Episode 11: NOT Useless

“All my life has been without a failure. But today would be my first. I’ve let you down. Forgive me,” Coach apologised.

They were one hour away from the infiltration. At the brink of war, everyone needs something to light their spirits up but this had just sent them to the lowest bottom of all. Chase looked on his feet. He didn’t dare to meet with the others’ eyes. The Coach was on his knees. He had never been disappointed throughout his life as he had never failed.

“Looks like I’m no good. Sorry guys,” said Chase.

The Vampiress shook her head while the others looked like they have lost hope.

“Failure for the Coach doesn’t mean the same for you Mr. Verdict. True, he has failed to find out what your strength is but that does not mean a thing,” Mr. Rousseau consoled.

The gang didn’t look disappointed too.

“It’s true Chase. Just because we don’t know what your power is does not mean you do not possess one. Don’t give up just yet,” said Tara.

They looked convinced. It gave a small lit of hope for Chase to ignite in his heart. Oliver tapped his shoulder.

“It’s cool bro. I can still teach you some moves. We’ve got some time,” he said.

“Yeah, and we believe in you; no matter what,” Gina added.

“Thanks,” Chase thanked.

She bumped her shoulder to Chase’s and laced her fingers through his.

“The boy better stay,” the Vampiress suggested.

He protested. He wanted to help in any way that he can.

“But I want to help!”

“We can’t put his life in danger. He’s the one they want. And without knowing his ability, he is better off here.”

The Vampiress just ignored everything he was saying. She wasn’t even looking at him. Mr. Rousseau thought hard. Then he looked at his fellow council members for agreement.

“I’m sorry Chase but I’m afraid she’s right. There’s no telling what harm they will cause for you if they ever get their hands on you.”

“But that’s not fair! I can’t just sit back and do nothing while you guys put your life at risk!”

“Yeah, maybe he can help or something,” Oliver suggested

“I’m afraid not,” said Mr. Rousseau.

The gang looked at Tara for help but even she couldn’t do anything.

“I don’t care. I’m going!”

Then Mr. Rousseau approached Chase.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

And he held Chase’s head before muttering a spell and put him to sleep. Luckily Gina was close enough to hold him from falling hard on the floor but of course, with Mr. Rousseau’s help too.

“What did you do to him?!” Oliver questioned.

“I put him to doze. He’s alright. Mr. Wood, help me get him to the settee will you?”

***

He slowly opened his eye lids. It turned brighter. He held his forehead to recall what happened and how he went to sleep. Coach was blowing his nose into his white handkerchief.

“Coach?”

“Oh, you’re finally awake.”

“What happened?”

Then Chase noticed that he was alone with Coach in the castle. Except for the two guards by the door and they didn’t look like they were alive standing still like a statue.

“Where is everyone?”

“They’ve gone to war.”

“War? Oh shoot!”

His memory flashed back. He remembered Mr. Rousseau did something to him that made him all sleepy and tired.

“I’ve got to follow them!”

He tried to get up but he was tied up at his ankles and wrists. He couldn’t move. If he tried to, it would only scratches on his skin. The funny thing was, no rope was seen.

“What the heck? Why can’t I move? I’ve got to go! They need me!”

“Mr. Colvit put a spell on you. You can’t see it but there are things that are tying you down. I’m sorry.”

Again, he wiped his nose and tears. It was a horrific scene to see. The Coach that he first met wasn’t anything like this. He was strong, principled and strong.

“Err Coach, wats up?”

“Oh, oh, oh!”

From the chair, Coach slipped to the floor while moaning over his failure.

“I have failed! When the world needs me the most, I’ve let them down! Do you know how that feels?!”

“Yeah, I do.”

Of course he did. Not being able to help his friend and being tied up to the sofa, he felt a lot like a loser. Coach glanced at him and became sadder as he cried in tears.

“It’s okay. Just because you’ve failed on me doesn’t mean you’ll forever be doomed to failure, right?”

“Forever? Oh no!”

“No, no, I didn’t mean it like that. Well, there is some point in our life where we eventually have to fail-”

“Failing is not in my vocabulary!”

“But until we get to the bottom of the world, how could we ever climb to the top? Just look at me. A few weeks ago I was worse than a loser; I was no one! But now, I have a girlfriend, a few friends and now a coach! And the best one too!”

“You-you really think so?”

Coach was acting up like a little kid. He must have never failed before.

“Yes. Look at you! You’re a legend!

Coach kept silent.

“If there’s something that I’ve learnt over these couple of days, we should believe in ourselves; no matter what the outcomes are.”

“Well, you did somehow escape the wolves attack. I wondered how?”

Before Chase was dragged down here, he was in the forest, hanging upside down and was about to be torn into pieces. When the wolves charged, the funny thing was that he was not harmed in any way; not even one scratch. The wolves just suddenly disappeared, leaving Chase covered in their saliva. There was no sign of him. When he looked, there were traces of the wolves’ paws on the ground. What the Coach and pilot saw was something unexplainable. But of course, Coach was too drowned in his failure attempts to report that to Mr. Rousseau and the rest. And it was too disturbing and ridiculous to talk about. Still, it bothered them. What had actually happened?

“Coach, you saw what happened right? I mean the wolves.”

“Yes, with my own eyes. The pilot saw it too. He almost blacked out indeed.”

“Then that means I wasn’t imagining it! True?”

“Very true.”

Then just outside the castle, a strange but a familiar sound was heard. Wolves howled so loud it echoed inside the palace. Ever wall reflected the sound as it reached to the humans’ ears. They looked at each other anxiously.

“Is that- what I think it is?”

“Wolves!”

“Coach! You’ve gotta untie me!”

He tried to break lose after seeing the guards fled their place. They were after the howling and they looked intimidated.

“I can’t kid! I don’t know how!”

Shrieks and screams were heard just by the door. Chase and Coach began to panic. Coach grabbed a metal shield given by Mr. Rousseau to protect himself in case the enemy got through. He tried to take Chase with him but the boy can’t move. Gentle steps that shook the ground have shown their owners. A pack of wolves had found them. Somehow, Chase had recognized them from earlier. The leader of the pack had a straight scar right at its right eye. Coach stood by him.

“Coach, go now! I think they want me.”

“No way! I’m not leaving you behind! If we’re gonna die, we’ll die together! It’s been a pleasure working with you, kid.”

“Yeah, same here.”

The wolves had them surrounded. They were circling the sofa since Coach had jumped onto it. Deep down inside, he was scared like a little child too.

***

The first and second line had gone down to meet the enemy. They have succeeded in making ways for the Infiltration Force to the palace. Some of them have died flaming in fire while others were still hanging on. It wasn’t difficult as predicted. For some reason, the clan had put down all of their armies at work. They were usually half in battle while the remaining would stand guard in the ground’s place.

Mr. Rousseau had waved his hand and hundreds of the enemies would burn in fire. Theresa stayed with Emilia who lead the invasion through air. They were flying over the roof to attack from the above and managed to take down many vampires. Meanwhile Oliver and Jocelyn took the underground path through the sewers and gave the clan a surprise attack with their troops. Tara and Gina were flying in the storm to observe and report suspicious activities on the enemy’s ground.

After they’ve countered attack from every corner, all of the armies of the enemy seemed to have lost and yet there was no sign from the leaders. They’ve gathered at the humungous gate of the Resistance Clan’s lair.

“Yeah! We sure beat them!” boasted Oliver.

“I don’t feel good about this,” said Theresa.

“I agree. It’s too easy,” supported Tara.

“And there is no sign of Lord Colvit and the others. We must not let our guard down,” said Mr. Rousseau.

Then the Vampires of the North, South, East and West were present to report their status.

“Our vampires are still out there, fighting but there’s nothing that they can’t handle. We assume the night will be shorter than expected.

“Generals of the Four, you must stay with your vampires and make sure you lead them to winning! We are going in!”

***

“Chase Alexander Verdict, do you not remember me?”

He opened his eyes and found a pack of wolves turned into human forms. They were glowing with white lights and looking down at him. Suddenly, he didn’t feel scared anymore.

“I’m dead am I?”

Then he got it right. They looked like ghosts but familiar ghosts. Their faces, he was sure he had seen them somewhere. The crowd laughed.

“No, you are not dead. And we are here on one purpose.”

Coach had fainted. Chase tried to get him up by shaking his shoulders but he was snoring like a baby.

“He will not wake up. Not unless we are still here.”

He tried hard to remember the faces. Then it hit him.

“You’re-you’re supposed to be dead!” he said.

“True. But as long as this war lives, our souls would never die.”

They were his family. The lady that was talking to him was Jennifer Verdict, the first woman in the family involved in the war. Her hair was dark and curly. She had same eyes like he did. She was his great, great, great, grandmother or something.

“But I can’t do anything. I’m no good!”

“Don’t say such word little one. You are what we have all been waiting for. You have the gift that is yearned by Lord Colvit and his clan.”

“But what? I can’t fight, I don’t know how. I’m weak!”

“No, my boy, you’ve got the heart purest of all. It has been you who we needed to protect. And it is you that will put this battle to stop. You have been looking for something that you didn’t have but inside, you’ve already possessed what you truly need. ”

“Again with the heart. What’s inside of me?”

The ghost took his hand and placed it above his heart. It was pounding hard.

“Your heart is partial humans’, vampires’ and angels’. Listen to it, listen carefully child.”

He listened and he saw what needed to be done. He knew what he had to do.

“Our spirit will always be with you. Goodbye grandson, until we meet again.”

She kissed his forehead as the others smiled widely. And they disappeared.

***