Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Wait a minute. Hold on. Are you telling me this was your mission?” I point to myself. “You are supposed to be the Darkness and rule the world?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“And instead of being… oh, I dunno, a fucking man about it, you turned me into the Darkness so you could… what? Escape?”
“That brain of yours always did catch on eventually.”
“I cannot fucking believe you. Ya know what? I actually can. This is such a Paul the Vampire thing to do, I don’t even know what to say about it. You sacrificed me to save yourself.”
“In my defense, I have an appointment with my Maker. I have questions, OK? And that fucker’s gonna answer them. Otherwise, I’d stay and we could rule together. You and I would be in love, and Syrsee would feed us, and it would be like… the best time ever. But I need my answers, Ryet. Because I didn’t sign up for this any more than you did.”
“You used me. Just when I was starting to like you.”
“I did leave you a gift though.”
I scoff. “What gift?”
“Syrsee, of course.” He smiles. And, as always, I am enamored by his beauty. “I made her for you so you could be with the one you really love.”
“That’s not even true. You literally just said you made her so I would live and take your place as the harbinger of evil.”
“It’s the same thing. She’s the Whore of Babylon so the two of you can be immortal together. It’s practically fate. And don’t worry too much about the whole Antichrist thing, it’s just a title, Ryet. You two kids will make it work, I’m sure of it.”
I’m slack-jawed as I run all those words through my head over and over again. Finally, I say, “I’m actually the Antichrist? You turned me into the Antichrist so you can have a Q&A with God?”
Paul grins here, like he couldn’t be happier about how this turned out. “The good news is, you can make it yours. Rule any way you want. Of course, the prophecy is now in motion, there’s the nasty Tribulations and all that other shit, and you lose in the end. Don’t forget that part. But you’re resourceful. It’s gonna be amazing. And the even better news is, it ends. It’s only seven years. We’ll see each other again. Probably. My chances of getting past those pearly gates are slim to none, but if I do get in, Ryet, I will most definitely put in a good word for you.”
Then he leans into my space and for a moment, I think he’s gonna kiss me or something. But he doesn’t. He hands off the monster baby. I take it out of instinct, but I’m instantly sorry. “What the hell am I supposed to do with this thing?”
Paul stands up and adjusts his wolf-pelt coat. “Syrsee has worked it out. See her for details.”
And then… he just… fades away.
He doesn’t even wave.
EPILOGUE – ECHO
My eyes are not even open yet when I hear them fighting. But instead of cringing and putting the pillow over my head, I smile.
It’s like… music, this fight.
It’s birdsong.
It’s a church choir on Sunday mornings.
It’s beautiful and I’m not gonna waste a single fuckin’ minute of it. So I swing my legs out of bed and go into my bathroom.
I’m expecting to see someone different looking back at me in the mirror. After all, I’m not the same girl who left this house twenty-one years ago to join a vampire cult up in the Rocky Mountains.
But to my surprise, I am exactly the same. Short pink bob, bright blue eyes, and a face that has always been a little too round. This puts me squarely in the ‘cute’ department, especially since I’m only five foot two.
I’m wearing underwear and a black Offspring t-shirt promoting their newest album, but nothing else.
Inside the medicine cabinet I find the clippers, then I shave my head as best I can by looking in the mirror and feeling around with my hand. It’s probably a mess, but it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that the pink-haired girl no longer exists.
Once that’s done, I take the t-shirt off. The last thing I need is to be reminded of what I am thanks to the name of this band. Besides, I’m so over black.
I toss the t-shirt into the trash and walk over to my closet, picking through what I have, looking for something white. There is one dress that fits this description and it’s slutty, has a shark-tooth hem, and is made of fake silk and cheap lace. I wear it to concerts sometimes. But it’s all I have, so I put it on.
I have two pairs of white shoes. Pumps and Chucks.
I go with the Chucks.
Then I take one last look around my room, and leave.