The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

strange land part 4
02:16 Apr 30 2009
Times Read: 617

A strange noise woke Julio in the middle of the night. He jumped out of bed and gasped for air as if something were wrong. When he turned on the light the feather on his nightstand had turned from solid black to a bright red. Bastian was in trouble he just knew it. He got dressed kissed his wife goodbye and took off to where he did not know. As he turned on the lights in his truck he saw what looked like a path laid out in front of him so he followed it. His wife was left standing on the porch long after the dust behind him settled. As she closed her eyes tight, she began saying a prayer for her husband and their new friend. At this time Bastian dropped his cigarette grinding it out with his boot. The smoke boiled past his lips and in front of his eyes his face illuminated by the glowing neon. The blackened light of the feather matched the red lettering both darkly illuminating the darkness. He watched as the people showed up like moths to the flame. Some came one at a time, others in small to large groups. Diversity was the only common thread amongst them. They were in all shapes and sizes. There were both male and female in many ages and of different ethnicities. A familiar face stopped by and greeted him with a hug and kind words. He smiled to the mistress of the night expecting to see her but caught off guard by her actions. Shortly there after several other of her minions of the night showed up greeting him just as sweetly. He offered his assistance in any way that he could. After unloading several large items it was as if the entire world stood still. Alas it had not for he could still move about with all around him in a slowed state. He looked up and saw her as she arrived. At least he thought it was her. The eyes... he could never forget her eyes. He had spent so many nights wishing to see the love in those eyes again. He knew them better than he knew himself. She emerged from her vessel. Apparently there had been many changes since their last meeting. His angel no longer had a halo or wings. Her eyes had turned from love to what could be best described as spite. Where her halo had sat there was now a void as if a hole had opened up and purged all the goodness from her. He had dreamed of this moment for such a long time now. He took a step only to stop when the fellow with her emerged. They both looked at him as if shocked to see him then smiled and engaged in activity not suited for such an open public venue. Bastian felt himself breaking. He gathered his things and left. As he removed himself from the property he left behind every ounce of purity she had showed him. He felt the heat from his entire body almost as hot as fire. As he passed the buildings on the street they began smoking and soon were a blaze. He walked over to one the flames illuminating the newly emerged dark side of him. As he lit his cigarette from the flames pouring from an old building his eyes soaked up more of the fire than the cigarette in his hand. He smiled the smoke lofting slowly from the tips of his hair as he started down the road. He was so far in his own new world that he didn't hear the brakes squealing as Julio stopped his truck running over to check on his new friend. Bastian struck the man in the face searing the flesh making it sizzle with a single touch. Looking down seeing this man he had helped laying there crying as his face was simply put... melting. The smirk left his face and the tears came. With them came a rain that doused the buildings. Bastian helped the man to his feet and walked him to the nearest open business. Unfortunately it was the club he just walked away from hearing the words resounding in the street "your tears are all the pay I'll ever need"...

strange land part 3
09:14 Apr 17 2009
Times Read: 623

Bastian found himself at a crossroads. Every time he closed his eyes he saw her. When he heard a voice it sounded like hers. He had to put her out of his mind so he could get back to being himself. It seemed as if ages had passed since he last saw his angel. He had been reduced to a shell of his former self. The person he had become with her at his side was now a far distant memory. He gazed into the reflection of the moonless sky on the water. The pale lights of the stars surrounded by darkness reminded him of her. He splashed the surface angrily. He decided would be the best time to set out. Under the cover of darkness no one would notice a shadow. He drew up his knapsack light up a cigarette and took his leave of this place for the source calling to him. They say that heroes are judged by their good deeds. I say it's a matter of perspective. If one finds themselves in an extraordinary situation it is up to that person to make the best of it. Those who do it the best are remembered for it. Bastian had been remembered by many for his kindness. His company revered by many however was simply forgotten shortly thereafter. He found himself at a crossroads. A literal crossroads lay before him this time. The path on the left he had walked before. It was the one that the moonless sky showed bright. The other path was one he had not seen before. It was overgrown with vines and looked very treacherous. He decided immediately this was the path for him. He took the last draw from his cigarette tossed it down then stepped on it. As he stepped over and through the obstacles in his way he could see what appeared to be a small town on the other side. It was bathed in street lamps swarmed by various flying insects. As he stepped out onto the pavement he found a piece of paper. The folded napkin had an imprint of a feather as a logo for a club called Angelica's Fallen Grace. He chuckled out loud to himself as he put it in his pocket and decided this is where he was to go. If only he knew what waited for him there...

strange land part 2
06:21 Apr 16 2009
Times Read: 625

He was at full speed when he reached the house. His feet screeched to a stop when he saw his wife and children sitting against a tree in the yard. There was a man in his late twenties, if he would have had to have guessed his age, standing there breathing hard. His face, much like those of Julian's family was covered in soot. The questions of who this man was or where he came from evaded him for the time being as tending to his family took first priority. A case of leaving an iron skillet on the stove with grease in it had claimed another house to its repertoire. Finally realizing his family was all right he turned to the stranger. "Who are you stranger?" Julio hesitantly asked the savior of his family. His dark eyes moved away towards the horizon as he spoke. The stranger handed the man a single black feather and turned away. "I am but a stranger in this strange world" he trailed off as he started walking. As he stopped to light a cigarette he said "those who knew me called me Bastian" he took a deep draw and continued walking. His trail took him through the field every time his foot lifted the patch of crop beneath it turned from ash to green and the patches grew larger rebuilding the entire field. When the stranger was no longer in sight Julio turned to his wife to ask if she could see the field. To his amazement she and the kids were gone now on the porch, which had returned to its original brilliant white color. There was no longer a trace of smoke in the air. It was as if nothing had ever happened. The only thing that told him it was real was the black feather that he held in his hand. As his fingers drifted over the spine of it he softly spoke "Bastian". The stranger stopped as he heard his name on the wind. A smile crept across his face and he continued his walk now reaching the creek. The water felt cool against his feet. He walked out to a large rock in the middle and took a seat. He stretched out watching the clouds through the tree branches feeling the sun and shade and the air all encompass him. The thoughts of his own personal battle creeping back into his mind. He lay there until dusk. With the brightness of the new moon overhead he set off to where he was now needed. He could feel the pain and torment calling to him. He did as he has always done and followed it...

strange land part 1
05:52 Apr 14 2009
Times Read: 627

The wind was a welcome change. It's cool breath caressing the moisture on his brow. It was late in the afternoon and the summer sun felt hotter than ever. He wiped the sweat with the back of his sleeve. Perhaps the heat would not feel as bad without the long sleeved shirt or the overalls but that was all he had to wear. He looked down into his glistening calloused hands. Hands that had provided for him and his family for as long as he could remember. The cool water ran across his cheek as he drank deeply from the jug he wore tied to his back. He returned it's lid then pulled his hat back on. The sunlight crept through the weave of the straw hat leaving light in strange designs across his face. Placing his hand at the end of the brim he looked towards the sky. "Half past four" he said then went back to toiling in his field. As far as the eye could see there was wheat around him. The sound of water behind him was his destination. He took a few more pieces of grain to fill the basket to overflowing. He smiled for a days work almost done then walked around picking up a large rope. As he draped it over his broad shoulder you could see the makeshift sled following behind carrying the fruits of his labor. He stepped onto the porch dropping the rope with a loud thud. He lifted the basket and carried it inside dumping it into the vat beside the large paddle wheel. Walking to the controls he pushed a lever here and pulled one there followed by turning what looked to be a large hatch. The paddle wheel began turning faster as the grain was being ground down and dispensed into a pile on the other side. The grain smelled off this time. Years of doing this told this had given him a sense of what should and shouldn't happen. He went over and inspected the growing pile only to notice that it was not grain but ash. He reversed the levers and undid the hatch to find that the machine was empty. Confused at how he had lost a whole days work he stumbled to the door frame. Gazing upon the acres of crop all he saw was a blackened field. In the distance he saw what appeared to be billowing smoke from his home...

Bastian part 7... wth I thought it was over??
06:33 Apr 04 2009
Times Read: 636




The dust settled back down as the last gust from her wings died down. As Bastian sat there in silence feeling the darkness creeping back into him he saw it. A speck of light growing ever brighter as the seconds ticked by. This light was lofting from a solitary feather presumably ejected from her wing. He jumped up and grabbed for it. With his every move it seemed to get farther away. He found himself running full speed and chasing it but it kept itself out of his grasp. It was as if it was beckoning him to follow it. He began shouting bargains at the light begging it to come closer. After a long time he found himself standing face to face with a wall. Standing on his tip toes his fingertips could nearly touch it. The tears streamed down his face as he desperately tried to hold onto this last piece of her, the last bit of her that he could call his own. He lowered his head finally admitting that he could not hold onto this last piece of her. As he muttered the words "I'm sorry doll" he found himself being lifted up! The pale velvety fingers he felt against his skin he knew instantly. She had not let him in his darkest hour. He had become too clouded by himself to see that she was there the whole time. As for the other journeys... Bastian went on them but he had his angel there beside him, and when she could not be there she was still with him, in his heart and her feather in his pocket.



This story is dedicated to anyone out there who thinks they have lost their entire world only to find out they could not see the forest for the trees. When we take the time to look around us we will see things that normally just pass us by.





Fin.