Page 64 of Good Vampires Go to Heaven

All this, Vikar had explained in group meetings the last two days. But it bore repeating.

“We will all gather at Horror after completing our initial assignments. After Horror is destroyed and all its occupants, we will gather back here to develop a new plan for phase two. Hitting those countries not yet covered by the first phase where Lucipires may still be hiding. Spain. Nigeria. Iceland. Wherever. Presumably, by then, all the leaders will be gone, but there will be strays. And like roaches, leave one and they will multiply again.

“Phase three will involve another sweep of every country in the world for every single demon vampire.

“This is war! Our ultimate goal is: ‘NO MORE LUCIPIRES!’”

They all cheered and raised their fists or swords in the air, shouting, “NO MORE LUCIPIRES!”

Vikar bowed his head then, and eight hundred vangels followed suit as Vikar prayed, “Dear Lord, be with us today and always as we fight in Your army to destroy evil. Amen!”

The crowd repeated, “Amen!”

Vikar cleared his throat and announced, “Trond, Nicole, and Camille, you will go with the SEALs to Nigeria or whatever terrorist hot spot they are hitting this week. Take a hundred vangels with you, but keep them hidden. Remember, while the SEALs engage the terrorists, you are after Lucipires. This is not a mission for saving sinners.”

Camille gave her husband, Harek, a quick kiss, and the three headed for the first vehicle in the driveway. Since Camille and Nicole were not vangels, it had been decided that they would all fly back to California, rather than piggyback on Trond’s teletransporting. They would catch a plane out of Philadelphia International Airport. The hundred vangels working with them disappeared and were presumably back in Coronado already, scattered in various hiding places until called to action.

“Sigurd, go to your island, and be safe. Call for us if you need help. Remember, a good defense is as good as an offense.” Sigurd had been chagrined not to be involved in any of the assault campaigns. “Any vangels who get injured will be sent to your hospital for care.”

Sigurd nodded, and he was gone, too.

“Mordr, find Tess, the pirate recently added to Jasper’s council. She may have established headquarters in your part of the country.” Mordr had a home in Las Vegas where his wife was a psychologist. “Wipe out the entire nest. Your family will stay here at the castle.

“And Svein, you and your hundred vangels will begin a sweep upward from the southern United States, Florida, Louisiana, and so on until you meet up with Mordr. Then the two of you and your vangels will head to Horror for the final battle.”

Mordr and Svein nodded, and disappeared along with their vangels. Mordr had already said his good-byes to his wife and children while inside the castle.

Likewise, Ivak, who was being sent to Syria, a hotbed of ISIS terrorism, and therefore a haven for Lucipires, as well.

“Harek, you are familiar with Siberia. Go to Desolation and wipe out Heinrich, that Nazi piece of shit, and his contingent. Take Armod with you. He can moonwalk on the tundra.”

Everyone laughed, including Armod.

Harek nodded at his assignment, although it was well known the time he’d spent in that frigid part of the world had been a punishment, not to his liking at all. He would complete his task quickly and get out of there as soon as possible. He also took a hundred vangels with him, including Armod.

By now the lawns were half depleted of vangels.

“Cnut, take a hundred vangels with you to Italy. Rout Hector from the catacombs under the Vatican, then sweep out to other parts of Europe, except for Greece. France, in particular, reeks of Lucipires lately. And Germany, too. We will leave South America and Australia for another time, as well as more thorough screenings of Asia, Africa, and Antarctica. I wouldn’t be surprised if the stray Lucies flee to South America or Australia.”

Cnut kissed his wife and was gone, along with another hundred vangels. Which left only three hundred or so vangels, along with Vikar, Jogeir, Zeb, and Regina.

“I will take a hundred vangels with me to the Arab lands, which seem to have the most concentration of terrorists these days. I may meet up with Trond and the SEALs there, or any others of you who find yourselves with operations completed. Hopefully, I will get a chance to fight Ganbold the Mongol there in his own territory.

“But first, Jogeir, I would have you take Zeb and Regina with you to Greece, where Yakov has taken over Zeb’s old headquarters in the volcanic ruins.”

Regina had already been aware of which assignment she would get, and that Zeb would serve at her side, also that Jogeir would be keeping an eye on them both. It did not matter. Much. At least, she was being permitted to fight, not restricted to the castle.

“A hundred vangels should suffice for your task, Jogeir. You can then either join me in Afghanistan, or go on to the Norselands, and Horror. We can decide that as we go.”

Jogeir just nodded, solemnly, as did Regina and Zeb. She knew that Zeb was just as glad to be given a job in this war as she was.

Vikar walked up the castle steps then and embraced his wife, Alex, who was standing in the doorway.

And then he, too, was gone, along with a hundred more vangels.

“Are you ready?” Jogeir asked Regina and Zeb.

“We are.”