Hunter's Moon

Chapter 23

            Matthew and Juli were driving back to campus from the hospital. Mei had given Juli some basic information on how magic worked and told her some techniques to work on to help with concentration and focus. That way Juli wouldn't be inadvertently casting spells left and right. Mei had also explained that she was needed elsewhere until after the full moon, which meant further training must wait. Juli had understood and wished Mei luck in whatever task needed her attention.

            “Oh, I am so exhausted,” Juli said. “But I finally did something good. Fixed my mistake.”

            “I'll take your word for it. From what I saw, it was just you standing over the bed with your eyes closed for three to four hours. I guess not all magic is showy.”

            “No, but it is draining,” Juli said with a yawn.

            Matthew pulled the Bug up to the curb next to Juli's building. “Okay, well, you go get some rest. And if you go out again, call me. I know you have my cell number.”

            Her cell phone rang just as she was leaving the elevator on her floor. She sleepily pulled out the phone and looked at the caller ID. Ed. If she weren't already falling asleep, she would answer. But whatever Ed needed, could wait til morning. She pressed the button to send the call to voice mail and yawned again.

            The kitchen timer dinged thirty minutes later. Robert looked up from the couch where he was sitting next to Cal, holding a bowl of water for her. He waited a few seconds as his dog finished drinking and then set the bowl down and headed outside. Taylor grabbed the timer and followed him out.

            They walked across the yard and into the garage. The vampire was still struggling against his bonds as he hung upside down, head submerged in the oil drum. Robert turned the dial back on the winch control panel and the vampire was lifted out of the water. The vampire cursed at Robert. Its face was covered with blisters and otherwise burnt and scalded skin. Its voice came out weak and ragged.

            “Ready to talk now?” Robert asked politely.

            “Screw you old man!” the vampire screamed.

            “Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Robert said. “I think he wants to go in again, Taylor.”

            “Do your worst. I won't say anything!” the vampire cried out.

            “You sure about that?” Robert said. He moved over to the vampire and started untying the rope. He soon had the rope completely removed. Robert then took a knife and started slicing off the vampire's clothing. He remained quiet during the process and was quite slow and methodical about it. Soon, the vampire was hanging from the shackles, completely naked.

            “Let me state this again. I've got questions, you've got answers.” Robert said, holding the vampire up by the neck so he could look into its eyes. “I'm going to ask these questions, and if you don't answer them, you are going to get a bath.”

            The vampire paused in its struggles. It glanced down at the oil drum; it was clearly large enough to hold him. He took a deep breath and looked back at Robert. “No. I can't tell you anything. I don't know anything.”

            Robert frowned. “Nope. That's a lie.” Robert let go of the neck. He casually walked back over to the controls and lowered the vampire, once again screaming, into the oil drum completely. Once completely submerged, he sealed the oil drum shut using a lid that was a connected to the chain. With the oil drum firmly sealed, he raised the chain back up into the air, drum and all.