The Vampire from Hell Returns - The Vampire from Hell (Part 4) (Sample)

Chapter 1 - Betrayal

Chapter 1 - Betrayal 

"An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind." ~ Buddha

I knew I was working myself into a panic attack as I paced along the beach, but I didn't care. Images of Lynn and Ashton tied to chairs as Stephanie waved a gun in their faces flashed before my eyes. I imagined their faces on the two humans she had killed at point-blank range in front of me in Hell before I was turned into a vampire. And yet, I couldn't recall the other people's faces. My guilt and anguish washed over me again. It drove me mad and I stomped my white sneakers into the sand. I probably looked like an angry duck wishing I could fly away. This can't be happening again. I won't let her harm them. Text me Beelzebub. Text me. We have to do something now. 

To make matters worse, the others were arguing about my plan of action. I glanced now and then at the deck jutting out from my mother's home in Sausalito, California. From her home in the San Francisco bay, I had a wonderful view of the Golden Gate Bridge, but it didn't seem to matter. Even seeing the sunlight sparkling on the blue water didn't matter. Nothing mattered except the endless waiting. My panic continued to rise. Typhean, J, Blick, and my mother were discussing the best course of action we had to capture Stephanie, if she was still on Earth. And it seemed from my vantage point that the discussions were not going well. 

Occasionally I overheard their voices float along the breeze. The words were jumbled and confusing. However, their body language did shed light on the fact that J and Typhean didn't like each other very much. It was a realization I had not considered before. 

Growing as curious as a cat, I let my ear click over to vampire hearing mode. The suspense was killing me and then I instantly regretted it. 

J's voice was loud, crisp, and clear. "You know these young vampires are very spirited, Typhean. You can guide Rayea, but you can't rule her. We're not going back to the ways of my father. Everyone agreed on that when I assumed command." 

Typhean's thin, whiny voice responded immediately. "Yes, of course, J. I do not mean to go against your greater plan, but I want her to know her place. You too forget your place. Unlike me, you are not a god." 

When my phone rang, I jumped. 

"How much more time do you have, Ray?" 

I sighed when I heard Death's voice. It didn't matter that he was my ex-boyfriend. Hearing a friendly voice always cheered me up. The situation on the deck was tense, so I turned my focus to the phone conversation. 

"Nine hours and forty-seven minutes," I replied into the phone. 

He laughed. "Who's counting right? You'll find em, Ray. I know you will." 

"Who told you?" I inquired. 

"J when he got a call from Blick." 

"Where are you?" 

"I can't really say over the phone. Grace is safe and she's with me. I can text you something though that will make you smile. Can you hang on a second?" 

"Sure," I replied. 

When his text message came in, I let out a little squeak, slapped my hand over my mouth, and marveled at the photo. There she was. Grace, my first fledgling vampire was alive, smiling back at the camera with a tall, red smoothie in her hand, running her tongue over her newly formed fangs. She looked like she was posing for a soft drink commercial. Her strawberry curls framed her face and her large green eyes radiated. 

Immediately, I closed the image on my text program and returned to talking to Death. "That is awesome! She's okay then." 

"Yup, she's doing great. She woke up a few hours ago really hungry and I've been playing Betty Nursemaid to make sure she doesn't get into trouble. Other than that she's fine."