Undying Vengeance

by Burnham, K. L.

  Katrina whirled around waiting for Victor to catch up. “Are you coming with me or shall I go by myself?” She joked.

  Victor was at her side in a second, taking her hand in his. “I’m ready, my dear. Let’s make this a night to remember.” He looked into her eyes and smiled, using powers of illusion to put her at ease and bend to her to his will. Who knew he still had it in him to play the part of a romantic.

  They walked together in silence for a few city blocks to Victor’s relief. Katrina tried to release her hand from his grasp and he tightened his hand around hers.

  “I don’t think we’re going the right way, Victor.” The nervousness rose in her voice.

  Victor stopped and shifted to face her, mesmerizing her with his gaze. “Yes, this is the right way. You need to trust me. I have many exciting things planned for our first evening together.” He smiled wickedly, caressing her cheek with his hand. “Trust me. This is a surprise you will never forget.”

  Katrina nodded her head staring at Victor in awe and allowed him to guide her down the street.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Loneliness filled the home once so full of happiness. Armani paced back and forth in the living room thinking, always thinking about Simone. She consumed his thoughts like his music had when he first rose to stardom.

  Wood crackled and the heat from the fireplace’s flames was comforting. Armani rolled up his sleeve and saw the tattoo he had had done when he and Simone were on a date. It was beautiful, yet simple; a small black circle encasing a red heart with the letters ‘A’ and ‘S’ for Armani and Simone forever. They got matching tats to symbolize their undying love for one another. Undying? “Ha, that’s a crock of shit!” Armani hollered.

  A knock on the door startled him. ‘Go away,’ he thought.

  The knocking got louder. Armani wrapped his hand around the necklace with Simone’s ring attached and pressed it to his chest. “I love you, my Simone.” He said and walked toward the door. He wondered who would be coming over this late at night.

  His two dogs were on the defense, hair raised, growling while they glared at the door.

  Armani stopped walking. The chill he felt at the funeral home hit him. He glanced at the book about Vampirism. It remained untouched on the coffee table. Fear shot him like a bullet. What if the shadowy figure he had seen at the funeral home was here? The creature had said it would come for him.

  “Stop your nonsense,” he commanded. Both dogs cocked their head’s to the side. Their focus was on whatever stood behind the door.

  Armani gripped the door handle and slowly turned it. “Who is it?” He asked, his hand shaking.

  “Open the damn door, Armani,” Rex ordered.

  Relieved, Armani asked, “Who’s with you?” He thought he heard someone talking to Rex.

  Rex sighed, irritated. “Gabe is with me. It’s time to talk business. Just let us in.”

  Armani opened the door not hiding his disgust seeing Gabe Davis, their band’s manager, standing beside Rex with a smug smile on his face.

  “Hello, Armani. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen one another, let alone spoke. You avoid phone calls like the plague.” Gabe said, extending his hand to Armani. Armani didn’t return the favor. Gabe shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and waited to be invited in.

  Rex hugged Armani. “Well, are you going to let us in or force us to stand out here in the cold all night?” He laughed.

  Stepping aside, Armani motioned for them to come in. “Make yourself at home. I apologize for the mess.” Scattered beer cans, trash, food, and balled up papers covered the floor. He cleared a spot on the couch for each of them to sit. “Have a seat.” He said and walked to the mini bar.

  Gabe’s groaned. “How in the hell can you live like this?” Shaking his head, he asked, “Why don’t you have your housekeepers come back and do their job instead of paying them for not working?”

  Holding a bottle of wine, he handed Rex and Gabe a glass. “That matter doesn’t concern you, Gabe. It’s my business what I do with my house, my life, and how I choose to support my employees.” He sat and poured wine into each of the glasses. “It’s not their fault I want time alone. I don’t want to lose them, so I have chosen to pay them during their absence.” Armani took a sip of wine and set down the glass hard. “They’re too good of workers to lose even one of them, so I’ve chosen to insure the fact that they will come back.” His tone made it clear that the conversation was over.

  Rex noticed the dark circles under Armani’s eyes. His friend had been to hell and back. A mask of white bandages covered the burned deformed side of his face. “Do you have to wear those bandages all night?” Rex asked.

  “Yes, I do, but I don’t always.” He said and leaned back in the black leather chair and ruffled his hair. “My face still hurts like hell but not half as bad.”

  “What does it look like? Is it healing?” Gabe asked, concerned.

  Rex shot him a venomous look. That was not the way to win Armani over if they ever hoped to convince him to rejoin the band.

  Armani tipped his head back. A menacing laugh filled the house. “It looks like a piece of raw charred meat.” He scoffed and leaned forward. “I guess you could say I resemble Erik from ‘Phantom of the Opera’.” He stood and crossed his arms. “Why are you asking about my appearance? Oh, and to answer your question, no, you can’t see my face, Gabe.”

  Rex intervened. “He wasn’t asking to see your face. Gabe was simply trying to make conversation.”

  Armani rolled his eyes. “Come on, Rex. We both know he’s only here to talk me into joining the band, touring, producing albums, and perhaps a possible interview or two on national television.” His icy gaze returned to Gabe. He pointed at him. “You don’t give a damn about me. All you care about is the money you can earn off my hard work. Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that I’m in the process of grieving?” Armani asked, his anger rising like the temperature in the desert. “I’m not a freak show for the world and media to see so you can make money off of my humiliation!” Armani picked up an empty beer bottle and threw it against the wall, shattering it into pieces.

  Gabe’s face turned crimson red. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Armani. To answer your question, yes, I would love to see you in the band again. You have too much talent to just fade away in your dark depression. You are an artist with the skills of a master musician.” He paused and cleared his throat. “You can play almost any instrument, sing like an angel from Heaven, compose music and write lyrics.” Gabe looked down and kicked an empty beer can. “Armani, you are a gifted man blessed with the ability to reach people through music.”

  Armani faced Gabe and saw what looked like sincerity in his eyes. What Gabe said was true but he wasn’t ready to face the world. Ashamed at having thrown a temper tantrum Armani busied himself picking up the pieces of glass from the beer bottle.

  Rex bent down, helping Armani pick up the glass. Rex glanced at Armani and saw tears flowing. Pain shot through Rex’s heart like an arrow from a hunter’s bow. Rex realized how much pain Armani was in physically, emotionally, and mentally and his heart went out to him. He wished they were alone because he wanted to offer a shoulder for his friend to cry on but he couldn’t, not with Gabe present. Armani was a private man and would never forgive him if he did this.

  Gabe interrupted the awkward silence in the room. “We should be going now, Rex.” Gabe walked toward them stopping near Armani. “I have something I’d like you to at least look at, Armani.” He said, pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket.

  Rex stood and held out his hand. “I’ll give it to him.” He stated, taking the contract from Gabe. “Go outside and wait for me in the car,” Rex ordered.

  Gabe hesitated and sighed. He hoped to be able to talk with Armani about the interview on Dateline, the money, the publicity and the overall closure for the public on what really happened. Selling an idea was his specialty, but it looked as if he wouldn’t get his chance.
This time, at least. Persistence was his middle name and he wasn’t about to give up. The interview on Dateline was a lifetime opportunity for the band but more importantly for himself.

  “Please.” Rex stated, growing impatient with Gabe. “I have no problem throwing you out if you won’t listen to a simple command.” His eyes sparked with anger like stars in the darkest night sky.

  Gabe turned and walked to the door. “Have a good night, Armani. I will be talking to you soon as you are aware I don’t give up easily.” He slammed the door.

  Armani sighed, relieved and stood. “Thank you for getting him out of here.”

  “That’s what friends are for,” Rex said. “Do you want to talk to me about anything?”

  Armani glanced at the cathedral ceiling, lines of exhaustion around his dark eyes. “No, I wish to be left alone.” He realized his words had slapped his friend across the face. “I’m sorry, Rex. You know me better than anyone and right now isn’t the time or place to discuss my feelings, let alone a deal with that madman, Gabe. All he cares about is money and nothing else.” Armani grabbed the paper from Rex’s hand and read aloud. Disgust creased his brow. “Pathetic!” He screamed. “I will not become a spectator for money.” Armani whirled around, spit on the paper and handed it to Rex. “Tell Gabe to take this contract and shove it up his ass as far as it will go.”

  Rex was concerned. “I feel you falling away, my friend.” Rex whispered.

  Armani broke down, crying and pointed to his face. “This is my curse that I must live with forever.” He put his hand on his chest and continued. “And this is where the scars will forever remain.” Wiping tears, he walked away from Rex, extended his arms and spun in a circle. “Now there is only emptiness in this house. Darkness and despair are my only companions.”

  “I don’t know what to say, man. Let me help you.” Rex blurted, knowing he sounded foolish.

  Armani motioned to the door. “You can help me by leaving.” He said without emotion. “I wish to be alone.”

  Rex walked away, his heart hurt for his friend. He was speechless. Rex turned briefly to look at Armani before leaving. “Good night.”

  The door shut and Armani was once again alone in darkness, loneliness, and despair.

  Gabe’s car’s engine hummed outside, but Gabe was nowhere to be found. ‘Where the hell did he go? It’s cold and dark out here.’ Rex thought. “Damn it.” Rex muttered. He was forced to look for him.

  Rex zipped his jacket to his chin and stomped toward the backyard. A piercing scream stopped him.

  “Gabe!” He screamed. “Where are you? Answer me!” Rex jogged in the direction of the scream.

  He saw a shadow near the entry to the woods and ran towards it. “Gabe!” A tall dark figure hovered over Gabe, who lay helpless on the forest floor.

  A large hawk flew in the night sky and shrieked. Rex’s heart rate sped up. That was the same hawk he had seen days ago that also looked like the hawk on the cover of the Vampirism book in Armani’s house. He stopped one hundred yards from Gabe and the dark figure.

  “Who are you?” Rex yelled.

  The shadowy figure stood tall, lifting Gabe to his feet and shoved him toward Rex. “That is none of your business. I must advise you that this man, Gabe, is not welcome here or near Armani’s property.” Donovan’s eyes glowed crimson red.

  Gabe, face as white as a sheet, ran toward Rex and fell when he reached his feet.

  “Be advised that I keep an eye on this property, and if you violate my orders, there will be a price to pay.” Donovan boomed, pointing at both men. “Heed my warning.” With a swirl of his black cape, he disappeared.

  Gabe coughed, stood and shot a backward glance at the forest and ran to his car. Rex ran after him, clenching his chest until they reached the car.

  Gabe got in the car faster than Bo jumped into General Lee on the Dukes of Hazard.

  “Get in!” Gabe screamed, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead.

  Rex slammed the door and Gabe took off like a Nascar driver. Rex glanced at Gabe noticing his hands were clenching the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white.

  “What the hell happened back there?” Rex asked his breath labored.

  Gabe punched the window hard. “I don’t know, honestly.” He cleared his throat, catching his breath. “I was sitting in the car waiting for you when all of a sudden this thing in a black cape with unusually long fingernails tapped the window. I locked the door and tried to get a look at its face, but I couldn’t see a damn thing in the dark . . . .” His voice trailed off.

  Rex looked in the direction of Armani’s house and saw the silhouette of the hawk dance in the night sky against the full moon. He shook his head and stared at the road ahead of them. “What happened after that?” Rex asked not sure he wanted to know.

  Gabe sipped the cold coffee sitting in the cup holder. “The doors unlocked themselves, he reached in, grabbed me and we ended up at the entrance of the forest.” Shaking his head as if he didn’t believe what he was saying, he continued. “We didn’t walk. He held me by my arms and we were flying. It’s not human, whatever it is.”

  Rex thought about the book on Vampirism sitting in Armani’s house. The hawk on the front, the weird occurrences Armani had been experiencing and this strange creature in the forest. Rex shivered.

  “What are you thinking about?” Gabe asked. “You have that look on your face that says you know something, like you’re putting the pieces of a puzzle together. You know the missing piece. What the hell is going on, Rex?”

  Rex ignored the question while he analyzed the situation.

  The highway was a welcome sight. Merging onto the highway, Gabe muttered a slew of cuss words under his breath at the traffic.

  “Well, we’re almost to your house. I’m heading home after I drop you off.” Gabe stated. “Now, tell me what you know.” Anger caressed every word. “I nearly lost my life back there. The black caped creature threatened to kill me if I ever made contact with Armani again.”

  Rex fidgeted with his hands and said, “I believe the creature is a vampire and for what ever reason he wants Armani and will kill anyone who gets in his way.” Rex explained why he believed it was a vampire for the next ten minutes. “And that hawk is always around Armani’s house. I’ve even seen that bird around there when Simone was alive.” Rex rubbed his chin. “That hawk has the oddest coloring. Have you ever seen a black hawk with a white patch on its chest?”

  Irritated, Gabe pulled into Rex’s drive. “Not until tonight. That hideous bird was flying above the vampire, so you call it, when he had me pinned down. All I remember is the color and its cold yellow eyes. Watching you like a hawk has new meaning to me now.” Gabe laughed for a minute, but became serious just as quick. “I thought it was going to pluck my eyes out with its sharp beak.” Gabe patted Rex’s shoulder and bid him good night. “I won’t let that creature stop me from making money. Believe me I will be contacting Armani again. Since you seem to think what we saw was a vampire I’ll approach Armani in the daylight.” Toying with his seatbelt, he rolled his head back and laughed. “Vampires sleep during the day, right? Which means no harm can come my way. Legend has it they can’t come into the sunlight or come out during the day because they will die.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard.” Rex turned his head and made eye contact with Gabe. “But, if I were you, I would leave Armani alone. I may be wrong, but maybe, just maybe this thing isn’t a vampire and it’s something more powerful,” he said in a serious tone.

  Gabe dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand. “I guess the truth will come out eventually.” Gabe shifted the car into reverse signaling the conversation was over. “Have a good night, Rex.”

  “Please be careful.” Rex said and stepped out of the car.

  He watched Gabe drive away and had a sinking feeling in his gut that it may be the last time he saw Gabe alive again. Greed would bury Gabe one day.

  Rex pivoted and walked to the steps of
his home mumbling to himself. “I suppose the phrase, ‘Pride cometh before the fall’ should be ‘Greed cometh before the fall.’” Rex said to no one. Rex sighed, looked at the full moon and opened the door to his home. “God have mercy on your soul, Gabe.”

  Rex turned on a few lights and sat on the brown couch. He picked up his phone to call Armani and warn him of what just happened at his house.

  “Come on, man. Answer the phone.” Rex said, rubbing his forehead.

  Armani allowed himself a simple pleasure tonight. Sitting in the hot tub, he slowly sipped wine. The constant interruption of his phone ringing angered him. It had to be Rex or Gabe. He was sure he pissed them both off, but didn’t care.

  Armani slid down until the hot bubbly water reached his neck. He put his head back and stared at the night sky. The full white moon looked so close to earth, it seemed to be reaching out for him.

  The phone wouldn’t stop ringing. “Bloody hell,” Armani muttered and stepped out of the hot tub. He wrapped a towel around his waist, walked to the bedroom and checked the phone. Of course, it was Rex. Armani silenced the phone. The last thing he felt like doing was talking to him.

  Armani was halfway to the hot tub when he heard the doorbell ring. Agitated, he sighed and threw the towel on the bed and rummaged through the drawers for something to wear. He threw on a black sweat suit and slicked back his hair.

  ‘Rex, why do you have to be so persistent?’ He thought and rolled his eyes.

  Armani stopped and stared at a picture of Simone and him hanging on the wall. His eyes moistened and his heart bled. It was taken at Manhattan Park a few months before the assault. They were standing in front of the large black horse sculpture. The sun shone through the blue sky and a fountain spurted water from behind the horse. Simone had a purple dress on that showed off her lovely toned legs. Her hair cascaded around her shoulders to her breasts. The smile on her face said she was the happiest lady in the world. Armani stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist. He studied the way she was gripping his hands and longed for her touch. “I would give my life to be able to hold and touch you again, my Simone. I am not complete without you.” He said and caressed her cheek with his thumb. “I love you.”