Luke and Delilah didn’t speak any more about Òsóòsi or taking the next step in her life as a hunter. She still had the option to leave behind hunting and find a normal life. Once she took the next step, that avenue would likely close or at least narrow significantly. He wanted a life for her beyond the kill or be killed world of vampire hunting. His own brief glimpses of a life outside of Mithras’s mission always made him long for something he could only have for small pieces of time.
Right now, he had a child to care for and a woman he was growing increasingly fond of—more than fond of, if he let himself think about it. He’d pulled the North Portland Pack, and Maggie along with it, into his world, although they’d been in it without realizing it until a few vampires started trouble in Pablo’s brewpub. Gwen, he’d saved when he and the pack broke up the vamp blood farm and breeding center set up in Wapato Jail.
It was possible to have a meaningful life while fighting against the soulless vampires, but it increased the risks of loss or having loved ones becoming pawns in a game bigger than they knew. Maggie had lived through horrible times, suffering violence firsthand. She knew the stakes of what Luke was doing. So did Gwen.
He hoped Delilah would be able to find someone who could understand what she was doing with her life and be supportive. She deserved that if she chose to keep doing this. After getting revenge for her father’s murder, she’d had her first off-ramp but skipped it in favor of supporting her friends and the mission they all believed in.
They spent their days and nights in the apartment they’d rented, watching the video feeds and cataloging suspected werewolves in the day and vampires at night. Simone and Delilah took the day shifts since Simone could identify by sight most of her former pack members while the rest split up the other shifts, with everyone pitching in so people got proper breaks.
They’d discovered that five full houses were indeed being used, thanks to Simone identifying werewolves going in and out. In total, they’d counted thirty werewolves and about sixty vampires or thralls, although there could be more inside that just hadn’t exited their houses.
On the third morning since he and Delilah had their talk, he woke to the sound of giggles and the smell of coffee. Rubbing sleep from his eyes, he dressed and slipped out of his room. When he looked out into the main room where the monitors were set up, he saw Delilah and Simone sitting next to each other on the floor, their hands close with Simone’s pinky rubbing over the edge of Delilah’s hand. He backed up and feigned a cough to let them know he was up, then gave them a second before walking into the hall on his way to the restroom. He smiled; they’d moved their hands a few inches apart.
After a grabbing a cup of coffee, he sank into one of the cushy chairs they’d acquired for the apartment and pulled his phone out to check for any news.
“Where are Pablo and Sam?” Luke asked once he realized he hadn’t seen or heard them yet.
“They went out for some breakfast and to stretch their legs.” Delilah stood and went into the kitchen to get coffee for her and Simone.
“How are you this morning, Simone?” Luke asked, trying to keep the knowing smile off his lips.
“I’m OK, and you?” Simone replied.
“I’ll let you know when I get to the bottom of this coffee cup.” He held up the cup and smiled.
Simone chuckled politely.
Handing a cup to Simone, Delilah sat down in the chair opposite Luke. “So what’s the plan for today, besides more binge watching of the world’s most boring TV show?”
Luke snorted. “We need to make sure the gear is ready to go; I want to be fully prepared if the alarm goes off. Then we need to refine our plan and make sure we have contingencies in place. Why don’t you two slip out after dark when it’s clear and get some dinner and a glass of wine?”
After he threw out his plan, he tucked his nose back into his phone but looked up as Simone and Delilah exchanged an excited and slightly flirtatious look. He was eager to read the email Maggie had sent and reply to the text from Gwen. Finishing his coffee, he looked out the window at the sunny mid-morning sky.
“You know what, I’m going to go grab a croissant and sit in the sun for a bit. You two can handle yourselves and your binge unworthy TV. If Sam and Pablo get back before I do, let them know where I am. I’ll have my phone on me if something happens.” Luke rinsed his cup in the kitchen, grabbed his wallet, and took off.
The next morning, when Luke woke, he dressed and slipped into the restroom. It wasn’t until he emerged that he noticed the activity in the main room. It could wait until after he had a cup of coffee in his hands, but Pablo had thought of that and handed a full cup of piping hot coffee to him as soon as he left the hallway.
“What’s the word?” Luke asked, letting the rich scent rise to his nose on wisps of steam.
“Pieter called a little before sunup,” Pablo said. “Tonight’s the night.”
Luke nodded, blowing over his coffee before taking a sip. “OK. You should get to bed and grab a few hours of sleep. We can handle final prep.”
“Right.” Pablo patted Luke on the shoulder as he headed toward the back of the apartment and the room he shared with Luke. “Call Pieter when you’re done with your coffee.”
Luke sat down to enjoy his coffee while everyone waited expectantly. “Come on, people. We know the plan. Me finishing my cup faster won’t change anything.”
Delilah rolled her eyes and returned to loading practice with Simone and the M12. He didn’t want to resort to guns. It was a fast ticket to French cops getting involved. Although there weren’t many here in Cambrai, it would complicate things vastly. All the same, they were all going in carrying in case they needed to fall back on their firepower. The tight confines of a house were an ideal killing ground for the twelve-gauge shotguns. If things went sideways, they’d use the lethal efficiency of their special anti-vamp shells. Assuming they didn’t run into the entire Bordeaux Pack—they still had doubts about the shells’ efficacy against werewolves.
Finished with his cup, he pulled out the burner phone. “Hey, Pieter. Pablo told me it’s tonight.”
“Ja, finally.” Pieter sounded tired and annoyed. “I was beginning to think they’d keep us waiting forever.”
“Do you have a time for the exchange?” Luke asked.
“Zero thirty in the morning.” Pieter yawned.
“OK. That timing works. It’s nearly a three-hour drive from Cambrai to Liege. Looks like they’re waiting to move out when it’s fully dark. We’ll tally up the numbers coming at you if we can. We’ll be on full alert this evening.” Luke handed the empty cup to Sam who was walking to the kitchen for a refill.
“Are you still thinking it’s Cambrai they’re coming from?” Pieter asked.
“There’s too many vamps packed into this small of a town. That and the werewolf muscle points to this being their temporary base. I could be wrong, but it’s the best lead we have.” Luke carefully slid his finger through the loop on the offered cup. “How goes the other project?”
“Still no updates. Jamaal is getting frustrated. He’s beginning to think our problem may be more low tech than high tech.” Pieter yawned again.
“You sound tired, my friend. You should get some sleep before tonight,” Luke said.
Pieter laughed. “Are you going to be my mother now besides my friend?”
“Not today, but the advice is sound.” Luke chuckled. “After tonight settles out, I think I have an idea.”
“Anything is better than sitting around on my ass doing nothing because I don’t know who will betray me.” Pieter’s frustration resurfaced.
“I can understand. I’m not much for sitting around myself, but right now, it has been the best plan.”
“You ready for your part?” Pieter asked.
“I think so. You?”
“As we’ll ever be. Luke, good luck tonight. I hope my father’s there, and you can free him.”
“Me too,” Luke replied. “Good Luck.
Luke hung up the phone and looked around the room at Sam, Delilah, and Simone. “We go at eleven tonight, twenty-three-hundred hours.”
Sam nodded. “Good, I’m ready to get moving again.”
“Me too,” Luke said.
He stood up and went to the kitchen to fix himself some breakfast. When he finished, he joined the women to do a final check over the gear. Looking over their assembled weapons, Luke saw a piece missing. He dug through his baggage until he found it—a long backpack similar to his. “Delilah, I have a little something for you. To go with your jian.”
She opened it and smiled, then turned to Simone. “Have I shown you my jian?”
Simon shook her head and a slow smile spread across her face as her eyebrows raised.
Delilah fetched the sword from their shared room and showed it to her. “Careful, there’s silver in the blade.”
Simone took the handle and examined the sword, turning it to different angles as the light reflected from the steel and silver of the blade. “It’s beautiful,” she said, handing it back.
Delilah, with backpack in hand, slid the sword home into the sheath within. “Fits like a glove. Thanks, Luke.”
Lude nodded. “You’re welcome.”
When the jian was stowed, he retrieved the dagger from the packaging Maggie had sent. “Simone, I’d like you to have this dagger. I took it from a vampire who ruled Wallonia—after I killed her. Careful of the blade. It also has silver in it.”
She pulled it free from its leather sheath. “Thank you! I promise to use it well.”
“I know. I wish we had more time so we could give you some proper blade training. When we get through this, I’ll run you through some dagger exercises,” Luke said.
Sam dug around the box Maggie had sent and pulled the rapier out by the hilt. She turned around and posed with it, affecting a Spanish accent. “Hello, my name is Sam Wakamatsu. You kidnapped my friend’s father, prepare to get poked!”
Luke and Delilah laughed; Simone looked confused.
Sam returned the rapier to the box. “Have you not seen ‘The Princess Bride,’ Simone?”
“No. Is it a television show?” Simone asked.
“It’s a movie.” She turned to Luke. “When we get some time, I’m declaring a movie night. We can’t let Simone go any longer without seeing ‘The Princess Bride.’” She took Simone’s hand. “It’s a classic. There’s a wonderful sword fighting scene where two of the characters use rapiers.”
Delilah smiled at Simone. “It’s a fun movie. I think you’ll like it. Besides, after sitting around staring at monitors and the tension of waiting, I could use a fun night to blow off some steam.”
“I look forward to it.” Simone held Delilah’s eyes in her gaze.
Sam, not facing them since she was inspecting the basket hilt of the rapier, missed the warmth exchanged between the two women. Allowing them some privacy in the moment, he turned around to join Sam in admiring the weapon.
“Do you feel comfortable enough with the rapier to use it? I’d like to have as many silver weapons as possible,” Luke said.
“I’ve taken a few fencing classes; I think I can handle it. I’ve spent all my life with swords and can put it to good use,” Sam replied.
He pulled the scabbard and baldric from the box and handed them to Sam. “I hope our enemies are prepared to die.”
Sam laughed. “I hope they’re not prepared for us, otherwise we’re up shit creek.”
“And a rapier makes a poor paddle,” he said.
Luke arranged for Moroccan food to be delivered so they could feast while keeping all eyes on the monitors and record the comings and goings of the vampires and werewolves down the street. While the sun neared the western horizon, the werewolves and possibly a few thralls buzzed about busily, preparing crates and loading box vans. When the sun tucked behind the western horizon, several vampires emerged to direct the next stage of their plans.
“There’s definitely something going on. We haven’t seen this level of activity since we’ve been here,” Sam said.
Pablo scooped up some hummus with a pita and popped it into his mouth, “Defunlee somefing.”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, Pablo,” Delilah scolded.
Pablo swallowed. “At least we know all the sitting hasn’t been for nothing.”
“Look.” Simone pointed west. “There’s a string of cars coming.”
Luke joined Simone at the window. “The box vans are leaving.” He looked at the clock on his phone. “Timing is about right. Everyone on counting duty!”
They kept a running tally, with Simone pointing out the werewolves. Luke, with nearly two-thousand years of experience, picked out those he suspected were vampires. Anyone neither of them could safely categorize got put in an “other” column. All told, over half of the werewolves and vampires loaded up in the cars and followed the box vans out. Luke relayed the information to Pieter, then helped everyone prepare.
They all started with a dark-colored base layer—a mix of yoga pants, running tights, and dark jeans. Over his clothes, Luke slid into his armor, then situated his tactical straps with their attachment points where he could affix his gladius and rudis. As Pablo helped him, Simone stared, wide-eyed, having never seen the process or the equipment. Other than knowing he was the leader of the group, no one had gone into detail about who he really was other than a very old vampire hunter. France, as part of the Roman Empire, was littered with ruins and the skeletons of the empire that had dominated Gaul until they were ultimately replaced by the Franks.
Simone turned to Delilah and asked quietly, “Is he for real?
Delilah nodded. “Yup. Weird, isn’t it?”
“So when he says he’s from near Brussels, he means…?” Simone trailed off.
Luke, shrugging and wiggling everything into position, said, “He means from a small village in Roman Belgica and this was mine from when I was in the Roman legions.”
Pablo strapped the rudis onto Luke's back for a right-hand draw. The gladius Luke attached to the front, planning to move it to his hip once they penetrated into their enemy’s lair. Pablo, staying true to form, disappeared into the bedroom to slip into his snap on warm up gear so he could easily shed his clothes and go full wolf. He still felt more comfortable fighting that way if it came down to hand-to-hand combat. The shotguns, they loaded into duffel bags.
“Everyone ready?” Luke asked, looking around at friends.
Sam handed out light-weight, knee-length jackets that hung low enough to conceal anything they might have hanging from their belts save for swords. She pulled her own jacket on and tied the waist belt, pulling it shut. Picking up the bag concealing her katana, wakizashi, and the rapier, she opened the door and locked up after everyone else marched through. They tossed their bags into the cargo area behind the rear seat of the BMW, then piled in, Sam in the driver's seat.
She dropped them around back at the parking lot of the train station, each person taking a bag and disappearing into the shadows in their dark clothing. Once Luke, Pablo, Delilah, and Simone made it through the small lot and into the tree line backing the properties, they halted, backs to the tall brick wall separating the row houses’ backyards from the weedy lot and the train station.
Luke waved Delilah over, then stuck his finger up, twirling it. Delilah turned around so Luke could access her backpack, pulling out her jian and handing it to her so she could put it on her belt. Next, he pulled out a thick black coil and a small portable monitor. Uncoiling the bundle, he stuck it into the air to see if he’d extended it enough, then uncoiled it a couple more times until it was taller than the wall. He pulled it back down and bent the flexible top so it was bent at a forty-five degree angle. He plugged the other end into the monitor and turned it on.
The low light camera transmitted a grainy black-and-white image to the monitor’s screen. He poked the camera up and propped the top on the edge of the fence, then angled the lens toward the back of the vampires’ houses, sweeping for balconies and open windows along with anyone keeping watch from them. Satisfied, he pulled the camera down and bent the flexible end so it would point more downward. He poked it back into the air and checked the yard of the first two houses next to where they stood. To be on the cautious side, he checked the house on the other side as well. Everything looked clear.
Luke squeezed Pablo’s shoulder. Pablo patted Luke’s butt, then sprang up, grabbing the top of the wall, and pulled himself up, dropping to the other side. Luke took a quick look through the camera again—nothing and no one stirred. After handing the camera to Simone, Luke squatted by the wall, cupping his hands for Delilah. As she balanced herself, Luke hoisted her up; she jumped and grabbed the edge of the wall. Luke tucked under her as she pulled her legs up. He grabbed her ankles and guided her feet to his shoulder so she could stand up and crawl over the top of the wall.
He took the camera back from Simone and checked again. Behind him, Simone breathed shallowly and quickly, on the border of hyperventilation. He set the camera and monitor down and sidled up to her, placing his hand on her shoulder and squeezing reassuringly.
Listening for a moment, he leaned forward until his lips were next to her ear. “You’ll do fine. You’re tough and smart. Listen to us and stick to the plan. We’ll get you through this. OK?”
Simone nodded nervously and whispered, “OK.”
Luke checked the camera again, then gave Simone the thumbs up. She squatted and jumped, catching the ledge of the wall, and pulled herself up. She lay flat on the top of the brick wall and lowered a short rope with a hook on the end. Luke hooked the first duffel bag to it and let her haul it up to be dropped onto the other side for Pablo and Delilah. After the hook dropped again, Luke attached the second bag and Simone hauled it up, repeating the process. She had the third bag half way up the wall when the sound of an opening door dumped adrenaline into Luke’s veins. He heard a small gasp from the top of the wall.
With the open door, two male voices argued in French.
“We’re not supposed to be going outside,” the first voice said.
“Fuck off, I just want a cigarette,” the second replied.
“Do you want to get us in trouble?”
“If you shut your mouth, no one will get in trouble. If you can’t, I’ll rinse your corpse down the drain of the bathtub.”
“Asshole,” mumbled the first voice.
The door shut. A few second later, the sound of a lighter flicking was followed by the scent of tobacco smoke. Luke looked up; Simone’s face hung over the edge of the wall, her eyes as big as saucers as she tried to control her breathing. Every second of the cigarette felt like an eternity. Simone licked her lips and squeezed her eyes shut. He listened hard, praying not a sound would escape his companions. After what seemed an hour, the smoker finished his cigarette and returned inside, slamming the door behind him. They waited for a few moments longer to make sure he was gone. When Luke made eye contact with Simone, he nodded, and she brought the last duffel bag up.
Luke poked the camera up for one last check, then handed it to Simone to drop to Pablo and Delilah. Simone slid off the wall and fell to the other side. Luke took a deep breath and leapt up, catching the wall, and pulled himself over. He dropped to the other side, landing nimbly in the weedy back area of an abandoned convenience store that stood at the end of the row of vampire houses.
Simone, her body shaking, leaned into Delilah as the taller woman enfolded Simone in her strong arms, holding the back of her neck. Luke took the camera for one last check of the side yards and found nothing. He disconnected the handheld monitor, coiled up the spy camera, and tucked it away in Delilah’s pack.
Luke looked up at the flat room of the store. Sam, standing on the roof, leaned up against the wall of the first vampire house on this side, her arms crossed as she watched from on high. She’d jumped up from the front of the one-story building after stashing the car. Luke smirked and shook his head, giving her a quick wave.
While Delilah soothed Simone, Luke tossed the rope up to Sam so she could bring the bags up to the market’s roof. By the time they finished, Simone had calmed somewhat. Luke was impressed she’d held it together stranded on the wall top, holding a bag halfway up. She was scared, and her confidence wasn’t strong at the moment.
Luke fixed his eyes on her, holding her gaze. “Simone, you did really great on the wall,” he whispered.
She nodded, taking a calming breath.
“Ready for the next part?” he asked.
She nodded, getting lined up just under the edge of the abandoned shop’s roof. She leapt, grabbing the edge. Sam helped her up. Next, Luke and Pablo formed cups for Delilah to stand in. She climbed up, steadying herself on the bottom of the roof’s overhang. Luke and Pablo squatted with Delilah then lurched upward, tossing her at the same time she jumped. She caught the edge of the roof, Sam and Simone helping her up and onto it. Pablo bent down and cupped his hand for Luke and launched him up like they’d just done for Delilah. Luke scrabbled up and over the roof’s ledge. Moving out of the way, he helped Pablo when he latched onto the ledge.
They took a moment to move their weapons, so they’d be easy to draw and strapped shotguns over their backs, stowing the duffel bags in Delilah’s backpack. Looking down the line, Luke collected a nod from each of his friends. They’d successfully snuck into their first objective without detection. Now he had to hope the rest of their plan went as smoothly.