• Once Bitten Twice Ruthless

    First, there was the sound the loud cheering and chanting like some cacophonous orchestra from hell, they were shouting, screaming, roaring it sounded animalistic, savage cheering for whomever they thought would be victorious, although, already I knew they thought I had no chance. Secondly was the smell that raw musky smell of sweat dripping from the bodies of almost everybody both within the pit and outside of it the sour smell of gone off blood tainting my nose. The feelings of pure energy, aggression, anger perhaps even a little hate. Last was the view I looked up at my opponent tall strongly built his eyes a deep red. several scars upon his chest which was at least twice as muscular as mine he built like a barrel I felt a little sweat down my back as I came to realise that this was not going to be easy as I had expected it to be. I only hoped that if I managed to dethrone the prince I could gain some control, stop all of this unnecessary fighting whilst the humans are weak and squabble amongst each other they had some good quality’s democracy being one of them that I admired even though my Brothers did not.

    He smiled grimly looking at me face to face as was custom before a bout started, he muttered beneath his breath so only I could hear “it’s not too late to run little one save yourself.....I know we wouldn’t think badly of you throwing away your pride” he laughed sarcastically. I looked him in the eyes grinning as if amused “luckily I know of your type all talk and no action” with that last jest he drew his head back slamming it down upon me tears flooding my eyes as I felt my nose shatter like glass. My vision blurry as I stood up wiping my eyes, despite the pain surging through my face the way fire runs across oil. I shook my head to try to compose myself waiting for my time to strike. Shouting to the crowd blood on his face dripping into the sand “see this whelp will never take my throne from me I would sooner let a human take my place” he laughed mockingly. I looked over at him his back turned and leapt into the air ramming my knee into his ribcage hearing a satisfactory brittle snapping sound, he roared somewhere between pain and anger I dropped my elbow. letting it fall onto his head my arm shaking with the force of the blow as I landed a loud thudding noise my elbow impacting with his head.

    But I had left myself open he turned on his heel leaning a little clearly dizzy swinging out wildly with the back of his fist. It caught me in the face feeling a tooth become lose and blood pour into my mouth as I was bashed up against the wall like a ship off the rocks my lip split down the middle. Nearly blacking out as I pushed my shoulder back into its socket my head arched back roaring in agony and fury. He walked over rubbing his head mockingly “see the pup lacks the power seems for all his talk he is weak” he said lifting me by my throat launching me once again. against the opposite wall flash of black and I was back sweat beading on my head, stood over me as I looked down at the sand bringing my arm up in time to defend my ribs. as he kicked lifting me from the floor slightly as blood sprayed out of my mouth the sour taste making me retch as I landed sand rising up in a cloud from the floor. Rolling onto my back led up against the wall my mouth resembling a wolf fresh from the hunt-bloodied fangs bared ready for the kill.

    He looked up again at the crowd a good 9 feet above us he smiles "when I beat him perhaps I should make a wife of him,” he laughed sadistically. I seized my opportunity shifting over to his left little more than blur Fear, shock, despair and I was upon him slamming the knife edge of my palm into his throat I listened grinning in satisfaction as his breathing became ragged his pale flesh dotted with beads of sweat, hands grabbing at his throat desperately. Kicking his right knee feeling his leg snap like a brittle wishbone, I roared savagely tilting my head back into a feral scream noticing my Brothers above me falling deathly silent. I looked over at him on his knees clasping his throat I wish that I didn’t have to kill him but I knew if I spared him any respect I gained would be lost. He would do everything within his power to undermine me the only thing I despised about my kind our lust for power or should I say there lust for power.

    With that thought in mind, I spun on my heel kicking him square in the face bringing him down to the floor with a dull thud crimson staining the sand. Looking down into his eyes a slight chill down my spine a strange mixture of both resent and excitement all I saw in his eyes was fear despair and a look that seemed to ask for mercy. Shaking my head laughing sadistically bringing my foot up in a savage arc bringing my heel down upon his throat feeling his oesophagus shut blood trickling from his lip as he passed over into the next life. "better luck next time perhaps" I muttered cockily standing looking back at the corpse not happy but a small sense of achievement running through me as the brothers above me looked down in disbelief “he...hasn’t....it cannot be.....he rained for 357 years.....” I began to walk off towards the side passage rapping upon it as someone shouted. "BUT he has done it” someone from within the crowd shouted, everyone beginning to clap a little at first then breaking into wild shouting and screaming “indeed bravo......never has one so young done so well.....marvellous” I turned simply raising my hand in thanks then walked towards my coffin the dark corridors still lit with torchlight. Needing to rest and recuperate after such an ordeal a slim smile traced across my face my split lip sealing up a little. I turned the corner into my small room the underground tunnels were not ideal, they were always cold and made things like lice easier to spread which was why at current we had all taken to burning off our bodily hair with torches and shaving more sensitive areas. However, the coven was not all bad there was the hall where we ate and drank the thing I missed more than anything was Rena but if my fellow brothers and Sisters found out, I had become involved with a human no doubt she and I would both die. I sat at my desk and began to write a letter hoping to post it later that day.


    Dear Rena

    The Business is going well babe we made a new deal with orison today and should be making more contacts through them I will send some money home as soon as I can get it. I am well as I’m sure you’d be pleased to know I even started going to the gym and have gained quite a bit of muscle if you had a computer I would send you some pictures I think you’d be impressed. I miss you more than words can suffice I hope you are in the very best of health yours forever and always.

    Much love

    Kaleb

    xxxxxx

    I hated lying to her it was the only way I could insure her protection until I could either change their views or leave the coven. Fearing that the latter would be my only option but I had scheduled a meeting later on in the halls a few hours before nightfall, so if I had to run I could escape without the sun nipping at my heels. also I knew that once I left the coven I would not be followed they only ever left to feed but even then it would be a case of grab someone and drag them inside not pursue them or try and tempt them just a merciless beating and dragged down into the shadowy depths to be drained until there as dry as a husk. I paced fretfully perhaps even a little fearfully. Up and down the length of my room struggling to get a decent argument together, “******** it”, I decided to come out with it and if anyone attempts anything, I will kill them on the spot. I laughed a little to myself a few of my brothers had taken to calling me Misfit because of my modern views and the way I discarded the old ways so quickly it was stupid...I did not discard the old ways they were just outdated needed freshening up we all knew we could live without killing humans and merely take what we needed I preferred to carry my syringe I would break into a hotel room and listen for someone snoring sleeping deeply with a slow heartbeat I push the needle into a vain arm raised with my chloroform rag at hand ready to put them back to sleep if they awake once the syringe is full I take out another filling 3 ready to be poured back into a vial once I get back to the coven, on average a vial of blood (500milileters) will last me about a night though the others in the coven sometimes consume a whole human’s worth in one night....it is unnecessary to drain nearly 8 pints when I can live off a meagre 500mll a night.
    “It is truly ludicrous” I muttered lying back into my coffin my head swimming with thoughts and worries I slid my hand into the lining slightly removing a Photograph smiling happily at the image all the thoughts being rushed away as if by magic, it’s a Photograph of Rena that I took when we were younger a half vampire. The sun didn’t affect me it was setting in Spain on the beach so I took a photo of her, it’s beautiful not only because I can see the sunrise but because I can see her in all her beauty once more. I waited for the dreaded meeting a smile enveloping my face as I fell asleep.


    I awoke my breathing coming heavily cold steel against my throat my breathing stopped. I looked up at my assailant his cold eyes staring back at me “drop your Rank and leave or die”, I looked up at him trying to fool him “and if I leave you won’t hurt me?” He moved the knife from my throat a little I felt like grinning but held myself as he spoke, “yes if you leave without protest you can live”. I looked down at the blade still to close too my jugular and looked back up into his eyes, “ok let me up and I will leave keep your blade at my back if you don’t trust me”. I said knowing very well one stab would not kill me. leaning forward a little standing exposing my back, Listening intently the sleeve of his shirt ruffled as I took my chance craning my neck back, smashing the back of my head into his nose. I leant forwards grabbing the knife and his arm smashing it down onto my knee bringing him with it the knife sliding across the floor under my cupboard, I grasped his hair foolishly left long which was a weakness in any fight as far as I was concerned. cracking his head off of my knee smiling at his small painful grunt as he fell unconscious I rose and walked out of my room dragging him along by the hair alongside me hoping to set an example as I walked into the meeting hall.



    I looked around the room hoping to spot someone’s face as it dropped realising the assassin’s endeavour was unsuccessful sadly nobody rose to my bait, all staying as straight faced and nonchalant as ever I kicked the man at my feet grinning at the feel of a rib breaking. he began to shout my hand gripping his hair firmly lifting his head silencing him instantly. I looked up at my so called Brothers and Sisters “Who sent him?....Tell me or he dies” I stooped a little kicking the man in the ribs sending him sprawling across the floor into the front of the seating with a agonising yell that even hurt me a little to hear. I looked up my face as straight as the crow flies “anyone I’m not Joking he will die”. I paced slowly towards the man cracking my knuckles lifting him off of the ground as I Bashed his head against the marble rim, laughing sadistically looking up “going once” I bashed his head again. “Twice” a man in the upper corner shouted “Enough he’s had enough”, I dropped the man as the blood dribbled off the marble down onto the cold floor a crimson puddle developing at my feet. I looked up at this new face recognising it immediately “what is he to you?” I said kicking the man in the gut sending a jet of blood out onto the floor as he doubled over grasping at my leg weakly I shook him off lifting my leg a little as he drew back fearing another kick. I looked up at the small runt of a man he stuttered “I...iiit was for th...e good of th...e co...ven yo...u you wou...ld have done away wi...th the old ways”


    He was hoping for someone to agree with him I climbed up onto the marble edge sitting cross-legged contentedly looking at everyone “Yes I will do if I have my way the death of humans is unnecessary I live on a meagre five hundred millilitres a day yet you must kill a person? I think not...” some of the people in the stands shifted in their seats uncomfortably. Raising my voice a little “I wish to bring in a new order the old rules are...valid just not sensible anymore. What will we do when the incinerator breaks down and someone has to leave a body in the streets?” they fell silent I only hoped my words had effect I looked up at the scrawny weasel faced man who sent the assassin. “would you care to share his fate” I asked pointing to the man on the floor a visible crack in his skull. blood leaked out his heartbeat slowing with each second. The weasel faced instigator now visibly shaking. “nnn...ooo no” I looked up at the man with all seriousness, “Then leave and anyone else who is against my new ways can join him I will not take this lightly”. I glanced at him walking down from the seating area as another this time a sister grabs his arm “, we don’t have to do this lets make a stand!” On hearing this I rose up instantly vaulting off of the Railings and kicking the woman in the face before grabbing her on the ground and swiftly snapping her neck killing her instantly with a sound not unlike bubble wrap crossed with knuckles cracking, A dull thud sharp blinding pain and blackness...

    I weakly opened my eyes the heat on my back so intense I feared I would blackout. Squinting I looked around trying to figure out my whereabouts, a tree? Yes a tree. I tried to move pulling hard trying to get away the strain against my wrists and the smell of burning meat assaulting my nostrils. The sweat on my face making my eyes sting I tried turning myself a little to the left shuffling weakly around hoping to get the sun to burn the flesh from my wrists as I could squeeze the bone through I gritted my teeth biting down on my bottom lip as I pulled myself around my brittle back red and bloody the skin physically peeling from my back I bit deeply into my lip. My breathing coming heavy and ragged as the sun began to do its work I leant back with all my weight both trying to pull my hands away in cowardice and knowing that I will fall back once my flesh has burnt enough I grimaced my lip now bleeding profusely as my flesh roasted in the rising sun. Head butting the tree cursing loudly, slipping in and out of consciousness the scent of my own burning flesh making me cringe I laughed a little thinking to myself it’s funny if someone else burns but when its yourself it’s not so amusing... I felt my flesh peeling away from my bone leaning back experimentally the rope slid over my arm a little resting just beyond my thumbs the rope resting against bone. I gagged at the imagery it conjured within my head, I grimaced a little as I put my feet up against the tree, bridging the small gap adequately my black shoes shining with the blood from my lip. I breathed out deeply in anticipation closing my eyes as I kicked off the tree the sickening sound of my thumbs dislocating, as I fell to the floor silent as a mouse despite the blinding pain racing around my body.

    Looking around for nearby shade or sun cover to recuperate I shook my head grimly at the bin a few feet away the sun nearly upon me. As I began to crawl weakly each tiny movement causing splintering fire like pain to spread around my back hands now become pretty much numb being scorched down mostly to the bone around the wrists and down to the base off my thumbs. My face contorted in agony as I crawled up to the bin looking up at it not wanting to stand for fear of splitting in too. chuckling dryly at that image as I grasped the top of the bin with both hands trembling all over gritting my teeth my spilt lip stinging the blood beginning to dry out not able to shake the unpleasant taste in my mouth. I leant against the bin weakly as I lifted the lid leaning into it trying to flip myself into it leaning back. then shoving all my weight forwards falling head over heels onto the glass bottles wincing as some glass cut into my ribs a shallow cut but it stung a little nonetheless I fidgeted restlessly the bottles beneath me jingling nosily as I shut the lid on the bin closing my eyes trying to sleep.

    I woke up aching all over my Head feeling as if it had just been kicked by a horse I shook my head opening the bin lid a tiny little bit with a grimace as some glass sliced my lower back. I ignored it and got up with a grin as the cut began to seal. The insistent itching making me smile a familiar feeling as the night sky graced me again the bin lid flung open, I breathed in the cool air loudly cringing a little , at the small pain in my now scarred back a deep red patch vertically up my it my shirt hanging in torn rags. I decided to just lose it altogether casting it out into the glass staring at my reflection that incandescent glow that my kind carried had faded I felt not with myself the dull pale character staring back at me I did not like...I knew what I needed the question was where from. Standing with a light grimace leaping from the bin the tree still stained with the crimson a bloody patch marking my defeat. I walked head held low into the town not even looking where I was going just walking like a lost ship sails torn off just letting the current take it the current being the smell the sweet coppery. That un-describable god like essence leading my feet...humans or more vitally the crimson life flowing through them all I needed to feel myself again.

    He looked up from sleeping awakened by a dark shadow passing by the presence of this stranger scared him he just had that aura of darkness about him something about the way he looked perhaps as he passed, wearing black jeans and boots eyes a odd crimson colour perhaps he was a albino? His grey hair would add to that point but there was something about him not his clothes or the way he looked, he was just odd who walks around at 4am half-naked and covered in scars and bruises a bare-knuckle fighter? No he was to slim a build he shook it off and got back into his old sleeping bag eyes closed tightly the bag cushioning him hiding him like a child. He felt a hand or a touch on his bag and went stiff as a board “H...hello?....ccc...ann I help you?” he said pitifully as the man spoke quietly and surprisingly calm ripping the bag away from him lifting him pushed against the wall. “Yes you can help me just as your kinds always have” the pale man said a cold stare cutting through me as I wet myself. marking the pure fear the man’s clawed hand upon my throat, “Disgusting” he snarled as he bit me deeply upon my throat sucking at it greedily in a similar fashion to a leech my life being away with every moment then I blacked out.


    I sat up from the cold corpse enjoying the odd silence as I threw it to the floor like discarded rubbish but he would not be missed I doubt anyone even knew he was missing or cared to find him perhaps I was even kind to end his life?. I licked my lip with a big grin the taste still in my mouth and contemplated my next move. I had to find 2 things more blood and somewhere to rest during the day a roof over my head I looted the corpse finding Ten pounds in change shrugging “Should be enough for a motel” I said with a smile walking away from the cold alley out into the main part of town wiping any blood from my mouth as I spotted a B&B (Bed and breakfast) and decided to call it a night walking in through the door my senses picked up nose physically twitching a little, the scent of blood rife as I noticed a bloody stain on the counter coagulating slowly the soft wood of the counter having already seeped deep into the wood a harsh crimson stain on the soft wood. I paused for a second inhaling deeply swaying a little the scent of human blood almost too much for me as I sat back. next to a bloodied corpse kicking it of the bench lowering myself down as it hit the ground, neck tore open head hanging limply a large amount of it having been eaten I shook my head repulsed by the savagery of the event this was too much for me even. This was definitely not the work of vampires the head was hanging at a limp angle a few tendons and a scraggly scrap of skin just keeping it on the dead eyes seeming absent I doubt he saw it coming, I surveyed the scene my stomach churning as if it were a washing machine full of marbles.

    My mind at that very instant drifted to Rena if my dead heart could beat it would have stopped again. I composed myself standing up the blood on the floor making horrid squelching sounds the blood having thickened like a thick mat of treacle, as I thought what if whatever did this is still here. The contradiction that I had been living struck me. Tolerance est rectum of pallens. I had learnt that the biggest weakness anyone could have was Tolerance back in the coven the general consensus was why take abuse if you can just snuff it out like a badly lit candle. A simple breath this was how I saw the humans little lights I could switch of and bring back from the ashes if it pleased me to do so.
    Tolerance is the virtue of the weak yet here I was hopelessly in love with none other than a human, I began to laugh despite my circumstance walking upstairs to scope out the rooms not a single heartbeat but I have no concern for leaving any stone uncovered for some vermin to come out and stab me in the face.