Nicolae nodded. “I do not like the fact that you were attacked. That Martin was used to attack you and that he was out tonight. And now I find you here.”
Father Mulligan shook his head firmly. “I woke when the thunder was so loud. Believe me, I was in complete control of all my faculties. I knew something was wrong, and I was worried about my parishioners.”
“It is much safer to stay inside, Father,” Nicolae pointed out. He turned his attention to Martin’s leg. “How did they manage to get their hands on you?”
Martin frowned. “I had a fight with Tim. We never argue, but this thing with my losing my memory and nearly killing Father Mulligan is ruining our relationship. I think Tim’s a little afraid of me. I keep telling him I’d never hurt him, but then I would never hurt you, Father, and I did. So that doesn’t mean much.”
“Do you know John Paul, Martin?”
“Sure. Everyone knows him. He looks like a brute, but he’s really a gentle giant. He’d give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.”
“He beat up Helena. Not once but twice,” Nicolae said, watching Martin’s face carefully.
Martin paled visibly, looked genuinely shocked. “I don’t believe it. He adores Helena. He would kill anyone who touched her. I don’t believe you.” He looked at the priest for confirmation. “It had to be someone else.”
“He doesn’t remember it either, Martin,” Father Mulligan said gently.
Martin dropped his face into his hands. “I don’t understand any of this. Why is this happening? Does it have something to do with those creatures?” He dragged his hands over his face twice as if wiping the memory away. “Am I going insane? Tell me if I am. I swear I’d rather let that creature bite me in half than hurt someone I care about.”
“I don’t think you’re insane,” Father Mulligan said, dropping a comforting hand on the man’s shoulder. “Neither is John Paul.”
“I was out walking tonight. I didn’t want Tim to see me cry. I didn’t see the thing coming at me. One moment I was alone, and then it had me.” He shuddered with the memory of the hot jaws crushing him. “Some animal, Father—a cross between a Komodo dragon and a crocodile, but with wings. I sound crazy even to myself.” He slumped against the back of the wooden bench. “I don’t know whether to go to the nearest hospital and check myself in or put a gun to my head.”
Nicolae leaned close, staring directly into Martin’s eyes. “You will do neither. You will not remember the creatures you saw tonight, or my presence or flying through the air. There was no battle in the skies. You sat here in the park and spoke with Father Mulligan. He calmed you down and told you to have faith and wait it out. There is an answer, and you will be exonerated.”
Martin nodded, his eyes glazing slightly as he slipped deeper under Nicolae’s compulsion. Nicolae healed his legs, making certain there was not even a tiny scar to draw attention to the incident. He looked up at the priest. “You will have to take over from here, Father. See that he gets home. Maybe talk with Tim and ask him to ease up on Martin. He is not dangerous.”
“Neither is John Paul, yet he hurt Helena,” the priest said. “I was told that tonight he went berserk in his home and tore it to pieces, destroying furniture in a terrible rage. A neighbor wanted to call the police but called Velda instead. She advised against it. Helena is safe, and he can’t get to her for the time being. If he goes into the system, he’ll have a record for life.”
“I saw him earlier; he was not himself, more like a zombie, programmed for violence, but I could not detect the undead,” Nicolae said.
“You are talking about vampires. Individuals who drink the blood of the living and have given up their souls to continue their immortal existence. Those are the creatures you hunt. And Martin saw them.” Father Mulligan’s voice was filled with awe. “It is difficult to believe such creatures could exist. Are they wholly evil? Beyond redemption? This is certain?”