Bitten

Chapter 1

Bitten

By: A.L. Morales

Chapter One

There are things that hide in the shadows. They wait patiently, stalking their prey, hunting us in the dead of night. I’ve heard they are charming and alluring, but thing that I find the most terrifying is that they look like us and sound like us. Even at my age my grandmother’s stories still haunt me, of course we aren’t like regular people ourselves. We hear things, see things, and experience things beyond what the human eye can see or brain can comprehend.

Our clan is an old clan that dates back to the beginning of human migration, and the stories of the blood drinkers, wolf people, angels, demons, and any monster from a book or horror movie are real. My name is Isabel Cooper, my family calls me Izzy. I grew up in the South, Georgia to be exact, and I can hear the dead. I can’t see them, often I pretend I can’t hear the things they say.

It had been a rough couple of nights, sleep evaded me often these days. The voices have been louder all muttering different things here and there. I pray to silence them, and it does work for a few days. Then it starts again, tonight it bothered me what the spirit was saying. “There is no heaven or hell only what is here on earth.” It bothered me enough to leave the comfort of my home, and head to a bar in town. That’s where I am now, sitting on a bar stool, knocking shots of Jack back, driving out the sounds for a moment.

I could feel his eyes on me, but I pretended not to notice them. I could feel the danger in the air, but I ignored the primal instinct that had kept my family safe and secret for generations. “What’s a pretty lil thing like you doing here,” the bartender purred. I narrowed my eyes in annoyance, “Does that line really work?” He smirked at me, and I saw something primal flash within his blue eyes, instinctively I changed my posture. He was one of them I was sure of it, a monster from children’s books.

“Walk away. He’s dangerous.” I jumped at the sudden intrusion into my mind. The voice wasn’t terrifying like so many I heard, but the sheer invasion into my thoughts put me on edge. “It depends on the girl if the line works or not,” the bartender confessed leaning forward. “Hmmm…. Guess you chose the wrong girl,” I said confidently as I put the money on the counter. “Oh, I don’t think so,” he whispered placing his cold hand on top of mine.

“f**k,” I cursed mentally pulling my hand away from the obvious predator. “Just keep walking,” the unknown stranger advised. “So what are you? A ghost, demon, angel, Vampire…..” Oh god, cold hands, charming, alluring, for f***s sake the bartender was definitely a blood sucker. Don’t panic I told myself making my way towards the exit fumbling for the small vial I kept in my bag. Some girls carried guns, some carried Tasers, I carried holy water. Don’t panic, Don’t panic, I told myself quickly unscrewing the lid to the vial as I entered the dark parking lot.

Quickly making my way towards my old Honda, I reached for my keys. “Don’t you know it illegal to drink and drive,” the bartender called moving quickly towards me. I flung around slinging the content of the vial in his direction, only to miss. “f**k,” I hissed watching his demeanor change. “You know that really could have hurt me,” he growled as his face distorted into something more terrifying and demon like. Don’t run, predators attack faster when you run, I told myself. “No you need to run. Now is the time to run. Run as fast as you can. Go Now!” the voice from before demanded.

My body listed to him, and I could here my feet pounding at the pavement my bag lost somewhere along the way. Left, right, hell I was lost now. I slammed into a fence blocking my escape. Nah, I was gonna climb this thing. “Here kitty kitty,” the bartender purred as he entered the alley. Up the fence I went, but he grabbed my ankle causing me to fall to the ground. I gasped in pain, but Rose to my feet determined to fight my way out of this situation. I pressed my back against one of the red brick buildings watching as my attacker approached me.

“What’s the matter kitty? Don’t wanna play with me,” he taunted. The voice in my head from before was gone, and I growled, “m not your f*****g kitty, or toy, or snack for that matter.” He smirked again at me, “Oh, I beg to differ. You look like a perfectly good meal to me.” “Yeah, well if you come over here, you're gonna regret it,” I bluffed. Suddenly, his hand was around my neck, “What can a little girl like you do,” he asked. So I kneed him with every bit of strength I had in the crotch as he growled in pain releasing me. I ran past him back out of the alley, slamming into a hard surface and falling back.

I looked up only to see the most beautiful creature of my life. There was no way this Adonis was human. He had to be a good six feet tall, long golden hair, and eyes like the ocean. “An angel,” I breathed. He look puzzled, and then amused. “Angel, how hard did you hit your head there love,” he asked as his face too distorted. “f**k,” I hissed kicking him as hard as I could in the ankle. It took him by surprise causing him to land on his back, giving me time to get to my feet and attempt at running again.

Henry had been minding his own business searching for his next meal, when one slammed right into him. The aroma coming off of her of Jasmine made his mouth water, but she had thought he was her Savior or an angel for f***s safe. He was going to bite her on principle, what he hadn’t expected was for such a small woman to be difficult to eat. He had to give it to her, she had escaped him not many had. He stood up straightening his clothes, and he could here another of his kind angry as he approached, but before he could say anything. Something or rather someone invaded his body.

“Get out!” Henry hissed at the unwelcomed presence. “No.” The voice was calm and definitely make. “If you don’t leave I will kill you.” Henry warned only to be greeted by laughter, “You can’t kill me I’m already dead. Now shut up, I only need to borrow you for a moment.” Great his meal had gotten away, and now his body was occupied by a f*****g ghost. Henry just watched unable to control his body. “Leave the girl alone,” his voice echoed in the darkness. “Who are you to tell me what to do,” the bartender hissed.

“Take another step, and it’ll be your last,” he tried to stop his body from moving, but the ghost was determined enough to keep control. “f**k you,” the bartender snarled. In an instance Henry’s body was covered in blood, and the bartenders head was in his hands. Blood was everywhere, and something about this ghost bothered him. “Great just great yeah, there’s blood on my new shirt,” Henry growled. There was no response, and just as quickly as his body had been invaded he was free. “If you don’t want to end up like him, I suggest you find a different meal,” the voice responded finally.

“What the f**k are you,” Henry growled tossing the head aside searching for the presence. “I’m older than you Henry Bucador. Much, Much older.” Henry rolled his eyes, before leaving the alley and the weird events of the night. Izzy ran until her feet gave out, panting and exhausted she tried desperately to catch her breath. It's safe now. The voice was back. “Who are you or what are you,” she asked walking back from the direction she had come from.

Just someone curious about you. The voice remained calm and somewhat soothing. In the back of her head she remained cautious many bad things tried to lure people by making them feel safe and secure. “Curious how? You’re not gonna try and eat me are ya,” she asked as she slid the key into the ignition. Tenor laughter rang out in the silence of the car, “I do not intend to eat you as of yet. Just study you. I’ve known your clan back to the days when they were nomads in the desserts and jungles. Among the days of Pharaoh’s and Gods. You are an interesting people I just want to observe you for awhile. “That’s a bit creepy ya know, not really subtle, in the least,” she pointed out as she started to drive home. “Subtle is not my specialty.” “Clearly. Do you have a name,” she asked. “I do. You can call me Xerxes.” “ Like the name of Ester’s husband from the Bible,” she asked.

“Yes, go home Isabel try to rest. You haven’t slept in a few days now.” “You know it’s really creepy for a guy or spirit to stalk someone,” she pointed out, only to be met with silence once again. Smooth real smooth, she scoffed mentally. It had been a hell of a night, and she had been someone’s dinner almost twice. Her sisters were gonna kill her when and if they found out.

She pulled into the driveway only to be met with her youngest sibling sitting on the steps, arms crossed, waiting for her. “What happened,” she asked as Izzy approached. “Well, ya know snack time,” Izzy sighed as she opened the door. “Again? Really you just attract all kinds of trouble,” her sister pointed out as they sat at the kitchen table. “Yeah, well I wasn’t the one playing footsie with the wolf boy, Mel,” Izzy pointed out. “That’s not fair, he really seemed normal,” Mel sighed staring at her older sister. “Totally, normal until he changed, and tried to rip your throat out,” Izzy mumbled as she sprayed peroxide on her scraped up elbow.

“So what’s up, why are you here,” Izzy asked as she lit a cigarette. Her sister made a face before opening the back door. “I can’t sleep,” she sighed. “Who can with all the noise,” Izzy laughed joined by her sister. “The dreams are more vivid, but I can’t tell which of us it is,” Mel continued. They were interrupted by the sound of a truck pulling up the gravel driveway. “Oh look the Trinity’s complete,” Mel laughed as their middle sister Beth got out of the truck.

“Well, you look like s**t Izz,” Beth pointed out letting herself in. “Thanks, you would to if someone tried to eat you,” Izzy pointed out rolling her eyes. “Again,” Beth asked looking at Mel for confirmation, and she nodded. “Well, since no one is sleeping tonight let’s drink and watch movies,” Beth suggested. Movies was the most normal thing the sisters did together, and it was nice to enjoy normality for a change. The movie ended, and Izzy rose from the corner of the couch. Her siblings were still sleeping as she turned the t.v. of walking to the kitchen again she sat at the table.

“Still can’t sleep.” The question hung in the air as she gazed out the window. “No I can’t,” she sighed toying with the cross around her neck. “Does it help.” “Sometimes it does, but it’s so loud tonight. The voices all mixed together asking or speaking different things,” she whispered. “Must be difficult. “It is,” she responded. “Izz who ya talkin to,” Mel yawned. “A ghost,” she teased. “You know you shouldn’t talk back,” he sister said stretching. Izzy nodded before following her sister back towards the living room.