Veil Dancer (Love in Vein / Last dance)

"What have you done ?" Qayin said in a voice of astonishment.

Isabel's face had melted. Her eyes were sparkling with a life that would have shocked any who knew her. "Oh my love I did what should have been done centuries ago !" Slowly she walked towards Qayin and embraced him. Qayin reluctantly accepted her hug.

"For centuries you have helped create veils of illusion." "You have kept the Children of the Sun as animals in cages." "I have taken it upon myself to end the lies." Isabel spoke in a child like voice full of joy and awe.

Qayin frowned his blue eyes full of disgust and sorrow. Pushing his long straw like hair out of his face he moved away from Isabel.

"How?" he asked in small measured words. "Do you plan to change fate?"

Isabel stepped in as Qayin was pushing away and slapped him hard. Her eyes turned hard the air around her returned to the familiar coldness.

"Ah Qayin !" licking her lips "Or, should I say Cain !" "You are nothing but a pawn in a game of chess!" " You create a cult to yourself so, your children may have something to believe in." "You help your master create a world and accept scraps from his table." "You are an arrogant fool with no imagination!"

Qayin's brow furrowed more. His eyes sad and distant as he shook his head in disbelief at Isabel.

"I, the fool ? " "My dear, I have been wandering the earth for aeon's." "My children sharing the curse of the hunger of blood." "Do, you really believe that the leaders of the Sun or the Moon are really going to let you change the world ?" Qayin sighed. "Do you not know your role in this chess game?"

Isabel picked up the chalice and threw it at Qayin. "Oh puppet I am here to cut your strings!"

Qayin smiled a sad old knowing smile. "Isabel I can not be destroyed this is my curse." "You know this." Slowly he drew a short sword from his robe. "I loved you for many decades." "You were my star pupil." Slowly swinging the sword he said "I see you have become rabid. It is time I put you down."

Isabel grinned a smile that would have sent shivers down a demons spine.

Qayin raced towards her slashing at her head in rapid razor strokes.

Isabel moved slowly. Her hand slowly grabbing the sword arm of Qayin. In a slow motion twist she threw Qayin over her back. In the process breaking the bones in his arm. From wrist to shoulder. Shocked Qayin painfully got up. "How ?" His voice full of disbelief and fear.

Isabel slowly circled him. Enjoying the moment like a fine meal. "Why you dinned on the cattle, I hunted and ate the predators." While you grew fat and lazy as ruler, I scratched to survive."

Her voice getting quieter and quieter as she prepared to lunge like a large cat.

" I will end the shadow show." I will tear down the veils." All will see what reality is." Slowly she kicked out at Qayin's ankle. Qayin attempted to move out of range but, the toe of her boot barely made contact shattering the bones. Qayin fell to the marble floor of the Ritual chamber. Pain filled his eyes as he unsuccessfully struggled to get up and protect himself.

"You see." Isabel whispered barely moving her mouth. "I tire of the balance." " The powers of the Moon and Sun agreeing to play by the rules. "

"But," Qayin moaned out. "How, how can you do this?"

Isabel danced in a small circle. As she came around she kicked out her leg. Her shin connecting with the arm Qayin was using to prop him self up right below the elbow. His arm snapped like a twig. He fell forward lying there gasping.

"Why I studied both sides." Isabel said as she picked up Qayin's sword. "I found that they both have there strengths and weaknesses. Holding the sword in her hand it transformed into an asp. The snake hissed twisted and turned to escape her grasp. "I want ." she said looking the serpent in the face as it attempted to bury it's fangs into her. "I want to see who will stop me." "Will the sleeping kings awake to stop me ?" She dropped the snake in front of Qayins face. "Or, will they let me complete my little apocalypse ?"

The asp buried its fangs into Qayin's cheekbone. The venom slowly begin to burn and numb his body at the same time. "See Qayin !" Isabel said laughing sadistically. "The master didn't bother to help his prized dog !" "Good bye my love " Isabel said over her shoulder as she walked out the door. "Wish I could stay, but I have worlds to obliterate ! "

Veil Dancer (White Queen on a Blood Red Throne Part 2 )

"Blasphemer" and "Heretic" echoed off the ritual chamber walls. The unholy twelve mumbled these words in shock as they begin to prepare a binding ritual on the sinner who had interrupted the century old tradition. Isabel stood up in an exaggerated slow manner. She waved her finger and head in unison. In a bored almost yawning voice she stated " I tire of you and your parlor tricks!" She ran her tongue across her scalpel like incisors and spit the crimson life force into the incantation she had carved into the obsidian throne. The throne exploded. Black glass like slivers flew into the air. Instantly they transformed into ravens. The ravens swooped down onto the twelve. Ripping and tearing into there red robes. Each slash burned as though the sun had touched the children of Cain's skin. They howled and dropped to the ground in a protective huddle. The smell of burning skin and sandalwood filled the air as the attack continued. After what seemed a life time eleven piles of ash laid in the marble floor. With the blink of an eye and the wave of her arms Isabel called the ravens back to her. In a surreal freaky moment the ravens were absorbed into Isabel's eyes. Looking down at the carnage left behind she smiled a small smile and turned her attention to the last member of the coven. In a voice that for Isabel would be considered to be filled with emotion she exclaimed " After aeon's we are finally alone my love!"

Veil Dancer (White Queen on a Blood Red Throne Part 1)

The Blue Bloods gathered for the "Feast of the Hunter's moon."
This event took place every early October. When the Hunter moon or Blood
moon was full in the sky. The twelve members met in a chateau in the middle of
France.

They put red robes on so that all but there hands were covered. They slowly
walked into the main room chanting in Old French Le sang est la vie!
"The blood is the life."
The main room was designed to look like a throne room. There were 13 thrones.
Twelve thrones were on the main level of the room. The thirteenth throne was
elevated on a dais. The throne was made of black onyx.
Carved in the throne was the story of Cain and Able.

The Blue Bloods slowly sat in there thrones and chanted faster and louder.
The light in the room begin to turn an eerie red as there voices merged
in harmony vibrating the very atmosphere.
Outside an electrical storm begin. Lightning cracked the sky and thunder
shook the chateau. The ritual was about to come to the climax.
Any moment the Blue Bloods would be able to see into the future.
With this vision they could plan how to rule the Children of Cain.
A flash of lightning filled the throne room blinding the twelve soothsayers.
The sound of scraping like nails on a chalkboard filled the room followed by a
giggle.

The spell was broken. Furious the twelve turned to see what had destroyed
there dark magic.
Sitting on the Onyx throne was a figure in a white robe. The figure was using a
fingernail to carve a word into the arm of the throne.
Softly a voice came out of the white hood. "Miss me ?"

Isabel said quizzically as she lowered the hood from her face.

Veil Dancer (Downtime to Decide)

Kari turned to Kris " Leave me here for awhile?" Kris bowed his head and in his voice that sounded like rocks rolling in a cement mixer said " Whatever you wish my Lady." Kris grabbed his beat up jacket and walked out the door. In the distance Kari heard his motorcycle drive away. "Why, does he speak to me like that?" she inquired. Marie answered mischievously " He is your guardian." "He has sworn allegiance to you no matter what side you choose." Kari absently scratched at her head. " This is allot to digest in a short time." " I understand child" Marie said. "Let me show you to the guest room." "There you can get some rest and we will finish our discussion over dinner." Marie led Kari out of the room full of candles into a hallway. Entering the hallway Marie lit a lamp. Marie mumbled " The gas lighting, I had it put in this house to remind me of my home in the French Quarter." She sighed. "How I miss it."
Marie opened the door of a room at the end of the hall. A large poster bed dominated the room. Heavy curtains of red hung on the bed frame hiding the actual bed from sight. On the wall were black and white photographs of various buildings in New Orleans. Marie handed Kari a vile " Put this on the cut." Kari absently looked down at where Glenn had sliced and sucked on her arm. The cut was infected and also had a weird black glow to it. " There saliva has a germ in it that is like a narcotic" Marie explained. "It is what makes a human go back and let themselves be fed on until they die." " What is in the vile?" Kari asked. " A mixture of White tulips, Saint John's wort, and a dash of Laudanum." "It will heal the wound and help you rest." "Now" Marie said " I have water heated so you may take a bath." Bathe, take a nap and when you awake" Marie handed her an old skeleton key. " Unlock the room on the other side of the house." She pointed in the general direction. "There I will meet you and we can discuss the mess you have stepped in."

Kari walked into the bathroom. In the antiquated room a claw foot bathtub filled with steaming water awaited her. She undressed and slipped into the water. The heat of the water slightly scalded her skin and melted the soreness and stress out of her body.She begin to forget about the whiplash life changes and found herself nodding off. Catching herself before she slipped into the water Kari got out of the tub. Wrapping herself in a ruff cotton towel she walked into the bedroom. To one side there was a dressing screen. The picture painted across the screen was of two swans. One black and one white. The river that they swam down was a blue green. The water seemed to swirl around the swans bodies. Kari found herself spellbound by the painting. The longer she stared at it the more lifelike it became. When she swore she could hear the sound of the river she shook her head and broke the spell. Walking over to the other side of the room she opened the closet. In the closet were various colored dresses of silk. She chose one that seemed familiar and put it on slowly. Pulling the cork from the vile Marie gave her she rubbed the tincture into the ugly wound. A weird sensation crept up her arm and over the rest of her body. A burning numbing sensation. In a dreamy calm state Kari walked over to the bed and pulled back the curtains. Engraved in the wood of the bed were images of angels. As if the bed had been made out of ancient pews from a church. Crawling under the Soft sheets that covered the feather bed mattress Kari begin to dream. She dreamt of the buildings in the pictures on the walls. She felt as though she were walking through each building and exploring them. Drifting in another time she walked the gas lamp streets. Shopped in the stores and forgot all about the terror of the last few days.

Veil Dancer (Meanwhile Back at Marie's house)

"You need to decide, are you for the Sun or the Moon?" Marie said. Kari stood up, her face a mask of anger. "I choose neither!" The candles begin to flicker as though a wind was passing through the house. " I am returning to my life." " I have no interest in this." Marie laughed, her body rocking. " My poor poor child" she said in a tone one would use to comfort a scared puppy. " Don't you understand the life you speak of is gone? "The half blood dogs are hunting you as we speak." Her voice getting sadder as she continued to speak. " They have no care for rules or tradition." " They aim to destroy the balance and force the final battle to be waged." Kari sat down hard, her eyes full of disbelief. " If I chose the Sun would I be accepted? " " Am I good enough to be part of them?" Marie smiled at Kari. " Child, we all judge ourselves harsher than needed." "All of us think that if we have done some small wrong we must be evil creatures." " You must look into your heart" Marie stood up slowly with the tea pot. " You can stay here with me while you decide." "Or, she motioned to Kris " you may leave with Kris and take your chances out there." Kari asked " Why am I safe here?" "I am a diplomat a negotiator of both sides." " As long as you are here there will be no altercations." "Besides" Marie smirked " you look like you could use a meal made out of something besides Twinkies!" "

Veil Dancer (Warrior of the Sun part 2)

Father O'Malley explained to John the ongoing battle of the two forces. That John had been chosen to protect the innocent. John had balked at first. But after hours of discussion he realized that O'Malley knew too much about him that he had not told anyone. John retired from the ring. He begin training with O'Malley on the supernatural. He became a lethal warrior of the Sun that begin to wage battle against his foes the same way he had done in the ring when he was a kick boxer.

Taking a break from his daily training John gulped water from his plastic bottle. His nose that looked like a battered piece of puddy that leaned slightly to the left ached as he attempted to breathe through it. His fifty plus years were beginning to slow him down. Years of fighting both mortal and immortal enemies had blurred into a day to day struggle. He wiped the perspiration off his scarred forehead. Kris had told him that the final battle was at hand. That the back and forth struggles would end and all out war was coming. John yawned and stretched his taunt muscles."Not sure I can handle much more violence" he mumbled to himself. As he begin to relax he had a flashback of his father and the vampire. He shuddered and tried to shake it from his thoughts. He begin to start his work out all over again. Striking with hands, elbows, legs, and knees. Pushing himself to defeat the creatures who stole his innocence so he could die in peace.

Veil Dancer (Warrior of the Sun Part 1 )

John Sullivan Murphy was named after the last bare knuckle boxing champion "John L. Sullivan". He was raised in an average Irish Catholic home. His father was a beat cop in the city of Chicago. When not working he taught his boys boxing. John was a natural. He loved the training of pugilism. He would awake at five AM every morning. John would jump rope and work the heavy bag until it was time for school. He would spar and run every day after school. He was a three time golden gloves champion when he turned sixteen.His father planned to coach him to the Olympics that summer. But, that summer his whole families life changed.
John was jogging home from the gym. His father was supposed to meet him there after his shift. He had told John that he was going to help him work on understanding the Olympic style scoring of boxing. John had trained for two hours. His eyes were on the door the whole session anticipating his father's entrance. He never showed up. John assumed his father must have gotten stuck at the station doing paperwork. Ducking through an alley,John hoped to make it home on time for dinner. His breath was coming shallow now as he had been running for five miles.Lost in his run he did not see the Bum as he tripped over him. Going down hard he felt the last of his breath leave his tortured lungs as he fell. His hands catching him as they scraped across the black top. Getting up slowly he realized the Bum was hoovering over something. A sucking sound echoed in his ears. The Bum was feasting on something! As John came to his senses he realized that the Bum was lapping up blood like a kitten drinks cream from a saucer. As the disbelief filled his head at what he was seeing a horror slowly creeped acrossed him. The body below the blood drinking creature was his father's! The brave man, strong and fearless now lay crumpled and lifeless. John reacted instead of thinking. His fist connected with the creatures cheekbone. A crunching sound exploded through the air. The creature hissed like a snake as it attempted to rise from it's feeding position. John continued to pummel the creature with his fists. The combinations lethally landing faster than the vampire could move. After what seemed like hours the creature fell. It's head swollen like a disfigured grapefruit. John ran to the police station in shock. When arriving there he attempted to explain to the night shift what he had seen. Nothing but cries escaped him. He finally motioned enough that two of the boys in blue followed him to the alley. Lying slumped in the shadows was his fathers corpse. There was no sign of the creature.
After the funeral John lied about his age and joined the Army. He went to Vietnam and served three tours.During his third tour he was assigned a mission in Cambodia. While stalking through the jungles looking for Vietcong he came across an ancient ring. In the ring he saw two warriors practicing the martial art of "Pradal Serey". Entranced by there motions he begged them to train him. Pradal Serey is the Cambodian equivalent of Thailand's Muy Thai. Both are forms of kick boxing. For the first time in three years John felt excitement in his numb soul. John went AWOL from the Army and trained full time. After a year of training in Cambodia he went to Thailand and became a professional kick boxer. After five years of a brutal but successful career John begin to have nightmares. The nightmares were about people drinking blood. He would awake screaming dripping with sweat. After a dream John would get up and begin training. His kicks higher and faster. His punches and elbows more lethal each time they were thrown. He would practice until exhaustion overtook him and a dreamless sleep awaited.
Ten years on the kickboxing circuit took its toll. John begin to wonder what was next. While awaiting a bout in the Philippines he walked into a Church for the first time since he was sixteen. Inside he met Father O'Malley.O'Malley smiled a black tooth grin at John as he entered the church. "Ah me son" he said in his heavy Irish accent. "How is it I meet my own blood half way across the world?" John smiled "Father" he said grimly "I need sanctuary from my past". O'Malley winked at John. "Come in me boy" O'Malley said mischievously " and I will give you a drop of the spirit." O'Malley poured John a glass of Irish Whisky. John a lifelong health freak had never drank anything but water. As he forced down the sweet burning fiery liquid O'Malley giggled at his reaction. "Lets talk of salvation, forces of the dark that drink the blood of the innocent, and how to help you find both!"

Veil Dancer (Blade Boys,Razor Toys, and Blood Babys.)

Isabel's eyes were the color of honey. They were set deeply in her long oval face. Her dark brown hair was cut in a page boy style. Her long fingers were tipped with one inch finger nails. Each finger nail was sheathed in platinum. The pinky's had a half carat ruby in the center of the platinum sheathes. Isabel was a true Child of Cain. She had spent most of her 500 years in Argentina. She had been one of the original members of the "Blue Bloods". The Blue Bloods made and enforced the rules of the Children of Cain. Isabel grew bored of them and there aristocratic attitudes. She begin hunting the other Children of Cain. She not only enjoyed drinking there blood but, feasting on there flesh. The Blue Bloods were outraged by her blasphemy. They offered rewards for her head. Groups of vampires would go out looking for her never to return. The number one rule of the Blue Bloods was "Thou shalt not suffer a half breed to live." Any half breed that the Blue Bloods found was immediately destroyed. Isabel found the half breeds entertaining puppets. She used them not only to outrage the Blue Bloods but,for her own ends.
Isabel sat in her study drinking a glass of her favorite beverage. Type O negative aged 16 years. She absently stirred her finger in it as she awaited the arrival of her guest. Glenn timidly knocked on the study door. Though he towered over her and outweighed Isabel by at least a 100 pounds he was horrified of her! Isabel purred "Entre." Glenn walked in slowly. Isabel grabbed him in a iron grip of a hug. She stuck a fingernail in the cross burn in his palm and twisted. Glenn howled and tried to fall to the floor. Isabel held him hard. "Glenn my dear" she whispered. "How did you get the boo boo?" Glenn's mouth twisted in a "O" shape as he tried to deal with the pain. He mumbled as the tears ran down his cheek. "Master, I got careless." Isabel's eyes turned into slits of hate. "Glenn, did you know you had a Veil Dancer in your grasp?" Glenn wanted to crawl into a ball and die. "No" he said in a squeak. Isabel back handed Glenn. His body flew across the room like a rag doll. Isabel's voice never raised louder than a hush. But to Glenn it felt as though his head was exploding. "Glenn you rotten little blood baby that drained his mortal mother to be born." Isabel's eyebrow raised slightly as she paced the room in a very cat like way. "If you and your little razor toys don't find out where the Veil Dancer is" each word was pronounced quieter than the last. "I will BBQ all of you and have you with a nice bottle of B positive." Glenn pulled himself off the floor. His face felt as though it were made of Velveeta cheese. Oozing and melting from the pain. "My Queen he wheezed through his bruised face. "I will correct my error." Isabel smiled, her fangs small pearls of death. "I will destroy the Sun." Her smile turning into a Cheshire cat like grin "and the Moon."

Veil Dancer (In The Beginning)

Marie handed Kari a warm cup of tea. "Here" she said "sip this and I will give you the cliff notes version of the history of the world."
In the beginning the universe was whole and all got along." "But then" Marie paused and looked at Kari sadly "two groups separated." "The Sun and the Moon." "By the cross around your neck" Marie pointed at Kari "I believe you know about the Sun." "I will tell you about the Moon." She sipped her tea then began.
"There are two groups that make up the Moon. The Children of Lilith and the Children of Cain. The Children of Lilith feed off the lust of humans." "Are they vampires?" asked Karie. "I have never heard of them." Marie laughed "they are more dangerous than your blood suckers". " As they feed off the desires, lust, and dreams of mankind." "You ever listen to the group Pirates of Perdition" Marie asked. "Of course" said Kari. "They are the girl group of the century!" "Yes" said Marie. They are children of Lilith and they grow stronger every day thanks to the lusts of mankind." "But,you want to here about the others that the cattle worship."
"When Cain killed his brother Able God punished him and marked him." 'He did this by making Cain and his brood walk the earth forever." Marie finished her tea. Then she said " they also have to drink the blood of Innocent man." "This is what they need to ease the pain of everlasting life." "Like you need aspirin when you have a headache." "But what about the fangs?" Kari asked. "The children of Cain have breed with the children of Man." Marie said. "They need the blood of the innocent but,they dont have the teeth,the mark to assist them." "Thus they need to use man made objects to acquire the life force." Marie paused. She looked at one of the candles that had burned out. "You and I are veil dancers." "We see the battle" she said. "But we have the choice to choose which side we will help." She took a deep breath and continued. "you need to decide, are you for the Sun or the Moon?"

Veil Dancer (The History Lesson)

Kari was tired bruised and battered. The night had left her questioning her sanity. Now Kris was babbling on about supernatural beings and her being awakened. She pinched herself hard hoping to awaken but, with no results. She sighed and decided to play along. "If there are vampires wont I turn?" she asked sarcastically. "And why didn't he bite me instead of cutting me?" she inquired. Kris frowned and begin to talk under his breath. Kari caught something about an Archangel and being eligible for retirement. "You need a history lesson" he finally said to her after a good ten minutes of mumbling. "But not here." "We need to go somewhere neutral" he said in a hushed tone. "wait here, I will be back" he said as he went around the corner of the building.
Kari sat pacing waiting for Kris to return. She absently grabbed for the cross around her neck. Looking at it she stifled a scream. The gold metal had turned black. On the other side it was covered with what looked like white skin.

Kris came roaring around the corner on a odd looking motorcycle. "Get on" he said impatiently. "What kind of bike is this?" Kari asked. "It's a Ural, and if you don't hurry up and get on" he said over the noise of the bikes mufflers. "I am going to leave you for the leeches when they awaken!" Kari jumped on the back of the bike as Kris gunned the throttle. They rode into the heart of the city. Kari holding on for dear life as Kris weaved in and out of traffic at break neck speeds.

They pulled up in front of a colonial looking house in the middle of a suburban neighborhood. "This here is the house of Marie Laveau" Kris said.
"She is the Oprah of the supernatural realm. She will answer all you questions."
Kari slowly got off the bike. Kris handed her a pack of Lucky Stikes cigarettes. "Offer her these when she answers the door" he said.

Kari walked up to the door reluctantly. Painted all over the door were designs that see recognized as things to do with Voodoo. She gently knocked on the door. It flew open violently. Standing in the doorway was a small women the color of coffee and cream. "Who you be with?" she asked in a heavy creole accent. "The Sun or Moon?"
Kari, held the cigarettes out. Fearfully she said "Kris brought me." "Ah" said Marie "come in child come in." Kari followed Marie into the house. It was littered with candles in various stages of burning. The floor was a rainbow of melted candle wax.
Marie sat down in a old lazy boy and motioned Kari to sit in a folding chair.
Kari sat down gingerly. Things just kept getting weirder and weirder. She took a deep breath and asked Marie "If the man that attacked me was a vampire why didn't he have fangs?" Marie smiled, her eyes stared hard at Kari. "This ain't no romance novel about some girl falling in love with a pretty boy vampire" she vomited the words out. "That, would be like a gold fish trying to love a piranha!" she cackled. "Besides,it was one of them blood suckers that wrote that Bella b-sss." she hissed. "They knew the cattle would eat it up and come looking for them!"
Kari was more confused than ever. She looked at her wrist and then back at Marie. "Please help me understand" she pleaded. Marie stood up "Let me make you some tea". "Then" she said shaking her finger "I will start at the beginning."

Veil Dancer (The Awakening)

Kari woke with the sun burning in her eyes. She was lying in a pile of trash behind a run down warehouse. Blood was caked on her wrist and the side of her face hurt. If it were not for these two things she would think that she had been having an awful nightmare. As she picked herself up and tried to get her bearings she saw the shape of a man. He was very tall and skinny. He had white long stingy hair that fell down past his shoulders. "Ah the goth pop awakes" he said in a raspy voice that sounded like it had been destroyed by centuries of smoking. Kari looked up into his face as she asked "What is a goth pop?" The man adjusted his sunglasses that were pitch black. "My dear" he rasped "you, are a goth pop." "That club you were in is known as the "Ice cream cafe to the Children of Cain." "That is where they go to get there fill of little treats like you!" The man said as he sneered at Kari. Kari shook her head in disbelief "Are you telling me that you believe vampires are real?" The man spit, pulling a cigarette from his coat he absently looked at it and then put it back in his coat. "There is a whole world you don't know jack about." "Who are you?" Kari asked, wondering who this crazy albino looking figure was. "Name is Kristoffer but, you can call me Kris." He said this as he made a bowing gesture. "I have been assigned to you now that you are awakened."

Veil Dancer (Preface)

Lord Byron's Grotto was your typical Gothic club. The architecture of the building represented a medieval cathedral right down to the stain glass windows. Of course the themes in the windows were of worldly subjects rather than spiritual. Every Friday night the clubbers would show up for an evening of dancing, decadence,and socializing with there friends.
Kari, had been waiting all week to come party at the club. She had just turned 21 and like all under aged Goths had dreamed of the day she would be able to enter the gloomy paradise of her peers. She wore the uniform of her clique, black ! A lacy black dress slit up the thigh, stiletto hills and a veil.
She shyly walked through the wrought iron doors and rubbed her eyes as they adjusted to the dark interior of the club. On stage was the house band "Sister Morphine" playing a song that sounded like a cross between angels weeping and a sugary pop anthem. Kari wandered the club in awe taking in all the sites that she could make out in the shadowy world of the club. Attempting not to bump into the patrons as she continued her site seeing tour.
Glenn sat at the bar of the club. His black boots with buckles going all the way up to his knees on top of the bar. As usual, he was bored and looking for something to entertain him. As he was lighting matches and throwing them in the overflowing ashtray he spotted Kari. Smiling impishly he grabbed two glasses of wine and walked towards her. Glenn handed Kari a glass of wine and attempted to introduce himself over the music. Kari took the glass of wine sipping the dark red liquid and attempting to hide her awe of Glenn. She couldn't hear one word Glenn was saying but when he pointed to an area left of the stage she nodded and followed him.
To the left of the stage was a room that was known as the "Blood Bank".Only V.I.P.'s were allowed. Glenn walked up to the bouncer and rolled up his sleeve. Clearly emblazoned on his pale skin was a tattoo of a bat with two straight razors crossed underneath it. This was the mark of the gang that called itself the "Blade boys". They were a subculture in the subculture that were spoken about in whispers. Kari smiled to herself when she saw Glenn's tattoo. Her older friends had been to the club multiple times and spoken about the Blade boys and the Blood bank. But had admitted they had never met a member or had been granted access to the Blood bank. Yet here she was her first time and succeeded at both!
Entering the room Kari stopped dead in her tracks in shock. The room was full of couples in intimate looking poses. This was expected. But the blood running down the necks and mouths were not. She turned to ask Glenn what this was all about when he slapped her hard in the face. Kari went down hard. Glenn pulled out a straight razor and sliced Kari's wrist. The blood oozed and he latched into it sucking deeply. Someone in the room laughed as Kari tried to get her bearings. Glenn grabbed her dress at the neck and pulled hard. All of the sudden, he screamed and pulled his hand back. It had a cross burned in it. Kari's mother always made her promise to wear it for protection. Kari shook herself out of the daze and begin to run as Glen wailed. She ran out of the club and kept running into the night.

To Busy To Live

People don't read any more. It's a sad state of affairs. Reading's the only thing that allows you to use your imagination. When you watch films it's someone else's vision, isn't it?" — Lemmy Kilmister

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” Paulo Coelho

It was happening again! The spiraling dizziness,the gripping nausea,and the pain shooting up his left arm. Ray grabbed his chest and begin breathing in rapid fire gasps. He didn't have time for this. The proposal was due Monday! Laying on the floor he begin to think of what his doctor had told him. "Think calm pleasant thoughts." he had said. "Thoughts of times in your life that will calm you down and relax you." Ray lay on the floor frustrated he was losing valuable time. Fighting for breath he remembered the summer before his senior year in high school. His father had let him join a wilderness survival camp. Ray had lived in a hand made shelter and learned how to live off the land. James the old Native American taught the class all he knew. At night around the fire he would smoke a ceramic pipe full of tobacco and ceder wood. "Listen to your heart and you will never be lost." James would mutter between puffs always looking out into the night. Then he would bid them good evening and disappear into the dark.
Ray smiled and breathed deep. "Wonder how old James would survive in the corporate world" he chuckled to himself. Slowly picking himself up he begin working on the proposal again. He had to get this account! He owed his Ex wife two months alimony and had promised his son Oz that they would do anything he wanted to as soon as his bills were caught up. Of course, he had been telling that to Oz for the last three years! Oz, nodded numbly and went and played video games until the weekend was over and his mother would pick him up. Ray felt a small pain. He begin to breath slow long deep breaths hoping to keep it from becoming a full blown attack. He thought of the deal he made his father when he graduated from high school. Promising that he would go to college for marketing in the winter if his father financed his Wilderness Survival class he taught in the summer. Old James had retired and left the class to him. He lived off wild berries and smoked fish. Sleeping under an open sky wishing the seasons would never change. Winter he would cram economics, marketing, and accounting in his head vowing he would never use the degree he was earning. That it was the sacrifice he had to make to appease his father until he could buy some land and live in the wilderness full time.
This changed his third year of school when he met Diana. She was a gorgeous upper class girl who was in college to waste time before she married into a family of old money. Ray, was taken with her pale skin and world of manners and material. Diana was fascinated with Ray's weather burnt skin and waist length hair he kept in a tight braid down his back. As time progressed Ray decided he wanted to marry Diana and give her the life she deserved. He cut his hair and joined a firm. They were married,bought a house and piled up debt on there credit cards to live the life that Ray assumed his wife wanted. When Oz was two years old Diana left Ray. She told him he was never home and was married to his work. That he was not the man she had fell in love with. Thinking of his marriage unraveling Ray ran into the bathroom and puked. Falling to the floor as the anxiety gripped him sharply. He Whispered to the ceiling " I gave you everything Diana but it was never enough". Head swimming he cursed old James and his smiley crinkly eyes. "No one is really that happy damn you !" Rasping and crying for the first time that he could remember. His heart slamming in his chest as if trying to escape as he pulled himself up and tried to compose himself. Slowly he washed his face and hands and headed back into his den. "Was this still an anxiety attack or was he finally having a heart attack ?" He thought morbidly. White dots were clouding his vision and his knees kept trying to buckle. The contract was done and printed. He just needed to review it and fax it to the office. As he entered the den he felt the breeze from an open window. "What the.." was all he got out as he entered the room. Oz had opened the window. He was folding the pages of the contract into paper airplanes and sailing them out the open window. Ray felt a popping in his head. he grasped the door knob tightly. He prepared himself for the final attack that would be his end. It never came. He took a breath and let go of the door knob. Oz heard him and turned around startled. "Daddy, I cant make a plane that will make it across the lawn." Ray smiled, unknowingly his eyes crinkled when he smiled. He picked up a page of the contract and said "Let me show you how to make a plane that will make it across the street son."

Blues for Cupcake

Basically, I hate conformity. I hate people telling me what to do. It makes me want to smash things. So-called normal behaviour patterns make me so bored, I could throw up!
Wendy O. Williams

Cupcake sat back stage waiting her introduction. A filterless cigarette was nested between her ring and pinkie fingers smouldering, sending rings of smoke through the tangle of curls and swirls of her shoulder length hair. Her eyes the color of Turkish coffee scanned the band members to make sure they were ready. As she finished her mental preshow check list she poured herself a splash of scotch and impatiently waited for there introduction. Before every performance the ghosts of her past begin to dance across her subconscious as she waited the beginning of the concert, the ritual that brought her release.
She was born Natasha, named after a Grandmother lost in the frozen waste lands of Russia many decades before she was born. Her parents molded and guided her in the ways of hard work and simple living. When she became a teenager she discovered Charlie Parker and Jazz. Her world went from a gray path of following blindly to a technicolor vision of rapture. Her parents strongly disapproved of her taking band class and learning the saxophone. When they found out she was hanging out with the old Jazz cats they attempted to put her in boarding school. Natasha ran away and slept upstairs in a shooting gallery. She practiced her horn all day while the junkies slept off there high and jammed with them at night. There bodies oozing out the music and heroin that they so craved. It was at this time she got the name "Cupcake". For her rich sweet riffs that she coaxed out of her sax. They teased Cupcake that the sound of her horn could rot a mans heart. The old beatnicks taught her all they knew about the music. She learned voraciously and sadly watched them cook away there talents in a spoon. At 16 she had a Jazz band that reminded everyone of the good old days. By 17 she had a record contract and toured the world.
Now she was back "home" playing a charity show for one of her mentors who needed medical attention for the hard life he had lived on the road. Cupcake inhaled the last of her cigarette and crushed it on the ground. The thoughts of day to day life vanished with the hiss of smoke she blew out her aqualine nose. The band began to play. The drummer and Bassist grooved in perfect harmony. The audiance impatiently awaiting her presence in the music. The light hit her figure and she begin to play the chords on the Sax's register. Like John Coltrane when he played she completly left her body. The music taking her away to a place of total clarity.....

Dancing with the Green Fairy ( A Break From Smurfery)

And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter." (Revelation 8:10, 11 )

The Wormwood bites my tongue. The kiss of bitterness caresses my lips into numbness as the green liquor sears it's way through my insides. A halo of angels circles my head there soft moth like wings flutter in tune with there voices singing in unison the hymns of my childhood. The seven seals are opened and the book of revelation becomes a sea of blood. As I take in the vision of apocalyptic distraction I understand why the 19th century artists drank Absinthe. The warm licorice like illusion entices me into the dance of the green fairy. She giggles and sways to the sound of the moth angels voices that have moved from the crown of my head to the light of the room. They sing Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" and the Green Fairy listens to Marilyn Manson explain his recipe for Absinthe. As this party is going on Vincent Vangogh sips the emerald liquid as he captures it all on his canvas with swirling whirls of paint. The colors of the painting drowned me in there technicolor patterns as I fall into unconsciousness.

2 more days....

My eyes feel like there made of Plexiglas.. Heavy, foggy, distorted.
Every time they close my eyelashes sandblast across the surface leaving a trail of red scratches.
My old friend insomnia visited me last night. What a good friend to keep me company!
When I gave up on attempting to sleep I down enough coffee to kill a small elephant and jump in the shower. "Two more days Two more days" I chant as a silent prayer to ward off the demons that laugh and mock me! Two more days and then maybe just maybe I will get a weekend of sleep ?