The Birth of Vengeance (Vampire Formula #1) (17 page)

“You made my life and Giles’ hell. You bullied and beat and stole from us. Do you not having anything to say. No words to plea for your lives?” I asked.

“Don’t make us laugh. You’re just a stupid little child. This is just a trick, some fancy make up and special effects. I couldn’t give a toss about you and your friends. You paralysed my lad. Its law of jungle around here. Survival of the fittest. At least we don’t have to go looking for you anymore. We can finish it here. No beating for you, a nice shallow grave in the woods instead,” the father said and stepped menacingly forwards.

“Good. Survive this!”

I flew forward like a hammer into the father, breaking his ribs and he flew through the air getting wrapped up in the curtains and smashing through the windowpanes. He cleared the assorted debris, left to rot in the garden, skidding to a halt at the feet of Thorn.

She ripped off the curtains.

“Breakfast!”

She grabbed him by the ponytail, stared into his eyes, and said in a pretend sympathetic voice, “This is going to hurt darling, a lot,” and offered a sad smile to accompany it.

She brandished her fangs and tore into his neck. He screamed in further pain. I turned back after I hit the father through the windows and kicked through the knee of Patrick breaking his leg. He crashed to the floor, and I added a slash of claws across his stomach to make sure he couldn’t move. The blood rolled out, and Patrick fell to the floor grabbing his leg and stomach trying to stem the flow of blood. The friend ran to the door, and I leapt across and grabbed his arm wrenching it from its socket. Blood spilt out onto the floor and his screams of pain joined in with those from the TV and those from Patrick. I retracted my claws and hammered in a series of punches into the ribs, hearing each rib crack and break as it hit. Each hit accompanied by a shout of agony as the blows landed. He slumped to the floor. Pain shot through my leg. I saw a knife sticking out and Liam in his wheelchair. I flung him across the room into the high far corner. The friend rolled in agony on the floor pulling himself along to escape. I crouched over him, repeatedly punching him in the head until brains and blood discoloured the already filthy carpet and furniture. Patrick’s screaming in the corner gained my focus, and I walked back over slowly savouring the moment, and revelling in my revenge for all those years of bullying I suffered.

“Time to die Patrick,” I said.

I crouched down in front of him, and he tried to punch me but in my vampire form, I barely noticed. I laughed, a loud and raucous laugh, at his pathetic attempt to fight back. I flicked open one claw and pushed back his head against the floor exposing his neck.

“Got to hell,” he screamed.

“Been there, it was being at school with you,” I answered, and flicked my claw across his throat slitting it and leaving a line a blood that started to open up his neck.

He tried to speak as the blood poured from his neck but just spluttered blood out of his mouth instead.

I leant down to his ear.

“Justice at last. You took so much from me, but I have taken your life and your father’s. Your mother and sisters will be next, and I will enjoy it,” I said.

He flung his arms wildly to no effect and tears poured from his eyes as the realisation of my total vengeance became clear to him. His life slipped away more quickly as he struggled. I stood up and watched him die, and felt relief from those long years of bullying and feelings of guilt from Giles’ suicide.

The lights in the room flashed as the TV continued blaring out with its own screams and unsavoury noises, as the torture porn in the background reached its climax in parallel.

I walked back to Liam, knelt down and whispered gently into his ear.

“Consequences. Everything has consequences. I am the physical manifestation of your actions. I am your consequence.”

Suddenly, I realised someone was missing.

“Where is Kieran?” I asked.

Liam answered stuttering in fear, “he was arrested last night for beating up Giles’ dad.”

“Tell Kieran I will get him when he gets out.”

More unfinished business but he will hear about the murder of his family, and he can live in constant fear. I latched my fangs around Liam’s ear and ripped it off for good measure. I left the room stepping over the dead bodies and through the pools of blood just as the credits on the TV rolled and the room plunged into darkness once more. I heard no movement upstairs. I guessed they were used to the sounds of screams from the TV. I ascended to the women of the house as well, the mum and the two sisters. They were no better having beaten up Giles’ older sister and taken part in some of the other bullying, smashing the house windows and prank calls. I would take more time with them.

“No Jon. We are leaving,” Thorn’s thoughts firmly entered into my head. I should have known Thorn wouldn’t allow me to kill them.

I guessed the loss of their father and son or brother would be enough. I could always come back again. In the meantime, let them live in fear just as I did.

We returned to London the night after reeking revenge on the O’Keefes and resumed our normal pattern of training and hunting. The next night back had been another eventful night out with Thorn hunting, as she had read reports of a gang of muggers working in a nearby park. We went to the park that night and pretended to be two young lovers hiding away in the bushes. They had seen us and circled us ready to take our money, and to take Thorn half-naked and drag her away for their pleasure. Yet it didn’t go according to plan, as she quickly broke them and fed. After my success in Leeds, I joined in and fought as a human against one of the men. I protected myself well and got in a few decent hits. I smiled, pleased with myself. I was growing with confidence and strength every time I fought.

Back at home, after the fight in the park, night drew to a close. Thorn was drifting off to sleep downstairs in the basement, and I sat by myself on the sofa sipping a cold drink savouring another night with Thorn. Being away from Thorn, and the light coming through the windows, I could feel myself starting to change. As Night Jonathan, my grip slipped away slowly, and the nagging doubts and fears of Day Jonathan crept through into my thoughts. He questioned everything I had done over the last few nights, urging me to give up and let him prepare his escape plan and dream of being back in Scarlett’s arms once again. His voice started arguing with me, and a war raged in my mind as the daylight came and Thorn slept.

“You were going to kill those O’Keefe girls,” Day Jonathan said.

“They deserved it. They were just as bad as their brothers were. Don’t you remember?” I replied.

“Of course but they were asleep in their beds. They never hurt you, maybe others but not you.”

“Some others can’t defend themselves. It’s up to me to bring justice.”

“That’s not your job. You should have gone to the trial and not gotten mixed up with vampires. Justice would have been done.”

“They always get away with it. You wanted the power just as much I did at the beginning. You wanted to be free to walk in the day not afraid anymore. You have that now,” said Night.

“Maybe but at what cost. People have died. Yes, the gang and the O’Keefes were bullies but did they deserve that? A beating maybe and prison but to be ripped apart, it wasn’t right.”

“But the slavers, we saved those girls,” Night argued as his voice began to fade as the daylight grew brighter and I could sense Thorn had drifted off to a deep sleep.

“Yes but the trail has run cold. Think how many more could have been saved if they had been captured and imprisoned. Those girls saw you two rip those men apart. Those memories will haunt them as much as the abuse they suffered. Annabel and Lucinda are now in Thorn’s pocket as well and could come to worse harm,” I said, my voice growing stronger every passing minute as Day pushed Night away, and my body and face began to relax.

“But Thorn will protect us,” he said.

“Like she was able to protect herself from being captured by the Hunters. You have been lucky up to now. Eventually your luck will run out, and she will turn on you, or fail you,” I, Day Jonathan said.

“No I love her, she won’t fail us.”

“You are a fool. It’s her powers you are in love with, not her. She made you fall in love with her. It’s not real.”

“It … is,” Night’s voice quietly whispered as he finally disappeared again for another day.

I took charge now, Day Jonathan and the daily passing and ritual of argument was finished again, until Day receded and Night returned. My body had reverted to normal, muscles relaxed and the scowl on my face receded to a nature state. The dark marks under my eyes faded away and the skin regained its normal colour. The constant anger and adrenaline dispersing back to a calmer, more thoughtful state of mind.

I went on the computer to practice the escape route home once more and noticed I had received an email message from Annabel and Lucinda. The girls had settled in at Miss Jones’s house and were to be enrolled into college at the start of the next academic year. While we hunted the O’Keefes, Thorn had employed them to keep an eye out for Barry, and try to lure him out of hiding. Thorn performed a makeover so they would pass as eighteen and hired a driver to take them on a tour of night spots. She paid them well for the work, and they seemed happy to see Thorn again and be of use. The message on the email told me that Annabel had attracted his attention on a night out and could arrange a date for us to capture him. They had scouted out the house of Barry’s cousin, Terry, and the Hunters had gone. I arranged it for two night’s time, giving us time to formulate a plan. At last, we could finish off what I had started, and I could then escape.

I went upstairs and checked all parts of the escape plan were ready. I had found the spare keys to the BMW and had enough experience to be able to drive it. I went into the loft to check the small rucksack with everything prepared, and that everything was still inside. In the bag was money, mobile phone to call ahead, a silver knife I had purchased from a pawnbroker, a UV light I had made myself, and finally the map of the route. I wanted the rest of the needles but they were locked away in the safe in the walk-in wardrobe. I went to practise the route once more on Street View, and I estimated it would take just over an hour. I knew I couldn’t leave the house until the normal time of the day in the afternoon, as it would be too out of the ordinary. I needed to stick to my normal routine for it to work, which would only give me three or four hours to return in the daylight. It should be enough but I was preparing for any eventuality. As Day Jonathan, I looked forward to returning home and seeing Scarlett again, even if it meant betraying Thorn and leading the Hunters back to her.

The two days passed, and the night we were taking revenge on Barry approached. The daylight was receding, and I lay nervously awake in bed next to Thorn. I was Day Jonathan with Thorn fast asleep and the sun lowering in the sky but could feel Night Jonathan creeping slowly into my thoughts. I felt nervous and scared of what would happen tonight but he felt excited and eager.

“Tonight is the night for our final revenge,” he, Night Jonathan said.

“Revenge doesn’t mean we have to kill him,” I said.

“It does; there is no other way. He knows what we are.”

“True but who would believe him anyway. Let’s just give him a beating and tomorrow we can be free and back with Scarlett.”

“Free, we are free you idiot. Scarlett betrayed us remember.”

“No, I am sure she can explain. We can forgive her,” Day’s fading voice replied, and with it his overly emotional feelings and calmness.

“Explain! You are too soft. If you weren’t such a pushover, none of this would have happened. You could have saved Giles at those gates,” I, Night Jonathan said, I could feel my muscles strengthening and tensing as desire to take revenge took hold.

“No, we were outnumbered.”

“So what, a few bruises and a couple of computer games would have been worth it to protect your friend? After all he and his family did for you, when your own father was too busy to notice,” I said.

“But, it wasn’t like that.”

“You are weak and pathetic; I despise you. Once Barry is dead, I am telling Thorn everything about your betrayal. I will ask her to help me get rid of you once and for all,” I said.

“No …” Day’s voice trailed off into nothingness. My face had returned to normal and I felt a scowl come across it as I prepared for the night’s events.

“Thorn loves me, and I love her. Scarlett only ever betrayed us; there is no explanation that can wash it away,” I said, disgusted at his weakness and there was no reply.

The light of the day had passed, and Thorn stirred from her sleep. Night pushed Day away, and I had changed again. I was Night Jonathan, and I wasn’t interested at all in escaping and despised Day Jonathan for such weakness. I didn’t want to see Scarlett again as she had betrayed me with Barry. I could still remember the picture of them together. Thoughts of another night with Thorn and the final destruction of Barry excited me. I looked forward to revenge and to being a vampire again. My love for Thorn had consumed me. I enjoyed our life together, why would I want to leave? I didn’t care what Day Jonathan thought, as I knew my love for Thorn was real.

Thorn smiled at me “You talking to someone,” she asked, stretching out in bed.

“Just myself,” I replied and kissed her on the cheek.

I busied getting ready, nervously flitting back and forth, as I choose my clothes and constantly changed the music. I wanted to wear the same clothes that I wore on the night I first changed into a vampire in the park, but I had grown through the three previous injections and the training. The jeans didn’t fit anymore, too short and tight. I put on some new black jeans and a new pair of black boots. The black t-shirt I wore before used to hang off my weak body but now fitted snugly across my new muscles. I decided to keep it on as I posed in front of the mirror pleased with my new developing body shape. The leather jacket also now fitted perfectly with my new muscles filling it out. As I looked at myself wearing the mix of old and new I realised how far I had come. I realised tonight would reveal a new me, as I completed my revenge and freed myself of my fears.

Thorn bounced around the basement excitedly trying on different outfits until she finally decided on her black leather cat suit. This was a special night, the completion of our mission. Once my revenge had been exacted on Barry, we were free to leave London. I knew had to complete my training before I learnt more about vampires, and could travel to her other houses across the world. I had to prove to Thorn that I was worthy.

 
I watched Thorn slide herself into the cat suit and pull on a pair of black shiny knee-high length boots. I walked over, knelt in front of her and squeezed the sides of the boot over the tongue. They squeaked and rubbed together as I laced up the boots on either leg.

“Thank you, darling,” she said.

She applied black eye makeup, red lipstick and then sat on the edge of the bed painting her fingernails black. She finished off, went and stood in front of the mirror and flicking her raven tousled hair about, waving her nails dry and generally preening.

“Okay?” she said.

“Definitely,” I responded.

I had never seen her as excited as this before, or dressed quite so provocatively. I guessed she wanted to be seen as a vampire tonight and wanted to revel in the imagery and the myths.

We packed the car and drove to the meeting place, the alley where Barry and his gang had mugged me. We arrived and Annabel was waiting in a car with the driver Thorn had employed. As we watched, I tapped my fingers repeatedly on the armrest unable to contain the nervous energy twitching through my system. I pulled out a newspaper clipping from my jacket pocket, “Gang revenge attack,” the headline read from the Leeds chronicle. It didn’t describe the details enough for my liking but stated the police believed it was linked to a gang revenge attack. The O’Keefes had other enemies; other gangs in the area had their own motives, although the police were surprised by the brutality of the attack. Thorn had gotten the newspaper clipping and insisted I kept it to relive the moment and enjoy the revenge.

“It will be a trigger for the future and a reminder of your true power,” she had said.

It seemed like the right time to look at it again before we tackled Barry.

Movement at last, Barry was shuffling down the alleyway and looking around for Annabel. Annabel climbed out of the car. Barry looked a bit rougher than normal, his blond hair not shaven as cleanly as before and his face carried a haunted expression with his forehead overhanging with a frown. He wore his normal black puffer jacket, jeans and boots.

“Barry over here, I got us a lift into town,” she said and waved him across.

Barry walked past Thorn’s car and over towards Annabel. I opened the door behind, and he glanced around doing a double take, head swinging back around again as he recognised me.

“You,” he said in a panicked voice and started to run for Annabel.

“Quick, into the car,” he shouted.

Annabel got in, shut the doors and her car drove off. He stopped in surprise and turned around to see me approaching. Thorn had already raced around the outside of him blocking his path in the other direction.

“Leave me alone,” he said, hands out in front as I approached.

I marched on happy to see his face full of fear.

“Remember this place, Barry?” I asked.

“Get lost,” he shouted and ran away into the path of Thorn slinking along in her black leather cat suit. He gazed at her, lost for words, his fear replaced by the desire she ignited. She unzipped the front of the cat suit down to create a large cleavage and walked towards Barry.

“Hi, can you help me? I’m lost,” she asked.

“Yeah,” he grinned at her, hypnotised and totally forgetting his current peril.

She walked up closer with her catwalk swinging hips and smiling. Barry grinned broadly and looked her up and down, absorbing it all. Thorn walked right up to Barry and placed her hand on his arm gently, and then punched quickly to his head knocking him unconscious with the other hand. I walked back to the boot and opened it. Thorn slung him over her shoulder like an empty bag and ran over to the boot depositing him inside. I tied him up and got back into the passenger’s seat. Thorn got in, smiled and started the car. We drove off with the stereo thumping out loud guitars as we screeched off down the road.