Andrew sat down on the sofa and Talia sat in the chair across from him. He had a wide grin on his face. He opened the bag and handed her a nice big…napkin.
“Hey!” Talia lowered her bottom lip. “Is this it?”
“Here.” Andrew handed her a cheeseburger and bag of fries.
Talia opened the wrapping on the burger and took a big bite. Ketchup and mustard oozed from her mouth.
“Th…bur…really…good,” Talia mumbled. Andrew snorted a laugh as he started in on his own burger.
“You’re welcome,” Andrew said. He put his burger down and cracked open a bottle of cold brew for each of them. Andrew handed Talia her beer. She took a big drink.
“So what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” Talia stuffed some fries in her mouth.
“Can’t I just stop over with beer and food?” Andrew looked wounded. “Or do I always have a motive?”
“Yes,” Talia giggled.
“It’s true,” Andrew laughed.
“So all of this is some sort of bribe?” Talia gestured to her food.
“Not a bribe,” Andrew said in his defense. “More like softening the mood.”
“What is it?” Talia was now more serious.
“Recently I was in Chicago to see Detective Nick Flannery,” Andrew began.
“Nick Flannery,” Talia’s face turned white.
“Yes,” Andrew went on. “Anyway to make a long story short we ran into three members of the Knights of VanHelsing. They attacked a group of teenagers in Jackson Park.”
“Knights of VanHelsing?” Talia repeated.
“I know you were one of them in your past,” Andrew calmly said. He looked at Talia, who turned away. “I also know you were the one who attacked me that night at the Higgins home.”
“What do you mean?” Talia answered innocently.
“You were the only that suspected I was there that night at the Higgin’s home,” Andrew said. “Logic dictates that it was you.”
“Yes, it was me,” Talia broke down sobbing. “I…I never meant to harm you. It was like I was outside my body watching me attack you!”
Andrew rose and walked over by her. He knelt in front of Talia. “How did you get involved in the Knights of VanHelsing?”
“I was recruited while in college,” Talia told Andrew. She stopped to collect her thoughts, and then went on. “I was flown to Berlin, Germany on a private jet. From there we took the train to a city by the Ore Mountains.” Talia took a drink from her beer. She continued, “We traveled for two days until we got to this castle. Once there, my training began. I spent two years learning various forms of marital arts; how to shoot a cross bow and other weapons. I also learned German and a couple other languages. When my training was complete, I was given my Knights of VanHelsing name.”
“So what happened next?” Andrew asked.
“I became the third member of my team,” Talia further explained. “We were assigned to South Chicago. From our training we were told to assume a normal identity during the day, and carry out our quests against the evil ones at night.”
“You became a police officer, why?” Andrew asked. He opened another beer for both of them. He figured they needed it.
“I joined the force to help people both by day and night,” Talia answered. “There was no conflict in my mind, until that night I told Nick who I was. He told me that I was breaking the law. He told me that I was killing innocent people. I just lost it and was sent to Whispering Pines, it was a mental facility in Glendale. I was there for over a year. During that time I learned about the Sheriffs job opening in Bayport County. I was given a clean psychological bill of health. I left Whispering Pines, but I also left the Knights of VanHelsing. I kept all of my gear and just put in away.” Talia eyes were sad and filled with remorse as she looked at Andrew. “That night at the Higgins something, just snapped inside of me and suddenly all of my former life came rushing back.” She put her beer down. Andrew put his down and Talia took hold of his hands. Talia’s bottom lip trembled as she spoke, “I never meant to hurt you. It was like I was watching someone in my body making me do those things”
“I forgive you.” Andrew let go of Talia’s hands and put his arms around her. Talia rested her head on Andrew’s shoulder. Andrew quietly said, “I know you have been through so much, but I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?” Talia lifted her head.
“We are going after the Knights of VanHelsing,” Andrew announced.
“Are you insane?” Talia shouted. “They are too strong!”
“Everything is in place,” Andrew said calmly. “The German authorities are on board with us. The only thing we still need is a diversion.”
“Me,” Talia added reluctantly. “You want me to be the diversion.”
“Yes,” Andrew said. “You would be the prodigal whom returns home. It is the perfect cover story in order to make this plan work. With you returning to the fold, they would never suspect we were there.”
“I don’t know if I could?” Talia turned away.
Andrew gently took hold of her chin and turned her to look at him.
“At the first sign of trouble, the police would storm the castle,” Andrew told her. “I would never let any harm come to you.” Talia took Andrew’s hand in hers.
“I want to show you something,” Talia said. They both stood and walked to Talia’s bedroom. She opened the door and they went inside. Talia closed the door behind them.
Andrew sat on the bed as Talia walked over to the closet. She opened the door and stepped inside. Minutes later, Talia stepped out again carrying a large, leather case. She carried it over by Andrew and set it next to him on the bed. Talia proceeded to open the case as Andrew stood up to watch.
Inside the case was Talia’s Knights of VanHelsing outfit: two swords with sheaths, crossbow and arrows, body armor, pants, shirt, full-length black leather overcoat, and boots.
“Just watch,” Talia said. She stripped down to her bra and panties. Andrew blushed at seeing Talia’s alluring, well-toned body. He watched as Talia first strapped on the body armor making sure it was snug. Next, she put on the pants, black shirt and boots. Once done, Talia strapped on the leather belt with the crossbow, and then the long, black leather overcoat. Finally, Talia put on the swords and sheaths. It was when Talia put on the hood, her transformation was finished. She drew both swords and had them at Andrew’s throat before he even had a chance to react. Andrew saw the cold look reflected in Talia’s eyes.
“I will do it,” Talia said as she withdrew the twin blades and put them away. She removed her hood and tossed it on the bed. Talia removed all of her gear and let it drop to the floor. She undid her pants and shirt and let them drop to the floor also. Talia came up to Andrew and slowly undid her body armor. She stared intently into his eyes as she loosened each strap. “I never did thank you for saving my life that day.” Talia finally removed her body armor and tossed it away. She stripped down to only her natural, striking self. She drew closer to Andrew. “How can I thank you?”
Andrew quickly brought Talia into an embrace. He held her tight. “You don’t need to thank me,” Andrew said. “You need to get dressed. We have to meet the others in Chicago later today.” Andrew let go and left Talia standing alone in her bedroom. She simply gathered up her gear and one by one, put it back in the case. Talia returned to the closet and took out some clothes to wear. She was not sure about going back to Gothica. The thought of it scared her.
Chloe, along with Roxanne, followed the winding river of asphalt as they drove through the foreboding forest of shades of gray
After what seemed like an eternity, a gothic-looking mansion final came into view. Her dad had called Chloe and asked her to take over the interviews of Vlad Ravenclaw, Storm and the others. She agreed to help, but after asking what he was doing. Andrew informed her that he was traveling to Germany to find Wyatt, whom had fled there to avoid the authorities. So Chloe asked Roxanne to join her, hoping that her special talents would see through any shroud of deceit that Ravenclaw might throw at them.
Chloe parked her car next to the portico of the main entrance. Both women exited and walked up to the impressive door built of wood and metal. Roxanne grasped hold of one of the metal rings and announced their arrival. Soon the door creaked open and an older gentleman, attired in a black suit and tie greeted them.
