Chapter Two

Judy sat in the darkness, bent over her work; she concentrated on deciphering the fragment she held in her hands. Her eyes began to tear as she had been studying this particular object for the past four hours. Laying it down, she sat back on her chair. Stretching to work the kinks out of her back, she let out a large yawn. Her eyes caught the sparkle of the crystal skull that sat on a desk five feet from her. Its false twin was used in the exhibit upstairs. Judy slowly closed her eyes as she recalled the man she saw examining the skull at the exhibit today. She had never in her life seen a more handsome man. His eyes were a liquid brown, he wore his hair long down to his shoulders. She always loved a man with long hair.

Letting out a heavy sigh, she scratched an itch on her nose. She returned to her task, not realizing the time.

"You staying late Professor Bennett?" A voice called from the doorway, glancing up she saw John, the night watchman.

"Yep John, I have to finish deciphering these symbols. I won’t be able to sleep unless I get at least one."

John just shook his head. "You professors, think you’re so smart that you don’t need sleep. Well if you stay past Midnight don’t forget the alarm automatically goes on. You’ll have to disarm it before you leave."

"Thanks John, I’ll remember." She called out, blowing some dust out of one of the markings. It was not until she heard the clock strike eleven that she realized that John was gone. Long gone for at least an hour. She dropped the piece on the table, she really had to get a life.

Standing she grabbed her coat and purse, she began to walk out of the dark museum. Whistling to herself more as a comfort. She always hated to stay in the museum after hours. It just seemed creepier. As she walked down the hallways she wondered where John was? He should have been in his chair at the Egyptian exhibit. But he was no where to be found.

Shrugging it off to nature calling she walked quickly towards the exit. As she turned the corner she stumbled over something, she fell flat on her face.

"Who the hell left something in the god damn hallway?" She cursed out. Rolling on her back she tried to see what she fell over.

A loud scream was heard to echo in the hallways as Judy crawled backwards, her head shaking back and forth.

What she stumbled on was John, he lay on the floor. A broken man, his throat seemed to be torn out, more blood was on the floor than in him. Judy looked to her hands, they were covered in blood.

She began to wipe them on her shirt, her stomach turning as she tried to rub John’s blood off of her.

She froze as she heard someone running towards her. Searching around the room she crawled behind a standing armor. Pulling her legs towards her chest she held her breath, not wanting the intruder to hear her breathing.

The sound of running grew louder. It came to a stop where John lay. She heard two men talking, she could hear the name of Gabriel being tossed around in the conversation. Suddenly the talking stopped, Judy held her breath, praying to god that she would not be found. She began to breathe when she heard footsteps going away.

Waiting for them to leave the room she let out a small sigh.

"There you are." A soft voice said as a hand was thrust towards her. Judy let out a piercing scream, running out from behind the armor she whirled her purse around. "Don’t you touch me." She hysterically yelled out.

"Calm down, I’m here to help."

Judy let her purse drop as she saw her assailant. It was the handsome man she had seen this afternoon. He wore a long black flowing cape, his expressive brown eyes smiling at her.

"I’m sorry if I frightened you. I really didn’t mean to."

Judy stamped her foot in anger and fear. "Don’t you know there’s a killer loose in here?"
Matthew sadly nodded his head. "I know, that’s why I’m here."

Mark came running from a side room. "Not in here." He called out.

Judy jumped as Mark entered the room, he was a heavyset man, his gray eyes glowed in the darkness.

"Well little Lady, I hope you were just leaving, because if you weren’t then I suggest you do. NOW!" He stressed strongly.

Judy placed her hands on her hips. "Now who the hell do you think you are? I work here not you." Pointing to John’s body she gasped out. "We have to call the police, John has been murdered."

"We know." Matthew said in a calming voice. "But it would be useless to call the police."

"Why?" She asked.

"Because they already cut the phone lines." Mark answered her.

Judy’s face flushed for the second time that night. "What do you mean they cut the lines?"

Matthew’s head jerked around. "They’re here Mark, very close too." Throwing his cape back, he pulled his sword out from within his long cape. Judy’s eyes bulged at the size of the weapon.

Mark nodded his head. "We have to get her out of here first Matthew, then we go for the skull."

Matthew agreed, they would use her against them.

"Then lets go now. Before more come."

Matthew grabbed Judy by the arm. "Common Miss, you have to get out of here now!"

Judy pulled herself out of Matthews’s grip. "I’m not going anywhere with you. First off I don’t know who you are."

"I’m Matthew and this is Mark." The handsome man quickly introduced himself to the professor. "And you are?" He asked in return.

"I’m Judy Bennett." She found her self quickly replying, his eyes were so pleading, so beautiful, she found she had to answer him. Shaking her head she said.

"How do I know you didn’t kill John Matthew?"

Matthew clutched his head, his brows knit in agony. "We have to get her out now Mark." He urged him.

Mark nodded, grabbing one of her arms, Matthew grabbing the other they both began to half carry, half drag the protesting woman out of there.

She dragged her heels, screaming like a banshee. Mark pressed his hand over her mouth.
"Stop your screaming, we’re tying to save you!" He hissed out, then Mark started yelling as Judy bit into the flesh of his hand. He released his hold on her, shaking the sting out of his hand. Matthew also released his hold on her.

"It’s to late now Mark. They’re here." He said in a whisper, he held the sword before him, waiting for an unseen danger.

"You want to tell me who the hell ‘They’ are?" Judy looked to both men for an answer.

"First we find a safe room to talk in." Matthew said. He whirled around walking towards a large set of closed doors.

Judy stormed after him, with Mark following in her wake.

Matthew flew the doors open, he glanced around the room, reaching out with his special senses that he was born with. He searched for any small sense of evil in the room, nothing was found. He turned and grinned widely at Mark, a dimple popping out.

"It’s safe here for the moment." Matthew whispered out.

Mark pushed Judy in the room, closing the doors behind him. "Now will you tell me what the Hell is going on here." Judy yelled out.

"Its safe, but not that safe." Mark angrily retorted. A rush of wind was heard, suddenly Matthew let out a low moan. He dropped his sword as he clutched his head, falling to the ground.

"To many!" He cried out as he lay on the floor squirming in agony. Mark began to run to where Matthew lay, he came to a stop when he heard a deep voice resounding in the room.

"So you have a weakness little brother. This is good to know."

Judy’s blood froze as she saw someone walking out of the darkness. As he stepped into the light the first thing that struck her were his eyes. They were so dark, so vile looking. She could almost feel the evil emanating from this man. He walked slowly toward the small group. As Judy looked closer at the stranger she noticed that he looked very similar to Matthew, why they could be brothers. Except for the eyes, she had never seen such a malignant evil in all her life.

Mark jumped in front of Matthew, willing to protect him with his life.

"You won’t get him Gabriel, not if I can help it!" He snarled.

The man known as Gabriel let out a small chuckle.

"Ah Mark, I see you still are the same as when last we met. Still self righteous, thinking you can save the world."

He gazed down at the squirming body that lay on the floor. "But something has changed since we last met. Matthew is no longer the helpless boy. He has grown to become a threat to me and my kind."

With a snap of his fingers ten figures walked out of the shadows. Matthew moaned in agony, feeling the loneliness, the hatred, and the pain of the ancient vampires that were in the room. He felt as if his head would split open with the agony he was in.

"Now leave us Mark, I’m letting the two of you live. For now." He chuckled.

"Go Mark!" Matthew hissed through clenched teeth. "Leave me!"

Mark whirled around to look down at the man that he thought of as his son. "You know I can’t leave you to him."

Matthew looked up at Mark with pleading eyes. "Please Mark, I know what I’m doing. Go." He moaned out turning on the floor, clutching his head in agony.

Mark knew he had to listen, there were just to many for him. He then remembered something, grabbing Judy’s arm she snarled out.

"Common, lets get while the gettings good."

Judy did not protest, the other ten that walked out of the shadows frightened her as much as the man they called Gabriel. Matthew lay on the floor, he saw the retreating figure of Mark and the woman called Judy leaving the room.

Suddenly he felt arms lifting him from the floor. Spinning him around two of the male vampires held him in a tight grip, while their leader came up to finally meet his little brother.

Matthew stared up defiantly at Gabriel, but his brows were knit in pain.

"So little brother we finally meet." He said with a hiss, his lips parting to reveal his teeth. As his smile grew Matthew noticed that his fangs began to grow in the anticipation of the coming feast.

"I will destroy you brother, you and all that you stand for." Matthew cried out through the agony he was in.

Gabriel let out an evil chuckle. "Brave words little brother, coming from a man that can’t even stand on his own feet. Is the pain great Matthew?" Gabriel purred. Standing closer to him Matthew felt as if his head would explode, he was not ready to handle this many ancient vampires in the same room.

"I think it will be the other way around Matthew, you will be the one destroyed today. Or is it reborn? Into that which you were created to put an end to, fitting don’t you think my brother?"

"Please Gabriel, let me be the first." Matthew heard someone purr behind him, he felt a hand caressing his back, moving on his shoulders to his face. He pulled at the men that held him, but their grip was to tight. A slight woman stood by Gabriel's side now, her hair snow white, her gray eyes gleaming at Matthew. Leaning up against Gabriel gazing hungrily at Matthew, her eyes glowing in the darkness of the room. She licked her lips, her canines growing as she was hoping her love would give her the first bite.

"Please my love." She pleaded with him, her fingers winding in his long hair. Gabriel looked down at the beautiful vampire. She was the youngest here, Gabriel himself initiated her in to his sect. She had so much to learn, and was very eager to please her master, her love.

"You know I can never refuse you Christina." He sighed out.

"But you must hold yourself back, even though I know his blood will be the sweetest you have ever tasted in your young life."

Christina nodded to Gabriel. "I promise my heart, just a taste, but I get the first bite, right?" She looked up eagerly at her master. "Yes my love you will be the first."

"Prepare him!" Gabriel hissed.

The two vampires tore at Matthews’s shirt, ripping the collar open, exposing his throat to the young vampire. The elder vampires surrounded Matthew, anticipating a feast the likes of which had not happened in countless years.

Matthew tried to fight his way out of the tight grip, but the pain from the ancient vampires proved to much for him. A hand grasped his long hair, holding his head still. He felt cold fingers caressing his face, running down his long neck, sharp nails scratching at the thin skin near his main artery.

Christina grabbed Matthews’s chin, holding him her eyes staring right into Matthews’s soul. She reached up to give him a deep and passionate kiss. Christina was taught very well by the older vampires, a victim seduced would be much tastier than one that had the anger in them. The blood did not taste as sweet.

"There you go." She whispered as she felt Matthew loosen in the vampires grip. "See, you’re going to like it. Just calm down, Christina was taught by the master. I know just how to calm your fears."

Matthew’s eyes closed half lidded, the vampires began to release their grip, for he was now under her spell.

"Mmmm, yes very nice." She whispered to the handsome young man. Taking his hand she placed it on her face. "Oh he is as handsome as you Gabriel." She laughed out.

Gabriel stepped up to his brother. "I think he will make an excellent addition to my sect. Together no one will oppose us, not even my father."

Christina kissed Matthews palm, he looked down at her, dazed by her spell.

"Now where would the sweetest blood be found?" She wondered out loud.

"Hurry up!" One of the waiting vampires hissed out. "I hunger for this man, I can smell his sweet blood from here." The eight other vampires were becoming crazed being so close to a kill. Gabriel had them hold off on feasting for the past few days, wanting them to take his brother quick and hard.

Christina let out a small giggle. "The Master said anticipation makes the taking all the better."

Gabriel nodded his head. "You have learned well my Christina. Now take my brother, he looks to be under your spell."

Christina gazed up into the brown-eyed man, he wavered where he stood, ready for any command given by his new master. Still holding his hand she turned it so that his wrist faced up. "I think I’ll take my first taste here." She brought his wrist up, her fangs lightly scrapping on the skin. Bumping against the large vein that stood out on his wrist, she pressed her lips against the vein. Feeling it pulsing strong with the liquid that she was addicted to. Her pangs of pain grew ever stronger. She knew only a drink of blood would end that pain.

For that was what Matthew felt in his mind, the pain that every Vampire was in their whole unnatural lives. The agonizing pain that only went away for a short time when they drank the blood of an innocent victim.

Christina hovered over the vein. Playing with it until she could no longer stand the pain, plunging her teeth into his wrist. Matthew let out a gasp as he felt her teeth penetrate him. His eyes began to focus more on what was happening around him. Looking down he was repulsed as he saw Christina sucking on his wrist, his own blood dripping at the sides of her mouth.

At first Christina felt the high that all vampires felt when drinking a victims lifeblood. But then something was wrong, she jerked back, her lips covered in Matthews blood. She leaned over, trying to spit out what she had taken. Doubling over in pain. "Gabriel!" She cried out, but it was to late. Matthews’s blood was already in her system. She fell to the ground, writhing in agony. Gabriel rushed to her side, as did the other vampires. Matthew took his chance and ran back to fetch his sword. He was still in pain, but it did not seem as great.

"What have you done?!" Gabriel cried out to Matthew.

"It is what I was born for Gabriel." Matthew declared. "Father never told you did he?"

Christina jerked one more time before falling limply in Gabriel's arms. She opened her eyes to gaze up at her master, but her eyes were no longer gray, but a deep blue.

"It’s gone!" Christina cried out, standing up she grinned widely at all that stood before her. "It is gone! I no longer have the thirst!"

"What do you mean?" Gabriel asked his love.

"She is no longer a vampire Gabriel. My blood cured her of that madness." Matthew slowly began to backup towards the door as the others were concentrating on Christina.

"What do you mean no longer a vampire? There is no cure." One of the elder vampires snarled out.

"But there is, it was what I was born for, to end your kind and give those that want it relief from the agony you have had to endure all these centuries."

Christina howled out in fear as one of the vampires grabbed her, Gabriel’s brother would not sate his hunger, but they now had a new victim that stood before them. The others became so crazed by the anticipation of drinking Matthews’s blood that they were now in a raving state of hunger. Someone had to satisfy their insatiable thirst, unfortunately that someone was now Christina.

The eight vampires fell upon Christina, her cries did not last long as they tore her to shreds. Gabriel tried to pull them off of her but even Gabriel’s great strength would stop them.

"You say you are powerful brother, yet you have no control over your own people." Matthew called out from the doorway.

"I will kill you for that brother!" Gabriel cried out as he ran towards the doors, Matthew threw them shut, taking a pike from a suit of armor he jammed it into the door handles. He then ran through the hallways searching for Mark and Judy. Gabriel would not let Matthew off that easy. Once the Vampires thirst had been sated they would be looking for more victims, as well as Matthew. For they now knew just how big a threat he was to their kind.

Lucas had tried to keep it a secret as long as he could, until Matthew was old enough to protect himself. But now it was known, soon every vampire would know what power Matthew had over them. Some would curse him and want to destroy him. But there would be others that would want him to end their years of misery. Yes, today Gabriel managed to change Matthews’s life forever. He now knew that for which he was born for. Matthew would find others to help him in his fight. But for now he had to find Mark and that professor, for their lives were in more danger than his.

Thats it for now guys. Hope you liked my little venture into the world of darkness and night. If you enjoyed this little trip I may add to it. Until then, keep the faith, and keep an eye out for anyone with light gray eyes. You just may never know.