"Bren, Bren...." a females voice echoes in the night..
Bren's eyes open on command. He thinks he's dreaming, as he was all the other times.
He turns to check his wife who slumbers peacefully by his side.
"Bren" the voice calls again.
He sits up in bed and shifts his eyes in the direction of the open glass double doors leading to the outside balcony of his bedroom.
Bren remembers who that sweet voice belongs to.
His lost love that met her early demise on a cool breezy night such as this one.
"Bren" she calls to him again.
"Vivienne? Is that you" he whispers.
"Bren" the voice calls out to him once more.
He follows the voice as it leads him away from the safe confines of his home, to the edge of town just beyond the old churchyard.
Under the old sycamore tree, he examines the bark to see the carvings he made when they were young to love. Vivienne and Bren 4 ever
He runs his fingers gently across the carvings.
With slow sure steps, he finds his way to her grave and kneels down.
He begins to silently weep for his lost love.
How long ago has it been? Months? Years?
Bren recalls her 1st night in the ground. He slept atop the mound to keep her warm and keep her company, lest she awaken and find herself lonely.
Unable to accept the truth or to let go, it took his childhood friend Marie to lead him back home after the 5th night.
"Vivi is resting now, she is in a better place, Bren. Let her go or her spirit will not rest".
But that was not true, it was all a lie and as she watched them from afar, Vivienne swore to Hell she would make them all pay, starting with Bren.
Now, he sat in the dark alone, whispers all around him. The spirits of the dead have returned.
Then silence.
He wakes from his slumber "Where am I?" he wonders. he stands, turns to leave and there she stands. The same as he last saw her many years ago.
"Vivienne?" he asks in shock.
She smiles, exposing her fangs and closes in on his neck.
"Aaaaahhhhh!!!'
Bren-
Marie went into town, frantic to find her husband, Bren. He had disappeared in the night and had not returned. As she made haste running thru town, she ran into the Reverend Beatty just as she crossed the street to the church.
"Oh my lady, I'm so glad I've found you. There's a matter with Bren you need to be made aware of my dear" ,he told her resting both his hands on her shoulders.
"Reverend Beatty !! Thank God, what is it? My husband isn't dead? Please tell me the truth" she exclaimed already becoming faint of heart, as she tugged on the Reverends shirt tail.
"No, no my dear. Bren is very much alive, but he is in the hospital now. Come, I shall take you to him right away", he consoled her as he tugged her along in the opposite direction.
He led her to Bren's bedside where she rushed to him to ply his face with kisses. Bren accepted her affections, but for some reason was now repelled by her scent. He felt his eyes start to burn from the overpowering stench.
Reverend Beatty studied Bren's reaction to his wife's coddling. His eyes had turned blood red, as the little veins beneath the surface of his skin hardened and pulsated then return to normal.
"Bren, what happened to you, son? Do you recall anything?" Beatty asked him.
Bren shook his head no in confusion, but Beatty saw the lie. Marie caressed the face of her husband" My love are you well?" she asked while holding his hand fast in hers.
"I remember nothing. Why am I here?" he asked panicked now.
"I found you early this morning, laying over the grave of Vivienne Sutton", Beatty cleared his throat and informed Bren. Marie gave a startled and pained glance at her husband that stretched to the Reverend.
"Bren? Were you dreaming of Vivi again?" she asked near tears. He picked up the edge of his blanket and dabbed his wife's eyes dry.
"No my love, of course not. Do not worry yourself so" he crooned trying to appease her. "I do not recall anything, I said".
The doctor walked in "Well Bren, you seem to be fine, no reason to keep you here. You're free to go" he smiled and bid the threesome goodbye. Marie jumped from her seat and followed the doctor out into the hallway a few feet away from Bren's room. She tugged on his sleeve.
"Oh doctor, I beg your attention a moment please", she begged. he stopped and turned to face her.
"What is it that concerns you further, my dear?" he asked politely.
"What of the bandage on my husband's neck? What happened to him there?" The doctor patted her hand and smiled.
"No worries there, my dear. Just what appears to be an animal bite. Do not concern yourself further. I gave him a shot in case of rabies and prescribed for him a few herbal remedies for infection, just in case. But he should be fine and make a full recovery". With that he excused himself and continued making his morning rounds with his patients.
As the days passed, Bren appeared quite the opposite and took to behaving strangely. It was beginning to terrify Marie the changes she saw taking place within her husband. No matter how attentive she was to his well being, she worried more for him for he could not shake the pallid color that became apart of him now.
Marie requested an appearance by the Reverend about 2 weeks following Bren's mysterious disappearance. She had left him sleeping soundly upstairs in the room they shared, as she prepared coffee and hot cakes for the Reverend and herself. They spoke in hushed tones so as not to wake Bren.
But no matter the distance, or how silent they chose to be, Bren heard every word they spoke with remarkable clarity.
It pained him to hear his wife's heartbroken murmurings as she cried on the shoulder of the Reverend, for a husband she now learned, had never truly recovered from the death of his one true love but had managed to suppress his own suffering to appease her. He could not help himself, and it even made his guilt heavier on his chest for lying to his wife about Vivienne. For he was not dreaming about Vivienne, but was seeing her quite frequently now.
Revenge-
Bren no longer made it a secret that he was seeing Vivienne. Or that he would leave at night to handle some business for her. He knew he was breaking his wife's heart but he couldn't help himself, he needed to do this. Bren would kiss her cheek while holding his breath, fighting down the urge to bite down on Marie's sweet neck. Lately it had become more than he could tolerate, and so he would bid her goodnight from afar.
All thru the small village, terror ran amuck with countless victims turning up everywhere drained of all their blood. The council was beside themselves trying to come up with a plan to rid the town once again of vampires, as it had 10 years ago.
All the while trying to keep the scared people of the town calm, they fed them with the story that the nightly attacks, were the result of a rabid wild dog pack that had somehow made a home in the nearby forest. The council set up a town curfew that no one could be out past sundown until the problem was eradicated completely.
Marie continued having talks with Reverend Beatty who urged her to speak to the council. She pled her case to them, so they advised her they would investigate her claims and come to a course of action. They also told her it would be in her best interest if she pulled away from Bren, in the event they found him guilty of their suspicions, they would have him put to death immediately. She gasped in horror as she covered her cries with a lace handkerchief.
The Reverend went to be by her side and wrapped protective arms around her, assuring her it would not come to that, just to hold fast to her faith. While escorting her out of the office, and old friend of her family, Ben Chivers confronted her.
"I'm sorry Marie, but there is no other solution. If he is what you suspect, he is an abomination and must be destroyed" he said taking her hands in his. Reverend Beatty shouted at Ben and reprimanded him.
"Can you not see this young woman is under enough stress without you adding to her anxiety. You speak harshly on a matter you know nothing about. That is her husband we are speaking of, do try to show more compassion for her and apologize". Reddened from embarrassment, Ben apologized quickly and excused himself.
"Get home, my dear" the Reverend urged Marie "night is approaching quickly. Mind the curfew sweet dear, I wouldn't want any harm to come upon you". She nodded her head and obeyed.
*************
That night at dinner, she sat at the other end of their dining table on Bren's orders. The farther away he kept her the less likely he would wish to feed upon her. She watched him sadly as she sipped her wine. His thoughts had propelled him far away from where he was at that moment.
He suddenly pushed his chair back and stood calling her to attention.
"I am going to retire for the evening, Marie. If I see fit a reason to step out, do not concern yourself", he walked to the open archway of their dining room then turned and said to her " and sweetheart, don't wait up".
Marie watched him ascend the spiral staircase that took them to their rooms. She debated with herself whether she should sleep in the guests quarters or sleep next to him. She feared it may be her last night with him if he chose to step out. So she chose to curl up next to him despite his body temperature being ice cold, she would find a way to warm him up, if it was the last thing she could do for him.
It didn't help matters, he was insistent on keeping the patio/ balcony doors wide open on such a frigid evening. She trembled from the cold in her sleep. Bren looking upon his wife, gathered the blankets around her and laid back down next to her.
Soon after, a fog rolled into their room and Marie felt movement on her bed. She feared to look and see, but she couldn't help it for Bren was moaning in his sleep. She feared he was having another fright till she sat up and turned to see Vivienne straddled atop her husband in a sexual manner and was riding him. His eyes were closed as his head lolled from side to side.
Marie shrieked in horror as Vivienne turned quickly to her and smiled wickedly. Marie felt a force shove her back down on the bed restraining her from further movement.
Vivienne slit Bren's wrist wide open, she willed Marie to sit up as Bren was forced to make his wife feed of his vein. Bren protested in agony, as he watched his wife choke and splurt up blood, until she ultimately swallowed. Releasing her power hold on Marie, Vivienne twisted Marie's neck with a force so strong, breaking her neck and allowed her now lifeless body to fall back upon the bed.
Bren sat up and yelled "Nooooo!!". He turned to examine his wife's body laying next to him with her head dangling off the edge of the bed. The fog retracted out of the room, slamming the patio doors closed in its wake.
Holding Marie in his arms, her scent no longer tempted him, he cried as he rocked her and cradled her closer to him. Tears rolled down his face as he cried "Marie, please wake up my love. I'm so sorry, I did not wish this fate upon you. Please wake up my love".
Bren belted out a mournful anguished howl of regret. In the darkest parts of the night, a diabolical snicker could be heard mocking this man for his wife.
Betrayal-
The council was having a late night meeting at the town hall. They were discussing the town massacre of 10 years ago.....
Hestor Niemi had rode into town on his one horse drawn carriage, in the middle of the night. Hestor set up an appointment to meet with council in regards to seek permission to opening his medical practice and apothecary. He showed them all of his credentials, so finding no reason at the time to deny him his request, they allowed him to set up shop on the outskirts of the village.
Everything was going fine for Hestor, until one night he had a man approach him just as he was closing up his practice for the night. The man complained of a serious stomach pain and begged for help. Hestor allowed the man to follow him into his office so he could check the man. Oddly the man had an ashen complexion to him, and when he asked the man to open his mouth so he could check the back of his throat, the man bared his teeth at Hestor revealing to him a sharp pair of fangs, attacking Hestor.
The man mutilated Hestor's body beyond recognition and when someone from the council found Hestor's body and reported it, everyone was devastated and afraid. Soon after, a similar string of grisly murders began to occur. The council were beside themselves with a solution to this problem. They did not know if it were a pack of wild dogs, or a lone bear. But upon further and closer investigation they realized the murders were occurring at the hands of a madman.
Unfortunately, it wasn't just at the hands of one they soon learned but quite a few, so when the hunters rallied up all five of the ones they deemed responsible, they held them all in one cell together at their jailhouse. Reverend Beatty noticed a few traits these killers had in common. He did his research and then came before council and reported his findings. Vampires. Without so much as a trial given, they were all sentenced to death by hanging. Everyone in the village came to witness justice being carried out.
As the platform was released from beneath their feet, they struggled and strangled themselves till their last fight was done. One by one, another councilman took it upon himself to pull out his sword and swung it against each of their necks as he walked by, decapitating them all,
*********
On a spring evening when matters in the village had began to calm, and Vivienne Sutton was walking home from Bren's family home to her own. She met a man during her walk who was every bit handsome and charming asked for a moment of her time. He told her he was new in town and had gotten lost while out on a stroll. He asked for directions back to the Inn where he was residing for a weeks time.
So she threaded her arm thru his and happily escorted him back to the Inn. The man kept up a lengthy light hearted conversation with her all the while. He talked her into coming up to his room and it was there that he seduced her, assaulted her, then drained her of her life source. Her family had reported her missing a few days and when they finally found her wandering the streets alone she was taken into a makeshift infirmary where a doctor from a neighboring town came to treat her. He let her go stating she just needed rest and needed fluids being that she was quite dehydrated. He soon returned back to his own town, disregarding the bite on her neck and how deep the puncture marks were.
Now Bren's father was part of the council during that time, and had happen to come across Vivienne in her sickly state. Thinking nothing of it at first, he began to see changes in her and brought his concerns to his son.
"Keep an eye on her son, she still does not look well, and when I asked to escort her back to the doctor she outright refused", he told his son.
Bren had been hearing stories among the gossip mongers of the village that Vivienne had not been faithful to him with the stranger who had left town suddenly. He feared she may be with child if the rumors were true and maybe she was too frightened or embarrassed to seek help on her own.
Talking to his longtime childhood friend, Marie Scott about this, she refused to believe every rumor that came up, for Marie loved her friend and always watched out for his well being. She believed Vivienne was a good person and would never hurt the man she was soon to be betrothed to.
Until it was no longer deniable the true state of Vivienne's health, Bren consulted his father over his findings concerning Vivienne. The council picked her up and put her in jail. They finally had their last vampire. The council arranged for another public execution by hanging. They brought her out in chains to the platform kicking, screaming and cursing everyone. She had to be dragged the rest of the way. Wrapping a noose around her neck, they made sure the strangulation would be effective.
"Any last words, what say you?" Bren's father asked . He was conducting the execution. She refused to speak for a moment. She believed the councils efforts to destroy her would prove useless and vowed to return.
" I have no regrets except that I will not marry my Bren" she announced, then turned a pleading eye to him who stood in the crowd, with Marie close by his side, hand around his arm with tears streaming down her cheeks. Vivienne became jealous and angry but hid it so she may have her last words begging for her life thru Bren. He could not handle her desperate cries and moans for her life, and turned his head away.
Infuriated now, she cursed Bren. "Hear this Bren, I will come back for you. I will make you remember this night and I will come back for you!! LOOK AT ME !!'' she demanded. In that moment, the platform underneath her collapsed beneath and at the pull of a rope, it caused Vivienne to struggle while being choked until the fight was gone from her body and it dangled limply from the rope.
Bren's father pulled out the same sword from before and strode over to her lifeless body intending to behead her as he had the others. Bren could no longer stay silent and moved quickly thru the crowd to confront his father and beg for mercy upon Vivienne.
"Please father, allow me to bury her properly", he cried by his fathers side.
"Son, you don't know what you're asking, she's an abomination and cannot be buried in hallowed ground. Also, she just threatened you my boy, please let me do my job. Let me put an end to all this".
"Please father, I beg of you please, don't do this", he'd interrupted his father. Seeing the pain in his son's eyes, he turned and ordered for Vivienne's body to be released to Bren for an immediate burial. He told his son, she would have to be buried away from the village, perhaps in the woods. Bren did as his father instructed and stayed overnight in the woods by her burial plot.
Two weeks later some fishermen were hiking thru the woods headed for a stream to fish from. It was there they found the decapitated head and no body of Bren's father.
It drove him to the brink of insanity to lose his family and his girl so close together. Marie took it upon herself to see him thru his grief and rehabilitation.
2 years later Bren and Marie were married.
The End Of It All- Back to Present.
Bren couldn't let go of his wife's body long enough for the maids of the house to prepare her for burial. She was laid upon a bed in the guests quarters until it was time for her funeral. Bren sat by her bed everyday and held her hand. He couldn't believe that this lovely young woman had been married to him.
This was the same girl, who went fowl hunting with his father and himself when they were kids. The same girl he used to climb trees with and set bear traps for the imaginary beasts that chased them thru the woods, the very same girl that taught him to fish when work stole his father's attention away, and the one he made mud pies with and cut up with in Sunday school class where they'd get caught and harshly reprimanded or all together just thrown out.
He fell into a desperate state and no longer cared that the villagers blamed him for the death of such a lovely girl. Maybe not directly, for they had no real proof, but because of what he was rumored to be now, made all the difference.
He was determined now to find Vivienne and destroy her. He realized what a mistake he'd made letting his grief decide for him what he wanted, over what was best. Now he had no one, and he would not let Vivienne win at this sick game she insisted on playing and using him as a patsy.
As he walked thru town, the people steered clear of him, frightened he would feast on them for their blood. He walked all the way past the old Niemi building on the outskirts of town and headed along the path that led him straight into the woods. He didn't have to walk for too long when he came across Vivienne sitting upon a rock by a small pond.
She sensed his presence behind her and warned him " Come any closer and I will mount your head upon that stake you dare threaten me with, you filthy traitor".
Stepping out from behind a tree, he held the wooden stake he'd fashioned from a thick fallen tree branch he'd picked up along the way. No point in keeping it hidden now when he held it firmly in his grasp, ready for his moment.
Reading his mind, she stood up and rushed to his side disarming him and throwing his weapon into a nearby bush. Pushing him up against a tree she rubbed her body against his as she began to kiss his neck contemplating biting him again. He couldn't push her away and was being restrained by her supernatural force. Bren hadn't realized he possessed the same power as Vivienne, he just hadn't tapped into it, and she sure as hell wasn't going to tell him. She rather enjoyed the fact she could keep him under her control.
"I'm a lot stronger than you Bren, don't fight me darling. This could be fun for us, re-acquainting ourselves with one another in the wild, no one would notice. Even if they did, so what? What a show they'd get right before I rip their heads clean off" she crooned in his ear while nibbling upon it and chuckled.
"You didn't have to kill my Marie, she never caused you harm. She defended you against the gossip of the villagers".
She shook her head slowly as she denied this truth " Ssshhh now, yes I did Bren. I had to kill her cause she was in my way. She kept you from me. Why did you marry that little old church mouse, anyway? I told you I would come back for you, my love. Couldn't you have just waited for me? Was your grief too overwhelming for you that you had to rush to be in her arms?" she asked mocking his internal feelings.
"You threatened to kill me Vivienne!!" he blasted back at her. She laughed and shook her head wagging her finger at him "Oh no... no, no, no my darling Bren. Have I killed you yet?".
"You have!!" he fired back "you made me into a monster like you. You destroyed the one person that mattered most to me. And somehow I will destroy you too" he spat trying not to show fear. Swiping up the wooden stake, she ran it through his stomach, coming out of his back and mounted into the tree, keeping him stuck in place.
"Don't go anywhere Bren, I have to take care of some unwanted company", she told him as she slid her tongue along his lips and bit down. He winced in pain as blood began to dribble from his lip.
There had been five huntsman who had stumbled upon the scene and were watching in fright how she'd pinned Bren to the tree. Now she was coming for them. Two of the men ran, which she gave chase to.
The other two ran to Bren as they worked hard to release him from the tree. The last one stood in his hiding place and fired shot after shot at her, emptying his cache of bullets into her to no avail.
She disposed of the men whom she'd bashed in the head of one and ripped the neck off the other, she soon went charging after the gunslinger. Realizing he was no match for her, he dropped his weapon and ran. She giggled and caught up to him and ripped his head away form his body tossing the remains into the bushes opposite each other.
Vivienne then turned her sights on the two that had been helping to free Bren. They managed to pull out the stake just in time, as he shoved them to the ground and rushed to her, sticking her with the stake in her heart.
She screamed and hissed struggling to get free as Bren wrestled her to the ground, falling backwards holding her arms and legs out in an x fashion. He ordered the men to remove her head. One did so with a fell swoop of an axe, he kept handy on the strap of his belt.
Bren tossed her body to the side of him and laid quite exhausted breathing heavily. As her head rolled the other way, the eyes and mouth closing.
"Go now, you haven't much time before her body reattaches itself. Go gather as much firewood as you can and set the body ablaze" he commanded. The 2 men rushed to do as they were told. Her eyes reopened and stared hard at Bren. He reached for her head and tossed it into the flames, as one long squeal came from the fire and faded away.
The men looked on in shock. They could not believe what their eyes had just paid witness to. Bren managed to sit up against a tree, one leg bent up at the knee the other laid out straight before him.
"It's time now for you to do the same to me" he said looking up at them. They refused but he would not hear of their reasoning.
"You must do what is right, then go before the councilmen and tell them what has been done. Let your women know after today, all will be safe".
Sadly they did as were told and tossed his remains also into the fire. The men stayed till the fire died and paid their respects to Bren, then headed back into the village that evening to inform the council of what had transpired earlier in the woods.
**************
Laying peacefully upon her bed, Marie's eyes snapped open.
"Bren?"
