Knight and Rook
The Case Files of White and Doorchester’s Magic Shop.
Logan House Publishing Presents.
From the World of We Were Heroes.
The Case Files of White and Doorchester’s Magic Shop.
Knight and Rook
By J.R. Logan.
Neil had heard the call over the patrol radio for the magic shop as if things couldn’t get any more complicated. Who’s at the magic shop? Neil turned to get on the bridge to cross the river. Curt was injured, and Beth was too green. Neil had agreed with Curt to keep Beth at the shop away from Judas and the riots.
I hope it’s not Emily. No one there could stop her. She’s still tainted. That trail had gone cold almost immediately. Neil and Judas chased her into the darkness around Skyview Bridge days ago. Curt wasn’t the only hero injured. Then Judas showed that whatever it was that made vampires angry, he had it. It was the third day of the riots in the city.
Are the vampires dumb enough to attack the magic shop because Emily’s a hero or Judas is her friend? The empty streets allowed Neil to drive faster than he usually could in the city. Then, out of a puff of mist in the headlights, Judas Scarlet appeared.
Neil turned the wheel hard; teeth clenched as the car clipped a fire hydrant. The air bag slammed his chest. Water exploded into steam from under the hot engine. Neil pulled himself off the steering wheel. He took the seat belt off and staggered out of the car. Judas Scarlet stood there with a dagger in his hand.
Jones didn’t say anything. Beth sat there for a time in silence. She felt rejected when Curt decided to send her away. “Where are we going?” she said. Jones had turned south over the bridge, “We’re not going to the Field office?”
“I’m taking you to a safe house,” Malcolm said. As they crossed the river, Beth saw the Welcome to Rossford sign. “It’ll be fine for tonight,” Malcolm said.
A stone wall ringed the property. Electric gates opened as the van approached. The address marked in stone had the name ‘Sthal.’ In the distance, a brick and cedar house three stories high covered in ivy was in a grove of massive oak trees. Jones continued down the carriage driveway to a side road past the four-car garage. Further back on the property was a small house by the lake.
Barney stood by the door, waiting for them. He didn’t say anything. He shook the Reverend’s hand as he came in and closed the door behind Beth. Plain gray gym clothes covered hidden muscles. The clunk of free weights rattled from the basement.
“There’s a room upstairs for you,” Barney told Beth. “If you’re hungry, dial zero on any phone and ask for the kitchen. The main house can send it over.”
“You live with your mom?” Beth said.
Barney smiled, “Her place is over there,” pointing to the big house down the road.
The house furnishing was spartan. There was no television or radio and almost no furniture. Something was out of place. Beth walked along the bookshelves, which held True crime and hero books. The clunk of weights came from below. “Make yourselves at home,” Barney said. “I’ll be finishing up in the basement.” Then the phone rang.
Barney was on the phone for 20 minutes, pacing as he talked. Carmela stood by the island kitchen in silence. After hanging up, his hand stayed on the phone for a moment. His eyes bored a hole in the backsplash.
“Carmela, get the car. Beth...Neil is in the hospital. He wants to see you. Reverend, please take Beth to the hospital.” Barney’s voice was calm and even. That frightened Beth more than anything.
“What happened?” she asked.
“He found Judas.” Barney wrote a room number on a notepad and handed it to Malcolm. “Neil wants to see Beth.” Seeing the number, the Reverend understood it was the expected ward.
Judas waited at the chessboard. His old hideout had remained untouched. It was perfect for what he needed to do. A finger knocked over the pawn. She was in her place. The knight, the most dangerous of the pieces, is off the board. He slid it to the side. A flick sent the bishop flying across the table, useless. The king was in check. That left the white queen and the rook.
The Vampire Hunter looked up from the table as the door opened. “I thought you’d be here,” Barney said. He wore loose gym clothes. Judas put his hat on, standing up.
“I thought you gave up being serious to be the clown,” Judas said.
“No. Not tonight. It’s Bernard Stahl and Judas Scarlet like old times.”
“Like trying to kill each other?” Judas said.
“Maybe not that far,” Barney said.
Judas pulled the katana and scabbard from his belt, seting it on the table. Barney looked at it. “That’s going over the fireplace when we’re done.”
Judas ran his fingers along the scabbard. “Better fate than an evidence locker,” Judas said. Barney cracked his neck. Judas closed his eyes, flinching at the sound. It had always run goosebumps up his neck when Barney did that. At that moment, Camilla came up from behind, putting Judas into a headlock.
“I’m cheating this time,” Barney said.
Beth and Malcolm walked down a quiet hallway of the medical center. Beth’s hands started to shake as they approached the room set aside for expectant patients.
“He wanted to see you,” the charge nurse said.
“They didn’t know how long he has,” Malcolm said.
“What happened?” Beth said.
“He found Judas,” Malcolm said. The door opened. Neil lay on the cart, blood dripping from the trauma bandages. He looked unnaturally thin.
Beth ran to the side of the bed, taking Neil’s hand. “Not yet,” Neil said. She could feel the faint magic, the smell of dirt and old socks. Necromancy. “When I’m out of mana, I’m done.”
“I’m sorry,” Beth said.
“Don’t apologize for Judas,” Neil said, handing Beth the hat.
“No, I can’t.”
Neil took a deep breath, struggling to pull in the air. “We don’t pick witch hunters from anyone that wants the job.”
“Neil,” Malcolm said. Beth held his hand.
“Sit here and hold my hand until the time comes,” Neil said.
“But?”
“Beth. Let me lay here and enjoy breathing for a while,” Neil said. They stayed there for two hours until Neil Holt passed.
Later the attendants arrived with the morgue cart. Beth walked into the bathroom. She wanted to throw up. She washed her face, spending a few minutes with the water running through her hands. The chalky white foundation, black lipstick, and eyeliner ran down the sink. The hat waited on the shelf next to her. Scrubbing off the makeup took time. Beth looked in the mirror. “No more hiding.”
White and Doorchester’s Magic Shop stories can be read at Logan House Pub on Substack.
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