Legacy of Darkness

by Andersson, A C

  Third box lucky and Summer found her stake and not moment too soon as when she walked back outside the Vampire was already awake and climbing to her feet. But before the demon could stand up straight Summer jammed her stake into its chest and through its un-beating heart. Summer watched with a satisfied smile as the Vampire exploded into a cloud of dust and ash. Brushing the debris of her clothes Summer walked back inside and found her mobile phone and rang Price.

  “Summer” He said gleefully “An unexpected pleasure, what can I do for you”

  “They’ve found me” Summer told him gravely

  “The Vampires, where you attacked?”

  “Yes. By a female Vamp posing as a sales person”

  “As your talking to me I assume you handled it” Price said

  “Pretty easily to be fair, this Demon Hunter gig isn’t as difficult as I thought.”

  “Don’t grow complacent” Price warned sternly “let me assure you not all Vampires will be slain so easily and that one won’t be the last that is sent after you”

  “I understand” Summer said trying to hide her frustration at Giles “Captain Killjoy” Price. “But if this incident has taught me anything it is to be ready at all times”

  “Yes that would be a wise cause of action and if I were you I would carry my stake on my person at all the times!”

  “Don’t worry I will. Talk to you soon” Summer said as she hung up the phone. She really couldn’t understand why Price seemed so worried this Demon Hunter malarkey seemed like a breeze and if Jenny was the best they could throw at her she would have no trouble in slaying more Vampires.

  Chapter Twelve

  Giles Price sat in Harry Worthington’s office alongside Home Secretary Alice Holiday inside Number Ten Downing street.

  “We appreciate you coming on such short notice” Harry said his booming voice filling the room as he walked in.

  “It’s not a problem” Price lied as she sat on his rather uncomfortable chair wondering why the hell he had been summoned by the Prime Minister.

  “We wanted to congratulate you on sorting out our Vampire problem. As you are aware DCI Greenhorn has closed his investigation and the public remain non the wiser. You can expect a to see substantial sum wired to your bank account”

  “You don’t think that was it do you” Queried a stunned Price

  “How do you mean” replied an annoyed Harry Worthington

  “What I mean was Oliver Bloom was just a soldier and the first of many. After what I told you in our previous meeting you cant honestly bel……”

  “There’s been no more killings or Vampire activity since your Demon Hunter killed Oliver Bloom” Alice said putting in her ten cents worth

  “Well actually Summer was attacked by a Vampire just one day ago and its only been nine days since Oliver was slain. The Vampires are just considering their next move.”

  “The way I see it if the Vampires make a move we now have the perfect weapon to deal with them” Alice said unashamedly

  “Agreed” Harry said putting his full weight behind his pretty home secretary. Price wasn’t surprised to hear the Prime Minister back up his Home Secretary, but was taken aback by the bluntness of her statement.

  “I would hardly call her a weapon” Price protested

  “Your right” Alice apologised “That was a poor choice of words on my part”

  “At any rate” Harry cut in “You continue to keep on top of the Vampires we shall continue to see that you are well rewarded”

  “Sir” Price said in obedience conceding defeat, there was no point in arguing the cause the Prime Minister’s mind was made up. Price just hoped that it wouldn’t turn out to be a massive error of judgment. It was clear her and Alice had no real idea what they were dealing with, scared and confused they wanted to wash their hand of the Vampire situation as quickly as possible and in away he couldn’t blame them. But they were the Prime Minister and Home Secretary respectively and had a responsibility to ensure the safety of the public. Ignoring a problem and hoping it would go away was not the right way to go about it.

  In order to celebrate moving in togther Steve and Summer invited their perants round for a big family dinner of roast pork, served with roast poatatoes, peas carrots and a delicious looking thick gravy. While Steve did the bulk of the cooking Summer had made sure that they had a fine wine to complement the meal, a dry white from South Africa that had come highly recommended on Saturday Kitchen. A show that Summer watched regularly on her weekend mornings.

  Summer’s Mum Linda arrived first closely followed by Steves Mum and Dad Karen and Gary. Summer poured out the wine as they took their places at the round dining room table. It wasn’t a large table and had just enough space to sit all five of them, at least it made it easy to talk. Steve served dinner and everyone began to tuck in to their meal.

  “This is delicious” Linda said after a couple of mouthfuls of the piping hot food.

  “Told you Steve was a good cook” Summer responded proudly

  “Get’s it from his Mother” Gary added as he gave his wife a loving glance. Karen just blushed embarrassed by the compliment and quickly went back to her food.

  After the meal the wine continued to flow and the conversation ran deep into the night. As she watched Gary and Karen who were still obviously very much in love after almost forty years of marrige, Summer couldn’t help but hope that would be Steve and herself in the future. Growing old together and still as in love as they are right now. That would be Summers defanition of a good and happy life, yes a good career was important but it didn’t hold a candle to spending your life with someone you truly love.

  When all the perants had left and had gone home Summer and Steve cleared up placing the dity dishes and cutlery into what was now their dishwasher. With the tidying up completed they shared a passionate kiss before Summer took her lover’s hand and led him up stairs. Right now if it was possible Summer was more in love with her handsome Firemen than ever and she wanted to show it in the bedroom.

  But as the loved up couple were in the thrals of passion they were disrupted by Steves emergency pager. Much to Summers dismay Steve stopped what he was doing and reached for his pager fumbling several times before finaly grasping it.

  “I’m sorry” Steve said as he stared at the small rectangle message device “I have to answer this”

  “It’s ok baby” Summer assured him “I understand, you go be a hero” She pulled him in for one last kiss before he had to go.

  Steve could still taste Summer’s sweet lips as he quickly got dressed and dashed out of the house, he jumped into his BMW and raced to the Firestation where he met with the rest of the brigade.

  “Sucks to be woken at this time” Andy one of the crew members said “ I was fast asleep when my pager went off, what were you doing”

  “My girlfriend” Steve admited to cheers and jests from the rest of the lads

  “She will have to finish herself off now” Andy joked as they climbed into the Fire Engine.

  The huge red Fire Truck tore through town at breakneck speed, fortunately the late night roads were virtually empty so there was nothing to impead ther Fire Engines progress and they got to the scene of the fire in record time, a small terraced house in a large reidntaial area. As the Fire crew disembarked from the engine and got their equipment ready to tackle the fire, A young man in his early twenties ran up to Steve.

  “Are you the home owner?” Steve asked in his most sympathetic tone.

  “Yes” said the man “My girlfriend Rebecca she’s still in there” The mans creid as he gestered frantically towards the house.

  Steve didn’t hesitate into going into action, determined to rescue the trapped woman. He quickly put on his resperative gear and googles and ran into the house, the other members of his crew trying in vain to stop him, yelling at him to come back and that the fire was too severe. But their call’s fell on deaf ears as Steve ran towards the burning house, if there was a chance someone could b
e saved then Steve felt he had to try.

  Like something from an action movie Steve kicked in the door and ran into the fire engulfed home. Once he was on what remained of the inside Steve realised that the fire was worse than he thought. Flames surrounded him almost lapping against his body as he sprinted heroically through the scorching flames. The heat was intense and he knew he had to be quick, there was no way anyone could survive here for long. As Steve looked round he was about to give up and run back out when he heard the sound of desperate scream’s coming from the next room. Without really thinking about what he was doing, Steve slipped off his resperation mask and called out the girls name telling her that he was coming for her and that she would be alright. No one was dying today not on his watch. Steve raced through the fire engulfed living room and into the kitchen where the girl was trapped, he jumped through the flames in the doorway that blocked Rebeccas escape and found the girl lying in a heap on the floor.

  “No” Steve thought “I’m too late” But as he turned the girl over he saw something was very wrong. It was her face it was terribly disfigured. Her eyes opened and she stared deep into Steve’s, in that moment when he looked into her eyes he new that the girl wasn’t human. There was a loud crash as a beam fell from the ceiling. Panic coursed through his veins as he realised the house was beginning to cave in. Steve had to get out and now! But before he could make his exit Steve heard another loud crash, seconds later everything faded to black.

  Summer was disturbed from her slumber by what she thought was Steve returning home but then she realised the sound she could hear was knocking at the door. Had Steve forgotton his key. Well he did rush out like a bat of hell so there was a strong possibility Summer thought. She wrapped her white dressing gown around her and wearly walked down the stairs and to the front door. Summer’s heart immediately sank when she opened the door and saw Adam Greenhorn and a uniformed Police Officer she didn’t recognise standing outside.

  Fearing the worst Summer tried to greet the two men but as she opened her mouth nothing came out she litrally couldn’t talk. Summer’s mind suddenly became a mix of emotions as they hit her all at once, fear, anxiety, anger and a sense of hoplesness as she knew why Adam was at her door. Summer tried to push those horrible thoughts back, desperately trying to find another reason why her boss accompanied by a Police Officer was at her door. Nothing came to mind.

  “We need to come in” Adam said in grave tone.

  Summer just nodded her head and moved away from the doorway letting her boss and the Police officer in. Summer shut the door before leading the way into the living room.

  “You need to sit down” Adam said as he followed the pretty detective into the her front room. He was already regretting his decision to tell her the news himself, but he felt like he owed it to her and he hoped that if the news came from a familiar face it may help ease the pain. But who was he kdding the news would be no less devastating if it game from the Pope or Micky mouse. He could already see the pained expression on her face, the poor girl looked as if she knew what was coming and was clearly struggling to hold herself together. How he wished that this was all a terrible nightmare. Trying to compose himself Adam Greenhorn took a few moments to gather his thoughts before breaking this terrible news.

  “I’m so sorry” He started in his most sympathetic voice “But there has been a tragic accident. Its with great sorrow and regret that I must inform you that Steven Marigold is dead”

  Still unable to form words tears began falling from Summer face as she stared at Adam unable to take the news in.

  “He ran into a burning house” Adam continued “as he tried to rescue a young women who was trapped in her kitchen, but the house collapsed on top of them before they could make it out”

  “Unfortunately no bodies have been recovered at this time.” Adam explained

  “Then how do you know he is dead!?” Summer cried as she clutched at straws in the hope they had made a horrible mistake.

  “Summer” Adam said softly but sternly “There were many witnesses including the rest of the Fire-brigade they are all in agreement that there is no chance anyone could of survived. The house isn’t even standing anymore its just a complete wreckage.

  “Oh my God” Summer said as she sobbed uncontrollably. Adam watched as the tears flowed his heart bled for his work collgue and good friend, she was a wonderful woman and didn’t desreve to have her life shattered like this. Summer and Steve should of lived a long and happy life together but instead it had been creuly snatched away. Adam nodded at the uniformed officer who understood the signal and left the house leaving Summer alone with Adam.

  “I will get you some water” he said as he stood up from the couch. DCI Adam Greenhorn walked into the kitchen found an empty glass by the sink and filled it with water from the tap. He carried the drink back into the living room and placed it on Summer’s coffee table, just in front of the grief stricken girl. Summer didn’t even look up she just continued to cry her heart out.

  Summer Richards was unable think a coherent thought at this moment, she just couldn’t believe Steve was gone. She felt like her heart had been ripped out of her chest and right now she didn’t ever think it could be put back again.

  Chapter thirteen

  Inside the burning house Rebecca knew she was running out of time as the building was now falling down around her and the human. A beam fell to the floor with a tremendous crash, forcing Rebecca to make her move. There was another loud noise from inside the house and taking advantage of the humans distraction the female Vampire knocked him out with a stiff uppercut. With her target now unconscious Rebecca easily lifted Steve with her superior Vampire strength and carried him out of the building over her shoulder. Once outside she Hauled the human over a four foot fence, through another garden that led to another street just a block away from the burning house.

  Still carrying Steve, Rebecca walked over to a Waiting car. As she approached the black Ford Focus the engine started up ready to make a quick get away. The driver’s door opened and another Vampire climbed out and opened that back door so Rebecca could bundle the unconscious Steve into the back seat of the car. Slamming the door behind him the female Vampire walked around the car and climbed into the passenger side. The male Vampire climbed behind the wheel and as he eased away from the curb the two Vampire’s heard the sickening sound of the burning house collapsing in on it self, but to the Vampires that horrific sound was music to their ears.

  Rebecca and her partner pulled up outside a block of abandoned houses. Homes that had long since been condemned as unsafe for living and thanks to a slow economy they had yet to be demolished. Good news for Rebecca and her cohorts as the old decaying homes made perfect hideout’s for Vampires. They pulled the still out cold Steve from the car and carried him into one of the condemned terraced homes, where their master awaited.

  Inside the house was an empty shell where the last remnants of human life had long since dissipated.

  The boarded up windows lent the interior eerie darkness that would be hard to see through for the human eye, Vampires on the other hand had no such problem. There was no furnishings inside, no carpets and what little wallpaper that was left was peeling off the insect strewn walls. The male Vampire dumped Steve unceremoniously onto the floor in the middle of the room. He then walked out of the house leaving the still unconscious man alone with the female Vampire Rebecca.

  “Wake him up” came an inhuman voice from somewhere in the darkness.

  Obeying the commands Rebecca knelt down beside Steve and gently lifted his head propping the unconscious man up. Supporting the weight of the mans upper body Rebecca leaned in and whispered in Steven’s ear. The words she softly spoke were illegible to anyone but Steve but whatever they were or meant they seemed to work as Steve’s eyes flickered open.

  As Steve came round he had no idea where he was, the only things he new was that his head was throbbing, he was surrounded by darkness and that a beautiful women seemed to
be holding him. Though he seemed to recognise the women he couldn’t quite place her and his head hurt to much to think.

  “I am I dead” he asked the girl

  “no you are not dead” came a cold emotionless voice that was clearly male, though through the darkness Steve couldn’t detect its exact origin.

  “Then who are you?”

  “It doesn’t matter who we are what matters is what we are”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” asked a clearly concerned Steve

  “You will see” the male voice replied.

  Steve didn’t hear another word for what seemed like an eternity until the silence was broken by the striking of a match. In the still silence of the dark room the sound of the match been struck seemed loud and vulgar and sent a chill up Steve’s spine. The petrified human stared tentatively at the small flickering flame wondering what horrors it was about to reveal. As the lit match was slowly brought to a long candle stick Steve thought he caught the briefest of glimpses of the emotionless man that he had heard talking to him. For a tenth of a second the tiny flame illuminated the mans face, though it was partly covered by what was either a cowl or a hood, Steve glimpsed enough to see a hideously disfigured face. Where in the hell was he and who where these people?

  With the candle now lit and burning brightly Steve was able to see the full horror of the situation. The man was indeed terribly disfigured, his brow and cheek bones seemed to have strange ridges protruding from them, his grey skin seemed worn and leathery and narrow red eyes seemed to glow menacingly in the dimly lit room.

  “What are you?” Steve gasped in horror barely able to get the words out.

  “Oh Steve I think you know the answer to that” the deformed man said knowingly as he removed his hood with two talon like hands revealing a bald head.

  “Your face” Steve stammered as he finally saw it completely unveiled