"That's our baby," Big Mike said in a low, but forceful tone. "The only reason we know she got him was that his shirt had a big hole in it over his chest - when she got that in, who knows? There was so much chaos."
To everyone's surprise however, the knight and the Moor were smiling. They each blew out sighs of relief and began slapping each other on the back. Damali looked around at them, turning slowly, just as confused as her team by their sudden jubilation.
"Forgive me, fellas," Rider carefully asked, taking his time, "but we just got our butts kicked, got breached, and had a Neteru almost go down. This does not seem to be Miller time, if you ask me."
"She got him." The knight laughed joyously. "Right in the heart."
"Did you hear what Rider said?" Shabazz boomed. "He walked through a holy water barrier - held our sprinklers back. He had a hole in his shirt, but not in his chest! Maps of the demon realms burned under our lights, and our systems went down, twice!"
The foreign squad kept chuckling, and Damali's team stood tense, waiting for them to explain.
"That was our marked man. Had to be Rivera." The knight glanced at his comrade for confirmation. "There were two master vampires out there, hence our alarm. But the one we're protecting got into the compound, and exited safely."
"Carlos Rivera?" Damali walked closer to them.
"Get outta here," Marlene whispered. "The Covenant is protecting vamps these days?" Marlene weaved a bit and leaned against the weapons table for support. "Now I've heard everything."
"Yes. He's a possible double agent. Delivered the maps as we requested - and didn't deliver a death bite... when... uh... how can I say this delicately, Neteru... uh... it was very difficult for him not to." The knight swallowed away a smile and looked down at the ashes on the floor. "Those were the maps?"
"Yeah," Damali said quietly, watching the knight and his partner hard.
"Then we reconstruct from memory."
"Not before you tell me about Carlos," she said in a distant, quiet tone.
Again the entire group went still.
"We are not at liberty to fully disclose - "
"What happened to him?" she yelled, rushing forward. "You do not get maps, we do not continue to talk, unless I get some answers. I have walked out on blind faith, time and time again... and yes, I have hit a personal wall where I need just a little hope, just a small sign, something to help me deal. Now talk."
Marlene let her breath out hard when the knight glanced at her for support. "I've already called on the warrior angels with constant prayers. They aren't getting in the middle of it because of the choice factor."
"That's what they told us as well," the Moor said with a sigh.
"Okay. But about Rivera... ?" Damali said, not letting the knight off the hook.
"He was marked by the darkness," the knight replied in a slow, steady voice. "They manipulated him to full rage and pain, in the way they'd killed his family - but his lifestyle was setting him up to be turned anyway."
Damali nodded. "I always told him that, but he wouldn't listen to me." Her voice was sad, no longer charged with impatience. She studied her hands.
"A master vampire, Fallon Nuit, bit him - but he immediately turned. That doesn't happen. It usually takes three days. But not only did he immediately turn, but turned master, which also violates supernatural laws."
"You mean a master vampire just waltzed in here and kissed our girl?" Rider slapped his head and walked away. "Marlene said he was, but me and the fellas were like, nah. If he was a master, this conversation now would be moot."
"But he didn't bite her?" Marlene glanced at the nervous team. "Or us?"
The knight shook his head. "At first, when he fell and came back so strong, we thought it was because the darkness in Rivera's heart was so powerful. But then we came to know that the Vampire Council had breached supernatural law, and made him. They have a division in philosophy, are at war amongst themselves - which means they aren't unified, and that presents an opportunity for light to seep in where it is dark."
"So, okay - the council made him? And - "
"Damali," Rider interrupted, "I'm still stuck on the fact that they have a council... like senators, and shit?"
"Rider, shut up," Shabazz urged. "Your language. Let the man speak."
"Because the law was violated, that gave us three days to match against their three stolen nights. The warrior angels aggressively went in at the moment of Carlos's death and retrieved his soul - which is in Purgatory as we speak. The Vampire Council cannot find it in the realms of Hell, and they are quite distressed. Carlos Rivera's soul is extremely valuable to both sides. He is a hardened sinner, worth the soul weight of one hundred good souls. For them, he is the only access to you... and he will fill a territory for the Vampire Council with one of their own to replace Nuit."
"What happens if he makes the wrong choice?" Damali asked in a strained whisper, almost afraid to know.