Sticky Valves: Book 1 of the Saddleworth Vampire Series

by Angela Blythe

  ‘I don’t need milk anymore, Mark. So I don’t need you either.’

  He only felt the strike on his head for a second then he crumpled to the frozen floor. A milk bottle smashing on Christine’s path, like a scream, that no living person heard. They dragged him down the lane towards The Grange where his fate would be decided.

  Teresa stamped her feet against the cold. It was gently snowing again and she thought about how she would love to be back in bed. She was waiting for Laura, who owned this mobile coffee station. They would alternate days, one opening up at six am and the other would turn up at seven-thirty am. Today was Teresa's early day and Laura would still be snuggled up in bed, she bet. She was parked outside the little railway station in Friarmere and they did great business here every day. Usually it was people on their way to work, one way into Manchester and the other way to Leeds, picking up a latte and a chocolate muffin. They would also get the odd dog walker or teenager off to school or college. This was a great job in the summer. She was done by eleven, and Laura paid her well, so she was free the rest of the day to do what she liked. She warmed her hands on the coffee machine. At least she had that. Plus, several layers of thermal underwear. It wasn’t that bad. She was waiting for her regulars. Over time, she knew who wanted what, who was in a rush and who wanted to stop and have a chat. Teresa did really like this job. The next train was due in in five minutes and then would carry on towards the city. Not many people got off here, not many people at all. They were on their way from the other little villages, to the city. No reason to get off here and not enough time to get a coffee from her. So when the train drew in and the people got on she was surprised to see one person get off. It was very dark. It would be another hour before it would be a light and there was still no sign of dawn at all. She saw the man coming towards her, from the station platform and thought he was up for a welcome cup of coffee, to keep him warm on his way home, or wherever he was off to.

  ‘Morning. What would you like?’ Teresa asked. Turning towards her coffee machine.

  ‘Something sweet,’ he chuckled.

  ‘Ah, right you are,’ she said as looked in her basket full of goodies. ‘We have flapjacks, muffins and some rocky roads, or I could do you a coffee with syrup. Are you after a sugar rush?’

  ‘Yessss…’ He hissed as she felt her scarf being grabbed and twisted round her neck. He wrenched her backwards by it, his strength sudden, and overwhelming. She quickly tried to grab hold of the coffee machine to pull herself away and back from his grasp. She saw the coffee machine moving further away from her. He drew the scarf closer to his mouth. When he got it there, no longer useful, he threw it on to the ground and bit into her neck. She yelped in pain as he bit down further and twisted her head. He knew the way to stop that noise.

  Laura came early at seven and from a distance saw that there was a queue at the coffee van. Great! Business was booming, she thought. She walked up to the front to help Teresa and Teresa wasn’t there. Just a long queue of people, looking with hope at the steaming coffee maker.

  ‘Where’s she gone?' She said to the others.

  ‘She wasn't here,’ one of them said. 'But we thought she would be back soon, so we started the queue.’

  ‘I’ve got to catch a train soon,’ another said, ‘but I might as well stand here instead of up there, if there’s a chance of coffee.’

  ‘Okay,’ she said, ‘maybe she's got a problem or been caught short,’ she said reassuringly and started to make the coffee for the people that were waiting. When Teresa didn't turn up after a while, Laura was worried that she must have had an accident and decided that she would contact the police. They said they would fully investigate it and she would hear from them in due course. At eleven am she shut the van up and drove it home, nervously.

  Norman had asked Michael to take a delivery at The Grange. He hadn’t said what, but he said to just leave the delivery outside. A truck drove down the lane, its sides scraping along the brambles either side. Michael saw it on its way down. It looked like there were two motorbikes in the back of the truck. The truck pulled up outside the front door of The Grange. Michael came out and walked to the back of the truck, where two men were undoing the back of the truck and fitting a ramp from the back down to the ground. One of the men noticed him and turned around.

  ‘Mr Morgan?’ He asked.

  ‘No, I am his representative, he asked me to take delivery. He is indisposed. What are these? Two motorbikes.’

  ‘No mate. Two snowmobiles. Like a motorbike for the snow. Great fun. Pretty rare in these parts too.'

  ‘Snowmobiles! I have never seen one.' He peered over the side of the truck into the bed. The snowmobiles were black, shiny and absolutely gorgeous.

  ‘I think I’m going to have fun this winter!’ Michael said smiling at the two men.

  They slid each snowmobile down the ramp and set it on the drive. Then shut the truck bed up and put the ramp in the back.

  ‘Just sign here please?’ Michael signed the paperwork with a flourish. They passed him a copy and a brown envelope that contained the paperwork and two sets of keys.

  Michael waved them goodbye and watched until they were at the top of the drive. Then he got on one of the snowmobiles and put his hands on the handlebars. He imagined himself swishing effortlessly through the snow on it. Just like James Bond. Him on one and The Master on another. Michael reckoned Kate would find him very sexy on one of these.

  It snowed lightly for most of the day. Lightly but incessantly, it was starting to get quite a covering and the gritting lorries were only just managing to keep the roads open. It seemed to go dark earlier, with the grey snow clouds above them, blocking out most of the light. After tea, the phone calls between members of the band began. Some of these were a single call that went on all evening. Some were calling each band member for gossip, like bees collecting pollen. The more people they spoke to, with each little titbit passed on, the more excited they got.

  Sue spoke to Ernie and he assured her that he had told Stuart everything, apart from their personal opinions and that it now would be investigated and out of his hands. He reassured her that they had no need to worry. The bloodhounds of the law were on it now. She was not convinced, however.

  Bob called Adam and told him the story about the sheep and the missing animals and that Liz had almost confirmed their suspicions.

  ‘I can’t believe that this is actually happening in our village. I mean Bob, it is great and all that. But it is a scary thing as well. It’s alright when you hear of stuff happening to other people but honestly I don’t want to come up against one myself.’

  ‘Yeah, I get you. It’s the only topic of conversation in our house and I love it. But there is no denying that I go to bed and worry most of the night that I will be attacked by a vampire in my bed.’

  ‘That’s natural. It’s self-preservation, Bob. It would be hard though, if it was your Uncle, or someone you knew was normally nice, and you had to defend yourself. That first step will be a big one. You are attacking a person and don't have to fear the consequences.’

  ‘Adam, if they attack you first then it is self-defence, whether they are human or not. Don’t hold back. It’ll be you or them. It’s as simple as that.’

  Colin sat in his house in silence and darkness. He was waiting for the crunch of his wife's, footsteps on the snowy drive. She was the local florist. Colin had been waiting for her to shut up shop for the night. Tired of feasting on cats he now decided to take the next step. His need to turn Wendy, came from the depths of his soul. He ached for her, and could no longer hold back. After satisfying his initial madness, he was now in control. Before…..well he probably would have killed her in his blood lust. Tonight, he was only going to have a small, sweet taste of her, as he wanted a companion to sit in this house with him forever. Colin didn’t like the idea of being on his own or constantly part of the larger group.

  Firstly smelling the flowers she worked with, he soon heard her on the path.
He stood and moved to the door, straightening his shirt and pulling his collar straight with both hands. She was having trouble getting the key into the door in the dark. It then found it’s way, clicked and the door opened a crack.

  ‘Colin? Why, are there no lights on?' She called out.

  ‘Take my hand,’ he said. She jumped as the words were so close to where she stood. He took her hand and pulled her through the door. ‘Is this a surprise?’ She asked excitedly.

  She never got a reply. He was on her in a moment. Colin tried to make it as painless as possible, as she was such a small lady and he knew that she had a really low pain threshold. He was quick and gentle. She soon was lying in his arms, as he stroked her hair.

  ‘There, there,’ he said gently and kissed her. They embraced. All was now well. Colin could move forward happily.

  Stephen was in The Grange. He was itching to go out. That day a few of them had brought Mark back early in the morning and now he was one of them too. He was plenty of fun so Stephen and Michael were pleased that he was now one of their gang. The Master had had a long talk to Mark. They weren’t present. Mark had wandered off as soon as it was dark and The Master had not stopped him. This was unusual. How would he be controlled? If he wasn’t there, they couldn’t mate around with them. Stephen was bored. The devil makes work for idle hands.

  Stephen wanted to visit a girl from their Band, who he had very much fancied before he was turned and still found he did after. He was pestering Michael all the time to go out and The Master was hunting, so he kept on, until he finally wore Michael down. The Master had said that Michael was in charge of Stephen, so Stephen forced him to go out, by saying he would go anyway without him. Stephen did not feel the cold anymore but Michael certainly did. He was wrapped up warm and in fact had popped Stephen's coat on top of his own, as he did not need it. They walked out into the snow. Stephen had not said where they were going, just out. Her house was not very far from The Grange.

  ‘You know, you were right when you told me you can get any girl you want.’

  ‘I’m always right. Why the surprise?’ Michael looked at him and raised his eyebrows but Stephen ignored him.

  ‘The girl I want is Amy.’

  ‘What are you planning to do with her. Turn her?’

  ‘Eventually, yes.’

  ‘So what are you doing first?’

  ‘What do you think?’ He said. ‘Do you realise that I can make girls do what I like now? They enter a receptive state and I just have to think about what I want them to do and they do it automatically. This is the best feeling and I thank you for bringing this to me. You were right, my dreams really do come true and I feel so powerful.’

  ‘Do you have any regrets, Stephen?’ Michael asked very interested in the answer.

  ‘None at all. I do not miss anything.’

  ‘I am just wondering about, when it's my turn, you know.’

  ‘No, I do not miss one thing about my old drab and stupid life. I was doing nothing with it, so The Master did the right think to take it.’

  They arrived at Amy's house and tried to look through the gaps in the curtains. They could see her, but no one else. The television was very loud. Michael noticed that they were leaving footprints everywhere but hoped that these would be blown away by the snow. When they walked around the back Michael tried the door but it was locked. Stephen took the handle and pressed down and in with a great deal of force. The door swung open, the handle broken and Michael stepped inside. He turned to Stephen.

  ‘Come in.’ Michael said. Stephen went into the kitchen, which was dark and smelled of stir-fry and he shut the door behind them. Michael could hear that Amy was in the living room still watching the television. He looked back at Stephen and he nodded to say go ahead. Michael’s heart was beating so loudly and he could hear it inside his head. He swung open the door and Amy stood up fast, turning towards them. Stephen was behind Michael and was trying to get in front of him so he could get Amy to look into his eyes and compel her to do his bidding. But Michael seemed to be the one wanting to call all the shots as usual, as he was supposed to be in charge of Stephen. So in he went. Of course she started shouting at them.

  ‘What are you doing in my house!? I am in my bloody pyjamas.’ She strode up to Michael as if to slap his face. ‘What the hell do you think you are doing!? Who the hell do you think you are!? If this is anything about Band, you don’t just walk into someone’s house!’ She then noticed that Stephen was in the doorway. ‘What are you doing here, as well?’ She stopped. Her next words stopping short halfway up her dry throat. She started to fear about what was going on and thought I am going to get attacked here. What are they after? She looked again at Stephen and she knew. Amy started to scream and Stephen flew over and put his hands around her throat in an instant, cutting the first scream off in mid-cry. He squeezed, so hard, then he heard a crack and he let go. She fell to the floor. Instantly dead.

  ‘What have you done? You can't do anything with her now,’ said Michael.

  ‘I don't know. Maybe you can still,’ said Stephen sadly. He looked down at Amy, with her lilac pyjamas covered in owls and her fluffy white slippers and her lovely blonde hair covering her face.

  ‘And what if you can't? What are we going to tell The Master? We can't say that you bungled it up again.'

  ‘We’ll just say it was her own fault,’ Stephen said.

  ‘Oh yes,’ said Michael sarcastically, ’we'll just say she strangled herself shall we, and The Master will believe that surely, Stephen!’

  Stephen looked at Michael and said nothing. He stood there blankly and shrugged. When Michael realised he wasn’t going to come up with a good excuse, he resigned himself to the fact that he would have to sort it, again. Then Stephen moved towards Amy.

  ‘I will have to see what I can do about it, maybe I can make something happen.’ He picked up Amy, like she was just a rag doll, in his arms. ‘She’s really soft and warm. I’ll take her upstairs. Just clean up any signs of us Michael. I won't be long.’

  Michael sat down on the sofa and thought about how he had been given a difficult job looking after Stephen and that he would be glad when he was turned or when Stephen was trained up. Michael was sure he wasn’t going to be this much trouble, when he was finally turned. It wasn't long before Stephen was back down.

  ‘Er….I tried to turn her but she was having none of it,’ He sat down next to Michael. ‘You will have to ring The Master to sort this one out, Michael.’

  ‘You do know that you have got me in a lot of trouble now, Stephen. He might not turn me for this. This is not my fault and make sure you tell The Master. I was supposed to be looking after you and you went off half-cocked.’

  ‘You were in my way. I couldn’t catch her eye to do my hypnotism thingy.’

  Michael realised Stephen might be right there. However, Stephen was still more to blame and he wasn’t going to take the rap for this one.

  ‘I am going to say I tried to warn you.’

  ‘Don’t worry, I am going to say that she strangled herself,’ he said knowingly, nodding his head.

  ‘Well you are a bloody idiot, then,’ said Michael under his breath and picked up his phone to call Norman.

  17 – Tea Towel

  The first caroling job always happened in the middle of November. Ernie liked to get ahead of the game and said if the shops could do Christmas from September they certainly could do it from November. He had never had a complaint yet. They walked the streets of Friarmere playing a selection of carols, in cul-de-sacs, lanes, and in the middle of the village. They did it in groups of ten. One party doing a particular part of Friarmere one day, and another ten doing the places the original group didn’t get round to a couple of days later. The idea of this was so people didn't get tired or too cold. The percussionists had nothing to do on these nights, so went round with committee members knocking on people's doors asking for donations to their local Band. It had been snowing earlier on in the day but now it wa
s clear and bright. Ernie had promised that if it was too snowy their job would get cancelled but as he knew it would be fine that evening, it was an empty promise.

  They would start at the bottom of the village and wind their way up through the streets, one by one up the hill. As they got higher, towards the moors, it got significantly colder.

  Wee Renee had offered to provide some mulled wine and mince pies at the end of the job at her house, so they were all looking forward to this treat. She also said that she had plenty of information to impart about the current bad situation they were in. They were just gathered together waiting for the last couple of people when Laura came up with a tin to shake at passers-by.

  ‘Hey, I just saw Keith,’ she said.

  ‘Did he speak to you?’

  ‘No, Ernie.’

  ‘What did you say? Are you sure that it was Keith?’ Ernie asked. It had been a while since he had seen him and if did see him, he would be giving him a piece of his mind.

  ‘If it wasn't him he has a double, who also wears a police uniform. Him and Stuart had their truncheons out as well. Ernie, didn’t you say that you had spoken to the police the other day.’