Vendetta by James Somers

  Adolf did not know when his doppelganger, Karlheinz, killed his wife and himself in Berlin. It did not matter. He had made the arrangement months ago when it became clear that the Allies would take Berlin. The thought planted in Karlheinz’s mind, Adolf had known that he would carry out the plan to the letter without reservation. Such was his power as being descended from sprites.

  Even his Anna would obey his every word. Only his death could break the spell he had upon her mind. But with Malak-esh in his possession, his death was distant in his thoughts now.

  Yes, Lucifer had said that Brody West would come. But Adolf did not fear this man now. Not when the odds had been turned in his favor. After all, what was the great fear that everyone had held for the man? That sword. It and it alone had almost guaranteed that no one could defeat him. Not anymore.

  The bunker he had built here at the Berghof would provide the perfect place for him to end this matter once and for all with West. It had been a long time coming. Adolf had failed to kill the man and avenge his own father. He had been robbed of that opportunity. Now, he had another chance. He meant not to waste it.

  “I want you to go,” Adolf said to Mengele.

  The doctor turned from the girl. Sadie was lying on a gurney. There Mengele had strapped her down and given her what Adolf had provided to keep the girl sedated.

  “But this will kill her,” Mengele had said.

  “No,” Adolf had assured him. “She is a Lycan. Poison Dart frog venom is just the thing to keep her down for as long as I need.”

  Mengele walked to him, watching Adolf with the sword in his hands. “The blood, it worked,” he said.

  Adolf held Malak-esh in his hands, admiring the weapon’s mercurial blade. His hands were stained crimson red with Sadie’s blood. She had been kept alive, but enough had been taken to coat his hands and the hilt of the sword. It would comply with anyone holding it, for now.

  “Go away?” the doctor asked. “Why? Where?”

  “I have a portal construct in place. It was made for me by some of the best spell casters still living.”

  “I don’t know,” Josef said. “I am a man of science. I don’t understand all of these mystical things that happen around you. I wouldn’t know how to—”

  “You don’t need to know,” Adolf said. “I can send you anywhere. Japan would be best. You are known. If the Allies find you, they will kill you. Take the virus to our allies in Japan.”

  “They will not let me keep it, if they find it on me,” Josef said.

  “I’m not sending you to the Imperial Command,” Adolf explained. “I was thinking Hiroshima. Take the virus there. If it becomes clear that Japan will fall then I want you to unleash it.”

  “In Japan?”

  “Only if the Allies are going to take it,” Adolf said. “When they invade the island, they will take the disease back with them. It will spread. You have been vaccinated. I’m safe and Anna and my unborn child are safe.”

  Josef stared at him for a long moment. “And if you don’t survive this?”

  Adolf glared at him. “I have no intention of losing.”

  Josef said nothing.

  “However,” Adolf continued, “if I die here today, then the world will burn.”

  “But I—”

  Adolf stared into Josef’s eyes, taking hold of the man’s mind with his own. “You do understand my orders don’t you, Josef?”

  Josef gazed back at him in sudden wonder of the man. He nodded eagerly now. “Yes, I understand. I will release the virus in Japan. I will do it for you.”

  Adolf smiled. “Very good, Josef. Let’s get you on your way then.”

  He walked Josef to the looking glass hanging upon the wall. It stood the height of a man. Adolf touched the glass. It shimmered beneath his fingers. “Hiroshima, Japan,” he said and then removed his touch. The portal continued to shimmer like water.

  “Step through, Josef, and farewell.”

  The doctor nodded and then stepped through the glass with the silver briefcase still handcuffed to his wrist. Inside the case, a vial rested. And, inside the vial, a virus waited to be unleashed upon the world.

  Adolf waited a moment, wanting to be sure that Mengele had been transported to his destination. Then he raised Malak-esh and struck it across the mirror, destroying the portal for good. The glass shattered with a slight electrical discharge arcing to the blade as it went through. Now, no one would be able to follow the doctor.

  He turned. Anna stood on the other side of the room, waiting for him. He smiled at her, but she was entranced at the moment, staring into the distance.

  “Anna, my love,” he said.

  She looked at him now. “You will not remember any of these things. Not meeting me. Nothing at all but the life you had with your parents when you were still young.”

  “My parents?”

  “They moved to London several years ago,” he said. “You’re going to go see them.”

  She did not seem to understand. Of course, this was normal. He had held her under his mental control for so long it was expected that she would not know anything now that he was wiping her memory of him.

  Still, it had to be done. He would not have her suffer because of him. If he failed to kill West then she would never remember him. She would have a life with her parents and with their child. If he did kill West and then escape, then he would know where to reclaim his family.

  “Take this,” he said, holding out a small silver sphere.

  Anna took the sphere from his hand. “What is it?”

  “This will take you into the future, away from this time, away from this war. These were made for me by a great spell caster. One of the few remaining Sons of Anarchy.”

  He held up another. “I have one just like it. We can be together in another time. While this present calamity passes, we will be kept safe, waiting. Then we will all be together.”

  “Together?” she asked, still comprehending nothing that he said.

  He smiled. “I love you, Anna,” he said and kissed her.

  This did not register either, but it didn’t matter. All that was left now was to speak the word and send her into a spelled limbo that would release her only years into the future, when they would be forgotten and safe.

  A flash of light erupted behind him.