The Stines

By James D. Lee

Follow Mary Jade VonStine as her world is turned upside down with the murders of her parents. Now Mary must go to a faraway kingdom and live with her distant royal family. How will Mary adapt to a strange country and her family? When her family is all a bunch of monsters mostly vampires, werewolves, and other undead creatures. How will Mary surv

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Oct 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781649901972

James D. Lee

James D. Lee was born in Midland, Texas in 1971. The youngest son of Johnny K. Lee Jr. and Virginia Anita Lee. James has a background in historical studies, art, and science. His studies include ancient history and mythologies of the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Norse mythos. He has always been fascinated with horror stories mainly those of giant monsters, vampires, and werewolves. Growing up in the seventies and eighties, James was around when Horror and Sci-Fi exploded and was captivated by what he saw. James now lives in Arlington, Texas. James is part of the Lee family of Virginia and is a Cousin to Richard Henry Lee one of the founding fathers of the United States. To find out more on the Stines visit the home of the Stines webpage. www.thevonstines.com

Book preview

1

The Dark Night

I

n the heart of Mississippi, two vehicles drove down a back road heading toward an old plantation house. One was a late-nineties Acura Integra Type R and the other was a 2005 Ford F-150 king cab truck. As the vehicles approached, the passengers saw several sheriff's cars, fire trucks, and ambulances around the house. As they pulled up, the passenger side door of the Acura opened, and a young girl with long, black hair got out and ran toward the house. She screamed, Mama! Daddy!

The young girl was stopped by a sheriff's deputy. Wait, wait. Mary, you don't want to go in there, he said to her.

Mary looked up at the deputy, and with her crystal green eyes full of tears, she cried and said, What happened? Is Mama and Daddy okay? What's going on? Tell me…tell me.

At that point, the sheriff had walked over to the deputy and Mary, since Mary's friends had parked the vehicles and joined her. The sheriff took off his hat, took a deep breath, and looked at Mary, who he had known since she had been born, his voice shaking as he talked to her. Mary, I am sorry but…Victor and…your mom…they're dead, and it looks like someone murdered them.

Mary's face looked like glass had shattered into a thousand pieces, and she crumbled to the ground. Her crying could be heard by all the first responders. Mary's friends tried to comfort her as best they could. Two deputies and Mary's friends stayed with her near the house for several hours as she was in no shape to be taken anywhere at the moment. The sheriff and his deputies took charge of the house and sealed it because an investigation had started. Once Mary had been able to recover, she was taken to the sheriff's home to stay the night since the sheriff and her father had been close friends, and the sheriff was like Mary's uncle. Mary sat in the kitchen of the sheriff's house. His wife, Crystal, made her a cup of hot chocolate and sat it down on the table. Mary was a mess and in tears as her hands took the cup of hot chocolate and sipped it. Crystal pulled up a chair next to Mary and gave the girl a hug. Mary sipped the hot chocolate and looked at Crystal.

Why did this happen? Mary asked, still crying.

Crystal just shook her head and replied, I don't know sweetie, but David will find whoever did this. That I promise you.

It was around three in the morning when Sheriff Phillips finally got home. As he walked in, he found Crystal in the living room sitting in one of the reclining chairs and Mary fast asleep on the couch. Their own children had been asleep long before Mary had arrived.

Crystal quietly got up and walked into the kitchen with David. How bad is it? Crystal asked her husband.

David just shook his head. It's bad. Victor and Isis are both dead, and we could not find their heads. It looks like someone decapitated them and it was clean. Has to be an assassination due to both had their hands tied behind their backs.

Crystal gasped as she listened to her husband talk. She was in total disbelief of what was going on, and poor Mary, what would become of her? Crystal went over and made David a cup of coffee as they sat at the table; she could tell her husband was not taking it well. She knew that David and Victor were great friends and knew each other since they were kids. Almost brothers the two were, and then this happened.

I will talk with Judge Lepedrum and get it where Mary stays with us till we figure all this out and catch whoever did this. But it makes no sense. Victor was the District Attorney, but they had never had a case of murder or anything that would put him on someone's hit list, David said as Crystal nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, back at the home of the Stines, the investigators arrived along with the coroner to take charge of the area. As the men and women came through the house inspecting every inch of the place, they noticed that the back door had damage and it looked as if they broke in and found the couple in the kitchen. At that point, the group broke up, searching the kitchen, but as they looked around, one noticed something strange.

Captain, something's not right. The whole kitchen has been cleaned.

The tall thin man in a blue uniform turned to look at the man talking to him. Yes, I am starting to see that as well. Jan, did you bring in the dye? the captain asked a middle-aged African American lady.

She nodded. Yes, sir, I have everything.

Good. Jan, do the whole room and let's see what we get, the captain ordered.

Jan and her assistant began putting a strange powder all over the room that looked like talcum powder. After the room was covered in this powder, a blue light was brought in, and they turned it on the powder. In the middle of the room where the table and chairs were set, the powder showed what had happened and the blood that had been there.

The captain looked at everything, and then said to his team, This was definitely a hit. You can see that it looks like Victor and Isis were sitting at the table when they came in at the back door. and seems the table went over there. The captain pointed toward the stove. And Isis was here, and Victor was over there. Seems they were dragged into the middle here and it happened right here due to all the blood that's around. They never had a chance, the captain explained.

Jan looked out into the living room and then to the captain. Captain, the bodies are over here; the coroner has not taken them away yet.

The captain and his team came into the living room and looked at the bodies, not touching them, but they saw the bodies with the hands and arms tied tight behind their backs, and their ankles and knees were tied. Whoever did this, it was not a one-person job. This was a group, and a well-trained group, that's for sure, the captain said.

At that moment the coroner came in and saw the captain of the investigation team. Oh, hi Dan. Find anything? the coroner asked.

The captain waved to the coroner. Hello, Mark. Yes, seems they were killed in the kitchen and dragged in here. Strangest thing, though, we actually had to use the dye and powder to find anything. Whoever did this cleaned it up really well and tried to leave no trace of what happened here tonight.

Any luck finding the heads of these two? Mark asked.

Dan looked over at the doorway where the other officers were. Sorry, captain, we did not find anything outside, but we are still looking, said one of the officers.

Well keep looking. We need those heads! the captain yelled at the officers. The officers left the doorway and went back outside.

The officers would look throughout the night, but they never did find the heads of Victor or his wife Isis. It was heartbreaking for the team, to say the least, for they personally knew the victims in this case and really wanted to catch whoever did this. It would be three more days until they finally finished up their sweep, collected evidence for the case, and returned the house so Mary could come home to get things she needed. As Mary came into the house for the first time, she shook and looked around, scared, even though Sheriff David had come with her. When Mary walked into her father's study, it looked as if nothing had been touched. She just sat down at the desk, and with the aid of the sheriff started to look through it to see if anything was there of importance that the police might have missed. By chance look, Mary saw something in the picture of her mother that was on her father's desk. Mary grabbed the picture, opened the frame, and found a key in it along with a note saying to look behind the grandfather clock under the staircase. Mary showed the key and the note to Sheriff David. David took the key, and with Mary close behind him, he went to the hallway and found the clock. He unlocked the door to the clock and dug around until he found the fake back of the clock. Inside, he found a letter and another key. The sheriff gave the letter to Mary. She opened it, and they both started to read the letter:

Mary or Isis, if you are reading this, then it means I, and maybe your mother, is dead, and you may be in danger. It is time you knew the truth. First, my real name is Victor Fredrick VonStine not Victor Stine. I am the descendant of Baron VonStine of Boldovia. My great grandfather and his late brother were the rightful heirs to the Kingdom of Boldovia. The brother of my great grandfather stayed in Boldovia, and my great grandfather came to America. If you are in danger, send a message to them of my death and that you are in danger. They will come for you and will protect you. I, as your father, am telling you to do this. You have to go to Boldovia; it is the only place you will be safe. At the bottom of the letter is the number to call and an address to send word. Do this immediately and tell no one who you are till you are in their protective hands. I am sorry, my Mary, that I never told you this, but it is now time with my death that you go home and take your place as it is meant to be. I know you can do it and I know you are strong enough to do it. Your mother and I love you very much and will always be with you. Love, Victor Stine.

As Mary looked to the sheriff, she asked him, What should we do?

The sheriff looked at Mary and smiled. Well, it's what your father wanted, and you are still in danger as I see it, so I better call the number. I will have the office send the message through the federal government, so it gets there faster, the sheriff replied.

Mary had a slight look of worry on her face as she nodded in agreement. The sheriff looked at Mary to reassure her all would be fine. Why don't you go up to your room and get things so you can stay with us at my house. Don't want you staying here alone, okay? he said.

Mary smiled and ran up the stairs. The sheriff took out his work cell phone and called the number on the note. He waited and waited until finally, someone picked up. Hello…Hello, my name is Sheriff David Phillips. I am a friend of Victor Fredrick VonStine. There has been an event of which I cannot go into further details, but Victor and his wife Isis have been killed, and their daughter Mary VonStine is in danger. I found a letter saying call this number to get her help.

The sheriff waited for a reply until he heard a female voice with a very strong accent. And where is this Mary VonStine at—sheriff?

The sheriff quickly answered, She is staying at my home in Kerverland, Mississippi.

For a moment, the phone was silent. Very well. I will inform the baron as soon as possible. It may be a while before you hear from us but send an update. Do you have the number to fax all information to the baron? the female voice said.

No, I do not have a fax number. Can you give it to me? replied the sheriff. All right, I have the number, and I will keep you up to date on how things are going. But she will have to have a relative come get her, for she is still underage and has no guardian at the moment. There will be a court date set to determine that, so it would be best if someone came to that.

The sheriff finished talking with the lady and hung up as Mary came downstairs. Good news, Mary. I actually got a hold of someone and said they would be in touch. Looks like your family will be coming to get you after all.

Mary looked at the sheriff and smiled. It was the first good news she had heard in the past few days. Mary had the backpack full of clothes and stuff. As they came out of the house Mary looked to the sheriff. Would you mind if I drove my car to your house? I don't want it left here and Tina drove it the night we came home to the—

Mary started but was cut off midsentence by the sheriff. You know, that's a good idea. Yah, go on and head to the house. I need to run to the station and see what is going on. I will see you tonight, all right.

Mary smiled and nodded as she walked over to the Integra that was parked in the driveway. She opened the door and tossed her backpack into the car and got in and then started up the car and backed out and headed down the road.

It had been four weeks since the murders when Mary pulled up in front of the courthouse. Crystal had brought her to the courthouse because today was the day for the judge to decide what would happen to Mary. It was still five months away until Mary would turn eighteen and could be classified as an adult.

Crystal looked over at Mary and smiled. You okay, dear? she asked.

Mary just nodded. Crystal put her hand on her shoulder. Well, let's get this over with, and whatever happens the whole city is here for you. We all love you.

Mary smiled as she got out of the car. I know, Mrs. Phillips, and I am very grateful for the support the city has given me, Mary said, as Crystal and Mary walked up the steps and entered the courthouse.

2

The Courthouse

I

t was a cold winter day in Kerverland, Mississippi, as Mary and Crystal walked into the old courthouse. The courthouse sat in the middle of town in the city square. It had been built of stone in the late 1800s. The courthouse was the tallest building in town, standing four stories tall. As Mary and Crystal walked in, they had to pass through the security screening and deputies on duty. The deputies smiled, seeing Mary and Crystal come in, and welcomed them to the courthouse.

Mary and Crystal walked down the hallway to the receptionist and signed in. The receptionist smiled. Hello, Ladies. Thank you for signing in. Your case is the only one on the docket today. It looks like the courthouse will be a full house, the receptionist told the two ladies.

Mary and Crystal looked shocked and wondered why so many people had come for the hearing.

A sheriff's deputy came over to Mary and Crystal. Ladies, if you will follow me, I will escort you to the courtroom.

He motioned them to follow him. For the first time, Mary had a look of worry on her face. She could not understand why so many people were here for this. A kind of depression sunk in on her, but it was quickly shaken off as they moved to the elevator to go up to level two, where the main courtroom was. As they walked down the hall, they saw many people waiting to greet them. Many were deputies, court staff, and other law enforcement staff who all had worked with Mary's father and were trying to encourage Mary to stay strong; they were all pulling for her. Just as they got to the doors of the courtroom, they were met by Sheriff David. He seemed nervous but tried to give a smile to Mary and his wife.

David opened the door to the courtroom, and Mary walked in with Crystal and David behind her. As she came into the courtroom, everyone there stood up, and Mary was shocked to see the whole courtroom full of people. She could not believe what she was seeing; the support for her was heartbreaking, to say the least. Sadly Mary walked in and down past the people. The courthouse had wooden floors, and they cricked as Mary walked down toward the front. The bailiff opened a small half door that you could see through; it was attached to a half wall that separated the court tables and the gallery.

Mary took a seat beside her court-appointed attorney, who happened to be the Assistant District Attorney and a good friend of her father. He was a tall man with blond hair around forty years of age and well known in the city. He leaned over to Mary. You doing all right, Mary? Did you bring the letter your father left you? he asked.

Mary nodded that she had the letter with her. Across from Mary and her attorney sitting at the other table was another member of the District Attorney's office along with a state Child Protective Services attorney.

A voice deep as if it was an army sergeant echoed through the courthouse. All rise for the honorable Judge John Michael Lepedrum presiding.

Everyone stood up, and the large bailiff walked over and stood in front of the judge's seat. A small older man with a soft potbelly came in. He carried a few books with him. His hair was white as snow and had a very cute, clipped goatee. He walked up to his seat, set the books down, and looked out of the crowd and then to Mary. You could see his heart sink at the sight of the beautiful young woman who stood in front of him. He took in her long, black dress and how she had her hair as he sat down and said in a rusty old voice, You may be seated.

The court sat, and no one said a thing for