Issue 3: "The Blood and Dragon Affair, Part Three"

May 1^st, 1935

“So you’re sure this is the place?” Speed Saunders asked as the three men cautiously peered around the corner of the building. Speed tipped the brim of his trilby so the hat rested on the back of his head and gave his brow a light scratch of contemplation. “Seems a rather big coincidence to be riding on, don’t you think?”

The man called Midnight peered out from under the brim of his fedora, pulled low to add shadow to the dark blue domino mask he wore. His mouth curled up a bit in concern as he listened to the disbelief in Saunders’ voice, not used to being doubted. Then again, he wasn’t used to working with partners either.

“Hardly a coincidence, Speed,” Midnight finally shot back, trying to keep polite. “We heard the chatter on the police squawk-box back at my home base. Some big disturbance down here, with the Orientals all in a tizzy about undead creatures of the night. Like the vampires you two told me about. And one of the writers doing the radio plays of my exploits, he’d already been building a story on a weird Chinatown cult, and done research in the area. Learned about this building being shaped up into some kind of temple. Seems to me to be a bit too coincidental, don’t you say?”

“It sounds as legitimate as this whole affair is about to get,” Hans Von Hammer admitted as he peered into the gloomy night, eyes sweeping the structure methodically, calculating everything that he possibly could for an attack on the structure. “It’s pretty clear that Midnight’s had his connections to the city manipulated by this woman we’re hunting down. Lured to the docks by his own allies in the law, no doubt signaled by Mary Seward before her arrival. There is more to this than just the books, too. If the fight is any indication, I’d wager she lured someone else to that temple for some deeper purpose. To do that, she’d need to make sure the temple was an obvious enough target to be found by someone asking the right questions.”

Midnight gave a low growl at the way the German was making sense. Having the notorious Hammer from Hell announce being tricked didn’t sit well with the mystery man, nor did he like having him be the one agreeing that something strange was afoot. “Yeah. This dame, she’s a tricky one. We’d better watch our step, especially if you two are right, and she’s a bloodsucker too.” He gave a shake of his head, his turn to disbelieve now, but vampire or no, something bad was up and he wasn’t going to let it keep going on in his city.

“Okay, okay. Sheesh, I get it. No coincidence. We’re at the right spot.” Speed crouched and leaned against the cool brick wall, glancing up at his partners. “Now what?”

“We get the books back. It’s that simple,” Von Hammer stated as he continued to stare at the building, intense dark eyes piercing the night, as if he could see through the walls if only he stared hard enough. “We are not equipped to fight the nosferatu. We can only retrieve the books, the Libram in particular, and retreat.”

“Why the Libram?” Midnight asked curiously.

“It’s the more dangerous book. The other is of lesser use without the cipher in the Libram,” Von Hammer answered.

“The Ineffable Libram has more supposedly forbidden knowledge,” Speed added. “You know, real ‘information man was not meant to know’ kind of things. Like that Lovecraft guy likes to write about.”

Midnight and Von Hammer looked at Speed strangely and the young man shrugged. “Hey, he’s a scary writer. Check him out. Later. First, let’s go get back the book of mind-blasting horror from the legions of the night, okay?”

“Okay.” Midnight nodded at the suggestion. “How do we handle this?”

“Main door, roof access, and undoubtedly a rear entrance,” Von Hammer ticked off as he continued to stare intently. “Three ways in, three of us. Here’s what I suggest.”

Switzerland, 1647

“Why, why, why did you have to make this so difficult, Katherine?” Mary Seward asked with what sounded like genuine regret. “The power you could have had, so many years ago, if you’d just worked with me, instead of against me!”

Katherine Dee stared back at the vampire, her heart pounding hard in her chest. The winter wind howled and battered at the school bell tower, icy fingers adding to the woman’s shaking as she faced her old foe. She’d spent fifty years now evading this woman and her growing vampire cult, aided by Andrew Bennett, her father’s old friend. She’d done everything the legendary occultist Doctor John Dee had asked of her, done everything in her power to aid Andrew in return. The fact that it all led to this moment was small comfort for the old woman as she felt all fifty-six years of her life weighing heavily on her.

“Why, Katherine? You didn’t have to grow old and frail, you didn’t have to die, lost and unremembered so that my husband could continue to hate himself and cause me endless woe.” Mary Seward stepped closer to her, fangs glinting in the slim moonlight. She felt none of the mountain’s cold winds. She took another step closer, and reached out with tremendous speed to clutch Katherine’s wrist. “It’s not too late. Tell me where the book is? Tell me where you have hidden the Blood Diary, and I can give you a place at my side. Not so great a place now, I have more willing and loyal servants. But it’s better than your alternatives.”

“Never,” Katherine said, her voice small against the roar of the wind and the pounding of her heart. She was sweating now, and her fingertips and toes felt numb. “I will never betray my father, my family, or Andrew. Never.”

“How does my husband elicit such loyalty? What has he ever done for you and yours but bring the hunt of the night on your family?” Mary screeched in fury, tugging Katherine close, their bodies now pressed together. Mary paused a moment, and looked at Katherine’s lined face, still attractive despite the years, despite the way the sliver of moon seemed to give her temples and the skin around her eyes a greenish cast. She’d never really noticed a woman before, and this intrigued her. Still, she cast the thought from her mind. “I offer you so much more. Power in the new order when the Blood Red Moon rises over humanity. Or you will be tortured for eternity as I turn you and then force you to betray your husband, and your children and all your family. Choose!”

Katherine gasped in shock at the woman’s strength, and saw the hungry gaze in her eyes. She continued to shake, and felt herself growing more numb as she stared up into Mary’s face. She summoned up all the courage remaining in her body. “It’s too late, Queen of Blood. The book is gone, my children have fled into the deepest shadows with it, and I’ll never betray them!”

“We shall see about that when you’re feasting on their blood at my side!” Mary replied and opened her mouth, sinking her fangs deep into Katherine’s neck, piercing her jugular. Warm blood splashed up into Mary’s mouth as she savored the taste. So warm, so empowering, like drinking directly from Nike’s cup, Mary thought initially. So sweet, so...so...thick...

Mary staggered back in shock, fangs tearing flesh as she ripped her mouth away from the poisoned blood. She wiped her lips and stared at Katherine in fury as the woman dropped to her knees, precious life pouring from her torn neck. “What have you done to me, you witch?”

“King’s...silver,” Katherine answered with a weak, fading smile. “Blessed...silver from recognized...rule...” Katherine collapsed to the floor, shaking, feeling the cold sweep over her body, but she lost her fear. She’d won her gambit, and would rest in peace. “Only one...in this tower will...betray her family.”

Mary screeched in fury as she watched her enemy slip her grasp into death’s embrace, the book gone and the blessed metal flooding her own veins, causing her tremendous pain. It would be months before she recovered, she realized. She raced from the tower, her body refusing to shift forms, her veins burning inside her body. Months where that witch’s bastard children would get to operate with complete impunity. She staggered into the cold snow, clutched her stomach and howled into the roaring wind.

Elsewhere

The two guards lay unconscious on the floor, gaping holes revealing the false walls that had hidden them as they watched the main door. Midnight stalked down the hall toward the main room, dusting his gloved hands as he smiled smugly. As he swiftly marched down the hall, he shucked off his heavy trench coat and hung it on a hook he passed, then readjusted the fedora on his head.

Gotta remember to give Wu a raise at the next opportunity, he mentally noted as he thought of the writing team for ‘The Hour of Midnight’ radio program. With all he got right on this one, he’s earned it. Hidden guard rooms. He shook his head incredulously as he reached the heavy, ornate double-doors. Coiled brass dragons served as door handles, and all manner of strange shapes and wicked-looking spirits were carved into the heavy black wood.

Do I barge in now, and get a jump on them, or wait for the signal? He paused as he rested his hands on the door. He took a deep breath, pursed his lips and debated his choices. It’s the German’s plan, but Saunders speaks highly of him. And it is Hans Von Hammer. But it’s Hammer from Hell and I’ve no clue what’s waiting inside. He let out his breath in a long, low, frustrated sigh. This is why I work alone. Okay, make your choice, Dave! Stop--

A loud roar and a terrible crash thundered through the large chamber, rattling the building as a chorus of gasps and cries mingled with shattered glass, torn metal and broken wood. Without missing a beat, the man called Midnight laughed, smiled and yanked wide the double doors, charging into the temple.

Always stick with the plan! Good choice, Dave!

Moments earlier

Speed Saunders had easily jimmied the lock to the back door and moved through the darkened, quiet room. It was a large room, and his hand felt along the wall as he moved slowly, cautiously. He glanced around and through grimy windows that offered slivers of dull yellow light; he noticed it was a garage of some kind. A loading dock perhaps, with a pair of trucks. The dust of the room hung heavy in the air, and he fought off the sneeze that teased him, and the prickly cough lurking deep in his throat. He felt a cold metal disc enter his grip and he smiled. The doorknob turned without resistance, and he opened the door. He peered inside and saw no one down the short hallway. A door to the left, a door to the right, and one on the far end, perhaps ten, fifteen feet away. He eased into the hall and let himself think over his situation. Which door, which door? He glanced over each slowly as he stepped further into the hall, trying to avoid the creaking of old, weakening floorboards. I could just flip a coin. Well no, three doors, two sides of a coin. Eenie-meenie? God no. That would get back to my friends and I’d never hear the end of it. He thought he heard a noise from the door at the far end and crept up to it. He pressed his ear very close and he held his breath.

“What are they doing? What are you doing to my men?”

Speed backed off after the questions and the response. People in danger and gloating villain. Certainly sounds like the right room. Now how do I get a signal off to the other two. He grinned ear to ear and crept back quickly to the garage. He stepped into one truck and quickly hot-wired the vehicle, the engine roaring to life loud and angry in the darkness.

He slammed his foot into the accelerator and cranked the gearstick of the heavy vehicle, sending it lumbering forward, a powerful, jerking lurch that battered through the thin wood and plaster walls.

“Whoo-hoo!” Speed cried out as he bounced in the cab and watched the dark world explode around him. A loud roar and a terrible crash thundered through the large chamber, rattling the building as a chorus of gasps and cries mingled with shattered glass, torn metal and broken wood. Speed struggled to control the metal beast as it continued its rampage. His head smacked against the top of the cab, and he saw stars as the truck ran directly into the heavy iron cauldron, tipping it over, driving the truck up onto the two left wheels and then crashing on its side.

Von Hammer wrapped his legs tightly around Bennett and clutched the wooden pole in both hands. He struggled, pulling as hard as he could until the length finally surrendered its death grip on the vampire and was pulled from his body. Bennett’s eyes flew open and he gave a harsh gasp of pain as he stared at the Enemy Ace.

“The battle is below, vampire!” Von Hammer said without hesitating. “Your enemy, your wife, she waits below!”

Bennett gave a most ungentlemanly roar and used his strength to tear his legs free of the chain, dropping down toward the stage like the unleashed monster he was. Hans was unable to hold on and had leaped at a tall tapestry of blood red, clutching the silk as it ripped under the weight and momentum. He plummeted to the platform below, barely in control, and crashed hard.

“You dare lay a hand on the Dragon Queen?” screamed the Japanese woman as she pulled herself back to her feet, a dark bruise welling up on her head. “How dare you? Who do you think you are, gaijin?”

“Faraday!” the agent answered with a body block, putting all of his weight into his shoulder and roughly hurling her back into a stack of folding chairs. “King Faraday!” he followed up as he stepped in close and threw another punch at her.

This one she managed to dodge though and he felt the skin of his knuckles tear on the splintering wood as her legs swung in a scissors motion, bringing him down onto his back.

“Oh no, you don’t!” Midnight declared as he waded into the three Black Dragons who were racing to their Queen’s aid. A powerful uppercut stunned one as Midnight charged into a second one, sending the enemy sprawling over the floor. The third one turned on the masked man, hitting him in the lower back and then kicking him in the back of the head. Midnight staggered away from his attacker and spun around as fast as he could, the backhand catching his opponent in the neck, adding a third limp body to the floor.

Speed pulled himself out from the cab of the truck to see he’d knocked over three of the candles. Now fire was taking hold of the dry wood and starting to spread, adding to the panic and smoke. He noticed a limp arm stuck out awkwardly from under the tipped truck and turned away. “Poor bugger.” He saw Mary Seward facing off with a man who looked dressed from the same period, both flashing fangs and hissing. “Right, he’s got that one.” He looked up to see Von Hammer dueling with four of the Black Dragons as some of the rising flames licked the edge of the platform. With the aid of the truck, he leaped up and caught the edge of the platform, pulling himself up and looking at the captured men.

“Help them,” Von Hammer said without even sparing Speed a glance. His hands had caught a downward strike from one Black Dragon, and directed the man’s sword to strike the wooden floor, burying the tip deep. The opponent lost several precious seconds of focus trying to tug the sword back out before the Hammer from Hell smashed his elbow into the man’s throat. Hans spun to the other side of the blade to avoid one of the other attackers and then freed the blade for his own use.

He moved into the middle of the three remaining Black Dragons, and gripped the sword in both hands, one on the hilt, the other gripping the top of the blade. He twisted his torso perpendicular with two of the Dragons, and used his own steadied blade to direct the thrust aimed at him into the enemy at his back. He then drove the hilt of his sword into the face of the first attacker, blood spraying from the broken nose.

The third Dragon felt a rush and a smile as he drove his sword into Von Hammer’s back, but the German’s sideways lunge at the first attacker allowed him to direct the thrust through mere meat at his hip. He saw the sword point appear and spun again, as hard as he could, disarming the third attacker. The Hammer from Hell pulled the weapon away, now clattering on the far side of him from unsupported weight and the ferocity of the spin. Then the third Dragon saw nothing further as Von Hammer neatly separated head from body.

“This ends here and now, twisted one,” Andrew snarled as he confronted his wife. “There is no way you are leaving here, and there is no way the Diary of Blood is leaving here! You have pushed our love too far this time!”

“No!” Mary cried as she clutched the book to her bosom in both hands. “You pushed it too far! You’re the one who refuses to see what we are, what we’re meant to be, and what we should mean to each other!” She stopped retreating and smiled, a mean, angry smile. “And you have no idea the power of my new love, foolish little man! But you’ll learn!” Her form started to shift, shrinking and darkening, and suddenly the book was clutched in strong clawed feet as large bat-wings beat at the heated updrafts in the smoke-filled temple.

“No! Not this time, Mary!” Bennett swore as he watched her shape start to waver. He turned and snatched up one of the standing candle sconces and as she started to fly away, used its extra length to swat her hard to the stage floor with all of his might.

As she crumpled to the ground and bounced, the book slid from her claws. She attempted to right herself, but Bennett was on her already. “I loved Mary Seward with all my heart, but you, O abomination, must die at last! And if I have to die to ensure that, I will!” He heaved the sconce through her body, forcing a ferocious screech from her as her body shifted back into human form, though twisted and racked with pain. Her body caught fire from the lit candle thrust through it, and Bennett stayed on her, keeping her pinned in place.

The cultists had fled when the fires began, and when Von Hammer and Midnight tore through half their ranks, the remaining Black Dragons did likewise. Midnight and Faraday now flanked the Dragon Queen, who looked furious as the fires spread and the heat and smoke in the building grew harsh and oppressive.

“You have both made a grave mistake this day,” the Dragon Queen snarled as nails lengthened further, a foot long each, razor sharp and glittering black. She swiped at each of the men, Faraday ducking underneath to try and tackle her as Midnight blocked and tried to step in with a punch to her head. She leaped over Faraday’s clumsy attack and spun around to kick Midnight hard in the jaw, sending him spinning off in a different direction.

Both men stared at their opponent as she failed to land on the floor from her kick. “I am not just the Dragon Queen, ruler of the Black Dragon Society and lover of the Blood Red Moon and its Queen!” the woman roared as her skin turned a dark green and shimmering scales slipped out from under her skin, peeling the visage of the lovely woman away piece by piece. “I am the Queen of Dragons, and I will not be stopped by the likes of you!” Leathery bat-like wings tore from her back as she seemed to double in size and yellowing eyes glared at her enemies.

“Won’t you need this?” Speed called out as he held up the Ineffable Libram from the now-empty platform. The Dragon Queen spun her head in his direction and baleful eyes stared at him. “Of course, you’ll need the diary too, right?” He pointed down at the stage, past the fiery pillar that was once the two married vampires. “Better get it quick!”

She roared again, and charged for the Blood Diary, swooping down to snatch it up in her talons. She looked at the funeral pyre and let out a wailing cry of grief at the sight. “I will avenge you, beloved!” she roared out as Speed merely shook his head.

“We can not let you do that!” Hans Von Hammer called out as he and Speed quickly lashed out at the rope supports of the platform. She shot a look up at the two men as the large wooden structure plunged to the stage, tearing through the fire-ravaged floor and pulling her down into its fiery grip as well.

Speed and Hans had already leaped away with the last of their efforts, hitting the overturned truck with hard thuds and rolling to the far end as they felt the world lurch beneath them. The entire floor was caving in now as they made a second leap across the hole, running the risk of plunging into the fiery inferno below.

Faraday and Midnight had already begun their retreat when they saw what the other two had planned, and, in the cool night air, turned to watch the conflagration. Both were pensive as they waited to see who made it out, Faraday feeling relief when he saw his five men at last walk around the street corner, and both himself and Midnight feeling better when Saunders and Von Hammer staggered out from another alley.