Chapter:   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Night Vengeance

Chapter Ten

Stanley had overheard Devon on the phone this evening saying he didn't know any Raelynn, and knew he'd been talking about the woman who'd burned his hand. He looked down at his bandaged hand and was infuriated. He hadn't gone to see Shaleena, the healer for he didn't trust her, he didn't trust any of them who worked at Knight Industries. So he's gone home instead and had doctored himself.

She would pay for that, nobody hurts him and gets away with it, that's why he was here, to ensure the women got hers.

He approached the booth and looked away in embarrassment, for an elegantly dressed man sat there, kissing the neck of a woman. He grimaced in disgust; he hated it when people displayed their affection in public, even though no one in the bar was watching. He looked at the bartender again and frowned, he still hadn't moved.

He turned back just as the man lifted his head and licked the blood from his lips. Stanley's eyes widened in horror, as he looked into the man's dead eyes, he tried to back away but could no longer move. He gaze drifted to the dead woman's neck and saw two punctures, where the man's mouth had been. He turned his head and looked more closely at the other patrons in the bar, none of them had moved since he'd entered, they were all dead.

"Sit down, Mr. Parks," said the man.

Like a puppet, Stanley moved on stiff legs and sat down next to the dead woman.

"Mr. Leeds tells me you work for Knight Industries, Mr. Parks," said the man as he took out a white linen handkerchief and dabbed away the blood from the corners of his mouth.

"Who…who are you?" asked Stanley.

"I am Salazar, Mr. Parks," he replied. "Tell me about the woman your company investigated."

"All I know is, she has some kind of power. She did this to me when I tried to analyze the herbs in her pouch," he said and showed his bandaged hand to Salazar.

Salazar eyes homed in on the tiny dots of blood left on the bandage and licked his lips; he still hungered. He tamped down his urge to feed and asked another question. "What does she look like?"

"She's small in stature, has long black hair, oriental features and when I saw her, she was dressed like those guys in the karate movies, you know, the ones that wear those black pajamas, ninjas I think they call them," replied Stanley.

Salazar merely nodded and drummed his fingers on the table. Stanley glanced at the fingers and nearly screamed when he saw the nails grew longer. He swallowed and turned his gaze back to the man.

Salazar knew Mr. Parks was afraid, but for him to be of any use, he'd have to win him over. He scanned Stanley's mind and though upper most in it was fright, Salazar also detected a tiny seed of evil. It was the need for revenge against Rae. He'd nurture that seed, and grow a garden of hate in this man. It was time he trained a new servant, Mr. Leeds was becoming too old for his taste.

"You must be in great pain, Mr. Parks," stated Salazar as he gestured to Stanley's hand. "I could heal that for you, if you like."

Stanley looked interested for moment then shook his head. "It hurts but it's bearable," he said.

"Come Mr. Parks," cajoled Salazar as he slid out of the booth and walked to Stanley's side. "This won't hurt one bit, I promise."

Stanley felt a buzzing in his head, and could no longer remember why he did not want this man touching his wound. He cried out has Salazar's hand closed over his; the pain was so great he lost consciousness for a few minutes.

When he opened his eyes, Salazar was sitting across from him and he no longer felt pain in his hand. He unwrapped the bandage and was stunned, the charred puckered skin that had been there was gone. Instead his hand was back to the way it had been before the bitch had burned it.

Incredulous, Stanley turned his still stunned gaze back to Salazar, "How did you do that?" he asked.

Salazar shrugged, "Do not worry, it's just a gift I am blessed with and it gives me great pleasure to help those who require it," he said. "That's why I wish to know about this woman."

"What did she do to you?" asked Stanley.

"If she is the one I think she is, then she killed my family and is responsible for turning me into a vampire. I have spent the past century hunting them," replied Salazar.

"My God! That's incredible!" exclaimed Stanley. "How did she kill your family?"

"She did the same thing she did to your hand, only on a larger scale. My family and I were vacationing in England and one night as we took a walk, we happened upon her chanting rituals with a vampire. Angry we interrupted her, she created this energy fireball and threw it at us.

My father managed to push me out of the way, but my mother and he were trapped, unable to escape. The fireball struck them and they burst into flames and burn right before my eyes, until all that was left was their ashes.

I must have made a sound because the vampire with her realized I hadn't perished with my parents and in an instant had grabbed me and sunk his fangs in my throat. See, " he said and pulled away the collar of his shirt, "I still bear his mark where he bit me."

Stanley leaned forward and looked. Sure enough two puncture wounds were still visible. Salazar put his collar back in place and went in for the kill.

"You see Mr. Parks, the woman is a witch and she's the only one who knows where I can find the vampire that bit me. When I destroy him, I'll become human again and not stay this monster you see before you. Will you help me learn the name of the vampire and destroy the woman?" Salazar asked.

"Yes, I will help you. What do you need me to do?" Stanley asked eagerly.

"Someone in Knight's Industries ordered an investigation of this woman. I need the file they've compiled on her. Can you get that?" Salazar asked him.

Stanley nodded and slid out of the booth. "I can't get it tonight, but I will in the morning. How should I contact you when I have it?" he asked.

"I'll get in touch with you," said Salazar.

Stanley nodded and like and automaton, turned and left the bar.

George Leeds appeared out of the shadows and gave Salazar his cape as he stood up.

"I have him Mr. Leeds," he said. "He will lead me to Raelynn and I will destroy her, after consuming her power of course," he finished and began laughing maniacally.

 

©2006 Romance at Heart Magazine.

©2000 Angel Young.

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