Lucifers bargain

Its been two centuries since I murdered my family, my life has been hell all because of that night. I could hear my mother screaming as she watched me rip my brother apart his blood dripping from my lips after tearing through his throat. My own father took a shotgun to me unloading two rounds into my chest as I stood. When he saw I didn’t die he ran ,but It took me little time to rip him apart as well my eyes black as night in my anamalistic rage. I saved my mother for last, to this day I don’t know why and I’ve regretted it. Seeing their faces in my dreams made everyday unbearable, she grabbed a kitchen knife and plunged it into my gut. I felt the knife slicing each of my organs but my frenzy didn’t stop, so she accepted her end simply saying “I love you sweetheart” hearing her say that snapped me out of my frenzy just a second after I had ripped her throat out. Now I live day to day hoping to leave the world behind soon.

When I saw what I and done, I fell into despair that lasted two years. I tried many ways to end my suffering; fire, drowning, even poison, nothing worked. Knowing what I was I even tried standing in the sun my flesh burned and re-healed many times until the pain was too much to bear. I couldn’t die but I could feel the pain, it still wasn’t enough to atone for what I had done. Only a few weeks of failed attempts passed until he appeared before me, his eyes as cold as a midnight sky, blonde wavy hair and a devilish grin. He had a sly smile as he walked up to me asking my name and offering me an opportunity. He said he chose to keep me alive because I was useful to him, he offered a deal “work for me and I will grant you the sweet release of death. When you’ve served your sentence, I’ll even let you be with your family.” I couldn’t understand why he offered me this deal but I figured that I really had no choice if he wouldn’t let me die. So I accepted his offer and now have been trapped in my own hell for 200 years filled with the nightmares of my past.

The city was bright with street lights as I gazed from atop the roof of my condo. Lighting up a fag I inhaled deep letting the smoke warm my icy lungs. I only have one target tonight and I have to sit here bored..waiting. I was hoping my sentence wouldn’t be any longer than a few decades, but I guess he is the best manipulator around. I watched couples and families walk by with a tear in my eye which I quickly brushed aside.

“You know it wouldn’t kill you to show some emotion” I heard a familiar voice from behind me. My partner in crime Damian came walking up from the fire escape. Cliche name considering he was a demon but very fitting.

“Alright so I’m not made of stone ya’ happy” I said shrugging off the comment he made. He was appointed to me a year after my little contract went into effect, to help me find targets quicker and to keep me well supplied with sustenance so I wouldn’t attack humans. Lucifer had given me strict rules to abide by or the deal was off and I would continue to live out my eternal sentence. Rule one; never turn anyone else into the monster I was, he didn’t want to deal with more immortals running around. Rule two; Keeping my condition to myself, he even gave me a ring with power to shield me from sunlight if I needed to be out during the day. Rule three; If a human is turned by mistake I must kill them no matter who they are.

All my years of service I have abided by these rules, even the last one. It only happened once though and I’ve been careful ever since. Damian hadn’t brought me my fix for the night yet and a demon was running loose stealing souls of helpless women. I wasn’t obligated to help humans but sometimes I had to in order to keep demons from exposing themselves. This one was two seconds from being discovered when a smart woman actually ran away from him. Most of the broads in New York didn’t even scream, they fell for his charm and broad shoulders. At the last possible moment he would reveal his true form and steal their soul. As the demon followed the woman into the street I quickly pulled out my daggers and flung one straight into his shoulder. The force of my knife made him fly backwards into the ally so I dropped down to face him.

" So she didn’t love you, the one that got away right. Don’t worry you’ll find true love...in hell.” I showed my fangs as I spoke so he would know who I was and who I worked for.

“Alicia, what a pleasant surprise to see you hunting tonight so who is your target? Come on you can tell me.” Slowly he pulled out the knife, shifting to his demonic form getting ready for a fight. Glaring at him gave him the answer he was expecting and he lunged forward biting and tearing at my flesh. His black claws gouged gaping holes in my stomach, his bright white teeth bit chunks of flesh out of my shoulder. Of course it hurt like hell but as soon as the skin was broken it continued to re heal within seconds.

Once he noticed this he jumped back “So it is true. I had heard rumors that Lucifer protected you from death I just didn’t believe it until I saw it myself”. Smiling I confirmed his disbelief than quickly turned my head at the smell of a human close by. Someone had heard the commotion from the street, a young man who was too curious for his own good, stood behind a dumpster watching us. The strong scent of his blood wafted under my nose and the hunger that I had been suppressing clawed at me I could hear his pulse beating at his neck. Noticing my struggle to keep my composer the demon took his chance to run. “Sorry darling got souls to steal. A demon has to make a living somehow.” he laughed as he sprinted in the opposite direction.

The human man came running up to me thinking I was the one in trouble “Hey are you OK? That guy wasn’t trying to hurt you was he?” Him getting close to me was his biggest mistake. I felt my fangs slide in to place and without hesitation I was on him and sank them into his jugular. The sweet taste of fresh blood, warm and thick slid down my throat. It was so much better than the crap I got in a vile every day. Once I felt satisfied I released him from my kiss of death throwing my head back gasping for air, breathing deep I returned to a normal state of mind seeing my venom turning him “Shit!” Quickly I took out my dagger and sliced off his head. The little blood he had left dripped down his neck as his body turned to ashes. The man was innocent and even had concern for me that night, not that I needed it or deserved it.

Damian came up behind me putting a hand on my shoulder “Hey Ali you have to stop blaming yourself for that night. It was my fault, I was late getting blood to you.” Damian always called me Ali for short, the elegant name I was born to didn’t fit who I had become. Glaring at him I commented “you know I don’t read your thoughts, the least you could do is give me the same courtesy.” Taking another hit from my cigarette I puffed a bit of smoke in his face. A city wind blew by, the warm summer air smelled of burgers and hot dogs. I could hear my stomach growl and apparently so did Damian, he tossed me a vile of blood O positive. Uncorking the vile I downed its contents, it was room temperature, slimy and tasted bland, better than nothing I suppose.

My stomach still craved real food, which even as a vampire I could eat. I am able to ingest human food as long as I’ve had blood before hand, so I could still live a somewhat normal life. After killing for so long I have become rather numb to this existence. I could feel the sympathy Damian was pouring into my mind, he wasn’t very good at hiding his emotions, I have known for years now he loves me. He knows I don’t love him back though, that is an emotion I haven’t felt for a long time. I have carried the weight of my family’s death around with me for 200 years, I won’t drag another person through the darkness of my soul for what might be love. Not even Damian. It was well after eight and my target was no where in sight yet. Damian broke the silence again brushing a wisp of my black hair out of my face.

“Look Ali why don’t you take the rest of the night off, I’ll take care of the target tonight. You need a sense of normalcy in your life and you’ve been working hard every night. plus you never get out.” He spoke with care and love not wanting me to be miserable for however long my sentence would be. “Go out get some dinner go to a club something I don’t care. I’m tired of listening to your self pity.” Smiling slightly I nodded ‘If you didn’t read my thoughts all the time you wouldn’t have to’ I caught a quick glare from him clearly he heard what I thought again “Alright fine I’ll go out and try to have fun, but don’t expect a miracle.” Climbing down the fire escape to my condo, I walked over to my bedroom to change into something less Gothic. Searching through my closet I slid on a pair of jeans and a tight grey vest with a plunging neckline. If I was going out I would look hot.

As I struted into the living room, Damian stood by the door ready to disapprove my outfit. “Really you don’t want to be noticed yet you wear that, you’re going to make every guy stare at you.” He tried not to stare but my cleavage was on display. I didn’t care that he stared I was going to go out for once and not think about...my family. Damian chuckled letting me pass by him out the door down the steps and onto the sidewalk. The streets were busy with people whistling for cabs and hookers on corners waiting for a fix. It was strange to think that in the thirty years I’ve lived in New York city I’ve never really gone out much aside from hunting down escaped souls or demons causing too much trouble.

A few drunk men whistled as I walked by them “come on baby let me buy you a drink” he followed my strut for a few minutes before I responded. I turned on my high heeled boots giving him a wicked grin.

“You don’t want to buy me a drink I hold my liquor too well so you won’t be able to take advantage of me.” It wasn’t hard to read a drunk man’s true intention. He was the type to get a chick drunk have sex with her then run off. He stumbled on his two left feet for moment as I caught his scheme. Looking at the ground he backed away and walked back over to his friends. Shaking my head I turned and headed downtown. I walked by many different eatery’s but one caught my eye, a fine dining restaurant called Le coucou. Stopping I stepped inside to see what kind of place it was. The White brick columns, vaulted ceilings and chandeliers dripping with lamps took my breath away, I couldn’t help standing and staring. No one seemed to notice me yet so I observed all the curved archways, landscape murals and gold-trimmed glassware. The mohair banquettes that divided the room were populated by a melange of New Yorkers, some silver-haired and faithfully married, others millennial and playing footsie over glasses of chenin blanc.

Finally the man at a booth took notice of my presence “excuse me ma’am do you have a reservation or do you plan to stare at the ceiling all night?” The snooty yet subtle insult fired me up a bit, I contemplated using my influence ability on him when I felt wrapped in warmth as a tall well dressed man came up behind me slipping his hand around my waist. “There you are I hope I didn’t make you wait too long.” His deep voice tickled my sensitive ears as I turned to give him a distasteful look of anger, but I felt myself relax when I saw him. He was at least six feet tall with shoulder length blonde hair, fierce green eyes and a strong chin lightly speckled with a short goatee. A gentle smile appeared across his face while I admired his striking appearence, his kind eyes telling me to play along. “No I wasn’t waiting too long for you. I’ve been kept company by this kind gentlemen here.” My thick english accent seemed to have suprised him for a moment then he glanced over at the host.

The annoying man standing at the booth stood in awe for a moment before asking “Uh Mr carter you know this woman?” he clearly didn’t think I belonged there. The one named Mr carter pulled me in a little closer while walking towards the tables “well not officially, a friend of mine set me up on a blind date, I was ment to meet her 15 minutes ago so I hope she will forgive me for making her wait.” He gracefully took my hand and laid a lite kiss across the back of it. For the sake of having fun I turned my head in a huff “well you did make me wait, you will have to make it up to me.” Chuckling to himself he softly gripped my chin between his index and and thumb tilting it up towards him “be careful what you wish for” he whispered. I could feel heat pool between my legs at the promise in his voice 'holy shit thats hot', then he reluctantly let go of my face and lead me to a back table a bit away from everyone else. Once a waiter seated us and handed us menus we both burst out laughing rather loud.

I spoke first once I could breathe “So where did you come up with such a convincing lie, Mr Carter was it?” His pearly white teeth showed as he laughed he clearly kept himself well compared to the few mortals I had converesed with. He calmed and took in a deep breath before responding “Vincent Carter at your service for all your entertaining needs. As for the rouse it was not a complete lie, I was actually set up on a blind date by my partner Derek but she called and canceled on me.” He stated plainly as he sipped his water. I could tell from his thoughts that he was waiting for me to introduce myself, taking the hint I glanced over the menu thinking ‘he is rather handsome maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to pretend to be normal, for a little while at least.' I couldn’t help but think I really didn’t deserve to be happy for my crimes against my family weigh heavy on my heart 'I have spent the last 200 years trying to atone for what I had done all those years ago, I have done enough to at least have a night off.′

Quietly I prayed to my family for forgiveness just like I did every night. My wish for death would be in the far reaches of my mind tonight. Smiling I brought myself to look at Vincent “My name is Alicia, I forfeited my family name years ago, harder to be found without one.” I stated winking. Vincent tilted his head slightly confused at my introduction then linked it together “Ahh jury duty right? Your lucky, I’ve been stuck with it three times this year.” soon a waiter came to take our orders. Vincent ordered a roasted rack of lamb and I got duck three ways, I figured if he was paying I might as well get something I’ve never tried. As I sipped my wine I noticed him staring at me a little “So Mr Carter what made you want to swoop in to my rescue?” I asked with a overdramatic gesture of my hand on my forehead. Chuckling Vincent took a long sip from his glass then explained. “Well i had the reservations still and you seemed so out of place in a good way with your exotic beauty, plus I know Murray can be a real stick in the mud.” At hearing his reasoning I giggled a little.

This mortal was rather interesting and I could feel my cheeks blush at his compliment not something easily accomplished. He noticed my cheeks fire up and continued small talk “so my mysterious beauty, what steals your days away?” I assumed he was asking what I did for a living but his words were unfamiliar to me ,then again I haven’t spoken with a human for the last 30 years. I couldn’t exactly tell him I hunted escaped demon criminals and wretched human souls for a living.

Lying was something I would not do unless absolutely necessary but I quickly came up with one “I am a bounty hunter of sorts, I deal with paroles and escaped convicts bringing them in for court when they try to skip town.” Yeah that was pretty close to what my job description was. He gazed back at me in surprise then a sexy smile painted across his face “so gorgeous and strong, attractive qualities for a woman to have. I own and manage the three spades hotel here in manhattan took it over from my father 7 years ago.”

I paused and thought the name of the hotel sounded familiar then gasped at reliving an old memory. I remembered a night I was chasing a tainted human soul who managed to elude death. He had been hiding out in a construction site, I sniffed him out. By his appearance he hadn’t showered in weeks and when I came before him through the shadows he pulled a knife on me “you wont take me alive bounty hunter!” A grin came across my face as I unsheathed my fangs “thats the idea, you make my job easy if you off yourself now.” A look of utter terror and shock came across his face as he saw my glimmering fangs through the shadows. I stepped out to face him and he plunged the knife into my chest unable to pierce my heart.

Sighing I stared him in the eye and explained his options without acknowledging the knife in my ribcage “ which type of eternal hell would you prefer, as a human soul your torment would be lessened in hell, or as a demon soul meaning i turn you then kill you slowly. your torture in hell would be much more severe” I smiled devilishly as he took the knife out of my chest seeing it had no effect.

Terror still gripped his face but he had a look of surrender as well, then he swiftly dropped the knife. I took that as choosing a human death sentence so I slowly brought myself closer to him until my face was a hairs inch away from his “i will make it painless if you desire, close your eyes you won't feel a thing” I gently brought my lips towards his until they just barely touched then I opened my mouth and closed my eyes as well. I typically didn’t get human targets but when I did I didn’t kill them directly. Lucifer bestowed a gift on me after 50 years of service had passed, giving me the ability of soul sucking, or kiss of death he called it.

It was less messy, less suspicious and impossible to determine the cause of death besides a heart attack. It was a gift from Lucifer that was useful but it also hurt my body to take in a tainted soul. From there the soul would dispel from me and go straight to hell. Once his mouth opened in response a black mist drifted out of his mouth and into mine. My body shivered as it took in the tainted black soul, it always left a foul taste in my mouth.

When I finished, I pulled myself away from the empty shell. His body dropped to the concrete floor with a thud, I couldn’t help but wretch at the taste. As I turned to leave I saw a man standing in the doorway with a petrified look on his face. I stopped in my tracks wondering how much he had seen, then I dashed close to him in the blink of an eye causing him to gasp.

I softly placed my cold hand on his cheek and gazed into his eyes “your soul in untainted, you have nothing to fear from me.” The man grew angry for a minute “I have nothing to fear you murder someone in my hotel site and I have nothing to fear!” The moment he raised his voice I wrapped my icy fingers around his throat “I would rather not kill you if its not necessary, you saw nothing this night. You may live if you keep it to yourself” I felt his heart beat wildly beneath my fingers as I spoke. I didn’t like using my glamouring ability to erase minds He stared at me with his bright brown eyes and slowly nodded “I saw nothing as long as you get rid of the body.”

I smiled from ear to ear, he was bold to argue with me but it was intriguing. “You’re brave for a mortal” I carefully released him from my grip “alright I will dispose of the corpse, and you will give me blood. Don’t worry I won’t bite” the man gulped slowly still a bit shaken up, he combed his hand through his brown hair “just make it quick I have a son on the way and I’m late.” He averted his gaze from mine. Stepping closer to him i grabbed one of his wrists and brought it close to my lips. Gently I used one of my fingernails to make a small cut and placed my mouth over the wound. His warm blood rich with iron flowed smoothly down my throat nourishing my hungry cells.

I snapped out of my memories when Vincent touched my hand and spoke “are you alright you seem lost in thought” shaking my head with a smile i responded “I’m fine just a little tired i guess, it’s my first day off in weeks. Would you excuse me a moment?” I would wash my face and sort out my memory to calm down. He smiled and pointed in the direction of the washroom. Smiling back I excused myself walking by many couples and a few girl parties.

I read the thoughts of those i passed and most of them were pleasant, a group of woman stared me down as i walked past them ‘is she really wearing that on a date with Vincent Carter oh my god shes so trashy’ ‘where did he dig her up from her skin is so pale’ ‘he has to be dating her out of pity or something’ i chuckled at the sound of their thoughts. Mortal women can be so shallow it almost hurts, slowly i glanced over at them meeting eyes with one of the women who quickly gave me a fake smile.

I gave her a small smile in response and slipped into the ladies room. My heart began to race as i stared into the mirror trying to piece together my little flashback and Vincent. I took a few deep breaths as it clicked, i had met Vincents Father 30 years ago. It is clear that his father kept his promise and kept it to himself but i have to know for sure. My eyes began to gloss over with its black haze telling me i needed to feed.

Rolling my neck i felt my fangs slide into place, quickly i took out one of my vils of blood and sucked it dry. Little droplets of blood slid down my chin as the woman’s bathroom door opened. The young woman who eyed me from her table of friends came waltzing in to see my frightening appearance. As the door slowly closed behind her she opened her mouth to let out a scream but i quickly halted that with a death grip at her throat “you are calm and quiet” I gazed deep in her eyes and compelled her to my will “you have nothing to fear of me I will not kill you, you will allow me to take blood from you then forget everything you saw in this bathroom”

Slowly she nodded in compliance as her mind fell into a hypnotic state. The vile of blood hardly quenched my thirst at all, and the memories of taking blood made the need stronger. The young woman slumped against the wall, her eyes glazed over in a fog of incoherence. Slowly I lifted her wrist to my mouth, using my nail to open her vein and drew in her freshblood. The taste was overwhelmingly sweet, I figured she must eat a lot of sugar. Once I drank my fill I laped my tongue across the wound healing it with my saliva. She stared off into space still compelled, I gently led her by the hand into a stall and sat her on the tiled floor “sleep, you’ve been working too hard and passed out while drinking with your friends.” Her eyes became heavy and she slipped into a quiet sleep.

Sighing I stood and walked back into the restaurant to the table of girls “hey I think one of your friends passed out in the bathroom, you might want to check on her.” I said with concern faking its way out of my mouth. A few of the women got up and headed for the bathroom with haste. Smiling i walked back to the table and sat down with Vincent giving me a big smile. Taking a sip of wine he commented “I was beginning to wonder if you ditched me” he questioned with a curious grin. I snickered and cut into my duck, seeing I hadn't been so intimate with a human before I had considered leaving. Though I knew I wouldn't hear the end of it from Damian if I ditched such a nice guy. The rest of the evening went by with idle chit chat I told him a couple of random things about me as he spoke of his fathers business "come on tell me something you hate about new York anything at all." He asked coyly. Shaking my head I gave him the best answer I could think of "I honestly hate the street vendor food, its greasy and fatty. I can never stomach it." Vincent laughed loudly it was obvious that wasn't the kind of answer he expected. I couldn't help but laugh myself, but it was a true answer I had tried the food before and it always disagreed with me. Vincent waved a waiter over and ordered a dessert for us to split "Hope you like ice cream at least." I shrugged my shoulders letting him know I didn't care either way. I didn't want him to know I'd never had it before.