Drew D'Amato:Bloodlines:02

by Drew D'Amato

  “Oh my God.”

  “It turned out to be a good thing, because since it was a trap, we were not uninvited guests. We were able to use our vampiric powers and kill Radu.”

  “But still for Michael to betray you after so many years.”

  “It happens. People get tempted and turn on their friends. Let’s not waste more time dealing with the past, let’s move on.”

  “I’m sorry Vlad, but what is the past to you is still news to me. That shooting in Geneva, did those Crusaders have to die?”

  “Yes, they did.”

  Pacami put his head down.

  “What’s wrong, Father?”

  “I feel conflicted on what to think about these Crusaders. I understand they are your enemy, but that is because they do not understand your true purpose. They are not evil men.”

  “They are. My pilot, my friend was killed by their hands. They also killed a lot of innocent humans in Geneva. They don’t want to save humans from vampires; they want the power of the vampires. And I told you before Father, power is the root of all evil.”

  “What do you plan to do with the Crusaders? They won’t stop looking for you.”

  “Let them look. As soon as I can see myself in a mirror, what threat are they if they come across me. They will think of me as a human and move on. They will waste more centuries and more of the Vatican’s money on their quest, but who cares? The world is safe from vampires.”

  Pacami nodded his head in agreement. Some innocent souls had died, but good had won over evil. It paid a price, it always does.

  “So is the Dark Bible translated?” Pacami asked.

  Vlad took the translated manuscript out from a drawer in the desk and handed it over to him.

  “I highlighted the parts I think would be of some significance to you.”

  “Thank you, but for safety’s sake I’m going to look over all of it.”

  “Safety?”

  “Yes, Vlad, if an exorcism goes wrong in can resort in the death of who is being exorcised, the priest, or anyone else in the room.”

  “Oh well then be prudent, we don’t need any of that.”

  “This should only take me a few hours.”

  “You can have this room.”

  Vlad got up and left Pacami alone with the writings of a centuries old sacred book. He held it in awe for a few moments before he actually started to read it.

  5

  After four hours, Pacami stepped out of the office and looked for Vlad. He was on the couch shaking his leg, watching a football game with Jericho and Malachi. Vlad saw Pacami and leaped up from the couch. No words were needed. Vlad closed the door behind them as they re-entered the office. They took a seat across from each other.

  “So Father, what have you learned?” Vlad asked.

  “The Templars did not want to risk the damnation of their soul for the sake of their God. They wanted to use the Blood, but they were not sure what became of a vampire’s soul when they died. So none of them wanted to become a vampire, but they didn’t want to give this power to some stranger. How could they be sure they would play along with the wishes of the Templars? They decided then to look for an exorcism that would work. This way once a chosen Templar performed a task for the order he could become a human again.

  “First they experimented with slaves. They kept the slaves shackled with rosary beads so that they couldn’t fight for their freedom once they became a human. They attempted an exorcism and when it didn’t work, they killed the slave. There was a lot of trial and error. But after a few tries, they found an exorcism that worked.”

  “I read that.”

  “Yes, I saw your highlights. Once that they had an exorcism to could turn a vampire back into a human they decided they could now drink the Blood themselves. A chosen Templar was made a vampire for the order, and persuaded the kings of Europe to do their bidding. Everything was working according to plan until all the members of this Templar’s immediate family died, and he wanted to become a human again so he could pass on to the afterlife too. However, when they tried the exorcism on him, it was not successful. They ended up having to kill the Templar as a vampire.”

  “I didn’t get to that part. Jericho and Malachi came to me to talk about Michael, and the conversation brought up something from my past that made me lose my interest to read.”

  “Well it’s a good thing I didn’t overlook it. This is what I meant by safety’s sake. When you and Radu drank the Blood, did you have any idea what you were drinking?”

  “No, why?”

  “Because that is all the difference when it comes to this exorcism. They tried this again. They made a slave a vampire, attempted to exorcise him and it worked. Then a Templar drank it, became a vampire, and performed some missions for the Order. Years later they tried the exorcism—using the same priest who performed the latest exorcism on the slave—but again this failed. They killed that Templar also as a vampire.

  “Based on these experiments, and using the scientific method centuries before it was conceived during the Scientific Revolution they reached a hypothesis. If one willingly drinks the Blood of the Betrayer and consciously gives their soul to the Blood they cannot be exorcised. The Lord’s Prayer and powers cannot save this soul. If one is given the blood either against their will or unknowingly however, they can be exorcised. The Lord cannot be tricked. He knows if you willingly drank the blood or not, and that makes all the difference in this exorcism.

  “So the vampires the Templars made were knights who drank the blood thinking it was part of their iniation into the order, and then became vampires. They were promised redemption and back into the light of God by exorcism if they stayed loyal to the Templars. That was why no vampire during time of the Crusades ever went rogue. After years of service the vampires were exorcised, became human again, and another new Templar unwittingly drank the Blood during another mock iniation. This loophole to the exorcism was also why Sigismund and the Boyars did not drink the blood themselves. They gave it to your father, because they knew when someone willingly drank it, there would be no going back.”

  “So basically, if you choose to become a vampire, you can’t ask for God’s help afterwards. But since I didn’t know I drank the blood, I can be saved?” Vlad asked.

  “Yes, you can.”

  Vlad got up from his chair. He walked over and hugged Pacami. His body felt a little cold to Pacami. Vlad said, “Thank you Father, how soon can we do this?”

  “We can do it tonight.”

  “So soon?”

  “I don’t want you to get cold feet and change your mind. Is that a problem, did you want one last night as a vampire?”

  “Not at all, I am excited about doing it this soon. I can’t wait to see Jasmine again. I just wasn’t expecting you would be ready for it.”

  “I just need to pick up some things from the Church.”

  “Malachi will drive you.”

  Moments later Vlad watched those two drive away from his parlor window. Jericho noticed the smile on his master’s face. “So he’s going to do it tonight?” Jericho asked.

  “Yes,” Vlad said. “By the end of the night we will be human again.”

  6

  Father Pacami was brought back to Vlad’s house around seven-thirty. Malachi and he shared some small talk—about how the Chargers blew their chances at a serious Super Bowl run years back.

  When Pacami entered the house Vlad and Jericho sat on the couches in the parlor smoking cigarettes, Vlad shook his leg.

  “Those things are going be bad for you,” Pacami said.

  “Yeah, I hadn’t even thought about it,” Vlad said as he died his cigarette out.

  “Everyone ready to do this?”

  Vlad couldn’t respond. It was Jericho who cracked the silence.

  “Where should we go, Father?”

  “I don’t know. There really is no set place to perform an exorcism. Usually the victim lies in their bed.”

  “Well then let’s go to my ro
om,” Vlad said.

  “You guys have a bed?”

  “Of course. How do you think we have sex, standing up?” Malachi said and even Pacami shared a laugh.

  They made their way to the master bedroom of the house. Vlad changed into the white gown Pacami had brought from the church. Pacami also brought chrism, which was holy annointed oil used for baptisms, a thermos full of holy water, and blessed salt, all which were on the nightstand along with the translated manuscript of the Dark Bible, paper clipped to keep his place. Pacami also hung a large crucifix on the wall over Vlad’s head.

  Jericho and Malachi stood against the wall as Pacami got prepared. Pacami wore his violet vestment for this occasion. He had debated about wearing the red vestment, which represented blood, but it represented Jesus’s blood, for masses on Good Friday, and Palm Sunday. It felt wrong to Pacami to use the same color for a man possessed with the blood of Judas—the betrayer. Violet was the color for masses for the dead, and that seemed more fitting for Vlad. Violet was also the colored used for the sacrament of reconciliation, or penance, which freed one from their sins. That also made it appropriate for Vlad.

  “That’s a lot of holy water,” Jericho said, when Pacami unscrewed the top of the silver thermos.

  “We’re gonna need that much for a baptism.”

  “Baptism,” Vlad said as he made his way to the bed. “I thought this was going to an exorcism.”

  “Actually a baptism has a little bit of an exorcism to it.”

  “And that was the best the Templars came up with? I thought this was a specific exorcism.”

  “The church’s official rite of exorcism wasn’t composed until 1614. Before then it was different sacraments, blessings and excerpts from the Pontificals and the Book of Hours. Specific handbooks were written, but still nothing formal. A priest performing an exorcism in Rome, might perform an entirely different ritual than what a priest might use in France. The Templars were in their glory during the 13th century, way before the ritual was made uniform. What they found that worked was a simplified baptism.”

  “But isn’t a baptism for babies?” Malachi asked.

  “Baptisms are usually performed on babies, but that’s only because they are newly born. The sacrament itself remits all sins, and allows a soul into the life of the church. Basically one is born again, which if you think about, is just what Vlad needs to remove the vampirism.”

  “But all these holy relics, I’m concerned it will hurt him,” Jericho said.

  “Oh yes,” Pacami looked down at Vlad. “There will be pain.”

  “I’m ready for that,” Vlad said and then lied down on the bed.

  “And you have to have faith.” Pacami took out a piece of paper from under his vestment. “There will be times when you will have to respond to my questions. This is what you say. You will experience a lot of pain then.”

  Vlad looked at the paper. There were a few words on each line.

  “I will nod to you when you must respond. Most times it will be questions that you have to answer, so listen. The next response will be the next line. Just follow accordingly,” Pacami told him. “It is a testing of your faith, but you must respond.”

  “I will.”

  “Okay then, let’s get started.”

  Pacami opened a window in the room.

  “Are you hot Father?” Vlad asked.

  “No, we need a way to allow the demon to get out. In old churches the door on the north side of the building was called the Devil’s Door. They left it open during baptisms for a spirit to exit. Now men focus,” Pacami exhaled. “Let’s begin.”

  Pacami moved to the foot of the bed in front of Vlad. He got on one knee, said a quick prayer and made the sign of the cross on himself. Then he stood up. The vampires braced themselves. Pacami picked up the translated Dark Bible and asked Vlad, “What do you ask of the Church of God?”

  Pacami nodded at Vlad and he got the hint. He looked at the paper in his hand. “Faith.”

  “What does faith offer you?”

  “Life everlasting.”

  Vlad looked over at Pacami to make sure he said it right. Pacami smiled and walked over to Vlad. He breathed on his forehead, then on his stomach and one last time across his arms finishing the sign of the cross.

  Nothing dramatic occurred.

  “Go forth from him, unclean spirit, and give place to the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.”

  Vlad’s arms started to shake. He felt a tightening inside his stomach. Pacami took a pinch of the blessed salt off the nightstand and put it inside Vlad’s mouth. The salt burned his lips like acid. He started to sweat. It had started to get painful.

  “Receive the salt of wisdom; let it be to thee a token of mercy unto everlasting life. May it make your way easy to eternal life,” Pacami said. Pacami nodded to Vlad waiting for his response. Vlad’s hand shook and the paper fell from him. Pacami quickly picked up the paper and gave it back to him. He pointed at the line they had left off at. Vlad managed to nod in understanding.

  “AMEN,” Vlad screamed like he had been holding his breath. Pacami went back toward the bed and continued.

  “Peace be with you,” Pacami said.

  Vlad struggled to turn to look at the paper. Pacami took it out of his hand and held it in front of Vlad’s face.

  “AND WITH YOUR SPIRIT,” Vlad screamed. He was now breathing rapidly.

  Pacami started up again. “I exorcise thee, unclean spirit, in the name of the Father.” Pacami made the sign of the cross over Vlad’s body and Vlad responded like he had been punched in face. “And of the Son.” He made the sign again, this time Vlad curled in a ball like he was hit in the stomach. “And of the Holy Spirit.” Vlad let out a blood-curling scream. There was silence cast over the room. Pacami straightened himself and then continued to read.

  “That thou goest out and depart from this servant of God. For He commands Thee, accursed one, Who walked upon the sea, and stretched out His right hand to Peter about to sink. Therefore, accursed devil, acknowledge thy sentence, and give honor to the living and true God: give honor to Jesus Christ His Son, and to the Holy Spirit; and depart from this servant of God, because God and our Lord Jesus Christ hath vouchsafed to call him to His holy grace and benediction and to the font of Baptism.”

  Pacami made another sign of the cross, this time just over Vlad’s forehead. Pacami felt the film of sweat on Vlad’s brow. The exorcism was getting more intense. Vlad was moaning in pain. Pacami screamed over him.

  “AND THIS SIGN OF THE HOLY CROSS, WHICH WE MAKE UPON HIS FOREHEAD, DO THOU, ACCURSED DEVIL, NEVER DARE TO VIOLATE.”

  Vlad was breathing again like he was having the worst labor pains imaginable. Pacami soldiered on.

  “I EXORCISE THEE, every unclean spirit, in the name of God the Father Almighty, in the name of Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord and Judge, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, that thou be depart from this creature of God, which our Lord hath deigned to call unto His holy temple, that it may be made the temple of the living God, and that the Holy Spirit may dwell therein. Through the same Christ our Lord, who shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire.”

  Pacami could have sworn he felt a draft exit the opened window. The sun was down when they started, but now the sky appeared a lot darker. Pacami licked his index finger and put it on Vlad’s lips and said, “Ephpheta, that is to say, be opened, for an odor of sweetness. Be thou, devil, begone; for the judgment of God shall draw near.”

  “AAAAAAAAARGGGHHHHH,” came from Vlad.

  “Do you renounce Satan?” Pacami asked and shoved the paper in front of Vlad’s face.

  Vlad screamed, “I DO RENOUCE HIM.”

  “And all of his works?” Pacami continued.

  Vlad’s hands had started to flail around. He struck Pacami’s hand and knocked the paper out of his hand onto the bed. Jericho and Malachi started to panic but did not dare to get involved. Pacami repeated, hoping Vlad would get the point.

  “AND
ALL OF HIS WORKS.”

  “I DO RENOUNCE HIM!”

  “And all his pomps?”

  “I DO RENOUNCE HIM.”

  Pacami took the chrism and made a sign of the cross over Vlad’s chest. The chrism burned through the white rope and melted his skin. Vlad screamed in pain.

  “I annoint you with the oil of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, that you may have everlasting life.”

  Vlad had to respond. Pacami did not want to risk saying anything not according to the script. The paper was somewhere on the bed. Jericho caught the hint and searched the bed amidst Vlad’s contortions. He found the paper, and held Vlad’s face forcing him to look at it.

  “Amen,” Vlad managed without screaming.

  Pacami put his hand on Vlad’s shoulder. “Will you be baptized?”

  “I will,” Vlad said looking at Jericho, and thanking him with his eyes. He appeared a little better, like the worst was over, but Pacami knew the worst was yet to come.

  Jericho looked at the paper and saw there was nothing left written on it. He backed away from the bed. Pacami unscrewed the top of the thermos, and held it over Vlad’s head.

  “I baptize you in the name of the Father.” Pacami poured the holy water on Vlad’s forehead. Vlad screamed in agony as the water burned his skin when it made contact. “And of the Son,” he poured again. The water burned deeper and his scream was louder. “And of the Holy Spirit.”

  Pacami poured the water for the third and last time. Vlad sat up in the bed, screamed at a high pitch that shattered the mirror and all the windows in the room. The crucifix fell off the wall. Pacami, Jericho, and Malachi covered their face with their arms to protect themselves. With a loud thud Vlad fell back on the bed, his head rolled over and thick purplish blood pooled from his mouth. His eyes were open but he was zoned out.

  The room felt empty, like they had all lost a bit of themselves in there.

  Jericho rushed over to Vlad and looked at him. “What happened?” he asked Pacami.

  “Turn his head, don’t let him choke on that blood,” Pacami said.

  “Is that his blood?”

  “No, it is that unholy blood coming out, the demon.”