Undying Vengeance (14 page)

Being cautious, she peeked inside and gasped. “You must be so wealthy. This is awesome!” She exclaimed. The room had a large swimming pool with a diving board and slide. Patio furniture sat around the pool along with a wet bar. “Do you have a suit I can wear?” She asked and realized what a stupid question that was. Why would any single man just happen to have a woman’s bathing suit lying around the house? Let alone a vampire. She laughed and added, “That was a dumb question.”

“No question is ever dumb. Asking questions is how one learns. Only the foolish people assume they know the answers.” He said and smiled. “I’m sorry but I don’t have a woman’s swimsuit. I guess you’ll just have to swim naked.” He winked and motioned for her to follow him. “I have one more entertainment room to show you.”

Katrina was shocked. It sure was some entertainment room. Movie posters from all eras hung on the walls and candles were everywhere. There were even two old video game machines that looked like they came straight from the eighties. Katrina grinned, picturing Victor playing a video game. ‘Just for show’, she remembered him saying. He was the type who went out and created his own game. The hairs on the back of her neck rose and she shuddered.

“Come,” Victor ordered. “This is the movie theatre. It’s small but I like it because it gives you the feel that you’re really sitting in a public theatre.”

Katrina stared. Five rows of ten seats each sat before a large movie screen. Two aisles with steps lined the outsides just like at the theatre. He wasn’t kidding. There was even the booth above everyone in the center where the employees put the movies in the reel. Well, not by reel anymore in this day and age. Most of the movies were by satellite.

“Wow. That’s all I can say.” Katrina said. “I’m sure I’ll have no issues with boredom while I’m down here.”

“No, you won’t. The only rule I have and ask that you follow is this. You are not to go into the room with the black steel door.” Victor said his eyes black as midnight.

Katrina assumed that was the room he called his lair. “What if I do?”

Victor hovered over her, grabbed her face and pinched her cheeks hard. “You won’t live to tell about it.” He pinched harder. “Everyone needs space and you are not to invade my space, my place of rest. Do I make myself clear?” Spittle flew from his mouth landing on hers.

Katrina flinched. Her cheeks hurt. She thought of spitting in his face but she knew better than to do that. Victor’s emotional mood swings shocked her. “Yes, I understand.” At least part of her understood. Damn her curious nature. The truth was she had a feeling she would have to take a look around in Victor’s lair. Curiosity already had the best of her.

Victor backed away never losing eye contact with her. “Curiosity killed the cat, Katrina and it may end up getting you killed as well. Think twice before you act on impulse.” He said and wagged his finger at her. “I must leave now.”

“What do you have to do?”

The questions from her would be the life of him. It was starting to drive him mad. “It’s none of your business. This is a personal matter. I will be at a friend’s home and that’s all you need to know.”

“Can I still go upstairs in case I get hungry or am I a prisoner of the basement?” She asked.

Victor handed her a key. “You are free to roam the whole house. Just make sure when you come upstairs that you lock the basement door behind you.” He kissed her cheek. He walked toward the staircase and stopped to face her. “Also, I have cast a spell around the house, doors and windows. There is no possible way for you to try and escape.” He laughed. It was an evil laugh that made the room temperature feel like it dropped twenty degrees. “Good night, Katrina.” He said and vanished.

Katrina stood staring at the spot where he stood only a moment before. A voice inside told her to check out his lair but she hushed it and headed for the pool room instead. How the hell would she ever get out of this house and away from Victor? Any hope of getting her normal life back was fading fast. Would she always be a prisoner of Victor’s? Questions flooded her mind. She stood at the pool’s edge, screamed, tore off her clothes and jumped into the pool, wishing she would drown and put an end to the madness.

Victor stood outside and cast a spell on his home. He heard Katrina’s desperate thoughts. She was correct, she would never escape and the more Victor thought about it the more he felt he could love her and make her love him in return. She would be the end to his loneliness.

Victor walked into the night, his black cape swayed behind him. He smiled. “Yes, Katrina. You will always be my prisoner. There is no escape.”

With a leap, Victor ascended into the sky soaring higher and higher. He gazed at the forest beneath him seeing things only the human eye could wish to see from such a distance. The enhanced vision was one of the many things he loved about being a vampire. The senses were heightened to exciting degrees.

Victor would be at Armani’s home within a few minutes, but he had to feed first. Blood lust beckoned to him and he felt the need to give Armani and Donovan more time. Was Katrina having a positive effect on him? Never in his years of being a vampire would he dream of giving someone time to complete a task he ordered to be done. Patience was not a virtue he had.

He soared higher and saw the prey he had to have. He could hear the blood flowing through her veins. She was a pretty red head strolling through Manhattan Park with headphones on, ponytail swaying back and forth. Victor inhaled. She had such a sweet aroma. Women were like flowers in that they served a purpose and once the beauty of their blood nourished him they were as good as dead.

Victor descended in front of her. The girl stopped and stared at him.

“Excuse me, you’re in my way. Don’t you know it’s rude to stop and stand in front of someone?” She asked, trying to get around him.

Victor laughed. For her lack of manners, she would die.

“Well, well Madam, you sure aren’t very polite and for that you will pay.” He exposed his fangs, grabbed her ponytail and pulled her into the woods nearby. The girl screamed. “Shut up, Red. I’m hungry and I believe you should make sure you’re right with God.” He slapped her face and thrust her onto the snow.

The girl trembled. “Please just let me go.” She clawed the dirt and tried to escape but Victor had a hold of her ankles. “Help!” She screeched.

Victor pounced on her. “You must’ve never paid attention in school in the education of animals.” He seethed, his face inches from hers, eyes blazing red. “I smell your fear and it excites me. It drives me to want to kill you even more.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. Eyes as big as saucers, she stared him in the eyes and spit in his face. “Do it then.”

Victor swore and wiped the spit from his face. “Oh, I will you bitch.” He punched her in the gut. “You will feel every second of this pain.” Victor’s fangs protruded and he tore into her neck, drinking slowly.
He stopped, lifted his head and watched the girl struggle for her life. What satisfaction.

“You shouldn’t have spit in my face, you worthless piece of meat,” Victor yelled. He cleared his throat and spit her blood in her face and in her eyes.

Unable to move, the girl stared at Victor, her eyes pleading for him to have mercy on her soul.

“No mercy, sweetheart.” He said, and bit a piece of her arm off like a lion tearing apart a zebra.

The girl’s skin turned ashen gray and felt clammy to the touch. No turning back now. Victor grabbed her ponytail shoved her neck to his mouth, but before he drained her of all the blood in her body, he stopped to look into her eyes one last time. Her eyes were full of emptiness, sadness and hopelessness. “Good bye, my dear.” He said and sank his fangs deep into her neck and sucked whatever blood was left in her body.

He stood and felt a renewed strength. He picked up the dead woman’s body, raised her over his head and threw her into the bushes. “May you rest in peace my dearest.” He licked his lips, wiped his hands on his black cape and leapt into the sky and flew toward Armani’s home to hopefully welcome Armani to the Dark Ones.

A
rmani stared at
the ceiling and wondered if he was making the right decision to become a vampire. Well, the good news was that it was a temporary thing and once he avenged Simone’s death, he would die and be with her forever. That was the only reason he agreed to such a ludicrous idea.

“It is the right decision, Armani.” Donovan said while lighting the black candles. “When we are done with the ceremony you will need much rest. The cross over will drain you both physically and mentally.” Donovan paused and looked at Armani’s face. The charred flesh on the left side of his face would always remain, even after becoming a vampire. The men who did this to him deserved the vengeance that Armani would deal them. “Not that you asked, but I will be with you when you avenge Simone’s death.”

“When I become a vampire, can we kill these people right away?” Armani asked. “I don’t want to waste another minute on earth living such a tortured life.” He said with a choked voice. “The sooner it’s done, the sooner I’m with Simone.” He wiped the tears and looked at Donovan. “Thank you for giving me hope.”

Donovan cringed. Guilt pierced his heart like a double-edged sword. He had given Armani hope, but it was false hope. Maybe he should just tell Armani the truth and let Victor come and kill both of them. At least Armani would be with Simone then. ‘What a wicked web we weave when we deceive.’ That quote rang in Donovan’s ears. Lying was something he never liked to do, but felt he had no choice with Armani. The man was stubborn and wouldn’t agree to cross over if he hadn’t lied to him. But, Armani still deserved the truth. Good men always did. Donovan swallowed hard. “I have to tell you something important. You deserve the truth . . . . . . “ Donovan began.

Armani interrupted him. “Let’s hurry and do this before I change my mind. One small request first.” He said and closed his eyes. “Would you get a photo of Simone for me to hold while we do this?”

A tap on the door startled Donovan. Could it be Victor?

“Yes, I will do that for you.” He said and walked to the door. Fear filled him as he turned the knob.

He opened the door and saw the black hawk stare at him, its gaze cold and menacing. “Curse you,” Donovan scolded.

“Who is it?” Armani asked. He hoped it was Rex or someone he knew so he could think more about this whole crossing over thing. Was he making the wrong decision? ‘No,’ he thought. This was the right thing to do for Simone and for himself. What a pleasure it would be when he was able to look the killers’ in the eyes as he slowly killed them and sent them to Hell for eternity for what they did.

“A friend,” Donovan replied. He reached toward the hawk and took the note from the hawk’s sharp beak and read it.

‘Donovan,

I’m
informing
you
that
I’m
on
my
way
to
Armani’s
home.
I
hope
you
are
there
and
have
completed
the
task
I
asked
of
you.
The
Dark
One’s
need
more
strong
men
like
Armani.
If
the
task
has
not
been
completed,
you
and
Armani
will
die
a
slow
horrific
death
at
my
hands.
Be
prepared.

Sincerely,

Victor,
Master
of
the
Dark
Ones.

The hawk shrieked and bowed.

Chills ran up and down Donovan’s spine. He was a strong vampire, but not nearly as powerful as Victor. Age made a vampire acquire strength and skills that younger ones were no match for in a battle.

“Thank you, my friend. Don’t worry, it will be done soon.” Donovan said.

The hawk spread its long wings and flew high into the sky. Donovan watched as the hawk circled in the dark sky before landing in a high tree. The hawk was a gift to him from Victor when he crossed over. The hawk taught him valuable lessons on survival as a vampire. The black hawk was a companion and fierce protector as well as his eyes and ears. Donovan liked to think of the hawk as a dog for a vampire. Humans had dogs for the same reason he had the hawk.

“That was my hawk. The one you have been seeing for years. We’ve had our eye on you.” Donovan said and realized that was a stupid thing to say. And he didn’t have time to answer any more questions. Victor was well on his way. “I’m going to get the picture of Simone.”

Armani was silent. What the hell? Was this a dream? Would he wake up from this horrible nightmare? Of course, he knew it wasn’t. This was reality. Soon his emptiness would be gone. He would feel again and be in Simone’s arms for all of eternity.

Donovan returned with a beautiful picture of Simone standing in front of the yacht where Armani first met her. He handed it to Armani and said, “We must begin. Time is of the essence and we don’t have much of it. Victor is on his way.”

Armani held the picture in front of his face and stared at Simone. Tears welled in his eyes. He lost control and let the dam break, tears streaming down his cheeks. “I will be with you soon, my love. I am going to avenge our misfortune and will see you after that.” He kissed the picture and placed it on his chest. Warmth flowed through him as if she were lying on top of him.

Donovan placed a blanket on Armani covering him from the waist down. “Lay your head back, Armani. I’m going to recite some rituals before I pierce you with my fangs.”

Armani’s face turned white. Reality set in. The thought of dying to be reborn as a vampire frightened him. He wished he could drink some more of the scotch he had earlier. “What all is involved in this procedure anyway?” He asked, afraid to hear the answer, but needed to know.

Donovan gave him a reassuring smile. “It’s fast, but I won’t lie to you. It’s painful, but it only hurts just once. You will drift into a deep sleep when I am finished and wake the next day as a vampire.” Donovan glanced around the room once more before continuing. “I will bite you and drain you of your blood to the point of death. Immediately following that, I will slice my own wrist and you will drink blood from me, which will bring you back to life.” Donovan picked up a glass of water and drank. “And upon drinking my blood you will become a vampire.” He squeezed Armani’s shoulder. “When you feel pain think of Simone and she will give you the strength to fight. You must fight. Don’t give up. Resist death.”

“What happens after that?” Armani asked. “I sleep for a long time, wake up and . . . .” His voice trailed off.

“I will become your teacher. You will learn from me the skills and magic I know of being a vampire.” He snapped his fingers, dimming the lights in the room. “Like that. You will learn magic. The most important lesson is not the vengeance of the guilty ones who did this to you. That comes natural to humans as well as vampires. The most important lesson you will learn from me is how to mesmerize and hypnotize people to come to you when it’s time to feed and to drink their blood without taking too much and killing them.” He cleared his throat and said, “Let’s proceed.”

“Promise me I’ll live,” Armani pleaded and grabbed hold of Donovan’s cloak, his face etched with desperation.

“My friend, I cannot promise that which I have no control over. That fate lies in your hands.” He said and squeezed Armani’s hand. “But, I can tell you this. You are a strong man who loves Simone and wants revenge. That thought alone will aid you in surviving. I firmly believe you will live and I promise to do everything to see to it that you do.”

Armani closed his eyes and focused on breathing while Donovan recited rituals involving sacrifice, blood, death, new life and vampirism.

“I am now going to take the breath out of you and be the death of you.” Donovan said and leaned over Armani. “Please lie still and keep your eyes closed.”

Armani winced as Donovan’s fangs sank into the flesh of his neck. Images of Simone and him flashed through his mind. Dizziness swept over him and he felt sick to his stomach. Donovan sucked the blood out of him like a ravenous animal. The noises would forever haunt him.

Armani stared at the ceiling and saw Simone standing surrounded by a bright light, arms extended out to him. ‘Don’t do this, Armani. Please. Stop him while you still can.’ Simone whispered with the voice of an angel.

Armani tried to resist, but he was too weak and too close to death to fight what had already begun.

“Simone!” Armani screamed. Weakened by the loss of blood, Simone was the last person he remembered seeing or hearing before black darkness enveloped him.

“You must fight. Don’t let death defeat you.” Donovan ordered, shaking Armani. “Armani, drink now, damn it!” Donovan sliced his wrist with a sharp nail and blood dripped from the wound. He held his wrist to Armani’s mouth. “Take from me and have eternal life.” Donovan willed him to drink by force.

Armani pressed his lips to Donovan’s wrist and drank. When Donovan was sure he had enough for survival, he pulled his wrist away and sealed the wrist wound with a lick of his tongue.

“Welcome to the family of the Dark Ones, my friend. We are now brothers.” Donovan laid his hand on Armani’s forehead and quoted a mantra for full recovery and healing. “It is finished.”

Donovan covered Armani with an extra blanket, walked to a chair and sat staring at Armani. Would Armani regret his decision when he woke up? Of course he would. Donovan had deceived him in the worst possible way. Armani would forever be a vampire. Not temporarily, as Donovan had made him believe. It pained Donovan. He wondered if he lied to Armani to protect him or to save his own soul from death at the hands of Victor. Was he so selfish that he put his own needs before thinking of Armani’s?

Now was not the time for self-doubt. Victor would arrive soon and Donovan knew his Master would be pleased. The thought of Victor filled him with hate and anger. He didn’t know why, but forcing someone to cross over was not what he ever imagined he would have to do. He laid the blame on Victor.

Donovan jumped, chilled to the bone. A strong wind rattled the windows. The hawk shrieked signaling that Victor had arrived. Thunder boomed. A bright bolt of lightning flashed past the window. Donovan closed his eyes sending out a silent prayer to any higher being in the universe who would listen. He was sure God was out of the question.

Donovan rose and glanced at Armani. Armani was in the state of deep coma like sleep. His face was pasty and ash white. Armani was the picture of death. What did Donovan expect? He had witnessed and been a part of aiding humans in crossing over many times in the past but every time he saw them after the transformation process it shocked him. Reasoning reminded him that yes, the humans who became vampires did actually die, only to re-born. A day or two of rest and Armani would wake more alive than he had ever been in his short lifetime, and with powers and abilities that were indescribable. Donovan smiled and hoped the feeling of complete power would enable Armani to forgive him for his deceit.

Donovan faced the door. Lightning flashed furiously outside, thunder boomed louder and louder as Victor neared the door. He hated to think of the future battle for Armani and himself but he knew in time the two of them would have to destroy Victor. Victor’s heart was cold, black and empty. Empathy and love were a fading wind. The only emotions Victor felt anymore were hate, anger and revenge. Victor’s kills had gone from justice killing to thrill killing. He killed for survival and it didn’t matter who he murdered. Innocent, helpless people were dying at the hands of Victor because he had lost self-control. Victor drank their blood and longed to feel them begging for their lives. Donovan heard from other members of the Dark Ones that many a vampire had to be destroyed because their hearts grew cold and the need to kill overpowered them. Drinking blood from a human to the point of death was like a high from drugs. It was a rush that some vampires got addicted to and most, being of strong will didn’t want to stop. The only option for the other vampires was to destroy them.

A loud scream sounded behind the door. What the hell was going on? It was a human and the voice yelling sounded too familiar to him. Within a second Donovan stood in front of the window and peered into the darkness, seeing as clearly as if it were broad daylight. Vampires all possessed night vision.

“Lord, have mercy on your soul, Gabe.” Donovan muttered. “I warned you not to come around here and you refused to obey.” Donovan stared at Victor and knew Gabe’s death would be swift. Victor must have just killed because he had a murderous look of satisfaction in his eyes.

Victor gazed at the window and smiled at Donovan, his eyes crimson red. There was no denying Victor was drunk on blood and unfortunately the blood of an innocent. Donovan forced a smile hiding his disgust and disapproval.

Gabe cocked his head to the side, placed his hands on his hips and glared at Victor. “You think you scare me, you freak!” He laughed. “Armani is my client and is going to listen to me. So, move on and trick or treat at someone else’s home and let me handle my business.” He said and waved his arms in the air in a ‘get out of my way’ motion. Gabe pivoted and walked to the front door shouting profanities over his shoulder. At the top of the stairs to the entry of Armani’s home, he paused. “Oh, and by the way you’re a couple months late for Halloween.” He chuckled and rang the doorbell.

Donovan was shocked that Victor allowed Gabe to disrespect like that.

A bony finger tapped Donovan’s shoulder.

“Hello, my friend.” Victor said. “Well done. Armani is now a part of the Dark Ones and I am very pleased with you.” He rubbed his chin and smiled. “Truth be told, I had my doubts that you could follow through with the mission, so to speak.”

Donovan didn’t take his eyes off Gabe. “Why did you let him disrespect you like he just did? That’s not your typical behavior.”

“Ever hear of playing cat and mouse?” Victor asked mockingly. “Gabe is the mouse and I’m the big cat who is going to attack and kill, but I want to play with him first.”

Victor had a sneaking suspicion Katrina walking into his life was a big part of the reason for his changed behavior, especially dealing with someone as despicable as Gabe. But he wasn’t going to tell Donovan that, at least not yet.

“Sounds like fun,” Donovan replied standing in front of the door. “Gabe deserves to die. He set up the whole plan of torturing Armani and killing Simone. Justice will be served tonight.” A feeling of satisfaction rolled over him like waves in the sea. The vigilante side of the Dark Ones was what he enjoyed most about being a vampire. He smiled at Victor and twisted the doorknob. “Now, it’s time for this worthless piece of humanity to walk the ‘Green Mile’ as Stephen King would say.”

Victor grinned, fangs gleaming. “Yes, my son now is the time. You and I are the executors.” Victor crouched to the left. “Let him in and let the games begin.”