Chapter TWENTY NINE
Harrow
As the rose pinks and oranges on the sunset were burning in the sky I sat there in shame. Six dead bodies laid scattered around me. Each was guilty of some kind of sin, but none of them deserved this fate. I fed upon them uncontrollably like they were grade A rump roast and I was starving. They tasted better than any steak I could ever remember having. Tender, juicy, and flavorful right to the last morsel. It was never the act of feeding that haunted me as the blood lust was always stronger than my control. It was always the time after that broke my spirit. The time when those blank stares seemed to be always following me as if each one was judging me. I stole their lives. Their futures. Not because I had to as I would have lived and healed regardless of their sacrifice, but I needed to heal quickly to be prepared for the upcoming battle. Man against beast and in this story, the beast always wins. I wasn't the only monster, so time would tell which of two evils was left standing.
My phone rang and as I looked down I saw Mike's name flashing. I didn't expect him to text me so soon after our encounter last night. He witnessed my journey into darkness as I lived and had enough vampire blood inside him that he could beat a manwith a single punch. Like any other drug, soon enough the affects would wear off and he would want to sleep for a week. It was always the way of it. You’re a rock star as long as it flows through your veins and then the next thing you know, you’re on your ass and there's that little part of you that always craves just a drop more. I opened my phone and saw his message. "Jenny's at the abandoned factory on Riverside."
It made sense that The King would own a place like that. It had a dark history, or at least legend claimed it did. A fire that took twelve lives in the early 90s and a serial killer that took up shop in it a little later, but that was just history. The real fun and games that the world would remember would be the day that they discovered the whole Carminati family dead. They would think it was some kind of crime war, but it was better for them to think that than know the truth.
"It looks like I’m going out to a party."
Clapping her hands, Mihaela was almost dancing.
"Oh daddy, what kind of party? Can I come please, Daddy? Can I?" There was madness in her eyes as she smiled and licked her lips. She always played the helpless maiden when in reality she was one of the most ruthless killers that I had ever met. Sexy, charming, and when she wanted to she could look quite innocent. She was the perfect killing machine. Asking me was to make me feel powerful even though she was coming with me if I wanted her to or not. After all, she was my creator and in reality I was her servant.
"Of course, kitten. There is going to be a feast there tonight."
She was acting like a giddy schoolgirl.
"I can't wait, Daddy! Will they have young, fresh blood?” It always amazed me how the excitement of a good hunt made her return to a childlike state. "What are the rules, Daddy?"
We always had our rules, the same as her creator had his own set. They were more or less tried and true ways of living and feeding that made us look natural or at least, not supernatural. It was how our kind survived the ages and still to this day remain to be seen as nothing more them legend and myth.
“We leave none of them alive, kitten. Every gangster in the place must die so this can be over once and for all.”
”I am so excited! All evil, daddy?”
I placed my hands on her shoulders, pulling her closer so I could kiss her forehead.
“I said gangsters, kitten. You mustn’t go head to head with Renaud. He isn’t like anything that we have encountered before.” She pulled away slightly and puckered her lips as something ran through her mind. She grinned and went to say something, but I cut in before she had a chance to say anything. Grabbing her shoulders a little harder, I gave her my best serious look, “I am serious, if Renaud shows up you stay out of his way. Today he almost destroyed you. He backed off, but could have done so much more damage. He saw me and for just a second he was that little kid and always protected me and walked away. Tonight, that little sentimental brat might not come to life and save you.”
“Oh Daddy, you’re so adorable. He is your brother and he loves you. He saved you from my master and even from your destiny. Why would he kill you now?”
That was probably a question that, despite knowing the outcome, it was the reason still that eluded me. Renaud made a great sacrifice, there was no denying that but people just don’t come back and when they do, shit happens.
“Kitten, if he attacks you run.”
“Then you must run too, Daddy. What kind of kitten would I be if I lost my Daddy?”
It didn't take long for the darkness to come. It was a certainty in an uncertain world. We made our way down the narrow corridor towards the lair. The living get homes and the dead find lairs. Some might think it's just semantics, but it was the reality of life. A home is where a person lives and loves, where cherished memories are built and laughter is shared like dreams between lovers. I get a lair that exists only as long as the world believes I am nothing more than fairytale.
I showered and felt civilized again. There is nothing like a fine Italian suit and the feel of a soft silky shirt on your skin. It always reminded me of crawling into my mother’s bed on a stormy night when I was a child. I always felt so safe and secure when I crawled in beside her and snuggled in so close that I could feel the warmth left behind in the silky sheets.
There was always the one part of my routine that I still struggled with. It was my reflection. There was something alarming about looking into a mirror expecting to see my sparkling eyes and brilliant smile, but the only thing I’d find was a fancy blue suit and a lot of missing parts. I always walked away feeling like just a little piece of me was lost. That at some point I would forget what my face looked like and then I would lose myself. If I hadn’t already lost myself.
"You always look so sad when you stare into that thing. It's times like this Daddy when I wonder if saving you from your demons was a gift or a curse."
It was days like this that made me wonder the same thing. Did she save my soul the day she changed me or did she just gift me a new form of damnation? It was still a two-sided coin that always seemed to hand on heads, which wasn't as lucky as I thought it was.
"Kitten, you gave me the gift of eternal life. What gift is greater?"
She stepped closer and kissed me, "I hope that love is the greatest gift, Daddy. Eternal and never-ending love." Running her fingers along my face, she whispered, "The day I turned you it wasn't just to save your life, it was it was to save my heart."
Times like this made me remember what originally attracted me to her. Why I was willing to risk so much just to be with her. Even my brother’s soul. Now he was back and I wondered if he even had one. We were twins, it was just the stains of evil inside us had changed us on the inside.
"You are my soulmate, Kitten. Good or bad, we are certainly soul mates."
"Why don't we change them?" Mihaela had a thoughtful look on her face. Usually that look appeared when she had something sneaky on her mind. Something sinister. She wasn’t exactly an evil beast, just mischievous one. Too devilish for my liking, at times. She had a savageness about her that frightened even me sometimes.
“Change the gangsters? Are you kidding?”
Giggling she walked away.
“No, silly. I meant Jade and her mother.” Turning, she put her hands together, “Just think of it, Daddy. If they are no longer alive nobody can hurt them. They will no longer be weak.” That was how she saw herself in her previous life, so that was how she saw humanity. In her eyes, being human was like being a rose. It meant being weaker than the weeds that surrounded it and the limited time a rose had to bloom before the petals fell off was the human lifespan. Too short and delicate to truly be appreciated.
"No, I won't subject them to this life," I said as I stared into the soulless mirror. Laughing, I added "Besides, I can't image Jenny living a century
or two without being able to see her reflection. It would be the worst hell imaginable to her." It wasn't exactly the worst hell I could imagine, but then again I knew a lot more of the intricate details about the place then most people do.
"Is our life so bad? The immortality, superior strength and power, and the unnatural charm that gives us power over everyone we meet?"
"Oh Kitten, I didn't mean my existence a horrible thing, nor do I hate it. Like you, I had no choice in it but why should we force our life on them if they had another choice. Let's destroy our enemies and get back to our life. Maybe it's time we start exploring greener pastures. Visit our kind’s homeland and see if we can start a new, simpler life where family and all its complications aren’t always distracting us from each other."
Rolling her eyes, she snorted, "You mean once your brother and Jade are dealt with?"
"Yes, once the Renaud and Jade situations have been dealt with."
"No silly, I meant the other brother. You and him might have been enemies, but you’re brothers and he was murdered as sure as the fact blood will flow tonight." I hadn’t allowed myself to think of Nathanial’s death as an unsolved murder in sometime.
It didn’t take long for us to find the factory. It was the old power building that had stood here for over 100 years. It was a four-story fortress that not only stood the test of time, but had endured everything Mother Nature could throw at it. The windows had been shattered by teenagers and their stones. Those that has escaped their attack had been scarred by graffiti. It was certainly artistic, with one image being of a man with a long tongue surrounded by neon blue stars and purple-pink lines cutting through it. The image had started to fade and peel due to cold winter winds and endless hot humid days had stolen the bright flashy colors, but not the natural beauty.
Vines covered the front of the building, climbing from the foundation all the way to the roof like a giant hand that was trying to squeeze the life out of the. If one took the time to look they could still see the craftsmanship that went into the white frames around each window and the brickwork that protected it. Standing there, the building looked immense and strong and the closer I came to it the more intimidating it was. It was the way the moonlight sent shadows crawling across the vines like ghouls guarding the very gates of Hell. The haunting look of the place would quail even the bravest hearts.
Three older-model sedans were parked at the side, hidden behind the jungle of brush that stood firmly like a wall protecting them from the outside world. Most people zoomed past it, seeing more of an eyesore then the architectural wonder that it was. Most people allowed their vision to be distorted by the eerie aftereffect that time had painted on it instead ofseeing the strength that started from the foundation and carried on to the roof.
I walked around the corner and saw the rusted numbers 325 hanging over the doors. In its past glory these doors would have allowed any number of goods and products to be brought in and out of the building. This isn't just limited to honest goods and services, but during prohibition countless barrels of rum and moonshine were sent across the river from this very building. My family was right smack dab in the middle of it.
"I should have known that you would be right in the middle of this. Even in death I see you are the ultimate bad boy, Harrow."
Turning, I saw Murlin standing behind us with her arms crossed and based on the leather jacket with padded shoulders and elbows she was wearing, she was prepared for battle.
"It looks like Renaud's pet put on her big girl pants and is now ready to run with the pack." Mihaela didn't even try to hide her hatred for her. She said they were sworn blood enemies from the earliest of days, or something like that. Historically, for every monster that lurks in the shadows there is an even scarier creature hunting it. No matter how tough you think you are, there was always someone tougher just around the corner. "Did he send you here to fetch Jenny for him?"
Murlin walked closer and looked her in the eyes.
"Nobody sends me to fetch anyone. Mike told me that he heard Renaud was brought here when they kidnapped him, so I came to rescue him."
"Renaud needs rescuing?" I couldn't believe it. He was one of the most powerful wizards on the continent, or at least he was before they dragged him to Hell. It seemed impossible that there was anything the King could throw at him that he couldn't destroy with a mere word. Me included.
"Yes, even the all-powerful Renaud needs to be saved every now and then." Smiling, she added, "I wouldn't get in his way though. He is a little squeamish about killing mortal men, but he has no problem destroying immortals I’m sure." It always seemed ironic that we called ourselves immortals, but like the gods of old who died they were no longer more than myth and never truly forgotten my kind can easily die as well, if you knew how to kill us. Unfortunately, Murlin knew a hundred ways to kill us and I was certain that Renaud had picked up a few hundred more during his time being tortured.
Mihaela looked both amused and terrified at the same time.
"Why don't you go back and play with a ball of string and let the adults do what they need to. We don't want to have to babysit you."
"Don't worry about me, bloodsucker. I won't get in your way, just don't get in mine. You save the whore and let me save my master."
I didn't want to get in the middle of their pissing match. One I owed my life to, but the other I owed everything too. She helped raise me like a mother. She tutored me in magic, nurtured me, and tried to teach me wrong from right, but it never stuck. You can't blame the teacher if the student doesn't care to learn.
"Let's just put our age-old battle aside for the time being and get on with the rescue."
Murlin seemed amused as she turned, "Our age-old battle?"
The air felt stagnant as I forced it open shattering them right in the center as the metal broke free from inside it. They sealed it and had forgotten that it existed until now. A loud crackle burst through the air and I felt the sting as if something dug out my eyes. Like a wild explosion of rain, my blood splattered and a spray filled the air. I fell back, hitting the ground pain began to take over. There wasn't a man with a gun inside waiting. Certainly, I would have smelt him or heard a heartbeat if there was. No, this was a trap and I had stepped right into it.