Disclaimer: I do not own the idea of the Newsies such as Jack Kelly, Kid Blink, or Spot Conlon. They belong to Disney and history. Saoirse "Irish" Callan belongs to Lady of Tir Na Nog. I mean no disrespect to religion went I use the idea of Judas being a vampire. I liked the idea from watching Dracula 2000. Enjoy the story
Summary: At the age when most girls are trying to discover who they are, one girl discovers who she was with the help from someone who knew her then and must help her now. Skye Dodger McClure has seen more than the average vampire slayer. She has managed to follow two souls that she has seen to be destined for one another- one is her fellow slayer Saoirse Irish Callan while the other is a 700 year old vampire by the name of Padraic Spot Conlon. Blind to her own fate, all she knows is that she must connect the two souls before Jack Kelly rips apart the destiny one blood drop at a time.
Prologue: 2039
The young woman pushed open the door to the cabin, allowing sunlight to enter the hideaway for the first time in thirty years. Along the wall to the left were book cases filled with scrolls, ledgers, notebooks and tombs of information from throughout the ages. Her flashlight scanned the cobwebs and dust ridden shelves, while her black hiking boots disturbed the layer of dust on the wooden floor. She swept her arm towards the back of the room and focused the beam of light on the picture that hung over the stone mantle. She stepped closer, causing the floor boards to groan with age. Looking around for something to use, she grabbed a broom that rested beside the fireplace. Using it as a duster, she wiped away the cobwebs before her and stepped back. Pointing her flashlight up again, she gazed up at the portrait to see a young couple. Their clothes spoke of a time where electronics did not exist but the adoration could be seen in their eyes as they stared at one another. Small smiles couldn't match the magnitude that reached those eyes.
The inscription below the portrait read, "A love shared through eternity." Smiling softly, she continued on with her search. Deciding that there was a need for more light in the room, she moved to the first wall and pulled back the heavy curtain. Dust particles travelled the shaft of light, giving just enough for her to no longer need her flashlight. Once it was tucked away in her shoulder bag she continued her search. A door stood to the right, marking the next area for her to explore once this room was finished. She moved along, looking to the walls to see more bookcases similar to the ones behind her. A small wooden box sat on the middle shelf with a few cobwebs hiding its design. With her coat sleeve, she brushed aside the clinging mess to show a detailed design which increased her curiosity even more. Pulling down the box and lifting the lid, she found a brass key resting amongst some old coins.
She ran her fingertips over the key taking in the woven design at the end. Getting an idea, she turned her attention to the door and made her way over, noticing that the lock had a similar design around the keyhole. Smiling at the discovery she quickly used the key and unlocked the newest area to explore. The sight before her startled the image she originally had of the cabin. While the exterior and first room held the image of simplicity, this room held the modern era; early 21st century. A large oak desk held two seventeen inch LCD computer screens, an old HP printer/scanner and keyboard. To the left of the electronics was a large queen size bed with black and burgundy bedding. A nightstand with lamp and an old digital alarm clock rested beside the bed while a cabinet and dresser were against the opposite wall. Her eyes quickly found that the only object that sat on the dresser was a large and very dusty plasma television; something that had not been seen for at least 20 years when they became obsolete.
The woman pulled out her camera and began taking pictures of the find. She had seen these older models in museums and textbooks but never up close; never at the touch of her fingers. She checked the drawers on the desk to find smaller notepads, pens and pencils. Making sure to photograph those as well, she continued on. Moving on to the cabinet, she pulled open the doors only to freeze at the find. Expecting to see compact discs or digital video discs, she was greatly disappointed. Instead of enjoyment, she found weaponry and war. Wooden stakes filled the shelf in front of her eyes while another held arrows. Steel daggers hung on rungs, still holding the shine they had held decades before.
"But… how?" For several minutes her eyes stayed glued to the tools of hurt before noticing something that didn't quite fit in. The piece that grasped her attention awayfrom the weapons was a leather bound book. Putting her camera back into her bag, she took up the book. Opening the cover, she found an inscription in fluid feminine script. ~*~*A passage through time cannot halt love.~*~* Walking back to the desk, she pulled out the chair and began reading.
March 2nd, 2009
Through time there has been talk of the undead. Not zombies who want to eat your brains or mummies who hideaway in tombs, but rather the night walking, transforming into bats kind. These are the creatures that can haunt your dreams, which can manipulate your actions and can create a lust for desire. I'm speaking of vampires.
From where you sit, you may think that I lie or that I am joking, but I speak, or rather write the truth. In modern society we believe we have known about the vampire since Bram Stoker first wrote the novel in the 19th century. Decades later came the black and white movie starring Bela Lugosi in 1922's Dracula. Since then there have been movies and books filling the shelves with men and women who thrive when they come out at night and thirst for the copper taste of blood be it human or animal. Many believe these types of creatures are simply imaginary while others will accept them as an icon to imitate. They don't realize though that they are out there stalking their prey; feasting on the blood.
Reading this, you probably are asking how I know this. I know this information because I have studied their ways and all my lives have been spent tracking several vampires. Finding this cabin means that you have located my vault of information or knowledge. The shelves hold accountings of sightings and evidence that I have tried to keep from the media and police. All my lives I have worked hard to keep mortals innocent from knowing the truth.
Who am I? Modern popular culture would compare me to Buffy, literature to Van Helsing. I am a slayer.
I have no watcher to instruct me but rather books that have been passed down from other slayers and myself. Victims… or rather would be victims have asked me after the ordeal how I knew where to be and what to do. I tell them that I have studied their ways; that I've traced and tracked these creatures. What I don't tell them is that I get visions of sorts. I wrote earlier 'all my lives'. This is not a misprint. On the outside I look like any twenty-three year old college student. In truth, I am older. I am as old as one of the first vampires- the real Dracula… Judas. I will get more into that later in the book.
The reason I am writing this is to inform and to show future generations that there are some vampires that aren't as society- vampire society- wants them to be. The three that I have followed are that of the Conlon, Callan and Parker clans. The Parker creature took this last name during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, but was created soon after Judas… or as he has been called Jack. The Callan line and the Conlon creature began together and apart.
When those two began I was an old gypsy woman of seventy-six. The year was 1352. Moving around killing vampires was easily done traveling as a gypsy. Living to seventy-six was also a feat in itself. Twenty years earlier I knew that I would be safe from the information given to me in a vision so I settled down as a nursemaid to the Callan family's youngest daughter Saoirse. I looked after her as she grew and matured, caring for her as though she were my own daughter. I was there for her during every trying time of her young life. I watched as a lad a few years older than her started pestering her and continued to do so through the years to hide his attraction to her. This lad was Padraic Conlon.
Eventually her disdain for him changed to love and one midsummer night they shared their first kiss and began their eternal bond. Once their kiss was shared, I knew my time would end soon. I knew that I would not make it to my seventy-seventh year and I felt that Jack was getting closer. He had managed to track me down once again. The bond the two lovers shared held a special energy that I hadn't felt before and I knew that if they fell victim to him because of me it would be gone forever should they not wed. Their portrait hangs above the hearth in the main room of this cabin.
I encouraged them to see the priest and share the sacred vows. It wasn't lavish but that ceremony was perfect for the two of them. Both mothers shed tears of joy for their children that were finally united, fathers stood proud of their offspring and their siblings smiled to see such a match. Like many things in her life, I stood by Saoirse and watched as she exchanged vows with her beloved. My death soon followed and, sadly, was to be accompanied by more. Jack must have found that I, his long time rival was in the area. I have gathered information that states he had followed my trail only to find that I had been dead for several months. Since he could not take his anger out on me, he decided to do damage to those I cared about.
He sent in some of his men to fetch Saoirse and Padraic from their cottage. Records show that Saoirse died that night, but not without putting up a fight. She managed to kill several fighting back and then a few more when she fled, burning down her home. This was not without consequence. One of the vampires managed to wound her, causing severe blood loss. By the time Padraic arrived from his hunt for their dinner, there was nothing he could do but hold her in his arms and watch her life leave her body.
Vampires who I have dealt with over the last few years who were there in Jack's army stated that Padraic sought out Jack with revenge in mind. Revenge or death, one could never be sure what he sought. However neither occurred; Jack saw so much anger in the boy that he damned him for eternity without his love. Padraic was to join the army of the undead.
Everything I have written will become clearer through this book, but now I must begin at another time. Now, to write of the events that waited for centuries to occur. It began seven months ago, August 2008, when I met up with the soul of my young Saoirse for the first time since I saw her wed. Seven months ago hell came into my life once again in the form of Jack and his army.
A/N: So this will be the first story I have posted in over 5 years… maybe even longer. College took over and when one is a theatre major- one LIVES in the theatre. Thanks to Irish for adding to the story in the form of her character Irish. To the lovely Laelyn24, the commas would kick my behind if it weren't for you…(as would the spelling mistakes from typing at three in the morning.) As for the next update, right now I won't state a definite schedule. I am beginning a new job for the summer and will just need to wait and see what inspiration comes my way! Please read and review.