"You know...I've been thinking about last night and one thing in particular struck me as rather spectacular;it was the part where you said I wanted you to love me. It was true as you know yet what I'm wondering is how did you know?"
Dwindle stood majestically before an open window, the diamond droplets of rain plunged onto the carpet and onto his hair and jacket.
"The same way I knew you fancied me. You were fairly obvious and you really didn't even try to hide it, it was your eyes, your expression, those fancy gestures, the way you held
yourself, it was just in everything you said and in every move you made. You spoke like you were an old fashioned suiter in one of those period piece romances novels.
I heard your sultry tones, the smiles, the drawn out phrases, the slow whispery words, the charming witticisms, the long poetic monologues and the impressive metaphors.
You obviously were trying to impress me, let's admit it, you were putting on a show."
"A show? Oh really? Is that what you think I did?"
He had a playful smile as if he was discrediting all the truths I had told him.
"I always put on a show. I'm what you would call theatrical.
However this was a private show I put on for you last night. of course all my shows will be private from now on in, I suppose, since no one else can see me, let alone understand me".
He wore a mischievous smile as if what he said was somehow provocative
"Yeah about that, you mentioned a couple of times that you spoke some weird ancient language, well what language is that exactly?"
"There is no word in any human tongue that can name the language in which I speak but I believe I can describe it, it happens to be a slight variation of what angels speak amongst themselves. It is a heavenly language and it has since been abandoned by the others of my kind due to its celestial origins and its ethereal connection to the heavenly realms.
It is a language that most have forgotten and I suppose in a way it is a blasphemy against God.
I mean think about it, I'm a havoc wreaking demon and I'm speaking a language that is only fit for the angels that live in the heavenly realms to speak. I suppose it doesn't matter because I'm not right with God anyway, he'll never accept me as one of his own, I'm an outcast even amongst my own kind, so why should the angels treat me any differently?
I'm what you call a freak.
I don't have a place in this world, I don't have a place in the heavenly realms and I certainly have no place in any of the realms of hell. Of course I mean hell in the most figurative sense."
"Figurative? Does hell not exist?"
"Oh you mean that fictional place where people scream and suffer for all their sins? No of course not. Satan himself started that rumor just to scare people away from God.
Do you seriously think a God of love would create such a place or even allow such a place to exist in the first place? Hell is a metaphor written in the books of Revelation, to symbolize certain events that took place in history. The fire and smoke burning forever and ever, it's not meant to be taken literally and it says in the last chapter of Revelation how fire is sent to earth by the hand of God which takes place after the end of the world. So somebody is obviously not getting their facts straight. Besides the bible is one big theatrical metaphor, it can mean a million things and since Hebrew is a very literal language, there are some things you must take with a grain of salt, use your common sense, do you think Pharaoh really hardened his heart?
I mean what did he do, consume a bunch of fatty foods?
It's an analogy, a metaphor yes there are things that are true but I have to say a lot of creative licencing were used to write that book.
So there is no hell, there are secret realms that demons reside in; just as angels of light have their places so do the angels of darkness.
Although I can hardly call myself an angel, I don't have any wings to speak of, I have fangs, a frightening face, long gnarled finger nails and I dress like I'm a 1,000 year old vampire.
I think that's what I really am because I'm not much of a demon either."
"It certainly would make sense, you feed off of people's energy and emotions, you've got the wardrobe, the fangs and the gothic manor to go with it and you do have a form of immortality."
"I told you that I am capable of so much more, so I'm not only capable of draining emotions and energy, I can drain other things as well."
I froze at the thought.
Was blood an option?
The thought made my temperature rise, I felt my face burn, my knees felt like the bones had melted right out of them.
"Does that disturb you?"
"I'm still trying to process it. I don't think I want to know any more but at the same time I'm curious what other things you're capable of".
"Did you know it was a demon who created the first vampire upon this earth?
It was a long time ago but as long as there were curses, there were demons to wield and cast them on the human race.
The concept of a vampire was just a sick joke, a cruel mockery of human mortality, it was a destiny designed to simulate the immortality of a demonic entity but as to not give them too much power, they were given a insatiable appetite that would destroy every hope of them ever being happy again. It is eternal life without freedom, Infinity without love. Although if I'm to be honest Vampires aren't really much different than we are.
They really are just as powerful if not equal to us.
It's a stupid curse if you ask me. You give a human the power to live forever, walk on walls and fly around like a super hero, perform magic mind tricks on people, they literally have the ability of mind control, they have control over nature, they are often ridiculously wealthy and they always end up with a beautiful woman in their arms.
That doesn't sound like much of a punishment. Vampires have incredible self control these days and with the Twilight series and all the blood banks they hardly have to hurt anyone nowadays to get their dinner. It's either handed to them or they simply have to go pick it up.
I suppose I envy them in a way, they have more freedom than I do, they get to be redeemed by God so naturally they usually get a happy ending but not me, I don't get that. A vampire at least has a pure soul, a soul that can be saved but I'll never be redeemed and I'll never be saved.
Demons are stupid, they curse humankind and it just turns into a blessing in the end.
Humans are fortunate too.
They get to be called God's children no matter what horrible things they do, they can change, they can evolve both mentally and spiritually but I'll never change, I'll never ascend and reincarnate. I'll be the same forever and for all time".
"So you want to be human?"
"Yes if there was a way I would do it but I can't, it's impossible, I'll never be human."
"What if I said there was a way?"
"I would think that you were crazy".
"No you wouldn't. You'd be delighted I'm sure of it".
"Yes I suppose I would but I'm not sure there's a way for me to even become a human unless you used some sort of witchcraft."
"I think I might be a witch so that won't be a problem".
"What if it involves dark witchcraft, you know the kind where you have to present a sacrifice and splatter all floors amd walls with blood?"
"Oh there might be a bit of blood involved yes, a little sacrifice but no one would have to die, it would be simple and unfortunately it might only be temporary".
"Okay enough with the suspense, you can go ahead and tell me how you intend to accomplish this impossible feat. Come now what are you planning?"
"Well I read this in a book once, I don't remember the title but it was one of those books of folklore, sort of like a fairy tale but darker and it was all based on mythology much like fairy tales are. There was this one demon named Swerza that visited a beautiful young maiden every night, at first he had planned to take her soul but the more time he spent with her the more enchanted he became. Eventually there came a night where he proclaimed his love to her. She told him "Oh yes I feel the same for you but I'm afraid there is no way for a creature of your kind to be joined with my own.
You will Live forever and I will die, when I die you'll only be lonely again."
She suggested she come back with him to the netherworld so that she could become immortal and she was just about to do that. She was willing to give up her humanity for him yet as they were heading out the door, He made another suggestion.
"There is another way.
It requires very little sacrifice, you have only to give me a little of your blood and then that blood can bind me to this earth, then I can stay here forever with you. If you give me a little of your blood each night, I will eventually become like you, I will look like you and I will live like you."
Then he had to ask "Well then won't you die one day?".
'He just answered"Perhaps one day I will, Yes eventually I will perish but I'd rather perish than live to see you die. If I drink of you, I will at least die with you. I hope one day we will die together".
'So that's the story. I don't know how accurate it is but it does give me an idea and it's at least another option we can choose from".
"Yes another option, just like I taught you. You listen carefully don't you?
I don't know how well that plan will work yet I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try.
That's a very strange story. Where did you read that?"
"My uncle took me to a museum once, there was a book encased in glass and it was open to the pages where that story was written. I stared at those pages for hours and he took notice of it and he bought it for me.
He was very kind to me back then, or he was that day."
"Where is this book now?"
"I'd imagine it's in one of these boxes that are in my room.
The thing is I don't know which one".
"Oh that won't be a problem. I happen to be quite gifted in the art of magic, I have only to summon it and it will be here in my hands in no time".
"I don't know if it's even worth your time but you go on ahead, do your magic".
One of the boxes started to quiver and hop sporadically, the tape split open, a bunch of my belongings burst out like held back springs which in turn was strewn all over the place.
There was a blood red book that drifted into the air and glided into his hands as if being carried by invisible strings.
"The Boek and Toom of Swerva Davorudus Frolock, the Lord of Finster Frook. Yes I can see why you couldn't remember the title of this one, it's quite long.
Let's see here.
I, Swerva, former Demon of the Netherworld, drank the blood of a pure soul which cleansed my own. The results were unexpected, I never gained mortality but instead I gained true immortality that is free from the nether realms, I have become redeemed, I am no longer a outcast in God's eyes and since I have communed with God, I have become more powerful, my ties from Lucifer are severed, the chains of evil have been cut, I have become so formidable in power that I even Satan himself can no longer control me. He has been made powerless before me, ever since I made my heart right with God.
Forgiveness is in the blood, there is indeed great power in the blood just as Jesus proclaimed."
Dwindle was frozen and be stood there as a marble statue, his eyes slowly bled at the corners.
"This isn't a book of folklore, Splendor, this is a diary.
Do you realize how absolutely ground breaking this is?
This is written by the oldest demons to ever have lived, he witnessed the fall of Lucifer and the fall of man yet he disappeared for a great while, there were many rumors about what happened to him, none of them I believed to be true of course... oh dear, according to this even the origins of the undead were nothing but lies.
He apparently claims to be the first vampire ever to exist upon this earth."
Dwindle's slightly tear stained expression erupted into pure seething rage.
"I will curse them. I will curse them ALL!
I will make every demon that has ever lived cry out in anguish, I will make them scream in agony, I will crush their skulls beneath my feet and will smile and I will laugh when they melt in the fire of my insatiable fury and unquenchable rage!
My mark will forever be upon them and my shadow shall be over them for all time. They shall carry two shadows, two shadows shall follow each of them, wherever they go the shadow of my curse shall be with them.
Your uncle can join them. Better yet he can be the first to fall victim to my curse."
"No, no, no, don't hurt him. Dwindle, please there's no need to have him suffer, he'll suffer enough once I'm free of him".
"Yet you still haven't devised a proper plan to accomplish that, this curse will be the perfect solution, this curse will free you, you'll see, he'll never bother you again and you'll have your own life, your own money and you might even get your own home if you're lucky. Just let me handle this".
"No I don't think you are thinking straight, you're too overcome by emotion right now, don't let them carry you away Dwindle. Let's be logical, why don't you sit down here beside me, let's talk about it and then when you're calm you can take action but don't do that now. Please don't".
I was on my feet, tightly clasped onto his elbow, he violently flung my arm away from him and aggressively took back his arm and pretended to examine the rings on his hand.
"Not thinking straight am I? What am I crazy to you now?
Overcome by emotion, I should be, my whole life I've been fed nothing but lies, I've been given nothing but sadness to feast upon, I was made to quaff down nothing but a never ending sea of tears just to quench my thirst when I could have been given so much more.
I was left to hunger in this wasteland, I was left to starve while everyone else wanted for nothing.
Sadness isn't enough Splendor.
It has never satisfied me, this life was never enough, this existence has been my grave, my own personal hell so to speak, I've lived my whole life in a cage. Surely you know what that's like Splendor, so naturally something has to change and I have to be that change".
"I understand that yet you may lose your soul in the process".
"No, that's the beauty of this plan, I will keep my soul and my soul will be redeemed and you will be the one that lead me to that path, you've shown me that there is another way to live, it's the loop hole you were speaking of, it will be my escape, the door that will give me my freedom."
"It might not turn out the way you think Dwindle".
"Oh will you be quiet.
I'm not interested in hearing your grave and morbid doubts any longer."
"Dwindle I don't doubt you, it's just the process, the method your about to use, it has a sort of pendulum effect".
"What on earth is a pendulum effect?"
"It means this plan can swing one of two ways.
It will either go one way or another. If it swings towards you, the magic might work in your favor and you'll have a happy ending but if you're not careful, the magic can become a actual curse, a curse you will have no control over. You will change, you'll transform even into a new entity but you may not like what you turn into."
"Your point?"
His eyes flashed a furious yellow.
"Well you know the stories you hear about vampires who have no control over their appetites, well that essentially could be you if you're not careful. You see it's all about how they cross over, if you cross over in rage, you might not be able to stop even after your rage has died.
Is this getting through to you?"
"Yes loud and clear, now if you don't mind I'm going to take care of that rat that lives down stairs."
"That rat has a soul too you know".
I spoke solemnly as I could as he was making his way closer to the door.
"So do you but he doesn't seem to acknowledge that. He treats you like a piece of garbage so what are you going to do if I get rid of him for you?Let's face it it's time to take out the trash. Are you seriously going to cry over him? Will you actually mourn over his death, Splendor?"
"Yes I will, I will cry at his funeral and will mourn after it for a time".
"All for the sake of love, how sweet, how sick and pathetic. He's a mongrel and an absolute waste of space. Do you seriously want to save the soul of a man whose heart is so black it would put the most evil demon to shame?
You can't save him, you'd have to save him from himself and he can't even do that so what makes you think you can?"
"So you think destroying him is the answer. Yes nothing like a little violence to solve all your problems. So let's just wipe him off the face of the earth, that's a foolproof solution for sure."
"I never said I was going to destroy him, so no I'm not going to wipe him off the face of the earth, I'm just going to teach him a lesson, a lesson of a lifetime."
"That's what I'm worried about. I'm afraid you'll hurt him".
"Really? You're afraid of his pain, you fear for his anguish and agony. I think not, you're just afraid of the guilt you'll feel after he's gone."
I tried stopping him, pulling on his arm, pleading with him but the moment he left, the door swiftly swung shut, the dynamic bang, made tears swell up in my eyes especially when it dawned on me that it was not only shut but locked as well.
I wanted to pummel the door furiously with my fist but instead I just collapsed at the door and could do nothing but gasp at every breath while fighting to keep my sobs from slipping out.
I focused my mind to listening for any kind of struggle, a scream, a crash, a yelp anything that would tell me what was going on but I heard nothing.
I decided to head back to my bed to avoid being in the path of the door when he stormed into my room again to announce he'd slayed the dragon.
I rested my head on my pillow hoping it would all go away somehow if I closed my eyes.
I couldn't sleep despite being tired yet it was still daylight and I rarely slept during the day.
I heard a brief hinge groan yet no footsteps, I was afraid to turn over and face him.
I was afraid of what I would see.
I felt an icy hand on my shoulder, there was a musky smell of metal and then a kiss that sent a massive shock wave throughout my entire system.
It wasn't a welcome shock this time. It made my body go numb and I felt so cold I almost felt I was dead for a few minutes.
"It is finished. He's alright now, he's still alive just very subdued, he should be for quite awhile until the next time he acts up of course. I'll take care of that when the time comes don't you worry.
Oh yes I probably should mention this, he requested to speak with you and I think you may like what he has to say."
"Oh so I can leave now?
Do I have your permission to leave...sir?"
"You can come and go as you please. You don't need my permission."
"Then why did you lock me in here?"
I gave him the most vehement expression I could muster.
" Merely a safety precaution, I didn't want you to be harmed and when magic is involved a lot can go wrong, mistakes can be made, I wouldn't want you to suffer for my mistakes, Splendor".
"I was the one that warned you how these certain mistakes could be made and I tried to prevent them but no you had to lock me in here while you gallivanted off into the unknown."
"I live here, nothing is unknown to me in this place, this is my territory, I rule it and now you can too".
I saw a tiny speck in the corner of his mouth, at first I thought it was just a shadow, a simple trick of the light yet as the sunlight emerged from the clouds, the truth became clear.
I pretended not to notice, I swerved my eyes surreptitiously as to avoid his suspicion and I didn't feel like having another uncomfortably awkward and overly emotional conversation with him.
I immediately knew what that overpowering smell of metal had been, it had been blood, Dirk's blood, the same blood that marked his mouth, I shuddered inwardly to think of the blood staining his teeth, clinging to his gums and slipping through the cracks and then sliding down his tongue.
"I will come with you, after all you shouldn't be alone with him.
Come now, please don't hold that door business against me, I was only trying to protect you.
I care for you, I don't want anyone to hurt you".
"Well in the mean time having me locked up is not the solution. if you want me to rule by your side at least bring me with you, so I can help you know".
"Yes of course. I'll keep this door unlocked for now. May all the doors be open for you, dearest Splendor".
"Yeah sure, pretty words but I'm still not impressed. Now what does he have to say that's so important?"
"You'll see, you'll see".
He wickedly chuckled as he escorted me out the door and down the stairs.