Created (Book 1 of the Created) (7 page)

She stopped walking and doubled over laughing. There was
even a hearty laugh from a female somewhere in the dark.
 

Undeterred and unsure of how to act, I answered. "Give
me some time to mull over your suggestion. Not to hijack this conversation, but
I have a question that has been nagging at me.” She allowed me to continue.
“What is a changeling?"

The scantily dressed vampire did not stammer with her
answer. "You are becoming one of us. Your transformation is not final, but
from the changes I can smell within your body, it will not be long after your
first drink that you will fully move into your place here with the rest of us.
Listen, we are about to come upon the GV1s territory and we will have to be
careful. We will finish this conversation when we carry you to meet Walter. We
have to be quiet for the next little bit."

I heard the careful part and the GV1s. Those were more questions
that we would have to discuss. My thoughts were climbing over her answer. The
answer did not catch me off guard. I had really expected that to be the case. I
had wanted her to say it. I had to hear her say it. I had known for the better
part of the walk that I was more like her than I cared to admit. Why else would
she have protected me and not killed me herself? Why else had she treated me
with kindness and patience when none was warranted? I was family.

Soon the long walk through the forest had given way to a
vast open field littered with burning torches. Fifty feet away was the curve of
a paved roadway that was in a state of repair. Paving equipment sat idly by
awaiting another day of use. The sight of the massive machines sitting empty
surrounded by the burning torches was an eerie site.

Before us the pavement cut through the middle of the plowed
earth. The roofs of some dilapidated farm houses and buildings could be seen in
the distance. The structures were dark. I try not to let my mind wander into
thoughts about what could be making its home there. Past those, lit street
lights were visible. The lights were miles away.

Tempted as I was to ask the obvious question if that was our
destination, I held back at her behest.

She anticipated the question. Placing her finger to her red
lips to remind me to be quiet, Veronica simply pointed in the direction of the
lights then nodded her head.

Satisfied, I held my tongue.

Stepping from the cover of the trees onto the pavement, she
placed her hand on my chest to make me stop then pointed at the ground to
signal to me that we had to wait.

The wait was short. Veronica pointed to my right. I had
forgotten in the sea of details that this strange nightmare of a world had
presented to me, the shadowy giggle who had lurked just outside my view for the
last several miles. I watched with Veronica as a smiling girl hopped quickly
from the trees and onto the road.

Our new quest grabbed Veronica and the pair hugged before
she surprised me by wrapping her arms around me and squeezing me so tight I
thought I was going to have my head explode from my body. It was only when she
sat me back down after we had spun around did I realize that she had lifted me
easily from the ground.

She let go, and I had to side step to keep my balance as our
new guest stood before us smiling. The girl was about the same age as Veronica.
Only a fraction of an inch taller than my guide, her hair was a golden blonde
which sported a very charmingly elegant weave, bound with a pretty bow of light
purple. She was preciously cute and smelled of fresh limes which reminded me
and made me wish I was somewhere else. My mind wandered as I inhaled her scent.
I caught myself drifting and realized it was part of the vampire lure, it was
disarming. Springing back to the road, I found she was dressed in stylish
leather boots that ended a couple inches below her knee, retro hair band, jeans
and a cashmere purple sweater; the image of a perfect high school sweetheart.

I was perplexed as I looked back and forth from the new girl
to Veronica. I wondered to myself why was Veronica dressed like that? Not that
I was complaining, just curious.

Realizing what was happening in my mind, both silently
laughed and smiled before Veronica shook her head in and sighed.

Busted, I hid my face in embarrassment by looking at the
ground. Seconds ticked by before I looked up to see the two walking hand and
hand down the road. Scared of being left alone in this world filled with
monstrous dangers, I broke into a jog to catch up.

Following close behind the girls as they still held hands I
watched as they huddled close to each other to whisper I assumed about me.
Neither said I word to me. I chose to mirror the tactic unsure of the need. I
knew if two vampires were afraid enough to be this cautious then I knew
something bad must be out past the orange hued torches.

Veronica and her new friend appeared alert, heads and noses
busily working both aides of the pavement. I tried to mimic their actions.
Something unheard or unsettled by me would send them both into curious gestures
and a worried glance my way.
 

A noise or a shape would pass in front of the light from a
torch nearby causing me to jump. The girls would cast an inquisitive look in
that direction, but never stopped walking. As long as we moved I felt safe. I
think the girls felt the same.

The lights neared as we made progress though they still felt
so far away. Any safety that was promised to be provided with their shining
light would come much later.

I knew the girls were allowing the newbie time to catch and
keep up. I stuck my hands in my jeans pockets and trudged behind. The pockets
were the first time I had halfway noticed what I was wearing. Looking myself
over to pass the time, and take my mind off of the things in the night that
seemed to be frolicking past the torches, I was wearing black mid-ankle leather
boots, jeans and a grey T-shirt with some script writing. I felt at least I
would die dressed reasonably cool. I laughed to myself about how unbelievable the
night had been and how with each step it grew.

The traveling was easy and I was thankful. The road was flat
underfoot, smooth and unlined, but was wide enough to maintain traffic moving
in both directions. Someone had gone to great effort and was continuing to keep
the road in working order in the remoteness that surrounded us as witnessed by
the heavy machinery we have subsequently passed.

My hunger would make it impossible to function or least it
felt like it should, but I fought through it and we kept moving until Veronica
and our guest stopped.

I had been so preoccupied with scanning the sides of the
road and dealing with thoughts of my situation that I bumped into them both.
The blow sent me tumbling onto the pavement causing me to scrap open my hand,
the flesh peeled back in strips in four or five places. Dark red colored blood
flowed quickly, dripping onto the hard surface. It stung for seconds then
dissipated as the skin started to heal. The blood clotted and scabbed giving
way instantly to new flesh, regenerating before I had time to complain.

Looking up, I noticed my companions were standing in place,
staring ahead into the quasi darkness. My positioning gave me little
perspective. Taking the initiative, I peeked between their legs toward our destination
which was shrouded in darkness. It was a fresh darkness. My eyes could still
see the glow of the lights that had been on previously. The halo of almost
invisible light soon fizzled into ether. Through the blackness, the Town could
still be seen in the distance, but in between was methodically going black.

I knew the girls could see as well or better than I in the
dark, but something was making sure to take the advantage and test our
abilities. The orange glow of the still lit torches created a hellish motif
which within figures could barely be seen moving in our direction. Soon the
shadowy figures would be near enough to be displayed in the light if the light
didn't disappear.

The group of whatever it was moved closer in a measured,
cautious clip. The metal torches clanked as they were roughly smashed into the
ground. The force that was approaching dispatched the torches faster than I
could determine how they were capable of doing it without being noticed.
 

The girls did not speak. Our lurker nervously looked over
her shoulder at me then at Veronica, who had not moved. Her eyes franticly
searched for a way out. Veronica on the other hand kept her eyes straight
ahead, watching. The pair let go of one another's hand as both balled their
fists in anticipation of a fight.

Grunts, unintelligible chatter and heavy breathing filled
the air.

There was no need for silence; the things were closing
ground and would be on top of us in a couple minutes. Whispering into
Veronica's ear, "What the hell are those things, and why are we waiting to
be killed?"

She did not answer.

It was difficult, but I forced myself between the two
vampires. I looked down at our guest. "Will you please tell me what is
going on? By the way I would introduce myself, but I am having a little trouble
remembering my name."

"I am Darby." She smiled a small smile that
disappeared before I realized what had happened, her hand shaking left hand
clutching at a thin silver chain upon which hung a small matching crucifix. She
noticed my focused attention and quit fidgeting, striking a pose similar to
Veronica.

"Darby, it was nice to meet you."

Veronica huffed. "That is enough with the sarcasm and
being afraid. I will take care of this. You two just be patient."

The sounds emanating from the blacked roadway had ceased.
The forms were standing inside the darkness thirty yards away studying us as
much as we were studying them.

A medium statured solitary form of pinkish skin stumbled and
fell into the light screeching and bellowing as its skin sizzled from exposure.
One of the creature's long pointy ears dangled and flopped as it moved. The
grotesque beast was hunched with dull red eyes and a few human like teeth
except for a lone long fang that hung over the upper lip. Torn rotting flesh
hung loosely from all parts that were free of the tattered rags that were much
too big for the malnourished frame the remnants covered. As it rolled and
scrambled to fleet away back into the dark. The sound of its continued pained
cries could be heard throughout the field and woods as the calls resonated off
the far away abandoned homes and barns.

I asked quietly to anyone that would listen, "What the
fuck was that?"

Leaning in close an obviously flustered Darby whispered,
"This is what remains of a GV1. Most of them look that way now except a
couple of the more powerful later models that were created before the next
generation was let loose."

GV1? I asked myself. Scared, my heart beat rapidly.

Darby looked at my quizzical expression. "Generation
Vampire One."

"Hush!" Veronica quietly commanded as she moved
forward.

I wanted to keep her doing something foolish, but Darby
grabbed my hand and I could not break free. I wasn't real sure I wanted to
break free.

The beautiful young vampire was nearing the edge of where
the shadows covered as much of the road as the light.

I looked at Darby, who was still holding my hand, to gauge
her reaction. Feeling her hand in mine, I realized she was shaking. Looking at
her cute impish face for reassurance, she gently nodded it was ok and I
relaxed. It was good to know I wasn't the only one afraid.

Turning my attention to Veronica, she hand her hands on her
hips, the long black cape pushed back, looking totally calm.

It seemed the world was waiting to see what was about to
happen. The breeze that has been blowing since before I had been saved from
John by Veronica had stopped for the first time all night. The sounds of the
night including those made by the creatures that had flittered comfortably
around our trio, but just beyond our sight had stopped. The only sound I knew
for sure was the pounding inside my chest that was now reverberating in my
ears.

An imperceptible step back by Veronica alerted Darby and I
that something was about to happen.

Seconds ticked by as we all held our collective breath. A
rumble within the masses hidden in the darkness signaled our wait was over.
Soon the ugliest monstrosity I have ever seen stepped out to greet her.

Standing at a height similar to my own was what Darby
referred to as a GV1. I reckoned this one must be in some fashion the leader.
He was slender with grayish skin and long pointed ears and nose. There were
chunks of flesh stripped from the face and the gums were exposed. The face was
absent of lips to cover the teeth and fangs. The tongue and nose wiggled in the
air searching.

A long, frail hand eased from the sleeve of the thread bare
brown robe as a thin skeletal wrist bent and raised the hand to allow a four
inch long nail to point at Veronica.

Darby squeezed my hand hard, yanking me closer to her as she
spoke softly, "What do you think you are doing? Let her handle this."

Not sure what she was talking about I gave her a queer look
that must have sparked her quiet, but stern response.

"Look down!"

Doing as she requested, I noticed her shoes were scuffed and
covered in road dust from the pavement. How did that happen I questioned when I
realized Darby was no longer holding my hand? It was that moment that I realize
we shared a mutual fear. She was trying to keep me from ruining any attempt to
become better acquainted with Veronica. Unaware, I had dragged the petite
vampire ten feet taking us much closer to the GV1 than either of us would have
wanted otherwise.
 

Veronica acted indifferent to the boney finger in her face.
"I am sorry Bayne that we are impeding your progress on the way home from
your feeding, but we mean no harm to you or members of your group. We are in
the process of rescuing a changeling who was under attack from a wolf. I beg
your forgiveness sire."