Creation of the M O N S T E R
-- Chapter One --
Awakening
They said once you find your true calling to this life then everything else will just click into place. I heard that **** from a stranger when I lived on the streets. He was a lovely man. I did like him very much. He was my mentor of sorts. Taught me how to steal, taught me how to live on the streets. It was a shame I had woken up one morning to find him dead beside me. Our make shift beds were always next to one another with a barrel next to us – usually lit through the night the only warmth we had. It was pleasant. I didn’t even mind the nonsense he spoke about half the time. Jim. That was his name. Jim Harrison. A man no older than eighty. He had lived a full life. Unpleasant as it had been. I admired him. For whatever that was worth. Seeing his dead face staring up at me, will be something that shall stay with me forever. However long this life may be. I’d never understood the odd feeling of compassion back then. It was a myth to me. I never liked to stay attached for too long. Not since Danny, and what my parents had done to me. They had made me cold. Ruthless. Untrusting to everyone around me. -- Chapter One --
Awakening
My adjustment to vampire life was quick. It wasn’t long after Jim’s death that I had found a woman by the name of Every. She was beautiful. I had to get to know – and by know her, I meant steal from her. She looked like she had a fair bit of money. How could I simply refuse a dabble? I was wrong to even dabble. She was a vampire. I scratched her – she did the same to me. It was a lovely exchange. Until a few days later a rogue nabbed me. Draining me of all my life – Every found me again, and well – I, even you know the rest. I was turned into a vampire. So I adjusted. Fell in love, lost love and became a colder person. I was still very mistrusting of people back then. I think the only two people I actually trusted were Every and Micah. Two. Not a lot. I guess, you can understand my hesitance towards people.
Perhaps I am different than most vampires. I’ve seen many in my time have a hard time adjust to this life – like it was one big hurdle for someone to overcome. I do not understand that concept. Vampire life suits me. I’d like to say that at least. Powers came easily. Death followed me everywhere I went. There was a certain lifestyle I had found in my time since being a vampire that was alluring to me. It was a faction named Tytonidae. A faction headed by Velveteen and Micah that kept the masquerade in check – the way they held it in check was by killing those who broke the vampire law – the secrecy of the vampire species from the humans that still lived within our dear old city of Harper Rock.
I had no quarrels with lifting my gun and pointing the barrel towards a vampire and pulling the trigger – if it killed them great, if it didn’t and it wounded them instead? Didn’t care. I loved to hear their skin ripping at the entry wounds. I loved to hear their cries as they crumpled to ash. I guess, upon my time being a vampire, and with Tytonidae I had learned we never truly die. Vampires do not die – well, we do. Our bodies turn to black ash, and our spirits sent to a dark realm called the shadow realm. We are trapped there for no more than seven days. Then we can come back to the physical plain. A small punishment. Brilliant isn’t it?
So, now that I’m reflecting upon my time within the faction that I now call home. I guess, when I joined I was awakened to the death it brings – even the despair to the family. It’s addictive. Though. Addiction can be dangerous. Especially dangerous when they paint a target on your head and then try to claim revenge. Yes it’s happened. I’ve been attacked. Well, when I say attacked. I mean they tried to kill me and completely failed. I had managed to flee. I did so laughing at them. Laughing at their failed attempt of a form of revenge, and it something even now I mock them for.
I had met many people since being in Tytonidae. We were a faction, a unit. We worked as a team. When I had told them about the failed killing I didn’t expect them to raise their hands up in my defence. I should have seen it coming but from my past – I didn’t really expect anyone to stick their neck out on the line for me. I hadn’t done anything for them. Not yet at least. I was a fresh face to the faction, newly initiated. There were several members that went for the people that had attacked me – tried to send my spirit to the shadow realm. In spite for the people we had killed that had belong to their little stupid cult they had going on.
Vengeful bastards.
So, there were three members that had died for me.
Reanna, Nemesis and Jesse Fforde.
I knew them by their names. I had laughed with them. Hunted, and killed with them.
They were acquaintances.
I’d never forget the time they died for me – their bodies turning into ash in front of my very onyx hues. I’ll never forget they put their necks out for me – all in the name of revenge for attacking me. They had protected me, when I was a foolish vampire for thinking that no one would ever d me. Heck was I wrong.
Tytonidae had awakened something within me.
It had taught me that friends could be found anywhere.
Friends were to be cherished.
That I should not be ashamed to let my guard down and to care for people.
I had learnt from that moment. I had learned to love.