The Damascus Chronicles (31 page)

“In our culture men come first. Just enjoy this, relax, and let me work my magic on you tonight,” said Suki. She cleaned his bleeding wounds with oils and herbs and her soft delicate hands caressed Michael’s raw skin with a gentle touch.

“Suki thank you, that feels so good,” sighed Michael.

“I knew you would like it. I used to do this for Yoshiro all the time,” said Suki calmly as she massaged Michael’s back.

“Who was he?” asked Michael.

“Just a man I loved, a long time ago,” said Suki.

“Listen, tell me something Suki, why do you believe in me?” asked Michael.

“Because I can see that through all your tough exterior and your bravado, you’re a caring person; you’re not evil inside. You wish to redeem your mistakes by helping people you don’t even know. These are the ways of honor.”

“You’re a sweet girl.”

Suki turned to Michael and looked him in the eyes. She was about to kiss him, but Michael stopped her, shaking his head. “I can’t,” he said reluctantly.

Suki looked at him and smiled. “It’s all right, I understand.”

The two dried off and then went off to bed in different rooms for the night.

Across town, the other vampires searched through the ravaged tenements of the Oriental district, while their human companions searched in the lower district for the fat corrupted bastard known as Mohachi Yung, a snake and wolf all at the same time. Yung was infamous for his technique of killing his victims by ripping out their lungs and eating their eyes after they were dead, believing that it would give him great spiritual insight and power. Yung was also one of Vegas’s largest suppliers of heroin and kroova, a synthetic blood hallucinogen for clubbing vampires.

“What the hell are we doing here? Michael gets to play Kabuki, and we’re out searching for one of Vegas’ most notorious drug kingpins,” complained Serena.

“Our job, that’s what. Lao wants us to find Yung, we’ll find Yung,” said Danny firmly.

“Team Nightmare to Team Vamp over!” called Danny over his walkie-talkie.

“Team Vamp here, over,” replied Darius on his walkie-talkie.

“Have you sighted the target? Over,” said Danny.

“That’s a negative, Team Nightmare,” replied Darius.

“Damn it,” said Danny in disgust.

“Where are you located?” asked Danny.

“The south side of the Oriental District; we have Kung Kung sniffing out the area for Triads. Too bad we couldn’t get trace on this guy. How about your end?” Darius asked. Darius wiped the sweat off his brow as he held his walkie-talkie.

“Chow Ling has been surveying the sky. Wait a minute; I see something through her vision,” said Darius looking into the distance.

“What! What is it?” shouted Danny.

“Down below on Sing Way, there is a long black limousine driving up to the Raiko business building. The chauffer is opening up the door. I see a large bald Japanese man in a white tuxedo with dark glasses and a long black beard exiting the car, with several bodyguards in identical black suits,” said Darius.

Danny transmitted the image of the target to Darius’ pocket computer. “That’s him,” said Darius. “Get him!” yelled Danny over his walkie-talkie. Darius whistled loudly to Chow-Ling to alert Kung Kung. Chow-Ling let out a terrifying scream, which Kung Kung heard instantly. The ghostly cat’s eyes inflamed in burning orange as he shape shifted into a monstrous feline. Danny and Serena jumped on top of him, and with an ear-shattering scream Kung Kung ran at super sonic speed to intercept the target. “Stupid cat, slow down! Slow down, you’re going to get us killed!” screamed Serena as the beast leaped along the rooftops of the Oriental district at fantastic speeds.

Mohachi greeting his contact when they heard the clamor. “What the hell was that!” said the contact.

“Get Mr. Yung out of here!” yelled one man.

“Oh my God!” screamed another.

People on the street scrambled in panic. The massive cat shot forth from the shadows of the high rise rooftops, morphing into the form of a Byakokasha the hybrid flying demon cat, whose black and white stripes resembled those of a white tiger. Kung Kung swooped down straight toward Mochachi, who was frozen with terror.

“AYEYAHH!!!” wailed Mohachi as Danny grappled Mohachi. Mohachi’s bodyguards fired shots into the sky trying to protect their boss, but Kung Kung dodged the bullets with ease. Taking off into the sky burdened with Danny, Serena and Mohachi, the hellish beast blasted up in a stream of white smoke, leaving the people on the ground motionless with terror.

“What! What! What do you want? I’ll do anything; just don’t let me die! Who are you people?” screamed Mohachi.

“That’s good; now let’s talk, you sleazy swine! Danny grinned with satisfaction as they flew higher into the clouds.

“Are you crazy?” screamed Mohachi.

“Maybe,” exclaimed Danny.

Serena grabbed Mohachi, holding him up to her face, “Where is the Shira jade statue!” she ordered.

“My rooftop penthouse at the Tengu Pagoda Casino!” shrieked Mohachi.

“Anything else?” said Danny. “I’ve told you everything! Now let me down!” whined Mohachi.

Danny nodded to Kung Kung to set them down. The beast understood and descended to the rooftop of a nearby small building. “For your health, Mr. Yung, I suggest you leave Las Vegas.” Danny let go of Mohachi and the spineless businessman fell into a large trash dumpster in the alley. Mohachi sprung from the dumpster, cussing out his attackers in Japanese as he pulled out his gun, shooting into the air at his assailants. Danny whipped out his trusty Cobra 76 and fired one shot, hitting the large lid of the trash container, which slammed down on top of Mohachi.

Back at the Raiko building the press were having a field day. Commissioner Hamilton made her statement to the public as the cameras rolled and bright lights flashed before her eyes. “Commissioner, do you have any idea as to what is going on here?” asked one reporter.

“We are looking into this bizarre event to determine who was responsible for this attack,” answered Commissioner Hamilton.

“Witnesses saw a large cat running off carrying the victim,” stated one reporter.

“What about the reports of the victims of the Otis Way area who were drained of blood, the public wants to know, Commissioner,” said another.

“We are still looking into that investigation,” replied Commissioner Hamilton.

“What about the strange rumors that have been floating around the city of monsters living here?” asked another reporter.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our department has contacted a team of special experts to investigate these cases of unusual phenomena that have occurred; I assure you that when we have answers, the public will be notified. I have nothing further to say,” stated Commissioner Hamilton as she left the podium.

“Well, you’ve heard it all: strange beasts, mythical monsters, or is this all just a case of an escaped animal from a casino? This is one reporter who will be here to keep you up to date on this story. Reporting for Channel 8 news. This is Mike Lee; back to you in the newsroom Todd.” “Imbeciles,” said Julius in disapproval, as he switched off his TV monitor. Scarlet came into her father’s bedroom carrying a cup of tea. Julius lay back as he rested on his bed.

“What happened? Was our little team discovered?” smirked Scarlet. Julius frowned at his daughter’s remark.

“This is serious,” he said sternly.

“You know it was bound to happen father, at one time or another,” replied Scarlet.

“We are supposed to stay hidden, all of our kind; vampire, Oni, lycanthrope, etc. All of us are to remain unknown to the mortal world and now this has occurred,” said Julius.

“The Council of the Nine will have something to say about this, I suppose,” mused Scarlet. “Naturally they will; you know well as I do that it is strictly forbidden for our kind to make themselves known to the public. We are to blend in with society, not stand out,” said Julius.

“What do think they will do?” asked Scarlet.

“I don’t know but I am now worried about Serena and Damascus. Things are getting very dangerous and you know the punishment is death to those that expose our kind. We might have to come up with a different plan of action to prevent any more sightings like this one,” said Julius.

“Lucky for us that the crowd could only see with human sight what looked like a normal white tiger on the ground attacking Mohachi Yung,” said Scarlet.

“It still doesn’t matter; one mistake can bring ruin to us if our clans are not careful,” said Julius.

The rest of Serena’s team was on the Strip. Marianna called Michael’s cell, assuming he was asleep. Michael awoke hastily, to the sounds of his cell phone. He answered drowsily. “Yeah, Marianna? What’s up?”

“We found it,” said Marianna.

“Where is it?” asked Michael, suddenly awake. “Mohachi’s Casino; security will be a problem.” “Maybe for humans but not for us,” said Michael. “When do we move?”

“Tomorrow night,” replied Marianna sharply. “Understood,” said Michael as he hung up his phone.

Michael woke in the early afternoon. The blinds were closed and the dojo was silent as death.

After Michael had completed his physical training with Lao, Suki escorted him into the meditation room where Lao was waiting for his pupil, already sitting with lanterns burning incense in the small room.

“Now then, Michael; you have taken great effort and have mastered the art of your sword with ease; I’m impressed by this. I have never had a student quite like you before,” said Lao, proud of his pupil.

“Now am I ready?” asked Michael.

“You still must master mental and spiritual balance. This I can teach you, but you must be willing to participate,” said Lao.

“What is it?” asked Michael eagerly.

“Simple. Gain contact with your soul in deep prayer and the gods or spirits you believe in will guide you,” said Lao.

“Pardon me, but I don’t follow these mystic beliefs.” Michael spoke carefully; he did not want to offend Lao. “I understand. Focus then on what you will and the answers will come to you. I will leave you for a few hours, and then I shall return,” said Lao respectfully as he bowed to his student and then left the room with his daughter.

Michael sat in deep thought for a time, and then he felt the compulsion to pray. Prayer was an act that he rarely performed, but he began to close his eyes and speak as he kneeled on the ground with his head hanging down, like a knight bowing before his king. He began to have faith again. “Jesus, my God in heaven, protect me, let me kill these bastards, and send their souls to hell. Without fear or regret, to save the ones I love and the innocent people in this city, be with me please.” A presence entered. The room was filled with tender warmth and a golden light shone; the presence of God himself appeared to the vampire. “I am Jesus Christ, God born in the flesh,” said the Lord, wearing holy armor of silver lined with gold. At this moment, Michael fell to the floor bowing to God, and then out of the blue he said, “I forgive the man that murdered my sister, forgive me Lord for my sins.” Michael prostrated with grief. “I have always been with you my son. I have forgiven you of all your sins because you confessed with your lips and have believed in Me with your heart. Go and protect the ones you love; I give you my Spirit to protect you and the means to defeat those who have sought to destroy my Church and all the people of this world, which the Father in Heaven created. But remember this: all people I forgive who come to Me believe and repent. I will never forsake you. Your power comes from the darkness and now I take it away, and give you a part of me. You now understand what your purpose is. I give you great power. My Spirit will guide you. However, because you have given yourself to crimes of revenge, and the murder of the innocent, you will suffer in chastisement for a time. When my enemies have all been destroyed, when not one of them has a last breath of life in them, then on that day I will release you from your curse and you will be free. Now go fulfill your destiny, my son.” The Lord put a seal of heaven on Michael’s neck, a mark to show that he was the chosen warrior. “Go now, my seraphim of light,” said Christ.

As the Lord vanished, a great thunderclap could be heard around the entire building and flashes of steam and light emanated from Michael and he screamed as the evil spirits left his body. His faith was restored and he was free. The evil spirits left the room and descended into the ground.

Suki, Lao, and Rocko who recovered from the poisoning ran into the room to see what had happened to Michael. Michael began to glow brightly as his skin recovered its human color. His body became stronger. But he could tell he was not fully human; he still felt his fangs and sensed his eyes glowing like white neon.

“What has happened?” asked Suki.

“He has found his God and he is complete. No longer a vampire but now something else; he’s a spirit warrior,” said Lao.

“What does this mean?” asked Michael.

“It means that you can walk in the sunlight without it harming you. You will now be immune from many of your vampiric weaknesses, but be careful; it does not mean you are invincible. You are now ready. Time to fight.” Lao placed his hand on his student’s right shoulder, showing his congratulations.