by Susan R. Part Four: Check

Chapter One: Homecoming
           Max parked his car in the drive way and honked the horn. Eileen Townsend came running outside to greet her youngest son. "Hi mom," he said not hugging her too tightly.
           "Max, oh Max, I'm so glad to have you home for the summer. My poor baby is still bruised," she said as she brushed her hand across his face. "I'm glad those boys will be kicked out of school."
           "Yeah, I'm glad, too. I can't believe how nice the university was to me. All of my teachers got together in a meeting and because my grades were all A's and B's they let me exempt all my finals and sent me home early."
           "It is strange, but I'm happy. Did they ever find out who your guardian angel was that night?"
           "Nope. There weren't any witnesses but him. And those boys are too scared to talk."
           "Now come inside and have something to drink. Your brother is coming home early today so he will help you unpack. Just wait until you see his new car."
           "Don't tell me he got a red convertible mustang?"
           "Not red, but black."
           "Wow. I used to think my Cavalier was the nicer car compared to his old Escort. This job must pay great. Who did you say your friend is?"
           "Lexavier Cardulla. He lives in Europe."
           "Mom, did you say Lex Cardulla?"
           "Why yes, dear. Now have a seat on the couch and I'll get you a soda."
           "Why did Chris agree to get a job from him? Hasn't he met Lex?"
           Eileen walked out of the kitchen with the glass. "Max, what is your problem? Lex Cardulla is a great man. And is he charming. I've met him a few times. He is only twenty-eight. I told him that he would be perfect for Sophie."
           "Mom, you met him?" Max pulled out his cross from under his shirt and watched his mom. Nope, not a vampire. "Mom he worked with Alexander Lucard!"
           "Max, you're not going to tell me he's a vampire, now are you? I thought you stopped with these childish stories about vampires living like humans."
           "Mom they weren't stories!"
           "Max, enough! Not one more word, understand! And don't talk about this to Chris."
           "Okay, mom." Yeah, if there aren't any vampires than how come you were one for two days? Max drank the rest of his soda just as he heard Chris pull up. He ran outside to greet his brother.

           Max and Chris finished unpacking all of his belongings while Chris talked all about his new job. Max decided not to tell Chris about Cardulla until he could find some proof at the record store office. "Max, you have got to see my secretary, Isabella. She's from Rome and is she fine! I won't tell mom about her, but she has stayed late several nights and we haven't been working."
           "Chris, what do you know about her?"
           "She has worked for Cardulla but wanted to work in America. Just wait until you see her."
           "Interesting. Yeah, I can't wait to meet her. You haven't met Cardulla, have you?"
           "No, only mom. He sends me email and faxes."
           "Chris, I know it's getting late, but do you think we could go over to your office tonight?"
           "Why Max?"
           "I'll tell you later. We'll tell mom were just going out for a ride in your car."
           "Okay. Let me go to the restroom first." Chris walked out and Max opened a small wooden cabinet that he had inherited from Uncle Gustav. He pulled out a small wooden stake and tucked it into an inside pocket to his jacket. He walked out into the living room and told his mom that he and Chris were going for a ride.

           Chris pulled up to the store and walked up the stairs on the side of the building to the second floor. He turned on the light and showed Max the front office. "This is Isabella's desk. She doesn't keep any photos of herself here so I can't show you what she looks like."
           "No pictures at all?" Max smiled. I wonder why.
           Chris then took him into his office. "Not much. Just a desk with a computer and stuff. But, I got a great CD player and TV over here. I get to preview the new CDs that come in."
           "What exactly do you do?" asked Max as he looked at the paper lying on the desk.
           "I do a lot of paper work. I review the orders and sign what I order. I look at a lot of the paper work that both store managers send me. I know Isabella does more work than me, but it's great. I think Mr. Cardulla is great for giving me such an easy job with excellent pay, yet I hardly do anything."
           "Kinda strange, don't you think?"
           "Okay Max, why did we come here? What are you hiding?"
           "I don't think Lex Cardulla is who you think."
           "Who Max?"
           "What name sounds a lot like Lex?"
           "Huh?"
           "Alex, maybe?"
           "Max, you don't think Lex Cardulla is Alexander Lucard, do you? Please!"
           "Yes, because I've been watching Lucard Industries. Here, let me pull it up on the Internet." Max turned on Chris's computer and waited a few minutes to get online. He pulled up the LI home page. "Read it for yourself," he said pointing to the press release.
           Chris read it out loud and then turned to Max. "It says he worked for Lucard. It says Lucard retired."
           "Lucard retire? He's a vampire you idiot, he doesn't retire!"
           "Max, maybe he got tired of running his own company. Maybe he wanted to do something different."
           "Chris, that company is his empire! Do you--"
           "Quiet, I hear the fax machine by Isabella's desk."
           Max and Chris both walked out and watched the fax come out. Max smiled when he saw it land on the desk. It was a memo from Lucard Industries. He read it out loud: "Isabella, you had better have hidden the post card or else!"
           "Okay, Chris, what the hell does that mean?" asked Max.
           "I don't know. Wow, he really does work for Lucard Industries. I'd recognize that chess piece from anywhere."
           "Chris, we've got to find this post card. Come on and look," said Max as he opened the desk drawers. They searched through papers but found nothing. They had just finished with the last drawer when Chris heard the key turning in the door. "Who's that?" asked Max."
           "Go hide, Max. I'll run in my office and pretend I didn't see the fax. Max ran into the supply closet while Chris ran back to his office and clicked off the computer.
           "Christopher?" called out a woman's voice.
           "Isabella, I'm in my office. I forgot to read over a file before I left," said Chris.
           "Now, Christopher, I know you read them all. Did you come back hoping I was still here?" She said as she pushed back her blond hair to reach up and kiss him. She kissed him until her cellular phone rang from her purse. "Let me answer this, okay."
           Isabella walked out into her office and closed the door so that Chris could not hear. Max sat quietly in the supply closet listening to her. "Hello? A fax? Hold on, let me see. Yes, it's here. Chris is here, but I don't think he saw it. Alexander, I'm sorry, Lex, don't panic. The postcard is in my car. I couldn't stay in this office waiting for your fax. I needed to eat. A girls got to hunt, you know, if she is going to seduce some mortal and not get a drop out of him. No, he's alone. I'm suppose to meet Max tomorrow...."
           As Isabella continued to talk near the closet, Max began to pull out the stake and held it. He opened the door and saw her jump back as he walked towards her. She didn't have time to fight before the stake went directly into her heart.
           The phone fell on the floor and Max could hear a voice calling out for Isabella. Max picked it up. "Hello, Lucard."
           "Maximilian," said the voice on the other end before hanging up.
           Chris came running out of his office. "Max, what happened? Where is Isabella?"
           "Max pointed to the pile of ashes. "How's that for proof. And her phone call, it was Lucard. I heard him say my name before he hung up."
           "Isabella? A vampire?"
           "I'm sorry I killed your secretary, Chris, but she was working for him. And she told him that the postcard is in her car."
           "Let's go and find it."

           "Damn," said Lex and he threw the phone off of his desk. I began to pace around the room as the sun started to rise. He sat down in his chair and closed his eyes. He felt Sophie near him but kept his eyes closed as she began to kiss him.
           "I knew I would find you here eventually," she said as she smiled at him. "I didn't think you could handle taking more than a couple of days off from work."
           "I'm sorry, my love, but I had to do some business this morning. What are you doing up?" he said as he held her.
           Sophie sat down on his lap and smiled. "I woke up to an empty bed so I knew you had to be here. I was hoping to persuade you to take another day off," she said as she kissed him. She pushed away her long coat to reveal her white night gown.
           "How about we get away for the day. I can have my jet fly us anywhere you wish."
           "I'll let you pick since you know me so well." She kissed him again and began to unbutton his shirt.
           "Miss Metternich, in my office?"
           "Yes, Mr. Lucard."
           "My pleasure," he said as he ripped away her night gown and made love to her in his chair. An hour later, he had a servant bring some clothes for the two of them so that they could leave town from his office.
           As they boarded the jet, Sophie asked him over and over again where they were going. "The city of love," he said in French.
           "Paris!" she said as she kissed him.

           "Damn, Chris, we've searched this car ten times. Where the hell is this postcard?" asked Max.
           "I don't know. She's got to have it hidden somewhere."
           Max looked at the driver's side door. He saw a small tear in the carpet. He ripped at it to reveal a small post card. "Chris I found it!" he yelled.
           "What, who is it from?" asked Chris as they both looked at the front. It was Lucard's castle. "No, it can't be. It's the same card Sophie sent us when she was a vampire."
           Max turned it around. "I think she's a vampire again, Chris, look, it says 'I'm back at the castle with the man I love. You guys won't believe it, but I do love him. Sophie'"
           "No, it's a trick!" yelled Chris. "She doesn't love him. How could she?"
           "Chris, we'll go to Europe and rescue her. He's got to have her under some spell."
           "What is it with her? Why does she always fall for some vampire who turns her into one?" Chris sat down on the ground and began to cry.
           "Chris, Lucard didn't want us to know about this yet. Maybe Sophie is still mortal."
           "God help her if she still is," said Chris holding on to the post card. "God help us all."

Chapter Two: Proposals
           "Max, how are we going to explain to Mom why we need to go out of town?" asked Chris as he sat on Max's bed.
           "Say Cardulla wanted you to meet him. We can tell her that Sophie is with him and she wants us to visit," said Max and he repacked his suitcase. "We've got to get Sophie away from him."
           "You forget, she may already be a vampire. It's just the two of us Max. Uncle Gustav isn't here any more."
           "I know. We need someone else." Max started pacing around the room. "If only we could have a vampire on our side. Then it wouldn't be bad."
           "A vampire, Max? A lot of vampires may hate Lucard, but they won't help us."
           Max smiled. "But what about Klaus? He is a Helsing after all."
           Chris laughed. "You're funny. Besides, Lucard locked him up somewhere almost ten years ago. Lucard told me after Gustav's funeral that he sent Klaus away to be locked up forever in his favorite book. And, I have no idea what he meant by that."
           "His favorite book? He loved Anne Rice. I know where he is! New Orleans!" Max turned on his computer and started to log onto the Internet.
           "Max, what are you doing?"
           "Klaus has to be sealed in some tomb in a cemetery. You know, holy ground. New Orleans is full of cemeteries. There is a famous one but I can't think of the name. I'll search on the Internet and find it."
           "My brother, the investigator!"
           Max searched through some pages until he found what he was looking for. "He's here!" he said pointing to the screen. "Lafayette."
           "I think your nuts, Max, but a trip to New Orleans wouldn't be bad. I just fear we're either on a wild goose chase or we may be Klaus's first meal in ten years!"
           "Hey, I set him free once and he didn't kill me."
           "Yeah, I remember. Let me just make some calls first."
           "Okay. I'll go tell mom."

           Sophie sat at the outdoor cafe and smiled up at sky. "I love this city. My parents brought me here every summer," she said as she drank her cappuccino.
           "Yes, I had dinner with Napoleon and Josephine several times. Those two were great together," Lex said as he smiled at her. "I envied him, you know. I wanted a woman by my side, but, until now, I never had any luck."
           "You've been so wonderful over the past week. Ten years ago, I could not picture Lucard taking even one day off from work."
           "I would give it all up for you, Sophie."
           "I doubt that. Lucard Industries is your life."
           "No, being a vampire is my life. Immortality is my life. I once was a prince who ruled over a kingdom of poor peasants. But, they turned against me so I moved all over Europe. I know one day, my employees now will turn on me. They almost did when Nosferatu came back to seek revenge."
           "So, what would you do if you only had me?"
           "I would give you whatever you desired. We could travel the world, like immortal gypsies. Money is not a problem with me. Vampires have wonderful ways of making people give us money. Mind control."
           Sophie put the empty cup on table. "I'm ready to go for a walk. How about going by the Eiffel Tower."
           "As you wish," he said as he reached out his arm to escort her. Lex walked her down several streets until they reached the Tower. "Here you go, my love.'
           "Oh, it's so beautiful. Especially at night." A cold breeze blew from the river and Sophie began to shiver.
           "Cold?" he asked. "Let me keep you warm," he said as he wrapped his cape around her.
           "Alexander?" she asked looking up at him. "Would you really give up your business for me?"
           "Yes. Besides, if we get tired of living like gypsies, I could always rebuild. I would rather start over with you by my side."
           "You could really rebuild?" she asked.
           "I built Lucard Industries in less than a year. I started by feasting off of rich aristocrats and CEO's who would sign their company over to me for their life." He held onto her and kissed her lightly on the head. "I think it's time to go inside before you catch a cold."
           "You feel a little cold, too, my love."
           "Yes, but for different reasons."
           "Let me warm you up," she said as she began to unbutton the top two buttons of her blouse. Sophie pushed back her hair to reveal her neck. "Drink," she said.
           "Sophie, I won't."
           Sophie pushed herself up against him. "I'm ready."
           Lucard could fell his hunger and desire inside of him. He bent down and kissed her neck as his fangs began to grow. He bit into her and drank. Her blood was sweet, like wine. For years he had waited to take her, and now he was finally going to have what he wanted. He felt as if he had won a war. Ha, ha Gustav! Sophie is my bride!!! he laughed inside. She's mine!

           The airplane landed in New Orleans just after sun set. Max and Chris checked into the Holiday Inn and decided to hit Bourbon Street for some drinks. They stood outside Fat Tuesdays and drank to the upcoming war with Lucard. "We'll get him this time, Chris," said Max as he held up his plastic cup. "We'll get him for Uncle Gustav."
           "Do you really think Klaus will join us?"
           "He may be a vampire, but he's got Helsing blood. I just hope it will kick in. Let's walk back to the hotel. I want to get plenty of rest. We'll hit the cemetery first thing tomorrow morning."

           Klaus slept peacefully in his tiny tomb. He had been having dreams of his father coming back to talk to him. "Father, I'm so sorry that I couldn't save you. Forgive me!" he had called out to him.
           Gustav Helsing sat on a tombstone near him. "I love you, Klaus. I always will. You will be free, soon, my son. Max and Chris are coming. They need your help."
           "I'll help, father," he said. "I wish that I had never rebelled against you by going to work for Lucard."
           "I don't blame you, Klaus. I was too protective of you. But, you are a Helsing, vampire or not. I almost saved you from him once. Now, it is time for you to save yourself."
           "I will, father," Klaus said as his father vanished and the room was dark again.

           "Okay Max, which one is he in?" asked Chris as they walked past the many small stone structures.
           "Let me read them," he said as he walked past them. "Wait, I think I found it. Lestat's last name was Lioncourt, right?"
           "I don't know," said Chris.
           "Yes, this is it. There is a wooden cross placed on top. Help me pull it off!"
           "Max, someone may see us," said Chris as he looked at it.
           "That's why we should hurry!"
           Max pulled out a hammer from his backpack and started to bang on the cross. It split in half. Almost like magic, the stone lid began to move. Max peeked down and saw Klaus, lying in his tux and cape. He opened his eyes and smiled. "Maximilian? Has it been so long?" he said.
           "Oh, shit!" said Chris as he watched Klaus sit up like Frankenstien's monster coming to life.
           "I've been expecting you two," he said as he got out of the coffin. He pushed the lid back and stretched.
           "You have?" asked Max.
           "Yes. My father told me you would come. You need me to get Lucard."
           "Wait, how did you know?" asked Chris.
           "The undead have a way of communicating with the dead. My father has been coming to me since the night he died. Did you know that Lucard was in his hospital room talking about his plans for the next ten years before my father died?"
           "I knew he had been planning this," said Max. "He got Chris a great job and he's been seducing Sophie over in Europe," said Max.
           "Then we had better hurry," said Klaus. "But first, I need a few drinks. I haven't hunted in almost a decade. I'm weak."
           "You're not going to leave bodies all around New Orleans are ya?" asked Chris.
           "No, I promised my father that I would be a good little vampire from now on. I know the two of you will not believe me at first, but I have changed. Except, I want Lucard destroyed more than ever."
           "Works for me," said Max. "We'll leave first thing tomorrow."

Concluded in Part Five: Checkmate

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