Chapter three:
Ara’s body slunk through the shadows, her eyes glowing red with their own light…her hand slid along the brick wall beside her, dirt rubbing off onto her fingertips. She smiled as moonlight soaked her skin with radiant silver before the clouds washed over the face of the moon.
“So, Ara…” Dawn murmured, her lips red now and her body far more mature. It was strange that they could age at night to an age closer to that of the vampires’ original age. Though the ages were not as great as they had been at the beginning. “Do you feel sensual tonight? After all, now you are so much older…”
Kill me…I can barely stand the pain, Dawn…please…before my soul collapses…I can feel nothing more, save this pain…and those streaks of malice in this pure white…like snow…with trails of blood running through…
“Kill you?” Dawn’s tone was momentarily startled. “No…I desire not to die…not yet…”
My body becomes less of you with every passing night that you come forth…but every day my mind becomes more like your own…I can do nothing…but…permit you to take control of me…and I wish to die…why must you have this body to be your own? I want my body back! I want my soul again! Either that…or I wish to die…please…can’t you understand how I feel? You would feel the same if you had been possessed yourself…
“Trying to make me understand…” Dawn snickered, her lips curling around her long fangs. “Trying to make me know how you feel…you can never cause me to…”
The vampire paused in her speech as she ducked behind a dumpster and watched a man walk by. A grin tainted her lips as she slipped out of hiding and tailed him on his way towards his home.
Blood…is that all you understand? I want nothing to do with that! I want to die! Kill me! Kill my mind and take control of my body!
“One day…” Dawn licked her lips as her voice came out hushed, startling the man. He paused and then turned slowly to stare upon her pale features.
“Oh, miss…” His face was only momentarily startled before he was attempting to be courteous. “Did you ask for me? Are you lost? I can call you a taxi…”
“I’ll take full control of this body…” She continued speaking, ignoring his words as he stepped back in shock. “I will control your body and make it all mine…and then…the pain will wash away…Ara…”
“Huh?” The man stuttered. “What are you talking about, miss? Is something the matter?”
“Ara…will die…and I will control her body as my own…”
Don’t touch him…don’t drink his blood. Do not hurt him…not again…and again…no more…no more blood! I don’t want to see it! I don’t want to see the blood! I don’t want to see anymore! No! No!
Hellion’s eyes sparked to life as he caught the scent of an approaching woman, the smell of her heavy perfume wafting through the air. A smile curled across his lips as he realized his potential prey had finally come.
Will you kill her like you’ve killed the others? Is it truly necessary to kill? Why must you kill? Will they turn to vampires? Are you afraid of that? Are you afraid that you will lose territory to a new vampire?
“You know so little…” Hellion snickered as he took flight across the streets, his body moving in a mad dash towards his prey. His feet found the ground again a moment later, skidding across the cement and kicking up dust. His body stopped only a few inches behind the lone woman, but his hand continued on, slamming through her chest and exploding blood into the wind. Bats shrieked high-pitched echoes into the night as they took flight from an alley, their leathery wings like broken black glass across streetlights.
The woman’s body was suspended there for a second, Hellion’s arm thrust through the middle of her chest as he held her aloft. Then he flicked his arm and her corpse thudded heavily upon the ground, echoing into the nearby alley. Her eyes were wide and her lips parted slightly as if she had wanted to say something before she died.
“I kill…” Hellion murmured, crouching down to clasp the woman’s wrists before he dragged her body into the shadows of the alley. “Because a bite is significant to a vampire…to…bite…is to love…to kill…is to survive…”
I do not understand your vain words. You make little sense…no…you make no sense at all! You kill to survive? To survive what? You speak in folly…a foolish tongue in a fool’s mouth…which only allows for folly to protrude from thence…
“Your speech had drastically improved…” Hellion smirked, his eyes lucid. “Much more so than it was prior…when we first became the same…remember that day? You hated me most then. You do not hate me as much as you did then…I believe, you love me now, Siraj.”
Love is such a loose word for you. When you speak it, it holds no true meaning. You do not know what true love is.
“And what of you?” Hellion turned the woman’s head so that her was neck was more accessible and then he began to peel away her hair from the place, making it visible. “Did she love you? Did Kaelin love you? Did you love her? Do you know what true love is?”
Hellion started down to bite, but then halted as the wind brushed through the alleyway.
“Again, you refuse to lend me your voice.” Hellion murmured, his lips like feathers brushing across each other. “You know that my questions are unanswerable with your pleasured answers. The truth is no. She did not love you…Kaelin did not love you…nor did you love her…because even you do not know what true love is. Do not judge my words when you know little about the words that utter from your own mouth.”
I loved her…past tense…she…could not return that love…because of you…and so…my love fell through…
Hellion smiled with wickedness. “Then she did not truly love you. If she loved you, nothing would stop her from wanting you. Nothing would restrain her love. She would chase you until her heart was devoured by evil spirits! And you! Think of all that you’ve done! She said that she hated you and you lost all love for her! Is that true love? True love would not die so easily. You think I know so little…but this old and aged soul knows far more than your young and naïve one. For now, however, speaking has become a burden. My feast grows cold…”
I feel as if you know what you speak, yet, know not how to live it with your own life. You speak wise words, but you’ve never once lived this type of life you speak of…
“You have no idea what sort of life that I have lived…” Hellion’s smile faded as his lips pressed against the woman’s neck. “You know nothing about the life that I have endured…but, soon, Siraj…you will…whether you want to or not…”
From now on, you will be my life…and I will praise the heavens the day that I die…and kiss this life farewell…
Quincy dove from the top of the skyscraper, his body flying through the air as his clothes brushed the glass of the building so close beside him. Behind him, Viktor leapt off, his arms spread out as if he desired to fly. Quincy glanced back and smiled at the sight and then he focused forward, his eyes sly with desire as they fixed upon his meal.
You will kill that child…and feel no remorse. You will pierce her skin…and not be ashamed. You will sink your teeth into her neck…and not be afraid. You will drink her blood…and not be dissatisfied. You are a beast with my face…and I fear such…
“Good…” Quincy grinned broadly as his claws sliced through the delicate skin of the girl’s neck.
Beside the collapsing girl, a woman’s eyes grew wider, her voice escaping in unsteady breaths as she desired to scream, but could not utter a sound. Down the road, a screech escaped a car followed by a horn and gruff curses. By the time silence had found the city again, the little girl and woman were in an alleyway, Quincy sucking the blood from the girl’s throat and Viktor tearing into the shoulder of the woman.
This girl had a chance in life…she could have lived a little longer…she could have found a life that was suitable…and this woman…undoubtedly her mother, had to watch her daughter die before herself…this grows into a time when the young ones die before the old…and the old watch with weary eyes…tears filling them…and the infants bawl in their cradles, motherless…fatherless…alone…forsaken as vampires devour the flesh of their parents…pain…sorrow…grief…oh, Quincy…you are the epitome of my wicked side…the dark shadow of myself…the things I subconsciously desire to be…you are…all that my evil heart wishes it could be…and then…my lighter side…the face that others view…says, “Touch not…harm not…do not…do these things…for death follows your every step…” Quincy…your actions make my shadow side love you…
Quincy smiled, his chin dripping blood onto the face of the girl. “Oh, Shaan…such a devious confession. Perhaps, I will not permit you to die…ever…and merely keep you to myself until my own body I can possess…and then…free you…and…being a sorcerer…find a way…to return your soul to your own. Perhaps, by defeating him, I can. Then, I will make you my own…and love you beyond any other love…”
But…I love…Ciera…and her alone…only…her…and never…another…I love Ciera…more than any other…with both sides of me…I love her…
The vampire’s eyes sparked with jealousy. “So fairly you speak of her…and my chest burns with that feeling. I do not want you to love…anymore…so that…you rely upon my feelings and mine alone…come and be solely mine.”
Quincy…I cannot love you…
Damian stood, Goethe staring at him in faint confusion. “Sassacus…could you…ever…love…any other than that one?”
Connor means a lot to me…I want to hold him…I want to touch him…kiss him…but…I fear to…and you will make me…do something like such…using my body…and making me do the terrible things my darker side desires to do…I don’t want to leave his heart…shattered…in pieces…
“Then I will shatter your heart instead.” Damian grinned, licking his lips. “I will torture your body using your own hands…you feel whatever I feel, Sassacus…”
What are you intending? Do you intend to…
“Goethe.” Damian looked at the beastly being and it returned the gaze. “Hunt…eat…and return…to my scent…”
The other nodded slowly as if it understood and then it bounded off into the night, its form becoming one with the shadows. Damian’s eyes tailed after the other for a few moments longer, his eyes sad as if he was about to betray the one-and-only that he loved.
Sighing with a turn of his head, the vampire leapt from the building’s top and slunk into the nearby park, his own body entangled in the growing shadows of the trees and bushes. A wind swayed the shadows into strange contortions, flicking light from the lamps across his pale face. Finding a tree surrounded by tall bushes, he pressed himself against the tree and slid down to the ground, his body falling heavily. Resting his head against the trunk of the tree, he smiled.
“Let’s enjoy ourselves, shall we, Sassacus?” Damian asked, his eyes sly.
Slowly, he undid his pants and slid them, along with his boxers, off of his hips until they were around his knees. Spreading his legs, he ran his fingers across his skin and then up his abdomen, the tips brushing over the rippling muscles and shifting his shirt upward. Upon reaching a nipple, he began to circle it, pinching it and then bringing his fingers to his mouth were he licked them and repeated the torture upon the tip of his nipple.
No…stop…Damian….no…stop! Oh, it…feels too good…stop…please! Stop!
“I don’t want to…” Damian moaned, his eyes shutting as tingles of pleasure filled him. “Your voice…makes me want to continue on…until…”
His hand slid back down to in between his legs, where he began to massage his penis, his touch gentle and causing his own body to flinch with desire. Stroking his penis, he began to moan with growing lust. Sweat ran down his skin as his breath came out in huffs.
“Your body is wonderful…” Damian snickered. “Your hands are so small…that…they feel so good…touching yourself…they are so soft…like satin…that they…feel so good…”
Don’t! I’m defiling myself! I’m touching myself! This is…so…disturbing! I can’t…I’m touching myself…but it’s you…it’s like…I’m…having sex with you…but…I’m really just…masturbating!
“Isn’t it a strange feeling?” Damian asked, his head lolling about in pleasure. “You and me…loving…in words…and my hands…your hands…touching one body…and we both feel it…as if…we were touching one another…I…don’t appreciate the feeling…and desire the day…I give you your body back…and I can torture you with my hands…they’re larger than these…rough too…no longer smooth…nor soft…and silky like your own…my skin…will be rough…and my body will move harsher…less tender…I will pour my passion into you and you will accept it…a look of pain and lust twisted together…in a bizarre image…like the devil’s slave…succumbed to him…and you will love me in a deep passionate way…and I will love you…but only for one night…before I return to the true-and-only that I can desire…”
Goethe…with every night…I grow to hate him all the more…because…though I…do not love you…I don’t want you to love any other, but me…and I want you to only hold me…and love me…until I can finally forgive you…and love you…oh…Damian…there…it feels good there…
Damian smiled in ridiculous pleasure as his back arched in ecstasy, semen squirting from his penis and landing upon the grass before him. Panting, he slumped against the base of the tree.
“Perhaps…if Goethe were to die…as I fear…I will grow to love you…and you will have a chance to love me…did that…satisfy you…for now…”
I want to cry…because I know you will die to protect Goethe before he could ever die…and I will never love you…and you will never love me…
Goethe sat behind a dumpster, feasting upon an old man’s blood, the taste aged and bitter like ancient red wine. His eyes rolled back in delight as the taste sloshed around in his mouth, tainting his tongue.
You don’t understand my words, do you?
Goethe flinched, his mouth twitching as if he desired to speak, but then he returned to his food.
I guess, that means, I can speak to myself…I’ve never understood you, Goethe…you seem more innocent and violent than the others. You are so silent…following Damian everywhere, no matter where he goes…and all I can do is follow along…and hope you do not die…oh, Damian…he’s a beautiful vampire…though, I should not like any of you…he is the first that I desire…
Goethe let out a guttural growl, the sound deep and foreboding.
Do you retain enough of a mind to know that he was once yours? Do you still have sense enough to want him and love him? Is that how powerful your love is? Does not your beast side make it impossible to love? Yet, your love still proves strong…I can feel it…it’s the only thing that keeps you alive…I envy you…that you can love so much…and not fall through your mind…I wish I could feel that way towards someone…I wonder what it would feel like…
The vampire paused in his consumption and whipped back his head in order to lash the hair out of his face. His eyes flashed iridescent in the lights of the city. A car sped by, splashing water up on the edges of the sidewalk before vanishing into the nothingness.
“D-do…y-you…l-l-love…heeeeeem?” Goethe spoke slowly in a raspy voice that strained with all of its might. The muscles in his neck were taut and burned with every motion of his mouth and his veins could be seen pumped full upon his throat.
You’re straining against all power to try and speak…do you desire so much to know? Are you still conscious inside this animal-form as I am inside of it? Are we two prisoners inside of this body?
With all of his might, Goethe nodded, his eyes bugging out in pain.
I see…so you and I are the same…and you did not desire to possess me…but Hellion led you…because of such I will forgive you…and pity you…Goethe. Please, do not strain yourself…you’re exhausted…feed and rest…let yourself become an animal again…and…in answer to your question…no…I do not love him…merely lust for him…because he is so beautiful and kind to this body…
“S-s-Sachar…” Goethe croaked before collapsing upon the ground, gasping for breath as his body quivered, incapable of continuing whatever it was that he had desired to say.
Goethe…do you…never mind…
Hellion sat down on the edge of a building and let out an uneasy sigh as, behind him, a torrent of bats cut the sky with their wings. A wind whistled a ghostly tune through the alleys and across the streets. Cars caused havoc through the city and flashed lights into the eyes of the vampire as people swarmed on the sidewalks, shoving past each other in a desperate way as if hell was breaking lose, but their faces were calm. A haze seemed to fill the air and the vampire could smell something toxic wafting to his nostrils.
“What a god-awful smell…” Hellion snarled, glaring down at the source.
It’s called a cigarette. Some humans use it for comfort…and find themselves ensnared…they become addicted to it and cannot break lose from it.
“I know a lot about addiction…” Hellion smiled before his grimace returned, once more glowering down at the young men and women who were enjoying a nightly smoke outside of a bar. “Disturbing…toxin. On top of killing themselves, they plan to pollute others as well…they should just die alone.”
That’s called second-hand smoking…when others receive the smell and toxin…
Rising from his seated position, the vampire leapt across the street and into deeper shadows, escaping the smell that bothered himself so much.
Do you hate…addiction?
“No.” Hellion snickered, the air brushing his skin with its pollution. “I am addicted as well…”
You? Addicted? I never knew that someone like you could feel anything, but hate.
“That’s what I’m addicted to.” Hellion laughed heartedly, malice in his voice. “I’m addicted to hating and being enraged. I enjoy the feeling.”
What an unhealthy addiction…
“And a cigarette is any better?” Hellion asked, landing upon another rooftop and sitting down once more, his breath barely affected by the sudden flight. “My addiction…is just as bad, I suppose as that…unhealthy, but it affects only me…my malice is for myself…”
Is that what you think? I wouldn’t say that, if I were you. In a sense, I am receiving second-hand anger and hate. Your addiction is wearing off on me as well…and those five vampires that follow you…they feel it as well…and all of my siblings…you have a total of eleven people that you affect with your anger and hate.
“Is this a lecture?” Hellion growled. “Save it. My anger and hate is only for him…and him alone…”
Like a love-blind fool, you seek him…and only him…until you satisfy your lust for revenge…