Dear Journal,
Yesterday, I wrote about the first time I ever drew blood. Today, I am going to talk about the difficulties of the undead, namely, defending oneself against angry lovers of your victims. The particular skirmish I am about to set down occurred with young Charles, Rebecca�s suitor. Be prepared journal, for a very brutal encounter and detailed planning. Even as I write this prologue, my hand trembles with rage, because he killed the one person, other than Madeline, who I loved dearly, but rest a shored journal, I made him pay with his immortal soul.
The Difficulties of the Undead
I will never forget that night. The wind howled and rain poured down from sky in great torrents. I had just awoken and was seated in my library when I heard an unusual sound coming from the outside of my castle. Allow me to pause here and explain myself. I have acute senses and despite the inclement weather, I could hear quite well.
I stood and was about to investigate, when my son rushed into the library his eyes were wild with fear.
�Father, there is something outside,� he said clinging tightly to me.
�I heard it to son,� I said, gently disengaging myself from his grasp. �I�m going to see what it is. You stay here.�
As I strode to the door, I was aware of a slight resistance. I turned around to see my son holding the back of my shirt as tightly as he could.
�Herbert, please let go,� I said, staring intently at the boy.
He stubbornly shook his head. �No.�
�Herbert, I am in no mood for games,� I said, my voice was becoming angry. �Let go of my shirt now!�
�Father, please don�t go. What if what�s out there hurts you?� He asked, his voice took on a pleading tone.
I sighed deeply. �Herbert, nothing is going to hurt me or you. I promise.�
As I think back on the event, I realized that my son was correct, the �thing� outside our castle proved to be very dangerous. But I won�t spend time doting on my personal feelings. I will get back to the events.
After several minutes, I lost my temper with Herbert and hit him so hard that he went flying across the library and hit one of the book cases. I stared at him, disgusted with myself at what I had done, but I was too angry to comment.
I quickly strode out of the room, my mind reeling with curiosity. I walked down the main stair case and to the side door of my castle.
I gently opened it, avoid its loud squeak and I peered out into the storm. What ever was out there, I wanted to surprise it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a figure of a man clad in dark clothes, attempting to climb the terrace on the side of the castle.
Quietly, I stepped outside and walked over to where the man was. At the bottom of the terrace I chuckled I watched the man struggling to climb up it. I grasped the terrace both hands and effortlessly began to climb upwards. You see journal, being one of the undead does have its advantages. I can perform feats that are difficult to most mortals.
Once I was directly underneath the man, I decided to make my presence known.
�Can I help you?�
The man jumped at the sound of my voice and nearly lost his grip.
�I am curious as to why you are stealthily attempting to enter my castle,� I continued, unfazed at his surprise.
�You stay away from me,� he said in a trembling voice.
�Please, show some manners,� I said, enjoying his obvious discomfort. �After all, I am the master of this castle.�
�You are nothing but a murderer,� he replied angrily.
�Oh really? I do not think this is the best way to make a first impression. Come down from there and we will discuss our differences in a civilized manner.�
�No,� he said, continuing his climb upwards.
�As you wish,� I replied, starting my descent. �The windows you will find locked.�
I couldn�t be sure if he continued to climb up the terrace, nor did I care. My main concern was to get my son out of our home. I had a feeling the young man outside was not alone.
When I stepped back inside, my worst fears were confirmed. Sitting in my most comfortable chair was Professor Reichenberg.
�What are you doing here?� I asked, instantly remembering how he wanted to kill me and my son.
�Giovanni,� he said rising from his chair to face me. �I�m surprised to see you again.�
I snarled at him and attempted to push past him but he blocked path.
�Move out of the way old man,� I said angrily.
�Giovanni� he said, putting his hand against my chest, keeping me an arms length from himself. �Please sit down. I must speak with you.�
I was about to reply when I heard the sound of glass breaking and Herbert scream.
The Professor and I looked at each other momentarily and I pushed my oldest friend out of the way. I never made it up those stairs to the library so fast. My heart pounded in my chest as I reached for the library door and quickly threw it open. The scene before me made me stop in my tracks.
The young man whom I encountered outside held my son in one of his muscular hands and the other hand held a very sharp knife to my son�s throat.
�Make one move and he dies,� the man said, gripping Herbert tighter, making him wince in pain.
�Let him go,� I growled. �Let my son go.�
�Your son eh? Why should I let him go? You murdered my girl, why shouldn�t I murder your son?�
�I didn�t murder anyone,� I retorted.
�No? What about Rebecca, the Preacher�s daughter? I loved her with all my heart, as much as you love your son. That is why I am going to kill him like you killed her,� as he spoke, he pressed the blade of the knife harder against Herbert�s throat.
Tears of fear cascaded down Herbert�s cheeks and he looked at me with pleading eyes. �Father, please help me!�
�Charles!� I heard a voice behind me. Without turning around, I knew it was Professor Reichenberg. �Henrich!� I said to the Professor. �Call off your assistant! Tell him to let Herbert go and the two of you can leave this castle without further incident.�
I took a step forward and extended my hand to Herbert, all the while, keeping my eyes fixed on Charles. When my son reached out to me, Charles buried the blade of his knife in my son�s throat.
�Herbert!� I screamed. Charles laughed as he threw my son�s lifeless body at my feet. It felt as through the man tore my heart out.
�Revenge is so very sweet,� Charles said, kicking Herbert�s corpse.
A rage like I have never felt before surged through my body. Quickly, I leapt at the man. Professor Reichenberg attempted to get between us, but I easily overpowered him.
�I gave you a chance to leave without incident!� I shouted as I wrestled Charles to the floor. �There was no need for you to murder my son!�
We fought fiercely. He attempted many times to stab me with his knife, but I was able to disarm him. As we fought, books of all sizes crashed down from the shelves and rained upon us. Suddenly, I had him pinned. I grabbed his head and turned it violently until I exposed the fleshy part of his throat.
�Remember boy, you did this to yourself!� I said, before I buried my teeth into his throat.
I felt Professor Reichenberg attempt to tare me off of his assistant, but I was relentless. When I felt his body convulse for the last time, I released the boy from my grasp and allowed his lifeless body to fall to the ground.
I crawled over to where Herbert�s body lay. I lifted it and cradled him close to my heart. My tears fell onto his face, streaking his skin.
I felt a strong hand on my shoulder.
�Giovanni��
�Henrich,� I said without looking up. �You were my oldest friend in life. Go now and don�t ever come back. We are of different worlds now dear friend, you are in the world of the living and I am of the world of�the damned.�
�Giovanni, when you were alive, you were the best man I had ever known. What happened to your blazing spirit?�
I sighed and looked down at the lifeless body in my arms. �I walked into a moonlit forest one night, and met a beautiful woman, who on Earth belonged to God, but now she belongs to the Devil. As do I,� I replied sadly.
�As a Professor and a doctor it is my duty to make sure this town is safe from all terror, especially the terrors of the undead,� my friend began.
�I know Henrich. I know it is only a matter of time before we meet again, and I also know the next time we meet, only one of us will survive. So I want you to leave me alone. I do not want any more blood shed this evening.�
Professor Reichenberg squeezed my shoulder. �We�ll meet again old friend,� he said, taking his leave.
When I was alone, my grief over the loss of my son, poured out. Tears rushed down my face and my body racked with intense sobs. I don�t know how long I sat there with Herbert�s body in my arms. When I got control of my emotions, I picked up my son and brought him back to the crypt. I laid him in his tiny coffin for the last time.
�I loved you Herbert, you knew that didn�t you? What happened in the library was just me loosing my temper; I never meant to hurt you. I did avenge you my boy and I�ll never leave you again.�
Sadly I closed the lid of his coffin and returned to the library. I stared at Charles�s body sprawled out on the floor.
�You did it to yourself you know. I told you to release my son but you refused, and now look what happened to you.�
I took one last look at the young man when I saw a worn brown book peeking out of his pants pocket. I took it out and paged through it. It was his journal. I placed it in my pocket and then exited the library. Slowly, I locked the door behind me. I knew that I would never again enter that room.