The Rise of the New Bloods, From Dark Beginnings (19 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

 
‘Central Park, here we fucking come!’ Draven yelled, as we walked back into the warehouse.

 
‘Are you two going out in your vampire costume? It is Halloween,’ Stride sniggered. I could see he was half cut on the Scotch again, but tonight of all nights I did not blame him.

 
‘Of course, but the question is, are you ready to watch a horror show?’ I stopped what I was saying; realising April was sitting on the couch.

Shit, why did my mouth have a tendency to run away with me.
‘Um, I didn't mean...’

 
‘It's fine; Don’t forget I've seen the real you before haven't I?’

 
‘I know, it’s just…well, you know, we’ve murdered people before and…’

 
‘None of that matters anymore. You are about to repay your debts tonight by facing these things, so that the world will wake up tomorrow and carry on as normal. I believe in you alright, we all do.’

  She got up from her seat and walked over towards me. She wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head onto my chest. I looked over to where Blaze was standing by the cabi
net, pouring himself a drink. He raised his glass to me and smiled. I did not want this moment to end, but I could see Draven was getting impatient.   

 
‘Hey Draven, did you fetch the sword from Blaze's place?’

 
‘Yes, it's here,’ he said. He pulled open his long brown coat and tapped the handle of the sword attached to his belt. ‘It's safe, don't worry.’

 
‘Out of interest, why did you give me the sword? Did you know about any of this?’

 
‘Not really. Father asked me to give it to you for safe keeping the day he came back from the woods with you. He probably knew more than he ever let on to us.’

 
‘Yeah, why doesn’t that surprise me?’ 

 
‘Er, guys I hate to break up the party but um…’ Stride said, as he checked his watch. ‘It's almost nine. Are you ready?’

 
‘We have no choice to be,’ I replied.

 
‘We'll take the van so far, alright? Just across the Brooklyn Bridge to Time Square,’ Blaze said.

 
‘That’ll be fine.’

 
‘We should get going,’ April said. Looking little anxious. ‘I want to get this over with, I can’t stand the worrying. What if they have entered our world already?’

 
‘Not possible, it is stated quite clearly in the prophecy. I know of no reason why that should change, so leave the worrying to us, alright?’ Draven assured her.

 
‘Ok, I’ll just get the book.’

 
‘Let's just get in the van then,’ Stride said, as he grabbed his rifle that was hanging on the wall. It was not going to be much use, but I did not want to dash his hopes right now.

  I stood by the doorway, watching all my friends scram
ble about around me. The burden was now almost too much.

I flicked off the light switch and closed the door behind me.

  We must have been going at least eighty miles an hour across the bridge. I sat back against the van with a mixture of dark thoughts and feelings that I tried to suppress. It was too difficult to speak and so for the journey I chose to remain quiet and calm. I knew when I would get there I would be on top form. It was the waiting around I could not deal with.

I was glad the guys respecte
d that.

  The van began to slow down.

Blaze pulled on the brake and turned the ignition off. Nobody said anything for a minute or two.

 
‘It’s not far to walk to the park from here, It’ll give us some time to take a breather,’ Blaze said.

 
‘Where are we meant to go in the park anyway? I can’t remember being told.’

 
‘Bethesda Terrace,’ Stride said, as he checked the rifle for bullets.

 
‘Why there?’

 
‘It's serving as a portal tonight for the undead and all the evil,' he said. ‘I asked that bloody wolf since nobody else did.’

 
‘C'mon then, let’s get moving,’ Draven huffed.

His patience was wearing thin again, as it always did when he was about to face a fight. He pulled open the side door of the van and jumped out.

  We walked silently along the sidewalk past all the Halloween celebrations taking place outside the bars and clubs.

The sound of laughter, and enjoyment was such contrast against what we knew. If only they knew what was going on a few yards away I wondered.

  ‘Jyrki, are you hungry?’ Draven asked with a wicked grin.

 
‘Of course I am,’ I smirked.

This was just like the old days.

As we stood outside the entrance gate to the park, I watched Draven as he shifted in amongst the shadow of the bushes.

He always made it look so damn
easy.

 
‘Jyrki! Good luck to ya.’

Stride handed me his pocket- knife and backed away.

The vampire I could handle. I just could not deal with the shifting part.

 
‘Just do it,’ Draven whispered.

I turned sideways to look at April with my own eyes once m
ore, and then without thinking too much about it I held the tip of the blade firmly on my right palm and ripped it into the flesh.

I snatched a quick glimpse of April standing next to Blaze.

She looked frightened despite her heroic speech earlier. Of course, I did not blame her.

The transformation was quick and effortless.

Strange how easy it was when you didn't fight against it.

Now, I was no longer myself, and this had been the worst shifting that has ever happened to me.

Draven picked me up off the floor, not that I could remember how I ended up there. His strength was always as powerful as mine was, which made me wonder why father had wanted me to keep the Ankh safe.

 
‘You never did take to the shifting did you?’ he smiled, flashing his long ivory fangs at me.

 
‘Not as well as some,’ I inhaled.

‘
Human blood?’

Draven gripped me around my arm, and looked at me with his fierce looking eyes.

  ‘Don't, you know you can do this. Let's just take a second okay. Think about the real reason why we are here.’

I nodded.

  ‘You’re right, in another hour or so we mightn’t have to deal with this again.’

 
‘That’s the spirit. No more blood cravings; I wonder what that feels like huh?’

I wanted to look at April, but I did not have the
courage.

I was so ashamed of my face to do so.

  ‘Jyrki, good luck man,’ Blaze said, patting me on the back.

I kept my face turned away from them, even though I desperately wanted to look at April one last time. I flinched as I breathed in the sweet smel
l of April’s perfume as it lingered around me. I felt a slight shiver throughout my body as April’s cool hand gently caressed my cheek. She gently edged my face towards her and placed a kiss on my lips.

‘Don't forget, whatever happens tonight, I love you,’ she said looking up at me.

 
‘I love you too, but nothing is going to change alright. I’ll make damn sure it won’t,’ I said as I backed away from her. I could not risk getting too near. ‘It’s time to go Jyrki. I can sense them.’

 
‘Good luck lads, I'll be firing at the fucking mutts, don't you worry.’

Draven stood next to me. Blaze and April were to the far right of the bridge. I glanced down and saw the wolves
’ shadows slowly elongating out from the arches.

 
‘They're here, just on time.’

I could hear
a low snarl and the heaviness of their breath as they paced about below. Another grey wolf walked out and turned around towards us. There were now five of them waiting and I was the only one standing in their way of causing hell on earth.

  I flashed a t
oothy smile towards April, hoping this would not be the last I would see of her. She raised her hand gently as if it was a goodbye and sought comfort against Stride’s chest. My nostrils flared, as I could now smell the deathly stench of the wolves below. I leaned over the bridge and saw them walking smugly around the monument. Now I was angry and I could sense my demon was as twice as powerful as it ever been. All the self-doubt I had earlier soon diminished.

I was just about to jump but something told me
to look behind Blaze and April. It was Randulphr and Father. I was not sure if the image was in my mind or real but I felt empowered by the thought that my father was looking on.

 
‘Time to end the prophecy,’ I heard. I held the sword tightly and climbed over the railings onto the edge of the bridge. The wolves snarled below and I could almost taste the evil that emanated from them. As I looked around the park there was still no sign of Ryder.

 
‘Draven, where's Ryder?’ I whispered.

 
‘No idea, we’ll sort him out later, c'mon let’s send these back to where they came from.’

 
‘What are you waiting for? Afraid are you?’ Jimmy laughed

 
‘It’s you who should be afraid.’

I jumped off the bridge and in an instant, I landed upright on my feet inches away from the m
outh of the foul smelling breath of Jimmy. I backed away, still keeping a firm eye on them for any sudden movement.

Two of the wolves began walking around Draven. I reached for the sword from my side and wielded it in the air. The wolf stopped and I saw th
e fear magnify in its eyes. But it didn't stop him. He ran towards me as I gave a forceful swing of the blade.

 
‘Every last one,’ I heard in my head.

The blade just gashed his leg as he stumbled and fell beside me. I snatched a quick look at Draven; he w
as tackling the wolf with his bare hands. Our speed might be our saving grace.

 
‘Jyrki look out,’ April yelled from the bridge.

The smallest wolf of the pack ca
me charging up; I ran straight towards it and punctured him through the gut. It was almost too easy.

One down.

Jimmy still was not letting up; I wanted to help Draven who at this point was taking a beating. If they gashed his neck I thought, he would be gone.

 
‘Leave him,’ I screamed.

I must have diverted the wolf
’s attention, giving Draven a chance. He gripped the wolf around his neck and threw him against the Angel statue.

 
‘Arghh!’ Jimmy had sprang on my back.

I fell forwards on all fours, grippi
ng my fingernails into the concrete floor as I felt the flesh on my back being torn apart by Jimmy’s claws.

‘I’m trapped, It's all over,’ I whimpered.

 
‘Get up,’ Randulphr spoke.

I felt a release of the weight on my back, and the coldness of the concre
te beneath me.

 
‘That’s another one gone back to hell. Come on, get up!’ Draven shouted.

I could now feel the trickling of the blood running down my back.

I must carry on, I thought.

 
‘You okay, bro? Go after Jimmy. I'll keep this other one away.’

I lo
oked up and nodded.

 
‘Two down, two to go,’ Draven hollered.

 
‘Send him to me once I'm done with him alright?’

The two wolves paced about, biding their time, watching us carefully with their intense glare.

I can do this.

I ran towards them, hoping to
take them unawares.

The other wolf went straight for Draven.

I held Jimmy by the throat, and slammed him down onto the ground.

 
‘It’s time to say goodnight.’

 
‘You think so, do you? This isn’t the last of it, there’s worse to come,’ he grinned.

I too
k one look at him and pushed the sword into his stomach.

I let out a gasp and wiped my brow.

Unnervingly his words were still lingering in my mind

 
‘Jyrki!’

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to face Draven. The wolf was now on top of him watching every move I took. It was almost as if everything around me had drowned itself out.