He
chuckled. "Can't you see a little Hunter sprouting fangs and
killing the neighbor's dog?" Tears formed in his eyes. "I've
dreamed about my children the last two nights. I see their little
faces still and pale in death. It's more horrific than seeing the
faces of the people I've killed."
"Shh.
Not allowed to dwell. Make love to me until we're too weak to stand."
Dirk
did just that. He began by making love to her slowly, exploring every
well known inch of her body as if it were the first time. He ignited
fires in her that took hours to quench. Using skills learned over his
extended lifetime, he loved her until they were too weak to stand.
Cuddled
together in the tangled sheets, they slept until dawn. A quick shower
revived them, as did a pot of coffee and some leftover biscuits. Seth
arrived 30 minutes later with the Jeep full of their equipment. They
hopped in with Seth at the wheel, stopping only long enough to use
the restroom and eat. They made the trip to Thibodaux, Louisiana,
where the Vampire Lord kept his winter home.
It
was no coincidence that Dirk's sire had built his home in Thibodaux.
He had originally been a sugar cane planter who sought out The
Vampire King of New Orleans to turn him so he'd never have to
relinquish his great wealth. Though it wasn't recorded in history
books, he was behind the Thibodaux Massacre in1887, where black sugar
workers were trapped and slaughtered. Of course, history recorded
that the people were shot, but eye witnesses told another tale.
Louis, The Vampire Lord, angered by the striking workers, descended
upon them in full fury, ripping out the throats of men, women and
children. It was also no surprise that Dirk killed him shortly after.
"I
tracked the bastard for twenty-five years," he told Rafaela and
Seth as he drove through the back roads of Louisiana. "I wanted
to get my brother back, but Louis had made him his creature. Twenty
years of being brothers couldn't compete with twenty-five as a
vampire. He was pampered and indulged, his every whim encouraged.
Glaive found he had an appetite for the black and twisted, something
our sire encouraged.
"It
was an ugly, slow death," Dirk continued. "I made him
linger, bleeding him, feeding off him, until he was too weak to
fight. Then I threw his mangled, living body, into an alligator nest.
After they finished with him, he was still more or less alive. It was
then I ripped this throat out and set fire to his corpse in his own
yard."
Seth
shuddered. Rafaela inhaled slowly, drawing herself erect.
"It
was horrendous. I was a much more violent man then. I had the deaths
of my father and brothers to repay, not to mention being turned into
a monster against my will. When Glaive found out that Louis was dead,
he gathered all the others to him and organized a hunt—of me. I was
lucky I survived. They were weakened by my earlier attack on them and
hadn't properly fed. They used up their blood supply during the first
battle. They didn't survive the second. Those who were left licked
their wounds and slunk off to the mansion to recuperate."
"Other
than a few days ago, have you been back?" Seth asked.
Dirk
shook his head. "I saw no need. Glaive was doing fine on his
own. If his people got out of hand, Rafaela would receive an
anonymous tip."
"Not
so anonymous," she replied. "I knew it was you. Thank you."
"No
need to thank me. Their antics put the rest of us in danger. There
has to be a balance. If there are too many violent vampires around,
we run out of food."
Dirk
held up his hands defensively, steering with his knees, when Rafaela
took a swing at him.
"I'm
telling the truth. If we kill off all the humans, how do we eat?"
They
couldn't deny he had a valid point, though it wasn't the way they
might have said it themselves.
They
arrived in Thibodaux at 4:00. The local Hunter met them in a nearby
swamp. A well camouflaged cabin lurked on the banks. It looked like a
shack on the outside, but inside it was almost luxurious. They took
showers and naps, gathering just before dusk. A quick meal fortified
them. The Hunters, though dubious of having a vampire in their midst,
had a bottle of blood to give Dirk. He thanked them, packing it for
an emergency refresh, along with the ones he already had. He was
expecting to need the healing they afforded him.
A
little girl walked up to Rafaela, handing her a beautifully crafted
knife. It was well weighted for throwing, but could also be used for
fighting. She handed another one to Seth. To Dirk, she gave a small
vile of blood.
"I'm
Emiline, the Hunter from my generation, born six summers ago,"
she said in a very mature sounding voice. "I'm sworn to kill
your kind," she told Dirk boldly. "But Mama tells me that
you're going to help us against the Vampire Lord. He killed my
brother and my daddy last year. If you carry this, if I ever come
after you, show me this and I'll spare you."
Dirk
knelt before her, graciously accepting her gift. "Emiline,
Hunter, I thank you for the gift of my life. I will do my best to rid
you of the Vampire Lord. He killed my brother, too."
She
flung her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He returned the hug,
holding her gently. It was a credit to the local Hunters and their
families, that they allowed it. One of the old women came forward,
giving him a hug. She smiled up at him, patting his cheek. "If
Emiline trusts you, I do. That child is the best judge of character
of anyone I know, child or adult. You're welcome here, Dirk Young."
©
Dellani Oakes 2017
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