A Vampire Story Chapter 2 (373 hits)
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Submitted by Mike Hawk <thepoet03.at.gmail.com> (View user info) at 2005-10-20 15:08:56 EDT
Info and Chapter 1 can be found at: http://www.ubersite.com/m/77355
Chapter II
The Voyage
In every persons life there are journeys. With every journey there comes a beginning, middle, and an end. This is the natural order of things. While the rules can vary the end while maybe placed at the start will always be just that. The end placed at the start and whether the start is at the end or middle is really irrelevant. None of these things really matter it's the journey itself that really matters.
~
The two-week journey from his home to the farthest town west where the coast met houses half way down the beach had utterly expired all of the life in him. He fed without care not fully understanding the events of the last month of his after life but not fully caring to understand them as well. For whatever reason He was no longer human and he couldn't be satisfied with mortal things so he was surviving off pure instinct.
A baby lamb nursed into a world of savages is forced to become a savage or be hunted out like a black sheep from the flock. His wife, his kingdom, his life was stolen from him and what of these did he value the most? The day his wife died was still a blur to him he awoke in his brothers keep, now his. It was the dead of the night and when he sought council there were nothing but chamber maidens, so stricken with fear no doubt from what they had heard he had done that they sank into the shadows when ever he approached.
No one ever told him how he had escaped or killed his brother. All he ever found out was that his wife had tried to kill his brother and upon failing was killed herself. You might be able to imagine the bitter feelings of knowing your wife died but you were left alive and now a king with no one to share the glory of a kingdom. It didn't matter too much seeing as he couldn't rule his kingdom anyways. It was good that he had escaped perhaps he was meant to leave and find a new way of life. Perhaps it was destiny that would lead him across the oceans to a land filled with the promise of freedom.
The last two weeks he dwelled in his lands were chaotic to say the least. Two weeks of people sulking about afraid to even speak. He came to the conclusion that the devil had to be to blame. Coming into his house and scaring them. Maybe they thought the devil lived inside of him. After what he did that day he left he sort of would have believed it too. He only felt whole after a killer it was within him now. He had heard of such things from old tales of eras gone by. A walking Devil, none exist thought he and he might have been right.
This town He had finally come too was very rich in every manner of the word. The nightlife there was amazing. Gambling, prostitution, and murder happened on an hourly basis. Every type of person from every walk of life had congregated at this hub of the world seeking wealth beauty or freedom. Ships left everyday to the new world where rumors of a life unlike anything anyone here had ever seen spread. People on returning ships all appeared to be so very very rich. This excited everyone even more. Roma figured it was because if you were not rich you would not be able to come back. You were to be trapped on the other end of the world without anyway of getting home because people were literally giving up everything to go.
One man tried to sell Roma his pants for the last bit he needed to set off that day. Roma decided to buy those man's pants. Let the mortals' dream of happy things whilst alive it's the only way to live before you die. Speaking of dying Roma had quite a fright when trying to find the second course for his meal before he found accommodations before his trip. His victim was fully aware he was being attack Roma hadn't gotten down how to keep them from fighting too much quite yet. He knew his powers of persuasions grew stronger the longer he was alive and eating well. He talked a woman out of her ticket for the pair of pants he had gotten off the man. All he did was convince her they were the pants of some famous person he had overheard her swooning about with her friends at a bar. Maybe she just believed him because she was drunk.
This man thou that was aware that he was being attacked stabbed Roma and the sword went right threw him. This really pissed the hell out of Roma He loved this outfit and this man had put a hole right threw it. A black almost tar like substance ran out onto the blade and Roma pushed forward into the blade the mans hand still grasping it but shaking in fear as Roma advanced and the black tar ran over his hand still clutching the handle. Roma sank his fangs in deep and fast and the black substance began to run maroon at first and then slowly redder.
When Roma had completely drained him he grabbed hold of the blade and pulled it out of his belly. It made a loud sickening sucking noise and the out come was nice thin hole threw Roma but to his amazement blood began to fill the hole and then skin formed and it was gone and he was whole again. To say the least this experience was a little strange and confusing to Roma. It was the first taste he truly had of immortality and what was happening to him. A sword threw the stomach was not without its drawbacks. Firstly, he had to feed again he felt completely drained by the whole experience and he was to find escaping death required a lot of energy. Secondly, it was damn near impossible to find a tailor at three in the morning.
It was a well known fact that most artisans had to live in the place they worked because they made very little money. It was also a well-known fact that most artisans would never turn down work if you could wake them because they made very little work. So there he was banging and banging on a stitches shop door, begging for the man to wake up to mend his torn shirt and vest. Twenty-five minuets of banging awoke enough angry people to create enough noise to get the stitch master to awaken and come down for his customer.
"What in the hell do you want at this hour boy?" Said the crusty old man is a raspy half away voice. He was in what appeared to be cheep woven cloth best suited for nothing other than sleepwear. He had a thin line of sleep in the upper parts of each eye. He wore glasses which after he asked his question he removed to wipe the grim of the left spectacle. He was short and stocky with big round arm and big round legs. His head was excessively small in peroration to his body and Roma thought it made him look a bit funny.
He held in his laughter and said in a most serious manner, " I was stepping out of a carriage and my garments got caught and ripped I have a very important matter to attend to in a few hours I was up all night traveling to be here and I must look my best for my affairs this day. Any later finding a tailor and I'm afraid I would be late for my businesses and that can not stand." The stocky man gave him the once over and said, "How did you tear a hole like that getting out of a carriage? It looks as thou you were attacked and stabbed at."
"Listen here good sir It doesn't matter how my cloths got in the shape that their in so much as to weather or not you can mend them up. So I'll ask you this but once can you mend my garments and in a timely fashion or must I be on my way to bang at another tailors door who will?"
"I sir... I see your point well I do," You could see the fear that Roma had instilled in this mans eyes. "I will mend them and I will mend them quick so you may be on your way. Please step inside my humble shop and remove them for a time so that I fix them."
"Good then" Simply put with that Roma stepped into the tailors shop followed quickly by the stocky tailor who rushed about lighting lamps to better lighten the working space. Roma began to remove his garments. He finished disrobing just as the tailor finished getting ready to set to work. Roma tossed them towards the tailor who fumbling a little caught them and went right to his station and started working.
Roma then turned his eyes to this tailors abode. It was cozy really small you could tell he was poor and with no wife or children. The room he stood in now was most clearly just a work area but there was a bookshelf and a chair on the west side of the room. The door he had entered in was in the south and to the east was a wall that ran around and enclosed the kitchen away from the rest of the room. To the north was a stairwell that ran up five steps till it turned west no doubt going up more till the second floor.
Most of the time these types of set ups have hardly more than a bedroom, bathroom, and a storage area. Really, what more did man need than a roof to sleep under, food to eat, a place to clean up, and a way to dispose of their shit? Man was nothing other an animal that could use tools to fashion himself thing to survive and if feeling extra frivolous things to make him happy. This was an emotion lost sometimes but quickly gained again from even the most mundane.
This tailor was quick and Roma was surprised and pleased. It took less than a quarter hour for his garments to be mended to a fashion very close too new. Roma had stood at watched him work amazed the speed at which he worked using both hands and his teeth at an extra holder. Stitch in stitch out. Flip, tuck, and spin, in and out up and over.
When the work was finished, he stood rushed over to Roma and handed him back his garments. "Please be more careful if you come knocking at my door it will take hell to bring me down. I enjoy sleeping like any normal person." Roma eyed him and thought. Pitiful human has no idea I would use hell to wake him if I needed it.
"I would hope that the simple drive of gold could bring you down, I pay well for services not lips and cocky attitudes." With that he grabbed a little purse from his belt strap open it up and said, "What is your typical going rate for this service?"
'I typically charge three pence for it but he doesn't know this it being late I should charge more for my services anyways.' The thoughts poured forth and Roma sucked them out of cracks of the universe. "Five pence is the going rate for midnight services."
"Dear Sir, I would have given you more if you would have been reasonable but for your greed I'll only give you ten pence for your troubles and ask that you think more carefully when dealings and trying to better the situation." With that Roma dropped ten pence's onto the table took a final look around and turned to the door and left.
By the time the tales of the plague reached the port town Roma had departed on his journey. Something in the back of the tailors mind twanged and he felt a little luckier not really knowing he had pissed off Roma and survived and that was a rare thing indeed.
The sun rose, fifteen minuets after Roma had finally departed the tailor's home. It didn't matter much Roma was tucked safely away in less than five. Tomorrow night he would be leaving this land, He wasn't sad as so many often become before leaving all they have ever known. The land was alive and it wanted to swallow him alive with all it's anger and fury. He wasn't running but it felt like it. He wasn't afraid of the people he could have killed the whole lot of them but he wanted to live in peace. Just like any human, any creature tries to do.
~
Tonight was the night he must leave, as the town grew restless so was Roma. He didn't sleep that day rather he just laid in darkness till night fell and he could make his way towards the docks. The air was stiff and ridged much like Roma's bones. He was very tired but he had to push past things like this.
The docks were filled with many ships of many sizes but only one of them would be leaving the harbor this night on its way to a land of golden promises. He stood awhile on a pier reflecting on past events as gentle waves lapped up and down the beach for countless miles. The sea was calm tonight and the moon was like a great pearly eye watching over the current events.
The ship due to leave a quarter till midnight was in its last stages of preparation. The crew was loading the last bits of food and other safety materials. Passengers were finally being allowed to board and this was Roma's chance. He couldn't risk just walking up the steps no he walked slowly back down to the docks and stood near the bow of the ship. He put hands on the railings behind him and waited for a last few peasants to make their way past him.
He quickly stood and leapt onto the railings and then to the edge of boat. He spun himself upwards and landed softer than a feather upon the deck. He stood up tall and adjusted himself a little. He had taken no more than two steps before a voice boomed out.
"Hey! You there! Passengers aren't allowed above deck yet! Get over here and down bellow."
Damn making a ruckus, already he thought but it could have been far worse. At least he didn't question how he had gotten over there when people are guarding that area. Hell, he could have just asked for his ticket and it would have been right back down to the docks. He walked quickly but silently over to the swaby.
"Yeah that's right down below." The deckhand quickly pushed him back into line as the last peasants made their way onto the ship. Roma had to practice enormous amounts of restraint to not snap on this pest of a man. For the time Roma had to pretend to know his place and let the man think he had his. He would be dining on him soon enough best not to think of such a trifle affair.
~
The oak swelled with all the water it took on day in and day out Roma couldn't sleep he stared blankly across the deck watching the various crew members perform or go about various functions and or duties. Men are so robotic sometimes and so completely Chaotic at others it might never cease to amaze him.
The stars were very few and sparse in the night sky. Clouds covered most of the sky and made the horizon distant and hazy with a thin fog like the early morning feel on your eyes. The air hung hot and heaving with cold sweat and a stench of vomit half the passengers had taken ill with the worse case of seasickness. It all wavered stale in the air intoxicating and nauseating. Roma took a deep breath.
The trip had been mostly boring and today might have been the highlight when someone whom had a few too many drinks to drown out the boredom with the fun activity of blacking out almost literally did drown it out when he fell over board.
Some poor guy jumped off to save him oh well Roma thought guess it was his lucky day. But then again for a mortal any day you don't die is lucky. He stopped to wonder if they ever thought of it that way. There are of course things far worse than death they had to know that old cliché. There was no escaping the inevitable for a mortal when your time was up you went up or down if you believed all that shit. No, things like destiny can't save you from your funeral.
Roma was a long-term believer that some people were better off in gardens pushing up the flowers helping good old mother earth giving back to the land. He was starting to enjoy his new lifestyle he started thinking that maybe the world is worth giving up. He hadn't been fond of it when he was alive why should now be any different. It is in ones nature to harbor sentiments for that which you can no longer have.
The man who gives up a lifetime of sex for a night of passion with a woman not of his own knows the myriad delight and has enough faith that the end will justify the means. Live a lifetime and have no stories to tell did you really live at all?
The ship maybe had 50 people on it small really half of it crew and the other half just helping pay the way to freedom. It was concept as old as slaves, and maybe even older still depending on your definition of slavery. Are men free or are we slaves? 'A slave; to what?' some might say, I am man I am free unless I am oppressed. Well ask a man if he is depressed about anything and he will often say yes. Depression is really just mans way of knowing that he's being oppressed by something it doesn't always have to be a person it could be a situation like a suicidal person is feeling oppressed by a life that he can't win at. If you can't win or escape you want to be free. Rid of the oppression and in that, right mortals are so very much oppressed.
Death sickness hunger taking a shit you can't escape these things. God given, God damned. Oppressed by what, life? Him then he thought he was oppressed too he couldn't die he could eat or fuck and he was a slave to the hunger that made him thirst for blood like a crazed wolf on a ship with sheep. Hunters would snipe him out. Nowhere to run in the middle of the ocean again oppressed with a lack of options except to hide and wait out a time where he could be a little freer life was a series of loosening and tightening of a chain around your neck. A noose if you will while you're standing on a chair it's kicked away but put back right before all turns to night it's day again with a gasping breath. It's a cruel funny joke; it's a piss poor excuse for torture.
Dark clouds had been circling high in the sky for over a week now. When they finally came together the stormed they brewed was a mighty violent one. Seven crew and three passengers had been lost in the quall. A fifth of the passengers now dead and a very low supply of rats effected Roma in heavy ways. One of these things probably affected him more than the other but both in a way important to his survival. It's Ironic that these people running to freedom were now dead. If they had just been satisfied they would still be alive.
~
They were a month into their journey now and while this might seem normal for those times this trip was only supposed to take three weeks. The cooks and Roma could tell this was bad for a multitude of reason most being the lack of supplies. Roma had the chance to chat with a few of the passengers about what they thought of the situation and most of them had a bleak outlook on things. One such passenger commented on the fact that if it weren't for those that died we would all be starving to death. Ten less people eating everyday for two weeks allowed for there to be food enough for the situation but not for too much longer
When the trip started there had been twenty-seven rats onboard this vessel. Eating one a day the rat population was now completely depleted and it had been three days since Roma had eaten. Vampires are fortunate they can go for a while fighting the hunger. Nevertheless, eventually they become violent and very much so not in control of what they do. You could liken it to a drug that turns man into a savage.
This typically happened to him after a week of no food but the onset was coming on much quicker cause his diet over the last month was hardly what he would call fulfilling. He was going mad with hunger and felt if he didn't figure out something by tonight then he might as walk on to the deck and say. "Here I am the vampire and I have come to suck your blood." He laughed a little but it really was no laughing matter if he didn't feed he might be found out in a moment of weakness and lack of self-control.
"Fill your stomach Roma you need to be strong for the events to come" that flighty voice said in a wispy way. "Feed, feed, feed..." the chaotic cant rang in his head. Heartbeat once, heart pounds twice the last cold drops of blackness ran out and he was empty. Madness started to take over hunger lust the blur of red streaming forth fresh.
He went to the lower deck where the poor people seeking freedom dwelt He went to the first room at the bottom of the steps and tried to open the door to his surprise it opened and he walked in a man laying in his little cot rose out of bed with a bewildered look hanging on his face.
"Can I help you sir?" His confusion was lost at Roma's advance no more words were spoken between them just the sweet melodic sound a heart pounding in full force with the fear of death. Slowing, the forcefully beating heart drained away. It was very slow and succulent and almost seductive. Roma did love this man he filled his very essence to the brim.
Above him on the deck the crew was in bit of a tizzy "Land Hoooooo," Screamed the watcher from up high in his station telescope now by his side. It was like a call to arms as the crew rushed about preparing things for docking. Then below with Roma's vampire ears he could he the pounding footsteps and knew instantly what was going on. He looked down at his man limp in his arms now just the shell of a man. He put the man back on his cot and covered him up. Then he cleaned up himself a little and straitening his cape and sucking the last drops from his finger after he wiped it from the side of his lips and then cleaning his teeth with tongue being careful as he let his graze the bottom of his fang to get the sweetest taste one can ever know.
He walked out of the room closing the door tightly behind him with any luck no one would discover the body till after they had docked and left. He could see it now some poor swab cleaning up would find this limp carcass. The look of horror would be so divine to bad he couldn't be there to see it. He had matters to attend to like establishing himself in this new world.
He made his way up the stairs and out onto the deck where most of the passengers had already gathered out on the deck to try and see land. He turned his eyes to there it was far out to sea a brown mass was emerging slowing growing as they approached sea eventually gave way to land and docks and the town became visible. There was a mighty cheer ringing in the air the happiness was welcome but also sickening.
The Captain of the ship had even made his was out onto the deck. His long hair extended much longer than the rim of his hat. He was a man of very high stature very noble and a strong presence. This was the kind of man Roma loved best they tasted so sweet it had to be a sin for such a pleasure. It was a little before dawn when the captain ordered the anchor to be dropped. The sun would be rising from the oceans deep blue depths soon.
This didn't leave Roma any time to find great accommodations. In fact as soon as the boat docked Roma was gone like a shadow into the last bits of darkness. His journey across the sea had come to an end. His home was in this harsh new land untamed. He wasn't the first to come here and he figured if these stupid humans could survive than so could he.
User Reviews
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2005-10-20 16:17:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
There's no way in hell I'm reading all that, but +2 for Mike Hawk
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