"Eternal life," The life I had imagined in the beginning was much different than reality. I had
Imagined routine meals, worldwide fear and admiration. Instead, I'm lucky if I feed at all. The
only creatures that fear me, are the creatures that are like me. I did not realize, a life like
this required so much hiding. It was the excitement and the thrill that drug me in at first. Also,
I did not expect to fall in love with my creator. Loneliness had always been an unknown feeling to me.
Until now, until someone killed him, I am seeking revenge. After a few centuries or so, I guess the
glamour should fade from eternal life. But I didn't expect it to fade so quickly. "Living Death" as
some call it, has taught me one thing... loneliness.
It was a chilling night. The moon hanging in the sky. The ever present blood red tint
only increased its beauty. There were but a few stars in the sky . Also, no clouds to be seen.
All these generous contributors gave this night of all nights a most eerie feel.
The rose bush that usually stood proudly at the edge of the gate was seemingly trampled over.
Their elegant black reduced to a mere gray.
I neared the cemetery.As I slowly pushed open the gate to the iron-made fortress,I noticed
that the common musical screech of the metal clashing was worse. It gave out shrill, slightly
off pitch tunes, like delicious poisoned wine.At the time I could not pin-point it, but there
was obviously something quite foreboding residing there. I could taste it with each breath. It
could be heard in the ill-attempted cries of the bats. I stared longingly at the graves, only
wishing I could join them in the on-going dance of the macabre. To sing on into the night to the
tune of forgotten hope, forgotten love, an non-existent happiness. Slicing deeper into my depression
the filled coffins would taunt me forever.
Tonight was my four hundredth "death day", or the day I was created. It had only been 300
years since that fateful night my love left me for the sweet lady of death. His name was Necromanceris.
Morbidly beautiful, was he in every way. His image is burned into my mind like a waxen stamp. His face
was stern but gentle. He had long black hair, of which I swore I foretold his death in. Height was not
a weak characteristic. He had his cloak, which had been in his family for generations. Our friendship
began as merely a creator to victim . Ah, but how it advanced. We stalked together on into the night.
sending doom upon victims until the sun threatened us with its sickening warmth and light.
I noticed an extra pair of footsteps as we walked silently among the dead. I merely dismissed
the thought as my increasing paranoia. It is all but a horrific blur now. Imagine, the stalkers being
stalked. The footsteps got louder. I quickly turned around. And in one fell swoop, my love, my creator,
had left me. I chased after the perpetrator. Upon realizing, he was too far to catch; I returned to
Necromanceris. I stared at him for the longest time. He was lying in a pool of his own blood. Respect
was the only thing standing in my way from feeding from the pool. There was a rather large stake protruding
from his chest. The sound of the blood slowly dripping into the collective still echoes through my mind.
I watched from my mausoleum as the sun turned him to ashes and blew him away with the wind.
After three hundred years of seeking the murderer of Necromanceris, I began to tire. I began
to realize how little I really had to live for. Necromanceris was gone, and I had never had contact with
any other Vampire in my life. Therefore, I do not belong. I sat down on the bench next to the willow tree.
I began to think of what a pathetic example of a Vampire I turned out to be. I let tragedy get in my way of
merely existing, and feeding off of what I love most... fear. Necromanceris would be ashamed to think this
is who I turned out to be. Perhaps I should quit while I'm ahead, or try again. Confusion and grim existence
consumed me at this point.
I concluded, since suicide would not work, and I doubt anyone else would freely kill me, to attempt
at revenge. I followed all the leads I could get my cold hands upon; but none proved helpful. Until, one night I
was engaged in my nightly hunt for blood, when something happened. The soon-to-be victim turned around. The
look on his face was so familiar, it sent shivers down my spine. He wheeled out a stake. I suddenly remembered
who this stranger was. It was the murderer of Necromanceris!
An astronomical amount of unknown fury, rage, and
pure hatred poured out of me like blood out of a decapitated prisoner. I hurled myself at him, forgetting the eminent
danger of the stake. With tears streaming down my face, I attacked him. He was pinned to the ground. I knocked the
stake out of his possession. "Who are you?" I shouted "And what is your purpose for murder?" He replied "It is all too
complicated for you to comprehend." "I could kill you right now. Just one bite, and a long draining sequence to follow."
I whispered with all my strength. There was a long silent pause. I proudly realized how I had become, now worthy of the
title Vampire. "I shall die anyway, what is the use of you not knowing." He said. " I was the father of Necromanceris.
When I realized what he had become, I grew enraged. I told him to leave." "That can't be all! Tell me now, or death
shall be yours!" I cried. " I didn't expect him to leave. When he did, I swore to myself that I would rid the world of
the little nuisance." He replied in a weak voice. "Do you hear that?" He said. I assumed he was referring to the
growling noise coming from his head. "The death of my son is killing me from the inside out." He was weak, this was
my perfect chance.
But then a sudden prong of guilt shot through me with such pain indescribable. I thought, this was the way
Necromanceris went, he was weak, taken advantage of. I turned away and left, with suicide dwelling in my innermost
thoughts. All of the sudden I was struck down. On the ground I lie. Such gratifying pain was never felt by me before.
I soon realized it was the candy of death. The lingering satisfaction and anticipation to see my lost love was building
up inside me. I had been defeated. Stabbed in the heart by the very same stake that had killed my love. But by the same
token, I am victorious. I shall die and rendezvous with Necromanceris. Just as that thought escaped my mind. The scene
faded, another approached me. I saw him. I saw my love, my creator, my Necromanceris. Together we danced and sang.
We enjoyed the sweet fruit of eternity. We cried in joy, for we no longer shall covet death. |
Submission Name: To Covet Death (short story)
