Romericco's Daemons

Romericco the Red 1

Romericco exited the grounds silently, the rain still beating on his caramel complexion. His black eyes surveyed the dark forests before him. It was still not close to dawn, so he decided to rest while the only light was from the twinkling stars. He strode into the woods, knife in hand, following the trail he had hacked out so many years ago. Though his thirst lingered in his mind, he doubted that anything besides rats and owls would linger in the forest this late at night. He hadn’t had a proper meal in three days, and his strength was beginning to diminish. He knew he could always ask Ursula for food, but it would come cheap, landing more of his fragmented soul into her black talons. He finally came to the clearing, where he had spent so many of his empty days waiting in vain for death to sweep him off with her withering black wings.  This clearing had been his domain for years. The tall trees blocked the harmful noon sun out, and had been a haven for his prey. Romericco more or less, slept in a thatch hut he had made himself. With only a roof over him, a fire pit, and a pile of soft hay, he resided here calling it his home. Ursula, with all of her beauty and power, lived in a beautiful dark mansion that she had one of her many once lovers turned snacks had invested in. Striding through his hut, he lay down upon the soft hay. It was warm and dry, so unlike outside. He could hardly remember his old home, and his old family. He had even forgotten how to speak his native language. He had lived in Barcelona in the late 16th century. His family was all Spaniards, and his father was a well-known conquistador. He had had four brothers and two sisters beside himself. He strained to remember their names. He had been the fourth youngest out of the six.  There had been his eldest brother, Dominick. They had also been Alejandro, the second eldest, and his eldest sister Rosario. Then it had been himself at seventeen, and then there had been the youngest children, Sarafina, Maria, and Miguel. The family was everything he had, and they were all gone. All dead. All because of him. And he, the one who had caused everything, was the fool who had survived. He sighed and rolled on his stomach. The drops of water landing on his long ebony hair told him there was a break in the thatch. So much evil was in the world. What had happened to the days Dominick had taught him how to joust on his father’s mare? What had happened to the days that there had been bonfires in the hot summer days, where he and his sisters had danced until their feet grew lame? And what had happened to the days that he had twirled little Maria around when she came to him, face smudged with flour? All gone. Romie, little Maria had called him. But now it was all gone, never again. Many nights into the centuries little Maria’s laughing had haunted him, the sound of his sisters screaming as they were impaled, and the cries of his brothers calling for help while bleeding to death. As many times as he had revisited that night in his dreams, he wondered what he could have done to prevent his family’s murders. Ricco, Ricco, a grim voice said echoing through his head. The voice had been there since the day he died. “ Still doting upon the past, are you?” He loathed this little voice; he never knew when it was listening to his thoughts. He sometimes had enough strength to drive it from his body, tuning the voice out of his head, fighting for control of his mind. Tonight, however, he had not time to feed, and thus could not drive the voice out. “Romericco the Red, you listen to me! Ursula is getting very impatient with you! The meeting of the moons will occur in less than a fortnight. You are to bring the idol into the castle before the meeting. In many, many years of service to Ursula you have been faithful.” 2

Romericco burst out, yelling in his mind, “I am not her cocker spaniel Darius!” 3

“You are whom you were born and you were born a vampire!” 4

Romericco turned, angered at the voice ready to leave his domain when it called to him again, this time louder and more real. 5

“You can’t run from who you are.” At this Romericco turned. Seated in the low branches of a nearby tree was a man with ivory skin and long chestnut hair. “Romericco you are being stupid. Look at yourself. You haven’t fed in days. You are denying yourself as a vampire.” 6

“Damn being a vampire. I don’t want life any more. I don’t want my immortality, strip me of it!” He reached into his coat and pulled out a dagger. He unsheathed it, and thrust it into the man’s hands. He stood back and undid the buttons in his black shirt, his chest laboring from heavy intake of breath. “ Do it Darius, please. Right now, end it for me. One shot, right here”, he said pounding his fist to his heart. “Darius please. I suffer. As one of my kindred I beg of you. If I had the courage that you have, I’ve had done it when my love died. I have nothing to live for. I can never love, because love always dies. It pains me that something so pure can die; yet I can live forever. I don’t want it. I want to die like even the purest love. So please Darius…please.” 7

The man looked at Romericco, understanding in his eyes. “Romericco, I’m sorry,” he said driving the dagger into the soggy earth. “Come Ricco. Let us find you a nice morsel. You’ll feel better, I promise.” He said jumping down from his perch and landing stealthily next to Romericco.  He put Romericco arm over his shoulder and bid him to walk. 8

“My head aches”, Romericco croaked feebly. 9

“You starve yourself, its bound to happen.” Said Darius reproachfully. 10

“Darius why did you choose this” asked Romericco weakly. 11

“To become a vampire? For the same reason you did.” 12

“Did you know it was going to be this way?” 13

Darius shrugged. “I suppose not. Cheating death. That’s all it is.” 14

“Death would be better to face head on”, said Romericco stumbling. 15

“Yes. Well. I suppose to know death you must know life first.” 16

“I want either. I have experienced none”, Romericco groaned disdainfully. 17

“Time, Ricco, time will tell you what the answer is. You have eternity after all.” 18

“Yes…’ Romericco muttered. “Darius?” 19

“Yes Romericco?” 20

“Thank you.” 21

“Romericco the Red. You are truly a vampire of many colours.” 22