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    The Travelers: Samuel--Dying to the Flesh
    The Travelers: Samuel--Dying to the Flesh
    The Travelers: Samuel--Dying to the Flesh
    Ebook310 pages5 hours

    The Travelers: Samuel--Dying to the Flesh

    By Gerald Lopez

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    About this ebook

    They think of themselves as travelers. But others refer to them as monsters... creatures of the night... vampires. Rory Baker is a human who unexpectedly enters their world. He meets Samuel, a handsome traveler and vampire who was turned shortly after the Civil War. And an attraction blooms between them.
    Throughout his life, Rory has dealt with many metaphorical monsters, but now in his time of need who will come to his aid? Between mortals and vampires who are really the most human and who are the true monsters?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGerald Lopez
    Release dateAug 29, 2016
    ISBN9781370275052
    The Travelers: Samuel--Dying to the Flesh
    Author

    Gerald Lopez

    Gerald was called to write at various times in his life. When he was young, the writing consisted of plays and short stories. Then he explored the fine arts and literature, earning a bachelor’s degree in the latter while minoring in art history. In his studies he was fascinated by and enjoyed analyzing characters, their personalities and motivations. To him it’s always been the characters who make a story special. Once again writing has taken hold of him. In the past it was just an amusement, but now—for Gerald—writing is a passion to live, eat, and breathe.

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      Book preview

      The Travelers - Gerald Lopez

      Copyright © 2016 by Gerald Lopez

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

      Cover Art Copyright © 2016 by Gerald Lopez

      Acknowledgments

      My special thanks go to the following:

      To John for his helpful comments and suggestions.

      To my wonderful Beta readers for their comments, and often extremely helpful suggestions.

      And to my best friend J. C. for always being there.

      Table of Contents

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      Chapter 16

      Chapter 17

      Chapter 18

      Chapter 19

      Chapter 20

      Chapter 21

      Chapter 22

      Chapter 23

      Chapter 24

      Chapter 25

      Chapter 26

      Chapter 27

      Chapter 28

      Chapter 29

      Chapter 30

      Chapter 31

      Chapter 32

      Chapter 33

      Chapter 34

      Chapter 35

      Chapter 36

      Chapter 37

      Chapter 38

      Chapter 39

      Chapter 40

      Chapter 41

      Contact the author

      About the author

      Other books by Gerald Lopez

      The Travelers:

      Samuel

      Dying to the Flesh

      Gerald Lopez

      Previously published

      under the pseudonym Antonio

      Chapter 1

      The Traveler Returns

      SAMUEL LIKED THE feel of his bare feet on the wet dirt. The rain fell heavily, and his clothes were soaked, but the water itself wasn’t cold. His Irish Setter companion Amadeus lifted his regal snout and sniffed the air. He knew they were home.

      Yeah, boy, you know where we are, Samuel said, then combed his hand through the setter’s wet, red fur. We’re home, buddy.

      He undid Amadeus’ leash and the dog ran forward. Mud flew into the air as he went. This was the longest they’d stayed away from home—more than a year. But it had been Charlie’s dream to go back to the mountains where they’d first met. And Samuel made sure he got to do that before he died. Samuel didn’t want to think about Charlie right now. With his sneakers tied together and hung around his neck and his backpack on his back, he ran to catch up with Amadeus.

      The two sped down the dirt road, through an open gate, and into a tree-lined alley surrounded by a green field. At the end of the alley stood a medium-size raised cottage. Samuel and Amadeus didn’t stop until they’d leaped up the steps onto the wraparound, covered porch.

      Samuel knew she’d be there when he opened the door. He’d sensed her presence while they were still a long distance away. Lit candles illuminated the living room. More candles were on the wood mantle of the stone fireplace as well as scattered in groupings on the wooden floor. A fire blazed in the firebox. Someone had placed a large, round, steel tub filled with water in the center of the room. It felt warm inside the house and smelled of spice.

      My God, you are filthy, she said. And just look at poor Amadeus.

      She reclined on the only piece of furniture in the room… a fainting couch covered in iridescent gold silk.

      You’re ever the casual one, Veronique, Samuel said sarcastically. Here you are lounging on a silk covered couch wearing what else but blood red silk.

      Veronique Lambert had dressed in a spaghetti strap dress. It was indeed a silk satin and the aforementioned color. Her straight, long, red hair fell below her shoulders.

      Watch those heels on my wood floors, Samuel said, noticing the red stiletto heels his maker wore. She smiled at him now. No doubt she’s admiring her handiwork, he thought.

      So, the traveler and his loyal companion have returned home, a man who looked to be middle-aged with curly, dark brown hair said.

      Hello, Rafael, Samuel said. It’s been a while.

      Rafael wore only a pair of white shorts. His lack of clothing showed off a buff six foot tall body and beefy, but not fat, chest. The only body hair he had, besides his chin-length hair, was on his legs.

      Looking good, man, Samuel said. I’ve always been envious of your height. You must’ve been a giant in your day.

      There aren’t many of us who turn to fat and ruin, Rafael said. And if I remember right, I turned out to be the runt of the litter. He smiled. But my family was rather unusual in that we were tall for the day. I can see my work is cut out for me with you. Her highness on the golden throne requested I bathe you while she inspects the goods. Roget is with me, he’ll take care of Amadeus. He turned to the Irish Setter. You remember me, don’t you.

      Amadeus barked. When Rafael crouched down to pet him, Amadeus licked his face.

      It’s nice that you and Roget are still together, Samuel said. One hundred years is a long time.

      It seems like only half that time, a skinny, blond man dressed in similar fashion to Rafael said.

      Roget, you’ve cut your hair, Samuel said. It looks good.

      Don’t tell him that, Rafael said. I want him to grow it long again.

      Hi, baby, Roget said as he lowered himself in order to be eye level with Amadeus. He then stretched out his hand, which held a treat, toward Amadeus.

      Amadeus barked, then looked at Samuel. When Samuel nodded, the dog walked up to Roget and took the treat from him.

      Let’s get you cleaned up, Roget said. The master genius you were named after wouldn’t approve of your current state. I knew him, so I’m right about those things. No fooling.

      After whining for a second, Amadeus followed Roget out the back door onto the porch.

      You’ve been quiet more than usual, Samuel said to Veronique. And why are you always inspecting me? Do you do this with all your creations?

      I have my reasons, Veronique said. If there are any problems with you I want to know right away. And yes, I do inspect all my creations on a regular basis. How long has it been since we’ve seen each other, Samuel? I’m not good with time.

      You visited Charlie and me in the mountains right before he died last year.

      Rafael got to work taking off Samuel’s dirty shirt.

      Throw the clothes in the fireplace and burn them, Veronique said. They’re an assault on all of my senses.

      Sorry, princess, Samuel said.

      Veronique stood and walked around Samuel. Rafael called me ‘your highness’ and you called me ‘princess’, that’s rather funny. I recall living in the dirty, dusty streets of Rome as a poor, hungry Visigoth child. In Paris I made a living as a courtesan, and in the American West I worked as a prostitute in a saloon hall. The one thing I don’t recall being, my sweets, was a princess. She ran her hand down Samuel’s smooth, chiseled chest and found a spot of mud. After scooping the mud up with her finger, she absent-mindedly flicked it onto the floor.

      You go through your money too fast, otherwise you wouldn’t have had to do some of those jobs, Samuel said, then looked at the mud on the floor. Can you please not fling mud in my house?

      Veronique threw her head back and laughed loudly. Oh, how I’ve missed you, Samuel.

      Rafael gently pulled down Samuel’s boxers and helped Samuel step out of them. He picked up the wet clothes that he’d removed and walked toward the fireplace. Carefully going through the pants, he removed Samuel’s wallet, keys, and a handkerchief. Piece by piece he threw the clothes into the fire. Returning to Samuel he helped him step into the round tub.

      Throw that dirty handkerchief into the fire too, Veronique said.

      My sister made me that a long time ago, Samuel said. I’ll hold on to it, if you don’t mind.

      I didn’t recognize Sarah’s handiwork, Veronique said then picked the handkerchief up from the floor and looked at the stitching. She did good work.

      Yes, Samuel said. I don’t suppose people do much by hand anymore these days.

      There’s a resurgence of some of the old arts and crafts, Rafael said. Or so I’m told.

      Veronique lay back on the couch and watched as Rafael washed Samuel’s body with a washcloth. She’d always admired Samuel’s slim, rather than bulky body. Most people would be surprised by how strong her prodigy could be. Having seen Samuel in fighting mode before, nothing about him would surprise Veronique.

      Your homestead is still such a peaceful place to come and visit, Samuel, Rafael said. The trees have gotten so big.

      You need to try your hand at planting flowers again, Veronique said. Or find someone who has a green thumb to help.

      That wasn’t exactly a subtle hint, Samuel said. Here’s another… from me this time. What exactly are you doing here?

      You might want to answer his question later, Rafael said. We’re being descended upon and not in a good way.

      Chapter 2

      Unexpected Visitors

      SAMUEL INHALED DEEPLY. He didn’t recognize the scent of the visitors and looked at Rafael.

      They’re new to me… and they’re on the way here, Rafael said.

      I don’t want the house messed up, Samuel said, then turned, left the tub, the room, and the cottage. In the time span of a second he was in the front alley waiting.

      The intruders had parked on the edge of the property and were on foot. Samuel could feel their excitement. They had an ugly purpose in mind and felt a certain amount of glee about what they planned to do.

      No time to dress? Roget said as he and Rafael showed up at Samuel’s side with Amadeus. The dog’s teeth were bared, he was ready to fight to protect his master and his home.

      I don’t like uninvited visitors in my home, neither does Amadeus, Samuel said. Let’s handle this neatly.

      A group of three men and a woman walked through the front gate and headed straight toward Samuel and his companions.

      You’re not welcome here, Samuel said calmly but with self-assurance.

      Like we’re gonna listen to a naked man, the woman said, with an attitude and stance that meant business. She had short black hair that was shaved on one side. My name is Anna and I have no intention of leaving until I’ve done what I came here to do.

      And what is that? Roget said. He’d already read their minds and knew exactly what they were up to. But he wanted to hear Anna say it."

      Anna wore black jeans, boots, and a T-shirt. The men with her were also in black jeans and T-shirts. When Anna walked forward defiantly, the men beside her followed. My boys and I are here to kill you. I promise we’ll try to finish you off quickly. She bared her fangs as did the men in her group.

      Samuel sensed they were new vampires, eager to test their powers and feeling unbeatable. But they were up against much older and wiser vampires.

      You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep, Rafael said. As Anna’s elders, he knew they could make quick work of her and the men with her. Age gave them an advantage in their world.

      Before Anna could reply, Veronique attacked her. Veronique had run at her top speed, so she’d be invisible to the naked eye. Then she had jumped into the air beside Anna and pulled her backward. With her knee in the middle of Anna’s back Veronique bent her almost in half. Her final move was to break the new vampire woman’s neck, and drink blood from the side of it. Anna’s cohorts were momentarily stunned but they quickly snapped out of it. They charged toward Samuel, Rafael, and Roget.

      The newcomers were faster than normal humans, but they still had one major disadvantage. Being newly turned, they were no match for their elders—as Rafael had already determined. But the fight wouldn’t be finished until the new vampires were defeated.

      Samuel ran, then spun rapidly like a toy top, so he’d appear as a mere blur in front of the burly man charging him. He advanced and kicked the man in the stomach, as he came out of a spring, sending him flying backward several feet. Amadeus jumped on the man’s fallen body, and pinned him to the ground. Samuel broke the man’s neck with a simple but effective twist of his hands. After Amadeus tore the now dead vampire’s neck open, he and Samuel made a quick meal of him. They drained the dead intruder of his blood. Samuel finished in time to see Rafael and Roget dining on the remaining men.

      When everything was over, Roget and Rafael lifted the fallen vampires bodies over their shoulders. Then they rapidly made their way to the back of the property. They dumped the bodies into an incinerator hidden in a brick building located under a close grouping of trees.

      BOTH SAMUEL AND Amadeus needed to be bathed again. After being bathed, Samuel dressed in a robe, went outside, and sat in the porch swing. Amadeus followed him and lay down by his feet in front of the swing. Veronique sat next to Samuel and brushed his wet, straight, raven hair.

      I’m glad you grew your hair so that it sits right on your shoulders again, Veronique said.

      You’re attempting to avoid the subject we should be talking about, Samuel said.

      Have you finished mourning for Charlie yet?

      I loved him, Samuel said. We were together for twenty years. The mourning stops but the hole in your life stays—the hole where he used to be. I’ll never forget Charlie and will always miss him.

      We’ve all loved someone… or even several someones, Veronique said. I’m no stranger to love and its ups and downs. You and I both offered Charlie immortality and he refused.

      He wanted to grow old and, in his words, keep his humanity. I loved and respected him enough to honor his wishes.

      Charlie was grateful you stayed with him through everything, Veronique said. He appreciated your strength, love, and loyalty.

      Just as you do, Veronique. What sort of trouble have you gotten yourself into?

      You don’t have to say it like that. Did I look like I’ve lost my touch out there with our visitors?

      Even I didn’t see you coming our way and barely felt your presence when you joined us, Samuel said. The woman—Anna, didn’t stand a chance.

      The woman wasn’t a day over twenty-three—barely a girl. That would make her the same age as you when we met.

      Her immortality didn’t last very long. Who made Anna and the men with her? It had to be one of your prodigies. I could smell your faint scent on them—meaning they were made by someone you made.

      Bravo, Veronique said. The farm boy has a brain as well as looks. Even today your looks are considered extraordinary. Some of our people’s looks fall out of favor as the years go by.

      Yours haven’t, Samuel said. And at five-foot-nine I’m considered a bit short, unlike Rafael who’s six feet, and Roget who’s six-foot-one.

      That’s hardly anything to worry about, Veronique said, then kissed Samuel’s cheek. You’ve always been my favorite. There’s never any drama or angst with you.

      "And there is with another vampire you’ve made—maybe even a new vampire you’ve made?"

      Veronique stood. All that this current crop of young people seem to have is angst. Where’s the passion and joy in life? They’d rather sulk and cry in a corner about the tragedy of it all. And most of what they call tragedy is just something they imagine in their tiny minds.

      How much angst does your new man have? And why send his people here?

      They were after me, of course, Veronique said.

      Why?

      It’s a long, depressing story, Veronique said. I’ll fill you in tomorrow morning. I’m spending the night.

      Nice of you to inform me.

      No need to worry, I had my room updated and ready. Your bedroom is just like you left it.

      Thank you for that, Samuel said sarcastically. I’m guessing the living room is next on your things to update.

      I sent your furniture out to be reupholstered and cleaned up a bit. Trust me, it needed it. Nothing has been thrown out.

      Thank you for that consideration. I suppose the furniture needed sprucing up, as you said. I’m lax in that department. Will Rafael and Roget be staying the night as well?

      They set up their tent outside earlier. Veronique ran her palm down Samuel’s hair, flattening it down. How are you doing these days, my love?

      I appreciate the fact you gave me some time to myself to grieve for Charlie. And thank you for making sure I wasn’t bothered by anyone.

      It wasn’t easy. Not many of my… my children, can deal with immortality. Life brings them down and they can’t deal with it.

      Were you worried about me? Samuel said.

      About you—no, Veronique said and sat next to Samuel again. She rested her head against his back. You went through the Civil War, two world wars, and Vietnam. You’re nothing if not resilient. But there were times I wanted to see you this past year. If only to give you a hug.

      OK, what do you need? You only sound maternal when you need a favor.

      What do I sound like normally?

      A very hot and intelligent woman.

      Good answer, Samuel. And the favor I need isn’t a big one. As a matter of fact, some people would consider it an honor to be given the opportunity I’m going to give you.

      Oh no—not that, please. You’ve got an appearance to put in at some big party and want to drag me along.

      "I don’t bother you when you decide to take your hikes across these fruited plains, do I? Of course not. Because I understand your needs. Once in a while even I need a favor or two. And this is a big one."

      Then take Giorgio or Johan with you. They both like that type of scene better than I do, especially Johan.

      I took them to the last two functions, it’s your turn. And it’s not exactly a party. Besides, I need you. I’ve messed up pretty big this time.

      Since when have you, of all people, made a big mistake, Samuel said. You’re one of the oldest vampires on the planet.

      That’s not very gallant of you to mention a woman’s age, but point taken. Cesare is the oldest in our family and he’s the one playing host.

      "Things are serious then. When and where?"

      Today’s Thursday, the get together is Sunday afternoon in Green Cove Springs. That’s only an hour away from here.

      An hour and a half to two, Vero. We don’t all speed when we drive, like you do.

      Sometimes the quiet of your family home is soothing to my soul, Samuel. A lot of us keep on the go, running from place to place as constant travelers. Staying put brings up too many memories. Reminds us of those we’ve loved and lost.

      You still have Cesare.

      Yes. He and I will always have one another even when we’re not together. Cesare has always liked you. It’s because he understands the military man in you as well as your connection to the land.

      That’s true and he helped make me who I am. You’ve never been overly fond of the country.

      It’s nice for a visit. But I’ve always loved the city and lights. Believe it or not I’ve never gotten over my fascination with lights. Even though I was there when the electric light first came out.

      You’ve come a long way since those days. How much of a mess is there to clean up, Veronique? You and the guys came here prepared for a fight. When our visitors arrived the three of you were ready to pounce.

      You weren’t hanging back either, Veronique said. You obviously know things are pretty serious. I won’t deny anything you’ve said… or the fact that we have a fairly big problem. And it’s my fault.

      Chapter 3

      A Truth Withheld

      WHEN SAMUEL WENT back inside the house with Veronique and Amadeus he noticed changes had been made. A small table and metal chair had been placed in front of the fainting couch. On the table were two crystal wineglasses and a crystal decanter filled with a dark liquid—blood. Next to the decanter sat a red box filled with chocolate covered cherries.

      You still have a sweet tooth, I see, Samuel said when he spotted the chocolate. He escorted Veronique to the couch and looked at his Irish Setter. Amadeus, you know your place.

      The setter grudgingly walked to the fireplace and lay down in front of the hearth.

      Blood sustains us, Veronique said, but I still derive some enjoyment from eating sweets.

      I thought food no longer held any delights for us vampires, Samuel said and smiled. He enjoyed teasing Veronique. The taste no longer registers to our bodies.

      "No, but the mind remembers pleasure, and makes the

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