Hello,
Here is the most recent installment to my novel. I have written this piece well in advance and am pushign close to thirty chapters at this point - still no where near finished. However, just a note to those of you who are following this story, after this chapter I will not be posting in sequence. Nor will I be posting whole/complete chapters.
The main reason as to why that is, is a): I don't want to deal with the possibility that someone may take a liking to this enough to try to pass it off as their own somewhere else. (Not to say that anyone here would do that - but I have dealt with plagarizim in the past and as a result have learned to take a more cautious approach with my work, especially since I do have big plans for this particular piece.).
b) I am looking critcism only within certain segements or scenes that I may not be too certain of and therefore would need someone elses opinions to give me more clarity/insight, rather then tearing apart the whole novel.
I do apologize to those of you who have been so supportive and loyal, following each new chapter as it's been posted but I hope that you understand my reasons for making this decision and therefore are not too disappointed with me. Maybe, if all goes as planned *fingers crossed* you might end up seeing this story in print much sooner then you think.
So, without further adieu, here is Chapter 8.
Regards,
~ Sorsha
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Chapter Eight
The balmy night time air kissed her sweat slicked skin like the caress of a lover. The demon purred in satisfaction. Freedom. At her feet was the body of a man who had found her walking the long empty country road riding a metal beast. Strange contraption these mortals possessed. Car. The memories of her host explained the marvel in the blink of an eye. Car. But she didn’t know how to operate one. Shame – could have been entertaining. His eyes were glazed and lifeless, face contorted in a mask of surprise and terror. His blood had been foul, bitter from the quantities of the alcohol he’d consumed. Tainted blood from a tainted man. Hardly satisfying.
It hadn’t made the feeding pleasant or enjoyable. Snapping his neck had been fun though, feeling the way the bones crushed and broke apart under her hands, the loud snap and the jerk of his limbs before they went dead. She’d like to break more bones. A new memory surfaced, faces, beautiful and young faces. Sisters. A new sense of excitement filled her thoughts. Two of them. Two new playmates whose blood would be pure and untouched by the harsh and bitter flavors of booze, sin or old age. How long since she tasted the blood of an innocent? So long the memory was unknown to her.
<Leave them alone! Don’t you dare!> The voice of her host screamed, sobbed and pleaded then cursed and swore. Pitiful. The way a wild horse would kick away a tiny nuisance, the demon battered her down deep inside and quelled her struggles. The breeze shifted against her and she was lifted into the air, surrounded by the dark and cold mist she drifted on the breeze, carried away in search of her two new companions.
To move with the mist was like walking through a dream, everything around was blurred and distant, almost ethereal. She didn’t like it. She’d spent too long lost in such a state, unable to touch, to feed or fuck. Unable to live as a demon was meant to. Not anymore. Now things would be different. She drew away from the wind, felt herself sink towards the ground, to take form; shape and the blurry surroundings became sharp and vibrant.
Blood. The scent of it was old and faint and had once been hers. It was the smell of old death that had already come and gone. There was a muffled sob that drew her ear like prey to a predator while a fresh and steady heartbeat drowned out the sounds of the night. Seated on a cold rock alongside the partially frozen stream, she rocked and sobbed, face buried in her hands as she spoke, voice muffled but to the ears of a vampire everything was clear and distinct.
“Why did you have to take her God? Why did she have to die? She didn’t deserve to be killed…why did you have to leave me alone? My sister…my poor sister…” The voice triggered another memory. Two girls playing in a park; they were similar in face and features but still so very different. One dark of hair and eyes, the other fair in complexion with eyes the color of an ever changing sea green. She moved into the light and waited until the sobbing figure caught the movement and drew still, like a deer sensing a wolf in the shadows.
The beating of her heart was pounding; the rush of blood flowing through her veins with such fluid speed, it drew the demon to intoxication, she quivered with longing. The eyes that she had seen in the memory, rich and dark brown were swollen and red from endlessly crying. They grew wide when they beheld her, no longer afraid but filled with wonder and disbelief.
“Laura?” Holding her arms wide, her sister; her twin came running into her embrace, sobbing all over again. “I’m dreaming. I know I must be dreaming but I don’t care. You feel so real…oh God why did you have to die? Why did you have to be taken away from me?” The distraught young girl was too busy sobbing to see the sinister gleam in her eye or the way her lips curved into a mocking smile.
“Shhh.” The demon purred. “I’m here with you now. Don’t worry. How could I ever leave you behind Louise?” When she drew away from her hold, Louise was no longer shaking or sobbing, she had grown steady, comforted by her presence, her brown eyes shone from tears and adoration. A sister would have looked upon her and seen unconditional love. Pity it was a demon who gazed upon her instead.
“You’ve changed.” Louise swiped a hand across her face to dry her eyes. “You’re still you…but different somehow.”
“We all change as we get older. Perhaps you just didn’t notice until now.” The hand that cupped Louise’s face was cold, but she seemed oblivious to this fact. There was such trust in her features and it was emphasized in the way Louise wrapped her arms around her for a second, more reassured hug.
“I never got to say I was sorry Laura.” Louise sighed. “I never got to tell you how sorry I was for pushing you away. For never being a true sister to you…I’ve missed you so much.” All of it painted a tragically beautiful picture and would make Louise’s blood all the sweeter, for what could be more pure, more innocent then the love between that of two sisters? It was second only to the love of a mother and her child. It could have been so easy to have taken her, right then and there, her neck was exposed, angled just right and the vein pulsed there with a steady and throbbing invitation.
So easy, but where was the fun in that?
The demon drew her back ever so gently, took her hand and ran the smooth skin against her cheek.
“My sister.” She cooed. Teeth bared she sank in deep at the wrist and watched the mild horror slowly creep up and contort Louise’s features into a scream. Lovely. Louise thrashed against her, but the burning from the venom secreted from the fangs soon took over, blinding her senses and catching Louise’s cries in her throat like a hand chocking the air from her lungs. The taste of her was like a drug in Laura’s body, she wanted it all, every last drop. It was so much more exciting and enjoyable then when she’d killed the man earlier that evening. The thrill trickled its way down her back when she released her wrist from her mouth and lowered Louise’s trembling body to the cold snow.
“Lau…Lau…” Louise gasped, eyes as wide and round as the moon that glimmered brightly overhead.
“I’m so sorry, Louise.” She cooed and stroked the hair from her face, deciding where next to sink in her teeth. “But Laura is no longer here. She’s gone, child. Lost in shadows. You will never see her again.” When she grinned she bore her fangs in a wide smile, it was only then that Louise seemed to understand. But there was no longer any fear in her eyes, as sweet as her blood was the fear made it enjoyable. Now it was gone. The demon pouted.
Perhaps she’d break a few bones
“No.” Louise braced her hand above Laura’s heart and pressed firmly. “My sister is here. Always will be…not…even death…can change that.” Hands ripped open the neck of Louise’s coat, fingers skimmed along the column of her throat; the demon moved to latch her mouth just above Louise’s laboring chest, but the shimmer of light caught her eye and interest. Around her neck was a silver chain which bore a pendant of a half sun carved from amber with five spears of light and it had been linked with a matching necklace: a half crescent moon of amber both wrapped in a body of silver. The demon drew it into her hand and examined the bauble. Fine quality, perhaps she’d take it for a souvenir. Suddenly another memory clicked; this one was strong and swift, like being run into a brick wall, stunning all her senses into submission.
To my darling little girls, who are as different as day and night, but always joined together forever. This is my gift to you both, Laura and Louise you are my Sun and my Moon. Happy birthday.
The hand that held the pendant burned, the demon screamed as she was flooded with love, hurt and regret. The eyes that looked down at Louise didn’t belong to those of a demon anymore. Instead they were those of a sister and they were filled with agony.
Louise sputtered, eyes glossed with pain and fever from the venom coursing through her veins.
“Move!” There was the crashing of feet charging through the snow, the cry of a voice in the heat of battle. Laura turned just in time to see Lamia sweep out from the shadows before her, sword slashing down and severing an arm of flesh and bone that had threatened to bind Laura in chains of steel. The man dropped at her side, screaming and flailing about on the ground, arm spraying spurts of hot blood into the frigid night air.
“Get out of here!” Lamia demanded, back to Laura. “Get back to the Manor, now!” But Laura didn’t move. She refused to move, how could she? Instead she remained where she was, ready to defend and protect her sister at all costs. Six more assailants materialized from a swirling explosion of black mist, all garbed in black, hoods and masks covering most of their faces, lips pulled back into a snarl, fangs gleaming in the moon light. They descended upon Lamia with their own swords drawn while two veered towards Laura. One launched itself at her and Laura was knocked flat on her back. Screaming, she struggled against him, his teeth snapping before her face like a rabid dog, eyes glowing like burning embers in his sockets and the feral growl of a beast building in his throat. His head tipped back in a scream and Laura looked up to see Louise standing behind him, the sharp point of a stick embedded deep into his back.
Another vampire came with a fell swoop and took Louise down; his fangs sunk deep into her throat. The cry that tore itself from Laura was filled with rage and agony; it gave her enough strength to send her attacker flying off her. The fall barely affected him as he rolled back onto his feet and was prepared to lunge. He hadn’t made it more then two steps before Lamia, in a fierce display of technique, removed his head clean from his shoulders.
The sound of her sister’s cries was all Laura could think of, hear or care about. The world around her became a haze, a blur. Her hands slipped through hair, fingers locked on skin and bone and with a deft jerk she broke his neck. The vampire’s body went limp in her arms while the man who had lost an arm moaned pitifully, body trembling and weak while shock and cold settled into his bones.
There was another burst of mist and the three surviving assailants retreated into the night and shadows. For a moment Lamia stood there, sword poised and ready, waiting to see if anyone else dared to challenge her, but all remained calm and quiet with only the sound of the dieing to break the serenity of the night.
At her side, Louise sputtered and coughed, blood oozing past her lips.
“What have I done?” Laura whispered. Louise was shaking beneath her, blood seeping from where her teeth had ripped into her wrist and where the other vampire had torn into her neck. She didn’t need to place her hand against her throat to know that her sister was dieing. She applied pressure to both wounds, trying to stem the flow of blood.
“Louise I am so sorry, please forgive me.” Laura sobbed; resting her brow against hers the tears she shed slipped down and mixed with those of Louise.
“Not…fault.” Louise struggled against the cold that was creeping up her body, inch by inch and chasing away the blinding fire that had consumed her moments before. “Not…fault.” She repeated, her voice shook but her eyes were filled with determination. Pulling back Laura braced Louise’s face with her hands, now warm from the blood she’d stolen from her twin.
Louise took the necklace she’d been wearing and placed it in Laura’s trembling hand.
“…You…keep…me…here.” Lifted her hand and placed it above Laura’s heart. Not trusting herself to speak, Laura replied with a deft nod.
<Always.> She knew the thought echoed within her sisters mind by the way Louise smiled just before her body shuddered and she slipped into death on a sigh.
Lamia bent down alongside Laura and settled into the snow. She had come to the ravine on a hunch and had stumbled across a scene that bore a striking resemblance to her own terrible memories. She brought her arms around Laura’s shoulders and drew the sobbing girl close. Next to them both lay the body of the human she’d wounded; his eyes had gone lifeless and vacant with death. It didn’t matter, Lamia knew exactly who had sent them and if she knew him as well as she thought she did, then she knew it was quiet possible that reinforcements could be on their way very shortly.
“We should leave now.”
“No.” Laura argued, she wanted to pull away, but the feeling of Lamia’s holding her close felt comforting and she didn’t think she could stand to feel alone.
“I need to be here. She’s going to change isn’t she? She’s going to change and become a monster just like me, right?” Lamia’s eyes remained fixed on those of Louise and watched as the life bled out of them just as her blood ebbed into the white snow. For a moment Lamia was drawn back to a night, hot and humid, the sky filled with screams, smoke and the crimson glow from the fire that ravaged the homes around her. In her arms was the lifeless body of a child…her child…
“No.” Lamia replied in a gentle tone, filled with understanding and regret. “No. She’s gone. She won’t come back.”
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Luther rolled his neck and shoulders in a slow and deliberate attempt to ease the annoyance that had settled there. Before him were two of his human lackeys, cattle he’d claimed to do his dirty work when he was unable to do so himself or if the risk was too great. They were pawns on his chess board, easily sacrificed and once in a while useful in a skilled game. But every so often they fucked up and tonight’s blow up was a prime example.
He always picked them young, early twenties were best since they were easy to control, strong, healthy and not usually so stupid. Before him now, the two morons he’d had the unfortunate luck of recruiting were dressed in the gaudy black garbs of a typical modern day Goth. One with hair dyed black, both of their skin powdered down with makeup to lighten the complexion. One chanced a glimpse up at Luther then immediately snapped his eyes back down. He had a face adorned with various earrings pierced through his lips, nose, eyebrows, ears and chin.
Luther had taken very serious consideration to ripping each one out one by one. The second was fat where the other was skinny, but just as dark and pathetic in appearance, he’d taken to shaving his head bald and tattooing the words Blood Sucker in bold black letters on his gleaming white scalp.
Both had delusions that if they pleased him enough, that he’d grant their life long dream and turn them into vampires. Pitiful fools. They would disgrace the very name of vampires everywhere.
“Your instructions were to inform me as soon as anyone left the Manor. Man, woman, child…cat. Instead, you took it upon yourselves to follow a young girl you saw jump down from the roof, followed her to the ravine, attacked her without my consent and as a result three of your retinue were slain and she still got away.” The one with the pierced features spoke first.
“Yes. We thought we should see where she was going…what she was up to before we called it in…just in case…we didn’t want to inconvenience you…our Dark Lord.” The urge to roll his eyes in exasperation was immense, the fact that he didn’t do so, Luther considered a testament to his vast, although thinly stretched, self control.
“I see.” His brow lifted with a nod. “So, perhaps I should turn to you both when it comes to making all of my decisions for me – since you seem to know my thoughts and my mind so well. Mayhap I should appoint you my leader and my Lord.” His voice rose to crushing heights and the two insipid blobs trembled at his wrath and fury.
“We meant no harm, your Evilness. We only thought of you and –.”
“Enough!” Luther bellowed. Around him the few of his vampire followers snickered, enjoying the show and humiliation of the humans before them. “I am tired of your excuses. You’ve outlived your use.” Luther turned his back on them both, the glorious blonde at his side beamed a grin; her black eyes shimmered like a child being given a new toy.
At his back the two humans took to sobbing, pleading and soon all else was drowned out by their screams and the howls of the demons as they fed.
