Bloodlines

This week's theme is RED. So how could I not spin a vampire tale? I teamed up with Otin for this story, which is not part of my normal vampire series since someone threatened to kill off my vampire... Anyway, Part 1 appears here on my blog. When you're done, head over to Otin's for part 2.
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The room was dark, lit only by a few flickering candles. Their small table was in the very back of the room, where they would never be overheard. Two goblets rested on the table, filled to the brim with dark red liquid.

They each had different reasons for being here. For wanting revenge against a common enemy. Hatred rolled off them in intense black waves, the feelings so strong their mood was palpable.

She closed her eyes and saw the events clearly, the nightmare once again playing through her mind. Julie had been a girl that everyone envied. She was a rare beauty and talent. Though she was married to one of Hollywood's elite, she was rich and famous in her own right.

Then she met him. He was so different. Not the typical LA bore with the fake tan and abs sculpted by surgery rather than hard work, only interested in what you could do for his career. She was drawn to him in a way she could never explain.

Such a fool. She thought he loved her. Instead, he plunged his fangs into her neck, nearly draining her dry. Then he bit into his arm, pressing the bleeding flesh against her mouth. He held her head firmly in place until she had no choice but to part her lips.

The taste... She'd never forget that taste. A heady elixir, smoky and woodsy and at that moment, just what she needed. She drank him in greedily with deep, urgent swallows. His essence filled her and she felt his power coursing through her veins.

He pushed her away cruelly and took flight, leaving her terrified and alone. It was a mere hour before dawn and, while she couldn't understand what was happening, she knew she had to find shelter from the sun. She could never return home. Could never again be a part of her past life.

Through the blood tie they shared, she could still sense him. Felt him taunting her. She knew every time he took another innocent. She had to stop him...

Robert watched Julie from across the table. Her eyes were closed, but a dark shadow had crossed her angelic face. She never shared her reasons for meeting him, nor had he divulged his reasons to her.

His family had been destroyed by the same vampire that turned Julie. He came home early from work that day to find the front door not only unlocked but wide open. His heart thundered in his chest as he climbed the steps three at a time. Robert found the vampire leaning over his wife. The vamp let the body fall to the floor. His white shirt streaked with red from his feeding frenzy.

The vampire stalked toward him. "Please," Robert begged. Without his family, what did he have to live for? He wanted to die by the vampire's hand, just like his wife and children. The vampire laughed wickedly. As he passed Robert, the vampire slashed Robert's wrists with his claws.

Robert fell to the floor, dragging himself to his wife. He wrapped his arms around her, prayed for death to claim him quickly so they could be together again. Robert lay bleeding on the floor for hours. But death never came. His wounds healed. He rose, larger and stronger than ever.

The vampire's blood had been on those claws, mixing with Robert's, leaving him not quite vampire and not quite human. He had fangs and claws, but did not need blood and darkness to survive. A deadly hybrid mix.

Robert and Julie stared at each other across the table for a moment. They raised their goblets to each other. "There will be blood shed tonight," she whispered. Both drained the contents of their glasses and stood.

Julie strapped a harness around her shoulders, filled with silver blades and wooden stakes. Robert slipped an extra pistol into his boot. The bullets were special - silver and dipped in holy water.

Their jet black eyes flared and fangs grew in preparation for the hunt. The blood of their maker still flowed through them, calling them home. And this time when they met the vampire, they would be prepared.

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Now go visit Otin for the end of this story...