Come to the hunt with me, in the dark Come to find that within the darkness, is bliss A joy, like stars that spark one to life Come to the hunt and be redeemed of my kiss Julian had once been a school-teacher long ago, that was before he was turned. The changes had occurred, rather spontaneously to him. He’d sought to uncover the source of his mysterious cravings for energy as he called it. Julian found that when he was teaching, he was in heightened clarity, but when-ever the bell rang, panic and fatigue took over. He needed energy, but how was he going to get it? One particularly hot day, he found himself wandering about the school-yard when he came across some students wearing religious necklaces of some-sort. They were sharing poetry in a large black journal. At first he was going to reprimand them for the necklaces, but just then a strange thought occurred to him. Let’s play along, and find out what they’re writing about. He played it cool, and casually walked up to the students who quickly closed the book. “Poetry?” He asked them, casually. “Yes.” One of the students replied. “Poetry,” the student said. Julian tried not to take not of the quirks in this student’s personality. “What’s it about?” Julian found himself blurting, rather reluctantly. “Oh. You know. Vampires.” The girl said. The other boy quickly tossed her a glare, and then they looked up at the teacher and back down at their book. “You’re not going to take it, are you?” The boy asked, pleadingly. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to. But I promise I’ll return it.” The boy’s eyes flared with rage. “No. You can’t take it! It’s OUR book!” “I said that I’ll return it, in its proper condition. If you don’t want other teachers involved, I would suggest handing me the book.” The boy handed Julian the book. “It’s mine.” The boy said. Julian put it in his briefcase where no one would notice. When he got home, he began flipping through the pages. It wasn’t poetry! No. They were rituals of some-sort. Demonic rituals was what first came to mind. But as he read through this creative and dark secret, he came to understand that they were not mere rituals. There was something uncanny and haunting about their writings. It was on page thirteen that he made his final assessment: participants enter the circle and light a black candle…. He skipped over some parts and continued reading. And now you take thy hand in mine, and through my blood your hand is mine. He touched the dark fingerprint, and felt a surge of energy flow through him. It was an angry lustful surge, of emotion and fury and ecstasy. What has gotten into them? He wondered, and at the same time his curiosity had gotten the better of him. So he did some more research on the internet. He found such detailed accounts that had mirrored his own dreams and disturbances. Three years later, and Julian had lost his career and his friends. He had made quite the fool of himself, and had no hope left but to end his life. He took a bunch of pills with some vodka, and began his descent into the sweeping realm of shadows. It was in the moment of darkness, that he had a strange vision. The vision was of a world, tied to but separate from his own. He saw beautiful creatures, humans with long ears and pointy fangs, who were singing and playing in gardens. It was an enchanted realm, full of mystery and magic. He saw it, and he so longed for it. Hoping he should enter this world, he rejoiced, and his ecstasy was immense. He walked into the cave, and within the darkness he began to feel a surge of fright, yet he persisted. It was nearing daylight when he reached the other-side. There was a tall man, with beautiful long white hair and a mystical brown eye-d stare. He asked Julian how he had come to their lair? In awe and bewilderment, Julian could not respond. “Silence. We appreciate that here. Welcome.” Julian was taken to the chambers of the vampires and he slept. It was nearly a year that Julian had lived in the enchanted world, when a rather beautiful and seductive vampire made an offer to him. “Go back to the human world.” She would say. “You will find love there, unlike the kind you could ever imagine.” These were her mind-tricks, he thought, and he ignored her until the time came when he had no choice. He had made a big mistake. Life was a drug to the vampires, and through the fallen sorcery they could obtain life through the cave with the use of their spells and rituals. One twilight afternoon, Julian was sitting in the great castle-tower with Belladonna. She was a beloved friend to Julian. Belladonna kept persisting that he make a bid on new life, so that they could experience the high of mortality for just one night. But Julian resisted, I do not have enough vials to make that bid. And if I should lose, I will be sucked dry. I could even end up in jail, if I don’t have enough life vials to spare. Later, Julian realized that Belladonna knew this. How could she have been a friend for so long, and betray him like this? Julian at last, in his loving reverie, succumbed to bid forty vials for the new life should it be captured. The next morning many vampires and some lowly creatures assembled behind the gate of the chambers, and watched the match of creature against child. Julian was uncomfortable, as he had never seen a creature try to kill a child before. He had only seen the event a few times, and the victims were never innocent. He began wondering on his thought of innocence. Humans were made to suffer, and none of them could be considered innocent. There was a large crowd this time, with people jeering and cheering. Some had bid on the human child, and were cheering the child on. “Little one! You still have a chance! Hold on little one! Hit him back!” Behind the gate an illegal bid had also been taking place. A tall man who wore a dark cloak, made an offering to a young newly awakened vampire. “Ah, the innocent life of a child…” The newly awakened had grown suspicious already, and he was about to call him out when the man made an offer he could not refuse. “One thousand Life Vials if you aid the child.” The boy was growing weaker, as the creature began tormenting him with dreams of his mother who left him when he was young. Wreaking havoc on his poor mind, he grew restless. It was a possession of sorts, which in all other kingdoms had been outlawed, all expect here. But suddenly, and out of nowhere it seemed, the boy woke up. The nightmare had finished, and the creature had hardly any life-force to make up for it. Cheers and boys echoed throughout the chamber. Julian, horrified at the loss of forty vials was distraught. He had retired a little later, knowing he would have to fork over the vials soon when he heard a heavy knock at his door. “Julian! Come out right now!” The voice sounded familiar, and suddenly Julian panicked knowing who it was. The Greeter….who could also cast out any creature or vampire at his whim. The Greeter began with a simple “Dark Blessings” and then proceeded to interrogate Julian about his spending habits, and his repercussions for endless gambling and debauchery in the courtyard. “Gambling, that's it?” Julian protested. “Gambling, yes, and you owe many a debt. You are lucky, your friend Belladonna has spotted you twenty vials, which leaves you with twenty more that you owe to the court.” Julian got up to retrieve the vials when The Greeter stopped him. “Leave, Julian, you are not wanted here.” Julian felt enraged, but knew not to show it. He handed over the vials, and saw him out. That night Julian had nightmares, the first since his stay in the other-side. In them, he was a human, grief stricken about the death of his past and his new-found strength. In it, he was an undead vampire walking among the living. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ They fed upon the fear of humans, hunting often-times along city streets where the homeless were easy victims. They were the awakened. (Another unfinished story)
