December 20th, 1944, 10 miles East of Bastogne Belgium.
He could remember being upright, handing a cigarette to Sgt. Avery Dutton, the next second he was wearing bits and pieces of Dutton’s body all over him as the whole world around them turned upside down and erupted into one giant ball of confusion and chaos as German mortar rounds rained down on them like it was the forth of July. Stunned, he staggered away from the maelstrom at first walking, stumbling and finally crawling through the woods away from the explosions. Anton Sipe hadn’t signed up for this, he was born in Germany but his parents whisked him away to live in New York City in America before he had even reached the age of one. He’d spent his entire life there, and when he’d turned 17 years old, he’d seen the writing on the wall. Germany was making some serious noise in Europe and it wouldn’t be long before the old man packed up the whole family and returned to the Fatherland, and Anton would be goose stepping his way up the ranks of the German army.
So he left home three days shy of his 18th birthday to join the American army. Now here he was, knee deep in a world of shit being shot to hell by the Fatherland. He closed his eyes tight, until he cold no longer hear the explosions roaring in the distance, he couldn’t feel the bitter cold of his own frost covered fingers, for all intensive purposes Anton Sipe may as well have been dead, but that was the problem- he wasn't. Near unconsciousness he almost willed himself to crawl forward, unaware of his surroundings then, there in the deep woods, he’d almost felt peaceful. And then a strange thing- “wait, what was that?” Something smelled different, felt, different. The strong sweet scent of perfume filled his senses. He rolled onto his back and the silhouette began to take shape above him and as two hands began to reach down towards him, 18 year old Anton Sipe had no way of knowing that the whole world that he’d thought he knew- was about to change forever.
His eyes flickered, and closed tight one last time, he could feel his body being dragged through the snow, and then it all went black.
“Do you know where you are?”
His head moved, but his eyes refused to open.
“N. No. No, I don’t want to go back to that hell. N.N. No please. Don’t make me.”
“Don’t be afraid. Open your eyes and see.”
Slowly he pulled his eyelids apart and looked up, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. She had creamy perfect skin, and wore a black gown that looked like it was made from the finest silk, her long black hair seem to flow like water around her shoulders. He blinked and tried to focus almost certain that he was hallucinating. She was smiling down at him. Her voice was soft, husky, warm, and she talked in an accent that he didn't recognize.
“I am Nastasia. My. My, what a lovely boy you are.”
Le diable dort ici
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was no pain, no sound now, only numbness, his eyes rolled around the room, it felt damp, and yet there was a warmness here that he couldn’t explain. He tried to sit up, but felt a stern hand resting on his chest pushing him slowly back into a laying position.
“No. Not yet. You are not strong enough yet. Relax. Rest now my pretty.”
He didn’t know where he was, and he wasn’t sure that he cared, he was completely alone with this beautiful woman. She was closer to him then, close enough for him to feel her breath on his neck, he suddenly felt cold again, colder than before. She slowly ran a long fingernail along the side of his cheek,
“It has been so long since we have had visitors here, so long since I have seen such a strong young man. You will help me. Yes?”
And as Anton Sipe looked up into her hypnotic gaze he suddenly realized that without even fully knowing her, that he would somehow find a way to do whatever she wanted him to.
He found it strange that somehow she was talking to him and yet her lips didn’t seem to move. He slowly pulled himself up into a seated position and could feel his legs moving both feet to the floor. She clasped her hand into his and led him down a long, dark corridor and into a dimly lit room, there were lit candles gently flickering in each corner. In the middle of the floor there was a long rectangular box. With a large golden cross embedded into the wooden top.
She stayed away, closer to the door, as he stumbled forward, inching his way closer to the box, he reached out and slowly ran his hands across the sleek black surface, there was fresh soil along the top, and as his eyes squinted in the dimly lit room he read the words inscribed at one end of the lid; “Le Diable dort ici.”
“W. Wait. What in the fuck are you doing here?”
“Open it.”
“What? Wait- what does that say? This could be very bad, this is- what? A coffin?”
“Open it.”
Almost as if he could no longer control his own actions he pushed the lid away, and gazed down inside of the coffin at the decaying corpse. He could hear her voice in his head. He felt himself weakening.
“Remove the cross from his chest and then the wooden stake.”
“What? Wait. No I shouldn’t be doing this. But. I. Can’t. Help. It.”
He first removed the heavy cross lying across the top of the corpse. And then wrapped his fingers around the wooden stake and slowly began to pull it from the chest. And when it suddenly popped free he felt his knees growing weak as he staggered backwards falling up against her, she wrapped her arms around him and he could see her smiling.
“At last. Rise and walk my love.”
Frail bony fingers grasped at the sides of the coffin, and when the white haired man rose from out of the box, somewhere in the back of his mind- in a place where his will was still at least partly his own, Anton Sipe began to fully realize that he had just done a terrible thing. A very terrible thing indeed
Vasille Vladu.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They fed on him long through the night, not enough to kill him, just enough, to make him like them, though still weakened,the male seemed much stronger to him now, and he was careful enough not to take too much of Anton Sipe’s blood. Not too much, just enough to pull him into a lifetime of servitude to him and her. He was lying on his side when he opened his eyes and saw her- she was half naked sitting across from him, his own blood still warm, still fresh on her lips. He couldn’t see the male but definitely felt his presence.
“What have. You done to me?”
She rose and walked over to him, once again running her fingernails along his cheek. She knelt down and looked at him more directly than before.
“You belong to him now, as do I. he is our master.”
“He? Who is he?”
“He is Vasille Vladu. He is over three hundred and seventy five years old. And he is a Vampire. He has been sleeping for so long. I could not remove the cross or the stake. That is why I needed you. To do it for me.”
He could feel the chills shooting through his body as he tried to sit up and face her, she was smiling again this time moving closer to him. She brushed her hand across his cheek with a gentleness that seemed almost out of place.
He walked into the room just in time to see Sipe roll off of the table and onto the floor, his body shivering almost violently. Vasille looked much stronger than before, much more powerful, more sinister. He stood watching him slowly turning, slowly giving way to the primal urges that were building inside of him. His eyes were the first to show the signs, first turning a bright shade of pink and then finally a deep crimson red. And soon there would be the final piece of the puzzle, the overwhelming- all consuming blood lust that would control his very existence from this moment forward. She appeared at Vasille’s side.“You should rest now, you’ll be changing soon, you’re going to need your strength. Your body will need to be fed soon. Very soon.” She smiled and pulled her hand away.
“He will need to feed soon my love. What then?”
Vasille Vladu slowly circled the trembling Anton Sipe, eying him with an almost humorous look. His dark piercing blue eyes slowly raised to meet hers.
“We will appease his hunger Nastasia.” He folded both arms behind his back and turned to face the door.
“And then we will tend to more pertinent business.”
She came up behind him and stared out into the cold dark night.
“Him again then is it My love?” She asked.
“I can feel him Nastasia. It is faint. Almost like a dying heartbeat. But I know he is out there. In France I believe.”
He turned to look down at Sipe. now the look was more of pity.
“Help him feed for the first time, and then we leave for Paris.” He said.
“What of Paris my Love?”
“We go to Paris to find Chapel. We will find him and I will punish him for his treachery. Now Nastasia, feed the underling. We have a long journey ahead of us.”
December 29th 1944, Paris France.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Her dark eyes darted nervously back and forth, as she made her way down the busy sidewalk, after two years of spying on the German army Marie Clavette knew well and good when she was being followed. She’d been feeling it for the past seven blocks. But perhaps most disturbing of all was the fact that every time she would look back there was nothing there. It wasn’t Germans- she just didn’t get that impression, she’d been around them enough to know when the bastards were behind her, even heavily damaged- Paris was still her town and she knew how to lose someone here. But this, this was different, and it filled her with a sense of dread, and it wasn't long before her worst fears were realized as a force like she‘d never felt before swept her up and plucked her like a flower from the streets of her beloved Paris. It wasn’t until hours later when she awoke in a strange place that she didn’t recognize. She got up and stumbled over to the window and tried to look out to see where she was. There were trees as far as the eye could see.
she gathered that she was somewhere in the country. And when the door behind her slowly swung open that sense of certain dread returned to her.
“Come here child.” The dark ominous voice echoed through the large room.
She hesitated. Slowly leaning forward to peer through the darkness.
“Monsieur? Hello? Do I know you?” She asked.
“No. You do not. Come here, if I wanted to harm you I would have done it already.”
She slowly moved forward as the form of Vasille Vladu came into view.
“I seek information from you. About a man. A particular man.”
Behind him just beyond the open doorway she could make out the vague image of Sipe’s blood red eyes cutting through the darkness, they seemed to tear through her flesh and it gave her a chill. Her eyes nervously raised to meet Vasille Vladu’s.
“A man? Monsieur?”
“Tall, dark, muscular broad shoulders long black hair that falls down to his shoulders. Dark deep penetrating eyes. His name is Chapel.”
“I do not believe that I know such a man Monsieur.” She answered nervously.
He silently glided past her stopping in front of the window staring out into the dark French countryside.
“You used to spy on the Germans for the French resistance I believe, did you not mademoiselle Clavette?”
She didn’t answer.
“Well I too have spies mademoiselle, and just two nights ago MY spies saw you in the company of such a man at the café Le Jardin Des Cygnes.” Vasille kept his back to her waiting for her reply.
“Oh. You are talking about Monsieur Simon, he started a conversation with me over dinner, he told me he would be returning to America soon. But first he had business in London.”
“His name is Chapel, not Simon, so Mademoiselle- when exactly did he leave for London?”
She tried to focus her attention on the question instead of looking into Sipe’s lifeless stare.
“I believe. He left the morning after our meeting monsieur. I believe he said the next morning.”
He walked away from her and closed the door behind him. He turned to face Sipe and Nastasia before glancing back at the closed door. Sipe was quivering with anticipation. Nastasia looked on with great curiosity, he pulled them closer to him.
“She will sleep soon, then you will return her to Paris, and then find shelter near the tower before dawn. I will join you there tomorrow evening.”
A sinister smile began to spread across Sipe’s black lips. As he stared at the closed door. Nastasia gave him a troubled look before returning her attention to Vasille.
“And Nastasia?” he said.
She and Sipe both looked up at him.
“Marie Clavette is not to be harmed, do you understand? She is not livestock. She is the only person that can lead us to Chapel. If you must- find food elsewhere. She has lied to me, she will go to him where ever he is. And we will follow her. If you harm her, you will pray for the devil to take whatever is left of you.”
He turned to walk away.
“Be ready when she falls asleep. Get her back to Paris.”
He turned away from them walking toward the two glass doors he pushed them open and walked through, leaving Nastasia alone with Sipe. They turned and entered the room where Marie Clavette was now sleeping.
“Lets get her to the tower.” She told him “We need time to seek shelter, there are still many American soldiers roaming the streets of Paris this night. You mustn’t be seen.”
Sipe lowered his head- his eyes cutting through Nastasia’s back, he loved her but at the same time hated what she’d turned him into.
“Like anybody would recognize me now.” He hissed under his breath.
She came out of the front door carrying Marie Clavette. Sipe gave her an impatient look. Before glancing around the front of the chateau.
“So are we to carry her back to Paris then?” He smirked.
She nodded towards a four door black sedan.
“The closer proximity that we live near humans the more we must assimilate their ways to blend in. You used to be a soldier, so tell me you don’t know how to drive.” she threw him the keys.
“I was in the infantry.” He threw the keys back to her “You drive”
They laid Marie in the back seat, and she slid into the driver seat, Many of the roads and bridges leading into Paris were either damaged or destroyed by German bombs but she knew a back way in that wasn’t being patrolled by soldiers on either side. Paris was free again so it wouldn’t be difficult to slip into the city car or no car. They just had to be wary of soldiers. She drove the seventeen miles to the city limits before stopping to ponder the situation, the tower wasn’t that far off now so they could reach it easily on foot. But carrying a body might attract the wrong kind of attention, still not trusting Sipe’s ravenous appetite, she decided to carry the sleeping Marie Clavette while he scouted ahead, when halfway to the tower neither realized that they had actually attracted the very worst attention, the very man they had come to find had now found them first. They scurried along the dark empty street with Chapel shadowing their every move, but it wasn't until he was absolutely certain that they were carrying the body of Marie Clavette that he became fully enraged.
Nastasia was the first to feel his presence, the anger in the air around them told her that this was not someone who would be trifled with. She stopped and looked around and the rooftops, softly calling for Sipe to rejoin her. Moments later he appeared by her side. She turned to look at him still cradling Marie Clavette in her arms.
“He is here, close by watching us. She is more to him than just a pretty face.” She said.
Sipe looked around the rooftops studying every shadow most carefully.
“Perhaps she is his donor?” Sipe asked inquisitively.
Hers eyes fixated on the rooftop directly above them. A tall steeple shaped roof.
“No. she means much more to him than food. He is much too strong for the two of us, come let us get her to the tower, we must hurry, he is very close.” she said.
He swept down on them like an angry wind knocking Sipe off of his feet, sending him flying several yards through the air landing hard against a brick wall.
Nastasia became startled, causing her to drop the limp body of Marie Clavette, instinctively she bared her canines and began to hiss at him. From under his coat Chapel had hidden something quite unexpected for a vampire to be carrying, he produced a short sword, and when the unsuspecting Nastasia jumped forward and with one smooth stroke he removed her head sending it falling into the Seine river. But as he knelt by Marie Clavette’s side- he’d forgotten about Sipe who had just witnessed him removing Nastasia’s head. Angered, Sipe attacked catching him off guard and before Chapel knew it he was all over Marie Clavette burying his teeth into her throat mercilessly ripping her apart like an angry animal. He came to her as Sipe ran into the shadows. And as Chapel cradled Marie Clavette’s now lifeless body in his arms he could hear Sipe’s cold voice echoing down the empty street. .
“You killed mine, So I killed yours. Eye for an eye Chapel. Be seeing you again. Vasille Vladu says hello.”
December 29th, Chateau De l'obscurité, 17 miles outside Paris France.
Vasille Vladu’s anger resounded along the empty hallways of the Chateau, his deep voice shouting- then caring little about who might hear the tirade. Strangely though the underling Sipe stood unmoved, unaffected by the anger Vasille Vladu displayed at him. Instead Sipe began to raise his own angry voice, yelling back at Vladu leaving him slightly surprised.
“I thought I made it clear, No one was to harm Marie Clavette! I wanted to face Chapel at a time of my own choosing Sipe -your treachery will surely bring him here!” Vasille Vladu yelled.
“My treachery? It was he who struck first by taking Nastasia’s head! Have you no feelings about that Vasille? I took an eye for an eye, my treachery? Do you not feel MY rage Vasille Vladu? She loved YOU not me, and yet I saw fit to avenge her, while you tremble at the very mention of Chapels name, I took action, so what if he comes? let him I say! So what will you do devil? Cower in the corner like a frightened school boy?”
He’d barely gotten the last word from his lips when an outraged Vasille Vladu struck him down viciously. Battering Sipe with a relentless attack, slashing at him with talon like fingernails. And yet each time- Sipe would get up and come back for more, just to be battered again. Finally bloodied and beaten Vasille Vladu wrapped his cold undead fingers around Sipe’s throat and lifted him into the air.
“And now underling- you shall pay for your insolence, now I shall remove your pitiful existence from this world-” Vasille Stopped in mid sentence. He cocked his head to one side, somewhat puzzled. Sipe’s black and reddened lips slowly spread into a sly smile and he began to cackle incessantly as though he had completely taken leave of his senses. Suddenly Vasille Vladu could feel the discomfort growing inside of him.
“And what are you to do with me Vasille Vladu? Kill me? Have not you and Nastasia already taken any resemblance to what I once had to any normal life? Have you not already killed me? Made me into the animal that I have become? Go on then Vampire God! Finish what you have started!” Sipe spat in his face.
It was all he needed to make Vasille loosen his grip ever so slightly, and suddenly Sipe lurched forward clawing and biting with every ounce of anger and venom he possessed, with all his strength- finally sinking his teeth into Vasille’s shoulder causing him great pain and even more anger. He slammed Sipe’s body down onto the cold marble floor and began to beat on him even more relentlessly than before, and still Sipe’s insane cackling caused him to stop. The temperature seemed to drop drastically as Vasille slowly began to scan the dark room cautiously. He was getting stronger with each passing night but still wasn’t at full strength, and most certainly not ready for what he knew was coming for him.
Sipe’s laughter slowly subsided as he began to make pathetic gurgling sounds in between sentences, the blood spraying from his lips with every word.
“Can you feel that Vasille? Heeeessss Coming forrrrr yoooou!! Hehehehehehehehehe-- HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!“
He stood abruptly and walked to the window. No. He wasn’t ready yet. Another time Chapel another time.
He pushed the double glass door open and left the cackling Sipe behind him.
He didn't have to see him to know that he was there, it was obvious that there was another of his kind present, but it wasn't Vasille Vladu, a much smaller male, the same one that killed Marie Clavette. He was curled up in a ball in the corner, almost in a fetal position. He sat up abruptly when Chapel approached. The moonlight came through the window and he could see his red eyes. The sly smile reappeared across his black lips. He began to giggle.
“Well, well, we meet again, Chapel is it? Well Chapel- you missed the party. Sad to say, king Vladu left early. I think he’s afraid of what you’ll do to him. What you’ve already done to him at least once or twice before I suspect. Ay Chapel?”
He didn’t answer, he stood in front of the door where moments ago Vasille had beat his hasty retreat. His arms were both calmly folded behind him. Sipe knew right then that this one wouldn’t be so easily unsettled by his implied insanity.
“You two have a history do you?”
Chapel didn’t answer. Sipe slowly began to piece together the startling revelation.
“Hmmmmm. Related perhaps?”
Sipe staggered to his feet, slowly trying to move in behind Chapel.
“Ahhhhhh. He made you didn't he?”
Chapels hand grabbed his throat choking his words off. Mmmmmmm. This one was much stronger- now he understood why Vasille had chosen to wait. He turn his head now looking him square in the eyes.. Any previous hint of humor had now left Sipe’s face.
And then as suddenly as he grabbed him, he let go, letting the small vampire fall to the cold marble floor gasping for breath. He stepped around him walking out onto the balcony, Sipe once again struggled to his feet. He slowly reached a finger out to touch him but pulled back at the last second.
“Soooo. What then? You gotta score to settle have you?”
Chapel’s dark eyes cast him a cold sideways glance.
“What Vasille Vladu and I are to each other is of no concern to you- insect. What you need concern yourself with at the moment is what I should do with You.” He turned to face Sipe.
“Ohhhh yeah. I killed your girl. Didn’t I? well you DID kill mine first.”
Chapel turned to face him fully, slowly walking towards him, when the distant howls of a pack of dogs stopped him. He turned once again to face the balcony. it appeared as though he wasn’t the only one who hunted Vasille Vladu this night. Sipe crawled up behind him, looking up first at Chapel and then to the sounds of the howling dogs.
“Hmmm. Appears as though Vasille is causing a bit of a fuss out there, aye Chapel?” He giggled.
He didn’t answer. he listened quietly as the sounds of angry men and animals echoed throughout the cold dark French countryside. He ignored Sipe’s incessant rambling until finally he turned to look down at him. He slowly backed him into the corner.
“I will deal with you at a time of my choosing insect, this night I have more pressing matters that require my attention.” He said.
He left Sipe cowering in the corner to ponder his pending fate and began to follow the sounds of howling and shouts of angry men hidden deep within the darkness, knowing full well that when he came close enough to Vasille Vladu he would simply be able to feel it. he stepped out from behind the tall farm house to listen to the direction of the hunting pack. he knew that Vasille Vladu would be in the opposite direction, there he would find him in the woods. He pressed on farther and farther, deeper into the trees. Letting Vasille’s own presence guide him to his location, until finally behind him the howling seemed to be fading in the distance, he stepped into the clearing and there standing all alone amongst the remnants of bomb damaged house’s was a single structure which looked like a two story barn. he could feel him even stronger now, Vasille Vladu was closer than ever before. he stepped into the large opening and closed his eyes. he was above him.
“I didn’t want to believe that you were strong enough to find me so quickly.”
He could hear Vasille Vladu’s cold voice softly echoing through the structure. but offered no response.
“You have come for a reckoning then have you?” Vasille was stalling.
Again Chapel offered no response.
“You still carry around with you memories of the past as do I, you can not forget or forgive what I have done to you, nor can I forgive what you have done to me.. So here we are Chapel. So? what are we to do now?”
He could feel Chapels anger rising slowly. he moved down towards the floor inching his way closer until finally stepping out into the moonlight that shone down through the doorway. he could see Chapels eyes. cold. dark. Piercing. and very angry.
“Hello brother.” Vasille said.
Chapel slowly moved forward.
“Your treachery on this earth ends tonight Vasille. this time. for good.”
Romania, December 25th, 1590.
He hadn’t even removed the bastard sword from his waist when he’d first heard her call out his name. his eyes focused on the rooms upstairs. “Vasille” it had to be him, and he had returned to feed on his mother. He could feel his lungs burning inside of his chest, he was running- almost frantically up the stone stairwell that wound its way up through the two story house. He could clearly hear the echoes of his mother’s screams as they reverberated throughout the walls, he almost jumped through the air throwing himself against the heavy wooden door, and as it burst open, he could see her lying on the floor, still, his half brother Vasille crouched over her, his eyes seemed almost inhuman as he turned to face Chapel.
He was smiling, his mothers fresh blood running down his crimson lips and onto his chin. he was laughing under his breath.
“Your mother was delicious Brother.” He laughed wickedly.
“Vasille! you monster! what have you done?”
He slowly rose to his feet his eyes never leaving his half brother Nicolae. He stared in shocked disbelief down at the now dead body of his mother.
“So. It would appear as though you now have a decision to make brother. In a short time she’ll turn, she will become like me, so you have to kill her or kill me, but you have to do it now, choose one but you can’t kill us both.” Vasille laughed.
Chapel stared down at her body briefly and then back up at Vasille Vladu. Slowly moving forward, retrieving a hammer and wooden stake from the night table. Now his eyes were completely focused on Vasille. Who had fully turned to face him.
“As you can see- brother, I have been expecting your return, but even I never suspected you cowardly enough to attack my mother, so I guess I’ll have to kill you first.” He growled at Vasille.
But rather than face his angered brother, he swiftly bolted out the two glass double doors and over the side of the balcony and out into the cold dark Romanian night.
“Ne vom intalni din nou…. Brother.” He said almost under his breath.
He bent down and cradled his mother’s body in his arms and rose to his feet. His half brother had officially become a monster, and had to be stopped before others were to be left dead in his wake. He carried her down stairs where he almost gently laid her body on a table, he pointed the wooden stake over her heart- his eyes tearing up now rolled skyward.
“God.. Forgive me.”
He hammered the stake deep into her chest. He stood over her for a time, before placing a second wooden stake in his inside coat pocket and then returning to the entrance to the house.
He walked across the wooden floor spilling the oil lamps fuel as he went, stepping out of the door as he lit it and pausing to watch the flames spread and then climb the sides of the walls. Within minutes the entire structured had become engulfed in the sea of fire, knowing in his heart that he would never return here and knowing fully well what he now had to do. He walked into the woods almost in a daze, and reached the edge of the lake before he realized that he was being followed, she stepped through the tree’s and stopped at the edge of the woods. He drew in a deep breath before turning to face her. He knew without looking- that it was the female that had turned Vasille into the monster that he had now had become. Her name was Afina, she was beautiful, or at least that was the illusion, long black hair, beautiful face, perfect body, but in reality all she was to Chapel was just another monster.
And yet there was something in the back of his mind was taunting him, “To catch a monster, you must be willing to become one.”
“I have been watching you.” she said.
“I know you have.”
“So sad about your- mother. So sad.”
To Afina’s surprise, he refused to back away when she approached him, even more strangely, he seemed almost willing to allow her to feed on him, she drew closer, young Chapel refused to move, Even when her canines bared. He exposed his throat to her, allowing her to bite him. His knees buckled but he refused to fall, instead pulling her in closer gritting his teeth as she fed, She didn't know why, and once she started she didn't care. That is until she tried to pull away after she felt the curious tingle in her chest.
When she saw him thrust the wooden stake into her heart fully they both staggered backwards and fell to the ground. He struggled to his feet and slowly began to circle her, remembering the bastard sword that he had never removed from his waist. He slowly pulled it from his its scabbard remembering his mothers screams, the demonic- unfamiliar look of blood lust in his half brothers eyes. Knew that he himself would soon become one of them. But unlike them- vowing before the god above, that he wouldn’t allow the devilish desires to consume him, though undead he would become, he vowed too, that he would never stop until he had come face to face once again with Vasille Vladu and purged his existence from the earth.
He raised the blade of the sword up above her neck and with a smooth long stroke he removed her head. He drove a long wooden spike into the ground near the water, and impaled her head onto it clearly in view of where he knew Vasille would find it. He had always been drawn here to this place since they were children, he had always loved this lake so, and even though the water posed a serious danger to Vasille now, Chapel knew that eventually he wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to return to this place and he would find Afina’s remains and the message he would leave for him.
“We will meet again…. Brother.”
He removed a white handkerchief from his pocket and tied it around his neck. Now he would return to the woods and wait for the inevitable. She had taken more than enough to turn him.
December 29th, 1944.
He had hunted him through three whole centuries and into a forth, and while he had come close to causing the extinction of Vasille Vladu on several occasions, he had never quite gotten just the right opportunity to rid the world of his brother’s curse until now. Now though- there they were face to face, three hundred and fifty four years after the fact. The murderer of his mother, the man, the monster that he had hunted for so long now stood before him. This time he would ensure that there would be no resurrection. He silently circled him never speaking a word. And when he smelled the slightest hint of fear he knew that he finally had him.
“Still you cling to the remnants of a long dead past. Still you thirst for revenge for your mother. Still you long for my demise. But what of those you took from me through these many years Nicolae? Are they not worthy of my revenge on you? For me it isn’t. personal.”
Chapel said nothing as he continued slowly circling him, Vasille Vladu moved until his back was against the wall and he could retreat no further. He squinted and bared his canines and made a hissing sound, but Chapel remained unmoved. Until without warning he brutally attacked him with all of the venom and anger he could muster. Vasille would try to defend himself but quickly realized that he had been away for too many years and it was only a matter of time. Battered and weak he lay in a pile of hay as Chapel removed the kerosene lantern from the support post in the middle of the barn and began to pour the liquid from it. His eyes never left Vasille Vladu as he lit the match and tossed it into the hay - almost instantly the fire consumed him.. His screams echoed through the night air as Chapel watched in silent indifference as the building burnt to the ground with him inside it. This time there would be no resurrection.
He watched from the distance as people came to try to contain the blaze, and when he could no longer feel his brothers presence he knew that finally he was gone. But there was soon a new feeling around him, somewhere close. A feeling of loss, of hopelessness, of anger and resentment. He recognized them as feelings that he too at least at one time had felt though the years. He turned to look through the dark woods, there at the very edge of his perception was the presence. And through the cold night air he could hear Sipe’s voice coming through the tree’s as though it were riding the wind.
“Nice fire Chapel. Is he gone then?”
He turned to look back at the waning light from the flames. He stared for a moment. Before slowly nodding to the affirmative.
He stared silently down into the fire now barely visible, the voices of those that had been fighting it, screaming at each other through the darkness.
“Finally.” He muttered.
“And what of the others like us?”
“Others?”
“Well. There are others like us out there in the cold cruel world. Isn’t there Chapel?”
“More than a few I’ve heard.”
“So what’s it like then? Never knowing the sun, always hiding, running from the world, just beyond the shadows. It won’t be much of a life that I have ahead of me will it? I mean I only ask you because you‘re the obvious expert.”
Chapel turned to face the cold voice pondering the question.
“Do not confuse what you have with a life. You’re life was never yours in the first place. You just never realized it, no one ever does.”
~Scratch.. A.B.T. Copyright © 2010~
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