Blood Shed

Chapter 1: Blood Shed

"One young woman turns up dead for no good reason and I can convince myself it's nothing, but three young women in a week? If it's nothing then i'm just fucking crazy" explained a deep and husky raspy voice.
A man dressed in an all black with gold accents on his shirt sat across from a slim brown skin woman with one brown eye and one blue eye holding a deck of cards. She stares at him with her black outlined eyes squinted, her black lace dress draped over her and a large gold chain of crosses and feathers hanging from her neck, and a white head wrap tied tightly around her Afro. Sitting straight up in her wooden chair, everything she was hearing made her body tense and stiff. Knocking a deck of tarot cards against a white table cloth that covered a wooden table carved with names from the legs up, she began to whisper softly.
"Ancestors of the Hemetry family, can you give brother Brookes any messages he may need to hear" said the woman with her bony fingers dressed in gold rings and crystals of all shapes and sizes as she began shuffling wildly.
As her shuffling became more vigorous cards began to fly from the deck. Three cards were then placed in the middle of the table once the shuffling stopped.
The first card: the tower tarot card upright.
"Destruction is in your path Brookes, terrible things may happen and they're leading to nowhere good", proclaimed the soft quiet voice.
The second card: the three swords upright. "You Are suffering, there's something you're not accepting, it is causing you emotional pain" said the lady as she stared deeply into the dark brown eyes across the table.
The third card: the six swords reversed. "If you want to move on you must release the baggage".
Brooke closed his eyes tight and shook his head from the left to the right vigorously. Staring at the wooden floors that were worn out, he began to breathe heavily.
"Brooke's in order to heal you must confront your inner demons, let them out! It is time to start the healing process" demanded the lady.
"I'm not going to go digging into my soul on some journey to find shit I didn't know existed before I came to this reading, with all due respect to the ancestors tell them I don't need this right now" growled Brookes under his breath that filled the air with a faint smell of Hennessy.
"Fine then be lost but mark my words it will be your loss, but next time don't waste my time or the ancestors" spoke the woman as she began to organize her deck of cards while blowing out candles.
Standing up at six foot eight Brookes nearly knocked his head on the door frame heading out of the small cramped shop. The night was dreary and the clouds hung low over the small town of Blood Shed. All but 800 people populated the tree filled farm area. Out of the population three families had the most power and as Brookes took his long stroll home from Miss.Tetris card reading and Crystal shop, he was reminded of the family that was on top from the poster on the town bulletin. The McTrixter's held a great deal of power as they were behind all the rules that governed the use of magic by vampires in Bloodshed. The head of the family Dustin was the eldest brother who had inherited his powers after the death of his father. With the rest of his brothers Jalem, and Kenton, the McTrixter name kept its strength amongst the other vampires.
Brookes family the Hemetrys were in charge of policing the vampires in Bloodshed. Crime was at an all time low, and the town knew exactly who to thank for that. Brookes knew that keeping crime down meant that his family's name was still something to be proud of. Brooke's dad worked countless hours building the Hemetry's reputation, and he expected nothing less of his 4 kids Brooke's, Gunter, Hunter, and Bethany. The stride for perfection from both families was not just an ego booster, it was a peaceful night's rest knowing that they were not the finsters.
The Finsterrs were primarily responsible for keeping the population at its max of 100 people so the spell casted over the town didn't break.
As thoughts flooded Brookes head his pace became slower but he was suddenly interrupted. Out of the dark night sky dropped a male vamp, his huge bat-like wings ascending behind him as he landed. A tall slender man stood in the path of Brooke's, and the closer Brookes got to the shadowy lanky figure the more features he could make out. The long shaggy beard and the broad shoulders suggested it was a Finster.
"Good fucking night Brooke's, although it was a terrible night for me", said a man in a low voice and a swanky southern accent.
The man was Lance Finster with his dark complexion glowing under the streetlights giving off a glare forcing Brookes to squint.
"Why the hell is that any of my business"scoffed Brookes.
"You know what's your business Brookes, staying away from my sister"said Lance with a smug attitude as he put his hands in his pockets.
Brooke's heart fell so far he felt it in his ass hole.
"You're the reason she didn't come see me this morning", said Lance as he stepped closer to Brookes.
"That girl is harder to track than mosquitoes, and since it's becoming harder for me to keep her away you need to stay away from her, or you'll be the next person to see your ancestors in person."
"Is that a threat?', asked Brookes.
"No it's a promise boy" laughed Finster as he turned his back on Brookes and left him standing on the sidewalk.
Standing still Brookes could feel his knees tightening up as tears rolled down his cheeks highlighting his light brown complexion in the bright moon light.
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Not too far across town sat Mabel Finster sipping her dry martini at the Blood lounge as her brothers crowded the corner of the restaurant conversing about work.
"Look at them, all they can do is fucking work, is there nothing more to life?", muttered Mabel to herself as she spotted her brother Lance walking through the door.
Slipping to the back corner to sit in the dimly lit boothe with the rest of his brothers, Lance didn't even bother to take a glance in Mabel's direction. Tears began to bubble up in the crease of Mabel's eyes, as a teardrop began to roll down her left cheek bone falling in her glass blending in with the alcohol. Now the sight of the restaurant was blurry and everyone else in it looked like a faded memory to Mabel, a good thing for she needed to feel alone in a place where the only person that she could think of has to be forgotten for his sake, and her piece of mind.
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A new day had risen with the brightest of suns over the town of bloodshed and all vampires were enjoying the sunlight. Every vampire had received their daily dose of skin tint pills thanks to the Gardenia family. The daughter of the family Rosa Gardenia had developed a pill made of herbs that allowed the vamps in Bloodshed to create a natural shade from the sun. Given a large percentage of the land in Bloodshed the Gardenia's grew fields of plants, herbs and vegetation which allowed the vamps in Bloodshed to stay fed and healthy.
Rosa Gardenia, a tall slender dark skin older woman vamp, spent most of her days in her garden shed studying the different plants and the soils. Dressed in a yellow flowy dress and her yellow head wrap she was being admired by Daisy, a short brown skin younger woman, in a short white dress who couldn't help but stare at her from the side of the shed.
"I do admire your work ethics madam, but may I break them to admire your body right now" said Daisy softly as she walked inside the shed getting closer to Rosa.
"Oh yes you may mam" said Rosa as she dropped the little hand held shovel she was holding to the ground.
Shoving Rosa up against her work desk pushing the flower pots towards the back of the desktop, Daisy began to grind herself in between Rosa's legs kissing her intensely. Sliding her hand under Rosas dress Daisy reached for Rosas left breast grabbing it as she began to kiss along her neck. Letting out a soft moan Rosa dug her nails into Daisy's back. Right before Daisy could slip her fingers inside Rosa a deep bass voice began to echo through the fields ''Rosa!".
"Shit that's Jalem McTrixter, he's here to collect today's dinner plans" said Rosa as she quickly hopped off the desk pushing Daisy out the way and fixing her clothes.
Stepping loudly on to the wooden floors of the shed a tall brown figure dressed in an olive green leather outfit with a curly afro stopped by the doorway blocking the sunlight that was shining in.
"Your father said you would be out here, I need the plan so that the reapers can get to work'' said Jalem as he looked around to notice Daisy.
"I guess I'll be heading back to the fields now, them veggies aint go tend to themselves", said Daisy as she waved Rosa goodbye and gave Jalem a slight head nod.
"Now I see why the plans aren't in my hands yet, it's because you're too busy sitting on hers" chuckled Jalem as he took a seat on Rosa's desk.
Grinning brightly Rosa filed through the papers on her desk creating a collection on the side closest to Jalems lap. Rosa could not help but zone out at every word Jalem had to say, as she could imagine her and Daisy. Finally gathering all the papers she needed, Rosa turned to hand Jalem the papers when a loud bonking noise enturrpted the process.
"Another vamp dead" proclaimed Jalem as he took the meal plan and ran out the doorway of the shed.
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Across town was Brookes standing over the body of a young female whose skin had a blue undertone.
"What do you think caused this Beth", asked Brookes as he made way for his sister.
Walking up a short curvaceous brown figure with short hair and arm full of tattoos squatted next to the body.
"This looks like the work of a spell, something stronger than I have seen before, the blue color suggests one from the dark book", said Bethany as she stood up brushing the brown dirt of the road off of her black pants.
Puzzlement was written all over Brookes face as he looked back at the body.
"Soon if  vamps keep disappearing the McTrixters are gonna have our heads and feed them to the Finsters" said Gunter Hemetry as he approached the scene.
"Yeah if the population drops we finna have to change our last names", chuckled Hunter from the other side of the body.
The bottom of Brooke's stomach was in knots, "I'm glad y'all could laugh but this, it aint funny".
All laughter ended and there was not a smile to be seen once Brookes had declared his thoughts.
Flying down in bat form as he transformed on the ground once he had landed, Jalem Mctrixter stood directly in front of Hunter.
"So, the rest of the town can't use their flying powers during the day but you can?" questioned Hunter.
"This was an emergency and since yall can not do yall jobs I had to get here quickly to access this situation" responded Jalem as he stood nose to nose with Hunter locking eyes with him.
Backing up slowly, Jalem turned to look at the rest of the Hemetry family, quickly looking Bethany up and down before he brought his attention to the body on the ground. Bending down to touch the neck veins of the female vamp he took out a vile out of his pocket. Biting the neck of the body he pierced a small hole in the jugular vein of the female vamp. Applying pressure to the vein to fill the vial he could see that the blood was a dark purple color, and sign the victim spent lots of time in the sun before she died.
"This vamp was more than likely a reeper, so I need yall to go to the fields and ask around and figure out who this woman was" ordered Jalem as he stood up with the full vile of blood shaking it up, right before he slid it into his pocket.
Pulling a sparkly rock out of his pocket Jalem cracked the rock in pieces over the body as everyone chanted three times"Soil of this earth take this body to be!".
"You have seven days before the body decays into the soil we are standing on, get to the bottom of this" Brookes said as he looked each of his siblings in their eyes.
Standing in an empty field as he watched everyone leave the scene, Brookes pondered the thought of who was behind this, and he knew the only way to find the answer to this question was to go to the source of his curiosity.
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The time in the day had expired fast, sending dusk across the sky and in the corner of town the Finsters were gathering for dinner. The table was set with a huge spring salad dressed in the Gardenias famous balsamic dressing and mango pudding was set out for dessert. The father of the house, Joshua Finster, a tall dark skin man with a bald head, sat at the head of the table as he touched the heads of all his children as they walked by to get their seats.
"Now that all my children's crowns have been touched, I hope all your heads are clear because I am ready to eat" declared Joshua as laughter filled the air of the large gold and black dining room.
On one side of the table sat Mabel her two brothers Luis and Cable, and on the other side her the two brothers Lance and Chaze. The other head of the table occupied by Mrs. Finster, a short brown skin woman with long dark brown locs that fell down her back. The bell of feast was rang by Mrs. Finster and dinner have begun. Picking at her plate Mabel couldn't help but catch the attention of her mothers eyes.
"Is something wrong with tonight's dinner plans, I tried to prepare the best I could per Rosa's directions" said Mrs. Finster as she looked up at Mabel.
Nodding her head no with a slight turn from left to right Mabel was about to respond to her mother when a loud knock echoed through the front hallways from the front door. Stopping suddenly everyone took their last bites before directing their attention to the door, as Joshua got up to answer the door. Opening the door everyone was surprised to see the guest at the door.
"Brookes!", exclaimed Joshua as he put his hand out enviting Brookes in.
"I'm not here long, just wanted to ask a few questions," said Brookes as he continued on into the dining room.
"What is it son?" asked Joshua.
"Another vamp was killed today, a young woman and she was killed with a spell of some sort" said Brookes with his back on the dining room wall with his legs crossed as he stood right behind Lance.
"Okay? So, what is your implication, Brookes? Because we do not kill young female vamps" Mrs. Finster said as she dropped her fork into her plate.
"I just wanted to know if anyone here had anything to do with the disappearances since you're one of the only people in town who have access to the book of dark magic", said Brookes.
Looking at Brookes from across the room where she sat Mabel's gut felt as though she had eaten a brick. Trying to signal Brookes with her eyes Mabel wanted him to stop talking. Before Brookes could utter another word Lance stood up to face Brookes looking him in his eyes.
"You better leave now, because unless you have evidence to back up these questions you're asking, I suggest you leave here and never come back" said Brookes as he pointed to the door.
The room was quiet and the sunlight shining in had gone dim leaving only the candle light in the room illuminating the shapes of everyone. Noticing no one had an objection to Lance asking him to leave, Brookes uncrossed his legs and began walking out of the dining room towards the front door. Sitting stiff in her chair Mabel felt that Brooke's question was not directed towards her but the fact that he thought her family was involved infuriated her. Before Brookes could step foot outside the door he was cornered by Mabel.
"I should have listened to Lance, you're not worth it. I don't ever want to see you again", said Mabel through her teeth as she glared at Brookes.Hearing the door slam behind him, Brookes knew he had just fucked up and humiliated his self.
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With the night sky in full darkness it was time for Brookes to get back to his family. Spreading his wings wide and ascending to the sky the wind picked up on Brookes face as he flew up. Turning west of the Finsters house the night breeze felt good blowing and it had almost helped him forget about the day. Passing the Gardenias plot of land and the Mctrixters big Green house, and flying over the town circle pass the crystal shop and joint living homes Brookes knew he was asmot home. Getting himself ready to land, Brookes braced himself for his feet to touch the dirt gravel path way to his house.
Brushing himself off before he walked up to the front steps of the yellow veranda. Before Brookes could open the door Hunter Hemetry pulled the door wide open and pulled Brookes in.
"I have to show you something and you need to sit for this," said Hunter.
"What is it?" said Brookes as he walked quickly over to the chair in the corner of the house by the huge candle light in the middle of the living area.
Handing Brookes a yellow paper Hunter took a step back to lean on the wall. Reading the town letter Brookes couldn't believe what it said.
Todays Town letter:
There have been a number of random deaths in town and while the Hemetey family is conducting a thorough investigation we have to keep an eye on the town's population. We have decided it is best that a new baby vamp is born to Blood Shed, there forth Bethany Hemetey has volunteered to be taken by Jalem Mctrixter, and for that we commend her sacrifice for Blood Shed. A head tie ceremony will be held in the common meeting grounds tomorrow at noon for Bethany Hemetey as well as a blood mixing ceremony for the Town's newest soul pair"
Mouth wide open and sitting stiffened in the chair Brookes felt his heart pounding away as his body refused to move.