The Talon Family The Spy of London Part 2

Gabriel and her father Alexander rode the last little bit in complete and utter silence which was worst then him talking to her about her depression. An illness he always said she got from him. It was a sickness he battles with all his life from being an outcast in the world. There were few people in the world or his life who could understand his great mind, but Adeline could always understand him, sometimes better than himself. She loved him, and he loved her, and they both learn what true love meant… sacrifice. They had to sacrifice for each other all the time and most the time daily.

                He was happy, overjoy one might say, that his children learn the same meaning of love. He knew what they all give up for the family. He understood how much Gabriel give up taking care of them.

                But like her, no matter how much love was in their lives, the pit of their melancholy was never filled. It was a curse on their hearts. They both loved each other, both been loved, and both love the Lord, but the blackness never faded. Alexander made sure his children understood the love of the Lord because it was what kept him going in dark times, before and after his wife’s death.

                A super genius who mind could outweigh Stephen Hawking and who was a deep believer in the Good Book was just another nail in his coffin of being an outcast in the world, but he didn’t mind it. He glanced over to his daughter and never cared again about what others thought of him.

She was perfect.

She made him happy.

                “I forget how far down this place is,” Gabriel huffed. It was taken awhile but as if on cue the elevator came to a smooth stop. She couldn’t wait to be out of the steel box doing something to keep her mind off the thoughts unwelcome in her head. Thoughts she hoped would fade soon from whatever mission about to be hand to her by General Vernon Cain if he was here and not one of his Knights.

                The doors open with a man the same height as Gabriel, long nose, longer chin and an even longer smile across his face. His one blue eye and one green eye came to life at the sight of Gabriel. “Ah is that the Talon angel?” he asked.

                “Virgil Godkim?” Gabriel asked with smile to match his. He was always happy and smiling which was why he got the name ‘The Smiling Vampire.’ He was the only vampire she had met who was happy about being the undead. He lived so many lives, learning, traveling, and studying all he could and never let anything get him down. Sure, he looked like an Anne Rice vampire, but he never acted like it. No one could recall a single time Virgil had a frown or been down about his life. He loved every moment of it, and most of all love seeing old friends.

                He dashed over to her with his inhuman speed giving her a hug while Alexander wished he would step away. No father wanted their daughter to be hugged by a monster who lived from drinking blood from people. Although, now that Virgil worked with Paladin, he got his human blood from blood banks. He no longer had to hunt for someone to give him a drink.

                Virgil stepped back with a wave at the automaton and said, “Good to see old Alex.”

                “You too,” he coolly said.

                “Somehow, I don’t believe that,” Virgil said. “So, I have been ordered to show you guys to the war room.”

                “Ordered or asked?” Gabriel said picking the suitcase beside her as they started out of the elevator.

                “A little of both,” he said leading the way. “I haven’t seen you Talons in a while. How are the boys?”

                “They are good,” Gabriel said. “Michael got himself a girlfriend.”

                “Ah, good for that young chap,” The vampire said. “It’s always good for a young man to find love.”

                “Yes, it is,” she said trying to sound like a happy sister and not like a worried mother. She wasn’t sure how it came off, but she hoped it was well.

                “And you, old man?” He asked as they walked down the streets of the underground small city. There were people running supplies and weapons all over the place while some of the men ran in uniforms or worked out in the fake training fields. They even saw a few of the solider run training exercise in the buildings around them, knocking down the door, and clearing the rooms.

                “I’m good,” Alexander said.

                “You know I once stayed in bed for a year,” Virgil said, “for a doctor friend of mine. He wanted to see what would happen to a person. Nothing much changed for me, but I will tell you this it was a blast. I didn’t sleep for at least four years after that.”

                “And the point to this?” Alexander asked.

                “I’m just saying if you get out of the coma,” Virgil said, “you are going to feel very rested, my friend.”

                “Let’s hope I get to find out,” Alexander said.

                “Got to keep hope,” Virgil said smiling back at him.

                Gabriel grin at him wondering if it was his power to slightly influence people to why she felt happy around him. It would make sense why her father wouldn’t feel the influence because his body was nowhere near the vampire. If it was his power, she didn’t mind it was making her feel a little better about everything.

                “What about you?” She asked. “How have you been?”

                “Oh, I am doing great,” he said typing in a code to a train car. “I’m starting to learn how to code, and it has been kicking my butt, but I’m sure I’ll get it.”

                “So, you are having fun?” She asked.

                “The key to a happy life,” he said with the train pulling away, “is to never stop learning. It’s how I have such a good life or lives.”