Suburban Vampire: Redemption, Book II: Leviathan

Chapter 46

Jack and Scott went back into the trailer, both carrying stacks of rapidly-fashioned wooden arrows. Scott was also carrying a hickory-handled splitting axe. "Hey," Scott said, "we've got a few arrows, and I found this axe. It should make a great—"

Scott was distracted by Dawn, who was moving extraordinarily fast for a mortal, when she pinned Jack up against the wall next to the door. She was holding a stake. "Alright, Jack," she said, "just what is your game, huh? What are you doing here?"

Scott put the axe and arrows down on the floor and gently moved Dawn's stake-clenching fist away from Jack's chest. "Shh, Dawn," Scott said, "calm down. It's all right. Jack is now on our side, aren't you, Jack?"

"There's something he isn't telling us! There has to be! Isn't there, Jack?"

Jack shrugged. "Oh, yeah, okay, maybe there's a bit more to this whole soiree."

Scott rubbed his temple. "Oh great. Okay, Jack, what else is there?"

"When Baalseth gets his full power on, he's going to turn all them vampires back there into 'pure' vampires. That is, he's going to remove their humanity completely."

"Oh, that sucks."

"Yeah, so you can see why I lit out of there so fast. He wasn't keeping me around for my good looks."

"I get the feeling there's more."

"Yeah, and it only gets worse. Once Baalseth turns all those vampires, he's going to reveal his true self. He needs a high place to do that. He expressed interest in Smith Rock."

"Smith Rock?"

"Yeah. I guess it sits on the convergence point of a couple powerful ley lines. That way, he can use the earth's own energy to jack himself up, so to speak."

"Dawn, get on the phone and update Jeremiah. Tell him we need to prevent Baalseth from reaching Smith Rock."

Dawn backed away from Jack and took Dallas' phone out once more. "I'm on it."

"So, what can I do?" Dallas asked.

"Have you ever fletched arrows?" Scott said.

"Can't say I have. Have you?"

"Actually, no. Jack, have you?"

"No," Jack replied, "wasn't much call for arrows when I was mortal, unless you were a Comanche or Apache."

"Ah, hell," Old Man Baloney said, "give 'em to me. I'll fletch 'em."

"Well, you better hurry up," Scott said, "because one of those bikes is no longer idling. It's headed down the dirt road, right now."

*

Laura stirred in her cot. Although this cot wasn't made of stone, it wasn't much more comfortable than the cots in the cells. "Laura!" Jeremiah said, "arise!"

She slowly opened her eyes. "It's the middle of the night! And did you say 'arise'? I'm not a mummy, you know."

"Very well. We have an emergency. Scott and Dawn are surrounded by vampires at a location in central Oregon. Baalseth is beginning his ascendancy."

Laura quickly sat up. "Well, why didn't you say so? Bring me my sword!"

"You're quite sure you won't use it on me?"