Deadman's Blood (43 page)

*****

“
Dominic, since we haven’t had a chance to talk in private maybe I should mention what your sister and wife have been trying to relay to me,” Sally spoke up.

“Oh, Sally, I’m so sorry. We really have been a busy bunch haven’t we?” Dominic apologized.

“Well, that’s okay…it’s not really anything we don’t know, but they sensed it before we came back to the east coast. Maybe if I had paid them more attention, Devon, Blake, and Anton would be okay instead of in the condition they are now. I’m so sorry,” Sally said.

“You don’t know that for sure so don’t beat yourself up about it. Besides you’re just getting used to this gift. You can’t be expected to be an expert at deciphering the dead’s wishes. That aside, what have they been warning you about?” Dominic asked.

“It was about Dr. Rowe. They wouldn’t give me specifics because I’m not sure they can interfere with the future, but they seem very worried about the boys’ safety. That’s really about it,” Sally said.

“Well, thank you, Sally, every little bit helps. We all need to be on the lookout for anything that doesn’t seem right. Use your instincts,” Dominic advised.

*****

After their plan for the morning had been solidified and they all headed to bed, the Larsen house was quiet. That’s when a shadow appeared outside the bedroom of the cottage window. Mark was fast asleep when Alyssa got up in the night to get a glass of water. She didn’t really want a glass of water but she seemed compelled to do so. When she stepped into the shadow-streaked kitchen, a rag with the scent of something sweet on it was shoved over her nose and mouth and she fell unconscious into the arms of her captor. Silently, the captor exited the cottage with his prize, dropping the rag on the kitchen floor and tossing a note on the table.

When the morning sun woke those slumbering, a panicked Mark ran up to the house with the rag and note in hand.

“Dr. Rowe has Alyssa!” Mark said out of breath as he burst into the dining room.

“What?” Josh and Dominic said.

“According to the note, Dr. Rowe knows we are on to him, so he took Alyssa in the night for more insurance,” Mark explained as he tossed the rag and the note on the table in front of Dominic and Josh. “The rag has chloroform on it. He wants Dominic to meet him, alone, at the office I was casing.”

Dominic immediately got up and said, “Fine…I’ll go get dressed.”

“You can’t go alone; he’ll kill you,” Josh said.

“Besides, he took my Alyssa, he’s going to have to deal with me too,” Mark said adamantly.

“He can compel all of you, don’t you see? We don’t have the advantage of surprise anymore. He’ll kill Alyssa and Bernard if I don’t go alone,” Dominic said.

“He’ll kill them whether you go alone or not, at least you’ll have backup,” Mark argued.

“Mark, my brave boy, I appreciate the sentiment, but Dean, Julianna, me, and maybe Josh, because of his telepathic abilities, are the only ones he can’t compel and he’s stronger than all of us put together because of his age. There’s no sense in us all getting killed. If I can get in and distract him long enough, maybe Dean could sneak in and get Alyssa and Bernard to safety. Julianna called early this morning; she’s found a possible cure in the book for the boys that she was going to tell Donaldson about this morning, so she won’t be able to help us,” Dominic explained.

“She’s going to the hospital? She said she couldn’t handle that. Why can’t she just call him?” Josh asked.

“She said it was necessary for her to be there, but she wouldn’t say why. She’s the only one that has nearly any chance against Dr. Rowe. It’s suicide for anyone else to go,” Dominic said. “I must do this. There is no other way.”

“But you said yourself you don’t have a chance at surviving. What purpose would it serve?” Josh argued. “We’ll just have to fight him again after he kills you.”

“It gives you the opportunity to fight another day is what it gives you, and it saves Bernard and Alyssa. If Julianna can cure the boys, then you have four more vampires to fight along with a werewolf and a witch. You lose one to gain six and that gives you a better chance at defeating him for good,” Dominic said.

“I don’t like this plan,” Melanie cried into Josh’s shoulder. He comforted her by pulling her close to him and wrapping his arms around her.

“Neither do I,” Sally said, holding back tears as she held onto Dean for dear life. “Can’t we use vervain to keep him from compelling us?”

“My sweet girls, I appreciate your concerns, but the survival of this family is more important than one old vampire. There’s no mention in the prophecy of a father leading his boys into battle – no, it says ‘the four brothers will defeat the dark one’ and right now most of the four are out of commission. This must be done. I won’t allow anyone else to be in danger. Dean? If you will, I would be very thankful to you if you would free the others and see them to safety while I distract Dr. Rowe,” Dominic said.

“It would be an honor,” Dean answered.

“Good. Can you be ready in fifteen minutes?” Dominic asked, and Katarina clung to him in tears. “I’d like to say my goodbyes to Katarina and Josh in private.”

“Sure. No problem. I’ll meet you in the foyer,” Dean replied.

“No, wait just a minute,” Mark said. “You are not going without me. What would Alyssa say if I didn’t come to rescue her?”

“You’ll do as I ask, Mark, or I will compel you to do so, and don’t think I can’t do it. Alyssa will understand. She loves you and she knows what’s at stake. Now don’t argue with me; I have goodbyes to make,” Dominic said more sternly than any one of them had ever heard him speak. He was dead serious and EVERYONE knew it. Dean, Sally, Katarina, and Dominic left the room, leaving the rest dumbfounded.

*****

Up in his room, Dominic consoled a crying Katarina. “Sweetheart, don’t cry. I know we didn’t get to spend much time together, but I cherish the time we have had. We found one another after so much time and we both got to know the product of our love, Josh. I’m a happy man. Most men don’t get half of that in a full life time. I feel incredibly blessed and very grateful.”

“It’s not enough, Niky. I’ve only just found you. I want so much more,” Katarina cried.

“I know, my sweet Kat. I do too, but it’s up to you to watch our son become the great man I know he will be. I will always be with you in him, and in your heart. I love you, my sweet Kat. I have now for thirty years, and though it was from afar for most of it, it doesn’t make it any less wonderful. Anton and Josh will see to it that you will never want for anything. You will tell Anton for me, that I did this for him and Josh, won’t you? And tell him how much I love him?” Dominic said.

She couldn’t speak. Too many emotions kept throbbing though her brain ready to explode into sobbing that she was desperately trying to hold back. “I love you,” was all she could say and all he needed to hear. He wrapped her in his strong arms and kissed her desperately and deeply. Tears spilled from his eyes as he ripped himself away from her suddenly, knowing if he didn’t do it at that point he would never be brave enough to do it at all. He didn’t look back as he closed the door behind him; leaning against it he took a deep breath. He could hear the sobbing from within and it ripped at his heart as he continued down the hall to leave a note on Anton’s pillow.

*****

As Dominic came out of Anton’s room, he ran into Josh in the hallway. “Josh, may I speak to you?” Dominic said. Josh nodded and entered Anton’s room solemnly.

Dominic closed the door behind them and turned towards a waiting Josh. “Josh, I just wanted to say how proud I am to have found out you are my son. I know we didn’t get much time to get to know one another, but I’m grateful for what time we had.”

“Me too,” Josh said.

“I wish you all the love and happiness I have for what I think is going to be a pretty wonderful life with Melanie. I’m glad I got to know her. She holds a very special place in my heart. I hope you will let Katarina be a part of your life. You won’t regret it, I’m sure. I’ve made provisions for you and Anton that should keep you and your families pleasantly comfortable. I’ve left some last words for Anton.” He pointed towards the bed and the note on the pillow.

“I guess that’s it. You’ll make sure Devon and Blake know how much I love them?” Dominic said.

Josh hugged him hard and said, “I will. Thanks for everything, Dad. I love you!”

Dominic’s eyes stung from the tears that formed there. “I love you too, Son. Don’t you ever forget it.” He patted him hard on the back and tore himself away from Josh. He smiled and left the room. He made his way down the stairs to all the somber faces waiting for him.

He shook Mark’s hand and Mark pulled him in for a hard hug and a pat on the back. Melanie latched on to him as she sobbed silently into his chest. He kissed the top of her head and she reached up and kissed his cheek and said, “I miss you already, love you!”

“I love you too, sweetheart. Take care of Josh for me,” Dominic said and she nodded.

Sally was next and she bear-hugged him and kissed his cheek. He stroked her cheek and brushed away a tear from her beautiful green eyes. “Take care of yourself, my sweet little witch. Give my love to Darby, Rowan, and Julianna.”

“I will,” Sally said.

He glanced up the stairs to see Josh consoling Katarina, and from behind them, the portrait of his lost wife staring down at him. He smiled as he and Dean left, shutting the door behind them.

Once Josh got Katarina calmed down with a cup of tea in bed with Melanie to watch after her, he went down to the study to talk with Mark.

“This stinks,” Mark said.

“No kidding,” Josh said as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

“Who are you calling?” Mark asked.

“Julianna. If she knows what’s going on maybe she can help,” Josh said as he dialed.

“Good thinking,” Mark said.

“Julianna?” Josh said.

“Yes,” she answered.

“It’s Josh. We’ve got trouble.”

“What’s wrong?” Julianna asked.

“Alyssa was abducted by Dr. Rowe sometime last night and he’s demanded Dominic meet him alone at the office on Harbor Drive,” Josh explained.

“Dr. Rowe will kill him,” Julianna said.

“He knows that. He’s forbidden us to follow him. His hope is that he can distract Dr. Rowe long enough for Dean to get Alyssa and Bernard to safety,” Josh told her.

“But that’s suicide. Dr. Rowe will annihilate him. Dominic’s not strong enough to take on someone as old as Dr. Rowe,” Julianna said.

“He’s already said his goodbyes to Katarina and me. He knows he’s not coming back. He said that his death will allow us to get Alyssa and Bernard to safety and whatever you had planned to help Devon, Blake, and Anton. Then all of us can go up against him as a whole family. What is it that you are planning, anyway?” Josh asked.

“I found a passage in one of the books that will reverse the effects of the Deadman’s Blood,” she said.

“How long will it take?” he asked.

“I’ve no idea, that’s why I came to talk to Donaldson,” she answered.

“What’s it entail?” Josh asked.

“It’s complicated, but if I read it right, it should pull them right out of the coma,” Julianna said.

“Do you need to be there for this to happen? Dad could really use your help,” Josh pleaded.

“I’m sorry, Josh, really I am, but the process has already been started,” Julianna said apologetically.

“Don’t be sorry, you’re doing all you can on that end and I’m truly grateful; I just really don’t want to lose my dad in the process. I just found him, you know,” Josh said sadly.

“I do know, Josh. I’d be there in an instant if I could. When did he leave?” she asked.

“About five minutes ago. Do what you have to do! If you can join us when it’s done, please do so,” Josh said.

“Join you? You’re not thinking of going are you?” she said with concern.

“We can’t sit here and do nothing, Julianna. Anton would never forgive me if he knew I let him go,” Josh said.

“He most certainly would forgive you. You don’t seem to understand the power Dr. Rowe has. I can’t even fathom it, but at least I have combat experience. Most of you are human; he’ll be able to compel you and use you to fight Dominic. You aren’t strong enough, Josh. I’m sure Dominic explained this to you,” she said.

“I can’t let him die like that, Julianna. Sally said something about vervain keeping him from being able to compel us,” Josh said.

“Not someone as old as Dr. Rowe, Josh. Vervain isn’t strong enough alone. In fact I’m not sure a stake in the heart would do anything but slow him down. If you are absolutely going to do this against my advice, then have Sally use vervain AND wolfsbane, and anything else she can think of to add to the concoction. Also, I believe Mark has an arsenal of fast shooting crossbows and whatever he tied me up with. Maybe instead of twine he could make it into some kind of net. Your best ammunition is surprise. He doesn’t know about these new powers you’ve acquired. Use it against him. I won’t let you down, Josh. I will be there as soon as I can.”