The Angel of Death

Chapter 2

1647, New France

         I can hear Humans approaching. Not many come this way anymore, but enough to keep me alive. For the last two years I have lived in the wilderness, sleeping on the ground. I have hunted creatures other than Humans, but nothing compares to the taste of Human blood. I lie down in the grass, my shirt is painted red with dried blood. I drag my claws across my neck, letting the blood flow for a few seconds until the wound heals. I smear it so that the humans won't see that there is no wound. I close my eyes and wait, I can hear and smell them getting closer. 

       "Jack, look. I wonder what happened?" The first voice has an accent I don't recognize. A second set of footsteps gets close. I don't move yet, I've found that I have become very good at playing dead. 

       "Back away, Fritz. Haven't you heard of the Beast?" I smile inwardly. That is the name they have given me, the Beast. 

       "Jack, he's hurt! And you don't believe in some stupid fairy tale, do you?"

       "Hell yes I do! You've seen the bodies. And they say it looks like a man. You can throw your life away, but I'm not." I hear footsteps leading away. Fritz leans down, most likely to see if I am alive. I open my eyes and in one swift movement latch my hand tightly on to his neck. His eyes widen with terror. 

        "You should have listened to your friend." I say, with a grin as I tear into his throat. I groan as the blood fills me. He's screaming, I love it when they scream, the sound of fear. The fear makes it so much sweeter. When I have finished I toss him to the side. I walk for a few minutes so that the body is out of sight. I lie down on the forest floor and take off my trousers. I stroke my cock slowly. I haven't been anywhere near a woman since my wife died. Only men venture this far into the woods, and though I've always liked to look I've never fucked one before. I continue to stroke it until I growl, not with anger but in pleasure. After I am done I pull off my shirt as well and walk to the river. I jump in and feel the cool water on my skin. I stay under for as long as I can, much longer than any human could. I swim upstream, letting the water flow over me. This is my favourite part, this feeling of true freedom. Eventually I get close to one of the villages. I like to watch them go about their business. And of course, being spotted in the river adds to my legend. I float for quite a while, silently daring someone to approach me. Eventually I hear small footsteps coming closer. I see a little girl standing on the river bank. Humanity floods my body, I have killed so recently, and yet I could never hurt the girl staring at me now. The only thing she has in common with my daughter is her blonde hair, but that is enough to bring a tear to my eye. 

           "Bonjour." She says. I smile.

           "Bonjour. What are you doing so far from home?" I ask her. I don't have many conversations these days. 

           "Just walking. I like the forest. Where are you from?" She asks back, sitting down on the edge of the bank. I decide to have a little fun. Nothing malicious this time, just fun. 

            "I live in the forest. Just downstream from here." I answer with a smile.

             "Really? Are you the beast my Father told me about?" I can't help but grin. 

              "I suppose I could be." I flash my eyes red for only a second. She gasps. 

              "Are you going to hurt me?" She asks. I shake my head, my smile gone.

              "Never. I don't hurt little girls. Especially the nice ones." She grins.

              "Ok. I should go now. Au revoir!" She says and runs off. 

              "Au revoir." I swim back downstream to where I left my clothes. I shake myself dry and pull them back on. I walk until I find a nice patch if shade under a large tree. This will do for the night. I sigh. This wasn't quite what I had envisioned for myself. But I certainly have time to change things. For now, I think I will take a nap. I smile at the thought of that little girl as I settle into the grass. A reminder that at least a small part of me can still care. I think of the man I killed earlier. For him I feel nothing. It seems I have a weak spot. Some would say that we all do, but I only speak for myself. I close my eyes and slowly drift off to sleep.