The Vampyre

 

~Nick Guarino

 

Light emanated from my lantern, but was swallowed by the fog and died before it could touch the damp steps leading up to the castle. Impossibly tall, the spires which pierced the sky loomed over us, its stature oppressive. I seem as though I were an ant, marching defiantly to the den of the queen to renounce an allegiance impressed upon me from the moment of my unfortunate birth. For many years, it has enacted its plague among our village, feasting not only on our flesh, but in tandem, our grief.

 

Many have fallen victim to the insatiable hunger of the creature. Women and children left to slaughter, bodies laying blood soaked in the street, unidentifiable from the person misfortunate enough to walk into the street, into the dusk, into its kingdom. We can bear no greater losses. As I climb to face the beast, I tremor at the mere thought of its visage. I know not of its figure, but hear tell of its horrible shape–that of man, gaunt and pale, and yet with impressive enormity and strength. I hear of teeth like daggers, untamed as that of wolves. Its eyes, not many have seen, most who would tell have no method to do so, lest the dead may now speak.

 

Only one claims to have made contact with the beast in such a way, yet all he would admit was that no light existed beyond his eyes, light did not touch the soul of the beast, it too must have wavered doing such in its fear. Behind me, I observe a husband and wife, having bore a child taken in its infancy, a victim to the beast’s hunger. Not but four days into the dear child’s life was he extinguished, nearly eaten whole. We would not have identified the remains left were it not for the remnants of his clothing, which his poor mother recognized immediately upon sight.

 

Her wails echoed throughout the town, her sorrows permeated even the most sacred of spaces. We mourned her losses and shared her sorrows, a fruitful couple left without the baby which her labors entitled to her. I had approached the couple with grand promises one fortnight past. With a feigned assurance, I told them the demon could be put to rest. I had heard from distant lands of the ways in which it could be put to death and told them we could become a force of justice should we form allegiance and battle together. They were hasty to agree in their lust for revenge, and so now we climb these steps to face it. We can only hope to send the devil back to the hell from which he came.

 

I pray now, not only that the Lord may have mercy upon my soul, but also that this devil be not too swift, such that the young lovers' unknowing sacrifice be a worthy one. I have endeavored to slay the beast, and I believe the beast shall give effort to reunite mother and father with the lost child. This diversion, I hope to believe, may give way to vulnerability, so that his appetite shall give way to his demise. God give me strength and guide my trembling hands. Oh, Heavenly Father, may their souls meet sweet rest, and with all that I am, I beg of you to forgive my transgressions.