retainers asked. | |||||||||||
| "I don't suppose one of you boys is Samuel Giovani," Calloway remarked as he took out his knives. Near as he could guess by where he saw them before he took cover. They were a fair distance away - and there was a lot of open ground before him and them. | |||||||||||
| "Correct. Our cousin is indisposed. He has more pressing engagements to deal with. He told us to send his regards," the eldest stated with a smile. | |||||||||||
| "I am sure he did," Calloway muttered. | |||||||||||
| "I must confess - I am impressed by your - talents. Not many have endured the punishment the Crypt Keepers dole out. Even fewer escape," the other Giovani added as the two began to use their dark powers. | |||||||||||
| "Stalling for time? Why?" Calloway muttered. When he saw the ground beginning to churn he groaned and shook his head. "Fuck - just perfect," he muttered as zombies and animated skeletons began to rise up from the ground. | |||||||||||
| "I hope you won't find it rude of us. This just seemed like such fun that I insisted on inviting - all my old friends," the eldest Giovani mocked. Calloway muttered as he shook his head. Now he had to contend with - two kindred - a small gang of about fifteen ghouls - unless they cared nothing of the Masquerade - and now a shambling horde of over twenty undead horrors. | |||||||||||
| "It is going to be one of - those - nights," he muttered as the zombies and skeletons drew closer. He leaped out of hiding and began to cut into the monstrosities nearest him. As he did - several shots zinged by him. | |||||||||||
| From the corner of his eye he could see as one shot at him - the other fed off the ghouls they had brought with them. | |||||||||||
| Great - at least I know that those boys are just a snack. Calloway thought. Just then a high caliber rifle hit him in the chest and knocked him up and over a gravestone. He shook his head and looked over and saw one of the ghouls holding a rifle. Then again. He thought as he concentrated on healing his wounds. | |||||||||||
| "The fool doesn't stand a chance," the eldest Giovani remarked as more undead abominations rose up and made their way towards the conflict. "Pity that our cousin was taken down by this reject," he added. | |||||||||||
| "Was his own fault for being so damn cocky. That wasn't the first time his arrogance got him into trouble. But rest assured - it will be the last," the other Giovani stated. | |||||||||||
| "Samuel isn't sending him home?" the other asked. | |||||||||||
| "He is being cremated as we speak. His errors shamed the family long enough," he answered. The eldest blinked as he returned his attention to the fight. | |||||||||||
| "Pity - I kind of liked," he began as something whistled through the air and slammed into his chest. He staggered back and fell down. The remaining Giovani looked over and saw the crossbow bolt that was imbedded in his cousin's chest. | |||||||||||
| Instantly his eyes darted around for any sign of the attacker - but nothing could be seen. | |||||||||||
| "Cousin! Hold on!" he called out as he knelt down and reached over to pull the arrow out. Just then another whistle sounded. Another bolt slammed into the younger one's hand - pinning it to the fallen vampire's body. "Damn it! Find that sniper and kill it!" the enraged Giovani screamed. He gritted his teeth as he jerked his hand free. He growled as he watched his ghouls shoot into the surrounding darkness. | |||||||||||
| Over where the Setite was - unaware of the activity that was going on where the other vampires were. Calloway noticed how the ghouls were shooting in places he clearly was not. | |||||||||||
| "Something has them boys on edge - time to make matters worse," Calloway remarked as he fought his way through the mob of zombies and skeletons until he reached the startled ghouls. | |||||||||||
| He spun around and cleaved his dagger through the high caliber rifle. Unfortunately - the blade shattered after the show of force. Using his skill and power and agility - he managed to turn their numbers against them. Taking them down one by one until - only the shambling horde and the wounded Giovani were left. | |||||||||||
| "High rollers like you boys must be used to gambling. So tell me - what are the odds of those slow moving things being able to interfere with my plans for you?" Calloway asked as his eyes churned into a golden color. | |||||||||||
| "You won't get away with this you filthy fucking snake," the eldest Giovani spat. | |||||||||||
| "He knows you are coming and he will be ready for you," the other one piped in. they wanted to move - act - but their eyes were fixated on Calloway. | |||||||||||
| "You boys were ready for me too - look how this turned out. What makes you think he will be any different?" Calloway asked as he squatted before them - not taking his eyes off either of them. | |||||||||||
| "Your fucking sniper friend surprised us. Samuel knows you have a friend - and he will be ready. Do your worst you godless snake. Do not expect the Giovani to beg," the younger one hissed. Calloway reached over and picked up a shotgun. | |||||||||||
| "Guns are so messy - and loud. Never did like them he said as he positioned the barrels in front of the neck of the Giovani that had spoken. "But - they are effective," he said moving one hand to the trigger. "Tell me boy - how much damage you think this little bad boy would do at this range to that pretty little neck of yours?" he whispered. | |||||||||||
| "I hope - when he kills you - he traps your spirit - so that you can spend the rest of eternity in the service of the Giovani," he rebutted. Calloway pulled the trigger. The force of the blast all but severed the head of the vampire from its body. | |||||||||||
| "Messy, messy," Calloway remarked - tossing the gun aside - focusing all of his attention on the survivor. "Just you and me mouse. If I leave you - will you bite my ankle?" he goaded. | |||||||||||
| "You had better make sure I am dead lad. If not - I swear I will hunt you down for what you have done this day," he retorted. Calloway laughed quietly as he shook his head. He then slowly got up and got a grip on the tombstone the Giovani was propped up against. It took some effort - but he managed to pry it free of the ground and hoist it up in the air. | |||||||||||
| "Then I guess I'll have to make sure then - won't I?" Calloway asked as he slammed the gravestone back into the ground - severing the head from the old vampire. He then looked over his shoulder and smirked at how the horde of skeletons and zombies collapsed. | |||||||||||
| Without their masters - they could not exist. | |||||||||||
| "All of this activity must have attracted unwanted attention," he began as he looked down at the dead vampires. It was then that he saw something odd. He reached down and pulled free a crossbow bolt. "Sniper he said," he muttered as he got up. "Perhaps I'm not the only one who Samuel pissed off," he rationalized as he made his way towards the funeral home. | |||||||||||
| To Be Continued... | |||||||||||