"As I remember, the night will be dark as long as we exist, it's darkening tendrils stretching out to consume us. For those dark children do not like to be defeated, as they were by my shining light. As long as the power I hold is close, they will search... search... driven on by a maddening urge for revenge. And they will drag on their search. For as they say, revenge is a dish best eaten cold." -Memoirs, written in the diary of Shirley
That deepening cold night, I stood on the cliff top, looking down on the darkness below with a dark fear burrowing its way into my heart. I feel for the lump of my dragoon spirit, pull it out, and summon out its powers. As it bathes my body in light, I can feel them... feel their aching, groaning, cries. They are the undead, and I am the light they despise. I look behind me, the fading light shrouding my body in darkness, the full moon shining pale overhead. As I turn to the cliff to take off, I hear a voice that I recognize: the voice of a friend. Karsh is his name, and we seek to protect the small village we have found.
Karsh speaks to me silently, asking me if I have found anything. I tell him of the crying wails of their suffering. He agrees that now, while their suffering is great, is the time to attack. He draws his axe, I draw my bow and summon out an arrow of light. As I take off, flying gracefully from the cliff on my dragon's wings, he bounds off behind me, bound as he is to the ground below. He has no wings; he cannot fly.
I soar upon the wind, seeking to find a nightly thermal. I find none, and the flight tires me out. I land next to a cavern, with Karsh only a moment's run behind. I stare into the deep blackness of the cave. In the cave rests the great evil that we have come to defeat. A good time to attack, it appeared we had chosen. There were no vampire guards.
We enter the cave, the dragoon spirit upon my chest lighting the way ahead. The darkness of the cave seems to absorb all feeling, all sound, and all light. My power does not even reach the walls. But then, torch light comes into view ahead, and I know our enemy rests in the next chamber to this dismal place. A voice rings out in the darkness. "So you have come. Will the light you hold be enough to stop our kind? I think not. For, as you have come, the village you were meant to protect has been raided and laid to waste as you came to challenge me."
I look at her with a smirk on my face. "What makes you think we are all here? Rose was left to guard. Although her dark element is less effective, her strength is still great. I trust she will defend."
The Vampire Lord in front of us looks blankly into the darkness beyond, her eyes unwavering. Then she turns in our direction with a huge grin on her face. She turns to a spot on the wall and a torch lights up as if by magic. There on the wall is Rose, chained, with blood dripping from her mangled throat. She turns back to us, the grin widening as I realize that this was a trap. The same was meant for us. But for me, it will not be so. The arrow I hold is aimed for her chest, the burning light enough to kill even a strong vampire...
A scream is heard from Shirley's room in the Fletz. Sweat pours down her brow as the dream comes back to her, full force. The memories, try as she might, refused to be buried after their recent awakening. She looks around, and falls gently to her pillow. Sleep would not come easy for the rest of her night.
Shirley gets up and walks to Karsh, who is watching some late-night TV.
"Karsh, I just had a bad dream."
"I can hear that, Shirley. Your scream probably woke up everybody for miles. What'd you dream about?"
"That time when we were to defend that village... and failed. Rose's hometown. You remember?"
"Yes, I do remember. But why would those memories surface now?"
"I think... it's because of the recent vampires who've been attacking us. Rose hasn't been a victim yet, but... I figure she's next. I'm worried."
"Don't be. She can take care of herself."
"B-but... You remember. She almost died then. She almost became a vampire, except the power was broken when I killed that vampire. That wasn't even the time those vampires got that grudge. I can't sleep. I know I'll have bad dreams again."
"Sleep. I know that bad dreams just have to be dreamt. They tell us something, you know. You won't be content until the dreams end."
"Maybe you're right, Karsh. I'll go back to sleep. But don't be surprised if I'm up screaming in another hour."
Shirley goes back to the bed, pondering Karsh's words carefully. After all, he could be right. She wondered what fears her next dream would hold. Sleep came not easy for her, but come it did. Shirley fell into a deep slumber, filled with dreams of her past.
In the depths of the night, the villagers crowded around the dragoon. She had once been a child among their ranks. But now, she was their warrior, and they depended on her to protect them from the recent vampire gangs.
I stood in the square, as I had so many times in my past. It seemed very familiar, yet different; as if in a different lifetime. I stared into the crowd, many of which held torches, and tried to pick out my friends. They gathered around another victim of a vampire, his throat ripped out and blood all over the cement walkway, trailing off into the darkness like a red ribbon of pain. I had once known that person; he had been a childhood friend. Now he lay dead on the street.
I took my bow off my shoulder, and pulled out an arrow. Stringing the arrow, I called to the crowd to get out of the way. They split apart; I shot my dead friend in the chest. This I knew would break the curse and allow his spirit to rest in peace. Karsh and Rose neared me, and I tried to hide the tears of pain that streaked down my face. Not only had he been my best friend in childhood, he had also been my first love. I knew it would be best to try and forget him. But I had to have revenge on him. But Rose's voice ripped through my thoughts and I streaked back to the present. She told me that they would be leaving to search for the vampire gang, and that I was to stay and protect the villagers of my hometown. That seemed to be a good enough reason to stop brooding in my own thoughts, so I let them go and watched over the people of my village.
At first the time stretched by interminably, the minutes becoming hours, the seconds slowed by the pounding of my heart. I stared into the dark streets, lit by the torches of the villagers. I knew that things would not be boring for me much longer. I seeped back down into my own thoughts; that is how I did not notice the enemy until he had his fingers around my throat.
I was hit from behind in the back on my neck, making my body feel dull and useless. The vampire slid me upright, and bit hard into my neck. At first the searing pain was so great I could not even scream, but as my blood left my body, it dulled. I felt weak and shaky before a sword suddenly sliced through the body of the vampire holding me. The vampire's head rolled off and in my dulled mind it was as if the vampire had vanished and become Rose. His dropping body released mine and I fell uselessly to the ground. The spell wore off slowly, but I could already feel the strength returning to my body.
Vampires had snuck into the square, and they had attacked and killed many villagers already. Karsh and Rose were busy killing those that challenged them, and so didn't notice when their leader approached me with an evil smirk across his undead face.
"So, the little angel returns. I see we have gained some new friends."
I recognized that voice as the one of my own father! Was he behind the attacks by the vampires?
"You are strong, my daughter, but have you the strength to challenge and kill your own father? Can you fight me with your whole heart? Answer now. For if you can't, then you must join me in the realms of the undead."
I had heard of my father's mysterious death many years before. But to see him alive, and like this? I had to free him. I somehow knew in my heart that this was the only way to stop them. I gathered my strength and stood up. I spoke. "Father. I accept your challenge. I cannot leave the living yet, and you I must free and put to rest. This is sufficient, is it not?"
I drew an arrow of light, and shot the killing blow...
Shirley awoke with a start. It was morning, and things had to be done. She got out of bed uncomfortably... and found herself transformed. She was that upset in her dream?
The day passed slowly for Shirley. Her dreams of the past night kept returning, breaking her concentration and causing her to be a butterfingers most of the day. She broke two plates, and a valuable cup kept in the Fletz since it's opening. She finally decided it was useless and ran to talk to Rose.
"Rose, I had bad dreams last night."
"Was that why you screamed?"
"Why else would I scream?"
"Ok. Have something to drink. It'll cool your nerves."
Rose gives Shirley some hot chocolate, which doesn't really help with her nerves, but does calm her down a little.
Rose speaks to Shirley. "So. What'd you dream about?"
"I dreamt about the time we had to defend our hometowns, yours and mine. I remember killing the vampire that almost killed you, and slaying the one that had once been my father. I screamed after the dream of your hometown."
"Maybe your dreams want to tell you something, like why the vampires have recently attacked both you and Karsh. Dream it out. You'll feel better. And you look tired, too. Go to bed, right now."
"B-But--"
"No buts. Sleep is good."
"Ok... *sigh*"
Shirley trudges sadly up to her room, thinking of the dreams and wondering what new ones awaited her.
The impenetrable darkness sweeped around us, leaving me feeling cold and lonely. Torches burned in the background, and one could wonder how a vampire even got into this small city. The howling of the undead could be heard, but its source remained unlocated. The stars shone overhead; a halo of light to encircle the deathly scent of the world below. I looked around. At the guards, at the gates in the wall, at the bright crescent moon overhead. Karsh stood to my right, and Rose to my left. Karsh's hometown was the last with a vampire problem, and it was our task to eliminate it.
Twice before I recalled we had defended our homes. Once, nearly ending Rose's life, and the second almost taking my own. This probably wouldn't be the last, either. My hometown was still there. Rose's was a ghost town, the fields were roamed by the vampires created during our failed effort.
The three of us entered the city. The guards spoke to us words of encouragement. They depended on us, on one of their greatest warriors to end the vampires. This was Karsh's home, the place where he was born and raised.
I looked at Rose. It was time for us to leave, with Karsh staying to protect his city. As the glows of our dragoon spirits engulfed us, I hoped he would be ok. I had a dark feeling in my chest and was afraid to come back to a dark end. I secretly wished it was my imagination, and took off after the rising form of Rose. I turned back to see Karsh waving. Hopefully, he would not be distracted like I was.
My light shone, guiding us to where the vampire hideout was. But something felt wrong; as if I was meant to be elsewhere. Yet I followed through with the mission, drawing my bow and an arrow of light as I landed softly on the grass before the vampire mansion. The gate was rusted, so no one on foot would be able to approach. We broke down the door, and searched the building.
My thoughts were many and dark as we looked. "What if the vampires aren't here? What if they are too strong? What if..." A million useless questions pounded through my skull, leaving my mind stripped and bare. My concentration broke, and I cried out for the vampires to show their faces. But they would not, and I knew at once I should've kept quiet.
We came upon a room that looked lived in, for there were a set of three coffins leaned against the back wall. As any good vampire hunter knows, some vampires choose to keep their coffins as a reminder of their place in the world. We looked around, and seeing nothing, turned to leave. My ears caught the sound of a faint creak as we approached the door. A figure leapt down from the rafters, only to be shot by my arrow of light. Another jumped out of a closet, and was deftly destroyed by Rose's blade. A third, of a stronger type, leapt down from a platform in the back of the room. He was obviously a leader in the group, so both Rose and I prepared to attack, my arrow shining bright as I pulled it from the air. But to attack seemed not his interest. He teleported himself outside the room. With a quick shout, "Ta-ta, losers!" he fled the scene.
Rose and I both chased him out of the building, but lost him upon leaving the dirty mansion. We flew over the gate, and decided to see how Karsh was doing.
We approached the place where we left him, in time to hear a dying scream. That voice, I recognized! It was Karsh's!
We flew quickly to the scene to find his body sprawled on the street, his throat mangled, and his body covered in blood- his blood. The vampire from earlier grinned smugly and faded into the darkness beyond the torchlight.
I tried to use my healing powers to stop the power from spreading, but I knew in my heart it was too late. The only way to stop it was to kill the vampire who drained his blood. We set off; my power making the vampire's footprints glow like shining beacons in the night. We followed him almost to the city gates, our tears floating behind us over the temporary loss of our friend. But he was then cornered.
"Hey, girls. You got me. Can we end this game and all go home now?" His voice rang out from the darkness, startling both Rose and I into landing. But of this Rose would have none. She brandished her blade, which shone blood-red in the light of the flames around her.
"You killed our friend, now you will feel the bite of my blade. I will not have it." Rose's voice wavered with the pain in her heart. I leapt forward, pulling my arrow of light tight in the bow.
"Rose is right. My arrow will pierce your heart, and the vampire's curse will be broken in our friend. Give us back his life."
The vampire leader eased back toward the city wall, a look of fear crossing his face. I drew my bow back tighter, and Rose dashed forward toward the enemy. I loosed my arrow, and it struck the vampire just as Rose slit his throat. He fell to the ground, with the blood stolen from Karsh spilling onto the pavement. We turned back to where we left Karsh, our hearts beating with excitement. And sure enough, he stood, alive, when we returned to him. He spoke a few words of gratitude, and then we headed toward the gates.
Shirley woke up puzzled. Didn't the dreams end after she killed the enemy? What else was her past trying to tell her? The dark sky outside told her that she had slept late. She walked to the kitchen to get some dinner.
The dinner was eaten silently, and consisted of a dish of ramen. Shirley, unable to sleep because of her afternoon nap, sits in the couch room watching some late-night TV.
"Are YOU having bad dreams lately? Are YOUR late night screams waking the neighborhood? Are YOU worried that your dreams might have some meaning that you have no answer to? Then call us-- The Late Night Psychic Dream Hotline! Only $2.65 a minute! Call now!"
"Pssh. What can HE do to help?" Shirley, disappointed and tired from the staying up late and the lack of restful sleep in the past few days, goes up to bed and falls quickly into a troubled sleep.
It was time to conquer the source of the dark power, and the sun shone dimly overhead, shrouded by black storm clouds. I looked around, only to see a mass of fields and grasslands surrounded by a ridge of tall mountains. This place was so peaceful; no one would suspect it as the source of the recent spread of demons and vampires and other such evil and undead creatures.
Rose and I stood next to each other, and Karsh faced us ahead. We could each feel an evil force emanating from the top of the closest mountain. A demon/vampire cross, was this evil creature. No other way would he be able to control such power over both types of evil. Rose and I pulled out the spirits of our dragons, and bathed ourselves in the light that they held. My element light, hers, dark. We took off toward the peak, and Karsh followed behind. Until, we grabbed him up and carried him.
The peak neared, as we flew with the heavy load of our friend weighing us down. As we set down, I could feel the power building in a dimly lit cavern before us. We all entered the gigantic cavern ahead, and saw before us a pair that was quite unusual indeed!
Two vampires stood before us, a man and a woman. They seemed to be colleagues in evil, not as partners in love. To all of our surprise, they introduced themselves casually as if they expected to know us for a long time.
"Hello... My name is Neclord. They call me 'The Great' because great I am." The male spoke drawingly, as if in anticipation of an event to come.
The female spoke then, her eyes on Karsh. "My name is Scarlet, the Fire of my youth still strong within."
Neclord sat in a chair, his eyes glowing with a level of contempt that struck me as odd. He stood up and approached us. Scarlet had been leaning on the chair's back, and now she approached also. We stood our ground, my bow out, Rose's sword drawn, Karsh's axe at the ready. The vampires charged, and we were ready.
Karsh's axe swung, Rose's blade slashed. My arrow flew straight and true. All attacks struck true, and the vampires disappeared. But something gave me the feeling...
Shirley woke up with a yell. That was why! She'd forgotten! They had survived the attack, and wanted revenge. But in her dream, she had felt that a more powerful shadow was behind those two in the mountain chamber beyond the light of the torches. What was it...?
