Continuing Saga---Life After Deep Dark
Chapter 6
Henry grabbed his coat and headed downstairs to get his car.
“Good evening, Mr. Fitzroy.” Greg was spending yet another evening reading gossip magazines while he was supposed to be manning the door. Henry simply gave him a slight dismissing wave. He did not have time for pleasantries.
“Wait, Mr. Fitzroy. I have a package for you.” Henry spun around with a look of bewilderment.
“A package?”
“Yes sir, there was a gentlemen that just stopped by. I told him that you were home, but he said that he just wanted to drop it off.”
Henry looked down out the manila colored envelope. There was no return address on the envelope and on the front; just simple black writing that said Henry Fitzroy.
“What did this man look like?”
“Well, he was tall, dark hair, he had a black suit on and blood shot looking eyes. I almost offered him some eye drops, but I thought that he may not find my offer offensive.”
“Thanks Greg. If you see him around again, notify me at once.”
“Well do, Mr. Fitzroy.”
With that Henry headed to his car. He knew instantly that the man Greg was describing was Father Cascioli. The package burned in his hand and had a distinct odor of pure evil. Henry was hesitant to open it and reveal the contents. He finally took a deep breath, gritted his teeth and carefully ripped it open. Inside there was a picture of Norman’s apartment building with a note attached that said “Be there tomorrow night 11:00pm sharp.” While starring at the picture, something else fell from the package. Henry gasped as he realized that it was a picture of Vicky, apparently taken today. There were strange writing and symbols written all over the picture. Henry could tell by the overpowering scent that it was blood. He did not know whose blood, but it wasn’t Vicki’s. Her scent was distinct, nonetheless, it made him uneasy. Astorath was trying to make a point and Henry was clear on what that point was. If it was a fight that Astorath wanted, then that is exactly what he would get. However, he was not prepared for it. He knew that the best person to help him find a way to defeat this demon was Betty. She had extensive knowledge in demonology and might have the resources to find a way to defeat this monster.
Before he headed to see Dr. Sagara, he would detour by Vicki’s and make sure that she was alright. He knew that Astorath had been watching here, but he would not harm her before the final ritual ceremony. He needed her alive and in tact, otherwise his plan to bring his demon servants to earth would be unsuccessful. Regardless, Henry did not like the idea of her being alone. After their last conversation, he was not comfortable seeing her face to face. He had decided to simply peek in on her, without his presence being detected and then meet with Betty. When he pulled up to her office, there was one light flickering in the window. He quietly made his way to her door, but it was eerily still. With his ear placed to the door, he listened for a heart beat, movement, something, but to his surprise there was nothing to be heard.
“Vicki where are you.” He thought to himself. Then a sickening feeling came over him. It felt as if a dagger had been plunged into his stomach.
“Was she with Mike?” After last night, he knew that it might be a distinct possibility, but he hoped that she would not so easily dismiss her feelings for him and run instantly into Mike’s arms.
Henry made the drive to Mike’s home. With baited breath, he began to walk towards the door. He could tell by the scent that surrounded the home that Vicki had been there and recently. He peered into the window, but all that he saw was Mike sitting in his arm chair in the dark sipping on some concoction. Henry could tell by his superior hearing that Mike was alone. He also could tell that whatever had happened between Vicki and Mike earlier in the evening had not put Mike at ease. He had a restlessness about him that even someone without enhanced vampire skills could recognize.
As Henry made his way back to the car, there was a sense of relief that Vicki had not immediately ran into Mike’s arms. He remembered her words “Don’t you know that all I have wanted to do since we met was say yes.” Did he dare cling to hope that there might still be a chance for them if he could get Astorath out of their lives once and for all?
But the question still remained:
“Where was she?”
He would have to push that thought out of his mind for now. He had more important business to attend to which included meeting with Betty. Hopefully, they could put together a plan to defeat Astorath and prevent any of his followers from passing through to create even more chaos. Plus Henry could not push out the thought that if he didn’t defeat him, then he would have two monsters on his hands, Astorath and the Council. At this point, both seemed equally dangerous and deadly.
Henry grabbed his coat and headed downstairs to get his car.
“Good evening, Mr. Fitzroy.” Greg was spending yet another evening reading gossip magazines while he was supposed to be manning the door. Henry simply gave him a slight dismissing wave. He did not have time for pleasantries.
“Wait, Mr. Fitzroy. I have a package for you.” Henry spun around with a look of bewilderment.
“A package?”
“Yes sir, there was a gentlemen that just stopped by. I told him that you were home, but he said that he just wanted to drop it off.”
Henry looked down out the manila colored envelope. There was no return address on the envelope and on the front; just simple black writing that said Henry Fitzroy.
“What did this man look like?”
“Well, he was tall, dark hair, he had a black suit on and blood shot looking eyes. I almost offered him some eye drops, but I thought that he may not find my offer offensive.”
“Thanks Greg. If you see him around again, notify me at once.”
“Well do, Mr. Fitzroy.”
With that Henry headed to his car. He knew instantly that the man Greg was describing was Father Cascioli. The package burned in his hand and had a distinct odor of pure evil. Henry was hesitant to open it and reveal the contents. He finally took a deep breath, gritted his teeth and carefully ripped it open. Inside there was a picture of Norman’s apartment building with a note attached that said “Be there tomorrow night 11:00pm sharp.” While starring at the picture, something else fell from the package. Henry gasped as he realized that it was a picture of Vicky, apparently taken today. There were strange writing and symbols written all over the picture. Henry could tell by the overpowering scent that it was blood. He did not know whose blood, but it wasn’t Vicki’s. Her scent was distinct, nonetheless, it made him uneasy. Astorath was trying to make a point and Henry was clear on what that point was. If it was a fight that Astorath wanted, then that is exactly what he would get. However, he was not prepared for it. He knew that the best person to help him find a way to defeat this demon was Betty. She had extensive knowledge in demonology and might have the resources to find a way to defeat this monster.
Before he headed to see Dr. Sagara, he would detour by Vicki’s and make sure that she was alright. He knew that Astorath had been watching here, but he would not harm her before the final ritual ceremony. He needed her alive and in tact, otherwise his plan to bring his demon servants to earth would be unsuccessful. Regardless, Henry did not like the idea of her being alone. After their last conversation, he was not comfortable seeing her face to face. He had decided to simply peek in on her, without his presence being detected and then meet with Betty. When he pulled up to her office, there was one light flickering in the window. He quietly made his way to her door, but it was eerily still. With his ear placed to the door, he listened for a heart beat, movement, something, but to his surprise there was nothing to be heard.
“Vicki where are you.” He thought to himself. Then a sickening feeling came over him. It felt as if a dagger had been plunged into his stomach.
“Was she with Mike?” After last night, he knew that it might be a distinct possibility, but he hoped that she would not so easily dismiss her feelings for him and run instantly into Mike’s arms.
Henry made the drive to Mike’s home. With baited breath, he began to walk towards the door. He could tell by the scent that surrounded the home that Vicki had been there and recently. He peered into the window, but all that he saw was Mike sitting in his arm chair in the dark sipping on some concoction. Henry could tell by his superior hearing that Mike was alone. He also could tell that whatever had happened between Vicki and Mike earlier in the evening had not put Mike at ease. He had a restlessness about him that even someone without enhanced vampire skills could recognize.
As Henry made his way back to the car, there was a sense of relief that Vicki had not immediately ran into Mike’s arms. He remembered her words “Don’t you know that all I have wanted to do since we met was say yes.” Did he dare cling to hope that there might still be a chance for them if he could get Astorath out of their lives once and for all?
But the question still remained:
“Where was she?”
He would have to push that thought out of his mind for now. He had more important business to attend to which included meeting with Betty. Hopefully, they could put together a plan to defeat Astorath and prevent any of his followers from passing through to create even more chaos. Plus Henry could not push out the thought that if he didn’t defeat him, then he would have two monsters on his hands, Astorath and the Council. At this point, both seemed equally dangerous and deadly.