Neckbeard Vampire: Nightbeard Rising

  Chapter 18

  “Almost time now. Are you guys ready?” Dex turned to Cruxx and Fantasia, poised in the backseat. They watched eagerly as the sun steadily crept towards the sky, first casting the rooftops in a bright golden glow, then the walls before them and finally illuminating the yards before the houses.

  “We’re ready,” Fantasia answered. “Chad?” She said. “Do you know your role?”

  “Inside and out.” He said, and smiled at Fantasia.

  “Good.” Dex said.

  They waited until the sun was high enough in the sky that the entire house was covered in light, and then the car began to move. A single door popped open and the vehicle slowed to a halt as they passed in front of Paxton’s house. One by one each member of the offensive team stepped out of the car, stretched their legs and then jogged up to the edge of the house.

  Dex signaled for Cruxx to take the front door—a ring on the bell would distract anyone who was home long enough to let them descend into the basement.

  Together, Fantasia and Dex moved around the side of the house—making their way to the angled steel doors, jutting out from the home’s foundation.

  “I’ll get this,” Fantasia said, gesturing to the lock on the door—and with a skillful swing of her battle axe, and the light clang of metal scraping metal, the mechanism fell from the lock.

  “Remarkable,” Dex commented in surprise. “I never thought a lock could be chopped so quietly.” Fantasia’s only response was a wink and a smile.

  “Please,” she said, and she spread her arms towards the door, “would you do the honor?”

  “Wait for it…” Dex held up a finger. They heard the sound of the doorbell, waiting for the signal from Cruxx. The minutes past and finally they heard Cruxx’s unmistakably loud voice.

  “They’re at the door! Go!” Fantasia said.

  He swung the door open wide and hastily trotted down the stairs. The time for the attack had come.

  They jumped into the room, turning their blades before them, meeting every corner as a potential threat and assessing the environment. Fantasia went over to the windows, slicing at the curtains with a dagger. The dark cloth fell to the ground, letting sunlight pour into the room.

  “Empty.” Dex said.

  “It can’t be!” Fantasia responded. “Wait. Look!” She pointed to a door in the distant corner. “It must be the crawl space,” she concluded.

  Without a word, Dex silently walked to the door, careful to make no sound in his approach. Fantasia positioned herself opposite Dex, ready to strike should someone be waiting on the other side. Slowly, slowly he turned the handle. The mechanism clicked and he carefully pulled the door open with his sword at the ready.

  He swung the door open and jumped back, positioning his Katana behind his head--the blade stretching forward towards unseen enemies.

  Darkness.

  Something wasn’t right. Had she been expecting them? How could she have known they’d be attacking? She could have moved on—the search could be endless. Dex couldn’t afford any more time. He grew weaker every moment and if he could not finish the deed today, all hope might be lost—for Paxton, for Kara, for countless others.

  Again they took their attack formation and stealthily entered the crawlspace room. On the distant end, he could see a small box. The lid was open, displaying anime girls with wide eyes and brightly colored hair, all posing suggestively in little or no clothes.

  In the midst of the comics lay a pillow, just as Chad described. On the floor next to the box lay a large mound, Dex approached carefully.

  “Oh my God.” He said.

  “What?”

  “It’s Paxton.” Dex said.

  Fantasia gasped. The scraping clang of metal on concrete echoed through the room as her axe fell to the floor.