Tara’s Pain Makes A Choice

A man, stabbed through the chest with a steel blade.

His face was consumed by fear and worry as he looked at me, as if he believed this would be the last time he would ever see me. Kevin’s last words were, “I’m okay…” Even then, he was still more concerned for me than for himself.

Then, He turned to ash in my arms.

A vampire.
A man.
My Kevin (Jason). Gone as if he had never existed.

It wasn’t right. I was not equipped to survive this—this finality, this unbearable loss of him. Beneath the darkness and inside my dreams, I see him die over and over again until I finally force myself to look at the one responsible.

Bowman.

My partner.
My friend.

Two betrayals, and I will never be the same.

Darkness is the only thing that keeps me Alive…

Being dead had its benefits. I did not have to care about others or their well-being. I felt a sense of freedom that left me numb with a sense of calm and confidence in my actions. Humans were not to be trusted or loved; they deserved nothing from me. I gave humanity too much at the cost of loneliness and loss.

After crying over Kevin’s ashes, my rage ignited. My powers grew in ways I could not imagine when I killed everyone in the room with one blink. Except Bowman. I had plans for him; I wanted him to live in fear. I wanted him to live with the pain that I could not carry. My efforts backfired. Bowman was more vigilant than ever in killing vampires and investigating me. I had to kill him, but not until he feared me.

With every kill, every life I took, I felt darkness bury and crush me. I enjoyed watching others die by my hands, my weapons, and my thoughts. I loved this pain. This pain was better than what was under it. Kevin was not here. Cops and CIA should not be here either. All I had was time, time to kill them all.

The news from Paris created fear and admiration in everyone regarding the “Tueur d’autorite”. Some people were afraid for their families in law enforcement, while others celebrated my efforts with parties, marches, and speeches. Most were ready for the government to truly care about the people, while others were glad that vampires were being left alone. Most vampires wanted to integrate into society, to live out their lives without hurting anyone. Most drank from blood banks and dying animals to stay alive. The vampires who killed others were rare, yet law enforcement wanted them all eliminated. I became the vampire savior.

But, I’m no one’s hero; I didn’t care about anyone anymore, including vampires.

After 60 years of killing all Law Enforcement/CIA in Paris and Europe, I made a final decision. Bowman was next.

Finding Bowman was easy; he was hiding with his family in Avalon, California and changed his name to Sampson. I booked a flight to Avalon to kill him personally; he deserved to see me before he died. I found him at a local eatery eating lunch alone, and sat across from him. With genuine fear in his eyes, he said, “You’ve Made It…I’m glad…” Before he continued, I waved my hands at him, and he turned to ash on the chair he had formerly sat on. One woman saw me, I winked at her, and she immediately looked away, forgetting what she saw. I left as soon as I arrived, until I stopped at an airport. I needed a break; the only place nearby was the place I felt most safe.

My flight to Santa Monica was a quick one, but I felt like I’d been on it for centuries. Taking a hover car to my old beach house that was still standing felt right. I felt myself feeling again as I began to walk to the house. I paused as I saw a male figure at the doorstep who looked like Kevin. Before I could squint my eyes for more recognition, I was swept away by a flame of water and fire, with the man grabbing and hugging me, as we swam in the dark, hot waters.