A Tale of the Unnatural

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Chapter Five Part One

“Could it be a Chupacabra?” asked Morrison of his deputy. A hunter that used to trap squirrels and wild rabbits in the forest had come upon a white tailed fawn that had been ripped apart and bled dry. “I don’t think so, so far up north... it could be a cougar or mountain lion... but, yes I know, if it walks like a duck... I’ll drive into the forest early tomorrow and take a look for myself.” the deputy answered.

Morrison put the Pontiac in drive and u-turned back to his office. “Is it a beast or a creature? That is the question!” thought the Keeper. There really was no hurry for him to go anywhere. Things had been quiet, as usual for a small town, “Maybe I should stop for a latte?” he pondered.

Morrison’s deputy decided not to wait until the next day. He walked up the street to the firehouse, borrowed an ATV and headed for the forest. He wanted to be back before nightfall.

(To Be Continued.)

Monday, May 26, 2014

Chapter Four Part Nine

Hunger led Remus to scavenge. He could swiftly snatch a squirrel off a limb, rip off its head, to make peeling the skin easier, and devour the raw flesh. The squirrels were tasty, ok, but made for a skimpy meal and Remus was also very thirsty, a thirst that the small furry animals insignificant amount of blood would not satisfy. The slaughtered game became larger with each kill. The cavern that had opened up in his body could not be filled.

The forest did not offer a large variety of prey. The bears, wolves and mountain lions had been hunted to extinction. Only the occasional herd of deer would trek through foraging on the way to higher ground. There was nothing the white tailed doe could do to save her fawn from Remus. He fell on the fawn knocking it to the ground, pull the neck back until it snapped and ferociously, like some animal, bit deep and hard into the fawn’s neck. Hugging the dead fawn on the forest floor, Remus let the blood drain into his mouth.

The small herd ran off without looking back.

End of Chapter Four

(To Be Continued.)

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Chapter Four Part Eight

They talked of just about everything but the unnatural. Tyrol did most of the talking explaining things modern. “Would you like a TV set?” offered Tyrol. Kalina giggled, “What for?” Tyrol didn’t have to be reminded that Kalina’s gypsies live a very Spartan and old fashioned life. Although a part of both their stories remained hidden during those few hours every other day they could spend together, they’d become used to each other’s company and it brought them closer, physically.

“But you could take me to see yours.” she taunted knowingly. Kalina would hold him tighter when he flustered like that, searching for an answer. “Well, you know..., the guys...” “I know I know...” she’d conclude. They continued their charade until one day, without thought Kalina kissed him lightly on the mouth. Momentarily terrified of what could be his response, Kalina let Tyrol kiss her tenderly on the lips. Holding each other tightly, neither of them knew what to do next.

If anyone had been keeping an eye on the couple, they’d have noticed that the kids never had a drink nor a bite to eat.

(To Be Continued.)

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Chapter Four Part Seven

Thanks to the voodoo religion the existence of zombies gained credibility. Ironically those aren’t really zombies, at least not the ones that eat people. Creating a zombie, for a voodoo priest, is dispensing punishment for severe misbehavior in the community he safeguards. The transgressor is given a poison that knocks him/her out and dims the wits a little. While unconscious he or she is taken as far away from the community as possible. Actually it’s a more compassionate punishment than the electric chair. More like life in prison.

Zombies have been around for a long time, not forever, but for a very long time. As usual, the very origins are unknown, but if one constructs a timeline from the evidence and references available to us, you will see that their presence is cyclical or in waves. And if you build a similar timeline of catastrophic events, like famines, plagues, wars and things like that, then compare that to the first timeline, you’d have a matching pattern. Death, hunger and zombies seem to go together.

It’s only now that scientist’s are looking into the makeup of a zombie.

(To Be Continued.)

Friday, May 9, 2014

Chapter Four Part Six

Bruël is a large town, large enough to keep the Gypsy Fair going for weeks. But Dante didn’t know if coming to this town was that good of a choice. He had one of those feelings too vague to put a finger on it but for his intuition it’s a very true feeling. He is losing control of something, he thought, but, “I don’t know if I can have control over whatever it is that’s happening?”

Remus, heir to the tribal crown, has vanished. There was occasional evidence of his presence at both the camp and with the horses but he hadn’t been seen by anyone. Dante didn’t want to make an issue of it but he is concerned. Then his niece, Kalina, heiress to the profound magical and mystical powers of Madame Ajándék, scampers off, dressed like a gadjo, to do what? He thought. “And now, we have some kind of police person prowling around... Why?”

“What is supposed to be is no longer.” Dante added. It’s part of an incantation his deceased wife Arissia liked to repeat.

(To Be Continued.)

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Chapter Four Part Five

Tyrol got home early. He had to stop himself from skipping his way home. It’s embarrassing for a vampire or just about any teenager to do that. Tyrol felt light hearted, light headed, or something like that. Silence pulled Tyrol into the grand room. It was empty of vampires. The TV set was free to use! He picked up the remote, sat on the floor and searched for his favorite shows; the ones he liked when mortal that is.

Delighted that the reruns of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ were endlessly back to back, he leaned on a cushion to watch. Tyrol couldn’t concentrate on the program. His mind kept traveling back to the precious minutes he had spent with her. There was nothing about her that he didn’t like. He even found endearing her evasive answer about some gypsy rule that forbad her from going out at night.

The nest was coming about, so Tyrol switched off the TV and readied himself to join his ‘roommates’ and go out to feed. The notion made him reflect. “It’s the first time, since turned...; I didn’t feel any lust for her blood...; at all!”

“Could that be love?” thought Tyrol.

(To Be Continued.)

Friday, May 2, 2014

Chapter Four Part Four

Harieen had mixed up the amulets and potions. She liked them better like that organized by size and color. Kalina couldn’t understand why that way was better but she really didn’t care. At least not now. Kalina’s smile led the way out to the encampment. She searched for her regular clothes, switched outfits, and sat on a small bench under a bright orange and lavender sheet. Leaning against a wagon, she let her mind replay the afternoon.

“He was shy, he was tender. He was funny... specially the story about living in an old house with roommates. He understood love..., the way he spoke about his mother...,” reliving the brief encounter. Tyrol wasn’t too inquisitive, taking Kalina’s stories on face value. She felt terrible having to leave him. Tyrol didn’t insist too much she stay and she was glad for that.

As gently as night floated down from the sky, so Kalina’s skin turned rough and colorless. In time, in the darkness, blisters of rottenness would pop open decorating her vanished beauty with a spattering of slimy green puss.

(To Be Continued.)