Crimson Vampire Night

by Zac Zara

  “NOW FOLKS! THIS IS OUR YOUNG PRINCE’S FIRST TIME IN THE ARENA SO LET’S GO OVER SOME GROUND RULES! NOT MANY BUT HERE’S A FEW! NO GUNS! MOSTLY SO OUR AUDIENCE DON’T GET SHOT! EVEN WHEN YOU'RE IMMORTAL, BULLETS STILL HURT LIKE HELL!” The crowd laughed at the host. “BUT MOSTLY, THE FIGHT DOESN’T STOP TILL YOUR PREY IS STAIN OR YOU FORFEIT!”

  “Don't worry! There will be no forfeiting!” Deacon said. “Bring on the prey!”

  I COULDN'T PUT IT BETTER THAN HIMSELF!” Corbett replied. Then Deacon looked back up to his parents like he was trying to say, “Look at me now mom and dad!” Uthyxeth joined Ishmael and Helen on the balcony. He watched with great interest.

  The floor opened up again but this time something different came out. Towering over him was a Gashadokuro, this giant 15 foot skeleton assembled from the bones of starving victims. It stood up and roared at Deacon. It was a completely fleshless skeleton. Deacon didn’t see any weaknesses at the moment. But that didn’t stop him. He didn’t show any sign of fear. He just drew his claymore and got ready.

  Then the Gashadokuro swung it’s massive bone down at Deacon but the dodged it by side stepping to the left then it wung it bone weapon from the right. But the young vampire warrior leaped over the bone with a back flip. Then Deacon leaped forward and roundhouse kicked the monster into the fence behind it. The crowd were startled by the monster falling against the fence. But the Gashadokuro got back up. It tired to stomp Deacon with it’s left foot but he was too quick for the undead beast. Then he blocked the foot with both hands. But the wasn’t done yet. He pushed the monster into the air the lead up to it while it was still falling. He swung his sword horizontally and smashed part of it’s rib cage while also sending it flying across the arena like it was made of cardboard. The Gashadokuro came crashing down like a ton of bricks. Deacon had a smile on his face like he had this.

  Then the beast launched it’s foot at him with a powerful kick but Deacon just stood his ground. Then as the leg got close, Deacon smashed it to bonely splinters with one powerful swing of his claymore. The monster’s leg shattered like glass, throwing want was left all over the arena. The monster swung it’s bone weapon at the warrior but that didn’t work either.

  “Is that all you got?” Then Deacon smashed that to pieces but then the Gashadokuro followed that up with a swing of it’s right fist. But Deacon was faster. He quickly countered with a haymaker to block the bone fist. When both fist hit, the force of his haymaker cracked the monster’s entire arm then the whole thing exploded. The crowd cheer in a loud thunderous roar while his parents watch in awe and shock. Even Corbett was surprised by Deacon. But Uthyxeth wasn’t surprised. He just stood smiling and amused by the fight.

  “Not the child you thought he was!” He said to the two of them.

  Then Gashadokuro stumbled back and forth trying to stand with the young vampire looking up at it with death glares. “Enjoy hell!” Deacon told the monster. Then Deacon leaped into the sky with his claymore raised over his head and his body launching towards the monster. Then he struck the monster in the forehead, totally shattering the skill of the Gashadokuro. But it didn't stop there, for the claymore went through the body and to the ground, cutting it in half. The entire body of the Gashadokuro exploded into bone fragments like some dement jigsaw puzzle. The force shot shockwaves across the audience while Corbitt was sent flying out of the ring. The audience and Corbett were trying to see through the dust into the arena while Ishmael and Helen were on the edge of their seat. Then the dust cleared with Deacon standing there as the victor. He held his sword into the sky with the crowd cheering him on. Ishmael looked down on the boy with great pride. He crossed his arms like he knew he were going to win.

  “MAGINTHEICENT DEACON NIGHTWORTH, MY SON AND CHAMPION WARRIOR! YOU ARE ALSO THE FUTURE OF THE NIGHTWORTH LEGION AND WORTHY OF THE NAME NIGHTWORTH. HAIL DEACON NIGHTWORTH!” Ishmael proclaimed to the crowd. They all went crazy and gave praise to Deacon with thunderous cheers. Corbett joined the couple on the balcony along with Desmond.

  “Was this your plan?” Helen asked Corbett.

  “Well it was really Uthyxeth over here!” Corbett said pointing to him.

  “I was just motivation him and pushing him to his full potential you know.”

  “You could have just asked us!” Ishmael said. “Would you have allowed him to fight otherwise!” “He only wishes to prove himself to you! Being overshadowed by others is a slow and insidious killer when it comes to being a warrior.” Uthyxeth said.

  “I see! Perhaps I wasn’t showing him the right respect he deserved! How foolish of me!” Ishmael said. Deacon felt something he always wants from his father, pride and respect. He saw it in his father's eyes.

  But at the same time, there was another great house carrying on with their lives.The full moon hung high over the forest hills and reflected off the lake water when the sun had vanished behind the horizon of the trees, leaving the night to take over in the outskirts of the St. Peters countryside. The park campsites glowed from the campfires around the lake. But not bright enough to where you couldn’t see the stars over head. People were still on the water of the lakes and creeks either watching the sunset or fishing. Some were preparing their campfires for the night. Others were just arriving for the weekend. But there was one thing people always heard out there. It was the sound of howling.

  But as they were doing so, they had no idea what was moving through the forest and it wasn’t the deer or coyotes. Some large hairy thing leaped through the trees, moving with a speed beyond that of any deer or wolf. You could barely see it in the moonlight. Then it landed on top of one of the ranger towers overlooking the state park and country.

  Out in the countryside, there were a group of teenagers having a party and a good time. They were drinking, smoking weed, and trying to get lucky. They were out by a old church that had been abandoned for decades. The whole place was overgrown and had parts of the building coming down all over. But it was a popular place for teens to come hang out and party. Not many police came out there and the creepiest added to the setting for those who wanted to scare the crap out of the weak. But the moon was full and bright enough to light up the entire landscape. The party of teenagers paid no attention to the moon and carried on with each other. The music was playing so loud in the background that they could be heard for miles. But they had no idea they were being watched by something out there.

  “Come on baby! Why don’t we just go off together. I promise I'll be a gentleman.” One of the jocks there said to his girlfriend with long blonde hair. This was Kevin and Terry.

  “I don’t know about this! I don’t like this place. It just gives me the creeps!” Terry said.

  “Why? I don’t see nothing wrong with this place. It’s just a rundown church that's all it is!” Kevin said.

  “That's what you think but if you all only knew the truth!” The stoner guy told them.

  “What are you babbling on about this time Rufus? Is this one of your stoner stories?” One of the pretty girls there said. “No! It’s true! It’s a ghost story that really happened!” Rufus said.

  “Ok Rufus! Tell us this story of yours!” One of the guys said. “Well, it’s said that there was this crazy priest that lived right here in this church and he hated sinful teenagers who went out partying and drinking on Friday tonight's but he especially hated ones that had sex before getting married. Kind of like what we are doing right now!” Rufus said to them. “Well one night, the priest kidnapped a bunch of teengares out for a good time and brougtht them to this church here. He tied them up and poured gasoline all over the place, even himself. He lit himself on fire, along with the teenagers with him. That’s how the church burned down here. But the legend says he didn’t die in that fire. They saw he came back to life to punish the teengaers out here who dare perform those sinful ways. Just like on a night like this!” Rufus said.

  “You’re full of crap Rufus!” Kevin said. “Ok but don’t come crying to me when the priest comes for
you! His name was Father Malous but those who see him roaming the night looking for victims call him the Burnt Father.” Rufus told the others. “They say he wears a silver mask and still dresses in his priest uniform. But this time, he wields a large axe that is in the shape of a cross. Legend has it he uses it to cut up his victims then he collects trophies of his sinful victims.”

  “Whatever you say Rufus!” One of them said. But right as he was finished, this loud wolf howl echoed through the countryside. It sounded much louder than any other wolf howl and it was followed by several others. The party of teens were all silenced by the pack of wolves howling. “God that was creepy!” One of the girls said.

  “Were those wolves?” The jock’s girlfriend asked him. “It can’t be! There ain't wolves out here in Missouri! Coyotes maybe but not wolves!” Kevin said.

  “Then you don’t know this place very well then.” Rufus said. “There are wolves out in these parts or at least it sure sounds like it. People hear them all the time but strangely no one ever sees any of them. But you can hear them, especially on a full moon like tonight!” One of the girls said.

  “They could be werewolves you know? Makes since given it’s a full moon.” Rufus replied.

  “Come on Terry! Let’s get out of here!” Kevin said. “Ok but don’t come crying to me when they get you!” Rufus said. Rufus started to lit up a joint. He was blowing smoke rings and getting toasted.

  “Do you have any guilt about that. You’re going to fry your brain!” One of the girls said. “It’s all good babe! You want on?”

  “Sure!” The girls said bored.

  “Don’t worry babe! No police out here. Just this small village of hicks that live out in the boons. They mostly keep to themselves. But I wouldn’t go near to close. MIght be a bunch of Leatherface's living there. The two of them went further into the church to get some privacy. The place did look like a fire happened way back. Some of the pews were still there with the cross up against the moonlight. Weeds were taking over along with mold.

  “I don’t know about them but I think the moon shining above us is kind of sexy if you know what I mean.” Kevin said. “It is quite pretty outside!” Terry said. “It sure is!” Kevin said as he leaned in for a kiss. The two of them started to makeout but failed to see that there was someone watching them both. Then there were footsteps coming from the dark corner of the church. The two turned around to see a dark figure slow come into the moonlight. It was this tall man wearing a priest uniform. On his face was this creepy silver mask that took up his entire face. In his hands were large cross with an axe blade embedded into the sides. On his left arm was this massive chain with a series of hooks hanging at the end.

  “Oh god!” Terry said. “Very funny Rufus! Nice costume by the way. Good detail too!” Kevin said. But the outfit was badly damaged and there were burnt holes all over. Where the outfit was exposed, there were horrible burns and what seems to be rotting flesh.

  “Really good attention to detail!” Kevin said. Then the man dropped his chains to the ground. But then he whipped them at Kevin, wrapping them around his body so he couldn’t escape. The man pulled Kevin away from Terry and towards him. Terry screamed in horror and ran off. Kevin was right next to the man when he smelt the man. He smelled like a corpse. Then worms started to fall out of the eye sockets of his mask. That’s when Kevin realized he was the real deal. He was the Burnt Father. The other tennagers came running tino the church to see Kevin in the grasp of the Burnt Father.

  “Holy Crap! He’s real!” Rufus said as he saw the monster. The Burnt Father begin to raise his large axe over his head, ready to kill Kevin. But then something came plowing through the church windows and to the ground next to the killer. From the dust, there stood this 7 foot tall, biparietal beast. It was covered in thick tan fur from head to toe but stood up right like a man while having human hands. But it was no man. The hands had massive claws that could rip through steel. The thing had massive muscle with huge arms and thighs not to mention a massive chest. But then there was it’s head. It was the head of a monstrous wolf with glowing yellow eyes and jaws that can bite a man’s head off.

  The beast roared with a howl that shattered every window in the church. Then the beast rushed at the killer with it’s razor sharp claws. It smacked way the killer’s weapons before it could strike then it's left claw ripped off the Burnt Father’s left arm which released Kevin from his grasp. Then the beast grabbed the killer with both claws and held him in the sky. The beast massive jaws opened up and smashed down on the Burnt Father’s head. The beast thew the headless body across the church like it wa a ragdoll. Kevin went back over to the others as the werewolf stared at them. There was no doubt in there mind what was before them. It was a real life werewolf. Then the beast roared at them, scaring them off and back to their cars.

  “Dude! I told you they were real! See, I was right!” Rufus said.

  “How about you shut the hell up and get to the car Rufus!” Kevin told him. The werewolf grabbed the boy and placed it on it’s back then howled to the moon in victory. Then from the ceiling acem another werewolf but this one was grey. He looked around and saw the dead killer on his back.

  “He was suppose to be my kill!” The grey werewolf said in a deep monstrous voice.

  “You can get the next one! Besides, you’re getting paid either way!” The first one said. “That’s not the point! It’s about the glory of the kill! Doesn't matter! He didn’t seem like much of a prize to begin with. You barely broke a sweat!”

  “Well he wasn’t any Michael Myers, that was for sure! But one less undead serial killer to worry about right!” The tan werewolf said. “Let’s get out of here!”

  The tan werewolf spit out the silver mask that was all dented from teeth marks. The two werewolves leaped up the church walls and to the roof. They watched the teens drive off back to the city.

  “Did you really need to come in with an entrance like that. We're supposed to be just a myth so it’s kind of hard to do that when you’re roaring at teenagers.”

  “Because they’re teenagers. Who’s going to believe them. Besides, what's wrong with a bit of fun!”

  “Tell your parents that!” Both werewolves leaped off the church roof and went running through the countryside. The two werewolves raced through fields and people farms while trying not to do any damage to the property. They raced past houses in a flash like it was nothing. Werewolves can change anytime they want but during the full moon, they’re stronger and faster too. Plus the urge to transform is stronger too.

  “What’s with all the undead serial killers out in the country lately! Did Halloween come early!”

  “Hell if I know! Guess it means more business for us!” The tan werewolf said. Then they arrived on this small village out in the country. This was called Wolf’s Hollow. It was a sort of small village and the base for the Crimson Hounds. It was located on Wolfc’s lake. It seems pretty obvious but no one had catch on to them yet. It was made of the Crimson Den, the local bar for werewolves. Then there was the Moon Range where werewolves in the lycan form herd cattle and over livestock for food.

  There was the hunting lodge where wolves turned in their bounties and got hunting jobs from. Then there was the main house known as the Crimson Estate. This was the headquarters of Wolf’s Hollow while being the home of Shane and Vesper Crimson, leading aphas of the Crimson Hounds. The whole lake was surrounded by trailers and small homes of the werewolves living there. There were werewolves of all kinds, young old, children, and ones of different races. Just redneck life for the Crimson Hounds. It was quite beautiful with the full moon reflecting off the lake.

  The two werewolves came leaping into the village with their prize. Both of them went straight for the Hunting Lodge. But first they transform back into their human selves. The grey wolf turned into this long back haired 27 year old with tan olive skin. While the other turned into a 20 year old guy with short blonde hair. He was super buff even in human form. He had massive pecs a
nd arms to go with it. Not to mention very handsome with caramel eyes and freckles around his cheeks.

  Both were completely naked but no one there was that concerned there. The two began walking to the Hunting Lodge while some wolves threw them a pair of shorts to wear. Having quick clothes to wear in a village of werewolves was handy.They were greeted by the other wolves there.

  “Howdy Weldon! Have a good hunt!” One of the older werewolves said.

  “Yah but too easy!” Weldon called back. “You wouldn’t be saying that if you came across a reacher beast! You don’t want to be swallowed whole by one.” The grey wolf said.

  “That’s why I have my good cousin Luther here with me!” Weldon said patting Luther on the back. While walking, Weldon saw a couple of kids bullying a smaller kid. He was waving a hat over his head, teasing him with it. Weldon caem up to the bigger kid and punched him in the face. He picked the hat up and gave it back to the smaller kid.

  “Thanks Weldon!” The kid said.

  “Hey, anytime Sam!” Weldon said.

  The two got inside the Hunting Lodge where other werewolves were trading and getting their jobs. The place was lined with the skin of different monsters and animal pelts that were killed over the years. There were even vampire jaws mounted on the wall. There was a older man with long white white and long beard who looked like Sam Elliot called the Newsman. He gave out the bounties for wolves to do for cash. One wolf was turing in a dead zombie for the day to a lady at the desk called the Receiver. She had thick glasses and curly black hair and always wore old hippy clothes. Her job was to process the kills and the monsters the werewolves brought in.

  “More zombies huh? I’m sure he’ll smell wonderful with the rest of them.” The Receiver said taking the dead zombie to the pile of other ones. She paid the wolf his due.