The Blood of Two Realms (Book One)

SERAFINA I walked down 7th and Tomb. That was the ‘night life’ district that went on for five blocks. Clubs, bars, billiards, you name it.. It was a chilly night. Fall was setting in. I could feel the cool air on my legs under my long, whimsy skirt and the tops of my feet that showed in my Mary Jane shoes. I wish I’d brought a larger coat than my jean jacket. I scanned each establishment, the partiers dancing and singing, absolutely oblivious to the real dangers around at 1am. But that wasn’t what I was looking for. My cell rang as I passed the bars. Elaine. “I’m here.” I answered the phone. Elaine grumbled, “Does no one know how to say ‘hello’ anymore?…” I chuckled. Elaine continued, “He was spotted. Tonight he is appearing in the form of a tall, mortal male. Disarmingly, attractive, brown hair, charming, and very light green eyes…” Basic. I thought. “A good majority of the victims were pursued inside of or around Fang. The vampire club.” Perfect timing, I thought. Continuing to listen to Elaine’s debriefing. I was just a bar establishment away from Fang. The vamp club was notorious for a lot of rogue dark creatures. It was right at the district’s edge and it was dark and risky business when night fell. And what a perfect place to carry out your crime. Obviously, times were different. The mortal world and the Umbral world were integrating in many ways. Almost 60 years ago, before my father was ambushed and killed by multiple rogue monsters who teamed up to execute him, the Realms Treaty was created between The Protector’s Court of the mortal world and the Umbral King’s Court. Basically, mortals and immortal/ dark creature(s) could live among one another, no mortal hunter of monsters-of any kind- and no immortal shall harm, kill, use one another for survival or dark practices/beliefs under the treaty. Aside from hybrid breed offspring and/or immortal and mortal offspring exceptions of integration, any and all knowledgeable of The Umbral World and Mortal agreements who violate the specific laws of the treaty, will be punished by destroyal, i.e, death. The Protectors of the Mortal Court Agent’s and Umbral shadow keeper warriors called the Keepers, would monitor for violators (mortal or immortal), like this current instance, and bring it to the Umbral and they would contact me. I was the executioner. That’s when I saw him. Right on the patio area of the night club, Fang. I have integrity, and can give credit where it’s due. He was good looking- but nothing I’d imagine I would ever find interest in. Due to my dedication to abstinence, per my teachings, I’m able to withstand the power of one from the Umbral world. I put on my higher toned voice. Like what I have observed a lot of normal women do, “I’m about 30 minutes from home.” I said aloud, into the phone. Pretending to appear meek and lost. My sultry scented pheromones perfume wafting in the subtle breeze, “I have to take 10th down.” That was the queue. Elaine heard. “Henry and Gargo are in position, if needed. You know his true name. Be careful.” “I will be careful. Bye.” I said in my character’s voice. Hanging up. When my eyes found him again as I looked around, acting lost, his eyes were already on me. I gave a shy smile. Biting my lip, acting like I was absolutely astonished by him. Averting my eyes, nervous-like, and walking on. I made my right turn on 10th street, submerging into the darkness that was only lit by the silver crescent moon and the dim and only street light on the corner of the street I just turned down. I’d only taken about 25 steps when I heard something. Be ready, Van Helsing. I steadied myself. Whirling around, feigning surprise and fear when the very man I’d just seen on Fang’s rowdy patio, was now standing before me! I had my hand in my jean jacket, as if it was on my heart. But really, I had my hand on and was ready to grip the salt-iron stake that was in its harness. “Oh my goodness!” I exclaimed, “You scared me.” I let my chest rise and fall quickly. The handsome creature in his mortal sheath smiled, “I’m so sorry. I’d noticed you walking alone and you looked lost. A sweet beauty like you shouldn’t be walking this late, alone.” He put on a shy, kind front. I can see why the average mortal woman would get weak in the knees. Why he had succeeded in violating and murdering multiple women. Incubus were great actors. They could appear as all you desire. They fed on souls and lust. Normally, they’d hook up with mortals then ditch them to avoid breaking the treaty. But for violators like him, they could be carnivorous as well as sexually violent when they did prey. “I’m just going home from a friend’s. My car is in the shop.” I lied. Watching him. “Would you like some company?” He asked. The boyish charm was a nice addition, I’ll give him that. Sick bastard. The breeze became strong causing a gust to blow my hair in his direction. His already light green eyes looked even lighter, his arms flexing. The pheromone perfume was working. I took a couple small steps back, trying to get him into the dark and away from the street light on the corner. I still had to be sure no mortals saw. “Oh no, it’s okay. I’d hate to be a bother.” My eyes wide and looking upward at him. He was eating up the innocent act. He shrugged, licking his lips, “It would really be no trouble, darling.” Just a few more steps. I thought. “But I’d be such a lucky girl if I did have a big, strong man like you around.” I said, slow and in a sultry-needy tone. If he was a dog he’d be drooling. Got him. He was now in the thick of the darkness, behind the cars to hide us from the road. I leaned against the tall wall that shielded a resident’s home. I arched my back, bringing my skirt from my ankles to my thighs, just below my garter that holstered my other salt-iron stake and holy water. He stepped closer, his control on the brim of combusting. He was starting to take his true form. I could tell by the hard cracking and moving of bones coming from him. He was now only inches from me, towering over, becoming more inhuman looking. A low tone escaped him as he began sniffing at me, shuttering at the scent. “Oh, sweetheart, you’re going to feel so good…” he said in a breathy tone, “And you’re going to taste so much better.” His long arms trapped me in. I covered my face pretending to cry and hide. He gave a chuckle, “Mmm, are you scared? Shhh, it’s okay I’ll be fast … at least, after I’ve had you.” The incubus’s haunting, low laugh was like a lull. He was trying to use his powers to compel me. I mumbled something, incoherent. “Speak up, human.” His rough tone only ignited a fury in me. So then I looked up, eyeing him head to toe, back into his eyes. He gave a wretched and dark smile at my fearful act. “Tell me what you’d like to say before I ravish your sweet body and pathetic soul.” He ordered, placing his hand around my throat, so hungry for my fear, my terror. But he was an incubus. Not all did this, but it was in their nature. Nothing’s changed but the choice to live abiding then dying disobeying. A gave a smirk, looking into his eyes, “Malphus.” His hunger in his eyes turned to utter terror! As I had just spoken and called him by his demon name. “AHHH!” He roared, cowering back, his pointed teeth now showing. Two short horns protruded on either side of its forehead, standing at about 7 ft now! I pulled the stake from my garter, beginning to recite the ancient prayer: “I revoke your dominion over the flesh, I shatter your illusions, and I sever the threads of your deceptive dreams. Your glamour is stripped. Your hidden name is exposed, Malphus!” I finished the first part. He hissed at my words and when I spoke his name, lunging at me! I moved quickly out of the way. He recovered quickly. Snarling, screeching and clawing at me and his demon wing’s daggered like edges trying to wound me. I grabbed a discarded metal bar on the ground and whacked him across the face, raising it above my head and down on top of his head, bringing it down with all my might! The incubus screeched in pain! “I, Serafina Van Helsing, have come to execute you for your violation of the treaty. And may God have mercy on your soul.” I said as I took another swing at its head, making it screech more, “Van Helsing!? Piss off!” The incubus’s charming tone was now raspy, deep and hoarse as he cursed at me. And right as it recovered to come at me again, I ducked. The incubus ran face first into a car’s window that was behind me. It shattered, making glass rain down. And right there, I took the metal bar and shoved it upward and into its throat! Black, oil like liquid that was its blood fell on me. He hollered in pain in the most guttural and screech-like pitch that was just inhuman. He was almost as bad as an actual Banshee. I grabbed my stake, stabbing it up and into his heart. The incubus looked down at me, eyes shock stricken. Body violently shaking. “Malphus,” I said. His eyes widened. “I revoke your dominion over the flesh,” he was fully shifted in his true form. Hissing at my holy words, “I shatter your illusions, and I sever the threads of your deceptive dreams. Your glamour is stripped. Your hidden name is exposed. By the iron of the earth and the fire of the heavens, your dark covenant is broken. You shall corrupt no more, you shall feed no more, and your spirit is hereby condemned to the ash. Depart into the flame!" The demon spoke weakly, “No!” “Amen.” I finished. The incubus gave a melancholic cry before turning into black ash and oil like fluid on the ground. The weapons clanged to the ground as he was gone now. Destroyed. Only nothing now. I stood up, dusting myself off, and gathering my bag. I grabbed a rag from the bag, breathing heavily as my adrenaline lowered. I cleaned off the stakes and holstered them again. I regarded the shattered car window, “Eek…” I began to walk off, clicking Elaine’s number in my phone. The line rang once, “Update?” “It’s done. I’m going home.” I said, hanging up. As I walked into the dead of night back home. Prepared for any other creature that felt they had the gull to try me.