B008IFNJZM EBOK (44 page)

             
“Except what?”

             
“I was thinking about that ‘blue room’ story and whether I could be changed back.”

             
“According to the elders we met with in Ireland, it does work.”

             
“He has hinted about marriage and wanting a large family.”

             
“So?”

             
“Well the way things stand now, our children if we did marry, would be hybrids.  They could turn out to be either human or vampire or some kind of combination…so they say.”

             
“I don’t know about that.  We would have to ask the elders.  I could see them being normal and I could also see them being like us, but the question is, do you want children?”

             
“Oh yes.”

             
“Well the two of you are going to have to sit down and determine whether as a couple, you both want to be vampires or ‘warm bloods’.”

             
“I just think if our children were vampires, they would miss out on sports like ‘T Ball’ and going to school and friends all those things other children have.”

             
“Then if that is what the two of you agree on, go into the ‘blue room’ and be changed back to a ‘warm blood’.”

             
Iolana shut off the water and stepped out and began drying herself off.

             
“What are you and Tom going to do?  You are in the same position Crosley and I are in.”

             
Iolana leaned forward and dried her hair as Chelsea went to get a pint out of the frig for her.

             
“Well unlike you, I don’t know where I stand.  Tom has told me he loves me but now that he is cured, maybe he will change his mind and I’ll be on my own.  Hadiya and Shawn will probably stay vampires for a while and settle down in Shawn’s hometown.  You and Crosley will probably for the sake of the children, become a normal couple until at least the children are grown up and on their own and I might be leaving on our jet alone.”

             
Chelsea handed the plastic bag of blood to Iolana.

             
“I doubt that.  The way he looks at you…”

             
“When Khu comes to take us to him, I am going to stay here.  Elizabeth will see him alone.  That is as it should be.”

             
“He will come to you… Remember, the psychic has said, all three of us and I believe she is right.  She has been correct right down to the gun shot that went off before Shawn looked into Hadiya’s eyes and ignited the chemistry.”

             
“Well I am not going to pressure him.  He must come to me of his own free will.”

             
“Crosley and I are going to take her and Nathan to see him just as soon as Khu returns.  You will see.  He will make a ‘bee line’ for this trailer and you.”

             
Tom stood up at the Meeratt campfire with Khu.  He had on white shirt and white shorts.  Elizabeth started to run to him with tears in her eyes the second she came up into the Bigfoot camp.  He smiled and held out his hands.  Both his wrists and ankles were wrapped in white bandages.  Nathan followed her smiling carrying a pair of boots for his friend and a yellow distance measuring wheel (This is the device you roll along an area and it tells you how many feet you have traveled).

             
“It is so good to have you back my brother.”

             
“It is good to be back to normal.”

             
“Is it true?  You are now cured?”

             
She fell into his arms.  Tom pushed her gently back.  He pulled up his shirt.

             
“The pentagram is gone.”
             
             

             
She again fell back into his arms and with tears in her eyes; she hugged him as Nathan extended his hand.  Khu immediately left with a grin on his face.  He did not feel he had to be thanked for Tom’s cure.  After all, it was the knowledge of the Meeratts.

             
“Great to have you back… What do you want me to do with this wheel for Khu?”

             
“Just set it down.  He will return shortly.”

             
“Where are all the villagers?”

             
“The elder has sent them away to another area for the day.  We will be having a meeting with the elder and Cinnet soon to discuss what we are doing here.”

             
“Is he upset that we killed one of the female Bunyips?”

             
“From what I could tell, he was upset about that but more upset that we lost four of our own. If he hadn’t stayed to watch over me, he could have prevented those deaths. He can somehow control almost all the animals in these valleys.”
             

             
Tom finished putting on his shoes and stood up and walked toward the steps.

             
”What do you mean that he can control almost all the animals?”

             
“He cannot control the very young or those that are very ill.”

             
“Who else should be here for this meeting?”

             
“Let go back to the others and I will explain along the way. Why didn’t Iolana come?”

             
Elizabeth looked into her brother’s eyes.

             
“She is not sure that you still want her now that the curse has been lifted.  You must search your heart Tom. Is she really the person you want to spend the rest of your life with?”

             
The trio passed down the steps and emerged from behind the waterfall.

             
“I may have needed her help to be cured, but now I need her for herself.”

             
Elizabeth held on to her brother’s arm.

             
“If she is the one you wish to spend your life with then you must tell her.”

             
“You won’t mind having her…”

             
“I want to see you happy and if she holds the key to your heart, then I will be honored to call her my sister-in-law.”

             
Tom smiled at his sister.  They continued to stroll through the pair of valleys leading to the Merat Cave. There was no sign of animals in either valley.  On the way, Elizabeth filed him in on the continued werewolf attacks back in Kentucky.

***

             
By the time they reached the base camp it was after three in the morning.  Tom saw Iolana sitting by herself poking the fire with a stick. He could see Shawn, Crosley, Hadiya and Chelsea sitting up on the trailer talking and trying to act like they didn’t notice Tom coming up behind Iolana as Elizabeth and Nathan went over to the command tent and turned the lights back on.

             
“You are right you know, I don’t need your help anymore, I am cured and the curse is removed.”

             
Iolana kept poking the flames in front of her.

             
“But now I need you for you if you will have me.”

             
Iolana threw the stick into the fire and spun around and stood up.

             
“I want you and no one else!”

             
They kissed and heard the others up on the trailer clapping and shouting.

             
“Oh yeah, that psychic is still three for three!”

***

             
In the early morning hours before sunrise, Elizabeth heard the cell phone ring and got up from her cot and entered the command tent.

             
“Hello?”

             
“Doctor Hart?”

             
“This is Doctor Deckard at the veterinary clinic.”

             
Elizabeth knew from the voice it was Deckard senior.
             
“Yes?”

             
“The full moon cycle just ended.  It doesn’t appear anyone died as a result of a ‘wolf’ or wild animal attack.”

             
Elizabeth was relieved. 

             
“Good.  Maybe this creature just moved on.”

             
“I hope so.  Sorry to bother you.”

             
“Doctor Deckard please don’t worry about it and call me anytime.”

             
“How is your brother?”

             
“I am pleased to say the treatment worked.  He is cured.”

             
“When you return you must tell me how that was accomplished.  I had never heard of anyone ever having the curse removed.”

             
“When I return, you and I will have a long talk.”

             
“Do you know when you will be returning?”

             
“Not yet Doctor, but soon.”

             
“I will be looking forward to that.  Good Day Doctor Hart.’

             
“Good day and thanks for all your help.”

             
Elizabeth set down the phone and felt relieved.  Just then the phone again rang.  She brushed her hair with her hand and picked it up expecting that the good Doctor Deckard thought of another question.  The voice on the other end surprised her.

             
“Who is this?”

             
“This is Arachne…Arachne Corrick.”

             
It took a moment for the name to register… It was the psychic, the one Chelsea keeps referring to as batting a thousand.

             
“Oh yes… I wanted to thank you…”

             
“The treatment worked and your brother not only found a cure but true love.  I am happy for him.”

             
This woman was good!  Just a few hours earlier, the beast that was once in him disappeared out of his life forever.

             
“What can I do for you Ms. Corrick?”

             
“You need to know that this is not over yet Doctor Hart.”

             
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

             
“You expected a body in the morgue.  The victim did not die from his attack, he instead healed quickly like your brother.  He is out there now and so is the one who infected your brother.  They must be stopped.  You and your brother and his friends are needed to stop them.”

             
“My brother’s friends?”

             
“You will need the one he loves and two others.”

             
“Which two?”

             
“One of the couples is a mix of a ‘warm blood’ and a vampire.  Her name starts with a ‘chel’ sound.”

             
“Chelsea… Chelsea and Crosley?”

             
“Yes that is the pair.  Can I talk to her?”

             
Elizabeth stuck her head out between the tent flaps and looked up.  Crosley and Chelsea were still talking on the roof of the trailer with Shawn and Hadiya.  She signaled Chelsea to come over and Crosley followed her down the ladder and over to the tent.  Elizabeth was curious as to why her.  The voice on the phone responded without the question being posed.

             
“She knows the most about these creatures and I need quickly to give her more information about werewolves than she already has.”

             
Chelsea came over and took the phone from Elizabeth.

             
“Who is it?”

             
“The lady who bats a thousand.”

             
“Chelsea looked into to the east as the morning sky became brighter.  She turned to Elizabeth listening to the voice at the other end speak.”

             
“Yes I understand… one moment please.”

             
She covered the mouth piece and looked at Doctor Hart.

             
“This is going to take a few minutes.  Can I take this into the semi and have Crosley bring this back to you?”