Bayou Moon Read online

  “That’s what people come to seek from me, answers to their problems. But the answer you seek is only one that can be obtained by destroying the vampire that bit you; she is the one that put the curse on you. If you kill her then the curse will be lifted.” The old woman told them.

  “Then tell me, tell me how to destroy her. Tell me every way there is to destroy the demon. Tell me old woman, I can’t stay like this. I have already taken one life tonight.”

  She nodded at Kreel and walked over to an old cabinet that held several powders and jars of unrecognizable items. Then taking something from a pouch, she threw it on the ground at her feet. “The bones will tell us what we need to know; the bones, they do not lie. They say you must pierce her in the heart, before the next full moon. But take heed, you must not fail. The vampire, she is tricky and will do her best to trick you. If she succeeds then you will live your life as a vampire, and the curse will remain.”

  “That’s all I have to do is kill her with a stake?” asked Kreel

  The old woman nodded. “Could be it will, could be it won’t. But I don’t think it will be as easy as you think. The vampire, she is strong. Your strength is new, and is no match for her. You must be smarter than her, and see through the lies she will speak.”

  “How are we going to kill her Kreel, I don’t want to stay like this?”

  Kreel rested his head in his hands, he wasn’t sure how to answer the old man, and he only knew he did not want to remain a vampire either. He just didn’t know the answer, not yet. “I don’t know Charlie, but we’ll think of something, don’t worry.”

  Kreel lifted his head from his hands and turned his gaze to the old women. “Will fire also destroy her?”

  “I’ve no doubt that it would. But if you wish to try, it may slow her down long enough to pierce a stake through the demons heart.” said the old woman

  Kreel smiled. “I know where she sleeps.”

  The old woman nodded once again and then laughed. “You see, there is the problem. Although you have not fully turned yet, you both have the nature of the vampire with in you. You both sleep with the sun and rise with the moon. When she awakes, then so do you, when she sleeps, then so shall you.”

  “Then tell me how to find a way old woman, how do I not sleep long enough to burn the witch where she lies?”

  “I may be able to give you something to help in your quest,” said the old woman. “But you would have to get close enough to her in order for it to work.”

  Kreel nodded his head, and then bade the old woman to continue. If she had anything that would help him reverse the curse that had been placed on him from the vampire, then he was prepared to do whatever the old voodoo woman told him.

  “The vampire, she was once mortal too you know. Some of those human traits may still exist in her and be a welcome weakness to defeat her. I have a strong powder that may put her to sleep, but only for a short time.” She searched again through the old cabinet, and removed an old parchment, and in her hand she dropped a small white stone from it. “This is the only one that I have left, but it should be strong enough for what you ask.”

  Both Kreel and Charlie stood and walked over to the old woman to peer down at the stone she held in her hand.

  “Are we going to throw the rock at her?” asked Charlie

  “Yes Charlie, were going to throw the rock at her. No you damn fool, now would you hush up so the old woman can tell us what to do?” Kreel snapped

  The old woman looked up at Charlie and shook her head. “Charlie, you’re not right in the head. I think that demon took more from you than just your blood; I think she took half your brains too. I can’t do much for the brain part, but I think I might be able to help you get that dent out of your head.”

  Chapter Twelve

  The old woman put the rock down and walked back over to the cabinet. She grabbed a vile of liquid and handed it to Charlie. “Now Charlie, I want you to drink this, it won’t taste good, but I think it may help you feel better.”

  Without question or hesitation, he drank the liquid from the vile until it was drained. Charlie made an awful sound and grabbed his head. “I don’t feel so good; my head feels kind of fuzzy.”

  Kreel’s eyes got wide as he watched the dent in Charlie’s head disappear. Then a fit of laughter broke from him as two large ears popped from the sides of Charlie’s head. “Damn Charlie, you look like a disfigured turnip head!”

  The old man grabbed at his head feeling the two large ears, and the pointed bump at the top of his head. “Did it change me? Did it work? Do I look different?”

  Kreel smacked the palm of his hand against his forehead. “Damn Charlie, were you this brainless before half your brains got sucked out? You look worse than you did before, you crazy old fool.”

  The old woman just shook her head. “You can’t fix stupid.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “So all we have to do is grind that little rock down into powder?” asked Charlie

  “No, we also have to find a way to make the vampire breathe it in. that’s what the old voodoo woman told us we had to do. Damn Charlie, weren’t you listening?”

  “Well how are we supposed to do that Kreel? I don’t want to get close enough to her to give that woman a chance to do something else to me.”

  Kreel stopped walking down the dark country road they were now on leading towards the cemetery. “The old woman said that I just have to make the vampire breathe the powder in. maybe if the witch thought I had finally agreed to be with her, then that would allow me to get close enough to make her breathe it in. It’s the only thing I can think of, but it might just work. I don’t see what else we have to lose.”

  “And what if she tries to bite us again?” asked Charlie shakily

  “What makes you think she’s going to bite us again Charlie? Were already vampires, of course I’m still trying to figure out what the hell happened to you.”

  Charlie lifted his head to look over at Kreel. “I can’t help it Kreel, I just don’t feel like myself. I don’t look all that bad anyways, do I?”

  Kreel stopped walking and looked over at Charlie. “Have you seen yourself in a mirror lately? Your head looks like something that rolled off the damn turnip truck.” Kreel shook his head. “Of all the fools I get stuck with, I get stuck with you.”

  Charlie dropped his head and walked down the road behind Kreel slowly.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Maggie clenched her fingers into a fist, allowing the nails to draw blood from the pierced flesh. Her breathing had become erratic, until she felt the madness would devour her thoughts. Looking up into the night sky, her eyes searched the darkness, and knew that the full moon would be upon them soon.

  She had released Kreel only a night ago. She had thought by doing so that he would change his mind and give himself to her freely. But nothing seemed to be going as she had planned. He had angered her, refusing her as his mate. Even after choosing him, he had accused her of being nothing short of a monster.

  Her tongue traced the lips that had held his kiss, even if it had been only for a short moment, and then gone just as quickly. Maggie knew the hunger she had felt between them was real; he had wanted her as much as she desired him. She could still remember the hands that had held her, held her to him. From within her mind she relived those short precious moments as the memories of him coursed through her.

  She had known his every thought, his every desire. She had almost felt him completely give in to her, until he had broken free. She had not bargained on how strong his will would be, and still in the end he had rejected her.

  And all the while, her desire for him only grew.

  “No, my love,” she whispered. “No, you are not free. You are mine. You will soon come to see this. You want me. Here”…her words cut short as she listened to the sound that had distracted her. She knew the voice that now approached. A smile broke across her lips, and then parted as the single word escaped them. “Kreel”

  Sh
e wanted more than anything to run to him, to throw herself into his arms. Impatient now, the desire raging in her, she stepped from the clearing, and stood in front of him in the middle of the road.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Kreel looked up startled.

  “I’m as stunned to see you as you are me Kreel, though perhaps not surprised. I’ve been waiting for you to return to me, I knew it was only a matter of time before you would see that I was right.”

  Kreel felt the cold dread and panic return. He was about to tell her that he had no feelings for her, only that of disgust and hate. But he remembered the stone he held in his hand. “I have come back to you Maggie, but not yet. Can we meet in the cemetery tomorrow night?”

  Maggie frowned and furrowed her brows. “Why do you not come with me tonight Kreel, why wait to begin our lives together my mate?” she looked around him and straight at Charlie who stood quivering where he stood. “Does it have something to do with your friend?” She looked at Charlie closer. “Do I know you?”

  “I can be with you Maggie, I only ask for this one thing, give me this one request Maggie.” Kreel hoped by changing the subject that the vampire would take her attention off of Charlie.

  She turned her sites back to Kreel at the sound of his words. “My love,” Maggie said softly. “You told me that once you thought I was a monster, that my days would be numbered and end by your hand. How do I not know that this is not a trick, a lie?”

  Kreel swallowed. “I do, but I don’t want to leave unfinished business. It’s not much to ask Maggie.”

  As Kreel began to walk towards her, Charlie grabbed his arm to pull him back. “What are you doing? She’s evil Kreel.”

  Kreel pulled out of the old man’s grasp. “Hush Charlie, I know what I’m doing. I don’t have time for your old foolish ways.” Then as he walked over to Maggie, he slipped the stone into his pocket.

  Kreel sighed, pulling her tightly into his arms. “I never wanted to leave you, Maggie. Give me this one night, my love, please?”

  Maggie stared at him for a long moment before she spoke, pondering his words. At last she spoke. “Yes. I will give you the time you ask for; if you promise that you will come to me.”

  “I will,” he whispered, “If you truly love me as much as you say, then you must trust me Maggie.”

  “You have given me back life Kreel. I will wait for you.” Maggie traced her finger along his lips. “Tomorrow night then.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Think about it Charlie, if I would have said no, neither of us would be free tonight. That crazy witch would have flown off the handle faster than one of Jeb Cooper’s hound dogs. By giving us some extra time, we can get that stone ground down into powder.”

  “Is that what you were really doing Kreel? I was afraid you had decided to be like her.”

  Kreel looked up at Charlie from where he was pounding the stone down into powder like the old voodoo woman had told him to prepare. “I don’t want to be a vampire any more than you do you old fool. I just had to make the demon believe that I did.”

  “What if it doesn’t work?” asked Charlie, “Are we going to die?”

  “Yes Charlie, were going to die. Damn Charlie, were already dead. She really did a number on you didn’t she? I think you’re getting more dimwitted by the second you old fool.”

  Charlie put his head down and was silent for a moment. “There’s something I want to tell you Kreel.” Charlie fiddled with a few rocks on the ground before going on. “I don’t have a wife to go home to, my sweet June passed away some years ago.”

  “But you always talked about her when we worked the late shift here at the cemetery. Why didn’t you ever say anything before?” asked Kreel

  “Awe I don’t know, I guess I was just make believing. It made me feel good to believe she would be there at home waiting for me.” Charlie sniffled and wiped his sleeve across his nose. “It’s a hard thing being lonely Kreel; it’s hard not having anyone in the world.”

  Kreel felt bad for the way he had been treating the old man. He knew the old man didn’t deserve being turned into what he had become. “You’re not alone Charlie, you have me.”

  Charlie looked over at Kreel and smiled. “You really mean that, you’re not just fooling?”

  Kreel smiled and threw his arm around the old man’s shoulder. “You bet I do!”

  The sun was now beginning to rise off in the distance, just as the tiredness began to come upon them both. Gathering up the powder, Kreel placed it into a small pouch. “Come on Charlie, let’s find a place to rest safely, we have a big night ahead of us when the moon rises.”

  The two walked off together in the direction of the mausoleum, just as the day began to stir with life.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kreel and Charlie awoke with the new moon, each gasping for the breath to fill their lungs that brought life to both of them once again. By the time the moon was full in the sky above, they were both making their way out of the mausoleum and into the night. They had gathered the powders the old woman told them to prepare, taking them; Kreel put them into his shirt pocket, being careful not to breathe any of the potent powder in. The last thing he wanted was for the plan to backfire on them both.

  “You stay out of the way Charlie, I will handle this. I know you may not mean to, but I don’t want to take any chances of you bumbling things up.”

  “I would feel better staying out of the way anyways Kreel, that woman scares me.”

  An owl screeched in the distance as a slight breeze blew through the trees on the boundary of the graveyard, and Kreel knew the time was near. Somewhere out there in the darkness, Maggie was approaching. Then there was the sound that told him he only had a few short moments, and he turned to Charlie grabbing the old man’s arm and spoke in a hushed but stern tone. “I mean it Charlie, no matter what happens I want you to stay hidden. Even if things start to go bad, don’t try to play some hero. I want you to run, run down to the old woman in the swamps if you have to. Don’t stay around here, do you hear me Charlie? I want you to give me your word that you will do as I say, promise me old man!”

  Charlie hesitated and then nodded his head. “I promise Kreel, I’ll do as you say.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The sounds of the night came alive with the chirps of crickets, and the animals that scurried through the forest of trees. The moon the old woman had warned them of was now upon them. Kreel’s senses became more alive as he became more aware of the sounds around him. What he was becoming would take over entirely if he could not break the curse that had been placed upon both him and Charlie. Kreel staggered in his step for only a moment as the old man came to his mind. He did not dare turn and look in Charlie’s direction as that would only call danger to the old man’s cover. Kreel knew that the old man was safe; he also knew that only he himself would be able to handle the job his steps were now taking him to. Kreel watched the line of trees in front of him knowing that somewhere hidden within them, Maggie was watching. He only hoped that after tonight, the vampire that had placed the curse on him would no longer exist, therefore, never posing a threat to him or anyone else again.

  Holding her balance against a tall willow, Maggie watched from the darkness as Kreel approached. Her lips curved into a smile as she relished the very sight of him. “Had I really thought to doubt my mate, before my eyes he comes to me this very night.”

  Before Kreel reached the very boundaries of the trees, Maggie stepped from the darkness as her lips held a smile that sent an ice cold shiver down Kreel’s spine. As he watched her, Maggie held out her arms, beckoning him to come closer, and he swallowed his fear and moved closer to the demon before him.

  Maggie gazed upon him, the words she spoke soft. “It would seem I have allowed my foolish ways to cause doubts, I was not sure if you would really show. But here you are my love.”

  “I told you I would Maggie, didn’t I?” Kreel’s hand trembled as he fought the urge to grab for the powder;
he knew the time had to be right. He kept the hand by his side as he steadied his breathing and peered into the vampire’s eyes.

  “Come with me Kreel; let us start our new life together with our first hunt as mates.”

  Smiling uneasily, Kreel thought quickly. Grabbing Maggie’s hand, he raised it up to his lips and kissed it softly just as he heard the soft moan escape the vampire’s lips. “Why so much of a rush Maggie? The night is beautiful my love.” Kreel gestured his hand to the cemetery surrounding them. “Can you not hear the sounds of the night? Let’s stay here for a while Maggie, both you and I, together enjoying this.” Kreel only hoped that his words would persuade her.

  Maggie looked at Kreel with a fire that began to return to her eyes. “Why do you find excuses to delay leaving with me Kreel? You claim that you wish to be with me, but you find every excuse not to. I am beginning to think that your words are only lies again.”

  Kreel frowned falsely. “How can you trust me, if you doubt me every minute Maggie? Didn’t I keep my word and come tonight? You disappoint me Maggie, I thought you trusted me.” Kreel turned away from her hoping that his words would work on the vampire and buy him the time he needed. He hoped.

  Chapter Nineteen

  She gazed up at him, the fire retreating from her eyes. “I don’t doubt you my love, I’m sorry,” she whispered. “We can stay here for a while longer if that is what you would like.”

  Kreel’s plan was working; he turned back to her, grabbing her hand, he kissed it as he led the vampire to a stone bench in the middle of the cemetery. He urged her to sit as he readied himself to stand in front of her and release the powder in his shirt pocket onto her senses. Kreel gathered every bit of strength that he had knowing this would be his only chance. Just as Maggie sat down, Kreel gathered the powder into his hand and stepped in front of the vampire where he was looking down upon her.