71: Payback

Chuck jolted back to consciousness with the help of a bucket full of cold water. He struggled to breathe. It took him a while to calibrate himself to his surroundings but the horror creeped back into him as soon as he saw Rick’s stern face in front of him. The vampire was standing a meter away from him with his hands behind his back. He was restlessly waiting for Chuck to get back to his senses so that he could get started on his own routine. Rick looked menacingly intimidating when he was in the mood for the torture sessions but that time around he wanted answers more desperately than ever. The desperation killed his love for the art. Chuck tried to get away from him but found himself bound to the chair. His arms were tied on the armrests. It was a miracle that he didn't pass out with fear then and there.

“They made me do it man please!”, Chuck pleaded as tears rolled down his face. There was no hint of change on Rick’s face.

“Who and why?”, Rick Hudson inquired softly without a slightest of shifts in his expressions. Chuck looked ready to narrate novels. All the fear he might have had for the demons, had been overpowered by the aura of the man that stood in front of him. He knew that the demons might kill him if he snitched but Rick Hudson definitely would if he didn't get what he wanted. The bird was willing to sing.

“The demons. They blackmailed me into it, I swear”, Chuck spoke softly and tried to defend himself. Hudson wanted him to elaborate. Chuck saw it in his eyes and sighed. “I was partying in the carribeans ten years ago and a girl flirted with me in the club. I slipped and we were in the bedroom in no time. We spent the night together and did everything physically and biologically possible. I woke up alone and found a recording of the night’s theatrics being played on my TV. I was still reeling from it when the video ended and another started. The new video was of the girl weeping and testifying that she was underage and I knowingly raped her. That night, a man visited me in my home and explained that the girl actually was underage, made to look older and that the recordings would be anonymously sent to the authorities if I didn't agree to work for them”, Chuck squealed and not one word of the self victimization campaign mattered one bit to Rick Hudson. “They called me a week ago and ordered me to call Ronald Mosely”, Chuck added and the name of Rick’s dead assistant compelled him to listen more attentively. Chuck caught that change of attitude from Rick. Hudson had seen his assistant receive a call before he was found dead.

“A week ago? Didn't the phone calls start way earlier than that? Was that the only phone call you made for them?”, Rick sternly inquired. It was an arrow in the dark to place his son in the picture but the face whitened with fear in front of him told Rick that he was spot on. Chuck was silent and he looked away. He knew that if he told him that he had been working for the demons for a while, it could land him in an uncomfortable place. A rage started to brew up inside the intolerant vampire.

“Buddy, you should know that I don't need to turn into an animal to fuck you up. My time is valuable”, Rick spoke, trying his best to keep his hands to himself. The threat yanked Chuck back to the present.

“A while ago, they gave me a number and made me speak about the whereabouts of the Alpha werewolf and that he has spies”, Chuck managed after a while of selecting the most suitable words. Rick knew exactly who the receiver of the call was. He was doing his best to keep his anger at bay but his eyes started to well up. “Then they made me make another call. The stuff I was supposed to say was short but odd”, Chuck added. Rick waited impatiently for what he had to say. “They told me to say ‘Hal-Eck! They are coming’, that’s it”, Chuck concluded. Hudson felt nauseous. The brat sitting in front of him had almost caused a full scale war among the immortals just because he couldn't keep his junk in his pants for once. The vampire then started to introspect and realized that he had piled up a mountain of dead bodies of innocent folks in the completely wrong direction. He was disgusted with himself that he was so easily manipulated. He felt his hand roll into a fist, ready to bash Chuck’s head in.

“Lawson?’, Rick asked in a growl. He barely remembered what he had done to the man in the fit of rage. He deeply regretted it.

"They asked me to hand him over to Mosely. I knew it was bad for Edward but I didn't have a choice”, Chuck revealed. Rick stood there silently, trying to process all that.

“Now, to the ‘Why’?, Rick inquired. He was sure that the demons wouldn't have told him much about their intentions.

“I don't know. They didn't even tell me who I was calling!”, Chuck squealed. Rick found it believable. He stood there for a while before he concluded that his interrogation was over. It was the first of such sessions in his life where he didn't need to lay a hand on his victim. But then again, Boris hadn't left much room for any more beating. Hudson nodded and abruptly turned to leave the room. Chuck saw him leaving and was curious.

“What now!?”, Chuck exclaimed. Rick stopped but didn't turn to face him.

“Now, you get what you deserve but not from me”, Rick spoke and left the room. Chuck was confused. The door reopened after a moment and Boris stepped in. The rage on his human form was enough to make Chuck piss his pants but the werewolf had other plans. Chuck screamed as he saw Boris turn into a massive and horrifying wolf right in front of him.

Aaron and Sophie sat hand in hand on the couch right outside the door, listening to the confessions. Aaron already had the picture painted in his mind when he found out that the demons were involved. He had the idea where the phone calls came from. It was a revelation to see Chuck Bjorn at the other end but it wasn't as staggering. The guy was a prick afterall. Boris sat at the corner of the room with his eyes closed. Tears found their way through his shut eyelids as he heard about his friend. The door opened and Rick stepped out. He gave Boris a nod and the veteran werewolf stood up to his feet and entered the room without any hesitation. A series of screams and shrieks emerged from the room before abruptly coming to an end. Aaron, Mike and Sophie angrily glared towards Rick Hudson because he was the one who had made Mr. Lawson meet his end. They found the vampire in a pitiful state. He was bawling his eyes out with his head resting on his wife’s shoulder as she tried to console him. Their anger faded. The vampire had also lost enough to destroy his world. The devastated mother couldn't help but break down herself. Minutes later, the door opened and Boris stepped out, drenched in blood. Rick and Sandra had finally gathered themselves. Mike witnessed it all silently. They all looked towards Boris for a plan.

“How do we make that son of bitch pay?”, Rick inquired in a whisper. He could only manage to whisper in his emotional state.

“Samael can only be hurt where he’s at”, Boris stated in an equally hushed tone. He knew it was a shocker for everyone.

“Hell?”, Sophie asked in astonishment. It seemed that nobody else but Sophie and her father had that question in their minds.

“Nope. He has claimed a dead realm in the middle of nowhere. There’s nothing but dust, demons and darkness out there”, Boris answered. It just added to the long list of outlandish things the human father and daughter were exposed to in the last few days. “We can get there but the Hudsons can’t”, Boris added. It gave birth to so many questions in Aaron’s mind.

“Why though?”, Aaron couldn't help but ask. There was a bit of anger in his tone because he wanted the vampires to have their vengeance. Rick and Sandra looked aware of the reason.

“Our elders know an ancient way to create a portal to his realm. They used it to gather information about his plans. But they cursed the portal to keep demons from using it”, the veteran werewolf explained.

“And how does that affect them?”, Aaron asked, pointing towards the vampire couple standing near him.

“Vampires have had demons in their ancestors so they have demon blood. The portal won’t accept them”, Borris explained further. Aaron stared at him in disbelief. Boris shrugged as if to say ‘It is what it is’.

“Do what you must. We’ll do whatever we can”, Sandra said and approached Aaron.

“I know what we’ve done is unforgivable but please do try to forgive us. We were just parents of a dead son. And thank you for making us see the light. You’ve changed everything”, Sandra said and extended her hand toward Aaron who immediately shook it. “Make that bastard bleed for us”, the vampire mother whispered and Aaron nodded. He looked at Rick and found him in a broken state. The vampire looked as if he shared the words with his wife but couldn't muster up the courage to say anything. The vampires left Chuck’s house.