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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3374697" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-forty-five “Jobin’s Attack”, Tuesday June 13th, 1882, 12:00 P.M.Coughing and wheezing from the smoke and dust, Jake and Chester reach the shaft with the rope ladder. There is no movement from behind. The ground trembles "What in Hades is that!" Minerva yells just as Luna communicates what has happened, the owl letting her know “Jake threw a stick into the room, I can not see. We are running away from it.” Hearing the explosion, Kate openly pulled the wand out of her jacket. "No choice now," she said. "Before we kill it, try to get it to talk. We need information. Tell it we know what it is, whatever we can do without risking our lives."Luna is fluttering around wildly, obviously upset. Jake holds out his left arm for her to land on. He presses himself to the side wall giving as much cover as he can from the hallway. With his pistol pointed down the hallway he listens very carefully and watches for any unusual vapors that may indicate vampires as he has seen them before. Minerva stops to pray for the gods blessing upon herself and her companions before motioning to Kate and Nakomo to follow her into the mine. Kate followed with the wand in hand and ready, although she would use her own spells first, considering they did more damage to the creature than the wand.A nervous but determined Nakomo draws his bow and follows behind Kate. The three reenter the cave, cautiously make their way forward. The corridor forks after fifteen feet, with the left corridor being the one heading towards the shafts downward and the right corridor being the one they have not explored yet. Kate looked to Minerva. "Toward Jake or Chester, or looking for Jobin?" she whispered, barely audible. Minerva looks down the corridor that Jobin came from to be sure that he is not hiding in the shadows and then moves toward the shaft.Chester exclaims, "Jake, what did you do now?" "There were two of them in there. Messier and another big man. The big man had no reflection. Figured since Messier was in there and not working he must have been controlling him." Jake shrugs. "I could have gone in but you know what they say." Chet looks at him questioningly, "What?" Jake replies, "Never smack a man who is chewing tobacco," as if that explains everything.Kate and Minerva reach the final shaft at the end of the corridor, dust and smoke filtering through the air above. "This isn't a good place to be, we have no where to go if Jobin comes up behind us," Kate whispered. "We should go back to where the tunnel splits and watch for him." Minerva peers down the shaft. "Luna where are you?" Luna indicates that she is down at the bottom of the shaft with Chester and Jake. Minerva whispers. "I think they are unharmed." She follows Kate back to the fork while pulling a bottle of holy water from her pocket and loosening the stopper before putting it back in.The dust is settling but the smoke persists. Their vision is still limited but Jake has heard no sounds since the blast. "Chet, start climbing. I will follow you up. I told you I would cover your back. Just check on me now and again. As Chet takes to the ropes Jake reverses his Spencer so the barrel is point down while it hangs off his shoulder.A hand falls upon Kate's shoulder and she smells a putrid odor. Where the hand is the fingers dig in and she then feels a sharp pain followed by complete numbness then light-headedness and the desire to fall asleep. Kate screamed as the disturbingly familiar feel of a vampire on her flesh. She tried to fight the numbness and fire the wand toward the monster that must be upon her. Kate's scream alerts both Minerva and Nakomo to the presence of the creature. They see Jobin literally walking out of the wall beside Kate, his hand on her shoulder and draining the life force from her.In the lower shaft Chester and Jake hear what is unmistakably Katherine Kale's scream.Minerva throws the holy water at him. Nakomo looks for a place to aim is arrow. The holy water strikes the creatures arm and it releases Kate. Jobin retreats back into the wall as Nakomo's arrow flies. The illusionary section of wall is immediately dispelled as the arrow strikes it, revealing a five-foot wide passageway. The arrow strikes true, hitting Jobin in the chest. Red flames rapidly radiate out from the arrow and envelope his entire body as it then glows as bright as the sun before imploding into smoking ash, leaving only a charred spot on the floor. Kate collapses. Minerva rushes to her side and grasping the necklace that Diana gave her, prays for the power to heal her friend. "Diana, Your favored child needs your strength. Heal her through me."Deputy Marshall Martin gasps and climbs the rope ladder as a man possessed, from the fear for Kate and buoyed by the confidence in the ring that Jake had given him. Jake merely mutters, "Mierde," realizing whatever it is he will not be there in time to offer any assistance and continues his steady climb up the rope. He continues to watch and listen carefully on the way up. As Jake and Chester arrive on the scene they see Minerva on the ground beside an unconscious Katherine Kale. A golden glow surrounds the Priestess whose necklace is also glowing brightly, illuminating the corridor.The golden glow flows from the Priestess over Katherine's body, finding rest upon her shoulder where the marks of black oily fingers are visible. An unnatural black gaseous-type smoke flows from the shoulder and dissipates into the air above, as the shoulder then takes on a bright glow and the fingerprints disappear. The light the begins to fade from the priestess, although the necklace continues to glow and the shoulder continues to shine as though a lantern were upon it. Katherine remains unconscious and Minerva notices that one of the three-inch stones from the necklace is gone.Minerva feels the panic begin to crawl up her throat when Katherine fails to wake. She grasps the necklace once more and continues to pray, pouring all of her energy into the prayer. Jake stands quietly, not wishing to interrupt whatever is happening knowing with certainty that there is nothing he can do to help. He peers around nervously and keeps glancing down the smoky shaft. Katherine regains consciousness as one of the two-inch stones from the necklace also vanishes.Kate's eyes opened slowly, as if she were waking from a nap in a bright room. She looked from one concerned face to the next and tried to push herself up. Minerva exclaims, "Thank the Goddess. Katherine, How do you feel?" She replies, "Like I was trampled by a bull." She turned the protective ring on her finger, looking at it. "If I'm alright the baby is too, yes?" Minerva states, "I do not think that the child has been harmed. I cannot believe that Diana would allow it.""It's my responsibility to keep him safe," Kate began, but then let it go. She could berate herself later. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't help anymore. Are there any more creatures? Did you find their coffins?"Minerva states, "We shall have to search behind the illusion door." as she says this she is overcome by her exhaustion and sits on the ground. It is not safe to stay here and I no longer have the strength to move. We need to get to Dos Cabezas and find the Bishop. He will heal you and then we can return here and search for the coffins. Jake describes what happened in the tunnels below. "It seems foolish to have risked all this and leave their coffins intact. Let Chet and I go in there and look for them, you two go out in the sun light."Nakomo realizes that Minerva is unable to pull herself up and so helps her out into the light. When he has her settled in the sun. He goes back in and lends his support to Katherine. Chester helps Kate up. "Are you alright? We heard you scream then Minerva was kneeling over you. Hades. I should have been here. We need to look for the coffins now. If we don't they'll move them before we get back here. Stay out in the light." Chester looks at Jake. "Let's go. Next time show me the dynamite before you light it. OK?"Kate replies, "I'm alright, Chester. Just weak." She leaned on Nakomo, wondering how she was going to ride to Dos Cabezas. The sunlight felt good, as if it were trying to return to her what was lost. There was an empty feeling inside her. She didn't even want to imagine what might happen if she tried to use her skills; she couldn't feel the strength within her to make them work.The passageway that had been covered by the illusion is narrow and curvy, criss-crossing through the upper level of the cave with exits in three other locations that are also converged by illusionary walls. Jake notes the similarity of this illusion to the one that the Cowboy Gang also had in Johnny Ringo's cave that they visited in January. They find nothing in these narrow caves, their purpose apparently being for secret transit rather than storage.They do not see any coffins, but do find the bunkhouse room, which has two double bunks, where three of the four beds which have mattresses on them and the fourth is piled high with five stacks of books. The books appear to be primarily popular fiction. A coat rack is near the door with three rubber slickers and rain hats on it.That room has a stove with a stovepipe venting to the outside. The stove has a frying pan and tea kettle on it. The stove is currently cold, although there is an ample wood pile beside it. Four metal trucks are also in the room, which are filled with grain, corn, jerky and dried fruit. No coffins are found anywhere on the upper level.Frustrated Jake says, "Chet, perhaps we need to come back to this after we take the women to Dos Cabezas. It is taking too long. Blast." He taps at his holster while thinking. "I Will guard then on the journey, will you come with us, or do you think it is better for you to go back to Promise City to inform the hunters? Remember if we meet anyone to keep this as secret as possible. We can tell folks we did not find anyone alive and there are no dead bodies. We can conveniently leave out the other parts without lying."Chester agrees to ride the nine miles back to town to inform the hunters. They all mount up and the other four ride west for four miles until they reach the mountainside town beneath the twin peaks that the town is named for, Dos Cabezas. The town has a population of around 300 which is comparable to Promise City but with far less commercial development, the majority of the population being farmers of wood Elvan descent who are largely self-sufficient and requiring a minimum of additional comforts.The "down town" is comprised of a single street with a dozen businesses on it, those being a barber shop, a brewery, a pair of cantina/saloons, a general store, a brick yard, a hotel/restaurant, a blacksmith shop, a sawmill, a Morand Cartage stagecoach/livery shop, a Morand-Seawell mining headquarters, and a dance/meeting hall."Is there a church here?" Kate asked. "Where do we find the Bishop?" Nerves were beginning to settle in about seeing the churchman. Despite the fact that she knew him and he had helped her before it still unsettled her to think of putting herself in a cleric's hands. Minerva points out that the church hasn't been established yet, that is the reason why the Bishop is here with Father Barnes."Well, let's try Morand's livery and ask them where we might find the Bishop. Since they came on the stage they might know where they were going to stay." Kate nudged Meribel on toward the livery, hoping the search wouldn't take too long.They arrive at the livery where a male wood elf. inquires as to whether they need their horses to be boarded. When they mention Promise City he says that the Wilcox stagecoach returning to Promise City left a half-hour ago and the next one won't be until tomorrow between 1:30 and 2:00 P.M. When asked about the Bishop he says he doesn't know and suggests checking the hotel, or maybe check with Mr. Pleasants over at the Morand-Seawell Mining Office as he might have met him.Kate thanked the wood elf for his help. "I think we'll ride on ourselves, but if we decide to stay the night we'll be sure to bring our horses back here." She was thankful it was a small town as they rode toward Seawell's offices, and also thankful it would be a friend she would find there. They ride a short distance up the street to a simple stone structure in the side of a hill with a roughly made sign reading "Seawell-Morand Mining". The building itself has just glass-less openings for windows with canvas pull shades that are currently open to allow in the light.Henry Pleasants is inside, sitting at a table covered with maps and papers. He sees them ride up and when he also sees who it is a smile comes to his face and he stands to greet them at the doorway. Kate slid off Meribel's back, grabbing onto the saddle when her feet hit the ground and her knees threatened to buckle. Once she was certain she was steady she went to the doorway. "General... sorry, Henry. It's good to see you again. You look well," she said offering her hand."And you do not," he states and he moves forward to help Kate on her unsteady feet. He nods to the others and says, "Priestess Florencia, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Nakomo, what brings the four of you to Dos Cabezas?" "Things you would never believe, or maybe you will," Kate said, holding on to his arm with both hands. "We're looking for the Bishop, the gentleman at the livery suggested you might know where to find him."Henry replies, "He arrived on the stagecoach around three hours ago. I had breakfast this morning with Father Barnes who told me about their church ideas. I believe you'll find both Priests over at the Town Hall building where they will be holding a worship service this evening in conjunction with the Mexican priest that the wood elves worship with." Kate says, "Thank you. We need to see him right away, but we'll come back down and visit with you afterward." A bit embarrassed she added, "If you'll just give me a boost up, we'll be on our way."Pleasants gives Kate a hand. The group then rides toward the opposite end of the long street, to the large barn-like building with the sign "Town Dance Hall" above in both Spanish and English.The quartet tie up their horses and enter. Inside are Bishop Costas Papandraius, Father Barnes and a middle-aged wood elf. The room itself is sparsely furnished, with around three dozen rickety wooden chairs and ten crude benches. The walls however are brightly decorated with a combination of colorful Mexican rugs and several of the tapestries that Minerva had put up for sale at Lacey's General Store.The men turn to greet the new arrivals. Kate came in leaning on Jake's arm. "Your Eminence," she said respectfully. "We have news and need of your help." She then quieted. This was Minerva's place of influence, and it would probably be better to let her do the talking. Minerva is aware that the two Greek/Roman priests are aware of the menace from the undead but is not certain about speaking in front of the Elvan priest. She whispers, "This concerns the monsters." Bishop Costas Papandraus tells her, "You may speak in front of Father Tomas Herrera, one of his parishioners is among the missing."Minerva spends the next half hour summarizing what has transpired, as well as the news of the other vampire hunters destroying the two monsters at the farmhouse, one of whom was Father Herrera's friend. They explain what happened with Kate and Bishop Papandraus asks to see the shoulder. As they unwrap the clothing they see that the finger marks have eaten through the cloth of her shirt on onto her skin, and they continue to glow with a golden light.The Bishop has Kate lie down on one of the benches and he casts a spell allowing him to read her physical condition. This takes longer than the comparable spell that he had cast on the pugilist Finnegan two days earlier. He says to her "You baby is safe and unharmed. It took some time for even my clerical magics to detect that as he appears to have a protective barrier of earth-magics around him. You however, are not.That creature began to drain your life from you. The faith of the Priestess and the magical stones helped to stabilize your condition but not cure it. That is why it still glows, it has been held in check by the Goddess until you could reach me for a more permanent solution. The spell that I must cast will take some time to prepare and you will need to rest afterwards. Perhaps we should relocate to the hotel and get you a room to stay in for the night."The worry left her eyes after hearing that her baby was unharmed by her foolishness. "I understand," she said after he had finished, "but, my daughter... and Mrs. Fly is coming to stay with us. They will wonder where I am and what's happened. And I was to meet Mr. Blake and give him a tour of the ranch this afternoon. And someone will have to let Meghan and Mollie know that I won't be there to teach in the morning." She looked to her friends and said, "I know you can't all stay. I can take the stage home tomorrow and perhaps you can deliver my messages for me. And don't let Conrad worry overmuch. Is there another way to send a message to Promise City?"Jake points out that Chester knows they were going to Dos Cabezas and would of course think to tell Ginnie or the other teachers. Minerva says that she could sent Luna to Nanuet with a message. Kate states, "Thank you, Minerva. It would ease my mind. And if someone could send some clothes on the stage tomorrow I would appreciate it." She took a deep breath and sat up. "We'll go to the hotel and make arrangements. If someone could stop by the General store and get me a nightgown that would be nice. Minerva should stay as well, the healing is exhausting."Minerva composes the note and sends it off with Luna. The Bishop agrees that Minerva should stay as well and Nakomo refuses to leave her. Since Jake doesn't deal poker on Tuesday nights there is no reason for him to head off either, so they get four rooms at the hotel for the night. At around 3:30 P.M. the Bishop has completed his preparations for the spell and in the privacy of the hotel room casts it upon Kate. Both Priestess Minerva and Father Barnes are present to assist if needed but the others are made to leave the room.Kate watches in awe as the priest manages to physically pull what looks like a glob of gold putty from her shoulder when he then places into a glass jar as the Greek incantation continues. As he does so she feels immediately weaker and if she hadn't been lying down already would have collapsed. She watches as the gold color fades and the putty changes to a liquid, leaving a substance resembling dark oil in the jar which then begins to evaporate simultaneous to her feeling even weaker. When around half of the container's contents have evaporated it changes color to a deep reddish-maroon that lets off a faint glow.The Bishop's incantation now changes it's tone, becoming more of a fast-paced song. As this happens the remaining fluid rapidly changes color, becoming lighter, until it stops in a shade between white and gold and becoming more solid. The Bishop reaches his hand back into the container and removes the putty. He then places it back on her shoulder and it fades into her body, simultaneous to her feeling stronger again and more like her old self. The incantation now slows and she hears a Latin phrases intermingled with the Greek. The incantation finally ends. Kate feels like her old self again but in desperate need of sleep. Bishop Papandraus also looks to be physically exhausted.Kate took her first real, deep breath, feeling as if she'd returned to her body from far away. A prayer came to her lips. It was a child's prayer, the only ones she remembered, and with it was remembered a very old feeling. As grateful as she was to Diana, deep down she still suspected her motives. But other motives did not mean there was a lack of love. It was that love that she hadn't felt since a child's soul sang with it that she felt now.She reached out her hand and fumbled until she found the Bishop's. "Thank you," she said simply. "Thank you." Silence stretched on for a moment. “You should rest yourself, usually I'd be the nurse but I'm afraid I'm not quite up to it yet." She smiled and squeezed his hand. "I am well, but I'd like to sleep now." The Bishop's room is down the hall. He suggests to Minerva that she go and get some rest as well, as she is still reconverting from the ordeal at the cave. Father Barnes heads back to the Town Hall to prepare for the service. This leaves Jake and Nakomo on their own to explore Dos Cabezas.</blockquote>

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