Armani was silent. He had nothing to say to Donovan. He wanted to visit Simone and see if she would speak to him again. His heart longed to hear her voice, even if only in his mind.
Rex ran toward the living room. “I’m coming with you.” He stated breathless. “I’m not sitting here helpless waiting for you.” He was halted at the door with Donovan’s long strong arm. Gulping in air, he stopped.
“You are going nowhere.” Donovan stated. It was an order. “You have seen and heard too much.”
Armani rushed to his friend’s side. “You are not crossing him over to a life of damnation and eternal hell.” His voice rose. He and Donovan stood toe to toe like two dogs ready to fight for the alpha rank.
“Have no fear. I have no intention of doing so,” Donovan said. Lifting his arm, he placed it around Rex’s shoulder. “He deserves an explanation of everything that has happened past, present and also what the future holds.” He smiled at Armani and gestured toward the door. “Be on your way, my friend.”
Armani grabbed his jacket sliding into it with ease, grabbed his car keys and hustled out the door into the cold winter morning.
Rex watched with an aching heart as Armani left. Gabe was locked up in the dog kennel. He tried to move but his feet felt like they were cemented to the floor.
“What about Gabe, Donovan?” Rex asked. Armani’s going to wonder what the hell our manager is doing locked up.”
Donovan smiled. “Don’t worry, that’s been taken care of.” Drifting to the window, he looked out at the morning sun sparkling on the white snow. His eyes skimmed to the kennel. Gabe was inside the doghouse trying to keep warm. “There’s not a chance in hell he will see Gabe.” He faced Rex and held up a finger. “Number one, Gabe is in the doghouse.” He held a second finger in the air and said, “And number two, I have cast a spell on the kennel so even if Armani were to go inside the doghouse, Gabe will be invisible to him.”
Rex nodded his approval, walked to the couch and gathered up the blankets and began folding them.
“Come Rex, sit down. I believe I owe you an explanation.” Donovan floated to the bar and picked up two glasses. “Do you have a preference on a drink, my friend?” He asked over his shoulder, his long hair swaying like the North wind had swept through.
“Brandy sounds like a wonderful drink to discuss serious issues over. Thank you.” Rex said.
Donovan returned with two glasses of brandy. He handed one to Rex and sat across from him. “It’s a good brandy. I hope you’re pleased.” Donovan lifted his glass to his mouth and swallowed, licking his lips. Rex noticed how long his fingers were. Chilled, he drank faster hoping the Brandy would warm him. When he had Rex’s full attention Donovan stated, “Let’s start from the beginning.” Donovan told the story from centuries ago when the Dark One’s began their reign on earth.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Armani sped down the road faster than a race car driver. He shook his head and tried to figure out why he was seeing everything so clearly. His vision was beyond perfect. He turned his head and looked out the window. He saw deep into the forest, not just the trees. Maybe that’s what they mean about seeing the forest for the trees, he thought.
He cursed realizing he had forgotten his ski mask at home. He didn’t want anyone to see his face like this. He was a vampire now, but unfortunately crossing over didn’t correct physical scars and ailments. He leaned into the steering wheel, perched himself forward and gazed at his reflection in the mirror. His face stared back at him. Were the tales about vampire’s only myths? He assumed you weren’t able to see your reflection. Guess that theory was wrong.
“You’re a pathetic creature!” He shouted at the face staring back. The left side of his face was ugly. What he wouldn’t give to have a normal face, the face that Simone fell in love with years ago. He turned his head to the undamaged side of his face and smiled. He had to admit, he was a handsome man. It would be impossible to count how many women wanted to hook up with him after shows, but he had more integrity than that. Once he met Simone he only had eyes for her and no other woman in the world would ever compare to her perfection.
He slammed his fist on the steering wheel and turned into the cemetery. Never again would he see her perfect face and the way her eyes lit up when she smiled.
Driving to Simone’s grave he scanned the tombstones reading the names and inscriptions. He hoped they were resting in peace. Knowing other people mourned the loss of loved ones was a comfort to him. It was a sense of not being alone and being the only one with a bleeding heart.
He stared into the distance. Rage filled his heart and soul. He accelerated and reached Simone’s gravesite. He parked the car and ran to his beloved’s grave.
“Who did this? Why would someone do this to my Simone’s place of rest?” He asked staring at the sky as if expecting God to give him an answer.
He slowly lowered his eyes, stopping when he reached the angels face. Her nose was chipped. What the hell happened here? He wondered.
The roses he bought lye scattered on the snow, the vase shattered into a hundred pieces. Dropping to his knees, he placed his head in his hands and wept. Why was the snow turning red? He wiped his cheeks and looked at his hand. He was crying tears of blood. He tilted his head and saw the word, ‘whore’ in red spray paint covering Simone’s inscription. Rage flowed through his veins. He screamed and ran to the nearest tree kicking and hitting it.
“I will kill whoever did this!”
He flinched. Out of his peripheral vision he could see a car with lights flashing headed his way. The car pulled up beside him and the driver rolled down the window.
“Sir, is there a problem?” The security guard asked.
Armani’s face hid no emotion. “Yes, there is a slight problem.” He said pointing at Simone’s grave. “Let me ask you something. Do you know how to do your job?”
The security guard looked shocked. “Of course I do. Who are you to ask me such a question?”
“I am your worst nightmare,” he said, eyes red. It felt good to put fear in a human. He viewed this man as his enemy. Security should’ve prevented this from happening. If this cop wanna be was doing his job, that is.
The man looked scared. “Sir, have you been drinking? Your eyes are red.”
“I wish I could say that I was.” Armani’s tongue slid over his teeth. Two of them felt sharp and pointy. They were growing. What was he supposed to do about this? Regret filled his heart. He should’ve listened to Donovan about having some training about being a vampire before venturing out on his own.
The security guard stared at the gravesite and stone. “Sir, I am so sorry about this vandalism. Would you like me to call the police for you and have them come out and file a report?”
A hawk flew in the distance distracting Armani. It was the black hawk. Donovan’s eyes and fierce protector he had been told. He averted his gaze to the security guard. If the hawk sensed fear, anger or hatred it may attack the security guard and Armani didn’t want that on his conscience.
“Forgive my rudeness.” He apologized. “I’m just rather upset about what someone did to my lovely Simone’s gravesite.” He apologized.
The security guard smiled. “I understand and it’s not a problem.” He stepped out of the car and walked toward the tombstone. He chuckled. “Believe me, in this line of work I deal with people much more angry than you and without a reason for it.” He shrugged. “It’s a damn shame this is what people resort to doing.”
Armani followed him. “Yes, it certainly is.” He cleared his throat grateful his fangs had disappeared. “And thanks for the offer to call the police, but I’ll pass.” He knew he’d figure out who did this and the luxury would be his to destroy them. Make them suffer as he had suffered the last few months.
The security guard bent over and started picking up the pieces of the vase in haste. “Ouch!” He exclaimed wincing in pain. “I got one hell of a cut.” He said staring at his hand.
Armani sme
lled the blood before the man announced he had been cut. Cursing, he wondered why it made him hungry. The fangs grew again. “Damn it.” He said and jogged to his car pulling out an extra shirt. “Here, wrap this around the cut,” he said and threw the shirt to the guard, keeping his distance.
“Thank you, sir,” he said wrapping his hand in the cloth, bright red blood seeping through the white cotton. “You never did tell me your name?”
“Armani Belvedere and you are?”
“Charlie, but my friends call me Chuck.” He said while tending to his wound. “I’ve got to ask you a personal question if that’s OK?”
Armani wondered what Stan would ask but assured him that it was fine.
“What happened to the left side of your face?” Color flushed his cheeks.
“It was burned in a tragic accident of sorts.” Armani stated, hatred filling his soul. “That’s as personal as I’m going to get with my answer. I’m sorry.”
Stan studied Armani for what seemed like hours. “I understand.”
‘People and all there stupid questions,’ Armani thought. Couldn’t they all just leave well enough alone? Maybe this is why Victor chose to let evil rule him after so many years of being a vampire. Armani sighed. He was ready for Stan to be on his way.
Armani looked up and saw the hawk sitting high atop an oak tree. It made eye contact and shrieked as if waiting to see what would happen next.
“Do you need help cleaning this up?” Stan asked clasping his arm. “I’d be more than happy to help.”
Armani put his hand up. “No thanks. This is something I’d rather do by myself. I need to be alone and you should go get that cut checked out by a doctor. You may need stitches. “ He turned his back on Stan, crouched on all fours and started picking up the pieces of the vase and roses. “It was nice to meet you.” He said over his shoulder hoping Stan would take the hint before he lost his patience or even worse, unleashed the monster within aching to get out. The smell of blood brought out a predatory instinct and he didn’t know how to handle this yet. He had many questions for Donovan.
“Have a good day, sir.” Stan said and walked to his car.
The car door slammed and the engine roared to life. Peace at last.
“Simone, can you hear me?” Armani asked. “You came to me while I was sleeping the rest of the undead. Please talk to me again. I need you.” He placed his hands on the ground wishing he could somehow warm Simone’s cold dead body with his touch.
He listened. No sound but the wind. Maybe Donovan was right and it was just an illusion he had while undergoing the transformation. He would give anything to hear her sweet angelic voice one more time.
“Simone, I’ve done something I don’t think you’ll be too pleased with,” he said. “I’m going to get right to the point. I’m a vampire now and have plans to kill the people who did this to you, to me, to us.” Armani’s voice broke. He held his head in his hands and wept bitterly. His life was ripped apart in that one fateful night. Simone would never be a part of his life and the world he knew was gone forever. He was no longer human. Yes, on the outside he had every resemblance of who he used to be. That too was an illusion because he was now a soulless vampire seeking revenge. Armani was sure he was an abomination to be sent straight to hell upon his death.
“Oh, Simone, what have I done? I’ve sold my soul to the devil.”
Helpless, he stood, staring at the blue sky while snowflakes fell from the like powder sprinkled from Heaven.
“What’s the matter, Donovan?” Rex asked. “You look puzzled.”
Donovan stared into his crystal ball. He was observing Armani through the eyes of his black hawk. “I don’t think I made the right choice by allowing Armani to venture off on his own.” He said and stared into space, lines of worry etched on his pale face. He focused on Rex and said, “Armani will be a strong vampire, probably one of the most powerful forces in The Dark Ones, and I should’ve trained him before letting him go out into the world solo.” He held up the ball, turning his head this way and that while observing Armani.
“We can go get him.” Rex stated. “Can’t we?”
“He will come back to us soon.” He said and set the ball on the table. “I want him to know and believe that I trust him.” Hoisting himself off the chair he paced the room. “If we were to go to him, he would feel I don’t have faith in him and that could prove to be detrimental to his growth as a vampire.”
Rex looked puzzled. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Rex, you have much to learn just as Armani does.” He said and walked to the window. “We are highly intelligent beings with powers you can’t even imagine.” He said. “When I first turned, it was baffling to me all of these new things I had to learn. Victor was a wonderful teacher. He became my friend and my father. He created me and never once abandoned me.” Donovan turned away from the window to face Rex. “Most importantly, he loved me and trusted me. He showed me this by letting me experiment things on my own, venture out into the world, explore my newfound life,” he said, making a circle with his hands. “The world is a different place for vampires than humans. When a mortal is turned, they are similar to a newborn baby. You would never expect a newborn to take care of itself and understand this world we live in without his or her parents.”
Rex nodded in agreement.
“Just as a new vampire cannot possibly learn all there is to know without a teacher, a parent. I’ve seen many new vampires destroyed because the one that turned them abandoned them in their time of need.”
“Why would they have to be destroyed?” Rex asked folding his arms across his chest. “That doesn’t make sense to me.”
“Left to their own devices, they turn evil.” Donovan said. “We promote justice and only allow justice kills. The ones we destroy kill for the thrill of the chase and the adrenaline rush from killing innocent people.” He said and licked his lips. “The blood of pure innocent humans does taste sweet. It’s a daily fight for us all not to kill for the thrill. And once a vampire turns evil he becomes like a drug addict and must have more and more blood from the innocent to satisfy the urge. Once they are addicted to the taste and the rush, they must be destroyed.” A cold look in his eyes sent chills down Rex’s spine. “We don’t care who the vampire was as a human or who he is as a vampire, we kill them. No questions asked.” Removing his cloak he said, “Even if it’s Armani who becomes this way. He will be put to death.”
“Armani would never turn that way. I know him too well.” Rex said, shaking his head no. “How would you know if a vampire is doing these things? You can’t possibly keep track of every single one.”
Donovan sat down and stretched his hands over his head. “Good point, Rex. The young new vampire’s make it easy. They lack the ability to disguise their actions. The older and more ancient the vampire the harder it is to see through the mask of good.” He folded his hands in his lap and stared at them. “In fact it’s almost impossible. One must watch for the subtle hints and clues. If an ancient vampire is becoming evil, the aura will unveil itself in time. Just as in human behavior, there will be a shift in their personality, the way they carry themselves, the look in their eyes. It’s a look that would chill any human to the bone.”
Rex had heard enough for now. Changing the subject he asked, “What’s Armani doing now?”
Donovan commanded the crystal ball to come to him. Rex watched amazed as the ball floated like a feather to Donovan. Donovan grasped the ball and held it to his face and frowned. “He’s crying.”
Simone heard every teardrop from Armani’s eyes fall on her grave like raindrops from Heaven. The desire to reach out to him was intense but she found herself too tired to communicate. She tried numerous times since Armani arrived. His pleading with her to speak to him broke her heart. Was it something she could only do once in a while? Why couldn’t she do it at will? So many unanswered questions plagued her. Armani’s wails and cries were more than she could bear. Never in her life had sh
e heard such sounds of pain and anguish. Squeezing her eyes shut, she said a prayer for Armani. Wishing for death was futile. She was already dead, stuck in a universe between Heaven and Hell. Lying in a cold coffin she wondered why God would punish her like this. She believed in God once but now doubted her faith. Her eyes opened wide. Armani screamed a loud gut wrenching painful scream. That scream would haunt her for as long as she lay six feet under the earth.
Chapter Thirty
Katrina’s blood flowed cold as ice through her veins. Victor strode up to her with such an air of confidence it numbed her. What in the hell did this vampire want her to do? What was this game?
“Victor, are you going to kill me?” Katrina managed to ask. She closed her eyes and waited for him to strike her dead. “Just do it then. Let’s get it over with.”
Victor laughed and scoffed. “Little lady, have you forgotten that I call the shots around here? You will not tell me what to do or when to do it.” He stated, patting her head like she was his pet dog.
Katrina flinched. His touch was cold. “Ok. So, you said, ‘honey, I’m home.’ What am I supposed to do?”
“I happen to take a great pleasure in creative people.” He said and tilted her chin forcing her to look into his eyes. “Think of a response. You seem to have no problem coming up with some quick witted things.” He finished letting his finger slide under her chin.
Katrina felt sick. His touch repulsed her. “Ok.” She cleared her throat and said, “Yeah, I see you’re home. Fix your own glass of blood.” A sly smile played on her lips.
Victor took delight in her attitude but he refused to let it soften his heart. That wasn’t going to happen. Not after what she did. He raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.
Katrina’s head rolled back. She saw stars like fireworks flash in front of her eyes. Her lip curled and she cried.
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