The Birth of Vengeance (Vampire Formula #1) (18 page)

I watched the stars and the full moon flashing in and out of the trees and bushes as we drove at dangerous speeds through the countryside. I had become used to the way Thorn drove now. She drove like someone who couldn’t die and had lightning fast reactions. I thought about what would happen after tonight ended, and what I would do the next day. I knew in the morning I would have to make a decision, stay with Thorn or leave and try to get back with Scarlett. Eventually, I knew I had to decide who I was, Night or Day, Human or Vampire, and what I wanted in life. For now, I just enjoyed the wind rushing in through the open window, and the music shaking the car, as Thorn swung the car about wildly down the dark country lanes. I looked around at her. She smiled, cranked up the music and began singing along. I joined in, and we hurtled dangerously along the roads enjoying the cool night air and revelled in anticipation of the events to come.

After half an hour’s drive, Thorn turned the music off, and we pulled down a country lane. Then turned again and we bumped along for a few minutes down a rough track path until it ran out at a half-fallen old wooden fence.

“Ready,” Thorn said.

“Yes,” I replied, and we leant across the inside of the car and kissed.

We got out the car, walked around to the boot and opened it.

Barry was still out cold, and Thorn picked him up out of the boot. I grabbed the camera equipment, and we walked into the woods. It had been raining during the day, and the mud squashed under our feet as we tramped through the undergrowth and trees. The full moon provided enough light to follow Thorn as she made light work of carrying Barry. Walking through the woods her feet barely touched the ground before springing forwards and over the branches, mud pools and slippery roots. I slipped and squelched through the mud and tree roots behind her, desperately trying to keep her in sight, and in comparison, I felt like a clumsy oaf.

We reached a large circular area in the middle of the woods empty of trees and bushes, and the ground had a reasonable covering of grass. The open sky allowed the extra light from the full moon to illuminate our activities. Thorn kicked down a small wooden fence blocking our way, and it smashed across the clearing leaving a gap for us to walk through. We tied Barry to a tree, set up the camera on the tripod and put a lantern next to him to give light during the filming. He started waking up and taking in his new surroundings. I grinned happily as he woke and my excitement grew as I imagined my final vengeance. Barry had stolen my chance of a normal life. I had finally started to make something out of my life putting the events of Leeds behind me when he decided to interfere. The O’Keefes had been taken care of now and Barry represented the final piece of the jigsaw. I would make him suffer. I let the others get away with a quick and easy death. I would take plenty of time with Barry, torturing him with fear and pain in equal measures throughout the whole night.

Barry recognised me instantly. “You,” he said surprised.

“Me,” I answered.

“You’re vampires aren’t you?” he asked.

“She is,” I pointed, and Thorn took a theatrical bow, “I can be sometimes,” I added.

“The injection!”

“Yes. Just worked it out did you?”

“What do you want from me?” he said trying to wriggle free of his bonds.

“Guess.” I asked and pointed at the camera.

He looked up at Thorn.

“Make me a vampire; I would be much better at it than this wimp,” he said.

I didn’t expect that offer but I knew I was safe. We had a deal Thorn and I.

Thorn turned to me, scrutinised me and viewed my reaction. She seemed to be weighing me up. I recoiled in horror; she was actually taking this offer seriously. My whole world suddenly span out of control, and I transported back to the scared teenage I once was. My stomach tightened as she looked at me, and I tried to think of something to say but couldn’t.

She turned back to Barry again, “Why?”

He smiled, pleased this was being considered.

“I am ruthless and hard already; I would be your loyal servant. We could rule the night you and I.”

Thorn smiled enjoying the attention.

She stared over at me again, “And you?” she asked calmly.

I stared utterly stunned at her and Barry, “What?” I asked in a frightened voice.

“See, he isn’t worthy of you,” Barry added, beginning to enjoy the situation.

“Shhhh meat,” she said to Barry and extended her finger at him.

“Why should I take you, instead of Barry?” she asked.

My mind raced through the options. What was she looking for? What did she want? I didn’t truly know what she wanted! All I knew was how I felt.

“Quickly,” she pushed for an answer.

“Because, because,” I stalled, “because I saved your life,” I answered and she nodded in agreement.

“And?” she pushed for more.

“We have a deal,” I added.

“And?” she asked again.

I looked down at the floor; what else could I say.

“And?” she repeated again, impatiently crossing her arms.

Barry smiled and thought he had won. I have to say something, or all was lost I thought.

“I love you,” I said softly while staring at the mud, and I knew this was a worthless and pointless answer to a vampire.

“Louder,” she said.

I knew she must have heard. I looked up at her and stared straight into those sky bright eyes.

“I love you,” I said again with confidence, meaning and passion.

She smiled at me, and her lips parted a little showing her fangs just underneath.

“Good,” she answered.

“See Barry, he loves me. You have your answer.”

Barry seemed unsure, was this yes or a no.

“You, on the other hand, are a mindless dull thug,” she stated.

I breathed a sigh of relief; she had been playing with me.

“However, it could be interesting,” she said, giving a twisted smile and a red glint flickered in her eyes. She walked over to Barry and loosened his bonds.

Barry smirked and wrangled free getting quickly to his feet. I staggered backwards with my heart pounding, the woods spinning and her words echoing in my ears. I couldn’t believe she turned on me after everything we had been through. What happened to our deal? I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised as she was a vampire but still it came as a shock. Thorn pulled out a knife and threw it in the middle of the clearing.

“Fight for me,” she said smiling and walked over to the side of the clearing with the camera.

I looked about for an exit and so did Barry.

“No running,” she shouted, baring her fangs and claws as a warning.

Barry didn’t hesitate, pushed me over and dived for the knife. He easily knocked me over as I recoiled from her shocking announcement, and I landed on my arse in the wet mud. The wet landing and sudden smack across my backside jolted me out of my shock. Barry picked up the knife and came back at me smirking and throwing the knife hand-to-hand.

“New boy, times up, no special drugs this time.”

I found part of the fence and grabbed it as I jumped back onto my feet. Barry moved forward slicing the air before him, and crouching down ready to spring. I held the stick out in one hand as I prepared to block the knife. I didn’t know what to do. In Leeds, when I hit Dave, I knew I had Thorn just behind me. I knew if it went wrong, she was there to protect me. All the other times as a human, Thorn was always there to rescue me or scare them off. At the nightclubs, she would step in at the last moment saving me from a beating. Even a couple of days ago in the park I only fought one person who ran off after Thorn decimated the rest of his gang. The other times I was a vampire; I had superior strength, speed and instincts. I didn’t stand a chance against Barry. I knew it, and he knew it. Thorn must have known it but I again reminded myself that she was a vampire, and I had allowed my love for her to cloud my judgement. Day Jonathan was right; I had to escape if I survived tonight.

Barry lunged and to my surprise, I reacted and blocked with the stick. He tried further slices and stabs, and I swung the stick in time to parry the blow or distract him from his task. Barry circled and charged, and I stepped quickly to the side moving out of reach. Again, he charged, and I stepped out of the way. I knew I couldn’t keep this going forever but I was just trying to survive hoping that a miracle happened; else, the outcome would be inevitable. Barry had a reputation; that was how you became a gang leader and he wasn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty. I should know.

Again, he moved forward and stabbed at me. I backed off swinging the stick. He followed with a stab and slice, he relentlessly came forward and I continually circled backwards thrusting the stick to block the knife.

“Come on fight me,” Barry shouted.

Thorn watched on, interested by the cat and mouse game, following our movements with the filming camera. I thought maybe I could just tire him out and he would make a mistake eventually. His face raged, and he wanted revenge for the death of his friends and fear he lived in since I killed them. I hadn’t thought about his desire for revenge, just mine.

Again, we moved around each other in the centre of the clearing. Barry then kicked a pile of leaves up and charged in behind it. The leaves distracted me as I shielded my face from the dirt that pelted me. He hit me full on and we crashed down into the mud. A pain shot through my left shoulder and put my hands up to protect it. I was too late. I could feel the metal blade pushing through my flesh. I grabbed at the handle and at Barry’s hand, trying to push it out. We rolled around in the mud coating our clothes and faces, and fighting for dominance over the blade. I couldn’t push him away but I was stopping it going in any further. We rolled again, and Barry was on top, his face full of fury, bearing his weight and strength onto the blade to drive it all the way in. I used all my strength to hold it steady but I couldn’t last forever. It was only a matter of time before it plunged through the rest of my shoulder. The pain would be too much, and he would cut me to pieces and take my place at Thorn’s side.

“Boys,” Thorn said, “Something extra,” and she threw a needle of the vampire formula onto the ground a few meters away.

We both looked over at it, and I wondered what to do next. Maybe if I could get to the needle I could transform, and it would heal my wounds.

“New boy, when I am finished with you, I am going to take that needle and break your girlfriend.”

I looked over at Thorn, he couldn’t be serious; she would destroy him.

“I think Thorn can look after herself,” I answered looking at her.

“Not her, you idiot, the redhead,” he said laughing.

“No,” I screamed into his face.

Memories of Scarlett flashed across my mind. The first time I met her in the sixth form common room and the elation of being introduced and becoming friends. My first kiss with Scarlett at her house, my heart hammering and feeling like it was breaking open my rib cage. After the mugging, Scarlett cradling my head, her tears dropping onto my face, and her flame hair was billowing in the wind. After I had pushed her over and tears of heartbreak rolling out her green eyes and nose bleeding onto her lips. At the nightclub, saying I could still come home and we could be together again. The hope it sparked and the rekindling of my love for her. Then it happened the uncontrollable rage just like I felt as a vampire but this was pure human rage.

 
The anger brewed ‘til boiling point and my muscles began to shake with the rage. The blood rushing faster and faster around my body, heart pumping and hormones crashing about sparking every part of life force I had to sacrifice. My face went red, and I gritted my teeth from the change. I started to emit a low intense growl that slowly and surely turned into a full ear-splitting roar. Saliva spitting from my teeth and into Barry’s face, and the muscles around my hands began to squeeze tight crushing his grip. The sudden strength in my arms began to push the blade out of my shoulder as I continued to shout into his face. His expression changed as he began to lose the battle of strength between us. Fear crossed his face; my psychic abilities picked up images of me as a vampire in his mind. He thought I was changing, I wasn’t; this was old-fashioned human rage. Rage and anger inspired by my love of Scarlett. He had taken everything from me, and I wouldn’t let him take any more. The blade came out of my shoulder, and I pushed it to the side allowing the pressure between us to be released. His head dropped down with the lack of resistance, and I smashed my forehead into his nose as he dropped. The blood spurted out, and he screamed in pain. I didn’t stop and grabbed his nose between my teeth and began pulling and tearing. His blood poured into my mouth, and I allowed it to slide into my throat gulping it down, imagining I was a vampire. Time to finish. I pushed him off to the side of the clearing. I got to my feet still in a rage but I was steady and thinking straight as I walked over to the needle. I had used my anger and love to fight back. I had bathed in my emotions just as Thorn had taught me. However, I was Day Jonathan, and the thoughts of Scarlett had been overwhelming and had triggered the reactions I needed to win. This side of my personality had the strength to react and the motivation to fight. Day had won over Night. My face and body returned to its natural self, the scowl and the tenseness gone. I felt calm and in control of my emotions, not scared of my thoughts and feelings. I picked up the needle and looked at Barry holding his nose and rolling around on the floor moaning in pain. He knew what would happen next when I injected, and he watched, preparing for his final moments. I knew what would happen; the vampire would take charge and the instincts would be strong. All I needed to do was let it off the leash. It would be easy for me, no pain, no thought needed to kill Barry. I turned to Thorn and threw the needle down by her feet instead. I wanted to feel all of it. I wanted to feel the pain on my knuckles. I didn’t want it to be easy. I wanted to feel every single moment. I wanted it to be under my control and I wanted to remember it as a human, Barry and I on the same level man-to-man. This was going to be my, Day Jonathan’s, moment of triumph, and I didn’t care if Thorn sensed the change in my emotions, or sensed my love for Scarlett. My decision had been made for better or worse.