The Temptation

A short story by Jay Ridge - Part 1

I look upon the old streets of London, thick with fog as the cobbles glisten with the first signs of the frozen touch of winter. A gentle mist lingers in the air but I can still see the horses enslaved by human carriages as their hooves clatter loudly below - carrying the wealthy to their next and maybe their final destinations - I laugh internally at that thought.

However on this frigid evening I have been following someone intentionally in the shadows, undetected, my soul would of said this is wrong but it's all I know now in my darkness and as for my soul, a distant memory of warmer times as I live in the everlasting shadowy existence that consumes me mercilessly.

My name is Larond and I am for all my sins, a Vampire.

My blackened mind thinks distasteful thoughts as I consider the quandary before me - the unwilling prey I seek - awaiting my non-consenting touch as I strip her of her free will and ultimately her life. She will fall helpless into my arms as I watch her soul fade from existence into the blackness of nothing where the fallen scream for recognition. My lips will taste her thick mortal blood as it caresses my cold tongue, dancing through my senses erotically with forbidden joy that electrifies me from within my blackened souless shell of humanity that I lost centuries ago to one like me. She teases me without even whispering a word as I watch from afar - her delicate skin will be forever stained with claret as I will drain her of all that makes her human - her heart will fall to mine and her soul will fly free into a new darkness that beckons her where the creatures of the night await to embrace her with open distorted arms. I will attempt to physically feel, seducing her at first at will as she submits to my will - my dominating and hypnotic nature will take her to her passing on the wings of pleasure - soaring above her usual delicately moans of passion as she will scream my name on her knees begging for mercy - tied to my eyes that look straight into her darkest delectable thoughts. I can hear her soft heartbeat slowly beating rhythmically - each beat serenading my ears, calling my hunger to the necessary inevitable conclusion - the freely given submission of her life to feed my hunger.

I silently stalk her, thinking I'm invisible as I creep amongst the rats and shadows but suddenly she turns to me looking directly at me with blood red eyes and smiles - at this point I realise I'm the prey.

I turn to flee, realising my mistake on this cold and lifeless evening as I feel a breeze over my head. The woman I had been stalking, this dark soulless being now infront of me - eyes as red as the blood I crave as she tilts her head to look me up and down - I feel .... Fear.

'Hello young sir she quips - I have been watching you, watching me she laughs. Now what can I help you with?'

I am frozen but my words quip with confidence

'I was stalking you my dear but you know this - it seems on this occasion I misjudged my quandary so maybe I'll just take my leave'

She laughs at my clear awkwardness and takes a step towards me.

'Larond....if only it was that easy'

The mere mention of my name on her lips makes me fully aware this was a game I was never in control of. I don't recognise her, she was certainly no one I sired so who is this mysterious woman who seems to know me?

'You don't know me' she replies to my thoughts 'and no, I'm not of your kind'

'What are you?' I ask with my inquisitive mind.

She laughs, almost mocking the fact I asked her such a simple question.

'I am neither here nor there, neither corporeal or dead, neither good ...' she pauses '...but I'm definitely evil' as she with blinding speed lunges towards me as her hands grip the back of my head and her teeth severe my throat with precision as I fall into her arms - my blood washing over me as the darkness of the night is stained with the claret I took from so many innocent souls. Justice for the many served with a bed of death - my bed.

'I was never human' are the last words I hear as the still and darkness I had craved for so long fell like a blanket across me - I finally feel a twisted peace wash over me as the rancid arms of the condemned pull me to my eternity of pain that I deserve as lucifer smiles knowing I am his for eternity.