Giving Andrew the reassurance he seeks, “My son, if you place your faith in God, He will protect you and give you what is needed to succeed; you must have faith in yourself. I have called one of my best Paladins here as well, to provide you with some quick training in the slaying of vampires.”
Knowing this is the best support he can get, “Well that will help tremendously. A little training from an expert can go a long way.”
“That is what I will pray for. But before you start training for the job I should be sure you are prepared to take it. I feel it best to give you all the details that we are aware of. If you feel you can operate and complete the mission under the conditions that are present, then I will give you my blessing and set you on your way.”
Coming back to the subject at hand, “Yes, I suppose I may have gotten ahead of the topic. You have a vampire problem?”
Smiling at the turn back to the start, “Yes we do my son. The problem is in Porto Velho, Brazil. Reports show there is a small band, four to six at max. They have been wreaking havoc on the locals, and the police have not been able to stop them by any real means. They have brought one or two of them down, but the vampire didn’t stay dead. I would like for you to go and kill them, all of them. They disgrace this world with their presence, and must be sent to judgment. I will provide you with expert training on how to hunt and kill their kind. And you will be compensated for your troubles.”
“I’ll assume then that payment is for a confirmed kill on the entire group, and the job isn’t done until said parameter is met.”
“That would be the case. We will provide you with room and board during your stay. The compensation for your services will be made in two payments; the first quarter will be placed in an account of your choosing upon agreement of the job, the rest will be deposited upon your confirmation of job completion.”
“Only last thing is how much you’re paying me to do this.”
“$12,000 all together.”
Letting loose a large sigh of concern and decision, “Ok I’m in. I’ll do it. Probably a really bad and dumb idea, but it’s the only work I’m looking at. One last thing, I’ll need to be shipped back home first all my equipment is there.”
“That’s fine I’ll be sure everything is arranged.”
Andrew stands from his seat, and shaking the Pope’s hand, “It’s been an honor Your Holiness, but I am afraid I must get some rest as it seems I have a lot ahead of me.”
Returning the gesture, “Yes, my son, you do have quite a lot of training and preparation.”
After a full and long week of training, Andrew enters St Peter’s Basilica to receive his final blessing from the Pope before he departs from the Vatican. He approaches the Pope, standing ready, alter to his back, “You could have told me that guy was going to be a Paladin. And sure as hell should have told me he was a vampire, Your Holiness.”
“I ensure you, had I thought it necessary, I would have, but it was integral to your training. But that is all in the past now, you are here to receive my final blessing before departing this sacred city and embarking on your quest.”
Humbled, “Yes, Your Holiness, forgive me.”
“No forgiveness needed my son, I understand your point. Now please take this at a token of appreciation and good will.” The Pope reaches behind him to a pistol hard case on the altar. He hands it to Andrew, “Please open it, as I would like to include it in my blessing.”
Andrew takes the case from the Pope, and opens it slowly. To his sheer amazement, starring him in the face is a gold plated Smith and Wesson, Model 629 Stealth Hunter, .44 magnum revolver, “This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.” He takes the gun into his hands.
Smiling, the Pope gives his gratitude, “My son, you are embarking on a most dangerous mission for the Church. It is my duty to be sure that you are equipped with the proper tools of war. This golden revolver known to its creators as the Redeemer, is now at your side, and with it you shall send all heathens to their judgment. Now please bow thy head for prayer.”
The Pope raises his hands in the air, “Almighty and eternal God, those who take refuge in You will be glad and forever will shout for joy. Protect this soldier as he discharges his duties. Protect him, with the shield of Your strength and keep him safe from all evil and harm. May the power of Your love enable him to return home in safety, that with all who love home, may he ever praise You for Your loving care.” The Pope makes the sign of the cross over Andrews’s head; then does the same over the hand gun, “And we ask that You bless this fire arm, and make it Your divine hammer of justice. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Andrew responds, “Amen.” He then places the revolver in its case and stands before the Pope, “Thank you again Your Holiness, this has been an honor to meet you and work for you. Wish me luck.”
Entering the office of the head inspector for the Porto Velho murders, Andrew is taking off guard to see a short, delicate appearing woman behind the desk. She stands to great him; no more than five foot, four inches tall. Waves of burgundy hair flow over her shoulders. Her uniform holds tight to her buxom body, complete with a well defined buttocks. Baby blue eyes, and a crisp white dimpled smile riding on a perfect Brazilian complexion, catch his stare. “Ah, you must Andrew Irons. I am Inspector Ester Agostinho, Brazilian Civil Police. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Snapping out of her enchanting glow, and shaking her outstretched hand, “Yes, Andrew Irons. Not sure if it really proper or polite to say that I’m sent here by order of the Vatican, but since I’m not here of my own volition; I’m here by order of Pope Alexander IX.”
Returning to her seat, “Yes, once we had realized that the recent string of murders were not being committed by normal individuals, and that the suspects may be more than human, we sought help from the Church. Eventually, as it appears, the subject went all the way to the Pontiff, and he has sent you, to us.”
“Seems that after killing one, by accident, and getting a crash course form one of his Paladins, I’m an expert slayer. I’m honestly not too sure how much I can help, but I do have a basic understanding of a vampire’s thought patterns, so at the least I’ll be able to help with tracking them to a degree.
“I sure hope so, Mister Irons, we need all the support we can get. There are only eight of us on this case, far too few; I requested to be reinforced by at least four more men, but we just don’t have the man power. At any rate, it is getting late,” looking at the large clock on her wall, “already 6 p.m. I’m sure you‘d like to call it a day after your flight here. I’ll have Officer Kell give you the quick tour of the city, take you past a couple of the crime scenes, and then to your hotel. I can give you a full briefing on the overall investigation tomorrow.”
As Andrew steps through the door to his hotel room, he’s great by someone lying on the bed. As the person gets up he, realizes it is Damien. “What the hell do you want?”
“The inspector naked in my bed for starters; that bitch is hot. But that’s not the answer you wanted. You want the answer to the question of why am I here; and the answer to that is that I have work for you.”
“What now, I just killed one of your stupid cultist last month, and that damned demon two months before that.”
“You think it sucks being human; try being a deity. What I want you to do is literally stupid easy. All you have to do is bring me a head. The kicker, is that it’s the head of Arlene Rodriguez.”
Puzzled, “Who’s that?”
“She’s the one behind the whole ring, sorry, coven, to be proper I guess; but who fuck cares. She owes me a debt that she seems to have forgotten about, so since you’ve already been ordered to kill her anyway, I’ll take the op up a notch to collecting her head. All you have to do is be sure to take it with your sword, otherwise no money, and the fee is a nice $2000 bonus to deliver it to this address.” Damien pulls a business card from thin air and hands it to Andrew.
“That’s it,” unsure if it is really that easy.”
“Yup nothing special. I left you some intel on each of the baddies in that envelope on the table over there. Have fun,” Damien pats Andrew on the shoulder as he disappears from plain sight.
Copyright 2014 Monkey Boy AJ - All Rights Reserved