Her Vampyrrhic Heart

by Simon Clark

  Slowly, she managed to tilt her head sideways. In that silent tomb there were perhaps ten men and women. She was struck by their similarity; they could be members of the same family. Nearest to her lay the man who’d attacked her in the village. And made me one of them … Her blood had left brown smears around his mouth.

  ‘You all look like vampires,’ she whispered softly. ‘You look just like vampires waiting for the night to come.’ Her eyes returned to the cave’s ceiling. At that instant, Clarissa seemed to look through the very atoms of the rock into a face that gazed down at her from above. In the face: a pair of eyes that burned with the fires of hell. They gloated over Clarissa.

  She murmured: ‘And I’m lying here in the dark … just like a vampire, too.’

  FORTY-ONE

  Tony floated over boulders. A light came from above; he knew that the sun shone down through the surface of the river. The boulders were the size of beach balls. Fish darted away in terror from what swam through the depths. He glimpsed the bones of a stag on the riverbed. Green weed flowed from its antlers, rippling in the current. The coldness of the water had no effect on him. Even though logic dictated he could not breathe and must drown he did not. He lived. Sort of.

  What he did feel, and what filled him with total dread, was a pressure inside his skull. How could he describe the sensation? This feels like a metal skewer being inserted through my neck, before being pushed deeper and deeper into my head. How he could describe the frightening sensation in such a calm way, he just didn’t know. Nor did he know how he understood what was happening to him. But he did. He knew that something extraordinary happened to the flesh at the bottom of his neck – the flesh that was left all ragged and torn after his head had been wrenched off. That flesh gradually fused with the body of the creature that had dragged him from the minibus. The stubby remains of his spinal column that jutted down from the back of his skull had become embedded in the monstrous carcass. He knew the arteries inside his neck were being fused with those of the monster.

  But that sense of a cold skewer being inserted into my brain? That’s the worst sensation of all. Somehow he realized that the ‘skewer’ was, in fact, a tough, worm-like nerve invading his skull. The creature’s nervous system gradually merged with his brain tissue. Slowly, relentlessly, he was becoming part of this monster.

  The thing’s nerves would also be invading the brains of Luke, Anita and the others.

  With that cold, probing root came new emotions and thoughts. Sometimes he thought like Tony had always thought. The next moment, a flood of alien ideas roared through his head. They were so violent that his jaw opened and snapped shut with a savage ferocity.

  He glanced at Luke. His friend turned to him. Luke’s eyes stared out from a mess of raw meat that was his face now that the actual face had gone. The eyes glittered with excitement.

  Tony turned his head the other way. Heads budded all along the flanks of the creature. Mouths twisted into savage grins as the personalities of his friends were transformed by the beast. New thoughts cascaded into their minds. When Tony recalled his neighbours in Danby-Mask a brutal anger erupted. Those men and women were vile, hateful creatures. They were the enemy. They had no right to be here in the valley. They were dangerous. Better to destroy them than run the risk of them destroying him.

  The cold nerve that penetrated the core of his brain suddenly burned with a great heat. It became a living cable down which a single word rushed to inflame his mind. His lips mouthed the word. All the other heads furiously mouthed the same word, too. And though they were underwater, and though he could not hear the word, it seemed to pulse through his very flesh with such enormous power it made the rocks in the river tremble.

  KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!

  Soon Danby-Mask, along with its population of loathsome men, women and children, would be destroyed.

  KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!

  Tony had never felt joy like this before. His joy would be even greater when he saw his own family being torn to bloody pieces by this mighty beast of which he was just a humble part.

  FORTY-TWO

  His blood boiled with fury. Even so, Owen concealed his anger from Eden Taylor that Sunday afternoon when they walked through Whitby. He clowned around for her on the harbour wall, adroitly concealing his absolute rage.

  But why oh why had Kit been a total bastard? Why did he stand there outside the hospital and tell me that my own brother murdered his uncle? Why? Owen wanted to punch Kit. He wanted to inflict real hurt. Had Kit gone crazy? What drove him to make such an insane accusation? Tom would never hurt anybody.

  Later, he and Eden ate Thai food in a little restaurant (normally, he’d have chosen burgers over Thai, but he wanted to impress Eden, and appear sophisticated and worldly). The food was delicious. He’d never tasted prawns like these. Then again, Eden might have been that extra ingredient that made everything taste so wonderful.

  When they left the restaurant Eden said, ‘Penny for them.’

  ‘Pardon.’

  ‘Penny for your thoughts.’

  ‘Oh. It shows.’

  Her smile was a sweet one. ‘You’re worried about Jez. That’s only understandable. It proves you’re a nice person, too.’

  Then she kissed him.

  FORTY-THREE

  At the same time that Owen and Eden kissed in Whitby, and Tom and June travelled in the direction of Danby-Mask, the crow flew high above the River Lepping. The river – a glistening, black vein – threaded itself through the forest. Some legends say that crows are the eyes of the gods. Through a crow’s eyes the gods could watch human beings as they worked, laughed, sang songs, fought their battles, or walked with the ones they loved. As the crow glided above the forest its sharp eyes glimpsed the secret entrance to the cave where the vampires slept by day. The bird glided low over the river as mighty Helsvir broke its surface. Spray flew into the air as the creature, studded with dozens of human heads, lunged out on to the shore where the poacher was setting snares for roe deer.

  Soon, the screaming man had been dragged into the water. Helsvir, the creature made from the bodies of the dead, would dismember the poacher and weave parts of the corpse into its own flesh. The beast was a living mosaic – if this protector of the Bekk family line could ever be described as living.

  FORTY-FOUR

  The winter gloom was closing in by the time Tom parked the van in the garage at his parents’ house. Neither his mother nor his father was home, which suited him fine – and saved on explanations why this dark-skinned, blue-eyed woman was with him.

  He and June followed a footpath that took them through trees that had been turned into dark, looming sentinels now that winter had stripped them of their leaves. Roots burst out of the ground. They’d trip anyone not taking care. If someone did fall, there were plenty of jagged rocks. Easy to shatter a kneecap if you fell on those. This part of the forest had taken a violent dislike to human beings, or so it seemed to Tom. The place was anything but people-friendly.

  He said, ‘June, take care when you walk by the river. Keep as far away from the water as possible.’

  Helsvir … am I warning her about that creature? After all, I know it spends time in the river. Swimming there like a killer shark. But there are other dangers, too. Tom explained as they walked: ‘The banks crumble under your feet sometimes. It’s happened to me before. One second I was walking on what seemed like a solid footpath, the next it broke away and I ended up tumbling head over backside into the water.’

  She laughed, then her face became serious. ‘Sorry. I’m sure that isn’t as comical as it sounds.’

  ‘The River Lepping can be a real psychopath.’

  ‘How can a river be psychopath?’

  ‘Because sometimes it pretends to be a pleasant stretch of water, but it’s trying to lull people into a false sense of security. So they’ll get too close then … wham!’ He clapped his hands together like a trap springing shut.

  June shot the river wary glances,
perhaps wondering if it might find a devious way of dragging her in. ‘Come to think of it, there is something menacing about the Lepping. Have you seen how black the water is?’

  ‘Liquid darkness.’ He shivered, as if cold, dead fingers stroked his neck. ‘That’s what I always think when I see it. Liquid darkness. The river hides all kinds of unpleasant surprises. You might walk through what looks like shallow water, no more than ankle deep. The next step could drop you into an underwater ravine that’s ten feet deep.’

  ‘It’s claimed lots of lives?’

  He nodded. ‘Sometimes I’m asked to search the riverbed for bodies.’

  They walked in silence after that. Already, dusk had invaded this murderous terrain. Shadows grew darker. Sometimes the gloom required them to reach out their hands to make sure they didn’t walk into a tree trunk. The pungent scent of the forest grew stronger.

  All of a sudden, June spoke the words that stopped Tom dead. He stared at her in shock.

  June repeated her remarkable statement: ‘I’ve decided to bring my mother here.’

  ‘That’s impossible.’

  ‘I’ve made up my mind, Tom.’

  ‘You told me she’s a sick woman.’

  ‘My mother’s not sick.’ June spoke softly. ‘She’s dying.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that, but—’

  ‘Over the last few hours I’ve been thinking about her.’ June had clearly made a decision. ‘There’s no other alternative. I’ll bring my mother here. She can see her husband.’

  ‘Husband? June, the man’s a vampire. A monster. He’s—’

  ‘He’s also my father, Tom.’

  ‘Dear God. You can’t be serious!’

  ‘There’s no need to shout.’

  ‘Just look at this!’ He spun round, flinging out his arms, gesturing at the forest and the forbidding river – that liquid darkness that had claimed so many lives. ‘I can’t even bring a vehicle to the cottage. Can your mother walk through this kind of terrain? If she can’t, what do you propose then?’

  ‘I’ll carry her by myself if I must.’

  With a determined expression, she continued walking. Tom followed. Damn it, she’s crazy. Before he could stop himself he started to yell.

  ‘June, listen! You can’t bring an invalid into a place like this! Feel how damp and how cold it is – that alone could finish anyone who’s seriously ill to begin with.’

  ‘I’ve made my mind up, Tom.’

  ‘What the hell do think your mother will do, if we could even bring her to the cottage? Do you really think she’s going to have some kind of touching reunion with her husband?’

  ‘She could see him from a bedroom window.’

  ‘Like Juliet cooing to Romeo from the balcony?’

  ‘If you’re not going to take this seriously …’

  ‘I am taking this seriously.’

  ‘This is the last chance I have to save my mother’s life.’

  ‘Save her life? You’ll kill her!’

  June lashed out. The slap stung his cheek. Tom furiously grabbed her by the arms. Her blue eyes flashed as she glared up at him. The sound of the river seemed to grow louder, almost becoming a roar, and Tom realized that was actually the sound of his blood thundering through the arteries in his neck.

  ‘I’m not allowing you to turn your mother into a corpse,’ he thundered. ‘It’s enough for my conscience that I’m letting you risk your life. Don’t you get it? Our lives are in danger! We might not survive until morning! Or we might end up becoming vampires, too!’

  ‘Tonight, I plan telling my father the truth about my mother – and yes, he might be some kind of bloodsucking monster, but if she sees him that might heal her broken heart. I know it sounds crazy. But if she knows that Jacob Bekk was forced to return here because of a curse, then she’ll know that he didn’t dump her.’

  ‘It’s impossible. I won’t let you bring her here.’

  ‘Please, Tom. Please …’

  The bushes parted as a figure loped through on to the path. June reacted with shock. Instinctively, she pressed her body to Tom’s as if seeking his protection.

  ‘Hey, Tom. I’ve been looking for you … uh …’

  Tom recognized the figure in front of him. ‘Owen.’ Releasing his grip on June’s arms he took a step back. Too late, already Owen Westonby had seen him with June, and already the sixteen-year-old had misconstrued what they were doing. No doubt he interpreted their closeness as a romantic cuddle by the water’s edge.

  ‘Owen? Is there anything wrong?’

  ‘No … well, yeah … I need to talk to you, Tom.’

  ‘It’ll be dark soon.’

  Owen repeatedly glanced from Tom’s face to the face of the stranger next to him. The beautiful dark-skinned woman with the striking eyes that were a brilliant blue. ‘Tom. This is important.’

  Tom took a deep breath. Damn it, already his plans had begun to fall apart. June had told him that she wanted to bring her mother here … into the vampires’ lair! That was just crazy. Now Owen stood there wearing an expression of total anxiety.

  After taking another deep breath, Tom nodded. ‘OK, Owen. But it’s important you’re back home before it gets dark.’

  Owen nodded. Tom knew what the kid was thinking: Tom wants to get rid of me as quickly as possible so he can be alone with this woman.

  Life was becoming more complicated, and dangerous, by the moment. What the next few hours would bring, only God – and maybe the devil – knew.

  FORTY-FIVE

  SEX.

  Owen’s staring at me, Tom thought, and that’s why he thinks I’ve brought this woman to the cottage. He’s telling himself that I want him out of the house so I can rip her clothes off … he couldn’t be more mistaken, more wrong, more than one million miles off target. June’s bait. We’re going to use her to lure the vampires here …

  Tom had lit the fire and a golden light filled the lounge. Outside, the night was drawing closer.

  Tom hurried through the introductions. ‘Owen, this is June Valko. June, this is my brother, Owen.’

  ‘Nice to meet you, Owen.’ June held out her hand.

  Owen had been brought up to be polite, and with impeccable politeness shook her hand. Though his expression suggested he wished the woman wasn’t here.

  ‘Tom, I’d like to freshen up,’ she said, ‘before we …’

  Owen’s eyes widened; he clearly expected her to say: before we make love.

  June, however, completed the sentence as: ‘before we have something to eat.’

  But the damage had been done. Owen clearly expected the pair to have a raging two-person orgy the moment he left.

  Tom asked, ‘What did you want to tell me, Owen?’

  ‘Right … uh.’ He glanced at June.

  June picked up her shoulder bag. ‘If you can just point me to the bathroom?’

  ‘First door at the top of the stairs. The next door on the right is the spare bedroom. Put your things in there. You can … sleep there … my room’s the one opposite.’ Damn it, those words of his sounded so stilted. So bloody awkward, too; sounded like he’d read them from a card.

  After she left the room Owen raised his eyebrows.

  ‘June’s a friend. She’s staying over.’ Tom cleared his throat. ‘I don’t want to rush you, but you need to get back home before it gets dark.’

  ‘So you keep telling me.’

  Tom could imagine Owen racing back to Mull-Rigg Hall where he lived. He’d scramble through the door blabbing to their mother at the top of his voice. Tom’s got a strange woman in the cottage. He almost threw me out of there. Already he’ll be DOING IT with her!

  These thoughts burned inside Tom’s head. Of course, it didn’t matter if Tom had women to stay here. He was single – and had been for five years ever since his bride, Nicola, vanished.

  ‘Tom? Something on your mind?’

  ‘Uh?’ Grunting, Tom turned to his brother. ‘Nothing.’

  ‘You
were staring into the fire like you’d lost your Rolex in there or something.’

  ‘What did you want to see me about?’

  ‘Jez. He’s had an accident.’

  ‘Oh, no. Is he hurt?’

  ‘Bashed about a bit – his arm’s broken.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that. Is he at home?’

  ‘His head smashed into the steering wheel; they’re keeping him in hospital overnight for observation.’

  ‘Steering wheel? He was driving?’

  ‘Yeah, his dad’s truck.’ Owen sat down on the sofa. The worry on the kid’s face was clear to see. ‘It gets worse.’

  Tom felt cold inside. ‘How much worse?’

  ‘Jez is sixteen. Too young to drive. He doesn’t have insurance, either. Also …’ Owen swallowed. ‘The cops think he caused an accident yesterday. They found him near the wreck of a minibus.’

  Tom whistled. ‘My God. I saw news about it on television. The passengers are missing.’

  ‘Jez’s dad is convinced the police will charge him with dangerous driving and killing the people in the bus.’

  ‘You weren’t with him, were you?’

  ‘No … look there isn’t a mark on me.’

  ‘I’m your brother, Owen. I care about you, so you’d tell me if you were involved in the accident, wouldn’t you?’

  ‘Dad can vouch I was home when the accident happened.’

  Tom couldn’t hide his relief. ‘Thank God for that.’

  ‘But what about Jez? He’ll go to prison, won’t he?’

  ‘What did Jez say?’

  ‘What he told me was strange … I mean really strange.’

  ‘In what way?’

  Owen seemed unsure how to begin. ‘Heck, Tom. It’s been a weird weekend. So much has happened since Friday.’

  ‘Tell me about it.’

  ‘Well, I met a girl. Her name’s Eden Taylor. She’s gorgeous.’