Tales from the 13th: The Case of David Van Holden (A Shadow Dancer's Tale)

                                                          

Val, the Vampire King of Compassion, was out on the hunt. He was looking for something to snack on as it had been days since he’d fed. As he shadowdanced across town, he finally stumbled across what he was looking for. Although it went against his new rules, he found himself, David Van Holden. He was busy striking his girlfriend for the umpteenth time. He made his way over to the abuser, and he shoved him to the side, scared the living hell out of Jillian Wayans, causing her to run off. Furious, the so-called man stood up and got right in the face of the interrupter. Screaming at the blond-haired rescuer, he shoved him to the ground. Laughing at the so-called man trying to be a “tough guy,” the monarch jumped and slammed the weakling against the wall.

            Jerking David’s neck to the side, the human couldn’t break the iron grip. Arching his head back, plunged his teeth into the neck and withdrew them so the venom wouldn’t knock him out. He wanted this man to feel every terrifying moment of his death. Draining the food source, Val brought him to the brink of passing away, and opened the vein in his wrist, giving him some of his blood in return. Once Van Holden passed out, the vampire king shadowdanced them back to the ranch. While digging the shallow grave, his human protector, Mick, came over. He voiced his displeasure about killing a human to vampire birth them. The monarch explained to him why he did it and the abusive nature of the man. Not understanding the why, he would convert a woman tormentor, but the king just told him to wait.

            After three days, David woke up, the dirt irritating his eyes. Knowing this must have been a mistake, he clawed out of the grave. Once exposed to the cool night air, he gasped, taking in as much of it as possible. He nearly jumped out of the grave when he saw Val crouched over him, and Mick standing behind. Telling him to get up, the vampire king led him to their training area. He told him he would teach him how to be a vampire and what not to do. Naturally, the man had a million and one questions. However, he was told to shut his mouth and listen. This was a one-time deal, and he was responsible for himself thereafter. When he went to speak out against the vampire king, he was struck across the mouth. Mick was friendly enough to tell him that he was the king and that he should obey him.

            David did not like being mishandled the way he was. He wasn’t somebody's lackey. He was his own man, and having a guy like Val strike him, who looked like a woman more than anything, was intolerable. That was something that Van Holden wasn’t about to allow. He looked down upon women as, to him, they were the weaker sex. Again, he opened his mouth, out of line, and was smacked so hard he fell to the ground. Getting to his feet, he went to strike the vampire king, but he moved so fast that he was behind him, smacking the back of the newborn's head. Mick snickered, which drew the ire of the insulted man. David went to get in the Marine’s face and was told bluntly that he’d have to “knock his ass out!” The look in the human’s eyes told him to back down.

            Val went to tell him that sunlight would kill him, along with anything pure silver. He continued saying that wood would not kill him, and only fig wood was deadly if he were staked. The vampire could tell that his new pupil wasn’t listening, so he gave Mick the oak stake he was carrying. He knew that the man would need a full demonstration. Ordering the Marine back, he told him he would train both of them. The human was informed to throw the stake, like a knife, and David was to stand there. Van Holden asked if the king was insane, and Val told him that if he moved, he’d kill him himself. The Staff Sergeant readied himself, but the newborn moved. The elder vampire held him there with an iron grip because he needed the proper motivation. Giving the signal, the stake flew and went into the man, striking his heart.

            Nothing happened. Surprisingly, it tickled. Laughing, he pulled out the stake and returned it to the vampire king. The wound healed instantly once the weapon was removed. David liked this. He felt powerful. This was something right up his alley. Val asked him if he wanted to do it again, and he eagerly agreed. Something about receiving a death blow but without dying intrigued him. Since the one stake was bloody, the monarch tossed the other to Mick. Reassuring his new master that he didn’t need to be held, he extended his arms to the side and waited. The Marine stood there, waiting for his boss to give the signal. When it was shown, he threw it, striking the target once again.

            This time, it was different. There was an excruciating pain as he collapsed. Val stood over him and explained how this resulted from fig wood. Their kind becomes paralyzed by it. Mick ran over to them. He knew that the wood felt different. The vampire king crouched down and told the newborn that he had only changed him for this purpose alone. That he didn’t want just to kill him the one time. That his type sickened him, and that he wouldn’t tolerate it any longer. The Marine, although shocked, was proud that the vampire was finally standing up against abusers. The boss asked his Staff Sergeant for the machete he carried. Without hesitation, he handed it over, and the vampire claimed the head of Van Holden. Picking up the severed head, Val walked over to one of the fire bowls and tossed it in.

            “I utterly despise bastards like that!” Val said, as they waited for the body to burst into ash.