Bow and Arrow Kills - 3

Bow and Arrow Kills - 3

Bows and Arrows

Sometimes the best way to kill is to use an arrow. Silent - Deadly and Fearsome, others close by may be  totally unaware of the attack and soon become victims as well.
These pics are part of short tales told in just one or more pictures, not necessarily able to fit in with other tales told on this site, but included here for your pleasure.

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Archer Taken Down

Releasing his first arrow, Jason heard the satisfying "crack" as his arrow struck the enemy archer in the side of his head.  

 As the victim crumpled to the ground he reached for another arrow but one of the dead man's friends already had him in his sights and stopped any further attacks ... dead.

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Execution

Barely awake, he was becoming aware of the sounds of approaching feet outside his cell. Keys clattered against the lock and the door opened with a squeak from the rusty hinges.

"On your feet traitor." The big guard ordered.

"What's going on?" David asked as he swung his feet over and put them on the floor.

"I said on your feet!" he yelled again as two of them yanked him off the bed and stood him up straight.  "Hold still.!" the big guy barked. The guards pulled his head back as they tied a blindfold tight across his eyes.

He felt the guards pushing him out the door and down the short corridor. He smelled the sweaty body odor from the guards and the stomach turning stench of the stuff  they called "food" coming from the kitchen but he was ushered past the mess and straight to the rear door of the tiny prison.

"That explains the blindfold." he thought as he struggled to remain on his feet while being pushed/carried down the steps into the back yard of the prison.  No one was allowed to see the layout of the grounds and all incoming and outgoing prisoners were blindfolded. 

"Where we going?" He asked.

No answer.

He felt them turn him around and push him backward until his back was against the wall. Next he felt his hands being tied together, his ankles being tied and finally the two being  tied so that his hands were pulled tightly down over his groin.

He realized that he was probably about to be executed.  He started to feel his manhood filling with blood as the bulge in his shorts pressed against his hand.

The silence from the guards left him to imagine what was going on as he waited for the pronouncement of charges and sentence that he expected to be read prior to being killed.  He became aware of the fact that he had to take a piss, having been dragged here as soon as he was awakened.  

"Hey guys, I've got to pee." he said, breaking the silence.

A chorus of laughs was the response.  He could tell that there were six or seven soldiers in the yard with him, enough for a firing squad.

"Hold it in asshole." the big guard growled. "This won't take long."

He heard footsteps again as the men moved around in front of him. Then the sound of wood against wood followed by the slide of unseen shafts sliding against shafts and the soft creak of the bows as they were drawn back. "Arrows?" he wondered.  That would explain why he heard other prisoners being lead out of the prison but never heard any shooting.  He had assumed that they were either taken somewhere else, Released or killed by knife, strangling or hanging. Whatever the method, they were never seen or heard from again.

The long silence left him straining to hear anything that might give a clue as to what they were doing.

The urge to pee had been overshadowed by the almost painfully erect shaft that had pushed his hands away from his crotch.  He wanted to stroke himself so badly that he was beginning to shake with the building sexual pressure.

Without warning, the first arrow struck.

Just below the ribcage, dead center, the shaft plunged through his body and impacted against bone in his back.  The pain of the sharp point ripping through his body was all it took to set off the eruption of his death ejaculation, causing him to start jerking and bending from the spasms in his loins.

Suddenly someone yelled "NOW!" and he felt the immediate impact of three more shafts that hit in a tight formation, one in his right pec, missing his heart,

one splitting his sternum and striking his heart slicing the bottom open and the third in his left pec that split the pump wide open in his chest, draining his blood out into his chest. 

His knees started to buckle as cum and urine poured over them and he fell forward onto the arrows, ramming them through his muscled chest and out through his back.

After a few moments of muscle spasms and contortions, the handsome young body lay still.

---

  Disturbance

Hearing the animals making a ruckus outside, Mel slipped his pants on and stepped out to scare any animals that might be in the barnyard in the night.  He didn't think he would need his gun.

He was wrong.

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Fatal Reaction

Coming in for a cold drink, Walt was watching his footing up the dune and never saw the archer, his own brother, taking aim as he approached.

"Unhhhh!"

The pain that erupted in his chest hurt too much to wait for any analysis.  Instinctively he grabbed the shaft and pulled.  The broadhead had missed his heart but his twisting yank cut through his aorta and left him with a full fifteen seconds of life.

---

Stopped for a Rest

Pulling over against the wall the bikers hurried inside the convenience store to get their drinks after the last leg of the bike race. 

"Can I get you something, Rick?" Sammy offered.

"Sure, just a cold bottle of water." he answered.  "Thanks." and leaned back against the bike rail to relax.

Rick jumped at the sudden pain in his gut, grabbed at the arrow but slipped from his seat only to crumple in a shuddering heap on the ground.

---

Heartshot

Slowly Keith realized that he was in danger but it was too late.  Expecting to see the assassin out the window, he stayed across the room from it, watching for anything suspicious.  Expecting to see someone with a gun of some sort, he was stunned to spot the archer that was taking aim through the window. Watching in disbelief he saw the arrow release, the shattering glass and felt the stinging impact in his chest.
Reaching for the shaft he pulled on it slightly.

The next heartbeat exploded in a gush of blood out through the wound in his chest.  His heart split with the broad head blade spurted three more times before beginning to flutter and die in his chest as he slowly dropped to his knees on the ground, and crumpling to a lifeless heap.

---

Hearing a noise behind him, Robby turned just as the archer let the arrow fly.

A quick shudder racked his body as he reached for the shaft, his body stiffened and he toppled over and lay on the ladder moaning until his life finally ended.

---

The first arrow slammed deep into Evan's abs.  Shocked and stunned he Looked up and raised his hands in surrender but the archer wasn't interested in prisoners - especially wounded ones.

---

Feeling a little sheepish about his skinny-dipping in the pond, Lee quickly pulled up his pants but the property owner wasn't amused by his unwanted trespasser.  A sharp pain stopped him while he tried to thread his belt through his pants.

---

Frank's handsome features were frozen in a bewildered stare.  A single arrow had pierced his chest and he lay on his side as rigor mortis slowly set in. 

---

430156

Family Feud - Part 12

Family Feud - Part 12

Two Mob style families seek revenge on each other as the bodies stack up. Told from the point of view of one of the hired gun "soldiers" involved in the carnage.

__________________________________________________

Massacre at Vinnie's Place

A quick phone call to Tony to let him know what had happened with our raid on Vito's Gym and to be sure that he had moved somewhere safe followed by another call to Henry to warn him about the bloodbath at the gym. 

 "I was trying to call you," Henry interrupted, "There are a ton of characters headed for Vinnie's old place and Grove Street.  I alerted a couple of your guys but your phone has been off. Hancock is trying to get backup to both places."

I've got Augie Carson and Carl Porter watching the place to kind of keep track of what's going on but I haven't heard anything new from either of them for a while.  Hope that's good news."

"Thanks Henry, I'll take care of it." 

"Oh, one more thing.  That new friend of yours, Jerry Wilson?"

"Yeah?  What about him?"

"He doesn't exist.  No wants, no warrants, no military record, college, high school, no record at all. Nobody  has anything. Tony calls him a squirrel, I call him a spook.  Nobody has a blank record.  None of it adds up.  I don't know who he is or where he comes from but Jerry Wilson is not his real name."

I stood listening to my friend's impassioned warning about the man that I have grown to trust partially because of the fact that he has saved my life at least twice that I can be sure of and probably more than that because of his insider knowledge of the goings-on in Vito's organization. Jerry has been missing for a while "working an angle" with Vito and his men...

I have to admit that had me more than a little curious, and yes... worried.

"Some or your best friends might just try to capitalize on your trust, they might even cry at your funeral, but you will still be dead." - Henry's warning replayed over and over in my head every time I looked at the guys I trust and work every day.  

"I could use a couple of million myself." I said under my breath.  I could leave this bloodbath and find a nice quiet home somewhere and retire, or maybe find a job as a mechanic to clean up good people's problems for them for a nice per-job fee... I'm good at what I do but it would be nice to do it where I was sure who the enemy really is.

A few phone calls later I had alerted several of my sleeping friends that owed me some pretty big favors and had, in effect, a small army on the move. 

First stop -  while it's still dark is to go back to Vinnie's place and clean up the trash that has collected there.  I knew that Vito's brother Giorgio was going to be in from Chicago with a bunch of his thugs and very likely his three sons and the best of their muscle from the Chicago branch of their mob.  A little fancy for this town but they wouldn't be here for the fun of it - at least not the old man, the sons however, probably still in party mode. This would be a great adventure for them.

"No guns without silencers, knives and arrows as much as possible.  We don't want to wake up the whole bunch at once." I ordered as we huddled behind the neighbor's house for last minute plans.  I spotted one of Henry's pals, Augie, parked down the street where he could watch the place fairly safely.  I wanted to talk to him before going in so I ordered everyone to wait while I made my way to the car. 

I moved up to where I knew he would see me in the mirrors and gently tapped on the trunk lid. I couldn't see much inside but I knew that if he hadn't dozed off that at least he knew I was there.  Moving up the driver's side I looked in the driver's window. 

"Hey, anything happen that we should know abou... Shit!"

He wasn't going to answer.

I felt his cold skin. In the cool night air he might have been dead an hour or all night, I couldn't tell but Henry said he had a "couple" of guys here watching. Where was the other one?

Back behind the neighbor's house I let my guys know what I had found out and tried to contact Henry. No answer but I soon spotted a single figure coming up the street. We held back watching as he approached.  

"Kyle?" the low voice was almost inaudible from where we were hiding.

"Jerry?" 

"I got your message, figured you could use some help." He said in a low voice. Before I could answer the lights of a dark SUV started aiming down the street causing everyone to duck for cover.  The big ass hauler turned into Vinny's driveway and four guys got out, laughing and talking loudly, obviously at least a little drunk.  They pulled a fifth guy out of the back and dragged him inside.  I recognized him as Denny Dorner, a good man.  I had worked with him quite a few times and he was one of Tony's personal bodyguards. No doubt they want to torture Tony's whereabouts out of him. After they had gone inside, we used the distraction to get closer to the house and get ready to go inside.  

The relative commotion inside subsided amidst mumbled grunts, sounds of shushing and muffled laughter as they hauled  Denny off to some place in the house to be tortured and probably killed, hopefully they were tired enough to put that part off until they slept it off.

Slipping up the steps, I peeked inside and spotted the guard sitting on an old ottoman.  He looked quite tired too.  Probably had been on guard duty all night and now, at four-thirty in the morning was getting to the point of dozing off.

"I've got this one." Jerry whispered, holding up his gun with the silencer already screwed on.

"Go for it." I whispered back.

Carefully turning the knob, I opened the door a crack and Jerry took aim through the gap.

*Peyuup*

The guy's eyes opened in a sudden shocked expression and his head slammed backwards against the wall. The small round hole leaked a small trickle of blood that ran down both sides of his nose.  He started to tilt to his left until he had wilted over and his head almost touched the floor. The new posture allowed the blood to drain from his split open head onto the carpeting.

"That's going to stain." I whispered as I opened the door and we filed in as quietly as we could.

Stepping around the body and the growing puddle of dark red blood, I started for the next room but was startled by the sight on the floor in the doorway.

It was Daniel Porter, one of Henry's friends on the force and the second person watching the house tonight.

I had no idea why he was inside the house and he still had his weapon but someone had stabbed him in the neck.  The second person tonight with the same death dealing wound. I began to suspect a particular killer that I knew had been working for Vito's mob in the past and had moved to Chicago a few years back. I can't call Henry yet but he needs to know about his friends as soon as possible.  I want to be the one to tell him.  He at least deserves that.

In the room behind Porter's body I could hear music, turned down low but likely had a wide-awake listener so I headed that way.  Setting my bow aside I pulled my gun and secured the silencer.  Jerry moved up to my side and grabbed the doorknob. I silently counted "Three, Two, One." Jerry turned the knob and threw the door open wide.  The startled occupant of the room looked up just in time to see my first shot struck struck him in the gut just to the right of his navel. 

Jerry's shot hit him top right in his abdomen at almost the same instant as my first shot.  My next shot plowed through his heart and sent a gusher of blood spurting from the hole.  He fell to the floor with a rather loud thud.  That was probably going to bring someone to investigate...

"Spread out! Watch the stairs. We are likely to have some company after that noise." I ordered.

"I hear somebody!" Jerry whispered. "Over here."

Leaning against the wall out of sight from the stairs, I held my place until I heard the footsteps near the bottom of the stairs.

"Hope they aren't expecting me here." I thought.

"Now or never!"

I stepped around the corner into full view of the stair steps. Pointed my gun and fired.

Fortunately the guy was careless.  He was looking at his feet when the first two slugs hit him. By the time he looked up the third bored it's way through his midsection and he fell backward on the steps.  I pumped one last shell through his heart and he jerked upward, stiffened in place for a long, painful moment and then wilted back on the steps.

Climbing the stairs I could hear water running in the bathroom. 

"Cover me."   I ordered.  

I turned the knob but it was locked.  Pulling out a credit card, I slipped it in between the latch and striker plate.   I weighed my options again and opted for the pistol with silencer, mostly because of the ability to fire several shots in rapid succession if need be.

Stepping in I watched as the guy toweled himself dry, finishing with his hair, tossed the towel on the edge of the tub, smoothed his hair and turned toward me.  He looked with a bit of surprise that I was inside the bathroom with him and then with shock as he realized who I was and that I had my gun aimed at his chest. I recognized him too. His name was Eric, and although I had never worked with him, I knew he was a fast and efficient killer and deadly loyal to Vito and his mob.

Before he could speak at all, I squeezed the trigger, my gun recoiled and his chest erupted in a bloody explosion. 

Frozen in a silent scream, he stood there for as long as it took for him to topple over backward, hitting his head on the edge of the tub with a rather loud bang that probably would have killed him without the bullet that blew his heart apart.

"Hey Eric, you ok in there?"...

The voice came from the bedroom next door.  I knew i couldn't sound like Eric so I kept quiet and headed out the door.  The guys in the hall heard the call too. As I stepped out, I got to see David in action with a knife for the first time.  The door opened and a bearded guy stepped out onto the hallway. As soon as he spotted us, David threw his knife, striking him in the gut.

The first reaction was to gasp with the pain and grab for the knife.  I knew the next would be either a scream for help or a loud howl of pain. I couldn't let that happen. Pointing my gun at him I let one shot go.  His throat was now pierced through, his spine shattered at the base of his neck and no chance of any kind of outcry.  He wilted to the floor in a bloody heap.

"We need to sweep these rooms before they all come out to get us.  Let's start at this end." I suggested. "Clean out this place once and for all."

 Moving to the first room at the top of the stairs, Dave was just reaching for the doorknob when it opened and the occupant stepped out into the hall. Instinctively I raised my gun and fired. 

One shot to the temple did the trick and the armed killer twisted around and tumbled face first down the stair steps, laying in a silent sprawl, head on the landing and his bare feet still near the top step. The carpeting had muffled the sound of his death tumble enough that hopefully, no one would investigate.

David went down the steps and pulled the guy's wallet and checked to see and sure enough, another Chicago thug.

"Looks like we're cleaning up two cities at once," he quipped. "I think I'll keep these." he said as he picked up the guy's pistol and pulled a nice knife from his waistband.

"Help yourself." I said. No sense letting them go to waste, or worse yet be used on us later." 

I softly knocked on the next door.  A stirring inside told me that whoever was inside was awake so I readied myself for him.  The door opened and he looked at my face, looked down at my body and smiled.

"Well hello there!" he grinned. What's on your mind handsome?"

"You are." I answered.  His smile broadened.  

"Well don't just stand there, come on in." he invited as he turned around.

"Don't mind if I do." I said as I stepped in behind him.

I didn't hesitate. One quick upward thrust and my blade found his heart. He gasped hoarsely as his pierced heart spilled blood out into his chest and he lost consciousness. He stumbled forward and landed with a solid thud on the floor and lay still.

I turned back toward the door as Jerry entered the room.

"Enjoyed that a bit, huh?" he smiled, pointing to the exaggerated bulge in my jeans.

"He wasn't bad looking. Too bad he was here working for Vito.  We might have hit it off."

"He obviously didn't know who you were.  He should have paid more attention." Jerry said pointing to a piece of paper on the table, partially folded in thirds.  Picking it up I saw my smiling face grinning back at me and the words "Two Million Dollar Bounty" across the top.

Wiping the blade clean across the guy's snug jeans butt, I headed for the door.

"Next one's mine." Jerry announced. "Can't let you have all the fun."

My mind raced through the warnings and suspicions about this unknown element in this whole war. A guy with no history, no traceable origin that claims to be an ex Marine, with all kinds of skills and a knack for killing some of the best killers on the streets... He has repeatedly demonstrated his skills and his determination to join himself to me, repeatedly coming to my rescue as he finds a threat, he warns me or takes care of it on his own.

He tried the next door.  It was unlocked. Opening the door wide, he reached inside and snapped on the light.  The guy laying on the bed in his underwear woke up with a start and quickly swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up.  Still dazed by the bright light, he probably couldn't see who was in his doorway when Jerry threw his knife. 

"Unhhh!" The solid thump and the quick grunt were followed by him stumbling backwards until he fell over the bed and almost off the back side onto the floor.

"Nice throw." I commented as we entered the room. Jerry checked for a pulse while I admired the full package now prominently displayed in his sprawl over the bed.

Giving the firm bulge an exploratory squeeze, I was impressed at the size and firmness.

"Quite the stud." Dave commented, giving the bulge his own test squeeze.

"Who was he?" Chet asked.

Finding his wallet on the dresser, I opened it up and pulled out his license.

"Zack Wallace... Baltimore." I read.  "That's a new one."

"Just two more rooms on this floor." Chet observed.  Must be Giorgio and his boys are up on the third floor."

"Makes sense," Jerry answered. Safest place to be.  The most people to go through to get to them." 

"These guys were supposed to be bodyguards but I don't think that they expected anyone would be able to get in as easy as we did." I suggested. "We really managed to take them off guard."

"Let's finish these last two rooms."

I readied my gun.  Trying the doorknob I found it unlocked.  Quickly throwing the door back I snapped on the light and raised my gun.

"Whoa there!" I stopped with the trigger about half way pulled. Carefully releasing the trigger I hurried into the room and to the figure tied and gagged on the bed.

"Dorner!" I said as I hurriedly drew my knife and started cutting away at the ropes. Carefully peeling the tape  from his mouth and reaching  in to help pull the large ball of tape that they had shoved in his mouth, I helped him sit up on the side of the bed.

He was covered with cuts and bruises. His right knee was badly swollen from being bashed with a baton and his back had deep cuts and welts.

"Those bastards were knocking the shit out of me trying to find out anything they could about you." he coughed and spit up several gobs of coagulated blood. "I didn't tell them anything Kyle. They want your head.  Vito wants you alive so he can kill you himself."

"Yeah, I heard." I answered.

"Listen Kyle, they were talking between themselves while they thought I was unconscious... Vito has a trap set up for you.  He says that if it works that you will willingly walk right onto his hands."

"Thanks, I'll be careful.  I promise." I answered.

"Hey man. Hang in there and we'll get you to the hospital." I said. "We have to finish sweeping through this place. Can you hold on for a few more minutes?"

"If you're going to kill that son-of-a-bitch and his fucking bastard sons, I want to help!"

He was emphatic about it but I convinced him to wait for us in the car. He was too weak to move fast and pretty shaky on his feet.

"Let Chet help you downstairs while we finish up in here. He can get you to the car and then to the hospital." I helped him to his feet. "Chet, get him downstairs and in the car. We'll finish up here and be down as soon as we can."

"Sure thing boss...  Be careful up here."

"Count on it." I answered.

"No, seriously," he nodded toward Jerry as Jerry was leaving the room, "Be careful."

I patted him on the shoulder and he started the trip down the stairs with his unsteady charge in tow.

"Last room on this floor." I said. Lets go.

Heading for the last door at the end of the hall, I again readied my gun.

*Knock* *Knock*

"Just a second." the voice inside said.

A click and the door started to open.

"What?" he said as he looked into the bright light of the hallway.

I delivered a hard punch to the guy's solar plexus and he folded up and dropped to the floor.

I took aim and delivered one shot to his back.  I saw blood splatter out from his chest, painting the carpeting with pieces of heart and bone mixed with an abundance of blood.

He slowly wilted down as his stiff muscles gave way to the limpness of fresh death. His naked body lay in a pathetic heap on the floor, never to move again.

Not quite sure what made it happen, maybe a trip to the bathroom, but I heard footsteps coming down the stairs from the third floor. It was Andre, Giorgio's long time personal bodyguard.

I fired.  The first shot hit low in his gut - left of his bellybutton. He crouched with the pain and lost his balance, falling down the remaining steps.grabbing at the handrail he turned over onto his back and slid toward the bottom step.  He arrived at the bottom at the same time I did.  I pointed my gun at his chest as he cringed, waiting for the kill shot.

*Peyuup*

His body jerked with the impact. A slight bloody spray puffed from his nose and mouth and his eyes clenched tightly shut as the final burst of pain jarred his nervous system at the moment of death. The shot brought the smell of gunpowder and burnt hair to the room.  A small curl of smoke still wafted up from the hole in his chest as his tight muscles relaxed for the last time.

No weapon. Checking the body for any clues showed no weapon, no ID. He must have wandered downstairs for a drink of water or a trip to the bathroom. Other than his bathrobe, his underwear, a watch and a small gold bracelet, there was nothing. Andre must have been confident of his safety. His fatal mistake.

I gathered up my bow and ordered everyone "No guns, silenced or otherwise... Arrows or knives only.  The party boys had only gotten home a short time ago and were likely to still be wide awake.  Other than the sound of the air conditioning, there will be very little to mask any noise we might make. There were five rooms upstairs. One of the rooms would have been the now-dead bodyguard's room, unless, of course, the "bodyguard" wasn't really that at all but somebody's sex partner for the night... That would explain the total lack of weapons on his body. I knew that the room at the end of the hall was the master bedroom and Giorgio would be in there. Hopefully none of them will have any company in their rooms.  "If they do, don't hesitate to kill  their company on sight.  Male or female, assume the worst and don't give them the chance to kill you."

At the top of the steps Dave readied his mini crossbow as we prepared to open the first door.  I carefully turned the knob, turned to Dave and nodded as I pushed the door wide.

The guy in the room was laying back on his bed, fully dressed and sat bolt upright at the sound of the door being opened.

*Click*  *Thunk* "Uhhhh!"

It was the real bodyguard, Scott Garner.  He grabbed at his chest as the searing pain shot through his being.  He moaned softly as his life fled away and he promptly fell back on the bed in the same position that he had been in when we disturbed his nap and replaced it with a more permanent rest.

I couldn't help thinking how sexy he looked laying on that bed with that bolt standing proudly out of his chest.  What a hot way to go...

I listened at the next door and heard something I was hoping for... snoring.  Whoever was in there was sound asleep and not likely to cause any problems. 

"I know these people and they know me. Maybe it's best if I'm the one to kill them." I said. "Besides, this is personal."

"Be my guest" Jerry said, "Just be careful."

I quietly opened the door and slipped inside.  There sprawled out on the bed was Giorgio's youngest son Steven.  Twenty four years old and a handsome specimen of manhood but unfortunately smelled strongly of whiskey and absolutely helpless. If he was awake he would be at my throat but this way would be quick and merciful compared to anything else.

The thrust was quick and solid. The knife slammed down through his chest and slammed into his backbone with a gritty crunch.  Steven's last breath became a loud snort but he did not react, did not wake up, he did not move. He simply stopped breathing. Such a shame to end his young life like this but thanks to his father and uncle, he was condemned to death either by me or someone trying to stop the family's murderous practices.

Drugs and guns bring their own rewards and they seldom end well.

The next room had the sounds of a television playing softly coming through the closed door. The smell of cigar smoke seeped through the cracks and let me know that whoever was inside was probably wide awake and likely to be quick to respond to anyone coming into the room.  

No time to waste.  I nodded to Jerry who grabbed the doorknob and pushed it wide open.

I spotted my target standing by the bed and fired. 

The shaft fond it's mark, although it was a little low.  The growling groan that escaped from his throat demanded quick action.  I rushed into the room and knocked him back onto his bed, cupping my hand over his mouth to silence any possible cries for help.  He struggled against my hand and tried to grab at my throat but the arrow had done it's work and he was rapidly bleeding to death internally as each beat of his heart pumped most of his blood flow out into his abdominal cavity. He started shivering as a chill started to wash over him and his struggle grew rapidly weaker. Soon he was panting, gasping for air before a strong convulsive reflex arched his back in a death spasm and he collapsed across the bed, his muscles still rigid but no longer guided by any sign of life in the ruined body.

"That was Benjamin, Giorgio's oldest." I announced.

"The last room before the master bedroom must have Anthony - 'Tony.'"  I said. "He's just a year younger than Ben was."  I listened at the door and couldn't hear anything. There was a light on inside so he might be awake, he might be passed out like his younger brother. I couldn't tell.

"Go ahead, open it." I nodded to Jerry as I readied another arrow.

He pushed the door open and I stepped inside. Young Tony was lying on the bed fully clothed 

*Fwip* Thud* "Unhhh!!"

The arrow went completely through and embedded itself in the mattress, nailing him to the bed. He looked up at me and tried to speak but couldn't quite get the strength. He shuddered with agonizing pain as his life ebbed away and I honestly felt a little sorry for him.
There's a joke! A hit man with a conscience. Cold blooded killer for hire feeling sorry for his victims.  "That shit will get you killed." The words Frank and I used on each other many times echoed in my mind.  Still I felt bad that they had to die for the sins of their father. It was finally time that I fixed their problem, even if it is to late to save them.


"Let's finish this shit with this bastard." I said, covering Tony's face with a pillowcase.

I dropped my bow, peeled off the quiver and dropped it to the floor. Pulling out the knife that I removed from officer Porter's neck, I readied myself for Giorgio.  He was going to be very upset with me in a very short time.

Trying the door at the end of the hall I found it locked.  There was no place to slip a credit card in by the striker plate.

"I can get that." Jerry said, pulling a lockpick set out of his pocket.

I stepped back while Jerry knelt down and in a few seconds he stood up and quietly turned the knob, which silently opened the heavy oak door revealing the leader of the Chicago branch of Vito's growing empire, sleeping soundly in what was about to become his deathbed.

I hurried across the floor and jumped up on the bed, landing with my knees on either side of his abdomen.  He jerked awake but found himself weighted down and when he spotted the knife, he stopped his futile struggle.

"Carver, you fucking bastard! Who the fuck do you think you are coming here like this.  My boys will cut your faggoty ass to ribbons. You'll never leave this house alive."

"I don't think I have very much to worry about here Giorgio, they are all dead." I said.

The shocked look on his face was something I had hoped for.  This bastard was responsible for so much death, both here and in Chicago. He was at least partly responsible for turning Vito against Tony and convincing him that going legit was a fool's errand and the real money was in the drugs and guns.

"My boys?" Giorgio asked with a shaky voice.

"They are all three safely tucked away in their beds down the hall." I said with the best smile I could manage. "Sleeping like three rotting corpses."

"Nooooo!" he yelled, a lot louder than I was quite ready for. "Noooo! Not my boys...Nooo!" "You fucker! I'll kill you myself"

"I hardly think so.  Don't blame anybody else for their deaths.  You killed them just as surely as if you had cut their hearts out with your own hands.  Just how long did you expect them to live with the cutthroats you surrounded them with? Illegal gun runners, drugs, hit squads... You killed your boys by your heartless treatment of innocent people that had the misfortune of falling into your damage area. How many have died because of a bad load of drugs? How many died because of guns you put in the hands  of street gangs?"

"You going to kill me with that knife or preach me to death?" He snarled, struggling to get his hands free from under my knees. I heard the sound of guns being cocked as Jerry and Dave made it clear that any bad move would result in a hail of bullets.

"Recognize  this knife?"  I asked him.

"It's a fucking knife.  What about it?" he snarled.

"You broke the code. I pulled this out of Officer Dan Porter - a cop!  You know the rules, NO COPS, NO INNOCENTS! If they ain't in the game, they ain't targets. You start killing cops and you bring the full weight of law enforcement down on our heads. Dan porter is dead downstairs and Augie Blake is dead in his car out on the street."

"I had nothing to do with that."

"Bullshit!" I barked back.  They were both stabbed the same way, one well placed stab to the neck."

"The neck?" he repeated. "Then it was Hoyle. That's his specialty. You should know that ."

I not only should have, I did remember.  I remembered Hoyle from a few years back when he was still in town.  He tried to get me to use his technique to kill.  He said "The nerves in the neck are particularly susceptible to pain and when you stab through the side and sever the artery, there is a sudden searing pain that causes the system to go into immediate shock, the victim is unable to speak and frozen in place as his heart pumps the body dry, causing a silent and excruciating death."  Sick bastard.

"I'll remember that." I said. "I think we are done here."

"Done?" he asked, looking up at my face.

"You don't think I'm here to admire your fit looking old body do you?  I intend to end this for you right here and right now." 

"Go ahead, fucker.  You're still a dead man.  Vito will have his way with you. You'll never see it coming."

"Then you will have a small advantage over me, won't you?  Watch this and you'll not only see it coming but you will feel every inch of this blade as it becomes the key to the gate of hell.  Allow me!"

I slowly and deliberately pressed the knife blade into his chest as he squirmed and struggled.  I watched his eyes flash wide as the blade grated trough his ribcage and continued on to his heart. A sudden gasp let me know that it had arrived and was pressing hard against the tough membrane around the tireless muscle. I could feel the throbbing resistance as I continued to press until suddenly the blade broke through and ripped out through the backside of his heart and he suddenly relaxed from his struggle.

Giorgio looked quite peaceful now - if you ignore the trickle of blood running down his chin and the large knife in his chest... He was now with his sons - forever.

I became aware of something else... A firm bulge had grown up under my ass and his stiff cock was pressing against the ass of my pants, which gave the guys quite a laugh - at my expense.

"Let's get the hell out of here." I said, heading for the door. "Let's get Porter's body outside. I've had it with this place."

I got on my phone and called Henry.

"Porter's dead. So is Augie Blake. Hoyle is back in town and he killed them both. I aim to get that bastard and give him a taste of his own medicine."

Henry was real quiet. "You know what this means." He finally said.

"Yeah, I know. The whole thing is going to blow up in all our faces." I paused, thinking.

"What if we try to make this look like an unrelated killing?" 

"That will be hard to do." he said.

"Not if the evidence in Vinnie's place doesn't point anywhere.  I got Porter's body out of the house and I'm going to burn this place to the ground."

"Go for it." He said.  I'll try to take care of our guy's bodies from here.

I gave the guys orders to go inside, turn on the gas burners in the sauna and kitchen, soak the rooms with gasoline and get ready.

Henry arrived with a couple of his men to take care of his fallen comrades and watched as I struck the match that initially blew out all of the windows in the place. Within moments the whole house was an inferno. There would be little left to identify inside and one of the nests of crap in the city would be gone for good.

419166

Fantasy and Supernatural - Part 3

Tales from the Edge of Reality

Taken at the Hand of Aten

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I am pleased and honored to present a story written by a very special and very talented author.  Hope you enjoy his talent.


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Justin was glad to finally be home.  Another damned business trip with long air flights, monotonous layovers, more flights hours of tedious meetings to sit through, more flights and finally the long drive home as the sun dipped below the horizon. The garage door rattled to a stop as it closed behind the car and shut out the night.  The motor stopped, the automatic light came on and he sat there staring at the pile of boxes stacked on his workbench that he had kept thinking that he had to get them sorted out and put away soon, every time he parked the car in the same spot after yet another tedious day at the same tedious job.

The sound of singing, chirping insects and other creatures of the night started to gain his attention as his ears adjusted to the near silence. He opened the car door and the ding-ding-ding of the warning chime told him that he had left his keys in the ignition again. The annoying din continued until he closed the car door and started toward the kitchen.

He looked at the other car and made a mental note to back it out onto the driveway tomorrow and wash the dust off again. Can't let things get into disrepair. No excuse for neglecting things. Even if it hurts like hell. The thought of the car brought a rush of emotion that he choked back, shoving it into the empty void left in his soul.

Inside the smell of stale coffee grounds in the garbage can reminded him that it was time to take out the trash, which he did with mechanical detachment, almost as if he were trapped inside a movie theater, forced to watch an endlessly repetitive  movie with no plot and no end. Day after day he goes through the same routine Wake up, trudge through another day, come home, go to bed - repeat. Damn.

The pungent smell of spoiled meat and other assorted  garbage permeated the air as a small cloud of fruit flies abandoned the feast of over-ripe bananas before they could be trapped inside by the twist tie band. Outside, the welcome fresh night air cleansed his nostrils and the chirping crickets lent a relaxing calm to the gentle breeze. Justin stared up into the clear sky, watching the nearly full moon as it cast it's pale glow on the back yard.

At times like this he felt the most lonely. Oddly enough, tonight was the one year anniversary of the disappearance of his partner, his lover, Tanner.

Last year, he arrived at home much as he had tonight, fully expecting Tanny to greet him with his usual hug and kiss at the door, but he was not there. Inside the house, the evening meal waited in the warm oven, the table was set, everything looked normal - everything except Tanner. He was never heard from again.

The police came, checked everywhere, everything, questioned Justin, questioned the neighbors, questioned people at Justin's work, the people at Tanner's job. His clothes were all still there, he had used the treadmill, as usual, he had been to work and left at the usual time, no one noticed anything unusual, in fact he had been talking about their plans for vacation in just over a month.

There was talk of charges of murder. Justin was a "person of interest" and called in for questioning - repeatedly. Each long interrogation tore deeply into his soul, ripping the wound raw and bleeding any meaning of life, or desire to continue out of him.

His family was questioned. Tanny's family was questioned. There was no hiding the fact that they were lovers and now both families know, the people at work know, and after he was finally cleared as a murder suspect, he had been rejected by his own family and Tanner's family told him to stay away from them - or else.

Days passed. Weeks. Months. Now it was one full year.
After the pain started to soften he no longer cried himself to sleep every night, just a couple of nights a week, then three or four times a month. The house that they shared as home no longer heard the songs of love, the laughter and the soft coos and moans of pleasure and delight.
Then came the dreams. Intense, powerful and emotional dreams that would wrench his sleep away from him leaving him panting and sweating in the dark. He would wake up and fight to remember the dreams he had just had, the memory of his beloved manifesting in beautiful, sweet dream that relieved his loneliness and grief, if only for a few minutes in a fleeting dream. At first they were emotion charged images of Tanner standing and smiling next to the bed, then laying beside him in his usual place to the right side of the bed, then the wild, overpoweringly realistic feelings of Tanner stroking and sucking his shaft and stroking his smooth body with his loving, tender touch. The orgasmic eruptions and convulsive spasms would wrack his body with ecstatic pleasure, jolting him awake and panting at the end, balls throbbing, cock tingling, dripping wet with sweat, but no semen to be found.

Justin was determined to get over his loss, but it was overwhelmingly strong. What friends he had left had urged him to get professional help but their answer was to subscribe "happy pills" that made him "feel better" but the nagging pain of the loss never went away. The medication made him feel happy but when he  would think of Tanny and would feel guilty  for feeling so good and turned the feelings around to thoughts of suicide. The only thing stopping him was not knowing where Tanny was or what happened to him.  Was he alive? Did he leave on his own? If he was dead, who was responsible?

The long, slow process of grief had finally moved to acceptance, yet with hope that someday Tanny would walk in through the door with a perfectly good explanation of what had happened.  There was a growing sense of Tanny's presence around him.  Almost like he could feel, sense, even smell him in the room, especially at those times he felt so desperately alone.  The feelings were brief, but in some strange way, they helped.

The beeper on the microwave yanked him back to reality.  He brushed an annoying fruit fly away from his face as he stood up and gingerly moved the hot meal from the nuker to the table, burning his fingertips a bit in the process. The coffeemaker was filling the air with the welcome home smell of fresh brewed coffee and making rude noises on the counter telling him that it was nearly ready.  What it didn't tell him was that it was masking the sound of the careful footsteps moving up behind him...

The aroma of coffee was overpowered by a sudden whiff sweet, strong chloroform in the air. The black gloved hands of the intruder wrapped around his face and pulled him tightly back against the chair while he struggled in the rapidly enclosing darkness to get away. Soon he was unaware of sight, sound or feeling. All that remained was the darkness.

Tanner's handsome, smiling face swirled around in the darkness.  A reassuring smile and a pat on the shoulder faded as he became aware of his surroundings.
"Hey, look. He's waking up." The voice faded in.

"I'll get it." another voice answered.

Justin realized that he was blindfolded and tied hand and foot. Suddenly he felt the rough pressure of the gloved hands hands that again held the chloroform soaked cloth over his nose and mouth.  The sounds of laughter faded into nothingness.

Trying his best to remain still, Justin lay on his side on a cold metal floor. He was in a vehicle. He felt the rhythmic thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump of the seams in the highway as he was being taken to someplace unknown.

Low voices were talking back and forth but he couldn't hear them very well with the rumble of the engine and roar of the tires and wind. He could see that it must be daylight but couldn't see much else through the blindfold tied over his eyes. The smell of chloroform got stronger and he realized that he was about to be put back to sleep.

The rough jolt brought him back to his senses as the van bounced on the rough road.  They were moving slower but definitely moving on a badly maintained dirt road. He felt the sores where his body had been laying on the hard metal floor for way too long, his head throbbed like it might explode and his ears buzzed really loudly. He didn't dare move. His side, hip and head were sore and he wanted desperately to move but they were sure to be watching and put him out again.  Another rough jolt and his body slammed into the deck again. The involuntary grunt was masked by the other noises in the van but one of the captors got up to check him and kicked him in the side just to see if he was awake yet. Seconds later he was struggling against the sickening sweet fumes as the world again faded into darkness.

It was quiet. He opened his eyes and tried to peer through the cloth but could not see anything.  His throat was parched. His tongue was sticking to the inside of his mouth. He could smell and taste vomit. He figured that he must have vomited from the chloroform or maybe the long ride while he was unconscious. He was lying face down, not on his right side, which was a relief of sorts, but as he started moving he realized that he was now naked.  He was still tightly tied up but his hands were now tied in front rather than behind his back as they had been and he was now laying on some thin plastic. His fingers felt numb and his ankles hurt where they pressed against the bonds. His skin stuck to the plastic sheeting that he was laying on as he moved.  He was not in the van any more but the room was dark and he couldn't tell much more than that.

"Help me." he said.  His voice startled him.  It sounded weak and hoarse.
"Hey, can I have some water?" . . . "Anyone there?" . . . "Please..."
 Not a sound.

Several long hours passed.  He managed to get to his feet and found that he was inside a narrow, long metal walled room. No furniture, no obvious doors or windows.  No clear sounds came inside except an occasional hint of blowing wind and birds.  His muscles ached, his ears were buzzing and he was feeling very hungry and thirsty. The total darkness that seemed so total that it could be felt strained his senses.  He soon sat down in a corner and tried in vain to untie his bonds. He was left completely alone for the time. At least there was no more chloroform.
After a very long time, he mercifully fell asleep.

There was a loud *Bang* as something hit the walls of the room.  A large creaking door opened and a brilliant light moved about the room and finally aimed directly at his face.

"He's awake." Someone said.

"That's ok. Let him wake up."

The Light moved closer and he could see a little of the room.

"Damn,  it stinks in here." one of them said.  Justin had used the opposite corner of the room as a bathroom and the strong smell of feces and urine had filled the air. He welcomed the fresh air that arrived with the newcomers.
"Here, take this." The one without the flashlight shoved a bottle of water into his hands.
He removed the cap and spilled the warm, but refreshing fluid into his mouth. He could feel the water as it washed down his throat and entered his stomach. His body was badly dehydrated and the water was going to keep him alive, at least for now.


"Here." the other one said, tossing a plastic wrapped sandwich into his lap. "Eat this.  We'll be back in a few."

"Wait!" Justin sputtered through the water still in his mouth. "Where am I?" "Who are you?"
"We'll be back." the other said as they stepped outside and closed the door again.
The door slammed shut and all light was again shut out.

His mind raced to make sense of his situation. He now knew that he was in an old shipping container, they were somewhere in the woods, it was night again.  He also knew that there were at least three of them.  Two were with him in the van and someone else was driving. They got in the house through the doors he had opened. Beyond the fact that they had traveled for hours and he had no idea at all where he was now, he was lost.

Had these men kidnapped Tanner last year?  They took him away with little or no signs of struggle, probably would have touched nothing with their hands. - No fingerprints. Probably no one will ever hear from him again either...

Could Tanny still be alive somewhere? Will he end up in the same place Tanny did? What were they going to do with him?

He suspiciously sniffed the sandwich in the dark. Tuna. He started to eat it slowly, but soon wolfed the remainder down, chasing it with the last of the water.

Falling back against the wall, Justin fought back the tears that came as he thought of Tanny.  He missed him so... "Tanny, I miss you." he whispered.
"I miss you too..." the darkness seemed to whisper back.
"Now I'm hallucinating." Justin moaned as he sat against the wall near the door. He got as comfortable as he could and started picking at the ropes on his ankles.

"Be ready. He's probably waiting for us to open the door.  He's had food and water so he might try to get away on us."
"I'm ready." The other said as he tapped the tree branch "club" against his hand. "Just open it."

The door opened a bit and they tried to peer into the darkness.
"Yeahhh!" Justin screamed as he slammed against the door with his shoulder, pushing it into the two. They stumbled back as the naked figure exploded from the container, hands still tied, making his desperate run for freedom. He was making a good run for it but the sharp stones and branches jabbed and gouged at his body. Scrambling after him they were impressed by the speed he was running on the rough terrain but it wasn't long before the one with the club swung the weapon and connected with the side of Justin's head, sending him sprawling onto the ground. They started punching and kicking the nearly defenseless body until they had knocked him unconscious.

A few minutes later he started waking up. He was being carried back to the container.  He started struggling.  The man carrying his feet looked at the other and said "Let go."
Justin fell to the ground striking his head and shoulders on the stony trail. The one holding his feet held him tightly so he couldn't free himself.
"You fucked yourself this time." he snarled as he held tightly to Justin's legs. Looking up at his partner he snapped "Put him out."
The other came into view. His fist moved down sideways into Justin's abdomen. The stinging of a syringe needle started burning as the man's thumb pushed the contents into Justin's abdominal muscles.
Justin struggled against the guy at his feet but rapidly lost the battle with the encroaching darkness. He was vaguely aware that he had been thrown onto the hard floor and thought he heard the slamming door. Then it was quiet again.

The fog started to lift. It was getting dark. the sun had dropped behind the hill, the dusk was rapidly giving way to night and he was being carried again, and  he was blindfolded again.  This time one person was carrying him.  He rode in the big guy's arms like a child being carried to bed. In his fog, he felt himself bounce with the steps and tried to put things back together in his head.  His muscles ached, he had bunches of cuts and bruises from his running and recapture, and was feeling the effects of being repeatedly drugged and gassed. Worst of all, he still did not have any answers.
He felt the sting of another needle.

Justin started to feel the pain of the bruises, the headache and the wooziness from the injections. He was still blindfolded but he could tell that it was dark, hands tied and currently laying on a big mossy rock.  The woodsy smell and the sound of chirping birds told him that it must be almost dawn.  He could hear low voices all around him. Someone was humming a strange sounding tune and someone else was trying to hum along.

"Help. Please... Can somebody please give me a drink?"

The humming stopped.

"Here, sit up." The friendly sounding voice had strong hands that lifted Justin to a sitting position while someone else grabbed him by his ankles. He heard the snap of a fresh bottle of water being opened and soon felt the bottle against his parched lips.
"Don't drink it too fast," the friendly voice cautioned, "you don't want to get sick."
He carefully drank the water and savored the sweet, life giving beverage. It seemed that his mouth had been coated with dust and the refreshing cool water gave him hope.
"Where am I?" he asked hoarsely.
"We're in the heart of the woods. It's almost dawn." He declared.
"You sound like that is important."
"It sure is. Justin, this is your greatest day."
"My greatest day?" Justin replied,he didn't like the sound of that. "What do you mean?"
"You are going to be released, at sunrise."
"I'm going home?" He asked.
"You sure are. It is the festival of Litha.  As the first rays of Aten break through the trees we raise our hands and voices in celebration of the longest of days, the bounty of Gaia the earth, the power of Aten, the sun.  Aine of Knockaine, blesses us especially this year because the moon will be full tonight as well. Our blessings are assured this day by our gift to the most high gods." His tone sounded a little strange.
"I don't understand any of this. Why am I here?" he asked. "Why have you done this to me?"
"You have been chosen!"  His voice changed again, taking on an air of awe, almost worshipful. "You will be set free to soar among the stars, to be as one with the sun and the moon. No more bound by this mortal body."
Justin's gut tightened. They were going to kill him.
"You will join those who have gone on before you," the voice continued, "As the first light of dawn strikes the treetops, we will release the stream of life to flow back to Gaia, It will flood the sacrificial stone with it's blessed life giving spirit, just as those who have gone on before have blessed this holy altar with their own blood."
"No!" he gasped, "Please, no!"
"You will soon be released from all pain to live free, to sing with those who have gone before you."
"Last year, you did this last year? At the same time?" Justin asked.
"Of course, Justin, it is the summer solstice. As we have done for centuries, we celebrate the longest day and give thanks to the sun and the earth by offering one deemed to be worthy to join them." he patted Justin's shoulder, "You are most honored to be chosen."
"Last year, do you remember his name? Who was chosen last year?"
"Oh, last year?" there was a pause. Another voice from nearby spoke up. "Terry, his name was Terry."
"No, it was  Tanner." another corrected.
The well of tears started to flood his eyes as he realized that his fears were right.  Tanny was gone... With all the hunger and thirst, the beatings and humiliation he had endured, he felt a desperate sorrow growing up from deep within.  What had Tanny gone through?  Why couldn't he have been there for him?
A shout came from the crowd. "Look! the treetops!"
"The first rays!" another said.
"It is time." the one that had given him the drink said. "Let the river of life flow!"

Justin started to struggle against the hands holding him. Suddenly there were many hands holding him in place.  He heard the strange song start up again, this time they were all gathered around, singing as they held on to him.

Someone was feeling his side, pressing his flesh just below his ribs, feeling for the soft area under the ribcage. Suddenly, the sharp cold point of a knife pressed into his side.  His skin resisted as the blade was slowly pressed, making a deep depression as the blade was forced.  "Ahhhh! Please! No, don't!" He twisted with the pain. "Uhhhhh!"
The blade had pierced his side and was now sliding deeper and deeper into his body, cutting and tearing skin, muscle and organs as it plunged, full length, stopping only as the hilt pressed against his side.
"Behold!" The voice announced. "The river of life."
The practiced hand quickly slipped the blade from his side.
"Auhhhhh!" He gasped as the notched spine of the thick blade rasped out through the tight slit in his skin.  Justin shuddered with each notch as it caught, then pulled free of his torn side. He could feel the warm flow of his blood running down his side and onto the moss covered stone.
"Gaaahhh! You bastards!" he growled, the pain was contorting his face and his muscles tightened as he fought against the unseen hands holding him in place. "How can you do this? You killed Tanny, you did this to him. I never knew!"
"Shhhh! Peace now." He cupped his hand over Justin's mouth to quiet him. The friendly voice said in his ear. "It's almost over."
"When the sun's rays come down the trees, and strike your body, we, in turn strike the life blow and you will  be forever free." "You will join your beloved friend.  He awaits. Peace now"
Justin was getting weak. The searing pain was spreading, growing like a flame within. His breath became more difficult as he sucked in what air he could through the fingers over his mouth.
The golden glow of the dawn slowly worked it's way down the trees, In seconds it would shine it's warm, life giving rays across Justin's cold, tortured body.
"Here it comes. Just a few seconds and you will climb the golden shaft of light from Aten himself. He will embrace your essence and draw you to himself."
"Tanny... Unh... unh... ooh, Tanny, I am so sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. Oh God."
The faint, but warm ray of sunlight spread across his shivering body, shining through the cloth over his eyes.
"UGHHHH!" Before he had time to say anything more, the soft voiced worshiper drove the blade in through Justin's heaving chest and deep into his heart with deadly finality.

A sharp grunt and powerful muscle contractions used the last bit of natural strength his tortured body could produce. He curled up briefly, raised his knees up to his chest, trying to protect himself, holding the scream that wanted to escape inside until his insides contracted in a  heaving groan as blood rushed up into his mouth and would have choked off his next breath, if there had been one. The image of Tanner, smiling with loving adoration painted across his field of vision as his last senses of this world fled away.
As light started to return to Justin's eyes, he saw Tanny's smiling face again, felt Tanny's hand holding his hand and could even hear his beating heart as tanner hugged him, holding him firmly to his chest, saying "It's ok now. I'm here, We're together."

Terry A Halberd

---

Fantasy and Supernatural - Skyler - part 3

Skylar Wolfe hurried through the woods toward the old house, knowing that he had been discovered.  His senses were working overtime and he could feel the hunters attempting to track him.  Blocking his mind from their mental probes he concentrated instead on mimicking the scent that he had found in the barn just minutes ago.

He had entered an old barn in the woods, he could smell the fresh blood inside and sensed a presence that was unfamiliar.  Carefully opening the door, he saw the naked, bleeding figure hanging upside down in a corner.  He was alive, unconscious and in the process of changing into the next vampire created by Vogel and his clan.  Moving to the victim, he could smell Vogel's scent all over him, along with that of a couple of others that he did not know.

There was no time to feel sorry for the hapless victim.  When he awakes he will be very dangerous and under Vogel's powerful will and will have a ravenous hunger for blood - any blood.

Without hesitating any longer he moved in and touched the powerfully charged body.  A vicious flood of emotions entangled his mind as he came in contact with him.  The body jumped as it sensed an imminent attack and began to struggle to consciousness.

Without waiting, Skyler licked the blood from the inverted face where the fresh blood still seeped and from the still bleeding holes in his neck and began to lick the fresh blood from his inverted body, each drop providing vital information about the victim and helping to intertwine the two bodies and minds. Moving up from the neck he licked the sweat from his breasts and nipples, filling Skyler's senses with the unique taste of his chemistry, continued up across the rigid washboard of his abs to his navel. The head of the man's cock was laying over  the navel like a waiting predator protecting it's lair. Gently moving it aside he pressed his tongue into the shallow innie of a belly button, savoring the salty taste and the fresh musk of the man's wonderful, natural aroma. The body quivered as he probed the depths of the firm bump at the bottom and the previously flaccid shaft started to swell, bumping against his face as it struggled for room to grow.
Knowing that he had very little time left before he was fully awake and became a deadly threat, he slid up until he stood with his lips poised at the thick, stiffening shaft head, taking it into his mouth as it grew.

Instantly, like an electrical connection had been made, both bodies reacted to the touch.  Skyler drew on the shaft, grabbing the balls in their soft sack, rolling them around, squeezing them and massaging the bottom of the cock shaft  as he found himself becoming more stimulated by the feel of the man's hands working their way into his own pants and the sudden, violent fellatio of which he found himself now the willing recipient. Knowing that this was a race to the death, he turned on the mental attack, showering his target with the most erotic images and emotions that he could muster. It was obviously working as the stiff shaft became even more rigid, the blood vessels bulging and stretching the skin to the point of ripping open but the inverted body was growing stronger as the struggle escalated.  The toned muscles bulged with renewed power as the vampire-to-be gained strength and he started to struggle to gain the upper hand.

Soft moans turned to growls of lust.  Gentle stimulation became a rough and forceful struggle for dominance. The caresses and hugs became vice like traps that one had sprung on the bodies of the other. Skyler crushed the testicles and tore at the sack as he himself was being bitten and torn at by the other.

Suddenly it was over.  The intense sex play had brought the inverted body to the point of ultimate stimulation.  Every muscle, every nerve was stressed to the breaking point as the body prepared itself for the ultimate release. He gasped one last deep gulp of air before surrendering every last bit of life to Skylar.

There was a long pause. Skyler could feel the tension building as the pressure behind the dam built up past the breaking point. The realization of his imminent death welled up inside the mind of the strong, transforming being that the handsome man had become. Skyler focused on the image of the lives of the vampires that he had gained as their essence poured into him at their death. The straining vampire-to-be was confronted with images of what he was about to become.  The overwhelming evidence was more than he could stand.

Suddenly, the body rocked with violent spasms of ecstasy and terror. The hot cum erupted from the body as he squeezed Skyler with terrible strength, and bit down on Skyler's turgid shaft.  Wild images flooded Skyler's mind.  Images of youth, family and friends.  Suddenly he knew all that his victim knew, his youth, school, college, friends, special friends... The face of one called David burned into his mind as the sexual yearning for his loving partner washed through his tortured mind. The Image whispered the name "Mitchell" as it faded. Images of jobs, homes and finally what had happened just before the attack and the horrific fear that flooded the victim's mind as he was physically and mentally assaulted by Vogel in those last moments of consciousness.  The crushing bear hug shuddered with one last burst of strength as the last of the life essence transferred into Skyler and all went dark and cold.  Contained in that final burst was a distinct message of understanding and gratitude as the body went totally limp and dangled grotesquely, deflated and gray, those fine, toned muscles now shrunken and atrophied, soft and almost liquefied.

The body would not crumble away rapidly as others had because he was freshly turned. Skyler looked at the deflated body and the ashen color. Feeling the pain in his own shaft where he had been bitten, he could see the wound closing and the healthy pink color returning to the purple flesh as he packed it back in his pants.

The firestorm of strength, emotions and memories flooded Skyler's consciousness.  He sorted through the memories and feelings until they began to make sense.  Embedded in the whole mess was Vogel's plan to lure him and others into the woods, right where he was now, for what was to be a role playing party but it was a ruse to make him the target of a hunt. Some would be turned to join Vogel's army and others would serve as sport and food.

Reaching out with renewed sensitivity, Skyler felt the presence of another prey and the predator that was about to pounce. Skyler wanted to hurry to the creek to help but another presence was much closer and a far greater threat.

Hurrying through the woods toward the house he readied his crossbow, knowing that he had been discovered, he concentrated on the scent of the man in the barn, matching the scent and the mental image as best he could to mask his identity. Their minds met, but the mind in the house did not seem to be concerned about his approach, thinking rather that he was about to greet the freshly turned man from the barn.

"Come on in my young friend." The voice was both coming from inside the building and from inside his own head. "Mitchell, isn't it? Come in. You must have a thousand questions."

He felt the name "Arturo" associated with this voice.  Arturo was a very old and very dangerous member of the clan and he was sexually aroused, waiting for Mitchell to come in so they could enjoy each other for a time.

Pausing outside the door, he waited for the right moment. Inside the room Arturo took the hesitation to be a sign of fear.

"You have nothing to fear from me. I am here to help you. You have much to learn. I will help you."

"Here, I've laid down my bow and I'm taking off my quiver."

"What??" Arturo looked up as Skyler stepped into the room and fired the silver tipped arrow.  The sickening thud of the arrow splitting Arturo's sternum was followed immediately by his hoarse gasp as the metal reacted with the centuries old body. His face contorted with pain as his color turned to gray and thick smoke started to flow from his chest and mouth as the rapidly growing hole expanded outward. 

Arturo stood helplessly as his chest opened wide and the body continued to turn to an acrid cloud of ammonia and dust.
The arrow fell from the hollow where the strong muscled chest had been and he fell to the floor.  His shorts had been tightly packed behind the lace up front with his bulging, excited manhood, ready to enjoy the pleasures of a fresh partner but now the expanding dissolving flesh emptied them of all viable content.

Skyler stood over the body watching the final pieces crumble to dust.  The feet and skull finished last as the open, terror filled eyes stared blindly upwards until they too dissolved and the fetid cloud of acrid vapor slowly drifted toward the door.

"Would have been interesting to absorb that lifeforce." he thought as he picked up the arrow for later use.

Immediately the image of David shot back into his mind as he sensed the immanent danger to Mitchell's partner.  A deep pleading within compelled him to hurry to David's aid.

Reaching out with his mind he felt the scene playing out on the creekside ahead.  The two minds were entwined as the hypnotic will of the vampire Joshua Craig mesmerised David's helpless mind, drawing him to himself, dropping all barriers and creating a state of epic arousal with uncontrolled lust. Sadly Skyler knew he was never going to make it in time.

At the creek, David stood unaware of the deadly threat before him.  Holding the ornate sword, a beautiful replica of an antique rapier, at his side, David was more consumed by the lustful energy that was being projected into his mind than any possible indications of fear at the scantily clad "player" standing before him.

Craig took the sword from his limp hand and started caressing and stroking his bare chested body, backing him up against the rocks where he sat down, letting Joshua have his way with him.

Still too far away to prevent what was about to happen, Skyler probed David's mind and tried to wake him from the stupor.

"Wake up!" he shouted into David's mind.

Sight returned to David's eyes and his mind was suddenly aware of his plight.  Sensing the intrusion, Joshua raised the rapier and thrust the dull blade deep into David's stomach and out through his back.  Before the scream of agony could escape his throat, Joahua bit deeply into his exposed neck, ripping the flesh away from the deliciously throbbing vein in his neck.

The shock and horror reached Skyler's mind as the vampire ripped the vein from David's neck savouring the life giving fountain as his victim convulsed and died in his arms.  The part of Mitchell that now resided in Skyler's mind screamed with agonizing sorrow as he knew that his lover was now the victim of this evil creature. The wail of sorrow echoed through the trees, reaching Joshua's sensitive ears.

As Skyler reached the creek, he saw the lifeless figure lying on the rocks below. Looking quickly around he could not see Joshua, but could feel him as he drew a bead on him and fired.
The arrow ricocheted off the rocks and disappeared into the brush as Skyler dodged the missile that had been aimed at his heart.
Another shaft slammed into the tree trunk next to him as he scrambled for cover.

"You can't win. Surrender to me and I will make you happier than you have ever been." Joshua promised.  Strong images started to flood into Skyler's mind. "You have no idea what I can do for you."

"No thanks, asshole." Skyler answered as he raised up and fired his arrow at the figure that was taking aim at him at the same time. Skyler's arrow smacked into Joshua's chest. Joshua's arrow flew harmlessly into the rocks, shattering the shaft and sending up a shower of sparks.

A look of disbelief crossed his face as the vampire realized what had just happened.  He fell back against one of the rocks and struggled briefly, trying to breathe as the silver tipped arrow started destroying the long dead heart inside the pierced chest. Skyler knew that in a short time nothing would be left but dust and a loincloth but did not stay to watch the spectacle.

Turning toward the woods. Skyler could feel Vogel's presence as he stalked off toward the farmhouse.  Following the scent trail he stepped into a clearing and found another body spread out on top of a large rock glistening with sweat in the bright sun.

The muscular figure had been stabbed in the chest before he was placed on the rock. blood had run down toward his abdomen before he was moved.  The fresher blood ran up the body, toward his neck along with a trickle that emerged from the corner of his mouth, probably from the lungs. Placing his hand on the body, Skyler could tell that the body was indeed dead. No life force, no memories, just the exciting scent of the virile body and the tantalizing aroma of the testosterone laden blood.  Beside the stone was a silver colored spear.  Picking it up, Skyler could tell that it was not silver but still a good, serviceable weapon.

Leaving the body behind, he again followed Vogel's scent as he headed toward the farm house.  Before he had gone far, he was aware that he was again being stalked.  Ahead of him, Vogel had turned and was heading back in his direction.

"Arturo, my friend, is that you?" Vogel called out. "Are you well? Something is different about you."

Too many thoughts and emotions were flooding through Skyler's mind. He tried to concentrate.  The scent of the body on that boulder and the taste of Mitchell, the feelings of the confused Arturo and yes, the strongly pungent scent that Joshua had emitted at his death all mingled in his mind along with the putrid ammonia and rotting flesh smell as Arturo had evaporated inside that small room all mingled together to make concentration on a single thing very difficult.

"You smell like Arturo but your feelings have opened my eyes." Vogel cooed as he approached. " Who are you and why are you hiding from me?"
Vogel stepped into view. Skyler prepared to fight but he was holding the silver colored spear - not a good weapon against Vogel.

"Well hello there." Vogel said as he stood stark naked, holding a spear of his own. "How goes the game?"

"I am not here to play games." Skyler warned. "I know who you are."

"Then you have the advantage." Vogel answered.  "I have no idea who you are but you are hopelessly outclassed.  I can defend myself and I do not take well to idle threats."

"Nothing idle about this." Skyler answered. "Avery Dawson didn't think I was a threat either. You should prepare to die."

"Dawson was a fool." Vogel Responded with a laugh. "If you really are the one that killed him then maybe I should thank you." Vogel pranced, flaunting his naked body in front of Skyler, having little fear of what may happen because he was confident that his years of experience would triumph over this young upstart, even if he happened to lose, he would be completely healed and regenerated in a matter of minutes and would track this opponent down and tear his throat out.

The two slowly circled each other taking an occasional jab toward the other. Vogel started a kind of trash talking, trying to get Skyler to do something foolish.
Skyler, on the other hand was busy probing the depths of Vogel's brain, searching for the keys embedded in his motor functions. With them located he could anticipate any move, any twitch, any false move.
Vogel feigned a couple of stabs aimed at Skyler's midsection and Skyler easily sidestepped them. Angered at the seeming ease with which Skyler avoided his attacks, Vogel raised his spear and started to charge toward Skyler, screaming.

Skyler raised his spear and stepped into the charging vampire's path driving the long slender blade deep into the hairy chest.  An ear splitting shriek echoed through the woods as the point of the spear jammed into Vogel's spine and lodged there. Vogel bared his fangs as he fell back against the moss covered tree but his show of rage quickly melted away as he lost consciousness.
 Skyler had him.  He was temporarily incapacitated but would soon be reviving and would be enraged and ready for the kill.

Knowing that he had already absorbed the essence of one very powerful being less than an hour ago (the natural power of a "virgin" vampire is legendary). He knew that doing it again so soon could prove lethal but he knew that allowing Vogel to revive would be even more dangerous.

Moving in, Skyler started spreading Vogel's legs apart and grasped the limp organ between them. No response from the apparently dead body but Skyler could feel the lifeforce within straining to regain control of the badly wounded body.
"You can't wait any longer." Skyler heard the voice urging him on. The voice of Aaron Peake, his lover and mentor and now "living" inside him as the essence of his life was absorbed as he was slowly dying. Now that life essence worked to guide and protect his protege.

Trusting the voice, he grabbed the flaccid member again. Hopelessly limp for the moment he held it with both hands and started rubbing it between his hands, trying to evoke a response.  Still nothing. Deciding that more body contact was needed, Skyler took the soft shaft into his mouth ans slid his hands up from the hips, up the sides of the still torso and placed his palms on the muscular pecs of the sleeping vampire.  A sudden flutter in the body let him know that it was working.  As he massaged the pecs, the soft cock started to swell.
Almost immediately the body began to stir.  Vogel moaned, whether from the pleasure of the stimulation or from the pain of the spear that was still embedded in his chest, but the fact that he was waking stirred the passion in Skyler, making him pour on the assault of lust into Vogel's still foggy mind.
Vogel moved his arms. Feeling the mouth on his shaft, he reached down and held Skyler's head as Skyler stroked and massaged his manhood and continued to massage the solid pecs of his victim-to-be. For several long minutes the scene continued as the stimulation rose and Vogel was getting set for a massive ejaculation.
Not knowing what was about to happen to him, Vogel gladly went along with the uninvited service but as his mind cleared and he realized who was sucking on his cock and massaging his muscled chest, Vogel poised himself to strike, right at the moment of climax.
Letting go of Skyler's head and grasping the spear in his chest, he readied himself.
Skyler could sense Vogel's plan but was in no position to change anything now.  He would finish what he had started and let things work out as they may.

Reaching the point of ultimate stimulation, Vogel started erupting into Skyler's throat, helping it along with powerful thrusts and wrapping his legs securely around Skyler's vulnerable body.  Ripping the spear from his chest, Vogle raised it high and plunged it deep into Skyler's back squarely between his shoulder blades.

Skyler reacted with a choking scream that was muffled into the man meat that was filling his mouth and pumping down his throat.  With the overpowering stimulation of his victory over Skyler, Vogel gave his sexual pleasure everything he had - literally.

Suddenly, Vogel could feel the whole of his being releasing his life force to be surrendered up to the body now laying between his thighs.  The wild incomprehensibly powerful feeling of all of his life essence leaving his body, being drawn by an irresistible compulsion down and out through his genitalia to be surrendered to the very one that he had intended to kill filled him with terror beyond his wildest imagination at the same time as it rewarded him with the most incredible pleasure he would ever feel. Ever.

Vogel's body stiffened and convulsed, squeezing the very last of his life force from every fiber of his being.  The suddenly empty body jerked violently, turned completely limp, and starting at the extremities, turned to the same dusty gray powder as Skyler had seen many times before.  Skyler, did not see what was happening, rather he was attempting to catch his breath when the cold, limp penis in his mouth turned to powder.

"Gaahhh!" *Spit* *Cough* *Spit* "Shit!  Not again!"

He raised up a bit, still spitting the gray powder and muddy chunks from his mouth.  He could feel the spear being pushed from his back as the healing force healed the deadly wound with the ease of getting over a pin prick.  The spear clattered to the ground as he stood and brushed the remainder of the dust from his body.

"You did well. There is much more to come." the friendly voice inside his being said.

"Thanks Aaron.  I only wish you were still here with me."

"I am here, Skyler." Aaron replied.  "I always will be."

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