Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 11:15:05 -0500 From: Paul Tolbert Subject: A Newfound World 11 "OK Victor, what have you found out?" Lincoln sat on a dusty couch in the parlor of Victor's home. He and Dave headed by there after visiting Willie's and obtaining information about Tuvathu's whereabouts. Dave stood against a wall away from the two, his arms crossed and a stern look on his face. He intently kept his focus on Lincoln, who was geared up to take out Tuvathu once and for all. "Well I found out a lot actually. Tuvathu, or The Undertaker as some refer to him as, is a vampire from Tuscany." Victor began. "He roamed Eastern Europe during the 1800s, leaving behind a long trail of corpses and eventually branched out into Western Europe in the early 1900s. He's notoriously known for publically killing his victims, sometimes in front of small crowds as spectacles." "We know that all too well." Dave grumbled. Victor continued. "He was an industrialist by the name of Mark Callaway. He died around the late 1700s and--" "Sorry Vic but I don't need his full bio. I just want to know how to kill him." Lincoln declared. "Well that might be easier said than done Lincoln. According to the counsel's records, Tuvathu has faced 2 slayers in the past, a girl in the providence of Romania and a male slayer in Paris." "What happened to them?" Dave asked quickly. He unfolded his arms and listened closely. "They...they were killed by Tuvathu." Victor answered quietly. "Hmm." Lincoln spoke. "Well it'll be a challenge but whatever I'm up for it." Dave walked over to Lincoln and sat next to him. He frowned at the slayer. "I recommend a surprise attack." Victor suggested. "I agree. How's tonight sound?" Lincoln stood up and walked over to a large chest by the single window in the room. He opened it up to reveal a huge cache of weapons: wooden stakes, tiny glass bottles of holy water, a crossbow or two and an assortment of swords, blades, and daggers. "Now wait a minute." Dave began. He stood up and walked over to Lincoln. "Don't you think this is a bit rushed? Shouldn't we sit down and think about this? I mean this guy has killed 2 slayers, not to mention he kicked your ass last time you two met." "Gee thanks for the vote of confidence." Lincoln shot back glaring at Dave. "I'm just worried about you. I mean when we decide to go after this guy--" "Whoa big guy. I'M going after Tuvathu, not you." Dave was at a loss for words. He just stood there with a confused expression on his face when Lincoln walked passed him. He began to load up a duffle bag with some of the weapons he'd grabbed from the chest. "Victor do you have one of those double barrel crossbows? I like those better." "Um sure. Hold a minute." Victor noticed Dave's angst but didn't say anything. He thought it best to stay out of the middle of Dave and Lincoln's affairs. He went upstairs to retrieve the weapon Lincoln had requested. Now that they were alone, Dave began to speak freely. "Linc, I'm going with you. End of discussion." He turned around and had a serious expression painted across his face. He noticed the slayer had an equally serious expression on his face. "No Dave you're not." Lincoln replied. "Linc..." "Dave I can't risk you OK? Don't you understand that?" "Don't you understand that I can't lose you?" A long silence filled the large hollow room. Dave placed his hands on his hips and Lincoln sat back down on the couch, placing the duffle bag next to him. Dave sighed and spoke. "Lincoln I love you. I can't just let you go up against this guy by yourself, especially since he's killed 2 slayers in the past. He knows what he's doing. I've dealt with these kinds of guys in the FBI before. There are cold and calculating, almost always one step ahead of you. You may be planning this surprise attack but he could be anticipating that. You need someone to watch your back. Just because you're a slayer doesn't mean you have to be alone. I don't want you to be alone. I want to be there for you." He walked over and sat next to Lincoln and wrapped his arm around the smaller man. "Dave I...I just don't want you to be in any danger. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you." "Linc you're forgetting I've been in the Bureau for years now. I've had my fair share of danger thrown my way long before I met you." Dave smiled and slightly squeezed Lincoln. "I know but this is different Dave." Lincoln argued. "Not really. Instead of a gun I'll have a big stick of wood in my hand." Dave chuckled. Lincoln wasn't amused. Dave waited for a few seconds before he spoke again. "We are agreed?" Dave asked cautiously. He lifted Lincoln's chin and gazed into his brown eyes for an answer. "I don't know..." Lincoln trailed off. "Look at it this way; I'm going whether you want me to or not. You might as well sign off on it so we can come up with a plan together." Lincoln stared at the agent for a few seconds before sighing. Dave knew this was a sign of defeat. "Alright Dave. We'll do it your way." Dave smiled. He turned around when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. "Here is the item you've requested." Victor said, handing the 100 year old crossbow over to Lincoln gently. It looked sturdy, yet delicate. It was chipped and weathered in many places but it did its job perfectly. "OK well let's get going Dave. We'll talk specifics on the way. Willie didn't tell us which warehouse Tuvathu was held up in but--" "Oh I almost forgot!" Victor chimed in. He took his glasses off and wiped them with a soft cloth. "Tuvathu has a loyal subject by the name of Triple H. He's a large man that you'll need to watch for." "See Linc, more reasons why you need me. I'll take care of Tuvathu's bitchboy while you deal with the dead man himself." Dave smiled and patted Lincoln on the back. "Sure" Lincoln replied quietly. Victor spoke. "Are you sure this is the right time to--" "YES!" Lincoln snapped. He stood up and swung the duffel bag around his shoulder. "It's time to end this." Dave stood up and headed for the door when Lincoln stopped him. "Dave! You should get some weapons...from the chest over there." Lincoln recommended as he pointed towards the cache. Dave acknowledged the suggestion and walked over to the chest, bent down and opened it. As soon as he began fishing around for a weapon he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. His vision became blurry and he blacked out, his body flopping down on top of the chest. "Lincoln!" Victor exclaimed. Lincoln was standing behind Dave with a candlestick in his hand. He'd just knocked out his lover. "No time Vic." Lincoln quickly grabbed Dave and hoisted the 290lb man over his shoulder. He sat Dave down on a chair and grabbed some rope from the chest. He took it and began tying Dave to the chair. "Lincoln I don't understand." Victor said. He walked over to the slayer and watched as he began tightening the ropes. "I have to Vic. I can't let Dave die. This is my fight, not his." Lincoln sighed and began to walk out of the room. "If he wakes up, don't untie him. Wait til I return, if I do return."