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ROY WONDERED AT TIMES like these why vampires, with all of their much-touted heightened senses couldn’t sense the end of their lives coming. Why they couldn’t sense him—a Grim Reaper of the blood suckers—coming. He wondered how it wasn’t like a blast of trumpets: loud and impossible to ignore. Especially now, when he charged forth with the clamorous racket of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Of course, it wasn’t the dramatic pound of hooved beasts ridden by cloaked harbingers of doom beating the earth. But close. It was the roar of a tractor-trailer’s 550- horsepower engine raging down the narrow lane as it barreled toward them. And it was music to Roy’s ears as he directed it down the quiet, rural Pennsylvania street. Loaded with forty-four thousand pounds of beer, his vehicle of travel wasn’t as sexy as biblical steeds, but it would get the job done without a doubt.
And get the job done it would!
Stealing it from the rest stop had been easier than he’d thought. The trucker hadn’t even been harmed during the heist. Not that Roy would’ve minded hurting him. As far as he was concerned, killing the trucker would’ve done the world a tremendous service given his general dishevelment and lack of hygiene. The cab reeked of feet and dirty body, spoiled food and mold. Still, it was a small price to pay for the grand entrance it would guarantee him.
Roy glanced at himself in the rearview mirror. The sight of his arrestingly handsome face caused one side of his mouth to curl in a half-formed grin. Each time he had the privilege of gazing upon his reflection, he was reminded anew of what he was. Of how special he was. His sculpted features were the icon of beauty, the epitome of it that transcended age, cultural, ethnic, racial, and gender categories. It transcended time. He was beauty personified. And only his beauty—the very brand of his superiority—could snuff out the scourge besmirching the planet: vampires.
Vampires would fall. All of them would fall forever. Roy would help. Today, three would fall at his hand. In one outing, Roy would single-handedly kill three aberrations that fancied themselves indestructible.
“Indestructible!” Roy laughed out loud, tossing his head back as he stepped down harder on the gas pedal.
Pulse quickening in time with the rig’s acceleration, Roy could hardly contain the excitement swelling within him. As soon as the picturesque, ranch-style home inhabited by the vampires came into view, that excitement multiplied tenfold. Depressing the gas pedal so that it touched the floor, the rumble of the tractor trailer was a thunderous growl that filled the air.
He made a sharp left, swerving headlong into the house. Metal exploded against wood as the cab plowed through the right side of the structure. He could’ve driven through the living room, but what fun would that have been? The bedrooms resided to the right. Over the wail of the engine, the loud, echoing cry of rubber as the tractor-trailer struggled to continue through to the far wall, Roy could hear metal exploding against flesh. The crunch of bone and tearing muscle warred with the scream of the tires trying to gain traction. And the unmistakable cry of a vampire. High-pitched and unlike any sound a creature in nature could make, it clawed at his eardrums and assured him at least one of the vampires had been struck. The prolonged screams meant one was being dragged beneath the rig. Roy pumped a fist and cheered. “Yeah!” he shouted and knew he was doing what he was meant to do. He checked both side-view mirrors and saw bloody legs sticking out from beneath the trailer, as well as another body, which had been flung aside, his limbs at odd angles. Two had been injured. A human would not survive the injuries they’d sustained. But the vamps would. They’d heal within a matter of minutes. That’s where the necessity of driving the rig into the house came into play.
Taking down walls flooded the house with daylight. Daylight weakened vampires substantially, limiting their strength to that of a human. A strong human. But a human nonetheless. Roy could kill three weakened vampires with ease.
Turning in his seat, he collected the three metal stakes he’d brought and took a cursory look through the windshield. All seemed quiet, but he knew it wouldn’t stay that way. Opening the driver’s side door, Roy jumped from the cab. As soon as his feet hit the ground, the first bloodsucker pounced.
Covered in blood and with clothes torn to shreds, the male vampire must’ve been the one that had been dragged beneath the tractor-trailer. Bits of wood and broken glass clung to him from head to toe as scrapes and deep wounds healed before Roy’s eyes. But the vampire remained undeterred. He still attacked. A distance that would’ve been closed in the space of a breath in darkness appeared to Roy as if it were happening in slow motion. Lips peeled back over his teeth, the vampire lunged for him. But as soon as he saw Roy’s face, a look of fear flashed across his features. He imagined it was an emotion the vamp hadn’t felt in many years. Of course the fear was felt for good reason. The bloodsucker was about to die.
Bathed in light, the vampire collided with Roy, attempting to tackle him to the ground. But the attempt was ineffective. Daylight bled him of his strength and stripped him of his ability to shift form.
“Ha, ha! I don’t think so!” Roy shouted with a grunt. The vampire’s shoulder crashed into Roy’s midsection, but he’d braced himself for impact and quickly reversed the tackle by lowering his stance and using the vamp’s own momentum against him. Dropping his right shoulder and hooking his arm beneath the beast’s arm, he was able to flip him onto his back, slamming him to the ground. Without wasting a second, Roy jumped atop him. Gripping the metal stake in his hand, he hoisted it high before driving it into the left side of the vampire’s chest, straight through his heart.
Blood sprayed Roy’s face, splattering across his cheeks and lips. Cursing, he wiped it with his shoulder, unwilling to look away and miss a single moment of the vampire’s death. He smiled, captivated by what he was seeing.
Eyes bulging from his head and skin becoming a sickly yellow, an unearthly, tortured howl echoed from the vampire. Roy climbed off the body, springing to his feet. His gaze never wavered, for he knew fully what would happen next.
Transfixed, Roy watched as, for a moment, the vampire’s body writhed and thrashed in the throes of a spasm then the atmosphere around him quickened. A ripple like a strong ocean current appeared in the air before his body burst into flames. The stench of sulfur assailed Roy’s nostrils, filling them before the stink of burning flesh prevailed. Blue tongues of fire lapped at the vampire’s body, consuming it completely until all that remained was a pile of ash. He retrieved the stake from the cinders and clutched it in his hand tightly. Folklore and Hollywood had given the impression that only a wooden stake could vanquish a vampire, but that was untrue. All that was needed was a stake large enough to drive through their black hearts. Experience had simply taught Roy that metal was the most effective material for the job. A job he excelled at. One he loved.
Heart thumping an eager rhythm, Roy sensed another vampire was near. A flash in his periphery upped the tempo of his heart and caused him to spin. In the shade of the far side of the house, where part of a wall remained intact, the other male stood. Blood coated his clothes as it had the other, but the dim light had allowed him to heal fully. It had also allowed him to transform. But Roy didn’t care. He didn’t fear the monster. He stole after him like a lion stalking a herd of soft-eyed gazelles on the Serengeti. But unlike a soft-eyed Gazelle, Roy’s prey was a formidable hunter. Canines extended and on full display, the vampire spotted Roy. He turned and hissed, then launched his body at Roy. Roy sidestepped the vampire but the vamp quickly regained his footing, advancing and swinging his fists. But Roy was too fast, bobbing and weaving so that the vampire didn’t land a blow. He studied every movement as he dodged swipes and waited for the right moment to strike.
Driving his fist forward the entirety of his bodyweight and might behind it, he drilled his fist into the vampire’s face. The bloodsucker’s head snapped backward as the impact of Roy’s punch exploded against his cheek. An involuntary yelp of pain escaped him as he stumbled, tumbling backward from the force of Roy’s blow.
As soon as the vampire hit the ground, Roy descended on his prone form, delivering a series of punches that sprayed from him like machine-gun fire. When the vamp’s face was a bloodied pulp, Roy withdrew the metal stake he’d tucked between his belt and the waistband of his jeans. He raised it over his head and thrust it forward, stabbing it into the monster’s heart. The vamp cried out, a shrill scream that pierced the ether then his body convulsed. Roy stepped away from the jaundiced, shuddering beast just as the air above it undulated. White-hot heat burst from it, consuming flesh and bone, devouring the fetid vehicle of terror until the stench of brimstone, decay and blood hung so heavily in the atmosphere it clung to the roof of Roy’s mouth. When finally it was reduced to ash, he quickly moved toward the mound and recovered his metal stake.
Roy was about to stalk off in search of the female when movement behind him caused him to turn. His head swiveled and his gaze landed on a tall, slender form. Frozen and eyes wide with shock, the woman stood. But instead of confronting him, she bolted, dashing off out of the destroyed anterior wall of the house and into the daylight. Standing and frowning, Roy realized the woman was quite lovely. Lovelier than any female—human or otherwise—he’d seen yet. It seemed almost a pity that he was going to kill her. Enjoying her first sounded far more palatable. Perhaps if time allowed for it, he’d indulge his carnal need.
Watching with his head cocked to one side as the woman loped off, a split second of worry gripped him. What if someone saw her? Being seen was a breach of protocol. It was unacceptable. He realized he’d have to give chase rather than prowl around and toy with her as he’d hoped he’d be able to do. So he set off at a sprint, quickly closing the distance between them, a feat that wouldn’t have been possible were it not daytime. If night had fallen, Roy wouldn’t have a chance at catching her. Speed was the only attribute that vampires possessed to which he was willing to concede defeat. In the bright light of morning, the woman was slowed. He collared her, gripping the neckline of her sweatshirt and yanking her backward.
Slammed to the ground, the air was knocked from her lungs. Still, she pleaded with him with her eyes and gasped, “Please don’t do this.”
Roy swung a leg over her body and sat so that his backside rested on her stomach and his knees rested just beneath her armpits. He studied her face. High cheekbones, full lips, palest blonde hair and eyes a frosty blue so glacial they resembled ice over water, she was exquisite. But that was her mask. He knew that it was just a pretty façade. Beneath the guise was a hideous, bloodthirsty creature. When hunger burgeoned, the fine features would morph, melding into a ghastly being neither man nor beast could enjoy bodily.
“Do you show mercy to the innocents you slaughter?” he asked through clenched teeth as rage coursed through his veins. He didn’t wait for her answer. Maniacal laughter bubbled from him. He shook his head. “No, you don’t, do you?” He gripped her face with one hand, squeezing so that his thumb and index finger bit into the flesh on either side. “So I won’t show you any mercy.”
Roy released her face and, keeping her pinned in place with the weight of his body and his legs, he stared into her chilly gaze as he slowly impaled her heart with his stake. She did not cry and she did not scream out as the other two had. With a sharp intake of breath, she accepted death. Her body barely jerked and shook before the air above her body shimmied and heat hotter than a thousand suns seared flesh and bone, reducing her to dust.
Brushing the ash and debris from his clothes, Roy made his way back to the house. There, he climbed back into the cab and grabbed a plastic canister filled with gasoline. He poured the flammable fuel all around the destroyed house. When he’d finished, he was confident that both the fuel he’d spread and the full tank of the tractor-trailer would make for sufficient kindling. He climbed into the tractor and rewarded his work with one of the beers that had been in the process of being hauled before he’d intercepted the load. Twisting off the bottle top, Roy didn’t mind that the beer was not only warm but domestic. He happily lifted it to his lips and took a long sip. He then smiled and jumped out of the back of the tractor. Pulling a Zippo lighter from his pants pocket, he rolled the thumbwheel and the flint lit the wick. He tossed the lighter behind him and watched as a trail of fire blazed through the ranch-style house where vampires once lived in the sleepy Pennsylvania neighborhood. He took another swig of his beer, allowing the warm, amber liquid to effervesce down his throat until just a few dregs remained. Thick, black smoke had begun to billow, eclipsing the sun and filling his lungs. “Time to go,” he mumbled to himself and set off at a jog toward his Mercedes Benz AMG 65 sedan, which waited in a wooded nook nearby.
As he walked, he glimpsed smoldering architecture surrendering. Walls disintegrated. Floors collapsed. Murky smoke gathered and mushroomed toward the clouds. Roy smiled broadly not only at his handiwork but because he’d completed his mission. His was a job well done. His boss would be pleased with him.