The NightMan (4 page)

He
watched
as
Caitlin
pursed
her
lips
into
a
wicked
smile,
 
and
he
knew
she
was
aware
that
he
feared
more
than
just
the
cross.
His
hands
bore
the
memory
of
the
burn
from
when
he
tried
to
remove
it
from
her.
The
fit
of
rage
he
had
that
one
night
terrified
her.
He
paced
the
floor
like
a
wild
animal.
Horrifying
hisses
and
snarls
erupted
from
him
as
he
cursed
her
and
her
ancestors.
Crimson
red
blood
ran
freely
down
his
hand
from
the
scalding
burns
made
by
the
cross.
He
knew
he
had
a
right
to
fear
it.
It
was
her
father’s
only
means
of
protecting
her
from
him.

Chapter
2

The
story
behind
Caitlin’s
father
and
Dorian
was
a
rather
tragic
tale.
The
memory
of
the
legend
still
haunted
Caitlin,
something
she
would
never
forget.
Her
ancestors
were
bound
to
Dorian
through
the
fatal
decision
of
one
man.

During
the
mid-evil
times
of
Ireland,
Vikings
invaded
the
Irish
some
26
times
following
their
first
appearance
on
the
island.
When
the
Vikings
first
appeared
in
Ireland
many
homes
were
raided
and
all
sorts
of
malicious
behaviors
were
committed.
The
Irish
clans
joined
together
in
an
effort
to
rid
Ireland
of
these
barbaric
people,
but
one
man
chose
another
route.

In
the
year
of
1013
AD,
Caitlin’s
great
ancestor
Argyll
Murtough
made
a
deal
with
a
devil
one
night
that
cost
him
dearly.
He
didn’t
realize
at
the
time
his
desperation
placed
a
curse
on
himself
and
his
entire
lineage.

A
precarious
group
of
strangers
wandered
onto
his
land.
They
didn’t
look
like
the
Norse
warriors,
nor
did
they
resemble
any
of
the
English
he
had
seen.
They
appeared
to
be
nomads,
yet
carried
no
weapons
with
them.

The
leader
of
this
group
was
called
Dorian,
a
very
civil
man
who
spoke
in
an
English
tongue.
Murtough’s
curiosity
peaked
as
he
noticed
the
stranger’s
accent
dated
back
further
than
his
language.
Compared
to
the
Irish,
they
were
all
well
groomed
and
dressed
in
leggings
similar
to
the
English.
Even
the
one
woman
companion
of
the
group
dressed
in
the
same
attire.
The
coats
they
wore
complimented
the
frilly
shirts
and
appeared
to
be
more
of
the
English
formal
ware.

They
didn’t
wear
the
silly
wigs
as
the
nobles,
allowing
their
heads
to
bare
their
natural
beauty.

Murtough
met
Dorian
late
one
evening,
after
the
sun
disappeared
behind
the
mountains.
 
Dorian
listened
patiently
as
Murtough
expressed
his
concerns
and
plea
for
help.
However,
the
rewards
for
Dorian’s
efforts
were
not
nearly
enough
to
satisfy
his
desires.
Dorian
wanted
more
than
a
share
of
Irish
land
as
payment
for
his
deeds.
Dirty
deeds,
in
Dorian’s
eyes
don’t
come
cheap.

Dorian
leaned
forward
to
Murtough.
“I
will
accept
your
land
old
man.
But,
there
is
something
else
I
will
also
take.”

Dorian’s
physical
appearance
indicated
an
inhuman
quality
about
him.
The
reddish
greying
hairs
on
the
back
of
Murtough
stood
on
end.

“What
do
you
want?”
Murtough
sat
back
in
his
chair.

A
sinister
smile
crossed
Dorian’s
thin
lips.
His
crystal
blue
eyes
smoldered
a
dark
black.
“In
exchange
for
my
help,
I
will
take
a
female
from
each
generation
in
your
lineage,
beginning
with
your
daughter.”

“What
ar
’
you?”
Murtough’s
heart
raced.
“A
demon?”

Dorian’s
hearty
laugh
rang
out
through
the
tiny
hut
of
Murtough’s
home.

“I’m
much
more
than
a
demon
old
man.
Do
we
have
a
bargain
or
not?”
Dorian
hissed.

Murtough’s
answer
held
in
his
throat
when
the
front
door
of
his
home
burst
open.
His
eldest
son,
a
tall
stout
young
brave
man
by
the
name
of
Angus
bolted
through
with
terrible
news.
A
band
of
Vikings
had
just
raided
a
nearby
clan
and
killed
most
of
the
inhabitants.
 
The
young
man
brought
more
bad
news
which
called
for
immediate
attention
of
his
father.
The
Murtough
clan
would
be
shortly
invaded
by
a
small
army
of
Vikings.

Dorian
eased
back
in
his
chair,
and
studied
the
old
man’s
reaction
to
the
sudden
news.
He
knew
the
pressure
from
the
news
would
accelerate
the
Irishman’s
decision.

Murtough’s
eyes
flamed
with
fury.
His
attention
turned
to
Dorian
who
sat
calmly
waiting
on
his
answer.

“You
have
a
bargain,”
Murtough
spat.

Dorian
nodded
to
the
man
and
then
raised
his
hand
to
the
five
members
of
his
coven.
Dorian
left
in
silence
as
he
headed
out
to
meet
the
unsuspecting
invaders.

The
Norse
warriors
crossed
through
the
forest
into
an
open
land
to
find
five
pale
figures
awaiting
their
arrival.
The
leader
of
the
warriors
stood,
remaining
confident
of
his
soon
to
be
victory.
His
hand
rose
high
in
the
air,
holding
tightly
to
a
massive
steel
sword.
A
smile
crossed
his
lips
when
he
noticed
these
pale
outsiders
were
unarmed.
The
sound
of
battle
cries
filled
the
night
when
the
warriors
charged
toward
the
five
strangers.