Tales of the Demimonde Page 3

  Smiling, I licked my skin, tasting her blood and feeling a surge of savage joy.

  I didn’t even bother with the compulsion necessary to sedate her. I did not intend for her to live long enough to alarm any other humans. There was an itching inside me, a mountain of loathing and resentment and humiliation and frustration that had been building up for years. As I hungrily watched the blood drip from her speechless, terrified face, she seemed more than ever to resemble my sweet betrayer.

  Her death would scratch this itch. Her screams would be balm for my humiliation. When she begged for life, I would hear instead her begging for love, and I would scorn her.

  I found myself in the mirror. I was standing over her like a dragon. I was beautiful, and I was indeed powerful. This poor wench would do well to remember how fortunate she was to be consumed by someone as great as I.

  There are those who believed I bathed in her blood, but I did no such wasteful thing. I consumed her.

  She screamed in terror as I seized her and tore her thin clothing from her shoulders. I roughly caressed her skin, allowing her to think for a hopeless moment that I only meant to take carnal pleasure from her. She’d heard rumors of my taste for women, and knew of my appetite for abuse. Both things made her frantic.

  I paralyzed her with a thought, ran my mouth across her breasts, pooled my breath on her vulnerable stomach. Oh, so reminiscent of the teasing I’d endured so long ago. There would be no pleasurable release for this heap of flesh that lay desperately crying beneath me. I dragged my tongue along towards the curve of her waist, and plunged my teeth into her howling body.

  I drank in great swallows, and felt her pulse in my mouth. My face became sticky with the slick of her blood as she poured her life and her agony into me. Her death came with a static force that rivaled any storm that ever pummeled my castle, so defiant at the foot of the godless Carpathians. I heard the last crashing beat of her heart, and in the sudden silence that followed, I began to laugh.

  Looking back, I sometimes wish I’d had the foresight to thank her. She was a special bend in my path, a shaper of destiny. I am glad I didn’t, however. It might have given her comfort, and her death wouldn’t have had the same impact.

  For the first time in my life, I felt the ecstasy of evolution.

  Destiny.

  My path was set.

   

  Only once more would my path be turned, and my destiny set askance. He was not an encouraging husband, or a passion-releasing doorway to evolution.

  He was my cousin, Georgy Thurzo, and he thought himself to be my end.

  It was Thurzo who arrested me years later. I cursed his name, and his line. He recognized too late the mistake he had allowed himself to make, and thought to save his family from my tender mercies. Fool. In his desperate ignorance he allowed me to escape the destiny the Courts thought was mine. Fool!

  They say I died in captivity, imprisoned in my sealed chamber. Fools, all of them.

  It took three long years for Dorcas to be able to bring enough death close to me, where I languished in my cell. But eventually, I was victorious.

  I had evolved.

  I left behind my demivampiric life, accepting the distance that must come between myself and the glorious pain I’d spent my life harvesting. Erzsebet Bathory died in 1614, regretting nothing but the loss of her name.

  Once safely buried in a church, I arose, fully evolved, fully glorified. I have tread the path of vengeance with fearlessness and determination. I will fulfill the curse I promised. Thurzo’s get will know what he felt when my curse fell upon him, and they will all die the same way.

  I am Irony. I find pleasure in pain, and I take death to give myself life.

  I seldom tell my story. Be content that you are honored to have heard it, because it is the last thing you will ever hear. I am walking history…

  …and now you, sweet thing, will be history as well.

   

  BLOOD RUSH: A Public Service Message From DAVE

   

  If your eyes light up when you see your girlfriend—and everyone else sees the glow…you might be a Demivampire.

  If your biggest reason for choosing who to date is the scent of their blood… you might be a Demivampire.

  If you remember when Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address—and remember what you wore to the speech… you might be a Demivampire.

  If people find you compelling—because you can mess with their will… you might be a Demivampire.

  If you aren't a dog person—because you've met more than one that can talk… you might be a Demivampire.

  If you never have trouble finding a parking spot because you just compel another driver out of the way… you might be a Demivampire.

  If the threat of damnation haunts your every step…if the threat of evolution causes you to bow your head at Sunfall… you might be a Demivampire.

  If you spend your life searching for the Sophia Oracle… you might be a Demivampire.

   

  All jokes aside…

  We know how difficult life can be for a Demivampire living in America today. It's been centuries since a Sophia Oracle has manifested. Centuries since the Demivampire have felt the healing touch of a Sophia's grace. Centuries of Falling and evolving because of spiritual deterioration that has spiraled out of control.

  Demivampire, you are not alone in your plight. Our dedicated team has been constantly searching for the next Sophia. They remain ever vigilant for that glimmer of hope. While we have not yet found her, we will keep searching until we do.

  There is hope. There is always hope. Be careful and live long.

   

  This Public Service Message has been paid for by Demivampires Against Vampire Evolution.

  DAVE: Counting the Tomorrows by Preserving the Todays

   

  Marek Thurzo on the Preservation of Demivampire Society

   

  Marek Thurzo is a prominent demivampire citizen of the American Northeast. He has long been a proponent of the preservation of demivampire status and is a well-known opponent of the trend toward evolution.

  Current standards of education are no longer sufficient to preserve the culture of Demivampire. In light of the growing threat that faces the average demivampire in today’s world, Marek has developed a foundation to educate the youth of DV society on the facts of evolution and the factors which may lead to this devastating and permanent change.

  Inherent nature of the DV

  The majority of demivampires represent the very best and the very worst extremes of society, while the general populace of humanity tends not to reach such pronounced extremities. Upon deeper examination, DV are far more advanced than their human counterparts. Their ability to achieve such extreme levels of performance is due to their accelerated physical and mental development. Naturally, they are stronger, more intelligent, more powerful, and more capable of committing extreme acts than ordinary humans.

  There are exceptions to both species, of course. There are stand-out humans (the Sophia Oracle is one such example) who seem to rise above the average ranks of humans, as well as stand-out demivampires—the lazy, the untalented, the uneducated, who fall short of common DV expectations/norms and are often considered to be disappointments by many.

  This sets the scenario that the very best and the very worst things that happen are usually due to a DV. The most incredible advances of science and technology, the most amazing feats of athletes and performers (such as David Blane-type magicians, Usain Bolt-type athletes, or Neil DeGrasse Tyson-type scientists), the most heinous and nauseating crimes—just about all of these cases involve a demivampire.

  Understanding the nature of the Demivampire, therefore, is the basis of Marek Thurzo’s campaign for the preservation of the species and, therefore, society as a whole.

  Evolution: arguments for and against

  Marek capitalizes on the good that demivampires can do, and have done in the past. The DV are just as de
pendent upon the earth for survival as any human, and since they themselves are dependent upon humanity for sustenance and survival, their efforts must concentrate upon the quality of life for humans and DV alike, as well as a better world.

  Upon evolution, the demivampire’s skills, emotional drive, and coherent ability to care and consider others completely vanish. Vampires are the essential definition of narcissism, concerned for nothing but themselves and their own satisfaction/survival. This anti-social quality leads to the widely-accepted belief that DV who embrace and pursue evolution are essentially sociopaths who will pursue their desires without regard to society. Vampires are, therefore, a danger to the Demivampire community.

  Demivampires are urged to maintain DV "status". Every mind and every body is needed in order to improve society, improve civilization. Vampires who seek to destroy the advances and accomplishments of DV must be eliminated or new ways of containing them must be found. Vampires will eventually destroy humanity in their lust for blood and power, and both vampire and DV will be destroyed. Vampires simply do not care.

  Marek's opposition is reluctant to embrace his views concerning the issue of vampire. Currently, most efforts are directed toward the education of young demivampires, specifically in the area of abstinence (ie. taking the life of their blood “donors” or prey.) These people argue that when you tell a kid to "don't do this", it's too great a temptation to pass up.

  Also, young demivampires get their kicks from an easy kill. The thrill is often referred to as “blood rush” and it is similar to experimenting with drugs. The elder DV don't emphasize enough the importance of increasing awareness of blood rush and its consequences— that killing leads to evolution and thus the death of their very soul and nature.

  Marek's campaign is for the education of DV against the evils of evolving, not just unexplained "abstinence".

  Other opponents maintain that the vampires are natural. The oldest and strongest eventually turn. Vampires remove themselves from DV society and are, therefore, out of DV jurisdiction or concern. Besides, vampires are so few in number compared to those of DV society. How can they pose a problem?

  While most consider the evolved state of vampire to be undesirable, these opponents insist that one must take the good with the bad. Concerning abstinence, they not only refuse to abstain, they don't even exercise caution. Their belief is that evolution is part of a natural process. After all, many DV go to their rest without fully evolving.

  Additionally, the talents of the Demivampire enable them to pursue what humans would recognize as risky or dangerous endeavors; therefore the risk of accidental death is much higher than that of evolution.

  At the very least, if a certain amount of this long-lived population evolves, they pass out of society in a form of population control.

  Marek argues that these opponents do nothing but bury their heads in the sand. They refuse to consider the ramifications of their beliefs, and they refuse to think it through to the end.

  Blood rush and its effect on DV biologic systems

  A vampire is a DV who has fully evolved. Evolution is the process by which a DV is physically and spiritually transformed through a series of biochemical reactions. DV are naturally genetically advanced compared to their human cousins. This is due to the species differences. However, demivampire biochemical systems are hypersensitive to metaphysical energy, and they are affected in ways that humans are not.

  When a human dies, their soul/spirit is separated from the physical body, resulting in a release of metaphysical energy. The amount of energy changes in proportion to the trauma of the death. A peaceful death releases minimal energy, as the soul slips away from the body. A traumatic, violent death, a ripping away of the soul, an anxiety or fear filled death, causes a tremendous release of energy.

  A DV’s body is highly sensitive to this metaphysical energy, which acts as an enzyme in the biochemical reactions involved in evolution. The stimulation caused by death energy is responsible for the phenomenon known commonly as “blood rush”, which causes a secondary change in the DV’s evolutionary scale.

  This is why a demivampire who is exposed to death energy undergoes a transformation from DV to vampire. Since it is evolution—a change from one distinct form of a species to another—it is not usually a quick progression. Small changes may be virtually unnoticeable, but they do accumulate, resulting in a tremendous change over time.

  A violent power-laden death causes a more violent, even painful change. Large changes are known to cause immediate and marked changes in personality.

  These changes are irreversible unless the individual has access to the grace and salvation provided by a Sophia oracle. Considering the scarcity of these healers, many of the afflicted pass beyond help.

  Spiritual ramification of blood rush

  Young vamps who kill for the kicks find out too late that they are changed forever. Often they experience life changing revelations: some are horrified, and exercise extreme caution henceforth.

  Others feel a sense of apathy: what's the point, everyone is born to die, we all end up like this eventually, etc. The effect blood rush has upon the immature emotional development of an adolescent depends on one's present mental state, i.e. positive or negative.

  Counseling is of value in dealing with these effects and should be considered a first response action after indulgence in blood rush is suspected.

  Demivampires Against Vampire Evolution

  Education must take a multi-disciplinary approach. It is not enough to simply admonish young demivampires to abstain—children must be well-informed so that they can make educated decisions about their health and safety as well as the effects their behaviors may have on the world around them. The DAVE Foundation (Demivampires Against Vampire Evolution) has been created to promote awareness of all the aspects of evolution: blood rush and its effects on a demivampire’s physical, mental, and emotional health; a realistic view of the spiritual and physical pain of evolution, and the socioeconomic impact of evolution within DV communities.

  Conclusion

  Although evolution is regarded by some as a natural part of the demivampire lifecycle, it is by no means a desirable condition. Education may help to deter evolution-causing practices, but the current standard of promoting abstinence is not enough. DAVE is a foundation with a progressive view toward more aggressing educational programs, as we believe that full transparency and complete understanding of the process and ramifications of evolution is necessary if we are to see a reverse in the growing trend of vampirism.

   

  The Horus Bird

  Deleted scene from WOLF’S BANE (Demimonde #3)

   

  The falcon leapt from its perch in search of a warm draft and a glimpse of its mate. It experimented with the winds and, finding a pleasing current, it soared high above the newly budding forest.

  Spring had come early, and even though it would still be called winter, already the trees below showed signs of life. The bird had no god and no religion, but it recognized the forces that awoke the earth and in its own way paid homage to them.

  The winter had been long and cold and had caught the young falcon unaware. But this bird was no fledgling; it survived the peril. It survived as no other could ever hope to survive, protected by a power it didn't understand.

  Now, in the bright sun and the temperate wind, its heart exalted at the chance to fly, to hunt, to seek its mate. This was life; simple, perhaps, but the fullness of it far exceeded the expectations of a simple heart. Opportunity and promise abounded past forest, past horizon, past the brilliant sun itself.

  Dropping in altitude, the falcon skimmed the tops of the old black oaks, ignoring the prey that darted for cover below it. It was always hungry, always hunting, always looking for something. Today, however, the prey did not attract it. The falcon was focused on one thing alone.

  Its mate.

  Suddenly the trees ended, the surface of the woods plunging away like a steep cliff and c
rashing into a broad open field. Early spring had yet to waken the grass, and even though this was still the bird's first season, it knew that with the warmer weather would come a sea of brilliant green blades, full of clever prey.

  Thoughts such as this came often to the falcon, but being a bird it paid little attention to them. They made no sense and did not help it to fly or to hunt, so for the most part the falcon let the thoughts slip away like leaves in the wind. It knew the field would turn green and full of life, but it didn't know why it knew, and it didn't care.

  The only thing the strange thoughts had been good for was that they had led it to seek its mate. That was sufficient enough.

  Far across the great field was her tremendous nest. A ridiculous nest, far too large and strange for a falcon, but since she was not falcon, it supposed the nest was appropriate. A big thing made of stone, not wood, but it had a perch on which she sometimes sat. It would do. Balcony came one of those strange thoughts, but the word meant little to the bird. Perch would suffice. Perch, it understood.

  Climbing high once more, it circled lazily, anticipating the sight of her, but as it flew closer, it saw the perch was empty. She was not there. Disappointed, it arced back towards the woods.

  The falcon caught sight of a group of men gathered in the field and decided to investigate. Sometimes where men gathered, so did his mate. It never worried that one of these men, so much more like her than itself, would try to lure her away. It knew she belonged to it, always would.

  The men stood near a great stone that hadn't been there the day before. It was a massive stone, and from its top stretched a great steel perch. Interesting. It would try that perch when the men left because it gave a great vantage point from which he could watch his mate's own perch. The falcon felt a surge of triumph and it cried out, high above the men below.

  Faces uplifted towards the sound of its cry. Scanning the faces, he saw her and called again.

  Her face, framed with its plume of brown hair, creased with both pain and joy like no other face could ever wear, eyes the color of noon sky when the clouds promised new winds. His mate.