The Beached Whale

History Repeats Itself

I flew so fast my eyes could barely register what was in front of me. How did they get to them so fast? Why did I have to be so far away? Please let me get there in time.

All the buildings looked the same. I searched my memory, used my nose. I arrived at the building with the correct numbers. I saw the bars I had bent on the correct window and flew inside.

"Emily! Robert! Where are you?" I called out to them, but there was no response. I couldn't sense them, nor discern any sound of them in the building. They were no longer calling for me, which meant they had been silenced.

Damn it! I had failed them! I told them I would protect them and I was now a liar. Who could have possibly taken them so quickly!?

There was a smell, familiar and ancient. I should have known! Lord Umber had been here. He kidnapped them both in a blink. I knew he would torture and play sick games with them until they divulged everything they knew of me. And when they didn't have much to say he wouldn't believe them.

I had to save them. I couldn't let history repeat itself. Too many innocents died by these bastard's hands. I would be their reckoning.

Out in the hallway, I heard someone who was exceptional at sneaking about. I only just noticed them. Someone so well trained must work for the vampires. I would conduct an interrogation.

I was so angry. I let my guard down. I bolted into the hallway to surprise them.

As soon as I entered the hallway a powerful boom shocked my senses. A bomb? No, I knew this smell.

It was garlic.

I desperately tried to fan away the light brown particles that surrounded me. A bomb made of garlic?

The powder consumed me, and burned like holy fire. It's essence had turned to vapor and entered my mouth and lungs.

I fought, tried to move and slash the man who stood before me. It was futile. My body failed me. I collapsed as the man stood over me. My eyelids were so heavy. I could only force them to open every other minute.

The man had ashen white hair, and appeared fairly aged. He was dreadfully strong for an old human. He made quick work of putting my immobile body in a black bag. The bag was lined with silver, and closed by a most incredible contraption. The man simply grabbed one end of the bag, and brought his hand across the length of the bag. A mysterious metal hum accompanied the closing of the bag.

I was in the dark once more, shrouded in silver. I never thought I'd be here again. But this time I wasn't afraid.

The man had thrown me on some wheeled mechanism. I could tell we were moving with haste to some unknown location.

Had he the intention, this man could have killed me. He had me dead to rights. He needed me alive.

It took some time, but my body healed back to wholeness. Though that garlic explosive was a nasty weapon. And here I was told garlic no longer existed. I must confiscate the rest of these weapons. They would aid me in the destruction of the vampires at the masquerade ball.

It took forever, but I came to a stop.

The minuscule metal bindings of the bag slid open. My attacker looked down at me. He slipped the bag off me.

My hands and legs were bound in a silver chain. I don't remember when that happened.

"Finally awake, eh?"

"I've been awake for some time."

"You've been out like a light since I hit you with that grenade yesterday."