ANTIVENOM Page 5

  “You’re her dad. I’m leading the mission. Sadie is the prime minister, and Eddy is staying behind too. We’ll just have to be a united front.”

  He nods, then tilts his head. “Did you tell Eddy yet?”

  Charlie sighs, then he checks the time on his phone. “Cazzo. I have to go make the announcement soon. I guess he’ll find out with everyone else.”

  After returning to his hospital room and splashing some water on his face, Charlie returns to the lounge to announce his team. He’s surprised to find dozens of knights there—not just the ones he spoke with an hour ago. Tatsu steps out from the group. “We wanted to see you off... I wish I could come with you, sir.”

  Charlie smiles as he looks around the packed room, then he nods to Tatsu. “Believe me, I wish you were coming along, too.” He bows, and Tatsu responds with a slightly lower bow.

  At the front of the room, Charlie raises a hand, and all the conversations stop dead. “Well. I wish I could command a legion of you and we could storm this bastard’s keep together, but sadly, I can only ask six of you to risk your lives with me. When I call you, please come up front. Balena. Ricochet. Naga. Ghost. Hecate. Gabriel.”

  They walk up to the front and stand in a row. Charlie avoids eye contact with his son and smiles at Qilin, Enrique, and all the other knights beside them that he didn’t call. “We will not let you down.”

  Deina takes a step forward. “Sir?”

  “Yeah?”

  “If I may be so bold, you should bring me.”

  He sighs. “Like I said, I wish I could bring everyone, but I can’t, and my decision is final. I could still use your help, though.”

  She smiles. “Anything.”

  Charlie raises an eyebrow. “We’ll need to allocate gear and get it loaded on whatever plane gets provided to us. Okay?”

  She deflates for an instant, then she bolsters and stands tall. “Absolutely, sir.”

  “Thank you, I’ll find you later and discuss the details.” Charlie turns from her and takes another moment to absorb the scene—knights wishing him and his team well on their mission. “Thank you all for your support.”

  Qilin clears her throat. “Sir?”

  “Yes?”

  “Kill the fucker for us.”

  Charlie nods, then he leaves with his team. As he passes his son, Charlie looks away.

  When the last member of the team passes Eddy, he slips into the line behind them.

  Charlie leads his team into a room that has been emptied for their use, and as Eddy enters, he closes the door behind him and clears his throat. Even though he tries to remain calm, his voice cracks. “Colonel Costanza?”

  The knights in the room all stand aside, allowing father and son a line of sight. Charlie steps toward his son. “Leo, I—”

  Eddy juts his hand out. “You should take these with you. Each of these beads is an entire pint’s worth of dehydrated hemoglobin.”

  Charlie nods. “Okay. Please pass them out.”

  He gives a single bead to each knight as he walks the line toward Charlie. “They won’t replace fluids, obviously, but they really give you a jolt of vitamin B if you need it. There’s eight of them, one for each vampire on the mission, including the fixer.” He reaches his dad and places the last two into his hand. He blinks fast, hoping his eyes stay strong.

  Charlie takes the beads while placing his other hand on Eddy’s shoulder. “Thank you, Leo. And you have a special mission too, it just isn’t with us.”

  Eddy nods. “Okay. I’ll head back to your and Enrique’s room.” He turns and leaves.

  Charlie watches the door close, and when it clicks shut, he swears he hears a sound coming from the bathroom. He tilts his head and listens carefully, then he groans. “July? Are you hiding in the bathroom?”

  The toilet flushes. “Hold on, gimme a sec, just gotta wash up.”

  After a moment, she steps out of the bathroom, still wearing a hospital gown without pants, socks, or shoes. She holds her shaved head high, seeing the others as equals instead of superiors.

  They see her very differently.

  She stands square to Charlie. “Sorry I couldn’t make the meeting. I heard you all were headed here though, so I figured I’d just meet you.” She glances at the dumbfounded knights standing around him. She waves. “Hello.”

  Ghost, the smallest of the other knights but still significantly stronger and beefier than any teenage vampire, takes a step forward. “No way this pipsqueak’s coming with us. Right?”

  Charlie shakes his head. “July, leave us and go back to your dad’s room.”

  “On this mission, should I call you Charlie or Colonel? Or sir?”

  “July, wait for me in Skip’s room.”

  She clenches her teeth. “You’re underestimating me. I may look wimpy, but I’m stronger than you can imagine. Also, when we find Dr. Melgaard, he’s mine.”

  Charlie takes a deep breath and snarls at her. “JULY! LEAVE NOW.”

  The strength of his words shakes her chest, and she can’t help but take a slight step back.

  He throws his hand up and points at the door. “I SAID NOW!”

  July’s odd, green-and-silver eyes twitch, and she turns her head toward the door. “I’ll be waiting.”

  Back in the lounge, knights and squires who are staying behind have a few minutes to socialize before reporting to Lieutenant Colonel Schermer to help with Council Guard duties. One by one, they approach Jambavan with open arms. While they all give him their condolences, many also congratulate him on becoming a full knight.

  “I wish my knighthood was under different circumstances,” he replies.

  When Tatsu greets him, they share no words, but only a hug, then a bow.

  High Councilor Vincent de Villablino, chair of the War and Defense Council, sits patiently in the back of the lounge in his wheelchair. He shakes the hands of each person as they leave the lounge, and after greeting Tatsu, Vincent and Jambavan are alone. He wheels himself toward the young knight.

  “I appreciate that you took the time to be here today, sir…for my knight.”

  Vincent sighs and dips his head. His snow-white hair and stiff eyebrows are neatly combed. “You may not have known that Korina and I have been close for many decades. I was here today, both as her superior and also as a grieving loved one.”

  Jambavan starts to speak, but pauses. “Sir, may I speak plainly?”

  Vincent waves his hand. “Of course, please.”

  He swallows. “I will mourn her for many years. You may not have known that she was more than just my knight; she was like an older sister. She became my closest family.”

  Vincent nods. “Yes, I understand that.”

  Jambavan grits his teeth. “Please also understand this... I feel like I’m going to explode if I don’t busy myself. I refused to go on the mission with Colonel Costanza because I’d be a threat. But sir, I need a mission.”

  Vincent motions to the hallway. “If you’re interested in joining the Council Guard someday, volunteering now to help the commander would be a great start.”

  He shakes his head. “No. I’m not ready to do that—it’s too similar to what I was doing under Korina.” He closes his eyes and gestures with both his hands. “I need a mission. Something far away from zombies, and DC, and the Council.” He opens his eyes. “Please, sir.”

  “Okay. Take the rest of the day to yourself. I’ll try and find something for you.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  At that, Vincent smiles and shakes his head. “One thing to keep in mind now, Knight of the Order, is that you don’t thank me. I, and the Vampire Order, thank you.”

  When Charlie and his chosen team’s private meeting is finished, Hecate hunts for Deina. She finds the junior guardsman mulling about near a guard station, doing something on her phone. The
knight with green-tipped spiked hair walks straight up to her. “Excuse me, you volunteered to help with equipment?”

  Ugh. Deina casually puts her phone away. “Apparently.”

  Hecate extends out a list. “We’ll need all this stuff brought to the airport.”

  Deina’s scowl grows as she reads each row on the paper, then she flips it over to find more items on the back. “I think I’m going to need a bigger car.”

  “Just take a bus or something. Now, we don’t have all the details yet, but a jet will be waiting for us at Reagan National Airport. The military is providing a bunch of small arms and explosives, so they’ll be loading directly from the tarmac. Shhh... The commander of the Council Guard can give you more information.”

  Deina sighs and lowers the list. “Very well… Good luck.”

  Hecate nods. “Thank you.”

  Charlie gathers Sadie, and together they walk into his and Enrique’s hospital room. As they enter, Enrique wheels himself out the door. “I’ll just give y’all some privacy.”

  Charlie calls out after him. “Oh, if you’re headed to Eagle, remember—”

  “Yup, snacks. On it!”

  The door closes, and Eddy takes a step closer to his parents. “Dad? You said you had a special assignment for me?”

  He shakes his head. “Your mom does.”

  He looks at her and waits.

  She places her hands at her waist. “You are going to guard July.”

  Eddy shakes his head. “Wait, that’s not a mission.”

  Charlie clears his throat. “LEO, yes, it is.”

  “I… I don’t understand. Dad, you saw what she did.” He looks at his mom with fearful eyes. “Did he tell you what she did? If anything, she should guard me.”

  Sadie takes a step closer to him and whispers, “There are many secrets in this world. There are many in our family, and now, July is one, too.”

  Eddy tilts his head and drops open his mouth. “Huh? You mean the light thing? Is that really—”

  “Stop talking.” Sadie leans down beside him and whispers barely loud enough for him to hear, “Leo, this is bigger than your father, bigger than the Order of Knights, even bigger than the House of Elders and the High Council.”

  As he listens, his eyes widen.

  “I’m the prime minister now, and I’m giving you a Mandatum a Sanguine… You know the consequences for disobeying an order, but do you know what happens if you disobey a Mandate by Blood? …Do you?”

  He whispers back, “Nn-no, ma’am.” No one ever has…

  “There have been dozens of these orders given by prime ministers past, and only one vampire has ever disobeyed. As punishment, tubes were sewn into his urethra and anus, and while shackled into a basin that was always filled with the freshest blood, he was denied that blood’s sustenance. Eventually, his fingernails and toenails rotted off, and he was able to absorb a little blood straight through his flesh, but it wasn’t enough to keep him alive. You see, the other ends of those tubes I mentioned, were sewn to his mouth, and he wasn’t given anything else to eat or drink until his body withered into dust. A human would perish in days from such torture, but this vampire endured an entire year before breathing his last breath. Now, I will not discuss this further, and you will obey this order.” She stands back up and speaks at a normal volume, “Do you understand, Leo?”

  He snaps into attention stance so fast that he almost falls over. “Yes, ma’am. I understand.”

  “You will guard July. If she is in danger, you will place her welfare above anyone else’s, your own, and even mine.”

  He gulps. “I will.”

  Charlie shrugs. Well, whatever she said, it worked. He plops his hand on his son’s shoulder once again. “Good, now help us break the news to her that she isn’t coming. Let’s go talk to her, and…” He shakes his head. “Try to keep her away from anything sharp.”

  Charlie, Sadie, and Eddy approach Skip’s room. As Charlie raises his fist to knock on the door, he hears July call out from inside.

  “Come in.”

  He takes a strengthening breath and opens the door. Skip is sitting up in his bed, while Katlyn and Minnie play on the floor. July is faced away, staring out the window. Skip clears his throat. “Hey guys.”

  “Hey.” Charlie stops in the middle of the room and plants his hands on his hips. Sadie and Eddy flank him on either side. They glance around and spot the dagger July used earlier. It’s sitting on the table near Skip’s bed. Charlie swallows. “July?”

  She sighs as she turns around. “When are we leaving?”

  Charlie shakes his head. “You’re not going, July. You and Eddy are staying here.”

  The girl flicks her eyes to Eddy. He’s a little on edge, but determined. Hmm. She looks back at Charlie. God, he’s stubborn… “What do I have to do to make you realize that I’m stronger than I appear? You saw me heal, and you saw me last night, didn’t you? I’d be an asset on this mission.”

  Charlie groans. We saw you losing your mind last night… There’s no use in reasoning with her. “Asset or not, you can’t go. It’s a military and Knight operation, and there’s no room for anyone else.”

  Sadie motions with an open hand to July. “Leave this mission to the knights.”

  Fine, we’ll do this the hard way. “Ugh.” She leans back against the glass and wipes her eyes. “I just… He…” She shakes her head and pretends to pout. “He needs to die... After what he did to me, I—”

  “July, will you come sit with me?” Skip extends his hand out to her.

  She walks over to him and takes it.

  “I need you here, July. Will you stay with me?”

  She wipes her eyes again. “Fine.”

  Charlie squints. Is that it? “So July, this is settled then.”

  She groans, then she nods.

  Charlie exhales and looks at Skip.

  He squeezes his daughter’s hand as he looks back at his friend. “Charlie, when you find that son of a bitch, don’t play nice.”

  Sadie stamps her foot on the ground and points at Minnie. “Hey! Watch your language.”

  Skip winces. “Sorry.”

  Minnie looks up. “It’s okay, I know it’s a naughty word. But he’s a bad man, so it’s okay.”

  Katlyn chuckles.

  Skip catches Charlie’s eye. “When are you leaving?”

  “In a couple hours. I may not have a chance to swing back by before I go.” He steps over to the bed and extends his hand.

  Skip still holds July’s soft hand on his left, and now, he gets a firm handshake on his right. “Good luck.”

  Charlie nods, then looks at July. “Can I give you a hug?”

  She pauses, considering if she should let him. She feels Skip squeeze her hand and then release it, so she nods. They meet at the foot of the bed, and Charlie pulls her to his chest.

  She swallows as she feels the powerful embrace. Her eyes dart around as she thinks.

  Deina asks the help of some other knights to gather the team’s equipment, and it’s all staged on the grass beside the hospital’s parking area. As weapons and gear accumulate, she verifies that it’s too much for her hatchback. No time to go and rent something… Ah fuck it. She pulls out her phone, and after looking up a number, she makes a call.

  -ring-

  “NOVA Wondertours. This is Zack.”

  “I need a bus immediately, for about two hours for local use. Do you have any available?”

  He laughs. “Yeah, we’ve got almost our whole fleet available, but, uh—”

  “But what? Trying to get a day or night rate out of me? You’re going to give me a deal, or else I’ll call somebody else. I don’t have time to waste with you—”

  “Oh, you just answered my question. It’ll cost $100 an hour, and I’ll drive it myself. Where’s the pickup
spot?”

  Deina smiles. “INOVA Fairfax Hospital. I’ll find an ATM.”

  Zack parks the obnoxiously bright orange tour bus alongside the grass where people are streaming back and forth carrying bags and cases. He opens the door. “Uh, somebody order a bus?”

  Deina gives him a thumbs up, but then continues organizing equipment.

  Oookay. He hops out. He’s a large, bald man. He has a goatee and wears glasses, a button down short-sleeve shirt, cargo shorts, and sandals. When he reaches the ground, he scans the piled gear. His eyebrows raise when he sees swords and various weapons mixed in. He shrugs, then opens the under-bus storage area. He returns to Deina. “How many passengers and where am I headed?”

  “We need to deliver this to the airport, then you’re dropping me back off here. Do yourself a favor and don’t ask questions.”

  He nods. “Oh, don’t worry, there’s only one more question, and that’s when do we leave?”

  Deina turns away from him. “As soon as you get on the bus, and I get this loaded.”

  Easy money. “You got it.”

  Charlie says goodbye to Eddy, Sadie, and Minnie while still in Skip’s room, then he leaves to join his team and begin the last preparations for the mission. Sadie thanks Katlyn for watching Minnie again, then she excuses herself.

  Eddy stares at July and smiles.

  She looks at her dad. “I think I need some fresh air. Eddy, will you walk with me?”

  Skip clears his throat. “Are you feeling well enough?”

  She nods as she walks around the end of the bed to the table beside Skip. “Ever since waking up—” She glances down and motions to her body. “—like this, I’ve felt fine.” She picks up the dagger Li Chen stabbed her with. “I want to find a sheath for this. Eddy, do you think one of the knights could help?” She steps toward the door with the dagger in her hand, not waiting for his answer.