Things that Go “Chomp” in the Night

 

Teaser:

“Every once and awhile you find yourself confronted by things that are unexpected. No matter what your eyes tell you, your mind won’t believe it. On Boragora this happens all the time. Usually you shrug it off, you put it down to the heat. But then something happens, something so chilling that you are forced to face the unbelievable.”

 

                The sky was clear over Boragora, with the icy pinpoints of starlight breaking the dark curtain of the night. A lone engine droned in the heavens. The dark plane circled over the island like a bird of prey. The shining lights of the Monkey Bar could be seen below, and they drew the plane down.

                On a calm sea the plane landed, barely throwing a wake. The running lights flashed on, as if the plane was now awaking from a deep sleep. It moved towards the dock area, and slipped in next to Cutter's Goose.

                A man got out of the plane. He turned back and said comforting words to the other occupant. As he straightened up, the torches on the docks lit up his pale, white face. His eyes looked almost red in the reflected torchlight.

                He started walking towards the Monkey Bar.

                Inside the Monkey Bar, laughter and the sound of piano playing echoed. With all of the happy noise, no one heard the plane land or noticed it dock.

                At the bar was Jake Cutter, ex-Flying Tiger, you could tell by the flight jacket and cap he wore. Jake was tall, with sandy blond hair and blue eyes. He was absently holding a bottle of French beer, smoking a cigar and talking to a beautiful American woman.

                "Well Sarah, I'm sorry about that, but there really isn't anything I can do, especially out here on Boragora. If you want, we can go to Tagataya and look."

                "Jake Cutter, how am I supposed to find out what I need to know if you keep thwarting me at every turn?" replied, Sarah Stickney-White. Her voice remained calm, but her dark eyes flashed. Sarah had brown curly hair and she was comfortably dressed in a light dress.

                At the piano, playing with gusto, was Corky. Corky, who hadn’t shaved in a few days, was nursing his beer like it might be his last. He was dressed in dirty coveralls, and a rumpled cap. Jack, a small dog wearing a patch over one eye, was looking at him, and making sure he was ok. Jack was under a table next to the piano, his head on his crossed front legs while his eye looked up at Corky.

                Bon Chance Louie was behind the bar, leaning his chin on his left hand. Louie was a well-dressed man, of indeterminate age, wearing a light evening jacket and a cream colored silk cravat. With his right hand he drew circles on the bar in the small puddles of spilt beer. He had a faraway look in his eyes.

                The doors opened. The man walked in. He was tall, with very blond hair. The eyes did momentarily look red, but quickly, almost instantly, faded to blue. He was wearing a flight jacket that was two sizes too big for him, but didn't seem to be sweating from the heat. As he spoke it was apparent that he was English.

                "Well, what a nice little establishment we have here in the middle of bloody nowhere."

                The conversation and music stop as everyone turned to look at the man. As Jack turned his eye towards him, the fur on his back stood up. In a matter of seconds Jack has evaluated the Englishman.

                Jack started to bark furiously. Corky looked at Jake and Jake looked at Jack. Jack continued to stare at the Englishman and bark.

                "Jack!" Corky and Jake exclaimed at once. Jack did not stop barking.

                "What an impolite little creature," commented the Englishman. "Not very welcoming to a traveler." A slight smile cracked on his lips, and Jack intensified his expression of dislike.

                "Jack, be nice," said Jake as he got up, then to the Englishman "Sorry, he must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed today." He moved towards Jack.

                Jake bent down and scooped Jack up unceremoniously and handed him to Corky. "Why don't you and Jack go down to the Goose? I'm sure there's something out there for Jack to do."

                "Sure Jake, we'll just get going," replied Corky, as he held Jack, still barking, in one arm. He reached down to collect his beer with his free hand. "I'll see you later".

                "I must apologize again for Jack, he's usually not so, er, loud," Jake said, as he held out his hand. "I'm Jake Cutter."

                "So that's your Goose out there, tied up?" asked the Englishman, ignoring Jake’s proffered hand.

                "Yes, it is,” said Jake, awkwardly withdrawing his hand. “We didn't hear you come in. Did you fly or boat here to Boragora?"

                Louie was looking closely at the Englishman, he saw something in him. He wondered if it's the same thing Jack saw, but he can't put his finger on it. He squinted at the Englishman some more.

                "I'm looking for some local charts of the islands around here. The ones I have are not very bloody helpful. I suppose you must have some rather more precise ones?" asked the Englishman.

                Outside, Corky, who put Jack down on the ground after they got clear of the Monkey Bar, was looking down at the beer in his hand. He was trying to decide if it was half empty or half full. He had walked the path down to the dock so often he could do it in his sleep and not lose his way.

                Just as he was coming to a decision regarding the status of his beer bottle, a loud scream echoed through the night. Jack stopped and his ears pricked up as he turned towards the sound. Corky looked up. The scream quickly trailed off and Jack bolted in the direction of the terrifying sound.

                "Stop, Jack. It could be dangerous," called Corky after Jack's receding tail. "Damn." Corky put his beer down and followed Jack.

                Four legs, even though they're small, carried Jack far ahead of Corky. He came upon one of the local native boys on the ground. Off in the jungle he saw a figure, quickly moving away. It was a pale figure, with long dark hair and almost luminous skin. She glanced back, and two red eyes made contact with Jack's eye. Again, the fur on his back stood up and he barked. The figure faded into the night.

                Corky caught up with Jack and had a very fleeting glimpse of the figure. Breathing heavily he tried to get Jack to quiet down. Then he looked to the ground.

                "Kapi, are you okay?" and he bent down to examine the boy. He was not breathing, and was very pale. "Oh no!" He felt for a pulse on the boy's neck. It was sticky and wet. In the starlight he thought it was blood.

                Light was moving through the jungle. From the Monkey Bar came a crowd of people to help. Jake and Sarah arrived, Jake was carrying a flashlight, and he shined it on Jack, who was still barking. Jack went silent.

                Behind Jake and Sarah came Louie. He also had a flashlight. He shined it at Corky. The blood on Corky's hand was a deep red. Louie moved the light to the young man laying in the trail. He handed the flashlight to Sarah and bent down.

                Louie took a handkerchief out and wiped the blood from around the neck and mouth of Kapi. Two small puncture wounds showed on the dark skin of his neck. "Sarah, shine the light over here," he directed. She shined the light where he wanted. There was a small amount of blood trickling from the wounds, but not much. There was also blood on his mouth.

                "He's dead,” said Louie.

                The Englishman, at the back of the crowd moved further back into the jungle. His eyes glowed red and he muttered, "Dru." He quickly retreated away from the rest of the people.

                "Jake and Corky, you carry Kapi's body back to the Monkey Bar, I want a closer look in the light," instructed Louie.

                "What do you think did that Jake?" asked Corky, as he grabbed the boy’s legs. "I thought I saw something white moving off through the trees, but I couldn't be sure."

                They hoisted the body and walked back to the Monkey Bar.

                "I don't know Corky, it's the damnedest thing I've ever seen," replied Jake.

                By the time they got back, Reverend Willie had come in response to the alarm. "Vat iss going on here?"                Louie had Jake and Corky put the body on one of the sofas in his office. "Reverend, we found Kapi, and he's dead," said Louie.

                "Ach! How can zis be? Vat did he die of?" asked Willie, appalled.

                "I think he was murdered," and Louie proceeded to take a closer look at the body.

                "Murdered! How do you know zis?"

                "Jack and I saw someone running from the place we found him, but I couldn't tell who it was,” said Corky. Jack barked in agreement.

                Louie was probing around the wound, shaking his head. "Willie, you can take him back to his family,” he said as he moved away from the body. He dipped his hands in a washbasin and wiped them dry with a towel.

                "Vat vill ve do? Ve must do someting!" exclaimed Willie.

                "Just take him back home, mon ami. We can do nothing until the morning." Louie poured a drink for himself.

                Willie and Corky transported the body from the Monkey Bar. Louie followed them out to the main room. "Everybody, I'm closing the bar early tonight. I want you to all go quickly home and be sure to stay in there. Do not leave your homes until daybreak. The murderer could still be out there, but you should be safe in your homes."

                Back in the study, Sarah was looking down at the floor, and Jack was lying on the sofa. Louie came back in and sat at the desk. Jake looked at him. “Louie, what do you think happened tonight?”

                “I cannot say Jake, I cannot say,” replied Louie.

                “But you saw something nefarious about the way Kapi died,” said Sarah. “What could have caused those wounds?” She looked up at Louie.

                “Yeah Louie, I think you have more than an idea of what happened, it scared you. It scared Jack,” added Jake.

                “Oui. I am frightened. But I think we are safe tonight, at least here.”

                “Louie, if there’s danger I should know about it” replied Jake.

                “Yes, it’s no good hiding it from us,” said Sarah.

                Louie looked at his friends. Jake was concerned, Sarah was more than a little frightened, and not just by what happened, but by his own reaction to it. He looked at Jack, who stared back at him. Jack knew.

                “Very well.” Louie went to his bookshelves and reached up on the top shelf. He moved some knick-knacks out of the way and pulled out an old, old book. “Perhaps this volume will explain it to you.” He placed the book on the desk. The title read “Vampyr”.

                Sarah looked at it. “You can’t be serious Louie? Vampires? You’ve seen ‘Dracula’ a few too many times.”

                “Come on Louie. You don’t expect us to believe in vampires.” Jake looked incredulous at Louie.

                Jack barked yes.

                “Thank you Jack. I knew that they wouldn’t believe us. Really my friends, I’m not delusional. A vampire made the wound on Kapi’s neck. And French Justice demands that I do something about it.”

                Jake and Sarah looked at Louie and Jack as if they’d lost their minds. Jake was about to reply when they heard the sound of an airplane taking off. Corky came running in to the back room.

                “It’s not the Goose,” said Corky. Everyone quickly headed down to the dock. As they arrived, they saw the other plane just lifting off the water, with its lights off. Jack ran over to the Goose and let out a bark. Corky and Jake went over and discovered that the hatch had been left open. Corky crawled inside.

                “Jake, someone’s been in here,” he called from the cockpit. “It looks like that English guy took some of our charts.” Corky popped his head out. “I think that’s all he took though.”

                “We can look closer in the morning,” Jake said.

                “For now we should get to bed. Jake,” said Louie, “I would like you to fly me to Tagataya tomorrow. I need to make some reports and find out more about that plane.”

                “Ok, Louie,” said Jake. Everyone walked back to the Monkey Bar in silence. Sarah and Jake headed up the stairs to their rooms.

                “Jake, you don’t believe Louie, do you,” asked Sarah when they reached her door.

                “Really Sarah, vampires? Louie is just overreacting. I’m sure there’s a perfectly logical explanation for this. We will probably find out more when we get to Tagataya. You should come too, you wanted to go there anyway.”

                “You’re right Jake, there’s a perfectly logical explanation.” Sarah closed her door. She walked to her vanity and opened a drawer. She brought out a little silver cross from a jewelry box and put it around her neck.

 

                The light grew in the east. Quickly the darkness was gone and sunlight streamed across the blue ocean. Corky was up with the dawn, and he and Jack went down to the Goose to further investigate the missing charts.

                Corky cleaned up the mess and started to prep the Goose for the flight to Tagataya. He checked the fuel tanks and made sure the engine oil was full. He even washed the cockpit windows.

                Jake got down to the Goose next.

                “Morning Corky,” said Jake. “How did you sleep?” Under his breath “With all the vampires on the loose?” Jack looked at him. “Oh come on Jack. You can’t be serious.”

                “Bon jour,” said Louie, as he came down the dock. He carried a battered attaché case with him. “Are we ready to go yet?”

                “We’ll be ready in a minute,” replied Corky.

                Sarah was the last to arrive.  She came briskly down to the dock. If Jake or Louie noticed the small cross hanging around her neck, neither one of them commented on it.

                “Load up,” said Jake. Everyone moved in to the Goose. Jake and Corky sat in the cockpit, with Louie and Sarah in the passenger cabin. Jack curled up on his blanket on the floor. They took off for Tagataya.

                Later the Goose taxied in to the dock at Tagataya. Corky jumped out and grabbed the line to tie the nose, and then he ran down and tied the tail. Jake opened the passenger hatch and helped Sarah out. Jack ran out of the cabin. Louie stepped out and looked briefly around.

                “Jake, I will be going to the Ministry to file a report, then I will try to find out some information on that plane, and whether or not it passed through Tagataya. Could you inquire down at the docks for me?”

                “We certainly will,” answered Sarah.

                Louie walked off towards the Ministry of Justice, as Sarah and Jake headed for the harbormaster’s office. When they got there, they found him sitting in the office, with a ceiling fan slowly moving above his head. He was also waving a small fan at his sweating face.

                “Bon jour Monsieur,” began Sarah, “we are looking for information on any seaplanes that may have taken off from here last night or the night before. Do you have any records of that?”

                The Harbormaster slowly put his fan down and looked up at Sarah and Jake. He let out a great sigh. “Oui, Mademoiselle, I think I know which plane you are talking about. It came in late the night before last.”

                “How do you know which one we mean?” asked Jake.

                “Well Monsieur, someone else was asking about this plane this morning as well. I will tell you the same thing I told her. It came in the night before last, and the pilot, a very effrayant, how you would say, scary looking Englishman, came to the office and paid the harbor fee and told me that no one was to disturb his plane while he was gone on business. I can’t imagine that someone would want to disturb his plane, it was very strange looking.”

                “How do you mean?” asked Sarah.

                “Well, the windows were all covered in dark paint. Even the cockpit windows were blacked out. How did they fly the plane?”

                “I don’t know,” replied Jake. “You’re sure about this, right?”

                “Oui, I saw it for myself. Then last night, around sunset, the plane left. This was after the murder. So the gendarmes are looking for the plane right now.”

                “Murder!” exclaimed Sarah.

                “Oui, one of my men was found dead last night.”

                “What happened to him?” asked Jake.

                “The gendarmes are not telling us. I just saw him being taken away, it looked like someone had slit his throat.”

                “Jake! What do you think?” asked Sarah.

                “I think that Louie will find this all out, but he might also like to know who else was looking for this plane. Monsieur, can you tell us who this other person was?”

                “She was an English woman. She came down to the docks early this morning. She said that if we heard anything to send word to her hotel. I have it written down here.” He dug around on his cluttered desk and came up with a small piece of paper. Jake took it and read it.

                “Thanks, we’ll check it out,” said Jake.

                Jake and Sarah headed back to the Goose. “Corky, refuel the Goose and wait here for Louie,” said Jake, “Sarah and I are going to check on something.”

                “Sure Jake,” replied Corky.

                Jake and Sarah started walking away from the docks. They moved down the streets, through the stifling heat. They wound their way to the Commander Hotel. As they entered the lobby Sarah turned to Jake. “You know, I should really go up and talk to her. I can put her at ease.”

                “Do you think I wouldn’t?” asked Jake.

                “Now Jake, she may be more willing to open up to me. You can be kind of, well, of…”

                “Yes,” said Jake, looking at her.

                “Distracting. I mean, intimidating,” said Sarah, as she flushed pink. “She might not want to talk to you.”

                Jake continued to simply look at Sarah, with a slight grin on his face that threatened to grow into something more. She ignored him and regained her composure. She turned and walked up the stairs. Jake moved off into the bar and sat down to wait for her to come back.

                Sarah climbed the stairs to the third floor. When she reached the hallway, she turned and walked down towards room 303. The hallway was lit by dim sunlight streaming in through dirty windows at the end of the hall. The carpet was worn, and there were mouse tracks in the dust along the edges. Sarah reached room 303 and knocked on the door.

                “Yes,” a voice answered, not English, but American.

                “Um, I’m looking for an Eleanor Giles?” asked Sarah.

                The door cracked open, a young girl, with curly blond hair and deep blue eyes looks through the crack. A small cross was around her neck. “She’s not here at the moment. Can I help you?”

                “Yes, I’m Sarah Stickney-White. I wanted to ask her about some people that she has been looking for,” replied Sarah.

                “Oh, you’re American!” The girl opened the door all the way. “Please come in. I’m expecting her back at any moment. My name is Helena, and I’m from New York City.”

                Sarah entered the room. She looked around, there seemed to be a great deal of luggage for just two people. Sarah sat on the edge of one of the beds, and started to talk to the girl.

                Back at the bar, Jake was settling in with a cold bottle of beer. Before he took his first sip, he heard someone talking to the Concierge. “Please have tea sent to my room, tea for two,” an English voice instructed.

                Jake jumped out of his chair and strode to the lobby. “Mrs. Giles?” he called, questioningly.

                A woman turned on the stairway. Dressed sensibly in khaki shorts and blouse, she looked at Jake. “Sir, I am at a disadvantage. May I ask who you are?”

                “Oh, sorry. My name is Jake, Jake Cutter, and I was looking for you,” said Jake, as he caught up with her.

                “I’m actually quite tired Mr. Cutter. I really don’t feel like talking to anyone at the moment,” she replied. And she turned and continued up the stairs.

                “But I’m here investigating a murder on Boragora. I’m here with the French magistrate Bon Chance Louie - ”

                She turned and quickly walked down the stairs. “Murder? And did you say Bon Chance Louie?” she asked impatiently.

                “Yes, he’s starting the official investigation. We’re just checking out the appearance of a mysterious Englishman on Boragora last night,” replied Jake.

                “Come along, up to my room, this is really no place to discuss such matters,” and she turned and headed back up the stairs. Jake hurried up the stairs after her. When they got to the room, Eleanor was amazed to see Sarah talking with Helena.

                “Helena, who is this woman?” asked Eleanor.

                Jake stepped in “This is my friend, Sarah Stickney-White. She’s helping us with the investigation. Sarah, this is Eleanor Giles.”

                “How nice to meet you, Mrs. Giles.” Sarah extended her hand.

                Eleanor shook Sarah’s hand and turned to Jake. “This is my ward, Helena Swanson. She’s my traveling companion. Now, Mr. Cutter, what can you tell me about this murder, and where is Bon Chance Louie?”

                “Call me Jake, and I don’t know too much about the murder. An Englishman landed his plane at our docks; he was looking for some charts to other islands in the Marivellas. After a short time we heard a scream. We found one of the local kids dead in the jungle. It wasn’t this man, because he was with us –“

                “It was a woman, correct?” said Eleanor.

                “That’s what we think! How did you know?” asked Sarah.

                “We’re looking for the same couple. What else do you know? Do you know how the child died?”

                “Well, it might be better to talk to Louie about it. He’s the Magistrate on the island. We can go find him and talk to him.”

                “Bon Chance Louie? The Magistrate of Justice?” Eleanor smiled to herself. “Yes, let’s go find him.”

                They all got up and left the room. They moved back out in to the heat of the day, and walked towards the Ministry. There they discovered that Louie had gone back to the Goose. The group headed down to the dock area.

                Jack noticed them from his spot on one of the cargo crates. He jumped down and walked over towards Jake.

                “Helena and Eleanor, this is Jack,” said Jake.

                “Oh, what a cute doggy!” exclaimed Helena, and she bent down to pat Jack on his head. He allowed a brief pat before ducking out of her way. “But what happened to his eye?”

                Jack glared at Jake, causing Helena to look at him.

                “It wasn’t my fault, he just holds a grudge longer than anyone I know,” responded Jake, a little flustered.

                Louie walked up the plank from the dockside. He spotted Eleanor.

                “Oh, Jake, mon ami, I see you have located the source of our troubles.”

                “Don’t you start with me, Louie,” retorted Eleanor. “I’m trying to solve your problems. What are you doing about it? Filing an official report isn’t going to do much you know. Jake, can we impose on you to bring us to Boragora? There’s probably some unfinished business there.”

                Jake turned to Louie, with a questioning look on his face.

                “Oui, Jake, she is right. We should probably bring them along to Boragora.”

                Jake, Corky and Eleanor went back to the hotel for the luggage. Helena was content to talk to Jack. When they got back, Jake was dragging a huge trunk and Corky was balancing several bandboxes precariously in his arms. Jake was arguing with Eleanor.

                “Look, you can leave a lot of this here and pick it up on your way back. The Clipper stops at Boragora and then comes back to Tagataya.”

                “Mr. Cutter, we need all of this luggage with us. It will not do any good if it is sitting in storage here on Tagataya,” replied Eleanor.

                “But this trunk is heavy. It’s like its filled with water or something,” said Jake.

                Louie looked at Eleanor. “We should probably bring it mon ami, Mrs. Giles is right about it being needed.”

                “If you say so Louie, but it’s going to slow us down even more getting back.” Jake went to help Corky load the cargo so that the Goose would fly with some reasonable stability on the way back to Boragora.

                After the cargo was loaded, Jake directed everyone to their seats in the plane. He sat down in the cockpit and started the engines. Corky untied the mooring ropes and jumped into the Goose. The loaded Goose sluggishly made her way to open water and then took off.

                 

                The Goose returned to Boragora as the sun was going down. Louie showed Eleanor and Helena to their room; Jake and Corky hauled the luggage up the stairs. Eleanor and Helena returned shortly to Louie’s study. Sarah, Jake, and Jack were sitting and waiting for them.

                “Louie,” asked Eleanor, “what happened to the victim’s body?”

                “The Reverend took it. We must ask him.” Louie walked out to the bar and sent someone to find Reverend Willie. When Willie came in, Eleanor turned to him.

                “Reverend, the young man who was murdered last night, what happened to his body? Was he cremated or buried?”

                Willie looked around at everyone before he answers, “Vell, he vas buried zis morning. His family vanted him buried as a Christian.”

                “Where is the graveyard, Reverend?” asked Eleanor.

                “It iss just past ze chapel, down ze path,” responded Willie.

                Eleanor looked pointedly at Helena. Helena got up and left the study. Jack followed her out of the room. Helena continued out the door of the bar, with Jack following. She turned to him.

                “No Jack,” she said, “you can’t come with me. Go back in, it’ll be safer that way.”

                Jack responded no, and sat to look at her. She turned and resumed her way. Jack got up and followed her up the stairs. She entered her room and Jack sat to wait for her.

                She quickly came back out, with a large purse slung across her shoulder. “Jack, I mean it. You have to go back, I don’t have time to take you back. It could be very dangerous. Go back!”

                Jack barked no. Helena sighed and walked back down the stairs. She headed off down the pathway, with Jack following.

                Back in Louie’s study, after Willie had left, Sarah, Jake, Eleanor and Louie sat down to talk about what was going on. Jake had a French beer, while Louie and Eleanor had some wine. Sarah was only drinking water.

                “Where did Helena go to?” asked Sarah. “What if the killer is still out there? She doesn’t know her way around the island.”

                “Helena is quite capable of taking care of herself,” replied Eleanor.

                “And Jack went with her,” added Jake. “But I want to know what she’s doing?”

                “Mon ami, Mrs. Giles has not been completely forthcoming with us, I suspect,” said Louie.

                “They probably already know more than they need to Louie,” returned Eleanor.

                “No, I think that they need to know the truth, and if you will not tell them, I will.”

                Eleanor stared at Louie, who calmly looked back at her. Louie walked over to his bookshelf and pulled down the “Vampyr” book. “Helena is a slayer. A vampire slayer. And Mrs. Giles is her Watcher.”

                “Watcher, slayer, what are you talking about Louie?” asked Sarah, confused.

                “He’s talking about things he has no business discussing. It just places all of you in more danger,” replied Eleanor, tightly.

                “Danger or not, who is going to explain to me what a Slayer and a Watcher are?” said Sarah.

                Eleanor looked around at them. Jake was looking concerned, and Sarah looked impatient. Louie had a mixture of sadness and concern on his face. She began, “In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. Helena is the slayer. I am her Watcher. I help her with gathering information and training.”

                Jake and Sarah looked at each other. Jake spoke up, “You too? I thought that this vampire stuff was just from Louie.”

                “I am afraid she is very serious Jake. Helena is out there now slaying the new vampire,” said Louie.

                “What?” said Jake, as he stood up. “If it’s so dangerous why would you let her go by herself?”

                “She’s very capable, Mr. Cutter. And besides, you said she had Jack to help her” replied Eleanor.

                Jake sat back down. Louie refilled his own wineglass and offered more to Eleanor. She declined, but Sarah asked for some. Louie went and got a glass for Sarah and filled it. He handed it to her and then sat down at his desk.

                “Well, Mrs. Giles, are you going to tell us why you are here? I am the magistrate after all.”

                Eleanor sighed and reached for the “Vampyr” book. “Helena and I are on the trail of a pair of very dangerous vampires.” She paged through the book. “William the Bloody and his consort Drusilla. William is also known more commonly as ‘Spike’, a slightly less graphic, but no less descriptive name.”

                “What are they doing in the Marivellas?” asked Sarah.

                “We’re not absolutely sure, but it is known that Drusilla is quite mad and has been ill for many years. Spike has been searching for a cure for quite some time. Some of the lesser-known texts point to a source of evil here in the Marivellas. I tracked Spike to Tagataya from California through Hawaii. I think he’s come to his destination, where ever that may be.”

                “Well, maybe we can find out,” said Jake. “Let’s go down to the Goose and see what charts Spike took. We could then piece together his possible destinations.”

                Everyone got up and headed out of the office. Jake asked Corky to come with them while they go investigate the Goose. They headed down to the dock, with flashlights. Jake and Corky got in the plane, while Louie, Sarah and Eleanor waited on the dock.

                After a few minutes rummaging through the charts, Jake came back out. “It looks to me like a couple of the charts for the Japanese Mandate are missing.”

                “Figures,” said Corky.

                As they are headed back to the Monkey Bar, Helena came walking out of the jungle, following Jack. Eleanor turned to her and said, “Helena, let’s go back inside to Louie’s office.”

                They all walked back through the bar to Louie’s office; Louie picked up a Coca-Cola for Helena. Everyone sat down and Eleanor said to Helena, “Tell us what happened, it is fine to talk in front of everyone.” She looked pointedly at Louie.

                Helena took a drink, and reached down to pat Jack on the head. Corky and Jake looked at each other. “Jack here was nice enough to help me find the, er, vampire. It had already left the graveyard and was looking for someone to bite.” She took another drink and continued, “the Reverend was walking along the path when Jack spotted the vampire. It was running up to the Reverend and going to bite him. I caught up with it from behind and staked it. Not a very smart one anyway. By the time the Reverend turned around, the vampire had turned to dust. I don’t think he knew what was there. I told him that Jack and I were out for a little walk and had to head back.”

                “Well,” said Louie, “we should be safe now, at least here on Boragora. But we really need to find out more about where this Spike creature is going. Jake, can you help me with the charts so that we can try to pinpoint his location?”

                “Sure, Louie.”

                “Everyone else should go to bed. We could have a lot of work ahead of us.”

 

                Louie woke to a still, cool morning. He came down to the bar and put some water on to boil for coffee. Someone had put his battered old teapot on the stove, and it was whistling. Just as he was taking it off of the heat, Eleanor walked in to the room.

                “Ah, Louie, you’ve rescued my water. Thank you very much.” She brought out some tea from a small case she left next to the stove.

                “Oui. What are you doing up so early?”

                “I am doing a little research in your library. You have quite the collection, considering you’re in the middle of nowhere. I was especially interested in your collection of books on local lore. They’re much more informative than some of the books I have,” she replied as she put the tea ball into the pot.

                “Have you found anything? Jake and I were not able to determine exactly were this ‘Spike’ might be going.”

                “Well, I have found an interesting little book, in French, about some of the local deities. It mentions a volcano goddess, named Polensar, that is supposed to be able to grant requests,” said Eleanor.

                They both moved off in to the office. Eleanor put her tea down, and picked up a small book. She opened it and showed Louie one of the illustrations. It depicted an island with a smoking volcano in the middle.

                “You have to sacrifice humans to her in order for her to listen to you,” added Eleanor.

                “Does this book say where the island is located?” asked Louie.

                “It gives some vague references, but I was hoping that you or Mr. Cutter could help me figure it out.”

                “Did someone mention me?” said Jake, as he walked in to Louie’s office, with two cups of coffee in his hands.

                “Good morning, Mr. Cutter,” replied Eleanor. “I was just talking to Louie about finding out where Spike has gone. I have some more information about his destination.”

                Jack followed Jake in and sat down. Jake put a cup on the ground in front of Jack. Jack started drinking the coffee.

                “That dog is amazing!” said Eleanor. Jack stopped drinking momentarily and looked at Eleanor.

                “Pay no attention to him, Mrs. Giles. We don’t want to make him more full of himself than he already is,” commented Jake. Jack turned to look at Jake, and then he went back to his coffee.

                Jake walked over to Eleanor and he looked at the book. “Well, this picture might narrow it down. It could still take a while to figure it out.” Jake sat down at the desk, with the book and some of the charts. He began to carefully compare the drawing of the island with the various little islands in the Marivellas.

                Louie and Eleanor left Jake in the office to ponder the aeronautical charts. They moved in to the main bar area and sat down. Sarah and Helena came in. Helena poured herself some tea. Louie moved to get breakfast for everybody.

                The Monkey Bar began to fill up as the day progressed. Customers came and went. Smoke and heat began to fill the room, even with the windows open and the ceiling fans slowly turning. When Willie came in, Louie called out to him: “Reverend, can you do me a favor?”

                Willie moved over towards the bar and sat down. “Certainly, Louie. Vat can I do for you?”

                Louie brought out a big bucket of water and set it on the bar. “I was wondering if you could bless this and make it Holy Water for me?"

                “Holy Vater?” asked Willie quizzically. He looked down at the bucket of water, and then looked at Louie. “Vell, I guess I can do that for you.” Willie looked again at the bucket, a puzzled look flashed across his face. He brought out his Bible and paged through it and muttered.

                He waved his hand over the bucket a couple of times.  Then he closed his Bible and looked back to Louie. “Zere. That should do it for you. A bucket of Holy Vater.” He reached for a beer.

                “Merci, Reverend,” said Louie, as he lifted the bucket back behind the bar. He reached for one of his spritzer bottles and dumped out the charged water. He filled the bottle with Holy Water. He tested the spray back in to the bucket. Satisfied, he refilled the bottle and filled some other ones with Holy Water.

                Corky walked into the Monkey Bar. He had a wrench sticking out of his pocket. “Has anyone seen Jake?”

                “He is in my office, looking over some charts,” replied Louie.

                Corky walked back to the office; Sarah is helping Jake narrow the possibilities where Spike went. There are charts strewn about the desk. Jake looked up from studying one of the charts, “Hi Corky!”

                “Hi Jake. I wanted to know if you’re taking the Goose out today. I have to fix one of the stabilizers and it could take a couple of hours.”

                “No, I don’t think we’ll have too much luck here, so go ahead and fix the Goose. Let me know how it goes, though,” replied Jake.

                “Ok, Jake,” said Corky and he headed down to the Goose. He made his way to the dock and grabbed his toolbox. He climbed into the Goose and started working on repairing the stabilizer.

                Corky worked on the Goose all day, while Jake and Sarah, with some help from Louie, worked on locating Spike’s destination. Eleanor continued to study in the office, while Helena spent time with Jack.

                Later that day, just as the sun was going down, Jake came out of the office. He took off his cap and ran his fingers through his hair. He put his cap back on and then he stretched out his arms. “Gushie, I could use a beer.”

                “How is it going Jake?” replied Gushie, as he brought out a bottle of beer. He poured it in a glass and handed it to Jake.

                Jake took a long draught of the beer before he answered. “Well, I’m doing good. It looks like a little bit more work and we should have what we need.”

                Corky came in, his overalls dirtier than usual. He looked at Jake. “I finished fixing the stabilizer Jake. It’s working fine now.” He sat down at the bar and looked at Jake’s beer.

                Jake thought for a moment, and then told Gushie, “A beer for Corky. And could you send some food in for Louie, Mrs. Giles, Helena and I? I have to go back to the office.”

                “Thanks Jake,” said Corky.

                “You look like you’ve had a long day,” said Jake. He headed back towards the office, carrying his beer, as Gushie poured one for Corky.

                As full darkness fell on Boragora, a small dinghy quietly motored to the shore from a large yacht just around the side of the island. As it got closer to the dock the motor stopped and it glided to a halt.

                Luke, a very large, dangerous looking man jumped out of the dinghy. Darla, a sweet looking blonde girl confidently walked behind him. Last to get out of the boat was a nervous looking young man, Adam. He followed behind the other two.

                By the time the three of them reached the Monkey Bar, Luke had transformed into a hideous creature. His face had become a nightmare and his eyes have changed to glowing red. He had become even more terrifying than before. They entered the bar, with Luke pushing the door open and Darla smiling as she skipped in behind him.

                Jack turned to the door and immediately started barking. He ran behind a table and continued barking at the three of them. Darla walked over to Corky, who, after staring at Luke, put his beer down and blinked his eyes. She grabbed his overalls and pulled him close to her face. On her breath was something foul that he had never smelt before.

                “All right buster, was Spike here?” she asked, with a very sweet smile on her face, and her eyes twinkled prettily.

                “Sp..Sp…Spike?” replied Corky, unable to form any other response.

                Luke turned his attention to Sarah. He picked her up and held her immobile. Sarah screamed.

                Jack’s bark had brought Louie, Jake, Eleanor and Helena from the office. Jake ran at Luke and started striking him. Louie headed to the bar and raced behind it. Helena ran towards Adam, who was trying to reach Jack, his face now transformed like Luke’s.

                Luke turned from Sarah and hit Jake hard in the chest; he went flying across the room. Louie reached under the bar for his spritzer bottle of Holy Water. As Darla was reaching back to hit Corky, Louie released a huge spray at Darla’s face.

                Darla turns to look at Louie, her blond hair now hung limply on her head. Her eyes glowed red and her face transformed into a monster’s face. She threw Corky to the ground. “Ok, little man. You ruined my hairstyle and now you’re going to pay!” She jumped up on the bar, from the ground to a standing position, faster than humanly possible.

                Helena gave Adam multiple kicks, her feet flying. He reeled from her blows and grunted. Luke looked over his direction in time to see Helena pull a wooden stake from her belt and drive it through Adam’s heart. As Adam fell to the ground his body turned to dust. Helena wheeled around, still brandishing the stake.

                “Darla! Slayer!” called Luke as he dropped Sarah to the floor. Darla turned from Louie and looked at Luke, then at Helena. She jumped down and began to charge, but Luke said, “No, let’s go, Spike’s been here. We’ll catch up.” Luke crashed through the door. Darla glared at Helena, but when Luke left she turned and ran also.

                Jake ran to help Sarah to her feet, and Helena helped Corky up. Jack came out and ran to the door. He continued barking until they heard the dinghy speed away from the island.

                “Who, or what was that?” asked Sarah.

                “Well, the female was called ‘Darla’ by the male,” replied Eleanor. “Darla is associated with an entity called ‘The Master’, who is assisted by a behemoth named ‘Luke’, whom I believe you just met.”

                “What are they?” asked Corky.

                “Corky, come into the office with us,” replied Jake.

                They all moved in to Louie’s office. Sarah sat down and Jake got her some brandy. Louie brought another beer and handed it to Corky.

                “Wait just a minute,” said Corky. “I want to know what sort of monsters those things were. That girl was scary.”

                Jake turned to Corky, his face concerned for his friend. “Corky, Louie says that they’re vampires.”

                “What? Vampires. That’s ridiculous,” exclaimed Corky, his voice rising. “Vampires don’t exist. Right Jake?” Jake remained silent. “Come on, Jake, they can’t be vampires. Jack, there can’t be vampires, right?”

                Jack barked yes.

                Corky’s face turned pale, and he sat down on the sofa. “I think I need that beer.”

                “Mr. Cutter,” began Eleanor, “it’s now more imperative that we find out where Spike is headed. We must stop Darla and Luke from carrying out their plans also. I’m sure their plans will be of no good.”

                Jake stood up from where he was helping Sarah. He moved over towards Louie’s desk and grabbed a chart. “I believe he was headed towards one of these three islands. All of them are in the Japanese Mandate, so getting there is tricky.”

                “But it can be done, correct?” asked Eleanor.

                “Yes,” replied Jake.

                “Then you must take Helena there so that she can slay Spike and Drusilla, and we must do something about Luke and Darla. They cannot be allowed to access this goddess either.”

                “Take Helena!” said Jake with astonishment. “You can’t be serious.”

                “Oui Jake, she is serious,” said Louie.

                “I am the Slayer, Mr. Cutter,” added Helena.

                “That may be, but I can’t go putting you in danger like that!” exclaimed Jake.

                “She’s the only one who can handle it, Mr. Cutter,” said Eleanor.

                “Come on, that guy was incredibly strong,” said Jake.

                “And so was the girl,” added Corky.

                “I can handle it, Mr. Cutter. That’s my job,” said Helena firmly.

                “I can’t do it. I can’t put a little girl in jeopardy,” said Jake.

                “Little girl!” shouted Helena. She walked slowly over to Jake. Suddenly, almost unnaturally quickly, she reached out and grabbed him under his arms. She lifted him in the air. Jake’s eyes grew big. “Little girl!” she repeated. Sarah started to giggle. Helena put Jake down. “Little girl!”

                Sarah’s eyes twinkled as she covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. “This is serious, Sarah” said Jake. Sarah quieted down, but kept smiling.

                “Oh, all right,” continued Jake. “I’ll take you.” Jack barked yes.

 

                In a dark cave on another island, Spike was pacing back and forth in front of Drusilla, who was studying her black nails intently. She had long black hair, and her eyes were black, like the deepest abyss in the ocean. Her skin was pale, and almost glowed on its own. Her movements were fluid, but seemed unfocussed, like she wasn’t sure why she was doing something.

                “Really luv, this place is vile. What kind of all-powerful goddess lives in a rat hole of an island like this?” asked Spike as he kicked one of the many brown rats that scurried by.

                “Spike, I can hear her, she’s talking to me,” said Drusilla, her voice sounded like it was coming from far away.

                “She’s talking to you? Isn’t that bloody great. What does she say Dru? Is she going to help you?” asked Spike.

                “She’s hungry, Spike. I’m hungry, Spike,” replied Drusilla.

                “Of course you’re hungry luv, there’s hardly a bloody thing to eat on this island. Those natives taste disgusting.”

                “She wants them, Spike. The natives. She wants them,” commented Drusilla.

                “Well, lets bring them to her. Tomorrow night luv, we’ll go round ‘em up and feed her. I could use something myself.”

                “Tomorrow night, she can wait, she says. But not for long,” said Drusilla, as she scratched her nails in the dirt floor of the cave.  “Not for long.”

 

                Jack woke up. He slowly stood. His front legs stretched out in front of him as he yawned. He jumped down off the chair he was sleeping on and flapped his head; it started at his ears and quickly ended at his tail. He walked to the door and pushed it open with his nose. He squinted his eye in the early morning sunlight. As he walked down the stairs he could hear Jake and Sarah.

                “Absolutely not Sarah,” said Jake, his voice slightly rising.

                Jack walked in to the Monkey Bar as Sarah replied, “Really, Jake Cutter, you’d think I’d never faced danger before. I’m just as capable as you are. And you’re going.”

                “Vampires, Sarah? It didn’t go well last night with the vampires. Anyway, I’m flying the plane, not slaying vampires,” replied Jake.

                “I’m not helpless, you know,” said Sarah. “I can take care of myself.”

                “Miss Stickney-White,” began Helena, as she walked in to the Monkey Bar, dressed in khaki shorts, with a white blouse, and her hair tied behind her head. She was carrying a canvas bag over her shoulder. “It’s more dangerous than you can imagine. I’d rather not even have Mr. Cutter come along. But I can’t fly the plane.”

                She walked over to the bar. She picked up one of Louie’s spritzer bottles. She tested how it sprays, and smiled.

                “But wouldn’t it be more helpful to have more people fighting?” asked Sarah.

                “No,” replied Helena. “I’d just have to look out for more people then. I’m not trying to say that you’re helpless, Miss Stickney-White, but you would probably be in way over your head.”

                Sarah turned to Jake. “But Jake, she’s just a little…” she broke off as Helena looked sharply at her. “Jake Cutter, wipe that ridiculous grin of your face. This is serious.”

                Louie and Eleanor came in, talking, but they abruptly stopped when they saw everyone in the Monkey Bar. Louie walked behind the bar and started to make some coffee and tea for everyone. Corky stuck his head in.

                “Jake, the Goose is fueled and ready to go,” called Corky.

                “Great Corky. We’ll be down in a couple minutes,” replied Jake.

                “We’ll all be down,” added Sarah. Both Jake and Helena looked at her.

                Helena turned to Louie, she picked up one of the spritzer bottles. “Louie, can I take one of these? Your Holy Water idea was a good one.”

                “Oui, Mademoiselle. But it did not seem to work right last night,” said Louie, as he looked carefully at the device.

                “I brought my own Holy Water to try,” replied Helena.

                “I knew it!” exclaimed Jake. “Water! That trunk was pretty heavy.”

                Helena grabbed the spritzer bottle, and put it in her canvas bag. She turned to Eleanor and nodded her head. She moved out of the bar and Jack followed her. Jake and Sarah are behind them, with Eleanor coming last. Louie stayed in the bar and looked as Helena walked down to the Goose.

                Down at the plane, Corky had the passenger door open, and he was packing some supplies. He was wearing a wooden cross, with an aviator’s silk scarf tied tightly around his neck. There was a pungent smell of garlic around him. Helena and Jack arrived and he greeted them. “Hi, Helena, Jack. I’m just packing some supplies for the trip. Don’t worry Jack, I’ve packed some food for you, along with your bed.”

                “Jack,” said Helena, “you can’t go! It’s too dangerous for you!”

                Jack barked no.

                Jake and Sarah came up behind them. “Helena, no one is more stubborn than Jack,” said Jake as he looked at Sarah.

                Jack barked yes, but turned his gaze to Sarah.

                “Well, if Jack can go,” began Sarah, “then so can I.”

                “No!” shouted both Helena and Jake, and Jack barked no, as if to add emphasis.

                Eleanor arrived at the docks and said to Sarah, “You should stay here with us. Helena will be able to do her job better without having to worry about you.”

                “You’re not going?” asked Sarah.

                “No, I am her Watcher. She is the Slayer. Those roles are very carefully defined. It is best if we let her do her job,” replied Eleanor, who moved over to Helena. She reached out and held her close. Into her ear she whispered, “Be careful dear.”

                Jack jumped in to the Goose and barked yes. Helena slowly moved away from Eleanor and made her way into the cabin. Jake looked tenderly at Sarah and his eyes met hers. Sarah looked at Jake, her face was filled with concern. They moved together and Sarah held on to Jake tightly and closed her eyes.

                “Jake Cutter, you be careful. I am going to be worried sick about you.”

                “Don’t worry Sarah. I’ve got Helena to protect me,” said Jake.

                Jack barked.

                “And Jack,” he added.

                Sarah let go of Jake, and he moved in to the pilot’s chair. Corky came in to the cockpit and sat down.

                “No arguments Jake. I’m coming with you. You need a copilot, it could be a long day,” said Corky.

                After a brief pause, Jake said, “Thanks Corky.”

                The hatches were closed and Sarah untied the mooring ropes. Jake started the engines and the Goose slowly taxied out of the lagoon to open water. She took off.

                Sarah and Eleanor slowly walked back to the Monkey Bar.

                “How can she do it?” asked Sarah.

                “She’s been well trained, and she’s smart. I have every confidence in her abilities,” replied Eleanor as they both went back in to the Monkey Bar.

                Louie was cleaning up the bar, and getting things ready for Gushie to come in later. He looked up at Sarah and Eleanor, and then he went back to his cleaning. Sarah looked around the bar, and she decided she wasn’t feeling very sociable. Without saying anything, she left and went back to her room.

                Louie looked up at Eleanor. He stopped what he was doing and lit a cigarette. “Well, Eleanor. She is off, oui?”

                “Yes, Louie. She is gone,” replied Eleanor, her voice tired. “She’ll do fine. She has been well trained, and has had experience. I do not worry about her.”

                “That is good, Eleanor. I worry about her. I cannot help it.”

                “Monique was inexperienced Louie. It hurts me as much as it hurt you.”

                “She was my youngest niece,” said Louie. “She was only thirteen.”

                Eleanor looked straight at him. Her eyes remained steady. “I know, don’t you think I know?” Her gaze dropped and her eyes moistened.

                “You were her Watcher, Eleanor. You promised us she would be well trained,” he returned, with steel in his voice.

                Eleanor sat down, and her shoulders shook silently. “I’m sorry, Louie. I did my best with her. She was so young.”

                “It is too late for Monique. Tell me you have done better with Helena?” asked Louie.

                Eleanor wept for a few seconds, and her tears fell on the stained tablecloth. Finally she answered him. “I have done better, Louie. Helena is exceptional. She will succeed where…where…”

                “Where Monique failed?” finished Louie. “Where Monique failed to kill William the Bloody?”

                “Oh Louie, I had to kill her!” cried Eleanor. “He turned her and I had to kill her! I made a vow never to lose a Slayer again. I will not lose another Slayer. Helena is prepared; she is experienced. She can do it.”

                “I hope so, Eleanor. My friends are in her hands.” He put his cigarette out and left the bar.

                It was getting late as the Goose headed towards the third possible island. Corky was looking out his window and he spotted a plane anchored offshore.

                “Jake,” said Corky. “Look!”

                Jake looked out the window. He noticed that the cockpit windows appear to be darkened, and all of the cabin windows seemed to be covered up.

                “That must be the one that was at Boragora the other night,” Jake said.

                “Mr. Cutter, look just below us,” called Helena.

                Jake made a gentle turn so he could see below. A large yacht was anchored offshore as well. And a dinghy was beached on the shore.

                “Great,” said Jake. “It looks like a crowd. I’m taking her in for a landing just around that spur of trees.”

                The Goose made another gentle turn, and started to descend towards the water. As she landed, the reddening sun fell below the horizon, and darkness began to creep across the world.             

                The stars began to shine as Spike and Drusilla left the cave. Spike led her towards the village near the beach. As they moved towards it, several new vampires rose up out of the sandy ground, confused, but fixated on their sires. They followed Spike and Drusilla towards the village.

                “Luv, how many do we need to sacrifice to this goddess?” asked Spike.

                Dru paused and tilted her head, as if listening to the wind. “Most of them, she’s hungry Spike.”

                “I’m hungry too, but you don’t see me wanting everyone in sight,” Spike muttered.

                The group moved in on the village. Some of the people noticed their relatives among the vampires. They reacted in horror. Screams echoed through the village and Spike and the other vampires rounded up the living.

                “Don’t eat them all! One apiece. Bloody hell!” He moved off towards one of the vampires, which was starting to bite a second villager. Spike hit the vampire in the head, and it glared at him. “Look mate, I said one apiece! Just haul this one along. We’re marching to the bloody volcano.”

                Spike grabbed a villager and tied his hands with some vines. He threw some more vines to the other vampires and went to tie others up.

                “Well Dru, which way do we go to get up the mountain?” asked Spike.

                Drusilla looked around, and focused her gaze on the volcano. A small tremor passed through the village and Dru’s face brightened. “This way Spike, she’s this way!” Drusilla walked off in to the jungle.

                “Right,” said Spike, and he roughly grabbed some of the villagers and hauled them along behind Drusilla. “Everybody follow Dru.”

                The rest of the vampires herded the villagers after Spike, up towards the smoking volcano.

                Over on the east side of the island, past the spur of coconut trees that jut out into the ocean, the Goose came to a landing. Corky jumped out and pushed the Goose towards the sandy beach. When the Goose stopped, Jack leapt out and looked around.

                Helena climbed out, with Corky helping her to the shore. She walked over to Jack and surveyed the beach. Corky climbed back into the Goose, and Jake jumped out.

                “Corky,” said Jake, “take her out a couple hundred yards and drop anchor. We’ll shoot off a flare when we’re ready to be picked up.”

                Corky looked relieved and he put his right thumb up and started the engines. Jake pushed the Goose back out towards the open sea. He watched as Corky took the plane out. The engine noise suddenly stopped, and the lights went out in the cockpit. Jake turned towards Helena.

                “Well, what is the plan, Helena?” asked Jake.

                “I have to get my armaments ready, Mr. Cutter,” replied Helena. She dug around in her canvas bag and pulled out one of Louie’s spritzer bottles.

                “Call me Jake, please,” said Jake. He reached in to his jacket pocket and brought out his .38 caliber revolver; as he checked the chambers, Helena looked up.

                “Mr. Cutter. Jake,” she said, “Bullets have no effect on vampires. You’ll be better off with some of these.” She handed him a pair of wooden stakes, about fifteen inches long, with sharp, splintered ends.

                Jake took the stakes and looked at them. He put his revolver back into his jacket pocket.

                “I filled up this spritzer bottle with my Holy Water,” said Helena. “I’m hoping it will be more effective than Louie’s.” She reached in to her bag again and brought out a canteen. “I have extra also.”

                Helena looked down at Jack. She put her hand into her left shorts pocket and pulled out a small cross. She took the cross off of the small gold chain it was on. She bent down and attached it to Jack’s collar.

                “Eleanor gave me that. She said it belonged to someone very special. I think she would approve of you wearing it for protection, Jack.”

                Jack barked yes.

                Helena the opened her canteen of Holy Water and dumped it all on top of Jack. Too startled to say anything, Jake just watched as she rubbed the water into Jack’s coarse fur.

                “Wow, he’s actually letting you do that,” exclaimed Jake.

                Jack barked yes again and looked up at Jake. He didn’t shake the Holy Water off of himself, but did use his paw to wipe some from his eye. He barked yes one more time, and then started off towards the village.

                Spike was walking slowly in to a cave halfway up the volcano. “What an abominable stench! This bloody goddess lives here?” He pushed several of the villagers in after Drusilla. They gagged and coughed, but follow her in.

                “Spike? Spike, this way. She’s over here,” called Drusilla, seemingly oblivious to the smell.

                “Right luv,” replied Spike, waving his hand in front of his face.

                They entered a cavern, illuminated by glowing lava flows and torches that Spike lit. He herded the villagers over towards Drusilla, not gently. Drusilla was staring intently at the lava slowly moving down a trough at the side of the cavern.

                “Spike, here is where we sacrifice them. She’s hungry,” said Drusilla.

                “Right. Ok, all of you people are going to become dinner for Polensar here,” said Spike to the cowering villagers. When he mentioned the goddess’ name, they looked even more terrified and start to try to escape. One of them ran towards the cavern entrance where he was stopped by one of the other vampires. “No one leaves the party until after dinner!”

                The other vampire brought the trembling villager over to Spike. He wrapped his left hand around the man’s neck. Spike turned to Drusilla, dragging the villager around with him. “Into the pit luv?” he asked her.

                “Feed her Spike! Feed her,” replied Drusilla, her eyes beginning to glow red.

                “You’re the appetizer, mate,” said Spike to the villager as he started to move towards the lava.

                “Those are for the Master, Spike,” said Luke, as he and Darla entered the cavern.

                Spike turned around; he actually stared at Luke, momentarily dumbstruck. The villager was able to break free and ran back to the crowd of people, who now appeared more frightened than before.

                A low rumble moved through the cavern, shaking the walls and shifting the floors.

                “She’s mad now Spike,” commented Drusilla.

                Jack led them to the village. Jake and Helena looked around. The see several dead victims, with puncture wounds on their necks.

                “This can’t be all of them,” said Helena, as she looked closely at some of the bodies.

                “No,” said Jake, “there’s got to be many more around here.” Jake looked around the area; he saw many tracks leading off in to the jungle, with one large group of tracks heading towards the volcano.

                Jack came over to Jake and sniffed the ground. He looked towards the jungle and ran off into the dense foliage.

                “Jack,” said Jake, “slow down. Wait for us.” As Helena and Jake moved to follow the barking Jack into the jungle, a tremor passed through the ground, like an earthquake. They stopped and looked around.

                “I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” said Helena, “but I’ll bet it means we have to hurry.” They took off into the jungle, following Jack.

                The trail was easy to follow, many footprints on the dense jungle floor. Jack led them up towards the volcano.

                “Look what you’ve done, you big oaf,” yelled Spike to Luke. “Now you’ve gone and cheesed her off.”

                Luke moved towards Spike. Spike quickly backed up, keeping a respectable distance between him and the larger vampire.

                “I repeat, these are for the Master!” said Luke.

                “Look, the Master has gone and buried himself in a Hellmouth. I want these to help Dru. Your bloody Master can just wait.”

                Darla moved towards Drusilla, but Drusilla refused to give any ground, she looked at Darla, her eyes red and her face contorted in blood lust. She was muttering to herself.

                “What’s that? What are you saying, crazy girl?” asked Darla, teasing her. Drusilla bared her teeth, but moved a little further away from the smiling Darla.

                “I want them for the Master!” repeated Luke. Another tremor shook the room.

                “You said that already, mate,” replied Spike.  “We’ve all heard that. Move on to something new because I’m keeping them for Dru.”

                Jack rounded a bend in the mountainside and came to the entrance to the cavern. He let out a soft whimper as Jake and Helena caught up to him.

                “That’s where they went?” asked Jake.

                Jack softly barked yes.

                “I’ll be back soon,” said Helena.  “If any come out, try and stake them.” She started to move off towards the entrance to the cave.

                “Wait Helena,” called Jake. “I’m coming in, what if there are more than just Spike and Drusilla? Plus, someone has to help with the villagers.”

                Helena, first looked worried, then relieved, said, “Ok, but remember to be careful!”

                “Jack, you stay here,” said Jake.

                Jack barked softly yes, and watched Helena and Jake walk in to the cave.

 

                Spike’s eyes began to glow red. “We don’t have time for this. I’m taking the bloody people and throwing them in the bloody lava so that the bleeding goddess can help Dru!”

                There were more tremors, and some small chips fell to the floor of the cavern. The rumblings in the floor got louder.

                “No Spike, they are the Master’s. We will serve the Master!” replied Luke, slowly moving towards Spike.

                “The Master can sod off!” returned Spike, growing angrier as the tremors grew more intense.

                “Hey Drusilla,” said Darla, so sweetly that even Spike looked over to her, “you’re not still upset about little Angel are you?”

                Drusilla glared at Darla, her red eyes glowing brighter and brighter. Suddenly she looked towards the cavern door. “More people, Spike, she’s furious!” She looked harder at the cavern entrance. “Slayer! Spike, a Slayer!”

                Darla looked quickly at Luke. Luke shrugged his shoulders.

                “Slayer?” shouted Spike. “You led a bloody Slayer here? Were you planning to tell anyone, or just sit there until she comes in and puts a bloody stake in our backs?”

                “We can handle a Slayer,” replied Luke, “after we handle you.”

                Spike growled and leapt at Luke, who swatted him into the cavern wall. Spike jumped up and started to wrap his hands around Luke’s neck.

                Darla charged Drusilla, her face changing as she moved. Drusilla didn’t put up much resistance, her raking nails serving only to enrage Darla.

                Helena and Jake burst in to the cavern. Spike was grappling with Luke, punching him and kicking him, while Luke was trying to push him away. Darla was punching Drusilla, who was scratching at her face. A vampire ran at Jake. Two of the other vampires moved in on Helena, she pulled two stakes out and plunged them directly into their chests. The vampires screamed, stopped, and turned into a fine dust, which fell to the floor.

                Jake brandished the stake that Helena gave him. He swung it around as the vampire clumsily tried to bite at him. Jake’s hand to hand fighting experience came in handy, as this new vampire was unable to breach his defenses. Jake reached in past the vampire’s guard and shoved the stake into the vampire’s heart. The vampire let out a scream and turned to dust.

                At the vampire’s scream, Darla turned around to look. Drusilla gave a mighty push and Darla fell to the floor. Drusilla ran from the cavern. Darla got up off the floor, she growled incoherently, and took off after Drusilla into the night.

                Spike looked up from his pounding on Luke; he saw Drusilla run away, and Darla following her. He hit Luke one more time and then he broke free. He followed the other two vampires out of the cavern.

                The villagers crowded towards the doorway. They ran out of the cavern, into the dark passageway leading to the outside.

                Luke started to go after Spike but Helena grabbed him from behind and threw him back to the ground. “Not so fast, Mr. Big and Ugly,” she said.

                Luke looked up and grinned, “All right, little girl. I’ll stay and eat you.” He slowly got up, his bulk towering over Helena, who moved back a little.

                Jack was watching the cavern entrance. He heard something coming.

                Drusilla came running out of the cavern. She stopped and looked around, her eyes met Jacks one eye and she started to move towards him.

                “Nice doggie,” she said, softly, her eyes mesmerizing.

                Suddenly, Darla exited the cave. She jumped on Drusilla’s back and drove her to the ground. She straddled her and started to hit Drusilla. She bared her fangs as she moved them closer to Drusilla’s neck.

                Jack ran in to the fray between Darla and Drusilla. Just as Darla was bringing her fangs down to the back of Drusilla’s neck, Jack bit her left ankle. As his teeth contacted the undead flesh, his tiny cross brushed Darla’s calf. This caused her to scream in agony.

                Darla rolled off of Drusilla and turned her glowing red eyes to Jack, who was still baring his teeth to her.

                “You little pest,” screeched Darla, as she wound up her hand and struck Jack on the left side.

                She screamed again, as she got Holy Water on her hand from Jack’s coat. Jack went tumbling into the jungle, buffeted by the mossy floor; he finally came to rest against a coconut tree. He got up, slightly dazed, but blinking his eye, he quickly recovered his senses and looked back at the cavern entrance.

                Spike ran out of the cavern. He saw Drusilla on the ground and Darla was swearing as she stared at her hand, which was burnt red. Spike instantly jumped at Darla. He kicked her four or five times and she rolled away from him, screeching in anger.

                Spike grabbed Drusilla in his arms, “C’mon luv, this place isn’t so friendly anymore.” As if to underscore that, a large tremor passed through the mountain.

                Drusilla was mumbling through her beating induced haze, “Spike? Spike? Oh, she’s really mad Spike.”

                “No! I couldn’t bloody tell,” said Spike, as he ran down the mountainside, carrying Drusilla in his arms.

                Darla got up and looked after Spike and Drusilla. Then she looked at the cavern entrance, “Slayer”, she said. Finally she looked off in the jungle, her preternatural eyes saw Jack, panting, watching her. “No little dog is going to get away with that!”

                Jack barked yes, as Darla started chasing after him through the dense jungle. He started downhill, jumping over fallen trees and vines, with Darla in pursuit.

                Helena flew into the cavern wall, and her breath is knocked from her. She struggled to catch it, as Luke ran up to her again.

                “Another Slayer,” said Luke, “you’re not so tough. I’ll just snap you in two and sacrifice to you the goddess.”

                Helena, breathless and unable to reply, stood up and launched a series of hard kicks to Luke’s torso. He reeled back, but stayed on his feet. His fist swung around and connected with Helena’s head and she sprawled against the wall. Luke advanced on her.

                Jake pulled out his gun and shot all six rounds at Luke, who only briefly turned from his advance on Helena. Jake charged Luke and jumped on his back, hitting him with the butt of his revolver. This got Luke’s attention, and he quickly spun around, trying to dislodge Jake.

                Helena recovered from the blow, and she stood up. She grabbed her canvas bag and pulled out the Holy Water spritzer bottle. Luke backed into the wall, squishing Jake against the hard stone of the cavern. Jake fell to the ground, unconscious.

                Luke turned to Helena, just as she sprayed his face with Holy Water. He put his hands to his face and screamed in agony. She pulled out her stake and moved towards Luke.

                A large tremor shook the cavern, more stone fell from the ceiling, and fissures opened in the floor. Helena stumbled and fell, dropping her stake, and Luke, still screaming, ran from the cavern.

                More stone was falling from the ceiling; the heat was rising in the cavern. Helena got up and jumped across a large fissure to where Jake was lying, with a small trickle of blood coming from his head. She reached down and slung Jake over her shoulder, he moaned, but did not wake up.

                Helena took a stake out of her pocket and steadied Jake’s bulk with her left hand. She carefully walked towards the cavern exit, avoiding the falling rocks and gaping fissures on her way.

                She walked to the jungle entrance. The last two of the native vampires were attacking some of the villagers. She swung her right hand into one of them, the stake driven deep into its heart. It quickly became dust, and the other one looked at Helena, it’s face contorted. It jumps at her, but she held up her stake and it flew onto it, its face looking surprised and then it turned to dust and blew away.

                The villagers continued running down the mountain. Helena paused, and in the moonlight she saw Spike, with Drusilla, as they rowed out towards his plane, anchored off shore.

                She struggled down the mountain path, avoiding any obstacles. Jake, after his one moan in the cavern, was silent, but breathed regularly.

                As she reached the beach, she saw Spike’s plane taking off. She set Jake’s unconscious body on the beach and reached into her bag for the flare gun. She pulled it out and pointed it into the sky above the water, and fired. There was a loud bang, and the flare rocketed up into the moonlit night. It exploded into brightness. Almost instantly, she heard the faint sound of the Goose’s engines start up, which were getting louder.

                Helena packed the flare pistol away and picked up some more stakes as she waited for Corky to bring the Goose back to shore. Jake, moaned a little, but still didn’t wake up.

                Shortly, the Goose reached the beach, and Helena pulled it to a stop. The passenger door opened and Corky stuck his head out.

                “Jake!” he cried. “What happened? Let me help you.” And he started to get out of the plane. But before he could set foot into the water, Helena had picked Jake up in her arms and moved towards the door.

                Corky and Helena moved Jake into the cabin. “He’s just unconscious, I think,” said Helena, as she arranged Jake on one of the passenger seats.

                “Where’s Jack?” asked Corky.

                Just as Helena got back out of the Goose, they heard a series of loud barks from Jack. He came speeding out of the jungle, his tongue flopping, and headed towards the Goose. Close on his heels was Darla.

                “Get back here, you little mutt,” she called angrily. “I’m going to eat you for dinner!”

                Helena stood on the beach, a long stake in each hand. Jack ran by her, barking at Corky. He jumped from the beach, over the water, to the open door of the Goose. Darla spotted Helena, stopped short and snarled at her.

                Helena calmly flipped one of the stakes in her hand, holding the other still. “Let’s go, doll, I’m ready for you now.”

                Darla’s pale face went even paler in the moonlight. She turned and ran from Helena, who launched one of the stakes at her, it went whizzing by her left arm. Darla increased her speed heading back in to the jungle.

                Helena got into the Goose, after watching Darla disappear into the jungle.

                “Let’s go Corky,” she said. “We have to make sure that the vampires all leave, there are still a lot of people on the island.”

                “Ok Helena,” said Corky, with some trepidation. “But we have to get Jake back to Boragora, Louie will know what to do for him.”

                The Goose took off and they made a slow pass over the island. Helena spotted Luke’s yacht, and saw Darla’s blonde hair on the deck; she was climbing up the side and started pulling the anchor up. The motors started and froth churned up in the rear of the boat, and the yacht headed for the open sea.

                “They’re leaving,” said Helena. “I took care of the other vampires, so with Luke and Darla gone, the island should be relatively safe. Let’s go back to Boragora.”

                “Ok,” replied Corky, as he turned the Goose towards Boragora.

                Jake was awake as Corky landed the Goose, and moved her in to the dock.

                “Be careful, Corky,” complained Jake. “Those pylons are delicate!”

                “He’s all right,” said Corky. “Back to being the worried mom about the Goose.”

                Jack barked yes, Jake looked at both of them from his passenger seat.

                As the Goose got close to the dock, Sarah, Louie and Eleanor ran down to greet it. Jake opened the passenger door and he gingerly jumped out and tied the Goose up.

                “Jake,” said Sarah as she ran up to him, “what’s wrong?”

                “I’m fine, Sarah, just a bump on the head,” replied Jake, as Jack jumped out, followed by Helena. Corky killed the engines and came out the cockpit hatch.

                Helena ran to Eleanor and embraced her. Her blouse was stained with blood, and her shorts stained with dirt.

                “Helena!” cried Eleanor. “Are you all right? Is that your blood?”

                “No, it’s Jake’s, I’m fine,” she replied, and she moved to Jake to help him back to the Monkey Bar.

                Jake was sitting in a chair in Louie’s office, sipping a beer. Corky was on the sofa, also with a beer. Louie was behind the desk, marking some charts. Helena was sitting next to Corky, with Jack lying peacefully next to her. Sarah was standing next to Jake, she gently touched the side of his bandaged head. Eleanor paced back and forth, trying to write in a notebook.

                “So, Spike and Drusilla left in their plane, and Luke and Darla went off in a boat,” said Louie. “This is unfortunate, that they escaped.”

                “Yes, it certainly is,” added Eleanor, “but the good news is that they were unable to get help from the goddess.”

                “And no one else died,” amended Louie.

                “No one else died,” repeated Eleanor.

                “I will have the Navy look out for this yacht of Luke’s, but I fear they will not be able to find it,” said Louie.

                “What will they do now, Mrs. Giles?” asked Sarah.

                “I suspect that, since the goddess is so angry, they will not be able to petition her again for a while,” said Eleanor. “We must continue our chase, and consult the signs for their next move.”

                “I only hope they stay away from the Marivellas,” said Jake.

                Jack barked yes.

                Louie turned to look at Jack curled up on one of the sofa cushions. He saw the small cross attached to his collar and walked over to look at it.

                “I put that on him Eleanor,” said Helena, “I think it helped him. Here, I’ll get it off.” And she moved to take the cross off his collar.

                “Non,” said Louie, “he should keep it. Monique would have wanted it to be put to such good use.”

                Helena stopped and turns to look at Eleanor, who nodded and quickly turned away. Jack moved his gaze to Eleanor and quietly barked yes.