Amongst the Fallen

by Devin Lee Carlson

  No harm in a dance or two before I led her back inside. I embraced her without hesitation and swayed to the faint music. My lips brushed her neck and then moved across her shoulder. Wait. I bit down on my lip to freeze my advances, certain I had moved too fast. “Sorry, I got lost in—”

  “Hush,” she whispered, brushing her knee along the inside of my thigh. Azumi leaned back for a moment and unfastened the ornamental horns. Her straight hair fell loosely over her shoulders.

  Heat rushed to my thighs in reaction to her touch. Suspicious of the woman’s keen libido, and aware of my own stirring, I pressed on. “So, it’s true, the clothes do make the person—a wee bit frisky, aren’t we, lass?” I felt the pressure behind my eyes build, certain they blazed with desire. No doubt in my mind, her sultry advances had aroused me.

  “Can’t help it—it’s the devil in me,” she whispered as she unbuttoned my shirt. She dragged a fingernail down my chest.

  I lifted her chin to meet my lips and bent over to kiss her, roused by her soft moan. She elevated her hips and supported her backside on the top of the deck railing. My lips met hers when I grabbed her thighs and pressed my loins into hers, separated by a few layers of fabric.

  “I want you,” she whispered.

  Gently at first, I continued to thrust against her until reality struck me. “No,” I gasped. My negative response surprised her. She squeezed harder, pushing against me. I had no idea if I really wanted her or if lust spoke louder. We had just met. Odd how she came onto me with such unbridled passion. Whatever the reason, I refused to make love, not here, not now. Although, dark and supposedly alone, a nagging sensation made me believe otherwise. Sabree came to mind. His kaleidoscope-like eyes spying us almost made me gag. “Let’s go inside.” My hand lightly patted the small of her back, guiding her toward the lighted veranda.

  “No,” Azumi cried. To force my surrender, she shimmied out of her panties, pulled her tight dress over her thighs, and resumed her position on the railing. “Make love to me.”

  “No…aye,” I said, my voice husky. A fiery sensation inflamed my loins, a pleasure I’d kept imprisoned since the transformation. Even long before if memory served. My legs trembled; my entire body ached with longing as my willpower flew out the window. I wanted to taste her soul, immerse myself in her femininity.

  The world around me darkened. My head whirled. I wrapped my arms around her, her legs around my waist and pressed on until we joined as one. My lips caressed the base of her neck, moving closer to her jugular. All at once, the inevitable horror ignited. Along with my rushing release, I sank my fangs deep into her flesh and sucked on the hot fluid flowing from the wounds. The life-giving nectar filled a hunger I had left unfed since the induction into my new life. The combined ecstasy of my climax and consumption of human blood would be short-lived.

  Realization sank in. Tears burned my eyes. I lost control, let the beast emerge. A lone mournful cry pierced the quiet night. I pushed away and slipped into the darkness.

  “Wait,” she cried.

  My body vibrated in place until the momentum shot me into hyperdrive. Even the speed of light wouldn’t propel me far enough away to soothe the inferno in my soul. The monster had finally consumed me.

  3 3 3

  Amazed at how well Sabree boogied let alone waltzed, Ariane enjoyed herself. He never once asked her about the journal, the pills, or anything personal. Could this be a ploy to keep her occupied? Two songs earlier, she had seen Brian sneak out the patio doors with the she-devil in tow, giving her more reason to worry.

  The chicken dance played next. Ariane pulled away. No way was she going to cluck around with Sabree. “I’d like to sit this one out,” she said loud enough for him to hear. “Thank you.” Ariane wove through the maze of dancing couples until she stepped off the dance floor. She glanced back and sighed, thankful he didn’t follow. Also relieved to find the table empty, she sat and kept a close eye on the patio door, her concern for her brother on the rise.

  “May I join you?” Sabree held two glasses of red wine. “I want to make certain Chambers and Wayde do not bother you again.” He seemed sincere enough.

  “Sure.” Ariane tottered in her seat when Sabree tossed his leather Cavalier hat on the table and sat next to her. Although she admired the authenticity of the musketeer costume, she cared less where he pilfered the blue tabard embroidered with a silver fleur-de-lis cross. It had to be stolen goods from some museum, the outfit too authentic to be stage costume. Her line of sight switched to the patio door and she continued to nod while he rambled on about Paris.

  Then he coughed. His expression froze like an alabaster statue. His jaw clenched. “I’ll kill him.” Sabree pushed away from the table. The force sent his chair toppling across the floor.

  Bright red caught Ariane’s eye as the she-devil slipped inside the dancehall adjusting her costume and patting down her hair. What had Brian done now? Ariane looked to Sabree, but he had already vanished.

  12

  FINE SCOTTISH HAGGIS

  T o cope with my anguish and remorse, I ran toward Edinburgh’s historic quarters called Old Town. Returning to the Halloween ball to fetch Ariane was out of the question. She had the rental. Free of responsibility, I fled in the opposite direction to avoid her questions, my sins, and Azumi’s condemnation.

  Along with my stride, my pulse raced, my mind agonizing over the consequences. Did Azumi feel my bite, and if so, did she report me to the authorities? Why was she so intent on getting into my pants? Why did my willpower betray me?

  Short on answers, I sprinted across the herringbone pattern of tightly packed streets. I distanced myself to escape the crowds, to escape the party, and, above all, to escape the horror. Blurred passersby became indistinct objects. I craved solitude to extinguish the inner fire within, to douse the flames. Yet, the more distance I put between me and the party, the louder a relentless voice beckoned.

  So strong was this siren’s call that I broke into a run, turning down a narrow passage. I stopped at a footbridge and peered over the edge at the road two stories below. The landscape distorted into numerous passages and vaults known as catacombs. After a quick glance at the hard cobblestone below, thoughts of leaping to my death seemed like a cure-all to crush the monster inside, but it would be pointless. The worst-case scenario, I’d survive with a few broken bones, my suffering short-lived.

  Tonight, my life as an immortal topped the charts. I crossed the line, performed the deed I dreaded the most—consuming human blood. In a sense, I lost my virginity twofold: feeding on human blood and making love, unable to remember the last time I had sex in my stunted memory. I cursed myself, cursed my father.

  As an ugly reminder, the taste of salty, metallic copper teased my taste buds. I kicked the wrought iron railing, my shoe ramming the metal post repeatedly. My foot stopped in mid-strike when footfalls approached from behind. The voice had to belong to Sabree.

  Bloody hell, of all people, please let it not be him. My hands clenched the railing as I drew in a much-needed breath to face my demons, all of them at once. A ghostly mist took shape. Apart from the pretense as a musketeer, this wicked creature reminded me of the induction I had joined tonight. “Could this night get any worse?”

  “A bit naughty, Colton? Seems my novice ghoul needs a lesson in minding his place. I am your mentor after all.” Sabree slapped a handcuff around my wrist, the other link already attached to his own. “Come, I have something to show you.”

  “What the—? Where are you taking me?”

  “To teach you a lesson.”

  The cuff around my wrist ate into flesh as I struggled to break free. Sabree yanked me by the arm, hauling me across the bridge and down one block until he stopped in front of a factory. He squatted slightly and pushed off using immortal strength to leap onto the second-floor fire escape with me in tow. I cried out a curse, half-believing we’d never make the jump together. He might’ve, but I doubted he could lift me. I fell on my knees when we landed, on
ly to be jerked upright and pulled along the metal stairway.

  Sabree yanked kicked the fire exit door, fracturing what looked like a new padlock.

  “Let me go, you son of a bitch.” I grabbed the door jam and held tight. My fingers peeled away from the metal door just as it slammed shut, scraping the skin off the tips of my fingers. I cried out. Blood oozed, turned to dust, and healed within the time it took Sabree to drag me over to the railing. I climbed to my feet but stumbled when I paused to examine the interior.

  A row of black painted windows blocked the streetlight from shining through. Emergency lights illuminated the interior enough to determine we were inside a manufacturing plant. The stench of raw meat and blood teased my newfound appetite. Hunger pangs spiraled into chaos. I fought against the numbness that dulled my body and mind. When he tugged me closer to the control station, I jerked my arm to stop him. “Not in the mood for a tour.”

  A man possessed, Sabree’s lips formed a thin line as he flicked on switches and pulled down levers. The fury and determination with which he moved reminded me of a crazed Igor prepping the lab for Dr. Frankenstein.

  Overhead fluorescent lights flickered before they burned brightly. The second and third levels skirted along the walls, exposing the center above the main floor. Metal ramps and stairways connected the first and third floors. A loud drone thundered as conveyor belts revved up, moving in every direction. Below, large vats churned in rhythm, while metallic gears rotated in anticipation of their daily routine.

  “What is this place?” I shouted over the racket. “Why are we here?” Sabree ignored me, oblivious to my arm tugging on the cuff. He seemed preoccupied, so I tried to pry my hand free. My balance off, I stumbled when he jerked my wrist, forcing me to confront eyes devoid of mercy.

  “You are no match for me,” Sabree snarled. “And now, I will demonstrate the gravity of your misdeeds.” He shoved me onto one of the conveyor belts like a ragdoll and jumped aboard, straddling over me with one foot on either side.

  Fifteen feet away, the tread belt looped under itself to drop its contents into a vat. As we neared the edge, the top of my head cleared the belt. I glanced sideways and downward. My eyes widened when I saw the industrial meat grinder, its metal teeth grating, ready to shred beef or reduce me into hamburger. To escape certain death, grotesquely painful, I wiggled and flopped like a fish about to be flushed away. “No, no, no,” I whimpered. My gaze shot up to Sabree and then down at the grinder. “Are you daft? Why?”

  Sabree pressed the remote in his hand and the belt came to a stop. “You attacked an innocent tonight. I should stuff your entrails to make a fine Scottish haggis.” His thumb pressed the remote button to restart the belt.

  “Stop!” I cried as my shoulders slipped over the ledge. I fell, but just as quickly, my body jerked to a violent stop, dangling from the handcuff. I yelped from nearly having my shoulder dislocated. Above me, Sabree held on to the overhead rail.

  “Stop? You should have done so earlier tonight.” Outlined in red, his eyes glowered. “Since you chose not to listen, I must eradicate the mess you’ve made. You are a freak of nature, a plague. I shall deal with you as such.” Sabree glanced to the side. “To think, I actually believed you and your sister held so much potential.”

  Suspended over the sharp rotary blades, I stared at the gears whirling and jagging for fresh meat. The squealing sound of metal upon metal pierced my ears. Earlier tonight, I wished to end it all, but not like this. Tear-filled eyes glanced upward at the unpredictable lifeline. Did I really hear the wee compassion in Sabree’s voice? The immortal’s eyes had softened, the threatening teal once again violet. “You’re bluffing.” Boldness would be my undoing.

  The switch flipped back on—the violet darkened to brilliant teal. “Perhaps you need more persuasion,” Sabree snarled. He let his grip slide farther down the rail.

  “No!”

  “You doubt I will carry out my sentence? I have already witnessed these grinders in action, the steel teeth pulverizing flesh and bone into mush. I believe I’m experiencing a déjà vu this very minute.” His lips twisted in a smile, an evil one. “Not too long ago, I was handcuffed to Zanyael—a pest from a rival clan. We dangled over the vat and then I misted. Zanyael dropped feet first into blades eager to chew his body into dog meat. I dare say his countless parts are probably inside cans of dog food, sold, and devoured by hounds all over, only to end up in the sewers of Edinburgh.”

  He chuckled. “You never know what’s inside those nasty meat byproducts. Who knows or cares if his consciousness survived.” Sabree continued to dangle me over the vat. “A dreadful way to perish. No?”

  “Why?” I cried, squeezing my eyes shut for the inevitable fall. My legs kicked off the metal gratings so hard, bile rose from my gut. I couldn’t wrap my legs around anything.

  “It's a dark foreboding place, the soul; then again, we all possess dark facets, even beings like me.” Sabree spoke in a low voice, his eyes focused on another time or place. “How could you desecrate such a beautiful young woman? Throw her life away?”

  The screeching sounds of the blades scraping each other reminded me of how close my kicking feet hung above the grinders. The breeze from the whirling blades chilled the skin beneath my pant legs. “Please stop,” I pleaded, my voice hitching on a sob, “I didn’t mean to hurt her.” My free arm thrashed about to grab onto something—anything—solid. Sobs stifled my pleas.

  “Bien, the lesson worked.”

  The hands of some clock, somewhere, sped to midnight the second Sabree hoisted me upward without effort. Halloween ended. Then he misted and reappeared on top of the ramp with the cuff reattached to my wrist.

  Before I could roll off the conveyor belt, he grasped my shoulder for the pressure point to control me. “This demonstration isn't about you feeding on a human; it’s about you reproducing with one. Ever thought of using protection?”

  My intuition was dead on. The bastard did spy on us. I stared into his eyes. The near-death experience rattled my nerves, preventing me from uttering a word.

  Sabree’s grip tightened.

  The lump in my throat nearly gagged me. “No condoms,” I said, gasping on a sob. “Never dreamt the opportunity would arise.”

  His eyes ablaze with multitude of colors, Sabree squeezed the flesh below his thumb. “You infected the woman with your seed. Unlike the Fallen, only the Malakhim and Lighted Ones can breed with a human. Though grossly forbidden. Apparently, so can ghouls, perhaps because you are half-human. Her blood now carries the plague created by your father. Alas, she will be destroyed. Wayde will see to it, and if not, then I must carry out the task. I despise having to kill unnecessarily.”

  “Could’ve fooled me,” I snarled through gritted teeth. Not the wisest time to flaunt resentment, I spoke in a gentler tone. “Why destroy her?”

  “We have no idea if she will survive or what her unborn child will become.”

  Not even thirty minutes had passed since I made love to Azumi, and Sabree already claimed she was pregnant, mother and child evolving into mutants. I refused to believe any of it. “Bullshit. You’re daft.” Too late, my anger had gotten me in trouble again.

  Sabree shoved me until my feet nearly slipped off the ledge. “Take heed in my warning, Colton. Never infect another soul. Do I make myself clear?” He relieved pressure to let me reply.

  “Abso-bloody-lutely!” Realization of how dangerously my transmutation might affect others, far worse than I had originally imagined, sank in. Sabree was right. I had become a monster charged with the ability to infect others. Mutate them into abominations worse than Frankenstein. Could I infect the Fallen as well? My mind raced. Since he drank my blood the other night, then maybe the hypocrite would pay for his indulgence. The pressure behind my eyes increased.

  “Listen to my warning or I will throw you in to spice up the dog food. Choose your poison.” He vanished, letting the empty cuff dangle at my side.

  Just like that, Mr. Morals left
me alone with my remorse. No bloody lesson of his would make me regret my sins more than my own conscience. Intuition, premonition, whatever, reassured me that one day, I’d get payback for what Sabree did tonight. I peered over the edge one last time before I slipped off the conveyor belt and landed on the floor. Never once did I look back as I leapt to my feet and ran down the staircase.

  13

  CANNED COLTON

  A lungful of night air rid Sabree’s sinuses of the raw stench of meat and cleared his conscience of the foul lesson. The factory had served its purpose: first, to dispose of Zanyael and, then, to teach Brian a moral lesson. He hoped the warning would endure until the time came to end this rapport one way or another.

  The night still young, but Halloween officially over, Sabree returned to the party, misting inside an alcove behind the foyer staircase. He hoped to check on Ariane, certain Wayde or Chambers might try to harass her again. His primary goal obligated him to make sure Azumi infected no other.

  He spied Ariane at the coat check. She was holding his Cavalier hat, unintentionally crushing it. Perhaps upset because he left so abruptly. The semi-thoughtful gesture brought a slight smile to his face. Sabree listened to her converse with the attendant.

  “My brother left the party without saying good bye.” Ariane propped the huge hat on the counter. “Do you have a lost and found? Some guest left it at my table.”

  The attendant said, “I’m sure people will be forgetting all kinds of things. Most are leaving after the scary incident with the hysterical woman. At least she’s in the good hands of Dr. Chambers.”

  “Ah yes, the good doctor,” Ariane said, rolling her eyes. “I noticed Mr. Wayde escorted her friends outside.”

  “He offered the young ladies his limo to take them to the hospital.” The attendant looked at Sabree standing behind Ariane. Then she glanced at the hat. When her eyes met his again, he placed a finger over his lips.