blocked each and every one, with his own. Night Blade dropped to all fours and immediately balancing on her hands, delivered a double roundhouse kick, but Andrew instead jumped up and with both feet slammed into Night Blade’s back. Night Blade let out a loud cry as Andrew drove her to the floor. Andrew flipped over and without delay, delivered a spin and snap kick combo, hitting Night Blade in the side of the face. Night Blade’s head snapped back as blood expelled from her mouth. Andrew stood back ready. Night Blade arms were weak and she struggled to stand. She looked at Andrew and spat blood on the floor. No one had been able to anticipate their every move. The man that stood before them was unlike anyone they had battled before. Night Blade bowed gracious at first and within a spilt second rushed forth to the stairs leading to the balcony. Andrew, momentarily caught off guard, followed. Just as Andrew got to the top of the stairs, he looked up to see Night Blade grab a choir chair and smash through the large stain glass window. It depicted Jesus being held in the arms of his mother right after he had been taken down from the cross. But now shards of that beautiful window flew out in all directions. Night Blade didn’t make a sound and she jumped out the window! Andrew bolted up to the window and he looked down below. Night Blade had miraculous survived by safely landing in the unpacked snow below. When Night Blade saw Andrew looking down, she gave Andrew a quick salute and took off into the darkness. Andrew simply shook his head. He turned around and walked over to one of the cushioned choir chairs. Andrew sat down to catch his breath. His muscles ached and he stretched them out. Next time Night Blade wouldn’t get away.
Andrew left the balcony and went back down the stairs. He walked along the main aisle and up to the pulpit area. Talia was awake now. All three women immediately swarmed over Andrew, and smothered him with hugs and kisses.
Talia left them and placed a call for help. She went to check on her fallen men.
Andrew watched as Talia checked on each of her deputies. By the expression on her face, he could tell that they were all dead.
Chloe was relieved that her dad was alive. She could not believe what had all just happened. It all seemed so surreal.
Talia rejoined them and sat down on the steps. The rest followed suit.
The sanctuary was silent now. The peacefulness wrapped around them like a comfortably, warm blanket. It felt good.
Chapter 9
Andrew woke early. It was still dark and the sun was not up yet. Andrew quietly slipped on his robe and tip toed out of the bedroom. Megan was sound asleep and didn’t move at all. He crept downstairs and to the kitchen. Andrew made himself a cup of tea and sat down at the breakfast nook. As he sat there drinking his tea, Andrew mulled over all of the past events. First, he started with all of the things that were factual and based on reality. Wyatt was the prime suspect in the brutal murders of the Higgins family. Sheriff Delsmann was attacked that same night. The remaining families of the Ravenclaw coven have gone into hiding. Andrew himself was attacked a few nights later. He believed that it was a member of the Knights of VanHelsing; possible Night Blade or one of the others. Why he or she attacked him is still a mystery at this point. Recently, Sheriff Delsmann and her team of deputies were attacked. They all died at the scene. The teenagers that Andrew found in the catacombs were all recovering nicely, and so were Chloe and Roxanne. The teenagers were from two of the clans in the Ravenclaw coven; the Moore’s and the Hancock’s. They had snuck out without their parents knowing about it. Once the families realized that they were gone, Vlad Ravenclaw notified the authorities. Andrew, with the support of both the Sheriffs department and the Bayport police had setup to interview the teenagers and Vlad Ravenclaw at the safe house in a few days. In the mean time, Andrew needed to find an expert on vampire covens, and also the Knights of VanHelsing.
Andrew got up and refilled his cup with more Earl Grey tea. He sat back down at the breakfast nook table. Andrew took a sip of tea, drinking in its aroma and relaxing liquids. Andrew contacted his friend at the Bayport Herald. She told Andrew about a feature story that the paper had done last year on author, Kara Sadler. This Kara Sadler had presented information from her book at a conference sponsored by the police department, local churches, and the healthcare community. The book she had written was titled Vampire Chronicles. The book was about the subculture of vampirism and its affects on adults and teenagers. Andrew finished his tea. He got up and put the dishes in the sink. Andrew left the kitchen to go back up stairs.
Andrew walked down the hall. He stopped and opened the door to his office. Andrew slipped inside closing the door behind him. He sat down at his desk and turned on the computer. First, Andrew went on Google and did a search for Kara Sadler. He had over a thousand hits. Andrew thought for a second and went to the ‘free people search’. He keyed in her name. It came up with four Kara Sadler’s. There were one in Tennessee, Oklahoma, Illinois and Ohio. His friend at the paper had mentioned Kara Sadler was from somewhere in Illinois. He wrote down the address and phone number. Andrew logged off there and went to the Chicago Police department home page. Andrew recalled that Talia was a detective in the Chicago police department prior to becoming Sheriff. He copied down the phone number. Andrew picked up the phone and pressed the number. He waited for a minute or two and when the operator answered, Andrew said, “Detective Flannery, please.” Andrew listened further, and repeated, “He gets off at 12 a.m.” Andrew was about to hang up when the operator asked him a question. “Andrew Knight,” Andrew replied. “We go back a ways.” Andrew listened further, and said, “Yeah I know about Riley’s. Just tell him that Andrew will meet him there at midnight, tonight.” Andrew hung up the phone. He shut down the computer and went back to bed.
Father Michael rose when his alarm went off. He got out of bed and dressed for his usual early morning walk. Father Michael went downstairs of the rectory and grabbed the keys. He was out the door in a matter of minutes and on his way down Marshall Street.
Father Michael loved the early morning sounds and sweet smells wafting through the air. As he walked along, the aroma from Hartman’s Bakery filled his nostrils. It made his mouth water. He could smell fresh coffee being brewed for another day at the Chat Room Cafe.
As he was passing by Washington Park, Father Michael stopped abruptly as a hooded figure sprung from the bushes.
“Hello Father Michael.” Night Blade greeted him with a bow.
“What do you want?” Father Michael asked.
“We want you to stop looking for Wyatt,” a second voice came from behind. Father Michael spun around to face them. “He didn’t kill the Higgins’,” Star Blade said.
“We need to talk to him,” Father Michael answered.
“We already have,” a third voice announced.
“And you must be Moon Blade,” Father Michael turned to his right. He saw the third hooded figure. Moon Blade bowed with arms extended.
“His mother has hired a private investigator to find him,” Father Michael answered.
“We know,” Moon Blade answered. “It’s Andrew Knight.”
“Then you know that he will find him,” Father Michael said, proudly.
“We want you to call him off.” Moon Blade took a few steps closer. “Before someone gets hurt, or before Knight gets hurt.”
“Why did you hurt those teenagers?” Father Michael changed subjects.
“They and the others do unspeakable things. Just like those centuries before them, so they have to be punished,” Star Blade spoke first. “They drink human blood and practice unholy rituals.”
“So we have fought against this plague for centuries,” Moon Blade spoke next. “And will continue to do so.”
“Its murder,” Father Michael rebuked. “And that’s a sin against God.”
“We do God’s work,” Night Blade shot back. “And by His will, we punish those who are vampires.” Night Blade moved closer and so did the others. Night Blade drew her swords first. Moon Blade and Star Blade did the same. They raised their swords, crossing them above Father Michael’s head.
“Tell Knight to back off,” Star Blade commanded.
“Or he will get hurt,” Moon Blade added.
