Judge of the Damned (Vampire Storm, Book 1)

by Nick S. Thomas

  Stepping out of the truck, he walked straight through the gate of the big house and up to the porch. He looked in through the windows but they were all shut with the blinds closed. He did a quick scout around the building, he was all for killing Vampires, but he had to be completely certain that there were no humans at risk. The whole house was silent, it was clear that it was either vacant, or most likely being slept in by the foul creatures.

  That was it, all the evidence that Bill needed, he was ready. He walked back down the porch and onto the street. The neighbourhood was relatively quiet, with only the odd car and passerby. He went to his truck and waited until there was nobody was in sight. Bill pulled out two jerry cans of gas from the trunk of the Chevy and carried them back to the house.

  Opening up the nozzles, he poured the gas all over the walls of the wooden house, completely soaking the perimeter, including the door and window frames. He pulled out his Zippo lighter and stopped to take one last look up at the house. Burning people alive was one of the most disgusting things he could think of, but looking up at the house full of Vampires, he could only revel in the job he was about to do.

  Bill knelt down beside the gasoline trail by the house and struck his Zippo, holding the naked flame next to the gasoline. It flickered into flames instantly, spreading quickly to the house. Marshall jumped to his feet and strode back to his truck, jumping into the driver’s seat. He sat and watched as the flames spread wildly up the walls of the building, within twenty seconds the entire structure was alight.

  Moments later, he heard the unholy screams of the creatures inside as they realised their fate. It was too late for them as fire spread through the house, they were utterly enveloped by their greatest fear. Marshall revelled in their suffering for just a while before starting up his engine and casually driving on down the street.

  In the distance, he could hear the sounds of fire trucks heading towards the scene, reminding him of the night he watched his parish blaze, he felt a tingle of satisfaction. He knew that the building would be utterly destroyed before the flames could be brought under control. Never in his life had Marshall enjoyed violence quite so much, it was becoming a way of life for him, his calling.

  * * *

  Bradley picked up the phone ringing on his office desk.

  “Bradley here.”

  “Sir, turn on the news!”

  He reached for the controller for the TV embedded in the wall opposite. He flicked on the TV and found the local station. A reporter stood before the charred ruins of a house, police combing through the remains. The reporter was outlining the chain of events.

  “Latest reports suggest that the inhabitants of the house were Vampires and would have been asleep when the fire was started, which officers are saying was started deliberately. I have with me here Captain Becker, who is in charge at the scene.”

  “Thank you. From what we understand, the fire was started with gasoline. The perpetrator knew that Vampires occupied the building, as shown by the manner of the attack. As of yet we have no leads and are asking for any witnesses or anyone with further information to come forward.”

  Bradley’s head dropped into his hands, he could not believe what he was seeing. He stood back upright and stormed into the Bishop’s office, the Bishop looked up in surprise.

  “What happened to knocking, man?” shouted the Bishop.

  “Your Eminence, a Vampire house has just been burnt to the ground when they were asleep inside. The police are saying it was a deliberate attack.”

  The Bishop wiped his brow, his candour immediately changed.

  “Any idea on who would have done it?”

  “I think we both know the answer to that.”

  “Surely not?”

  “Who else would be suicidal enough to do it?”

  “You believe Marshall to be capable of going this far?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then why have you not brought him in yet?”

  “Your orders were to bring him in unharmed, the last attempt we made left two men badly injured and a building half destroyed.”

  The Bishop turned and looked out of his window, down the long driveway to Kingston. It was an impossible situation, he had known Marshall for many years and placed a great amount of trust in him, but now he was threatening the peace in the State.

  “What do you suggest?” asked the Bishop.

  “Dispatch a Brotherhood team to get him, with no rules of engagement. He must be brought down before he brings this city into a state of war!”

  The Bishop thought about it, scorn was across his face. He hated what he had to do, but knew there were no options left.

  “Alright, do it.”

  “It’s about time, we should have put a stop to him days ago. All this could have been avoided.”

  “I want to hear nothing more of it, get it done and leave me in peace!”

  * * *

  Marshall was heading back to the lockup when his cell began to ring. He flipped it open, a grin still wide across his face, deeply satisfied in the result of his work.

  “Bill, tell me that it wasn’t you?” asked Frank.

  “What are you talking about, Frank?”

  “Don’t bullshit me, Bill, did you start the fire?”

  “We’re at war, Frank, you know it, Simmons was not killed by accident.”

  “Jesus Christ, Bill! You just murdered three Vampires, do you know what this will mean?”

  “That today we got some way to getting revenge for all the family and friends we have lost.”

  “Bill, you are putting a lot of people at risk and this could put the city into chaos.”

  “Then let me get my work done quickly.”

  “I can’t cover for you on this, Bill.”

  “Didn’t ask you to. Listen, Frank, you do what you have to do, protect the living, good luck.”

  “Bill!”

  He closed his cell phone. He knew Frank would understand eventually, but it would take time and further evidence. The light of day was coming to a close as Bill headed back to his base. He pulled into the garage quickly noticing that Harriet was leaning against the stairway doors. Her arms were crossed and she had a serious expression on her face it seemed she was gunning for a fight. He climbed out of his truck still riding the high of revenge.

  “What happened to waiting, Bill?”

  “I am tired of waiting, everyday it gets harder, I never get time to recover. It was time to move the fight to them.”

  “Without my help? Do you want to die?”

  “How could you have helped? It was a day operation!”

  She lowered her head, the fact that she had become one of them being rammed down her throat. She was still ashamed by it but it felt like more of a blow from someone she now called a friend.

  “I’m sorry but it’s the way it had to be.”

  “Alright, so what’s next?”

  “I thought you wanted to wait and be cautious?”

  “You’ve made a start now so let’s strike while the iron’s hot.”

  “Only other lead I have is about Rainer’s location but I am not ready to hit that yet, there are too many variables.”

  “So you’re not entirely pigheaded then?”

  Bill walked into his armoury and took off his jacket, throwing it onto the back of the chair and slumping down into it. His high undercut by negative waves. Harriet appeared in the doorway though she didn’t speak.

  “I don’t do this for my own personal enjoyment.”

  “I know, but you’re my only friend, I don’t want to lose you. Bill.”

  “Then help me.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  “We’ve made a hell of a start let’s continue this day as we mean to go on.”

  “How so?”

  “I want blood I want to see Vampires die tonight, let’s make them feel the fear of being hunted.”

  “Alright but I want to come with you?”

  “Why?”

  �
��Because I want this as much as you and because I will not give you the information I have unless you take me along. Remember, Bill, I hate them as much as you and I have every right to do this.”

  “Ok, let’s do it then but you’re going to need some better gear.”

  “Silver Bullets, wooden stake, already got them.”

  “Good, but we might need a little extra firepower.”

  Marshall reached for a Heckler & Koch UMP from the wall. It was a compact weapon ideally suited to Harriet, whilst still packing a punch. He handed her three spare magazines and a grab bag to put them in that she threw over her shoulder.

  “Where we heading?” asked Bill.

  “There’s a joint on the edge of town called The Hot Seat, know of it?”

  “The strip joint?”

  “More importantly it’s a blood bar, most of the customers are Vamps or humans trying to make some money selling their blood.”

  “Sounds like we have our evening planned out.”

  The two climbed into the Chevy and backed out of the garage.

  “You know it’s too early for the punters to be in yet?” asked Harriet.

  “I know let’s hit a coffee shop en route, waste some time and talk about this a little longer. Last thing I want to do is walk into a hive of Vamps without any further info, you do drink coffee right?”

  “Sure.”

  They rolled on up to the nearest place Bill could think of. It felt strange to be going for a coffee with a Vampire who was now his ally when he used to the same thing with his Brotherhood team. He wished they were there with him but knew it was impossible. Bill’s three brothers would be kept a long way from his case the conflict of interest being too dangerous. Harriet and Marshall sat down with their drinks and stared at each other for a while each considering the bloodbath that was about to follow.

  “How do you know about this place?” asked Bill.

  Harriet looked down in shame, it was not a question she was happy to answer but neither did she want to hide it from him.

  “Karl took me there soon after he converted me.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be it’s how we know about it, I have been dreaming about smashing this place up for a long time just never had the ability to get the job done myself.”

  “So tell me more about the bar.”

  “Always had two human guards outside and usually about twenty or thirty punters. They will be a mix of Vampires, blood donors and humans who simply think it cool to hang around with Vamps. There might be some of Rainer’s Coven inside but there’s no guarantee.”

  “It doesn’t matter either way they’re guilty and that’s all that matters.”

  Harriet did not respond as she was clearly thinking long and hard about the difficult situation she had found herself in. Bill could sympathise, he had lost everything but she had in some respects had it worse being made into a monster.

  “Have you got what it takes to see this through?” asked Bill.

  “I have nothing left to live for they have taken everything from me, all I have is you.”

  Bill sipped on his coffee and thought about her words. He had deliberately avoided bringing his friends into the line of fire and he here was going into a fight with one.

  “Tell me why are you doing this, because it is the right thing to do or for revenge?” asked Harriet.

  “A bit of both, they are the scourge of humanity but an eye for an eye and all that.”

  “Will you not just lay down your guns and leave it to rest once Rainer is dead?”

  “No, the Lords are as vicious and bloodthirsty as one another and it just so happens that he is the one who crossed my path. I have nothing else to live for now, I live in the service of God.”

  “And what about me? Does God want you to work with a servant of the Devil?”

  “Harriet, you are not the Devil’s work. I cannot rightfully say why you retained a human heart and soul but I suspect it was for a good reason. You are as human as any person who deserves to walk this land.”

  “Thank you. Two weeks ago I thought I was lost forever cursed to live in the shadows of society and despised by all.”

  “Well don’t thank me yet we haven’t made it through this.”

  “It doesn’t matter whether I live or die only that I have a purpose.”

  Bill looked down at his watch, it was well into the evening and the strip joint would be filling up. It was time to deal out some punishment.

  “You ready for this?” asked Bill.

  “Without a doubt.”

  “Ok, let’s go.”

  They walked out and climbed into Bill’s truck. It was a fifteen-minute drive out to the bar, neither of them talking for the rest of the journey. Adrenaline built up in Bill as they got closer and closer. After tonight he knew that the Vampires of the city would know it was no longer safe to be out in public, he wanted to drive them back into the seedy backstreets where they belonged, or more preferably, in the ground for good. They were just a minute out from the joint when Harriet finally spoke.

  “So what’s the deal here, who do we treat as hostiles?”

  “We only kill Vampires or anyone who means us harm.”

  “How will we know the difference?”

  “It’s a blood bar, so a number should be feeding at any one time right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well those are a sure thing, they die first. Anyone who draws a gun, a knife, or tries to come at you in any way is fair game so put them down.”

  “Alright, got it.”

  The truck pulled up into the parking lot, it was a seedy and trashy place, a pink neon sign of a dancer above the building and the lights around the name of the place flickering. Bill went to the back of his car and pulled out two large machetes in belt sheaths.

  “Here, put this on.”

  “What for? We have guns.”

  “The silver only hurts or incapacitates a Vampire temporarily, to kill them it’s a stake through the heart, fire or decapitation. I like to cover all the bases.”

  She took the machete from him and slipped it onto her belt. Bill pulled out his Benneli shotgun and threw a bandolier of shells across his shoulder.

  “Remember, do not hesitate as they will not.”

  “Okay.”

  For all of Harriet’s cool confidence in the time he’d known her, he could see and hear her shakiness as she spoke and prepared her weapons.

  “Harriet, it’ll be fine. Relax, breathe easy, let’s go.”

  He slung the three-point sling of the shotgun over his body, knowing he could need his hands free at a moment’s notice. He racked the shotgun. He’d walked into dangerous situations many times before, but always with substantially more support as well as a backup network should anything go wrong. He also drew out from the trunk a sig p226 with a silencer fitted to it.

  “What’s that for?”

  “To get us in.”

  “The guards are human remember.”

  “So you think they will let us in if we ask nicely?”

  “No.”

  “If you bear arms for Vampires then you support their cause. Everyone knows it is wrong to support them, but they do so for money and once it becomes no longer financially beneficial, they will stop.”

  “But you are going to kill humans?”

  “In the Brotherhood we often had to, those who fight on the side of Vampires are our enemy and the enemy of God.”

  “Is there no other way?”

  “No, this is war, Harriet, no time for concerning ourselves with such matters. I am all for minimising collateral damage but these men fight on the side of evil.”

  “Alright.”

  Marshall cocked the pistol in his hands and slammed shut the trunk of the truck. He took the pistol in two hands, keeping it low and walked out into the open part of the parking lot towards the entrance. As he got within twenty feet, the guards noticed him and they quickly reached for weapons concealed beneath their lon
g coats, but it was too late. Marshall fired two shots into each of them before they could even get a hand on their guns.

  Without stopping, he continued straight up to the entrance of the bar and threw down the pistol beside the body of his victims, taking his shotgun in his hands.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Go!”

  He shoved the door open with his left hand and stormed through. It was a lowly lit place but with sparkling lamps and light effects bouncing around the room. The bar was filled with smoke and had a red tinge to the atmosphere. It was quite small and two women were pole dancing in the centre of the room.

  Marshall shot a quick glimpse around the room, to the right the bar, to the left Vampires sat drinking blood from those willing to take money for their services. In the darkness and with loud music pounding, their weapons had gone unnoticed. He could see a deck where the music was coming from, he took several steps towards it and fired the shotgun into it, silencing the music instantly. Several of the patrons of the bar jumped to their feet, others froze in shock as he racked the shotgun.

  “Any humans here are welcome to leave, my fight is with the Vampires among you!” shouted Bill.

  A man on one of the couches to the left leapt from his seat, drawing a pistol from his belt as he did so. Bill immediately raised his shotgun and fired a shot of silver buckshot, slamming him back down onto the seat. Screams erupted from the humans who valued their lives and were not willing to die for their Vampire employers.

  As many panicked, a number stood their ground, unsure of what to expect. No Vampire in the city would have expected to fear any man, not unless they had breached the laws of the pact, they didn’t think for a minute that their lives were in danger.

  Bill looked across the line of patrons to the left and one immediately caught his attention, fangs still protruding from his jaw, blood dripping down his face. The sight disgusted Bill and he couldn’t bear to see it any longer. He put a shot straight into the creature’s face, knocking it unconscious to the ground. Behind him he then heard the sound of Harriet’s UMP open fire, she had found her calling.