Chapter 7: Massacre and Madness

 

 

It was a slow night. Pickings were very slim and hardly any gent that was out and about wanted to get a taste of the local variety, preferring more high-class venues to savour the many delicacies that the city had to offer. It didn’t matter if you had a prune’s hide for a face or hair on the back of your knees. If you had money, you were every gentleman’s dream girl.

Which made life for the local bangtails very difficult when a night’s work meant a week’s worth of meals.

The girl sighed as she smoothed the wrinkles out of her old high-split skirt, showing more leg than was proper for someone her age. She was affectionately known as Dolly because of her chestnut ringlets and bright wide eyes. She had moved her from Dublin and had a good life, but after her family died early and the assets went to the banks due to being no will, she had to make a living working the streets of London. There were good nights where she could easily afford a week’s stay in a fancy hotel with a good warm bath and some clean, fresh clothes. But, like tonight, there were also times where she would have the gutters for her bed and a tattered awning for a roof to keep the rain off. But she didn’t feel like sleeping in the putrid drains tonight. She needed to get a good client or she would have to haul herself to the nearest shelter.

 

Something caught her eye. A tall gentleman with a dark ponytail was roaming the streets, his tall boots gleaming in the glow of the streetlamps. She couldn’t really see what he was wearing, but from the looks of the large cape and the lacy cuffs he looked like he had jumped straight off the pages of one of the romances she’d read to keep the depression of street life at bay. He seemed to notice her for he turned towards where she stood, the light from the nearest bar window playing on his features. Wow, what a good-looking man! His thin, but attractive lips curved into a charming smile, his brown eyes glittering with a reddish tint as though a fire burned eternally behind them. Carnelian was the word that came to mind to describe those piercing eyes. Her heart skipped a beat as he sauntered towards where she stood. He was coming straight towards her! She straightened her bodice of the dress, revealing more cleavage than was appropriate and put on her most seductive smile. A hard thing to do when she was freezing her a*s off and her teeth chattering in the chill air. But she managed with little difficulty.

“Hello, Sir. Would you fancy being shown a good time?” Her voice quavered only a little in the cold and she thanked herself for the years of hard life she’d spent in this weather. The man smiled warmly, sending a rush through her like warm cocoa mixed with the finest cream.

“And would such a beautiful lady be kind enough to show me such?” His voice had a strange lilt to it, his tongue trilling the l’s and sharpening the w’s to v’s. She couldn’t place the accent, but it was clear he was not a local. Most local men didn’t have any manners or even the sense to use them. She guessed Russian at first, but no, it seemed even stronger than that. She dipped her head down and made an awkward curtsey. She didn’t know why she was doing it, but it seemed appropriate around such a proper gentleman.

“Of course, Sir. I will show you such a good time, you’ll never want to part ways,’ she simpered, daring to brush against the gentleman and press her hand against his groin. The man’s smile widened and a strange glint sparked in his eyes. But she was too enamoured by the man’s appearance to even read the intent behind those eyes.

‘Shall we adjourn to somewhere more…discreet, my lady?” He bowed courteously and took her hand in a courtly gesture. Suddenly blushing and giggling like a schoolgirl, she nodded and allowed herself to be led down the street.

 

It was not long before they reached the old church on the far side of the slums. It was pretty much abandoned, deserted by the local clergy years ago for fear of demons and ghosts haunting the rafters. There was no one to say whether or not the rumours were true; none who were sent to investigate returned. Dolly had heard of this place as a little girl and used to play there all the time. She knew the area pretty well, but it had been so long since she walked this part of London that she could barely remember if the church had a lock to the doors. Not that it mattered. No one really came by this way since all the entertainment was situated in the centre of town. And it was the perfect place to conduct her business. She could pleasure the gentleman, get a handsome pay and maybe even have a sugar daddy for a while. But it would depend on what he liked and if he would be willing to visit her again. She shook her head. No, I am not living like this anymore. This guy could be my ticket out of this dump. I’ll have to give him the best time he’s ever had that he’ll HAVE to take me in.

With this in mind, she giggled and pushed the man against the wall. “Before I satisfy your needs, Sir. How much will you be willing to pay?”

The gentleman’s smile became positively wicked. “As much as you are willing to satisfy me, my lady.” That was all the invitation she needed. She pressed her lips hard into his mouth and began to unfasten his belt. The man seemed to melt into the kiss and she slipped her hand into his pants, wrapping her fingers around his length. He shuddered with pleasure and a moan left his lips. Yes, that’s it. Get all hot and heavy for me.  Dolly began to stroke him and his kisses became more dominating and possessive. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and held her fast against his body. She felt it would bruise her, but she didn’t mind being a little rough. She pressed her mouth harder into his and the moan became a growl. It was a strange sound, nothing that she’d heard from her customers before. It didn’t even sound like something a human would make. She took it as a sign to continue and she stroked him harder. She could feel him thickening and hardening in her grip and she grinned in her mind. He would be all hers soon enough-

“Ow!” She drew back suddenly when he nipped her lip. She tasted salt and copper and put a hand to her lips. Her fingertips came away red. She laughed coquettishly at the man.

“You like playing rough, don’t you?” she cooed. Then her flirty air vanished when she noticed something about his mouth.

Fangs were protruding from his lips. And his eyes were glowing a sinister red.

“What the hell are you?” Fear suddenly overcame her and she scrambled to get away from him. But he held her fast. She struggled to get free but he was so strong that she couldn’t even pry her arms loose. She opened her mouth to scream but he clamped his hand over her mouth. His skin was cold. Cold as ice, colder than what a man standing in the frosty night should have been. Cold as the grave. Her screams were muffled by his hand and she struggled harder, as though she could burst from the man’s grasp and fly away.

A searing pain and the sharp bite of steel tearing through flesh silenced her and she stared at the man. The sadistic vampire grinned, fully flashing fang at his prey.

“You’re satisfying my needs excellently, human. I am sure she will be most pleased with what you will have to offer her.”

Dolly didn’t answer. Only stared at her last client with wide, glassy eyes.

                       ~*~

Kaileena woke to a shrill ringing in her ears and raised her head tiredly. She had fallen asleep a while ago after the repair man had come to replace the mirrors in the bathroom and never woken up since. She glanced at the clock. 9 pm. She felt as though she’d slept an eternity. But it was to be expected after the night she’d had before. The phone beside her bed shrilled incessantly and she glared at the electronic device.

“All right, for Christ’s sake,” she growled. Rolling over onto her side, she reached over with a bandaged hand and picked up the sleek receiver, pressing it to her ear. “Hello?”

“I thought you would be out patrolling at this hour. Or is all of your kind this lazy?”

The grogginess dissipated immediately. She knew that voice. She glared at the phone.

“What do you want?”

“Now, is that any way to treat your master?” The arrogance was coming into his voice and she wanted nothing more than to slam the receiver on him.  She bit her lip hard and forced the diatribe of insults back.

“I just woke up after a long day patrol. The least you can do is cut me some damn slack.”

“Fine.” The vampire lord seemed to bite down on the word. “But you need to get up and get down here.” He seemed to grit the words out between his teeth. “We need your assistance.”

“Going to kick me out again?”

“Enough.” The word was sharp and curt. It would seem his Royal Pain-In-The-A*s was not going to leave room for arguments. “You need to come down to the old church immediately.”

“The old church on the far end of Cornwall? Why there?”

“We’ve got another one.”

The dhampir sat up immediately. That was not a good sign. “When was the body found?”

“This evening, around eight pm. I just received the call then.”

“Was she killed the same way?” She leaned the receiver on her shoulder as she got dressed. She unwrapped her hand took a look at it. It was still bleeding, but at least it was healing without infection.

“I’m not sure.” 

“What is that?”

“I am only just heading to the scene now. But the detective told me there was some kind of symbol carved on the victim’s arm.”

Kaileena froze, her hand just inches away from grabbing her daggers. “…What kind of symbol?”

“That’s your job to find out. I will arrange for an escort for you.”

“So I don’t contaminate the scene?” Her tone was acidic.

“It’s a long trip from your place of residence to Cornwall. A car will be there to pick you up shortly.”

She blinked. She didn’t think she heard him clearly. “Excuse me?”

“Are you going to sit there acting dumb or are you going to get moving?” Vincent growled the question over the phone. It seemed the matter was final and would not be discussed further.

Kaileena sighed. As much as she was still fuming at the vampire for his biased views, she was thankful for the reprieve of walking through London. It would save her having to hold her coat tight against her body to hide the weapons she had. “I’ll be outside in ten minutes.”

“The car will be there to collect you and take you to the scene. Hurry up.”

“Yes, Master,” she replied sarcastically. Hanging up, she grabbed the weapons she would need for this foray. She knew it wasn’t necessary, but it was best to be prepared. It was uncertain if she would be able to walk away from another body without having to track down a killer during the same night. But the thought that was burning in her mind at this moment was what kind of symbol had been left behind.

“I won’t know until I see the body,” she muttered. “But if it’s her mark…” She glared at the floor, her eyes flashing red. She heard the horn blare outside. Her ride was there.

“Only one way to find out.” Grabbing her sword and sheathing it, she walked out of the apartment, locking the door behind her.

                       ~*~

It was a ten minute ride to the abandoned church and the moon was hanging high against the sky. The silhouette of the derelict building cloaked the courtyard gate leading to the old cemetery, the iron-cast bars yawning with a dreadful screech. A large gathering was already within, congregating at a singular point to the east of the gate. A large doorway loomed over the men, not yet illuminated by the moon’s cold light. It was the entrance to the priest’s private chapel. An old remnant of the holy man’s life devoted solely to the house of God. The tension of the scene was thick enough to slice through. And yet, even though it seemed like an ordinary investigation, something about the tableau before her made the hairs on the nape of her neck stand on end.

Someone had suffered a slow and painful end here.

Kaileena adjusted her coat and proceeded to where the congregation was gathered. She could see hardened policeman, stern detectives and a very grim homicide investigator in the vicinity. But their faces were drawn and haggard, their skin the pallor of death. It was an unusual tone set for the crime scene, and she didn’t like the look of this one bit.  Then she caught it; the acrid scent of bile and masticated morsels decaying on the ground. Either the victim had vomited or some of the men present had weak stomachs. The gleaming head of the vampire lord turned towards her and separated from the crowd. He smoothed down the front of his coat and ran a hand through his hair. His expression mirrored that of the others and, even though it was nearly impossible for vampires to succumb to sickness, it would seem even he was about to throw up. Or already had.

“You’re late,” he snapped, his voice slightly hoarse.

“Spare me the scolding,” she growled and glanced at the men. “What do we have here?”

“The body of a young girl. Or at least, we think so.”

She picked up on that immediately. “You think so? You sound very uncertain, my Lord.” As much as she hated deferring to him as though she was his servant, now was not the time to voice her displeasure.

“We can only do so much, half-breed.” Even in his current state, the biased arrogance of the vampires shone through. “But it’s difficult to try and determine the sex of a carcass.”

“This is a human being, not the remains of an animal we’re dealing with,” hissed Kaileena. Vincent did not retort to the remark and glanced back to the crowd behind him.

“You can formulate your own opinion. Let her pass!”

 

The crowd of men dispersed, giving the dhampir a wide berth. Kaileena glanced at the vampire lord and proceeded to move through the small mass. That acrid smell was growing stronger and with it, the unmistakable scent of blood. The Hunter glanced at the walls as she stepped inside the door. It was dark but the scent of blood had intensified to the point where it drowned out the odour of old vomit. Further ahead, she could see the crew of men had already set up lamps so the homicide squad could navigate the crime scene without tripping over any evidence. Or any bodies inside. She roughly forced her rising thirst to the side, cursing herself. Normally, the stench of fresh blood would not bother her, but it had been some time since she’d fed that dark side of her. Not that she wanted to, but it was necessary. Dhampirs could eat and drink like any normal human being without difficulty, but the need for blood still lingered near the surface. She would have to take a trip soon to sate that need before she became a danger to humans. In her line of work, it was not a good idea for the hunter to become the hunted because of a lack of control.

She turned the corner and stepped into the crime scene. And even though she’d witnessed many kinds of carnage in her long life, the sight was enough to turn even her stomach.

 

Blood ran in small rivers down the rough stone walls and painted the cobblestone floor a deep crimson. It clung to the hangings in congealed patches and dripped off the side of the large oak table on the side. No murder weapon was present, not even a scrap of clothing. It was as though the killer had simply vanished from site.

This was no crime scene. It was pure slaughter.

Kaileena’s attention was then drawn to the lumpy object upon the stone alter to the far end of the chapel. Even this place of holy ceremony and ritual had been tainted by the massacre. Her instincts screamed at her to get out of there, but her body wouldn’t co-operate. She had to see what was under that sheet.

 She approached the alter and gazed down at the covered object. It was so soaked with blood; she couldn’t tell what the original colour had been. The scent was driving her crazy and she resisted the urge to bite her wrist to calm her bloodlust. She placed a gloved hand on the damp sheet and slowly pulled it back. She gasped in shock.

The body had been ripped open from throat to navel. It was as though something had just thrown caution to the wind and gone wild. The head missing, just like the other body and from the looks of the open cavity, the heart was also absent. She wondered if the killer was taking the hearts of the victims as trophies. Or if there was some darker purpose in mind. Remnants of a green dress clung to the body and the hands were barely hanging by a thread of muscle, ready to snap off and drop to the bloodied floor. The slender, badly manicured hands were the only indication that this had been a young woman. Otherwise, there were no other signs of her identity. She had been torn up beyond recognition.

Something caught her attention and she frowned slightly. Something was carved into the crook of the woman’s left elbow. Careful not to disturb the body, the Hunter leaned over the corpse. The scent of blood assailed her relentlessly and her eyes glowed a faint red. But she shoved that dark nature back. She couldn’t focus if she was thinking about the need to take blood. She willed herself to concentrate and gently straightened out the woman’s bent arm. Her eyes suddenly flew wide open as she saw the symbol carved there.

Memories shot to the surface and flooded her reeling mind. Blood, death and the cries of the dying assailed her senses, transporting her to a realm of nightmares that she’d thought she escaped from as a child. A cruel sinister laugh rang in her ears and the defiant cries of a man and woman drowned in a world of unspeakable torment.

“No, you are not taking my baby!”

“You foolish wretch. You don’t understand how important your child is to my research.”

“All I understand is that you would kill an innocent baby to fulfil your desires. I will not allow my daughter to become the victim of your sinful obsession.”

“Sinful? It is sinful that I must rot away and lose what is rightfully mine. Nothing can be more sinful than losing what is most precious to you to fate.”

“You’re an abomination. A devil that must be eliminated and ripped from the world.”

The thud of flesh against flesh and the groans of pain echoed.

“Silence, dog. I did not permit you to speak.”

“You have lost your mind. She’s a baby! A child! I won’t let you do this.”

“Shut up! Where is the child?”

“…”

“Where is she?!”

“Burn in hell, you hateful creature.”

A sinister laughter rang out, a cruel melody heralding a wicked fate.

“Oh, no. It will be you who will burn…my darling.”

 

The laughter continued to ring in her ears and a scream tore from her throat. Blood flooded her mouth and she fell into the tormented darkness of her own personal Hell.

Author's Note

This chapter is starting off with the victim's point of view. Just in case you get confused.