That memory of that first day still makes me shiver. Hiding in the basement of my house, the shadows filling the space around me. Chasing the voice as far as possible before realizing there was no way to catch it. Where else would I go? No way could I return to what was left of my home. A house that used to be filled with love, now a blood soaked ruin. Then that first caress of sunlight touched me, like a barbed whip biting into my skin. In a panic I dove into the basement, cowering in a corner awake and fully conscious, my mind racing. Trapped in the home I destroyed. When the silence settled and the last rays of day disappeared, it started.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
"A pipe maybe?" I prayed. The truth was obvious there was no tricking myself. The horrible truth echoed in my mind with every sound. It was the blood of my family, of my beautiful loving wife and innocent child, leaking through that floor boards.
Drip.
Drip.
That noise driving me mad that slowly pounding the reality home, like the heartbeat under the floor from Poe. I couldn’t escape it, could I ? Having done something so hideously vile, could I live? Was I alive? After murdering everything I loved in my life why must this life continue? Here, crouched in the corner like an animal, listening to the maddening drip. Is this hell? How could a living being do that? Had I been transformed from a creature of light to one of darkness? My mind cycle round and round, trying to understand. It made no sense, how had this happened?
The maddening horror, one echoing drip at a time, echoing through my soul. That first day ending it crossed my mind time and time again. A quick dash into the sun, it flames would destroy me burning away my sins. It would be what anyone so vile deserved, a killer of children. Trapped in the dark shadow sound driving into my mind, over and over. It was like a slow madness filled me with memories of the night. Images of my wife, her throat ripped open blood running down her gown. My mouth lapping at that bright red stream of life, even as my eyes noticed her gown forming to her breasts. Her hands reaching for Grace as her life faded still trying to protect our daughter.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Grace screaming as her father viciously ripped out her mothers throat. Her mothers limp body reflected in her eyes as I moved to fast to see, ripping out her throat cutting off her cries. The scent of here shampoo clinging to still damp hair from a bath not an hour ago. Her last breath had traces of hot chocolate when it passed under my nose. The way the blood changed the color of the flowers on her gown from pink to a deep red. Seeing the last flickering light snuff out in here eyes like a candle. How could I go on with these memories willing my mind. The sun was the end for me now, if only I wasn’t such a coward. If only my spine would stiffen enough to let me walk into the cleansing light. I reached for the door, to open it to the light that would kill me, end whatever existence this is. Something held me in its grip, one hand reaching for the door frozen like a statue. I don’t understand what stopped me but some force held me in place. Was it me or them? Fully aware that I am a coward, still something else unnatural was holding me. A force beyond my will trapped me as the maddening noise continued. Maybe it was vengeance that stopped my hand, maybe it was the rage, or the sense of loss.
They had known, I think, even when they first approached me to work for them, they had a plan. Some twisted idea of what to do with me when they where done, no witness left, no one to tell tales. I don’t know how I know this, but it was true. It was as sure as I knew that drip was my humanity fading away. Frozen there, the dripping blood echoing through my mind, I began to think. For the first time since it had happened my mind started to clear. I had been an accountant for monsters, willingly taken their money, chosen to be blind to what the truth.
Drip.
Drip.
In hindsight it was obvious every indication was there if only I had looked. If only I had opened my eyes to see beyond my own petty desires. Yes this was my fault, I would have to account for that but they must pay first. They must be held accountable for their actions because they had known. They had planned it, probably even had been drawn to me for that very reason. An accountant rather then a financial planner, who bought it because I wanted to. They had known. They had known what would happen when they threw me through that screen door into my pale yellow kitchen. They had known I would kill them, known I would kill my wife and child.
Drip
Drip.
How many times had they done this? How many families had been destroyed? Sitting there with my hand reaching for the door to my death, realizing that this is what they want. This is what they planned. It had to be, they wouldn’t risk leaving me alive would they? No, no they expected to see me dead this first sunrise, either by ignorance or from my own guilt. They wanted me to do this. No, they needed me to do this. There was no way they could leave me alive, I was a threat. Then why couldn’t I move? If the plan was my death via the sun why couldn’t I move? It didn’t matter, there was no way I would end my life before they answered for what they had done.
Suddenly my hand came away as if my decision to continue was all it took to release the grip. I would hunt them, find some way to kill them. First I had to know what I was, my mind rebelled at the first answer, vampire. It wasn’t possible, the rational part of my mind new that. Vampires weren’t real, they didn’t exist. Myths and legends, stories told to frighten around a camp fire nothing more. That was the truth, the reality I had existed in my entire life. None of that changed they facts glaring at me. The blood drinking, my spine healing, that brief glimpse of fangs, the sunlight burning me. Is it like the movies? Did those things prove the myth into truth? If so which one? I needed knowledge, education on what I have become.
Drip.
Drip.
If a vampire was what I had become, then what about feeding? I had eaten meat my whole life, would it be so different if I drank a cow? Could I live on animals? Would it only work with humans? How often did I need to eat….feed…hunt? Could garlic or culver hurt me, a stake in the heart? Sunlight I knew would kill me but what about the rest. What about the bond between master and new vampire, would the Justicar hold power over my mind? The sheer terror at that thought almost overwhelmed me. The very thought of that monster being able to command me was almost enough to undo me.
All of these thoughts raced through my mind as sleep took me away from the maddening sound. Not a normal sleep, this was the complete absence of anything. The true sleep of the dead, because I really was dead. It pushed the truth of my new existence further into reality. Vampires slept during the day, fell into a torpor if the legends were accurate. My body fell where I stood right in front of the door. Not even having the time to crawl back to my corner.
Drip
Drip. The sound chased me into oblivion
Coming back to “life” slowly, it was still light outside, the hints of light from under the door, showing the last rays of the sun fighting the darkness. My ears still heard the dripping blood, while my mind was trying to formulate a plan. With more questions than answers it was almost impossible, I needed answers more than anything else. How do you learn to be a vampire? Is there a dummies guide for children of the night? Was there others like me? The city was settling in for the night as these questions filled my head. I was on a clock, knowing I couldn’t continue to hide in the basement. My sanity wasn’t real solid as it was, and another night would end me. Needing answers but with no idea where to find them didn’t help much. I am pretty sure the library doesn’t have a book “life as a vampire”
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The Sun was setting its fading light slowly giving into the darkness. The brilliant glow of the sun making its last grasp at the horizon. Crisp fall air invading the mild warmth of the day, I noticed it almost by accident. It hadn’t occurred to me that I wasn’t hot or cold, hadn’t noticed any change in temperature at all. I was aware of it changing not because I felt it, more just knowing it was that time of year. The light trickling in told me it was one of those random sunsets that sparked a hundred colors across the sky, like it was making its last show of the day. The full spectrum of color splashing across horizon slowly fading from bright yellows to a soft purple that eased into full dark.
Darkness settled its grip on the city, the noise changing subtlety. I could hear the cities denizens of the night coming to life. The day shift locking doors, eating dinner, relaxing at home. The night shift going to work or getting on with whatever business they had. Some working, some hustling a corner or a stroll. Others braving the dark for bars or restaurants since the ABC didn’t allow bars to exist. Of course I couldn’t see all this, but there was an odd sense of it from knowing my city. More then anything it was my mind wandering, trying to ignore my reality. Covered in the blood of my loved ones crouched in a corner of my basement, wondering what this “life” was going to be. Where to go, what to do....
Lost in thought, a few hours passed as I sat there thinking. Suddenly becoming aware of another inhuman presence, another of my kind. My kind, what an odd thought, but that was what it felt like. Like the feeling when you alone in a dark area but you know another person is there somehow, it isn’t a physical thing you just know your not alone. He was moving this way but he felt different than the Justicar or Carnifax. This one was weaker, I could feel his fear as he approached the house. He didn't want to be here, I could feel it. He didn't want to be anywhere near this. Fear radiated off him in waves, a new sensation knowing his emotions. Some sort of 6th sense or telepathic feeling maybe empathic is a better description. Who knows I am still not sure, but I feel them.
Silent as a mouse, I slipped out the door watching him approach. He looked to be early 20's, punk through and through. Complete with leather jacket, ripped up jeans and a mohawk. Most certainly dead and unaware of me. Waiting for him to creep up right beside me, before grabbing him. Moving fast, faster than humanly possible, suddenly we were back in my cellar and I had him pinned helpless in my grasp.
"Who are you?" I growled, my voice ragged from screaming.
"What ? Wait your not ...". Picture what happens when a being with super human speed jumps in fright, then faces something scarier than themselves. That was his expression.
"Not what?"
"Well dead, you’re supposed to be a pile of ash..." he stammered, looking very afraid and surprised.
"Oh am I? According to who?"
"Them." He said, as if it explained everything, and it did.
"So that was the plan after all." I wasn't speaking to him so much as confirming I was right.
"Fuck man, I don't know the plan. They just told me to come make sure you where ashed, then call the police. I do what I am told, or I am dead dead." Fear was rolled off him in waves, I could literally smell it.
"So your just a lackey, a loner here?"
“What? No, no one is ever a loner..." He snapped his mouth shut, realizing to late that he was telling me too much.
"Spit it out or...Should I guess?" Smiling as evilly as I could manage, which was probably pretty good with my new fangs still covered in dried blood. I looked the part of Nosferatu from the old movies, jerking him up by his collar. Actually hoisting him about a foot off the ground without thinking about it. "I can hurt you very, very badly before you die. You smell well fed and I am betting you could take a lot of pain."
"Shit! shit, shit this isn't supposed to be happening man.” He whimpered.
"Its simple, just tell me everything and maybe it wont." I did smile at him, while doing my best to imitate a shark.
"No one is ever alone, we live in a lair. There are about 50 of us here under the master." He said, deciding I was scarier than the rest at the moment.
"The master?" I asked curiously.
"Yes, every city has one. He runs shit man. You really don't know anything do you?"
"Nope, not a fucking thing. I know the Justicar bit me, I turned, killed my family and then chased him, only to end up back here."
"Shit you’re this powerful and you’re brand knew????? FUCK!" His fear was clear this time.
"Why are you surprised? Isn’t that why they sent you? Fill in the blanks dickless or I’ll literally make you dickless." Seemed like a good threat to me, dead or not all men fear that.
"Shit man, what do you want to know."
"Start with the Justicar and Carnifex, then why am I so powerful?"
"I only know so much man. I haven't been around that long, you know? The way I been told it is you’re only slightly less powerful than the one who made you. You were made by the most powerful one. So ya you’re fucking REAL powerful."
"So I’m the bogey man?" I almost laughed at the thought.
"Kinda yeah, I mean Carnifax might be more powerful than the Justicar but none of us knows. Hell we don’t even know what he is. Justicar at least we know he is one of us, the oldest anyone knows about. Not even Pool doesn't knows for sure."
"Pool?" I asked curiously
"Yeah the Richmond master, W.W. Pool." He looked around nervously, as if saying his name would summon him. "He is old as hell but even he doesn't compare to Justicar."
"So I can take him?"
"Well its not always about age man, sometimes its about knowledge." He looked suddenly aware. "So maybe, in straight strength you could take him but no way would he fight you that way. You don't manage to be the only remaining council member on earth by fighting heads up."
"Council?" Okay this was getting interesting.
"A long time ago, way way before my time, there was a council of elders. The story goes that they pissed of Justicar. He and Carnifax killed them all, except Pool. That was way way before he came to Richmond though. Thats what Harry says anyway, he has been around for a while."
"Oh, yeah intellect and knowledge can overcome brute force every time."
"What now man?" He asked, obviously afraid.
"If I let you go, what will you tell them?" I asked.
"What? Let me go? You really don't know how this works do you man?" He looked truly amazed at me.
"What do you mean?"
"Man if I fail Pool he will at the very least, break a few bones just to remind me to be careful. He might even starve me for while. You want me to lie and say I never saw you? They would know.” Then the look of a survivor filled his eyes, not like those of a hero it ws more akin to the clever glimmer of a rat. “But if somehow the police were notified and I reported back that I saw the ashes, but couldn't get close enough to them to be sure.....maybe they would buy it"
"Why would you lie for me?" I was curious
"I don't know, because you haven't hurt me? The fact that you don't seem too interested in hurting me helps, but it’s more then that." He studied me thoughtfully for a minute before continuing. "Two simple reasons I guess: one it always pays to have powerful friends in this world and you rank up there if you survive. Two fuck authority, just in general."
"Indeed!" I burst out laughing than let him down. "If you lie for me, eventually it will be uncovered. Eventually my actions, or those I plan on taking will be known."
"Hell man I can find a pile of ash and say I saw it, they can't tell I’m lying. I'll call the cops and wait for them before I start looking around. See no lie. Now if they directly ask me? I won't be able to lie."
"I don't know that I trust you but its worth a shot. If I survive this I will remember it." I smiled, honestly meaning it though I couldn't see how his lie would make a difference. "I'm leaving, make your call or whatever and either keep your word to me or don’t. By the way, can we eat animals?"
"Thanks man, and I will do what I said. Nope, humans and us, and us is forbidden so humans only." He replied while pulling out his phone.
"Wait us?"
“Yeah you can feed on vampires, only if you kill them though. That’s why it’s forbidden.”
“Thanks.” I replied before racing out into the night. Not our own kind huh? So I didn't have to feed on humans, feeding on other vampires wouldn’t bother me at all. It would fit my plans perfectly. ‘My kind’ somehow that thought dug into my brain, ‘my kind’ ‘our kind’. No longer human, now something less and something more at the same time. Yes I could feed on them, maybe even happily. They made me a predator than left me alive, it was a mistake I planned on making them pay for