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Authors: James Byron Huggins
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coming will kill … until there is nothing left to kill.”
Killing monsters left and right, Josh enhanced the drama of his handheld video game with growls, explosions, pleas for mercy and then a dramatic long-drawn death cry that ended in a low mumble, swearing vengeance. It reminded Gina of something out of a kids’ cartoon show – only better.
She threw him a T-shirt. “Game’s up! Time for a shower. Then brush your teeth and gargle.”
Rachel, lying flat on the bed beside him, remarked dryly, “Unlike last night, dog-breath.”
“ I was busy last night.”
“ Doing what?”
“ Killing monsters.”
“ Game geek.”
“ No names,” Gina said sweetly. “Josh, get on it. I’m tired. I want to go to bed.”
With a meaningful drone Josh clicked the video game. “Man, I was just about to slaughter a plesiosaur.” He set the handheld game on the night table and slouched toward the bathroom, closing the door. Rachel reached over and picked up the game.
In a few minutes Gina heard the shower. Laughing, she removed clothes from the suitcase and began laying them out for the next day. When she was finished, she reached in and removed a matte-black SIG Sauer P -226 semiautomatic pistol.
She ejected the clip and locked the slide, ensuring the chamber was empty. She tapped the clip on the soft edge of the suitcase and slid it back into the handle. Then she placed it beneath her clothes and became aware that Rachel was watching. Then Rachel muttered, “”I thought you weren’t going to be an FBI agent again until we got to Rome.”
With a smile Gina walked back to the bed and relaxed beside her daughter. “I’m not.”
“ Uh-huh. So why the gun?”
“ Regulations, babe.”
“ You even have to carry a gun here?”
Gina nodded. “Want the short version?”
“ No.”
“’ In any country where there’s an FBI field office and an FBI special agent will be working with such office at the end of personal time, that agent must be fully prepared to assume duty at the end of said personal time or at any other time be it at the discretion of the Assistant Special Agent in Charge.’”
“ And after this we’ll be in Rome for four months!” Rachel stuck a finger into her throat and leaned forward. “Gack.”
Moving beneath a halo of steam, Josh walked out of the bathroom, rubbing his head with a towel. He looked at Rachel, then at his video game. His eyes narrowed. “What did you do?”
“ Nothing! I was just looking at your—“
Josh snatched up the yellow computer and quickly ran a diagnostic check or something. He released a deep sigh. “You are sooooo luuucky,” he sang, “that my game wasn't eeeraaased."
"Okay, guys," Gina chimed, "it's time for sleep." She kissed them both and they lay side by side beneath the covers. "No more talking until I wake up in the morning. And do not drag me out of bed before I'm reeaaaady."
Josh had the last note.
"Oh, please, Mom, no siiinging ..."
* * *
Chapter Six
Night...
Although the shadows that cloaked the Great Hall would have been depthless to human eyes, it moved through them without effort. Although the night outside—a night without a moon or even a star in the storm-clouded sky—was a solid dome of black to other creatures, it could see every wrinkle of stone, every stir of dust, as if darkness were only a lesser form of day.
But it had known true darkness before.
Yes, it had known true darkness in Egypt—so long ago, now—when darkness struck the land so completely that even he could not see through the blackness of it. And yet, still, the hated slaves had enjoyed the light that streaked down in interlocking crescents that flooded and followed every Hebrew home—a child playing in a muddy field, an old woman walking in the open street.
He had always hunted in the night—had feasted upon the slaves—but during those three nights he had not hunted. No, he had not dared violate the light for fear that—while life to the
Killing monsters left and right, Josh enhanced the drama of his handheld video game with growls, explosions, pleas for mercy and then a dramatic long-drawn death cry that ended in a low mumble, swearing vengeance. It reminded Gina of something out of a kids’ cartoon show – only better.
She threw him a T-shirt. “Game’s up! Time for a shower. Then brush your teeth and gargle.”
Rachel, lying flat on the bed beside him, remarked dryly, “Unlike last night, dog-breath.”
“ I was busy last night.”
“ Doing what?”
“ Killing monsters.”
“ Game geek.”
“ No names,” Gina said sweetly. “Josh, get on it. I’m tired. I want to go to bed.”
With a meaningful drone Josh clicked the video game. “Man, I was just about to slaughter a plesiosaur.” He set the handheld game on the night table and slouched toward the bathroom, closing the door. Rachel reached over and picked up the game.
In a few minutes Gina heard the shower. Laughing, she removed clothes from the suitcase and began laying them out for the next day. When she was finished, she reached in and removed a matte-black SIG Sauer P -226 semiautomatic pistol.
She ejected the clip and locked the slide, ensuring the chamber was empty. She tapped the clip on the soft edge of the suitcase and slid it back into the handle. Then she placed it beneath her clothes and became aware that Rachel was watching. Then Rachel muttered, “”I thought you weren’t going to be an FBI agent again until we got to Rome.”
With a smile Gina walked back to the bed and relaxed beside her daughter. “I’m not.”
“ Uh-huh. So why the gun?”
“ Regulations, babe.”
“ You even have to carry a gun here?”
Gina nodded. “Want the short version?”
“ No.”
“’ In any country where there’s an FBI field office and an FBI special agent will be working with such office at the end of personal time, that agent must be fully prepared to assume duty at the end of said personal time or at any other time be it at the discretion of the Assistant Special Agent in Charge.’”
“ And after this we’ll be in Rome for four months!” Rachel stuck a finger into her throat and leaned forward. “Gack.”
Moving beneath a halo of steam, Josh walked out of the bathroom, rubbing his head with a towel. He looked at Rachel, then at his video game. His eyes narrowed. “What did you do?”
“ Nothing! I was just looking at your—“
Josh snatched up the yellow computer and quickly ran a diagnostic check or something. He released a deep sigh. “You are sooooo luuucky,” he sang, “that my game wasn't eeeraaased."
"Okay, guys," Gina chimed, "it's time for sleep." She kissed them both and they lay side by side beneath the covers. "No more talking until I wake up in the morning. And do not drag me out of bed before I'm reeaaaady."
Josh had the last note.
"Oh, please, Mom, no siiinging ..."
* * *
Chapter Six
Night...
Although the shadows that cloaked the Great Hall would have been depthless to human eyes, it moved through them without effort. Although the night outside—a night without a moon or even a star in the storm-clouded sky—was a solid dome of black to other creatures, it could see every wrinkle of stone, every stir of dust, as if darkness were only a lesser form of day.
But it had known true darkness before.
Yes, it had known true darkness in Egypt—so long ago, now—when darkness struck the land so completely that even he could not see through the blackness of it. And yet, still, the hated slaves had enjoyed the light that streaked down in interlocking crescents that flooded and followed every Hebrew home—a child playing in a muddy field, an old woman walking in the open street.
He had always hunted in the night—had feasted upon the slaves—but during those three nights he had not hunted. No, he had not dared violate the light for fear that—while life to the
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