Marked for Damnation

by S.A. Tadej

  Things had changed for Devin after meeting me. Although faint, he saw the light again. He started to believe that perhaps he wasn’t damned after all. Maybe there was another way aside from what he had grown accustomed to the last few decades.

  Devin turned away from Damien, who was ripping apart the dead vampire’s limbs and throwing them into the fire.

  “Hey, where are you going?” Damien called out.

  “To hunt,” Devin replied sarcastically.

  Damien grinned. Devin grinned back, knowing that it wasn’t humans that he was going to hunt. He turned and walked briskly out the front door.

  The new vampires had broken apart in small groups. Devin jogged to catch up to the largest group, which consisted of six men and one woman. “Hey, I know a great place to hunt,” he grinned. “Come on, follow me.”

  Devin walked over to his truck. The group followed him. One of the men and the woman climbed into the front seat with him, while the other five men jumped in the bed of the truck.

  “Let’s get some blood,” Devin snickered as he put the truck in drive and took off. He drove the short distance to one of the many local wooded areas, careful not to stay too close to home in case Devin or Kya appeared.

  He parked his truck and got out. The other vampires followed his lead. Devin walked into the woods a distance then stopped to face the others. “First, lets gather some wood and start a fire,” he ordered.

  “I don’t get it,” one of the men commented.

  Devin walked up to him and looked him in the eyes. “Remember, we’re only to kill the weak. The strong we are to make like us.” He turned to face the small group. “I want you all to fan out and find a victim. There’s plenty of young couples in these woods at night,” Devin lied. “So separate and bring the victims right back here.”

  “Why do we have to bring them back here?” another man asked.

  “Because none of you are strong enough to resist the blood and just change them into one of us. I know you’re thirsty, but if we don’t bring Kya back more, the same fate will await you as the young man you saw Kya kill earlier. Understood?”

  “I still don’t get what the fire is for,” the same man repeated.

  Devin walked up to him and grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him close. “It’s to mark where we’ll meet with our victims, dumbass.”

  Again, Devin addressed the group. “Now remember, nobody is to come back to this spot until they have a victim. Understand?”

  “Who made you boss?” another man asked as he snickered sarcastically.

  Devin made his way over to the man, put his arm around his neck and in one swift motion of his hand had snapped it. The body fell to the ground with a thud. “Are there any more questions?” he yelled. The remainder of the group stood there in stunned silence. “Great, now lets get to work.”

  Devin began gathering large pieces of wood. The rest of the vampires followed his lead. When Devin was satisfied with the woodpile, he reached into his pocket and retrieved a match, striking it and lighting the fire. He retrieved the man’s body and threw it onto the fire.

  “What are you waiting for? Move!” Devin yelled to the remaining. He watched as they scampered about in different directions. One down, six to go! He let out a long exhale. Let’s do this!

  Devin’s face contorted into a blatantly wolfish grin. He stood back and watched for a bit, debating which way to go first. He kept a watchful gaze as he set off on a clean path through all the madness. He strode easily, careful not to make a sound. He spotted one of the vampires a few feet away from him – a young man probably in his early twenties, with deep black eyes. The man was tall like him and was so skinny that he reminded him of a beanpole. Devin glided behind the trees until he was in the upcoming path of the man. Then he hid behind a tree waiting for the right moment to pounce and destroy.

  Devin listened intently as he heard the crack and snap of the branches getting closer as the man drew nearer. Just as he was passing, Devin’s arm shot out from around the tree. He grabbed the man’s wrist and swung him against his chest. Wrapping his other arm around his neck with his hand on his face, he quickly turned the guy’s head to the left, breaking his neck. Using all the strength he could muster, he pushed harder and harder until his head was separated from his body. He was amazed that the young vampire didn’t even put up a fight.

  Devin grabbed a sharp piece of wood and stabbed it into the heart of the headless body. Then he tore apart his limbs and picked them up from the ground. Returning to the fire, he threw the lifeless remains into the tall hot flames. Hearing movement to the right of him, he quickly disappeared behind a tree.

  Devin watched as another man walked past, this one probably around the same age as his last victim, but much bulkier in size with deep black hair that was slicked back from his forehead. What was he doing near the fire? Hadn’t he said not to return to the spot without a victim? He watched as the man walked further into the woods and away from the fire pit they had made. Devin hadn’t realized he had been holding in his breath until he let it out in a violent rush of air.

  Like a ninja he was fast on his feet again, careful not to make a sound. He was the predator and the man was his prey. Once again, he got ahead of his prey unnoticed… and he waited. As the man walked by, Devin put out his foot and hooked him behind the ankles and with a fierce yank he toppled him to the ground. The man started to get up and Devin pushed him forcefully back to the ground.

  Before Devin knew what was happening, the man’s fingers were tightening around his neck. He pulled at the man’s arm with his left hand and picked up the wooden stake with his right. Just as he thought he would pass out, he drove the stake into the man’s heart and he went limp beneath him. Devin sat down a moment to catch his breath as he grasped at his own throat, rubbing away the soreness. Then he did as he had done with the last body.

  After he dumped the body on the burn pile, he looked at his watch. It was 3am. How fitting! He wanted sacrifice, well here it was. How do you like that, Satan? I’m killing off your army. Three down and four to go! But the woman… the woman would be hard. To get through it, he would have to remember “what” she was. He would be doing the world a favor by offing her. And he better get moving, because in just two short hours dawn would be breaking and Damien would be wondering where he was.

  Devin was so quick on his feet that it almost felt like he was flying. He hadn’t been able to walk that fast when he was human. Still, what he wouldn’t give to be human again! Or just to know that there was some kind of peace at the end of this existence, whatever it might be.

  Soon Devin came across two men. Hadn’t he told them to separate? It didn’t matter. He didn’t have time to wait. He would have to take them both on and hope for the best. Experience and determination would be on his side.

  Devin perched high up on a tree limb. Just as the two were approaching he jumped down, taking one of the men to the ground with him. The other man lurched forward with a clenched jaw and his hands fisted at his sides. As Devin tried to fight him off, the other man got up from the ground. Now Devin was raising his left arm to block one blow as he pulled back his other arm to grab at the other man’s throat. He held on tight, pulling and pulling and pulling as he continued to fight off the other man with his spare arm and his feet.

  Finally, the resistance eased as the man’s neck cracked. Devin let him fall to the ground as he advanced on the other vampire. This one put up the biggest fight yet – and he was strong - real strong. Still, Devin would not give in. He kept on fighting until he was the last man standing. He drove stakes into their hearts and brought the two corpses to the burn pile. Just two left and only an hour before sunrise.

  Just as he was walking away from the burn pile, two strong arms crushed around him from behind. Devin tried to wriggle free, kicking and scratching at his assailant. Then he leaned back and head bu
tted the person. They released their grip and stumbled back. Two quickly delivered chops and Devin had him writhing on the ground. The man was holding his twisted arm and cursing at Devin. Devin grabbed a wooden stake from his back pocket and lunged it into the man’s heart. Not even bothering to tear apart his limbs, Devin threw him on top of the fire. “Thanks for making it easier on me. Now I don’t gotta carry your body so far,” he snickered sarcastically.

  Wish the girl would just come right to me also, Devin thought as he looked up at the sky and was off on his feet again. He spotted the female sitting near a brook with her head in her hands. This was going to be too easy.

  Devin snuck up behind her. He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back. Then he drove the stake into her heart. She didn’t even see it coming. Devin carried her body back to the fire and threw it on top. The area already reeked of burning flesh. The odor stung at Devin’s nostrils. Exhausted, he sat perched against a tree for a few moments as he watched the flames dance around. He had done it. In the dark hours right before dawn, he had killed seven vampires and saved God only knew how many lives in the process. That had to count for something, right?

  Somewhere in the distance a coyote bayed at the moon. Realizing that he should be getting back to the farmhouse, Devin forced himself up from the ground and drove back. Damien was waiting on the front porch when he pulled in. Devin got out of the truck and slammed the door closed behind him.

  “What, nobody new for Kya?” Damien asked.

  “Fuck Kya,” Devin muttered under his breath as he pushed past him and walked inside. Lets see how that evil cunt feels when she realizes she’s down seven vampires. Devin smiled to himself. He ran down the basement stairs to his dark room and lay down on his bed. Soon my image crept into his mind. “I will find a way to save her,” he whispered to himself. Then he closed his eyes and sleep overtook him.

  Chapter 13

  It was a beautiful day outside. Tommy, my mother, Kelly, and I spent the morning swimming in the pool. Then I decided to take Kelly back to the park. My mother decided to come along and we packed a picnic lunch. Once again, I brought Nevaeh with. Kelly just adored her.

  When we arrived, my mother and me set out a blanket under one of the crabapple trees and set the picnic basket down. She sat down to watch our stuff as I took Kelly over to the playground area. I pushed her on the swings until she eventually tired of it and wanted to move on to something else. Then I sat in the large wooden sandbox with her and helped her make a sand castle. I glanced over at my mother, who was still sitting perched against a tree trunk with a book in her hands.

  “Come on, lets go see Aunt Angela,” I said as I grabbed Kelly’s hand and started rubbing sand off of it. “I’m getting hungry. What do you say we go have lunch, small fry?”

  “Yeah,” Kelly agreed as she jumped up and down and clapped her hands.

  We reached the blanket and I pulled a small package of hand wipes from my purse. “Kelly, give me your hands so I can clean them before you eat, honey.”

  Kelly gave me her hands and let me clean them. Then I cleaned my own.

  “Well, you girls sure looked like you were having fun,” my mother said, smiling. “Are you having fun, Kelly?”

  “Yes,” Kelly smiled back.

  “Oh good, are you ready for lunch? I think there’s a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in here with your name on it,” my mother said to Kelly as she opened the picnic basket.

  Kelly licked her lips and clapped her hands together. My mother handed her the sandwich, then handed one to me and took one out for herself.

  My mother bit off a small piece of her sandwich and looked at me. “I think it’s great that you play with her like that. You’re going to make a great mother someday.”

  “Ahhh, thanks, mom. I hope I can be as good a mom as you are.”

  “You will,” she replied between bites. “In fact, you’ll be better.”

  “Mom, don’t say that. You’re a wonderful mother.”

  “Well,” mom said as she looked away. “There’s some things I wish I had done differently in your childhood. Things I wish I would’ve been able to protect you from.”

  I reached over and grabbed her arm. “Mom, that is what makes him trash, not you. You were always a great mom.”

  “Thanks, honey,” she said softly as she looked away.

  I knew exactly what she thinking as I put my sandwich down and reached over and hugged her. “I love you, mom,” I whispered.

  I heard her sniffle as she held me tighter. “I love you too. And I want you to know that I’m proud of the woman that you’ve become.”

  “Thanks,” I said as I gently patted her back.

  We finished eating and Kelly wanted to go on the slides. Nevaeh got up and looked at her, ready to follow her. “It’s okay, Kelly, go along.” Then I looked over at Nevaeh. “Go watch Kelly, Nevaeh.” She barked in agreement and took off after Kelly. My mother and I both laughed.

  I turned my head and looked directly at my mother. She smiled and looked down. I lightly touched her hand. “Mom, look, I want you to know that I don’t blame you for anything that dad did to me. It wasn’t your fault. You tried to protect me as best you could. And you did leave him.”

  “Yeah, but it took me long enough,” my mother said as tears welled up in her eyes. “I’ve never been able to forgive myself for what he did to you.”

  I scooted closer and wrapped my arm around my mother’s shoulder. She leaned her head against me. “I should’ve left him sooner. I’m so sorry, Nicole.”

  “Mom, it’s okay. You were scared. And you had no idea he was going to do what he ended up doing.”

  “I’m just so glad that you’re not repeating my same mistakes,” she said as her eyes met mine. “Jim hit you and you left, which is what I should have done with your father.”

  “Stop beating yourself up over it, mom. It’s not your fault. I don’t blame you, and neither does Tommy. We’re both fine, mom. Now will you please stop harboring all this guilt and move on? You deserve to be happy. You really do, mom.”

  “Thanks,” she whispered.

  I squeezed her hand and stood up. I looked over toward the playground and could see Nevaeh playfully chasing Kelly. I smiled to myself and turned back to my mother. “Come on, lets go have some fun,” I said as I reached for her hand.

  She accepted it and put her arm around my shoulder as we walked toward Kelly. Kelly saw us coming and started jumping up and down. “Yay! You’re both going to play with me?”

  “Yes, we are,” my mother answered as she grabbed Kelly’s hand.

  The three of us spent the next hour swinging on the swings, going down slides, climbing the monkey bars, and playing tag. It was so nice to just forget about everything else for a while and just kick back and have some fun being a kid again.

  “Okay, who wants ice cream?” I asked as I pulled into the parking lot of the local ice cream parlor.

  “I do! I do!” Kelly and my mother both said excitedly.

  I giggled and parked the car. We walked up to the window and each got a small ice cream cone. Then we sat on one of the outside benches. As we sat eating our ice cream, the sky started to turn a funny color. “We should probably get going,” my mother said as she got up. Kelly and I followed her to the car just in time. As soon as I closed the door, rain started falling. I looked over at my mother and we both started laughing. Kelly joined in, although I’m not sure she even knew what we were laughing about.

  Just as I was about to put the car in gear, the rain increased in intensity. I put the shifter back in park and turned to my mother. “I think we should wait here a bit til the rain dies down some. It’s gonna be hard to see out the window like this.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, lets just sit here for a bit.”

  A loud crack of thunder struck nearby. Kelly started crying. “I’m scared,” she said, her
lips trembling.

  I turned the key backward in the ignition so that I would still have power. Then I turned on the radio and climbed into the backseat to sit with Kelly. I hugged her close to me. “So, do you like to sing, Kelly?”

  “Yeah,” she whispered, her chin still quivering.

  “Okay, well sing with us,” I said as I tapped my mother on the shoulder and began singing along with the radio. My mother and Kelly soon joined me and before we knew it, the storm had passed. I climbed back into the driver’s seat, started the car, and drove home.

  When we got home, it was time for me to get ready for work. I took a quick shower and changed into my uniform. Then I grabbed a spare outfit to bring along for my date with Devin after work. I threw it into my shoulder bag and headed down the stairs. Kelly was sitting on the sofa watching cartoons. I approached her and gave her a quick hug and kiss. “I gotta go to work now, sweet pea,” I said as I stroked her hair. “I’ll see you later, okay?” Kelly nodded. “Bye, mom. I’m leaving now,” I called over my shoulder as I headed out the front door.

  I pulled into the parking lot at the diner. It was completely packed, which wasn’t unusual for a Friday night. As I pushed through the doors leading inside, my eyes met Gina’s as she walked swiftly toward me, her eyes wide. “Nicole, come here. You’ve got to see this,” she said as she pulled me by my arm. She led me to the counter and sat me down on one of the stools then took a seat next to me. “Hey, Steve, turn that up,” she yelled as she motioned toward the small TV set.

  Once again, police and fire rescue responded early this morning to a call from some civilians that there was smoke rising from the treetops at the Jasper Woods. Fire officials were able to quickly distinguish the flames and were shocked at the discovery of what remained. What they found were seven human skulls, along with some bones and teeth in what appeared to be a man-made fire pit of some sort.

  “Can you believe it? That’s only twenty minutes from where we live,” Gina exclaimed.

  My eyes were dilated with horror. I felt sick. It was getting closer to my home, just as I had said before. The rest of my night was a blur, as other nights before it. I did my job like a robot, not even remembering if I had any conversations with customers. I was grateful that I had first outs. I finished them quickly, punched out, and went into the bathroom to change.