Marked for Damnation

by S.A. Tadej

  I reached my car and unlocked the door, then quickly got inside and locked my door. Across the street, Devin was just getting up and was looking over at me. I put my car in reverse and stepped on the gas; then quickly shifted into drive and made an abrupt turn out of the parking lot. What the fuck just happened? I thought as I sped toward home. I kept looking in my rear view mirror to make sure he wasn’t following me.

  Soon I was out of the busy part of town and driving down old country back roads. I heard a horn honking and saw the lights approach me from behind. Before I even looked in my rearview mirror, I knew it was him. I tried to keep my focus on the road. Soon, he was beside me. His windows were rolled down and he was yelling for me to pull over. I shook my head no and kept driving. An oncoming vehicle came into view and he slowed down to weave in behind me again.

  I reached over for my purse and pulled it to my lap. I fumbled around inside it for my cell phone to call 911. Then I remembered I had left it at home. Shit! God, please just let him leave me alone. I don’t know why he’s acting like this, but I don’t like it.

  The oncoming car was long gone now and it was just the two of us on the road again. He began wildly beeping his horn again. I closed my eyes for a second. Stop! Please just stop! My body was jolted forward as he rammed his truck into the rear of my car. I turned my head back for an instant and suddenly I lost control and my car careened into the ditch. When my car came to a stop, I looked out my window and saw that Devin had stopped his truck on the side of the road.

  I stepped on the gas, but the tires just spun. I was stuck. “Come on! Come on!” I said out loud as I floored the gas and shifted between drive and reverse. I heard a loud tap on my window. I turned my head and my eyes met his. “Leave me alone!” I screamed.

  “Nicole, please, I’m not going to hurt you,” Devin pleaded.

  “Go away! Please, just go away,” I screamed as tears spilled down my cheeks in an uncontrollable rush.

  Devin pulled on the door handle. “Unlock the door,” he commanded. I shook my head no. “Come on, we don’t have time for this,” he pleaded.

  Despite his pleading and telling me he wasn’t going to hurt me, I was still too afraid to relent. Before I knew what was happening, I heard glass shattering and Devin was pulling me through the window. I heard my brother’s voice in my head. ‘Maybe she was protecting you’. I screamed as loud as I could as I kicked and scratched at him. He overpowered me and held me still, pinning my arms behind me. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. Then he head-butted me and everything went dark.

  Where was that awful queasy feeling coming from? Why was my body being shaken around? I opened my eyes and saw black fabric. Where was I? And why did my head feel so cold? And why did I feel like I was bouncing?

  I felt something stroke my hair. “You’re awake,” Devin whispered.

  Devin. His voice instantly made me come to my senses. I followed the sound of his voice. I tipped my head back and looked up at him. He smiled down at me nervously. I realized that I was in Devin’s truck and had been asleep with my head in his lap. The black fabric I had seen was the headliner of his truck. The coldness on my head was from an ice pack that was still laid over my forehead.

  Then I remembered. I remembered the fight and I remembered the head butt. It must have knocked me out because that was the last thing I remembered til now. I quickly sat up, removing my head from his lap. I looked out the window at the dust that the tires were kicking up from Devin speeding down the gravel back road. I inched further away from him and held onto the door handle. I watched as we passed acres and acres of empty fields with run down old barns and abandoned farm stands. The scenery quickly changed to thick wooded areas. I felt dizzy as I watched everything pass by so quickly. I grasped tighter onto the door handle and looked over at Devin. He was watching the road.

  Where was I? And what was I going to do now… jump? Devin must’ve been driving at least 100 mph. That left jumping out of the vehicle out of the question. Besides, I had no idea where the hell I was.

  I felt bile rise up in my throat and I quickly rolled my window down, leaned my head out and vomited. I felt Devin’s hand on my shoulder. “You okay?” he asked.

  I ignored his question and looked over at him. “Where are you taking me?”

  “Someplace safe,” he answered as he brought his hand up and stroked my cheek.

  “You just knocked me out because… you’re taking me someplace safe. Okay, I see now. Yes, you make perfect sense, Devin,” I replied bitterly. “Oh, and you’re not going to hurt me, but you knocked me out and now my head is throbbing.”

  Devin frowned and stopped stroking my face as he reached over into the glove compartment. He retrieved a bottle of aspirin and held it out to me. I accepted it and he handed me a bottle of water. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you, but you wouldn’t listen to me. It had to be done.”

  “Well, you picked the wrong girl. I don’t let men beat up on me, Devin. That’s obviously your thing, so you need to find another girl.”

  Devin laughed. “Is that what you think?”

  “Well, duh!”

  “Look, I’m doing this to save you. I know you don’t understand, but when we get to safety I will explain everything to you and then you’ll know that I had no choice. This was the only way.”

  “Why don’t you explain it to me now?”

  “Because I have to concentrate on where I’m going. Besides, you need to be relaxed when I tell you. I’m not gonna lie – what I need to say is going to be hard to take, but you have to trust me.”

  “Whatever,” I said as I shot him a nasty look and rolled my eyes. “You can’t keep me anywhere against my will.”

  Devin chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You are,” Devin replied. “I told you that you were special and I was right. You’re definitely strong willed, that’s for sure!”

  He chuckled nervously as I stared at him. Then he leaned over and put his arm over my shoulder. We drove on in awkward silence for a long time before either of us spoke.

  “How much longer?” I finally asked.

  “We’re almost there.”

  “Thank God! I have to pee.”

  “You should’ve said something. Do you need me to pull over to the side of the road?”

  I glared at him. “I’m not peeing on the side of the road, thank you.”

  “Suit yourself. We should be there in about five minutes or so anyhow.”

  True to his word, Devin slowed the truck about five minutes later. He turned down a narrow path that didn’t even look like a road. He continued driving down this narrow path for nearly a mile. He slowed down as we approached a small stone cottage, almost completely hidden by thick foliage. He pulled his truck around the back, parked, and got out. I watched as he walked over to my door and opened it. “Come on,” he said as he held out his hand. I accepted it and walked with him up to the door. I watched as he jiggled the lock. “Stand back,” he ordered as we stood in front of the door. I moved back a few feet and watched as he kicked the door in.

  I walked inside into almost complete darkness. Devin reached into his bag, took out a large candle, and lit it. I walked further into the room and looked around. The place looked like it had been abandoned for a long time. To my right was an old threadbare sofa with numerous rips in the fabric, which was checkered a faded blue and white. Next to the sofa was a small wooden end table topped with a faded white doily and a small lamp. I walked over to the lamp and to my surprise it turned on. Well at least we have power.

  Against the left wall was an old wooden table with a small television set on top of it. Straight back was a small kitchen, which consisted of a refrigerator, a stove, a few cabinets, and a small table with two chairs. In the center of the room was a small hallway that led to a small bathroom on the right, which was in desperate need of clea
ning. Thick dark dirt rings surrounded the tops of both the bathtub and the sink. Dingy yellow towels hung from a metal rack across from the toilet.

  As disgusting as it was, I didn’t care. I had to go to the bathroom so bad it felt like my teeth were floating. I slammed the door shut and was grateful that there was a roll of toilet paper hanging on the wall next to the toilet. I tore off two long sheets and put them down on the seat before I sat down. This place is so gross!

  After I used the bathroom, I walked over to the sink to wash my hands. I turned the handle on the faucet and nothing came out. “Oh, come on!” I said out loud. I heard a knock on the door. “What?”

  “Everything okay in there?” Devin asked.

  “No,” I answered as I walked toward the door and opened it. I pushed past him. “This place is disgusting! There’s no way I’m staying here.”

  “Okay, so it’s not the Four Seasons,” Devin responded. “But you’ll be safe here.”

  I slid down the wall and sat on the floor. “This place is so dirty and disgusting. There’s not even running water, Devin. How are we supposed to stay here? And how long are we supposed to stay here? You still haven’t told me what’s going on.”

  Devin squatted down in front of me. “Shhh… everything is going to be okay,” he said as he touched my face and stroked my hair. “I just need to find the main water valve and we’ll have running water, okay?”

  I shook my head. He put his feet out from under him so that he was sitting next to me. He pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. “Devin,” I whispered.

  “Yeah?”

  “What’s going on?”

  Devin let out a deep breath and frowned. He released me from his arms and stood up. “First things first. Let me get the water running. Then maybe you can take a nice relaxing bath to calm down some and then we’ll talk.”

  Devin left and I stood up to continue my tour of the small cottage. Across from the bathroom was a small bedroom. The brown shag carpeting was balding in some spots and deep blue paint was peeling from the walls. Against the center wall was a queen-sized bed with an old multi-colored quilt. Old wooden nightstands were on each side of the bed.

  Something on top of the nightstand to the left of the bed caught my eye. It was an old corded telephone. I ran to it and picked up the receiver. No dial tone. Shit! I had no idea what time it was, but I knew it had to be late and I knew my mother would be worried about me. And Kelly, poor Kelly, was surely waiting up for me.

  My eyes continued to scan the room. Along the left wall was a tall dresser. In the corner opposite the bed was an old gold easy chair. The left wall displayed a shorter, wider dresser with a dusty mirror attached to it.

  I heard footsteps and turned around to see Devin approaching. “Water’s on,” he said. “I found some cleaning products under the sink. I’m gonna scrub the tub out real quick so you can take a bath.”

  “Thanks,” I mumbled as I forced a smile.

  Devin cleaned the tub and even managed to find some bubble bath. He filled the tub and then called me into the bathroom. “It’s all set,” he said as he motioned toward the bubble bath that awaited me. “You must be hungry. I didn’t even think about food. We passed a 24-hour market on our way in. While you take your bath, I’m just gonna run out real quick and grab a few things.”

  “Okay,” I mumbled half-heartedly. He kissed my cheek and was out the door, only to return a moment later.

  “I almost forgot,” he said as he laid a small black gun down on the bathroom counter. He looked me directly in the eyes. “Just in case you have any problems. Shoot first, ask questions later.”

  I just stood there, my eyes wide with shock and horror. Now I really wanted to know what was going on. What was the gun for? Just what was Devin supposedly protecting me from? If we were really in danger, why not just go to the police?

  “Okay, I’m going now,” Devin repeated. “I’ll be back soon – promise.” He smiled at me and left, closing the bathroom door behind him.

  I slowly undressed and sank into the tub. I had to give Devin credit; the temperature of the water was perfect. I laid back and closed my eyes. My mind replayed one of my previous dates with Devin.

  ‘Do you believe in monsters?’

  ‘What if everything isn’t as it seems?’

  ‘Lets just say that I’m not like anyone you’ve ever met before.’

  ‘What if I’m a monster?’

  ‘Don’t you get it? I’m no good for you. You should run from me, not to me.’

  ‘You’re not ready to hear it yet.’

  ‘I won’t kill you.’

  ‘I love you.’

  I quickly scrubbed up and got out of the tub. I eyed the black pistol sitting on the countertop as I got dressed and brushed my hair. I bit my lower lip and pondered what to do next. Abruptly I reached out and ran my fingers over the smooth, cool steel of the gun. I picked it up and noted how it felt in my hand as I fingered the trigger.

  My body ran wild with adrenaline as I walked into the living room with the pistol still in my hand. When Devin returned, I would be ready. I heard Devin’s truck approaching and I quickly took a stance against the wall behind the front door. “Okay, Devin, I think it’s time for you to start talking,” I whispered to myself.

  I listened intently to the sound of his footsteps as they drew nearer. Suddenly panic struck me. ‘Shoot first. Ask questions later.’ What if it wasn’t Devin approaching? My heart beat wildly in my chest as the footsteps got closer. Suddenly the door swung open.

  I sprang to action, jumping from around the corner of the door, arms extended, gun in hand. “Stop right there!” I yelled. I saw that it was in fact Devin and my heart rate slowed a bit. He grinned and shook his head at me, then brushed past me and set the grocery bag on the small kitchen table.

  I walked toward him; gun still extended. “I’m not kidding, Devin. I will shoot you. Now you better start telling me just what the hell is going on.”

  Devin looked over at me and shook his head. Then he proceeded to take the contents out of the bag. “You’re not gonna shoot me, Nicole.”

  “Oh yeah, you just try me then.”

  He laughed. I pulled back on the trigger and stared at him as I walked closer. He raised one brow and put both his hands up in the air. “Nicole, put the gun down. I told you I’m not gonna hurt you.”

  “I’m not gonna put the gun down until you tell me what the hell is going on. Why did you bring me here?”

  Devin rubbed his chin with his hand, let out a long exhale, and turned to face me. “Can we just sit down, please?” he asked as he pulled back one of the wooden chairs, motioned for me to sit in it, then pulled out one for himself and took a seat. I sat down, but refused to put down the gun.

  Devin kept his eyes on me as he began to speak in a low voice. “Nicole, what I’m about to say is going to sound a bit far fetched, but you have got to believe me, okay?”

  I continued to stare at him, not giving him a response.

  He frowned and continued. “Okay, do you remember me telling you that everything wasn’t as it seems?”

  I nodded.

  “Okay and do you remember me asking you if you believed in monsters?”

  Again I nodded.

  Devin drew in a long breath and flashed me a nervous smirk. “What if I told you that everything you’ve read in legends and storybooks was sort of true?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Nicole, I’m a monster.”

  I shook my head in disbelief. “Yeah, okay.”

  “Nicole, I’m being serious.”

  “Okay, I’ll play along. What kind of monster are you?”

  “Vampire,” he whispered so low that I barely heard it. Then he looked down.

  I shook my head in disbelief again. Then I remembered the dream I had where Devin had fangs and I remembered how my dog had ac
ted around him. No, it was just a dream!

  Devin’s eyes met mine again. “Nicole, its true. I’m immortal. Damien’s not really my brother. He created me.”

  “Created you?” I raised my eyebrows.

  “Yes,” Devin replied. “Well, no… I mean I was human at one time.”

  Devin paused trying to read my expression. “Nicole, can you please put the gun down?”

  I looked down at my shaky arm holding the gun across the table. I had forgotten I was even holding it. I brought my arm closer to my body and put the gun down on the table, then laid my hand on top of it.

  “What are you thinking right now?” Devin asked.

  “Just trying to make sense of all the bullshit you’re trying to feed me.”

  “Nicole, it’s not bullshit. I think you know that too.”

  “So how do you go from being human to being immortal?” I asked sarcastically.

  I listened as Devin explained the last night of his human life, his motorcycle accident, meeting Damien and thinking he was an angel, and how Damien had saved his life, but what that had meant he had become. He continued to tell me how he had killed many people and how he thought he was marked for damnation. “But then I met you and everything changed for me,” he went on.

  “So you’re telling me that you’re a killer?” I asked.

  Devin nodded his head. “Was. I haven’t killed anyone in a long time. Well, except vampires. Remember that story you told me you heard on the news about the remains of seven people being found in the woods?”

  I slowly nodded my head. “Yeah?”

  “Well, that was me.”

  My eyes widened in horror. “You killed them seven people?”

  “Yes… well, no. I mean I did, but they weren’t exactly people. They were vampires. I did the world a favor.”

  “Okay, so you were a killer, but you’re not anymore? And you said you weren’t going to kill me or hurt me, so what is my part in all of this?”