Redemption

CHAPTER ONE

REDEMPTION

By IBACULLEN

for Juliana

Darkness. It's a cliché, but when the darkness comes, so do I. You may think you're safe. Locked away deep in the hidden depths of your mind are all the nasty perversions that thrill you. Something you keep to yourself, while you walk around with dirty fantasies filling your head. You might feel safe, but when I'm there, you're anything but.

I have darkness, too, after all. I'm not exempt. When the gush of your blood glides down my throat, and as your life comes to an end, my darkness is satiated. It really is a circle of life...and death. After I left Carlisle and his teachings behind, I decided to use my gift to help rid the world of the evilest and most dangerous souls who should never have been allowed to walk the earth. I still feel a twinge just thinking of Carlisle and the family I left behind. I could never return. Not after the lives I've taken, destroyed...evil or not.

CHAPTER ONE

I stepped out onto the street and breathed in deeply, so I could appreciate the scents wafting through the air. To the average human nose, they would most likely say they could smell urine and wet pavement from the nasty weather moving in from the west. The rain began softly as if it were trying to tease us into believing it was only going to be a gentle sprinkle. However, anyone native to these parts would know the weather in Seattle could turn fierce within seconds.

As the rain came down harder, it only intensified the vigor inside, as the aroma of my next meal made its way into my nostrils.

I had been to Seattle before, but this was my first time back in over two decades. From the looks of things, not much had changed. I continued down an alley in the heart of South Park, known for being the most treacherous area in all of Washington state. The perfect place to hunt.

Memories of the countless victims of mine only served to feed the monster that resided within. My mouth watered at the prospect of who would satisfy me tonight. I listened to the inner thoughts of all who were around to decide who it should be. Drug dealers? Their blood always gave me a kick, depending on what they were high on. I heard something so quiet, I might have missed it if I hadn't been concentrating so hard. A man, thinking of a child he wanted. Pedophiles were my favorite. Immediately, I headed in that direction.

It only took a few minutes to drain the deviant, who I had managed to nab before he had even made it to his car. I was not messy with my kills, as other vampires could be. Not a drop was even split on my victim. Some vampires, I found, would practically bathe in the blood of their victims. I had enough issues; I didn't need to make spin art out of my kills.

I was immediately satisfied and felt a small sense of accomplishment. Even if I hadn't turned away from animal blood, which my father wished I had stayed on, I wondered if there would be any points given for the good work I had done in the world.

I took what I needed and then searched for a place to hide the body, somewhere discreet. I looked down at the corpse and sighed. No, Carlisle would not be proud of this.

I walked back to my car in the alley, wiping my mouth off with my thumb. I pulled my keys out, and just as I approached, I heard something a block ahead. Further down the alley, I saw a man negotiating with some girl.

"Fifty."

The man laughed.

"Fifty? I'll give you twenty, and I'll bet you'll take it."

I saw the girl sigh and get on her knees. Great, a prostitute.

I slid into my car and was just about to start her up when I heard his thoughts.