Birth in Blood

Birth in Blood

by Lloyd D. Kelsey III

            Not many vampires can say that they have met the infamous Dracula, the infamous Vlad the impaler.  Even fewer can say they witnessed his rule.  Though you will never find my name in the history books, I was there.

            My name is Victor DeSallus, son of Hugo DeSallus.  My father served his lordship until the fall of the empire.  Having known the true nature of his lordship my family was bound to secrecy in his service.  It was this knowledge that set me on my dark path.  This is my story as it truly began in the spring of 1462.

            The bitter winds blew across the kingdom of Wallachia chilling ever thing to its core.  Spring time was no friend to my country.  Even the trees seemed to huddle together for warmth.  His lordship’s last order was for me to escape the Ottoman forces and he would send for me when the time was right. 

I lost my family in the first siege of the empire.  They suffered in the way that Vlad  had brought suffering upon his people, despite the fact they were mere servants in his court.  In true Vlad the impaler style all of those who served him directly were decapitated, heads placed on spikes along the castle walls.   Though Vlad was a cruel man he had been nothing but kind to my family.

As a boy of fourteen I was no match for the invading forces of the Ottoman Empire.  In my panic to escape I had become separated from the few other servants who managed to escape.  I fled to the west hoping to find a safe river passage though Hungary.  The real problem was Matthias Corvinus.

Matthias was no friend of Wallachia and his armies had battled Vlad many times.  It knew that it was unlikely that I would be recognized in my travels.  After all, who’s face could out shine Vlad?

No sooner had I crossed the border than I was dodging Matthias’ brute squads.  With the inevitable fall of the Wallachia ruler Matthias had ordered that all those who had served Vlad were to be executed on sight.  He had anticipated the migration of those trying to escape death from the Ottoman Empire.  The brute squads’ task was made even easier by the distinct brand that all servants received on the back of their hands.  It was only when being hunted that I saw the truth of it.  To Vlad, all people were nothing but cattle.

The brand on my left hand was purple from the cold.  I knew that I’d need a good pair of gloves if I was to stand any chance of survival.  Yet gloves were no solid answer to my troubles.  The brutes made regular habits of harassing anyone who even looked like they were hiding a brand.  On many occasions I watched helplessly as women were stripped bare and ravaged for falling suspect in the eyes of the brute squads.  Men were luckier, they would just be beaten to near death.

In my travels I found the worst in mankind.  Those who managed to catch a glimpse of my brand either ran in terror or ran to the brute squad in hopes of receiving a reward.  It didn’t take long for me to lose faith in my fellow man.

Food was nowhere near as difficult to find.  Most inns and taverns were accustomed to beggars and some were even hospitable enough to provide a meager meal.

It wasn’t until I neared the border of Austria that I became alarmed.  It was in a small village a few days travel from the border when a brute squad, that had been following me, finally caught up with me.  As I was coming into the village I spotted them coming up on my flank.  I quickly hid in the rotted out of a nearby tree.  It was only a matter of moments until screams erupted from the village.  Using all the stealth and cunning a fourteen year old had I approached.  I was horrified by what I saw.

The brute squad was forcing families out of their homes and was now threatening the lives of their children.  They knew I was in the area and only assumed that the village was harboring me.  They demanded that I be turned over to their custody. 

Men and women pleaded with them that there had been no travelers matching my description.  From all of their accounts their last visitor had been an old man filled with lunacy and stories of the ‘Children of the Night’.  The brutes took no sympathy on them as they began to slaughter each child one by one. 

Other children were gutted alive.  Then there were those whose deaths were so horrible to this day I dare not think on them.  There is much weakness in the past.

I knew that I would find no sanctuary in this place.  The brute squad had made sure of that.  This also meant that I had no chance of securing food.  This was going to be a problem.  I had been traveling for some time.  Two days ago I had ran out of food. 

I pulled my coat in tight and prepared for the long night ahead.

Morning came with the strange smell of something burning.  As I came to my feet I could already see a large fire that resided in the middle of the village.  Though I could not see clearly for the brilliance of the morning sun I could see that the villagers were working quickly to add something to the fire.  You could imagine my shock when I discovered they were tossing the lifeless bodies of the brute squad on the fire.  I felt the need to wander into the village.

I made my way around to the west side of the village and headed in thinking that they would be more receptive to a traveler if he wasn’t the reason their children were slaughtered.  As I passed the first humble dwelling I noticed one thing.  They were all staring at me as if I were a ghost.  Pathways cleared as I made my way to the stink of the human bon fire.

Standing alone by the fire was a lone priest.  His grizzly features were chilled by the morning air and the stink of burning flesh.  His ghost white hair stood as a reminder of all the untold stories of his life.

After a short time the priest came over to me “Where are you headed, my child?”  Clearly the priest was suspicious, despite his alternate route into the village. 

“Home, if this is sign of the plague.”  I replied making a quick gesture to the west.

“Worse, I fear,” the priest said as he lowered his head, “I have seen many miracles and much darkness in my life, but never the work of a demon such as this.”  I wondered what he meant by this, but I was not willing to push the subject.

The priest was quick to surrender this information given the severity of the situation.  “These men we burn today were responsible for the deaths of many children in this village.  They made bed in the temple as ordered by King Matthias Corvinus.  Yet during the night each were taken and there blood drained from their bodies.  The only injuries they sustained were two puncture wounds on their necks.”  The priest was obviously shaken as he took a small flask from his robes and took a drink of its contents.  “I’ve heard stories of things like this…the monsters in the night.  As they stories go there are men who have become the devil’s cohorts and drink the blood of mortals that they may live forever.”

These sorts of stories were no stranger to my ears.  As I child I too had heard these.  Mostly I attributed these stories as a means to keep children from wandering off in the woods late at night.  These creatures were called strigoi.

“There’s some ting else,” the priest continued, “the creature left a note for someone.”

“Who?” I asked without hesitation.

“It says it’s for a Victor DeSallus.”  The priest paused as he looked at the shock and realization spreading across my face. “You’re him, aren’t you? DeSallus, the boy the brute squad was here for, aren’t you?”

It was too late for denial.  I was only shocked by the priest reaction. “I will tell no one, but in return I ask you to leave and take this cursed note with you.”  The priest forced the letter into my hand and ushered me away from the villagers as they threw the few remaining bodies on the fire.  “I do not know what it says, but if last night is a sign of how this creature regards you…I dare not cross you.”

We made our way into a small wooden building that clearly served as the village’s place of worship.  The priest took me to a small room in the back and began filling a sack with loaves of bread, cheese, a bottle of fine wine, jug of water, and many other useful items for travel.

I left the village with my letter in hand and fear in my heart.  There had been no so signs through the night of a fight or even so much as a sound.  It was terrifying to imagine that a creature such as this existed and even more so that it was interested in me.

The seal on the letter also added to my unease.  As a servant to Vlad I had seen many royal seals, but nothing like this.  It depicted two faces.  One face bore a sinister smile, while the other was tormented and screaming.  Even the paper itself seemed to bare strange qualities.  It was of a much higher quality than anything I had ever seen.  A large part of me prayed that it was from Vlad, though I knew better.

I waited until I was well away from the village before I opened the letter, settling down for lunch at a small babbling brook.  The smell of bread and cheese filled my nostrils with joy.  I hadn’t eaten in three days and my hunger pains overwhelmed me.  So I ate and enjoyed the peaceful play of the water of the brook.

After my belly was full of food and good wine I opened the letter.  It read:

‘Dear Mister DeSallus,

What a beautiful creature you are.  Never in all my years have I encountered one with your determination and loyalty.

I will be assisting you in your travels.  I would suggest France.  It is lovely this time of year.

You will see me soon and provided you cooperate, I will be giving you a gift.

Should you pass through that village again please thank them for their silence on the matter of the brute squad.  I will spare their lives as they not be spoiling my little game.

M. P.’

It sent chills down my spine.  This was not a message from Vlad, but a message from a creature who shouldn’t exist.  Yet there he was leaving messages for me.  Had word been sent by Vlad, I would have been given orders on where to return to his service.

I stood on one decision.  I could take the stranger’s advice and visit France or I could do my best to avoid him.  I was unsure if it could even be done.  After all he had tracked me this far with seemingly no effort.  So I decided and France became my destination.

I went as far as I could before night fall.  Avoiding encounters in villages, I stuck to the wilderness.  I hoped that France offered warmer climates than the cold I had experienced thus far.  Luckily the priest had the foresight to throw a warm blanket in the bag he had prepared.  For that I am eternally grateful.

There were no stars in the sky that night.  The clouds hung in the sky as if to drown out the heavens.  I did my best to sleep.  When I did sleep the nightmares came.  From the dark recesses of nothingness came the tormented faces of the brute squad.  I watched as hands, that weren’t mine, slaughtered them one by one. 

I awoke in a cold sweat and my heart racing.  The small fire I had started was now blazing with warmth.  In fact, someone had thrown more wood on the fire and he was sitting directly opposite of me.

His clothes were tattered and worn.  His mangy black hair hid cold lifeless eyes that refused to reflect the light of the fire.

“Who are…” were the only words I managed before he spoke.

“My name is of no consequence at the moment, but you may call me Hailig.”

I recognized it for its roots what is to you known as Germany.  A gruesome smirk emerged on his face revealing his elongated teeth.

“What you should be wondering is why I’m helping you.  You mortals and your need for unimportant knowledge.” He continued.

“Why then? Has my Lord Vlad sent you?”

“Boy, I assure you I do not work for Vlad.” He said as he sat across from me motionless except when his lips moved to speak. “Are you ready for your gift?” Hailig rose to his feet as I hesitantly nodded yes.

Without warning he moved towards me.  His movement was so fast he looked like nothing but a blur.  He wrapped his arms around me restraining my arms.  Within seconds I could feel those elongated teeth pierce my neck.  It was terrifying as remembered the bodies of the brute squad as they were being tossed on a fire.  Now the Strigoi had his teeth in me.  I wondered if I would see the light of another day.  This thought, however, was surpassed by the maddening ecstasy of his bite, but soon the ecstasy passed.  Only the madness remained.

As he continued to drain me the nightmares came.  I collapsed and spun full circle into the abyss of the visions.  It was pure insanity.  I watched iron beasts dominate kingdoms.  I watched fire reign down from the skies as it tore countless people apart.  Yet beyond it all I saw a face.  It was a face that I was not supposed to see.

“You have seen what should have not.  The master’s eyes are now upon you and his madness shall be your blessing.”  Came the ominous voice of Hailig.

I came to in a nice warm bed.  In a nearby fireplace a fire crackled filling the room with dancing light.  On the bed stand lay a small pouch of medicine and a bottle of wine.  I immediately moved to the only window in the room. 

France was truly beautiful in the spring.  It was a dismal start for spring as many of the trees were just showing signs of new life.

“Are you pleased with your room?” a familiar voice asked.  I nodded as I turned to observe the room.  Hailig sat in an elegant armchair by the fire.  I swore he hadn’t been there a moment ago.  “Do you know what I am?” he asked.  I truly had no idea except for the stories I had heard.

“I know what you are.”

“Do not tempt me, boy! Say what you are thinking or I shall pluck your tongue from your head.”  His movement quickened as he became a blur in the room.  Shadows now covered his face leaving only his eyes, now glowing bright red.  I tripped and fell to the floor where I quickly curled into a ball screaming, “Strigoi!”

I felt him hovering over my quivering body.  I was still very weak from his earlier attack.  I could feel his teeth as they slid down into the meat of my neck again.  And again I found myself confronting the darkness of nightmarish visions.  As I slipped away I could hear him say, “Strigoi is but one of our many names.”

Strangely enough this is where the tale of my birth ends.  There are many who think they know how to destroy us.  Many have tried and they have paid a dear price for their efforts.  This was my birth in blood.