Hammer of the Gods

Chapter 23

THE ORIGINS OF VAMPIRES

Chapter 13

Cain killed Abel, Oh Adam’s sons!

Cursed was the ground, where blood runs

He who kills Cain, cursed seven fold,

Lamech first vampire, tales have told

He shuns the light, embraces night,

Now he seeks, the gift of flight

To take his vengeance, up above,

While alone, bereft of love

He craves the blood, an unquenchable curse,

Lives he takes, because he thirsts

Hammerhand led them through the dwarf kingdom. It was hard to believe so many passages and great chambers lay beneath the mountains. After a time, it was decided that they would stop at a tavern and eat before they entered the tunnels beyond the city. The smells of freshly baked bread and smoked caribou wafted teasingly around the room. The establishment was empty other than a few old dwarves who sat around a table in one corner. They spoke of the news while smoking their pipes and drinking mead. They appeared too far along in years to participate in the battle outside. A fire burned in the hearth near the far wall, and candles hung from the rafters in the ceiling overhead. Unlike most of the buildings, which had multiple stories carved into the stone, the tavern had a wooden roof beneath the high cavern ceiling above.

Two of the old dwarves stood from their table and began taking turns throwing what looked like hatchets at a target of a gnome that stood in one corner. Their shadows danced across the wall as the orange glow from the hearth illuminated one side of their bodies. The dark images gave the impression of giants throwing axes across the room. The three old bearded men paused to look towards Atungitok with frowns upon their faces as they murmured unintelligible words under their breath.

The little gnome had been a bit ill and queasy as he followed closely behind Angelica through the city. He had kept his mouth closed and his opinion of dwarves to himself since entering the gates. Upon seeing the two grumpy looking men throwing hatchets at the target, Atungitok suddenly went invisible where he had been seated between Angelica and Lorne.

“You have the protection of the King, gnome, as much as I would like to turn you over to the dwarves over there. None of my people will harm you while you are in my presence, not that I think any would dare whilst in the company of the two archangels,” Hammerhand said as he wore an unhappy look on his face.

Atungitok reappeared, looking relieved.

There were no chairs in the tavern large enough for the archangels, so they sat upon a bench instead. Fortunately, the roof was vaulted with a balcony and rooms up above where the tavern owners lived. Hanging from the ceiling by chains were the interlocking antlers attached to the skulls of two huge bull moose that had died in combat when they had become hopelessly entangled.

A rosy-cheeked, short, plump, black-haired dwarf woman, approached rather apprehensively. She wore a long-sleeved green dress with brown stockings. She stared in wonder at the tall humans and Atungitok. She regained her composure thinking to herself that customers would be scarce today and perhaps for many days to come if the siege lasted long.

“My Name is Lilly Bell. Welcome, strangers and Prince Hammerhand, what brings you to The Mutton Chop Tavern?” The waitress bowed slightly to Prince Hammerhand.

“I am here by order of the king to take these foreigners through the city to the Sealed Gate.”

“Outworlders here in the Mutton Chop? Bless my stubby legs! A gnome in my tavern with a prince? My, my, these are strange times indeed. The Sealed Gate has not been opened in my lifetime. Oh, never mind me, I could talk all day. What can I bring you, sirs and ladies?” Lilly Bell was a bundle of energy and tended to ramble on, but these were exceptional guests and exceptional times.

Hammerhand took the liberty of ordering their food and drink. The archangels, Angelica, and Jonah declined the mead and accepted water with gratitude. The long run from the prison cells had left them parched.

“How did the dwarves come by the moose skulls and antlers if there is no exit to Alaska from here that they can use,” Jonah asked Hammerhand.

“We were able to barter with Aternerk Sangliak’s late father for three pairs of mating moose to raise here under the mountains. They did fairly well, but those two were lost in combat. We try to separate the bulls when possible during the rut now. The miserable gnomes still refuse to trade with us for breeding pairs of caribou or musk ox, however. They continue to leverage us for the pelts and meats of our favorite flesh, the caribou,” Hammerhand looked with disdain at Atungitok as he said so.

Atungitok stood up on his stool leaning across the table shaking one fist at the dwarf prince yelling, “You smelly, half grown…!” Atungitok’s rant was cut short as Raphael put one large hand over the little gnome’s mouth. The sounds of muffled cursing continued for a few more moments. At last, Raphael cautiously removed his hand from the gnome’s mouth.

Atungitok sat back down, arms crossed, face red, breathing heavily, as he glared at the dwarven prince.

Gabriel spoke, “I suppose now is as good of a time as any to fill you all in on vampires. I do not know if any reside here within the earth, but Angelica had asked me about Vampires when last we met.” He made a gesture in the air, and all of the party was taken into a vision of the past as he spoke. Periodically, Gabriel would quote scripture from memory to emphasize the story.

“And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Able his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s Keeper? And he said, What hast though done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand.”

“When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt though be in the earth…And the Lord said unto him, Therefore, whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain lest any finding him should kill him.” Genesis 4:8-11, 14.

“Cain was the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, who were the first man and woman upon the Earth after its creation. Cain was a tiller of the ground and his younger brother Able was a keeper of sheep. After Satan had entered the heart of the serpent which tempted Eve the serpent was cast out of the Garden of Eden by God and Jehovah. The serpents originally had arms and legs and could speak. After the serpent who served Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, cooperated with Satan, it was cursed and its arms and legs were shriveled and the serpents have ever since slithered upon their bellies in punishment and have lost the ability to speak.”

After Satan was expelled from the garden, he skulked northward down into a valley fed by the northern branch of the rivers that flowed from Mimir’s Well, beneath the Tree of Life. Satan’s minions reported to him of the birth of Cain and later of Cain’s anger when the Lord rejected his offering. Satan presented himself to Cain and feigned friendship. Lucifer was adorned in fine clothing and with gold and jewels, which had not yet been discovered by the elder sons of Adam and Eve. Cain looking upon the fine clothing and gold and jewels began to lust after them. When the Lord rejected Cain’s offering he grew wrathful and his countenance fell.

“In a book called Legends of the Jews, it says that God touched Cain in his forehead with his finger and burned a letter of his name into his forehead as a mark. Other legends state that Cain was cursed with leprosy. Still, others say that a horn grew from his forehead and that he was cursed with trembling, terrors and restlessness. Regardless of his curse or a combination of those passed down in stories, none dared to molest or kill Cain for fear of the great curse that rested upon him.”

“Then Cain answered with a proud heart and a gruff voice, ‘How, O God? Am I my brother’s keeper?’ Then God said unto Cain, “Cursed be the earth that has drunk the blood of Abel thy brother; and though, be thou trembling and shaking; and this will be a sign unto thee, that whosoever finds thee, shall kill thee.” Lost Books of the Bible Chapter LXXIX vs. 16-20.

“Cain’s great-great-great grandson was named Lamech.”

“And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other was Zillah…And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron…” Genesis 4:16-22

“And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man unto my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged seven-fold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.” Genesis 4:23.

The pain and the night terrors never left him. Indeed, he grew a pair of horns from his forehead, and a mark was born between them. He suffered from boils, and his body became covered in hair. As the years went on, he wandered restlessly outside of the City of Enoch in the woods. He came amongst his people less and less frequently.

Lamech grew old and his vision began to fail. He had been a great hunter in his youth. He was in a field at the end of the day with his son, Tubal-Cain, looking for wild game. On the edge of the woods, Tubal-Cain saw movement in the bushes, and it indeed appeared to be a great beast. It was a worthy prize, and he encouraged his father to shoot the beast. Lamech could hear the breaking of branches through the bushes and he aimed his bow in that direction. With hundreds of years spent hunting before he had lost his eyesight, he was still a deadly shot. He let his arrow fly and it hit its mark.

A great bellow roared from the woods, and the beast began knocking trees out of the way as it charged towards them. In the failing light, they could see that something was not right as this beast was on but two legs. It was larger than a normal man and covered with hair. Two horns protruded from its brow. Its eyes were wild and were filled with a red luminescent glow of rage. A terrible stench filled the air as it drew near, and the ground began to vibrate with its massive bulk. Lamech knocked and drew his bow again and let loose another arrow that buried itself into the chest of the beast. It stumbled but did not stop its charge.

Tubal-Cain cried out in fear, and Lamech held onto his young son and pushed Tubal-Cain behind him. At the last moment, the beast crashed to the ground in front of them. Its chest heaved as a gurgling sound of the blood that filled its lungs escaped its mouth. Lamech’s arrow protruded from creature’s back. Tubal-Cain came around to have a better look at the beast. Only in stories had he heard of Cain, after whom he was named. He described to his father what lay before them. Lamech had met Cain many years before whilst he still lived within the City of Enoch at a time when he could still see. He was taught of the Curse by Cain himself.

Tubal-Cain knelt in front of his father as he described the beast that lay before them. Lamech, being blind, clapped his hands together in grief knowing of the curse which would befall him. He then accidentally struck his son in the head, killing him. Tubal-Cain fell next to the body of Cain, as Lamech wailed in grief, tearing at his hair and his clothes when he realized what he had done. The Book of Jasher, Chapter 2:26-31.

Cain looked upon Lamech and with his last breath said, “At last I am free of the curse, but I repent not, be it upon thee, grandson.”

When Cain breathed his last breath at the feet of his descendant, Lamech cursed God. Darkness descended upon him. Thick clouds covered the sky, as thunder and lightning rang out from the heavens. So oppressive was the darkness that he could feel it. A burning desire began to take hold of him, a lust for blood that must be satisfied. He fell upon the body of Cain and broke off the shaft of the arrow and began to drink from the wound. Suddenly, his body was racked with pain. He felt burning throughout his nerves, muscles and bones. He collapsed to the ground in agony. He began flailing against the ground. Blood spilled from his eyes, his ears, and his mouth.

At last, Lamech went still, appearing at first to be as dead as his son and Cain. His hair began to shorten and to grow dark as it had once been in his youth. The wrinkled lines of age smoothed out, as his skin took on a more youthful appearance. Lamech’s eyes opened, and no longer were they milky white. He could see more clearly than when he was young. His body felt invigorated and strong. He stood and looked down on the bodies of Cain and his son, and the recollection of what had happened returned to him. In shock, he lay next to his son’s body and he wept.

Gabriel stopped the vision and continued the tale verbally, “And thus the curse of Cain and the pact with the devil was fulfilled, and the first of what you would call the vampires was born. Lamech carried his son’s body to their home in sorrow, and he left them shortly after telling them the story. Invigorated with fresh blood, he was able to control himself while speaking to his wives, but he feared that at some point the blood lust would return. So, he separated himself from them. In truth they would no longer be with him of their own accord out of fear and loathing.”

“Great strength and speed are instilled in the vampires. Their senses are heightened. However, they cannot travel in daylight without great pain and burning of the exposed skin. During the time between sun up and sun down, their powers are weakened. Some legends claim that vampires can transform into bats, but in reality, they can only communicate with bats and use them as messengers and spies much like when mortals used carrier pigeons. In many respects, vampires possess physical traits equal to the physical powers of the angels, but they lack the power of flight, a trait possessed by all angels born in heaven. However, flight is not a gift of angels who are born upon or within the earth. This is why angels born here are called Earthbound angels.”

“Fortunately for the children of men, when a vampire creates another vampire, it leaves them weakened for a time and at risk. So, the number of vampires has been few and many have been killed through the centuries. Not all vampires are evil; in fact, the disposition of the mortal man or woman at the time they are turned stays with them. There are those creatures of the night that have chosen to not drink the blood of men, but rather survive on the blood of animals. They are still tempted in their desire to drink the blood of men, but they can try and control this by drinking the blood of an animal in the early hours after sunset upon awakening. There are some who do drink the blood of men, but choose to only kill evil men and women. Others have no such control or moral reservation and kill indiscriminately. Often, such renegades have been hunted down by their own kin, lest their killing sprees lead to their own kind’s demise.”

Angelica asked Gabriel at this point, “It’s hard for me to wrap my head around all of this. Is there some way to reach out to the good vampires and try to save them? Perhaps they could reason with those who are evil and bent on revenge and killing?”

“There have been rivalries between what they call covens. Covens are gatherings of vampires where they work together and protect one another. Some cities or regions are controlled by these vampire covens. More often than not these clans war amongst themselves, particularly if their beliefs differ from one another.”

“Another question I have is if Lamech was the first of the vampires, how did he survive the flood and how come there are still vampires today?”

“The vampires that were alive in those days were washed upon the currents during the flood, far away from the eight souls upon the ark. Vampires are not truly alive and do not have to breathe air. Some succumbed to creatures of the deep, but Lamech survived along with a few others. When the mountains rose once more above the flood waters, Lamech and the children of Noah were a world apart. During the long, dark days of the flood the vampires who did survive fed upon fish and other sea creatures. It is said that Leviathan, the dragon of the oceans, ended some of their miserable lives in those days.” Gabriel replied.

He continued, “A vampire grows weak when denied blood for long periods, but will not die from a lack of blood. Without their elixir, the lust grows within them, until it becomes more and more difficult for them to control themselves. Lamech encountered the children of Adam and Eve many years later.”

“The longevity of mortals was shortened after the flood and with each subsequent generation their life spans were reduced.” Gabriel finished the story by quoting two final Biblical verses.

“And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” Leviticus 17:10-11.

“But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” Genesis 9:4.