The Vempere: Prologue

I really don`t want to give anything away but... this is where Sindel runs into a man that changes her life for years to come. He won`t seem like much initially but later on, you will understand.

 

A pain filled scream pierced the silence of the night then abruptly cut off. A head rolled away from the body, spraying blood on the killer as she knelt down. With a forced sigh she cleaned off her blade on the body and stood as she sheathed it at her back. Without a look back she cleared some of the blood that clung to her face as she approached where she had hung her ankle length leather trench coat. She grabbed it and slid it on as she walked out of the small wooded area and toward a café she knew down the street.

“They keep coming.” She thought as she forced a sigh from her lips. “The numbers of this demon clan must be dwindling by now. Why would anybody accept money to kill someone that nobody before them could? It seems as though common sense is a privilege, not a right these days.” She reached up and pulled her waist length ebony hair out of its tie, allowing it to cascade down her back like flowing silk. She tucked a lock behind each ear, hoping to distract the specks of blood she might have missed.

On the end of a block stood a small one story café. The café was a cozy size, holding a 1950`s style bar, booths for dining and comfortable leather arm chairs to the opposite side. To her knowledge it was only open at night which gave it its reputation of being owned by Vampires. She chuckled to herself at the thought.

Squinting slightly at the bright florescent lights, she opened the door and was greeted with bells above the door jingling. She walked up to the ‘bar’ where a woman was wiping down the counter. She looked up and tried to keep shock off her face. She was a woman in her mid thirties with short brown hair and mud colored eyes. She was a little on the heavy side for her height of five foot five which she covered with looser fitting clothing. Recognition lit up her face making a warm smile spread across her face. “Nice to see you again Sindel. It has been a while.”

The woman nodded. “Yes it has been a few weeks, sorry about that Margrid. The nights are proving to be, more interesting as of late.” A flash of the male demon she just decapitated in the park was proof enough of that. He was younger than the others, proving that undoubtedly, she had already killed the more skilled of the clan. His ‘power’ as the immortals referred to it as, wasn`t enough to phase her. Although, being over five centuries old did have its positives. The power she had gained from her years of her survival running and killing if necessary had made her one of the youngest elders. She wanted to grin at the thought. A half breed, allowed to join the ranks of the Elders. A privilege most immortals would die for.

With being an Elder came recognition. The mere mention of an Elder`s name is enough to make lesser immortals cringe. The sheer power one must have to be proclaimed the top few of the rest of their species is a testament of the lives said immortals had lived.

“I don`t know if I should be apologizing or jealous of the fun I`d be missing.” Margrid replied dragging Sindel from her thoughts.

Sindel laughed. “I wouldn`t exactly call it fun.” The scream the man has omitted was enough to raise the hairs on the back of her neck.

“What can I get for you then?” Margrid asked, sensing the subject was heading south in an hurry.

“A Dutch chocolate double latte please.”

“Coming right up.”

“Thank you.” Sindel sat down on a stool and sighed. Her battles were seeming endless as of late, she desperately needed a vacation. She laughed to herself at the thought. Who ever heard of a Vampire going on vacation? Well, half a one anyways.

She allowed her eyes to take in the atmosphere of the café. The walls were painted in light browns and copper with a lounge to the right of the bar that had leather arm chairs and couches. To the left side was a dining area with comfortable booths and televisions to watch miscellaneous sports. A mortal custom Sindel never understood.

Sindel`s eyes swept the lounge again to see the back of someone`s head. To her knowledge very few people came into the café at midnight. Perhaps a late shift at work? The uneasiness in her gut told her otherwise. Probably another assassin waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Her latte was set down in front of her tearing her attention back to the bar. Margrid nodded as if noticing what she was looking at. “He is an extremely handsome man; I`ve seen him a few times. He doesn`t talk much but he gives off a very dangerous aura Sindel. Stay away from him.”

Sindel smiled at the motherly tone Margrid took with her. If only she knew that she was old enough to be Margrid`s ancestor. The benefit of looking twenty three for the rest of ones lifetime. “I`ll make sure to keep that in mind.”

Sindel took a sip of her latte and smiled at the taste. The shifting of a chair and footsteps caused her to raise a hand to the hilt of her sword hidden behind the blanket of her hair. She continued to sip on the latte but she watched the man`s approach out of the corner of her eye. At first he had chestnut colored hair tied back in an elegant tie with a charcoal grey suit and knee length brown leather coat. She noticed his green eyes sweep the bar then finally rest of her. He took a deep breath, his eyes flashing red, then he started to rot.

Sindel jumped from the stool her hand already drawing the sword. She watched skin rot off the man to reveal a even more handsome yet dangerous man. His ebony hair fell down to a little below his shoulders and his carmine eyes glowed drawing attention to his rugged handsomeness. He stood six foot three with broad shoulders, full chest and a swimmers body. His black t-shirt stuck to his torso like a second skin showing he was muscular underneath the thin cotton material. The shirt was tucked into a pair of blue jeans which were pulled over a pair of black boots. Scars littered his arms in gashes and slashes making her wonder what kind of life he lived.

“You smell of demon blood.” His voice was low and hypnotizing drawing a sound from Margrid from behind the bar.

Sindel felt herself take an involuntary hard swallow. Lots of scars, undoubtedly a demon, quite possibly one of the clan she was hunted by. By his stance and posture he reeked of old world style. She was beginning to wonder if she would be biting off more than she could chew. “You tend to get blood on you after you decapitate someone.” She retorted.

His eyes narrowed causing Sindel to grip the hilt tighter. “Sarcasm. Not a wise choice.” He took a step toward Sindel causing her to thrust her blade out at him, stopping an inch from his face. “So you are the murderer the demons whisper about.” Anger flashed within the carmine depths of his eyes. She had a feeling, which were usually never wrong, a fight with this man would hurt, tremendously.

“They came to their death by accepting money from her. Not my fault they were stupid. Are you just as dumb? If so, come.”

“Your overconfidence will get you killed.” He grinned and dropped his shields. His power came crashing through the café driving a scream from Sindel`s mouth. His power radiated anger, anguish and loneliness. The power licked along her skin like fire, burning every inch of her. Her mind was screaming in denial of his age pressing against her like a heavy burden. He was old, perhaps the eldest immortal alive. Time held no barrier on this man. The scars on his body proved he had seen many lives, deaths and wars. His power was unbelievably painful and immeasurable. His carmine eyes flared as he took slow steps toward Sindel, the power of his being becoming more excruciating with each step.

The sword fell from Sindel`s hands as she desperately tried to keep her footing. His power easily plowed through her shields she used without a second thought. Her power was like a gentle breeze through the intensity of the man`s causing him to pause and sniff the air. His eyes narrowed as his power began to draw back into him as his shields slid back into place. The power created a small vacuum-like feeling before it was caged drawing a sigh from his lips.

Sindel quickly grabbed the sword, noting her legs were still a bit unstable. She rose the sword only to find he was sitting on a bar stool, his eerie eyes studying her. How long had she been out of it from the intensity of him? “What is your name child?” He paused to look back at the terrified Margrid then looked back over at Sindel. “Shield your power, you`re scaring the woman here.”

Sindel cocked an eyebrow at him as she slid her shields back into place, tension automatically returning. “If you`re one of the Grausamkeit Clan that she keeps sending after me, you should know my name.”

The man laughed flashing all fang-like teeth. “No money in the world could buy me.” His eyes flashed with anger. “I`m nobody’s w***e.”

“Well you`ll just have to excuse me for thinking you`re like all the others that look similar to you and are demons. I`m partial human so I guess i`m prone to mistakes huh?”

“Your sarcasm is highly amusing.” He shook his head, a genuine smile spreading across his handsome face. “Look, I know you`re a Nachtkämpfer, I can smell it from here.”

Sindel tensed as she raised her sword again. “How do you know that?”

His eyes narrowed on the sword. “That is my information to know. You aren`t Ruxandra…”

“F**k that b***h.” Sindel snarled causing the man`s eyes to widen.

“Not a very big fan of her are you?”

“She has been hunting me the entire time i`ve been alive. She is the one who keeps sending all the demons and assassins after me.”

“Interesting… why would she want you dead? Aren`t you relatives?”

“That`s none of your business.”

A laugh erupted from him as he stood to his feet. “You`re Ruxandra`s brother`s daughter aren`t you? You hold his scent…” He rose his head and slightly sniffed the air. “You have Milos`s scent on you, imbedded into the fiber of your being.”

Her body tensed even more if possible. “How do you know my Father`s name?”

“In due time… I will tell you.” He slapped the flat side of her blade as he walked past her as if she held no threat. He rose a hand as he neared the door. “Until later.”

Sindel watched the man leave as she sheathed her sword. “S**t.”

“I see the weirdest things when you`re around.” Margrid whispered causing Sindel to chuckle. It was all she could manage to do as she regained stability in her unsteady legs. That man terrified her; a feeling that she rarely felt.

“Sorry about that… I just happen to draw interesting people.”

“Even though he was scary…” She rose her eyebrows in interest. “He was quite handsome.”

Sindel cocked an eyebrow. She sighed in defeat as she glanced over at the door where the man had exited. She looked back over at Margrid, gently biting her lower lip. “The scary ones usually are.” She reached into her pocket only to have Margrid hold out her hand. “You know Carla says your money is no good here.”

Sindel smiled. “Thank you Margrid.”

“No problem Hon, just come back sometime soon. I haven`t had that much excitement in my life since… well I can`t remember!”

“I would like to say that is comforting Margrid, but it isn`t.” Sindel neared the door. She opened it allowing the night air to wash over her as she stepped outside. Spring was in full bloom so the nights were still a bit on the chilly side but thankfully without snow. Sindel hated snow.

Pulling some of her hair behind her ears, Sindel started walking down the street toward the apartment building she owned. There her adopted daughter Ayeka would be waiting, fuming because Sindel hadn`t allowed her to come out with her tonight. She shrugged at the thought. It was a school night, reason enough to leave her home.

 

Author's Note

Be gentle with me!