Deadman's Blood (44 page)

“Thanks, Julianna,” Josh said then closed the phone.

*****

“
Mark, can you go find everyone and tell them to meet us in here? And go get your vampire arsenal…everything you have,” Josh instructed.

“Yeah. Right away,” Mark said.

After a few minutes everyone had filed into the room.

“Look…I know Dad doesn’t want us involved and by no means will I ask you to risk your lives, but Mark and I are going. I’m not willing to let him go in there to die. I spoke with Julianna and she has found a way, from one of the books we brought back from the Archives, to reverse the effects of the Deadman’s Blood. She didn’t go into detail but they’ve already started the procedure and she’s somehow involved with whatever the procedure is so she can’t help us. She said she would come as soon as she could, but she didn’t know when that would be.

“Sally…can you put together something with a heaping dose of vervain, and Julianna suggested adding wolfsbane and any other vampire deterrent you’ve got to keep him from compelling us?” Josh asked.

“I can try, but I don’t know if I can make anything strong enough to keep him out of our heads. I’ll try my best though,” Sally said.

“Good. I wish Blake were here to tell me if this might work, but remember when we took on Dimitri and I linked Blake, Devon, Dean, and Anton telepathically?” Josh said.

There were nods from everyone around the room except Katarina. “I’m wondering if I can’t be a battery again to make your new powers more powerful, at least the psychic powers - like a power boost. Like Alyssa’s power of levitation, Sally’s speaking with the dead, Dean’s empathic abilities,” Josh said.

“I don’t understand,” Melanie said. “How are our psychic abilities going to help in a case like this?”

“Julianna suggested since we don’t have strength and fighting expertise against such an old vampire, that we use what we do have. He doesn’t know about our new abilities so we use that against him.”

“But how does speaking with the dead help in a battle?” Sally asked.

“Well, what I’m hoping is if I can give your power a boost and maybe we could all see the dead around us. Even if it is just a flash or a few seconds, it would definitely be distracting and unnerving. That is, if you are willing to go,” Josh said.

“Definitely. It will certainly be shocking for everyone to see. I’m still a little shocked when it happens. Maybe I could ask Sophia, and Mr. And Mrs. Bloomington to come with us to make sure there will be a showing,” Sally added.

“I’m hoping I can do the same with Dean and maybe he can push a sense of fear on Dr. Rowe. Maybe even boost Alyssa’s ability to levitate. With her floating around, an empath flooding him with fear, and the dead distracting him, maybe we can debilitate him enough that Dominic can kill him.

“But I will warn you, Julianna said a vampire that old won’t be killed with a stake in the heart. She wasn’t sure what would kill him. Mark, she suggested using that twine you made that you and Anton tied her up with and make some kind of netting with that to slow him down, as well as your multiple shot crossbows. I was thinking we could use that stuff you used on the arrows to kill Libby,” Josh said.

“Oh yeah, Yew seed poison. Bernard and I made it together. I think I can remember how to make it. Melanie, do you think you and Katarina can make some kind of net while I crush and boil up some Yew seed?” Mark asked.

“Anything we can do to help, definitely,” Melanie said and Katarina nodded.

“I’ll get started on making something to keep Dr. Rowe from compelling us,” Sally said.

“We don’t have much time. We’ll meet back here with whatever we have in twenty minutes. I don’t think Dominic can hold his ground for too long on his own,” Josh said.

They all nodded. “So we’re in agreement? We’re going to do this despite the consequences?” he asked.

They all nodded without hesitation.

“Thanks, everyone. I know if they could, my brother and my cousins would thank you too.”

Dominic arrived at 1408 Harbor Drive after dropping off Dean a couple of blocks away. It was a shabby building, even for this part of town. Rust oozed through the paint like the building was bleeding.
It seems appropriate for a place to die,
Dominic thought to himself. It had rained during the night and the ground was still puddled with water, garbage, and mud.

Dominic made his way to the door. He took a deep breath, sensing the man that had visited his home so many times inside. He entered the office in one smooth movement to find it empty. There was an open door leading to what Dominic figured might be a warehouse. He made his way to the open door and saw three familiar faces.

It was a fairly empty warehouse, dimly lit with what looked to be only one row of lights. A table sat in the middle of the large warehouse looking rather insignificant in the large area. Tied to a pole in chairs back to back were Alyssa and Bernard. Bernard looked awful - bruised and battered, and Dominic felt a wave of guilt flood over him as he saw his good friend looking so tattered and hurt. Alyssa had a cut on her lip that was largely swollen and bleeding along with some other bruising, and both were unconscious.

In front of his prisoners, maybe ten yards or so, was Michael Rowe casually sitting on the corner of the table, arms crossed over his chest, smiling smugly.

“Dominic. Good of you to come,” he said.

“It’s not like you gave anyone a choice, Michael,” Dominic answered.

“True, but I’m sure your friends will appreciate the sentiment.” He swept one arm toward his prisoners as if he were Vanna White revealing a new letter on
Wheel of Fortune
. Dominic then made his way to within ten feet of Dr. Rowe.

“Why are you doing this, Michael?” Dominic asked.

“Why? Pride, honor, family, money…you pick. They’re all applicable,” he said.

“But I’ve never been anything but a friend to you; why would you want to kill my family?” Dominic asked.

“It’s nothing personal against you, specifically, Dominic. You mean as much to me as say a fly! I’ve been killing or at least orchestrating the killing of Larsens for centuries. Although I will say, you were probably the smartest of the whole lot. I was beginning to think the Blood Diamond was lost for good and a facet of my plan ruined, but Alyssa here spilled the beans with a little rough housing and a little browsing around in her head. Seems you’ve been very busy, Dominic.”

“Why don’t you just let Bernard and Alyssa go? They’ve served their purpose,” Dominic implored.

“Sure, they got you here, but when I’m sure they can’t be of any more usefulness, then I’ll decide what to do with them,” Dr. Rowe said.

“What is it you want from me?” Dominic asked.

“It’s pretty simple really; like the others, I plan on killing you off one by one until there are no more Larsens, just like I did with the Mathews and the Douglases. Well, I didn’t personally kill all of them, but between me and my predecessors, we’ve done a pretty good job cleaning the house so to speak,” Dr. Rowe admitted.

“But I still don’t understand why? If you are a descendent of the ancient Wallace, then I’m sure you have plenty of wealth,” Dominic said.

“Funny thing about wealth, Dominic, once you have it, you only want more. It’s a vicious cycle really, but the treasure isn’t the only reason. I told you… pride, honor, family, and then there’s always power,” Dr. Rowe said.

“Our families are family, Michael. You’re killing family. How does that get you power? Honor? Or pride?” Dominic asked.

“Don’t be so naive, Dominic. Relatives have been killing one another in order to sit on the throne for as long as there were thrones to sit on. The fewer relatives in line, the closer you come to the prize,” Dr. Rowe rationalized.

“But there is no throne. There is no kingdom. The Ancients destroyed them with the very philosophy you are spewing at me now. It’s idiotic,” Dominic said angrily.

Dr. Rowe jumped to a standing position and shouted, “It’s NOT!” He started to pace back and forth in front of the table slowly, “What’s idiotic is that Larsens think they are better than the other clans. Stupid, worthless imbeciles are all they have been for centuries. Big deal, the father of the Ancients favored the baby of the family, Larsen. It doesn’t make him any better than the others,” Dr. Rowe explained.

Then as if mimicking a school boy, Dr. Rowe’s statement became bitter and petty. “Everybody loves the Larsens. The Larsens can do no wrong. Gee, let’s give the Larsens the Bloodstone Heart…Oh, let’s write a prophecy about the Larsens…Larsen was weak, his whole clan was deficient of courage and the strength to rule,” Dr. Rowe insisted.

“If that’s so, than why was the Larsen kingdom the largest and wealthiest of all of kingdoms? There’s something to be said for ruling with kindness instead of heavy-handedness and cruelty,” Dominic said.

“I would watch what I say, if I were you. You are in no position to speak to me in such a way. I could kill you without breaking a sweat like I’ve done to so many of your relatives before you. It was all so easy, more like a game than anything. As for the prophecy? I wasn’t going to let that happen, so whenever I got wind that there were more Larsens being born, I’d wiggle my way into the family’s good side and make sure that there were never too many boys coming into the world. And when there had been, I’d stir up a little sibling rivalry like I did with Edward. It only took a little push and he killed Owen - didn’t even have to get my hands dirty with that one.

“But then there was you. Your sister, Abby, had just gotten married and you and Sophia were starting a family…”

“What are you saying Michael?” Dominic demanded.

“I’m saying it was all too easy, Dominic. I couldn’t have you and Sophia pumping out baby after baby. You and Sophia bragged about how many you planned to have, so I had to make sure that didn’t happen. So when Sophia had Anton, I gave her a whopping dose of vervain and watched her bleed out,” Dr. Rowe admitted.

“But you told me…” Dominic started.

“I lied, and you being the weak Larsen that you are, accepted my account as truth, never even questioning a thing. Who’s the idiot now, Dominic? Hmmm?” Dr. Rowe said.

Dominic dropped his head in horror of the picture that played out in his head. Sophia was murdered by the one person he trusted most in the world. His stomach felt like it dropped from ten stories. His chest grew tight and his eyes burned like fire, holding back the tears that wanted to spill.

“Now your sister, that was just too easy,” Dr. Rowe continued.

“My sister?” Dominic looked up again.

“Of course, your sister. She and that bum she married had already had two; I couldn’t have them making any more Larsens, so I scrambled Terrence Paine’s brains a little with some nasty compelling. It wasn’t hard, he was pretty scrambled already; I just gave him a little push. When I heard he took an axe to them, I thought it was just too good to be true. But when I found out the boys weren’t home, well now, that was a little disappointing, but no worries. The fact that he hunted them for years made up for it. Too bad he never was successful,” Dr. Rowe said.

“Oh my God! That’s….you son of a…!” Dominic muttered in disgust.

“Being the goody-two shoes that you are, I was sure you’d never marry again, so I figured I had it made in the shade. Color me surprised when you told me about your bastard child, with a human no less. What were you thinking?

“I thought I had things all sewn up when I heard Josh was going to Minnesota with his parents that night when we all had dinner. Of course, Blake had to pick that particular time to finally grab the right bag of blood that had been poisoned with Deadman’s Blood,” Dr. Rowe said.

“Geez, Michael. Don’t you even feel bad about all those people that died on that plane? My God!”

“Why should I? They don’t mean anything to me. If only Dimitri had done his job, it never would have come to that,” Dr. Rowe said.

*****

“
You are unconscionable…insane…” Dominic said as he came at Dr. Rowe. He couldn’t control himself. Sometime during the lunatic’s horrific speech, Dominic’s anger reached the boiling point and he came unwound. Dr. Rowe had turned away from him just in time for Dominic to swiftly throw a right hook into the lower left side of Dr. Rowe’s jaw. It would probably be Dominic’s last act on this earth, but it felt good - really good.

The punch had landed Dr. Rowe a few feet back, and he flapped his arms to keep from falling. His hand came up to his mouth as he looked at Dominic in shock. At first Dominic could see the anger seethe within him, but he quickly said, “I didn’t think you had it in you, Dominic. Bravo. Bravo, indeed, but alas, your time is coming to an end. Why don’t you just give me the Blood Diamond and I promise I’ll make it quick.”

“I won’t go without a fight,” Dominic said. He saw movement just within his peripheral view. He tried not to look or react as he was sure that it was Dean moving into place. It was time. He’d have to fight Dr. Rowe as long as he could to give Dean time to get Alyssa and Bernard out of there, which was not going to be an easy task in of itself with them both unconscious. He’d have to summon all the strength he had.