The Coming of Jack Walker

By Chrystal Lee Stevens

Jack Walker is a former bullied nerd whose life gets turned upside down when his girlfriend starts hanging out with the new mysterious guy who just moved into his hometown of Moorefield named Stefan. Then when Jack and his grandfather try to save Victoria from being kidnapped his grandfather gets injured and later dies. The last words his grandfather says to him are, "If you ever want to see Victoria again you must get to Vladimir Island and find my old friend Cassandra."

After his grandfather's death Jack is left with his grandfather's journal, old steamer trunk and lots of unanswered questions. Jack reads his grandfather's journal full of yellowing brittle pages. He thinks that his grandfather's words in the journal can't possibly be true. But if not then how does he explain Victoria's disappearance. So he decides in order to discover the truth he needs to get to Vladimir Island. So Jack gets accepted to the exclusive private school Van Pyre High that is located there. In between classes Jack searches for Cassandra.

Once Jack finds Cassandra, she tells him that in order to get Victoria back he has to step into his grandfather's shoes and finish what he started with Stefan. Jack feels that he isn't up to the task and feels powerless that the fate of the human world might one day rest in his hands. That day is now. The Administration for Monster Studies, a monster observing organization that his grandfather co-founded, informs him that Stefan and the Bloody Blade are coming for the Sun Amulet, a mythical object that makes the owner all powerful and immune to sunlight, that is hidden somewhere on the island.

The only problem: Jack has no idea how to be a vampire hunter let alone save the world. Luckily he has all of the monstrous inhabitants of Vladimir Island to help him complete the task.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chrystal Lee Stevens
• Release date: Jul 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310382536

Chrystal Lee Stevens

I'm an avid reader. I love movies, music, books, and film especially anything relating to the 1950s. I'm trained in Journalism and Law Enforcement. If I'm not reading or writing I'm usually spending time with my little red Pomeranian named William Wallace Braveheart aka Willie for short. A cutie I saved from a trip to the pound.

Book preview

The Coming of Jack Walker

By Chrystal Lee Stevens

Copyright 2016 Chrystal Lee Stevens

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Start of The Coming of Jack Walker

About Chrystal Lee Stevens

Connect with Chrystal Lee Stevens

Acknowledgements

This book is dedicated to all of those who have dreams. Take my advice.

Follow Your Heart.

Also special thanks to my BFF Shana O'Quinn Sorah AKA Sandoz Driftwood

and her fabulous other half Ronni Sorah for always being there for me and

always up for any adventure I might want to undertake.

Also much love to my mom and dad for never letting me forget about

Van Pyre High.

And last I want to send much love to my good friend Charlie Worsham. Your friendship,

love, and kindness has given me back my confidence. I'm so glad that you came into my life

and I hope that you will continue to be there for many years to come.

Chapter One

Jack Walker walked next door to pick up his grandfather Blake from his house. His grandfather had been diagnosed with cancer a year earlier and Jack had been trying to spend as much time as possible with his grandpa before he died.

The two men left Blake's house in Jack's mustang and drove to downtown Moorefield. They went to the local game room, to the park, and grabbed something to eat at the local cafe. While they were eating they talked.

So how are things going for you? Are you still assistant manager at the movie theater? How are you and Victoria doing? I haven't seen her around lately.

Well I finished up Junior year and I'm still at the movie theater as Senior assistant manager. Victoria broke up with me because I accused her of cheating on me.

Why would she cheat on you? Your father Luke said that you and Victoria think that the sun rises and sets in each other. Or at least that's what he keeps telling me every time he comes over.

Yeah I thought so too until she started spending all of her free time hanging out with that new guy who just moved into town a month ago.

What new guy?

He claims he's from Russia. Has the accent and everything. I don't trust him.

What's his name?

Stefan Kizanski. There he is now! Jack said while pointing at a man of average build with shoulder length blonde hair and wearing a three piece gray suit. He was standing on the street corner talking to Victoria Colton, Jack's ex-girlfriend.

Oh no! Not him. It can't be! How did he find me here? Cassandra was right. I should have listened to her. She said I couldn't stay out of it forever. Now Luke hasn't been taught, prepared and you haven't been either. This is a disaster! There is only one thing to do. Finish what I started all those years ago.

What are you babbling about grandpa?

Jack, there is no time to explain. If it's any consolation I owe you an apology. It's all my fault that Stefan came here. We need to follow them, see where they go and get Victoria away from Stefan as carefully as possible.

Okay if you say so grandpa. But Victoria is not going to come with me willingly. She is cheating on me and apparently really likes him.

No she doesn't Jack. Victoria is being used by Stefan. She is under his hypnotic spell and only thinks she wants to be with him. And she will keep thinking she is in love with him until we get her away from him.

How do you even know who Stefan is?

We met a long time ago.

How is that possible?

Jack just trust me. I know exactly who Stefan is and what he is capable of. Do you want Victoria back in your life?

Yes grandpa, more than anything.

Then trust me. Do you trust me?

Yes.

Well then let's follow them but not too closely.

Jack and his grandfather Blake walked away before Stefan or Victoria spotted them. They waited in the mustang for them to leave that street corner. Eventually Stefan led Victoria to an awaiting late model convertible. After climbing inside they drove away. Jack and his grandfather pulled out after giving them a headstart. After a few moments Jack realized that they were heading to Victoria's house.

Swing by my house Jack. I need to pick up something really fast.

Okay grandpa.

Jack did as his grandfather asked and they ran into the house. They went up to the attic and his grandpa ran to a trunk with the Walker family coat of arms in the center of the lid. They carried the trunk downstairs to the den and his grandfather opened it with a skeleton key. He took out a black fedora hat and a black trench coat from inside its dark depths. He also pulled out a crossbow and several wooden stakes. Lastly he pulled out a weather worn leather bound book wrapped in a leather band. He placed the key inside a plastic pouch that was glued to the inside back cover of the book.

Blake turned towards his grandson, frowned and said, All of the answers to all of your questions you will find in here, my personal journal. Take it. Blake then handed the leather book he held in his hand to Jack. It is yours now and so is this trunk. You will need them. They will help you even after I'm gone. Now let's go get Victoria. There is no more time to lose.

Okay grandpa. Jack said while taking the journal from his grandfather's outstretched hand. But what exactly is going on. Why does Victoria need to get away from Stefan?

Because he is dangerous and she is risking her life just being around him.

Well then what are we waiting for? You have never lied to me so if you say Stefan is dangerous then I believe you.

Jack and his grandfather hopped back into the mustang and headed over to the Colton place warp speed.

When they arrived they saw Stefan's convertible parked in the Colton's driveway. This indicated that he was probably inside with her. The possibility made Blake shake with fear.

What's wrong grandpa?

Jack, don't you feel it? The hate, the sheer power, the evil.

Is it anything like the hair standing up on the back of your neck? Goosebumps on your arms? A general feeling of anxiety?

Yes, and a feeling like you might throw up any moment.

What is it grandpa?

Your instincts my boy. Your hunting instincts.

Hunting instincts? What are we hunting?

Monsters my boy. Monsters!

Yeah right.

Jack, I'm serious. Let's go check out the house.

The two Walker men walked up the sidewalk then the front steps. On the front porch the two men stared at the front door. Jack was a little apprehensive because the last time he had been on this porch Victoria had slammed that very door in his face. He took a few moments to compose himself then he knocked on the door.

When there was no answer for five minutes Blake and Jack started checking windows. All were locked tight. Jack looked inside one and saw a sight that made his stomach turn. Stefan was leaning over an apparently unconscious Victoria who was lying motionless on the couch. Jack went back and tried the door. It was also locked.

Blake picked up a chair from the front porch and busted that window. He then jumped through the opening with Jack close on his heels.

As soon as he stepped out from behind his grandfather Jack said, What are you doing here? What is wrong with Victoria?

Stefan said, She is sleeping. I haven't harmed her. Her parents know I'm here.

That's a lie! I know for a fact that Victoria's parents never allow her to have boys over when they aren't home.

Clever! You must be the boyfriend she mentioned. No matter. She will be mine! Just wait!

Stefan started to pick Victoria up from the couch but as soon as he started to move closer to her neck Blake pounced.

Blake fired his crossbow and one of the wooden stakes hit Stefan in the left arm.

Stefan turned around and spotted Blake. A smirk spread across his face. We meet again Mr. Walker. Have you returned to finally get what is coming to you?

No, I've come to give you what you've got coming.

Stefan took a step forward and Blake fired the crossbow again. This time the wooden stake hit him in the chest but missed his heart by an inch. This made him roar with anger and he lunged towards Blake.

Stefan got a hold of Blake's trench coat and knocked him off balance. As he fell Blake dropped the crossbow to the floor. Stefan stepped on it and the crossbow broke into several pieces. Stefan pulled the wooden stakes out of his arm and chest. He took one of them and stabbed Blake in the abdomen with it.

Jack screamed No! And knelt down beside his dying grandfather. His grandfather was bleeding from his mouth but he was still alive.

Blake never took his eyes off of Stefan. He watched helplessly as Stefan walked back towards Victoria. When he got to the couch Stefan picked Victoria up and then turned to face Blake.

I guess I won this round. Too bad Cassandra wasn't here to save you this time.

I could have defeated you easily. Cassandra or no Cassandra. I'm a dying man now. My weakened condition made me not as agile as I once was.

Have you ever considered immortality? I already have that but seeing the sunrise again and being all powerful sounds nice. See you around.

With those words Stefan walked towards the now broken window with Victoria still unconscious in his arms. As he started to step through the window Jack stepped towards him.

No Jack! Don't! Blake screamed.

Jack grabbed Stefan by the left arm right on the spot where the wooden stake had been earlier. This action sent a surge of pain through Stefan's arm. The sensation of pain was like a thousand knives stabbing the spot all at once. Stefan's temper flared. He laid Victoria down on the floor then grabbed Jack around the neck with his right hand.

Stefan threw Jack across the room. Jack's body collided with Mrs. Colton’s china cabinet shattering it upon impact. Jack tried to get up but felt dizzy and seemed to be locked inside of a cage. Every time he tried to move he got cut or scraped by the glass and wood from the former cabinet. After much effort he gave up trying to escape this trap. It was no use. The cabinet wouldn’t budge.

As Jack laid there pinned he had to watch helplessly while Stefan ran out through the window carrying Victoria. Jack wanted to scream but his voice wouldn’t come. His head hurt, his vision blurred then he lost consciousness.

****

Chapter Two

Jack woke up and looked around. His vision was blurry and he had to blink several times before his eyes would focus on the room. Jack realized that he was lying in a hospital bed. When he looked to his left he saw that his grandfather Blake was lying in the other bed unconscious.

A few minutes later a nurse named Allison came in to check on them. As she checked his vitals Jack questioned her.

How long have I been here?

Well Mr. Walker you have been here since Thursday afternoon and it is now Saturday afternoon.

You mean I’ve been here for two days. How is my grandfather doing?

Your grandfather stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated before you guys were brought here from the Colton place.

How extensive are my injuries?

You have a sprained ankle and some broken ribs. You also have a concussion so we are keeping you for a few days for observation. You should be fine but your grandfather probably won’t last much longer. He lost a lot of blood.

Jack nodded.

Allison then walked over to check his grandpa’s vitals.

Jack tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t for all of the thoughts running around inside his head. He and his grandfather Blake were now in these hospital beds because they had tried to save Victoria and failed. There was a part of him that wished he had never met Victoria then none of this would have happened. However if not for her he wouldn’t be the person that he was today. Jack remembered how his life had been before and how meeting Victoria Colton had changed his life. It was ingrained in his memory.

Before Victoria came along Jack had been a nerd. He never combed his hair or tucked in his shirt. He wore glasses due to a hereditary vision problem. He wasn’t into sports and he didn’t have any friends his age to hang out with. No one at school paid any attention to him unless they were picking on or making fun of him.

After being bullied repeatedly he avoided people by spending most of his time in the library. He loved to read so he spent hours and hours among the stacks of books. Since he spent so much time alone his parents constantly nagged him. They said that he should be hanging out with male friends or going out on dates but no one at school male or female ever gave him a second look. As far as he was concerned no one cared about him so he chose to remain alone.

Jack had always hung out one place after school, his grandfather Blake’s house. Though it might seem unconventional his grandfather was his best friend and confidante. They did everything together. When his grandfather got the cancer diagnosis Jack was the first person he told. Jack was devastated. He knew that there was nothing he could do and that he would be inconsolable after his grandfather’s death with no one to turn to for comfort.

That all changed the day Victoria Colton became the new girl at Moorefield High School. All of the male students wanted her but the only boy that light brown hair, blue eyed Victoria stared at was Jack. When they made eye contact Jack had felt his heart skip a beat.

Mrs. Clinch, the office secretary, must have noticed Victoria’s reaction because she immediately assigned Jack to show Victoria around that first week. After discovering that they had identical class schedules and a lot in common they became inseparable. They helped each other with homework, sat together at lunch, and started going places on weekends.

One weekend they went to the movies and then came back to Victoria’s house. In her family room they sat down on the couch and kissed for the first time. When her parents returned home she had thrown him out. The following Monday he discovered the rule about not having boys over when they weren't home.

Jack was glad to know that it hadn't been anything he had said or done. They then walked down the hall hand in hand and all of their fellow students stopped and stared. Several female students flirted with Jack, apparently attracted to his new found confidence. Jack never let it go to his heart. He only wanted Victoria.

Their relationship was strong and everything was fine until Stefan Kizanski had appeared in town. Jack fed up with seeing them together had gone over to her house and confronted her about his suspicions. Victoria had yelled at him and slammed the door in his face. Her words had torn into him deeply like a sharp knife.

Now he knew why his grandfather Blake had tried to warn him before he grabbed Stefan. A close encounter with the man never turned out good. He just wished he knew how to get Victoria back.

I want you back Victoria. I wonder where Stefan has taken you to. Jack said a little too loudly.

Just then his grandfather Blake opened his eyes. Jack, is that you?

Yeah, I’m here grandpa and we failed to save Victoria. Why didn't you warn me about Stefan? We could have been killed!

I know Jack. What you... Blake trailed off noticing that Allison was still in the room. May I have some time alone with my grandson please?

Allison nodded and left the room closing the door behind her.

Come closer so I don’t have to talk too loud. Blake gave Jack a few moments to hobble over on his good ankle and sit down on the edge of his grandfather’s bed. As I was saying, what you have to do is go back to my house, get my trunk and put it in a safe place.

You mean the trunk where you removed the crossbow from?

Yes, your are going to need it. You are also going to need someone’s help if you ever want to see Victoria again. I know just the person. Blake retrieved his wallet from the nightstand next to the bed. He opened it, pulled out a piece of paper the size of a business card and handed it to Jack.

Jack took the paper from his grandfather, turned it over and found the pencil drawing of a woman. Jack thought that the woman was beautiful.

She can help you. Her name is Cassandra.

The Cassandra you mentioned that you should have listened to?

Yes Jack. The same woman.

How can she help me?

You are going to need her help to stop Stefan and get Victoria back. Use the contents of my trunk wisely. The key to it is in the pouch in the back of my journal. Don't lose it. The journal and trunk may just save your life one day. Especially if Stefan is after the Sun Amulet. I believe he wants it because he mentioned seeing the sunrise again.

The Sun Amulet. What's that?

Cassandra will tell you."

Okay. If she can help me and knows what's going on then how in the world can I find her? I mean there are like 6 billion people on this planet.

Vladimir Island. Be careful. Promise me that you will be careful. Blake said gripping Jack’s right hand tightly.

Okay I promise I will be careful.

Good. Blake said then turned his head away. Then the heart monitor he was hooked up to showed a flat line and his hand went limp.

It took Jack a minute to realize that his grandfather had passed away. When it hit him tears welled up in his eyes and spilled down his cheeks.

Jack limped back to his bed and sat down to continue crying his eyes out. His ankle began to hurt him so he lay back in the bed and placed his head on the pillow. He closed his eyes because he felt dizzy again. When he opened them a few minutes later he pressed the call button to summon Allison back.

Allison came into the room and noticed Jack had been crying. He pointed over to his grandfather and shook his head. She understood. She walked between the two beds and turned to the bed where Blake lay. Allison unhooked all of the equipment and moved it off to the side. She then carefully took hold of Blake and moved him just enough to be able to take the cover from the bed and place it over his face. Allison then walked over to Jack, placed a hand on top of his and said, I’m sorry. I’ll have someone come in to take care of him in a little while. If you need anything just buzz, okay.

Jack just nodded.

As Allison left the room Jack’s mother Lauren came in. She carried a backpack and a suitcase. She dropped the backpack when she noticed the sheet over her father-in-law’s face and cried too. Jack just let her get it out like he had earlier. When Lauren regained her composure she opened up her son’s backpack, took out a laptop and placed it on the bed.

Jack was glad to see the laptop. With this I should be able to look up Vladimir Island and hopefully find something out while I’m stuck in the hospital he thought. His mother noticed the look on his face and said, You’re welcome for the laptop.

Oh, thanks mom I appreciate it. Jack said giving a crooked smile that made her melt.

You’re my baby boy and I’ve never been able to stay mad at you. I’m so glad that you’re alright. I brought you a change of clothes in the suitcase and your books are in the backpack if you get the urge to read or something. Lauren said then gave him a hug. I’m going to leave now but I’ll be back to pick you up when the doctor releases you. I love you.

I love you too, Mom.

Lauren gave her son another hug and left. Jack couldn’t help but notice her glance back in his grandfather’s direction and get misty eyed again. He knew that was the reason she was leaving him. She couldn’t bear seeing the dead body still lying near him.

Jack knew they would come to take his grandfather’s body to the morgue eventually however he hoped that it would