The Darkhold
Chapter IV
A Day's Wages
This branch of the Darkhold was the head division, for the sole reason that Blade was the one orchestrating it's movements. The others were somewhat autonomous, planning and executing their own maneuvers. The different branches which extended to various parts of the globe included Japan, Cambodia, India, Brazil, Egypt, Spain, Brazil, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Peru, Canada, Italy and parts of Australia were headed up by hunters personally chosen by Blade. Even though they worked independent of each other, they all one solid goal in mind.
The hideout chosen for this city was in the basement of an old factory. It was more or less undetectable, but it was well suited to them. A white Escalade pulls up in an adjoining alleyway with the factory. It stops in front of a worn cargo bay, blocked off by a large wooden door. The door slides open and the Escalade pulls in, with the door closing behind it. Inside is a buzz of activity as sparks and the buzz noise of welders echo the room. It resembled a modern day chop shop. King, Whistler and Saint exit the vehicle and are greeted by a whimsical character. King looks down to Chucky, the little midget who was the organization's strategist.
"Well how's my favorite escapee from Munchkin Land?" remarks King.
This was responded by a swift kick in the shin.
"Holy fuckin shit…I was kidding" says King.
"Don't forget King I'm at perfect level to de-sausage you." says Chucky.
Whistler chuckles a bit as her and the rest follow Chucky through the hideout.
"So how did the raid go, did my perfect plan of attack go off without a hitch?" asks Chucky.
"Well your Intel was great in my little hiding place, got off a few great shots." said Whistler.
"Yeah but that back entrance, needed some work." said King.
King seized up as he suddenly realized the double entandra he just voiced. Chucky looks up at King and smiles.
"I always knew you a damn fudge packer" says Chucky.
"Ouch, Chuck man your in rare form today. I was gonna get you a pot of Miracle Grow for your birthday, but you just blew that." said King.
Chucky shakes his head and looks towards Saint "How about you Obi-Wan, what have you to report?"
Saint draws on his Glocks and releases the clip and falls to the floor "I'm out of ammunition."
"That means he had a good day." says King.
"Obviously, um we seem to missing somebody." says Chucky.
"I was thinking that myself…" says a voice coming from the corner.
Out of the shadowy hallway emerges the six foot two inch vampire hunting legend himself. Blade saunters forward, his brilliant green eyes fixated on the group.
"Wheres Castillo?" asks Blade.
"Well nice to see you to sunshine" says King.
"We got separated and just couldn't re-group. He's a smart boy though. He had thirty minutes to find a shady spot and when nightfall comes again we'll meet back up with him." says Whistler.
Saint pushes past the group on his way to the shooting range "Assuming the demon is still alive."
"Well shit don't get all choked up or anything Saint. In case you fuckin forgot, he is one of us." says King angrily.
"The vampire chose it's own path, now it must live with it!" shouts Saint.
"Enough! Now I wanna know what happened.!" shouts Blade.
"If the creature dies, you won't find me shedding a tear.." says Saint as he storms off.
King begins to go after him when Blade stops him "Let him go."
"I'm fucking sick of that narcissistic motherfucker. Damien is on our side, and I'm just little fed up with these fuck heads treating him like some kind of plague. We all have all shit in our past that were not proud of. Hell I used to be a vampire, is everyone gonna start givin me the fuckin silent treatment to!" shouts King as he walks off in another direction.
"Well Whistler…" says Blade.
"We had a run in with Ares. Damien saw em and went off. We lost track of him when he chased Ares out of the club." said Whistler.
Blade sighed "He was always to undisciplined. He'd abandon his teammates in a heart beat if it meant getting his revenge. I had serious doubts when he told me he wanted to join up. I don't know Whistler…I just don't know."
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The large room stood dark and foreboding. Only dim light illuminated the room above pitch blackness. In the middle stood a large elongated black table, where several figures in business suits sat silently for a member that had not yet arrived. This was the new head council of the House Of Erebus, in the reinvigorated Vampire Nation.
The door creaked open and in stepped Ares, with his suit charred in many places. Patch burns on his face and hands were visible.
"Sorry for the delay comrades, I was detained." said Ares.
"Let me guess, you had a run in with Blade." said one member.
"No surprisingly, this isn't the work of the Day Walker. This another thorn we have in our side that we've had for quite some time now. Gentlemen I'm referring to Damien Castillo, now doubt you recognize that name." said Ares.
"But of course, one cannot forget it's most memorable traitor." says another member.
"Indeed, I was conducting business at a popular haven for our kind, when Castillo and his fellow apes burst in guns blazing. I was caught with my pants down and had to make a hasty exit. As you can see I got a little sun baked." said Ares.
"It is our understanding that he holds you personally responsible for his punishment and vows to avenge his Human lover's death." says another member.
"Well he hold's vampires in general responsible for his losses and his current situation, much like the Day Walker himself. He has taken up Blade's crusade to rid the world of our kind." says Ares.
"So where is he now, I mean he wouldn't risk daylight just to get to you." says a member.
"That makes for a very interesting tale indeed. You see I've been keeping tabs on Castillo and have discovered some very intriguing things about his exploits ever since he escaped our custody. Our contacts have reported that he has found some kind of elixir that temporarily shields his body from the affects of the sun." says Ares.
"Incredible, where is this elixir" asks a member.
"Unfortunately we've been unable to track it down, but I myself have seen it's affects in action. It's not a complete cure, as he is only able to survive in daylight for about thirty minutes or so. Anything after that and he will succumb just like any other vampire. As if that weren't bad enough, we have learned that with the help of the Day Walker, he has also built up a limited tolerance to garlic and silver. Through exhaustive medical treatments which consist of daily insignificant doses of each element, that have over time allowed his body to build up a kind of limited immunity to their affects." says Ares.
"Fascinating, in his efforts to avenge his loss he has endured suffering to rid himself of our genetic weaknesses, while retaining the strengths inherent to a Pure Blood vampire. You have to admire such resourcefulness." says a member.
"Indeed, aside from Blade, our most formidable opponent is one of our own." says Ares.
"It's interesting you bring these points up Councilman Ares. We have decided to embark on a similar endeavor. It seems Castillo has only confirmed what we have long held as one of the greatest possibilities. That our kind might overcome our hereditary weaknesses through scientific pursuits." says the head councilman.
"I thought that was already tried by the late overlord Damaskinos?" asks Ares.
"It was, however Damaskinos simply went about it the wrong way. We believe we can do better. We defeated the so called "Day Star" virus, this should come as an interesting challenge. To help us do this we have recruited the foremost hematologist slash geneticist in the entire world." says the head councilmen as he presses a speaker box "Send the good doctor in."
In walks a tall garish looking man with long black hair and a neatly trimmed goatee. He looks almost Victorian in stature and his accent seems to herald European decent.
"This is Doctor Michael Morbius, expert in his field." says the head councilmen.
"You flatter me." says Morbius.
Ares looks at the head councilmen with some suspicion "I assume you know about our unique characteristics, doctor."
"The doctor knows all about us councilmen Ares. He has agreed to help us, in exchange for access to an up to date laboratory with all the latest in modern equipment." says the head councilmen.
" I have studied your kind before, and I assure you I'm quite aware of your unique characteristics…as you put it" says Morbius.
"Thank you doctor you may go now and resume work." says the head councilmen.
Morbius exits and Ares shakes his head "A Familiar I assume."
"Not quite, we thought him to valuable to simply regard him as a Familiar." says another councilmen.
"Than how do expect him to keep silent about what he knows?" asks Ares.
"Simple, he will be surveyed 24/7 until he can deliver what we ask. At which time he will be eliminated." says a councilmen.
" Clever, I look forward to see what this Doctor Morbius can do"…
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The night sky resembled a beautiful tapestry of sparkling diamonds. Below, the reflective water broke gently with waves on a sandy white beach. Gorgeous swirls of color loomed up out of the water, in a awe inspiring dance above the cool, clear ocean. It was a fantasy come true…
Damien looked down on this wondrous landscape from a balcony. His aqua blue eyes acted as mirrors to the virtual heaven below. A silken white shirt rippled in the breeze, exposing his muscular chest. He smiled with glee at the sights that greeted him. Than he heard a voice…
A voice he had been longing to hear ever since his world was cruelly ripped from him. The voice that soothed his every worry, a voice that alone could send waves of peace through his mind. The voice of his one true love Gabrielle.
"Damien come back inside my love…" said the voice.
Damien turned around to see his beloved. Her skin tanned and silky to the touch. Her long raven hair fluttering in the breeze, her full moist lips beckoning him. She was dressed in a silk white night gown, her perfect form showing through the garment. To say the least, she was a goddess.
Damien approached her cautiously, until he was right in front of her. She looked up at him with those sultry hypnotic eyes…alluring yet so innocent. He remembered the first time he saw those eyes, they captured the essence of his soul and that moment he knew he was in love with her.
Gabrielle runs her soft hands over Damien's chest "What's wrong my love, it's only me."
Damien shakes his head in disbelief "It can't be, I saw you…".
She puts her finger to his lips and halts his statement with a kiss. Damien is ravished in the moment and kisses her deeper. Torrents of ecstasy wash over him and a hurricane of passion erupts. Loosing all control, the two tumble onto the bed as they continue to kiss. Damien's hands wander all over her lithe body as his lips move to her neck. She digs her nails into his back as her breaths become deeper and deeper.
"Oh Damien…" she stammers.
Kissing her neck as if it were the sweetest of nectar, Damien never wants this to end. Suddenly a babies cry interrupts their love making. Damien looks into the face Gabrielle puzzled.
With a sweet smile "I want you to meet our baby" Gabrielle says.
…
In an instant Damien is a clear white room, where the low cries of a baby can be heard. In the corner of the room stand Gabrielle holding an infant in her arms. As she nurses it, Damien walks up not knowing what to think. He looks down at the fragile child, noting it's aqua blue eyes. It's tanned complexion, and adorable smile.
"Your daughter, Adriana" says Gabrielle.
Damien cradles his daughter, his eyes filled with joy. Little Adriana giggles at the sight of her father. Gabrielle leans and kisses him again. The fulfillment of all that he ever wanted, ever could want stand with him at that very moment. At that one instant in time, Damien knew what happiness was..
The proud father looks down and is horrified to see a huge stain of blood on the front of Gabrielle's dress. Adriana begins to cry in pain and Gabrielle looks up at Damien, her expression one of anger and sorrow.
"It's your fault…it's all your fault!" she shouts.
The baby disappears from her hands and she slumps into Damien's arms, blood flowing like a fountain from her dress. Damien tries to cradle her, his face stricken in terror. At the other end of the room, appears Ares, holding the infant Adriana. He laughs sadistically as he starts to feed off the infant from it's neck.
"NO!!!!!!!" Damien shouts.
His attention is brought back to Gabrielle as her form goes limp.
"You killed us, you vampire…it's all your fault you vampire…" she says as her eyes close.
"No, Gabrielle, I'm sorry…I never meant for this to happen. I'm sorry, please, I'm sorry" Damien says in a flurry of tears.
He buries his face into her neck and sobs hysterically "Please…please oh god!"
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Damien bursts awake in a cold sweat. He breathes rapidly. He closes his eyes as tears begin to pour from his eyes. He encloses his head in his hands as his moans of sorrow fill the empty dark room of the abandoned building. The sounds of distant police sirens and the rustle of the night air fill the atmosphere.
The young Pure Blood slowly raises to his feet and ceases crying. His eyes begin to glow with intense anger and hatred. He crushes a large stone in his hands, reducing it to powder. His rage reaching it's zenith, Damien whirls around punches a vertical standing pipe, shearing it completely off it's base and sending it flying through a nearby wall, with a tremendous crash.
"ARES!!!!!!!!!"
The loud roar of Damien echoes through the dark city night, reaching the moonlit heavens. Vengeance would be a dish best served extremely cold…