A Grave Hunger (5 page)

Finlay was unusually quiet on the drive back, but refused to discuss his concerns any further. When we arrived back at the motel, he disappeared into his room, locking the door behind him. Obviously wanting to be alone, I left him to his thoughts and returned to my room. The smell of death clung to me, and I was desperate to shower and change clothes. The shower did little to ease my tension and a multitude of thoughts swirled in my mind. Who was the poor girl we had found? Did she have a family who were desperately searching for her? What had made Finlay so jumpy? It wasn't like him to act like this, and it worried me. I quickly got changed into clean clothes and rushed over to Robert's room to check if he was back.

Robert opened the door on the first knock.

"What did you find?" Robert asked. "I found squat."

"Well, we found a girl's dead body. A pretty good sign that we found the place we were looking for," I replied.

Robert frowned, having the same reaction as Finlay. I was obviously missing something. For the next twenty minutes Robert drilled me on everything we had found today. Where was the body found? How was it positioned? Any tracks found near the scene? He seemed to be as concerned as Finlay had been. His eyebrows sinking further south with every question I answered. I was relieved when the barrage of questions came to a halt, when Finlay barged into the room. Hopefully now I would learn what the hell was going on.

"Something doesn't feel right Robert. We found a body outside the factory. No attempt had been made to conceal it. It was as if someone wanted us to find it," Finlay explained. "You ever came across a vamp that has been that careless? They would never dump a body outside their lair." He ran his fingers through his hair, an action he only did when he was stressed.

"You think it's a decoy?" Robert enquired.

"What you find at your location?" Finlay asked.

"Squat, no sign of activity at all."

"It must be a decoy to throw us off their track."

"Yeah, it definitely sounds a bit suspicious to me," Robert agreed.

"We should go to the church for the hunt then," Finlay stated. "It's the only other place in town that a vamp would hide out."

"Yeah, ok. Take tonight to prepare and we'll go in tomorrow morning," he replied, looking at me.

As I made my way back to my room, a knotted feeling began to grow in the pit of my stomach. I worried that this textbook hunt may not be as straightforward as Finlay had initially thought it would be.

CHAPTER 9

By 9 a.m. we had the car packed and were on our way. I was dressed in my usual hunting attire: black jeans, a black top under a quarter length leather jacket, and heavy black knee high leather boots. Two sheaved and finely tuned daggers that resembled machetes only a bit smaller and easier to handle hung from a double breasted shoulder strap. Two .50 calibre semi-automatics were holstered at my lower back, and a blade was lodged in each of my boots. I was ready for anything that today might bring.  I stared out the window. The clouds hung dark and ominous in the sky, ready for a serious downpour. They filled the skyline in a menacing display, swirling and churning in the wind, obliterating any light from the sun. Everything looked grey and miserable. The dull and bleak day matched my mood.  I fought back a yawn; I hadn’t slept well the night before. The knot in the pit of my stomach had stayed with me throughout the night. I wondered if it was some sort of omen.

"Leah, you sure you know what you have to do?" Robert asked.

"Yes, Robert. You and Finlay are to take the lead, and I'll hang back until I know it's safe," I replied wearily. Robert had been over this at least three times already.

Robert nodded, continuing where I left off. "There should only be one vampire inside. The number of deaths in the area suggests only one bloodsucker is in town. Three against one, it should be an easy hunt."

Finlay was still eerily quiet. His years of experience had given him a confident, self-assured attitude when hunting. This was lacking today, and it made me nervous.

We pulled up outside the church. I studied the surroundings. It would definitely be a good place to hide out. The church was on the outskirts of the town and set back from the road. If you didn't know that it was here, you could miss it hidden behind a dense growth of trees and shrubbery.

We made our way over to the rusted iron fence that surrounded the perimeter and peered through into the darkness.  An overgrown graveyard seemed to peer back at me. Dense shrubbery and vines crept over the gravestones like fingers threatening to drag them underground into the darkness below. On the far side of the property stood an old church, its steeple standing proud against the black backdrop. My gaze was drawn to a large wooden crucifix that hung over the entrance to the church. Carved into the wood were the words, "On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18.” I scoffed at the irony, knowing what monster dwelled inside.

Robert nodded to us, a silent gesture meant to determine if we were ready. Nodding back, we made our way down the path towards the church. The wind had begun to pick up, sending branches swaying vigorously in the breeze. Dark clouds loomed ominously overhead. The downpour wouldn't be far off. I followed the overgrown path to the entrance of the old church. I wondered when the place had closed. It was probably due to falling congregation numbers, no doubt. The snow had made our journey difficult, and I struggled to keep my footing, tripping and sliding several times.

It was strangely quiet. Apart from the wind whistling through the trees, the only sound that could be heard was our heavy boots crunching through the frozen snow. There were no birds chirping, no children's laughter, no sounds of traffic. I tensed when we reached the door, senses stretched tight, assessing the place for signs of life... or death.

Robert suddenly stopped and pointed to the ground in front of him. A single set of footsteps were clearly visible in the snowy path. We were in the right place. We reached the clearing to the church, and Robert split off to the rear, while Finlay and I made our way to the front entrance, surrounding the vampire inside. My heart was racing, and despite the cold, a thin bead of sweat ran down my back. My nerves were making me jittery. I tried to calm myself, aware that the vampire inside could hear the rapid beating of my heart. Finlay protectively pushed me behind him as we reached the door to the church. My mind flashed back to my last hunt, making my heart beat faster still. Finlay nodded, signalling he was ready. I reached into my jacket and unsheathed the machete, gripping it tightly.

A loud crash sounded as Finlay kicked the front door open, the noise echoing through the large room. Stepping inside, I noticed that a thin band of light streamed in through a crack in the boarded windows, which did little to illuminate the dim room.  My eyes adjusted to the dark surroundings, and I saw that the room was empty. I strained, listening intently. There was wind, rain drops, and the frantic pounding of my heart, but no other sounds. Where was Robert? He should be inside by now. I stayed close to Finlay as he pushed open the door to the next room. The room was immersed in darkness. An icy fear sent shivers up my spine as I sensed that we weren't alone. A light suddenly flickered on from the torch in Finlay's hand, illuminating the room. We were in a large vestibule. Cold marble statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ on the crucifix stood sombre and stoic at the entrance of the room. Their hollow eyes seemed to follow me as we moved further into the room. Dark wooden panels ran the length of the walls, and two sets of long wooden pews divided a wide aisle, stretching down to the pulpit. My gaze was drawn to a dark, shadowy corner of the room at the far end.

I let out an involuntary gasp, as my eyes focused on the horrifying scene.

Chapter 10

The thin beam of light sent sharp shadows ricocheting across the room, giving the occupant a ghoulish glow. A small, lean figure was sitting on a chair at the far end of the room beside the pulpit.  Long, dark hair hung limply around a pale, drawn face, which had slumped forward toward her chest. She had a petite frame, and her short legs dangled over the edge of the chair, failing to reach the floor. Her slender arms drooped over the chair’s armrest, tied tightly with a heavy rope. Small, angry looking bite marks covered her arms and neck. They were in various stages of healing, and I wondered how long she had been subjected to this torture. A white hot rage burned in my chest. What kind of animal would do this to an innocent child? A cold fist of emotion squeezed in my stomach as I recalled the last class I had taught when I was teacher. A class of happy, smiling children, filled with curiosity, imagination and unconditional love. Their innocence had still been intact, untainted by the experience of the sinister aspects of the world. This child's innocence had been stolen from her. What had she suffered in her final moments? What unspeakable horrors did she experience before she died? A low moaning noise snapped me from my dark thoughts.

"She's still alive," I gasped, rushing down the aisle, over to the girl. My hands shook as I desperately fumbled with the ropes binding her arms.

I barely registered Finlay next to me, as my preoccupation laid solely with the child. I affectionately brushed the hair from her face and whispered soothing words in her ear. The creaking of the door alerted me to another arrival. I turned, expecting to see Robert, but instead what I saw froze my heart.

Three figures entered the room from a door to the left of the pulpit. In recognition, my gaze automatically flickered to Robert. He was surrounded by a man and a woman, their contorted, serrated teeth, giving me no illusions to their dark heritage.  A thin trail of blood trickled from his nose. It took me a moment for my brain to process what I was seeing.

One of the vampires had hoisted Robert from the ground, holding his weight effortlessly with one hand. Robert's feet were dangling in the air, swinging slightly with the momentum, as he squirmed and twisted, trying desperately to escape the monsters firm grasp. A short shrill escaped from my lips, as the realisation of the situation dawned on me. Waves of fear ripped through my chest.

"You really should have left us in peace," the male vampire holding Robert growled. It was obvious by the creatures' body language and the fact that the female flanked behind that it was the one in control. With one quick movement, it cast Robert towards the rows of pews. His body jolted off the shattered pew and landed face down on the ground.

"You ok Robert?" I asked, never taking my eyes from the vampires in front of me.

"I'll survive," he grunted clambering to his feet.

I protectively stepped in front of the child to block her from any further torment. I shot a glance toward Finlay. His face was blank, giving nothing away.

"It seems we might have underestimated you. You have managed to find us even after we left you that little present at the factory to keep you off our track." A sneer touched its lips. "Pity you didn't fall for it."

My stomach churned with the callousness of the comment as my mind flashed back to the poor girl we had found. I struggled to keep my emotions under control.

A bright light crept in through the cracks in the boarded up windows as the sun reappeared from behind the cloud. In the newly illuminated room the situation seemed even direr. How would we get out of this alive?

The female spoke for the first time. "Why couldn't you leave us alone?"

"If you'd left us alone, then we wouldn't have to be here. But you have ripped apart countless lives by slaughtering innocent people. Not to mention what you did to that poor kid over there," Finlay seethed. His normally calm, relaxed demeanour had begun to waver and had been replaced with a simmering rage.

"You hunters are such sanctimonious creatures. So determined to save a world that can't be saved," the male retorted sarcastically.

I sent a concerned glance toward the girl. She still seemed to be unconscious. Still in the same slumped position that she had been in earlier. An involuntary shudder ripped through my body, as I wondered if we would be able to get her out of here alive.

The male was watching me with a quizzical look. A throaty chuckle came from its lips.

"What can I say? Children's blood tastes sweeter. There is something about a child's fear that makes for an enticing meal. Absolutely delicious."

A noise of disgust escaped from my lips. The child meant nothing to these animals. They didn't care about the absolute terror she must have been feeling, and in fact they enjoyed it.  Waves of loathing and rage ripped through my chest. Without thinking, I lunged forward toward the beasts. I felt a sharp tug on my jacket, and suddenly felt weightless, as I found myself being jerked backwards. I crashed into Finlay with a loud grunt.

"Don't," he warned, releasing my jacket from his tight grip. He defensively pushed me behind him. Finlay was right; launching into a suicide mission wouldn't help the child. I still had to think about how we would get her out of here alive, and if I acted on raw emotions I couldn't do that. Robert caught my eye, sending me a wary look. I nodded to his unspoken order.

During our training, Robert had taught me to block out any emotions when hunting. It would impair your judgement and cloud any rational thinking. Block out feelings of grief, rage or sorrow when on a hunt, and save it for later. Let these emotions motivate you, but never let them rule because they will get you killed. I had let my emotions get the best of me on my last hunt, and I almost didn't make it out alive. I wouldn't make that mistake again. I pushed down the feeling of nausea as bile filled my throat and willed my hands to stop shaking.

"Your friend's right. Don't go doing anything stupid," the male vampire instructed, a smirk playing at the corners of its lips.

No one moved, each of us taking stock of the situation, evaluating our opponents for signs of weakness. Seconds passed, and it felt like hours. Tension was thick in the air. My heart raced, giving the vampires an auditory signal of my fear. I struggled to calm myself, determined not to give these animals any satisfaction. My gaze flickered between the two vampires, before settling on the female. Rage rolled off the creature in waves, the hatred for us clearly visible in its eyes. The male thrust its chin in my direction, giving a silent order. The female obeyed and crouched forward, into a pose I recognised instantly. The way its body was coiled, it looked like a snake about to strike. A surge of adrenaline hit me, and I felt my senses heighten as my body tensed for the attack.

The speed at which it moved was incredible, and it was in front of us in a fraction of a second. Its lips pulled back into a distorted grin, razor sharp teeth gnashing in front of us. In one swift movement it grabbed Finlay and threw him across the room. He crashed into the pulpit with such force that the big wooden platform shattered into countless pieces. The impact seemed to shake the entire building before he slumped motionless on a heap on the floor. The creature turned its attention towards me, staring with anticipation, eyes wild with blood lust. Obviously I was the chosen target. A visceral snarl came from its parted lips.

The sounds of fighting thundered from the other side of the room, where Robert was engaged in battle with the male vampire. I didn't dare move my gaze from the female in front of me, knowing that even a moment of distraction could result in my death. It leaped at me, arms outstretched, hands curled in claws. Its talon-like nails pierced painfully into my skin as it easily forced me backwards, narrowly missing the child still slumped on the chair. The air from my lungs caught in my throat as I slammed into the wall. Winded, I gasped for air, desperately trying to right myself before the next blow. The vampire had me against the wall, blocking my only path of escape. I realised the position I was in, as my mind frantically searched for an escape. I squirmed against the vice grip, desperately trying to achieve a position in which I could land a blow, any blow.

An angry roar echoed from behind us as we heard loud snaps and crunches as the fight continued. The female snapped its head around with concern for its mate. Taking advantage of the distraction, I pushed backward with all the strength I could muster, before sending a blow to its head with my fist. I sent a kick into the creature's stomach before it had time to recover from the previous blow. It staggered backwards but righted itself quickly. A hiss of rage passed through its lips as it glared through furious eyes toward me. My hand still gripped the machete tightly, and I swung it toward the monster in a frenzied attack. It lithely danced away from the blows. The creature pulled its lips back in a terrifying grimace, exposing serrated and glistening teeth. It was a petrifying sight that sent a second burst of adrenaline pulsing through my veins. It sprung toward me, knocking me from my feet. I landed heavily on my back, air whooshing sharply from my lungs. It quickly pinned me down, teeth inches from my face. I desperately struggled against its grip, unable to move. I fought against the monster with every ounce of energy I had left, but it wasn't enough. As the gnashing, ragged teeth inched closer still, I cringed away and waited for death, praying that it would be swift.

*****

My eyes snapped open as I felt a sudden jolt when the vampire was ripped off me. Finlay was standing over me, blood dripping from a large gash in his head. The vampire stared hungrily toward him, blood lust clearly visible in its eyes. Its teeth were bared and ready to ravage. A loud howl rang out from the opposite side of the room. Everyone snapped their heads around toward the sound. Robert had the male vampire pinned against the wall, machete to its neck. In one quick movement, he sliced through its neck, decapitating the monster. The female let out a horrifying howl, as the male vampire's head dropped to the floor.

No one moved for a moment. Everyone scrutinised the female for signs of what she might do next. The creature began to shake uncontrollably. Rage emanated from every pore, eyes radiant with fury. It turned its attention back to Finlay, springing toward him, knocking him from his feet. He roared as it sunk its teeth into his neck, talons clawing into his chest.

I reached around with my left hand to the small of my back and unhooked my gun. The room exploded in a deafening thunder, as I sent five rounds into the back of the vampires head. I knew that a bullet wouldn't stop the bitch, but I hoped that it might slow it down. The shots only hindered the vampire momentarily. It turned toward me, hissing furiously, before turning its attention back to Finlay. Without thinking, I holstered my gun and rushed toward them, grabbing the vamp by the hair and pulling it off Finlay. I wildly swung the machete, hearing a loud crunch when it made contact with the creature's neck.

I'm not sure what I expected to feel when I killed my first vampire. Maybe a sense of justice, closure or even relief, but I felt none of these things. I stared in shock as the dismembered head of the creature bounced to the floor. Ebony locks cascaded over the ground, giving the illusion of a murky waterfall. A sense of shame washed over me, as I assessed the bloodshed I had caused. Was I any different to this creature I saw before me? Horrified, I stood frozen to the spot. I was aware of Finley's eyes assessing me, but I couldn't drag my gaze from the macabre scene in front of me.

"Hey, Scotland, its ok. It's over now," Finlay consoled, taking my face in his hands and staring intently into my eyes. "You good?"

"Yeah, I'm good," I lied. My voice broke, demonstrating effectively that I was not.

I began shaking uncontrollably. As the shock began to wear off, I desperately tried to erase the last fifteen minutes from my memory.

"I think you had better drop that." I stared at him, bewildered. It took me a few moments to realise that I was still tightly grasping the machete in my hand. My gaze flickered to the weapon. Blood ran down the length of the blade and had started dripping onto the floor, pooling in bright, scarlet circles. A vivid contrast against the dark wooden floor. I forcefully threw the weapon to the floor, as though it had sent a voltage through my body. "The first kill is always the hardest," Finlay reassured, dropping his hands from my face. "Come on, we need to get this kid to a hospital."