Darkness Rises_Book 1_Prelude To Insanity Page 15

  “Just keep pushing forward Laila.” He replied to her but, he could feel her pace slow dramatically and he knew that he couldn’t keep pulling her along even amidst his adrenaline rush. Laila’s legs gave out and she stumbled heavily into Cole who was unable to keep her aloft this time. He jumped to the ground bringing her to land painfully on top of him causing his rib to crack. “Are you ok?” he asked, looking up at Laila who shuddered visibly.

  “Leave me, Cole…Leave me and get away.” She pleaded with him but, Corin had already made an audible landing behind them.

  “How sweet, did you really think that you could escape me?” Corin growled mocking the two lovers. He stretched his leathery wings wide dropping ominous shadows cast by the moonlight.

  Laila rolled off Cole shakily making no effort to catch herself as she hit the pavement with a dull thud.

  Cole refused to let the creature take him out without a fight and if this was to be his last moments he would face them standing. He knew that he couldn’t hope to win but, with Laila so close and vulnerable he wouldn’t give in until he had taken his last breath. He pulled himself to his feet shakily holding his side where a sharp pain assaulted him, threatening to throw him into unconsciousness at any moment yet, he maintained his feet. Corin’s wings seemed to fade into something insubstantial before disappearing entirely. “How did you…” Cole stammered before gathering his resolve. “Come on then! You think you’re tough? Let’s just see how tough you really are.” He yelled at Corin who had taken to pacing back and forth like a tiger stalking its prey. “What are you waiting for you pathetic piece of shit?” Cole asked angrily forcing himself to sound tougher than he truly felt.

  “Cole don’t…..Keep running…” Laila said moving to stand next to him. She breathed heavily and prayed he would listen. Cole didn’t even look at her. Instead, his attention was focused solely on Corin. In the moonlight, he looked more beast than man with his sharp teeth glistening brightly against the backdrop of his elongated face.

  “What are you waiting for….?” Cole shouted again but he was thrown from his feet as Corin bore down on him with such speed that there was no time to react. His head bounced heavily against the asphalt and his vision blurred. He had been taken down so fast that he was almost uncertain that Corin had actually reached him. ‘Almost,’ had it not been for the painful throbbing in his chest he may have believed he had thrown himself backward.

  Laila reacted immediately throwing herself on the creatures exposed back punching at its head fiercely with all of her might, however, her efforts seemed to be of no avail. Corin simply turned and swatted her away as if she were nothing more than a rag doll.

  Cole saw her land hard some distance away unmoving and an adrenaline-fueled rage coursed through his veins. He pulled himself to his feet and held his fists in front of him. “I’m right here asshole,” Cole yelled and Corin turned back to him with red uncaring eyes that radiated in the night

  “Do you know what the best part about this is,” Corin growled. “The reason why we feed on you and torment you?” He let his words linger for a moment smiling devilishly, “because it’s fun.” He finished holding his arms wide.

  Cole took the opportunity and punched Corin in the face. Although his expression didn’t change, his nose turned awkwardly to the side. ‘Maybe there’s a chance.’ Cole thought but, to his dismay, it returned and reshaped itself almost instantly. He kept swinging wildly.

  “Where were we?” the creature asked making no attempt to block Cole’s desperate attacks. Instead, his right hand shot forward inhumanly fast grasping Cole’s neck. He didn’t bother to stop the other few hits that connected with his face before squeezing gently in comparison to his abilities. “You humans are so fragile.” He mused pulling Cole from his feet and slamming him hard into the ground.

  Cole didn’t stand a chance against the creature. He gasped for air still he balled his fist and swung hard at the inhuman face over and over with little damage evident as he withdrew. An unforgiving feeling of insignificance burred into him when Corin simply remained on top of him staring down hinting that he was savoring the moment of his kill.

  “You cannot hope to win boy. I am as a god both eternal and invincible, many have tried to slay me and many have died in their feeble attempts.” He gloated leaning back in preparation to lunge into Cole’s throat. He would devour this one; body, spirit, and soul.

  Cole shut his eyes knowing that his demise was imminent. He could feel his windpipe straining under Corin’s inhuman strength and he knew he couldn’t keep himself conscious much longer. He strained to turn his head and see Laila still on the ground some distance away unmoving. Corin allowed Cole the freedom to turn his head. He could have just as easily torn it from his neck and tossed it aside but, it was so much more fun this way.

  “Just think, she’s next and I won't be so easy with her.” He promised squeezing a little more tightly.

  Cole couldn’t stop his eyes from closing. He knew it wouldn’t be much longer before he knew nothing at all but, an odd sound stood out from his own gasps and Corin’s growls. *Schink, Cole heard a quick wisp then a wet cutting sound. Corin’s grip loosened and Cole was able to gasp for some much-needed air. Something had spattered onto his face and he opened his blurry eyes. A gleaming silver shaft that came to a point was protruding from the right side of Corin’s chest.

  Corin had felt this pain once before, many years ago. Around the silver shaft, burned like acid into his skin and he wailed painfully before jumping away from Cole who remained very still on the pavement. He looked around for the arrow’s source remaining motionless, listening to the darkness. *Schink, Corin jumped high in the air hoping to dodge the next incoming missile. Instead of hitting him in the chest, it made its mark through his left thigh. He shrieked landing hard on the ground as his leg gave out from under him. He howled defiantly. “Come out you coward!” He screamed trying desperately to pull the arrow from his leg. It wouldn’t budge.

  Hearing Corin’s wails, Cole managed to turn himself over. Every inch of his body ached and the pain alone threatened to draw him into unconsciousness but a sight he didn’t expect to see strengthened his resolve. Corin was on his knees gasping frantically and a silhouette silently moved from the trees to stand before the injured monster carrying what appeared to be a huge cross. ‘Not a cross.’ He thought noting the arched point. A crossbow. Although he was more than grateful for the interruption, he didn’t allow his attention to linger as he struggled to crawl to where Laila lay motionless. He feared the worst when he came upon her in a heap upon the ground but, he could see that she was breathing shallowly. “Thank you, god,” Cole whispered as he shook Laila gently hoping to coerce her from unconsciousness. He heard a familiar voice mock the creature. “Do you know why I do this?” it said casually.

  “Get away from me Priest. I’ll tear the skin from your bones. I’ll rip your soul apart. I’ll….” Corin growled menacingly before the sound of another bolt twanged off and he screamed loudly.

  “Because I too, enjoy it.” The man referred to as ‘priest’ finished letting loose another bolt into the prone creature.

  Cole could make out the distinctive bolts, almost seeming to glow white protruding from Corin in multiple places. The creature no longer moved, just lay sprawled on the ground with one leg bent sharply to the side. They were safe for now. He returned his attention to Laila whose eyes eased open.

  “What happened?” she asked feeling as if she were in a dream. Cole pulled her up into his arms. He held her tightly rocking back and forth. He grunted from the effort and Laila pulled herself to arms-length. Little dark splotches smeared Cole’s face and his shirt was stained in a strange pattern from his neck to a little above his waist. She quickly pulled herself up yanking on Cole’s hand. “We have to get out of here” she announced when Cole didn’t immediately react and an old familiar voice called out to them from the dark.

  “Relax young lady you’re safe.” The gruff voice said and
the secret identity of their rescuer was unveiled.

  “Red! Oh, my God. Thank you.” Laila cried as she bent down to give Cole a hand helping him to his feet.

  Red’s spectacles shown clearly in the night as he observed them from above Corin’s lifeless body with his crossbow still trained on the vampire. He nonchalantly fired one more bolt into the creature for good measure before turning his attention to the young lovers. He knew what needed to be done. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he raised his crossbow.

  “What are you doing Red!?” Laila yelled and Cole’s shoulders slumped fearing that the old man would kill them too. Cole moved in front of Laila and Red jerked the crossbow menacingly.

  “Did they get to you?” Red asked sharply keeping his demeanor threatening and certain. Laila tried to push passed Cole fearing that he would be killed but, even amidst the pain in his ribs Cole grabbed her wrist tightly pulling her back behind him. “Stay back.” He whispered to her before being cut off by Red.

  “Son, I’m only going to ask you one more time before I drop you where you stand. Were you or your girl there forced to drink their blood? We’re you bitten” he shouted sounding very much in control and serious to a fault.

  “No. Nothing like that happened” Laila called around Cole frantically.

  Red lowered the crossbow so that it no longer lingered on the two lovers. but held it low and ready so that he could bring it to bear the second he needed to. “One at a time I need you to come over to me, if you do anything out of the ordinary I won’t have any choice but to kill you. Got that?” Red noted with no uncertainty.

  “Red, there’s another one like him, a little girl. I won’t leave Laila back here so I can walk up to you nor will I send her to you first but, we’ll come to you together.” Cole announced keeping his tone firm to show the older man that he wouldn’t be dissuaded.

  Laila was certain that he was contemplating dropping the two of them where they stood. Her certainty of the situation was confirmed when he leveled the crossbow at them for the second time.

  “Alright but I want the two of you to walk slowly and stop where I tell you to.” Red offered reluctantly. Cole and Laila were quick to oblige. They closed the distance between them in short controlled steps. When they were close enough to Red to be able to make out his features distinctly in the moonlight he held up a hand motioning for them to stop and they promptly halted.

  “Ok, now I want you to turn away from me. I’m going to come up and look at you and if everything checks out I’ll let you go but if not….” He let the thought linger for a moment longer. “Just do what I say ok.” He offered apologetically. He honestly felt guilty for his actions. If either the boy or girl had been taken by these creatures, he knew what he had to do. Like it or not.

  They both turned away. Red moved silently producing a tiny mag light from his shirt pocket which he used to examine each of their necks one at a time. Cole was the first to be checked out and Red grabbed a tuft of the boy’s hair to tilt his head left then right checking over his throat thoroughly.

  “You boy, turn around and hold out your wrists,” Red commanded holding his crossbow low and ready.

  Cole did as he was told without question.

  Red looked up one arm and down the other. There were no teeth marks or hints that the creature had attempted to turn him but he had to be sure.

  Cole became momentarily blinded when Red’s mag light shone into his eyes.

  “Keep them open for just a second,” Red said. He peered at the whites of Cole’s eyes looking for hints that he had been infected. He thoroughly examined the boy’s eyes hoping he wouldn’t find any signs that he had contracted the ‘infection.’ ‘It wouldn’t be the first time,’ He thought stoically. Although bloodshot, Cole’s eyes were normal and he appeared to still be fully human. He motioned Cole to step back and stand behind Laila as he ran her through the same test. When he was finished he breathed a sigh of relief pocketing his flashlight. “You two are very lucky. I told you not to go out at night but, I guess you’re safe.” He scolded.

  Laila, despite being entirely shaken up, was quick to interject. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I found out that one of the people that lived in that house knew something about my father’s disappearance and I wanted to check it out. Cole saved my life.” She admitted and Red shook his head disappointedly.

  “Your curiosity could have gotten you both killed!” he said pointedly and neither Cole nor Laila could find the words to argue with the old man’s logic. “Go on, get home now.” He urged them doing little to hide his frustration.

  “There’s another one of those creatures inside that house or out here for all we know,” Cole argued but Red held up a halting hand.

  “Son, I will deal with it but, I can’t have you slowing me down. Now go before I change my mind about letting you live.” He said keeping his tone serious.

  Cole could tell that the old man wouldn’t bring the crossbow to bear on them unless he had no other choice but he didn’t want to press the issue. “Thank you, Red,” Cole said appreciatively before grabbing Laila’s hand in his own. They walked passed the old man without another word. Neither of them spoke as they made their way hurriedly up Calkins Road towards Highway 246 but, Cole glanced back. A small green-hued fire had overtaken the road where Corin had been taken down. He knew it had to be Red’s doing.

  Laila didn’t turn back once instead, she kept her eyes peering down at the ground as they moved along. “I’m sorry Cole.” She said stopping when they had come to the intersection that separated them from Los Olivos proper still somewhat busy with intermittent cars traveling along its path at high speeds.

  Cole wanted to lash out, to tell her that she had been wrong in lying to him but, the sound of her voice and the fact that they were both alive and away from the god awful nightmare they had been a part of made him think better of it. “It’s ok Laila. I’m just glad that you’re alright.” He said pulling her close to him taking great care not to put too much pressure on his injured ribs.

  “I should have told you the truth. I just didn’t want to make you feel like you had to come along with me is all.” She replied feeling absurd for making such a statement. She knew he would enter hell itself if she needed him to and the thought caused an embarrassed flush to come to her cheeks. She was glad it was dark and he couldn’t see her.

  “Let’s get you home.” He announced but, as they continued to walk, a loud crash echoed behind them and they both turned fully. A fireball rose high above the tree-line illuminating the night sky in a fiery orange hue.

  “What do you think happened?” Laila asked.

  Cole’s response came with a stoic understanding, “Red’s taking care of business.” He mused before turning away from the brightly lit sky with Laila holding tightly onto his arm. For a moment they listened as the sounds of sirens screamed to life in all directions converging on Calkins Road. “We need to go before they get here, they’d never believe the story we’d tell them anyway,” Cole said as he led Laila across Highway 246 and into the safety of the town.

  * * * * *

  Red finished his sweep of the property. He removed his glasses to reduce the glare from the fire he’d set. He listened amidst the crackling and hissing for any sound that would even hint someone was about. All around him, the yard was illuminated in a fiery orange glow and shadows danced around with lives of their own. Red wasn’t afraid. He knew there was another. ‘She’s got to be in there somewhere.’ He thought hopefully. He himself had to put down another hunter who had inadvertently found the ‘child vampire’ in an unfortunate accident years before. He was ready to pay her back. His hearing was better than most half his age but, it was less than what it had been. He flicked on the hearing aid he kept in his right ear and listened to every groan and protest the structure offered against the flames. There was nothing. “Where are you?” He whispered to the flames. Sirens began to blare in the distance and Red involuntarily turned towards the sound. He was furiou
s. She’d slipped away somehow and he’d have to find her again. He hated dealing with any natural authority for many reasons so he resigned himself to the reality that it was time to leave. Deftly, he ran with his crossbow held over his shoulder running across the lawn to an adjoining property. He easily cleared the six-foot fence to the other side and ran another twenty feet before hurdling the barbed wire fence to Calkins Road. He slowed his pace crossing slowly. He had already begun walking up to his driveway before the police turned from the highway a good half mile down the road. “I will catch up with you.” He promised as he ambled up the driveway.

  CHAPTER 11

  “What do you think happened here?” Detective Reese asked the older detective.

  Martinez scanned the smoldering remains of the once beautiful Victorian home intently. Fire crews had spent much of the evening putting out the enormous fire that had lit up the sky however the detectives had decided to wait until morning to do a walkthrough of the premises before allowing the local officials access to the lot. News crews were milling about trying to get their million dollar shots of the rubble that had blown as far as a quarter mile in every direction and Martinez chose to remain inconspicuous to avoid their incessant questioning. He furrowed his brow as he watched the firefighters determine if the property was finally safe enough for the forensic teams to begin investigating the cause of the explosion. Although he had already drawn his own conclusions, Martinez didn’t make it to where he was in the force by not following protocol. Reese yawned cupping his hand over his mouth waiting for his superior to respond but, Martinez regarded him simply.

  “I’m not sure what happened. We’ll let forensics make their report and we’ll work from there.” He stated flatly knowing that if he had offered his insight that it would send the rookie detective on a mission that would ultimately jeopardize their investigation.