Vengeance (Thorn's Needles)

by P. A Ross

I turned to Thorn.

  “They know I did it,” I said.

  “The other person is a woman.”

  At that point, a photo fit of Thorn appeared on the screen.

  “Again please contact police if you have any news. Don’t approach her, she is extremely dangerous.”

  She shrugged her shoulders, “they were drug dealers, I thought I got them all.”

  Now I knew where she went last night and where the money came from.

  “I can’t go back can I?” I asked.

  “Do you want to go back?” she asked.

  “I don’t know, I just didn’t think it would be so final.”

  “You can leave at any time. They may let you off. It’s not the police you have to worry about it’s the ‘Hunters’ they will want you back in the cells for samples and experiments,” she said.

  “Oh.” I said and sat on the edge of the bed.

  More of my unanswered questions came to mind.

  “How come you didn’t leave me after you had escaped?” I asked.

  Thorn looked over at me as she turned off the TV and put on some dance music in the background.

  “Why did you come back for me?” she asked instead.

  “Because of what I had done, I had killed those guys in the park.”

  “Is that all of it! I was hoping for more.”

  “You mean sex,” I answered, and she nodded.

  “Yes I desired you, and you used your abilities to ensure of that,” I said, and she smiled, “but that was a trick, I had realised that very early on.”

  Thorn looked puzzled, and she walked over, sat next to me and putt her hand on my knee.

  “Then why, if you knew it was a trick?”

  “You looked so sad and lonely in that cell, and I knew just how you felt after the betrayal and violence I have suffered over the last year.”

  A small red tear appeared in the corner of her left eye, and she wiped it quickly away. She held my hand and looked into me eyes.

  “You see a lot, you are much more intelligent than I realised,” she said, and her voice waived for a second.

  “You are still alive as you are right, what I desire more than anything in this world is a companion. I have been stuck in that cell for 2 years,” she answered.

  “The others who come and work there have been taught to ignore me, and they ensure they are never left alone long enough with me to be influenced. I heard their thoughts while in that cell. I knew what they were trying to make and that those two needles had the power to transform someone temporarily into a vampire. When you came in, I realised we could help each other. I could help you have your revenge, and I believed you would return once you had taken the formula. I felt your anger and pain and showed you those needles so you could get revenge. I just hoped my hypnotic powers would be enough to get you to return.”

  “So what’s next?” I asked.

  “What do you want?”

  “I don’t want to be scared anymore, not to be bullied or beaten up, to be someone other people fear.”

  Thorn nodded.

  “I still want a companion. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I want to share it with someone.”

  “So we have a deal?” I asked, “You teach me never to be scared again and I will never leave you.”

  “Yes, a deal,” and we shook hands, “but I can’t stop you being scared again, but I can teach you to control it and use it, even vampires get scared,” she said as we shook.

  I felt disappointed, and it must have shown as I stopped shaking hands and pulled it away.

  “You must learn to embrace your emotions and use them to fuel you. Bathe in your fear, your lust, your love and it will make you stronger. Denying your emotions, good or bad, is a waste of good energy. There is so much to be gained through fear.”

  “Okay,” I said, kind of understanding and nodded my head.

  “It won’t be easy though. It will be tough,” she added.

  “Yeah, it is okay. I understand.”

  “Good, let’s seal the deal,” she said lying down on the bed, and pulling me on top of her and kissing me passionately.

  I lay in the bed afterwards recovering, and Thorn got up and walked into her wardrobe. She pulled on a pair of tracksuit bottoms and vest top. She threw over a pair of shorts.

  “Try these on and put your t-shirt back on. The night is young we might as well start on your training,” she said.

  I dressed eager to get started, and Thorn stood in the space between the bed and wardrobe.

  “We should have enough space here,” she said, and I stood opposite her.

  “Ready,” I nodded.

  “Okay hit me.”

  I threw a feeble punch at her worried about hurting her for some reason. She looked at me with disdain as she easily moved out of the way.

  “Hit me,” she said.

  I tried again, but not much better than before.

  “Use your emotions, pretend I am someone you hate,” she said.

  I pictured Barry.

  “Close you eyes and picture them, let those emotions of hate and anger build up till you are ready to burst.”

  It was easily done I as re-lived the mugging and visualised the picture of him with Scarlett. The anger swelled up, and it pumped around my body as it had done before when I tried to take the needles. I was in the moment again lying on the floor, as Barry kicked me in the stomach and encouraged his friends to join in. The pain of the kicks thumping into my back and legs as my arms shielded my face. Their abusive taunts filling the air and spit running down my face. Barry filming it all, threatening me, before breaking my nose and slamming my head on the pavement behind. I had revenge on all them except Barry, he escaped and I still wanted him dead. The anger of his survival intensified my rage till it reached new heights.

  “When you are ready. Open you eyes and let it take you.”

  I flung myself forward eyes opening and launching a fist at her. She parried and moved away quickly.

  “Good remember what you are fighting for. Now keep that feeling and control it.”

  I didn’t wait for any more instructions and launched a flurry of fists and random kicks in her direction, realising I would be unlikely to ever hit her and letting my emotions fill me with energy.

  “Good. Now control it. Use it with intent. Focus on your goal and your aim.”

  I started off again focusing on punching her in the head, fist after fist and legs pumping me forward. Trying to get through to her and make a connection. Thorn skipped out the way and circled around me, and clipped my around the ear as she moved.

  “More,” she shouted.

  I charged at her some more until she eventually stepped to the side and flung me, face first, onto the bed.

  “Good, your have discovered your aggression and desire to fight. You will need them where I am going to take you.”

  I pushed back off the bed and charged at her head first trying to tackle her out the way as she talked. I was close, but she spun out of the way at the last moment and I went head first into her wardrobe. I laid on the floor, face in her shoes, and her skirts and dresses had fallen on top of me from where I had caught them on the way through.

  Thorn laughed.

  “Nice try, good instincts,” she said and helped me back to my feet.

  “Let me show you some moves.”

  She showed my how to stand properly, and we went through various punches and kicks. I then practised trying to hit her and then defended against her measured attack. We carried on for a couple of hours training and practising, then stopped and showered off.

  Thorn was waiting in bed for me as I dried off.

  “Tomorrow we go out shopping I need more clothes and so do you,” she said.

  “I will need some more blood from you tomorrow to keep me going. Is that okay?”

  “Yes, of course,” I answered, I realised she would have to feed and I felt it made the bond between us stronger. I after all had some of her blood in t
erms of the needles.

  “I can’t keep drinking from you, it’s just until we are settled. You will need all your strength for the training,” she continued.

  “It's okay, I understand you need to feed.”

  “Let us sleep now. We are both tried and tomorrow will be a full night,” she said, and pulled back the covers for me to join her.

  I happily bounded in, and she wrapped her arms around me and went to sleep. I was happy to be in her arms again, and felt like I was finally getting to know her and was becoming a man at last.

  CHAPTER 12

  It was a Friday afternoon, and it was two weeks ago I killed the gang in the park and rescued Thorn from her prison cell. In that time, Thorn kept to her side of the deal and trained me every night. I was expecting to learn fighting skills, and I did, but it went far beyond combat training and into skills on how to survive and hide. I learnt about creating new identities, as I couldn’t carry on as Jonathan Harker after the incidents two weeks ago. Computer hacking in order to infiltrate our enemies, and create my new identities. Learning to drive a car and ride a motorbike, so I could get about quickly and get us shelter before sunlight. I started learning Spanish, as it was one of the most popularly spoken languages in the world. I knew there would be more to come, but for now she was happy I was progressing, I felt like I was in vampire training school, with Thorn setting me home work to do while she slept.

  I completed my boxing practice and revised my Spanish homework for the day, and then went shopping at the local supermarket. I put the food away, and as I did I dragged out the back of the freezer a packet of fish fingers. Inside the packet was a plastic bag and inside the bag was money and a map. This was part of my escape plan. During the day light hours, I was uncertain of my time with Thorn and longed for a normal life, which I knew was impossible. Those thoughts I had on my first night alone came flooding back every day while she slept as I was free with my own thoughts. Free not to have to fill my mind with junk in order to protect myself, free to think about what I genuinely wanted. I pulled out the money and counted it, one hundred pounds, and I added in another ten pounds left over from the shopping. I reviewed at the map and visually traced the route from Thorn’s house to the research centre. I pretended to drive the route using google street view and had memorised the route so I didn’t need the map, just in case. The money was to buy things for the escape, a phone in order to call ahead, and UV light to defend myself in case she was able to hunt me down.

  In the mean time, I wanted to learn more, and maybe another injection or two wouldn’t be a bad thing either. I could go back home as a proper man, bigger and stronger than before, and more experienced in life, just what I needed to be a proper boyfriend and win back Scarlett. I decided I couldn’t go anywhere until I finished what I had started with Barry. I didn’t want him coming back after me looking for his own revenge. That night I was nervous waiting for Thorn to rise wondering if this would be the night she killed me, but as soon as she woke up I felt comfort and reassurance in her company.

  It was a feeding night. I knew I would need to be on alert for potential problems. Thorn needed to feed every other day to keep going properly. I guessed we would head off to the usual spots hoping to catch some prey. Thorn woke up hungry and satiated her bloody thirst with a rare steak. She was able to eat, and it helped, but was no replacement for blood. She liked to eat and drink, and it helped to keep her identity as normal human when out at night. Her metabolism worked fast and hence the high heat she generated and alcohol burnt through her quickly. She would get drunk fast but sober up just as quick. She preferred to take her alcohol within the bloodstream of her victims. The intoxication lasted longer and came on slower, allowing her to control herself. Thorn dressed in something sexy and comfortable as quick reactions could be needed. Trousers and study boots were the order of the night.

  There was a few rough areas nearby that Thorn usually frequented when looking to feed, and it was to one of these we headed to first. It was about 9’oclock at night, and we entered the area looking for a place to park up. I would stay with the car while Thorn walked around by herself flashing her Gucci hand bag pretending to be helpless, rich and stupid. I was to stay with the car to protect it and was in radio contact with Thorn the whole time. We both had ear pieces connected, and Thorn carried a GPS locater which I followed on my smart phone. If Thorn needed a quick escape I could drive round to pick her up and we would be away before anyone knew. Likewise if I ran in to trouble Thorn could be back quickly. Her training and techniques were far beyond what I expected in a vampire, and she used what ever new technology she could find to give herself an edge.

  On other nights out I was always surprise how many good Samaritans tried to direct her off the streets and into safety. They were worried she would get attacked and robbed. Thorn always thanked them and moved on down the street out of their sight. I was equally surprised at which people would help and which would attack. Over the weeks, I learnt to spot the good ones from the bad ones. Thorn always knew, but she had her vampire senses to alert her. Eventually someone would see her as an opportunity and make a fatal mistake. Thorn would get her feed.

  That night we didn’t even get to park up, as a police car pulled us over as we drove along the main street. The young policeman warned us to turn around and go home as it wasn’t safe. When asked why and he mentioned a number of recent bloody attacks that had left their victims dead, or hurt having lost lots of blood. When Thorn fed she would cover up the fang marks with a cut and would try not to take from the neck would draw the attention of the hunters. The policeman never suspected her as the culprit behind the recent attacks, no one ever did.

  We headed into a nightclub instead, and I watched with drinks in hand as she pushed her way into the middle of the dance floor, and started dancing as if she was in a seductive world of her own. He raven tousled her swaying about and her body dancing to the rhythm beating out of the speakers. The lights flashing in coordination with the trashy euro dance music belting out. It wasn’t long before she got the attention of a group of men that came over and tried to dance along with her, each of them trying to take the lead over the others. She danced between all three shaking her body and making sure they got an eyeful of what they needed. The loud music and amount of people in the place made it nearly impossible for Thorn to read minds, as the noise was just too loud and too many voices. She told me she could pick up the odd thought of those close to her. With the thoughts of just the three men, I knew she was deciding which one would make the best meal. I still had the ear piece in and could hear the odd shouted comment to her. Eventually she picked one and grabbed him by the hand and dragged him off the dance floor. They stood at the side and shared his drink for a few minutes, and then kissed before Thorn led him off to a private spot, usually the toilets or alley way out the back. She made sure I saw them kissing and groping, and smiled over at me as she finished. Purposefully trying to make me jealous. I listened to the whole thing in my ear piece as they carried on in the toilets until Thorn decided it was time to feed. There was a sudden thump, followed by the sounds of cutting and gulping of blood. I walked off out the night club and waited out side, knowing she wouldn’t be far behind. Thorn appeared after a few minutes, smiling as her thirst had been quenched and was slightly intoxicated from the alcohol in her victim.

  “I need another before we go home,” she said, and we drove off in the car to another night club a few miles away to distance our selves.

  “Is he dead?” I asked.

  “No. I only took about a pint. He will be weak for a day or so but will recover. That’s way I need another one tonight.”

  Thorn had her own twisted morale code when it came too feeding. If they attacked her it was fair game to kill them and drain them dry, or at least get her fill, which inevitably left them near dead. If it was someone she entrapped, like in the night club, she would only take what she needed and leave them to live another day.

  “Do you
have to kiss them and go so far with them before feeding,” I asked agitated and jealous of having to endure another man with her again.

  “Oh, Jon, they deserve something to make it worth their while,” she laughed and pressed her foot against the accelerator forcing the car to surge forward towards the next night club.

  This was another part of her hunting code, give them something to remember her by, so they would struggle to understand what had happened, but she insisted she didn’t have sex with them. She usually pushed thoughts into their minds, telling them they had slipped over and cut themselves.

  “Didn’t your mum tell you not to play with your food,” I said angrily, but she laughed again.

  “That’s very funny. Jon, I do think you are jealous. You have to remember I have been a round a few more years than you.”

  “I know, but I can’t help it.”

  “Don’t worry Jon, I am keeping to our deal. You are my companion, he was just sustenance.”

  At the next night club, she went through the same routine, but this time she was taking her victim to the alley out the back for a quick exit. I watched as three girls followed her down the stairs and into the back alley. I let her know.

  “You have got three women on your trial,” I said, knowing her ear piece would send the message.

  “I use to be a singer in a band called the Leeches,” Thorn suddenly said to her victim.

  “Really,” he replied.

  This was one of our codes to say we received the message. Good. I knew she was ready, probably had detected them anyway and unlikely to be in any trouble, but I felt like I was playing my part as her protector.

  The gang of girls walked quickly as their tight skirts would let them down the dark alley way, with their high heels splashing through the shallow puddles on the floor. One of them grabbed a bit of broken wood from the side of the alley and held it like a club as they moved in. I was waiting for Thorn to signal me for help, but she didn’t. Thorn and her victim stopped kissing as they detected the girls approaching.