Suburban Vampire: Redemption, Book II: Leviathan

Chapter 49

The sun should have come up that morning, but it did not – the skies over Northern Oregon and Southern Washington were blackened, hiding the light of the sun from all. People in various parts of the state wandered out into the streets to stare at the odd spectacle. Meteorologists were at a loss to explain it. And in Portland, a small group of people, Ministry agents and their allies, stood in front of the rectory of St. Michael's church. Jeremiah stood before them and paced. "We're all here, Jeremiah," Grace Montoya said. "We're ready to go."

Jeremiah shook his head. "No, you're not ready, for you do not know the magnitude of that which you face."

Tim then pulled up in his Subaru Outback. He and Pastor Larry got out and jogged up the path to the rectory. "Don't forget us!" Tim said. "We're here!"

"Larry Parker?" Jeremiah asked. "You are not an agent of Ministry."

"No, I'm not," Larry replied. "I'm an agent of God."

"That's right!" Tim said. "Hey, you said you needed everyone, Jeremiah, didn't you?"

"Well, I did say that when I called you," Kitty said. "But I don't know your qualifications, Reverend!"

"I played on my seminary's rugby team," Larry said.

"Oh," Grace said as she rolled her eyes, "I'm sure that's good enough."

Larry and Tim noted that Laura was standing in the group. "Well, Laura!" Larry said. "It's been a long time!"

"Larry, it's good to see you again," Laura said.

Larry looked at Tim. "And you're sure she doesn't want to kill Scott anymore?"

"I'm sure they've worked out the details on that," Tim said.

Gaylord Weems approached Pastor Larry. "Good morning, as it were," He said. "I failed to catch your name. I am Gaylord Weems."

Larry shook his hand. "I'm Larry Parker."

"And what are you?"

"A Presbyterian minister. And you?"

"Ah. A minister. Very well. I'm a wizard."

"A what?"

"Wizard. Do not mention 'Harry Potter'."

"I won't."

"Please, my friends," Jeremiah said, "we haven't time for pleasantries. We are going to war. Is everyone here?" He looked upon those gathered – Grace Montoya, Kevin Ellis, Kitty Weems, Bernie Lebowski, Laura Saarinen, Gaylord Weems, Tim O'Neill, and Larry Parker. "We seem to be missing someone."

"Yes, where's Elizabeth?" Kitty asked. "I thought you said she was coming."

"She took her own route. She left about an hour or so earlier. No, we are missing---"

A gold-colored Lexus, its bass thumping, pulled up to the curb. None other than Zed Mitsubishi and his female companion got out and headed toward the rectory.

"You know, you play your music too loud," Kimiko Ikata said to Zed.

"If it's too loud, you're too old! Besides, why didn't you use those noise cancelling earphones I designed?"

"I didn't want to. I don't like them."

As Zed approached the group, Bernie recognized him instantly. "Yo! Wolfman, looking good! What's up?"