Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

To my mother, sisters Charlie and Sara for believing in me to continue what I love to do.

I have to give thanks to those from the early days of vampire media to present; you are the ones that shaped my views on the “creatures of the night” and we all must thank you for that.

To Zachary and the members of Club Red for letting me write your story.

Rights

All Rights reserved for characters and plot details in “The One Night At Club Red,” are copyright to Raymond Homan, (The Night Author).

All rights reserved for The Night Author are copyright of Raymond Homan.

Prologue

Prologue

The small constant tapping sound of hammers on nails echoed throughout the empty fields of tobacco plants. Eighty-five acres of rolling hills; five acres to the north were reserved for the tobacco fields; to the south, eight acres were reserved for the new vineyard that was just now being plowed by horse and man; to the very back, in the west of the plantation was a total of forty acres of forest were reserved merely for the habitation of deer and other animals. In the center and in front of the deer reservation, taking up a total of ten acres was the wooden skeleton of a manor being built.

Standing at enormous height and lining long, the manor had men standing on temporary scaffolding lining the house. Men pushing wheel barrels filled with tools and dirt circled the house. Four men stood on saw horses while running their tired sharp toothed instruments through lumber. The sun was setting, letting through light orange red rays through purple clouds.

Fifteen yards away stood a slightly plump man dressed in a white business suit. On his half bald head sat a dirty white fedora with a black center ban. His gray mustache rounded just slightly at the ends. His dark brown eyes gazed on the large mansion before him. He leaned very carefully on his black cane that held the silver head of a gaping mouthed lion. The man smiled and licked the corner of his mouth. "Marvelous." He whispered with a deep voice.

"Sir?!" Said a scratchy young voice not too far away from the elderly gentleman. "Mr. Bridgewood?"

He blinked and turned around to see his young assistant walking behind him. A gentle smile crept on this face. "Reynolds! Good to see you dear boy!"

Reynolds was only two years short of thirty, with a full head of red hair and a thin mustache on his upper lip. His narrow, but large, blue eyes held the wonder and excitement of a child. His thin fitting frame held well under his expensive dark green suit with pink tie. In his right hand was his usual brown bowler hat and in his other hand was a brown leather briefcase.

The young assistant stopped short of his boss and sighed. "So this is it?" He asked as he nodded at the manor.

Bridgewood smiled at the young man and then turned his attention to the house. "Taylor Manor."

Reynolds nodded again as he started to look around them, studying the land. "Eighty five acres for one man?"

"Aye, but a man deserving of this kingdom." Bridgewood said with a snicker. He slammed his harsh hand on the back of his assistant, which made Reynolds stumble just slightly. He shook his head and looked back at the manor. "He has given everything to me, Reynolds my boy, everything. It is my time to give back."

Reynolds studied his boss for a moment in confusion. "But surely you don't mean to have Zachary Taylor head of this?"

Bridgewood smacked his lips and glanced at Reynolds from the side of his eye. "You know what the man has done for us. Not just you and I Reynolds, but for the whole country. He fought for King and Queen in England only to settle in the states where he fought against the very people he served. He has helped me start the business with rail roads and coal. Not to mention that he is fighting for the very lives of billions of slaves with our President as we speak. I can't think of any other noble man that deserves this home."

He smiled, which he normally did when he heard Bridgewood speak of the mysterious business partner. "I tell you, sir, I hear so many things about this Zachary and yet I have never met him."

Bridgewood smiled and chuckled as he pulled out his gold pocket watch from the pocket of his vest. He opened the watch and studied the hands. "Oh, you will in time. He is coming to pay us a visit tonight. He is staying at my lodgings for three days before returning to Washington."

Reynolds darted a startled glare with a smile. "Indeed? What an occasion then."

Bridgewood gently laid his left arm on the thin shoulders of Reynolds after he slipped his pocket watch back into the vest. "Yes, we have matters to speak over. Mainly matters about you and he and what you both shall do with my estate as well as my business when I am gone."

He lowered his head and blinked wildly at the thought. "But sir, you haven't begun to reach sixty! What makes you think that it is time to speak of your end?"

Bridgewood shrugged as he kept his arm on the lad, walking him forward to the manor. "You have to understand, Reynolds, I am a tiring old man and I want escape from it all. Slowly, but surely, you and Zachary shall be controllers of my estate and business. I have already made it so in my last will and testament."

Reynolds pulled himself away from Bridgewood's grasp. "What of Glenda and your children?"

Bridgewood patted the young man's shoulder and pulled him in again with a quick nod. "Yes, yes, they will be cared for, but what I am speaking of is leadership. I need two young men to lead the future of my hard labor, you understand?"

Reynolds gave a slow nod. "Yes and I understand why this Taylor fellow, but I am not exactly sure why I am included?"

"Because we have watched you for some time now, Mr. Reynolds." Said a mysterious voice from behind the two.

Both Reynolds and Bridgewood turned around to the voice. Reynolds studied the figure dressed in a deep lush red business suit that had a long coat tailored to match the suit underneath. The young man was average height and build with paper like pale skin and golden blond hair. Out of all the features on the young man, Reynolds could not but help looking into the man's eyes; the iris of the eyes were a bright red and seemed to glow in the twilight of the setting sun.

Bridgewood smiled to the figure. "Ah! Zachary, so good to see you." He quickly hobbled over to Zachary with an out stretched hand.

Zachary smiled and shook the old man's hand. "Dear Martin, always a pleasure." He voice was both boyish and soothing deep at the same time. "How are the family?"

Reynolds started his walk over to the young Zachary with confusion, still studying the man's odd features. His canines were slightly longer and sharper than most men and his ears seemed to point at the ends.

"The little bastards are running amok in my house, splashing mud all over the furniture. Glenda does keep a good mind over them though." Bridgewood laughed.

The stranger smiled at Bridgewood and then turned his red eyes to the young assistant walking towards him. "Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Reynolds." He slowly held out his hand.

Reynolds looked at the pale hand that had long nails that formed into a point. He gently took the hand and felt the cold skin meet his. "Yes it is, Mr. Taylor."

Zachary laughed. "Please call me Zachary. You and I are going to be long term acquaintances from now on and I think we should be on a first name basis. Don't you?"

Reynolds nodded as he removed his hand. "Mr. Bridgewood has spoken very highly of you Mr...Zachary. However, I am confused. Before I saw you, I assumed you to be at least sixty years of age, yet you appear to be no older than twenty."

Zachary gave a short boyish chuckle. "I do understand your confusion, but I assure you sir, I am far older than that." He gave a half grin to the confused young assistant. "In fact, I am much older than sixty. Ah, but you will grow to understand my odd age and my odd appearance." He slowly turned his gaze on the now darkened skeleton of the manor. "In time, you will understand that all things are not what they seem."

Chapter 1

Chapter one

The small yellow painted cafe was not busy that night. Normally it would house the drunken young people that stumbled freshly out of the bars, but on that night it had only two customers; truckers who had driven far from their homes just to stop by to have pancakes and coffee.

The bell rung and the double glass doors to the cafe opened swiftly. A young woman, a few years short of thirty, panted as she walked in. Her blue eyes studied the little coffee shop. The deep red hair pulled back into a pony tail twitched as she swiveled her head back and forth to study the area. She bit down on her bottom lip before adjusting her gray hooded sweat shirt over her torn jeans. Her eyes met the tired ones of a trucker and a sweet smile grew on her face. "Excuse me, sir, but what town is this?" Her gentle voice sounded like a whisper and had a very thick British accent.

The trucker, dressed in usual flannel with a dirty ball cap shrugged before taking a sip of his coffee. "Bridgewood. Bridgewood Texas." He said in a harsh voice.

The young red head nodded and stepped outside for only a moment. When she returned, a young man was with her. The young man was average build with athletic broad shoulders. His hazel colored eyes stood behind a pair of rounded black wire framed glasses. On his head was thick curly brown hair. A large button up white shirt sat very loosely on his frame with rolled up sleeves. He too wore torn jeans with a pair of brown shoes that were torn and tattered.

The young woman pointed to a mildly clean booth in the right corner of the cafe. Her companion nodded and the two panted as they sat down at the booth, facing each other. The young man ran his hands through his messy curly hair. The young woman planted her frail face into her palms. Both looked as if food and sleep had forgotten them for days.

A forty year old waitress dressed in the usual yellow uniform with white apron walked over to the two with a pot of coffee and two coffee mugs. She smacked on her gum as she approached them. "Are you two alright?" She asked, half caring of the answer.

The young man, who looked to be about sixteen, nodded with a faint smile. "Yes, yes I believe so." He said in a shy timid British voice. "Thank you for the coffee."

The waitress sat down the mugs and poured them full with black steaming coffee. "I'm not sure what kind of trouble you are in, but the first cup is on me."

The woman pulled her face out of her pale palms and smiled to the waitress. "Thank you very much."

With a wink and a smack, the waitress walked away from the booth, leaving the two to discuss their matters.

The young woman looked at the sixteen year old boy and shook her head. "What we really need is a good place to lay low for a while." She folded her fingers together and glanced out the window at the setting sun. "Something cheap and something quick."

The young man slowly took his cup and stared into the black abyss in it. "You know there isn't one, Martha. We are running out of money and Prantex. Without it, he is going to be more trouble to deal with than they are."

Martha, the young red headed woman nodded and closed her eyes. "I know, but if I can find the time, I'll be able to mix some. Perhaps ... And I am speaking loosely here, there is a pharmacy nearby. I could take some equipment and ...."

The young man shook his head and glanced over his glasses to the woman. "No, we both agreed on no more stealing. If we get caught even once, they will find us and that will be the end of it." He took a deep sigh and rolled his eyes. "Besides, I hate the idea of it. Stealing from other people is something we just do not do."

Martha darted her eyes at the young man and popped her knuckles. "We don't have many options, Richard. We are running out of time and expenses just like you said. We can't just fashion ourselves to being civil anymore."

Richard took a jar filled with white sugar and gently poured it into the black abyss in his cup. The sugar sank, disappearing from his view. "I don't want you to think I am ungrateful for what you have done, Martha, but you should have left us at the lab."

Martha stared at him with shock. "What do you mean? You were their personal lab rat! Both of you hated that place."

Richard blinked and nodded. "Yes ... Yes I know, but you wouldn't be on the run like this. You could still be working in your own personal lab. You were just about to get that promotion, dear cousin. Why waste it all on me ... Or rather us?"

Martha slid are hand across the table and gave a gentle grab to Richards right arm. Her blue eyes twinkled at him as she smiled. "Because, you are family. You are the only family I have. They could do whatever they wanted with Bugsy, but with you, I couldn't allow it. I could not allow them to torture you like they did."

Richard nodded again, keeping his eyes down.

Both sat in silence as Martha pulled her hand back and grabbed her mug of coffee. A few seconds passed and Richard took in a breath. "You know, there is ... There is an option that we did not think of."

Martha nodded and pulled the cup to her pink lips. "Which is?"

"My death..." He paused after he said the words and glanced over his glasses to his cousin.

Martha sipped her coffee slowly, staring at her cousin with disbelief.

Richard shifted in his booth chair. "When ... When you think about it ... Martha, I am the only one keeping both of us alive, both Bugsy and I. If I were to die, then Bugsy would die as well and the organization wouldn't be after you anymore. You can get back the pieces of life you lost." He sighed. "I am prepared to make that sacrifice, because no matter how wicked we thick of Bugsy, he is no threat to humanity compared to what that organization is when they find both of us."

Martha slowly lowered her mug, staring at Richard with a harsh glare. A small tear started to fill her left eye and then her right began to fill as well. "You listen to me, I never want to hear those words escape your mouth again, do you understand? You have a chance to be normal. You have a chance to find love, to find hope, to find a life. This isn't the end, Richard."

Richard nodded and licked his lips. "I know and I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm just so ..."

"Tired and hungry. That's why we need to rest and find out our options." Martha said, rubbing the tears from her eyes.

Richard nodded. "Yes ... I need to use the restroom." He pushed himself up and scooted out of the booth. "I'll be right back." With his head lowered, Richard walked to the doors marked restrooms and disappeared into the men’s.

Martha sighed and shook her head as she took another sip. Below her breath, she let out a silent prayer. "I know I never spoke to you before. I know I said I never would believe in such a thing as a god, but I am asking you for help. I need something to help us." A tear fell from her eye onto the table as she lowered her head. "Do it for the sake of Richard. He is a kind soul and a perfect young man." She sniffed and rubbed her nose with her thin hand. "I went to your church as a child and I heard the stories about how you would send angels to protect innocent lives. Please, send one to protect him. I don't care what happens to me." Martha continued to pray, uncertain if she were praying to God or to the devil. She was in such disparate, any help would do. She was so deep in thought that she did not hear the doorbell ring.

The bell rung and the left door swung open. The sound of expensive fashion boots tapped on the floor. The brown leather boots belonged to a twenty five year old woman with golden curly long hair that sat on her rounded shoulders. Her face was round with a slight chubby to the rosy cheeks. Light gray shade sat around her eyes and a thin layer of pink lipstick rounded her thick lips. Her torso had a solid black slimming t-shirt and a brown leather jacket that ended right on her curved hips. Tight fitting jeans and fat brown belt sat on her waist. She grinned at seeing the young red head praying at a nearby booth.

The forty year old waitress stood behind the counter and smacked her gum as she studied the blond. "Can I help you?"

The young woman held a short finger to her lips and shushed the woman. "She is praying." She said with a sarcastic tone. A hint of a lisp rested on her American voice. Her boots tapped again as she approached the booth. She stopped short of Martha and stood beside her.

Martha sighed. "Please ... I don't care what happens to me."

The blond smiled. "Good, because bad things are going to happen to you, Martha Thomas."

Martha darted her blue eyes in shock to the woman. "Selena!"

Selena gave a half grin and rested her palms on the table. "Hey there, cutie. I have been looking all over for you." She swayed her hips and glanced out the window. "What was it? First it was London, then Paris. We had some fun times in Florida all the way up to Louisiana and finally I lost you in Texas. Although, I have to admit, I am a little jealous. Even without your makeup or a shower, you still look very hot." She gave a little playful snarl to the frightened woman.

Martha swallowed hard and licked her lips, pleading in the back of her mind that Richard would not show his face. "You wasted your time finding me then. I have lost Richard. I have no idea where he is."

Selena swayed her head over to Martha with a grin, her hair bounced as she did. "Please, that trick only works on idiots. Do think me an idiot, Martha?" Her pupils stared to leak out black liquid and very quickly both eyes were solid black. "Where is he?"

Martha's blue eyes started to fade into gloomy white. She gripped the edge of the booth and gnashed her teeth. "No...No." Small drops of blood began to run down her nose as she continued to struggle. "No, I won't tell you."

Selena ran her left hand through Martha's red hair, her eyes still pitch black. "Please tell me. I miss that little cutie pie. If you don't tell me, I'll make you do bad things, Martha sweet."

Martha's hand grabbed her coffee mug and slammed it against her own left temple! The black steaming coffee splashed everywhere and covered her frail face with hot liquid. Blood began to drip from the wound on her temple. She gave a scream in pain!

"Hey!" Cried one of the truckers in the cafe. He and the other stood up and started a haste walk over to the two women.

Selena glanced over her shoulder to the two men and snarled. "You two, fight to the death!"

The truckers stopped; their eyes grew into a gloomy white. They turned to each other and started throwing punches at the other!

The waitress gave a shocked look to the fight and then to the blond Selena. "I'm callin' the cops!"

Selena smiled and turned her attention back to the frightened Martha. "No you aren't. You are going to hit your head on that ugly counter until you pass out."

The waitress's eyes grew white and she turned stiff. Then, with three quick hits, the waitress slammed her head down on the counter top over and over again. A small bloody bruise grew on her forehead before she fell onto the floor.

The men continued their fight, struggling with each other as both grasped each other’s throats and stumbled onto the floor. They rolled and kicked.

Selena smiled at Martha. "Well?"

Martha face was covered with cold coffee and blood. "No! You can't take him!"

Selena scoffed. "You two, stop that fighting!"

The suddenly stopped their struggle and laid on the floor next to one another. Their faces were bloody and bruised.

"Did you see where that curly haired boy went off to?" Selena asked, keeping her attention to Martha's eyes.

"He went into the restroom." One man said.

"He left before you arrived." The other said in a hypnotic state.

Selena gave a chuckle. "Of course. Why didn't I think of that?" She stared at the weakened Martha. "I guess I wanted to torture you for a little bit." With her short index finger, Selena ran the finger down the forehead and stopped at the tip of Martha's nose. "Don't go anywhere, dear." With that, Selena pushed herself off the table and walked slowly to the restroom doors. Her black eyes twinkled as she tapped on the men’s door. "Anyone in there? Put your peep pees away for a lady coming through." She pushed on the door and disappeared.

Martha struggled to move, but she remained in her seat. Her white eyes just stared at the swinging bathroom door.

The door swung open wide in anger as Selena slammed into it with rage. "Damn it! He isn't in there!"

Martha gave a shocked glare to the words that Selena spoke.

Selena slammed her hand down on the counter top. "Where is he?!" Her full hair bounced in rage as she continued to growl. After a furious moment, Selena ran her hand through her hair and sighed. "Okay, we need to calm down here." She turned to Martha. "You and I are going for a little ride." She darted over to the frightened hypnotized woman. Her hands grasped the frail arms of the red head and pulled her out of the seat.

Martha tried to fight the iron grip of Selena, but with her mind weak and her body tired, she followed the black eyed witch to the twilight outside.

The two walked side by side; Selena held tightly to Martha's right arm and Martha tried to free her mind from the woman's hypnotic spell. Selena's boots tapped wildly on the paved road as Martha looked around wildly. In the distance, a plain black van beamed their headlights to the two girls.

The engine to the van roared alive and slowly rolled forward. The windows to the van were heavily tinted except for the windshield, which in the time of the evening, Martha could not see inside of it.

Selena opened the sliding side door of the van and tossed Martha into the empty van. She held Martha down and glanced to the driver with black eyes. "The twins bolted on us, Billy."

Billy, a twenty year old man with a skin bald head and thick black framed glasses, sat in the driver seat in his black and white suit. He turned and smiled, flashing his yellow and brown tarnished teeth at Selena. His face was covered with acne and sores. His shaky hand slowly handed the black eyed Venus a white plastic strap. "Oh? Found out it wasn't easy keeping tabs on them, did we?" His voice was raspy with an evil snicker.

Selena quickly grabbed the strap from his hand and slipped it around Martha's wrists. As she tightened the plastic hand cuff, Selena's eyes began to lose their black ooze and return back to normal state. "Shut up!"

Billy gave a half grin while hissing with laughter. "I told you he is a slippery bugger. Hence why I put that bug on that bug." He held up a small hand held device. The screen on the device was green with a radar pulse. A red marker blinked as it moved slowly off the screen away from a blue marker that sat still.

Selena stared at the device and finished tying up Martha before snarling at Billy. "Why didn't you follow him?!" Her eyes began to ooze with black.

Billy turned his attention back to the windshield. He pulled out a small little silver dog whistle. Slowly, Billy laid the whistle on his lips and he gave it a gentle blow. Suddenly and violently, Selena held her hands over her ears and screamed.

"Stop that!" Selena growled.

Billy lowered the whistle and placed it into his jacket pocket. "You need to calm down for a moment. Forcing yourself into my mind will only bring you pain. Get in the car."

**********************************************************************

He remembered passing the bell tower earlier that day. He remembered how he marveled over the antique style the tower was built. It stood eighteen stories high and was built out of old fat brown bricks. The bell that sat at the very top was made of brass and looked to have not been used in years. However, out of all the marvels he had about the historic land marker, Richard Thomas did not think he would stand on the very top looking down at the ground.

The cold autumn air passed by him and caused his large shirt to flutter. His large hands were pressed against the cold harsh rock material behind him as he rounded the ledge. His brown shoes scooted very slowly around the tower's foot sized ledge before he stopped to close his eyes tightly. He took in a deep breath of air as he felt the wind scrape across his skin. At the height he stood, sounds of the city flew the air like thousands of screeching hawks. The gray blue sky sat over him as the darkness grew thicker, surrounding him.

"If you can hear me Bugsy, I'm sorry." Richard said in a whisper. He opened his hazel eyes and glanced to the ground. "I...I have to do this...For Martha." The young boy leaned forward for only a fraction of a second and felt fear cover his veins. He quickly leaned back to flatten against the wall, breathing heavily. "Okay ... Okay, we can do this! The world counts on your death, Richard." He took in one last breath before he looked down with wide eyes. "I must die to protect others." On the ground, Richard saw a figure walking around the tower. He could not make out the features of the figure, but he did notice the person look up at him. The pale white face of a man stared blankly at Richard.

Richard shook his head and leaned back. His eyes stared across the horizon. A tear rolled down his cold cheek as he let out a breath. "Not everyone is meant to live." He closed his eyes and slowly let his body lean forward. The ledge from under him gave away and Richard felt the weightlessness as he began to fall.

Suddenly, the young Richard felt his wrist in the iron cold hands of someone. He was thrown through the air backwards and landed on his back at the platform at the top of the tower just under the bell!

His heart raced and he blinked his wet eyes as he gasped for air. He placed his hands on the wooden platform that he laid on to make sure he was not dreaming. He felt like laughing, like crying and a flood of confusion filled his senses.

"You're wrong, my sadden friend." Said a soothing voice from the darkness.

Richard stared at the bell over him. "Wrong about what?"

The soothing voice from the darkness gave a warm boyish like chuckle. "Everyone is meant to live, no matter what the cost."

From his right, Richard heard the tapping of boots walking over to his head. He twisted his head to see a pair of black leather boots, well-polished and both had a silver buckle with a black leather strap on the ankle. His dazed eyes slowly followed the boots to a pair of black leather pants and a tail of a long lush red coat that draped to the ankles of the stranger. Before he could study further, a hand was shoved in his face. The hand was pale with long fingernails that formed into points and were painted black.

"Need a hand?" Asked the voice.

Richard stared at the hand for a long moment. "Am I dead?"

The voice gave a chuckle. "Dead or alive, you are conscious, am I correct?"

Richard nodded to the hand. "I believe so."

"Good, I was hoping that I did not harm you in any way pulling you from thin air as it were." The voice laughed at the joke.

Richard slowly moved his hand to grab the one in his face. The skin of the hand was cold, cold as ice, yet it held his flesh with a gentle embrace. He felt a calm pull of strength as he used the hand to help himself to his feet. He stumbled for only a second before he stared at the stranger in front of him.

The man was no older than twenty and had short golden blond hair. His face was round in nature with a square jaw followed by a manly chin. The skin was pale like paper and the ears to the head, although pale, also had a distinct point at the very top of them. The nose was slightly short and round. The lips were very fair pink with a fatness to the lower lip. The smile on the stranger was warm and inviting with a small dimple in the right cheek, but the pearly white teeth that glistened in the darkness held two mildly long canines that sharpened at the ends. Richard then looked to the eyes of the stranger; the eyes burned with a bright red, almost glowing bright red. He was dressed in black leather pants with a gray button up shirt untucked; a black leather suit vest sat around his lean muscular torso and a black tie with red pen stripes sat tucked away in the vest. On the stranger's broad shoulders sat the long red coat that looked to be made of velvet and was designed to look like a business man's suit jacket. The lapels on the coat were lined with black silk and rounded around the collar. The odd smell of musk eroded from the man.

The stranger glanced to the ground for a moment and then back to Richard. "I wish to say that you were out for a stroll on the ledge, but I fear there are deeper issues." He pulled up his right hand that held an already lit small cigar and placed the cigar on his lips. He gave on long puff and blew out the smoke from his nostrils. "You don't have to tell me your sadness, but I am offering an ear to your troubles." His voice did not have accent to it or any hint to the man's age.

Richard swallowed and nodded. "I was ... I am ... That is ... It's a long story." He gave a nervous chuckle and ran his hand through his curly hair.

The young man motioned with is cigar holding hand and glanced around him. "Well, I love long stories and I have forever to listen, I tell you that much is true." He slipped the cigar in between his teeth and held out his right hand. "Zachary, Zachary Taylor."

Richard glanced to the hand and paused for a moment before shaking it. "Sorry ... Richard Thomas."

Zachary puffed on his cigar and removed his coat. "You look like a man that is freezing." With quick movements, Zachary slipped the coat over Richard's shoulders like a blanket.

Richard felt of the coat over his shoulders and wondered how the man did such a thing so fast. "I'm ... Uh ... That is, thank you."

Zachary removed his cigar with a smile. Smoke flew in the air as he blew smoke out of his nose. "Think nothing of it." He sighed. "Now, onto your story. Troubled love life? Father kicked you out of the house? Trust me, as much as you think you should end your life, there is nothing worth ending something more precious than your own life, Mr. Thomas."

Richard shook his head and glanced to the empty darkness growing around them. "Trust me, it isn't that easy to explain. In fact, I'm not certain you would believe me."

Zachary smiled. "Try me." He held his right finger with a raise to his eyebrows. "Before you begin and I do not want to seem prying or pushy, but since it is getting darker and it is cold out here, would you rather talk some place warmer?"

Richard shook his head again and slowly started to walk pass Zachary to the ledge once more. "No ... No, I must do this."

Before Richard knew it, Zachary was in front of him, moving at a tremendous speed! He placed a cold hand on Richard's chest and gave him a gentle smile with remorse in his red eyes.

"Please, hear me out. You have to understand, even if I don't know your story, I don't feel that I should watch you end your life right before my eyes." Zachary said in a gentle voice.

"But ... The world is at stake ... And Martha." Richard said as he turned his gaze on his dirty shoes. He felt Zachary's hands on his shoulders. Slowly, Richard looked up to Zachary's empathetic face.

"Listen here, dear old boy, there is no need to feel this way." The stranger said.

Richard felt a tears fill his eyes. "How should I feel? All I feel is fear ... And shame ... And ... And ... I am not certain if God should allow such a creature to walk this world of man."

Zachary stared at Richard for a long moment in silence, almost as if he were speechless. Zachary then grinned and held up a finger. "Do you like music?"

Richard lowered his eyebrows in confusion. "Yes, but what does that have to do...?"

"What does a song need?" Zachary asked.

Richard was surprised at the question, but still thought. "Sound, I guess?"

Zachary gave a large smile with a wink. "Ah, but anything can cause sound. Well, even an annoying train whistle has sound. Song is beautiful, so it has something entirely different. It has beat." He then started to make beating noises with his mouth.

Richard looked at the man and wondered if he was in the presence of someone insane. Then, he thought of what Zachary was trying to say. "I understand ... You are saying that music needs a beat." He started to tap his left foot on the wood. "Yes?"

Zachary nodded. "By God I think you understand. Now, place your hand over your chest and close your eyes."

Richard stopped his foot and paused with a confused stare at Zachary. "I'm sorry?"

Zachary became excited and gently grabbed Richard's right hand. He quickly placed it over Richard's chest. "Close your eyes and listen."

Although he thought the man insane, Richard did as Zachary requested. He listened while he was immersed in the darkness.

"What do you hear?" Zachary's voice asked.

Richard shrugged and shook his head. "Nothing ... Only my heartbeat."

Zachary chuckled. "Listen carefully, because you are listening to your own beat."

Richard opened his eyes and saw Zachary standing before him with his own hand over his chest and with closed eyes.

"The heart keeps with the beat; your breathing in the piano and your mind is the lyrics. All that is missing is your voice." Zachary opened his red eyes and smiled at Richard. "God creates songs, not creatures’ dear boy. Each song is different and brings a new skip to his step. Yet, unlike humans, God does not feel the emotions that we feel. He is happy with all his songs."

Zachary placed an arm around Richard's shoulders and pointed to the night sky. Richard marveled at the fast speed Zachary seemed to move.

"Think of an orchestra made of only men, women and children. Each giving their all to the symphony of life. You remove one from the symphony, well, the song starts losing its power." He patted Richard's left shoulder.

Richard glanced at Zachary through the corner of his eye. "Are ... Are you insane, Zachary?"

Zachary laughed. "It would be inhumane to not be insane, dear Richard." He removed his grasp from Richard and started to the trap door in the center of the platform. He pulled on the latch handle and lifted the door. "Come now, you haven't told me your story yet and I won't let you out of my sights until you do."

Richard watched as Zachary started down the ladder hidden by the trap door. His blond head and red eyes remained on the floor. "But ... But I have to..."

Zachary smiled. "Come now, what is a few hours away from your life? I promise, you tell me your story over a meal and I throw in my usual inspirational speeches here and there, and you still feel you need to end your life, I promise to drive you up here myself." He frowned. "If need be, I'll push you off the ledge myself."

Richard looked back to the ledge and then back to the trap door. He stood there, paused and confused for several minutes. "Alright ... But we cannot leave the tower. I do not want to be too far away in case ... In case something happens."

Zachary nodded. "It is decided then. Come on. It is a long night and I could use the company." With that Zachary disappeared down the trap door.

Richard sighed through his nose and started to the ladder. His broken tattered shoes tapped on the metal ladder as he slowly went down the tool. His hands touched the cold metal of the silver painted ladder. He stopped only once to look over the trap door hole to look at the ledge that he once stood on.

"Forget something?" Zachary's voice asked from below Richard.

Richard kept his gaze on the ledge and slowly shook his head. "No ... No, nothing."

After he finished his crawling downwards, Richard stepped onto the concrete floor that sat right under the ladder. The floor led to a long spiral stair case made of iron and brass. The stair case descended all the way down the tunnel like bell tower center.

Zachary shoved his hands into his pant pockets and walked to the edge of the platform like floor. He leaned forward and glanced down to the floor beneath the stair case. "You know something, there is magic tonight. I feel it." He quickly turned to look at Richard. He gave a shiver and smiled. The bright red eyes glowed as Zachary did a small tap dance. "I awoke from a dream." Zachary removed his hand and slowly waved it from his chest to the abyss that the stairs led down to. His faced had turned from smile to smirk. "Granted, I was never good at interpreting dreams. I tend to go with the flow, as they say." He lowered his head just slightly and stared at Richard through his brow. "The dream I had was strange indeed, and I would rather not to get into details, but as I wiped the sleepy slumber from my eyes, I felt ..." He then pointed to the ceiling and lifted his head in a dramatic quickness with calmed eyes. "No! I knew something rather magical was heading my way. Hence why I was out tonight." Zachary held out his hands and waved each one of his fingers. The bright eyes that glowed in the dark pointed to the ground as the strange man smiled. "I felt as if God was using me as a puppet; guiding me as it were."

Richard studied Zachary. He blinked a few times and shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

Zachary, who had his eyes still on the ground, clapped his hands and sighed before he looked up to Richard with a gentle grin. He straightened his back and shoved his right hand into his pant pocket and adjusted his loosened tie with the other. "Well, my dear lad, I am speaking of fate. Do you honestly believe that it was by chance that we should meet tonight?" He blinked and his smile grew wider. "Because I don't have the slightest doubt, Richard."

Richard sighed and his shoulders slumped downward. He slowly removed Zachary's coat and held it out to him. "Thank you for the comfort Zachary, but I feel I must go."

Zachary took the jacket and stared at it for only a moment before he glanced to Richard with confusion. "Did I say something unfavorable? I did not mean to do so."

Richard lowered his head and slowly walked to the opening of the stair case. "It isn't you. I thank you for keeping me from ... Well, doing what I was about to do." His right foot stepped on the first step. "I'm glad to find that there are at least two people that want me alive in this world, even though you have no idea who I am."

Zachary slipped on his coat and followed Richard. "That maybe, Richard, but I know the feeling of sadness. The unbearable sinking feeling that there is no reason to life."

Richard continued to walk downwards on the iron steps as he held onto the cold railing. "Trust me Zachary, there is much more to it than that."

Zachary followed close behind. His dramatic fashion seemed to settle and he became calmer as continued down the stairs. "There is always so much more to the story, Richard. Things are not always as they seem."

Richard shook his head as he continued, his steps grew faster with anger stretched on his face. "You wouldn't understand. You cannot fathom what is wrong with me or my life. Since birth, I was destined to live as a monster!"

Zachary gave a chuckle. "Don't we all? I often wonder how a tree feels."

"What does that even mean?!"

"It means that even trees feel monstrous. Some grow to enormous heights! Others have crooked limbs. Many have smooth bark, whereas others have rough skin. Each might feel monstrous in their own right; we just cannot feel their fears. Yet, they still stand in glory of the almighty God!"

Richard glanced to the man who followed him. His brow lowered as his steps grew louder and faster. "Am I to assume that you are saying God created me this way?"

Zachary shrugged with a frown. "You assumed that, not I." He smiled and lowered his shoulders as he continued to walk down the stairs. "But yes, that is what I am saying."

Richard shook his head and gave a heavy frown. "No god would allow such a creature like me to live and if so, I would never want to meet him."

"Oh come now. That is no way to talk."

"How should I talk then?!"

"More softly, your voice is echoing off the walls and I have sensitive hearing."

Richard lifted his hands to the level of his chest. His brown eyes stared at the palms as small tears rolled into his eyes. "People have died by my hands."

"Redemption is only given when asked, Richard."

Richard quickly lowered his hands and continued his stomping on the stairs. "I have pleaded, cried and asked for forgiveness, but I still feel no comfort. I know fully well that I cannot be redeemed."

"Why is that?"

Richard stopped on the very last step and leaned on the railing. "Because ... Because I know that I will kill again. It is only a matter of time."

Richard slowly turned his head to glance at Zachary. As he did, he felt a cold breeze rush past him at an alarming rate of speed. By the time he had turned to look at Zachary, the red clad wearing young man was nowhere to be found. Richard's eyes darted to the left and then to the right of the stair case behind him, but Zachary was not in sight.

"Then for your sake and those around you, I shall take it upon myself to make sure you don't." Zachary's voice sounded.

Richard quickly turned to his front and saw Zachary standing right in front of him!

Zachary stood with a straight frame and his arms folded behind his back. His pale face was stern and the wide glowing red eyes stared blankly at Richard. "That is a promise and I am a man who keeps his promises."

Richard's once angry face dropped and fell pale with fear. He felt his throat grow dry as he stared at Zachary. "How did ... I didn't hear your feet."

Zachary's stern face let out a small smile. He turned and slowly walked across the floor to the door. His right pale hand reached out and grabbed the brass colored knob of the modern door. "If it is true of what you say, then it was fate that crossed our paths." Zachary slowly turned and glanced at Richard over his shoulder. "However, I still feel there is more to your story. A man who commits himself to his own demise has no ill will towards others. I do not find you to be a liar, however you are not telling me the whole truth." Zachary twisted the knob and opened the door very slowly. "I take fear and threats against humanity very seriously Richard and when you say you will harm someone again, then you can be assured that I will see fit to stop it."

Richard watched with wondering eyes as Zachary opened the door wider and stepped through it.

Zachary folded his arms behind his back once more and nodded to Richard. "My car is waiting and has a warm heater. You shall find comfort in it." The voice was cold like all the boyish warmth it held before had been removed. Zachary narrowed his eyes at Richard. "Follow me." He demanded.

Richard's left foot trembled as it slowly stepped onto the floor. Like a child who angered a parent, Richard's shoulders lowered as well as his head. Very slowly, Richard walked over to Zachary.

Zachary smiled and laid a cold hand on the poor lad's shoulder. "Listen to me very carefully, no harm will come to you. I just do not jest at the idea of death to innocent people. I know full and well that there is no killer in you, Richard."

Richard coughed. "That ... That is where you are wrong ... Zachary." He slowly lifted his head. "You ... You may be right..." Richard's eyes darted to the left, he tried to avoid eye contact with Zachary's red eyes. "I personally ... May not be a killer ... But there is one inside of me."

Zachary smiled and patted Richard's shoulder. "Come now, we need to go." He turned and removed his hand from Richard to start out the door.

From the cold darkness outside the bell tower, a sinister hissing demanding voice was heard. "You are not going anywhere!"

Chapter 2

Chapter two

Zachary's arms unfolded as his eyes narrowed directly in front of him. "Oh? And why not?"

Richard gave a slight glare over Zachary's shoulder. Terror filled his eyes as he shrank back. "No." He whispered to himself.

Underneath the blue light that loomed the sky, Billy stood in his wrinkled black suit in his thick black trench coat. The light shade of his glasses hid his widened soulless eyes as he stared at both Richard and Zachary in the door way of the bell tower. In his right hand, lowered to his waist, was a small black pistol cocked and ready to fire.

"Because," Billy started with his snake like voice, "Mr. Thomas is going with us."

Behind Billy sat the black van; parked with its left side pointing to Billy's back. The side door slid open and revealed two women. Martha was bound with her arms behind her back and her ankles tied together with some sort of red electrical wire. Her mouth was covered with a thick layer of duct tape that was wrapped around her head. The hand cuffed Martha widened her eyes as she mumbled with plea before being shoved out of the van and onto the hard pavement.

Richard stepped closer to Zachary's back. His eyes went from terror to fear for his dear cousin. "Martha." He whispered under his breath with a sadden tone.

Zachary kept his attention on Billy, like a lion intent on his prey. "Friend of yours?" He calmly asked.

Richard stared at Martha. "Cousin."

In the darkness of the van, a curved woman figure stepped out. Selena's golden hair bounced on her shoulders as she gave a slight jump off the van and onto the pavement next to Martha. She pointed a long store bought shot gun at Martha's head. She moved the barrel of the gun over Martha's deep red hair. "Oops." She said with a grin.

Billy lifted his gun and twisted to the side. "The boy you are protecting is our property."

Zachary chuckled, but kept his eyes glued on Billy as though he were waiting for the man to move. "Men are not designed to be owned by any creature other than the heavenly father. Through life or either death, you have mistaken your role as brother's keeper as slave owner."

Billy cackled at the statement made by the blond stranger. "Who are you man?"

Zachary waved his hands over his torso and extended them out to his sides. "Zachary Taylor, negotiator. Who am I addressing?"

"The man with the gun." Billy snapped.

Selena sighed. "Just pop this guy and get it over with Billy."

Zachary smiled and exposed his sharp canines; even in the darkness, Billy could see the pearly white teeth. "Ah, a little warning to the both of you for not having caution to quick impulses. They can be a trigger of bad things to come."

Billy snorted and aimed his gun at Zachary's head. "Boy, Richie, you do find some weird people to defend you. Last chance, Zachary, leave or I will put a bullet through that dome of yours."

Richard glanced to Zachary's back and reached out to the man's shoulder. "Don't ... Don't do anything Zach ... I'll go with them."

Zachary did not move an inch to Richard's words. His frame was still like a stone figure. "They are nothing but bullies, Richard. The world can be filled with them if those with morals do not stand up to them."

Billy sighed with a wheeze in his throat. "I don't have time for this."

Zachary quickly swiped his right hand through the cold twilight air and gently pushed Richard backwards. "Get down." He said calmly.

Richard stumbled backwards from the gentle iron like push right before he heard the sound of gun shots fire into the air! He fell onto his back and clasped his hands tightly against his ears and slightly lifted his head. To his horror, he watched as bullets from Billy's gun fire straight through the man that saved him from his self-demise! The bullets tore through the red coat that Zachary wore and small drops of blood flew through the air! For only a slight moment, Richard closed his eyes tightly and his lower lip quivered.

The shots seized and all that Richard could hear was his own heart beat in the darkness that surrounded him. The frightened young lad lowered his hands and as he did, a calm boyish voice was heard through the darkness.

"Not to complain, but that was my favorite coat, Mr. Billy."

Richard opened his eyes in disbelief and glanced over his chest. There, standing where he once did, was Zachary Taylor in a bloody, bullet torn coat!

Powerful as they were before, Zachary's red eyes glowed through the blue darkness and darted at Billy.

Billy popped out a cartridge from his gun as he stared at the man in horror. "What ... What the hell is going on?"

Selena held her eyes wide open along with her mouth. "He should be dead."

Zachary smiled as he turned his unmoving red eyes to Selena's. "Before more damage should be done, I will ask only once, remove your gun from that young lady's head. You have no reign here. Be gone." He voice was cold and strong.

Billy breathed heavily and turned to glance at his partner. "I used an entire clip."

Selena lowered her eyebrows with anger as black ooze seeped from her pupils and covered her entire eyes with darkness. "You like tricks, huh? See how you like this!"

Zachary's gently lifted his head up in confusion, yet still kept his eyes on Selena. Suddenly, his red glowing eyes turned a murky white and then solid white.

Selena smiled under her black eye control. "You are mine, Taylor."

Zachary smiled. As he smiled, the already sharp canines grew longer and even sharper; the teeth passed his lower lip and almost touched the end of his jaw. "I see we have a powerful telepath here. I haven't seen one of those in many years." The white in his eyes began to twist with a murky red, almost pink.

Selena's prideful face began to sour as she dropped her weapon and fell to her knees. Blood began to drip from her nose as she lifted her hands to her head and closed her eyes tightly. "What the hell ... Is going on?" She said in a painful voice.

Zachary chuckled. "I am just as vicious in my mind as I am in the real world, Selena." His boyish chuckle ran into a wicked laughter. "Such a pretty name for a witch such as yourself."

Selena's body fell forward. She caught herself on the palms of her hands and it seemed as though she were pushing herself closer to the ground, but as she did, she struggled to keep her body up. "What ... How?" Before she could ask any more questions, Selena then began to repeat blow after blow of her own head against the pavement. After five heavy self-blows to the ground, Selena's forehead was covered in her own blood. She then fell completely onto the ground from going unconscious.

Martha stared at the normal eyes of Selena as the young woman laid beside her. Her eyes were wide with fear and confusion as she screamed under the tape covering her mouth.

Zachary sighed and popped his neck. "That was indeed a strange moment I just had. I do believe I enjoyed myself to a certain extent."

Billy's hands shook as he quickly reached into the inside of his coat to pull out another bullet cartridge. He mumbled sounds as he tried to reload his gun. Billy's course hand slipped in another cartridge and pulled back on the top of the gun to place in another bullet. He quickly aimed his gun to where Zachary stood, but was caught in extreme terror!

Before him stood Zachary. The man's mouth was extended open like a snake ready to attack his prey. The fangs were pointed at the man and the red glowing eyes were strong and filled with fury. From Zachary's throat came a harsh screeching sound unlike any human could let out!

Billy's wrist was seized in Zachary's iron like grip of his right hand. The gun man let out a cry of pain as Zachary tightened his grip and a small cracking sound was heard from Billy's wrist. Zachary's left hand then gripped the crying throat of Billy and gave it a gentle squeeze before another screech like that of a demonic bird was let out. Without warning or earthly time, Billy was then thrown through the air! The man's body smashed hard against the hood of the van he once drove. Billy slammed the back of his head against the metal of the car and then his entire body fell onto the ground.

Zachary stood with his eyes more calm and his teeth returned to their normal state. He held the gun in his right hand and tossed it to his side. The gun tapped on the ground as Zachary walked closer to Billy's limp body. "Unwise men should listen more often to learn, Billy."

Richard pushed himself up and stared at Zachary who stood at the head of the fallen Billy. He studied the man carefully and watched his every move. Without blinking, Richard watched in amazement as Zachary's frame disappeared for only a fraction of a second and reappeared on the side of Martha! Zachary knelt down beside Martha's back and glanced to Richard. The pale face looked like a ghost in the twilight.

"Come Richard, help me." Zachary asked in a calm and almost human like voice.

Richard stumbled, but kept a study speed walk over to Martha and Zachary.

Martha struggled and whined under the duct tape. Her eyes tried to look around her head to see what Zachary was doing.

Zachary gently laid a soft hand on Martha's shoulder as he smiled. "Calm yourself, dear woman. I am only here to help. I am no threat to you or your cousin."

By the time Richard reached both Martha and Zachary, his legs grew weak and he fell slowly to his knees beside Martha. He stared blankly at Zachary's hand that rested on Martha's shoulder. His eyes grew wider and his brow lowered in wonder as the black nails of Zachary seemed to extend like a cat's claws!

"Richard?" Zachary asked in a calm voice. "Were you hit?"

Richard's dazed eyes looked from the growing finger nails to Zachary's red eyes. "No ... No." He said and then coughed to clear his throat.

Zachary's face was calm with an assured smile on his face. "I need you to calm your cousin. I do not want to accidently cut her as I free her from her plastic prison." He nodded to Richard.

Richard nodded back and watched Zachary take his long nails and placed them in between Martha's skin and the plastic straps.

Martha wiggled and closed her eyes.

Zachary looked to Richard.

Richard nodded and tried to blink as he looked into Martha's eyes. "It's okay ... Martha, Zachary is here to help us. You must not move because he might cut you with his ... Nails."

Although Martha stopped moving, her eyes looked at Richard with terror as he finished the last word.

With one move, Zachary gently pulled his nails through the plastic and sliced the cuffs as though he were cutting them with a razor.

Martha pulled her hands free and tried to push herself up. Her head stared at Zachary as she tried to crawl away from him.

Zachary nodded to Richard with a grin. "She will be alright. Help her out of the rest. I will collect the trash in the parking lot."

Richard watched Zachary slowly rise and walk over to Billy's body lying in a deep sleep on the pavement. The sound of tape ripping and a small whimper came from Martha at his side.

"What the hell is going on?" Martha asked in a harsh voice.

Richard, dazed, looked to his cousin who had partial tape still around the back of her head. He looked down to her ankles that were tied with red wire. He shook his head and started to untie the wires. "He ... Zachary ... He ... I don't know ..." Richard stammered.

Martha turned her gaze on Zachary and watched the six foot tall young man use only one hand to lift Billy by the back of his coat into the air and placed him on his shoulder as though the body of Billy was nothing more than a twig. "He isn't human." She whispered.

Richard nodded as he finished untying the wire. "That much I do realize."

Zachary walked around the two and laid Billy into the van where Martha was once held captive. "You two must be in a lot of trouble. To call for a hit man and a telepath seductress, you have certainly stirred someone's wrath." He pulled out a plastic bag that held the straps that held Martha. He then took one of the straps and held Billy's sleeping hands over his back. Zachary made a loop out of the strap and slipped it over the wrists of his captive.

Martha stood up still with tape stuck around the back of her head. Richard sat on the ground with his back against the van and his hands over his head.

Martha blinked wildly at Zachary. "Who ... What are you?"

Zachary shrugged as he stooped down to pick up Selena by her right arm with his right hand and hoisted her up onto his left shoulder. "Who I am is Zachary Taylor." He tossed Selena into the van beside Billy and turned to bow to Martha. His red eyes stared at Martha as though he were surprised. He paused for a moment while he stared blankly at her and then finally blinked. "I'm sorry, I must have disappeared into my own thoughts. I am rude of course." He bowed. "I am Zachary Taylor and I am your humble servant you beautiful creature."

Martha gave a surprised look to Zachary. "What?"

Richard looked up to Zachary and shook his head. "What ... What are you going to do?"

Zachary smiled to Richard and returned to the van to place a strap over Selena's thin wrists. "I am going to take these poor souls to my home for a little interrogation." He finished the strap and started to close the sliding door. He stopped right before he reached Richard, who was resting at the end of the trail of the sliding door. "Mind your head Richard."

Richard turned to glance over his shoulder and then nodded. "Oh yes ... Of course." He pushed himself up and stood beside Martha.

Zachary smiled and closed the door. His deep red eyes glanced at Martha and seemed to glisten for a moment as he smiled sheepishly at the woman. "I, uh ... As I was saying. I am going to take these two to my home and escort you two as well." With a quick move of his left hand, Zachary flipped his bullet and blood covered coat to one side so that he could shove his hand into his pant pocket.

Martha grabbed the dazed Richard and pulled him to her side. "We are not going anywhere with you."

Zachary pulled out a set of car keys from his pocket and stared at Martha with confusion. "Oh, but you must. Where do you plan to go?"

Martha's face was half fearful of the young man and half stern. "It is no matter of yours."

Zachary smiled and slowly walked over to Martha. "I have taken it upon myself to protect Richard Thomas over there and since you are in his custody, then you as well." He stopped right in front of Martha and stared into her frightened eyes. "I realize that you are scared, I would be as well. However, as charming as I may be, I am a person who does not take no as an answer. There for, you are coming with me to my home so that I can unweave this strange mystery and gather my decision as to what I should do with you." He held out his hand that held the car keys in front of Martha. Gently, he took the woman's left hand and placed the keys inside her palm.

Martha licked her lips and cleared her throat. "So ... We are captives once again?"

Zachary chuckled. "But of course not, you are just in my protection service. I have my own personal belief that both of you are not a threat. Yet, I do feel that something is amiss here and I shall not let go of this matter until it is resolved."

Richard looked at Martha for a moment. "Let's do as he asks..."

Martha shook her head without moving her eyes from Zachary's red ones. "He is going to kill us or sell us out."

Zachary placed a hand over his chest and bowed his head. "I assure you, I am a kind host and will not engage in any action that will harm either of you." He slowly lifted his head to stare at Martha. "However, the dead move fast and I move faster. In my home town, there is no place you can hide from me and I will not let go of your company until you are completely safe from these hoods. If not for yourself, then think of your cousin, Martha." He pointed over their shoulders. "My car is parked over there. You can't miss it. It is red and is the only car in the parking lot besides this van. I will drive slowly and you must follow. If I do not see those headlight behind me, I shall have to continue a search for the two of you." Zachary turned and walked to the driver side of the van.

Richard turned around to look for the car Zachary spoke of. "I think I see it."

Martha looked at the keys in her hand. "It doesn't matter because I am not going with him."

Richard turned to Martha and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I am just as scared ... Maybe more, as you are, but he did save us."

Martha darted her eyes at Richard and snarled. "You really want to go with this .... This.... Freak?!"

Richard lowered his eyes and shook his head.

Martha's anger disappeared and was replaced by care as she touched Richard's hand with her own. "I'm sorry ... You know I wasn't talking about you."

"I know, but the facts are, he ... He did save us. He took a bullet ... Actually a lot of bullets for me. He freed you and now the two people that have been chasing us for weeks are knocked out and tied up. From what I gather, we either go with him as payment for his kind actions ... Or ... We go with him because he isn't what he seems to be."

Martha looked hard at Richard for a long moment and then nodded. She turned and held out the small black key remote that was hooked to the set of car keys. She gently pressed the button to unlock the car. As she did, the red car in the near distance lit up and both Richard and Martha stared at a brand new red Mustang sitting in a parking space. The car was well polished and clean. Martha looked to Richard in amazement. "What are we getting ourselves into?"

Chapter 3

Chapter three

The new Mustang smelt heavy of peaches and tropical fruit. The gray leather interior was almost like new and barely had any wear in it. The volume of the radio was low and comfortable as slow jazz themed music played from the car's hard drive.

Richard slowly drove behind the van that he once ran away from. His hand would every so often shift the manual gear and his foot would slowly press on the gas to move forward.

Martha removed the last bit of tape from the back of her head as she whimpered from the pain of having hair pulled out from the sticky surface of the industrial tape. She adjusted her pony tail and stared forward at the back side of the van. "Perhaps he is another lab project like Selena or ... You." Martha said.

Richard shook his head while he kept his wide eyes on the bumper of the van. "I ... I don't believe so. We have seen all sorts of creations from the organization, but not like him." He paused for a moment and shook his head. "Do you remember that movie you took me to when I was six? The Coffin of Dracula?"

Martha nodded quickly before she stopped and slowly turned her squinted eyes to Richard. "You think ... You think he is a vampire of some sort?"

Richard shrugged and glanced to Martha for a second before turning his attention to the back end of the van that he followed. "He is very strong and very fast. Not accounting for the sharp teeth and pale skin ... Or those red eyes of his."

Martha scoffed. "Ridiculous! A vampire? There is no such thing."

Richard slowly slumped his shoulders. "People would say the same thing about a telepath or ... Something like Bugsy and I."

Martha shook her head. "Don't mention his name anymore! You speak like Bugsy is a real person."

Richard nodded sheepishly. "I know ... I am sorry."

Martha pointed to the van. "And a vampire?! I'm sorry, but I am not going to belief that!" She let out a hysterical laugh. "You might as well say that Frankenstein is real ... Or that the Wolf-Man is out there somewhere ..." She folded her arms over her chest. "The last time I checked, vampires do not protect humans, they hunt them."

"What are your thoughts then?" Richard asked in a child manner.

Martha shook her head. "I do not have enough information about it all just yet to make a conclusion, Richard."

Richard nodded. "Either way ... I am scared of him, but at the same time ... I find him very comforting."

Martha scoffed and looked out her window. "Yeah? Well, I'll be sure to make a crucifix and find some garlic before the night ends."

*******************************************************************

The city of Bridgewood began to fade as Richard and Martha continued to follow the van into the country just outside of the middle sized Texan city limits. The sun was gone and the twilight had disappeared; the night was now upon them and the only light in the sky was a large round red and yellow moon that danced slowly passed the dark gray clouds. Tall and thick trees waved at them in the heavy wind as though the night brought them all to life.

The left turn signal on the backside of the van began to blink and turned onto a private road. As Richard turned the corner, the headlight to the rental car beamed on the green street sign which read out: "Red St."

Martha began to lose her sarcastic and angry glare as she studied the woods just outside the car. A dark forest loomed over them with tall pine trees that seemed to rise up and form a tunnel above the road. In between the trees was a thick wire that was stapled into the bark of the trees almost half way up. At certain times, Martha could see little yellow signs tied to the fence warning that it was an electrical type of fence. The white gravel road just beneath the car, popped every so often as the four tires drove on the loose rocks.

The road was not very long and at the end of the tree like tunnel, an iron fence lined out in front of the vehicles. The black iron bars of the fence were as thick as the largest flag pole and stood as tall as ten feet in the air followed by tall, sharp spikes. In the middle of the opening of the forest trail, there was a tall iron gate that was made of the same material. The gate was square designed and had sharp spikes on the top of it. In the center of the gate was a circle design with the letters "Z" and "T" interlaced in the middle of each other.

The van stopped for only a moment. Richard stopped the car and Martha shut off the radio. Both sat in silence and even though they did not look at each other, the same look of fear and confusion crossed their faces.

The fence opened slowly and the circle with the letters split in half, which caused the letters to split into their own. The black van continued through the gates. Richard gulped hard and placed the car into gear. Martha leaned forward as they continued.

Beyond the gates was a clean cut land that was very large and very long. The green grass covered in frost glistened from the mild rays of the red moon hovering above them. The road continued to wind and curve just slightly to a large black top parking lot filled with all sorts of cars. The parking lot sat a few feet away from the front porch of a massive manor.

The manor was designed like the Cathedral of Notre Dame, yet was missing all the gothic architecture. There were no gargoyles and no steeple to be seen, but there was a holy presence to the building that Richard felt he could hear an organ playing inside of it. The light tanned bricked walls ran up to a gray tiled roof and long tall windows sat around the house looking at them as though they were strangers. There was no clear idea for the two to know how big the manor was, but it seemed the large home went on and on for miles both in width, height and length.

Instead of parking onto the lot, Zachary parked the black van on the perfectly cut grass, almost right next to the front doors of the manor. Richard decided to park next to the left of the van. He placed the gear into park and shut off the car. He turned slowly to Martha with wide eyes and breathed heavily. Martha just kept her attention on the manor with her mouth half way open. Before the two could say anything, Martha's door opened slowly.

Martha jumped from her dazed moment in shock and leaned away from the door. Her fear slowly fell away as she saw Zachary at the open door with a grin. His red eyes glowed with a passion as he bowed and held out his right hand. "Welcome."

Martha was reluctant, but she grabbed Zachary's hand. Her eyes wandered as she stepped out into the cold air and tried to keep her distance from Zachary. Once outside, Martha quickly removed her hand and walked away from Zachary. "Thank ... You." She said in a whisper.

Zachary watched her and smiled as he closed the door gently.

Richard opened his car door and stepped out. His eyes darted up to the roof of the museum like home. He walked around with a stumble as he studied the home and passed Martha.

In front of the red wood double doors of the home, which sunk into the house slightly, was a large porch made of white marble and steps made of the same material. Two porch lamps sat in the walls right beside the doors and were made of some sort of faded glass; the lamps were designed to look like two giant rose flowers. Right above the doors, in the center of the wall, sat a human head sized lion's head made of white marble. The face of the lion was calm and looked to be filled with pride.

Richard sighed. "It is beautiful."

Zachary folded his arms behind his back and slowly walked up in between the two dazed guests. "Some have called it Taylor Manor, others have called it the House of Red." He chuckled with a boyish charm. "I call it home." Zachary walked up the marble stairs, his boots tapped on the well-polished rock as he did. He stopped on the third step and turned around to Martha and Richard. "Please, do come in."

Martha slowly walked over to Richard and grabbed his arm. Her eyes narrowed on Zachary, but still had a look of shock in them. "What ... What do you plan on doing with us?"

Zachary smiled and shook his head as he turned around to face his guests and shoved his pale hands into the pockets of his battle torn jacket. "To get you warm and save, dear Martha. I plan on getting you a warm bath, some new clothes and food. Hopefully, you will have some time to sleep before we talk of your situation." His red glowing eyes began to lower and seemed to become like regular eyes with a red tint to them. "I would think both would love that plan."

Richard lowered his gaze from the lion's head over Zachary and blinked at the host. "We ... We have been through a lot, Zachary. There have been many who have lied to us and ... We just want to be careful."

Zachary frowned and nodded.  His face was filled with remorse as removed one hand from his coat pocket and placed it over his chest. "I am glad you do have some trust in me. After all, you wouldn't follow a stranger all the way out into the country side of east Texas. I give you my word and my word is my bond. I just want to offer my services."

Martha looked to the house, back to Zachary and then back to the house very quickly before she shook her head. "No, I am not going in there."

"But Martha..." Richard tried to call out.

"No! Can't you see what he is going to do? He is going to turn us in for profit, just like everyone else we have met! Either that or he is going to do much worse. You saw what he did to Selena and Billy!" Martha exclaimed as she tugged on Richard's arm.

Zachary held out his right hand as though he were begging. "Please, do not feel that way. To be fairly honest, you two have not shot at me, which does not call for a fight." He turned to the doors and then back to Richard and Martha with a sad look. "Alright, what if I told the both of you that you can leave. I will give you the keys to the van and off you will go. I will never chase you and I will never appear in your lives again." Like embers in a dying fire, the red eyes in Zachary's skull began to glow red. "Or you can go inside to warmth and comfort, knowing that you will not be harmed and that you will never be hunted again."

Martha darted her eyes at Zachary with anger. "I'm sorry, but in my experience, no one just helps out a total stranger without a selfish agenda."

Zachary smiled. "I have seen this as well in my own experience. Yet, you and I both know ..." With in a flash, Zachary appeared right in front of both Martha and Richard!

Richard leaned back with shock. Martha widened her eyes as Zachary leaned in closer to Martha with a gentle hand in front of her chest, ready to take her’s. His eyes looked into her's with charm in his smile.

"... I am not like most people."

Martha looked at Zachary in shock for a long moment. "Fine ... Fine we will go with you, but I am not touching you." Her voice tried to sound demanding, but it cracked and her face was filled with shock.

Zachary gave her a gentle grin before he disappeared from their faces to appear on the fourth and final step of the marble porch. "Very well, please follow me." He kept his slow stride onto the porch.

Richard turned to Martha who still held onto his arm as if he offered her protection. The two started up the stairs a foot behind Zachary. There was look of childlike fear crossing their faces and at the same time a moment of wonder.

Zachary opened the right side door and held it open for his guests. When he saw the guests were in no hurry to have him follow them, Zachary shrugged without saying a word and stepped into the manor.

Richard looked to his cousin and she did the same before entering the home.

The first room inside the manor was a large hallway; half way up the walls were layers of wood, red oak wood just like the doors outside. Vines and flowers were carved into the wood with a perfection. Above the wood was deep red wall paper with the same design of vines and flowers, only they were not carved but painted a solid gold. Four shelves sat on both sides of the walls, made of the same type of wood. On these shelves were candle holders, layered in gold and had four arms that held four bright red candle sticks that stood tall. Red wax dripped onto small black platforms just under the candle holders. In the center of the hallway, just a few feet away from the front doors, was a long black coffin designed to look old like from an old vampire movie. The lid to this coffin was removed and a soft looking silk cloth lined the entire inside. Piles and piles of red colored glow sticks sat inside the coffin, already lit up.

Right beside the doors, two stair cases on the right of the room and the left of the room curved up just slightly to a small balcony made of red oak wood and in the center of the balcony was another white marble lion head, only this one was snarling at whomever stood in the doorway of the manor. The balcony seemed to hide another set of double doors that sat in the walls on the upper floor.

Richard looked down the hallway and saw that the room was cut off by another set of double doors, only these were painted a deep red. In the center of the red doors was a symbol cut of out a thick dark metal, designed to be handles for the doors and seemed to split in half if both doors were to be opened at the same time. The symbol was round and had a crude cut "V" shaped mouth with two long fangs. Two eyes were cut as strange triangles and two thin eyebrows were cut into the face, one right above the right eye and the other one curved higher over the left one. As Richard stared at the fanged smiley face handles, he could hear the sounds of loud club music beating against the walls.

Zachary walked over to the right stair case, the one closest to him, and started up the stairs. "Please, follow me." His boyish voice chuckled.

Their shoes tapped on the wooden stair case as Richard and Martha followed the man up the stairs. Richard glanced over the stair case only once to stare at the strange coffin filled with glow sticks and listened to the deep beat of the club music against the walls.

Zachary, Richard and Martha walked onto the balcony. Without a word expressed between the three, Zachary opened the two doors and started into the next room.

The next room was almost like another hallway, but it was a large barren room with a black marble floor which was very well polished. Richard glanced down to the floor and could see his reflection in it very well.

To each side of the room were white pillars that rounded into cylinders and had white statues made from the pillar; each statue was of a woman or man hugging the pillar and looking at the strangers as they passed by. Martha almost felt a chill as she studied their eyes watching them as though they were strange creatures.

In the center of the right wall was a black door covered in silver vine designs and swirls. A metal sign over the door said: "Office."

The sound of the club music echoed throughout the barren room as they passed through it. At the end of the room was an open end that spanned the width of the room and Richard and Martha could see into the next room.

Three large steps led down into a red carpeted room. To the right side of the room was a lush red leather couch that was very large and thick; the couch rounded into an almost complete circle, leaving room for an opening pointed directly at them. In the center of the couch was a round glass table that was held up by four red metal legs. On the left side of the room was a baby grand piano, also painted red and a red oak stool sat just underneath the keys. Beside the piano was a gas powered fire place lined with red oak wood which had the same vine carvings. Over the fire place was the fanged smiley face symbol that Richard saw on the red double doors downstairs, only it was painted red and made of thick wood. In the backside of the room, just a little to the left, was a small bar made of red oak and was lit up with strands of LED lights that gave off a red glow. Across from the bar was a pool table that had a red top rather than a green one. A few billiard balls sat scattered on the table alone with two cue sticks painted black with red lining.

A large open doorway in the back wall of the red sitting room led the way to a long red carpeted stair case that went down into a large room that was painted a dim gray and held all sorts of old paintings in the same golden frame. The paintings were unlike anything that Richard or Martha had seen before. Some depicted wars, others were of men and women posing, there were even some of the modern era and more abstract than the others. In between the paintings were four doors on each side of the room, painted black. Hanging on the entire wall at the backside of this room was a fountain formed out of black marble and had red lights glowing from under the water; the water ran down the wall of the fountain and in the center of the water fall was the red fanged smiley face.  To each side of the bottom of the stair case sat hallways that led into other areas. Those hallways were left as a mystery to both guests as Zachary stopped in the middle of the art room.

Zachary pointed to the door on his right while he faced both Richard and Martha. "These are our guests’ rooms." He walked over to the door and opened it. "I am sorry for not giving you a tour, but if you decide to stay for a little longer, I would be happy to give one to you."

Richard and Martha followed close behind Zachary into the guest room he choose for them.

The room was massive! It was far larger than any guest room that Richard or Martha had seen before. The walls ran up high and were painted a soft white. Strange abstract paintings sat in plan black frames around the room. In the center of the room was a large king sized bed dressed in white sheets and pillow cases. The bed frame was made of black painted wood. At the end of the bed was a long couch wrapped in white leather. In front of the couch was a small white coffee table which had a black marble center. Across from the couch and bed was another gas powered fire place, but it was not lit. A black painted wood lined the fire place and just above the fire place was a wide panel flat screen television hanging off the wall. Black metal chandlers sat down into the room from the ceiling in pairs of two.

On the back wall of the room, on the other side of the bed, was a tall wardrobe painted white and had black vine designs covering only the doors. Beside the wardrobe was a long make up dresser with a round oval mirror sitting in a black frame. In between the wardrobe and the makeup dresser were two tall windows that were covered with thick white curtains lined at the bottom with black silk. Just a few inches away from the makeup dresser was a tall mini refrigerator painted white and a small black microwave sitting on top.

Zachary stopped by the fire place and clapped his hands. Immediately, the fire place lit up with a strong fire. With a sigh, Zachary walked across the room, just a foot away from the wall that held the mini refrigerator and opened a white door in the wall that held the television. He turned on a light and turned his attention back to both Martha and Richard. "This is your bathroom." He slowly walked to the center of the room, just in front of the couch and looked around the room. "Normally, I would ask if you wanted two separated rooms, but I feel that it would make you feel more comfortable to stay in one, correct?"

Richard looked at Zachary as though he were sleep walking with wide eyes. All he could do was nod. Martha, on the other hand, glanced around the room in amazement.

"This is incredible, Zachary." Martha said as she looked up at the chandlers, which she noticed had lights designed like white candles.

Zachary chuckled. "I agree." He turned to point at the wardrobe. "You will find bath robes for both woman and man along with slippers. Normally, our guests bring clothing, but I am certain I can arrange you to have some new clothes by the end of the hour." He turned back to Martha and Richard to walk closer to them. "Unfortunately, the refrigerator does not have any food in it, but I will arrange you a meal." He paused and glanced only for a few seconds to the television. "We have satellite out here. We also have wireless internet. Are you in need of a computer? Do you also need to make phone calls, because I can arrange for all of that."

Martha shook her head. "Not that I can think of at the moment."

Zachary nodded and walked past the two to the door. Before he reached the door, he turned around very quickly with a concerned look in his eyes. "I will have to tell you, the windows are barred and made of bullet proof glass, for reasons I will explain later. I will have to lock this door behind me, not only keep you here but to keep you safe."

Martha began to show signs of anger in her face. "I see."

Zachary held out both his hands and smiled with assurance. "It is only during this time of confusion. Once we get to know each other, I am sure that door will remain open."

Richard stepped forward out of his daze. "What of Billy and Selena?"

Zachary nodded and lowered his hands. "Please, do not worry about them. I will see to it that they get a fair trial."

Martha folded her arms over her chest. "As usual, the police will be informed."

Zachary studied Martha for a moment and shook his head. "On the contrary, I do not feel comfortable informing my friends at the police station about a maniac with a gun and telepath willing to kill anyone in their way." He smiled. "Please, clean yourselves and rest. I will find some food and clothing for the both of you."

The young host turned and left through the door. The last sound Martha and Richard heard was a key locking the door to their comfortable prison.