Erik: the Vampire Hunter

Episode 3: Shadows of the Past

By: Elektra

15 Years ago

Her name was Laura. Lovely Laura, he had called her.

She had told him she liked his voice, liked HIM, and wanted to see his face.

He refused.

"Why?" Laura demanded, "What are you hiding, Erik?" Oh, she was angry, but he knew what her reaction would be. For a moment, though… for a moment, he was hoping to be wrong. "SHOW ME!" she insisted.

Before he could stop her, she reached out and ripped the mask from his face.

Her reaction was exactly what he had expected.

Laura started to back away from him, looking as if she had just seen Death himself. He tried to take her hand, to tell her not to run. He wouldn't hurt her. But she wouldn't listen.

He got angry.

"If you want to see my face so much, then why don't you look!" Erik shouted as he grasped her tiny shoulders and pulled the blonde girl against him, "LOOK at me, Laura! Satisfy your curiousity!"

With a cry, she broke free and ran. He chased after her, begging forgiveness for scaring her. Trying to get her to understand. If she liked him before, why could she not like him NOW? He was still the same boy!

But she ran on, ignoring his words…

Her fear of his face was so strong that she did not see the busy street. Did not see the cars rushing at her.

He would never forget the screech of tires, the terrified scream, the loud thud of metal hitting flesh.

When he finally came upon the scene, Laura lay in the middle of the street surrounded by twisted steel, the air saturated with the smell of the girl's blood.

Dean Giry's office – Present day

Antoinette Giry was very agitated as she clenched the phone in her hand, "What do you mean someone's been looking for him? WHO, Ella?"

"A private investigator was seen asking questions at the Squatter's camp a few days ago," the Hunter's Guild head of Security answered, "Erik stayed there longer then was necessary. All Hunters know once the job is done, they are to leave just as quickly as they came. But no… he remained behind to soothe a little boy whose sister had been attacked. He was still there when Tamara showed up to take them! The investigator tracked down the little boy and his sister and asked questions,"

"So you're saying it is Erik's fault for trying to calm a frightened child?"

"He cannot afford to show such weakness!" Ella replied.

"Compassion is a WEAKNESS?" Giry was astounded. "Erik rarely shows it, and when he does, you blame him for it?"

"Well, now it has caused problems… so yes. He should have left, as he had been trained to!"

"And YOU should protect your Hunters from outside threats, as YOU'VE been trained to!" Giry replied, and slammed the phone down, rather disgusted with how cold the Guild could be when it came to Erik. Sometimes she wondered if they even remembered he was human.

Ashton Estate

The lovely young girl smiled as an older woman brushed her long golden hair, "Mother," she began, "Has Daniels been able to find him yet?"

"Daniels had a lead on that, yes," her mother replied nervously, "But, dear… are you sure you want to confront him?"

"I've waited long enough, Mother!" the girl replied, a coldness creeping into her voice. "What did Daniels find?" Her mother handed her a folder, and the girl flipped through it, a frown on her full lips, "Who's this girl?" she pointed out a picture of a petite brunette, "And what's her connection with him? Surely not a girlfriend!"

"Daniels wasn't sure, dear. There was an article in the paper… about a masked man who helped some people a few weeks ago. Daniels kept hearing more and more stories about his appearances, then tracked him down and took these pictures. He hasn't been able to find out any more."

"I have to see him again!" she demanded like a spoiled child, then her voice grew sweet, "You promised, momma. You promised I would see him again…"

"Patience, honey. You'll get to see him very soon."

Laura offered a small smile, "Maybe I'll do my own investigating…"

15 years ago

"You are seriously one messed up kid," an officer came up to the holding cell Erik had been placed in after he had been officially booked - mug shot, fingerprinted, and all, "Mommy take some nasty drugs when she was pregnant with you?"

"Can I have my mask back? You have your photos already!" Erik spoke, annoyance clear in his voice. He didn't like being stared at. Exposed. Taunted.

He felt less than human.

Perhaps he WAS less than human, although that little girl – the one who had come in earlier with her father – had treated him like her new best friend.

Children were so naïve.

"They said you chased a girl into traffic," the officer spoke as he continued to study the fifteen-year old boy before him, "That true?"

Erik was quiet for a moment, "It was an accident," he replied softly.

"An accident? A girl is in a coma, and you say it was an accident?" the officer accused.

"I tried to stop her…" Erik offered weakly. He felt such guilt at having her innocent blood on his hands, "She was too scared to listen!"

"Did your face drive her mad?" the officer asked.

"Enough Samuels!" A voice spoke suddenly. The Lieutenant, if Erik remembered correctly.

Officer Samuels turned to face the man who had just arrived, "Sorry, sir. But… look at him! How can he plead innocence?"

"Innocent until proven guilty. And all this boy is guilty of is unintentionally frightening a foolish girl who was too curious for her own good," The Lt. replied, then opened up the holding cell to release the boy inside, "Your social worker is waiting for you. I think she has a new set of foster parents to introduce you to," he handed the boy his mask.

Erik frowned, anger creeping into his voice as he slid the leather over his face, "The others don't want me anymore," he replied matter-of-factly. Really though, he wasn't surprised.

Who would ever want something like him?

Ravelle College – Erik's room: Present day

Erik jumped up in bed, the shilling of his cell phone far more successful then his alarm clock, which he had put into snooze mode twenty minutes earlier. He quickly grabbed the cell and answered with the impatience of a man who had just woken from a restless slumber, "WHAT?"

"Good morning!" came a cheery female voice on the other line. Erik thought a moment. What female had his cell number? He had given it to Antoinette, but this surely wasn't her.

"Christine?" he realized. Yes, he had given the number to her as well, should she need to ask him a question while on one of his errands.

"Who else?" she asked, "Did you hear back from Philip?"

"Philip? Oh, your pretty boy's brother," he realized, "Yes. He was quite happy with the blueprints,"

"And... is there anything my employer needs me to do today?" she asked hopefully.

"Your employer?" Erik asked

"Yes," Christine replied, "My employer – the ever popular Erik with no surname- a bitter old man with really bad rheumatism,"

Erik threw his head back and laughed, "Is that what you told Raoul?"

"No… his maid, Rosa…"

His laughter calmed somewhat. Goodness, he hadn't laughed like that for…. actually, he had NEVER laughed like that, "That explains the tube of Arthritic cream in my post office box. She's always so fond of me when I call, trying to keep me on the line for as long as possible before handing me over to Philip."

"Well, she thinks you have a sexy voice," Christine replied. If it was possible, he could hear the blush in her tone, "Anyway, I'm working tonight so I might be late for our lesson,"

For the first time in years, Erik found himself smiling, "I'll be waiting…"

Later that night

Christine said goodbye to her fellow employees as she headed out of O'Grady's Pub, her current place of work. She checked her watch and saw the time, realizing she was leaving a lot later then she wanted to. It couldn't be helped, though. The pub had been showing a wrestling pay-per-view, and it had brought in quite a crowd – no one had wanted to pay thirty-dollars to watch the card at home.

As much as she enjoyed the abundance of tips, though, Christine had felt uneasy the entire night. She felt as if someone had been watching her. But the only thing she saw when she looked around were a bunch of loud, intoxicated wrestling fans who were more interested in the action on TV than her.

She felt so edgy, in fact, that she had even called Raoul, asking if he would accompany her back to Ravelle, but he had been busy with matters at home – apparently, his brother was entertaining some highly important clients, and Raoul's presence was required. Christine realized she could have asked Erik as well, but it was too late now.

When Christine climbed off the bus and headed towards Ravelle, the distressing feeling still remained. With a deep breath, she bolted across campus and headed to the place she felt safest – more for the fact she knew who would be there waiting for her.

Christine sat on the cold hard ground beneath the music room's open window when she finally reached the Arts building, trying to catch her breath from the sprint. She quickly glanced around, wondering if someone had followed her, but neither heard nor saw anything. "Just my over-active imagination..." she muttered to herself.

Then she heard the familiar music.

Christine smiled and closed her eyes as she listened to the violin accompanying Erik's haunting voice, allowing the harmony to soothe her. He always seemed to be able to do that, whether he knew it or not.

After a few minutes, the music stopped. She opened her eyes to see Erik make himself comfortable on the ground beside her, "I get the impression work didn't go well?"

Christine leaned back against the wall, "We were busy. Really busy," she then offered a small smile, "I was hoping Raoul would show up and accompany me back to campus,"

"Did you now?" he asked.

She took a deep breath, a small pout on her lips, "He couldn't make it. Other obligations," she then grew wistful, "He makes me feel like I'm back in High School again. I remember the first time he asked me out. I was so surprised the popular boy wanted ME!" she looked up at the man beside her, eyes bright, "It's so nice to be wanted, Erik!"

"I wouldn't know," he muttered.

Christine chuckled, "I'm sure there were girls who wanted you back in High School," she said, "And maybe if you stopped playing ghost and took off the silly mask, there would be girls you want you NOW too,"

"The mask is NEVER coming off again!" he hissed, and Christine gasped at the flash of anger in his eyes. She had certainly hit a nerve.

Christine studied him, "What is it you're hiding?" she asked, "A scar? It can't be that bad."

He laughed. Cold, cruel. Harsh. It sent a shiver down her spine, "No, Christine… certainly not a scar! THAT would have been preferable!"

Christine's voice was quiet when she spoke, wondering if she would feel his wrath at her bold question, "Can I see?"

"I asked him something like that once," another voice answered, "And have regretted it ever since," Erik and Christine immediately jumped to their feet, turning to see a golden-haired girl walking – no – gliding towards them. Erik's eyes went wide, his head shaking back and forth in disbelief, "Don't let his voice seduce you, little one," she said, "There's a demon hidden behind that mask,"

Christine shuddered, the uneasy feeling returning upon seeing this girl, "Were YOU the one following me?" she asked as she felt herself drift closer to Erik.

"I wanted to know what pretty young thing Erik plans on destroying next," the girl replied with a shrug.

"This is impossible!" Erik gasped, unable to take his eyes from the new arrival.

She tilted her head and offered Erik a cold smirk. "No more impossible then a ghost haunting an Arts College," she replied, then sighed, "Tsk tsk, Erik. You're supposed to be a genius. Couldn't you have been more original? Stories like that make the rounds, you know. If someone knew you, they'd be able to find you quite easily,"

"Erik?" Christine grasped his sleeve, "Who is she? What is this all about?" she asked.

"Christine," Erik didn't take his eyes from the intruder, "Go back to your dorm," it was an order.

"But… she was following me!" Christine insisted.

"GO, Christine. NOW!" he practically shouted.

"Fine," she answered reluctantly, and slowly headed off.

"She's so cute, Erik. And so trusting of you. How did you manage that?" Laura asked.

"How did you manage this, Laura?" Erik began suspiciously. He studied the girl before him, and could sense that she wasn't the same as she used to be.

"You killed me. Remember?"

"I didn't kill you! Last I heard, you were in a coma,"

"I was! For years! I never woke up," she shrugged, "At least, not until after I died," she let out a wistful sigh.

"Two years ago, the doctors told Momma there was no hope, but Momma just couldn't be without me, you see," she then feigned sympathy, "Oh, but poor unhappy Erik doesn't know the love of a mother, does he?"

"Momma found a way to bring her precious daughter back to her. At a price, of course. Father's life for mine, but I was worth it, wasn't I?" her smile was cold. Laura walked towards him, "You've changed, you know," she said, "I can see it in your eyes. You've taken several lives since we last saw each other…"

"They were like YOU!" He hissed, "Hardly life, as you call it,"

"I disagree. We're very much alive. Just not in the literal sense," she stood only inches from him, "I see now," she realized, "You've become a Hunter," Laura spread her arms wide, "Why don't you finish what you started then?"

"I never meant to hurt you!" Erik insisted, "You RAN! I tried to STOP you!"

"You didn't try hard enough!" she spat bitterly as she reached up to rip the mask from his face, "You're more a monster then I am! How can you even look at yourself in the mirror without feeling ill?" she threw the mask aside.

A yelp of alarm echoed through the darkness.

"Christine?" Erik turned to see a petite form come out from behind the Arts building, unable to take her eyes from him as she shakily bent down to pick up his discarded mask.

Laura suddenly smiled, "Oh dear! It seems your friend didn't listen to you when you told her to leave,"

The look on Christine's face froze him in his tracks. The way her delicate little hand slid up to her mouth, the way her eyes grew wide upon seeing his exposed visage for the first time, the way her breath quickened and her body trembled as she clutched his mask.

His cold golden eyes met her warm blue ones, but he could not tell how long they stared at each other. He was dangerously calm, almost numb to what had just happened.

She started to back away, and he slowly stepped towards her, a hand reaching out, "Please…" he began, "Don't be scared—" His plea fell on deaf ears.

With a choked cry, Christine spun around and raced across campus, as far away from him as possible, "Christine!" he cried out, but Erik only sunk to his knees, too emotionally drained to chase after her.

With a satisfied laugh, Lovely Laura disappeared into the darkness.

END EPISODE THREE