Iniquitous Adjustments

Been so long now...

2006-05-22T00:14:00.000-07:00

It's funny how it comes to light in a blinding flash, then makes you wonder if that's even what you've been wanting, or if what you want even matters. To walk so many dark paths for so long that you become acustomed to them, and so acustomed that you don't even really see what it is doing to you. It masks everything in a veil of shadows and obscurity, leaving only solid facades of a lie that serves to mask the greater changes. It's these changes we all seem to fear in our own way, as they work furiously beneath the skin as we would deny their existence.
I've only so recently found that my struggles have been in vain, as that which I had thought to be trying to consume me, has proven itself to be me. So strong and elaborate has this farse been, that it has even made a fool of me. There was something deep down that always knew, but persisted in denial, constructing elaborate schemes and explanations within my own mind. So it finally took others who cared and had concerns to express to bring me to the fore and show the solid reflection. The fragments dissolved and the darkness cleared to reveal something truly mortifying. So what is one to do when it becomes clear that such corruption was never being cast out, but instead, passed out?
I think of this and I begin to contemplate and reevaluate everything I've ever believed or dreamed of. My thoughts and ambitions come into play as well as my interactions with others. These thoughts are exciting and disturbing at the same time, as the future seems so bright, but yet another illusion. I've began to realize that I have seen much of my own future as well as several symbolic visions that made no sense before, but now I know. The only way I can describe it is the same way it feels when a belief born of the heart dies forever. It's that indescribable crushing feeling that wrenches your very soul and bleeds everything out of you. This is the feeling brought on when you see how alone you really are, and how false those close to you have portrayed themselves for their own reasons. This only amplified by the new realization that has come about only so shortly before... the realization that I must die alone, with no one by my side for the last moments. For all I am now compelled to do, this has become very clear. It's something that only the word devastation, and my own chosen path can justify.
At least, come the end, I will not feel it anymore.
This is no cry for sympathy, just something that needed to be out where the fewest look. The great shift is soon to come, and there are only a few ways I'll go. Of those ways, at least one will assure that I am not found again by those who would know me today.

First In Almost A Decade

2006-02-13T21:58:00.000-08:00

For the first time in seven years, since my very first Valentine, I believe I have another. Things have just sort of worked out this way, and I'm actually going to let it. I don't know what to think, or do, or say, but I think I'll just go with it and let my soul do the talking.

The Art Of Understanding

2006-02-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

If I could hold the wind
For just a moment
Within my steady hand
I could make you understand
I’ll never see the sky the same
Or conform to the current
Weighing you down
I would know you the subtle comfort
Of basking in the rain
And show you the lush green meadows
Beneath this dull-colored town

For through my eyes
You see foundations break
Concrete ways dissolve
As an equation that has been solved
This veil of darkness is my security
The rolling thunderstorms above
My fleeting madness
I fight so furiously against the wind
My eternal enemy
The sun is my burning disease
The twilight stars, my sparkling sadness

I stare intently into every space
To capture all it contains
I only look down to my soul
Perhaps asking a question of myself
Or simply maintaining control
For long before he was ever born
I so silently watched my child die
I relished in the absolute chaos
Every direction I had been torn
Yet so rarely found the tears to cry

If I listen attentively
To the running waters
I can hear the echoes of untold ages
As chiseled between the lines
On great, slate-quarried pages
I’ve found much more warmth in the cold
Where gently beating hearts
Can truly be appreciated
I’ve found much more peace of mind
In memories from days of old
When such differences were left unknown
And too far spread to be hated

Please try to understand
Only if you can
Simply being at home in the dark
Does not obstruct the path of light
Though I must admit
It is sometimes blinding
For from where I stand
It shines so bright

The Cold Blooded

2005-11-20T21:33:00.000-08:00

We wear the dark so well
Facade without frontier
We kill the things inside ourselves
Never shed a tear
We embrace the cold
Cast it out
Chilling all about
We taint upon the tenderness
Reject without a doubt
Yet our heart's will cry and bleed
For everything we've lost
In the frigid arms of loneliness
We die
Without a cause

Blood Or Honor

2005-11-15T01:13:00.000-08:00

Aaaah... Night and day, that, we are. Who is who and which is worse has yet to be seen. The time fast aproaches, as all the signs are beginning to show and make sense. The moon is high, and waxes strong... So the poisons flow as the tide.

Madness?

2005-11-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

Well, tonight I put up more of the story. But for the moment, I've had an epiphany that I have to release, or at least something of it. Empathy!
It's all starting to become very clear and apparent to me. I've always had something going on with empathy, even from a young age. I thought I'd completely lost it over the years, but I think that's simply because my own issues overcast the fact that I might still be recieving problems from others. What I know of it is that some vague studies believe that some people are like human antenaes for emotions. Without so much as a look or a word, they can pick up on how others feel and perhaps even the reasons.
I was really good at this in my younger years. My mind was clear and pure of all thought, so it was easy for me to tell when things were wrong, and I always seemed to be able to guess why. It used to freak my mother out when I'd read through her. Anyway, I've been noticing an increase in this sort of activity now that my own problems don't concern me as much as they once did. It explains a lot about so many things, but I don't really have time to elaborate. All I know is that this is pretty crazy, but I also think that's why I have spells of schyzophrenia (sp?), paranoid delusions, and skewed realities. To me, something like this isn't that far of a stretch, considering wavelength patterns of the brain and their similarities to other forms of wavelength. They are, in effect, ways of transfering information. Typically it's only through the nervous system, but I do believe that they can be directed elsewhere or even recieved if the conditions are right. Of course, this is one thing I haven't had time yet to study, but in speculation I believe it's an accurate hypothesis. It would definitely explain some of the strange activity I experience, and how sometimes I feel like the weight of the world is pressing down on me when I don't have anything stressing me.
This is some weird stuff, but I think I need to put some time aside to look into it and observe it if it's anything.

Just Pondering...

2005-10-30T17:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I'm going to do some more teasing because I don't feel like giving any more of the story yet. The next part that will be given is Yianni's story of Yoseph's love. But for now, I've worked out a preliminary list of what will come in the near to distant future. So you can chew on this for a day or two and perhaps ponder where these ideas will lead. Of course, I must leave a few things out for the sake of the story.

Darklore 1: Ascendants
Darklore 2: Awakening
Darklore 3: Dark Lords
Darklore 4: The Beginning Ends
Darklore 5: Exile
Darklore 6: Lost Civilization
Darklore 7: Dead Kings
Darklore 8: Infiltrators
Darklore 10: 21 Years of Darkness
Darklore 11: Deception
Darklore 12: The Last Year

I'm also going to include two relative mini-series. These are stories that I've had outlined and decided to work on in later years as I begin to finish this series.

21 Years of Darkness 1: No Strings Attached
21 Years of Darkness 2: Out of Shape
21 Years of Darkness 3: Pleasant Dreams

Chronicles of the Devil King 1: Demonseed
Chronicles of the Devil King 2: Dominions
Chronicles of the Devil King 3: The Witch King Comes

I also might do books or collections of short stories detailing the lives of the thirteen Dark Lords of Strigatta. Yes, there are thirteen all together (in that group) and they all have full histories, profiles, and personalities, as well as a collection of other characters that influenced their lives in some way to make them what they are in the present story. But then, nobody else knows what they are like in this story except for me. As a matter of fact, I think only two of them are even mentioned in this first installment of the story and I haven't posted that part yet. Oh well... it'll give you an idea on a couple of these characters and the things that influence them. You think a couple of these vamps are twisted? Wait til you're introduced to their fathers, or their fathers-fathers... now they are sick and vile things.

Meanwhile...

2005-10-22T23:10:00.000-07:00

Some distance from the estate now, a dark stretch limo was nearing an end on its long trip East. A couple hours had already passed as the car made its way across a very large bridge over the Hudson Bay, and the sun would soon be making an advance on the horizon. The driver sat wearily in his seat, listening to Frankie singing about New York, when he was startled by the intercom on his console. The static of the device was only made worse by the dark serrated rumble of his passenger’s voice.
“Mr. Riddle, when we cross the bridge, take me to Central Park. You may continue to the hotel afterward and take up the room we have arranged for you tonight. The usual stipulations apply. You have access to the petty business account, and must only be ready to take me back to the estate come nine o’clock tomorrow night. Any time in between is yours to do with what you will and your service will supply you overtime at our expense. I trust all of this shall suffice, though I could give a fuck what you think or how my father compensates you.”
Gregory Riddle did indeed appreciate the compensation and even the bit of paid R&R he could look forward to. But most of all, he looked forward to the time away from this one. If any of his employers were unpleasant to be around, this one was the worst by far. He was a young and arrogant prick-bastard of a man, and those weren’t even the worst qualities of his rotten personality.
Gregory has had to take him on his late night errands before, and they were always of questionable nature. He would go out and pick up prostitutes by the ‘baker’s dozen’, and have his way with them all in the back of the limo. This was not so much as some of the requests he made as to where he wanted to be dropped off and picked up. Gregory had been paid very well to remain silent, but he noted the way that the drop-off and pick-up points often triangulated around college campuses, concerts, and fairs. He had also remembered something about reading up on a string of murders in just such areas.
He had attempted to discuss it with the man’s father, for he would surely want to do something about this. But his father had pulled him off to the side and said, “My good man Gregory, you must understand that such things are simply not possible. We are a very powerful family with a reputation to uphold, and young Cristoph understands the importance of maintaining that reputation. You must also come to understand this, and spreading such nasty rumors and speculations will not help that. Trust simply that we have had him on business in our interests, and we have contacts that must be met away from curious eyes and ears. Our business is our own, you must understand.”
The look in the man’s eyes was enough to warn Gregory off of any brash decisions. Lord, he was intimidating, and the scars on his face didn’t help at all. He looked like some crazy war veteran, or maybe even the mad megalomaniac out of some old spy movie but far more sinister. Despite all that, he had always treated Gregory fairly and kept the others in check. He even offered to take the edge off Cristoph, and apparently had considering that he hasn’t been nearly as abrasive or offensive.
Gregory pulled off to the side of the street outside the park, got out, and went to open the door for Cristoph. He opened the door and lowered his head as the loathsome wretch stepped out onto the street. He glanced at Gregory with a sneer only momentarily then he looked out into the park and the surrounding area. He glared around for a few moments as if searching for something, and smiled a devious smile as he nodded his approval to Gregory that he should be on his way.

Cristoph was intent now on the park, for he could smell something in the night air that no man would ever be able to pick up on from this distance. Yet Cristoph, being as old and sharp as he is -not to mention being what he is- could detect it as if it were mere inches from him. So he continued across the street and into the park, lightly sniffing out the aroma of perfume and singling out any other scents.
As he could tell, there was a woman and she was with a man in the park. He tilted his head back and drew an even stronger whiff, to find they were both in heat. Hah! He thought to himself. So this woman is in heat and chooses to ignite herself with a candle? Well, perhaps I should bring the fire to her and melt this little wax thing she keeps for company. The fumbling bastard probably doesn’t even know how to use his little tool, much less how to store it in her toolbox. His dark mental chuckle was almost audible in the sinister glimmer of his eyes under the lamplight. In the next moment he was gone, merged with the shadows of the trees.
Cristoph slithered along like a snake in the grass as he approached a cluster of bushes where his keen ears could hear the heavy breathing and rustling activity they concealed. Next, he made for the heights of the trees over the bushes, this way to get a better vantage from which to see his potential prey. So there he perched between branches, as though he wasn’t even there at all, without a sound or disturbance to betray him. Indeed, if anything were to betray him, it must surely be the dead silence. Even the crickets had hushed their nightly orchestra to acknowledge his presence. Even they recognized the higher echelon of the night and would make no mistake of disrespecting such a dark and noble specter.
For the first few moments of his peeping, the woman was on top, riding the man like a bull. Her head stretched toward the sky, and her golden curls fell back onto her neck. Her body was slender with perky breasts and powerful thighs, where she continued to strain. Her eyes opened, staring at Cristoph in his perch, but unable to see him as he was one with the night. He looked deep into her blue eyes, and saw how hard she was trying to enjoy herself. Cristoph gave a small chuckle as he continued his voyeurism.
The woman pulled herself down onto her lover and he rolled over and took control. Now Cristoph glared in spite where he observed the scrawny youth, thrusting with all his might. He reached out his mind to touch upon the boy’s thoughts to find that this freshman football player was getting his first piece of action from the team whore. Cristoph thought how much he would enjoy showing one such as her things she had never imagined possible.
With that thought, Cristoph breathed a cold, clammy mist from his flaring nostrils, as his mind conjured the twisting vapors to transfix the couple. He would see them lost in a delusion, as if this were all a dream, and slowly creep among them. Then he had a most sinister thought run through his vile mind. So, they would have me cover my tracks, huh? He thought about it and grinned deviously in triumph as the idea came to him.
He slipped down behind the young man and placed a large hand on his head, transferring dark and sinister insinuations into his feeble mind. The girl began to shake off her confusion as she looked up at him through the mist. She felt chills run down her spine as he pulled out and thrust his hand around her throat, grinning fiendishly and moving around to kneel by her head.
In his place, a large man with fire for hair pulled her legs apart and thrust himself into her. His face was that of he devil, and his member burned where it tore her tender flesh so mercilessly. She screamed muffled screams and tried to struggle, but his weight and strength were far more than she could take. Then her ‘boy-toy’ for the evening proceeded to pry her mouth open and thrust his shaft into her throat.
She cried and gagged, trying hard to struggle, but unable to move at all. Then the boy pulled out and backed away as the devil rolled her onto her face and drove even deeper inside her. Even as she was about to pass out from lack of oxygen, the creature drove an iron fist into the back of her skull, turning it into mush. He looked to the boy with an evil leer and called him over.
The boy took his last turn as Cristoph redressed and stood close behind him. He stood there, smiling triumphantly as the boy came in her lifeless body. He watched the boy, gasping for air as he leaned forward and lifted the girl’s head by her hair. Then, still in position, he tilted her face back toward his and suddenly came to. His face became pale as he saw the vacant look in her dirt caked eyes, and the blood and brain-matter sliding down his fingers. It was the last thing he would recall before the authorities found him in the morning next to her corpse.
As for Cristoph, he had put the boy out even before he could pass out, in the event he might cry out. Then Cristoph made his way to his hotel room to sleep out the day, where he had made specific instructions that he is not to be disturbed under any circumstances. He would need his rest, for he must attend to some urgent business this evening.

Ok, so I lied about cutting this story off. But like it stated in the last one, this story is growing in the later stages. The early stages however are pretty well set and ready for telling. the new series still has a few things to be worked through before I can post anything solid. I was just excited by the idea and jumped the gun. Anyway, I've been busy taking the new characters and bringing them to life. I've got most of them down, but they have no backrounds or origens yet, even though there are only a dozen so far for that one. This one however, has about four dozen characters with full histories and another couple dozen stories yet to be told. I might even do a third series down the line detailing each of the main characters' history. The 'Dark Lords' each have a very interesting tale to tell, ranging from those who struggled with love and acceptance, to those who dealt with raging war and madness. It's really cool.

A Partial List Of The New Series Starting

2005-10-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

Devilkin 1: Defiler of Dreams
Devilkin 2: Master of Puppets
Devilkin 3: Shaper of Flesh
Devilkin 4: Damned Desires
Devilkin 5: Order and Chaos
Devilkin 6: Lord of Destruction
Devilkin 7: The Gathering
Devilkin 8: Harvester of Souls

This is some of it, but not quite all of it. I would do a list for the other series, but it's far too long and ever changing. Some parts of the story are merging while others split. The further points in the series are even changing. Just tonight I revised the outlines and removed a very important character to introduce even later with a better role. The story can only ever get better as it's rewritten for what seems like the thousandth time.

2005-10-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

Well now, some may wonder why I haven't been putting up more of this story for you to follow. Well, the explanation isn't good for you, but I'm going to have fun with it. *smiles deviously* I lost a couple pages of the story here to blogger, so I've been continuing in Word since. I've done quite a bit now with the "Darklore" series that you have read samples of here. These are abreviated samples, none the less, and will be written to a greater extent in the finished product. But I will eventually give a little more of it, but until then...
I've decided that I will very soon start posting pieces of another series I've been planning along with this one. The other series is called "Devilkin", and will involve similar things, but it will take part in a completely fictional world. This series will deal with an ongoing war with Entities classified as Gods and Devils, and a myriad of their creations fighting for them. It will explain the hierarchy of each side and some of the events of their great war, and will eventually lead into an even greater war further into the series. I haven't decided how long this one will be yet, but it will be several volumes. I have a few dozen characters named and profiled for this series, though it still shies in comparison to the extent of my "Darklore" series. Oi', the "Darklore" series is working with several dozen characters that are extensively profiled. Then, I've been working on that one primarily over the years, so the characters have had a lot more time put into them and several are based on people I've known. It helps I've known a LOT of people really well.
Anyway, I may continue to let more of "Darklore: Ascendants" slip out, but not for a little while. I would simply give too much away, and that wouldn't be any fun. So keep checking in for the first instalments of "Devilkin: Defiler of Dreams" as it will be up soon.

Reflections Of A Distant Past

2005-10-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

The low rumble of the next incoming wave of the storm could clearly be heard in the dead silence of the dimly lit study, as the two enchanting ladies entered from the corridor. Jianni stood at the window looking out over the valley and reminiscing about times untold. He remembered great days and terrible ones, spanning back for several millenia, as though he had been there. Of course, there was never any written recollection of those days, only those who had been there were left to tell the tale. Jianni had indeed been there, and privy to all of the knowledge of their great House's rise and fall. They had never truely fallen, but had suffered a fall in some sense of the word. More or less, it was the history of their Patriarch, Yoseph Dargun.
The story of Yoseph was indeed the story of their origens, honor, and everything they had come to believe and represent. Jianni had been among the first few that came under Yoseph's service as the Houses proper were bursting into existence on this fragile little rock. That had all happened very quickly, and rightfully so, for this world would be bathed in blood many times over before it would grow to become what it is today. But in all this time, Jianni and his brethren had guarded their history closely. It was not knowledge that everyone in the House could understand or live up to, so it was told sparingly. As one should prove themselves to be an asset to their House, they would be granted more information, and a greater understanding of where they came from and what they were seeking to acomplish.
As for the prior, Cristoph is a prime example of why such information was guarded. In spite that he had ben granted knowledge of why his misogyny would not be tolerated, he continues to persist and will only ensure his own end. But these are the reasons he had not been told the rest of the story, such as their origens traced to their source or the true powers that they were all capable of possessing. Stephan himself knows very little of it, and only because he had been there to see some of it. For of all those that had survived from those ancient times Nikolai, Ivan, Vlady, Igor, Boris, and Jianni himself were the only members of the generation caste to live to this day. Stephan had lived as a mortal in the days of the Great Fall, and had seen the extent of their powers and heard the name that they knew themselves as when this level was achieved.
Now, part of this story must be told to a new generation, as to prepare them for the coming nights. The Ladies present tonight have served their time and proven valuable to their continuity, and Gustav may be a fledgling but vital, no less. They must all come to understand how proud they should be to carry on the bloodline, and to even know of such things. For aside from the atrocities of the other Houses, the House Of Dargun holds a long history of honor and might beyond the comprehension of the other kindred. Theirs is a legacy of champions and great deeds of honor and chivalry, but all outlined in blood, for that is simply their nature. And Jianni thought of all this as the Ladies took a seat on a leather sofa to the left of his massive desk, with Gustav seated on an antique chair on the right. He thought: Ahh! Such a legacy for these young ones here, and so many great stories to be told. I could not possibly tell all in this night or a thousand others. But then, when has time ever been a concern for such as us? Hah! And this Lady Karina would make a lovely bride to see over my harem. I would even consider repairing my appearance for this one, yes. So I've come to this, and I shall instruct her along with young Gustav here. If I must, I will also tell all to this Cristina, to ensure Karina's happiness. Yet, even thinking this now, I fail to see how Cristoph can be as he is. Does he not feel it coursing in his veins? How can he not feel the pride and the passion that boils in our blood? The others feel it surely, for they all display such. And he is no wretched creature like I for that matter, though my disposition is of my own will and reasoning. It is a perplexing question, but perhaps the answers will show themselves in time.
Jianni turned to look at his children where they awaited his attention. "Well now, aren't we all alert and attentive? Just as well, for there are great stories to tell, and much time to tell them. Now listen to me, and see through my eyes back into a time. Back to a time long forgotten to men, and ever remembered by those who were there. I shall tell you a tale of our great Patriarch, and his fall to a condition called love."

Obedience Or Obscenity

2005-09-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

As Karina stood in the doorway of the manse, sipping a thick red wine, the evening storm had entered a lull. She very much enjoyed this part of the storm, and ever so from this vantage. The mansion rested just above the foot of the mountain in a clearing with a gradual slope, making up the grounds of the estate. Most of the valley could be seen from here, and the almost constant electrical activity of the storm made for quite the display. The Lady Karina was captivated by the sight as much as the electricity in the air. She could feel the power of the elements coursing through her cold veins until disturbed by a pair of headlights approaching the gates.
She sighed to herself and tried to capture one last impression of the magnificent storm before the car arrived, but the moment had passed. She felt jaded, and doubly so considering who was arriving as well as where they were returning from. It had been so very long since the Ladies of the household had been excluded from the meetings held at their club, which could only mean one thing in her mind... war! Not that the Ladies themselves were not capable in combat; no, far from it. The simple fact was that this house was ruled by Lords, and it always would be. There was no contesting that, and she knew it, however reluctant she was to fully admit it.
So Jianni and his men returned now, and surely with news of what had been discussed. If he would not speak of it, then certainly, things are amiss. All this as the limo entered the gates, but Karina would make herself scarce for the time being. She must go to the other Ladies of the manse and await the Lord and his. She did this not out of fear or modesty, but the Lady Karina could very well feel Jianni's seething hatred as he drew near. She would not wish to tempt him to any violence in such a mood. He generally respected all of his own, and his honor was without tarnish in the eyes of the house, yet he was aware of his inferiors. He would not be goaded the slightest by a 'suckling bitch' -as the highest Lords are wont to say- on his own property. The slight to his honor to even try him would be justification enough for him to see to a proper diciplining, however improper his methods.
She hurried up one side of the stairwell in the great hall, making her way day the corridor as she thought further on the subject. Jianni's methods of correction in this manse were horrifying, even amongst their kind. His mastery of the dark arts akin with his lust for complete and total corruption made for a deadly combination. The men who had the nerve -or rather the ignorance- to test his short patience found out in short measure the error of their ways. Yes, in very short measure.
Jianni was known to beat them only slightly, then transfix them and bore into their worst fears. All creatures felt fear, and Jianni had mastered it in the many millenia he had served the Dark Lord. For many of the men it was easy enough, and he revelled in it. First, he would take the man to his harem chambers where his bitches glutted on blood and sex from eachother and random victims given to them for days and nights on end. There, the man would be chained face-down, suspended in the air. Jianni would make a small incision to allow his blood to drain into a fountain so the man would not be able to resist in any way. Then he would cut off their testicles with a cursed blade, so they could not grow back, and feed them to select women. The man would not so much feel this as he would react to seeing it, for with the blood letting and the distraction of the women, they often didn't notice any physical pain. No, they would not feel yet. That was all for later.
Next, Jianni would chop off his erect shaft with the same cursed blade and attach it to a strap with a supporting rod. Even bloody and in a lethargic state, most men recognize their own appendage. Karina gave a sneer of disgust as she thought of what he did after that. That bloody maniac would let one of his whores put the thing on and throat fuck the man, while Jianni himself would thrust his mutated appendage deep into the man's anus. Jianni and the women would take their turns sodomizing and defiling the man, sometimes for days, before the women would drain him to near death. Jianni would finish it by placing him in a sun room to await the very last hours of daylight, which he would spend burning into oblivion.
Gruesome indeed, and only slightly more awful than what he would do to his female transgressors. Their fate would be very much the same, but the harem would not have any involvement. They would be taken by every man that Jianni had before the master himself finished the job. The whole body of some thirteen dozen would take their time in filling the woman to the point of bursting, before they would mercifully burn into ash.
This was a fate she detested only for the fact that Cristoph and his lecherous scum would be some of the most active participants. For the fact was plain, members of the house Dargun frowned on blatant misogyny. Yet, Cristoph and his were a different story entire. They cared little for the history, codes, and traditions of the house, which Jianni had explained to her in great detail how significant they were. Karina had never know the times of the Dark Lord's reign, but she had been assured that Cristoph would never have so much as attempted any such atrocities under His rule.
And suddenly: Aaah! Dearest Lady Karina, and how you make haste to be away when you have nothing to shy from. The very lech you so eloquently speak of is the selfsame bastard whelp responsible for my present mood. You have nothing to fear of me, m'dear. In fact, I would cherish your company in my study as I explain these olden times to young Gustav. The walking carcas has continued off with the limo on his way to meeting with some of our... once-removed kin. She heard Jianni's gurgling chuckle in her mind as she felt something of relief wash over him, and so transfer to her.
Of course, Lord. I will return shortly, but I would like Christina to hear them as well. I worry for my sister, for I don't believe she has accustomed herself to our ways yet.
A pause, as she saw a mental picture of his wan smile and a nod. Very well then. Acceptance can be a difficult thing, even after five hundred years. I believe that she is ready to know of the grand history of this house. So be it!

Learn to Live

2005-09-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

This year had been a record year for storms, and fantastic electrical storms at that. Tonight was an especially foreboding night as the rain came in a terrential downpour, obscuring even plain vision. The skies came alive with fury and provided the only clarity in this hellish storm, as lightning arced from one cloud to the next. Other bolts found their way to the ground or other possible grounds, but caused little damage. To most, it would be just another storm. However bad, it was nothing too extreme or even worth worrying about.
Three dark figures entered the night from the rear of Wonderland, and would find themselves even less concerned, for they found comfort in these conditions. They enjoyed damp and dark places, as well as the cover they could provide. The three of them made for a stretch limo parked near the rear of the club, and the driver let each of them in. Upon escorting the last man into the limo, the driver bowed and closed the door, making way to his seat. There, he turned to his passengers and inquired, "Where to, Sir?"
The man in the center looked up from under the shadow of a wide brimmed hat. His curly red lockes were the only thing that could be clearly seen under the hat's shadow. The driver believed that he smiled, though he spoke in an oily and irritated voice, "To my estate in the mountains, driver, and leave us in privacy. I will page you if I require."
The driver tipped his cap in acknowledgement, and drew up the window between the front and rear of the limo. Afterward, Jianni removed his hat and pulled back the hair from his face as the two seated opposite him took off their hoods. He then glared at Cristoph and the young Gustav, and shook his head. He smiled at Gustav without humor, "Well then, fledgling... Firstly, well done in creating an appealing atmosphere for the business tonight. Did you listen to the deliberations then?"
Gustav at once became aware, and his immature nerves worked on him, as he thought how to respond. Gustav was a young man of only fourty three, an felt dwarfed in the presence of his seniors. But he had been chosen by Jianni for obvious reasons, though he hadn't yet taken them into account. He couldn't possibly imagine what he had even been accepted into the House for, and wouldn't even fathom it for several long years yet. So now he would always wonder of his Masters' nature, and the meaning of their ever vague inquiries.
Gustav looked to be in his late twenties, which he had been when he was founded and became an aspirant. He was not extremely strong or aggressive - actually a pacifist - but he was not by any means weak. His intelligence made him a candidate of particular interest for his work in biomechanical studies, as well as his apparent interest in viral studies. But these things were beyond him as of yet, and his Master awaited an answer to his question.
Gustav shook his head, "I did try to mind my own business, but I couldn't help but overhear something of the conversation, M'Lord." He said trying to hide his anxiety in the face of the walking corpse of a man that leered at him.
Jianni closed his eye and shook his head witth a wan grin, "Hah! And so you would have me believe that you couldn't help but listen as you played such an intricate score for the lot of us this eve? Either you have taken me for a fool or you still lack understanding of what this is all about, and what we are about." He started with a knowing smile as the lascivious look washed over his face again. "It pleases me to know that you have the mind to know our business. I would not have allowed you to be there, were it otherwise. Yet, do not jump to unfounded conclusions, for I mean no conspiracy against my Kindred. I simply mean to include you in some future affairs that will surely pertain to your own future with us."
Jianni twiddled his long fingers in front of his chin as he tossed an unforgiving glance at Cristoph, "And I'd hope that you were to learn to avoid making the mistakes of others among us. For such mistakes could, very well, hold grave consequences still. We are very - family oriented? - and not very understanding in certain matters. You will learn some of our history soon, and then further understand what we are about."
All the while, Cristoph sat back looking out the window into the night, with his smug grimace appearing as a child pouting after a tantrum. This was even how Jianni thought of him in these recent years, and even less of what was going on in his head. Though, Cristoph tried very hard to keep his thoughts from his seniors, they could pluck them from him more easily than fruit from a tree. His mental barriers and hiding holes were open for all of them to see, and they merely suffered his presence for a coming example. For Cristoph would surely be a grand example when he inevitably crossed paths with their Lord. All others from that point on would know what it meant to be of the House Dargun.

The limosine drove on for nearly three hours over mountains and through valleys, traversing winding roads through this nightmare of a storm. Its passengers must have been well content, for the driver heard not a word from any of them. He had enjoyed the nightshift until his company had assigned him to this cold family. He would often have to drive several of them from one place to another all night long. It was as if they never slept, as their would always be several of them up and about. Or perhaps they just never adjusted to the timezone here, because the only thing he accurately knew was that they were Russians.
He would often wonder if they were in with the mob, but never really saw anything to suggest it. He would pick up various family members from the airport, from time to time, arriving in their private planes. That was the other thing he was sure on; they are filthy rich. A few of them would tip him generously for his services, even as much as a couple thousand. That was pocket change for guys like these, and they loved to display the fact.
The only thing he really couldn't get around was how creepy they were. Every one of them had something about their voice that sent chills down his spine. As for those that he actually got a good look at, their eyes had been hypnotic and terrifying to look at, though they seemed normal enough. It wasn't anything that he could place his finger on specificly, but they were very intimidating.
From time to time, he wondered what ever became of their other drivers. And as he thought about it, he couldn't recall ever meeting their day drivers.

Dens and Devils

2005-09-07T21:10:00.000-07:00

A mellow thud of bass could be felt in the dimly lit room inside the club. A young man sat in the corner playing a klavier to the rythmic beats, giving the whole tune some strange and foreboding hypnotic aura. This was all the better to sooth the moods of his Master and his kin, as the quartet sat around a large oval table on the opposite side of the room. Two young brothers stood in silence, for the moment, waiting for their elders to speak of what business must be dealt with tonight. Their other brothers would be arriving soon, as well as other kin from afar. There were apparently urgent matters afoot, and they must be addressed imediately.
At the centermost of the great table was the handsome and proud Nikolai Dargun, appointed to the head of the House by right of seniority. He appeared very young for such a position, no more than his early thirties, with fine blonde hair greased back. His features were that of an angel, menacing and merciful at the same time, however decieving. His eyes shown a bright blue with a gaze so strong it might penetrate solid rock.
Seated to his right was Ivan Dargun, a very brutish looking man. He kept his head shaved with several tattoos of various shapes and symbols arranged in specific spots about his skull. His eyes were very dark and deep sunken under a straight and bushy brow of dark hair. For his large frame, his head appeared slightly too small and his face too narrow. And his nose came to an angled point giving him the look of a great owl.
On Nikolai's left, an extra seat over, was Jianni Dargun. Jianni was thin and fragile looking, though this was far from the case. He had lost an eye long ago, so replacing it with a marble eye, and bearing great scars down the left side of his face. For what face he had anyway, considering his skeletal features usually masked by his long, bright red hair. His features might have been considered handsome at a time, but now they were scarred and partially emaciated. Jianni was like a portrait of death, quite like the morticians you see in films that very nearly resemble the corpses they deal with.
To his left was Vlady Dargun - a young and verile man? - with a heavily scarred face and very unforgiving brow. His hair was a jet black mess where it stood on end at the top of his head. All this supported by broad shoulders and a barrel of a chest. Vlady was strong and menacing looking with great flared nostrils and a permanent purse to his lips. He would surely be one to deal with in a quarrel.
As for the other two, they were Cristoph and Stephan Dargun. Though not really brothers, they did share blood in common but not the same mothers or fathers, yet their bond is far deeper. Cristoph shared Jianni's fiery red hair in a similar length but his features were more smug than horrible. He had an attitude about him, and that was apparent but simply would not do in this House. But Stephan was a different matter entirely. Stephan had long dark hair, slicked to the back of his head where they broke out into dark springy curls at his neck and down his back. He almost looked as smug, but knew his place well, as he has known for long and long. He bore a grand resemblence to one painting on the wall, of a strong nobleman of ancient times. A fine and fair angelic face under a hard brow, with deep green eyes and a well defined chin with a subtle cleft. The primary difference was a small mole dotted under his left eye.
All here waited to hear from Nikolai as to what news is forthcoming, and what actions must be taken. After long moments of silence, save for the music, Nikolai spoke: "My Brethren, how long has it been now? How long since our days of glory, when we fought the good fight? I know that there are questions you have, and all will be addressed here tonight, as well as a few bones to be picked clean. So I will not further delay this, and start with some information you're already aware of. Boris and Igor are en route from Borovici, where they have been attending to our resouces closer to our Lord. Will be coming along with all other nobles of the House, for there is much to do.
"Stephan knows some of this and all will be told, but first some bones with you Cristoph!" He said as he glared scornfully at the proud young wretch, to see a sneer directed at him. "And would you dare to gaze at me as such? Have you the mettle to meet me lad? I think not, so suffice to say I'll commend you for behaving here at the club, though surely Vlady had nothing to do with that." Vlady gave a small chuckle where his eyes burned on Cristoph. "You arrogant little gutter trash lech! You've managed to keep it out of the house, but what of your activities then outside? Do you believe we will overlook such things? We have to maintain anonimity, and you continually jeaprodise that. It isn't what you do, no lad, for we all understand this. It's how you do it, and what you leave behind. Simply put, you leave everything behind! If you don't pick up after yourself, then how can you ever expect more?
"Instead, Stephan here has begun to pick up after you, and it's a good thing he did. He's the only reason you're not boiling in your own fats right now, whelp! For he has found something that ensures his efforts have not been wasted. Our Lord himself would surely flay you alive for such transgressions, and you know the history of it! But you have inadvertently lead on to something that will make everything worth it. Perhaps I'll let Stephan explain, if you will, Stephan?"
Stephan stepped forward and gave a vicious sneer in Cristoph's direction before saying on, "Indeed M'Lord, I have stumbled upon something most intriguing. I'm sure you all know of Sergei and the grand betrayal. He had tainted blood running through his veins before I had ever even known it. His blood was that of a cursed Warlden Eire, old as the world itself, and more wicked than anything we could even compare to. Such is how it's been told for countless ages, but lost in the wake of time and triviality. Well then, he was lost not too long ago, captured by those who knew too much about him. Needless to say, it's hard enough to figure out how they managed to capture him, and harder yet as to how they keep him sedated.
"The point of our interest is not Sergei himself, no, for he is gone and done from this noble House. Our interest lies closer to home, where I have felt something of myself that I did not recognize. But of course, I felt something of him also, and so very close I could taste the poisons in his veins. Sergei left seed behind him, no doubt with the knowledge that he would soon be out of it, the uncanny bastard that he was!"
Astonished, Jianni interupted in an oily infectious voice deep and thick as a tar pit, "Are you positive about this? You know that if this be true, there are dreadful things in the offing! I was there with you and in Sergei's mind, though I now wish I had not been. If my mind is a dark pool of acid, his is the pure miasma of damnation itself! There are true devils in that one, and attempt to strip his mind, I will not!"
Stephan nodded knowingly, "Yes M'Lord, I was there as well and saw what I saw. But I know this as well as any other, and I would see it perish!"
Nikolai agreed in a deep and soft tone, "As would I, my son. None of us can let this thing come to be, for surely it has not yet. But now, there are questions to be addressed and I would have them out from this insolent wretch NOW!!!" He uttered in a harsh growl directed at Cristoph.
Cristoph drooped his head in shame but started in a hard and gritty voice, "M'Lord, I simply wish to know why all of this is necesary. It's bad enough you have Vlady and his damned Agents of the Inferno here as my watchers, but to in all the other nobles for this single aspirant whelp!"
Nikolai's eyes burned a deep crimson with sulfurous coronas, "Do not DARE to question my motives! They come from our Lord himself and no other. You will simply obey and pair with Stephan to track him down and kill him! Just be sure to put a concise end to it, and be clean!"
And calmer now, "But there is one more matter to address. The Blood God and his children have been at war in their world. They have been routed, and so they come here. He will awaken our Lord and the others, to spill out over these lands once again. Our time of glory fast aproaches, and the faithful will be rewarded." Nikolai finished with a sinister grin, as all eyes lit the room, and the shadows crept about the walls.
The musician stopped playing the klavier and picked up the violin in response to a mental command, and played a wild and fiery tune. It was a tune fit for devils such as these, or perhaps a great feast among dancing dead. The tune itself was festive as well as dark and sinister at the same time.
As the candlelight of the room flickered and went out, so the meeting was adjourned.

Chapter 2: Wonderland

2005-09-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

The club was hopping tonight on the downtown boulevard, and it seemed everyone had made it out except one person. Shayna Brown, better known as 'Alice', had been up on stage several times already and no sign of the good doctor anywhere. She'd walked about the place all night when she wasn't on stage, but never even saw him. She really felt bad for the guy, because by the stories he had told her it seemed as though his wife was cheating on him. He is a successful doctor and a really nice guy, despite that he seems shrouded in mystery. He'd only been coming to Wonderland for the past few days, and she'd become quite fond of him. If he wasn't married, she would take him in a second... if that even stopped her for long.
Shayna has been working at Wonderland for the past few years as their lead dancer, 'Alice'. She fit the bill perfectly, with her flowing blonde hair, bright blue eyes, long legs, and supple curves. She was the house favorite for the most part, but her friend Crystal 'Madhatter' was the obvious second. She had been quick off the mark to take an interest in Alex as well, though she only wanted to get in his pants. She was a short and silly girl who loved putting on a show. She had one of those adorable doll faces and short cut dark hair that matched her character well. The two of them had been instant friends, and on occasion, a little more than that.
Shayna sat at the mirror in the dressing room, keeping to her thoughts until Crystal had come up to her. "So where's our doctor friend tonight? I'm badly in need of a check-up." Crystal blurted as she plopped down on Shayna's lap, causing her to wince in momentary pain.
"Damn your boney ass! I've got enough bruises as it is without your hip-marks on my thigh." Shayna scolded, only slightly irritated from beeing interupted from her thoughts. "You just want to fuck him anyway, and you know he's married."
Crystal giggled in her girlish way and playfully responded, "Noooo... I want to share him with my bestest friend in the whole wide world. And sorry about the bruises bitch, but life's hard and so is my ass." She sneered without mallice as she got up and shuffled away.
Shayna had taken that opportunity to smack crystals ass as she shaked her hips toward the door. She winced again saying, "I'm gonna have to keep you away from him, that ass is dangerous."
She looked over her shoulder with a smile, "You know it hunny." As Crystal headed out of the dressing room and onto the stage for her show. She thought to herself of how badly she wanted Shayna, and how much fun they could have together. But Shayna had a soft spot for bleeding heart cases, and felt some desire to make things all better for them. They only ever ended up treating her like a whore in the end, and she would come crying back to Crystal. Now that was truely heart-breaking, because Shayna is a gem. She deserves better than what these guys put her through.
While Shayna kept thinking about Alex, and how he didn't deserve to be treated the way his wife had been treating him. But her thoughts began to wander a litle more as she thought about how much she has grown to hate this place. The girls have always been great for the most part, but the guys can get out of hand far too often. She enjoyed dancing and being up on stage almost as much as she simply enjoyed being naked, but they could make it seem so degrading. She also had problems with upper management, for they were cold and hard people. There were men and women alike in the owner's box, but every single one of them was like a stone. She suspected that they were involved in some kind of criminal activity, most likely the Russian Mob. She couldn't be sure but they looked and sounded like Russians, though the language didn't seem to be quite Russian.
She had most of her problems with the boss's nephew, Christopher. Chris was a tall and dashing young man, and not at all unattractive. He had very deep and penetrating eyes under a strong brow. His lips were pouty and always partially pursed, giving him a very smug look that was often the case. He was a lech if there ever was one, and he could get very violent and rough with the girls. It never really got out of hand because his brother Steven was always keeping an eye on him. Not to mention, however cold his father Nicholas was, he didn't tolerate mistreatment of his staff in any way. She had seen what happens when Nick catches Chris grabbing one of the girls, and it isn't pretty. The one occasion she was sure that he had been beaten to death.

Nicholas had caught Chris in the corner of a back room with 'Cheshire', and she had claimed he'd tried to rape her. She had obviously been beaten by the bruises on her face. When Nicholas had entered the room everyone heard him yell out in their language - a curse perhaps? - and came running upstairs to see chris flying down the hall, in mid-air! Nick came chasing after him with incredible speed and lifted him to his feet without effort, pounding his face into pulp. Everyone hurried back down the steps when Nick threw Chris off the balcony onto the tile floors below. Everyone thought he was dead, but he started to slowly get up as Nick came charging over and gave him a kick before stomping his face into the tile. then his uncles, Jianni and Ivan lifted him up and carried him off.
Nicholas had then been soft in speaking to 'Cheshire', which had never been seen before. He had told her to take some time off, and that he would be putting one hundred thousand dollars in her account imediately. He said that if she would like to come back, she would be welcome. He also told all of the girls right there, "My cousin Vlady will be coming in within the week, and he will be heading up a new security team. You will all let him know if there is any trouble with anyone my people or others. And you must speak with him directly, for then he will speak with me so that I may personally deal with them if he has not already."
Only two weeks later, Christopher had returned, but now under the watchful eye of Vlady. Now, Nick was intimidating however angelic his face seemed, but vlady was something entirely different. Nicholas was a tall and well built man who looked a good fifty. His face was chisled and he had a soft but stern brow under his slicked platinum-blonde hair. Vlady however, was of a more moderate height and built like an ox. He had broad hunched shoulders supporting a barrel of a chest. His brow was harsh and unforgiving, and his hair was grey as death with a few jet black streaks in it where it stood on end in every direction. His face was boxy with many scars and he had very large nostrils over a pursed grimace, but he did his job well.
Cristopher had been terrified of his father's cousin. The girls too, but they new that he would be able to keep chris under wraps. He apparently spoke no english, but seemed to understand it well enough. Chris had tried to talk to him on many occasions, but every time it seemed to only aggravate Vlady. He would often end the conversation with a low and menacing threat and follow it by knocking Chris off of his feet. The girls loved watching this play out for obvious reasons.
And the new security staff was something else too. There were only seven new men added, but they must have all been foriegn like Vlady. Not one of them ever spoke a word in English, but understood well enough. They were a rough looking bunch, but a clear and very present deterant. However, some of the clients still got a little touchy behind the closed doors of the private rooms. Security would see them out and ban them, but the damage was still done.

Shayna just couldn't stand being here anymore. The place seemed like so much fun in the beginning, but now there was some kind of tension. She could feel it every time she came to work, like something bad was going to happen here. That was another reason she had been enjoying Alex's company. The tension seemed to lift when he was around, and that was a comfort in itself. But then when he left, things seemed that much worse.
She still hoped to see him tonight. It would be a few more hours before they closed, so there was always the chance he would come in late.

Cracked Up

2005-09-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

The streets are busy this time of night, but not in this part of town. Only few ever bother to drive, much less walk, the streets of South Side after dark. The only ones who find any interest here are junkies and thugs. The whores don't even work the corners here anymore, for they would only be inviting rape and theft. The thugs rule these streets and question any outside intrusion. Yet tonight, a young stranger has pulled up outside one of the buildings in his old beat-up Charger. Members of a local gang give him a single glance, but pay him no further mind.
Lucas knows a few people this side of town, and he has a good reputation around here, not to mention support. Some of the older heads in the area owe him some form of debt, and it's been said that even without their backing, he's not one to mess with. Lucas did look intimidating, even in this part of town. He was very well built and cold as ice with that deep glare that he always gave every man around here. The guy had some balls on him considering that even he knew that every one out here is packing heat, and not one of them would think twice before using it.
The fact is, Lucas had a bad run-in with some of these guys a few months ago. The guy had argued with him about that stare of his, seeing it as disrespect on his turf. Lucas was never one to take shit, and even with the rest of his boys behind him, Lucas wouldn't back off. He continued to stare the guy down until they all attacked him. These guys were tough, but Lucas had been trained for this kind of fight, so incapacitating several of them. When he managed to fend them off, their leader pulled a piece on him and shot him. But Lucas had been quick to the take, and was already on the move before the shot rang off. The bullet grazed his shoulder, but didn't so much as shake him where he lunged at the leader.
Lucas disarmed him and broke his nose, his leg, and several bones in his hand. Others had come onto the street to see what the comotion was, including people who knew Lucas. These people were respected by everyone in the neighborhood, but above all, feared. They began yelling and cursing at the younger men that had attacked Lucas, causing them all to scatter. The others who had come onto the street quickly returned indoors as the men approached the shooter. One of them pulled out a piece and shot him in the head without a single word. From that night on, nobody ever gave Lucas more than single glance.

Tonight, Lucas was here to see a friend of his, whose father was the one that shot his attacker. Lucas was here to see his friend Trevor and a few others he'd served with in the war. He wanted to find out about what they would be getting into becasue word had been passed along that his friend Damian had talked with one of their other buddies that was already active again. Apparently, something serious was going down, and things didn't make much sense. It was somethings that they all needed to discuss further.
Lucas entered the building and made his way to the fifth floor, then to the end of the hall where Trevor lived. He gave a quick and familiar knock on Trevor's door, identifying his intent in code. Trevor's wife Asia had answered the door, and greeted Lucas with a smile. She led him into the livingroom where trevor was seated with Damian, Miguel, and Darnel, passing a pipe between them.
"Well, and the bad boys are back together." Lucas greeted them all with a smile. "And what's this, party favors? I take it the news isn't that bad, because you know that shit takes a while to clear your system."
Trevor looked at him and returned his smile. "You have no idea, m' man. Wait 'til you here this shit Damian's on to. There's some crazy shit about to go down and it's got everythin' all fucked up."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Lucas inquired as he took a seat in an easy chair opposite Damian.
Damian passed him a glass pipe and a lighter, saying: "Take a hit off this shit and open your ears, bro. I talked to Jason Dormer, you remember him from school?" Lucas nodded as he took a long drag off the pipe. "Well, he's been in Special Ops with doing some really secret shit. Now first off, he's been on the shit too, and flushed his system before going back so he'd be ready for their tests. They never gave him the tests, and had told them all that they would no longer be administered. The strange thing was, they started giving them all some new kind of narcotic that he said was some pretty heavy shit. It was some kind of super stimulant that got him all jacked up. He also told me that the government has been building some kind of secret branch of the military for several years now. All the 'Black Ops' programs are part of one grand scheme, and he says that they are fucking armed to the teeth with all kinds of crazy shit. If we had their hardware, their wouldn't be an army on the planet that could stand against us. But that's the other crazy shit!
"He told me that they weren't planning to invade other countries, but protect them all. he said that all they were allowed to know was that there are forces from another world that are going to be invading within the next couple of years. All of this shit is highly classified, but they haven't been cut off yet. All he knows is that he's being trained to join this secret force, and that some of his superiors have let him in on the fact that they will be taking the best from other units to be trained for the new military. He says that eventually, everyone will have some kind of new training for this attack."
Lucas looked at them all, perplexed, "You can't be fucking serious. How much of this shit have you done? And for that matter, how much of this shit has he done? I can't see the government giving us narcotics before a war, unless they're trying to make us too fucked up to back out of the fight."
Darnel took into the conversation now, with an intent look in his eyes, and in his deep voice: "Don't you see what's goin' down? That's the whole thing. These motha' fucka's gettin' us all doped up so we don't run from these crazy fuckin' aliens. They probably shoot all that acid and shit, and got them big fangs and claws."
then Damian started, "And like I said, Jason told me that shit got him seriously jacked up! He said that he had no fear at all and it was like all his senses were amplified. It felt like he was tripping, but at the same time he was on guard and active. He even said that it made him stronger, and more accurate. I mean, this guy told me that he got ten straight headshots at five hundred yards without a scope. Each one was perfect, and shot in rapid succesion, which is impossible. But I'm saying, what if he's right? He also mentioned that every nation in the world has signed a treaty detailing that no hostilities will be exchanged between them. It's all crazy!"
Lucas shook his head as he took another hit, still bewildered. "You can say that again."
Then Miguel cut in, "Yo, listen up. I talked to Lieutenant Avarez, and he said that we're all getting called back in two months. He confirmed that there wouldn't be any drug testing and that something strange was going on. He said that all they would let him know was that all of our forces would not be leaving US soil for several months."
Trevor nodded, "However crazy this shit sounds, it is possible. I'm not sure what to think of all this m' self. I got a wife and one in the oven, but I don't want to see anything happen to them either."

The five friends continued conversing, long into the night, mostly about mundane things that had occured in the past few weeks. Lucas couldn't scratch the thought from his head, certainly considering how he'd recently been plagued by these strange voices. Right on cue, as he thought about it, the voices came again in their strange choral manner:
Aaaah!!! Hahahaha... Fools that you all are. You think the little space men are coming to get you. Much like those of a time not long ago, thinking that the little green men were coming to get them. Oh, there are things coming that are not of this world, and there will be a bloody war. But a clue for an ignorant child: we're already HERE!!! Hahahaha... I can feel you shrink back into yourself, but no... Oh no m'lad. There will be no hiding place for the likes of you. We come soon to join our kin, who walk among you even now, and always very much closer than you could imagine.

The words burned like acid in his mind. They were some sickening miasma comparable to nothing less than the breathe of the Devil himself. And the echoes lingered for long hours, to almost make Lucas dizzy. He tried to think of Mary but it didn't help, and the drugs didn't help either. Several times, he felt as though he would be sick. His buddies gave him a hard time of it, but they couldn't know. If they did know something, they showed no sign of it. And the voices made one thing clear...
Lucas wouldn't be getting out of this... whatever it was to be.

4 Shadows

2005-08-29T18:37:00.000-07:00

Alex finds himself in yet another dark place, surrounded by tendrils of mist. The air is warm and dry, but almost alien to him. As his eyes begin to adjust, he notices dense foliage and exotic plant life. The ground is very soft and murky where he begins to move deeper into the jungle toward a mountain seen over the canopy. With no idea where he is or what has happened, Alex thought it best to get up on some high ground and possibly gain his bearings.
As he moved on, he couldn't help but notice the warding silence of this place. For a jungle, there was surprisingly little signs of any kind of life. Suddenly, he noticed something not far ahead of him moving. He approached faster but with much more caution, as the shape of the little girl from his nightmare came into focus. Then he began to move more swiftly, but she was far less hindered by the dense terrain. Alex tore desperately through vines and all manner of ferns and branches. They tore at him as if trying to purposely keep him from catching the girl. His flesh broke and his blood flowed as vines lashed out at him with oppressive force, catching at his feet and causing him to stumble. Despite all of his difficulty, Alex pressed on harder.
He began to realize he must be dreaming again, but he had to know what it all meant, if anything. So he continued on through a broken wire fence with broken signs written in some foreign language. He recognized the symbols as being Oriental in origen, but he couldn't be sure of exactly what language it was. It only half-disturbed him that they were all in red type. He couldn't let any inhibitions stop him from following through with this. It was only a dream after all... or a nightmare.
Alex realized that the area was very close to the mountain's base, and there were several small shacks scattered about the grounds. The girl entered one of them and Alex was quick to follow through the rusty sheet metal door. In the shack, he found a hatch lying open on the ground, no doubt leading to underground networks. He jumped down the hatch to find himself in a strange hospital facility. As he looked to where he had come from, he saw a drop-ceiling where the tile had been moved revealing plumbing pipes and electrical wiring.
The hospital was much like any other, and signs on its doors and walls were clearly written in english. Again, the lights flickered in that strange and foreboding manner, as screams could be heard from further down the hall. He approached the room from where it was coming from, then noticed that he was in maternity. The screams must be from a labor in progress, Alex thought, and he was right. He had never witnessed a child birth yet. In his hospital, Alex only ever dealt with death and disease.
He reached the door to the room and saw doctors and nurses rushing about in a frenzy. As the lights flickered, so Alex saw his own demons stnding around the table, watching with great intent. Their dark auras seethed and coiled under the flickering lights, as they seemed to grow taller out of themselves hissing and snarling, but not in contempt. They seemed all too eager for some reason as they loomed over the woman and the child that the doctor had presented her. The woman looked strangely familiar to Alex, but he couldn't place the face.
He heard a giggle to his right and turned to see the girl, waving at him before running further down the corridor. When he looked into the room again, everyone was gone and it was very dark. All the lights in the hospital were out. The only light came from spaces in between boarded windows, illuminating filthy halls that had seemed deserted for years. Alex continued after the girl and into a door that should have lead to the stairwell, but it didn't.
He found himself in some industrial complex, surrounded by loud machinery. An interom cracked with frequent announcements in Japanese, echoing through the complex. He saw the girl duck around a corner and ran after her again. She ducked around a lot of heavy machinery that appeared to be some kind of energy conversion equipment, humming like a great engine as pressure releases hissed and several large parts clanked into place. She lead him into a more refined part of the complex with clean polished walls about winding corridors. The lights here flickered, of course, and a mist blanketed the floor. But Alex payed very little attention to this as he came to a door surrounded by large red signs and flashing sirens. The girl had gone in there, so he must follow.
Alex hit a switch to activate the door and ran into an enormous laboratory. The place was filled with very large machines with several moving parts fixed over tables. The appendages attached to the machines appeared to be fixed with several tools, perhaps to study some organism or repair a machine. Alex couldn't even imagine that they might possibly be used for both, as he was more concerned about how none of these machines had operating stations attached. Instead his eyes followed power lines from all of them that lead to one control room on a raised level, but there were no stairs or ladders to the room. It must only be accessable through another part of the complex.
He studied the booth further, taking note on how secure the place seemed. It would more than likely take a small army to infiltrate such a bastion from this vantage. But what kind of work were they doing here to require such measures? As Alex continued to take in his surroundings, he noticed several very sophisticated automatons. They seemed to be fit for transporting equipment... for maintenance? Seeing as they were fixed with grappling arms and what looked like... tasers and restraints?
Things just weren't making sense, and even less when he saw several other automatons sitting in a corner, terribly damaged. The damage was in fact, far too extensive to be sure what had happened to them. They looked like aluminum cans that had been shredded with buck-shot. Yet, they couldn't have been constructed of such cheap material. Some of their appendages had clearly been torn off, and a couple looked like they'd been through a trash compacter.
Alex looked around for the little girl again, remembering his intentions again, but she wasn't to be found. As he made his way through all the machinery, so the horrifying truth of it all seemed to become apparent. Fixed parralel to the booth, but in a ground based containment unit in the center of the floor, was a deformed man. Alex didn't even notice his demons slither out from behind the enormous tank containing the man. But then, he was hardly a man, and certainly a shocking sight for any eyes.
The containment unit was an enormous cylindrical unit filled with a thick blue liquid. The lower portion of the glass was surrounded by the unit's machinery, and had some sort of cash-pool located at the front and center. It had a hatch behind it, so it must be where his body is released and cleaned, seeing the nozzles and pipes fixed about the spot. The unit itself was a grotesque monstrosity, but the man within was nothing less. He looked normal enough, save for the fact that machinery had been fixed to half of his body. Pipes and cords ran across the left side of his head to equipment on his back, and others ran into his heart. Both of his hands had been replaced with huge claws, and one of his eyes had been replaced with some gruesome red glass eyepiece.
But Alex almost felt sick at his final observation as he approached the tank. The good eye opened and he cracked a smile, but both were far too familiar, as they belonged to Alex himself. The man in the tank could have very well been Alex, but it couldn't be. It just couldn't be!
Aye, not to worry 'bout that, lad. T'ain't you trapped in the bubble, but your kin. Indeed, the sire of ye, ungrateful whelp. Aye, yet you'd be learnin your place soon enow. Till then...
WAKE UP!!!

Earlier That Afternoon...

2005-08-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Mary was sitting in the living room of her lonely home, waiting anxiously in anticipation. She had slipped into a white lace corset and some thigh-highs, complimenting her delicate pink silk nightgown that lay open half-off her shoulders. She imagined Lucas towering over her with his throbbing shaft simply begging her for a massage to release all of its tension to her in a great explosion. She closed her arms on herself, pulling down the cups of her outfit to release her nipples for a momentary caress. She gripped firmly about her breasts, pushing them tightly together and thinking how good it would feel to have him throbbing in between them to the beat of her heart. Then she touched a soft hand to her cheek, wishing it was a little firmer as her other hand slided down her stomach.
Her hand slid into her silk panties finding a warm slit to wedge her finger between. Again, she wisher her hands were a lot bigger and a little firmer as she began waxing between her wet lips. She started in a circular motion around her sweet pink pleasure switch, crying out impatiently. Just as her fingers slid further down finding the tight warmth of her burning core, she heard the doorbell ring.
She started violently at first, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, almost falling off the sofa. She was shocked out of her state of personal ecstacy until she heard the chime again. Then she stood up and checked herself in a mirror, flipping her hair once before heading for the front door. The bell rang again as she reached the door and looked out through the peephole, trying to wash back her excitement. She opened the door and propped herself seductively in the doorway, staring wildly at the cool looking Lucas.
She stared deep into his bright blue eyes, as they took her in almost carelessly. Even his expression was almost emotionless as the rain washed over his face where it matted his short brown bangs to his forehead. Then she saw what she was waiting for, as his eyes found hers and melted breaking his hard brow at the corners. That soft affectionate gaze made her feel as if he knew how much she wanted him, and was overtaken by it. That only fueled her desire for him as she backed into the door letting him push through.
She closed the door and locked it behind her, as she turned to face him where he threw his jacket on the floor and kicked off his boots. She made her way toward him as he pulled off his white undershirt and droped it to the floor. Mary placed one hand on his sculpted chest and ran her fingers through damp hair, and Lucas pulled her toward him pressing his lips firmly to hers. Their tongues danced while her heart raced and she fell into him. She pushed him back, lips still locked tight, until he hit the sofa and fell back.
Mary smiled triumphantly as she looked at his seemingly innocent and bewildered face. She liked having a measure of control over sexual situations, and she liked how he simply allowed her to do what she wanted. They never even exchanged a word while making love, adding to the mystique of their affairs. Mary took another step back to take him in where he sat, as the look of bewilderment became one of desire and confusion. She got down on her hands and knees, lifting her head high and creeping toward him like a cat.
Lucas never knew just what she would do at any given moment, but he knew that he would like it. Now his member throbbed in anticipation as this tender little kitten purred over his lap. She uunbucked his belt and unzipped his jeans, reaching in to pet his snake where it began to uncoil. She pulled it out and began jerking it as she raised up and beckoned Lucas to move in and kiss her. He took the bait and began to lift toward her, but she placed a finger to his lips and bit at one of his nipples.
Lucas fell back as Mary proceded to suck his cares away. For a single moment, he drifted away into nowhere, then returned to exhale and look at Mary where she continued to draw him. She stared back at him as he pulled her hair back and gave him a playful wink where she teased the tip of his prick. Lucas couldn't get over her spontaneous manner. She could be so sweet and innocent, then she could be dirty or playful or even all at the same time. She was an enigma, and he couldn't possibly imagine anyone not wanting to spend every moment with her.
Mary could see that she had him completely mazed as she took off the corset to envelope his shaft with her breasts. She had him going just the way she wanted to. She knew that all of her teasing would only serve to keep him under control so he wouldn't cum too fast. He wouldn't get off on the foreplay, but at least she could work him enough to numb his feeling slightly. Mary was proud about her sexual knowledge, and she knew how to please a man. All she ever wanted to do was please her man, but Alex made it seem like she couldn't please him at all. If she could, he would have been around more often.
Mary thoughts of Alex started on her and she almost felt guilty. She looked at Lucas again and saw how much pleasure he was in, and forgot about her husband. Now was the right time, as she pulled his jeans off and slid out of her panties. She climbed up on the couch and put her trim bush in his face, allowing him to taste her steaming juices. Then she turned around and propped her legs on the sofa around his head, reaching down to jerk him while he continued to massage her button with his tongue. All he had to do was keep her going a little, but she would soon do the rest.
Lucas loved Mary's taste and smell. She is a very clean woman and well groomed, making this little treat something he enjoyed almost as much as she did. But she had obviously wanted to keep things moving along as she rolled her legs over him and flopped down onto the sofa. She climbed on top of him and slowly wrapped around him and his member, moaning lightly as she slowly worked him up and down. She started slow, gradually picking up pace and and rocking her body back and forth. Then she turned around and let the muscles of her insides tug at him.
Mary and Lucas continued for hours, making love in most of the house's rooms. They shifted locations and positions, basking in the sweat of their sex. But as the early evening approached, so Alex might come home. Lucas had other things on his agenda anyway. As they finished their last round, Mary made them drinks in the kitchen.
"Well, was it good for you?" She teased in her way. "Because I know that I could do this all night, but Alex could be home any time now." As Mary poured herself a Vodka and Cranberry, gazing intently at Lucas where he sat at the dining room table. The sweat on his face made it glow in the light as though he were an angel. To Mary at this moment, he was her angel, her salvation.
"I don't even have words to describe it, and don't play like you don't know it. But I do have to see some friends of mine about something. I have to find out what I can about when we're getting called back." Lucas was still very cool and stoic as if nothing had just happened, but Mary knew that this is simply how he is. though she wouldn't pass up the opportunity to tease him again.
"So, are you trying to get away from me already. Do you have some Arab woman waiting for you overseas?"
Lucas looked at her with an odd snicker and a raised brow. "Hell no, woman! Most of their women don't even shave!" He continued to leave himself open, and Mary laughed as she thought to herself.
Perhaps I should show him a little mercy... But then, what fun would that be? And she started on him again: "And just how would you know that then?" Mary still smiling as she had obviously started to irritate Lucas, but she knew he was just playing tough.
"Oh, knock it off. You just can't let me rest for a second, can you?"
"Nope!" She exclaimed with a wide grin.
Lucas finished his drink and kissed her on her forehead. "Well, I do have to be going. Give me a call tomorrow if you can." Then Lucas made for the door as Mary shouted back...
"Oh, you can count on that." And as she finished that, he was out the door.

Late Night At The Office

2005-08-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

Alex sat behind his desk in a dark and quiet office, contemplating the events of the past few days. He always seemed to prefer the dark to the light, and the sun was simply oppressive to him at times. He didn't mind working late, save for the fact that Mare was left alone, but she didn't seem to have too much of a problem with it. She was always wont to voice her opinions and put a foot down, but then again... when had she ever done so with Alex? That to, bothered him to think about, because he couldn't recall a single argument between the two.
As he sat there, so he heard his thoughts whispering in unison, as if some great choir of devils spilled their poisons into his mind. Of course the bitch submits. We have her enthralled, but not enough that she hasn't found measure to fuck on the side. Oh, and that will soon come to face, as the cuckold would be cominf for us. We want him to come, so let it be as it will. The echoing hiss was like a static blister bursting with a slimy gurgle, then burning like acid on his thoughts. He was quite used to the voices, but on many an occasion they seemed to be more of a curse than anything else. Yet, a part of him willed to accept them as his own personal guide through life. How many times had he listened to them for his benefit, but always at the expense of someone else.
Ungrateful whelp! And what in life doesn't come without consequence, and all at the expense of another? All cause has effect, my son, and always in opposing poles for those such as us. Just give a little, and have all taken from you. Give nothing, and all will be given. For every justice you would have us do, an injustice shall surely befall us. It is our way, and you will know it soon enow, whether you will it or no.
Again, he shuddered as his nerves all stood on end. He began to forget the voice and remember how strange the day had been. He poured himself another glass of Irish Whiskey, and felt the smooth, light smokey liquid warm his throat as he kicked back a large mouthful. The voices became a hissing slither fading into the recesses of his mind, but still observing their vessel with a curious intent. They observed his recollection of the young girl that was brought in during the early evening hours.
She had been found by her friends, not far from the college campus in some thickets, naked, battered, and dead. She had been sexually abused in some fashion and beaten to death with something very hard. It was extremely difficult to tell, just yet, what had happened to her. She was once a beautiful blonde girl, no older than 20, and very petite and delicate. Now she ressembled nothing less than shattered pocelain stained in dark crimson blotches. The first impression that came to mind when examining the body was that she must have been raped with the blunt end of a bat, then beaten with the same piece of equipment. Her privates were bruised, torn, and gaping filled with the assailant's fluids mixed in clots of her own blood. Most of the bones in her body were simply shattered and their were many tears in her muscle tissue, no doubt from a struggle. The image was horrifying to behold and sickening, even to Alex who had seen many severely damaged corpses. The image had burned itself on his mind, and the scars would be there for some time.
It had already been explained that not even the family was to know the extent of the damage. Her identity would be confirmed by dental records matched to the teeth they found in her throat. Alex would be spending most of the night trying to figure out what exactly had happened to her. This seemed to be very simmilar to another girl that had been brought in last night, but she wasn't as small and not anywhere near as badly beaten.
The same detectives had been there today when this girl was brought in, so they must be thinking the same thing. Alex couldn't help but think that it was possibly some serial killer on the loose who had a thing for college girls. He would have to call his sister if anything else came in, she holds quite an obsession with serial killers. Then Alex was glad that she was in school in New York, and turned his thoughts to Mary. She was definitely attractive enough to be a victim, but then he thought, she's probably not young enough to be a target. He relaxed a little, then let his head fall back as he reclined into sleep in his office chair.

Phone Frustrations

2005-08-15T00:38:00.000-07:00

"Hello?" Lucas queried as he put the reciever to his ear.
There was a coarse moan on the other end, followed by a light giggle, "I need you NOW! I want your thick cock pulsing inside me until we both burst! But this time, you're coming down here. I'm so horny right now, I'd run off the road on the way up to your place. It's not always easy to masturbate and drive at the same time, espescially with the truckers peeking in on you." Mary teased in her quaint manner from her husband's home.
"Jesus! You're insatiable woman!" He blurted without a second thought.
Mary had been taken back by his response, but only slightly, for she had her mind set on what she wanted. "Well, what bug crawled up your ass? I didn't hear any complaints yesterday!"
Lucas quickly rethought his position, "I'm sorry, babe. I didn't sleep well at all last night. Memories of the war got to me." he lied. "I didn't mean to come off on you.
"Now, when should I come down, and when is he expected back?"
She huffed on the other end, followed by, "I told you... NOW! And I couldn't give two fucks if he ever comes back! Why, aren't you man enough to put him in his place if we get caught?"
Lucas sneered, as he detested this subject. "That depends on where you think his place is. You seem to be pretty comfortable next to him every night. Least, I don't hear you complaining."
Mary had sensed that she was losing him. "Ok, I'm sorry! Just come down here. I really need the company. If you want to go back to your place then drop me off back here later, that'll work."
Lucas thought about everything for a moment. He wasn't very keen on the idea of a run in with her husband. He knew nothing about the guy, save for what Mary had told him. He wasn't the least bit afraid, but he wasn't exactly in the right state of mind for a confrontation today. Yet, deep in the back of his mind, a low voice rumbled, Aye... You'd make a wise choice of it then, skittery shit that ya are.
This caused all sorts of memories and dreams to whirl about his mind in an instant. Time became lost to him as he dazed on these horrors, so that Mary had begun to think she'd completely lost him. "Are you still there Luke? Is everything ok?"
Abruptly, he started, "I'm fine Mary. I'll be down in a couple of hours."
"Please hurry. This place seems so dead."
While in the back of Lucas' mind... Aye... the bitch is right, a dead place, indeed. Be careful young whore monger, for we'd be keepin' a fine fettled eye on the both of ye. And Lucas cringed as he hung up the reciever, hearing the echoes of the dark thing inside his head. He asked himself, where this thing came from and why it tormented him now? But the answers to those questions were far beyond his understanding. Even in death, he would never be able to comprehend what disaster he managed to avoid.

Current Affairs

2005-08-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Mary Delaney drank deeply of her dramatized life as the hot jets from the shower head washed her every care away. Right here in this moment, she was her own woman, unmolested and without concern or regret. She barely even registered the sweet smell of breakfast sausages and corn-fritters seeping into the steamy bathroom, and she hardly cared. All her life, she had fancied great adventures and fabulous romances, filled with mystery and excitement. In the years she had been married to Alex, all life had seemed to drain out of her.
When she was a girl in Bangor, every man had wanted to be with her. She was a beautiful, fiery red head, outspoken and carefree living her life the way she wanted to. She didn't take grief from anyone and didn't strain herself for anything. Mary was a live-wire and untouchable by any man unless she allowed otherwise. She never found anyone who could be what she wanted, and would accept no less than perfect. Then, she met an interesting guy named Alex Delaney.
She remembered Alex being set apart from his friends. She was intrigued at how he stood off to the side, seeming to be unimpressed by her and her friends. His friends were nothing short of drooling over them in their feeble attempts at being clever and charming, but not Alex. He didn't even seem to be the kind of guy to have friends like this, because they were so simple and he was so... intricate? She had to know more about him, and was determined to have his attention. After a little flirtation, she soon found that he was totally innocent, and completely oblivious to how attractive he was. Yet, she still found that attractive because he didn't seem to care about it, he just lived his life the way he wanted to. He was also very romantic and chivalrous, going to extreme lengths to impress her and be there for her whenever she needed him, and she loved him for that.
She clenched the bar of soap in between her firm breasts and closed her arms around herself, recalling how she once felt for Alex. She had waited six years for his return from New York, as she worked odd jobs and stayed with friends. She was never sure he would even return, but she had always hoped he would. They talked on occasion, but Alex seemed to be changing every time. He always had a dark and charismatic manner about him, but he had grown much darker over the years. He seemed so cold and distant sometimes, but hadn't he always been except for the times that he was with her? It made it easier for her to imagine that he was like this as a result of the distance between them. That's what it had to be, on top of the stress of medical school.
She was there when he finally returned to her, and that's when he had asked her to marry him. It had seemed that all of her dreams had come true. He had bought them a house just outside Allentown and gotten a job at St. Lukes as one of their top surgeons. She had some trouble dealing with Alex working so much, but she thought it would pass. Now Mary sighed to herself as the tears began to run down her cheeks, not even apparent in the shower. She couldn't get used to him being gone all the time and always felt alone.
In her home town, she had always had her friends, no matter how screwed up they could be sometimes. It was a small town and still very open compared to Allentown. She felt boxed in and consumed by her own loneliness, so much so that she found herself seeking out more. Then she met a man just in from the service one night at a bar in the middle of town. He was very charming and handsome, complimenting her at every turn, and she hadn't had that kind of treatment in years. It wasn't long before they got together at his place in the country. Lucas lived in the Northern valley in a secluded trailer in the woods, and Mary loved it there because it was so open and so pure.
These were her last thoughts as she put on a smile and dried herself off, finally succumbing to the aroma of the breakfast Alex was preparing for them. She thought of how she would sit and enjoy a few moments with her husband before he left for work, and then she would call her secret lover. She would call him and beg to see him, pleading for him to take her in unrestrained carnal lust. She would tease about how she couldn't bare to be without him throbbing inside of her, picturing in her mind how hard he would get at just the thought. She blushed at her own secret thoughts as she made her way down the stairs.
Alex was putting out the plates when he looked up at her. "Perfect timing." He smiled.
"Mmm... I could smell it from up stairs and couldn't resist." She said as she stretched and took a seat opposite her husband.
"Well, you look positively radiant this morning. I take it I didn't interupt your sleep much then?"
She smiled wanly, "Not at all, hun. In fact, I had a fantastic dream when got back to sleep. It was full of kinky erotic sex and naughty pleasures." She teased him.
"Oh really? Well, do tell." He leaned forward with intent.
She looked away lackadasicly, "Well, I'll just have to show you the next time I get my claws on you for more than an hour."
Alex gave a wry chuckle as he cleaned off his plate. "Hopefully I'll be all yours this weekend. But there have been a string of murders lately, and it's begining to look like a serial case." He told her half-apollogeticly. "But I have to get to work now, love. I'll see you later tonight. Call ya if I'm gonna be late." And he kissed her as he made his way out.
Mary watched as he pulled away in his Mustang convertible, and hurried to pick up the phone. The look in her eyes was like that of a child on Christmas morning, so desperatly anxious to play with their new toy.

Dwelling

2005-08-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

The electric tone of the coffee maker chimed in, causing Lucas to start from his deep thoughts. He went over and poured himself a cup, not bothering with the usual sugar and creme, for today he would have it as strong as possible. Black was the only thing that struck his mind for several hours after the fact. In his nightmares, someone had told him to remember how he lived, and so he did, wishing he were dead. Something told him that the plagues of his past would be minute in comparison to what was in store for his future.
He remembered how things had been for him as a young boy. He remembered seeing drugs everywhere, and strange faces in and out of the house. Some of the strangers had even went into his mother's room with her while his father stayed with others. He could still remember screams coming from that room all night long as if some horrid thing were there. He recalled the smells that would always strike fear into his heart, as he would ever be terrified of entering that room. At his age, he didn't know what was happening but remembered everything. He even remembered being trapped behind the cage that was his crib, watching in anguish as his mother screamed while the menacing beast that was his father took her over and over, beating and drilling her beyond recognition. He couldn't even recognize his own mother the next day.
He had nightmared over these terrible things for several years, never knowing what a single one meant, just that they were horrible. Then, one day, he understood everything and found documentation that confirmed all of his worst nightmares. How shocking to such a young teenager, dealing with all the new hormones and pressures of life, to discover that all of his most dreaded nightmares were nightmares no more, but memories. The boogeyman was real, and in complete and total control of his wellfare. Nightmares no longer existed for him, because if that were real, then so was everything else.
Even all the faith and beliefs that he supported so enthusiasticly diminished into nothing. What God would allow this hell to exist on his earth? Things would only become worse as he realized his mother cared only for herself. She sold her body to the highest bidder and drug him along, only to learn the facts of life from some unknown 'John' that didn't care about him or his mother, only her snatch.
So Lucas had it rough, but knew others who had it bad as well. He was prideful, and wouldn't let this hold him down. Unknown to him, the ideas ate at his very soul, making him no less than a ticking time-bomb. He would learn what his experiences gave him when he joined the armed services. He had always been a well built boy, but ever the gentle giant. The Marines changed all of that, bringing out the very worst in him. He became an unfeeling killing machine within weeks. They sent him into the thickest of the fighting because they knew that he would lay everything in his path to waste. At the moment, he didn't even consider his fallen comrades. They merely became more fuel to his fire.
It wasn't until everything was over that it hit him, however briefly, because he refused to let misfortunes hold him down. But now, things were very different... The fortress he had built around all the pain in his life had been annihilated, leaving nothing but ruin and a flood of pain washing over him. Even the shock from all of the sudden sorrow and contempt left him weak and feeling sick. He had put himself on a pedastle above everything, because he had a good life building up. Things changed so quickly, he didn't know what to do.
As he finished his coffee, he got up from the dining room table and looked out the window. He stared long and hard at the boulder in his yard, remembering her and his dream. It was too real to even look at the scene again, because he saw the shadow of the man every time. That wicked gaze of hatred burning deep into his memories... he could feel it even now.
Lucas couldn't escape the nightmare, no matter how hard he tried. It kept replaying in his mind, and the thought was always there... He never knew a single one of the faces that man had displayed. They weren't even similar to any face he'd ever seen before in his life, so why had they been pictured so clearly. He hadn't noticed anything definite about them, save their eyes, but still. He had to have gotten the idea of their faces from somewhere. Faces don't just appear in such detail in a man's mind.
Lucas continued to pace about his dining room fro long moments, until the phone suddenly rang...

Guilty

2005-08-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight was another restless night for Lucas Werner, filled with dreams of lust and anxiety. He dreamed the abbreviated dreams of a man comsumned by reality, yet the real things in his life had little to do with his dreams. Most of the other men he new dreamed of the harsh reality of war. They dreamed of dying friends and foes alike. They were haunted by the smells of sulfur, death, and smoldering iron that never quite cleared their sinuses. These things only fueled their nightmares of what seemed to be a pointless war. Without warning or reason, all troops were recalled from foreign countries and all fighting stopped around the world. But does peace so rapidly establish itself?
None of these trivial matters or or recent horrors plagued Lucas tonight. He dreamed of a small town girl living in a large town, overwhelmed by the size and chaos of the place. She had told him on several occasions how the place had made her feel as an insignificant speck, hollow and unwanted. The absolute lonliness of being there put her in a constant state of terror, so giving her plenty of reasons to get away. Her husband was always far too busy to be a part in her life, so it was easy for her to take a quick trip into the country to see Lucas.
She spent her nights with her husband, but the majority of her time with Lucas. Even now, he dreamed of her and their earlier experience. He reinvisioned making love under the hot sun, the sweat gleaming off of her nipples as she enveloped his throbbing shaft between her supple breasts. They were both so free and unmolested here, with only nature keeping a watchful eye. The birds sang them a saranade as they panted and pulsed to the song and their own racing hearts. It was such an enchanting opera of passion and lust, playing out for hours. They were both young, but they could have been teenage lovers exploring all the beauties of nature in some summer camp.
Their love making today was better than it had ever been, and nothing could ever spoil that memory. The moment was perfect in every way, and he knew that she felt it too. But this was only a dream recollecting that moment, and dreams have a way about them. Anxiety was quickly building as he remembered a conversation they had after making love. She had told him that she wanted him to meet her husband, for he had never even seen so much as a picture of this man of hers. He reluctantly agreed, steering the conversation toward his big question, as to when she planned on leaving him. As usual, she played an evasive game at it, and put the conversation off until another time.
Now, even as she was sucking every last bit of lust from his fountain, the air grew cold. The whole aura of the dream seemed tainted as clouds began to mask the sky. His lover simply gazed up at him with her radiant smile, unknowing of any change as she jerked him savagely begging him to cum, just as he remembered it. But the tension was building, and she was fading out of the picture as he noticed that the trees and birds were not the only things watching them.
Someone watched them from the shadows in a blood stained overcoat. His face wasn't familiar and didn't seem to have many distinguishing features, but his eyes were a different matter. His eyes were deep and penetrating, baring something of grace and scornful ferocity at the same time. His hair seemed to be something of a fascination as well. What could be so interesting about a man's hair, save for the strange twin silver streaks running along the thick rusted-copper waves. It was groomed at a medium length for a professional appearance, but could easily be comparable to a lion's mane were it allowed to break free of the locking products.
He was a very menacing character as he slowly began to approach the two, with the gleam of something small and metalic in his hand. As he got closer, his features began to change. First, his eyes began to flare with a crimson glow, as his face became more defined, yet savage. The hair broke from its hold and grew down to his shoulders... in crimson beads. He smiled then, with a smile that was like acid on the eyes. But his face continued to contort, as the eyes became black pools of hatred. The structure began to narrow as his features became sharp and predatory in appearance. His brows raised high at the ends, and curled inward as two more black pools opened on his forehead. His hair became a jet black, hanging loosely on his shoulders as the smile became a malicious sneer.
He was very close now, and Lucas found himself terrified at what he noticed as he looked to his lover. She was no longer there and he was still naked, but not the man he was. His member was shriveled and shy but far too close to the ground, for he was a child again. The man was obviously enormous now as he continued his metamorphosis. The upper pits on his forehead closed as the lower set began to glow green. His hair began to break of into short spikes sticking up like porcupine quills. His brow shrunk and became more sinister as he leered with a low chuckle. "Aye, we know you child. We know you and your little diddle, as well as what you'd do with it. Suffice, we'll be coming for you, but only after you come for us. What? So you wouldn't know that every man brings on his own demise. And so you would die by your own actions, but I'd wager a far worse time at death than in life, least for you." He growled with another rumbling chuckle.

Suddenly, a twenty eight year old Lucas sprung from his bed at quarter after four in the morning to find his sheets soiled with more than sweat. He groped at his empty bed, whimpering like a lost pup as the last few moments of the nightmare were burning themselves into his mind. Like a hot iron, they made their seering mark on his mind. His entire childhood and everything he had boxed out from the war rushed on him in one single instant, as the scalpel punched deep into his left temple and he heard those last eerie words...
"Now, remember how you lived!"

Nightmares

2005-08-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

The night is strange and chilling during these late hours in the hospital. It's always like this, but more so tonight for some reason. The halls seem to be filled with some sort of mist, issuing a foul stench. Perhaps one of the units in the morgue is malfunctioning. Whatever it is, the source must be found and contained before any kind of contamination begins to take effect. Alex didn't notice anything strange upstairs, so hopefully the problem wouldn't be any trouble. The fact is, this level needed maintainence badly. Even the lights were flickering inceasantly.
Alex is aproaching the corridor for the morgue, where the mist seems to be getting thicker. That has to be the problem here. He can even here the mist spurting... or no. As he draws closer to the bend, he clearly hears it. It's a child, crying, just around the bend. He comes to the corner and turns to look down the mist filled hall, appearing as some alien world with flickering light refracting through the moisture. There, in a shroud of curling mists, is a small girl in a red and white Sunday dress. She has blonde hair cast over puppy-dog eyes, grasping something tightly in her hands. She instently notices him looking at her and turns to run toward the morgue.
He ran through the mist after her, and burst through the doors in time to see her crawling into the unit issuing the mist. He yelled a warning, "Don't go in there! You could get sick!" She didn't abide it, and closed the door to the unit. Alex got closer to the unit, trying to comfort her. "It's ok, I'm a doctor. I just want to help you. I'm not here to hurt you." He said as he grasped the handle to the unit and began to turn it. A sudden chill ran down his spine as the door swung open and the cold gases poured out into the room.
Alex pulled the tray out, to see a girl, but not the girl he had seen. This girl was one that he had come in earlier that night. It was a beautiful young girl, about seventeen years old that had been brutally raped and shot three times in the chest. He tried to do everything he could to save her, but two of the bullets had badly damaged her heart, and the other had punched through a lung. They wouldn't have even had a chance if she hadn't been found right away. An officer had just happened to pass the alley as the shots went off. The two men were apprehended and the girl was brought to the hospital imediately, but the damage was already done. Perhaps death was more merciful for her now. Such a terrible shame that someone so innocent and beautiful had to die so horribly. Alex thought as he looked about the room wondering where the little girl was.
"Hardly innocent, baby." a young girl's voice broke through the silence.
Alex's heart jumped into his throat as he swung around to see the corpse sitting up and staring at him. His jaw dropped as the slender little red-head sat there smiling at him. And she continued, "I wasn't innocent at all, hun. Those men were drug dealers that I stole money and dope from. They are like all the others I had stayed with ever since I was eleven, except when I ran this time, they caught me. I lived a whore's life and died a whore's death."
Alex began to back away, terrified by what he was seeing. then she grabbed his arm and pulled herself toward him. "I know you would have saved me. You wanted to fuck me so bad, just like every man did. Do you still want to fuck me? You could give me your cock right here, right now. Come on, baby, slide into my cold, dead flesh and make me warm again. It's so cold here."
Alex fought desperately now, trying to pull away as her face began to close to his. He felt her cold lips press against his and, at once, become jelly. He broke her grip and backed off to watch her flesh begin to melt from her bones and drip to the floor in strange blue glutonous pools. "Ooo, you're too hot for me, baby, can't you see how I melt for you? Hahahaha." This nightmare must end now. Why can't Alex wake up?
He falls to his knees, hiding his eyes from the horror before them. In a few moments everything is silent again, and he lifts his head to see everything back to normal. The mist is gone and the units are all closed and seemingly in order. But as he came to his feet, he saw them in the corner of the room. The three dark figures cloaked in the shadows of their hooded robes looked at him with an unmistakeable aura of intent. He would run, but was transfixed by their presence.
The medium sized 'thing' approached him and removed his hood saying, "Time to wake up Alex. Awake!" the last word hissed, and Alex sprung up in another dark room. He looked about quickly, then his eyes began to adjust as a familiar voice spoke up...
"Alex?!! What is it? Another nightmare?" It was Marry, startled awake by his sudden outburst. She had been getting used to these things the past five years she had been with Alex. He was an interesting and talented man, but there was more than a few skeletons in his closet. In fact, she would swear he had a whole graveyard in that head of his, along with untold knowledge from his weird intuition.
"I'm ok Mare. Just another strange one. But then, when haven't they been strange? I can't remember the last time I had a sweet dream."
"It's ok, hun. I'm here with you, so none of the bad things can get you." She teased. That's one of the things that Alex loved about her. She made even his chaotic life seem so simple with her gentle manner. "Now come on, you have a long day tomorrow. Let me snuggle in and get you back to sleep. I'll give you a pleasant awakening in the morning." And that was another thing he loved about her. She could definitely match his appetites, but with his job, could he meet hers?

The King Of Fools

2005-05-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

My journey up the mountain would prove easier than I had expected. With my gift and new found strengths, I climbed with hastey determination toward my lost love. I would see the valley in short hours, just with the rising sun. I would know that she awaits me in the valley. If only she could see me on the mountain top, then she would truely know that I have returned for her.
The path up this mountain seems far too easy, as nothing has proved to be easy here. Yet, with every thought, I draw ever closer to the final apex, salvation and love. My pride swells within me, making my strides those of a giant. I have come so far and bleed so much, and now it's so very close. I can feel her warmth, like the suns hot carress, all about me. Nothing could ever stop me now.

Don't be so sure about that. There is still much for you to learn young one, and your story is just beginning.

We warned you of what was to come. You should have been more attentive to yourself.

"What riddles are these? Do the devils never cease to torment me? None of you can stand in my way! Nothing will prevent me from being with my cherished one for all eternity... NOTHING!!!"

And so, that is your folly, whelp. Your very own pride, vanity, and desire are what hold you back in your step. We are those three, not defeated, but consumed by yourself in your selfish gluttony. Now, we will in turn be consumed by that which lies within you. For not accepting what we would show you as reality, you have sealed your damnation, in this world and the next.

"This is not possible, and I don't believe you. Your trickery won't work on me, so again, be GONE!!!"

I will not let them break me, I've come too far. I can see the top, only a few hundred yards away, and... no sun? Another storm is rolling in, and it looks to be a viscous one. I should get to the overlook before it hits here, less I may fall victim to its winds. No matter, I'm nearly there, and I can already smell the... what? Something doesn't seem right; it has to be another one of their tricks. But, as I slowly stepped toward the overlook... disaster!

My entire life was a flash before my eyes, and everything became numb. I floated about a void of nothingness, to a place that was very familiar to me. This place had a large table, surrounded by eight chairs with red upholstery, and a hole in the center of the table. Three angelic figures sat at the table, while the other chairs held corpses, but one was empty. I floated toward it and fell into the seat, gazing at the angels and noticing, one of them was mine. Suddenly, the creature in the dark hooded cloak rose from the center of the table, and my eyes grew wide in horror. The angels seated at the table instantly changed into the devils, then suddenly back. The creature consumed them all and turned toward me.

You do not understand, do you? These are all parts of you, just as I am. They were born within you, as I came to be with you. The others were your weakest parts, and so you had permitted them to exist, though placed aside. Then you abandoned them, even the small child, to venture out for yourself. The three strongest parts of you, that would have made you great, were kept locked away. Then, your passion set them free and made them stronger, but your insecurities and blind desires consumed them all. As soon as you left the fortress, I was finally allowed access to your well defended psyche. I've now consumed your strongest parts, and the masters have made it so I may consume the rest. It is only us now, and there is much to be done.

Twilight Garden

2005-04-18T23:33:00.000-07:00

This new area of the forest is nothing less than captivating. The night sky casts the shadows of the trees everywhere, but a nearby waterfall speckled in quartz and amethyst seems to reflect light everywhere. The vivd colors of refracted moonlight shine small spotlight on the intriguing flora of this place. Where each light settles, a patch of dark flowers opens to the strange light. These flowers aren't dark because it is night, but they are dark because those are their colors. They are somehow brilliant in their cold colors, and their cores are a wonder, indeed. For each petal meets at a radiant heart, as their cores glow like neon in the night, only further acsentuating their marvelous beauty.
Even the trees were very unique in their way. Their branches twisted and curled about eachother, streching into one another to interlock them all. Their roots climbed high out of the ground forming archways that a man could easily pas under. The leaves about their branches hung low like unkempt wigs, adding to their somewhat feral beauty, and sparkly mosses clung to these high roots, basking in the strange lights.
It started to become clear to me, as to how this strange environment could exist. I thought of the mountain that I had been staring at with such intent as I pressed onward on this journey. Then it occured to me... the sun! The mountain casts an incredible shadow throughout the entire day, and shelters this area from all light, save for reflections. The crystals adjacent to the waterfall must refract the sun's rays, as it does the moon's, to create a different light show. The trees continue to grow into eachother, desperately trying to catch the light, as their own moss continues to reflect it down upon the flora. How could such a place ever exist... but what's this?
This can't be... there's no way it could be possible. My eyes follow this Indigo beam as it crosses with five others, to encircle the incredible bouquet. In the center of the spectacle, the rosebush flails wildly, as its obsidian buds blink, then open, to kiss the night. So now, a long forgotten quest, is at its end.

The Meeting

2005-03-30T00:12:00.000-08:00

In the beginning...

We sat there in a great circle, all in tall chairs, plated in bronze with red uphoulstry. Great spires, piercing the clouds on all sides, one in alignment with each of us. The faces about this table were vague, but the fog shall pass in time. We totalled eight all around, and this wasn't the first meeting in the skies. This was, perhaps, the fourth meeting, with the sun blazing to one side, and the cool blue moon at the other.
This day's matters were taxing indeed. The debate was very intense, as cross faces spread concerns like a disease. The contagion of sorrow clasped about us all in moments, as the fates were to be decided. Little did I know, the only purpose would be to leave an impression. Each of us would be left with an imprint of status to mark our destiny, and these would become apparent after the reunion.
Then all was silent, as a darkness overcast the table. Oh, the daylight was very clear yet, as the sun and moon alike, scouled at this unnatural intrusion. From the hollow center of this great table, a large figure in a dark robe ascended. Words were spoken, and a revelation was passed on, as its withered fingers crooked toward each of us. This would be the last such meeting for many passing years, but the reunion would tell all.

In the beginning... We were told of the end...

A Playground, All To Yourself

2005-03-18T20:10:00.000-08:00

Continueing on my travels, I hear the voices of children at play, bouncing from tree to tree. I take a moment to seek out the source, peering past the twisted giants looming over me. Their banters fell silent in these moments, as they to listen to the gentle mirth. Their very faces began to gape in awe, as wrinkled prunes shot full of holes. The vines about them slid along their rough crags like pythons, trying to get a higher vantage to observe for themselves.
As I continued forward a ways, I began to see brick faced apartment buildings in a small clearing atop a hill. Curiously, I approached them, searching about for the children and seeing their playground. The swings rocked to and fro in rythm with the clattering of the jungle-gym. The seesaw teetered on its base, and the carousel spun wildly as the cheery laughter continued. Yet, this place was desolate, save for the lonely wind playing by itself, and carrying the now sad echo of what is no longer.
Again, I felt some understanding of this place, and some purpose to being here. It's as if I'd been here before, in what now, semed so empty and hollow. So I began toward one of the apartment buildings, up the weathered concrete steps. I stopped in front of the olive aluminum door for a moment of contemplation on, just why, I was here. It dawned on me that I was looking for someone... someone small. And I open the door, stepping down the magenta carpeted steps inside, the steel railing, an old fashion mold painted in chipped black. The hallway itself was more of a burgundy, with brass molding.
Walking to the left, on the pine green carpet centering the corridor, I looked at each of the doors, white with numbers I couldn't even read. I passed a pair of grim looking men wearing earth-tones that set them in heavy contrast to these surroundings. They continued on paying me no mind. I turn to a door on my left and open it, stepping into a room with white walls and green carpeting. A bed with black spreads formed the rooms center piece, with a brass lamp on an Alexandrian bed table, and a cherry finished desk by the glass wall opposite the door, facing the balcony. A young girl with empty eyes stood there in her white dress, with a little bow resting atop her golden hair. I ask, "Where can I find Mr. Hill?" She blinks at me, so, understanding this, I turn about and return to the hallway.
Somehow, the ceiling has recessed to half of my size, so as I must hunch over to continue. I have reached the end, wher the two men are talking to one another, paying me but a single glance. So I climb down from this crawl space to the floor below, and move for the steps. One of them stops me in my steps, and looks me over briefly. He lets me pass, and I return to the outdoors, to see a stout little man wearing a green suit, and sitting atop the railing. His rosey cheeks, bright eyes, and cheerful grin seemed very comforting. So eloquently puffing on his ivory pipe, he gives me a gentle nod. I return the gesture, knowing this to be Mr. Hill.
Without even saying anything, he began to speak to me, "The child had to die. Though very early in your eyes, it was due time. There is much for you to learn, but you will. You will get to the valley, but you can't do it alone." And with this... he sent me off. I passed the playground again, and I can see the little girl, playing catch with the wind.

Your Eyes

2005-02-14T22:08:00.000-08:00

It all seems so clear
How clearly I could see
All I ever wanted
Who I wanted to be

I could see the lost child
I could see through his eyes
Remember the virtues
The values
The innocence, the pride

I could see what I am
I could see what could have been
Remember the dreams
The ambition
The fear within

I could see what I care for
I could see it in you
Remember the secrets
The smiles
The love I knew

Most of all I could see
We never shared lies
Remember the trust
The care
The things that I saw
When I looked in your eyes

I Remember A Mountain

2005-02-08T22:33:00.000-08:00

Here I stand once again. One moments piece in the hell I've designed. This moment spent on the battlements, gazing to a shrouded horizon. The cracks of thunder roll off so delicately in the distance, they are not but a mellow rumble through the clouds. I slowly close my eyes and face the heavens. Gentle tears wash about my face, and I find that place again. Not a place, but a memory, never to be forgotten.
The pitter-patter on the leaves relieves me of what I know to be. So, this is how I embrace hope, as the breeze softly whispers the inventions of my heart's content. These sounds tell me of you, and your well-being. To bear all once again, simply at knowing your happiness. For you are the pinnacle to which all must reach, and it was a day like this when I slid from the top into the nothingness. The torrent carried me far from you, and the fogs keep my way hidden.
If one could ever love a single apex... If one could ever get any higher, it would be with you. The valley's I once knew have been gone for so long, I have forgotten them... but I remember you. So I stare into the distance, and try to see from where the floods have taken me. I take a moments peace for an affair with hope, outside this fortress I have constructed. This land is hard. The outsiders must be kept out, and the others must be kept in. One day, I will find a way. The light will cure me of this blindness, and break away the darkness. I will escape the others to where they cannot follow. None shall stand in my way.
But now, the skies will cry for you, as I cry for you. The heavens have no tears left for me. So as they cry for you, I shall wait, and remember. The skies shall clear, and your wonderous peaks will guide me back to where I came from, who I am, and you. Until then, I stand here, taking a moments peace in my affair with hope, to think and remember the lonely mountain, that points to love, happiness, and you.

Fie, and unto the pits once more.

The Hollow

2005-02-03T23:53:00.000-08:00

It comes again... Crawling around like worms, burrowing under my skin. The frigid chills of emptiness. The desolation brought by a fear of nothing. Yet it burns so cold. The sizzling anger crackling in the dark depths of this hollow. Caged, and enraged for so very long now.
The others have ascended the tower. They've locked themselves in the highest room. It's the only room with a window... the only light that shines through, and they still cower in the corners of the room. Sometimes, I can still hear them arguing over simple trivialities. They are so weak.
What am I, but a fool. I wander these corridors defiantly, as he taunts me. He lurkes deep in the shadows, waiting for the right time. He only exists for his tricks and riddles. Misleading directions, false conclusions, ill-gotten delusions... Now the fear is alive. I've seen his face, so comfortably frightening. He is a reminder of my frailty, and of what stirs restlessly in the pits.
The walls there have been beaten to rubble, and the chains have long since been broken. Only a few bars remain, and me. It grows stronger with it's hunger. Thirsting for the sweet absolution of a final great release. Then it's off to the hunt. No wall shall be left standing, and no door shall remain shut. There will be no more confines, restraint, or control of any kind. We shall be spared only for amusement. It revells in our agony, and feeds on our suffering. It drinks deep the fear and anxiety dripping from our every pore.
Things have become alarming indeed. The outsiders bang at the gates, and shout their slanders. The blame falls on us for it's creation, as it will undoubtedly in the event of it's escape. The others can hear them, but I cannot.
All I hear are the voices... the echoes of the past. So inceasantly they haunt this great hall. With them, the dreams return.
I listen a little longer, to hear the sounds of silence. These are the sounds of my loneliness... the sounds of my mind, and those it harbors. It is the vision of darkness... a nowhere existence. Then I realize I'm still sitting hear.
What of the dreams now? The animal apparitions constantly at war over my direction. Some have argued, they are spirit animals. Everybody has two spirit animals they guide them through life. Why then, do four show up in the dreams? A wolf being dominated by a tiger, or a cougar being overcome by a bear... I've come to think there's something more to this then what's there at face value. I've always noticed many similarities in the genuses of urso and canis. I've always believed bears to be closer in relation to dogs, which brings me to this... I believe that there are only two, but the dominant takes different forms. When the felis is dominant, it takes the shape of a tiger. Tigers are quite a bit larger and stronger then cougars. When the canis takes charge, it takes the form of urso, becoming a bear. The bear is far larger then the wolf. Recent occurences have me questioning that. The latest involved a pack of cougars, and no bear at all. Food for thought...

So hungry in this hollow pit of despair.