As Far As You Know

Teasers

For Whom the Belle Tolls

"Yes, I saw you left messages. I didn't answer them. What? Oh...I'm just sitting here, looking at my dead hands. They're elongated and the skin has torn apart, and my fingers are now these sharp, hard claws. Really? Well, I guess they're weapons forged of my own hate and malice then. And I can feel the...animal...gaining ground inside of me now. I guess it was always there, but now it has more of a voice.

"I don't know what really made me do it. Maybe it was all the years of ridicule in my life. Maybe it was you, how you captured me, sucked my life out and locked me in that box for the first nights. It could be that something has gotten into my head.

"Oh yeah, well maybe I would feel better if I couldn't still remember how my body felt, before all the hatred, and all the hunger.

"No, I'm not old yet like you. I can still remember the warmth and the colors of life. Truly the only times I feel happy now is sitting in front of my laptop. The world doesn't matter when I'm sitting here. The bloodsuckers, my "teammates," the dark anger growing in my soul, and the knowledge that my family thinks I'm dead...and they're right...it all goes away.

"No, I remember everything you told me. You said that if your old enemies ever found you, I would get a phone call one night telling me never to come see you again, because they would find me too.

"Do you want me to say I'm sorry? I am. But like the man said in your favorite movie, they gave an offer I couldn't refuse.

"Well, let's just say that I serve a higher power now. No, not Godkin.

"Look, it was either that or they would have taken both of us out. And I know you wouldn't have wanted your childe to have gone to waste.

"Well you can stop patronizing me, because I have surpassed you now. If it makes you feel any better, as I think about it, I should have run - then at least you would still be Primogen, and I wouldn't have to deal with all this crap. But now I'm sitting here, looking at these claws of mine, the claws you gave me.

"Look, I have no more use for you, ok? I'm at a point now, with my hatred and darkness gaining control, that I can still remember when they weren't there. I need the Archons to keep me focused. I can hear them listening in my head, while they creep up getting to strike. What? Well, never say I didn't give you a fair warning."

<sounds of a door splintering and a brief, violent struggle>

"Yes, Archon. I assume you got him?

"Thank you sir. It was the least I could do. I'll let you finish up there. See you later."

Justin Le Bear closed his cell phone, stood and straightened his tie. It was time for Detroit's next Primogen to join his fellow elite.