Dracula: Patient zero

Chapter: 2

Worst than heroin

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What Fálki and Halldóra saw when they entered the hut was a sight out of a nightmare, Valdr was slurping on the shaman's headless body's neck as if he was emptying a juice box. He was delightfully digging his fingers in the shaman's flesh ripping pieces with a look of ecstasy on his face.

«Halldóra» HIiiiiiiiiiiiii..*muffled sound*

Fálki also terrified quickly muffled his wife's mouth, silencing her while still staring at this thing he used to call son. They stood there, staring at the scene with agape mouth. In the stone ages, cannibalism wasn't something rare to witness, but what petrified them was Valdr's appearance.

The dried up corpse their son had became was slowly healing, getting back to normal... The muscles once atrophied were reverting back to their healthy appearance, his skin slowly getting back it's healthy pink color...

Fálki observed everything with his wife in his arms, both not knowing what to do or what to think. Then Valdr lifted his head up to look at the two statues staring at him. His eyes were still jet black, black veins all around his face. This was the face of a monster and they knew it.

Fálki slowly placed his hand on his stone axe ready to defend himself but something unexpected happened. Valdr's eyes reverted back to their human appearance, the black and red veins all over his face quickly disappearing.

What was left in front of them was a healthy looking man, around 18 to 20 years old in appearance, looking back at them with a panicking expression.

«Valdr» Mom... Dad... Sob*sob* what have I done?.... What.... am I...? sob*sob*

«Fálki» Is that really you son? He said still holding his axe ready to strike.

Nod* nod* nod*

Valdr nodded with a regretful look in his eyes. Fálki could see Valdr had no idea what was happening either.

«Halldóra» Valdrislav? My son, are you... What is happening to you?

Valdr simply shook his head to that not knowing what to answer, when all of a sudden.

«Øydís» I heard a scream is everything alright? Said the approaching voice.

Øydís was Guðmundr's wife and Vígbjǫrn mother. She was Valdr's mother best friend and their relationship was most likely the reason why Guðmundr never challenged Fálki for the title of chief. In appearance this village looked very patriarchal, but the truth was that those two women were the one ruling from the shadows.

They had a say in everything and knew everyone's secrets. With Øydís now approaching the situation was dire. Without saying anything Halldóra quickly got out of the hut intercepting her before she could enter.

«Øydís» Are you alright? What happened? She said with a worried look as she knew her friend well enough to read her complex facial expression.

«Halldóra» It...It's ok... A powerful shaman is currently treating Valdr... He is... Eccentric.. He is chanting and yelling. Everything's alright we just need to give them space and time. She said with her thoughts still muddied.

«Øydís» I can tell by looking at you... Are things that bad?

«Halldóra» No! No!... Actually he said there was a good chance for him to be cured. But it's a painful process and I’m a little sad for my baby boy. D...d.. Do you mind leaving us alone for a bit? I want to speak with my husband.

«Øydís» No problem.. Are you sure you are all right? Do you need anything....

«Halldóra» I'm telling you... I'm alright.. Thank you for worrying. She said as she was getting slightly irritated by her insistence.

Øydís then went away, chasing the other curious onlookers as she left. Halldóra then turned around to go back in the hut, but froze there for a while. She was staring at the entry with terror in her heart. After a few minutes her love for her child won over her terror and entered.

Valdr was knelled on the ground confused, while Fálki slowly inspected his body trying to understand a little bit more. He was doing small cuts on his arms, and watched them instantly heal. When Halldóra saw that she fell on her knees and started praying. She then turned around to look at her husband.

«Halldóra» Fálki... Such powers... It cannot be anything other than the Gods doing...

«Fálki» I thought the same wife... But is it a blessing? Or a curse. He said with a serious expression.

«Valdr» I...I can hear Øydís talking with Guðmundr... She know something's wrong.

«Halldóra» What? But they are on the other side of the village... She said with a puzzled expression.

«Valdr» She's saying that she know you well enough to know that you have been hiding something from her for a while now... Guðmundr's heading this way.

«Fálki» Ho crap crap crap what do we do now?

«Valdr» Mother.

«Halldóra» Don't worry honey mom will take ca...*

«Valdr» Has the sun set yet?

«Halldóra» ....... yes... but why..

«Valdr» I have an idea of what we can do.

[A minute later]

«Guðmundr» Fálki! Get out here! He said in an angered voice.

Fálki walked out of the hut with a giant smile on his face that took Guðmundr by surprise.

«Fálki» What is it old friend?

«Guðmundr» We have the right to know what's going on! We know you are hiding stuff from us.

After a few seconds of silence Fálki answered.

«Fálki» You are right my friend, but we didn't hide anything out of bad intentions. We needed to make sure of what it was first. But the shaman that came earlier confirmed what we suspected all along. Guðmundr threw a interrogative look.

«Guðmundr» Speak now!

«Fálki» Our son, Valdr wasn't sick... He has been blessed by the Gods but we failed to notice what blessing it was, which almost killed him. But thanks to the great shaman we now know how to heal him.

«Guðmundr» ....You trying to fuck with me Fálki??? Blessed? Out of the way I need to see for myself! He said pushing Fálki aside and entered Valdr's hut.

What he saw was Valdr laying on his bed, looking perfectly healthy with his mother by his side. She was caressing his hairs like a loving mother would. There was no trace of the shaman's corpse, and every spot of blood had been wiped out. There was nothing to show what had just happened in this hut a few minutes ago.

«Guðmundr» H...h.h..How is this possible? This young svein was dying and looked like a corpse just a few days ago... How can he look so healthy now? He said with a puzzle expression.

Fálki entering the hut behind him and simply placed his hand on Guðmundr's shoulder before saying:

«Fálki» Like I said, the Gods bestowed their blessing upon him. He has been blessed for the good of our tribe.

«Guðmundr» What blessing are you talking about? And where is this shaman I have a lot of question for him to answer.

«Fálki» Hmmm...

«Halldóra» He left a few minutes ago... Suddenly gone like a puff of smoke. Most likely by the Gods doing again.

«Guðmundr» Are you taking me for a fucking idiot?! Where is he?

«Valdr» Great warrior Guðmundr. Valdr slowly started getting up from his bed while looking at Guðmundr.

«Valdr» Would you agree to say that for me to win at arm-wrestle against you would mean that I am being helped by the Gods?

«Guðmundr» Pwahahaha for a young svein like you to win at arm wrestle against me? Pwahahaha indeed it is impossible unless the Gods help you.

«Valdr» Then isn't it simple? Are you accepting my challenge?

Guðmundr looked at Valdr determined expression a few seconds before accepting the duel sure of his victory. They both walked out of the hut, at this point almost everybody in the tribe had gathered around trying to know what the commotion was about.

Valdr explained everything to the tribe, also that he intended to challenge Guðmundr to a arm-wrestle match to prove that he was blessed by the Gods which made a few laugh, other gasp in astonishment. Valdr threw a look at his father that he quickly understood as him and Guðmundr both started walking toward a big flat rock in the village for their duel.

While the entire village walked away to see the duel, Fálki quickly went back in the hut and cleared Valdr's bedding to the side. Under the bedding, roughly buried were the shaman's bloody pieces of body. Fálki quickly proceeded in dragging the torso away from the village, dumping it into the river. He repeated the process until no pieces were left.

Meanwhile on the other side of the village, Valdr and Guðmundr took position on each side of the flat rock, ready for their duel with the entire village spectating. Guðmundr placed his arm ready for Valdr to grasp it.

«Guðmundr» Don't go crying after I destroy that little arm of your.

HahAHAhAhahHah* (Crowd)

Valdr simply gave him a small grin and took hold of the giant's hand with his. Guðmundr immediately tried to crush Valdr hand by simply crushing it with his but Valdr didn't flinch... The giant was using all his strength trying to tighten his grip but the young Valdr didn't seemed phased by it.

Another tribe member came next to them, and gave the countdown. Three, two, one, GO! For a few second Guðmundr gave everything he had, his face slowly turning red. But Valdr's arm wasn't moving...

As immobile as the mountains created by the Gods, Valdr didn't even seem to be using any strength at all. With Guðmundr now having veins popping out on his forehead Valdr gave a devilish grin to the giant before saying.

«Valdr» So.... When do we start? Guðmundr exploded in anger to that and suddenly used both his arms and body weight trying to make Valdr's arm move.

It was useless. Valdr simply finished it by throwing Guðmundr ten meters the other way crushing someone's hut in the process. The entire tribe was silent, mouths agape, unsure whether they should be afraid of amazed.

Guðmundr stood back up holding his arm in pain and looking intensely at Valdr. Valdr was unsure what to think, did he show too much? Would his plan backfire?

«Guðmundr» Everyone! What you just saw is undeniable proof of him being blessed by the Gods! How could this young svein who was still dying until a few days ago beat me! Guðmundr to a duel of strength if not aided the Gods...

The crowd started to get rowdy but after a while started shouting in celebration! Some giving prayers to the Gods. The tribe then spent the entire night talking about the Gods, and about Valdr's blessing. He explained them that he was vulnerable to the sun so he could only go out at night.

He spoke of his regeneration ability, which totally captivated the tribe as he showed them how quickly the cut he inflicted himself on his body were healing. Some of them grew worried and scared of Valdr after he told them he could only drink human blood to survive now as a price to pay for his strength.

But the biggest surprise was when some of them started cutting their palms, filling a wooden bowl with their blood, giving it to him as an offering. Valdr felt a bit weirded out by the situation couldn't resist the delicious aroma of the blood and drank it all up.

Meanwhile Valdr's father, Fálki joined back his wife who had witnessed the duel between her son and Guðmundr. She immediately told him everything that had happened, not hesitating to show pride in her son's prowess.

Valdr glanced at his father, who responded by nodding, which mean that all evidence had been cleared out. Finally able to relax Valdr got up and asked for everyone attention.

«Valdr» By blessing me, the Gods intention seem clear... Our tribe is the chosen one, destined to rule over all the others !!!!

YHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!* (Crowd)

«Valdr» From now on, every-night I will go out and prey upon those who dare call themselves our enemies. They will feel the wrath of the Gods !

YHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!* (Crowd)

Valdr had just found himself a way to feed himself with the support of his tribe, which was an ideal situation. Valdr felt it was obvious that he had now became a creature of the night since he could see in pitch darkness like it was in broad daylight, the fact the sun burned his skin sucking away his powers.

He would now have to avoid sunlight, which was a curse in itself. With the sun slowly rising up again Valdr and the other tribe members went to bed, trying to catch up with the missed hours of sleep. Valdr's thoughts were fixated on a single thing at this point.

Hunger... He was so hungry, he was still fantasizing about his last meal, the warm sticky blood flowing down his throat, giving him much needed sustenance. It was even stronger than sexual pleasure, while he was emptying the shaman's body Valdr saw some of the man's memories, and emotions.

So he could learn someone's thoughts by consuming their blood. He didn't see everything, what he seemed able to see while drinking him was what seemed to be his strongest, most vivid memories. He saw the shaman at a young age, being left in a deep pit filled with corpse for weeks. Those shamans truly were a fucked up bunch.

Valdr understood that what had made the man's blood so delicious was the terror he felt at that instant. Could different emotions give different taste to blood? How would arousal taste? Betrayal? Anger? Are there some people out there with different tasting blood?

Valdr couldn't wait, he wanted to drink all the blood in the world, taste all the different flavors and textures. He was getting an erection as simply imagining himself digging his canine into the tender flesh of a baby's neck.

At this point Valdr was going crazy, blood was having a weird effect on him, clouding his judgment and morals. All his emotions were amplified, while others like empathy were simply suppressed. What Valdr didn't know is that blood acted on him like a drug, and at that moment Valdr was high on it turning him into a cruel monster with only one thought in mind. FEEDING! Moreee!!! ALWAYS MORE BLOOD!

Valdr was knelled, digging his claws like fingers into the ground, his eyes pitch black and veins all over his face. What he felt at this instant were signs of withdrawal. His body was screaming at him to feed again but luckily for the other tribe members, he was prisoner of his hut, incapable of getting out because of the sunny day outside.

If not for that, in his current condition Valdr would have slaughtered everyone in sight. It was his first experience at feeding as a vampire and it was one hell of a ride. You could compare him to a heroin addict, who's trying to sober up but can survive only by consuming heroin.

So it simply was the biggest mind fuck one can imagine. He kept looking through the door as the sun was slowly going down, and down and down...

«Valdr» A few more minutes... A few more minutes... A few more minutes... A few more minutes... A few more minutes... A few more minutes... He kept repeating as he clenched his fist so hard blood was pouring out of his palms.

The tribe members started gathering in front of the hut as the sun slowly started disappearing on the horizon, totally unaware of the danger they were putting themselves in. At the exact second when the sun disappeared, a blurry figure got out from the hut's blowing everyone out of his way as if they were weightless puppets.

The figure went out of the village so fast, he looked like a blur, a Godly spirit. Nobody was really certain what had just happened but after looking inside the hut understood that Valdr was gone. It was most likely him who disappeared in a blur a minute ago.

The village remained silent for a while. Chills going down their spines, some pissing themselves. It is then that they understood that if Valdr had went away this fast, that he definitely was in a hurry to feed... That he could have slaughtered them all if they hadn't been from the same village.

The same feeling you get when you see your pet dog that you always adored and considered docile, excitingly ripping a cat in pieces. Yes your dog is a gentle one, yes he would never hurt you, but he is still a wild creature functioning out of natural instincts.

The entire tribe concluded that it was better to never anger him in the future, other even thought about running away to other tribes but doing this would place them in Valdr's menu... As terrifying as it was, this tribe was the safest place to be.

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Many thanks to gcman01 for proofreading this chapter!

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