Michael Griffo - Unafraid

“Which,” Ronan finished, “would be right about now.”

“Dad!” Michael shouted. “What are you doing here?” Looking over his shoulder, Vaughan realized it wouldn’t be wise to carry on a conversation with his son and his son’s friends out in the open.

“Come with me,” he said, leading the group to the Dumpsters behind St. Martha’s.

“The smell is goppin’!” Saoirse said, getting a whiff of the odor of rotting food wafting from inside the metal containers. “All those in favor of reconvening elsewhere, raise your hand.”

Before she could raise her arm, Ronan grabbed it. “Cut it out, Seersh,” he ordered. “What’s going on, Mr. Howard?”

“David is planning to destroy The Well,” Vaughn said. “You have to get there to stop him.”

“Oh, come on,” Ronan scoffed. “He’s tried it before and failed.”

“That was my first thought too, but this time he’s using one of your own,” Vaughan replied, his heart starting to race a bit faster. “He’s using Edwige.”

Ronan didn’t have to speak; Michael understood. Despite the fact that he was estranged from his mother, she was still his mother, and if David was using her to get to The Well, then she was in danger. They had no choice but to try and protect her. The only doubt Michael had was what role Vaughan was playing. “Why are you helping us?” he asked.

“Because I’m your father.” Vaughan’s declaration surprised everyone, including Grace, who was never far from her son. His words, however, filled her with relief. Her ex-husband might be sinful and at best a complete jerk, but he still loved their son, and for that she was grateful. So grateful that she allowed Vaughan to see her smiling at him for a split second, just enough time so he knew she was watching him, time enough to make sure he kept his word. He understood.

“Hurry!” Vaughan ordered.

Michael didn’t move. He remembered Phaedra’s warning that wherever Rhoswen went, death would follow. He had no idea where Rhoswen was, but he could smell death as clearly as if its scent was floating on the wind. “You’ll protect Ciaran and Saoirse,” he said. “In case anything goes wrong.”

Vaughan’s renewed commitment to his son didn’t waiver. “I promise.”

The second after Michael and Ronan ran off to The Well, Saoirse informed Vaughan that she didn’t need his help. “If things get all shambolic again, take care of Ciaran,” she instructed. “I’ve got this Atlantium gene running through my veins that makes me sort of indestructible.”

“Care to put that theory to the test?” Morgandy asked.

“Blimey!” Saoirse shouted. “Were you hiding in the bushes?”

“On the other side of the Dumpsters,” he replied.

“Of course,” Ciaran said. “With the rest of the rubbish.”

Not used to bickering teenagers, Vaughan immediately regretted his promise, but true to his word, he positioned himself in front of Ciaran and Saoirse, making them back up against the metal bins.

“What’s going on?” he asked. “David hasn’t called us to action.”

Morgandy inched closer to Vaughan and his charges. “I’m tired of waiting!” he barked, his face beginning to transform. “So I’m taking matters into my own hands.”

This was never supposed to be like this! Years ago when he had crossed over and become a vampire, Vaughan had thought it would bring him an eternity of luxury, wealth, untold adventure. He had never thought he’d have to be a bodyguard. “But that’s against David’s orders,” Vaughan cried, his voice desperate.

Standing directly in front of Vaughan, Morgandy’s face and body were no longer human. “He isn’t capable of giving orders any longer,” Morgandy seethed. “So I’m making up my own.”

Taking a step back so his body was now flat against Ciaran and Saoirse, Vaughan reluctantly allowed his own form to change. He didn’t want it to appear as if he was agreeing to do battle, but he had to be prepared; the two lives behind him were counting on it. “I ... I hear there’s a water vamp settlement in Cyprus!” he said, trying to reason with Morgandy. “Let’s leave at sunset. They’ll never suspect an attack!” But the boy was beyond reasoning.

“No,” Morgandy said flatly. “I want to kill these two.”

“But ... but they’re not even water vamps!” Vaughan cried.

Revolted, Morgandy had had enough of Vaughan’s resistance. “You’re a bigger faggot than your kid!”

Morgandy hit the ground before Vaughan even realized he had punched him. He hit the ground so hard that he didn’t get back up for quite a while. If Grace had still been present, she would’ve applauded Vaughan for defending Michael’s character. She wasn’t, so Saoirse clapped instead. “That was brilliant, Mr. Howard!”

Brilliant, but not a permanent solution. Jumping to his feet, Morgandy was prepared to attack Vaughan for striking him. He wasn’t prepared for Saoirse to attack first. Michael was her friend, she loved him like a brother, and no one was going to get away with talking about him like that. Grabbing the back of Morgandy’s skull, Saoirse didn’t even notice how soft his curls felt. She just hurled his body through the air with more power than she knew she possessed. Twenty seconds later they heard the shattering of glass and knew his body had finally landed. Dumbfounded, Vaughan turned to the girl. “What in bloody hell are you?!”

“Honestly,” she replied, “I’ve given up trying to figure it out.”

“Just be thankful she’s on your side,” Ciaran said, unable to conceal a smile.

So now Vaughan was on the side of his longtime enemy. Yes, it would seem that way. Well, if he wanted to keep peace, he couldn’t just stand there. Peering into the distance he could see Morgandy almost a mile away, not moving, but chances were he wouldn’t stay like that for long. Looking toward the left, he could see a group of kids filing into the gym. “Go to St. Sebastian’s,” he ordered. “I need to make sure Morgandy doesn’t get himself into any more trouble.”

David found his second journey of the day to be much more rewarding. “I’ve done it, Zachariel!” he exclaimed, his voice bellowing throughout the underground cave, startling Edwige, who had just finished her monthly offering of blood. Speechless, she ran to the other side of The Well to conceal her naked body. “Hello, Edwige,” David said. “I hope you don’t mind company.”

“As long as the feeling’s mutual, David,” Michael added as he and Ronan entered the cave.

It was a historic moment. Never before had there been so many people gathered in front of The Well at one time.

Unfortunately, it was not a moment that made The Well happy.

The vibrations started slowly. The movement of the ground was almost imperceptible. In fact, David didn’t even notice anything was happening. How could he when he was so elated that he was finally here? Finally standing in the presence of the godforsaken Well, the legendary being that had eluded him for so long. And look at it! It was nothing more than stone. It looked like something you’d find in a country field, used by an illiterate laborer to fetch water. This was their deity?! Watching Edwige cower and hide her hideous flesh from the others, David thought it was a fitting god.

“I must say how appropriate this foul-smelling place is,” David remarked. “For such primitive, naked beasts, of course.”

Ronan handed his mother a wet clump of yellow and black material. She let the fabric fall to the floor and stepped into it; it was the long dress that she had left on the shore of Inishtrahull Island before making her way to The Well. “Thank you,” she said.