Finally!
I thought to myself, as I plunged into the warm, sweet embrace of death. Soon, after half a millennium in this wretched existence, my pain and torment would finally cease. No longer running from the hateful masses of angry people, longing for my demise. No longer hiding away in isolation from the sun’s burning light, threatening to set my body ablaze like hellfire. At long last, I would reunite with the family I left behind from my previous life. All those thoughts running through my skull, as I fell through the endless void between our world and the next. I was ready to be free.
As I waited for the darkness to fully consume me, my mind raced back to my excruciatingly eternal life and the pain inflicted onto me and to others. I remember being a man, born in Bristol, to a loving mother and father. The last descendant in a long family line, growing up in a blacksmith shop as an apprentice to my father, Jonathan. I remember meeting my wife, Leanna, when I was eighteen and she herself sixteen years. The jubilation upon my face when she informed me that she was carrying our child, our most precious treasure. I remember being called to the front lines of war, one which plagued our great nation for forty years. I remember the burning pain of the dagger, plunged through my abdomen as the hot blood spilled. I remember lying amongst my fallen comrades, slowly leaning toward the edge of death. But above all, I remember the unholy beast that cheated me of my destiny, transforming me into a diabolical abomination many called ‘vampire’.
My name is Blackfire, Edward Blackfire… This is my story.
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Still… Silent… I laid upon the ground, waiting for destiny long denied for over half a millennium. My thoughts race to what my fate would be, after everything that happened, the uncertainty of how my own story would end. On one hand, I could ascend through the golden gates of heaven, happily reunited with my family. On the other hand, I could burn forever in the deepest pits of hell, eternally engulfed by the flames, and tormented by Satan himself for all my sins. Either way it goes, at least I could breathe a sigh of relief that my suffering was finally over.
The sound of chirping birds drew my attention, as I open my eyes in preparation for my fate. My eyes burned a deep crimson red, like the life force that sustains me, as I as observed my surroundings. You can imagine my surprise, for I saw neither the blinding lights of heaven nor the fires of hell, but instead… I saw a forest. My body ached as I slowly sat up, staring before the foliage surrounding me. The leaves on the trees were a dark, grayish color like the burning ashes of smolder. The bark on the trees faired no differently, as dark as the leaves like they had been torched. But it was the lack of sunlight resonating in this forest which drew my attention first. The trees so thick in foliage they blocked the sun almost entirely, with only a few small beams barely breaking through. This was not what I expected to find in the afterlife.
Drawing upon my feet, I pondered where exactly I ended up. In the mortal world, I was nowhere near any forest when I ran from the mob. On that day, February 24th of the year 2020, six hundred and fifty years since my birth. No matter the expanse of time, there was always people who despise the undead and their first order of business is destruction. Which brings me here and now, wherever it is that ‘here’ might be, as I gazed toward the sky.
“Sometimes I wonder if you have ever existed. You wouldn’t cause this much pain and suffering upon me nor deny me my redemption.”
All my life, I believe in God, prayed for him to forgive my transgressions, and accept me into his kingdom. Nearly a millennium of immortality had passed and still nowhere close to heaven, I had all that time to question my own beliefs. Here I am with absolutely no idea where I am or even how I ended up here. Sighing to myself, I ran my hand through my short, spiked, jet-black hair. Looking down upon myself, I was still wearing the dark pants, boots, dress shirt, and trench coat, everything about my dark appearance spoke volumes of the evil residing within me.
A sharp, shooting pain resonated in my throat. To describe such pain is like cold, branding iron striking me like a mallet. I began to rub at my throat, trying to reduce the pain, but I knew exactly why this was happening. Two days passed since my last feeding, if I didn’t eat soon, I fear what I’ll become. I began to walk through the dark woods seeking to satisfy my incurable thirst, walking for what felt like an eternity through an endless array of trees and bushes. But the forest never seemed to end, as I found little success seeking sustenance. What difference would it make seeing how there was no way this was even possible? For all I knew, this is all but a dream meant to hold no point.
Suddenly, a loud snap penetrates my bat-like hearing. I quickly spun on my heels, searching the forest for a trace that seemingly wasn’t there or meant to be seen. My crimson eyes narrowed, focusing my sight tenfold. Perhaps I might not see whatever’s out there, but with the right focus I can damn sure sense the blood. And I knew… I knew it was hiding from me, watching me in one of the many bushes. A wicked smile made its way to my face, allowing my two elongated fangs to be seen. Ever so slowly, I crept toward the bushes but freezing momentarily so as not to alert whatever was within my presence. I leapt behind the brush, ready to strike, only to discover nothing there. I knew this wasn’t possible, my senses told me it was close.
Unless… It flew away.
Not even a second passed until I heard what sounded like a deep, guttural growling behind me. Slowly I turn till my eyes met a very large creature, the size of a small house, standing before me. The creature resembled a giant lion, but I could tell this was no ordinary beast. From its back protrude two large wings and its tail bared similarly to a giant scorpion tail.
The creature stares at me with golden feline eyes, sizing me up, no doubt wanting to eat me. A low chuckle escapes my lips, as I quickly shed my trench coat before assuming a fighting stance.
“Come and get me beastie.”
The creature charged at me with a mighty roar, as I raced towards the beast with my vampire speed, racing like a bullet in its direction. We slammed into each other, rolling along the forest floor, each of us attempting to claw or bite one another. Soon enough, the beast had me pinned to the ground roaring in my face as I felt the cold saliva crash on my cheeks, its foul breath coursing through my nostrils. Fortunately, my godlike strength saved me, easily shoving the beast aside and sent it hurtling toward a nearby tree. I jumped back to my feet, assuming a crouched position, waiting while the beast regained its composure. The beast charged again, only this time I was ready.
I leapt over the charging monster, grabbing ahold of its spiked tail midway. Utilizing my strength, I gave a mighty tug and ripped the tail right off. It gave a bloodcurdling roar of pain, as I dropped its tail to the ground waiting for retaliation. Blood flowed from the wound upon the creature’s backside, where it’s tail once reside, and this in turn insight further rage. It used its mighty wings to propel from the ground, flying at me with great speed. I had no time to evade the assault before it sunk its claws deep in my chest, swiping me clear across. Still I fought the urge to scream, as I held my now wounded chest. Hunger and anger fueled my body, growling as I slowly surrendered to my dark power. From the tips of my fingers, long, sharp claws sprout as my face morphed into a being more demon than human. Two large bat wings ripped through the back of my shirt, stretching out to a six-foot wingspan.
The beast has been unleashed.
Giving off a demonic shriek, I took off into the air pursuing the creature. It roared back at me, accepting my challenge, and flew towards me. Once again, our bodies crashed mid-air, as we swung our claws at one another, back-and-forth. It managed to land a handful, but I left my share of gashes upon its chest. Finally, having tired of toying with the creature, the urge to feed increasing, I wrapped my claws around the creature’s throat hurling it towards the ground. It slammed so hard into the Earth, a crater formed as the creature lied within the pit, struggling to move. I dove towards the creature, before sinking my fangs along the side of its neck. It gave a pained roar, struggling to push me off, unable to break my hold. Its warm blood poured down my throat, as life began to leave its eyes until the creature stopped moving entirely. Eventually, I pulled myself from the now deceased creature, assuming my original form. My face retained its calm demeanor, the claws recede into my fingers, and my wings dissolved into my skin. There I stood: Battle-worn and torn apparel, the creature’s blood coating my mouth, dripping from my fangs, and the red rain sliding from the top of my chest. And I was happy… Because my thirst was quenched.
I knelt alongside the dead creature, snarling at its wretched state.
“Never try to fuck with me.”
Late advice for a being already succumbed to death’s cold hands, but sound enough should its next life leave him wiser.
Regaining my full height, garbed into my trench coat, I left the deceased animal behind. I was only ten feet away when something stopped me, urging me to look back. This creature was powerful, fighting to the bitter end and leaving me to bear the scars I must attend to. I could only imagine how dangerous I could be with such a creature at my side. Smirking at the thought, I turned around and approached the fallen creature, my intentions clear. Using my vampiric abilities, I conjured a blue ball of magic aura and hurled it toward the creature. Upon impact, it explodes and surrounds the creature in blue strands of light. The creature floats off the ground, as the strands of blue shift in the air and set it down upon its feet. The creature’s eyes open again, as white as the first fresh fallen snow of winter. When the blue strands disappeared, the creature stood upon its feet again completely alive… Or rather, not entirely alive.
To disprove this common theory about vampires: When we seek to increase our numbers, we neither taint our victims with our fangs nor turn them after drinking their blood. The dark arts passed upon us allow us to turn the mightiest of beasts into slaves to our demands. Now the creature stood, staring at me with dead eyes and knelt before me as if bowing before its new master. Now a massive, deadly creature stood at my thrall, which made me smile in wicked satisfaction.
“You obey me now beast; you will do everything I say without hesitation.”
As I spoke, the creature crawled to me, laying upon my feet in submission. I couldn’t help but feel content, to have a creature submit to its new master.
“Now, find me a place where I may sleep.”
The creature assumed its full height, slightly larger than my own. With a low growl of understanding, it turned around and slowly walked through the forest. I followed close behind my new servant, as it lead me deep into the dense, dark wood. Twenty minutes passed before it stopped upon a clearing at the edge of the forest. My face hidden under my trench coat, keeping the sun away, my crimson eyes couldn’t believe what they beheld. Standing before me, across a deep cavern, stood a tall stone castle. The castle itself stood in disarray, falling apart at the seams. One thing was certain: This ancient structure was most certainly abandoned. An absolutely perfect dwelling for a vampire.
I turned toward my new companion, nodding with approval.
“You’ve done well for yourself, beast. This will make a fine lair.”
The creature bowed its head in gratitude, as we proceed towards the gigantic castle. Crossing the rickety bridge stretched across the gorge, we approached the entrance to the castle. With a mighty push, the large oak doors opened with a loud creak as we slowly stepped inside. As the door closed behind us, I able to get a better perspective on the layout of the castle’s interior. We stood in what I would assume to be the great hall, adorned by man torn tapestries and fallen debris. At the forefront of the hall, there appeared to be two old thrones with two torn tapestries looming above. One depicted a white horse with angel wings and a horn upon its head, while the other depicted a similar creature with a much darker shade. Studying the ancient artwork, my mind pondered imagining what the castle’s former occupants were like. Perhaps these creatures were the very gods they worshipped.
“What odd beliefs these people must have had to worship such creatures,” I muttered, to myself.
I decided perhaps it was time to rest for the day, to restore my strength. Fighting the creature took much of my energy and power, especially when the beast takes over me. And so, we proceed down a long dark hallway, seeking for a more ‘comfortable’ room. I noticed many strange paintings and portraits depicting miniature horses, of different shades and color. How odd that they were depicted as though they were humans.
“Where in fuckin’ hell am I?”
After much walking, we came upon a winding staircase leading upwards toward a tall tower. Deciding not to take the long way, instead I channeled what remain of my power, hurling my hands in the air as a dark cloud engulfed me. By the time it dissipated, I assumed the form of a large gray bat, flying at tremendous speed toward the top of the flight of stairs. As I regained my human form, I pushed open the oak door revealing an odd-looking bedroom. The room itself was designed with all manner of dark furnishing, from the sofa and chairs to the large canopy bed. A small desk sat along the corner, a fireplace off to the side, but otherwise not much else. I turned toward my minion, who stood stiff as a plank of wood.
“This will do for now. You stand guard and alert me if anyone dares enter here. Do you understand me monster?”
The beast gave a gruff growl, as close to an agreement as I’ll get, before standing outside the door. Sealing the large oak door behind me, I made my way toward the bed. My fingers gently glide along the silky covering on the bed, sighing pleasure for the first in a long time. Naturally, vampires don’t require sleep but that never stopped me from indulging in peaceful slumber, to retain a small part of my humanity. Removing my trench coat and dress shirt, I placed the garbs neatly along the bedside chair, stretching my sore body. Wincing a bit from the pain and toll from my battle with the creature, I pulled the sheets down and slipped slowly into the soft mattress, placing the blankets back over myself just below my bare, cold chest. I spent a lifetime lying there staring at the ceiling, trying to explain the events of the day. I couldn’t help but recall the long cold nights, my wife Leanna beside me, clutched together in a warm embrace. The only time in my life I ever felt at peace, until my world was taken from me. I was not one to cry, but a single tear of blood fell from one of my eyes until eventually I allowed myself to drift into a sleepless slumber reminding myself:
My name is Edward Blackfire, this is my story… I live in Bristol… In… England… Don’t forget, don’t forget, focus! My name is… Is… I am Edward… This is my story…
