BOOKS BY V.GRAHAM

                                   

 

                      

  

                      

                                                 

Blood! It was that fierce need that drove Gareth Hunter through the night. Running, black hair plastered to his head, he ignored the rain. Breathing was slow although he had been running for several hours. Vampiric senses alert to any signs, keen eyesight in search of his next victim.

Gareth spotted a car by it's headlights, pulled over on the dirt road that cut through the woods leading to the town of Clark. A dark haired girl of around sixteen sat in the car shivering in her damp clothes.

‘Reminds me of those drive-in fast food places, except I'm not taking her order.’ The evil inside ran several ideas through his head about what to do with the young girl then selected one.

The girl was startled by a light tapping on the window. She looked up at him with large frightened eyes, and tried to move to the passenger seat. Their eyes met through the glass and locked, and the vampire was in total control. Obeying the unspoken command, she rolled the window down.

“No girl, I'm not a rapist.”

She just nodded as she, leaned out the window, laying her head sideways on the window frame. The timeless dark angel ran a finger down the soft cheek, looking down at her. The rain quickly soaked the girl as she lay quiet, relaxed, with her eyes closed. Gareth leaned over, her long hair hanging over the side of the door, brushing his pants leg. The vampire used his right hand to hold her head still, she smelled strongly of baby powder and shampoo.

His lips touched her neck, a brief hesitation, before sharp teeth tore into the damp flesh. Gareth heard the soft moans, and the sounds of blood pumping out of her veins. The taste ambrosia, heady like the finest wines, sweeter than the tastiest chocolate, nothing to compare to it. Gareth drank, biting harder making the wound larger, a vicious head jerk and flesh came lose between his teeth.

Reluctantly Gareth pulled away and spat out bits of mangled flesh, looked down and saw the damage. The girl's heart was still beating; she would live if help arrived soon. However, there would be a scar to remember this night. She lay still, upper torso hanging out of the window, blood dripping wastefully. Soon she would lose more than the pint he had taken.

Gareth's handsome face changed abruptly, eyes became darker as he turned back to his victim.Grabbing the arms he pulled the still breathing body from the car, one hand tangled in her long hair. With a powerful thrust of his arm he slammed her head against a tree, hearing the sound of her skull crack. Soft growls come from behind him. Using his vampiric strength he ripped her arms off, tossing them at several wild dogs that came up drawn by the smell of blood. Gareth tossed the rest of the body up into the tree, the base covered in some of her brain matter. A feral smile graced his lips as he watched the dogs run off with their prizes.

His fangs receded as he reached into a pocket. Gareth was the first of his nature, a Martavus Vampire. A being from another galaxy far away, a gorgeous child of the ancient gods.

The immaculate vampire took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth clean. ‘Nothing worse than getting stains on my clothes or face.’ Taking out a small travel toothbrush, he wets it in the rain, then uses it to brush his bloody teeth. Hearing a car coming, he moved back into the darkness, down a narrow path into the trees. The darker side letting the good take over again, with only a few vague images from what had just happened. A scream came from the road he had just left.

A part of him cursed the vampire side; the part that welcomed it like a lover. ‘Why can't my brother find the cure? I hate hurting others.’ The other voice inside his head laughed, ‘you love it, the feel of your fangs tearing into the flesh, the sweet taste of hot blood. It's more appealing than sex and more satisfying.’ The Vampire tuned out the other voice, a tiny smile on his lips.

Gareth halted at the beginning of the woods taking a deep breath. He took in the scent of wet earth and pine that mingled with the rain. This place was unknown, but he felt something that resided deep within the confines of the forest. A substantive evil so strong that it struck like a blow to the stomach. Moving forward cautiously, something else out here called out to his darker self. Vampiric senses recognized the living presence with blood...a human one.

Gareth drew in a deep breath and smiled, an almost pleasant smile, except for the now long sharp canine teeth. The demonic being blended in with the shadows of the evergreens as he pursued the woman, for he recognized it by her scent.

"Why are you here on a night like tonight? Don't you know how dangerous it is to be out alone? Well it will be your last mistake on this earth." Gareth moved, a shadow amongst the trees and found the young woman standing there, a wraith in the misty fog. He watched from his concealment, sharp eyes taking in her outward appearance. The girl stood there by the stream as though waiting for something or someone.

Her scent called to him. Its heady bouquet circulated with the tantalizing aroma of blood that only vampires could smell. His teeth ached with the need to take a bite, his throat constricted with the desire to swallow her hot blood. Just a small cupful of her essence, so little to ask for.

Gareth observed her crossing the stream. Gareth would wait for now until he had the answer to the burning question. A decision was made to follow her and find out what the girl was up to in these woods as the vampires natural curiosity had become aroused. He could wait a little while longer to feed.

A dark, drizzly evening perfect for an undertaking such as Naval Lieutenant, Lorelai Ashley Crosby had planned. Furthermore, it was her favorite kind of night; a sleepless night of treasure, and ghost hunting, nothing better.

The treasure buried there forty years ago: her own grandfather and several of his friends, from a jewelry store robbery. The four men had gone in the back window and emptied all the jewelry the owner left in the display case, whom mistakenly thought that it was safe there at night. There had been no alarms or witnesses to identify them. They had cleaned the store out, and then went out to the lake and had a few beers to celebrate before burying it. Then played their innocent game with the Sheriff. However after a while they forgot where they buried it. With a beaming smile at the thought of the riches, she walked down a steep embankment and into the infamous woods of the damned.

 

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