Avengers of the Unavenged

Avengers of the Unavenged

by S.A. Tadej

Copyright © 2014 by S.A. Tadej

Smashwords Edition

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

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As always,

for my daughter, Megan

You are my world

Chapter One

I continued to walk down the dark lonely country road, laughing hysterically to myself. I mean what else was I gonna do? My nightmares had become my reality. Both the men I had ever loved were now dead and I was now a vampire. I shuddered at the thought.

I had given it everything I had… and I had lost. Sure I still had my life, but I was now marked for damnation. Devin’s words repeated themselves in my mind. ‘Nicole, you’re an angel’. I laughed even harder at the memory. Some angel I was! Devin was obviously delusional.

I felt the cold metal of the St. Michael medal I wore against my chest. I clasped it in my hand and pulled it off, then stared at it. Some help you were, I snarled as I threw the chain with the medal on it to the ground and kept walking. I could hear Nevaeh cry out several feet behind me, but I didn’t look back.

In no time, I had reached my house. The lights were all out and I was pretty sure everyone was sleeping inside. I crept around to the back door, retrieved the spare key under the mat and unlocked the door. I slowly pushed it open and walked inside.

The house was quiet, as I had expected. I tiptoed up to my room, careful not to make a sound. I reached my bedroom and turned on the light. The brightness burned my eyes, so I quickly turned it off and switched on the nightlight instead. I looked down at myself and noticed how dirty and disheveled my clothes were, so I decided to take a bath and change them.

As I entered the bathroom, I came face to face with a mirror for the first time since the incident. I couldn’t believe my eyes as I took in my new appearance. Aside from the swelling, welts, and bruises, I was quite stunning to look at. It was how my new identity was designed after all, right? I mean everything about me was supposed to invite people in, wasn’t it? Attract them to me so that I could move in for the kill? My stomach churned and I spit at my reflection in the mirror.

I decided against taking a bath. I just lifted my old dress over my head and pulled on a new one. As I left the bathroom, my throat burned – a painful reminder of my thirst. I tiptoed down the hallway and stopped at the first room I came to. It was my mother’s. I slowly opened the door and peered inside. She was asleep with Kelly cuddled up next to her, clutching tightly to the teddy bear I had bought for her. I took a few steps forward toward them and stopped dead in my tracks. I could actually hear their hearts beating and smell the sweet blood as it coursed through their veins. Suddenly my thirst was all I could think about.

My head pounded wildly as the sound of their beating hearts seemed to grow louder and louder in my ears. Diabolical laughter filled my head. Even at the distance I was standing at, I could hear them breathing and I could see Kelly’s eyes moving back and forth rapidly beneath her lids as if she were dreaming. It was quickly evident to me that my sight had become unnaturally keen and my hearing was more profound than it had been when I was human. Everything looked even sharper than usual and I was hyper vigilant to any tiny movement or disturbance of any sort.

I stood there frozen, unable to move or speak. Tears dampened my face as I struggled to turn away. My mother stirred and opened her eyes. Nicole, she whispered as she wiped the sleep from her eyes and squinted to see in the dark. I remained frozen, at war with my own mind. Nicole, honey, is that you? she repeated as she started to pull back the covers.

I swallowed hard, noting how dry my throat felt. Just a taste – that’s all I needed. Just one little taste of their sweet blood and… No! I screamed as I shook my head and my face contorted in pain. It took all the strength I could muster to finally will my legs to move. Although only a mere second or two had gone by, it felt like an eternity. I turned and bolted down the stairs and out the front door. I ran on with fierce determination through the cornfield and didn’t stop until I was at least a mile away from the house. I had no idea where I was going; all I knew was that I needed to put some distance between my family and myself. I could no longer trust myself around them. As I stood there contemplating where to go next, I could hear Nevaeh jumping through the tall corn stalks, not far behind me. She growled when she saw me and was careful to keep a safe distance.

I took off in a sprint through the stalks again, floating and bouncing through them. Within minutes, I had reached the woods. I was astonished at how quickly I had reached them. It was at least a twenty-minute ride by car and I couldn’t have been running for more than a few minutes.

Nevaeh was soon by my side, or a few feet away, I should say. She was out of breath and panting loudly from trying to keep up. I walked on with her trailing behind me until we came upon a small creek she could drink from. I sat on the shore and washed my feet in the cool water as she drank. I heard a noise in the distance that sounded like footsteps. I quickly scurried up a nearby tree to hide, amazed at how I seemed to just float to the top.

The source of the noise soon revealed itself as a white-tailed deer appeared. I watched as it slowly looked around. Spotting Nevaeh, the deer perked up its ears. Nevaeh just lay there. Finally feeling that Nevaeh wasn’t a threat, the deer walked closer to the creek and lowered its head to take a drink of water.

I could hear the deer’s heart pounding wildly and smell its blood coursing through its body. I licked my lips and jumped down from my hiding spot. Before the little deer knew what was happening, I had it on the ground in a chokehold. Nevaeh started growling and barking at me as the deer kicked its front and back legs trying to free itself. As I opened my mouth to sink my teeth into my victim, our eyes met. I saw the fear in the poor little deer’s eyes and something changed in me. I couldn’t do it. It’s okay, I whispered to the defenseless animal. I slowly rolled off of the deer. Reluctantly, the deer stood up, its eyes locked on mine. I put my hand out slowly and stroked the top of its head.

What was I doing? I couldn’t believe that I was about to kill an innocent animal. What was wrong with me? I was so angry with myself. I paced the woods cursing under my breath, picking up large rocks and smashing them to the ground. Suddenly it was like I could smell the blood of every single animal in the woods. Diabolical laughter had started in my head and it was driving me insane. It was more than I could handle. I had to get out of there and fast.

***

So I guess it’s best we get back now, Raphael stated.

Michael frowned and gripped the steering wheel tighter. I’m not going back.

What do you mean you’re not going back? Raphael asked. This mission is over. You said it yourself, either Uriel is dead or she’s one of them. Either way, we have failed.

We can’t just accept that without knowing, Melanie interrupted. I mean come on, you guys are Arcs. I thought that stood for something. If you give up, what does that mean for the future of mankind?

No, Michael said firmly as he shook his head and looked over at Raphael. Melanie’s right. I won’t accept that. You can go back if you want to, but I shall remain.

Remain and do what exactly? Raphael asked.

Michael shook his head and let out a long sigh. I don’t know yet, but whatever it takes, I’ll do. It’s as simple as that. I’ve never accepted failure before and I’m not about to now. There has to be a way to make things right.

Michael, remember our orders, Raphael warned.

Melanie crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. Fuck your orders, she muttered under her breath as she shook her head back and forth.

Michael looked at her in the rearview mirror and tried not to smile. Then he turned his attention back to Raphael, looking him directly in the eyes. I won’t be returning without her.

Raphael shook his head in disbelief. You’ll anger Him. You know that, don’t you? A loud crack of lightning followed by shrill thunder lit up the inside of the vehicle and seemed to shake the car. Even in the darkness, Raphael could see the clouds begin moving faster and faster, swirling around and around as he looked out the passenger window of the car. The storm is upon us. He’s beckoning us home now, Michael. We must return now.

Michael shook his head back and forth and remained silent as he drove toward the same field he had descended to not long before. Once he reached it, he put the vehicle in park and turned to face Raphael.

Raphael raised his eyebrows at Michael then looked at him pleadingly. Come with me, brother.

Can’t do it, Michael replied calmly, though his facial expression was torn.

You cannot disobey Him.

I’m not disobeying Him. I came here on a mission and I’m going to see it through.

It’s too late, Michael. Come home. We all fail sometimes. He’ll understand.

Michael shook his head and ran a hand over the back of his neck. Then he looked over at Raphael and frowned. I won’t accept defeat. I’ll find a way to make it right. You know what Uriel means to me. Nothing has changed for me. And I can’t help thinking maybe if I had gotten here sooner…

Give it up, Michael. She’s a lost cause. She’s not the same Uriel we knew and loved.

All is not lost. The fight has only just begun, Michael whispered as he got out of the car. Raphael and Melanie followed. He walked a few feet from the vehicle and watched as bright zigzags of lightning repeatedly hit the ground twenty or so feet in front of him. He turned to face Raphael. If you have lost faith in this mission, then you’re right. You should go.

I won’t disobey him, Michael. I’m sorry. Think of His wrath, Raphael began to say.

Michael interrupted him with a hug. I’ll see you again, brother. That’s a promise. With that, he turned and began walking back to the vehicle. When he reached it he turned around to face Raphael once again.

Raphael was standing there with his eyes closed, head tilted back toward the sky, and his arms wrapped around his chest. Michael watched as another crack of lightning struck and Raphael was no longer in sight. He continued watching as the clouds spun around wildly for a few seconds and then disappeared. Now all that remained was a green fog – Raphael’s signature color. Forgive me, Father, Michael whispered.

Michael turned his head and looked into Melanie’s eyes. He had forgotten she was standing right next to him. He smiled at her and nodded his head. Guess it’s just us now.

What did he mean by His wrath? Are you going to be okay?

Michael thought about it for a second then grinned. Yeah, I’ll be okay. My Father gave me a job to do and I’m going to do it. He’ll respect me more for it.

So what’s the plan? Melanie asked.

Michael’s lips curled up into a half smile. There’s no plan.

Well, I just want you to know that I respect you for taking a stand and staying.

Michael just shrugged as if it were nothing. In my heart I know that it’s the right thing to do, he whispered as he leaned against the vehicle.

Michael?

Michael looked up to meet Melanie’s eyes.

You don’t think she’s dead, do you? Melanie asked, her voice barely audible.

Michael frowned. He brought his eyes up to meet Melanie’s once again and let out a long sigh. My heart tells me that she’s not… and as long as she’s still alive, there is hope. I just need to bring her out of the darkness and back into the light.

So where do we start looking? Melanie asked.

Michael raised his eyebrows, smiled, and shrugged. Your guess is as good as mine.

Melanie stared at him in disbelief. You mean you have no idea?

Michael shook his head. Nope.

Great, Melanie muttered under her breath. We sure got our work cut out for ourselves now.

Come on, let’s go, Michael said as he climbed back behind the wheel. Melanie got in the passenger seat and slammed the door. The secluded old house on the hill where they took her cousin, we’ll start there.

Melanie shuddered. Great.

***

I ran out of the woods and back through the cornfield until I reached the abandoned barn across the street from my house. It was too close to home, but it was the only secluded place I could think of that didn’t entail smelling anyone or anything’s blood. I was able to refrain from drinking the deer’s blood, so I was hopeful that my family would be safe from me. After all, I shouldn’t be able to smell their blood or hear their heartbeats from the distance of the old barn.

The wooden barn was in pretty bad shape, with a large portion of the roof missing. A light rain had begun to fall when I reached it. I found a dry corner and huddled into it, sitting on the hard dirt beneath me. I brought my shaking knees up to my chest and rocked back and forth as I hummed quietly to myself like a small, frightened child.

Out of the corner of my eye, I sensed movement by the door. A shadow emerged and I held my breath. It was just my dog, Nevaeh. I couldn’t believe that she had followed me again, especially after I had almost eaten that poor deer. Come here, girl, I whispered as I patted the ground next to me. The dog just stared at me for a few moments, then slowly walked toward me with her head down and her tail between her legs.

As she got closer, I could see that something shiny was dangling from her mouth. With my sharper vision, it appeared to be a chain of some sort, but I still couldn’t quite make out all the details as dark as it was. Nevaeh reached me and dropped the shiny item at my feet, then glanced up at me, her eyes sad. She let out a whimper and slowly walked back near the entrance. She let out another cry and sat back down by the barn door.

I watched her for a few moments then felt around for the object she had left at my feet. I picked it up and felt the cool metal between my fingertips. Before I even looked at it, I knew what it was. After all, I had worn it everyday since I was a child. It was my chain with the St. Michael medal on it that I had torn off earlier that night. Nevaeh must have retrieved it after I threw it to the ground. Looking at it now, I felt really guilty for taking it off. What happened to me wasn’t St. Michael’s fault. My own naivety and stupidity is what ultimately led me to the fate that had befallen me.

Chapter Two

Memories of the past few weeks haunted my mind as I huddled in the corner and tried to make sense of all that had happened. I tried to remember everything I had heard about vampire legends and things I had seen in vampire movies. Cold. Bloodless. Super human strength. Unearthly beauty. Body hard as stone. So Hollywood didn’t really have an accurate depiction. My body temperature was colder than normal, but I wasn’t freezing to the touch. I could hear the blood as it coursed through my veins, so I knew I wasn’t bloodless. Super human strength? Well, I did seem a lot stronger and I was definitely faster on my feet. The beauty thing – well, okay, I had to give Hollywood that one too, but my body hardly felt like stone. Or maybe it did to others? No, Devin’s body hadn’t felt like stone to me.

After awhile, I gave up on trying to figure out the legends and the movies. I thought back to all that I had learned about good and evil in the Catechism classes my mother had sent me to as a child. But all that did was raise more questions in my mind. Evil did exist. There was no denying that. That’s pretty much all that was ever on the news. But I was brought up believing that good always overcame evil. I wasn’t perfect by any means, but I thought that I was a good person. I had always tried my best to do good and to help others. I remember learning that the thing we were going to be judged on the most when we died was how we loved while on earth. I had loved