This Time . . .

Josh floated through the liquid blue abyss, seeing various pictures of events that happened in his life and history float backwards. Numbers flashed in descending order, while various incarnations, ancestral and Chosen lifetimes flashed around him.

As he drifted, he blinked his eyes and the next thing he noticed, he was in a crowd that was surrounding a dead body on a cobblestone road, in the early morning rush. The next thing he heard, were the sounds of police whistles, shouting for everyone to clear the area. He had just gotten a glimpse of the male body, before a cop was in his face yelling in French,

<Move along! There is nothing to see here!>

“Huh?” he said coming out of his trance <Quite sorry sir!> he replied in French.

As he stepped away, he was amazed at how much the dead body looked like him.

<NO!> A woman screamed, startling Josh. “Jean-Claude!” she yelled breaking through the crowed.

<Madame, please, stay back!> the officer said attempting to restrain her.

<He is my husband!> she said brushing him off.

<Madame, please!> the officer said trying to hoist her up from the ground. <There is nothing here that a lady should see!>

<You have no idea what I've seen!> she harshly spat, pushing him off of her.

<Just give her a minute.> another officer said holding him back. <It's her husband!>

As she knelt back down, she caressed her slain husband's face and said.

<My love . . . My heart . . . Go in peace>

She closed his eyes, rose to her feet, placed the hood of her black cloak on her head and walked away in tears.

Josh standing there unnoticed watched the whole scene with a heavy heart. He couldn't stand to hurt the love of his life, in any incarnation.

He stood in the square for a few minutes then went in search for the house of Camois. After looking for about two hours, he finally came to a flat above a pub, near the pier. He saw Lady Camois sitting on the rail of the small terrace, staring out into the ocean, tears shinning in the sunlight.

“He always loved the view of the ocean, but I insisted we base in the suburbs of Virginia.” Josh thought to himself.

As she gazed over the ocean, she felt herself being drawn to look away. Finally caving in, she looked to the street below her and saw nothing. Sighing, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief, rubbed her growing stomach, and turned her attention back to the ocean.

“That was close!” Josh said to himself, hugging the wall of the building. “I have to stay focused!”

He sighed, took a deep breath and made his way to the pier, out of Madame Camois' line of sight. He started snooping around for possible Vampiric activity. Even though it was daylight, he knew that they were near, planning for their attack. As he searched under the boardwalks, he wondered if it would matter if he killed any vampires that weren't from the future. As if the Fates were answering him, he figured that he'd better not chance it, just in case. He also figured that he'd be able to feel the difference between the two sets of vampires.

He searched for a few hours before he finally came across a secret passage that led to a series of underground tunnels below the buildings.

“Perfect vampire hideout!” he thought to himself.

The tunnels were pitch black, and although the lack of light was no trouble for Josh and his night vision, the labyrinth of passages had him going in circles for 4 hours. Finally, after what seemed like days, he was able to pick up on a vampire trail. There was a sense of familiarity that filled his body, mixed with a new, vaguely familiar feeling, as he reached a fork in his path. Torn between curiosity and duty, he went left, towards the unknown.

“Time doesn't exist . . . I can come back to that later.” he thought as he made his way down the tunnel.

After trekking for about a mile, he came across a large arc inscribed with Vampiric runes.

“The old language!” he said in shock.

“Yes . . . It is!” A male voice said emerging from another tunnel.

Josh turned quickly, stake in hand, startled by the voice.

“Do not worry, I mean you no harm.” The man said with a slight Scottish accent.

“Sorry, I just kind of find that hard to believe, especially coming from a vampire!”

“Now you know as well as I do that not all vampires are evil Chosen One.”

“H . . . How'd you . . .”

“Come, we have much to discuss, and not enough time to discuss it!”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Linaus.”

They walked through the tunnel that he came from and wound up about another mile from the archway. They stopped along a wall and Linaus pulled open a hatch that led to his lair.

Once inside, Josh saw a very basic setting; a few bookcases lined the walls, there was a table covered with papers and what looked like blueprints, along with two chairs. Candles lit the room, and on the wall across from the hatch was a leather-cushioned chair, bordered by a coffee table. On the wall to the left of the hatch was a tunnel that appeared to serve as a bed, and right next to it, an armoire.

“Nice place you got, for a whole in the wall.” Josh said as his host closed the hatch.

“Please, sit!” Linaus said, motioning to the table.

“What's all this here?” Josh said looking at the papers.

“Maps of the tunnel system. I made them myself.”

“I've heard of these tunnels before, thousands have died trying to find their way out.”

“It's way more than that I'm afraid!”

“Easy hunting for Vampires, huh?”

“You are looking for the intruders, no?”

“Yes, how'd you know? And how'd you know that I . . .”

“I am a very powerful psychic medium. I have been around since the beginning of our kind.”

“Since Merlyn?”

“Long before.” he said joining him at the table. “My dear boy, vampires were around long before there were ever Chosen Ones! It was the wizard however, that unleashed the vampire gods upon men! He broke open a portal between their realm and ours that had been sealed for centuries. By doing so, he set forth a power so intense, mere contact with it turned man into vampire. One supreme power, strong enough to turn the entire world, but kept dormant so long, too weak to take form. The counsel of gods decided to divide this power, placing half of it in the soul of a powerful human, and encase the other into the heart of an ancient amulet, that when worn by the human, would reunite the powers and turn the human instantly into . . .”

“Darlos . . .”

“Yes, but the righteous vampire gods fooled the malicious ones into putting it into the soul of a Chosen One, the very human that would always be protected by THE Chosen One. They also forged an indestructible sword that could destroy the amulet for good. This sword, right here!” He said placing the sword on top of the table.

“The Cutlass.”

“Take it . . . You will need it to save your love.”

“Where are they going to strike?”

“You already know. I can take you right below it. It is up to you Chosen One . . . You bare a lot, but the world would be doomed without you.”

“Wait . . .” Josh said as Linaus got up. “Here!” He said grabbing a quill pen and writing his address and a date on the back of one of the maps. “If you're still around by this date, come to this address at sundown! We could use your help!”

“You have my word! Now come, the time is near.”

As Linaus led him back through the maze of tunnels, he showed him to a ladder that would lead to an alley on the street where he needed to be.

"I can only do so much, the rest is up to you!" The vampire said, as Josh paused and turned to him.

"I'll never get used to you psychics reading my mind." Josh said climbing up the ladder.

"May the Fates be with you!"

"That's what I'm afraid of!"

He climbed up the ladder and walked down a short tunnel that led to the street.

Once emerged outside in the now fading sunlight, Josh crept around the corner of the alley. He saw the beautiful Lady Camois leaving the inn, walking in the direction of the courthouse at the end of the square, perpendicular to the docks.

"The interrogation . . ." Josh thought to himself, as he teleported ahead of her to the courthouse.

"We still do not know why he was targeted." A detective said to an interpreter who was translating for an English detective from Scotland Yard.

"When is his wife coming in for questioning?"

"It seems now sir." The translator said motioning to the door of the building.

"Leave us for a few minutes . . ."

"But Sir! He says."

"DO IT!"

"Oui Monsieur . . ."

"Madame Camois . . ." The Detective said motioning into an office.

“Detective . . .”

“Chantal, I’m so sorry!” He said giving her a hug as they stepped behind the closed door.

“It isn’t your fault Charles, you know as well as I do it was bound to happen sooner or later.”

“Do you have any idea who might have done it?” The interpreter asked.

“It could have been anyone. Vampire or Human for that matter.”

“John here spoke to Jason this morning as soon as we got word.” The detective said.

“He told me that he would turn every lead he had upside down to find out who it was, and make them pay for what they did.” John, the interpreter, replied.

“We’re going to meet just after sun down and start looking for any vampire connection. It’s amazing what these bloodsuckers will do for a little snack!”

“Jean Claude used to say that they were like whores . . .” Chantal replied, staring off into space.

“The police will not be bothering you as long as we are here. You might however want to think about staying somewhere else, just in case someone tries to come after you.”

“Let them, I’ll have a surprise waiting for them! Even if they do get me, I’d rather die and join my darling, than live and raise our child alone.”

”You mustn’t put yourself in such danger!” Charles retorted. “That child must be born! You know as much as I do why!”

“Yes, but without Jean Claude here, what does it matter?”

“It may not matter in this lifetime, but if you don’t live to birth that child, there may be great consequences.”

”If only for Jean Claude, I will go on. But I will not run!”

"Fine, but at least let us keep you company!"

"Do as you like, I'm sure there are rooms available near mine."

"I'll escort her home and check on getting us a room." John offered.

"I'll finish getting my letter together for the Family. I'm positive they already know and are on their way, but we'll get word to them nonetheless."

"They'll probably be here within the week." Chantal sighed.

"Come now, let us get you home!" John said pulling out her chair for her to stand.

"Merci!" As the two went to the door, Chantal turned toward Charles and said, "There is one thing I want made clear, to you and the Family when they get here. They can protect me and my child and those thereafter as much as they need, but I WILL NOT have my child become a hunter! Not until this Chosen One is born and old enough to handle it! I refuse to have any of my successors suffer the same fate as my Jean Claude!"

"Jean Claude never intended it." Charles replied.

"Exactly!"

As Josh stood in the room, still invisible, a tear came to his eye and he teleported outside before the emotions in the air of the room took control of him.

“Have you thought about a name yet?” John asked as they walked out of the police station, and Josh tailed them invisibly.

“If it is a boy, François, if it is a girl Jacquelyn.”

“François Camois . . . it rhymes!”

“Yes, but we could not agree on any other name, so I am hoping it is a girl.”

“It’s still a lovely name.”

“There is Jason ahead!”

“Good, I found you!” Jason said running up to them.

“What did you find out?” John asked as they stopped in front of the tavern below Chantal’s flat.

“Ahem . . .” Chantal cleared her throat.

“Oh! Where are my manners . . . many apologies my lady!” Jason said taking her hand and kissing it. “I am terribly sorry to hear about Jean Claude, he was a great man! We will find the monsters that did this to him! I swear on my grave!”

“Thank you Jason . . .” She said looking at the sun setting over the water. “Never was there a sight that I both loved and feared more than the setting sun. Now the sun has set on one more victim, and as always, the rest of the world lives on. It’s going to be near impossible to live on without my darling, but hopefully with his child that I bare, I can somehow do it. If you will excuse me gentlemen, I am going to sleep. Feel free to stand guard over my room, anything to protect the baby. I bid thee adieux.”

TBC . . .

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