Parasite ; Sleeper Cells ; Kingdoms of the Dead

by Ian Woodhead

  “I see you are surprised to find me in here, my little rabbit. You thought I was still out beyond this closed metal cage, still searching for you. Did you not discover my talent of prediction when you crept into my head and stole my thoughts?”

  “You knew I was in there?”

  The vampire shrugged. “Not at first, no. I just sensed the lightest of touches. You are very good, for an amateur.”

  Damien tried not to look into his blazing eyes. He weighed up his choices. Although this monster hadn’t killed him didn’t make him feel any more secure. He got the impression that the vampire was just playing with him, like a cat tormenting a mouse. The vampire would tear into him; he decided that it was inevitable. He needed to rush over and push the razor-sharp blade that he held in his trembling fingers deep into the vampire’s heart, before that moment came.

  “Why do you hold your weapon aloft, my little rabbit?” he ran his tongue over his thin lips “That piece of finely crafted metal do look very heavy. Oh yes, it is so hard to keep in held up. Can you not feel the strain that it is putting on your muscles? It is getting heavier and heavier.”

  Damien gasped as the vampire’s soft words penetrated his confused mind. The weapon now felt as though he was holding a huge iron girder in his hands. He couldn’t help himself, Damien just had to drop it.

  The vampire chuckled, he then bent down and grabbed hold of the bottom of the shutter and lifted in up to his waist.

  Damien couldn’t hold it any longer, he cried out and let the knife fall through his fingers.

  “We can not be good friends when you had that sharp knife help tight in your hands. I do understand your trepidation.” Desmonus kicked the blade away. “It would have been a tragedy if you slipped, my little rabbit.”

  Damien glanced over at the half open shutters and his heart sunk at the sight of two pairs of thick legs showing through the gap.

  “I would wish to know why my First son has been reduced to black slime. I am so hoping that you will be able to explain away our loss.”

  “It was an accident,” he replied, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice. “Your First son chased me before I had time to explain my predicament. I didn’t want him to die.” Damien couldn’t help to tremor when he remembered how the vampire’s flesh just melted off his bones. “Nobody should suffer like that.”

  The other two vampires had now pushed their bulky bodies under the gap and took position behind their First Father. Damien then realised just how big these vampires really were.

  “I am not convinced that you are able to explain your predicament, my little rabbit. I do not know what you are. You act human and yet we both know that is no longer the case, not anymore.” He leaned closer and inhaled. “I can tell that you do belong to me, my little rabbit. You are a Swarmer. Yet how can that be? I do not remember biting you.”

  There seemed little point in concealing the information. “I was staying at my aunts with my sister when your pals attacked us. The woman bit me,” he said, watching the vampire slowly gaze towards the floor.

  Desmonus then chuckled. “That is a most intriguing answer. I do not doubt that your words do carry some element of truth.” He looked to the side. “Healiod, is Eleanor your First Father?”

  The huge vampire shook his head. “No, and this worm must be lying. The power to change only comes from you. She can not create, none of us have that privilege.”

  Desmonus grinned. “There, you see why I find you to be such an unnecessary distraction, my little rabbit? I can not explain your existence and that worries me. You see, I do not like you. I have never being comfortable in the presence of a thought thief. Your types are just not to be trusted.”

  The First Father took a step back and patted his companion’s backs. “I believe the only solution I have is to deny you your existence. This is a new world, and the rules have altered, that much I discern. Perhaps I will meet more like you?” He shrugged. “If that happens then their fate will be the same as yours. My little rabbit now belongs to you two. Consider him a gift in reward for your loyalty.”

  He tried to run but the two vampires lunged forward, wrapped their thick fingers around his wrists, and dragged him back.

  “The rich blood from a fresh turned vampire tastes like nectar. It will even bring back those half-forgotten memories from your very first feed.

  As Damien continued his hopeless attempt to break free, he caught Helix giving his companion a brief alarmed look.

  “You are generous as you are wise, my First Father. You being unable to explain this worm’s existence worries me. Although we are both so eager to drain this thing, I am worried that perhaps his blood might somehow be contaminated?” Healiod looked back at Helix before smiling. “Perhaps the best solution would be for the worm to meat the same fate as our now melted First Son?”

  The First Father burst out laughing. “Oh yes, I would enjoy witnessing that.” He pulled the shutter up over his head then bowed. “Healiod, lead the way.”

  Damien tried one more time to slide his arms out from the vice-like grip. Healiod jabbed him in the side from his troubles. He cringed again when the vampire raised his hand, this time he just pushed Damien’s head down to get him under the shutter. Even from here, he could see that shaft of hellish, white light, at the end of the aisle. He needed to do something. His life was now measured in seconds.

  ELEANOR! I need your help. Please tell me how to get out of this.

  He sensed little chance of his pleas reaching the female vampire but he couldn’t think of any other way out of this mess. The two vampires dragged him closer to the stream of light. He saw that the other vampire’s mess had now stopped bubbling, all that was left of him was just a thin film of oil-like material splashed over the flagstone.

  “Do you now wish you had stayed away?” enquired Helix.

  You beg like a dog, Damien. I was wrong to think that you could help me. This is the best way to end. I shall have to find another.

  No! Just give me a chance.

  Damien gasped and tried once more to escape. Healiod hit him again, but Damien just pushed the pain away and doubled his attempt to stop these monsters from dragging him closer.

  The First Father’s paranoia and suspicion rules his life. It helps him maintain power. Feed it, Damien.

  “Helix thinks you’re going to make him First Son!” Damien looked at Healiod. “He’s going to kill you, Helix, if you are made up.” Damien saw the confusion etched in the vampire’s expression from the result of his lie. He scanned his mind then looked back at Desmonus. “They have already fed, First Father. That’s why they didn’t want me. They both defied you. They laughed at your inability to probe their minds, they…”

  The air was blasted from his lungs when Healiod slammed both his fists into Damien’s guts.

  “Still your lying tongue” he shouted, dragging him closer to the light.

  Damien couldn’t do anything to stop them now, even if he wanted to. His whole body was beginning to shut down, that blow felt like all his internal organs were now flat against the back of his ribs. He then discovered that he was no longer moving. Damien gingerly opened his eyes to find the First Father standing over him.

  “I suspect that you are just saying anything to stop them from ending you. Of course you are, although you are fresh, your essence would do and say anything to stop your body from dying. If what you say is true then point their evidence. Do not delay or I will complete the task myself.”

  Damien saw the two vampire’s murderous looks and resisted the urge to give them the finger. He doubted that they’d understand the reference anyway. He slowly rolled onto his back, gritting his teeth at the agony flushing through his body. The First Father placed his hands on his hips and sighed. Damien pointed over to the back of a stall that sold second-hand books.

  Helix surprised him by falling to his knees. “Please, First Father, do not punish us. The temptation to feed was just too great to resist. The thought thief is correct;
we have fed on the blood of humans, despite you giving orders to fast.”

  Desmonus bent down and lifted Damien onto his feet. “Maybe you do have some use. If you are able to stay out of my mind, then your existence might stay with you until at least we meet up with the others.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  He jumped back onto the pavement to avoid a green delivery truck from turning his body into a red stain on the road. Cade leaned against the wall of the library, trying to calm himself down. He watched the vehicle disappear around the corner, no doubt heading for the outskirts of town and then off to God knows where. “As long as it’s away from here,” he muttered.

  Since his escape from those hooligans, Cade had seen quite a few locals, all heading out of the town, like rats deserting a sinking ship. He’d even asked a couple of people whom he knew by sight why the exodus. All he received in return were blank stares and replies that they were just going off for the weekend or they had a sudden desire to visit friends.

  Cade waited for two more cars to speed past him before daring to cross the road. He kept his eyes fixed upon his target, convinced that the building in front of him was where those bastards had taken his Katy. He suddenly stopped in the middle of the road and grinned at that thought. There was no doubt in his mind that she was his, no matter what some undead half-human twatface thought.

  He hurried across the now empty road and looked over to the entrance to the town’s sports centre. Every instinct in his body told him that this was the place where that deviant had taken Katy. Hell, even from here, standing outside the door, he believed that he could smell their foul stench.

  There was nobody around and the building looked abandoned. He knew that by now, the sports centre should be open and yet, when he tried the doors, he found that the place was locked up tight. Cade peered through the doors, trying to see if there was anyone around.

  “It looks like all the employees have all decided to go on a day trip as well.” He sighed, unsure of what he was going to do now. Cade turned around and looked at the carpark, there were a few cars here, so there must be somebody in the building. The carpark belonged to the sports centre; nobody else used it.

  There was one car parked in the corner that Cade did recognise. He wandered over to an ancient souped-up lime green Ford Escort. This car was a regular sight in this carpark, but not at this time though. The car belonged to one of the martial arts sparring partners, Colin Rushmore. He looked back at the building and frowned. It didn’t make any sense. Colin would never leave his beloved car here. He loved this more than he loved his wife. “Unless he was still inside?” Cade leaned against the side of the car and considered that possibility. Although it wasn’t unknown for Colin and his fellow weight training freaks to stay in their gym all day, they had never stayed all night. “Unless they had a lock in?”

  He ran his hands across the roof and told himself that gyms don’t do lock-ins. He stopped by the boot and crouched down to inspect the lock. “Lock-in or not, you shouldn’t have left your car here, buddy.” He reached into his back pocket, pulled out a small penknife, pushed the thinnest blade into the lock, and savagely twisted it to the left. Cade chuckled when the lock popped open.

  The boot swung up to reveal a black carpeted space, containing a green sports bag and a silver flask. Cade felt alongside the edge of the carpet until his fingers ran over a tiny metal clasp. He pushed that back and lifted up the carpet. He chuckled at the sight of Colin’s pride and joy.

  “Just be thankful that it’s me who found this,” he said, gently lifting Colin’s katana out of its hidden pocket. “I’ll give you it back, my friend,” he whispered, closing the boot and locking it up.

  He pulled the weapon out of its cover, marvelling at the quality, it really was a beautiful sword. “Oh dear, you poor ghouls really don’t know whom you’re messing with.” He replaced the sword back in the cover and strapped it to his back. For the first time since waking up, he actually felt like he could now defend himself. Although he wasn’t quite the master like Colin, he certainly knew how to wield a blade.

  “That is where they have taken Katy, I’m sure of it,” he muttered walking back to the building. On his through the carpark, he spotted half a brick, lying close by the wheel of a Land Rover. Cade stooped down to pick it up, knowing that he now had his own key.

  Three more cars sped past the sports centre and he noticed a couple of middle-aged women pushing a shopping trolley full of bedding, along the pavement. This place really was turning into a ghost town. How the hell were the authorities going to explain this mass exodus? He looked over to the right, past the town steeple, over to where the festival was due to start tonight, knowing that he had found his answer. He guessed that they would use them as some convenient scapegoat.

  Cade knew that if he didn’t find a way to halt this then a few jumped up councillors, banging on about disturbing the peace would be the least of their worries. He peered through the glass one last time before he stood a step back and launched the brick at the window, hoping it wouldn’t bounce back. The brick shattered the glass and disappeared inside.

  The noise of the glass breaking made his ears hurt and he knew that the sound must have travelled through the silent air for quite a distance. He shrugged, like he could give a shit anymore. He pushed out the last pieces of glass then pushed his way through the hole, being careful not to slice open his flesh on a couple of glass bits that he couldn’t move with his fingers.

  As soon as he entered the cool foyer, Cade saw that he’d just walked into a whole boatload of bad news. The air stunk of death and the walls were coated with dried blood. Even without looking more signs of any more slaughter, Cade knew that this wasn’t where Katy had been taken. He pulled out the katana and took another step into the foyer, grateful for the comforting weight of the weapon.

  Cade tried to slow down his breathing and watched where he stood, not wanting to give away his position. He glanced back at the broken glass and slammed his hand over his mouth to stop himself from falling about in a fit of hysterical laughter. He’d made enough fucking noise to wake the dead!

  Apart from his own heavy breathing, he heard nothing, apart from the air conditioners, and the humming of the vending machines beside the doors. Cade then saw the first body, at least what was left of it. The girl looked as though she had fallen into a combine harvester. He bent down, picked up a heavy coat lying on a chair and placed it over the worst of the damage. Cade didn’t know if he should continue, he knew that these things had to be put down but his priority lay in rescuing Katy. He was her only hope. He didn’t doubt that she was living on borrowed time. He looked up at the wall clock, it was just back midday, there were still plenty of hours left before the sun came down. Cade backed away, heading towards the broken door.

  He felt like the worlds biggest coward but what other choice did he have? Cade wouldn’t be able to live with himself if anything happened to her. “I’ll be back for you lot,” he hissed, averting his eyes from the mess on the floor. He had to come back. Cade owed it to that life of that poor girl whom those monsters had taken.

  He yelped when he heard the sound of something crashing to the ground beyond the reception desk. Cade crouched and moved to the side, taking up position behind the coke machine. The interior was too dark to see anything, he daren’t yell out. A dozen different images of a group of blood-thirsty vampires cascaded through his mind. “Because that’s really going to happen,” he muttered, feeling the warmth of the sun on his broad back.

  “Is there anyone in there?” he shouted feeling a little foolish for shouting into the dark room. Cade counted to ten before sighing, guessing that the wind blowing through the smashed door had probably knocked something down. “It’s time you left.”

  He had already decided where to start his search. The first place he needed to go was back to her house, hell, there was nowhere else to start. Apart from where she lived, he knew very little about the crowd whom she hung. Cade had certainly
no idea where her ex-boyfriend lived. Walking around the town for the next few hours, hoping to spot his car sounded like a fucking ridiculous idea. “You could borrow Colin’s car,” he said to himself, turning around to gaze into the carpark.

  “Help me!”

  Cade spun back around and ran over to the front desk, not caring if any of those things were around, he knew that voice. Where are you, buddy?” he shouted. Cade jumped onto the surface of the desk when he heard someone cry out.

  “Is that you, Cade? Of fuck, it is! God, please get me the fuck out of here!”

  “Are you trapped?” he shouted back.

  “I just need you to help me. Please hurry up!”

  Several thoughts went through his mind, pushing out the most pressing one of rushing in there to help his mate, Colin Rushmore. For a start, although that was his voice, it did not sound a bit like him. Cade detected something disturbing under that tone, as if his friend was laughing at him.

  “Are you okay, in there?” He almost fell off the desk when three pairs of bright scarlet lights peered out from out of the darkness. Cade jumped back, watching in horror as three figures crept out from the dark room. He saw Colin in front, smiling at Cade. His huge teeth already stained with the blood of some poor victim. He held the sword out in front of him, determined not to be the next one.

  “That’s my katana, you bastard! Give me it back!”

  He didn’t believe he was hearing this. The sly oozing voice had just vanished. This monster sounded just like the guy he hung around with. Cade almost did just that. His lightening fast reflexes saved him from becoming another victim as the two vampires beside Colin lunged forward at incredible speed, their impossibly long arms reaching towards Cade’s body. He saw the long fingernails heading towards his tender skin at the last moment and jumped back, clumsily swinging the katana across their path. The blade missed them by inches but it did cause the three vampires to shrink back, hissing at him.