Authors: John James Gregory
“I’m sure you have hundreds of questions regarding us and all the vampire powers we have, but time is critical. We need that flight crew and Chelsea must brief them on the flight plan before we can leave.’
The pair stood up and Tom escorted them back to the door and Nathan waved the flight crew over from the limo.
Elizabeth looked at her brother.
“And this Iolana, you see yourself being with her?”
“If she helps me to find a cure, I would try my hardest to make her mine no matter what that takes.”
“But are you really cursed? My next question would be…”
Tom quickly opened his shirt. The sign of the pentagram was there just like the groundskeeper in video form the morgue. He quickly closed his shirt as the two pilots passed.
“It becomes clearer at night more than in the day…. Strange isn’t it? And don’t worry about the crew, they will not be bothered by the women.”
Both Nathan and Elizabeth were now convinced beyond any shadow of a doubt. Both jets would leave before sunrise on their flight to reach southern Australia.
The black jet began its decent out of the darkness for a refueling stop at ‘SEII’ airport in Galapagos Ecuador. It would be the only refueling stop in route to Australia. The late night fog was still present and thick and both pilot and copilot were at the controls. There was no beautiful sunset as the men were flying by their instruments.
“Well Frank, we are less than a day from starting what may very well be the best vacation of our lives.”
“Copy that! I am definitely ready.”
“I hear you brother.”
“This bird handles good considering its heavy load.”
“Yes and the weather has been cooperating too.”
“Say Bill, take a stroll through the aircraft and make sure everything is secure. I am sure you will find no problems.”
The copilot unbuckled his seat belt and stood up stretching.
“Oh, I have to warn you the back of this bird is full and don’t freak out if you see caskets back there.”
“Caskets?”
“Yeah, evidently there are salespeople on the other jet who sell them. I think they are planning to sell them ‘down under’.”
He went through first class and looked down at Tom who was still sleeping. The copilot made a quick tour and rejoined Frank. He strapped himself back in.
“Everything looks secure. “You are right, this bird is loaded to the hilt with all kinds of cargo.”
“Roger tower. Turning left to our new heading…”
Frank looked at the copilot as the plane continued its descent.
“Say Bill, you remember that little fox that was up in the cabin when we came aboard?”
“Oh yeah, I think her name was Chelsea, why do you ask?”
“That is funny, but I don’t remember seeing her leave during refueling.”
“Well we were kind of busy.”
“Maybe she is a vampire and sleeping the daylight hours away back in one of those coffins.”
The two pilots looked at each other and laughed.
“Let’s not go back there and find out.”
“Roger tower, now approaching the outer marker.”
Tom came forward and leaned on the seats.
“You have your life backwards. You sleep most of the day and now you will probably be up most of the night.”
“Did I wake you on my walk-through?”
“No. I just came forward to see if you gentlemen are ready for something to drink.”
“Not coffee, we will be turning in soon.
Frank added his comment.
“No coffee, but hot chocolates would certainly hit the spot. But for right now please go back and buckle in. We are about to land.”
“I will have it ready as soon as we touch down.”
Tom left the cabin.
“He seems normal enough to be escorting caskets.”
“Yes he does, we are going to extend flaps to one hundred percent.”
“Extending flaps...”
***
The jet touched down and began to taxi off the runway with a ‘follow me’ vehicle in front of them. Tom came back in the cabin.
“Nice landing gentlemen. Real smooth... Now how do you want those hot chocolates? Do you want whip cream or marshmallows or both?”
Tom fixed the crew a pair of hot chocolates to go and returned to the cabin during their post-flight checks. The men thanked him and he could see Tom’s corporate jet touching down. Within the next hour the crew left to get some shut eye on the other plane for the next leg of the flight and Chelsea returned to the cabin area followed by Hadiya. Iolana came forward and watched her friends during refueling. Tom sat in first class drinking his hot chocolate watching the women up front. It was a good thing that the departing flight crew didn’t look back and notice Chelsea’s return to the cockpit.
***
For reasons not explained to the temporary third flight crew, they were to rest on the last leg of the flight back aboard the corporate jet. Nathan and Elizabeth came over to the black jet to continue on with Tom and his three female friends. Iolana thought this was a good way to continue to break the ice with those closest to Tom. She was sure her demonstration with Hadiya not only convinced the pair but probably scared the heck out of them. Tom and Iolana sat talking about all the myths and the real powers werewolves and vampires have and gave them answers to as many of their questions as possible. Tom knew they were tired but also he felt they were uncomfortable to nod off during the flight. Iolana sensed this fear too. Iolana went back and opened the remaining pair of seats into a second bed. She came and sat at the table.
“Well now is the moment of truth. You two need to get some rest. Watching me and the others all night long will only lead to problems later.”
Tom looked at his dearest friends.
“You must trust them, even if it is only for me. I care about both of you and you have my word it is safe. I will stay awake all night if it will make you feel better.”
“You have an idea of how much all this is costing us. You have the same expenses with your jet. We are committed to helping him or die trying. I am sure you feel the same way.”
Nathan was curious.
“Just how have you become so well-funded?”
“Let’s say you have several lifetimes and every year you invest a few thousand in to startup companies. That is how I got to where I am today. I invested in a new company with a new product and then one thing led to another and now I actually am an investment counselor for others in our situation.”
“Really? Which one gave you your break?”
“Actually several did. Many were chemical companies as we spend a good portion of our time trying to find a cure for our problem, but my favorite early investment was made in a company with a new product I knew would sell.”
“And that was?”
“Pantyhose… Of course other companies dealing in new women’s products like ‘birth control’ gave me great returns as well but I will never forget pantyhose.”
Nathan smiled and shook his head. Given enough attempts at the market and enough lifetimes, it seemed very possible to eventually find success in long term investments. That little insight started a chain of funny life stories and within a few minutes Tom could see that they were becoming more relaxed and they did finally both go in back and fell asleep. The coffins were covered with blankets to further relax their guests. Tom and Iolana played cards and both felt closer to each other now that the pressure of Elizabeth and Nathan seemed to be greatly reduced.
Tom went back and woke Elizabeth and Nathan. He smiled at his sister as she opened her eyes.
“Nope, their record is still intact. You and Nat have not been touched.”
The rain and thunder outside was bad and the jet shook on the tarmac from the turbulence.
“Where are we?”
“On the ground in Melbourne...”
“Where are your friends?”]
“Still in customs something to do with a train… I am not sure.”
“But we have no plans regarding any travel by other than those Australian Hino’s (another world for Lori).”
“I caught bits and pieces. Seems they did catch a break. The storm will extend the night time for them if they need it.”
“What time is it?”
“Now, it’s just after four.”
“What did you mean when you said the girl’s record is intact?”
“The reason the three of them ares so close is that Iolana and her friends Hadiya and Chelsea have never fed off of a ‘warm blood’… We are what they call ‘warm bloods’. That is why other than Iolana’s investment services, none of them pal around with other vampires. It is like I told you before, they are just three unfortunate souls like me but only with a different disease. Come on, your jet is now down and alongside. You will have to meet with the custom’s officials.”
Elizabeth, Nathan and Tom ran for the customs building in the hard rain and lightning.
***
The final leg of the journey to Canberra was made by two male flight crews. The crew for the black jet was different so they would not be aware of the missing women who were still in their coffins in the rear of the plane. The rental Hino trucks were loaded from both aircraft. The Lori truck is really called ‘Hino’ trucks in country so everyone was made aware of the Australian name change regarding their transportation. The girls still in their coffins were over packed into wooden crates by only Elizabeth, Tom and Nathan. When night returned, the trio opened the back door of their ride and removed the lids to allow the women to come away from their daytime sleep. Their personal belongings were then loaded into an efficiency apartment that would serve as temporary housing away from the airport. This was arranged at their request. Tom watched as Iolana went back to her coffin and removed a large case of money. She smiled.
“I don’t know why, but customs people don’t like looking under dead bodies in caskets.”
“What is that for?”
“I bought part of an Australian train and ordered it customized.”
“Oh yes, you mentioned that. None of us knew what that meant.”
“In the states you have tractor-trailer units you call ‘semi’s’ for short. Here they have semi-trucks that cross the outback pulling three or even more trailers. They call them trains. I ordered and must now pick up my custom truck train this evening.”