Team Seven of Heroes Chapter 15

15.

Van Helsing woke up to find himself on a dry bed looking at the ceiling. He looked around and saw himself in a room full of household utensils. His bullet wounds were tended to and there were fresh band

“You must rest, Herr Helsing.” Van Helsing was surprised that he was known and then recalled that his silver arm could be the giveaway. He was known as the Demon Slayer by the ones who were in the dark arts and also among the vigilantes who hunt them too. 

“Please do not move.” The rescuer reached out to lower Van Helsing to the bed. 

“The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Your spirit needs tender care now but it will heal and your Spirit renewed.”

“His sword is what delivered us.” Van Helsing muttered to himself. “I am to thank you but which man knows these words of God are you?”

“My name is Tuck, and formerly a Friar or still one but my heart still held God close in me.” The man known as Tuck smiled. “I am now a mercenary in the cleansing of the violators of what God has created.”

“You fought well with the witches and I had them condemned to the fire of Hades on the cold continent.” Tuck replied. “It may just devour them till the end of the world.

“You hold smite in your words, Tuck. Why do you feel such hatred when you are once a cleric?”

“I was removed of my sight by them but without it, I learned to live with my other senses.” Tuck’s hands then reached for his face to feel the muscles there. “Despite the sight, I am not an invalid. I had the train followed by my friends, reported you boarding the carriage and send the runners to track you. You were lucky then. Your friends were better for the polizei were there to help them.”

“I am tried. Let me rest.” Van Helsing leaned back on his bed but the ex-Friar stopped him.

“You can’t rest. I meant you can rest but you need to work while you rest. I need you to do work on the bed.” Tuck referred to the stack of papers next to the bed. “I can’t see what I may read but you could. You will find how deep we are in this mess. There are the ones whom we regarded as leaders in God’s name involved here too.”

 “Are you telling me that someone in the circle is involved?” Van Helsing asked.

“You tell me, I can’t see it myself.” Tuck replied.

Across the continent at the countryside of Chequers just outside of Aylesbury, there was a urgent conference of the leaders of the nation in the ten bedroom house with twelve staffs there. The ministers have arrived with discreet transportation, of the seven in attendance, three arrived in the London Cab and another two by carriages and the last took a walk there across the fields after a train ride. There were not the normal fares of the villagers but of ministerial level then.

“I said, old chap. The walk did me good.” The man with the balding head and silvery side beards strolled into the library and eased himself on the soft armchair facing the fireplace. He looked at the attendees then and remembered all their names but they have agreed that no names be spoken there.

“We have to meet here as the enemies have grown ever closer to the ones we thought we knew.” M was one of attendees. She stood up and stood by the fireplace. Her right fingers pushed the candle stick there on the mantle and the portrait of the high Lord of the Naval then moved aside to reveal a number of photographs pinned behind the frame.

“I have added in two more names.” M motioned to the photographs. “They have participated on the grounds of unmatched greatness.”

“He is not possible. I have known him for years.” Another seated there protested. “I knew…”

M hushed the speaker and then added in her words.

“No names please. He holds a prominent position in the circle but his lack of vanity gave away. His mistress is in their hands. He has to comply or be exposed and destroyed. No one wanted to end like … the other person.”

“I have been the Minister for over five decades and you are telling me that my administration held no power at all.” The elderly man spoke out. He turned to the one who was dressed in the fine suit and not his usual smart uniform with the crisp edges.

“No, Sir. She is right. I am too ….side lined by the powers to be.” The man in the fine suit slump his shoulders as if a burden had fallen on him.

“To what then are we to do? Sit here and wait for the revolution. Or be prepared for my retirement.” The elderly man asked. “I have been seated in this position for so long and I will not give up on some revolution. Heck! I created some revolution myself in some countries and I will make its Hell that they will see if they do it here.”

The elderly man heaved in with deep breaths before he coughed out the phlegm that was stuck in his throat. He then looked at the other four seated there.

“Members of the business communities, please tell me to what you can contribute here.” The four addressed shifted in their seats. They were warriors in the commercial fields and politics was only their playing field to leverage on opportunities.

“Mr….” The man who was to speak then remembered the advice then began to correct himself. “We are restrained too. The people….I meant the people are influenced by them and massive boycott have affected our enterprise. We are limited in resources now.”

The elderly man then stood up before stepping away. He did not speak but motioned with his right hand for them to leave. He was then left alone with M by his side.

“I will submit tomorrow to their request.” The elderly man then sighed. M only nodded and then she pushed the candle stick back to close the painting over the frame. M then smiled for her work was done.

“Lives will be saved, Sir.”

Speaking of saving life, Doctor Watson sat opposite Mycroft in the bedroom where Sherlock had occupied the bed. He was moved there and his clothes loosen to ease the breathing. Mycroft still in his suit looked at the brother of his.

“Does he sleep after his doses?” Mycroft asked.

“Yes but you are mistaken if you think he is always taking cocaine. I do induce him but there were times I knew he needed rest so I swapped for something easy to let him sleep.” Watson smiled. “I am after all a doctor.”

“Your brother biggest fear is his mind. He feared losing it all. The day he can’t think anymore. Some of us fear the dark or the unknown but he feared not knowing. He wants to stretch his imagination to the fullest but his body is limited. And I saw him suffered for it. So I watched over him.” Watson looked at Mycroft. “He appeared to be arrogant or egoistic at times but inside him the man is like most of us, kind and loving.”

There was a creak on the stairs and that jolted Watson from his conversation on Sherlock.

“We have guests coming.”