Fall of the Mortals (Book 1) (40 page)

“And now it is time for you to die, Shaun,” said Kristof in a cold, evil voice as he descended to the pavement. “I’m going to watch them tear you into a thousand pieces.”

A bright lightning flashed and struck a tree in the background breaking it in half causing sparks to fly and small flames to burn on the stump, which was twelve feet tall. Shaun noticed a long, sharp jagged branch, which protruded from the stump. A sudden thought of victory popped in his mind. It was his only chance. Whether he was able to do it successfully, it was his only chance. Kristof raised a hand preparing to sound the order for his vampires to kill him.

“Destroy him!” Kristof shouted, lowering his hand.

Just as the mob flew in to attack Shaun, he mustered every ounce of power he had left and flew right at Kristof.

“Not if I kill you first!” Shaun shouted, grabbing Kristof and forcing him back against the sharp, jagged branch.

The branch pierced Kristof through the back and out the chest. He cried out in agonizing pain, helpless, as he was shish-ka-bobbed on the branch suspended ten feet above the ground. Kristof stopped lashing his arms and legs as his body drooped and his head bowed to one side with his eyes open.

Shaun floated panting watching Kristof wither in the rain. Kristof’s skin flaked and peeled off him. His eyeballs receded into their sockets. His skeleton dangled until it exploded forcing Shaun to the pavement. The mob of vampires descended, surrounding him. Shaun grabbed a metal pole to defend himself as he got up and held it in a defensive stance ready to strike. The mob of vampires kneeled and bowed to him. Shaun was confused at their humility before him.

“What are you all doing?” he asked in a hard tone, still confused.

“You’re now the Alpha, my lord,” said a male vampire in a soft, respectful tone, raising his head then lowering himself again to a bowing position.

Shaun dropped the metal pole not knowing what to say. He stepped back and flew off through the skyscrapers after the tour bus.

***

“Are we almost there yet?” Harold hollered at Yuri, shooting a vampire that tried to come through a window.

“Approaching Santa Monica Beach!” Yuri responded, struggling to drive the large tour bus and find his way through the rainstorm.

Chris and Thai fired at the windows shooting more vampires that tried to get in.  More vampires landed on the roof of the bus making loud thudding sounds in the cabin. The sounds of their feet went across the roof as they stomped on it. Harold, Thai and Chris kept their guns aimed to the ceiling. A vampire appeared against the windshield, gnashing his teeth. Harold fired, shattering the windshield. The vampire took in several shots and fell beneath the bus and was run over by its wheels.

“Where’s the rendezvous point?” Yuri hollered.

“I don’t know!” Harold shouted. “Look for a boat or something!”

Yuri looked into the distance and saw Lennox’s life boat near the shore. There were two lights at the top of the control deck along with a spotlight shining off to one side. There was also a helicopter flying above the lifeboat shining a spotlight down towards the beach.

“It’s them,” mumbled Yuri as he changed directions and headed down the Pacific Coast Highway. “I see the rendezvous.”

***

Lennox sat in the co-pilot seat of the helicopter. He glared back at a soldier who was manning the spotlight off the side of the cabin searching the beach for civilians below.

“Not seeing anything yet, sir!” the solider hollered, moving the light all over the beach.

“Listen, soldier, there’s been a change of plan!” said Lennox.

“What’s that admiral?”

“As soon as you see anyone down there, you’re to open fire and spare none,” said Lennox in a commanding tone. ”Do you copy?”

“Sir, aren’t these innocent civilians we’re supposed to be picking up?” asked the soldier.

“Negative!”

“I’m confused, sir!” the soldier replied.

“These civilians have been housing with the enemy,” said Lennox. “They’re contaminated with various diseases and could easily infect everyone on this warbird as well as on the Arizona. I’m not going to have that! Do you copy?”

“Don’t see how I can, admiral, sir!” the soldier hollered. “The enemy flies through the air, our civilians are supposed to be waiting on a beach!”

“Damn it son! I’m telling you right now these people aren’t getting on this helicopter. Is that clear?” Lennox shouted.

The soldier stared at Lennox, baffled at his rigid militant mindset.

“Admiral! I got what looks like a large bus pulling up to the beach,” said the helicopter pilot. “It looks like the enemy is swarming around it.”

“Move in closer,” said Lennox.

The helicopter lowered to the beach, its spotlight shining on the bus. The vampires were annoyed by its bright light.

Shaun flew in and landed on the roof. He hissed at the other vampires in the proximity. They all sensed he was their new Alpha leader and lowered themselves to the ground, bowing to him.

“My friends on this bus are not to be harmed!” Shaun shouted at the vampires who were still bowing and showing humility before him. “Is that understood?”

“Yes, Alpha,” several of them responded, some of them hissing.

Lennox and the pilot watched Harold and the others step off the bus and stand in a group at the beach.

“What the hell’s going on down there?” asked Lennox, confused at the sight of the vampires bowing on the ground.

“I do not know,” the helicopter pilot answered, sounding puzzled.

“I don’t like this,” said Lennox. “Open fire, soldier.”

“Sir, they’re just waiting for us to land,” the soldier answered.

“I said open fire, that’s an order!” Lennox shouted.

“I’m not wasting innocent civilians, admiral!” the soldier hollered.

“Do it now, dammit!” Lennox shouted.

“If you want to kill them, do it yourself!”

Lennox pulled his sidearm and fired at the insubordinate soldier, putting one shot in his forehead. The soldier fell dead on the floor of the cabin. He lay with his eyes open as blood streamed down his face.

“Fine. If you want anything done, you gotta do it yourself!” Lennox blared, taking charge of a fifty caliber automatic weapon that was mounted to the side of the helicopter.

The helicopter pilot was numbed in fear at Lennox killing the soldier.

“Stay in range, pilot!” Lennox hollered. “I’ll take these freaking things out myself!”

“Yes sir,” the pilot answered, shocked and disgusted.

At the beach, Harold and the others watched the helicopter circle around and shine the spotlight on them again.

“What are they doing?” asked Betty.

“Are they going to land or what?” asked Thai.

“Something’s wrong,” said Harold.

“Why do you say that?” Betty asked sounding frightened.

Suddenly, automatic gunfire came from the side of the helicopter raining bullets towards everyone at the beach. The lifeboat took off and headed back out to sea.

“Everyone! Take cover!” shouted Harold, pulling Betty, Mercedes and Tommy against the side of the bus and out of range.

Shaun watched Trang and Ni get hit with several bullets killing them instantly. Kim and Thai tried to run but the heavy gunfire was too swift and brutal. They were shot up and fell dead on the sand.

“No!” Shaun cried, reaching his hand out in horror. “Yuri! Run!”

Yuri tried to flee but he was overtaken by the down pour of firepower. Shaun watched him take several bullets and fall dead.

Shaun filled with an extreme, intolerable rage watching several members of his family die in such a cold blooded and cruel manner.

“Get them!” Shaun screamed, flying towards the military helicopter with several vampires at his side.

Lennox continued to open fire at the army of vampires heading right towards him. Several vampires were hit by the big caliber bullets and fell into the water below and were dissolved in the acidic sea water.  Shaun flew right at Lennox, grabbed him and forced him against the wall of the cabin.

“Why?” shouted Shaun in a crazed anger.

Lennox was frozen in fear, staring at Shaun, speechless.

“Why? You son of a bitch! Why!” Shaun shouted, still in a rage. “They were innocent!”

Lennox gnashed his teeth and went for his sidearm. Shaun grabbed his wrist, deflecting the aim. Lennox fired his pistol and shot the helicopter pilot in the back of the head by accident. The helicopter went out of control flying wildly over the beach. Lennox fell to his back still firing at Shaun who was hit in the chest and the shoulder. Shaun flew out of the cabin and was struck by the propellers which launched him near the beach where he crash landed on top of the tour bus then onto the sand. He sat up and watched the helicopter fly out of control and descend towards some large boulders where it exploded. It was the end of Lennox.

Shaun got up and trudged his way through the sand where Harold and Betty coddled Mercedes and Tommy behind the tour bus. Hammond stood over them not knowing what to say, shocked and appalled at the treacherous act of the military. He looked down, intimidated by the vampires that were still all over standing at the beach and floating in the air.

Shaun looked over the beach where Yuri, Thai, Kim and her parents lay dead. Their chests and backs were blood soaked from being hit by Lennox’s weapon.  Tears rolled down Shaun’s face grieving at the sight of his dead friends who were his family. Some vampires floated over their bodies drooling for their blood which was fresh and all over them. 

“Stay away from them!” Shaun shouted at the menacing vampires.

They hissed at him and floated away. Shaun fell to his knees placing a hand on Thai and Yuri’s back. He couldn’t believe they were gone after all they had been through and had accomplished. Shaun looked down to the sand, depressed as the rain fell on him. Lightning flashed; thunder followed. Hammond walked over to Shaun.

“Shaun?” asked Hammond.

Shaun didn’t answer but looked down, still soaked in grief.

“What now?” Hammond asked, trying not to be a pest.

“Those bastards,” Shaun mumbled. “How dare they betray me?”

“It must have been a set up from the beginning,” stated Hammond.

“That admiral never wanted them to board his ship,” said Shaun.

“It looks that way,” Hammond replied.

“I would have given my life for any of them,” said Shaun, rising to his feet, still looking down at his dead friends.

“I know you would have,” said Hammond. “Because there’s too much good in you.”

“Are Harold and Betty okay?” asked Shaun.

“They’re fine,” answered Hammond, watching Harold and Betty lead Mercedes and Tommy back on the bus to get out of the rain.

Shaun still stood in silence in his grief.

“Anyway, I don’t want to push but what’s the plan now, boss?”

“Help me bury my friends,” Shaun responded.

“And then?” asked Hammond.

“We’ll head to the airport,” answered Shaun. “You’ll have to fly Harold and the other survivors to D.C.”

“All right,” stated Hammond.

“Trust no one but President Campbell when you get there,” said Shaun. “Can I count on you?”

“Let’s get on it,” Hammond answered.

***

Hammond started up a seven twenty-seven commercial airliner wearing the pilot’s headphones, turning on switches and pressing buttons. The storm had ceased.

In the cabin, Shaun gave Harold, Betty, Tommy and Mercedes a group hug before he floated to the exit door.

“Will we see you again?” asked Harold, still teary eyed from their traumatic events.

“I don’t know,” Shaun answered. “I just want you all to be safe. Campbell will take care of you.”

“Are you sure those things are going to listen to you?” asked Betty, wiping a tear from her face.

“I hope so,” Shaun responded. “I’m supposedly their new leader.”

“Shaun? Can’t we just stay with you if they have to do what you say?” asked Tommy with a sad face.

“Sorry buddy,” Shaun responded. “I don’t trust them that much.”

Mercedes rushed over and gave Shaun a final hug. Shaun crouched down and moved her bangs out of her eyes.

“You take care of Harold and Betty for me okay, sweets?” said Shaun.

Mercedes held onto Shaun tightly then rushed back to her seat, which was next to Betty.

“I’ll be checking in on you all,” said Shaun. “Be good.”

“Goodbye, Shaun,” said Harold.

Shaun flew out of the plane and floated nearby next to a host of vampires. The jet engines started up, loud and overpowering. The plane rolled to the runway and proceeded forward, picking up speed. Shaun and the vampires watched the plane ascend into the sky until it was out of sight.