The Beast Within

Chapter Three - The Trick, The Tunnel, and The Dwarf

Part One – The Trick

Matilda cannot sleep that night. It's already past one and her mind is still fully awake. She went to the kitchen and boils some water. She flips the magazine several pages until the whistling of the kettle can be heard. She turned off the stove and she heard a knock on the door. Who would that be at this hour? She takes a peek at the window to see who is at the door. She is surprised to see the Old Master at her doorstep and wondering why Chari is not with him. She opened the door and with the cheery voice welcomes the old friend. The Old Master removed his hat and entered the little red house. Matilda motions him to the kitchen and gives him a cup of tea. "How is Long Island," she inquired. "Good as always," replied the Old Master. Something is absurd with the Old Master. He seems not in his usual chatty self and seems keeping secrets. He only replied with few words and seems not interested on the conversation. "So where is Chari," Matilda finally blurted out because it seems the young girl has been left too in Long Island with Sam. The Old Master is irritated with lots of questions and finally shows his fang. A loud shriek can be heard. The next moment, Matilda is climbing on her bed and about to sleep, licking blood on her lips.

Everything seems according to plan. The place is quiet and still. He knows any moment now one of them will show up. He should have done this a long time ago. But he should follow some rules in the Long Island. And now the justice is overdue. He heard hurried footsteps coming from his left and he knew it is one of them. He followed the young man who just flees from its last victim. His mouth and shirt is full of blood. He seems not to notice that there is an old vampire also following on his trail. He must be in new generation, Andy thought. It seems so easy task and any moment from now he will surely lead him to their colony. The Great Centaur has asked finally for his help to find the hide out of their enemy. The man covered with blood panted and stopped in one boutique. The door opened by another man angry at the sight of him. "You should be careful," he hissed. "Go up and clean yourself," he commanded the other. Andy waited for another minute before he followed now two figures coming out of the boutique. The other man could feel someone is following them. "Who's there?" he hissed again. He tried to look around but could not find anybody. He motions his companion to hurry for the sun will be up soon and it will burn them.

Part Two – The Tunnel

The two figures finally led him to the long dark tunnel not far away from the town proper. Not for long they reached the heart of the colony. The pale creatures are hovering with each other, making screeching sounds as though they are in agony and hate the presence of one another. One man stood up midst of them and announced, "We will be ready to go to war soon. Everything is in place and soon we will conquer the world." "But what about the werewolves, and the sorcerers? They're hunting us and that would hinder our plans," another vampire hissed. "Do you think I will be bold to declare war if I don't have plans? Don't be a fool. I have waited for these thousand years to finally master the power," said their leader. Andy pretends he is one of them and just eagerly listens to the discussion. "We will just wait for another full moon then it is done. We have the army to defeat the werewolves and the sorcerers and even the Great Centaur," the leader declared with sarcasm. Patrick has changed, Andy thought. His once friend has now partial white hairs and instead of grey eyes, have red and his thin body is now with well=toned muscles. He is perplexed of what kind of power that his friend has master after all these years. He just knew that there would be enormous strength and power of mind control for those bright vampires. Yes not all vampires who tasted human blood can do mind control. He noticed too that Patrick's brother is not around. He always stays by his brother's side. "But what about Matthew, the traitor" hissed another vampire. "I will take care of my own brother," Patrick hissed back. "But why let the Centaur know about the war," another worried vampire hissed. "We just need to spice up things. It is boring that we just defeat them just like that," Patrick said and his laughter covered the whole tunnel. He glared for anyone who attempts to question his plans further and then marched out of the tunnel to his resting place together with the elite members. Andy listens to the discussion of seems worried vampires in the colony. "They should have taught us what is in that book," says one. "Matthew has slays the sorcerer and got that book. I've heard he master the power of shape shifting and that in some way have created arguments with Leader Patrick. We should have sided by Matthew," said one worrying vampire. "But Patrick is much wiser and stronger. He has mastered resurrecting the dead," another hissed. Andy cannot believe what he has just heard. They killed a sorcerer and obtain some of the great powers! He must inform the others and let the Great Centaur know that this time it is war against dark magic. Patrick and his legions has attained a never thought power a vampire should have!

Part Three – The Dwarf

Dmitri listens carefully to the faint message she has been hearing all morning. It was from an old friend whom she taught the dwarfinic missive, the art where they used a leaf as to communicate secret messages and only specialized dwarves knew these. The lady dwarf hurriedly runs to the tower where the Old Master was busy discussing what to cook for dinner with the Old Witch. He wanted to make a special dinner for the young ones who has been worried with what they learned from the Long Island. He decided finally to keep Sam in the tower for she too will not be safe in the island now that there will be a war. The Old Master frowns when the lady dwarf relay to him the message. He then understood where the book of Philemon has gone to after the sorcerer has been mysteriously found dead.

"I want to see my mother," Sam said with a heavy sigh. They've been watching the birds in the garden and cannot contain any more the silence. "But papa said you shouldn't. Auntie Matilda should not know you are here. It's for her peace of mind," Chari replied. She wishes that the war won't push through but confident they are safe knowing that the Old Master is at their side. She has not enjoyed her stay in Long Island for everybody is talking about the upcoming war and she is also too afraid to ask papa about the vampire she met in the woods. Her heart beat faster as she begin contemplate that it is indeed her father. Well, there are good vampires after all! "Dinner dearies," the Old Witch announced. The two youngsters went inside the tower, not knowing there are still more terrible things to come.