Chapter 3: Predator

1) The sun shines on a bright clear day. My pack shifts nervously in the underbrush. First they look up at the sun and then at me and let out a collective whine. I smile a moment from deep within the shadows and then shush them with a soft growl. I motion and they all scatter into the woods as my latest prey draws near. It is time for me to make a slave of my first human.

2) My smallest and least fearsome dog moves into view as a young lady jogs along the trail. As she gets close he let's out a pitiful whine and begins hobbling around. She slows, then stops and bends down to inspect the poor canine. That is when I strike! A burst of speed and I move across the path, grabbing her and pulling her into a deeply-shadowed cave. But not before the full sunlight washes over for just a moment

3) I let out a fierce growl from the pain and almost lose control as I bury my fangs into her tender neck. I taste the salty sweat on her skin as it mixes with the sweet metallic tang of her blood. Soon, I feel her going weak and her mind begins to open up to me. She is mine! She stares at me in wonder and calls me "master". How Cute! I lick my lips and watch her jog unsteadily away. She will be back.

4) Night is upon me once again and my hunt continues. As I stalk through the trees, I hear the faint cry of a woman. Intrigued, I move toward the sound until I come across a very familiar scene: a man with a knife in the process of robbing a hapless victim. It always amazes me that people will walk alone through a park at night, unaware of the predators that surround them.

5) The man is sloppy but I can see that he is enjoying himself, relishing the fear he causes in the woman. A flash of the blade and I can smell the sweet scent of her blood in the air. I move forward, my hunger driving me on. The man looks up as I emerge from the shadows. "What's this? Do we have a hero?" he barks with a sneer on his face. My only answer is a gravelly chuckle as I move closer.

6) I can hear their heartbeats racing in fear or excitement and the rushing of the blood in their veins calls to me. The man's demeanor suddenly turns hostile and he lunges for me. A scream cuts through the night as I catch his knife arm and with a pull and a twist, his bones shatter under my terrible grip. His eyes cloud over with fear now and I tear into his throat with my fangs. There is only one predator allowed to stalk these woods.

7) The woman screams and gets to her feet. She lurches off into the darkness, clutching her wounded arm. Her assailant's limp body drops to the ground and before she can fully break into a run, I am upon her. I cannot let anything go to waste.

Chapter 2: The Hunt

1) I sit and listen to the sounds of the night. It came as quite a shock when I realized that had no need to draw breath. That my heart no longer beat in my chest. And yet, my sense are all magnified. Then I am struck by a Hunger. A force unlike anything that I have experienced. My whole bod throbs with the urge to FEED. So begins my first hunt.

2) I can smell its damp unkempt fur, hear its racing heart as it moves closer. A feral dog moves through the trees, thinking to make me its prey. I almost laugh but still my amusement as it comes closer. It lunges forward, but I explode into motion, tackling the creature and pinning it to the ground. I bury my teeth, no my fangs, into its throat and drink until the beast is still.

3) Slaves... They are such a delight. I quickly realized that draining every animal completely was not a good idea. I found that, once I fed on them, they were more... Agreeable to my commands. Soon I had a pair of Mongrel dogs following me and watching over me as I rested and hid from the hateful sun. Now, it is time to find a more powerful ally and protector.

4) A lone wolf prowls through the trees, lean and hungry. I watch with a smile as it catches the scent of a fresh kill. One of my dogs whimpers slightly and I silence it with a gesture. the mongrel slinks back into the shadows with its companion, a large shepherd mix. They both wait and watch as I move closer to the wolf.

5) I make sure to keep upwind of the creature as it sniffs at the deer carcass, a previous victim of mine from only hours ago. Just it settles in to eat, I burst from my hiding place and cross the distance in the span of one of the beast's heartbeat. It snarls and thrashes, teeth flashing, but my claws sink into its flanks and grip tightly. I lean over and plunge my fangs into its throat and feed.

6) As the wolf's life fades, I can feel its will crumbling beneath mine. Before it becomes too weak, I release it. The young male sits up and wobbles on its haunches. I motion my other canine companions forward and watch with a smile as they begin to feed. This was a good night.

Chapter 1: The Awakening

1) I awake in the frigid night air, the darkness glaring in my eyes, the silence thundering in my ears. Everything feels different, strange and new. I lie there, my face pressed against cool earth and grass. The last thing I remember is... Him!

2) I can smell him. I know he is near, watching me. "What did you do to me?" I growl as I rise to my feet. I look down at my blood-stained shirt and finger the four holes. "I saved you, brought you back." I gaze into the shadows to locate the source of that voice. Then he continues in a maddeningly peaceful tone, "don't worry, the man that shot you has been... dealt with."

3) I let out a low growl and launch myself into the shrubs where the voice is coming from. My fingers curl into rigid claws. I hear him sigh and then he just seems to melt into the shadows. "I'll let you adjust to your new situation. We'll see each other again soon. Just make sure you're under cover by dawn." And then, with a rush of air, he's gone.

4) I can still feel his presence in my mind... Rendel is his name. The Fool! The man that shot me was a police officer. This "Rendel" has no idea what he has unleashed upon the world. But someday, he will find out.

Welcome to the Beginning!

Hello all!

Rendel here. And if you're reading this you have probably been following the story of Kholtosh on Vampires Live, an iphone/itouch game from the company storm8. If you haven't... Welcome!!

I will be posting all the entries from Khol's story here for you to read in their original order and how they appeared in the game. (In a much easier format to read). My plan is to keep fleshing out the stories and offering up some more "enhanced content" as time goes by so keep checking back. I'm seriously hoping to get the story published someday. All chapters will continue to be posted in game first.

For everyone that has joined my Clan, thank you for your support and encouragement. I couldn't do it without you! You're the Best!

Enjoy the story.

Descent Into Darkness: the Story of Kholtosh

~R

All Content is copyright@2009 Jim Grace