A PALE HORSE

Late afternoon had settled on the stagnant river as it languished motionless in the fall sun. Seeing it now, no one would guess it once a lively thoroughfare. It sat as dead and wasted as the land surrounding it- a murky clump of storage buildings and dilapidated storefronts. Inside, a large young man was very angry. Max watched the two women being led into the room, and he seethed under his unaffected exterior. Naomi looked a little worse for the experience and Max inwardly winced when the man leading her kicked her in the back of the knees causing her to lose her balance. She fell on her knees with a moan and just managed to regain her balance before falling forward. The large man grinned at her discomfort and puffed out his chest as he said, “We found this one in the tunnels trying to take the girl away.” Max saw Olivier’s eyes start to glow, a faint red started to show in their inky depths.

“Did you check the tunnels to see if anyone else was present?” he asked them. Max could tell that he had not and Olivier knew it. He was toying with the larger man. He watched as the large man almost threw himself to the floor begging Olivier to forgive him. Olivier’s eyes glowed a bright red now and Max could see the glint from his large canine teeth when he smiled at the man’s discomfort. Max didn’t scare easily, living with his father all his life had made him expect the unexpected and the beatings he took as a child gave him a hard exterior, but this was new to Max and he was having a hard time not being afraid of what this creature may do. If there was one thing that Max was good at, though, it was hiding his feelings. He waited for the exchange to play out wearing, what he hoped, was a slightly annoyed, yet disaffected, air. Olivier watched as the second man put the child on the floor and scurried away with his partner. Olivier went up to Naomi and reached out a hand to touch her face. Max watched in admiration as Naomi made to bite Olivier’s hand. Olivier reacted swiftly, he raised his hand and backhanded her across the face splitting her lip open in the process.

“You sought to take her, girl?” he shouted, then to no one but the air in front of him, “Why does everyone want to steal what’s mine?” From the floor, Naomi struggled to get into a position to face Olivier.

Naomi spat the blood from her mouth before saying, “You know, you aren’t the first person to say that to me tonight. The monster you sold her to was just as idiotic as you are.”

Olivier smiled, “What did you do with him?” The question was asked with more curiosity than concern. Naomi finally wiggled herself into a sitting position.

She looked up at Olivier and said, “I knocked him out and left him chained up.” Naomi looked worriedly at Sarah, who was barely breathing. Time was running out for her and Naomi would never forgive herself if she didn’t make it out of this alive.

“Hmmm, I wonder why you didn’t kill him?” Olivier said, “I would have.”

“I’m not you. I’m not a-” Naomi thought of how satisfying it would be in that moment to let Olivier know that they knew who, WHAT, he is, and that she wasn’t scared of him. She had to check herself briefly to be sure, but, no, she wasn’t afraid. She was angry and outraged and frightened for Sarah’s health, but she did not fear the thing that stood in front of her. She smirked, bloody lip and all, and sneered at the oily man, “I think I’ll wait on the fed’s to show up. They’ll be here any moment now.” Naomi smiled a cold smile. Olivier’s eyes glowed red again, and Max felt he had to step in before the events got out of hand.

“What is she talking about, Olivier? Who has called the authorities?” Olivier spun around, animalian, almost feral, before he regained his composure with the large man. There was a noticeable red that receded from his irises. So, Max thought, I am guessing they can control their appearance and bloodlust at will? I will have to ask my aunt about this. Olivier smiled a thin smile and spoke quietly and without haste.

“Don’t worry about this. There is no threat of police presence.”

“Good,” said Max, “my father would not like his name attached to any kind of scandal. Our organization does not tolerate failure of any sort. What are you going to do with that one?” He indicated Naomi casually. “I do not really care, but she is dark-skinned and attractive. Exotic-looking women are rare, and I know I could find a buyer for her in Russia.” Max said smoothly. Olivier’s eyebrows rose.

“I shouldn’t be surprised that you know of people who deal in humans, but this one I have plans for. She will make a fine playmate for me, I think. I want to see if I can break that spirit of hers.” Olivier once again reached for Naomi’s face and before she could bite him, he had grabbed her face in a crushing grip. Naomi cried out in pain in her head, but let nothing escape her lips. Tears rolled down her face, but she wouldn’t give the vampire the satisfaction of hearing even a whimper.

Max was just about to intervene when he heard a deep voice say, “Let her go, Olivier!” Max looked over his shoulder and saw Sam standing by the door, at least, he thought it was Sam. If it was Sam, he was very different in a way that Max couldn’t put his finger on.

“Ah yes, the chatty pilot,” Olivier said, “I would not have expected you to show your face here.”

“Why not? I love a party!” Sam closed the distance between him and Max in a few strides and spoke to the now preoccupied vampire. “You’re stupid, Olivier. I have to tell you, you have made yourself some powerful enemies.” Sam grinned. “I hope that you have the cojones to deal with the consequences.” Olivier let go of Naomi’s face and moved to stand before Sarah, blocking her from Sam’s view.

“I have all I need to deal with you and anyone else who cares to try me. You have no idea who you are dealing with.” Olivier told him. Max could see the fire in his eyes light up once again.

It’s finally happened, Naomi thought absurdly, and she laughed to herself. I’m in a comic book! She started to convulse with laughter, which puzzled Max and Sam, and infuriated Olivier.

“WHAT is so funny, girl?!” Olivier turned and bent to hold his face inches from Naomi’s, which was still laughing.

“Ahhh, I can’t stop! I’ll tell you guys about it later… you’re gonna die!” Naomi addressed the two men across from the one who was dangerously close to doing her real damage, plaything or not. No one laughed at him! Sam’s voice cut in.

“Olivier, it’s over. You will let Naomi take Sarah out of here now, or else.” Sam said standing his ground. The vampire, forgetting Naomi and Sarah for a moment to deal with the new, bold challenger, sneered in his arrogance, and almost laughed.

“Are you kidding me? Coming into my domain and making demands, and worse, threats? Here’s what’s going to happen: the girls stay here, and I eat your liver while you watch. ‘Or else’! That is what a real or else looks like, Mr. Ramos. See, it doesn’t matter how powerful your friends are, they are no match for me. I have powerful friends of my own. No human will ever defeat me, I have been around for centuries.” Olivier boasted. “It would take an army to bring me down! Truth is, over the centuries, armies have tried… and failed. You had better be more powerful than the army at my disposal.” He snapped his fingers and, from the shadows, emerged at least a hundred men all with glowing eyes and snarling faces. Each one was poised as if to attack on command. Sam grinned again. It was the grin of a man begging to be tested. Max was transfixed for a moment, but then remembered the girls. Naomi was silently trying to move closer to Sarah who lay unmoving on the floor.

“It’s funny you should mention an army, vampire. That’s exactly what I brought… and they’re better than yours. A lot better.” In that moment Max was swept up in a tide of light and figures. They moved with uncommon grace and agility. Each figure held a mighty, glowing sword or other weapon and, like waves breaking on the shore, they swept the room. Max saw only bright flashes of light and heard the screams as the first wave of the corrupted minions fell or was in the process of falling. The second wave entered, ready to battle for supremacy and survival.

“NO!” Olivier screamed. “How is it that the Host know we are here?” He turned a full circle watching as his army was annihilated. He turned and in a rage flew at Sam. “I will kill you for this! I have spent centuries! How?!! How is it that you have access to the host? You must be with ARC.” Max blinked. The scene blurred and Olivier was locked in a struggle with Sam, his red eyes glowing and his fangs bared. His face had contorted into the stuff of horrors, and he no longer even closely resembled a man. His skin had scabbed over completely with blackened and rust colored scales. His eyes became redder and more bulbous. Anyone watching this morphing take place may mistake that the man was becoming…

...a dragon? No, Max thought as he watched. Nothing serpentine about him really. Just a lot of ugly. Sam grabbed Olivier as if he were nothing and sent him into the nearest pile of crates. Olivier flipped at the last moment, landing lightly with his feet planted on the side of the crate. He pushed off the crate and launched himself back in Sam’s direction like a missile, almost flying. The move caught Sam unaware and he found Olivier sitting on top of him grinning an evil, grotesque grin. Max heard laughter and turned to see another man walking towards Olivier and Sam.

“Come on, Sam! Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten how to fight!” The man walked over and plucked Olivier off of Sam. He fetched him up by the neck and turned him, face-to-grotesque-face. “Excuse us for a minute.” and sent him flying again.

“Hey! It’s been a while, right?” He hopped up and quickly surveyed himself, brushing his shirt off. “Give me a break, Michael! I’m out of practice.” Michael slapped him on the back and laughed again while the battle raged around them. Max saw what both men had failed to notice in their banter- Olivier had pulled himself up off the floor and, seeing his minions engaged with the hosts and no help anywhere to be found, resorted to using hostages. He pushed Naomi aside and snatched Sarah off the floor.

He stood with little Sarah held in front of him and said to the two men, “It would be a shame if something else happened to this little angel today. She’s already been through so much!”

NO!, Naomi thought. She frantically scooted around and moved until she was right next to Olivier’s leg. This is going to be disgusting, she thought. Michael and Sam had turned in their direction, both of them wore the same expression. Olivier had the upper hand and he knew it. Max had never seen the hard expression that had crossed his friend’s face.

“I would be very careful in your next move, vampire,” Sam warned him. Sarah chose that moment to weakly open her eyes. Blue eyes full of pain looked directly at Sam.

“You’re here! He told me...”

Olivier looked down at her, “Quiet girl!” He gave her a shake as if this would keep her mouth from speaking. Max moved so that he was positioned behind Olivier and Naomi. He saw Maggie, Peter, and Joshua sneak in from the back. He stood, amazed, as Maggie silently took down two vampires from behind. Deciding he would be of more use helping Peter and Joshua, and wanting to protect Maggie, he started to move in that direction until he heard a yell from Olivier and looked around to see Naomi, whose hands were still tied behind her back, biting the Olivier-creature on the leg. He looked down towards her, shrieked, and kicked Naomi hard, sending her flying backward into a stack of crates. Max heard the crack as she hit and lay unmoving. He changed direction and moved to were Naomi lay still and quiet. He leaned over her and felt for a pulse. He found one, albeit weak, and let out a sigh. He ran his hand down the back of her head and felt a nice size bump on the back of her head and when he pulled his hand away it came away sticky telling him that she was bleeding. Her head fell back until it rested against his arm as he scooped her up and, without another thought, took her with him to find Maggie and the others.

“Olivier, like I said before- it’s over. You need to put the girl down now.” Sam’s tone had grown deadly. Max looked back over his shoulder at one of the few people on this Earth he called friend. He found himself mesmerized at the look on Sam’s face. He could swear that Sam’s eyes were aflame and that his friend was glowing faintly. He shook his head and continued to where he last saw Maggie, Peter, and Joshua.

“She is a transmitter, isn’t she?” Olivier stared down at the child in his arms. “Who told you he would come, girl?”,he asked her, giving her another shake. Sarah turned her head towards Olivier.

“The Master.” This caused Michael and Sam to look at each other and then back at Sarah who was still looking at Olivier, blank-faced. They could only just hear what she was saying over the din of the battle taking place around them. Every so often, one of them or both would have to fend of one of Olivier’s minions, but they were swiftly dealt with before they would turn their attention back to Olivier and Sarah.

“So, I now hold something that is important to the Master? Oh, this is my lucky day. You boys may want to take a BIG step back.” Olivier bared his fangs. The threat was understood.

Michael and Sam took a step back and Olivier thought he had them on the ropes. Michael squashed that thought with one statement. “We didn’t step back for you. The fallout from your disobedience and blasphemy will be great. Are you willing to accept that?”

Olivier, who thought that he had the drop on the two men looked unsure. “I have the transmitter, archangel. I know that you want her, you will do as I say.” Michael looked at Sarah and then at Olivier. He smiled and stood casually observing the vampire.

“Are you that stupid?” Michael smiled wide.

Olivier looked from Sam to Michael, “Nothing is going to happen to me as long as I have this little brat in my hands. I can think of a number of people that would pay to have her, much more than my amorous friend from yesterday, especially now...” Sam made as if to move against Olivier, but stopped as he watched Olivier closely. He noticed that Olivier was transforming beyond scales and red eyes now. His body was changing its shape, growing longer and leaner with every second that passed. His hands became bony, gnarled, and elongated claws with razor sharp tips, and he now stood a good three feet taller, towering over them. Sam watched as the tips of the claws sank into Sarah’s skin. She didn’t let out a sound or move an inch. Sam watched as Olivier, puzzled, took a grip on one of her ankles and dangled her in front of his grotesque face. The thing spoke to the girl suspended limply by one foot. “Sarah?” He shook her hard and repeated, “Sarah? Sarah!” The vampire let out a sigh, and said, “Well, boys.” he shrugged his massive shoulders. “It appears something unexpected has occurred. I’ve lost my leverage.” At the end of his speech he launched Sarah into the air and everyone in the room froze watching the child spin through space like a ragdoll.

Peter, Joshua, Maggie, and Max (still holding an unconscious Naomi), watched with stricken expressions as the little girl came down... to land gently in the arms of Samael. He, too, had changed and stood at least twelve feet high, his black wings flared out behind him like a massive shield.

Peter who had seen Sam in action previously quickly said to the others, “Don’t look at his face! Come on! We have to get out of here!” Peter grabbed Max by the shoulder and turned the gaping giant around. Maggie had watched everything play out to its horrific end, and she was stunned. Vaguely, she could feel someone tugging at her, but she couldn’t hear anything but the blood pounding in her head. These monsters would pay for what had happened, and it would be now. She shook off the hand, unsheathing her katanas.

“NO!”, Maggie shrieked. “No! I’m not leaving her here! We can’t leave her here!” Maggie took a step toward the fray- toward the master vampire, toward the archangel, toward the little dead girl and away from the man she loved. Max shouldered Naomi briefly and took Maggie in a firm, sympathetic embrace.

Peter looked sadly back to the limp form, barely visible in Sam’s huge arms, and said to her, “She’s fine now, Mags. They can’t hurt her anymore… she’s beyond them all.” Maggie let out a loud, quaking sob, dropping the weapons from her grasp and covered her mouth with her hand. She crumpled against Max and Naomi, weeping bitterly.

Max shifted Naomi back to his arms and said to Maggie, “We must go now, love. We cannot stay here.” Max prompted her to turn around, gestured for her to grab her discarded swords and, once in front of him, he physically pushed her using Naomi as a type of gentle battering ram. Peter was the last one from the room and as he went through the doorway that led upstairs, he chanced a glance back into the warehouse. He saw Michael standing in front of Sam who still had Sarah’s broken body cradled in his arms.

He heard the angel say in a deep voice, “Eternity with the Master is yours, Sarah. Be at peace.” Olivier, who was standing on the other side of the warehouse near the entrance to the tunnels, shrieked briefly before disappearing.

Peter made as if to rush after him until he heard Michael say, “Peter! Sam will unleash his wrath in a matter of moments. Get out!” Peter had put up his hand to shield his eyes from the bright light that Sam had started to emit. He nodded to Michael and sprinted through the door to find the others.