Dark Silhouette

Chapter 7

(Kay's P.O.V)

Particles of dust dance around my un-glassed windows and shine when hit by sunlight. The place I now call home is no more than an abandoned floor barely covered by some bricks and wood working as a roof. Long shadows are spread over my floor from my windows's frame, allowing sunlight in but giving a comforting vertical shadow freely spreading over the place.

I patiently wait under one of it for the sun to set down whilst I look at my small notebook once more studying the notes I've collected for the past two weeks. Two weeks in which I've been following Marcus, forming a patron and trying to predicting his moves. Two weeks since I left Lauren's house asking her for time to catch this mad man who can shatter all I've ever wanted by just sending a word back to England.

I feel my phone buzzing in my trouser's pocket knowing who is calling, but also knowing that if I dare to answer I won't finish this work tonight, for I'm sure listening her voice would break any strength in me willing to stay away.

She gave me a reason to start using this mechanic device with which you can communicate even at distance.

The flat-rectangular thing vibrates once more alerting me about a message. Thing that by the way I'm more fond of for it's similarity with the old mail that was used like a century ago.

I 'unlock' the device reading it's content:

'I know you're busy following this guy but it's been more than a week...

I miss you. I know you 'have' to do this but please try not to do anything that could put you at risk.

- Lauren'

I smile reaching it's end.

She is not suffering alone, I also miss her till the point where all I think the entire day is her.

I start writing back:

'Don't worry, I won't. I wouldn't be doing this if there was another way. It will all end soon, I promise'

She answered almost immediately:

'You think I could see you tonight?'

I sigh passing my hand trough my hair, trying to know if I'll be able to finish with Marcus and get rid of his undesirable existence. But being honest, I don't know. I want to see her, apparently even crave for seeing her, but I can't be all feelings right now.

'Forgive me but I don't think it would be possible. I wouldn't dare to risk your safety and I'm very sure he knows I'm going after him. The only way I can do this is knowing he has no idea where you are'

I hate myself for doing this to her but there is no other way.

A final message arrives to my phone. And for it's delayed arrive I can tell Lauren is sad for my last reply.

'Its ok. Another day would be then.

I hope you can catch him this time. Know you don't need it but good luck. And please, be careful.

I LU'

My answer said everything I needed to say:

'Ic lufie þe' *

I kept the flat thing in my pocket and admire the sight I have in front on me.

The sky was now filled with a soft dark bluish color, perfect for me to start inspecting some of the places Marcus is fond to visit.

Whilst I make my way down the rachitic construction I think of Lauren again, remembering all I have explained her about the 'vampiric life', as she calls it. Knowing now that, it may have been best if I kept somethings from her cause, now she knows of one way in which we can get killed one another. And of course, she worries more.

It's something as real as vampires dying burned from sunlight, the only difference is that this, for some of us, is an even more painful thing. I know it's said that we vampires have some type of allergy to silver stuff. Well, that's true. But it only works in a specific way.

Silver won't harm us by just being in contact with our skin. Nevertheless it certainly will if it's in contact with an open wound, and it's also needed a specific silver type, not all of it harms us.

What do I mean by this?

Even the purest of silver is made and composed of a specific variety, a determined quantity of 'things' that would make it 'pure' and lately catalogued as silver. It is one of these varieties that is mortal for us, and it's normally only recognized by vampires. It's extremely rare to find it at cities, like in a jewelry store, but once a while one can find a small amount of it already worked being sold at markets.

It's not a common silver but is the second most found after the 'classic' one.

Things like this endanger us specially some years ago when humans had feared us, truly knowing of our existence. Common civilians could approach you with a knife made of this material and cities turned to be not a very nice place for us to be at night...

But that was decades ago, now they don't even have a clue that we truly exist. And just as humans thought of us once as enemies and armed themselves against us, well, there are vampires who arm themselves against other vampires. Like James and I. I bet he enjoys this particular type of silver whenever he decides to torture his victims. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if Marcus carried something like that himself tonight...

Dragging back my attention to the streets I'm now on, I leave behind my thoughts of my enemies possible strategies. Aye, I know I should wonder what might be awaiting me because it would be foolish of me not to do so, but then again I'm more than two hundred years old... >

I abruptly stop half way whilst turning a corner on the street. I've seen Marcus by the half of it talking to some folk I do not know. I hid myself in the street's curve, the only visible thing being my face. They both exchange a couple of words more until they took separate ways. The unknown guy walks thowards my direction non noticing I was watching them. Marcus walks the other way following the street's ahead, I follow behind.

My eyes never leave his long blue army coat. I won't let him escape this time.

While the street becomes lonelier I remember his words about the 'Brown Village' being under Howard's lead.

The village is the therm some friends and I use when we're referring to an old tavern, you'll see the tavern is not the essential thing there but the fact that the entire block and underparts of it are filled with what we may call colonies of vampires and some other things that I will not recall now. Being in any way, all those places under Howard's will could be catastrophic, not only for me and my some friends but maybe even for the entire planet... I myself don't know how mad the guy is.

Marcus turns left some meters ahead and I follow. Just as I see him again he turns right and right again. By the time I arrive to the place where he was, I find myself in front of an empty street, a small and dark alley. I stop at it's entrance. I know he has to be here somewhere, I'd knew if he had left before.

"I expected you to make this mistake. I knew you'd follow me eventually. You tend to do errors more frequently now than when you where younger...

Socializing with humans, being attached to them, when Howard won't stop looking for you... I'm starting to think you might have actually became a fool, Albion"

I perceived immediately the contemptuous tone in his voice, realizing how much he despised humans. Probably forgetting he was one.

"Me being attached to humans is non of your business, nor is it Howard's"

He smiles in a cynical way that I know too well.

"Oh no, Albion. That's exactly the situation we have here. You'll see... anything being a potential vulnerability for you is both mine and Howard's business"

I gave him a low growl while I clenched my jaw, sending him a message of 'watch your tongue'.

I am not as 'barbaric' or wild as he is, but I do can be savage whenever they try their threats and blackmail against me.

He makes no reaction of it but instead, keeps on speaking.

"You made me rage by killing my friend Charles the other night. You should have known I wouldn't leave things like that..." I cut him off before he could say anything else.

"You call that a friend? A mercenary psychopath hired to kill me? What kind of lonely life you live that you must befriend with creatures such as him?"

There I had touched a spot, I had provoked his reaction. And by that I acted foolishly.

I barely blinked and Marcus was already launching himself against me.

"He was my friend!..." He screams at me whilst I try to stop his attack.

"My family! And you killed him."

His moves and mines where all too familiar. We both knew the other's attack pattern, how to attack when to defend, even though we had nothing more than fists.

"C'mon Admiral, we both know we'll never end this if you keep on moving like this..."

With a growl he changed his move in last second, reaching my arm and scratching part of my jacket. Perhaps I was tempting my luck more than needed.

I prepared for whatever he may try next, but I froze when I saw his move.

Reaching for his blue coat's sleeve he takes a large knife from it. A silver knife. The silver knife.

I knew he would cheat in such a way...still I didn't expect it.

I manage to stop his hand while he tries to stab me. Me being very careful not to touch the weapon. He throws all his weight over the knife. I've ever been poisoned by silver but saw someone die from it, it was very clear that such a death was painful.

Marcus kicks my leg making both of us fall. My back collides with the wet floor, taking a bunch of air from my lungs, the blade edge few inches near my sternum. Marcus is managing to difficult my poor defense, I have not many chances at the floor.

With an effort I push him away with my feet by his stomach sending Marcus across the street to stumble two meters ahead. I hear a yelp from him letting me know he hadn't expect that.

Back on my feet a burning pain runs through my left arm. I hiss, seeing that the cut goes from wrist to elbow in an 's' inside- out pattern, strange smoke comes out of it. It's not enough to kill me, but he's reached me...

I embrace my arm against me waiting for his next move, but he stands still.

I run towards him. Marcus raises the knife and I dodge his attack grabbing him by the neck with my right arm, trying to strangle him.

Some minutes passed and he'd stop moving, his body hanging limply over my arm. And even I'm someone who might not be impressed by most of things given my living time... but the thought of me killing him frightened me, for that reminded me what I was.

So I left him on the floor and waited for him to react. But he move not. I called his name several times, after no response I kneeled beside him trying to calm myself, trying not to call myself a despicable living thing, trying to conceal my increasing rage for all the events of that 'fight'. But unfortunately for me, memories of all I had done wrong in my life appeared in my mind one after the other.

I take as much air as I can and shout to the night. A scream full of rage for what Marcus and Howard had done to my life, a scream covered by the sound of thunder that seemed to shatter the sky in two. The first thunder of a storm allowing rain to make it's way trough the night...

(Lauren's P.O.V)

My sister went to the kitchen and returned with a second bowl of salad, the ravioli dish almost empty over our table. My own dish practically clean.

Jess has been talking, most part of the dinner, about a meeting she had today. Apparently she's been doing great and her bosses are very happy withe her in charge.

"I think we'll have to shut the windows. It's already raining" She says leaving the dish at the table and walking towards the living room window. I also stand to shut the one behind me. The first thunder crashing through the sky.

"You've been quiet today. Is something bothering you?"

"Well no I... I'm just waiting for a message that has not arrived, thats all" I answer.

My sister nods.

"Is it anyone special?"

I nod in response.

"Well, I'd like to meet that someone someday"

I smiled at the thought, then jumped when I hear a second thunder.

A horrible feeling embracing me. Fear approaching my mind.

(Kay's P.O.V)

Rising to my feet I lower my gaze towards Marcus's body but I don't find it where I left it. A chill travels across my back as I remember the silver knife, and before I can do nothing else, I feel a sharp pain burning into my left side.

I can't scream nor can I move, I'm too shocked. I find myself falling to my knees while rain wets my hair and cloths. A voice talks from behind me close to my ear.

"You really thought I'll be that easy on you? Fool lad. I always knew you where a fool, Albion" He whispers. Finding air and a bit of courage, I manage to answer.

"You... bloody bastard"

He draws the knife farther making me gasp while I try to stop his hand.

"Why don't you keep your thoughts for yourself, mate" Pulling out the knife he laughs and disappears among the shadows of the street. I fall backwards. I know I need help, don't know how long would take for the silver to kill me...I feel incredibly heavy.

> I know it's impossible, I'll never make it.

My seeing seems to fade before me.

A second thunder shatters distantly through the night.

And slowly, I feel darkness embracing me.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

*Old english for 'I love thy/you'