The Rise of the New Bloods, From Dark Beginnings (5 page)

  I took the
meat from the cardboard box the butcher had kindly left and sunk my teeth into it. I had not fully realised how hungry I was. Feeling satisfied, I wiped my mouth of the excess blood and broke down.

  This was becoming repetitive. The meat seeking, blood
craving, demon dodging was a curse I wanted to be shot of. As I sat back against the brick wall, feeling somewhat sorry for myself, I happened to look up and notice the flicker of the street lamp become more erratic.

  A frown drew across my face. Without
any warning, the sound of a revving motorbike came closer and closer. I sensed I was in danger, so I leapt to my feet and snarled. I could feel the vampire surging through my body. With my teeth clenched and my fists ready, I knew I could take on whoever dared cross my path. The bike was now heading towards me almost blinding me with its headlight. As it swerved in front me, blocking me up against the wall, I suddenly felt ready to release the demon. Not that I wanted to shift. I felt I had no choice but to defend myself. I stood my ground as I could now feel myself shifting completely into vampire mode.

  The fangs began to descend from the gum and my eyes became lucid. My head tilted back as the pain shot through my spine. I had not shifted for so long I
had forgotten how it felt.

 
‘Nooo! Don't fuckin' do that,’ the voice boomed from the helmet.

I inhaled. It was human blood. This had to be a trap. I tried desperately to stop the transformation, as I knew I was far more dangerous when I was complete. I sa
nk to the floor on all fours withering in agony, as my whole body allowed the demon to come through. It was no wonder Father had taken us to Scandinavia away from the humans. Who in the world wanted to live like this?

  Wait a minute. I know that accent.
It reminded me of the man outside the house in Finland.

Now I was confused. I controlled my breathing and relaxed a bit, hoping the shifting would somehow stop. I looked up at the figure in black leather that sat on the motorcycle waving its arms about lik
e a lunatic.

 
‘Don't fucking shift completely; you will be in so much danger. Just try to control it.’

He knows about the vampire.
‘You've been following me since Helsinki. Who the fuck are you?’ I seethed

  I kept a watchful eye on him as he removed hi
s helmet.

 
‘I'm Stride. It’s nice to finally meet ya Jyrki.’

 
‘What? I know you too,’ I said, bewilderedly. He pulled his long grey hair out of his ponytail and loosened his scarf a bit.

 
‘That's bloody better. Yeah, I know you Jyrki, so you can calm down now. I’m not going to bloody hurt ya, as if I could anyway.’

 
‘So h-h-how do you know who I am? You're not one of...Those are you?’

He smiled and began to remove his leather gloves before stuffing them in his jacket pocket.

  ‘Hey, do I look like a fucking demon?’

I laughed nervously. He probably was not aware demons could look like a regular person.

  ‘Maybe it’s best if I explain things somewhere else. Hop on the back.’ he said, passing me a helmet.

I was hesitant.

  ‘Look, you are more of a danger to me, ok?’

Of course, I had to agree with him. Now that I was standing next to him, I sniffed. He seemed very much human.

  ‘Now get rid of those fangs alright and no nipping me on the neck.’

For a human, he did not seem too bad. I had my reservations o
f course, but I picked up some good vibes off him. Also, he wasn't so easily freaked out when he saw me change whereas any other human would've.

 
‘So, er, where’s the accent from?’

 
‘Scotland. Can you understand me all right? A lot of folk around here have trouble with it.’

 
‘Yeah, I understand you perfectly. It’s just that I’m sure I’ve heard it somewhere before that’s all.’

I caught him smiling as he put his helmet back on.

  ‘Anywhere particular?’ he shouted over the noise of the revving engine.

 
‘Let's go to the Zone club. It was where I was headed to anyway,’ I shouted

 
‘Right you are boss.’

CHAPTER SEVEN

Stride rode the motorcycle like maniac. Between getting soaked and windswept, I somehow felt a bout of nausea as the passing of the neon lights on either side of my head was making me disoriented.

At least when I run, I thought, it is more like a fleeting sensation of being here one minute and there the next.

I could not wait until he parked up. I was beginning to have visions of the Exorcist scene in my head.

Please I silently begged, don't let me do it.              

Finally, I could see the venue on the right hand side of the road. Nerves began telling on me as I saw the long queue of people waiting outside. I just hoped the last bit of food I had would last me.

 
‘Stride, take the next turning,’ I yelled, tapping him on the shoulder.

 
‘No problem, so ya like The Ramones then?’ he hollered in his thick Scottish accent.

 
‘Excuse me?’          

 
‘The bloody band we've come here to see?’ he laughed

 
‘Oh, I've never heard of them until today.’

 
‘You what?’ he laughed at me again, ‘then what have you been doing all these years, hiding in the woods?’  

 
‘You're not far off,’ I shrugged. What have I been doing all these years though?

He took the next right turning and parked up opposite the venue. I was so relieved to get off the damn thing.  

  ‘Now, which pocket did I put it in?’ he said to himself

I watched him as he prattled about with the numerous pockets that he had on his bla
ck biker jacket.

 
‘What are you doing?’ I asked, looking at him curiously.

‘
Oh! Don't mind these,’ he said as he pulled out a wooden stake and a knife before throwing them into his bag.

 
‘They were just for precaution that's all,’ he assured me with a smile.

 
‘I certainly hope so. So who are you then? And what do you want with me?’

His smile disappeared and a look of concern drew across his face, which alarmed me greatly. I had every reason not to trust him. I decided to give him
the benefit of the doubt. If he were working with the Others, then I'd kill him. That was my plan, actually, it was the only plan I had right now.

 
‘I'll explain what I can in here rather than outside, the music will drown out our conversation. You never know who’s listening in these days.’

  I nodded in agreement. I looked at him with his head of long white hair and his American Indian beads dangling from his neck onto his plain black T-shirt. He was by far the most eccentric human I ever come across.

  ‘So, are you ready then? I am quite looking forward to this, I have not seen a good band since...Oh Black Sabbath in the 70's, and that was in Glasgow. What a night that was. Remind me to tell you about it sometime,’ he said.

  I had a feeling this was goin
g to be a long night.

It was still raining. I took one look at the queue and thought fuck it. The door was manned by two huge guys. They did not faze me at all.

  ‘Hey Stride, follow me.’

We walked past the long line of people standing beside the wall of
the venue. As I passed, I could sense the women were staring at me and giggling. I returned the favour and smiled back at them, almost sending them into frenzy. I knew women found us vampires far more attractive than the average man, but usually once they get too close, their lust often turned to fear. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Stride flashing them a wink, when I realised they were laughing and mocking him behind his back.

Poor guy, I smirked. I do not think I had this much fun in years.

‘How the fuck did you do that?’ he said obviously catching on to his failed attempt at wooing the opposite sex.

 
‘Luck,’ I shrugged.

 
‘So how are we supposed to get past those two Rottweiler’s then - luck too?’ he said, pointing at the security by the door.

 
‘C'mon… we can get in, no problem. Just watch.’

I only had to look at the guy.

  ‘Alright mate...Er, Mick.’ I said reading his security pass. ‘We can go through ok?’ I said quite confidently to him. I half expected him to throw me onto the kerb, but he just stood by the door with his arms folded. Stride edged away slightly. The doorman looked me up and down again, with a curious frown on his face. After a few seconds of deliberating, he nodded his head.

 
‘Go on, go through.’

 
‘How did you do that?’

 
‘One of the advantages of being a Vampire,’ I remarked. Either that or they thought I was a member of the band.’

Stride laughed.

  ‘Jesus, it fucking stinks in 'ere.’

I nodded in agreement. The stench of stale beer and piss was even making me wince. We walked
up the staircase to the bar, dodging the youngsters sat on the steps drinking and smoking. A couple looked at me inquisitively then carried on sucking each other's faces off.

 
‘Get us a pint will ya? Oh and here's some cash, as I know you ain't got any.’

He thrust a ten-dollar bill into my hand and went to find a table at the back of the room.

‘A pint?’ I muttered, looking at the strange piece of paper he pressed into my hand.

I had read about currency in a book back at the old farmhouse, but I had neve
r seen it with my own eyes before.

 
‘Hey, move it fella,’ some guy shouted as he walked past me.

I realised, I was standing in the way of the incoming crowd, coming through the door, as I could hear the snide remarks of the youngsters
as they brushed passed me. I walked over to the bar, not sure of what to ask for when I caught sight of the women dressed in fishnet and patent leather miniskirts dancing seductively around a pole on the stage. A smug look drew across my face. The intense beat of the industrial sound pounded against my chest, almost as if I had a heartbeat. I felt like I belonged here, another reject of modern society.

 
‘What are you having?’ I heard the barmaid call.

I edged closer to the bar and smiled at her. She leane
d over; knowing very well her bust almost bulged over her red corset. Not that I minded but I could see the lust in her eyes, as she looked me over. She flicked her long dark hair over her shoulder and fluttered her obviously fake dark lashes at me. I averted my gaze to the ten dollar bill Stride gave me to calm my nerves.

 
‘Um...’ What was I supposed to say, I did not know of any alcoholic drinks. Feeling stupid, I turned to the guy sat next to me.

 
‘Whatever he's drinking,’ I said to her.

 
‘Then it’s two beers okay sweets.’

The moment was becoming a little too intense. She never took her gaze off me as she slid her hand over mine before taking the note. I felt a slight shiver up my spine as I felt the warm touch of human flesh against mine. I was sor
ely tempted.

 
‘It could've been blood for all you know,’ I heard the guy next to me say.

Feeling more at ease I turned sideways to make conversation. The guy was knelt over the bar sipping on his drink. His long black hair draped over the shoulders of his
leather jacket. I was so glad of the interruption.

 
‘Then that would've been perfect,’ I replied

If only you knew, if only you knew.

  ‘Hey, I'm Blaze by the way,’ he said holding his hand out in a gesture.

 
‘I'm Jyrki.’

 
‘That accent isn't American?’ he asked

 
‘No, I'm Finnish...’

Just as I was about to say something else I heard Stride hollering from across the room.

  ‘Where are the drinks?’ 

 
‘Bloody Stride,’ I muttered.

The barmaid put the drinks on a tray and smiled at me seductively before s
erving the next customer. I held the tray up with the beers hoping it would shut him up.

Blaze sniggered. 

  ‘It looks like your old man is thirsty.’

 
‘He isn’t my old man, thank fuck,’ I said as I left the bar.

I walked over to the table, careful not to
spill my drinks on anyone. The place began to fill up quite quickly and I almost had to wedge myself between the tables.

 
‘Take a seat...’ Stride pointed out a chair and took his pint off the tray before I had a chance to sit down.

I sat waiting until he
had a sufficient amount of drink to satisfy his thirst. Slowly he placed the half drank glass on the table and looked at me. He leaned over the table and in a whisper, he muttered in my ear.

 
‘I know you are a New Blood,’ he said as he sat back and folded his arms.

I sighed deeply, never have I heard that word spoken by a human before. For a few moments, I just sat here and tapped my fingers on the table.
‘What do you know?’ I said leaning towards him

 
‘Well, my name is Stride, and before you ask it's not my real name it's a name that was given to me by my biker buddies, and yes, I am a vampire watcher. I’ve called myself that for the past 40 years,’ he said picking up his drink, ‘ever since my Father…oh never mind that now.’

 
‘So what am I supposed to do... congratulate you? I said back with a hint of sarcasm. ‘What do you know of the New Bloods? Did someone send you?’

 
‘Nobody sent me as such. It's a bit of a long story right now, I will tell you again, but first thing first, the important bit, you ought to be careful now as by coming here the prophecy has now taken into effect. I am aware of a secret order that have been sent out to hunt you down...’

 
‘Hunt me?’

 
‘Yes Jyrki, they want the Ankh. Y'see I've been following you to make sure you don't get yourself into any bother. Call me a guardian or whatever, but even you should know how destructive that Ankh could be if it got into the wrong hands.’

 
‘Who is the Secret Order? And do they know I'm here yet?’

 
‘You know how you descended from Egypt right, and that your race was a mistake and Ramesses wanted nothing to do with the vampires? Well, after your father took the Ankh from Egypt for safety during the blood war, an aide to Ramesses, called Jafar, was ordered to ensure the vampires would be wiped from Egyptian history, but, and this is a big but, he was nothing more than a two faced power freak that has been searching for you for centuries. He wants something you have. That silver Ankh you have tucked behind your t shirt.’

 
‘Wouldn’t that would make him an immortal?’

 
‘Yes. He used the same ancient spell from the Book of the Dead, but he's not a vampire, not like you. Hell, we’re not even sure what he is. Now he is after the second part of the prophecy, which has been hidden since modern civilisation began. We're not even sure if it exists, to be honest. We had a tip off it’s in the Book of The Dead but at the moment we can’t get access to it, not even for a little look.’

 
‘And he wants that for what?’

 
‘To find you, find out how you will defeat him, it's all in there.’