THE GOLIATHUS CHRONICLES

Chapter 2- Memories
/

The woman stood at the tower's only window, gazing outside and longing to mingle with the people below. She watched in an almost jealous fashion as they milled about, buying their fruits and vegetables, bargaining for chickens, sheep, goats...

"Mother?" A strange being indeed was hooked up onto the wall, claws digging into tiny cracks that were barely visible to the naked eye. It simply stayed that way and looked over to the window.

"Yes, my son."

"I would like to go outside myself. I have watched the birds...they fly through the skies and I long to be like them." The small wings upon its back flapped a few times for emphasis.

"I am sorry...you just cannot, Goliathus. The humans out there would not understand you." She turned her head, sighing and then walking past him to her bed, where she sat. "Your father has not even had time to...train you."

"Train me?" The young Goliathus snorted and shook his head. "I do not need training. I know what I am supposed to do."

Annabelle rubbed her eyes, eyes that were tired, worn, and bloodshot. Slowly she lifted off the bed and went to her child, still clinging to the wall, and reached her arms out to him. Instantly he climbed off and into her arms, and she sank down to sit with him on the floor.

"Some humans would not understand you, Goliathus." She said again, now speaking in a whisper and holding him tightly to her chest as she rocked back and forth.

Comforted, the child half-closed his eyes, feeling warm and safe. He loved it here...right by his mother. Right where he belonged.

"Tell me again, mother, about the vampires. They look so much like the humans...like you. Why must I kill them?"

"Because..." Annabelle still held him, as if she feared the world would snatch him away at any moment. She had no idea how true it would be. "Because they are heartless, cruel, and immoral killers who destroy innocence. We humans, to a vampire, are nothing but an inferior species that only serve as sustenance to them. You must kill them, Goliathus, because it is your purpose. It is why you were born. You must stop them from continuing to slaughter the children of the village. Do not forget what I told you...they killed your little sister when she was only a small child of three years." She shut her eyes tightly, fighting back the tears of that memory.

Goliathus snarled, and looked up to his mother's emerald-green eyes that had become almost devoid of all hope. "I will kill them, mother. I will. But when?"

"When the time is right. Your father will know...

He will know."

/

Goliathus was back in his old cave. Why he came here he wasn't entirely sure, but the abode was still covered in bodies, stitched up high on the walls. Not too many...for at the time Ami had come he had only just found the place and hadn't had much time to put many here. He sighed deeply and with much sadness, there were many souls...so many to give a proper burial and do what was right for them. He had to start somewhere, despite what Darius had told him. He couldn't just let it go...he felt such a need to be forgiven. And every time he thought of Annabelle...and how he betrayed her...it hurt more and more. His most recent dream had given him another memory. After so many years he had forgotten most of his memory, and he was also sure now that the demon was responsible for it. The only thing it would allow him to remember, in vivid detail, was the horror of his torture. That it kept grinding it into him without mercy. It had been what had fed his rage and want for vengeance for so very long. But it would change now. He would try his very best to change it now...now that the other memories were finally surfacing.
Feeling overwhelmingly guilty, Goliathus decided on a blonde woman on the far wall. Her eyes were still open in the same expression of horror as the moment some seventy or more years ago when he took her life. He sank to his knees before her.
And he prayed.
He prayed for her forgiveness, he prayed to the family members whose lives he also destroyed indirectly...he just prayed and let his emotions flow. He felt himself collapsing, the grief becoming overwhelming, the memories of her death returning. Somehow he knew his kind had been designed to also retain information, especially visually. It was how he managed to recreate the tortures that had been done to him to his victims, down to the very last detail. The woman had suffered the horrors of having dozens of knives jabbed into her, just like those men had done to him. Every victim needed to suffer as he did before he took whatever he cared to eat from them. He had made sure of it. He had caused himself to believe that it would make the ache in his heart at what the humans did to him go away. But it never did...no matter how many died, he never could get enough.
Blast that cursed demon...he would have been happy just knowing his twenty-three tormentors had perished. But the evil had fed off his negative emotions and caused him to become as loathsome as it was.
He had truly become a monster.
He still felt like a monster.
Now completely on the ground, hunched over in despair, Goliathus cried out in his agony...his tormented soul that kept slamming him with waves of guilt. He wanted to die, for why did he deserve to live now? How had he even come to know and love that human Ami? Why was he now destined to be a father?
Why?
Why?
WHY?

Again Goliathus screamed. And then he heard her voice.

I forgive you... She sounded so far, distant, alone...as if he could FEEL her wandering soul. Slowly, he looked up at her lifeless, preserved body, but there was no movement or any change of expression. What was he expecting, anyhow?
Let me go.

Let her go. Before he even had chance to wonder how, he knew what needed to be done. Carefully scaling the high cave wall and holding a knife, he clambered up to where she was and began cutting at the stitches that held her there. He wanted to make sure none of the others fell, and as the body began to come loose, he quickly grabbed it with one arm and carried it down gently to the ground. He laid her stiff body out best he could, and took a good look once more, before grabbing a shovel that was in his cave and heading outside. There he worked tirelessly until he had dug a pit deep enough, and with amazing gentleness put her in as carefully as he could manage.
"Thank you." He said to her, not with tears, but with a solemn reverence that was far more meaningful. And as he covered her body with shovel after shovel of dirt, her form slowly disappearing beneath the Earth, he felt as if a small weight had been lifted. Just one more tiny bit of guilt he could let go.
And somewhere in his mind, the demon roared with rage, shrinking back further into its shadowy tendrils.
/

The next two months passed without incident. At least none of the vampire kind. Goliathus was growling lightly in satisfaction as a painting he had been working on was almost complete. It still needed a few touches, but surely this would be the best birthday present he could ever give to Ami. The whole idea of presents didn't make much sense to him, but he certainly had a talent he could share. She came into the atrium then, coming up behind him and putting her arms around his neck, only moments before he managed to cover his easel.
He turned around and grinned, then looked down at her belly. It was hard not to notice. In only these short two months Ami had swelled considerably. He sensed a bit of fear from her, and knew why. The both of them knew this child would not be normal in any sense of the word.
Goliathus had already told her about the dream he had when she first revealed she was pregnant. How he was told the baby would come in only four and a half months.
Exactly half the time of a normal pregnancy.
"You thought of a name?" She broke the tense mood with her question.
Name? In truth, no.
"I had an idea. I'll use a human name for her middle name. And then you can decide on her first." She dragged another chair next to his and sat down, putting a hand on his knee. "What do you think of that?"
So you have come up with one? His grin deepened. Do tell.
Ami rested her elbows on her knees and looked at the floor thoughtfully. "I thought of many, but none seemed to fit. But then this one name came to mind and it kept coming back. I really liked how it sounded, anyway."
She met his eyes then and smiled. Genevieve.
Goliathus thought on it for a long moment, then seemed quite satisfied by the look in his eyes. I like it. But you are making my end of it much harder, you know. Ami laughed and hugged him.
I'm sure you'll think of something. Something special for our very special child. She went to walk away then, but as she turned he grabbed her arm. Ami.
Blue eyes became transfixed on his. Hm?
She must never know of my past. Of what I did.
A crestfallen expression came over Ami's face and she nodded. I'd agree. But...we'll just cross that bridge when we come to it, ok?
He thought a long moment. Ok.
Giving another brief hug, Ami then turned and left. Goliathus watched her go, and as soon as she did, he went to his roof, and headed back for the cave.
/

Each time he arrived it was the same. Another body taken down, another prayer. Sometimes he heard nothing, no mental words to know whether or not the person forgave him, but he buried them anyway. And finally, every one was beneath the ground. The cave's walls were bare once more.
He felt a tinge of happiness, but it was brief, short-lived. The eighteen bodies here were only a tiny fraction of those he had killed. And gawd, he didn't even want to think about how many that actually was.
Suddenly, he felt his mind reeling. He sank to the ground to try and control the dizziness. And then he was no longer at the cave.

Miss me?

Goliathus looked up, and saw Darry. Once again.

I suppose you could say I have. But what is with the spell of vertigo? The heradus clutched his still spinning head, trying to orient himself once more.

Sorry about that. Comes with the territory, you could say. Darry smiled and helped him to his clawed feet. That was good thing you did. No...it was a great thing.

It helped. A little. I had to do it.

Yeah, very noble of you. Those eighteen souls left, see? Darry pointed up at the familiar lightning sky. There seemed to be a little less activity this time. They are gone now, crossed over. It's a good start, Bat-man. Keep it up.

Goliathus nodded slowly. Have you seen the demon?

I sure hope not. Darry frowned. If I see it here, then you're in real trouble.

I must admit...I... He clenched a fist tightly. I am unsure of what I will do.

You're afraid of it, aren't you? Darry's mindvoice had become merely a whisper.

I suppose I am. But only because I do not wish to take any innocent human lives anymore. I fear what would happen to Ami most of all...or the child...

Don't be afraid of it. Or you'll give it the advantage.

I am trying.

Look I told you. I'm here.

Darry, have you ever seen a spirit here by the name of Maniel? He asked, changing the subject suddenly.

The boy tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. Your father? Kinda...

Goliathus looked up at him instantly. You have?

He died before you were taken away, but he knows what happened. It may not be the best thing to try and contact him right now.

It wasn't what Goliathus had hoped to hear, but he nodded anyway. And...Annabelle? What of her?

Darry sighed and circled around him once before shaking his head. It's really not my place, pal. I can't discuss these things with you. I'm just Darius Jenner. I have nothing to do with your past. My only purpose in being here is to try and help you keep that demon at bay, and it was my own choice.

I am sorry. It is just that you seem to know so much.

Yeah, but I told you how I came to know it. But still, even I feel a little like a snooper. Not really my business. Darry shrugged.

All right. Then I will bother you no more about it. I just wish I knew how to remember for myself.

You can try that Jezelle lady. She sure knew a lot about you...somehow.

Goliathus blinked. Jezelle? How could I possibly go to her? I would only frighten her and who knows what else...

Hey, it's a suggestion. Never said it would be easy. Gotta go now, G-man. But again, kudos to you and your good deed. Now go find Billy. He's pissed and wants a good explanation for why you tore him away from his family.

The name caused Goliathus' eyes to widen. Billy, the poor kid. He hadn't left much of that child left to even put him on a wall. As for the remains, he wasn't even sure where he had put them...

Never mind. If you even just bury a shirt or something of his, it might be enough. But I am warning you, the kid is angry. And hey, before I go, I got a question for you.

Goliathus took a step closer to the ghost of Darry. Ask anything.

What made you refuse my sister's offer?

The question surprised him. Wouldn't Darry know such things? Then again, as he had pondered before, what did he know about spirits, ghosts...any of it...

I...I could never have the same hatred towards women. They had always shown kindness to me and it was ingrained in my being. I was even more merciful to any female victims, breaking their necks before I cut them open. Most of them. He paused, knowing he had to be honest with himself. Sometimes not, if I was in a particularly foul mood. But regardless, I liked your sister. She was tough and spunky...and towards the end, she became almost fearless and did the most noble thing ever...offered herself in order to save your life. I could not comply and kill someone like that. I did not want to take either of you, truth be told. Towards the end, that small part of me that was still good...and it was very small at the time...that part wanted to fly away and just leave you both. But I could not. I wanted new eyes...but more then that... I could never fight the hunger. It was always too strong. Goliathus sighed and took Darry's hand, almost as if a handshake, but he ended up just staring at it.
I really am...sorry...

The ghost stared back with his brown eyes, that now seemed a little more then touched. Uhh...we went over this, remember? I forgive you, I said it more then once. He smiled, and smiled wide. But now I can call you a true friend, too. Can't I?

Darry left then, zipping around Goliathus a few times as a small ball of very bright light before returning to the sky.

Leaving Goliathus there to marvel at what just happened.
/

Donovan felt a little more then satisfied as he finally was on the way back to his castle home. After two months of grueling negotiations with the Shadow vampires, he had finally gotten them to agree to help. They had been the ones to destroy the other heradus all those years ago. And now they would be back.
He laughed loudly, letting it resound through the air as he flew. There would be quite a price to pay for their help, but nonetheless...what could be more wonderful then seeing that Goliathus finally destroyed? Then there would be no more interruptions.

As Donovan flew on like a bullet through the air, he was not aware that hundreds of beady black eyes were watching him from the trees below...watching him and every other one of the vampires.

The Ring of Dark Fire had been told to assist him.
The King.
Goliathus.

Their master.

/

End Chapter 2

Much more action in the next chapter, I promise. I needed to get more information out first. ;)