Just the first few chapters. But I want to make sure it is going well. Because my story has flashback in it. And I don't want a Lous Lamour incident. I'm no where near done.
Prologue
"Young teacher the subject of schoolgirl fantasy. She wants him so badly knows what she wants to be. Inside her there is longing. This girl’s an open page. Book marking-she’s so close now. This girl is half his age." Dr. Ozduricke Nogovitsyn sang to himself as he strutted past the long wooden table.
As he walked past each setting on the table, his presents unleashed a magical force. Blood filled the soft glowing iridescent goblets. The long spiraled row of candles shot to life. The table was set. Now it was time for the pledges to take the final leap of faith. It was October 31 and the Im Kheperu was now ready to begin.
The French wooden double doors opened. Twenty young girls slowly marched through.
“Ah my young virgins” Dr. Ozduricke smiled with lust in his eyes as he faced the girls
"Such familiarity why back in our day such language was not used, tsk tsk!" Kolenka snapped as he walked down the spiral staircase. Kolenka was an Upierczi, who had joined Ozduricke’s caitiff. They met while on the same cruise liner to America.
"Calm yourself Kolenka we are in America not Mother Russia. We are in the land of lax morals and dignity remember!" Even though Dr. Ozduricke would not have in his wildest dreams believe he would be in a Thrall with an Upierczi vampire. It was a matter of survival though that they stay together. The unique friendship grew through out the two centuries they had stayed in Ramhurst, Tennessee. The two men had been many things over their span of time here and in Europe.
“Now I know exactly why you were ostracized from your clan." Kolenka huffed as he led the girls to their seats. Dr. Ozduricke rolled his eyes as he look over the procession. Each girl sat down at her designated spot, Dr. Ozduricke approached. He took out a silver handled dagger and slowly cut his hand. Placing his hand over each goblet a single drop of his cursed blood dropped into each goblet. In addition, then almost fatherly he kissed each girl lovingly on the forehead… Within an hour the ’deal’ was set.
The Beginning
The year was 1925 a young Kolenka had just started his new job as an undertaker. Even though it was a very a depressing job he was an optimistic type of guy. He had just married his long time sweetheart Ludmilla and life could not have been better for him. Even though nights were long Kolenka, he was happy. They had moved from the big city of Moscow to the unique small town of Kashin, a town remarkably created by nature and the equally remarkable thinking of man. A town so small you could see both sides of the river, Kashinla by just standing on the street corner. Kolenka didn't care it was a perfect place to start a family.
"Kolenka are you done yet?" The Main undertaker, an old crippled up man. Who spoke with a heavy Russian accent, reminding Kolenka of the grave he needed to dig.
"Just getting my shovel sir, then I‘ll start." He chimed back. He whistled a happy tune as he grabbed his shovel to go dig the last grave of the day.
"Make it extra deep!" The the old man yelled a warning. Extra deep? Kolenka thought that was strange, but decided that the old man had been there much longer and knew more. He resumed his whistling as he walked past the perfect rows of tombstones. It was late in the day when he finally got to the back corner of the cemetery. Whistling still, he began to dig the hole for the departed Dr. Ozduricke Nogovitsyn.
“Thank you” A voice behind him spoke.
“Your welcome” He said not looking up. He decided to look and see who thanked him. There was no one there. Nevertheless, as he dug the the hole deeper, he still felt the presence behind him. Not wanting the person behind him to get hurt he turned around. No one was there. Thinking the man must have gone on he kept digging, but could not shake the feeling he was being watched. He was finally done. Now he had a strange feeling now in his bones. On way home, the feeling that someone was watching him got worse and now he was hearing footsteps that belong to no being. He finally got to the safety of his home. Ludmilla was there with his meal-they ate in eerie silence.
The next morning he awoke to birds singing. What was in the vodka he thought? He saw the worry in Ludmilla’s eyes as he explained last night’s events. They had a good laugh and he went on his way back to work. The day went normally as ever. However, once he got back to the cemetery the feeling of someone watching him came back. When he got back to that far corner of the cemetery, the feeling intensified the closer he got to the funeral Party of Dr. Ozduricke Nogovitsyn. Kolenka looked at the picture of the departed and felt a sense of de jay vue, as if he had met the man before. Kolenka started asking questions among the group.
"May I ask what your son did for a living?" Kolenka asked an elderly woman in black fur. He had to know how he knew him.
“He was a mortician.” The old woman sobbed. Then it dawned on him, of course he knew her son. He worked closely with the mortician. Laughing on the inside to not insult, he said his condolences and walked away. As he thought more about the feeling, the voice and the picture of the man, he could not shake the feeling that he had seen him outside of work. Maybe he met him in one of the szyns he occasionally went to for a drink before going home, or at the market with Ludmilla. Kolenka just could not shake the feeling he had met this man before, nor the feeling; as strange as it was that that would not be the last time he would meet him either.
Still being a newlywed Ludmilla was on his mind a lot, but Saturday morning he could not shake a feeling of complete and utter happiness. Something good was coming his way; he just did not know what.
Ludmilla showed up at his job at lunchtime. Through the two years they had dated, she had never shown up at a job of his, except to give him bad news. He feared the worst. Running toward her his fear of bad news quickly vanished. As he saw a smile so bright, the sun would be envious. If it were bad, she would not be smiling.
"I went to the doctor to see why I‘m throwing up so much. Well… the rabbit died. I‘M WITH CHILD!" she screamed while bouncing up and down. It took her three times saying it before he understood what she was saying she was pregnant and he quickly scolded her for bouncing.
"Don’t bounce it will hurt the baby!" Kolenka barked. Tears ran down his face as she laughed at his order and promised him she would not bounce anymore until after the baby was born. She thought it was funny he thought bouncing would hurt the baby, but she agreed anyway. Kolenka was pleased and all the weird feelings he had been having over the week were gone. Life could not get any better: for now, he was going to become a father. He smiled at this thought. He watched as she got on the carriage to go back home and whistled a happy tune while skipping through the cemetery gates. He never noticed just how beautiful the cemetery was until today. He looked at all the nice neat rows, the beautiful statues, near the trees softly blowing in the wind. It was the largest cemetery in the area covering 5 acres of land and part of a hilltop were the office was. However, some might have considered it a little morbid; Kolenka would on his breaks look at double graves. Where married people laid to rest side by side, he would smile knowing someday him and Ludmilla would have that too!
Dr. Ozduricke's Return
It was raining the day Dr. Ozduricke Nogovitsyn broke the surface of his grave. They were waiting for him. A small group of Upyr Clan surrounded him
“ARISE.” A very tall and pale man spoke as he helped the confuse man out of the grave.
“Dr. Ozduricke Nogovitsyn, you have been chosen to rise as a member of the Upyr Clan”
"What … The confused Dr. Ozduricke wiped the soil off him. He looked around and saw seven beings encircling him. A blonde woman then walked towards him and spoke in an unnaturally soft disembodied voice. It was as if the wind spoke not the body. Her snake-like voice made Dr. Ozduricke’s hair stand on end.
"You have been given this honor, because of your appetite..." she raises her eyebrow and cracked the most fiendish of smiles "…fetishes and handiwork." She ran her tongue over her iron-like teeth.
He closed his eyes. Oh yes he remembered. It all came back to him, the line he use to get the children, the pit where the naked boys would fight to the death, the torture chamber under his flat where he ’played with’ and punished them, but most of all the children’s beautiful screams. As he opened his eyes he understood and embraced his new destiny as the lowest of the low, the most vicious of the vicious an Upyr vampire.
As they walked along the cemetery path, they filled him in on what was required of an Upyr vampire. He was elated to know that his hatred for children and his pleasure of installing fear plus his joy of killing children would and could continue. He was extremely pleased.
"And now you are free to do it again. However, you must kill all not just the children. "A slender man with grayish-purple skin spoke form behind.
"All of them?" A lovely thought Dr. Ozduricke; I can also kill the things that created the little beast. He smiled and slowly walked out of the cemetery.
He made is very first kill as an Upyr that night. A widow and her son were eating dinner when he knocked on the door. Dr. Ozduricke reformed the part of a weary traveler very well. For the old woman looked past the purplish tinge of his face and hands. The corpse-like appearance did not seem to registers as an omen to her soon ill-fated fate. His dark as night eyes bore the scars of all the evil he had done in his mortal life. None of this rang any warning bells in the old woman’s mind. However, it should have!
"Hello may I help you my good man?" The old woman inquired as she invited him in.
"Do you have a room to spare? I am very tired and a long way from my home "He contrived a yawn to sweeten the deal as he paid her a fare for one night’s room and board. As she led him to the spare bedroom, he looked around planning his killing. Where was the boys’ room he thought, he needed to know if he was going to kill him first…
"This will do nicely. " Dr. Ozduricke said with what he hoped was humbleness in his voice.
"Thank you very much. Now you have a good night’s rest!" She said with a smile. He said his goodnight and stepped into the room.
It was dingy and dark inside the small room, typical of a pheasant’s home he supposed. Dr. Ozduricke almost laughed as he stood in the middle of the room. Stretching out his arms, he was able to touch both of the opposite walls. He took a whiff of the air. The musty smell would have been repulsive to him, if he had not anticipated the sweet smell of death that soon would linger.
He waited listening for all the telltale signs that they were asleep. Once satisfied that they were in bed asleep he made his move. He slowly crept out his room and proceeded down the hall.
He stopped at the door of the son and slowly opened it. There he was, the little boy, no older than fifteen were asleep in a fetal position dreaming sweet dreams of who knows what. Whit in seconds DR. Ozduricke was on him. The little boy had awaken and screamed as Ozduricke punctured his neck. The screams had awakened his mother. Ozduricke heard the footsteps of the mother running.
“GET OFF OF HIM!” The mother cried as her race into the room and started beating Dr. Ozduricke on the back, trying to get him off. He cackled manically as he stood up. Quick as a flash he grabbed her. Dr. Ozduricke threw her in the air. She landed against the wall with a small thump. He returned to feed off the boy. There was no blood left, though the boy had, a gaping wound in his neck the pillow on which is head laid was still white and crisp.
Dr. Ozduricke rose again, he went towards her, the purplish tinge around his mouth stained with the boy’s blood. She started reciting the Lord’s Prayer as he laughed and walked forward.
"God can’t help you now." He chuckled. As she went limp he reminiscent about a boy he once knew.
Boris was an orphan boy, who was the same age as the boy he just killed. He screamed like him too. Dr. Ozduricke thought as a wicked smile came to his face. Flashbacks of cage fight he hosted, of Boris fighting in the nude with another boy. The beautiful screams he gave out as Dr. Ozduricke whipped him while shackled to the cold stall. However, it also brought back a hated memory, the memory of Boris. The boy who rendered the final blow that had killed him.
Kolenka's Pain
Sympathy pains hit Kolenka hard but he loved every minute of it. The idea of being a father made him swell with a little more pride each day. Ludmilla on the other hand was not having an easy pregnancy, once her fourth month hit. What started as a little morning sickness became an all day thing. To help his wife through such a troubling time Kolenka asked his sister to cook, clean and take care of her when he was at work. This gesture made her smile and boast to everyone who came around. About how loving her husband was.
Kolenka’s problems started shortly after he had gotten a new boss. His old boss had given him time off to witness the birth of his son, which came one unusually bright winter’s day.
"The God is looking down on you. Why else would it be so warm today?” The old man chuckled. He patted Kolenka on the back and then told him the bad news. "They are forcing me to leave. However, you will not be getting that promotion I promised you. However, you are getting something for it they say… I just do not know. "
The old man hung his head and sighed. Kolenka could see that the old man did not like it, nor did he blame him. Alexei was an egotistical jerk whom cam from wealth and had no respect for the departed or the living.
His first day back was sheer hell. Not only was Kolenka worried about Ludmilla and their new son Danya, but also his new boss was a nightmare. He worked him every minute and only gave him breaks because he had to. Kolenka bit his tongue because he knew this job would provide better than any other would for his new family. They lived in a small town and jobs were hard to come by so Kolenka just did his job and stayed on Alexei’s good side.
The nights got longer for him but it was worth it. He shared the news of his raise with buying a new home and employing a young girl to assist Ludmilla. May be his boss was not such a bad sort after all.
Kolenka noticed along with Alexei, who now was a great friend, that the death toll even in the middle of winter it was extremely high. The highest was people with children. There were no diseases going around that
The two men knew about but, even so it made no sense for a disease to pick one family and not another. Nor was there a disease that killed over night or drained the blood out of the body. They decided to take their concerns to the police.
At the police headquarters, the Kolenka and Alexei were considered lunatics. None of the cops was listening to Kolenka or Alexei’s story.
"We are NOT making this up!" Kolenka spat as he slammed his fists on the wooden table. Even thought the room was dark he could see the disbelief in the officer‘s eyes.
Alexei was having even worse luck. The officer with him spoke in a suspicious tone. "And how is it that only you have noticed this?” The officer glare intensified as he sat down. Alexei was shocked and repulsed at this accusation. He silently vowed never to turn to the police again!
They left the station feeling devastated and thoroughly pissed. What now, since the police did not believe them, what could they do? Kolenka had more to worry about then Alexei did. For he had a wife and child were as Alexei was a bachelor. He could not stop work and stay home guarding them twenty-four seven. He decided to tell Ludmilla what was going on warn her, to put her on her guard and worry.
As they came to the fork in the road, the horses stirred. They looked down the country road to see what could have spooked the horses they saw only one thing.
What looked like a drifter was slowly coming up the road. This did not explain why the horses had been spooked. For one he was too far away and two he was on the other side of the road. Alexei finally got the horses to move and the two men slowly drifted back into their own worried minds. As the horse, drawn carriage slowly went down the old dirt old back to the cemetery.
Days went by without a single incident happening. Thinking that it was just a one-time occurrences, neither man dwelled on the mysterious deaths again.
The year had came and gone. Ludmilla has lost most of the baby fat and their son Danya was now creating a new worry in his father’s mind. For now the little guys was crawling, and nothing was out of his reach. Yes! Everything was going great.
Kolenka had a bad feeling in his bones come Sunday morning. He had to get to work early; he had to dig a mass grave that day. He crept out of the house so to not wake anyone. The dreaded feeling that he would never see his wife and child again stayed with him as he walked to the cemetery. By lunchtime he had finished the mass grave when suddenly the urge to go home intensified by ten. He rushed home to find the door open. He rushed through the house calling their names. He saw their servant girl lying in her own bed drained of all fluid. He gasped and went to find his wife and son.
The servant, Ludmilla and Danya all were dead." NO!" He screamed as he fell to his knees. He cradled his wife’s broken bloodless body. The look for ultimate fear was still plastered on her face. As he pulled his son’s body closer to him, he cried out why.
"Hello we heard screams." It was the officers from the police station. They were the ultimate dimwits not to mention corrupt. In their minds, a murder had never happened in this sleepy little town and to have a mass murder of this magnitude was just unheard of, at least to them. “Caught you” It never occurred to them they he might be innocent. Oh no, driven by greed and their own sick desires to move up in ranks they rush to judgment. He wanted to hold on to his family forever.
"Stop pretending you filthy murderer!" The fattest officer spat as he heaved Kolenka away from the bodies.
"Ludmilla, Dayna... "Bam, he was struck in the back of Kolenka’s head.. He would have never thought that they would accuse him.
The Trial
The thought entered his mind once he woke up in a cell. The windowless cramped room reminded him of the graves, he had dug so many times. What was he to do now? His wife and son were dead; was life worth living now that everything he loved was gone? He knelt down in prayer but found no solace in the act.
"Get up you swine." A burly guard barked as he yanked Kolenka down a narrow hallway. Kolenka tried to look into the man’s eyes for some clue of what was happening. However, with a fair amount of hair around them it was almost impossible. Screams from the other prisoners terrified Kolenka. However, what terrified him most was the only window showing a view of the back yard, where the firing range was.
The trail was a laugh. The courtroom was packed. There were reporters, lawyers and a judge, all trying to make a name for themselves. Nothing but the truth, Ha, it was more like everything but the truth.
"All rise for the…"
“Be seated. “ The honorable judge Nicolai Ivanov yawned out. He already knew the verdict yet had to go through the motions for looks. He motioned towards the prosecution.
The prosecutor swaggered his large body up to the jury box were twelve men sat stoned-faced. "I am here to tell you about THAT MAN! No, he is not a man. A man would not have killed the way he did; he is for lack of a better word a MONSTER! I am going to tell you how he skinned his one-year-old son and then put it back on him like an ill-fitted suit. How he ripped out the heart of his servant girl and placed it between her legs. Moreover, how, ooh yes there is more. How he slammed his wife’s head so hard into the wall of her son’s room that her brain been discovered outside of her body by a window two meters away. The one thing that makes him so vicious is that there was NO blood to be found and for that… "He paused. It seemed for a moment he as if he was trying to muster his composer, but he was not the pause was just for effect. He walked over to Kolenka and stared smugly at him. "… I ask no, I implore you to say guilty. And that you send him back into the pit from where he came!" He slammed his fist on the oak banister for one last dramatic effect then slowly walked away.
Kolenka’s lawyer was a thin man with a dark handle bar mustache. His long and sharp pointed noise reminded Kolenka of a vulture. He slowly walked up to the jury box. The men squirmed. He scanned the men’s face before he spoke. "It is true that these crime where horrible and unspeakable. Also that no human should be able to do this but alas a human did. What gets me is if my client was as, the prosecution wants you to think, such a monster why was he crying over his wife‘s body? Why is it that he and his boss go to the police station with concerns of other murders? And how did he notice them?" The calm voice was now gone only to be replacing by a mad angry yell." He is an undertaker of course he noticed. Did the police do anything? NO! It was not until a crowd gathered around my client’s house that the lazy and INCOMPETENT police realized that they were wrong. He was not a lunatic nor was he lying…" He approached the jury box with predatory precision. "…and the only reason they arrested my client is because they needed to cover their ass!" As he walked away, you could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the jury box. He scared them
Once again the judge motioned to the prosecuter.
"Yes you Honor." The prosecutor chimed. Today he resembled a creature with a penguin body with a stub nosed pig. “For my first witness I call Alexei Isakova.” He bellowed out for all to hear. Alexei nervously walked to the witness stand.
"On third of December, where were you sir?"
"I I do not remember at possibly work why sir?" Alexei’s eyes shot back and forth in attempt for some clue of what the prosecution was asking.
"Are you apart of any law enforcement agency?"
"No."
" Then how can you comment on the fact that the amount of bodies is too high? The prosecution stared coldly into the eyes of Alexei. A hint of pleasure came across his face as he watched Alexei squirm.
"Because I work at a cemetery sir.”
"True. Is it also true that the respondent complained about money and its family
"Well yes, but …"
"Also it is true , that it was him who had raised your suspicions?"
"Yes, but…"
"Thanks. . ." With that, the prosecution went to his desk and sat back down.
Alexei was frightened and Kolenka was pissed. The prosecution was making him out to be a cold, heartless bastard. Poor Alexei tried to explain but was interrupted each time. Then Kolenka’s lawyer rose slowly from his chair.
“But what sir?” Barked his lawyer. Alexei jumped up as though the seat was on fire. The lawyer toned his voice down. "The prosecutor has asked, whether my client ever complained, and you said yes but. But, what, sir? "
"I was going to say, but no more, than then anyone else in his line of work I would assume.”
"And the second question?"
"Well he does the majority of digging, I only see documents. Therefore, I assume, that he would notice it before me?"Alexei shot a nervous look at the jury.
Light couldn’t have traveled as fast as Alexei did, in a flash he was out of the courtroom.
The first image to go up was of the Naporkin family. The pictures were of a middle-aged women and her teenage son. The sketches had clearly showed a horrific bedroom murder scene. The drawings showed where the boy’s neck ripped to shreds, his intestines looked like worms pushing through the dirt. Where his body laid haphazardly on his bed and other unusual wounds on the tiny boy‘s body, but no blood patterns for there was no blood. Next, the sketches of the mother were shown to the jury. The back of her skull was crushed and rattled like marbles. There was a look of sheer terror on her face. This told the jury she had witnessed her son die. It was hard to believe that a human had done this. It looked more as if a wild animal had gotten into there home, but not a human.
As the coroner took the stand, he explained why this haunted him. “There was no blood at the scene, not a drop I tell you. In all my years I have never and I mean never have seen this." He spoke softly and through his teeth, as if he was afraid to open his mouth wide. The seasoned corner had to take deep breaths so not to throw up vomit.
The jury was equally sickened. Juror 7, a desk clerk for the police had seen many crime scene sketches in his job nearly fainted. They squirmed like little girls. The prosecutor closed his eyes as if to say a prayer for the victim’s souls and glared at Kolenka. He shuddered as he approached the coroner again. "Could a man do this?"
"He would have to be awfully strong in opinion." Kolenka’s attorney stood up.
"How precise were the cuts?"
"I don’t understand what you mean." the coroner stated.
"Well were the cuts jagged or smooth?
“They were very smooth.”
“Was anything else damaged or was it a perfect slice?”
“Perfect.” The coroner shot him an inquisitive look.
“What type of knowledge would you have to have to be able to do that?”
“You would have to be skilled in knives and anatomy.”
“Like a doctor?“ (DR. Ozduricke silently chuckled.) He knew know what the attorney was playing at now.
“Yes or a butcher.”
Jury 5, a doctor throws up in the jury box.
"We shall resume proceedings tomorrow at eight o’clock in the morning."
The real murderer was there that day reliving his victim’s pains, his past and in addition to admiring his artwork. They took him back to a happier time when he still was a mortal. He remembers a sweet Romanian girl he took in. She was no bigger than a whisper, cute as a button and eager to help in exchange for food and shelter. Dr. Ozduricke’s mind recreated to the beautiful screams and protest of the small girl as he dragged her to his bed, but the memory took an unpleasant turn. He also remembers Boris coming in. Boris had rushed in with twelve other boys and raced to the young girls rescue. As he jumped on the bed, all the hatred the boy felt was unleashed in one powerful thrust, he plunged a large bowie knife into Dr. Ozduricke’s testacies.
Oh yes, Dr. Ozduricke was sitting in the back row laughing on the inside. Oh how stupid learned men were. To think that they actually believe such a weakling as Kolenka is that he had the strength or the willingness to do this. Alas, yes but not too long ago Ozduricke did not believe in such things. The very thing he himself now was.
The next day the group of murder scene sketches was just as gruesome as the previous ones, only larger. This time seven children murdered, they too destroyed beyond recondition. However, the gory portraits of children with ripped skin and crushed bones. Were nothing compared to the mother’s. You could not even tell that she was a human being but instead a ripped up rag doll. A change was been made, this time women were not allowed into the courtroom. The atmosphere of the courtroom was once again dark and vindictive. The sketches of the carnage shattered the defenses of even the most hardened spectator. It was not the torn flesh or the vile display of human entrails and body parts that shook the courtroom to its core. Nor was it the fearful look upon the mother’s faces, but the lack of blood.
Kolenka’s attorney grilled one of the police officers that was there.
"Was there any blood on my client?" He viciously snapped
"No." the officer said with a heavy sigh
"Were is fingerprints anywhere they shouldn’t have been? Like in the maid‘s room."
"No." The officer realized that the defense was making him sound like a fool.
"Did you look for anyone else’s?"
"OBJECTION! Argumentative." The prosecutor barked.
"Sustained."
"I’ll rephrase. Was there any evidence that someone was there?" He had cornered the officer. With a down trodden sigh the officer admitted defeat.
"Truly, there was no evidence anyone had been there. The fingerprint except those of the family were never found. And no one saw anyone ever come in or come out. Except for the bodies you couldn’t tell anything had happened there."
"So basically the only reason my client is here is because he was found holding his dead wife and son’s body crying. Is that it?" The attorney spoke with an acidic distain in his voice.
“Yes.”
The defense called upon many witnesses that swore they saw his client in the market. Though prosecutor tried to confuse and discredit each and ever witness he failed. With defeat in his eyes, he called for no rebuttals. And both sides rested their cases.
The jury knew that it had to acquit Kolenka or they and their friends, the judge and the prosecutor would be in trouble. But something troubled them, if he was found not guilty it would prove they police screwed up. And at worst a killer was still at-large in their town. They chose their own necks.
NOT GUILTY.
Hmm, learned men weren’t so stupid after all, just petty. Dr. Ozduricke thought as he walked out whistling a happy tune.
Rebuilding?/Despair?
The verdict brought some bitter sweet solace to Kolenka. Sure he was a free man, but free to do what? Go back to his job, sure he loved his job but so what. Go back to an empty home, his wife and son were gone. He had always been able to see the silver lining but even it was dull as pewter. Could he go back to home where this nightmare began? This was Ludmilla’s area, she could always figure out the tough questions.
His attorney had him dropped off at his house and tried to assured him that all would be alright. Kolenka could tell his attorney was not good at it. Even though he reminded him that he was still a young man of only 23 years and still held his position at the cemetery. The detached and pompous attorney made it sound more like a sells pitch then true concern. Though the technique was faulty Kolenka decided that he was right. It would take some time but he would get back into life. If he could just get past the pain.
The first night was hell for Kolenka. Nor did the subsequent days get any easier. But little did he know the reason for his heart ache was near. Dr. Ozduricke watched from outside a side window. In his twisted way he thought since Kolenka had been so gracious in digging his grave and going through a court battle for him. That he would torment him before killing him. He came into his home and mocked and toy with him. First he would walk in the home only to vanish when Kolenka would search the home. Every time Kolenka would close his eye Dr Ozduricke would laugh and whisper cruel suggestion about who was responsible for the death of his wife and son.
"Because of you they died." Dr. Ozduricke whispered
"No!" Kolenka screamed in his head.
"You weren’t there to protect them. You fail." He taunted.
It was true Kolenka was not suppose to go in that day. But decided to go in anyway. Even though Ludmilla asked him not to. The torment went on and on. One day out of desperation Kolenka went to a witch in hopes to resurrect his wife and son.
She told him that under no circumstances could a body be brought back and still be the same. They would be evil... she stopped as she saw the sadness in his eyes and the pain in his heart. She decided to give him an incantation so that he may talk to his wife and son on the otherside with risking his soul. Dr Ozduricke knew just what to do. He would tell the wife’s spirit who he was and why it was Kolenka’s fault.
Around 6:00 pm Kolenka light all the candles and sat down and said the spell.
Baba Yaga
Hear me now.
For I cry.
Mortar, pestle, time to fly.
Lift me up into the sky.
So my hearts pain my finally settle.
Dr Ozduricke watched as the room filled with glowing light. And there the spirit of Ludmilla stood. Kolenka stood frozen in awe. Dr Ozduricke moved in quickly circling Ludmilla’s spirit and telling her what truly happened, in his own modify and twisted way.
"Though you begged him to stay he did not."
"I remember. But he called for a doctor" Her spirit said in defense of her former husband. Her eyes widened "You were my doctor."
"Yes I was but your husband knew who I was, for he dug my grave the year before. HE invited me in and left you and your son."
"No." She wept
To seal the deal Dr. Ozduricke added one cold lie. "He wanted out. That is why he called me. You and your son are here because of Kolenka. Don’t let him fill your mind with lies and false sorrow. Let him know that you know the truth. Your death is on his hands." And with that Dr. Ozduricke left the now angry spirit of Ludmilla.
Kolenka came back to see his wife’s spirit angry. She let him have it. She said exactly what Dr. Ozduricke wanted her to say. "You killed us!"
"What…" A stunned Kolenka spoke
"You brought an Upyr into our home."
“How was I to know?” Was this his wife?
“YOU DUG HIS GRAVE!”
This hit Kolenka like a ton of bricks. The odd feeling once leaving his home. And the photograph of the doctor he had buried the year before. Was the same man. He had killed his wife and son. Tears ran down his face.
“May you rot…” And with that she was gone. Dr. Ozduricke floated back to his grave smiling. Kolenka fell to the floor crying. Dr. Ozduricke got what he wanted, for he want for Kolenka to lose his mind and he did. Though he would not know that it was all a lie, until it was much too late.
A deep depression hit Kolenka. Though in reality he knew that Alexei have given him time off, in respect of his dead wife and son. Plus people die every day and Alexei had to get a part time gravedigger. But in his depressed subconscience, he wondered if Alexei was trying to get rid of him. The dusty home, which stood vacant throughout the six month trial. Only added the his depression and brought him one step closer to suicide.
This is not what Dr. Ozduricke. No he wanted to torture his soul and then kill him. He had to rectify the situation and quickly. Or he was going to lose at his own game. Dr. Ozduricke decided to kill him that afternoon once he woke up. Even though he only had to wait twelve hours, it seemed like forever. No day had ever been this long for Dr. Ozduricke.
No day have ever been so drawn out. Since he was still a his break all he could do was sit. Sit an notice the dust the maid didn't get, nor did Ludmilla complain about. The silence was deafening. No more laughter from Dayna. He would never hear the soft sensual voice of wife Ludmilla. Nor would he hear the kind words from, from... BY THE POWERS ABOVE!( His belief of the Christian God was gone, not that he ever had much faith. The Heathen's Gods only acknowledged his pleads.) Why couldn't her remember the girl's name? Why type of useless imbecile could forget some one's name when they lived with you for over a year. The question of incompetence and self-doubt engulfed his mind and chipped away hid sanity. As the despair grew inside Kolenka the gun in his room grew appeal. It's late,he thought.
BANG!
The scene Alexei walked in on shook him. He had decided that Kolenka needed to get out of the house. Since the old woman he had asked to watch over Kolenka reported that she had not seen him in days. He rushed over to his house. Though suicide was one of his fears, he didn't think Kolenka would do it. For he knew Ludmilla would not want that, he thought Kolenka knew that to. For he did not have any knowledge of the visit from the cruelly tricked spirit of Ludmilla.
There was the body of his friend. A single gun shot to his head, the gun laid at his left foot and a note at his right:
For whom ever finds my body,
May I receive the punishment I deserve. For I am responsible for the death of my loving wife, Ludmilla, my son, Dayna and our maid Karina. For it was me that allowed the Upyr into our home. I stupidly did not recognized him, even though I dug his grave. And because of that I am guilty for their deaths. Since the courts can not give me the firing squad. I shall shoot myself.
As Alexei read the note he was overcame with sorrow. He could not understand how is friend come become so bad and no one noticed. He hears someone calling to him. It was the old lady. He hid the note. Both out of fear, for the police still believed that Kolenka was guilty and out of the memory of his friend. No one needed to know just how bad he had become. Believing a dead man came to his home.
As he walked to meet the old lady to keep her form coming in. The tears flowed down his weathered and tired face. The front of his Kosovorotka was soak by the time he met her at the threshold. Even though the distance from where Kolenka’s body was and her was not far.
"What’s wrong child?" the old woman spoke. In a mothering yet heavily brogue voice.
“K...K...Kolenka is... he shot himself.” Alexei choked. The old lady gasped, she left Alexei at the door and ran to call the police. As he slided down the door jam. Grief, over his friend's death turned to numbness over how and why he died. He wondered how he could not have seen it. But the numbness didn't last. Rage took over quickly once the police got there. It was the same incompetent frauds that had falsely accused Kolenka. And now to add insult to their injustice. They had the gaul to flash cheesy girn Alexei's way.
The second coming of Kolenka
Since Kolenka had commit suicide the church did not want him buried on hollow ground. It didn't matter Alexei was in charge of the cemetery ground and could do as he pleased . And he did. Just as Kolenka would have wanted, Alexei buried him next Ludmilla and their son. It was have past noon when the percussion ended. Kolenka opened his eye-he had heard everything. It took him some time to process what was happening to him. Yeah he was dead, the silk lined coffin and his wedding kostyum-troyka, gave it away. A weird warm-cold sensations came from his chest. As he layed there pain overran his thoughts. He had not left this world for good as he had hoped. But was forced to stay. He was now, what he once thought was just a fairy tale told by parents and priest. He was an Upierczi. Not one to wallow in self-pity too long he realized he did this to himself and had no right to gripe. He tried to remember all that he could about his kind.
He was amazed he could remember his old life as well as he did. Droughts, his kind caused droughts.
Happy Halloween. A volume of Horrible Haunts & Twisted Tales taken from the horror books La Belle Rouge has written every October for a decade and a half. If you have read her works in the horror genre, you know the invitation is for you to enjoy thr
WEIRD RHODY is a short story collection featuring five strange tales all set in Rhode Island and written by five Rhode Island authors. The anthology is a tribute to H.P. Lovecraft, the Ocean State's famed author of pulp horror.
Did you ever wonder what happened after the Archangel Michael through the demons out of heaven? Let one of them guide you through the origin of evil in the world.