• Chapter 6
    A trade: a body for a life?



    “Where do you think they took Mr. Rain?” Maria asked. Both she and Clara were sitting in the back of a steam powered car as they were brought to the Inn. “I’m not sure.” Clara answered “Probably to some nasty underground prison.” She said. “This isn’t fair.” Maria sniffed “Mr. Rain didn’t do anything wrong and now he’s sitting in a jail cell somewhere.” Clara reached over and placed her hand on Maria’s head “Don’t worry, I’m sure he’s fine where ever he is and we’ll find a way to get him out.” She assured Maria. Just as Clara finished her sentence she felt the steam powered car come to a stop. She looked outside and saw that they had parked in front of a large building. “This is the Trinity Inn.” Said the man who was driving the car.

    He was the same man who was standing outside the door when Rain was arrested, “Thanks.” Said Clara trying to be nice. “If you want you can come to the hearing tomorrow” The man said “Maybe you can strike a deal with the judge and free your vampire friend.” He told them. “Oh don’t worry.” Said Clara “We will.” When Clara and Maria entered the lobby of the Inn, their eyes went wide. The lobby was massive with a large check in counter and even a large sitting area. Above them hung a brightly lit chandler, which gave life to the stained glass windows that towered above the two girls. “My god this place is gigantic!” Clara exclaimed. Maria was speechless; she had never been in a place like this before and was overwhelmed by it. “Welcome to the Trinity Inn!” Said a female clerk that was standing behind the check in counter, “Are you staying for the night?” she asked them.

    “Um…wha…oh yes.” Clara said still taking in the sight of the massive Inn “Sorry” Clara said “I just can’t get over how big this place is.” She added. The clerk behind the counter smiled “It’s quite a bit for you to take in huh?” she asked. Clara nodded in response to the clerk’s words as she approached the counter. Clara then reached in to her pocket and pulled out a small handful of dollar bills. “I don’t have much” she said “But I hope this will at least cover the coast for tonight.” Clara placed three of the four dollar bills on the counter; the clerk took the bills and counted them. “Fifty-eight dollars.” Said the clerk “That will cover for tonight and the day tomorrow.” She told Clara. She then reached under the large counter and produced a small metal key. “Your room’s on the upper level” she told the girls “Last door to your right.” “Thank you.” Said Clara.

    Clara and Maria made their way up to their room, “Looks big.” Maria said peering into one of the windows. Clara placed the key in the door, once she heard it unlock she threw the door open and looked around. The room was large, like a miniature apartment. There was an open kitchen, from which the living room was visible, a large bathroom which was located just off the side of the kitchen and a large bedroom with two king sized beds. “Wow” said Maria with wide eyes “This must be what living in a rich persons house feels like.” Clara let out a small chuckle and patted Maria on the head “Come on kid, let’s get ready for bed. We have a big day tomorrow.” She said. Maria smiled “O.k.” she said “I hope we can get Rain out of that horrible place.” She added making her way to the bathroom. “I’m sure we’ll find away” Clara said as she made her way to the bedroom. Clara plopped down face first on to one of the big beds “I really hope your O.k. Rain” she said to herself.

    Meanwhile for Rain things where a bit bleaker, he sat in a cold wet and dark stone jail cell. He refused to speak to any of the people standing guard outside his cell. He still wore the cuffs; he supposed they kept the cuffs on him out of fear that he would try to use black magic to escape. Rain sighed as he leaned back against a wall. “If I’m stuck in here, I will never find what I’m looking for.” He thought to himself He also was worried for the girls, where had the men in the black and white robes taken them? Were they even still alive? He wouldn’t know the answers to these questions until he was free. Rain sat back and stared up at the ceiling which was pitch black. Looking into the darkness he began to think about the roughs he had fought off in the church tower, “Why were the looking for me?” he asks himself “Was it because of the past?” he thought to himself “were they looking for revenge?”

    Just then the sound of rattling chains broke Rains concentration; perhaps Rain wasn’t alone in his cold dark jail cell. Without saying a word Rain leaned over a bit to get a better look of the other side of his cell, it was dark but Rain could just barely make out the silhouette of an older man with his hands shackled to the wall. “So you finally noticed me.” The man said “wondered how long it would take.” Rain didn’t speak he just sat back against the wall. “What’s the matter young man?” The old man asked “Cat got your tong?” He added jokingly. Rain ignored him, he wasn’t in the mood for jokes or to share a conversation with a crazy old man who had been lock up in this place for god knows how long. “Aww…C’mon.” said the old man “You can tell old Luper what’s bothering you.” Rain gave the man a sharp stare “It’s nothing that concerns you.” He said in a somewhat harsh tone.


    “No need to be rude.” The old man said “I just thought you needed someone to talk to was all.” He added. Rain shook his head “I’m sorry.” He said “It’s just there’s a lot going through my head right now.” Luper let out a slight chuckle “It’s all good.” He said “I understand.” “How long have you been here?”

    Rain asked Luper. Luper sat for a moment before answering, “About ten years.” He replied his tone was a little unsure. “I see.” Said Rain “What did you do to get locked up in this place?” he asked. Luper let out a sigh before he answered almost like he was reminiscing over the memory. “Well, I tried to steal a very important document from the church.” He told Rain “It was a document detailing all the trade routes in and out of the city.” He added. Rain was fascinated with the man now, “Why would you need to know about the trade routes?” he asked. “I used to be part or a large thieving guild.” The old man told him “We had planned to steal a shipment of gold that was coming in along one of the trade routes.” Rain nodded as he listened to Luper talk. “When you went in to steal that document, did you see anything pertaining to the rebellion?” Rain asked. Luper sat for a moment and thought about it, “Now that you mention it I did see a few things.” He said “Why would you need to know such things?” Luper asked “It was so long ago.” “I’m looking for something.” Rain said “Something important to me that was lost long ago and those documents may hold the answer to where it might be.” He told Luper. “I see.” Said Luper “Well I hope if you ever get free from this hell hole, that you find what you’re looking for.” Rain looked up at the ceiling “yeah, if I get free.” He said doubting that he would ever be released. Little did Rain know that the sun was rising outside the prison and that this was the day his fate would be decided.



    Meanwhile Maria and Clara had just left the inn, they were headed to the court house. Today they were determined to save Rain, After all Clara owed him for saving her life back at the church when that rough dropped her from where she had found her book. Clara and Maria where standing in front of the Inn, when both of them realized they had no idea where the court house was. “This is why I hate big cities!” Clara exclaimed “they’re so confusing!” she added. Maria looked around hoping to find someone who looked like the might know where the court house was. There were so many people coming and going she didn’t know where to begin, that was until her gaze was brought across the street to man that was wearing an expensive looking suit. “Hey maybe that man over there might be able to give us directions.” Maria said pointing in the man’s direction.



    “Oh alright.” Clara said feeling a little defeated “Let’s go ask him.” She motioned to Maria to follow after her as she crossed the street. “Excuse me sir” Clara began as she approached the man in the suit “Would you happen to know where the court house is from here?” she asked him. The man in the suit politely smiled “ The court house is a bit far from here” he told the girls “ It’s about four miles away downtown, you should probably take a taxi.” He added. Clara smiled “Thank you” she said before turning away and heading back across the street with Maria. Inside Clara was ready to explode! She was not intending to have to spend so much money in one place “Rains gonna owe me big time for this.” She grumbled under her breath. Clara then found a pay phone nearby and called for a taxi, “They should be here in a few minutes.” Clara told Maria as she hung up the phone.



    They took their place back on the side of the street in front of the Trinity inn and waited for their ride to arrive. Meanwhile for Rain who was asleep in his cell, it would be a rude a wakening. The guards threw open his cell doors making an awful racket which woke Rain from his sleep, but before he had time to gather his thoughts he was lifted by his arms and thrown to his feet. “Let’s go!” Barked one of the guards “On your feet vampire it’s judgment day.” Rain stumbled to his feet still not completely awake and hobbled out of his cell. He was then lead up a dark corridor to a wooden door, one of the guards reached over and pushed the door open. The light from behind the door was blinding and Rains eyes felt as if someone had set them on fire. He raised one arm to block out the sun light, but it wasn’t quite enough. “Was this some form of torcher?” Rain asked himself as the guards pushed him along “I bet their enjoying this.” He added. Finally after what seemed like forever the sun light dimmed a little, Rain looked up and found himself standing in front of a heavily armored steam car. “Get in.” one of the guards ordered shoving him toward the car. Still a bit dazed by the brightness of the early morning sun he slowly climbed in to the car and sat down on the hard seat, one of the guards muttered something and the slammed the door shut. Finally it was semi-dark again and Rains eyes no longer felt like they were melting out of his head. “I wonder.” He thought to himself “What they plan on doing with me, once my fate has been decided.”



    There were no windows on the car except toward the front where the driver was, so Rain had no idea where he was or where he was going. The ride felt like forever and it seemed like the car would never come to a stop. Maria and Clara had already made it to the court house and were standing outside hoping to see Rain before they were to bring him inside where they would be allowed no contact with him. After what seemed like hours Rain felt the car come to a halt, and heard the driver open his door. Not long after, Rains door swung open and two burly guards were staring down at him, “Get out.” One of them ordered rudely grabbing him by the arm and tossing him on to the curb. Rain stumbled out of the car but managed to catch his balance quickly.



    Just as he was striating himself up he heard an all too familiar sound, “Mr. Rain!” Shouted a voice from behind him. It was almost a relief to here Maria’s voice, he turned to face her as she ran and jumped up on him hugging him tightly around the waist. Clara was right behind Maria though she was trying to keep her composure and it took everything in her power not to jump on him and hug him just as Maria did. “Rain, I’m so glad you’re ok!” She said walking up to him. He smiled seeing that both girls had been left unharmed by the men in the black and white trimmed robes. “I’m glad to see you both made it here ok.” He told the girls. Clara came up and rested her hand on Rains chest, “We were both really worried about you.” She told Rain she then placed her head on his chest “I’m not sure what we would have done if we lost you.” Clara added. Rain let out a slight chuckle “I’m a pretty tough vampire.” He told Clara “I wouldn’t give in to these guys that easily.” Clara looked up at him “I know but you were injured by those roughs.” She said “We thought for sure that those injures weakened you.” She added.



    Rain half smiled “I’ve been through worse.” He said “Trust me.” Just then one of the guards came up and took Rain by the arm “Enough standing around.” The guard grumbled as he drug Rain away from the girls. “Don’t worry Rain!” Clara called after him “We’ll get you out of this somehow!” Rain didn’t speak he didn’t want anything he said being used against him while on trial. The girls hurriedly made their way to the court room, the room was fairly large and it resembled that of the very large church where Clara had found her book and where Rain had been arrested. The podium where the judge sat was very tall and was slightly imitating to those standing in front of it. In front of the judges podium where two medium tables that had a large space between them, this where the defendant and the complainant would stand during a trial. Rain was seated at the defendants table while the girls sat with the jury, there were only about four jurors in the room. Clara and Maria sat and listened as two men in suites spoke one was defending Rain and not doing a very good job. The other was talking about how Rain should receive the harshest punishment possible for trespassing and destroying the church tower. Through all of this Clara noticed one thing, neither of the men in the suits bothered to mention that Rain had been fighting off roughs which caused the damage to the church tower. As Clara kept listening she couldn’t help but feel that she was being watched.


    She looked up momentarily and caught the judge’s gaze; he had been watching her throughout most of the trial. The judge was as wide as he was tall; he had dark beady eyes that sank into his fat cheeks, in a way he resembled a bull dog at its ugliest. Clara felt a flurry of nervousness flow through her and looked away quickly, why was the judge watching her? Had he been waiting for her to slip up and say something that would get Rain locked away forever? It felt as though the trial would go on forever, but finally it seemed as though it were coming to the end. The two men in suites which Clara had come to find out from one of the jurors where two of the most well-known lawyers in the city of Trinity, had finally stopped talking; Clara and Maria were not quite sure what was going on since to them it seemed like the two lawyers where speaking gibberish.


    The judge then looked to the jury and suddenly the people around Maria and Clara started to murmur, after about ten minutes one of them stood up hold a small crumpled piece of paper. “We the jury find the vampire Rain….Guilty of all crimes.” The juror said. “What! No!” Clara cried out as she jumped up from her seat, she stayed silent as she waited for the judge to speak. “Your punishments for these crimes are…Death by hanging.” The judge said allowed and slammed down his gavel. “They’re gonna kill Mr. Rain!” Maria cried hugging Clara around the waist. “We can’t let him die.” She sobbed. Clara stood there in shock, the first friend she had ever made since living with her grandfather as a child was going to die. The guardian of a young girl, her father figure was going to be taken from her.


    “No!” Clara yelled her voice echoing through the court room, “I can’t let you take him from us…from her.” She motioned toward Maria. “And what do you plan to do?” the judge asked watching the girls closely. Clara clenched her fist until her hands shook, “I’ll make you a deal!” she exclaimed. The judge was now intrigued by this girl, after all she was standing up for a Vampire. “I’m listening.” The judge said folding his fat fingers together. “Take me in Rain’s place!” Clara cried out. “Just don’t take this little girl’s father figure away from her, she needs him.” She said pointing toward Maria. Clara knew the pain of losing a parent as she had lost both of hers, she did not want Maria to feel that pain. Rain’s eyes went wide when he heard Clara’s words. “What the hell do you think you’re doing!?” He growled at her “Why would you give up your life for me?” he added.


    Clara looked over to Rain with tears in her eyes “Because you idiot, you saved me and now it’s my turn to save you.” Rains face softened at her words, it was true he had saved her life and she was only paying back the debt. Rain brought his gaze down to the table at which he was sitting, and sighed “Thank you Clara.” He said under his breath just loud enough for her to hear. The judge jumped at this offer, what better than a pretty little maid to do as you say. “There has been a change!” the judge declared “The vampire shall be spared, but the girl he travels with shall henceforth work for me as my maid.” He then looked down at Clara and smiled but his smile was not kind, there was something sinister about it. Clara wondered as his maid what tasks she would be asked to do and she felt uneasy. The court house slowly began to empty out as the trial had ended. Clara, Rain, and Maria stood in one of the halls as they said their goodbyes. “You didn’t have to do this.” Rain said looking down at Clara who was trying to wipe the tears from her eyes. “It was the only way I could save you.” Clara said her voice breaking “I couldn’t let Maria go through what I did when I lost my parents, she needs you Rain.” She added.


    “Come now child.” Said a voice from behind them “You’ve had your time to say goodbye to your friends.” It was the judge standing there with the same sinister smile as earlier, his round frame nearly filled in the hall in which they stood. Clara then turned away and walked toward the judge; she looked back toward Rain and Maria and gave them a weak smile as if trying to say she would be ok. Rain on the other hand did not like how the judge was smiling down at the girl he considered his friend. Why was the judge looking at Clara in that way what could he have been thinking? Rain clenched his fists and look down to the floor, “Clara I will get you back, giving yourself up for me wasn’t worth you being taken away like that.” He said to himself “My life is not worth that at all.”

    Maria looked to Rain after she watched Clara disappear around a corner, “You’re not just gonna let him take her are you?” she asked Rain tears welling up in her eyes. “No” Rain replied “I’m going to get her back.”