He silently stalks his prey from above moving effortlessly across the rooftops. The starless night only illuminated by the full moon, shifting between the clouds. A paranormal mist adds to the dense night air and gives the darkness unseen depth. His prey is a young woman walking carelessly through the streets below. Her long brown hair covering her neck from view, it falls to frame and emphasise her ample bosom. The predator patiently continues the hunt waiting for his opportunity to fulfil his needs. His prey is left alone on the streets in the faint light of the flickering streetlights. It’s time. The hunter makes his move, racing ahead, stopping in a small alleyway preparing to lie in wait. Unaware of the danger the young brunette continues on her way.
Here she comes; her death will offer me some peace. But I can’t take joy in it, like I once did. Nothing in this forsaken hell gives me any pleasure anymore. I am dammed to walk this earth forever and remain an empty shell. I am incapable of appreciating anything.
As the woman approaches the alley, he slowly steps out into the light. She takes a sudden step back, paralysed for a moment in surprise, a startled look on her flawless face. She tries to decide whether she should stand her ground and act confidently or run from her possible assailant. Before she could come to a decision he spoke in a calm warm voice.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” his sincere tone inspiring his prey to relax slightly.
“Scare me? You just startled me that’s all.” she responds with a false sense of bravado, as she loses herself in the stranger’s lifeless eyes.
“Either way let me make up for it. Allow me to buy a beautiful woman a drink.” With a distracted look on her face, she answers:
“I don’t know. It’s late and I don’t even know who you are.” The sly predator confidently addresses her concerns.
“I’m James and I’m from out of town. It’s Saturday night, why call it quits so early it’s not like you must work tomorrow.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” she meekly responds while taking in his pale skin and his tight navy-blue t-shirt showing off his well-built physique. She was unable to remove herself from his unwavering gaze. Sensing her lessening resistance and taking in the full extent of her body, her luscious skin and the blood continually moving beneath it, James makes one final attempt.
“Come on, one drink. It’ll make us both feel better.”
Giving in to his persistent gaze and the urges of her own body she relents.
“Ok I know a place nearby. I’m Amy.” With that they both begin walking back the way Amy had come down the street. He drapes his arm around his beautiful prey and lightly pulls her closer to him as they walk. Amy enjoying the attention and the feeling of her new friend’s powerful arm she doesn’t seem to mind. James begins to slowly slide his hand under her red blouse, lightly massaging the small of her back. Her face lights up as his fingers continue to move around her body. Pulling her towards him they locked in a tight embrace. He softly moves aside her hair to expose the smooth skin of her neck. His lips reach her skin, and she cries out in ecstasy. The look of pleasure on her face quickly changes to one of pain as his teeth pierce the arteries beneath the skin.
As her blood satisfies his thirst, sparks of life return to his eyes. His pale skin is becoming darker and more human. Her fading heartbeat excites him. He bites down harder. As he drains her life’s blood, he experiences a small moment of mortal life. Her heart fails and she goes lifeless in his grasp. Her body falls limp from his hand, discarded as leftovers.
Why do I even bother to try and regain this feeling? It’s always so temporary. For two centuries I have wondered this earth, lifeless and uncaring. All the things I’ve seen are meaningless because I will see more. Everything I’ve done I can do again. None of it holds any significance. The only thing that reminds me of life is the blood and death of my victims. Blood is all that I live for now, it is my life.
The vampire, showing no concern for the life he has ended, begins to walk away, and leave the corpse of his latest meal. Suddenly a bolt strikes the wall. Sending up chips of stone and sparks as the metal hits the brick, James’ reflexes take over, spinning to confront this unexpected threat. His attention is drawn to a group of figures standing further down the street. The group of people are all carrying an array of weapons from stakes to axes.
“Arr, Brett I was wondering when I’d see you again. With more hunters this time, I see you’ve learnt. Did you tell them what happened to the last ones?” said the vampire mockingly.
“Jarrick you won’t escape this time.”
Brett, the center person of the group, shouted back, dropping his empty crossbow, and drawing a stake in preparation.
“It’s James now! I adapted to the times, and I had no intension of escaping.” He snapped back while examining the weapons held by his attackers.
“Instead, I thought I’d finish what I started and crush the life out of you completely, after you watch me kill your new friends,” snarled the vampire sadistically a look of menace in his lifeless eyes.
“Not this time, I know what you’re capable of now, I won’t let my guard down,” Brett passionately bellowed while he limped forward from amongst the group.
“How admirable, our noble hero learns from his horrific failure. It almost makes me cry”.
With this final taunt and a slight laugh James leapt towards these would-be hunters who were quick to react. The twang of crossbows fills the night. Only one bolt hit its fast-moving target, slamming hard into the vampire’s right shoulder sending him to the ground. But before any of the hunters could capitalise, James was up and amongst them. The vampire’s super strength and speed, making up for his being outnumbered. As he lashes out at his attackers with newly revived fury, catching his nearest foe, he mercilessly snaps his neck. The chilling crack of bone fills the street as it echoes off the walls.
This is just what I needed, a fight to the death. A challenge to my continued existence and my use of these privileged human cattle. The possibility of death resurrects me to what I once was. I am dammed, but that is no reason to falter now.
James continues to violently struggle against overwhelming odds, lashing out with fist and fang at his predators. Dodging an axe, James grasps another hunter by the throat, smashing him into a wall, where he slumps to the ground unconscious, blood trickling from his mouth. Turning his concentration on Brett, he slashes with his claw like nails ripping the skin from his arm. With a satisfied look James turns back to face the last two hunters while Brett stumbles back crying out in pain as he nurses his wounded arm. The other hunters quickly circle their opponent while they recover from the ferocity of the vampire’s attacks. They launch a sudden flourish forcing James to stagger as he attempts to dodge their blows and counterattack, but he loses the advantage. The injury to his shoulder is slowing him down and weakening his punches. The female hunter sees an opening and nimbly thrusts at the vampire’s heart with her sword. In desperation James deflected the lunge, forcing the point of the sword into his would-be killer’s own sternum. The last hunter caught off guard by the sudden change in momentum is lifted off his feet by the powerful vampire.
“Don’t worry, I’ll give you a choice” said the vampire bloodlust in his eyes.
I can smell how much he fears death. Changing this pathetic human will be more punishing then just killing him. He can live the hollow life and suffer in my hell.
“Become like me or fall forever” breathed the vampire as he held the feeble hunter who slightly nods. An insane look of glee splits the vampire’s vicious face.
“I’ll take that as the former” James says as he lowers his prey and moves in to bite his neck.
“NO! Not again,” yelled Brett as he capitalises on the opportunity created by the vampire’s preoccupation. Plunging his stake in the satanic fiends back and pushing it through to the heart.
James’ falls to his knees clutching his attacker’s throat, with one final exertion he tears out his prey’s larynx. With a look of pure despair Brett quickly draws a large bowie knife from his belt and severs the vampire’s head then collapses in his own agony. Watching as the vampire’s age catches up with him, his body slowly decaying to dust and blowing away in the breeze, finally released.
Read more from the gothic genre – “Cursed, The lady in white”
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