Be Damned

  BE DAMNED

  MADISON NOVA

  ARCANE JUSTICE

  EPISODE 2

  Copyright © 2018 T.S Ryan

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations used for review purposes. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and /or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, organizations, actual events or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademark status of products referred to in this book and acknowledges that trademarks have been used without permission.

  This book is intended for mature, adult audiences. It contains explicit and graphic scenes and language which may be considered offensive by some readers.

  THE GANASH WAR

  The office was quiet when we returned. Dickson quietly excused himself as he entered his office. Victor and Chase was still on my mind as I entered my office and activated my personal system.

  "Link to Ina." I commanded falling into my chair watching the display connecting to the main system. A few minutes of silence went by before the familiar voice of Ina broke through my desk speakers.

  "Good Evening, Ms. Santana." she greeted in the same systematic recorded voice I have come to rely and trust on over the years.

  "Ina." I said sitting up straight in front "Play historical records of the Ganash war."

  "One moment," she replied and numerous video feeds opened over my desk.

  A video of Chase displayed sitting in a chair in half wolf form. From the image I could see his scars all over his face. Without a second thought I pressed play.

  "I want you to tell us in your own words what happened two nights ago."

  Chase took a deep breath in before answering the interviewer behind the camera. "My brother." he replied with his eyes distant and the hairs visibly contracting and expanding from his face. "My cousins, my sister... I had to hold her in my arms as I watch her bleed out on the ground."

  "Why were seventeen packs out there?"

  He looked up. His eyes fixated pass the camera before answering the question: "We were there on orders from the council of alphas... they told us the vampyr murdered Regus Alpha."

  "The elder?"

  Chase nodded taking another deep breath in. "It was retaliation for their actions...for their arrogance. We had one objective, one of our own for one of them... the alphas informed us that one of their elders were at the Ganash estate. We were to go in and take him out."

  "We know your 'objective' was never carried out and that you were met at the estate with hundreds of vampires."

  Chase eyes felt into the distance as I could see his mind was replaying the events of that evening.

  "They must have had known that we planned the strike. When we got there they were waiting and prepared."

  "Why didn't you turn around?"

  "The alphas with us... wasn't going to run with their tails between their legs... they pushed forward... and we pushed forward. My sister was behind me and then ..."

  Chase sat still in the chair as his eyes started to water.

  "And then?"

  "I heard the screams from the front line. The howls of pain. My pack rushed forward... and we found..."

  An anger rose over the face of Chase, hair expanded out his cheeks and his eyes sunk into his skull. "...that thing was ripping our alpha apart. We rushed forward and not even a bite effected it. It slaughtered everyone."

  "And how did you... escape."

  The question took Chase by surprise as he slowly gain control of his transformation.

  "I didn't..." he replied. "he cut into me with his blade and fell unconscious onto the ground. When I finally came too... my sister."

  "Continue."

  "My sister was laying next to me in human form with half her insides laying on the ground."

  "I'm sorry."

  "She was breathing," Chase voice quivered as the tears fell down his face. "I couldn't help her. I couldn't do anything...I saw her soul leave through her eyes."

  The video ended and I found myself unable to move. He never told me what happened to his sister.

  Ina's voice broke the stillness in the office.

  "Do you wish me to play visual recordings of that evening?"

  I fell back into my chair and took a deep breath. "I think I have seen enough Ina," I replied after exhaling to gather my thoughts. "I have another appointment to attend to."

  CHAPTER ONE

  The summer night warm breeze rolled over my face as I got out of my vehicle at the drive way of the Russ residence.

  The images of Chase still ran through my mind. "Time to push that aside babe," I whispered to myself. "I got a job to do."

  The residence was located on the outskirts of the suburbs. A perfect getaway from the city hassle and bustle of the city. A number of trees blocked the city sounds and views of high holographic advertising. The things money can buy, I thought as I made my way to the front door.

  As I rang the bell I looked around and saw Victor walking out of the shadows to let me know that he is nearby. I greeted him with a slide nod of my head which he returned before disappearing back into the shadows of the wood.

  Mr. Russ opened the door. "Good evening, Ms. Santana." He said with a smile on his face. "She was just asking about you."

  I greeted and was gestured inside. Kamala was sitting on a sofa, a blacked sheet was covering her feet, holding a cup of coffee in front of her. She smiled at me.

  "Thank you," was the first words that came from her.

  "No need to thank me, Ms. Russ," I said as her father and I took a seat. "I however have some things to discuss with you. If you up for it."

  "Of course," she replied. Her father immediately got up and asked if I wanted anything to drink. I declined politely.

  "Well, if you change your mind Maria is in the kitchen. I will let her know to assist you if you need anything. I'll be in the study." He said bowing slightly at us both before walking off.

  When he was out of sight I opened my bag and took out my pad. She took a sip from her coffee.

  "I spoke to the investigator and she claims they found the murder weapon. Do you know anything about a murder weapon?"

  "No," she said placing the cup down on the coffee table in front of her. "I didn't notice that he had anything in his hands."

  "So there is no way your prints could be on anything."

  "Well," she said biting her nails. "I use to do the cooking between the two of us. If it was a kitchen utensil than it might be." I screamed FUCK in my head for not thinking about it. A clear rookie mistake. Something I should have picked on the moment Helen told me about a weapon being found.

  "So you would know exactly which knives belong in the kitchen?"

  "Yes." She answered. "I honestly did not kill her Ms. Santana. I loved her as my own sister. Her family accepted me as their own, as mine did her. Holidays would be spent alternating between her family's estate and mine. My boyfriend use to hate the fact that I would take her along for date nights." Picking up the cup again, she looked at the heat evaporating before continuing, "Now I can't even give my condolences to her mom and dad. They must be going through so much pain right now."

  "Was she seeing anyone?"

  "She had someone but broke it off a while ago. He wasn't the right fit for her."

  "How so?" I asked hoping for an answer that I can use to built a defense. It's hard formulating a defense in these circumstances where you know your client had absolutely nothing to do with the crime. Reasonable doubt was needed, and a crazy psychotic ex could be the answer.

  "He use to be abusive towards
her."

  Perfect was the word screaming in my head: "and what was his name?" I wasn't particularly fond of the idea of building a case where there might be a possibility that another innocent might be arrested, but my goal was to get this case won and then collecting on the information the order has. If an abusive ex gets suspected, then its his attorney's problem. Not mine.

  "His name is Shawn Frank," she stated and I made sure the transcription picked up the right spelling of the name. "He works as an consultant at some bank. I never really spoke to him as they would always be behind close doors. There were only two incidents were he laid his hands on her. I would have recognized him the moment I walked into the room that evening." Taking another sip. "It wasn't him."

  "I'm just trying to make sure we not missing anything."

  "It was him." Kamala stated with a pale scared look on her face.

  "Excuse me." I asked.

  "It was..." her eyes fixated behind me, I turned around to find HIM standing behind me.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Usually I could sense a presence around me, and found a jolt of fear rush through my body. I was quick to my feet wondering how he found a way to enter the residence with the Enforcer outside. There were something about the color of his eyes that struck a fear inside of me. His eyes had a look of death staring back at me.

  "I am simply here to collect what is mine," he said. Without any further words he appeared behind me and grabbed my hair. With a pull my head moved backwards followed by my whole body going down. I felt myself hitting the ground fast. It was a familiar feeling.

  "If you know what is good for you," he said grabbing Kamala by her neck, with the coffee left in the cup spilling on the floor and table next to me. "You would stay down there counsel."

  Before I could get back on my feet I saw a shadow move in front of me towards the vampire intruder. I quickly pushed myself upwards and faced the immediate threat to my client's life. Victor Von Nomach was holding him in a grip lock with my client coughing as she laid on the floor.

  With one swept movement Victor was against the wall with the intruder cracking his neck from side to side. I quickly jumped forward and pulled Kamala up, placing her behind me. Victor with a fast movement appeared in front of us. With a dagger in his hand he said, "Ne hoc mood."

  "Numquam" the intruder replied. With a blink of the eyes numerous vampires was surrounding him in the room. He started to laugh looking at all the vampires surrounding him. "me cum ones vos! Ego verso, ut resurrectionis speciem honestae principum huius saeculi!" the intruder stated.

  "Who are you?" I asked feeling the urge to hit someone in the face.

  "I am Kal Valum," he said smiling. Those surrounding him started to look at each other and showing a fear to mention of his name. "We both know you and these pale turners stand only to lose your live here. Hand over what is mine or I will make sure that each one of you will be nothing but dust on this floor."

  Having enough of the conversation my hand moved over the shoulder of Victor and propelled Kal Valum through a barrier of vampires against the brick interior wall. "Fuck this shit," I said to him as I heard his head crack against the wall. "If you know what's best for you, you'd stay down."

  He felt his wound behind his head and looked at me with a surprising smile on his face. "I seem to have found myself at a disadvantage this evening. But you should know that not even a touched one will keep me from what is mine."

  Victor launched forward with his dagger directed at Kal Valum but missed his mark as Kal vanished from the room with one movement.

  With his dagger leaving a crack in the wall Victor screamed: "After him!" more than half of the eight vampires moved in pursued of the target.

  Quickly I turned around to make sure Kamala is not injured. The fear was screaming from her face.

  "What was that about?" I asked Victor. "I thought you were going to secure the premises."

  "He slipped through us," Victor answered showing the others to leave. "No one was hurt. Seems like we did what was required from us."

  "And the rest of the humans inside?"

  "He only traced them, I will make sure his bond on them is broken."

  I gave him a fuck off look and he read it well. He walked out the front door as I examined Kamala for any injuries to her neck. Luckily there was only a red mark showing the terror she just witnessed. She had just crossed through the veil and I knew nothing I could say would be of any comfort.

  My pad binged. Requesting if a translation is required to the conversation it recorded. I stood up and pressed yes.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Kal Valum and Victor Von Nomach spoke in Latin to each other - the transcription read in red. Something I already knew. I could define the language but not what they spoke.

  "Ne hoc mood." Read on the screen as: "stop this now."

  "Numquam." Was the one word I could translate without a translation aid. It read: "Never."

  The last speech translated read "all of you should join me. I am the truth, and the resurrection of our species as the rightful rulers of this world." I stared at it for awhile till Victor returned to the room.

  "We have broken any bonds he might have placed on them." Taking a seat on a sofa with his eyes fixed on Kamala, he continued, "He seems to have escaped us. He took out two of my men in the process."

  "Who is he?" I asked seeing some kind of life returning to Kamala's eyes.

  "That is none of your concern," Victor replied quickly standing up from his short stay on the sofa. He disappeared before I could question him any further. My attention went to Kamala.

  "You okay?"

  "What was that?" was her reply to my question clearing an itching throat. There was no easy answer so I decided to rather be completely blunt about what just happened.

  "That was a vampire." I stated striking an uneasy nerve inside her as she moved her body uncomfortably on the sofa. "That was the real murderer of your roommate." Saying something she already knew at this point.

  "Vampires don't exist." She quickly stated fighting her perception of the world. I was in no mood to discuss the intricacies of the supernatural world. She repeated the words again.

  "We have a problem Kamala." I stated walking towards the window of the room. "For some reason you seem to have attracted the vampire communities interest. I want to know why. What do you have that they want?"

  "My dad!"

  "His fine," I said sitting down next to her. "I don't think you will be safe here. I am thinking of calling someone I know to make sure what happened here tonight, won't happen again." Of course it was a lie. Anybody that has a vision of being the rulers of the world and somehow believing her to be the key to it all, will never be safe no matter where she goes.

  "But my bail conditions." She said softly. Something I forgot completely with everything that was happening. To be honest thou, no one could blame an underworld legal Representative of forgetting the importance of bail conditions. And in any event, her life was more important. Carter could get it swept under a rock easily if she doesn't get in trouble for not adhering to her bail conditions.

  "Don't worry about that," I said looking around the room. "You have nothing to worry about as long as I am by your side."

  I turned to the table and pressed sent on the file transcript to Dickson and Sammy, hoping that either of them can make more light of the meaning of the words stated by Kal Valum. I also wanted more information on him.

  The pad on the table binged as the message went through. Somehow I got to make sure Kamala is safe and at the same time not piss off the Order. Tall order I thought standing up to lit another cigarette outside.

  The evening passed by fast and as the sun started to greet us and the vampires disappeared Kamala made us each another cup of coffee. I don't remember how I reacted precisely when I found out about the other side of the veil, but I was certain I asked more questions. She had only one question, which of course I could not answer.

  "As long as the sun
is out everything will be fine," I said taking the last sip of my coffee. "I am unfortunately back on the clock in an hour. I'll be back here later to move you somewhere more secure."

  With those words, I left the suburbs and made my way back to the cityscape.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  "I don't know what it means, that is why I sent you and Sammy the message." I stated falling into the front sofa of the firm. "If I had known Sammy would not respond I would have forward it to Chase instead."

  "You should have forwarded the file to Chase regardless." Dickson snapped back at me. The five of us all seated in the reception area. Chase was fuming at me as Sammy tried to make up an excuse as to why he didn't reply.

  "Well. I thought it was one of those message that was sent to me by mistake," Sammy stated looking and making sure Juliet had no soda can in her hands.

  "This thing is useless," Juliet shout out.

  "I still have a client to defend," I said looking at Chase sitting in the corner not saying a word. "I called Helen to see the apartment. Can you handle the security detail for the evening? I have a feeling Kal Valum are going to try to get at her again."

  "Sammy will do a blood analysis on her. There must be reason he wants her. This does not seem to be a simple hunting gig for him." Dickson said, "Chase will head with you. His expertise would come in handy and Sammy will accompany me to the Russ residence. Also, I will look over your defense in this case. Seems something else is at play here."

  "There is nothing in the records about a Kal Valum," Sammy stated as everyone prepared to leave the office. "This is going to set me back with the development of my synthetic body."

  Everyone ignored him. Chase and I left together in silence.

  The whole drive towards the apartment not one word was exchanged between the two of us. We drove in complete silence.