The Bite of Vengeance Read Free Page B

from her unconscious state, and drank from his wrist. A few seconds later she slumped back to the ground. The colour started to return to her face almost immediately, and her cuts began to heal. Her body snapped and twisted as broken bones repaired themselves. Maria became thinner and muscular and her face grew younger, revealing a very attractive woman.
    Now it was Roconn’s turn. The Devil offered his wrist once more. Roconn drank deeply, without hesitation. The warm blood gushed into his mouth. It tasted strangely appetizing. As soon as the Devil removed his wrist, Roconn’s body felt as though it had gone into an internal frenzy. He felt more alive than ever before. The skin on his face tightened and he closed his eyes. After a few painful seconds his stomach shifted back as abdominal muscles strengthened. It felt as though an endless power was flowing into his muscles.
    At last, this strange transformation was complete. Roconn opened his eyes and stared at Maria in shock. He saw every strand of cloth on her filthy dress. He looked over her shoulder towards the horizon. No matter how far he gazed, his vision still picked up everything. Nothing blurred or shimmered and he could focus on even the smallest details.
    Roconn turned his gaze back to Maria.
    The wife he knew was gone, replaced by the young woman he had married over thirty years ago. The lines had gone from her face and her stomach looked flat beneath her dress, which hung loosely on her. Maria moved with such speed it would have made anyone normal dizzy. But Roconn picked up every movement.
    Though this transformation was overwhelming, he could still see Maria in her new and perfect face. Shock was carved onto her face as she felt her athletic body. Roconn moved towards her at an amazing speed, feeling fully in control. Maria let out a short scream, which he heard as though she had shouted right into his ear. Now that he thought about it, Roconn could hear everything. He could hear the birds in the forest, the clicking of ants’ pincers, even the slight squeaking of a spider creating its web somewhere in the forest. Judging by Maria’s expression, Roconn could tell he had changed just as impressively. He raised his hand and ran his fingers over his face, expecting to feel the lines and imperfections of a fifty-year-old man. Instead he felt smooth skin. Roconn ran his tongue over his teeth and felt two sharp fangs. The Devil had disappeared, leaving them quite alone.
    â€˜Where are the kids?’ asked Maria hopefully. When Roconn did not answer she pressed him again.
    â€˜Where are the – No, they’re not, they can’t be.’ Maria started to weep as she turned her head. There in front of her, lay the bodies of her deceased children. She let out a howl of rage as she flew towards the children, bending low over them sobbing into their dirty, ripped clothes.
    â€˜No, no, please wake up!’ she screamed in horror. Roconn let her have a minute to let the tragic news sink in. After a few moments Roconn walked slowly, his still heart, heavy with sadness and placed a supportive hand onto her stone shoulder, she did not release her grip on her children, nor did she lift her gaze, she just lay there, where she belonged, with her children. All of a sudden Maria exploded with anger, her body shaking.
    â€˜You!’ she shouted to the sky above her. ‘You killed my children and tried to take me too! I swear you shall pay for this! I will ensure that no one follows you again. I promise you I will have my revenge!’
    â€˜Come Maria, there is much work we must attend to, firstly the burying of our children. They will be missed, but they will be avenged, I promise you.’ Roconn spoke softly, pulling her up, with ease, onto her feet.

A New Beginning
    Roconn looked at the remains of the church, his mind on the people who lay within. Then, he remembered Benjamin and Charlotte. He gazed at their bodies, grief gathering in his